City of Secrets

Ever Blackheart serves as a maid in the Department of Secrets, a mysterious government facility in the underground city of Oskaria. When her friend Hannah disappears, Ever must navigate Oskaria's complex social hierarchy and heavily controlled information systems to find answers. The story takes place in a steampunk world where mechanical innovations and social restrictions shape daily life. Citizens are divided into strict social classes, with access to knowledge and technology determined by their status in society. The novel combines elements of mystery, friendship, and political intrigue as Ever works to uncover the truth. While maintaining her cover as a dutiful maid, she forms unexpected alliances and confronts the realities of power and control in her society. This middle-grade adventure explores themes of information access, social inequality, and the courage to question authority. The story raises questions about who controls knowledge and how truth can transform a society.

Readers call this middle-grade graphic novel fast-paced with detailed, atmospheric artwork. The steampunk world-building and friendship themes resonate with both children and adults. Positives from reviews: - Expressive character designs and architectural illustrations - Strong female protagonist who uses intelligence over physical strength - Clear storyline that younger readers can follow - Themes of class differences and social inequality - Successful blend of mystery and adventure elements Common criticisms: - Plot moves too quickly in final chapters - Some character motivations feel underdeveloped - World-building leaves questions unanswered Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (150+ ratings) Several reviewers note it works well as a standalone story but want more books set in this world. Parents praise its age-appropriate content and themes of friendship, loyalty, and standing up for what's right. Teachers report successful use in grades 4-7 classrooms.

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🏰 Victoria Ying worked as a visual development artist for Disney Animation Studios, contributing to films like Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Frozen 📚 The book's steampunk setting was inspired by Victorian-era London and Paris, particularly their underground networks and architectural innovations ⚙️ The protagonist Ever Barnes's home, the Switchyard, was influenced by the real-life complex mechanical systems of grand hotels and department stores from the early 1900s 🎨 Before writing novels, Ying established herself as a comic book artist, illustrating for DC Comics and creating graphic novel adaptations of Diana: Princess of the People and Hungry Hearts 🗝️ The intricate puzzle-solving elements in the story were developed from the author's childhood love of mystery games and adventure books like The Westing Game