Gareth’s first novel, The Traitor and the Thief, a rip-roaring young adult Steampunk adventure, won the 2016 Storylines Tessa Duder Award, the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel, a 2018 Storylines Notable Book Award and was a finalist in two categories at The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

His sequel, The Clockill and the Thief, was published in 2019, is now the winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Awards Best Youth Novel category

Gareth Ward unveils his third steampunk novel for children – Award-winning kiwi author, magician and bookseller

Walker Books are super excited to be publishing Brasswitch and Bot, the first high-stakes, action-packed title in Gareth Ward’s captivating new steampunk adventure series The Rise of the Remarkables.

Readers are catapulted into a world of prejudice, deceit and danger in which Brasswitch Wrench must master her powers, knowing they offer her only hope of survival . . . if they don’t destroy the world first.

Recruited to the sinister department of Regulators who hunt down others like her, Wrench teams up with their maverick mechanical leader, Bot as they are tasked with halting the rise of the aberration threat. Until now, being called Brasswitch would have got you killed. Now, it might just save your life.

‘I am so excited for my readers to meet Wrench – the Brasswitch – and Bot.’ says Gareth Ward. ‘They are such great fun. Bot, a maverick mechanoid with a knack for causing chaos, is a character I have been wanting to write for years and when Wrench powered into the story as my heroine I just knew I had something special.’

Gareth Ward (aka. The Great Wardini) is a magician, hypnotist, storyteller and bookseller. He has worked as a Royal Marine Commando, Police Officer, Evil Magician and Zombie. He basically likes jobs where you get to wear really cool hats. Born near Oxford in the UK, he went to University in York and lives in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand where he runs two independent bookshops with his wife Louise.

You can learn more about the fantabulous world of Gareth Ward at www.garethwardauthor.com

“The Traitor and the Thief should delight readers at the younger end of the YA spectrum who enjoy quirky worldbuilding and stories that are more adventure and mystery than coming-of-age and romance (although there are hints of both). 4/5 stars.”  Books+Publishing

 The Rise of the Remarkables: Brasswitch and Bot by Gareth Ward  is published by Walker Books in August