Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Violence, Graphic violence, Torture, Death, Grief, Panic attacks, PTSD, Suicidal ideation, Racism/bigotry, Xenophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, War, Slavery, Human trafficking, Captivity, Drug use, Alcohol use
The Wonder Engine
by T. Kingfisher
Book 2 in Clocktaur War
Cursed paladin and convicted forger fall in love while trying to dismantle clockwork murder constructs. Funny, dark, and very tender underneath.
Goodreads 4.2/5 17,901 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length366 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice3/5 · Fade to black
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Mutual pining
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Medium
- Fade to black
- The angst delivered
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- Knight/paladin
- Tender / sweet explicit
- Tension finally satisfied
- Secretly soft
- Found family
- Emotional / vulnerable intimacy
- Earned hope
- Cursed
- Morally gray love interest (LI)
- Tension / anticipation
- Found family feels
- Reluctant hero
- Protective love interest
- Longing glances
- Tension
- Anticipation
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Big city / metropolis
- High fantasy
- Humans only
- Forced proximity
- Low fantasy / secret magic
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- Demons
- Steampunk / gaslamp
- Adventure romance
- Bodyguard/protection detail
Reading experience
- Third person
- Dark
- Witty
- Moderate
- Spy/thief
- Mental health rep
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- Humorous
- Dry
- Morally gray
- Adventurous
- Snarky/sarcastic
- Intense
- Character-driven
- Damaged survivor
- Warm
- Tense
- Bittersweet
- Bonds forged in war
- Page turner
- Morally complex
- Enemies forced to ally
- Protect at all costs
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
446 pages Ongoing series
Paladin's Faith
T. Kingfisher
Similar because
Knight/paladin · Spy/thief · Humorous
445 pages Ongoing series
Paladin's Strength
T. Kingfisher
Similar because
Knight/paladin · Humorous · Witty
Different because
Spice is higher (4/5 vs 3/5).
Book details
- Length
- 366 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book