In this thrilling debut, worlds collide as Elsa unveils a deep political conspiracy seeking to unlock the most dangerous weapon ever created--and only she can stop it.

Can she write a world gone wrong?

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation by her mother--a noted scriptologist.

But when her home is attacked and her mother kidnapped, Elsa is forced to cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative Victorian Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of pazzerellone--young people with a gift for mechanics, alchemy, or scriptology--and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

An Imprint Book

"This debut novel is fully realized steampunk-fantasy, offering an alternate history that deftly and creatively adopts the politics of 19th-century Italy to create a compellingly unique world. . . . Exciting and original." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"In the meantime, Clare spins an entertaining adventure tale that also addresses colonialism, inclusion, and musings on the nature of being. . . . This novel is a source of serious fun; a must-have." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Clare's debut is built upon an intriguing premise... A solid series starter featuring a competent, flawed heroine that's built for sf fans." --Booklist

"There's much more to uncover in the political machinations of each world, and a gasp-worthy ending ensures a sequel." --BCCB