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Cornish Steel
For those who love Red Rising, but in an apocalyptic Poldark setting.
More than a decade before the events of The Mimameid Solution, there was a family of miners living on the sinking coast of Cornwall.
Radioactive pollution pours into the seas from sunken powerplants, there’s talk of radicals on the western isles and Iain isn’t the oldest brother his family needs. That title belongs to his slightly-younger, but infinitely more responsible brother, Arthur.
Cornish Steel is the story of family, but most especially siblings, and how they carry us through the darkest of times.
More than a decade before the events of The Mimameid Solution, there was a family of miners living on the sinking coast of Cornwall.
Radioactive pollution pours into the seas from sunken powerplants, there’s talk of radicals on the western isles and Iain isn’t the oldest brother his family needs. That title belongs to his slightly-younger, but infinitely more responsible brother, Arthur.
Cornish Steel is the story of family, but most especially siblings, and how they carry us through the darkest of times.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2024
About the author
Katherine Kempf
3 books20 followersKatherine Kempf is a US expat with her Bachelors in Anthropology and Masters in Journalism from University, City London, both of which seep their way into her stories more than a little bit. Originally from Virginia, she now calls Germany home, which has fueled her love for multicultural stories even more. Katherine is a chronic mood reader, far-too-competitive Catan player and a hiker who always packs the most (best) snacks.
Her current project is The Mimameid Trilogy, the first of which, The Mimameid Solution, placed as a quarterfinalist in the SPSFC3 science fiction competition.
Follow her on Instagram @katherinekempfwrites or sign up for her newsletter at www.katherinekempfbooks.com
Her current project is The Mimameid Trilogy, the first of which, The Mimameid Solution, placed as a quarterfinalist in the SPSFC3 science fiction competition.
Follow her on Instagram @katherinekempfwrites or sign up for her newsletter at www.katherinekempfbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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July 5, 2024Set prior to the events of The Mimameid Solution, The Cornish Steel is a short story that explores how things can irrevocably fall apart overnight for civilian families in wartime conditions.
The writing is evocative and powerful. Events of military atrocities and forced conscription of civilians continue to be as relevant as ever and this story explores this theme through the perspective of one civilian family member for whom life will not be the same again. The slow buildup and the steep contrast between how things were to escalation of violence are executed with a lot of grace.
Would recommend this short story to readers who enjoyed The Mimameid Solution and also to new readers looking to sample the author's work before committing to a full novel. A complete work in short form which touched my heart.
Many thanks to the author for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The writing is evocative and powerful. Events of military atrocities and forced conscription of civilians continue to be as relevant as ever and this story explores this theme through the perspective of one civilian family member for whom life will not be the same again. The slow buildup and the steep contrast between how things were to escalation of violence are executed with a lot of grace.
Would recommend this short story to readers who enjoyed The Mimameid Solution and also to new readers looking to sample the author's work before committing to a full novel. A complete work in short form which touched my heart.
Many thanks to the author for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 7, 2024
Thank you, Katherine, for the eARC! I’m generally hit or miss on short stories and this one was a hiiiiit. Very impressed with how quickly I got invested in the characters in the limited pages they exist for. I really enjoyed Katherine’s debut novel and it was awesome to experience the growth she has made as a writer just btwn her first two publications. I was already hype for book two of Mimameid and now I am even more so.
July 18, 2024
What a great short story!
This book pulls you into a haunting dystopian future which shows how quickly a family can be ripped apart.
The way the author wrote the action scenes was fantastic. It was as if I was there experiencing the horror with them.
I loved the dynamic between the two brothers. A great set up for the series.
This book pulls you into a haunting dystopian future which shows how quickly a family can be ripped apart.
The way the author wrote the action scenes was fantastic. It was as if I was there experiencing the horror with them.
I loved the dynamic between the two brothers. A great set up for the series.
July 5, 2024
As with The Mimameid Solution, Kempf has crafted a tale I couldn’t put down. I am amazed at how quickly I am attached to the characters and invested in the story. An excellent piece.
July 1, 2024
I binge read Katherine Kempf's short story, "Cornish Steel," over the weekend. In one sitting.
Set over a decade before her novel, The Mimameid Solution, this short story offers us a chance to explore the backstory of some of her characters.
From the first page to the first piece of dialogue, I was immediately invested. This family—these brothers— jumped off the page. I LOVED Caja and Morwen. All of the sibling relationships felt genuine, like I had just walked into a real family unit. Their personalities, their quirks, and their humor created an immersive experience. And, of course, as an oldest child myself, I felt a certain sympathy and kinship with Iain.
At the 50% mark, I knew I wasn't ready. Soon after, I had goosebumps and a racing heart. This story gutted me, and I loved every minute.
Please take a moment to check out Katherine Kempf's stories. She's an amazingly talented indie (independent) author. Her work, her characters, and the world of The Mimameid Solution deserve more eyes.
Title: "Cornish Steel"
Author: Katherine Kempf
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi/ Fantasy
Content Warnings: Mild language, Violence (guns, fire)
Favorite Lines:
"Here, the trees bend to the will of the wind. That is the strength of her grip."
"They let us grow wild."
"There are tears I can't control running down my face."
"There are no more faces- at all."
Set over a decade before her novel, The Mimameid Solution, this short story offers us a chance to explore the backstory of some of her characters.
From the first page to the first piece of dialogue, I was immediately invested. This family—these brothers— jumped off the page. I LOVED Caja and Morwen. All of the sibling relationships felt genuine, like I had just walked into a real family unit. Their personalities, their quirks, and their humor created an immersive experience. And, of course, as an oldest child myself, I felt a certain sympathy and kinship with Iain.
At the 50% mark, I knew I wasn't ready. Soon after, I had goosebumps and a racing heart. This story gutted me, and I loved every minute.
Please take a moment to check out Katherine Kempf's stories. She's an amazingly talented indie (independent) author. Her work, her characters, and the world of The Mimameid Solution deserve more eyes.
Title: "Cornish Steel"
Author: Katherine Kempf
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi/ Fantasy
Content Warnings: Mild language, Violence (guns, fire)
Favorite Lines:
"Here, the trees bend to the will of the wind. That is the strength of her grip."
"They let us grow wild."
"There are tears I can't control running down my face."
"There are no more faces- at all."
July 11, 2024
I had the opportunity to ARC read this, and I’m so glad I did. It's the perfect blend of gritty dystopian and familial themes.
Katherine’s storytelling skills and writing are lovely. While her full length novel takes its time to unwind (in a good way), this short story of the same universe manages to reveal a world, showcase a family, and pack a punch…all in ~8,000 words.
✨Favorite line: “It looks like a bulbous bumblebee bathroom, although I’ve only ever seen pictures of the damn little things.” 🐝
✨Favorite line if you want me to be serious: “He’s sure lucky to have an older brother looking out for him.”
This story will stick with readers for a long time. It takes you on a delightful journey with this post-apocalyptic family until you realize…oh no, something is going to happen. And boy does it happen.
It makes me want to revisit TMS to see these characters in a whole new light!
🫵 Reasons you should read this short story, too:
…If you’ve read TMS: You’ll get a fun (I use that word lightly) backstory to the characters and world.
…If you haven’t read TMS: It would make a great intro to the world.
I love when authors create other works based on their main project’s world. There’s so much that goes into world building a novel that you (the reader) don’t get to see, and Katherine has given us all the chance to see some of that.
Katherine’s storytelling skills and writing are lovely. While her full length novel takes its time to unwind (in a good way), this short story of the same universe manages to reveal a world, showcase a family, and pack a punch…all in ~8,000 words.
✨Favorite line: “It looks like a bulbous bumblebee bathroom, although I’ve only ever seen pictures of the damn little things.” 🐝
✨Favorite line if you want me to be serious: “He’s sure lucky to have an older brother looking out for him.”
This story will stick with readers for a long time. It takes you on a delightful journey with this post-apocalyptic family until you realize…oh no, something is going to happen. And boy does it happen.
It makes me want to revisit TMS to see these characters in a whole new light!
🫵 Reasons you should read this short story, too:
…If you’ve read TMS: You’ll get a fun (I use that word lightly) backstory to the characters and world.
…If you haven’t read TMS: It would make a great intro to the world.
I love when authors create other works based on their main project’s world. There’s so much that goes into world building a novel that you (the reader) don’t get to see, and Katherine has given us all the chance to see some of that.
July 18, 2024
Cornish Steel is a story that deepens the world building for The Mimameid Solution, which, full disclosure, I have not yet finished. I’m actually thankful I got to experience it as a stand alone.
What stuck me first was the dedication to the author’s brothers. Family, especially brotherhood, was a strong theme in the story. This is a theme that I love to see in sci-fi.
At the start, we are introduced to this tight knit and loving family surviving in a dystopian future. Each character and relationship feels real, and the dialogue is excellent. By the end of the story, I’ve fallen in love with them.
It reads like a love letter to Cornwall, and like a glimpse into a bigger story. I loved the setting, characters, the dialogue and the theme. Cornish Steel is heartbreaking, and left me wanting to know more. Luckily I have the rest of The Mimameid Solution novel to satisfy.
What stuck me first was the dedication to the author’s brothers. Family, especially brotherhood, was a strong theme in the story. This is a theme that I love to see in sci-fi.
At the start, we are introduced to this tight knit and loving family surviving in a dystopian future. Each character and relationship feels real, and the dialogue is excellent. By the end of the story, I’ve fallen in love with them.
It reads like a love letter to Cornwall, and like a glimpse into a bigger story. I loved the setting, characters, the dialogue and the theme. Cornish Steel is heartbreaking, and left me wanting to know more. Luckily I have the rest of The Mimameid Solution novel to satisfy.
July 10, 2024
Cornish Steel is a heart breaking look into a future landscape where holding onto your humanity is a devastatingly difficult task. Wrought with love, hope, anguish and grief, this short story takes you on a bittersweet journey. I loved the vulnerability and uncertainty of our main character, trying to make the best choices for the ones he loves. The writing was beautiful and it had all the vibes!!!
Favorite Quote: “I try to smile at her, to tell her everything will be okay, but I can’t keep the fear from my eyes.”
Favorite Quote: “I try to smile at her, to tell her everything will be okay, but I can’t keep the fear from my eyes.”
July 1, 2024
Great story for those who can't get enough TMS in their life!
July 10, 2024
A story of a mining family caught on the wrong side of a looming invasion, Cornish Steel is at its core, a story of brotherhood, and one that I found compelling and beautifully written.
Though the story is short, it covers a lot of ground and shows us both what life was like on both sides of an invasion that changes everything for one family. Kempf does an amazing job at giving life to all of the characters, but especially the protagonist, Iain, and his brother, Arthur, whose relationship serves as the engine of the story. Iain is the older brother, but he feels inadequate as a big brother, which made his character more likable and sympathetic.
The story is definitely sad, filled with visceral physical sensations and a family’s heartbreaking undoing, but there’s also moments of hope (midday sun streaming through the tent slits) and healing between the brothers.
Themes of family, endurance, and the small comforts that sustain us really brought this story together for me, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes short stories, and harsh and dark dystopian landscapes that are survived and overcome by inner strength.
This was a five-star read for me!
Though the story is short, it covers a lot of ground and shows us both what life was like on both sides of an invasion that changes everything for one family. Kempf does an amazing job at giving life to all of the characters, but especially the protagonist, Iain, and his brother, Arthur, whose relationship serves as the engine of the story. Iain is the older brother, but he feels inadequate as a big brother, which made his character more likable and sympathetic.
The story is definitely sad, filled with visceral physical sensations and a family’s heartbreaking undoing, but there’s also moments of hope (midday sun streaming through the tent slits) and healing between the brothers.
Themes of family, endurance, and the small comforts that sustain us really brought this story together for me, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes short stories, and harsh and dark dystopian landscapes that are survived and overcome by inner strength.
This was a five-star read for me!
August 14, 2025
Great short story. I was hooked from the beginning and read it in one sitting. Cornish Steel opens with familiar descriptions of Cornwall and a warm family dynamic, but drops in hints that things aren't right - radiation, decontamination, unease at approaching boats. When it comes to a boil and things go wrong for the family, it's a tense and emotional read.
July 12, 2024
I’m so grateful for how Cornish Steel has been received by everyone. This project holds an incredibly special place in my heart and I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with readers!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews