Heart of the Curiosity
Kindle
$4.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$17.99
Audible Logo Your audiobook is waiting!
Enjoy a free trial on us
$0.00
  • Click above for unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
  • One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection — yours to keep (you'll use your first credit now).
  • You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
  • $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Learn more about membership
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
List Price: $19.95
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Heart of the Curiosity Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
See all formats and editions

The secret lies with the Heart.

Born with a magical knack for manipulating emotions, Leodora's only dream is to ensure her talented little sister dances on the biggest, brightest stage in the Republic: The Curiosity, a grand old theater of tradition and innovation. After escaping a cruel carnival, Leo secures her sister a place in The Curiosity’s chorus line and herself a job as a professional audience member, swaying the crowd's mood with her magic. The girls have a home for the first time in their lives.

Then, a tragic accident darkens the theater. A greedy businessman begins blackmailing Leo, and financial woes threaten to close the show forever. The Curiosity's sole hope lies in a mythical power source hidden beneath the maze-like passages and trapdoors of the theater - the Heart. And Leo’s only friend Paxton, nephew of the theater's stagemistress, is the key to finding it.

While Leo and Paxton hunt for the Heart, the blackmailer’s threats loom larger. Mysterious figures, cryptic clues, and deadly traps hinder the search at every turn. If the friends cannot recover the Heart in time, Leo and her sister will be cast out of the only home they’ve ever known, and the final curtain will fall on The Curiosity.

Enter a world reminiscent of The Greatest Showman, with a puzzle worthy of Sherlock Holmes and National Treasure, in this new steampunk fantasy from H. L. Burke.

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    9 hours and 33 minutes
  2. Author
    H. L. Burke
  3. Narrator
    Theresa Bakken
  4. Audible release date
    December 30, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Uncommon Universes Press LLC
  7. ASIN
    B08RN8JG33
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
Next page

Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 33 minutes
Author H. L. Burke
Narrator Theresa Bakken
Audible.com Release Date December 30, 2020
Publisher Uncommon Universes Press LLC
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B08RN8JG33
Best Sellers Rank #545,815 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#87 in Steampunk Fiction for Teens
#334 in Historical Fantasy for Teens
#1,106 in Teen & Young Adult Steampunk

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
70 global ratings
A steampunk with heart!
5 Stars
A steampunk with heart!
Having read several of Ms. Burke's novels (and I especially liked her Nyssa Glass steampunk series), I was excited to read her latest, which is set in the world of theatre using an interesting concept of magical "knacks." The MC is Leodora, or Leo, who has had a rough upbringing in a traveling circus where unspeakable things happened to her. This causes her to run away with her younger sister Muse, not only to protect her but to help her reach her dream of being a dancer. At The Curiosity, an old family theatre with dark secrets of its own, they meet a fellow teen named Paxton who has a mechanical arm and a kind heart. Leo and Muse find a home and a family, and all is well for four years. But conflict is the heart of fiction, so of course, things don't stay safe. Someone else wants to uncover the secrets at the Heart of the Curiosity, and destruction and death ensue.This wonderful story is part magic, part mystery, and part coming-of-age while dealing with serious subjects in a very effective way. The details are so much fun to read, from the smells and tastes of the local "coffee shop" to the adorable snail circus and the chilling, sometimes dangerous secret passages in the old theatre. Recommended for older teens and up, since there is a murder, two self-defense killings, mild swearing, and the effects of rape, but all are dealt with in a sensitive way.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Mary Luce
5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining!
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
Leodora and Musette, orphan sisters, have run away from a traveling circus to escape exploitation and abuse. Leo (the plain elder sister) is convinced that Muse (her cute and talented younger sister) has what it takes to dance on stage at the legendary Curiosity. Meeting Paxton, heir to the Curiosity, gives the girls an opportunity to prove themselves, and the future looks bright until tragedy strikes at the Curiosity. Leo, Muse and Paxton must solve a mystery and expose saboteurs in order to save their home and their livelihood.
Oh, but it’s not anywhere near that simple. This is Steampunk. Just in case I’m not the last person to become aware of Steampunk, this story takes place in a less technologically advanced era, but involves some strange and amazing technology of its own.
Each person in this particular world is gifted with a “Knack,” a talent that allows them to do something unusual … and typically helpful. Muse’s knack is levitation, a boon to her dancing skills. Paxton is a genius at repair jobs, which is perfect for someone who works at a theater with animatronic characters. Leo’s knack is the ability to manipulate people’s emotions. Knacks can also cause problems, and this is the situation for Leo on more than one occasion. She begins to see her knack as a bit of a curse. All she wants is for her sister to get a fair chance to be successful, but things don’t always work out the way she hopes they will.
Blackmail. Threats. Danger. Sneakiness. Accusations. Ultimatums. And snails? Yes, don’t forget the snail circus. This is a fun book with unexpected situations and interesting characters. It touches on some dark topics, but not in a graphic way; springboards for discussion abound. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Helpful
 Report
shadow oaks resident
5.0 out of 5 stars A rousing and profound steampunk adventure
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
H. L. Burke’s Heart of the Curiosity is a steampunk fantasy adventure of exceptional quality and entertainment. Heart starts with two sisters, Leodora (Leo) and Musette (Muse), who make their way to a legendary theater called the Curiosity. Leo is there to help Muse obtain a position among the ballet dancers. The girls have a friend in Paxton Genuent, part of the family that owns and runs the theater. Paxton explains the Curiosity’s power is generated by something called the Heart, hidden within the theater. When tragedy strikes, finding the Heart is the only thing that will save the theater and their home as well.

The long list of what works in this story includes the creative magic system, the steampunk elements, and the character arcs. Magic in Heart, known as someone’s knack, is unique to each person. Leo’s knack in particular is clever and brilliantly conceived. The steampunk elements are fun and creative, especially the methods of transportation.

Each character in Heart is memorable and vividly described. When Leo has to face a dark secret in her past, it’s such a striking and heartfelt scene that I forgot I was in the middle of a steampunk adventure. Burke handles this sensitive subject matter with adept expertise that only comes with an accomplished author.

Heart of the Curiosity is one of the novels that I truly didn’t want to end. If you’re a fan of steampunk, riddle-mysteries, fantasy, coming-of-age, or any combination of the above, you’re going to find yourself lost in this novel and happier for it.
Helpful
 Report
J F Rogers
4.0 out of 5 stars I'm beginning to love steampunk...
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2019
Verified Purchase
Heart of the Curiosity is a steampunk fantasy in which two sisters, Leo and Muse, run from a carnival show to a respected theater--The Curiosity.

The Curiosity is aptly named due to the incredible shows, incredible animatronics, and an inexhaustible power supply that has brought unwanted attention from those who care nothing for theatrics.

All this is set in a world in which everyone has a knack--a special ability. Leo is capable of toying with people's emotions. Muse can levitate--a handy ability which pairs well with her dancing.

Muse is hired at the Curiosity as a dancer, but only because the owner wants Leo's ability to manipulate potential customers to improve ticket sales. As much as Leo hates having her knack exploited for such endeavors, she'll do anything for her sister.

During their time at the Curiosity, the owners have become family to Leo and Muse. At least, the son, Paxton, and his grandfather have become family. But when the grandfather is killed in a freak accident, they suspect he was murdered by those with an interest in the infinite power source. A battle ensues to keep the Curiosity. Leo, Paxton, and Muse find themselves in a race to find the power source to save their family's legacy.

What a fun, clean, thoroughly enjoyable story! The characters come alive in this believable world full of people with unusual abilities, interesting technology, and yummy pastries. Intrigue awaits with every flip of the page. If this sounds like your kind of story, you won't be disappointed. Join Leo, Muse, and Paxton in their life-threatening race to solve the puzzle that is the Heart of the Curiosity.
Helpful
 Report