Mechanica. Mechanica Duology Book 1

A New York Times BestsellerIn this steampunk Cinderella retelling, 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, this YA fantasy heroine seeks to wow the prince and eager entrepreneurs alike with her brilliant inventions. But this fairytale is more than just glass slippers-it's about gears, guts, and gumption. A Fairytale Retelling with a Twist: Instead of a fairy godmother, Nicolette has her mother's hidden workshop, a knack for invention, and a brilliant mind determined to forge her own future.
Steampunk Inventions: In a world powered by imagination, follow Nicolette as she crafts everything from clockwork creatures to her own dazzling entrance to the royal ball. A Touch of Magic: Meet Jules, a tiny mechanical horse with a mind of his own, who becomes Nicolette's most loyal friend and confidant in her dreary life of servitude. Beyond the Happily-Ever-After: In a world of glittering royalty and cutthroat entrepreneurs, Nicolette must decide if a prince is what she truly wants, or if her future lies in building her own empire.