Vial Thoughts

DEBUT Essler’s debut novel is a steampunk/mystery amalgam injected with a little horror. In a world where soot rains constantly from the sky and information can be injected into your bloodstream, Lenora Leahill has just inherited her father’s estate after he died under mysterious circumstances. As the Age of Awareness dawns, an old acquaintance of Lenora’s father wants something her father had, something he might have already killed for. There is change in the wind, along with the ash and a plague of madness, and the Age of Awareness could be over before it has really begun. Essler has created a fully realized world that relies heavily on steampunk conventions like steam-driven cars and prosthetics, which is just one way the book leans into body horror. However, featuring Lenora as the protagonist also allows Essler to make some social commentary about classism and sexism. Lenora not only works against those who wish her harm but also those who think her incapable due to her station.