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Clockwork Scoundrels
Melanie Locke, the captain of a run-down airship, has never been short on luck, hers is just always bad or worse. Yet even by such lofty standards, business has been especially bleak of late. So when a stranger offers her a lot of money to fly him to a remote part of the country, it appears to be a long overdue boon. But the stranger carries a secret, one that some very powerful people are anxious to get back. Caught in the middle, Mel must chart a path through the maelstrom or risk losing the skies forever.
- GenresSteampunk
54 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2015
25 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
E.W. Pierce
6 books7 followersRaised on a steady diet of Star Wars, cowboy movies with his great-grandfather, and lots of pretend, E.W. Pierce developed an early interest in the making of make-believe. He discovered the fantasy genre via the Dragonlance novels, and shortly thereafter, was introduced to the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. His world was never the same.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 30, 2015
Melanie Locke - captain of the airship the Misty Morning - is strapped for cash when this book begins, leaving her ready to take chances she might not otherwise have taken. She takes a customer aboard her airship when she's looking for cargo in Waldron's Gate. She knows that he's being followed by someone, but she's not pleased to learn that the ones following him is actually sent by the government. She's already flirting with the wrong side of the law as it is, flying with an expired license, so she can't just turn around and hand him over. While having various kinds of struggles on board with her mysterious passenger, the ship gets company; The Alterran military fleet is pursuing them. Mel chooses a dangerous way out of that situation, and puts everyone on board at risk when she enters the Fog that surrounds Alterra, which is filled with horrors and monsters.
The book is set in a vivid steampunk world.It's part of Engine World, but it stands fine on its own, so even if you haven't read any other stories in this world, you'll learn everything you need to know here. The specifics of the world is very smoothly woven into the story, without it ever feeling like an info dump. Great writing with both action and adventure.
An earlier version of this story can be found in the anthology "Beyond the Gate", but the author has added extra meat to this stand-alone. I have read both, and even if you've read the anthology version, I recommend that you pick this one up too.
Book two is coming out later this year, and I can't wait to read it!
The book is set in a vivid steampunk world.It's part of Engine World, but it stands fine on its own, so even if you haven't read any other stories in this world, you'll learn everything you need to know here. The specifics of the world is very smoothly woven into the story, without it ever feeling like an info dump. Great writing with both action and adventure.
An earlier version of this story can be found in the anthology "Beyond the Gate", but the author has added extra meat to this stand-alone. I have read both, and even if you've read the anthology version, I recommend that you pick this one up too.
Book two is coming out later this year, and I can't wait to read it!
August 1, 2015
Clockwork Scoundrels is a rollicking adventure set not on the high seas, but rather, high in the sky. Follow the courageous but headstrong captain Melanie Locke and her crew as they chart a new course on the airship Misty Morning.
This is a fun read that you’ll instantly enjoy. The opening scene paints a picture of a steampunk world that drops you right into the moment. The characters are clever and interesting. The story moves quickly and before you know it, you’ll be drawing to the end, anxious, I imagine, for more.
If you’re looking for an entertaining read that will quickly pull you in and you like a good adventure story with character’s you’ll want to get to know better, this one is for you. I’m looking forward to following more of their exploits in the upcoming 2nd book.
This is a fun read that you’ll instantly enjoy. The opening scene paints a picture of a steampunk world that drops you right into the moment. The characters are clever and interesting. The story moves quickly and before you know it, you’ll be drawing to the end, anxious, I imagine, for more.
If you’re looking for an entertaining read that will quickly pull you in and you like a good adventure story with character’s you’ll want to get to know better, this one is for you. I’m looking forward to following more of their exploits in the upcoming 2nd book.
August 2, 2015
Fantastic adventure!
Captain Melanie Locke and her merry band of misfits provide action packed entertainment in this first installation. Fast paced and fun, this is a fantastic introduction to what I hope will be many adventures.
Captain Melanie Locke and her merry band of misfits provide action packed entertainment in this first installation. Fast paced and fun, this is a fantastic introduction to what I hope will be many adventures.
April 29, 2019
Fantasy flight
Not sure if I truly like this story or not but have decided that the characters on the vessel are interesting enough to try the second book. Now that's a plus! It didn't hold my interest as well as it should, I read two other books before finishing this one. Maybe the second one will hold my interest more. I'll give this author that much, then we'll see.
Not sure if I truly like this story or not but have decided that the characters on the vessel are interesting enough to try the second book. Now that's a plus! It didn't hold my interest as well as it should, I read two other books before finishing this one. Maybe the second one will hold my interest more. I'll give this author that much, then we'll see.
February 21, 2019
You can see the parallels to Firefly but this stands on its own as well. There is good world-building, interesting characters and good adventure. It is also not that long. Sometimes that is exactly what you are looking. A good return for your time even if it is not large blocks of it.
March 10, 2017
Anyone can read and enjoy
Good clean tale of swashbuckling adventure set in another place and time. Easy to read and enjoy. Looking forward to the sequel.
Good clean tale of swashbuckling adventure set in another place and time. Easy to read and enjoy. Looking forward to the sequel.
May 9, 2019
A new series for summer!
I really like this start to a new series for summer. And it's part of a larger series. I'm hooked. A new fan!
I really like this start to a new series for summer. And it's part of a larger series. I'm hooked. A new fan!
July 9, 2021
Grabbed me from the first page.
This was an excellent story. It grabbed me from page one, and I look forward to reading book two next. Highly recommend.
This was an excellent story. It grabbed me from page one, and I look forward to reading book two next. Highly recommend.
February 6, 2018
Ok read
It’s a good read, gives an ok character development and interesting world building and is for those interested in steampunk
It’s a good read, gives an ok character development and interesting world building and is for those interested in steampunk
October 5, 2016
Not a bad beginning
This has all of what you can expect from a story about a sky ship, its captain and the crew. I would be interested in reading more.
This has all of what you can expect from a story about a sky ship, its captain and the crew. I would be interested in reading more.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews