A Machine Divine - Paperback

by Derek Paul (Author)

"A superb tale of adventure that encompasses dramatic themes for the YA audience, including coming of age, the fickle nature of popularity, and themes of loneliness, acceptance, and true friendship... highly recommended for adults and teens alike, especially those who are fans of accomplished and immersive reads."
★★★★★ K.C. Finn (USA Today Bestseller, Author of "Gaslight Grimoire: Steampunk Collection").

We are not the cogs. We are the cog makers. And this machine runs because of us.

Asher Auden is a biology prodigy whose work led to an economic boom for his rural hometown but has left him feeling isolated and alone. Callendra Saint is an introvert and the town's most prolific, yet reluctant, animal trapper. The two are presented with an opportunity of a lifetime when they are accepted into a prestigious university at the heart of the nation's capital. As they adjust to new surroundings, Callie embraces her independence while Asher's gifts land him the social acceptance he's long desired.

But, they aren't the only new arrivals.

A gas-masked terrorist has begun plaguing the city, poisoning its leaders, and sowing political discord. Equipped with the prowess to develop an antidote, Asher sets out to protect his new friends while enlisting the support of Callie, the only person he can trust. In doing so, he unknowingly ensnares them both in a covert investigation, an ancient society's conspiracies, and the ambitions of a deadly menace.

A Machine Divine is a young adult steampunk fantasy that explores whether the value of acceptance is worth its cost.