LONDON AS IT NEVER WAS
Readers who enjoyed Soulless will appreciate these 24 curated Steampunk and Gaslamp Fantasy Romance Books Set in Victorian London featuring mystery, science, supernatural intrigue, and romance.
Whimsy and innovation dance together, giving rise to a steampunk and gaslamp fantasy city along the Thames. This London that never was invites exploration into a realm where the boundaries of imagination and invention are delightfully blurred, creating a unique tapestry of the extraordinary. These steampunk and gaslamp fantasy novels offer diverse tales set in Victorian and alternative historical settings. From skilled trackers seeking revenge and forbidden romances amid societal expectations to monster hunters navigating supernatural challenges and mysterious disappearances, these stories delve into conspiracies, investigations, and quests for justice. Characters face dangers, forbidden attractions, and the complexities of their changing worlds, whether it’s uncovering dark conspiracies, perfecting clockwork inventions or navigating the societal tribulations of a magical London.
- Vampire Castes
- Lust laced with danger
- Victorian steampunk noir
Caleb Byrnes works as the best tracker for the Guild of Nighthawks, ruling his cravings with an iron hand. The one woman who got away, Ingrid Miller, once left him tied to his bed. When they’re partnered on a new case, Byrnes sees a chance for revenge and vows to ruin her with his kiss. The catch: they must go undercover among the blue blood elite in a London negotiating peace after a revolution. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Reluctant Psychics
- Reclusive Aristocrats
- Gothic Mystery
In London, 1914, Lily Albright possesses visions that could help catch a killer preying on the city’s mediums. A monster is draining their blood, and Lily foresees the next victim. Determined to change fate, she seeks help from the reclusive Lord Strangford, despite their lack of trust. Together, they unravel a dark conspiracy linked to England’s eugenics movement, navigating from Bond Street’s galleries to Southwark’s rookeries. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Barnes & Noble
- Vampires
- Werewolves
- Witty banter
Alexia Tarabotti, a soulless spinster rudely attacked by a vampire, accidentally kills the bloodsucker, attracting the attention of the werewolf Lord Maccon. As unexpected vampires appear and others disappear, Alexia must navigate societal tribulations, investigate supernatural mysteries and unearth the real enemy. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Jekyll and Hyde vibes
- Gothic romance
- Morally grey heroes
Darcie Finch, penniless and alone, becomes the assistant to the dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole after being betrayed by those she trusted. As she navigates the eerie estate and grapples with her fierce attraction to Damien, Darcie discovers a web of blood, disappearances, and murders, questioning whether her brooding employer is innocent or a remorseless killer prowling the East End streets. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Barnes & Noble
- Academic romance
- Espionage & spies
- Biological mysteries
Lady Amanda blackmails her way into a prestigious London medical school to enlist the help of Professor Lord Thornton in perfecting her invention—a clockwork spider capable of spinning artificial nerves. As they navigate a forbidden attraction and a growing romance, a foreign spy steals the top-secret technology, forcing Amanda and Thornton to join forces and hunt the killer terrorizing London. Buy Direct | Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Supernatural crimes
- Forbidden magic
- Enemies to lovers
When orphans in New London are mysteriously kidnapped using dangerous magic, Lady Gwenevere St. James, an outcast, resolves to rescue them. However, a Scotland Yard inspector suspects her involvement. To save the children, Gwen faces challenges from the inspector, a coven of witches, and her own mother, all while dealing with a young pickpocket and a stubborn raven. Amazon | Kobo
- Monster hunting
- Banter-heavy flirting
- Low-spice romance
Lady Charlotte Astley faces the challenge of making London safe for both humans and supernaturals while navigating societal expectations. As supernatural corpses with drained souls appear, Charlotte must use her sleuthing skills to uncover the mystery and prevent a second civil war in London. Balancing her responsibilities and an unconventional friendship with the vampire Lord Cosmo Wilmott, Charlotte unravels the truth behind the soulless corpses. Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble
- Fairy tale retellings
- Secret societies
- Preternatural politics
Agent Clemeny Louvel, known as ‘Little Red’, is the feared werewolf hunter of the Red Cape Society. Assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of illustrious alchemists, she reluctantly partners with Sir Richard Lionheart, a flirtatious werewolf. As they chase down monsters in Victorian England, Clemeny must decide whether she can trust her charming but wolfish companion in this retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Amazon KU
- Magical aristocracy
- Secret vigilantes
- Marriage of convenience
In 1881 London, Miranda Ellis is forced to wed the nefarious Lord Benjamin Archer after an irreversible mistake decimates her family’s fortune. Archer, with a disfigured face hidden behind masks, is drawn to Miranda’s flame-haired beauty, sparking a passion he thought long gone. As Archer is accused of gruesome murders, Miranda enters a world of dark magic and intrigue to save his soul from the curse that haunts him. Amazon | Kobo | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- The Wild Hunt
- Cursed/marked characters
- Redemption quests
Amy is determined to prove her worth despite past deadly mistakes. The story unfolds in a Victorian England filled with danger, romance, and magic. Amy and her diverse group of friends, each with their own struggles and abilities, find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict between the magic-hungry Grigori and the vengeful Fay. With the Wild Hunt unleashed on London, Amy and her friends must navigate threats from both human and Faerie enemies. Amazon KU
- Eccentric genius heroes
- Secret pasts
- Magical murder mysteries
Forensic sorceress Emma Bannon and failed mentath Archibald Clare, despite their mutual dislike, must join forces to uncover a conspiracy threatening registered mentaths and sorcerers. Facing hostility, treason, and black sorcery, they navigate a treacherous game that may lead to their deaths or seduction into treachery toward the Queen in this intriguing tale of alternate history. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Sherlock Holmes
- Clockwork automatons
- Hidden magical abilities
Evelina, with a secret mastery of magic that powers machines, faces the risk of death or imprisonment in the Queen’s laboratories. When a murder occurs, Sherlock Holmes’s niece, Evelina, must decide whether to trust a handsome, clever rake or a daring trick rider as she navigates a world where manners and secrets intertwine in her quest for answers. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Demon/incubus hunters
- Fake identities
- Body horror elements
In 1887 London, Asia Quicksilver, a prostitute at De Luna House, plans to save enough pounds to start afresh, but her life takes an unexpected turn when a handsome and mysterious man becomes her exclusive client. Unlike others, he pays to watch her read a book and warns her of an incubus threat. Skeptical at first, Asia’s doubts fade when she faces an uncanny attacker with superhuman abilities, leading her to question the truth. Amazon KU
- Why-choose
- Fated mates
- High-society witch culture
In 1907 London, Victoria Grey is a young woman cursed never to touch the ground outside her home, her magic suppressed and her mother mysteriously missing. Sent to Wildeward Academy—a gothic finishing school for the magically outcast—she hopes to break her curse and escape. But Wildeward holds more than secrets: it brings her face-to-face with five unique and alluring men—a pair of werewolf brothers (Jekyll and Hyde), a vampire tutor, a misunderstood monster, and a sultry oracle. Amazon
- Riches to rags
- Eccentric scientists
- Technology wars
Claire Trevelyan dreams of being an engineer despite societal expectations. When riots erupt, she seizes the opportunity to escape her predetermined fate. With her father gambling the estate on the combustion engine, Claire is left with nothing but her steam landau and her skills. Embracing her talents, she rises as a new leader in the underworld using her engineering prowess to navigate the challenges of a changing world. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Magic-seeking plots
- Stolen artifact hunts
- Employee/employer dynamics
India Steele, desperate and alone, takes employment with the enigmatic Matthew Glass, an American with a mysterious watch that rejuvenates him. As danger looms and suspicions arise about Glass being an American outlaw, India faces a dilemma between loyalty and betrayal in a thrilling historical fantasy series with quirky characters and a touch of romance. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Neurodivergent heroines
- Changeling mythology
- Mischievous fae lords
Cursed with only half a soul, Theodora Ettings, prone to accidental scandal due to her faerie curse, hopes for a quiet Season as a wallflower. However, when the strange and ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, Elias Wilder, discovers her condition, she is drawn into dangerous faerie affairs, challenging her reputation and sparking a peculiar connection. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Gender disguises
- Twin sibling
- Pheromone and scent attraction
In London, 1795, Miss Viola Hartwell, an omega with a mission to ensure the Omega Property Rights Act becomes law, faces the challenge of being prohibited from politics due to her dynamic. Undeterred, she masquerades as her alpha twin sister and seeks the support of the reclusive Duke of Orley. Meanwhile, the Duke has plans to marry the widowed Countess of Kellingham in a convenient alliance, but she refuses to meet alphas. Amazon KU
- Unique magical abilities
- Ancient evil resurrection
- Shadow conspiracies
In a world where she’s the first female magic user in centuries, Seraphina Winyard is seen as a freakish chattel and a danger that must be erased from history. Held captive and humiliated, she escapes when her guardian is murdered, only to face suspicion for the crime. Teaming up with surgeon Hugh Miles, she must wield her power to uncover the true murderer. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Ancient prophecies
- Student and professor
- Paranormal boarding schools
In Queen Victoria’s London, Percy, with her unique abilities, joins Athens Academy where she discovers The Guard, an order battling evil. Led by Professor Alexi, they face Jack the Ripper and a greater menace. As ancient myths unfold, Percy and her allies must unite to overcome their pasts and fight for the city’s safety. Buy Direct | Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble
- Magical governing councils
- Mechanical golems
- Bloodline legacies
In a steam-powered world of dirigibles and mechanical golems set in 1851 London, former thief Jovan Davenport must team up with Skylar Vanguard, a druid and accomplished tracker, to stop the power-hungry Hawthorne family from taking control of the council. As they navigate a conspiracy, their past love and secrets threaten their mission and rekindle a passionate connection in this tale of steam and magic. Amazon KU
- Magic vs. science clashes
- Class warfare
- Action-heavy plots
In a city besieged, alchemist Icarus Kane returns to face a black mage threatening his friends and the work he’s done for his people. As dirigibles hang low over London and the angry poor demand change, Icarus must confront the secrets of his past to accept his place as the greatest wizard of his age. With the love of his protege Cora as his guide, he must decide whether to save his city and friends or watch them turn to ash. Amazon KU
- Vampire and werewolf aristocracy
- Political conspiracy
- Zombie/mutant threats
In a London ruled by vampires, werewolves, and goblins, Queen Victoria reigns with an immortal fist. The Aristocracy comprises werewolves and vampires, goblins inhabit underground realms, and Hysteria is the prevalent affliction. Xandra Vardan, a member of the Royal Guard, is tasked with protecting the Aristocracy. However, when her sister goes missing, Xandra embarks on a path that challenges her beliefs and unravels a conspiracy threatening the empire. Amazon | Kobo | Google Books | Barnes and Noble
- A witch heroine
- Matchmaking gone wrong
- Neurodivergent main characters
Maria Kellway, a country witch who prefers growing herbs to London society, is dragged into the marriage market by her grandparents—only to end up caught in scandal with a notorious rake, Lord Markham. When circumstances force them into the same house party, Markham tries to repair her reputation by finding her a suitable husband, while Maria resists the expectations placed on her. As tensions rise, her witchcraft and his attempts at propriety collide. Amazon KU
The Soulless Reading Map
| Trope | Books | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Witty heroine in supernatural society | Soulless; Half a Soul; Firelight | Social satire + unconventional heroines navigating magical rules |
| Vampire / werewolf aristocracy politics | Soulless; God Save the Queen; Mission: Improper | Supernatural class systems + political intrigue |
| Clockwork invention romance | The Golden Spider; Lady of Devices; The Watchmaker’s Daughter | Science-driven romance + invention + Victorian engineering |
| Gothic mystery romance | Dark Desires; Fire in the Glass; Strangely Beautiful | Atmospheric mysteries + romance + investigation |
| Secret societies & espionage | The Iron Wyrm Affair; Opening Gambit | Covert organizations + conspiracies |
| Faerie influence & curses | Half a Soul; Wild Magic; Wolves and Daggers | Fae systems affecting human society |
| Monster investigation | Whispering Corpse; Vanished | Supernatural crime solving |
| Women in science & invention | The Golden Spider; Lady of Devices; Firelight | Female scientific agency in restrictive societies |
If you’re looking for similar reads, explore Victorian gaslamp fantasy romance with strong heroines, scientific discovery, and supernatural societies in books like Soulless, A Study in Silks, and The Golden Spider.
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About this collection
London As It Never Was is a curated collection of steampunk and gaslamp fantasy romance stories set in Victorian London. These stories blend romance, mystery, invention, and the supernatural, showcasing the many ways authors bring an alternate, magical London to life.
This collection highlights character-driven narratives featuring scientists, spies, inventors, aristocrats, and outsiders navigating a city shaped by hidden magic, emerging technology, and dangerous secrets. Each entry reflects a different corner of Victorian London as reimagined through gaslamp fantasy and steampunk romance traditions.
Together, these stories offer a thematic exploration of London as a setting for romance, adventure, and speculative fiction, connecting readers to a wide range of authors working within steampunk, gaslamp fantasy, and historical romance-inspired worlds.