About the Book
Book: Flight of Fate (The Clockwork Chronicles Book Two)
Authors: Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction with a Steampunk Twist
Release Date: June 10, 2025
When destined for destruction, fate must be challenged.
Curator Dante Ramono must remove the priceless Farnese Cup from its hidden vault in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli to protect it from Allied bombing. A swift betrayal places the cup in Nazi hands, but not before it reveals its mystical powers. To recover the cup, Dante must join forces with cunning Theodora. Can he trust her, or will he be deceived once more?
In Prague, Kateřina Dubová works to care for the Jews she’s hidden. In her hour of greatest need, her trusted friend, Josef, has seemingly vanished. Danger closes in, yet an unseen protector steps in again and again. Could it be Josef, hidden in the shadows?
The clock is ticking. Is the future set in stone, or can courage and faith change history? Together, these four unlikely guardians must defy the odds to stop the Germans’ dark ambitions or risk their very souls.
Betrayal, sacrifice, and destiny collide as unlikely heroes race to save a world at war from the power of a mystical relic.
Click here to get your copy!
My ReviewFlight of Fate is an adventurous, historical fantasy with a steampunk flair. The descriptions of WWII and steampunk details throughout the book made it a fantasy beyond my imagination. It's a world where evil battles and things aren't always what they seem.
The characters are well-developed. There is deception, betrayal, a sense of budding romance, and the ability to try to stand up for the defenseless, at a time when trust is a precious commodity.
The storyline takes you on a roller-coaster ride that seamlessly weaves past historical details and steampunk. Parts of the story about the suffering of the Jews brought tears to my eyes, and there were times when I laughed due to playful banter. This is such a well-written book, and the historical details seemed well-researched.
I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not recommended. All opinions are my own.
About the Authors
Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living. Tricia’s most recent work, The Clockwork Chronicles, is a historical steampunk fantasy trilogy co-authored with her son, Nathan Goyer.
Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his latest series, The Clockwork Chronicles, co-authored with his mother, Tricia Goyer.
More from Tricia and Nathan
Mafia in World War II? This One Fact Changed the Plot of Our Book
By Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer
Some discoveries in research are expected. You dig, and you find what you’re looking for. Others? Well, they blindside you. Sort of like a speeding Vespa on a crowded Italian street.
That’s what happened when Nathan and I were deep in research for Flight of Fate. I was already thrilled about weaving real history into our novel—especially the story of the Naples Museum during World War II and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. (Yes, the very volcano that buried Pompeii in AD 79.) Turns out, this volcano wasn’t done causing trouble.) But what I didn’t expect was how one innocent question would change our entire book.
The Question That Changed Everything
I had been gathering all sorts of juicy details from my online friend Raffael Romano. Raffaele is an expert on Naples history, and he runs his own tour company. (If you ever want to explore Italy without leaving your couch, check out Naples Grand Tour—you won’t regret it!)
After an information-packed interview, I asked, “So, is there anything we didn’t ask about that we should?”
Raffaele paused. Then, as casually as if he were offering me an extra scoop of gelato, he said:
“You haven’t asked about the mafia.”
Excuse me, what?!
Yes, the Mafia Had a Secret Role in WWII
Up until that moment, I had been focused on mystical artifacts, Nazi theft, stolen artwork, and volcanic chaos. But suddenly, my brain was spinning in a whole new direction.
Because, yes—while American and British forces were battling the Axis in Italy, there was another power at play in the shadows.
The Sicilian Mafia (known as Cosa Nostra) had been suppressed under Mussolini’s fascist rule in the 1920s and ’30s. However, when Allied forces invaded Sicily in 1943, something surprising happened: the Mafia made a comeback. And not just any comeback—a strategic, calculated one.
The U.S. military, scrambling for allies on the ground, reportedly turned to some rather unusual sources for help. Enter Mafia boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano—yes, the American Mafia kingpin, who was conveniently in a New York prison at the time. In exchange for some leniency, he allegedly used his underworld connections to help Allied intelligence secure Sicily.
Meanwhile, in Naples—where part of our story takes place—the Mafia was alive and well. And they weren’t just smuggling black-market goods or running gambling rings—they were also influencing who had control of their country. (Hint: the Germans may got the boot outta the Boot!)
And Just Like That, A Different Story Emerged!
With this new information, our fictional world suddenly cracked wide open. How could we tie the Mafia into the world of ancient legends and steampunk warfare? Are they good? Evil? Somewhere in-between? We could twist those scenarios into tales of sacrifice and duty we had already explored in Breath of Bones. There were lots of directions we could go, and boy did we go!
This is Why We Love History
This is what we love about writing historical fiction. It’s like stepping into a time machine and realizing that real history is so much bigger than we imagined. Stories we think we know—like the Allied liberation of Italy—have so many hidden layers. Layers of ordinary people making impossible choices. Layers of forgotten heroes … and unexpected villains.
And, sometimes, layers of the Mafia.
So, the next time you watch a WWII movie and wonder, could the Mafia really have played a role in this?—the answer might just be yes. (And don’t worry. We’re not giving away too much of the plot by sharing this!)
Now, I’m curious—have you ever learned a historical fact that completely surprised you? Drop a comment, and let’s chat! And if you love history as much as I do, be sure to check out Naples Grand Tour for a deep dive into Italy’s incredible past! Tell Raffelo that Nathan and I send you and said, “Chao!” Also, be sure to check out Book One, Breath of Bones!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 30
Simple Harvest Reads, July 1 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, July 1
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 2
Texas Book-aholic, July 3
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 4 (Spotlight)
For Him and My Family, July 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 6
The Lofty Pages, July 7
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Book Looks by Lisa, July 9
Artistic Nobody, July 10 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, July 10
Lily’s Corner, July 11
Bizwings Book Blog, July 12
Life on Chickadee Lane, July 13
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, Nathan and Tricia are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a hardcover copy of Breath of Bones and Flight of Fate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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