The Eternal Machine: Dark Fantasy Romance (Take me to Iverbourne)

Review
Truely immersive story of Fae and magic. Novak had me right from the beginning. Loved the steampunk edge of this story. -G.R Thomas
Dark Steampunk Fantasy with High stakes Adventure, Spicy Romance, Inclusive Cast
Keeper of Death is quite a fitting name for a villain, and yet Lythienne finds herself as the only Fae who can save Iverbourne.
Born as an Empty Fae, she is sent into the Eternal Mountain, a prison designed for the most malicious, blood thirsty and cursed creatures alive. Her crime, along with so many other creatures, is being Lesser than the grand High Fae who rule the divided lands above.
Aether rules Iverbourne, a whimsical land ravaged by long held prejudices, unkind to all those without magic. The Others are a mysterious court to the south, kidnapping and murdering all those on their path through the continent.
Only a Fae without Aether can wield the mysterious Harbinger, a weapon of mass destruction needed to defeat the epic evil taking over the realm. The elegant call of immense power corrupts most, especially those who have been mistreated.
Dangerous lust, high stakes adventure and loyal companionship are thrust into Lyth’s life, but can she be the Hero after playing the Villain for so long? After all, why would you want to save a world that wants to see you buried six feet under?
Perhaps this isn’t a hero saves the day story. Perhaps, this is the origin story of the Deadliest Fae alive.
From the Author
'In a place far from here, High Fae are Power. High Fae are Magic.
But, we are not in a place far away. We are right here.
We work for The Eternal Machine, the beast conjuring magic and fueling the lands. Crimes of all kinds are welcome in this mountain, but you leave your magic behind. Rather, it's taken from you. Not that I know what that feels like.
Minutes pass, the only sound is made by leather boots and a whining engine.
I pause, halting before the foreman. A Grasshopper before a Bear. I snatch his dark matted beard and yank him down, tough knees meet rock. Dull emeralds shine for a moment, his jaw tightens. My soft face brushes against his filthy cheek, and my full lips meet a pointed ear.
A lover threatening sweet nothings.
"Darling, what's this?"
A wicked smile lights my features as I pull back to bask in the crackling smoke reflecting in his eyes. I release his furred face, patting his cheek harshly. I wipe away the ash left by his surly cheek on my own, and the sickly sweet Aether filling the air rushes into my nose.
I have to humiliate him.
He, along with the others, need to hate me even more than they already do.
They need to fight.
"I'm sure this is a misunderstanding." I taunt, words dripping with poison. I waste no time returning to the front of the group. Unsheathing the dagger strapped to my right thigh, it's dark obsidian blade shines as I twirl it between my fingers with precision. I caress it with long fingers and bring the black blade to my pale lips, leaving a smiling kiss on the tip.
The Bear narrows his eyes, shifting his gaze to me. If I didn't have everyone's attention before, I certainly do now. I'm sure even through the goggles they can all see the darkness in my eyes, lacking pupils and emotion. Nothing can hide that.'
This scene right here started it all. A disabled, short and fiesty woman bringing this behemoth of a man to his knees with a steampunk machine whirring out of control in the background. I wanted a female character who was the opposite of a typical chosen one. She eats like a horse, drools in her sleep and has a foul mouth, not to mention the fact she's in constant chronic pain and is the definition of an underdog.
Shortly after writing Lythienne and Panrauth, a certain pirate crew we meet later on steal the show, earning themselves prequels and side novellas with their adventures. Soft boys with big hearts hiding depression, warrior princes with martyr complexes and rebellious Captains with dysfunctional childhoods. The characters in