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Boneshaker

"She is a murderer!" Everything changed for Anaiah Ross when she inadvertently killed someone following her first unexpected Shift into her wolf. Now hated, abused, and mistreated by the members of her pack, her fated mate, Alpha Amos, rejected her instantly and ordered her thrown into the dungeons. Her heart shattered almost instantly and begrudgingly, accepted his rejection, resigning herself to a life of misery at the mercy of her pack. But on her eighteenth birthday, fate seemed to take pity on her and revealed her Second Chance mate as non other than a dangerous and powerful Lycan King, but Amos realizes that he simply can't let her go. With two men fighting for her attention and desperate to win her love and acceptance, her life becomes increasingly complicated. Anaiah discovers sinister plots at work and fights to discover the true power that will change the course of her life for good, making her the prime target for the evil that lurks in the shadows. Can Anaiah survive the evil thrown at her and finally, find happiness with the man that she chooses? Or will she succumb to the darkness and lose herself, and everything she knows completely? Trigger warning: The first chapters of the book contains Abuse. Read at your own risk.

9.3

174 Chapters

Tempted by My Brother's Best Friend (Age Gap Romance)

He is a 10 but he is a decade older than me, my brother’s best friend, a therapist who wants to counsel me and... he likes to hurt little girls like me. “What were you doing this morning?” “I was meditating.” He is right. I am a terrible liar. Aiden raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?” He waited for my answer, crossing his arms over his chest. I got distracted by the way his biceps bulged. He noticed me staring. I glanced down at my lap, twiddling my thumbs. “Y-yes, Doctor Aiden, I was meditating and I-I focused on my breath like you taught me—” “Why are you lying to me, Ivy?” My head snapped at him. “I-I am not lying.” Aiden tilted his head and my throat went dry when he said, “Then why did I hear your voice moaning my name when you orgasmed with your fingers inside you?" He is her first love. She is his best friend's little sister. Will a chance reunion lead to true love? I was a good girl. An honor student. A dutiful daughter, sister and a sweet girlfriend to my boyfriend until I found him in my best friend’s bed. I didn’t want goody-two-shoe nice boys who gave me empty promises. What I wanted was a man who wouldn’t hurt me. When I found my brother’s best friend, Aiden Stone, with only a towel around his hot Greek body dripping wet from a shower, I decided that what I wanted, what I had been wanting for years, was him. The only problem? He is a decade older than me, my brother’s best friend, a therapist who wants to counsel me and... he likes to hurt little girls like me.

9.5

198 Chapters

Ruthless Mate

A gasp escaped past her lips when she felt his tongue licking her skin where her neck meets her shoulder. Her heart drummed in her ears. Her chin quivering and her body trembling. A jolt of electrifying jolts ran down her body as his lips gave soft feathery kisses on her neck. She was a nervous mush in his arms. "Sweet," He rasped in his deep baritone voice. She stiffened, even more, when his nose caressed her jawline and he inhaled her scent. She was squished against his hard muscular chest and all she could feel and inhale was him. His big veiny hands, his muscular steel-like arms around her waist, and his sinful lips. "Your scent...mhmm... so f*cking addicting," a growl reverberated from his chest. "S...stop," She stuttered. "Shss..." The rough pad of his thumb caressed her lips.

9.7

104 Chapters

You Can Run But You Can't Hide My Contractual Wife

"Let me borrow your husband for one night and I spare your dad's life." Trishia Meyer, the daughter of the Senator said. Arabella Jones was dumbfounded. She had to make a choice. To saved her father's company, Arabella had agreed to marry the evil billionaire, Bill Sky. They were bound to meet again after their coincidental kissed that night. They agreed to sign a non-disclosure contract and they swore not to love each other. Sacrificing herself to be with the domineering cold man and turning a blind eye to his sexual affairs with other women were some of the things she needed to endure everyday. Marriage with no love. Now that she conceived his baby, he wanted it to be aborted instantly. She thought that the baby inside her tummy would bring them closer together but he accused her on deceiving him. He looked at her as a two-timer and the worst gold digger. Arabella Jones then made a promise to herself that she would do everything to live a happy life with her baby away from him. Little did she knew, it's not for her to decide, that if the billionaire's wrath would allow her.

8.7

514 Chapters

CEO's Tears Over Pregnancy Test Discovery

After getting drunk, Nash persistently called out the name of the one he longed for but could never have. The next day, awakening with no recollection, he demanded, "Find the woman from last night!""..."Ultimately, Nina became completely disheartened. Soon, Nash received a divorce agreement citing, "The wife desires children, while the husband's infertility has led to the breakdown of the relationship!"As he read it, his entire face darkened. One evening, as Nina returned home from work, she found herself cornered on the stairs: "How can you divorce without my consent?”Nina retorted, "If you're incapable, why shouldn't I find someone who is?"Later that night, Nash wanted to prove his capability to Nina. However, Nina pulled out a pregnancy test report from her bag, further infuriating Nash: "Whose child is it?"He scoured everywhere for the father of the child, swearing to exact revenge! Little did he know, it would lead back to him...

8.4

2032 Chapters

The Dark Side Of Fate

Books 1 and 2 In a world where it is almost impossible to find a fated mate and hard to reject them, Tamia finds herself in a bind when her husband suddenly finds his fated mate. From the loved and wanted wife, she faded into the shadows of his heart. The heartbreak is intense, yet she can't let go because of the ties that bind them, but she knows only true freedom can bring her peace. So when an opportunity to escape her husband's pack presents itself by virtue of sacrifice, she takes it and does not look back. Fate might have decided to rob her of her joy, her home and her happy ending, but Tamia takes destiny into her hands and decides to create her own fate with the Dark Alpha.

9.8

932 Chapters

What Is The 'Boneshaker' Machine In The Novel?

4 answers2025-06-18 16:50:27

The 'Boneshaker' in the novel is this terrifying, clattering monstrosity—a steam-powered drill designed to tear through rock and flesh alike. Imagine a locomotive’s engine shrunk down to nightmare size, fitted with jagged rotary blades that scream like a banshee when they spin. It’s not just a tool; it’s a symbol of industrial brutality, wielded by the book’s villains to carve tunnels through sacred burial grounds, desecrating the dead for profit.

The machine earns its name from how it vibrates, shaking the bones of anyone nearby—operators included. Its fumes poison the air, and its noise drives men mad. But what’s fascinating is how the author twists it into a metaphor: progress at the cost of humanity. The protagonist, a scrappy miner’s daughter, sabotages it not just to save her town but to reclaim what the machine stole—dignity, memory, and a connection to the land. The 'Boneshaker' isn’t just metal; it’s greed made manifest.

Is 'Boneshaker' Part Of A Series?

4 answers2025-06-18 06:57:55

Absolutely! 'Boneshaker' kicks off Cherie Priest's 'Clockwork Century' series, a gritty steampunk saga set in an alternate-history Civil War-era America. The novel introduces a world where airships dominate the skies and zombies—called "rotters"—roam the ruins of Seattle, poisoned by the toxic gas from the Boneshaker drill. The series expands with books like 'Dreadnought' and 'Ganymede,' each exploring different corners of this war-torn, mechanically twisted universe.

What makes it stand out is how Priest weaves standalone adventures into a larger tapestry. You get fresh protagonists in each book, but recurring elements like the Union’s steam-powered tech or the Confederate’s undead experiments tie everything together. It’s perfect for readers who love immersive world-building with a side of brass goggles and zombie mayhem.

Who Is The Main Antagonist In 'Boneshaker'?

4 answers2025-06-18 21:30:10

The main antagonist in 'Boneshaker' is Dr. Leonidas Wilkes, a brilliant but ruthless inventor whose unchecked ambition unleashes chaos. He creates the Boneshaker, a machine that accidentally unleashes a toxic gas, turning Seattle into a ruined wasteland. Wilkes is a classic mad scientist—charismatic yet devoid of empathy, willing to sacrifice lives for progress. His legacy lingers in the Blight, the poison-infested streets, and the rotters, the gas’s undead victims.

What makes him chilling is his absence; he’s long dead, yet his inventions haunt the living. The survivors grapple with his mistakes, making him a villain whose shadow stretches beyond the grave. The story paints him through rumors and wreckage, a ghostly figure whose genius birthed nightmares. His daughter, Briar, fights to undo his damage, adding emotional weight to his villainy.

Does 'Boneshaker' Have A Movie Adaptation?

4 answers2025-06-18 05:02:40

I’ve dug deep into this because 'Boneshaker' is one of those steampunk gems that feels ripe for the big screen. Cherie Priest’s novel has that cinematic blend of zombies, airships, and a gritty alternate-history Seattle. But here’s the kicker: no official movie exists yet. There’s been chatter about adaptations since the book blew up, with fans casting dream directors like Guillermo del Toro for its visceral world. The closest we got was a 2019 rumor of a TV series in development, but it’s gone radio silent. The book’s visual flair—toxic gas, mechanical limbs, and a mother’s relentless quest—would translate brilliantly, but Hollywood’s slow to bite. For now, we’re stuck imagining how cool that brass-infested chaos would look in IMAX.

What’s wild is how 'Boneshaker' dodges adaptation hell despite its cult status. Maybe it’s the budget needed for those sprawling set pieces, or studios fearing steampunk’s niche appeal. Meanwhile, fans stitch together trailers using clips from 'Mortal Engines' or 'The Nevers,' but it’s not the same. Priest’s lore deserves more than fan edits—it needs a director who’ll weaponize its chaos properly.

Where Is The Setting Of 'Boneshaker' Located?

4 answers2025-06-18 07:37:07

Cherie Priest's 'Boneshaker' plants its roots in a gripping alternate-history Seattle, reshaped by disaster and desperation. The city’s ruins sprawl under a toxic yellow fog—courtesy of the failed Boneshaker drill that unleashed chaos. Walls now divide the wealthy from the wasteland, where outlaws and survivors scrape by. The Underground, once sewers, became a labyrinth of hideouts and mad science labs. Clockwork airships drift above, patrolling like mechanical vultures. Priest’s Seattle feels alive, its grime and gears etched into every scene—a character as compelling as the humans battling within it.

What fascinates me is how the setting mirrors the novel’s themes. The Blight gas isn’t just a hazard; it’s a metaphor for unchecked ambition. The walled city echoes class divides, while the airships symbolize fragile hope. Even the name 'Boneshaker' ties to the machine that doomed the city—a neat parallel to the shaking of lives and loyalties in the plot. This isn’t just backdrop; it’s storytelling woven into brick and fog.

How Does 'Boneshaker' Blend Steampunk And Horror?

4 answers2025-06-18 04:05:04

'Boneshaker' is a masterclass in merging steampunk's gritty innovation with horror's visceral dread. The novel's Seattle is a fog-choked ruin, where towering machines grind alongside undead 'rotters'—zombies born from the toxic gas leaking from inventor Leviticus Blue's disastrous drill. The steampunk elements aren't just aesthetic; they're survival tools. Characters wield pneumatic rifles and clattering airships, but technology feels oppressive, like a ticking bomb. The horror seeps through every gear: the rotters aren't mindless—they remember fragments of their past lives, making their hunger eerily personal.

The real genius lies in how the Blight gas unites both genres. It powers the city's steampunk chaos while mutating corpses, blending mechanical and biological horror. Even the protagonist's mechanical arm, a steampunk staple, becomes a vulnerability when rotter blood corrodes its joints. The dread is amplified by claustrophobic tunnels and the constant hiss of gas masks, where one malfunction means suffocation or worse. Priest doesn't just layer genres—she braids them into something uniquely unsettling.