Book 1 of the Steambound Trilogy
When Gabby’s hand turns to steam, her mom hires an engineer to build a clockwork glove. It’s the last thing Gabby wants—if only she could be normal. But when her mom is attacked by something monstrous, normal is no longer an option. In a city where the weak become prey, Gabby is forced to grow up fast … or become a meal herself.
Meanwhile, Kemple’s foster dad treats him like a slave. And the beatings are getting worse. So when a rebellious girl named Josephyn arrives—with a plan to escape to the city—he doesn’t hesitate. But there are creatures in Iron Bay whose slashes are worse than skin-deep. And as Kemple evolves into something beastly, his search for a cure begins.
They are strangers in a city where carriages rattle, airships rumble, and where their dark pasts continue to haunt them. But when a mysterious hunter arrives—one who has a bone to pick with each of them, and isn’t afraid to kill—their lives violently collide: the girl who now hunts monsters, and the boy who’s trying to salvage the humanity he has left.
What starts as a dangerous partnership soon spirals into passion, until it threatens to destroy them both.
Industry Reviews
"Kyle Richardson's YA novel, Beast Heart , is a wonderful and original mix of action, psychology and suspense. Blending steampunk and horror, it is an efficient thriller that captures the reader and makes him or her wanting for more. Very highly recommended, for adults and teenagers alike." Seb Doubinsky, award-winning author of the City-States Cycle series
"Kyle Richardson pumps blood into machinery in Beast Heart, bringing his characters to life in this clever, emotionally engaging novel. Richardson is a writer to watch." Kaaron Warren, award-winning author of Tide of Stone and Into Bones Like Oil
"Hands made of steam, cranks that conceal monsters, clockwork creations of jealous villainy: Richardson's Beast Heart beats with beautiful whimsy and honesty about the pains of adolescence, abuse, and bullying. It also nurtures hope that its heroes can hold on to their humanity." Rebecca Gomez Farrell, author of Wings Unseen
"A rare treat that manages to seem familiar from the start yet surprise at every turn." G.D. Penman, author of The Year of the Knife
Starred Review: "An explosion of action Iron Bay is all dark alleys and howls in the night." Foreword Reviewsa
"A girl with an amazing hand and a boy with a deadly condition collide in this YA steampunk novel by Richardson, the first in a trilogy ... Richardson's prose possesses the gritty urgency of urban fantasy ... readers will be interested to see where he takes goes with these two slow-cooked characters and their evocative milieu." Kirkus Review