A Clockwork Heart, Book Two in The Chronicles of Light and Shadow by Liesel Schwarz

Elle is trying to settle into her new role as the Oracle.  It's a strange, dangerous, and unknown territory but she's coping with it.  Marsh has given up his warlock powers because he loves Elle and wants to spend his life with her.  While Elle still wants to fly airships, Marsh is bored at home waiting for her.  They also have a big fight before she heads out on her next charter trip.

Random House/Del Rey and Net Galley let me download a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published August 13th, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.  You also might want to check out the first one in this series.  This story is a stand alone, but you would better understand the nuances of the second story if you read the earlier story first.

Elle is depressed and upset about the fight, and her pilot turns airship around to go back home.  She and Marsh need to make up and talk about how to deal with their differences.  But when she arrives home, Marsh isn't there.  She doesn't know it at the time, but the White Witch has him and plans to keep him.

I like the steampunk machinery and the story was good but the ending about killed me.  The author leaves you hanging; Elle saves Marsh, but it does no good.  He's still taken from her.  I know it's a set up for the next book but I hate cliff hangers.  I prefer having each book self-contained and the story completed for the main characters.  This one doesn't end like that.  But it does ensure I will be watching for the next book in the series.  Especially since an old nemesis of Elle's is still alive and well and now enhanced...

Happy reading.