Summary

"The Effluent Engine" a is steampunk/historical fiction/espionage thriller with a romance. It tells the story of Jessaline Dumonde, a Haitian spy, who has been assigned with the mission of helping a new invention in New Orleans to prevent France from recapturing Haiti in the decades following the Haitian Revolution. In this alternative historical world, dirigibles (airships), blimps and hot-air balloons roam the skies. They are powered by steam and gases from distilleries. It is these gases that powered all these sky vehicles and air contraptions, allowing for Haiti to bomb the French ships during the Revolution and win their independence. Jessaline meets with Monsieur Norbert Rillieux, a wealthy Creole engineer, in attempt to win him over and get funding for the invention that will secretly save Haiti. Unfortunately, she has no such luck.

Just then, Eugenie, Norbert's younger...