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Flip through all 29 pages inside our brass-fitted steampunk reader — then take it with you.
There's no going back. Aden had a plan, but the moment he met Kira, his life changed forever. The Only Way Forward is the song of the duel — of the confrontation that was always coming, of the love that was never going to survive being seen.
The track is sharper than the others, less forgiving. This is the music of resolution by force, and of the cost of true honor while others hide their schemes. Fate drives the story to an impossible conclusion. Present and future, time wears a mask: the only way forward is into the past.
In the Story
‘The Only Way Forward’ by Jef Gray — a brutal duel erupts as Aden and Barra fight to the death over the fae princess Kira, who has already given her heart to Aden. Driven by vengeance masquerading as honor, the battle descends into bloodshed reconciled as justice. Yet Aden proves far from helpless, mortally wounding Barra and exposing a deeper truth within the Law of Exchange: a life for a life can still change the verdict. The duel was never what it seemed, and the sentence is death… unless time wears a mask.
Time is the only treasure
Flip through all 29 pages inside our brass-fitted steampunk reader — then take it with you.
Stream a full chapter preview right here — then unlock all ten chapters for less than a cup of coffee.
169 pages of steampunk fantasy — a signed-quality paperback to keep on the shelf or gift to a reader.
Yes — the story content is identical across all three formats. The only difference is the chapter illustrations, which appear in the ebook and paperback but not the audiobook.
Absolutely. The video episodes present a glimpse of the scenery set to the soundtrack's emotional journey, while the book is where the characters' thoughts and dialogue come through — the full interior experience of the story.
Airovale is appropriate for teens ages 16+. The content touches on mature themes including dueling, the penalty of death, greed, immortality, and coming-of-age young adult romance.
The romance in Airovale is written at a young adult level, with no graphic content beyond a few kisses. It centers on the two main characters as their journey to a forbidden ruin reveals ancient secrets about the island they inhabit, and their relationship grows into love and a decision to be together.
No warning needed. Airovale is a romantic adventure story, safe for readers ages 16 and up, with no graphic moments beyond a kiss.
Airovale is a series. The first book introduces the story, and additional books — two or more to complete the arc — are currently in development.
Not exactly. Steampunk fantasy with time travel exists, and fantasy with fae exists, but few stories combine both. The closest comparisons are Carnival Row (Amazon Prime Video) or The Anubis Gates (Tim Powers) — though Airovale is a wholly original fantasy world with no historical setting.
Primarily, Airovale is a story told through three lenses: book, video, and music. The website and companion channel (Roku TV) present short cinematic episodes alongside a complete original soundtrack, while the book is the deepest way to experience the full story — the center of the Airovale experience.