The year is 1893, and war is brewing in the First American Kingdom. Claire Emerson's father is a sought-after inventor, but he believes his genius is a gift granted to him by his daughter's touch, so he keeps Claire under his control. As their province prepares for war Claire plans to escape, even as her best friend, Beatrix, tries to convince her to stay and help with the growing resistance movement that wants to see a woman on the throne. When her...

"Early one November, portraits of the Chief Executives of three major midwestern meat-producing corporations and the governor of Iowa go missing. These incidents seem minor until the dead bodies of the three CEOs are discovered in the hog lots and chicken factories that they own. The governor remains alive but terrified. He immediately orders the state department of criminal investigation to drop all other duties to protect him. The job of investigating...