Burn Cycle

Captain-turned-criminal Jacob Burn is the unlikely survivor of two zeppelin crashes. The first destroyed his career as a pilot, disgracing his nobleman father and ending his life of privilege. But the second threatens to destroy Burn's whole world-Veridon, an ancient terraced city reborn through The Church of the Algorithm's recent advances in mechanics, technology, and cog-work. Moments before the Glory of Day wrecked, a former underworld associate of Burn's handed him an unusual and complicated cog for safekeeping. But the artifact-cog quickly draws Burn unwanted attention-too much of it, from too many of Veridon's most powerful factions, casting doubt on even his closest allies. A far more dangerous and unpredictable enemy has also joined the manhunt, carving a bloody trail across the city, while Burn's frantic search for answers only leads to more questions. At the heart of it all, the mysterious cog, which hides a secret potent enough to shake Veridon to its very core, and recast Burn's entire existence.

The city of Veridon used Jacob Burn horribly. The Council, the Church, even his family betrayed his trust, and still Burn risked everything to save their lives. For his sacrifice, he lost his tenuous ties to lawful society, his place in the criminal underworld, and the only woman he ever loved. Now, to survive, Burn runs small-time jobs, like his latest gig, delivering a seemingly innocuous package to the Fehn. The Fehn are a symbiotic race that dwell peacefully under the murky Reine River, colonizing any body that slips beneath its dark waters. But moments after Burn makes his delivery, swarms of dead Fehn clog the Reine. More terrifying are the horde of pearl-white cogdead Fehn who still walk, crawling out of the river to violently ransack the city. Once again, Burn is responsible for Veridon's survival, and the Fehn are just one of many threats the city suddenly faces. Burn thought he had nothing to lose, but protecting Veridon could cost him the one thing he has left ... his life.