Four Thousandths

Set in a gothic, gaslit world, this story follows Clara Stahlbaum, a talented clockmaker, as she navigates her connection to a mysterious, mechanical soldier named Nikolai, whose heart and life are intricately tied to her craft. On Christmas Eve, she encounters her godfather Drosselmeyer, a master maker with a haunting past, who presents her with a complex and morally grounded offer that challenges her notions of honesty and repair. Blending holiday magic with dark storytelling, the novel explores themes of love, honesty, and the quest to mend what’s broken, all within a richly atmospheric setting.