Teen runaway Emilie stows away on a ship and is swept into two steampunk adventures—first to a hidden world at the planet’s core and then into perilous aetheric skies—where she faces sabotage, strange creatures, and tests of courage alongside a found family of scientists and explorers. Blending Jules Verne-inspired exploration with themes of self-discovery, resilience, and challenging societal expectations, these stories offer fast-paced, imaginative journeys for younger readers.

Reader Review Summary

This omnibus edition collects two full-length young adult steampunk fantasy novels, originally published in 2013 and 2014, featuring the protagonist Emilie, a teenage girl who runs away from an unhappy home life. In the first story, Emilie and the Hollow World, she stows away on the wrong ship and is swept into a journey to the planet’s interior, encountering sabotage, strange new races, and the treacherous Lord Ivers. The second novel, Emilie and the Sky World, follows Emilie and her companions as they investigate a mysterious disruption in the sky, leading to an adventure involving airships, aetheric planes, and new creatures. The setting is a pseudo-Victorian, steampunk-inspired world with elements of science, magic, and exploration reminiscent of Jules Verne’s works, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Themes include found family, self-discovery, and overcoming adversity, with a focus on adventure and imaginative worldbuilding.

Readers appreciated the adventurous, fast-paced plots and the imaginative steampunk settings, highlighting the inclusion of airships, submarines, aether currents, and encounters with non-human characters. Many found Emilie to be a relatable and resourceful protagonist, enjoying her growth from a passive observer to an active participant in her own story. The books were frequently compared to classic adventure tales and praised for their nostalgic, old-fashioned tone, as well as their suitability for younger readers and tweens. The found family dynamic, the presence of strong female characters, and the blend of science and magic were also noted as positive aspects, along with the clear action scenes and accessible writing style.

Some readers felt that the books skewed younger than the intended young adult audience, with Emilie’s character often reading as much younger than her stated age of sixteen. Criticisms included a tendency toward telling rather than showing, over-explained problem-solving, and underdeveloped side characters or settings. Several reviewers noted that the worldbuilding and character development were less nuanced compared to the author’s science fiction works, and that the stories sometimes lacked complexity or surprise. Pacing issues were mentioned, particularly in the first book, and some found the prose straightforward to the point of being simplistic, with a desire for more depth in both plot and characterization.

The omnibus has been republished as part of a broader effort to bring the author’s backlist to new audiences following the success of her later works. The stories are largely free of graphic violence or romance, making them appropriate for middle grade as well as young adult readers. The books have been recommended as gifts for younger readers and as accessible entry points to steampunk and fantasy adventure genres. Some reviewers expressed hope for additional installments in the series, and noted the inclusion of diverse characters and themes of feminism and self-empowerment.