Piper has always had a way with machines. She is recognized as the town machinist – even though a young, orphaned teenager. Micah’s music box is in almost perfect condition, amazing for something streaking through the universe. The scrappers scour the earth after each storm, but Micah is too young to beat off the experienced scavengers, so how did he get this box? When Piper presses him, he admits to going out during the storm – a crime punishable by the Consortium, if he even survived the falling debris and deathly dust. Piper implores Micah to stay in during the storms, but when he goes missing during the next storm, Piper rushes into the thick to find her friend. As she searches for Micah, Piper sees a caravan take a direct hit from a meteor. While scavenging the decimated wagon she find a frail girl, barely hanging on.
The only other survivor is soon chasing the mystery girl, a man she calls “The Wolf.” Trying to protect the fragile Anna, Piper hops on a passing train with her, and so begins their adventure on the old steam engine, the 401. Piper is suddenly surrounded by more comfort that she has ever experienced; beds, pillows, food galore! And it’s all thanks to a strange dragonfly tattoo on the arm of her new sister, Anna. The mark means that the king, thereby receiving all she could need or want protects her, including a train ride to the capital. The capital is Piper’s dream – a chance to leave the life of squalor for comfort.
Their journey is interrupted by The Wolf’s many attempts to get Anna. Slave traders, cargo raiders, hand-to-hand combat will all delight the reader in Jaleigh Johnson’s steampunk adventure, The Mark of the Dragonfly.
- Posted by Shanelle