I'm with whingnut Spot. I have very strong feelings about this and I certainly don't remember anything like that from the book.
I read the first book in the series that you recommended Fox. I liked it. I don't know if some of the elements will work well in a series
the main character's disease will, I think, grow tiresome after a few books if something isn't done about it.
but I enjoyed the first story. I will buy the second. I understand that the third has been delayed by real life.
For those wanting steampunk recommendations, I've highly enjoyed Devon Monk's AGE OF STEAM series—a mashup of steampunk, fantasy (magic and werewolves and the like), and western. The first book is titled DEAD IRON, and it's a blast. I've also enjoyed Chris Wooding's RETRIBUTION FALLS.
I bought Retribution Falls. My daughter snagged it to read when I got it home and I never got around to reading it. I will have to find it and try it out.