The Golden Spider: Historical Fantasy Steampunk Enemies to Lovers Romance: The Elemental Web Chronicles Series, Book One

Name: The Golden Spider: Historical Fantasy Steampunk Enemies to Lovers Romance: The Elemental Web Chronicles Series, Book One
Rating: 4.6777777671813965 (90 reviews)

Anne Renwick

Aug 2016 · Elemental Web Chronicles Book 1 · Anne Renwick

90 reviews

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Mayhem and murder endanger the foggy streets of Victorian London, where secrets and spies hide in a world of gaslamp fantasy.

Lady Amanda blackmailed her way into a prestigious London medical school…

Not the preferred method of entrance, of course, but necessary, for it’s the only way to force Lord Thornton, a professor at the school, to help her perfect her invention: a clockwork spider capable of spinning artificial nerves.

And Lord Thornton is interested… but is he interested in Amanda, or simply the invention that could cure his own debilitating injury? Neither one can trust the other, but both know this: any attraction is a danger, any romance forbidden.

But when a foreign spy steals the spider and uses it to perform grisly experiments on human subjects, they must set aside both their differences and their growing attraction to capture the killer terrorizing the streets of London.

Enjoy this story by historical fantasy romance author Anne Renwick where you'll unravel mysteries and defy conventions in a world where danger lurks around every corner.

The Golden Spider is a steampunk-infused gaslamp fantasy romance set in an alternate Victorian London, blending mystery, high-stakes science, and smoldering enemies-to-lovers tension. When a brilliant woman in STEM is forced to collaborate with her academic rival, sparks fly amid secrets, spies, and deadly ambition. Perfect for readers who enjoy Gail Carriger, Bec McMaster, Jacquelyn Benson and Mary Robinette Kowal.

The first story in the Elemental Web world, The Golden Spider can be enjoyed as a standalone and delivers a steamy romance with a guaranteed happily ever after—where love is as dangerous, and irresistible, as the invention that could save—or doom—London.

ELEMENTAL WEB CHRONICLES: The Golden Spider, The Silver Skull, The Iron Fin, Venomous Secrets, Icy Betrayals

ELEMENTAL WEB TALES: A Trace of Copper, In Pursuit of Dragons, A Reflection of Shadows, A Snowflake at Midnight, A Ghost in Amber, A Whisper of Bone, Flight of the Scarab

ELEMENTAL WEB STORIES: The Tin Rose, Kraken and Canals, Rust and Steam, Black Sand and Blood

Mayhem and murder endanger the foggy streets of Victorian London, where secrets and spies hide in a world of gaslamp fantasy. Lady Amanda blackmailed her way into a prestigious London medical school… Not the preferred method of entrance, of course, but necessary, for it’s the only way to force ...

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Ratings and reviews

90 reviews

Hillary

February 14, 2020

What a gaslamp steampunk without mystery, murder, and mad scientists? Not a good one that what. Throw as dash of leather corsets and abundance of skin to put the "steam" in steampunk and this little madcap caper will have you smile. Gypsies are being murdered and it's up secret agent Lord Thornton to figure out who it is before more innocence die, but he will have to match wits with one very intelligent female who may hold the key to helping solve the case. He just has to talk her into handing it over without handing his heart along the way. It's a romantic who-dunnit that will have you letting out a sigh of relief by the end. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

1 person found this review helpful

Kai Teehan

August 4, 2026

The book is niche, intelligently written, has great character development for such a short book, and has a decent plot for a romance book. It's full of twists and thrill, and easy to read. I had never read a romance before, and was pleasantly surprised with that element. The scientific language was unfamiliar but not distracting. I definitely recommend it!

Jennifer Layne (Dice Dragon Games)

March 6, 2020

"A stolen clockwork spider. A forbidden romance. A murderous spy on the streets of London who must be stopped before it's too late." This was well written and had great world building, Steampunk just ins't my "thing". I did very much like Lady Anne; she is smart and savvy; I mean she blackmailed her way into Med School! She also catches the attention of the Anatomy Professor Lord Thornton; also brilliant and in no mood for the beautiful Lady Anne; he has his own issues. Soon she has a similar issue to that of Lord Thornton which forces them to work together to solve this Mystery, will romance bloom as well? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

About the author

ANNE RENWICK holds a Ph.D. in biology and greatly enjoyed tormenting the overburdened undergraduates who were her students, fiction has always been her first love. Today, she writes steampunk romance, placing a new kind of biotech in the hands of mad scientists, proper young ladies and determined villains.

Anne brings an unusual perspective to steampunk. A number of years spent locked inside the bowels of a biological research facility left her permanently altered. In her steampunk world, the Victorian fascination with all things anatomical led to a number of alarming biotechnological advances. Ones that the enemies of Britain would dearly love to possess.

ANNE RENWICK holds a Ph.D. in biology and greatly enjoyed tormenting the overburdened undergraduates who were her students, fiction has always been her first love. Today, she writes steampunk romance, placing a new kind of biotech in the hands of mad scientists, proper young ladies and determined...

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