Clockwork Heart: Dru Pagliassotti

In the city of Ondinium only the Icarii are outside of the rigid caste system. They wheel through skies above the city delivering messages and on occasion serving as rescue crew. For Taya, being an Icarus is the only thing she knows. When terrorists begin to threaten the city Taya finds herself caught between two Exalted brothers, each with a secret agenda. Taya must find the truth and stop the terrorists before the city is brought down.

As Taya soars the skies above Ondinium she sees the straining cables of a wire ferry just as they snap, dragging the heavy load plummeting to the ground. Taya manages to rescue the Exalted and her child trapped within and finds herself embroiled in a terrorist plot that brings her in contact with the Exalted Forlore brothers. Alister Forlore is on the council in Ondinium but his brother Cristoff has chosen to outcaste himself, settling as a clockwright in the city's lowest caste district. Alister and Cristoff are both drawn to Taya, each for very different reasons. As Taya gets close to each brother she also gets deeper into the web that is being drawn around Ondinium. Alister's charm and Cristoff's spite have Taya's head spinning but the Icarus will need a level head for the plot that is unfolding around her.

I must say, my little steampunk heart is just thrilled with this newest offering. It's an off-world story and the author has done a fantastic job with the world-building. The protagonist, Taya, is a well-rounded character and it's easy to slip into pace with her. The story has a definite romantic element but it's fast-paced enough to keep anyone's interest.

I do hope that Ms. Pagliassotti plans to release more stories from this universe as it was highly enjoyable and we can always use more steampunk.
-----------------------
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Juno Books (April 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0809572567
ISBN-13: 978-0809572564