Gr 8 Up-Grey Haward's life is nothing out of the ordinary. She, like everyone else in her town, spends most of her time trying to avoid the Chemists's noticeboth fearing the powerful alchemists and needing a daily ration of their potion to survive. Life with the Chemists is life in a police state, with violence doled out to those who break the law. When Grey's friend Whit is striped for an offense Grey feels responsible for, she stands up for him, unleashing an inner power and a family secret about a group of fighters long believed extinct. Thrust into a whole new world, Grey must figure out how to channel her newfound abilities in order to save herself and those she cares for. There are many threads in this book, and unfortunately, not all of them are woven successfully. At times, this work reads like two completely separate stories with only the names of the characters as a constant. The connection between the world of Curio and Grey's regular life does not feel fully developed, nor does the Defender/Chemist battle, although this looks to be addressed in a forthcoming prequel. VERDICT Purchase only where there is a ravenous fandom for steampunk and dystopia. Heather Webb, Worthington Libraries, OH