The Clockwork Key: The NEW steampunk mystery series from bestselling author Vashti Hardy

by Vashti Hardy

Embark on an action-packed quest to find the lost town of clockwork in the first of a new fantasy adventure series from Vashti Hardy, packed with her trademark STEM inventions.

Mabel and Will Greystone are looking forward to an exciting holiday with their aunt Lucy, a famous relic hunter in the land of Marvolia.

Using an ancient map, they are searching for the legendary lost town of Umber, famous for the invention of clockwork, which was mysteriously abandoned hundreds of years ago. The only other clue they have is a strange old key left behind by the last inhabitant of the town, but they have no idea what the key is for.

Also on the hunt for Umber is devious Byron Cogsworth, desperate for the glory such an important discovery will bring. Can Mabel, Will and Aunt Lucy find Umber before him? And what secrets will the clockwork key unlock …?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

Vashti Hardy is a children’s book author who lives near Lancashire, England, with her husband and three teens. She has an honors teaching degree and an MA in creative writing from the University of Chichester.

Vashti Hardy est une auteure jeunesse. Elle a enseigné pendant de nombreuse années à l'école primaire. Après avoir quitté l'enseignement pour se consacrer davantage à l'écriture, elle devient conceptrice-rédactrice et cadre dans le marketing numérique. Elle est titulaire d'un M.A. en création littéraire de l'Université de Chichester. Elle compte également parmi les diplômés de la Golden Egg Academy, une école destinée aux auteurs de livres pour enfants et aide régulièrement les nouveaux élèves de l'institution. Vashti Hardy vit avec son mari et ses trois enfants près de Brighton dans le Sussex de l'Est.

Reviews

[Tracy Lander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Barrington stoke for the early copy of the first in a new series by Vashti Hardy called Relic Hunters.
The children Mabel and Will's parents are History Professors at Ravenlock University and their Aunt Lucy is a Relic Hunter! Aunt Lucy has a stuffed cat called Grimm who can talk!
This first book follows the children as they travel with Lucy to find the lost city of Umber, and it's secrets. Aunt Lucy has found an old map of the area and a key, but she doesn't know what it is for. On the way they are spied on by Byron Cogsworth another hunter, so they leave him a false clue - and he follows that while they travel in the opposite direction!
Can they find the city, and more importantly are they any clues as to why it was abandoned?
This is out 10th October.
Barrington Stoke is known for it's dyslexia friendly books, but I find these are really good for children who want a great story but have less resilience in reading or for when they want a quick read. Besides which I haven't found one that I don't like yet!

Vashti Hardy writes fabulous books, and this is no exception. Already looking forward to the next book which annoyingly doesn't come out until June 2025!

[Hannah Fazakerley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vashti Hardy returns to Barrington Stoke with a new adventure series entitled ‘The Relic Hunters’.
Following on from the excellent Griffin Gate books, this new steampunk fantasy style new series stars Mabel and Will Greystone who go travelling with their Aunt Lucy and a very special cat called Grimm. Aunt Lucy is a famous relic hunter in their homeland of Greenhaven and in this first book they travel together to the continent of Marvolia in search of a lost town and the secrets it holds.
This story reminds me of Cogheart by Peter Bunzl (a terrific series for older readers) with a touch of fairy tales and Indiana Jones. It is full of mystery and adventure, exotic travel destinations and amazing discoveries, with only a slight hint of peril. This book will spark children’s imaginations and get them thinking about STEM ideas and inventions. I really enjoyed reading this book and its illustrations by Rebecca Sheeran and will be recommending it to KS2 readers in our school library, especially those who benefit from the dyslexia friendly format.
Look out for the next exciting instalment in June 2025 - The Amulet of Hath!
Thanks to Barrington Stoke for a review copy of this book.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

THE CLOCKWORK KEY is a charming adventure story about discovering ancient civilisations.

This book is full of the mystery of the past when you only have a few clues, the thrill of discovery, and the need to think fast when problems arise. It's a treasure hunt, but where understanding what happened and why, to gain a better understand of people's lives, is in focus - not the treasure itself.

I liked how the character of Cogsworth was used to show the unethical sides of ruin exploration. He is an unscrupulous man who wants the fame and glory of discovery, caring nothing for those who have done the work, and takes prizes without care for the environment. It's important to talk about this as it's how Western Colonial powers have approached it, and I hope further books lean into this a bit more.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Really loved the promise of discovering relics, but coming across a clockwork princess? Spooky! There’s something ominous about this that made me want to read on. I think this is going to be a brilliant series! Vashti Hardy and Barrington Stoke are a winning combo!

[BookWormBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A intriguing story perfect for any aspiring Indiana Jones.