Mechanica: Mechanica Duology Book 1

A New York Times Bestseller

Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have pushed her into a life of dreary servitude. When she discovers a secret workshop in the cellar on her sixteenth birthday—and befriends Jules, a tiny magical metal horse—Nicolette starts to imagine a new life for herself. And the timing may be perfect: There’s a technological exposition and a royal ball on the horizon. Determined to invent her own happily-ever-after, Mechanica seeks to wow the prince and eager entrepreneurs alike.

But with her cruel stepsisters determined to stand in her way, can one brilliant inventor change her own fate?

• YA Fantasy Novel: Perfect for young adult readers who love smart heroines, dazzling inventions, and a fairy tale with a steampunk twist.
• Inventor Protagonist: Meet Nicolette—known as Mechanica to her stepsisters—a girl who plans to trade her life of servitude for a future built from gears, gadgets, and her own two hands.
• Magical Creatures: When Nicolette discovers her mother's secret workshop, she also finds an unexpected friend: Jules, a tiny, sentient metal horse with a clockwork heart.
• Magic vs. Technology: In a world that has quarantined magic, Nicolette must rely on her mechanical skills to impress the prince at the upcoming royal ball and technological exposition.

“With a unique mix of steampunk and the maker movement, Mechanica introduces a smart, strong, talented heroine who may be able to find her prince, but doesn’t necessarily want to.” —BookPage     “If you are a fan of fantasy or fairy tale retellings, you’ll love Mechanica.” — Miss Literati     “Combines a feminist Cinderella story with a beautiful steampunk world.” —Hypable   “Betsy Cornwell twists Cinderella to her own unique take, and Mechanica will definitely please readers.” —USA Today    “Cornwell creates a diverting plot starring a unique cast of characters.” —RT Book Reviews        “Sure to appeal to fans of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles. . . With a strong focus on making your dreams happen no matter what, this feminist fairy tale breathes new life into an old favorite.” —Bookish     * "A smart, refreshing alternative to stale genre tropes." —Kirkus, starred review   "Mechanica has a thoroughly modern theme and teaches young readers to find their passion and become self-reliant." —VOYA   "Readers looking for an atypical fairy tale will find this refreshing because it relies less on traditional romance or happy endings, and more on living independently and unconventionally, loving freely, and being able to choose your own destiny." —School Library Journal   "Fans of fairy-tale updates will find it easy to lose themselves in this bright, romantic story, whose hero shows she can not only have it all but also do it herself." —Publishers Weekly   "Readers who can't get enough of the growing steampunk trend will happily pick this up."' —Booklist