I started writing Steampunk, a sort of alternative Victoriana, in 2013.
To find out more about how it all developed, CLICK HERE.
Read on to find out more about my Steampunk novels.
In Norlandia, a world of Steam and Clockwork, evil forces are at play.
Norlandia is a country in the midst of change, the old order is collapsing yet those in power
seek to hold on to what they have. Join Horis Strongman in The Rocks of Aserol and
A New Life in Ventis, as he battles to survive the wrath of those in power.
Meet the Orphan Detectives in The Sensaurum and the Lexis.
They’re a secret group of agents, dedicated to keeping the realm safe from all its foes.
Enjoy their second adventure in The Safety of the Realm.
Steampunk series
The Rocks of Aserol
What is the secret of Waster Mine?
Horis Strongman is a man on a mission. Sent to discover the truth behind a strange message from the provincial city of Aserol, he stumbles upon a secret.
One that could change the balance of power in Norlandia.
In this world, mighty machines of metal are powered by Steam and Clockwork. Coal is King.
Because of what Horis discovers, those in power want him silenced, whatever the cost.
Horis is forced to run for his life, aided by those who can prove his innocence and unsure of whom he can trust.
One thing is for certain. His life, and Norlandia itself, will never be the same again.
A review
“A cracking read, which rattles along apace as our protagonist tries to avoid both frying pan and fire when he is sent to investigate an incident at a mine. What starts as a seemingly straightforward assignment soon spirals out of his control – if, indeed, he ever had control of it – and he is plunged into damage control mode, aided by a feisty heroine and a group of retired soldiers, in order to clear his name. The steampunk world is well-crafted and easy to visualise, bringing the story beautifully to life. The ending was a little abrupt for my liking, but ultimately successful, as it left me wanting to know what happened to the characters next, as well as what happened with some unresolved issues in the wider world.”
A New Life in Ventis
Some men thirst for adventure, all Horis Strongman ever wanted was a quiet life.
Robbed of that by the events in Aserol and Northcastle, surely a trip to the Western Isles will allow him peace. New discoveries await him in these foreign lands.
Meanwhile, those who were against him have recovered and can still do him harm.
Before he and those he cares for can be truly safe, he must face his foes again, and this time, the stakes are raised.
By the time his journey ends, he will find that he has allies in the strangest places; for the final confrontation that he hopes will secure his future.
A review
“Good gravy, what a fabulous book!
I found Rocks of Aserol to be a bit dry in places, and it took off slowly, but A New Life In Ventis took off with a bang, and kept up the tempo throughout the entire story. I really liked that there wasn’t a gap between the books, so no backtracking to explain what happened. My goodness, the scrapes Grace and Horis found themselves in! At times, I found myself thinking what else could go wrong for them?! Though somehow by sheer grace alone, they pulled through everything, and good prevailed!
This author certainly has a knack for taking a storyline that could be heavy and depressing, and while keeping it fantastically detailed, keep it light enough to be easy to read.”
The Sensaurum and the Lexis.
Is Jackson Thwaite ready to discover the secret of Makewright Orphanage?
Although he doesn’t know it, he has been selected to be part of something vital to the land of his birth.
Norlandia is a country under threat, as never before. The old heroes are but a memory, while evil forces gather, seeking power.
They are armed with the latest devices that perverted science has devised.
Control of Norlandia and everyone in it is their ultimate aim.
Who will stand in their way?
Under the command of the mysterious Mortimer Langdon, all that stands between civilisation and anarchy are Jackson and the rest of The Orphan Detectives.
A Review
The story follows Jackson, a young man who has spent the last six years of his life behind the orphanage’s walls. He hasn’t seen the city beyond in all that time. His life is nothing special. He sits through lessons he has no interest in, carries out chores and does his best to dodge the bullies and make it through another day. That is until he finds himself recruited into a secret order of detectives working with the man in charge of the orphanage, and ultimately for the country’s protection.
Then his life is turned upside down. Lessons in self-defence, how to scale walls, how to find his way around the city and how to maintain a cover story start, to name a few. Lessons that Jackson has no problem with. Along with his new friend Jessamine, he finds himself thrown headfirst into his new role in life, investigating a serious threat that could harm the nation and its people.
The story is exciting, and the character development is fantastic. Some characters are engaging others cold and distant, a testament to Dee’s character building. The world is rich and vibrant and feels like exactly the sort of place I picture when thinking of steampunk. I’m a huge fan of Richard Dee’s books and would go out on a limb saying this is by far my favourite of his books so far! I look forward to seeing what comes next for the Orphan Detectives.
The Safety of the Realm.
Fresh from their recent adventures, Jackson and Jessamine are newly-wed and on holiday, aboard the luxury liner King Leopold.
Their destination, the fabled Western Isles, lands of mystery and scene of many a recent battle.
After what they have been through, it should be a time of rest and recuperation, of seeing the wonders of life in foreign parts.
They find that their voyage is filled with intrigue, everyone has a secret to hide. Life on the ocean wave is no life of leisure.
Then there is the visitor in foreign parts, with his devastating news.
They learn that their holiday is over, that they are needed to fight a new foe.
This threat is borne of a new way of waging war, against which Norlandia has no defence, unless the plans for the destruction of everything they hold dear are retrieved and delivered.
There will be no rest for the Orphan Detectives, until this threat is dispatched.
A review.
Jackson and Jessamine are enjoying a well-deserved break for their honeymoon aboard a luxury cruise to the Spice Islands. While aboard, they enjoy all the luxuries the ship has to offer, and met an eclectic group of passengers with them. As the cruise unfolds, what seemed like quirks in some of their fellow guests start to arouse suspicions in the newlyweds.
More and more unusual events unfold, before receiving word that there is a plot against their country, one they must put their honeymoon on hold to unravel. The more they uncover about their fellow guests, the more troubling the situation becomes. Their kidnap, imprisonment and forced labour at the hands of a nefarious foe finally reveals the scope of a troubling plot that would have dire consequences should it not be thwarted soon.
Once again, Richard Dee has demonstrated his mastery of the art of story telling. The story is filled with the perfect amount of jeopardy to raise the tension and deliver the pace. The world is rich, suitably filled with Victoriana to suit the steampunk setting. There are wonderful, futuristic creations that are almost magical and yet still entirely believable within the world.
I love Jackson and Jessamine in their first outing, and that has only strengthened in this book. I look forward to seeing what comes next for the daring duo and their employers!
