Where should I start reading Dru Pagliassotti's books?

If you prefer steampunk, you must start with Clockwork Heart , the first book of her trilogy. If you prefer modern horror, you can read her standalone novel An Agreement with Hell as it is completely self-contained.

Are the books in the Clockwork Heart trilogy standalones?

No. The Clockwork Heart trilogy is a continuous narrative. You should read Clockwork Heart , followed by Clockwork Lies: Iron Wind , and conclude with Clockwork Secrets: Heavy Fire to understand the story.

What is the setting of the Clockwork Heart trilogy?

The series is set in Ondinium , a steampunk city-state defined by its rigid caste system, mechanical clockwork technology, and specialized winged couriers called Icaruses.

Did Dru Pagliassotti write any other novels besides the trilogy?

Yes, she wrote the standalone supernatural horror novel An Agreement with Hell , published in 2010, which takes place on a California college campus.

What awards has Dru Pagliassotti received for her fiction?

Her novel Clockwork Heart won the 2008 RT Book Reviews' Best Small Press Futuristic Novel award, and her short story "Bookmarked" won the 2009 Year's Best Fantasy Writers Award .

Who published the Clockwork Heart series?

The first book, Clockwork Heart , was originally published by Juno Books in 2008. The sequels, Clockwork Lies and Clockwork Secrets , were published in 2014 by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing .

Dru Pagliassotti Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

For readers diving into the bibliography of Dru Pagliassotti, the path is straightforward but highly rewarding. Pagliassotti's work is divided into two distinct domains: her signature steampunk fantasy trilogy and her standalone supernatural horror writing. Because the narratives do not overlap, your choice of where to start depends entirely on your preferred genre.

The Clockwork Heart Trilogy (Steampunk)

If you are here for the ticking gears, political intrigue, and winged couriers, you should read the Clockwork Heart series in its strict narrative and publication order. The story of Ondinium builds sequentially, meaning you cannot read the sequels as standalones without missing critical character development and world-building blocks.

Clockwork Heart (2008) – Introduces the main character, Taya, an Icarus-winged courier who rescues a high-profile target mid-air, thrusting her into a dangerous web of political conspiracies, religious factions, and romance.
Clockwork Lies: Iron Wind (2014) – Continues Taya's adventures as political tensions escalate and new threats to Ondinium's delicate class balance emerge.
Clockwork Secrets: Heavy Fire (2014) – Concludes the trilogy, wrapping up the overarching mysteries and resolving the political struggle for the fate of the city.

The Standalone Horror Novel

For fans of modern horror and urban dark fantasy, Pagliassotti offers a completely separate standalone entry:

An Agreement with Hell (2010) – A chilling story set on a California college campus where the accidental breach of an ancient seal unleashes interdimensional entities. This book is entirely independent of the steampunk trilogy.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Reading Order

There are no chronological deviations or prequels within the primary series, so the publication order aligns perfectly with the chronological timeline of the universe. Readers do not need to worry about jumping back and forth between eras. The first book was originally published by Juno Books in 2008, after which a publishing gap occurred. The remaining two volumes were published in quick succession in 2014 by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing (an imprint of Hades Publications). Because of this gap, reading the trilogy in its original publication sequence is the only way to experience the narrative as the author intended.

Detailed Breakdown of the Clockwork Heart Universe

Setting the Scene: The World of Ondinium

Ondinium is a rigid, highly stratified city-state held together by delicate social contracts, clockwork machinery, and deep-seated religious divides. The population is split into castes, including the metal-winged "Icaruses" who fly between the upper and lower levels to deliver mail, news, and secrets. The class system is physically reflected in the city's architecture, with the wealthiest citizens living in the heights and the lower classes surviving in the shadowy depths beneath the soot of coal-fired steam engines. Pagliassotti's background in communication and media studies heavily influences how information flow, propaganda, and class struggles drive the plot of the novels.

The Core Trilogy

The trilogy remains Pagliassotti's most celebrated work. It focuses on the following key themes and developments:

Clockwork Heart: Taya's life as a neutral courier is shattered when she saves a prominent member of the Exalted class. The book builds a rich romantic subplot alongside an intricate mystery involving saboteurs trying to dismantle the city's infrastructure. It won the 2008 RT Book Reviews' Best Small Press Futuristic Novel award.

Clockwork Lies: Iron Wind: The sequel expands the world beyond Ondinium's borders. As Taya struggles with the consequences of her choices in the first book, she must navigate foreign diplomacy, airship skirmishes, and the threat of war.

Clockwork Secrets: Heavy Fire: The final book focuses heavily on the theological and philosophical underpinnings of the city. Taya is forced to make ultimate sacrifices to protect the people she loves and prevent Ondinium from tearing itself apart from the inside.

Exploring the Dark Side: Dru Pagliassotti's Horror Work

For readers looking for something darker, An Agreement with Hell showcases the author's versatility. Set in a contemporary academic setting, the story rejects traditional demonic clichés in favor of "leviathans"—interdimensional beings representing mathematical probabilities and cosmic horror. The story follows a retired priest, an ailing Christian magician, and a medium known as a "Walker Between the Worlds" who has a skin-eating demon familiar. It is a complex, atmospheric, and highly original take on the urban fantasy genre.

Short Stories and Anthology Contributions

Pagliassotti has also written several notable short stories that showcase her range across speculative fiction. Key short fiction includes:

"Bookmarked" (2009) – A highly acclaimed short story that earned the author the 2009 Year's Best Fantasy Writers Award.
"Code of Blood" (published in the anthology Corsets & Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances, 2011) – An alternate history tale set in a fantastical 19th-century Venice, where a protagonist utilizing elemental air magic protects the Doge from French invaders.
"The Manufactory" (published in Ceaseless Steam: Steampunk Stories from Beneath Ceaseless Skies, 2012) – Another exploration of mechanical societies and class struggles.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving in, readers should know that Pagliassotti's steampunk leans heavily into societal critique, gender identity, and structural power dynamics rather than focusing solely on gadgetry and brass goggles. The romance elements in the Clockwork Heart trilogy are significant but serve to highlight the rigid caste boundaries of the city. Furthermore, because of the six-year gap in publishing between the first and second novels due to changes in publishers, you will notice a slight shift in tone and maturity in the writing starting with Clockwork Lies.

Practical Reader Advice and Standalone Feasibility

Can you read these books out of order? The short answer is no for the Clockwork Heart series. Doing so will spoil major character deaths, political shifts, and romantic developments. However, An Agreement with Hell can be read at any time. If you want a quick taste of the author's writing style before committing to a full trilogy, starting with the short story "Code of Blood" or "Bookmarked" is an excellent entry point.