Steampunk is a sub-genre of Science-fiction, that involves a historical setting with steam-powered machinery. An inventive mash-up of future and past that imagines the victorian era’s steam-powered technology. This far exceeded what was possible. It is becoming more and more popular in the last few years (thanks to Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare).
So here are the 10 best Steampunk novels for the ones who need more of this badass, eccentric genre in their lives.
P.S.: All the books have been arranged in alphabetical order because duh, they all are awesome!
#1 Burton & Swinburne Series by Mark Hodder
About the Book
Title: Burton & Swinburne
Author: Mark Hodder
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Snowbooks
Type: Series
No. of Books: 9
Goodreads rating: 3.8/5
Books in it: #1 The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack, #2 The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man, #3 Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon, #4 The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi, #5 The Return of the Discontinued Man, #6 The Rise of the Automated Aristocrats, #7 The Mystery of the Empty Bay, #8 The Disaster at Dale Dyke, #9 The Great Plague of Paris
Sir Richard Francis Burton and Algernon Charles Swinburne, two people at the lowest of their careers and lives, find themselves stuck in a London where pollution is the new air, and murderers and criminals run amok. The technology is out of control. The more the two try to investigate the recent crimes, the more they realize that they need to save the present from the future, as they find their history getting manipulated.
Why do we recommend this book?
The world-building is beyond amazing. Imagine Agatha Christie’s Poirot meets steampunk. The investigation concept of the plot goes hand in hand with character development and the mechanics of the world. It’s a long series, but the books are worth your time.
If you want to buy/gift Burton and Swinburne series Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
#2 Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld
About the Book
Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Type: Series
No. of Books: 3
Books in it: #1 Leviathan, #2 Behemoth, #3 Goliath
Goodreads rating: 4/5
After getting destroyed by his people, Alec is on the run. While a commoner disguised as a male with secrets – Deryn is in constant danger. The world war between Clanker, which relies on machines for weapons and transportation, and Darwinists that rely on genetically altered animals for the same, is on the horizon. And if Ale and Deryn wish to protect their country, they would need all and any allies they could get.
Why do we recommend this book?
It’s a young adult done well. The characters have enough depth to make you care for them, and the world is big enough to get invested in immediately. Plus, the romance is slow-burning and completely worth it.
If you want to buy/gift Leviathan Series Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
#3 Matt Cruse Series by Kenneth Oppel
About the Book
Title: Matt Cruse
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type: Series
No. of Books: 3
Books in it: #1 Airborn, #2 Skybreaker, #3 Starclimber
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Aurora, an airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferries wealthy passengers from city to city. Matt is a cabinboy, happier than he has ever been with his life. He dreams of flying higher when he meets a dying balloonist and learns of the beautiful creatures that drift through the skies. He realizes that the world has much more to offer, much more to dream about. Matt Cruse series follows Matt and his friends as they travel the world in search of new mysteries and human connections.
Why do we recommend this book?
It isn’t entirely steampunk perse, however, it’s got bits and pieces of it. The world-building, especially, is commendable. It is easy to read with very little central threat. A Young Adult books fan would love this book!
P.S.: The 3rd book is available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read this book for free.
If you want to buy/gift Matt Cruise series Book 1, click on the link below: 👇
#4 Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Pip Ballantine
About the Book
Title: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
Author: Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris, Phillipina Ballantine
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Type: Series
No. of Books: 6
Books in it: #1 Phoenix Rising, #2 The Jannus Affair, #3 Dawn’s Early Light, #4 The Diamond Conspiracy, #5 The Ghost Rebellion, #6 Operation: Endgame
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences (or MPO) is a secret organization located in the heart of London. It specializes in dealing with strange cases that leave the normal law enforcement officials baffled. The citizens who washed ashore in the Thames river have been found recently, sometimes drained of blood, sometimes with their skin removed, and sometimes without bones. As soon as Eliza’s former partner becomes a victim, she is devoid of her right to investigate. Thus, she takes the case into her hands along with wellington and sets on to find the truth.
Why do we recommend this book?
It’s a pretty fresh take on this genre. This alternate London is mysterious, cool, and dark, but the plot makes up for it with its dry humor and playful undertone.
If you want to buy/gift Ministry of peculiar Occurrences Series Book-1, click on the link below: 👇
#5 Newbury and Hobbes Series by George Mann
About the Book
Title: Newbury and Hobbes
Author: George Mann
Genre: Mystery, Horror
Publisher: Snowbooks
Type: Series
No. of Books: 6
Books in it: #1 The Affinity Bridge, #2 The Osiris Ritual, #3 The Immorality Engine, #4 The Executioner’s Heart, #5 The Revenant Empress, #6 The Albian Initiative
Goodreads rating: 3.6/5
It’s the Victorian era on the verge of the industrial revolution, where new inventions akin to magic keep the citizens astonished and fascinated every day. And yet, underneath this glory and glamour lies a sinister world. Sir Maurice, Crown’s investigator, and his recently appointed assistant Miss Veronica Hobbes are on the way to investigate an airship crash mystery while a deadly terrifying plague takes hold of Scotland. Newbury and Hobbes Series follow Maurice and Veronica as they examine and solve strange cases occurring in the kingdom while hiding their secrets.
Why do we recommend this book?
Another batman and robin! Please, this investigating shenanigan with two highly incompatible people stuck together trope never gets old! It is one of those series where each book gets better and better along with the characters and their relationships that are flashed out gradually but satisfyingly.
If you want to buy/gift Newbury and Hobbes series Book-1, click on the link below: 👇
#6 New Crobuzon Series by China Miévillen
About the Book
Title: New Crobuzon
Author: China Miévillen
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Publisher: Ballantine Del Rey
Type: Series
No. of Books: 3
Books in it: #1 Perdido Street Station, #2 The Scar, #3 Iron Council
Goodreads rating: 4/5
New Crobuzon is a metropolis city where crimes and betrayals rule, and the courts sentence the criminals to the horrendous Remaking. Isaac is a genius scientist whose research takes a new and mysterious turn once a strange man visits him. Pulled in deeper into the study by his curiosity, Isaac has no idea how his fateful meeting is about to change New Crobuzon, and it’s not going to be for the better.
Why do we recommend this book?
Miévillen’s imagination knows no bounds. This series has different stories in each book, all interconnected to each other, and yet the main plot of it remains the city. It’s a living, breathing nightmare, and this is honestly one of the smartest world-building we have ever come across.
If you want to buy/gift New Crobuzon Series Book-1, click on the link below: 👇
#7 Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger
About the Book
Title: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Humor
Publisher: Orbit
Type: Series
No. of Books: 5
Books in it: #1 Soulless, #2 Changeless, #3 Blameless, #4 Heartless, #5 Timeless
Goodreads rating: 4/5
Alexia is soulless. In this machine-dependent London society where she is living a spinster life, Alexia is horrified by a Vampire trying to kill her, even though she should have expected it. After all, these supernatural have no manners. When she accidentally kills it, the situation only gets worse as Queen Victoria sends the werewolf Lord Maccon to investigate. If Alexia wishes to prove herself innocent, she has to figure out just what exactly is happening to London society, fast.
Why do we recommend this book?
A hilarious blend of supernatural, fantasy, steampunk, and romance, Parasol Protectorate is an amazingly written, humorous, and easy read that is sure to tickle your sides.
If you want to buy/gift Parasol Protectorate series Book-1, click on the link below: 👇
#8 The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
About the Book
Title: The Anubis Gates
Author: Tim Powers
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Ace Books
Type: Standalone
Pages: 387
Goodreads rating: 3.9/5
When Brendan accepted a millionaire’s invitation to act as a guide to time-traveling tourists, the last thing he expected was to get sucked himself into one of the worlds. Getting marooned to Regency London, where dark and dangerous forces know about the gates in time, Brendan starts to learn more about the famous poet whose works he specializes in, along with the true mysteries that surround the time gates.
Why do we recommend this book?
Ok, so it’s more time-traveling than Steampunk. However, the plot has got enough similarities. (Plus, it is tagged as Steampunk. So we won’t question it). The world-building is a little generic, and the characters are just a tad bit bland, but the writing is immaculate, and the mystery is pretty good. This book is perfect for readers who are just getting familiarized with this genre.
If you want to buy/gift The Anubis Gates, click on the link below: 👇
#9 The Clockwork Century Series by Cherie Preist
About the Book
Title: The Clockwork Century
Author: Cherie Preist
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Publisher: Tor Books
Type: Series
No. of Books: 6
Books in it: #1 Boneshaker, #2 Dreadnought, #3 Ganymede, #4 The Inexplicable, #5 Fiddlehead, #6 Jacaranda
Goodreads rating: 3.5/5
The American civil war continued for almost two decades when a country’s greed made a death machine come to life. The first test run of Boneshaker gave devastating results that ultimately steer to the unearthing of a gas vein underground – one that made anyone who breathed it come to life as undead. Sixteen years later, the inventor’s widow and teenage son are struggling hard to survive until he decides to rewrite the mistakes of his father.
Why do we recommend this book?
It’s the steampunk meets zombie genre! It starts slow, but the series is one of the famous novels in this genre. A must-book for sci-fi lovers who are discovering this subgenre.
If you want to buy/gift The Clockwork Century series Book-1, click on the link below: 👇
#10 The Great Iron War Series by Dean F. Wilson
About the Book
Title: The Great Iron War
Author: Dean F. Wilson
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia
Publisher: Dioscuri Press
Type: Series
No. of Books: 6
Books in it: #1 Hopebreaker, #2 Lifemaker, #3 Skyshaker, #4 Landquacker, #5 Worldwaker, #6 Hometaker
Goodreads rating: 4/5
In Altadas, there are no more human births. The two opposing factions include Regime, which replaces the unborn with demons, and Resistance, which is trying to destroy the drug that these demons need to survive. Jacob is a smuggler who can’t care less about the war, but when he inadvertently finds himself a part of it, he starts to realize that being indifferent is a lot harder than he thought, especially when his opponent is Hope.
Why do we recommend this book?
Ooh, this one is good. The world-building feels infinite. And the potential is quite nicely utilized in all the following books. Also those titles? Please, how can one not get curious with this one?
If you want to buy/gift The Great Iron war Series Book-1, click on the link below: 👇
That’s all for the recommendations for now. Now go ahead and devour them asap! Toodles!
P.S: Some books recommended here are available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have subscribed to it, then you can read these books for free. Check out this article: Is Kindle Unlimited Worth It?
SO, to conclude here are 10 best steampunk novels:
| 1. | Burton & Swinburne Series by Mark Hodder | Buy the Book- set |
| 2. | Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld | Buy the Book-set |
| 3. | Matt Cruse Series by Kenneth Oppel | Buy the Book- set |
| 4. | Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Pip Ballantine | Buy the Book -set |
| 5. | Newbury and Hobbes Series by George Mann | Buy the Book-set |
| 6. | New Crobuzon Series by China Miévillen | Buy the Book-set |
| 7. | Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger | Buy the Book- set |
| 8. | The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers | Buy the Book |
| 9. | The Clockwork Century Series by Cherie Preist | Buy the Book-set |
| 10. | The Great Iron War Series by Dean F. Wilson | Buy the Book-set |
All the books mentioned in the list of best steampunk novels are in some ways or the other, similar to The Hunger Games. Do check them out.
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Happy Reading and Keep Smiling!!
Great article post.Much thanks again. Really Cool.