Steampunk Magic and Heartfelt Adventure
Stephanie Cottaââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å"Heartsmith,ââ?¬Â? book 1 in The Heartsmith Series, is a poignant and beautifully crafted tale that invites readers into a world of deep emotional resonance and steampunk magic. At its core, the novel is an adventure, but it is also filled with tenderness and a plucky desire to make things right.
The storyââ?¬â?¢s exploration of the courage required to repair what feels irreparably broken sits at the heart of a fantastical world filled with enchanting detail and lovable characters. With its lyrical prose and evocative storytelling, ââ?¬Å"Heartsmithââ?¬Â? lingers long after the final page.
The titular ââ?¬Å"heartsmithââ?¬Â? is a brilliant metaphor for the theme of restoration threaded throughout the story. The magical system revolves around the art of repairing broken things (ââ?¬Å"tinkeringââ?¬Â?), which serves as a compelling narrative device as hearts, bodies, and more must be mended both figuratively and literally. Cotta weaves magic into the daily struggles of her characters to make the story feel both relatable and otherworldly.
Rendered with just as much care and nuance as the setting are Cotta�s characters. Main character Aaren is a deeply sympathetic figure determined to make it in busy and bustling Rexanberg. His background as a teenage orphan adds a heart-wrenching yet uplifting component to his journey, uncovering a dark plot within the seedy underbelly of the city alongside dauntless Sasha, a journalist with a passion for all things spooky. The pair strike a delicate balance of courage and cunning that few authors manage so adeptly, and the supporting cast is equally well-drawn, each bringing their own complexities and layers to Aaren�s story. Relationships, especially that between Aaren and fairy-like Contract/healing genie Aida, are depicted with heart and wit, adding depth and texture to the narrative.
Cotta�s prose carefully and deftly articulates the smaller, more contained moments of Aaren�s venture into Rexanberg�s many secrets alongside his and Sasha�s bolder choices, making for a quick-paced but enchantingly detailed read. Cotta allows for moments of introspection without losing narrative momentum, which picks up early and is maintained throughout the book. Tension builds steadily and resolution feels earned, although the reader is left begging for more (sure to come in the rest of the series).
ââ?¬Å"Heartsmithââ?¬Â? will appeal to readers who appreciate a character-driven fantasy with strong emotional moments. Fans of authors like Erin Morgenstern and Laini Taylor will likely find much to love here. The novel is a perfect choice for readers looking for a deeply moving tale that also offers moments of whimsy and wonder within a steampunk-style world. If you ever found yourself wondering why there werenââ?¬â?¢t more stories that felt like ââ?¬Å"Treasure Planet,ââ?¬Â? this is your next read.
In ââ?¬Å"Heartsmith,ââ?¬Â? Stephanie Cotta has crafted a must-read for fantasy and science fiction lovers alike, blending beloved elements of both genres for a tinkering, twisting tale that is not just about fixing broken thingsââ?¬"figuratively and literallyââ?¬"but the courage it takes to stand up to corruption and greed, living life fully along the way.
