
About the Book
Book: Flight of Fate (The Clockwork Chronicles Book Two)
Authors: Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction with a Steampunk Twist
Release Date: June 10, 2025
When destined for destruction, fate must be challenged.
Curator Dante Ramono must remove the priceless Farnese Cup from its hidden vault in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli to protect it from Allied bombing. A swift betrayal places the cup in Nazi hands, but not before it reveals its mystical powers. To recover the cup, Dante must join forces with cunning Theodora. Can he trust her, or will he be deceived once more?
In Prague, Kateřina Dubová works to care for the Jews she’s hidden. In her hour of greatest need, her trusted friend, Josef, has seemingly vanished. Danger closes in, yet an unseen protector steps in again and again. Could it be Josef, hidden in the shadows?
The clock is ticking. Is the future set in stone, or can courage and faith change history? Together, these four unlikely guardians must defy the odds to stop the Germans’ dark ambitions or risk their very souls.
Betrayal, sacrifice, and destiny collide as unlikely heroes race to save a world at war from the power of a mystical relic.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Authors
Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living. Tricia’s most recent work, The Clockwork Chronicles, is a historical steampunk fantasy trilogy co-authored with her son, Nathan Goyer.

Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his latest series, The Clockwork Chronicles, co-authored with his mother, Tricia Goyer.
More from Tricia and Nathan
Mafia in World War II? This One Fact Changed the Plot of Our Book
By Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer
Some discoveries in research are expected. You dig, and you find what you’re looking for. Others? Well, they blindside you. Sort of like a speeding Vespa on a crowded Italian street.
That’s what happened when Nathan and I were deep in research for Flight of Fate. I was already thrilled about weaving real history into our novel—especially the story of the Naples Museum during World War II and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. (Yes, the very volcano that buried Pompeii in AD 79.) Turns out, this volcano wasn’t done causing trouble.) But what I didn’t expect was how one innocent question would change our entire book.
The Question That Changed Everything
I had been gathering all sorts of juicy details from my online friend Raffael Romano. Raffaele is an expert on Naples history, and he runs his own tour company. (If you ever want to explore Italy without leaving your couch, check out Naples Grand Tour—you won’t regret it!)
After an information-packed interview, I asked, “So, is there anything we didn’t ask about that we should?”
Raffaele paused. Then, as casually as if he were offering me an extra scoop of gelato, he said:
“You haven’t asked about the mafia.”
Excuse me, what?!
Yes, the Mafia Had a Secret Role in WWII
Up until that moment, I had been focused on mystical artifacts, Nazi theft, stolen artwork, and volcanic chaos. But suddenly, my brain was spinning in a whole new direction.
Because, yes—while American and British forces were battling the Axis in Italy, there was another power at play in the shadows.
The Sicilian Mafia (known as Cosa Nostra) had been suppressed under Mussolini’s fascist rule in the 1920s and ’30s. However, when Allied forces invaded Sicily in 1943, something surprising happened: the Mafia made a comeback. And not just any comeback—a strategic, calculated one.
The U.S. military, scrambling for allies on the ground, reportedly turned to some rather unusual sources for help. Enter Mafia boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano—yes, the American Mafia kingpin, who was conveniently in a New York prison at the time. In exchange for some leniency, he allegedly used his underworld connections to help Allied intelligence secure Sicily.
Meanwhile, in Naples—where part of our story takes place—the Mafia was alive and well. And they weren’t just smuggling black-market goods or running gambling rings—they were also influencing who had control of their country. (Hint: the Germans may got the boot outta the Boot!)
And Just Like That, A Different Story Emerged!
With this new information, our fictional world suddenly cracked wide open. How could we tie the Mafia into the world of ancient legends and steampunk warfare? Are they good? Evil? Somewhere in-between? We could twist those scenarios into tales of sacrifice and duty we had already explored in Breath of Bones. There were lots of directions we could go, and boy did we go!
This is Why We Love History
This is what we love about writing historical fiction. It’s like stepping into a time machine and realizing that real history is so much bigger than we imagined. Stories we think we know—like the Allied liberation of Italy—have so many hidden layers. Layers of ordinary people making impossible choices. Layers of forgotten heroes … and unexpected villains.
And, sometimes, layers of the Mafia.
So, the next time you watch a WWII movie and wonder, could the Mafia really have played a role in this?—the answer might just be yes. (And don’t worry. We’re not giving away too much of the plot by sharing this!)
Now, I’m curious—have you ever learned a historical fact that completely surprised you? Drop a comment, and let’s chat! And if you love history as much as I do, be sure to check out Naples Grand Tour for a deep dive into Italy’s incredible past! Tell Raffelo that Nathan and I send you and said, “Chao!” Also, be sure to check out Book One, Breath of Bones!
Interview with the Author
1) What inspired the story in your book?
Tricia: Flight of Fate is Book Two in our Clockwork Chronicles series. I love World War 2 history, and I love taking true stories and weaving them into fiction. This novel was inspired by the fact that Mt. Vesuvius erupted during World War 2. Pompeii has always fascinated me, and bringing in a fantasy element—so that there is a reason for this eruption—was fun to think about!
I’ve also been interested in the looting of art by the Nazis during WW2, and I specially asked a curator friend, Raffaele, about an artifact that the Germans were especially interested in. He mentioned the Farnese Cup. Nathan and I scheduled a Zoom call with Raffale, and at the end of the call, I asked him if there was anything I should ask that I hadn’t yet. He answered, “Well, you haven’t asked about the mafia.” That got our interest! So these very historical elements came together in an exciting, suspenseful way. It was one of my favorite books to write!
2) What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
Nate: We are of course bringing back Katerina and Josef, but we’re exploring two new characters in Flight of Fate. Dante is a museum curator trying to protect an ancient artifact, the Farnese Cup Tricia just mentioned. He is a bit of a nerd, and is thrown in way over his head! In contrast, we’re also seeing the mobster named Theodora. She can get in just about anywhere, and pretend to be anything! Her street smarts are both a boon and an annoyance to those close!
3) Which character surprised you the most?
Nate: Definitely Theodora! Getting the Mafia involved in the story, just as they were involved in World War 2, made for a super-exciting adventure! For a lot of readers it might be strange to think that the Mafia could have been our allies. Getting to explore the stories of those who operate in the gray in the battle of black and white, is very interesting.
4) Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
Tricia: Storytelling is a bridge between hearts. By sharing our stories, especially those of faith and personal experiences (through the lives of our characters), we allow others to discover truth and hope.
As a writer, I highlight my research, my faith, and my worldview in my novels. Yet readers also bring their ideas and questions into every book they read. While I’m sharing meaningful truths, the reader may be pulling out additional layers—ones I’d never considered.
I’ve had many readers come up to me to share deep insights they got from one of my books, and I’m amazed because those truths weren’t on my mind at all. That proves that God is the true Author who builds the bridge between writer and reader.
5) What can you tell us about your next book?
Nate: The final book in the ‘Clockwork Chronicles’ will end in a dangerous race against the clock. And I might just mean that literally… Stay tuned!
6) How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for your genre/audience?
Tricia: I love to connect with young adults who love steampunk, sci-fi, and fantasy books. My husband has always watched Sci-fi with our kids. The original Star Trek is a favorite! He read aloud The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings books. I also love playing board games with my adult sons, and they often have a fantasy twist. In addition to that, I’ve attended the Realm Makers Conferences with my adult sons the last few years. There is an excited energy in that group! I’ve learned to just have fun with it, to let my imagination go wild, and to try things I haven’t tried in my other novels. It’s thrilling! I’ve also started reading a lot more Speculative Fiction novels myself, and I’m constantly blown away by the creativity. So, I suppose in general, hanging out with young people and getting excited about what excites them! Yet it’s also fun because I bring my very detailed research into this book.
7) What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your specific genre?
Tricia: One of the biggest challenges is that I’m very committed to historical accuracy. I love to research the facts. In this case, the actual facts about World War 2. Yet what can be a challenge when you’re book is an “alternate world” with spider tanks and airships, it’s been terribly exciting to tie in accurate history. Within this whole series are actual news reports from that time in history. I can’t tell you how excited I get when I find the PERFECT news report to go with a specific scene in our novel. It’s a joy to share real history while also being able to push the boundaries of my storytelling with steampunk and fantasy elements.
8) What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
Nate: Recently, I have been a big fan of Joshua Dalzelle. His novels really expanded my understanding of how a book can be written. In one series starting with ‘Warship’, he made the realistic side of space battles flow so intuitively. Hours and hours would pass for the characters, yet the action was still gripping!
9) How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
Nate: While writing a series set in World War 2, I think a lot about how difficult it would be for the people during the time to keep their faith when the world feels like it is ending around them. With that, the character’s spiritual side, their hearts and soul, how they view the world around them, are all affected by that.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 30
Simple Harvest Reads, July 1 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, July 1
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 2
Texas Book-aholic, July 3
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 4 (Spotlight)
For Him and My Family, July 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 6
The Lofty Pages, July 7
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Book Looks by Lisa, July 9
Artistic Nobody, July 10 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, July 10
Lily’s Corner, July 11
Bizwings Book Blog, July 12
Life on Chickadee Lane, July 13
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, Nathan and Tricia are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a hardcover copy of Breath of Bones and Flight of Fate!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54251