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rwatkins's review
3.0
I liked it. Overall: 3/5 (14/25)
A story about a mother waging a war of vengeance while her adult children try to return home. If you like steampunk, political fantasy and grimdark elements all blended together, then give this series a read. I struggle a bit with the characters and writing style, but the plot is serviceable and the setting is interesting.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3.5/5
There are a few plotlines to follow. Rosomon is gathering allies to go to war. Her children are each trying to return home. There are some interesting points, twists and turns to the plot that I found to be enjoyable.
But there were also a couple misfires for me. The catch-and-release/spare a hero/villain plot device was used a few times, and I absolutely hate reading it. This is a personal eye roll for me every single time I have to see it. Readers not bothered by this device will find the book much more enjoyable.
The second misfire would be some repetition in storylines. In Book 1, a son is taken west to Malador. In Book 2, a son is taken west to Malador. Both sons suffer similar fates while over there, namely torture, magical change, and demonic whispers. Though done very differently in this book, the similarities are still noticeable.
Those are the only two negatives to the plot. Most of the plotlines I liked. I'm trying to be careful not to spoil things for someone who wants to read this series, so I wont go into everything great, but there is plenty here to like. From an animal companion to shifting alliances, the plot is mostly enjoyable.
Characters: 2/5
I still find characterization to be a weaker element in the writing. I don't feel like I know the mc's well enough to try and predict what they're going to do.
In the first half, there is a lot of passivity in the mcs, reacting to the villains and conflict as they arise instead of actively leading the charge forward. They need saving or releasing at times from side characters or villains, taking away some of their agency at times. Some of this would be okay, but it felt a little heavily used.
There is a lot of "do you know who I am?!" dialogue from one character early on and it quickly grates on the nerves. It doesn't seem believable or warranted given the character or circumstances, either.
There are some villainous outlooks added in, and some gray characters, and this added some complexity to the plot, but I still wasn't feeling for these characters, either. Ansell is okay.
Setting: 4/5
Ford focuses mostly on all new locations in this book, from The Forge, to Wyke and Oakhelm, to new parts of Malador. Every set piece used was distinct, and added so much toward creating a wider world, without losing the setting already established. Each played into the moving plot in a satisfying way.
Arcturius, with new sorcery introduced there offering an entirely new outlook on the established magic systems, was especially imaginative and interesting.
I would have enjoyed some more specific descriptions of The Forge and Wyke, before certain events took place, as a bit of foreshadowing but that's my only criticism. Excellent job.
Style: 1.5/5
The general prose felt more streamlined, more consistent, and less sporadic than EOE. This helped the story feel more coherent.
The pacing was stilted a bit by redundancy in scenes and plotlines. But I did like that I could feel the build up towards the first big battle.
The Big Battle. First, it is the only chapter in the series told through multiple povs. Every other chapter has gotten one pov per chapter. I think I can see what Ford was going for, here: Giving life to the background characters, showing the larger scope of the battle, moving through the battle by bouncing from combatant to combatant. But second, this included numerous new characters, who I didn't know or care about, and new pov's as well. The big battle seemed like the wrong spot to be introducing new characters or pov's when other characters are present and witnessing the same things, just less directly involved. Third, I already mentioned the passive feeling with the mc's and this battle didn't help that. Ultimately, it was an interesting risk but one that didn't payoff for me.
Last gripe about style is the paragraphs with a bunch of questions. Frequently, inner dialogue consisted of numerous questions right in a row - like every mc is crippled with worry and doubt in the exact same way, all the time. The what-ifs and other hypothetical questions distracted me A LOT. It was a heavy-handed way of telling fears, without showing, and handholding the reader into the obvious possible stakes. I know something bad will happen if the heroes fail - I didn't enjoy all the coddling. Especially when some of it is purely speculative and never comes to fruition - making it a waste of time to read or worry about.
The ideas and setting are there - but Ford's characterizations and certain style choices/executions still leave me wanting for some improvement. My issues with the first book were mostly addressed, but I sorta feel like they were just replaced with new problems, hence the decrease in score from EOE.
Themes: 3/5
Another improvement, the themes get a little more complex upon adding gray and villainous character pov's into the mix. That complexity allows for extra twists, betrayals and unexpected allies. It colors the world with a little more depth, especially with Ansell. These added layers go beyond the simplicity of common fantasy books, so the score is improved from EOE.
Ansell's moral dilemma will be the most interesting to watch play out. Religious zealots are tough to get right, but I trust Ford here, seeing that growth in his thematic work and plotting already.
A story about a mother waging a war of vengeance while her adult children try to return home. If you like steampunk, political fantasy and grimdark elements all blended together, then give this series a read. I struggle a bit with the characters and writing style, but the plot is serviceable and the setting is interesting.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3.5/5
There are a few plotlines to follow. Rosomon is gathering allies to go to war. Her children are each trying to return home. There are some interesting points, twists and turns to the plot that I found to be enjoyable.
But there were also a couple misfires for me. The catch-and-release/spare a hero/villain plot device was used a few times, and I absolutely hate reading it. This is a personal eye roll for me every single time I have to see it. Readers not bothered by this device will find the book much more enjoyable.
The second misfire would be some repetition in storylines. In Book 1, a son is taken west to Malador. In Book 2, a son is taken west to Malador. Both sons suffer similar fates while over there, namely torture, magical change, and demonic whispers. Though done very differently in this book, the similarities are still noticeable.
Those are the only two negatives to the plot. Most of the plotlines I liked. I'm trying to be careful not to spoil things for someone who wants to read this series, so I wont go into everything great, but there is plenty here to like. From an animal companion to shifting alliances, the plot is mostly enjoyable.
Characters: 2/5
I still find characterization to be a weaker element in the writing. I don't feel like I know the mc's well enough to try and predict what they're going to do.
In the first half, there is a lot of passivity in the mcs, reacting to the villains and conflict as they arise instead of actively leading the charge forward. They need saving or releasing at times from side characters or villains, taking away some of their agency at times. Some of this would be okay, but it felt a little heavily used.
There is a lot of "do you know who I am?!" dialogue from one character early on and it quickly grates on the nerves. It doesn't seem believable or warranted given the character or circumstances, either.
There are some villainous outlooks added in, and some gray characters, and this added some complexity to the plot, but I still wasn't feeling for these characters, either. Ansell is okay.
Setting: 4/5
Ford focuses mostly on all new locations in this book, from The Forge, to Wyke and Oakhelm, to new parts of Malador. Every set piece used was distinct, and added so much toward creating a wider world, without losing the setting already established. Each played into the moving plot in a satisfying way.
Arcturius, with new sorcery introduced there offering an entirely new outlook on the established magic systems, was especially imaginative and interesting.
I would have enjoyed some more specific descriptions of The Forge and Wyke, before certain events took place, as a bit of foreshadowing but that's my only criticism. Excellent job.
Style: 1.5/5
The general prose felt more streamlined, more consistent, and less sporadic than EOE. This helped the story feel more coherent.
The pacing was stilted a bit by redundancy in scenes and plotlines. But I did like that I could feel the build up towards the first big battle.
The Big Battle. First, it is the only chapter in the series told through multiple povs. Every other chapter has gotten one pov per chapter. I think I can see what Ford was going for, here: Giving life to the background characters, showing the larger scope of the battle, moving through the battle by bouncing from combatant to combatant. But second, this included numerous new characters, who I didn't know or care about, and new pov's as well. The big battle seemed like the wrong spot to be introducing new characters or pov's when other characters are present and witnessing the same things, just less directly involved. Third, I already mentioned the passive feeling with the mc's and this battle didn't help that. Ultimately, it was an interesting risk but one that didn't payoff for me.
Last gripe about style is the paragraphs with a bunch of questions. Frequently, inner dialogue consisted of numerous questions right in a row - like every mc is crippled with worry and doubt in the exact same way, all the time. The what-ifs and other hypothetical questions distracted me A LOT. It was a heavy-handed way of telling fears, without showing, and handholding the reader into the obvious possible stakes. I know something bad will happen if the heroes fail - I didn't enjoy all the coddling. Especially when some of it is purely speculative and never comes to fruition - making it a waste of time to read or worry about.
The ideas and setting are there - but Ford's characterizations and certain style choices/executions still leave me wanting for some improvement. My issues with the first book were mostly addressed, but I sorta feel like they were just replaced with new problems, hence the decrease in score from EOE.
Themes: 3/5
Another improvement, the themes get a little more complex upon adding gray and villainous character pov's into the mix. That complexity allows for extra twists, betrayals and unexpected allies. It colors the world with a little more depth, especially with Ansell. These added layers go beyond the simplicity of common fantasy books, so the score is improved from EOE.
Ansell's moral dilemma will be the most interesting to watch play out. Religious zealots are tough to get right, but I trust Ford here, seeing that growth in his thematic work and plotting already.
runicfox's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bottle671's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
quazar's review
5.0
I think it's safe enough to say that this book was a massive improvement from its predecessor, and that said, it doesn't really pick up the pace until midway through the book. But when it did, damn. All the themes came together so nicely. And, sick as I am of pseudo-feminist commentary in every YA book ever, reading a book with some genuinely interesting commentary and ideas at play felt incredibly refreshing. Returning to the world of Hyreme has proven most resourceful.
If Engines of Empire had a severe lack of substance and the plots of each character didn't quite feel full, engaging, consistent or well-rounded, this book completes said characters, and creates a clearer picture of a conflict that, deadass, I missed almost entirely in book 1. The story continues with a growing conflict that you won't be able to get your eyes off of. People keep dying and switching sides and I can't promise you that you will be dizzy by the end of it.
The new characters introducted really helped add depth to the already existing characters.
Keara is an anti-antihero to put it simply, but her character doesn't really kick until [again] the second half of the book. I was largely uninterested in her at first, but as the book progressed she got more and more interesting. She is such a refreshing take on grey morality, and fuck it. The moment you think she's in her redemption era, bam. She gets worse (but also for the [partial] benefit of our heroes? It's hard to say) Also, her foil dynamic with Tyreta was genuinely really genius. I personally was like 'Yes! This is what Tyreta's character was missing!' but aside from being a complementary character to Tyreta in a way, she is excellent on her own.
On the other hand, Ansell is a character that we know from book 1, bur we never know his name. What's reallt genius about having him as the insider POV for Sanctan's dealings, is that we are esentially denied a right to Sanctan's mind - who knows what motivates him? Nobody. But slowly, we realise that Ansell is aware that Sanctan is hardly the Wyrm-devoted man he claims to be, and so do we. Also, Grace was really cute, and Ansell's weakness to children did a great job at showing his nobility, a nobility that Sanctan is, more than once, shown to lack.
The supporting characters are mostly fantastic too. We have Sted back, although I wish she played a more important role. She still devoured every scene she was in. Oleksig is literally just a massive mood, and Ianto is quite endearing. Ashe and Verlyn are also really cute and important supporting characters for the resurrected Fulren. Nylia was a great foil of sorts to Conall, but that plotline was a bit hard to follow, so I'm conflicted on that one. But aside from Oleksig (from the new additions) the Merigot brothers were stellar and also my favourites.
As for themes, the not-so-subtle commentary on Religious leaders being usually the most sinful was well rounded. Although there are well-meaning servants of the Wyrms (Such as Ansell), Sanctan is a zealot who will kill his child's mother mercilessly, ravage cities, betray his allies, abandon his only child and eliminate all sorts of commodities from the people, proclaiming he is a saviour. When, in truth, all he truly cares about is power and financial gain. Engines of War, I predict, will give more insight on his motivations and show what exactly breeds about his heart.
I particularly loved the strong women in the book. Rosomon became one of my absolute favourite female characters in fiction. She endured abuse, allegedly losing two children, her lover's death (ahem, I'm not over him either), many betrayals, and yet - She is a general willing to lead her people no matter what it takes, rising from the ashes like a phoenix again and again. She mostly shows mercy, but her corruption towards the end was actually just... deserved. Like, damn. The Ministry deserves it. The greatest part is that at no point did I feel like it was shoved up my ass that she was a strong woman, and I could say the same for Tyreta and Keara. I'm glad I got a chance to make up my own mind as the author simply showed us readers their strength and intellect.
The three Hawkspur heirs undergo their own arcs for this book as well. Fulren in particular FINALLY gets to complete his arc, and I can't wait for him to return to the war, all slaying in prosthetics and shit. He better become iron man or I'm suing. And if you read my previous review, you'd know I was thinking I was delusional for thinking Fulren was alive. Well, turns out I'm not insane. I literally almost threw a tantrum because of how glad I was he was alive.
In my previous review, I also slandered Tyreta's character. The good news is that thanks partly to Keara, she finally becomes a more interesting character, figuring out her newly acquired powers. I found her far more likable and complex in EoC than in EoE, and I think it was also product of the circumstances she was put in.
As for the plot - The circumstances the characters are now in forces the book to have to give more info about artifice and expand on what's actually interesting about this world; the tech! It's not perfect, but it's an improvement.
I'm lazy to write more. But the TLDR is; Damn. This book really outdid its predecessor like a LOT. I'm just worried that this one was so good that EoW will not be able to surpass EoC's current greatness.
All in all, I still have high hopes for The Age of Uprising, and if it's gonna be like I think it's gonna be, then it'll be an amazing conclusion to the series. I just... I'm not really excited about fucking 'Wenis' (Still a terrible name) being back in the game. I wasn't invested in her little instalove crush on Fulren and I'm still not! God spare me from a possible Wenis POV. Until then, I'll be praying.
If Engines of Empire had a severe lack of substance and the plots of each character didn't quite feel full, engaging, consistent or well-rounded, this book completes said characters, and creates a clearer picture of a conflict that, deadass, I missed almost entirely in book 1. The story continues with a growing conflict that you won't be able to get your eyes off of. People keep dying and switching sides and I can't promise you that you will be dizzy by the end of it.
The new characters introducted really helped add depth to the already existing characters.
Keara is an anti-antihero to put it simply, but her character doesn't really kick until [again] the second half of the book. I was largely uninterested in her at first, but as the book progressed she got more and more interesting. She is such a refreshing take on grey morality, and fuck it. The moment you think she's in her redemption era, bam. She gets worse (but also for the [partial] benefit of our heroes? It's hard to say) Also, her foil dynamic with Tyreta was genuinely really genius. I personally was like 'Yes! This is what Tyreta's character was missing!' but aside from being a complementary character to Tyreta in a way, she is excellent on her own.
On the other hand, Ansell is a character that we know from book 1, bur we never know his name. What's reallt genius about having him as the insider POV for Sanctan's dealings, is that we are esentially denied a right to Sanctan's mind - who knows what motivates him? Nobody. But slowly, we realise that Ansell is aware that Sanctan is hardly the Wyrm-devoted man he claims to be, and so do we. Also, Grace was really cute, and Ansell's weakness to children did a great job at showing his nobility, a nobility that Sanctan is, more than once, shown to lack.
The supporting characters are mostly fantastic too. We have Sted back, although I wish she played a more important role. She still devoured every scene she was in. Oleksig is literally just a massive mood, and Ianto is quite endearing. Ashe and Verlyn are also really cute and important supporting characters for the resurrected Fulren. Nylia was a great foil of sorts to Conall, but that plotline was a bit hard to follow, so I'm conflicted on that one. But aside from Oleksig (from the new additions) the Merigot brothers were stellar and also my favourites.
As for themes, the not-so-subtle commentary on Religious leaders being usually the most sinful was well rounded. Although there are well-meaning servants of the Wyrms (Such as Ansell), Sanctan is a zealot who will kill his child's mother mercilessly, ravage cities, betray his allies, abandon his only child and eliminate all sorts of commodities from the people, proclaiming he is a saviour. When, in truth, all he truly cares about is power and financial gain. Engines of War, I predict, will give more insight on his motivations and show what exactly breeds about his heart.
I particularly loved the strong women in the book. Rosomon became one of my absolute favourite female characters in fiction. She endured abuse, allegedly losing two children, her lover's death (ahem, I'm not over him either), many betrayals, and yet - She is a general willing to lead her people no matter what it takes, rising from the ashes like a phoenix again and again. She mostly shows mercy, but her corruption towards the end was actually just... deserved. Like, damn. The Ministry deserves it. The greatest part is that at no point did I feel like it was shoved up my ass that she was a strong woman, and I could say the same for Tyreta and Keara. I'm glad I got a chance to make up my own mind as the author simply showed us readers their strength and intellect.
The three Hawkspur heirs undergo their own arcs for this book as well. Fulren in particular FINALLY gets to complete his arc, and I can't wait for him to return to the war, all slaying in prosthetics and shit. He better become iron man or I'm suing. And if you read my previous review, you'd know I was thinking I was delusional for thinking Fulren was alive. Well, turns out I'm not insane. I literally almost threw a tantrum because of how glad I was he was alive.
In my previous review, I also slandered Tyreta's character. The good news is that thanks partly to Keara, she finally becomes a more interesting character, figuring out her newly acquired powers. I found her far more likable and complex in EoC than in EoE, and I think it was also product of the circumstances she was put in.
As for the plot - The circumstances the characters are now in forces the book to have to give more info about artifice and expand on what's actually interesting about this world; the tech! It's not perfect, but it's an improvement.
I'm lazy to write more. But the TLDR is; Damn. This book really outdid its predecessor like a LOT. I'm just worried that this one was so good that EoW will not be able to surpass EoC's current greatness.
All in all, I still have high hopes for The Age of Uprising, and if it's gonna be like I think it's gonna be, then it'll be an amazing conclusion to the series. I just... I'm not really excited about fucking 'Wenis' (Still a terrible name) being back in the game. I wasn't invested in her little instalove crush on Fulren and I'm still not! God spare me from a possible Wenis POV. Until then, I'll be praying.
dawn_marie's review
3.0
Engines of Chaos is the second installment of R.S. Ford’s The Age of Uprising series and suffers from “middle book syndrome” – other than “that thing” (which was telegraphed from book one) and a (not so surprising) reveal, the entire novel is a set up for the next installment. This is in no way a bad book, it just felt . . . underwhelming.
Engines of Chaos shows the aftermath of the emperor’s assignation and the coup of the Draconate Ministry lead by Sanctan Egelrath, who is determined to destroy the Guilds and anyone/thing that stands in his way. The Guilds, lead by the Hawkspurs, are determined to stop Sanctan , his unbridled lust for power and his determination to eliminated all use of artifice, returning Torwyn to the time where the Ministry controlled everything.
The magic system continues to be the most interesting aspect of the novel. In Mr. Ford’s world, magic is science based; where artificers create weapons, machinery, vehicles, engines, and gadgets powered by pyrestones, which in turn, are “activated” by webwainers. Through this magical science Torwyn, lead by the Guilds, has become powerful. In addition to the pyrestone magic system, Mr. Ford expands on the other magical systems that were briefly mentioned in the first installment.
After the prologue, the novel was off to the races, with non-stop action, battle, battle planning, fighting, and some more battles. Although the stakes were raised, I didn’t feel any tension because (as was true in the first installment) there is little thought to falling action. While I understand that the “go-go-go” pace was used to illustrate the seriousness of the situation and the importance of acting quickly, the plot would have been better served if there was a moment or two to reflect on some of the things that happened (at least more than a single sentence stating Character A missed Character B after they died). The entire plot was basically moving the characters from point A to point B so they’ll be in place for the eventual show-down between the Guild and Ministry.
As was true in the first installment, where the story was lacking, for me, was in the characters. They weren’t well developed, ranging from mildly interesting to annoying. Of all the POV chapters, I found Ansell’s the most interesting and enjoyed reading his personal journey as he examined his belief system. I also enjoyed Connell’s chapters and found his struggles between “good” and “bad” engaging – also, the poor boy needed a hug. The rest of the POV characters were “meh”, with Kera’s being highly repetitive and Tyreta’s bordering on annoying (mainly because her powers seem to wax or wan depending on what the plot needed).
Even with its flaws, Engines of Chaos was a fast paced, enjoyable read that nicely sets up the next installment.
Engines of Chaos shows the aftermath of the emperor’s assignation and the coup of the Draconate Ministry lead by Sanctan Egelrath, who is determined to destroy the Guilds and anyone/thing that stands in his way. The Guilds, lead by the Hawkspurs, are determined to stop Sanctan , his unbridled lust for power and his determination to eliminated all use of artifice, returning Torwyn to the time where the Ministry controlled everything.
The magic system continues to be the most interesting aspect of the novel. In Mr. Ford’s world, magic is science based; where artificers create weapons, machinery, vehicles, engines, and gadgets powered by pyrestones, which in turn, are “activated” by webwainers. Through this magical science Torwyn, lead by the Guilds, has become powerful. In addition to the pyrestone magic system, Mr. Ford expands on the other magical systems that were briefly mentioned in the first installment.
After the prologue, the novel was off to the races, with non-stop action, battle, battle planning, fighting, and some more battles. Although the stakes were raised, I didn’t feel any tension because (as was true in the first installment) there is little thought to falling action. While I understand that the “go-go-go” pace was used to illustrate the seriousness of the situation and the importance of acting quickly, the plot would have been better served if there was a moment or two to reflect on some of the things that happened (at least more than a single sentence stating Character A missed Character B after they died). The entire plot was basically moving the characters from point A to point B so they’ll be in place for the eventual show-down between the Guild and Ministry.
As was true in the first installment, where the story was lacking, for me, was in the characters. They weren’t well developed, ranging from mildly interesting to annoying. Of all the POV chapters, I found Ansell’s the most interesting and enjoyed reading his personal journey as he examined his belief system. I also enjoyed Connell’s chapters and found his struggles between “good” and “bad” engaging – also, the poor boy needed a hug. The rest of the POV characters were “meh”, with Kera’s being highly repetitive and Tyreta’s bordering on annoying (mainly because her powers seem to wax or wan depending on what the plot needed).
Even with its flaws, Engines of Chaos was a fast paced, enjoyable read that nicely sets up the next installment.
trinitytales's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
joselynmathews's review
3.0
3.75. Overall, a good read. I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The last half felt a bit muddled and chaotic.
birte's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cat_book_nook's review
5.0
I've finished reading the second installation in The Age of Uprising series by R. S. Ford, Engines of Chaos. I've listened to it as an audiobook, courtesy of Netgalley and the Publisher. The physical book is on its way to me and it's going straight to one of my favorites shelf.
In this part we have even more points of view that add depth to the story. The narrators are again doing an amazing job and I recommend the audio version of the series to everyone who likes such medium.
The plot is thickening, it's fast paced and the scope and stakes are even higher than in the previous books. It also brings the idea of a crazy cat lady to a whole new level.
In this part we have even more points of view that add depth to the story. The narrators are again doing an amazing job and I recommend the audio version of the series to everyone who likes such medium.
The plot is thickening, it's fast paced and the scope and stakes are even higher than in the previous books. It also brings the idea of a crazy cat lady to a whole new level.
jedidiah_blake's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5