Steam World
Steam World is a new series of fantasy novels by Andy Coughlan.
Book 1 - At the World's Turn, coming soon!
Iátha, or Steam World to its inhabitants, is a world where dragon-like Báleo and humans have battled for aeons. The humans, through their cunning and engineering skill, thought they had won, reducing the Báleo to shadows of their former glory.
Aona Breid never imagined a life beyond his job wrangling performing cats in a travelling circus. But when the teenager comes face-to-face with a terrifying Báleo in the middle of a feeding-frenzy, he thinks his days are done. Instead, the Báleo gifts him magical abilities, unveiling a world of power and difficult choices to the innocent circus-boy.
Separated from his Báleo, Aona is swept into the town of Rei Rhiol, where he encounters its strange leader, known as the Bheidír. Barely has the circus set up its tent when Aona's young cousin, Aimia, is kidnapped. Aona investigates, joined by his newfound allies — Tio, a quick-witted rogue, and Meg, a determined apprentice wizard. They begin to uncover a sinister plot where more children have been abducted and the truth concealed.
Aona's Báleo tracks him down, which incites the Bheidír's wrath due to his peculiar loathing of the creatures. Meg explains that if, like her, Aona wishes to join the ranks of the Tiána, a sect of powerful and noble wizards, he must undergo a harrowing bonding session with his Báleo. Despite his fears, Aona forges ahead with the transformative ritual.
As they unravel the mystery, Aona, Tio, and Meg rescue a little girl who has escaped the kidnappers, revealing that the Bheidír is the mastermind behind the conspiracy. He is a Dócrua, a formidable dark wizard, intent on awakening a monstrous creature hibernating beneath the town.
Aona must overcome his terrors and harness his magical abilities to thwart the Bheidír's nefarious plan. With Tio and Meg at his side, they must vanquish both the monster and the Bheidír before an unstoppable wave of destruction is released. Failure would mean the loss of countless innocent lives and the obliteration of everything that Aona and his people hold dear.