Power Under Pressure

January 1, 2013

The final book in Mayer's steampunk trilogy (The Falling Machine; Hearts of Smoke and Steam) opens with the protagonists trying to find their ground. The events of the Theatre Mechanique have left their mark on Sarah Stanton and her companions; they are vulnerable both physically and emotionally even as Lord Eschaton is gaining in strength. Their only hope lies with Tom the Automaton. But Tom has resisted all attempts at reviving him thus far, and no one is sure whether they will be reviving the Tom Sarah misses or the horrifying creature from the Theatre. As Lord Eschaton's plot to purify New York progresses, options become limited--Sarah and company need Tom, and they need him now, whatever he may be. VERDICT This fitting conclusion is a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure filled with costumed heroes and villains, gadgets, and one magnificent Automaton. Mayer's prose is rich with a tone that will appeal to fans of steampunk as well as the Golden Age of comics.--April Steenburgh, George F. Johnson Memorial Lib., Endwell, NY

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