The Victorian Gothic wardrobe accented with large goggles. A film of smoke dusking cobblestone streets. Engines roaring to life and sending aircraft into the sky. This kind of scene piqued interests across an alternative reading demographic, making its mark on pop culture. Delving into the Steampunk wave that crashed through the 2010s, this subgenre is recognizable for its use of steam-powered machinery in dystopian settings and stylized look. In a vacuum, Steampunk is retro futuristic — taking inspiration from historical inventions and style — leaning into the dark, industrial gothic aesthetic.
If you crave that peak 2010s Steampunk nostalgia, we have some book series suggestions that will thrust you right back into that mechanically-powered world. And, if you want to continue on the subgenre’s niche journey in the current decade, stick around till the end of this list.
Leviathan (Leviathan, #1) by Scott Westerfeld
With the buzz of its new Netflix anime adaptation release set for this year, we are met with a revitalized excitement for the Leviathan trilogy.
In book one, Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, a girl disguises herself as a boy in her quest to become a pilot in the male-dominated world of reimagined World War I. Meanwhile, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne must escape persecution from his people. The interwoven plots of these main characters amplify an otherworldly historical backdrop, filled with new machines, adventure, and Darwinism that is bound to keep you engaged.
Everfair by Nisi Shawl
What if the African natives developed steam power ahead of their colonial oppressors?
This question drives the reimagined history of Belgium’s horrific colonization of Congo under King Leopold II. Looking for more diversity in the — admittedly — very Eurocentric subgenre, Everfair is a mesmerizing tale that’s historically informed and fantastical. Working in the favor of African natives, the implementation of industrial advancements during this time makes Shawl’s story a speculative wonder. This book is a perfect example of Steampunk in setting and fictionalization, but also because it forces the reader to look at a time in history that should be spoken of with more care.
The Half-Made World (The Half-Made World, #1) by Felix Gilman
“Felix Gilman’s The Half-Made World takes the brutality of the Wild West and twists it into an epic fantasy that left me staggered. It brings the sense of wonder back to fantasy by creating a complex and visceral world unlike anything I’ve read. This is a stunning novel.”
—Mary Robinette, Kowal
In a half-made world, a war-torn society is left with the dwindling hope of reconstruction after succumbing to the machine advancements that have left important history behind, but something is bound to change when a nameless, forgotten general has the opportunity to change everything with a memory. Innovative and utterly creative, we follow characters in an imagined world that’s uniquely Steampunk and Western.
The Court of the Air (Jackelian, #1) by Stephen Hunt
This book stirred hefty mixed reviews, with one GoodReads reader comparing it to a sort of speculative orgy (mixed review), while another claims to have been stalked by the book (they didn’t like it), and another thought it built an absolutely exquisite Steampunk world.
Airships, orphans, secret organizations, and ruthless criminals. When Molly finds herself in the middle of violent attacks on those around her, she must reconcile with her powerful secret as she flees across the country and connects with friends along the way. The Court of the Air is the first in the Jackelian series by Stephen Hunt.
Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices, #1) by Cassandra Clare
Written for the Young Adult audience, Infernal Devices still holds its own with adult audiences and is worth reading for enjoyers of fantasy and dabblers in romance.
The first novel, Clockwork Angel, introduces us to orphaned girl Tessa as she searches for her missing brother in late 1800s London. Things take a wild turn when she is abducted by members of a secret organization known as the Dark Sisters, and she discovers her supernatural abilities as a shapeshifter, known as a Downworlder. With high stakes in power scales, a Gothic Fantasy setting of an imagined Victorian London, and Cassandra Clare’s knack for the peculiar and bold, Clockwork Angel is a great introduction to Steampunk.
Now, here’s when things get new in Steampunk. In honor of the subgenre’s prevalent book releases in the 2020s. We are highlighting two more surprise titles that keep the innovation of Steampunk alive.
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
“A delightful whodunnit full of sly commentary and a wonderfully lived-in steampunk Cairo.”
Rebecca Roanhorse on GoodReads
As the youngest woman working in the Ministry of Alchemy, Fatma el-Sha’arawi is called in on the murder case, which is rumored to have been the doings of a magical, transformative man who disappeared after changing the foundations of society 50 years prior. An ode to the magical and mundane, Clark’s A Master of Djinn tells a fantastic tale of civil unrest, revolution, and the supernatural.
The Floating World by Axie Oh
Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining of the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.
Living in the Under World, Sunho takes on odd jobs after waking up with only a sword in hand and his memories wiped. When a high-paying bounty is announced for any mercenary who could track down a girl with magical powers, Sunho is determined to get his payout and join the hunt. But when Ren, the girl with ancient powers and the bounty over her head, sets off on her own journey to save her ill family member, the two unlikely characters will cross paths and join an expedition that connects them to more than they realize…
There are more new Steampunk books that deserve their flowers, too. Keeping up with a budding series is something we take for granted as readers searching for nostalgia in our fantasy. Keep your favorite subgenres alive by plugging the authors that keep them breathing in this decade, and most importantly, happy reading!
If you’re interested in some Science Fiction recs, we have even more here.
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