Boneshaker cover art

Boneshaker

A Novel of the Clockwork Century

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Boneshaker

By: Cherie Priest
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Kate Reading
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About this listen

Cherie Priest's long-awaited steampunk debut, Boneshaker, opens in the early days of the Civil War when rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska's ice. Thus was Dr. Blue's Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue's widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

Science Fiction Steampunk

Critic reviews

“Cherie Priest wove a story so convincing, so evocative, so terrifying that I read this book with the doors locked and a gun on my lap. Boneshaker is a steampunk menagerie of thrills and horror.” —Mario Acevedo, bestselling author of Jailbait Zombie

“This exquisitely imaginative steampunk adventure is a joy to read! My favourite of Cherie's books.” —Cassandra Clare, bestselling author of the Mortal Instruments trilogy

“Everything you'd want in such a volume and much more.... It's full of buckle and has swash to spare, and the characters are likable and the prose is fun. This is a hoot from start to finish, pure mad adventure.” —Cory Doctorow, bestselling author of Little Brother

“Boneshaker is without a doubt Cherie Priest's breakthrough work: this hollering, stamping, crackling thing is the best fun you'll have with a book all year.” —Warren Ellis, bestselling author of Crooked Little Vein

“A gorgeously grim world of deadly gasses, mysterious machines, zeppelin pirates, and a relentless plague of zombies. With Boneshaker, Priest is geared up to begin her reign as the Queen of Steampunk.” —Mark Henry, Author of Road Trip of the Living Dead

“A rip-snorting adventure in the best tradition of a penny dreadful. Priest has crafted a novel of exquisite prose and thrilling twists, populated by folk heroes and dastardly villains, zombies and air pirates, incredible machines and a heroine who'll have you cheering. Boneshaker is the definitive steampunk story, absolutely unique and one hell of a fun read.” —Caitlin Kittredge, author of the Nocturne City novels

“A marvelous book, crammed with readerly pleasures--zombies, pirates, cracking adventures, historical conceits and characters that make you wish you could linger inside it long after turning the final page. Cherie Priest is one of my favorite fantasists.” —Kelly Link, acclaimed author of Magic for Beginners

“If Jules Verne and George Romero got together to rewrite American history it might go something like this. I loved it. I want more.” —Mike Mignola, bestselling author of Hellboy

“If the Wild Wild West had been written by Mark Twain with the assistance of Jules Verne and Bram Stoker, it still couldn't be as fabulous and fantastical as Boneshaker. Cherie Priest has penned a rousing adventure tale that breathes a roaring soul and thundering heart into the glittering skin of Steampunk. Stylish, taut, and wonderful, it's a literary ride you must not miss!” —Kat Richardson, bestselling author of Greywalker

“A steampunk-zombie-airship adventure of rollicking pace and sweeping proportions, full of wonderfully gnarly details. This book is made of irresistible…. It totally pushed all my buttons.” —Scott Westerfeld, bestselling author of Uglies and Peeps

All stars
Most relevant
Well I really listened to it rather than read it. An exciting roller-coaster ride full of gunfights, dirigibles, infernal machines and zombies. But not only that, rounded characters you really care about. A perfect steampunk adventure.

Steampunk Adventure

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loved the book but I couldn't get comfy with the lady reader. something about her inflection on certain words and at the end of almost every scentence. This ment her sections never quite flowed smoothly. However did not spoil the book.

Great book but strangely voice over

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the story had a good flow but failed to get my attention above that contented feeling. .I enjoyed listening but have nothing memerable to take away. ..ho-hum..

it was ok

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The world it creates seem a little poor. Earth with X. The entire premise of historical with a twist has never really appealed to me in such a small change. This while a good book and an interesting starter for a series seems a little less fantasy to me.

I'm not a fan of duel readers however. (unless its it more of a dramatized work) It felt nice to have the two points of view though.

Not what I expected.

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What made the experience of listening to Boneshaker the most enjoyable?

The narrators are brilliant. They bring this story alive

What did you like best about this story?

I love the steampunk clockwork theme with bonus background zombies! i'm looking forward to the movie.

What about Wil Wheaton and Kate Reading ’s performance did you like?

My favorite voice Wil Wheaton does is for the Princess, i get such a mental image of this warrior woman i just want to see what she'll do next. All the characters are well defined and as stated in the title i have and will continue to listen to this great book.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Background Zombies!

Any additional comments?

I just love it=)

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