The Best Steampunk Books You’ve Never Heard Of

Ah, steampunk—the genre where gears, goggles, and gallivanting airships collide in a symphony of brass and adventure. It’s a world where Victorian aesthetics meet futuristic contraptions, and where tea time is just as important as tinkering with Tesla coils. You’ve probably heard of the classics like The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Perdido Street Station by China Miéville, but let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?

Here are some of the best steampunk books you’ve (probably) never heard of, each one a hidden gem polished to a metallic sheen and ready for your eager, soot-streaked hands.

1. The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

Think of this as Sherlock Holmes meets Doctor Who—but with more zeppelins and automatons. Detective Sir Maurice Newbury and his intrepid assistant, Miss Veronica Hobbes, investigate a mysterious airship crash, but before they can make sense of that, zombie-like plague victims and rogue clockwork assassins start causing havoc in London. Mann blends mystery, adventure, and a whole lot of Victorian grit in a way that makes you wish you owned a brass-plated revolver.

2. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Set in an alternate-history Seattle (because why should London get all the steam-powered fun?), this book follows Briar Wilkes as she navigates a city sealed off from the world due to a disastrous mining accident that unleashed toxic gas, turning people into the undead. Boneshaker is a rip-roaring adventure with airships, zombies, and one seriously tough mother on a mission. It’s steampunk with a side of survival horror—what’s not to love?

3. Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina

What do you do when your posh Victorian life crumbles beneath you? If you’re Claire Trevelyan, you roll up your lace-trimmed sleeves and build your own future—literally. Claire, a young noblewoman-turned-inventor, carves out a name for herself in the underground world of London’s street gangs, crafting a new destiny with her mechanical genius. If you like plucky heroines who don’t wait around for a dashing rogue to save them, this book is for you.

4. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

If you like your steampunk with a dash of alternate history and bioengineering, Leviathan is a must-read. Set in an alternate World War I where the British Empire fights with living airships made of genetically modified creatures while the Central Powers roll out massive steam-powered war machines, this book is a whirlwind of adventure. And let’s not forget Deryn, the cross-dressing heroine who joins the military disguised as a boy. A perfect mix of science fiction and history with a stylish brass coating.

5. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Before it was an ambitious but ultimately doomed movie, Mortal Engines was an absolutely phenomenal book. Imagine cities on wheels—gigantic, lumbering metropolises that roam a post-apocalyptic wasteland, devouring smaller towns to survive. It’s part steampunk, part Mad Max, and entirely a thrill ride. The world-building alone is worth the read, but the swashbuckling adventure keeps you hooked.

6. The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder

What if the world’s greatest explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, teamed up with a poet to solve bizarre crimes involving genetically altered monstrosities and futuristic technology? That’s exactly what happens in this wild, conspiracy-laden story. Featuring the legendary Spring-Heeled Jack—a Victorian-era urban legend turned reality—the book is a fast-paced, genre-bending mix of steampunk, alternate history, and mystery.

7. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

If you love a good airship adventure (who doesn’t?), then Airborn will make your steampunk heart soar. Following young cabin boy Matt Cruse as he gets tangled up in a high-flying mystery involving sky pirates and undiscovered creatures, this book is part Jules Verne, part Treasure Island, and all adventure. Plus, there’s romance, daring rescues, and the ever-present threat of plummeting to one’s doom. Classic.

Final Thoughts

Steampunk isn’t just about gears and corsets (though let’s be honest, they’re a big part of the charm). It’s about adventure, ingenuity, and rewriting history with a bit more pizzazz. These hidden gems offer everything from daring sky battles to detective mysteries, from zombie-infested cities to biologically engineered beasts.

So grab a cup of tea, polish your brass goggles, and dive into one of these underrated steampunk adventures. Just don’t forget to wind your pocket watch—time flies when you’re reading something this good.