FIRES OF INVENTION by J. Scott Savage

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and “invention” is a curse word.

Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion—an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.

Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they’ve ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on—and quite possibly their very lives.

Ok. I already love Savage's storytelling so I may be biased...BUT this was another great read from this awesomesauce author.
I loved the world, the creativity and inventions but "creativity" is a naughty word and inventing is against the law. The world is totally opposite of SKY JUMPERS by Peggy Eddleman, where inventing is honored and if you can't invent, you're an outcast.
Good word-building, deep characterization, and great villains, as well as twists and turns and... can't tell ya. You'll have to read it to find out!

Good, clean book, perfect for a summer read! I'm going to buy one for my son.

V: a couple of scenes, not graphic
L: no
S: no. Well, maybe cheek kiss

4 STARS

Thanks netgalley for the read!