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A review by e_flah
Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Gearbreakers was an emotional ride from start to finish. The world-building and character development were both so well done. Each was seamlessly woven into the story in a way that made for a really engaging reading experience. I loved Sona and Eris. Both of them were rich, complicated characters with a distinct POV.
The plot of Gearbreakers was moderately paced. It took a bit for things to get going but events unfolded at a relatively steady pace from then on. For an impatient reader like me, I found that the characters immediately grabbed my attention and were enough to keep me reading until the main action got started.
The mechanized weapons, called Windups, were beyond fascinating. I really loved how Mikuta built them into the religion and society of Godolia. The different Windups were fun to read about and I hope there's more of them in book 2. The Windups also opened the door for some interesting questions about humanity and morality in combat when the person committing the bloodshed is sort of at a remove from the horrors they've inflicted. These themes added a lot to what was already a dark, gripping story.
Gearbreakers was a really enjoyable debut novel. If you like revolutions, found family, dark settings, and/or a slow-burn F/F romance, I'd definitely recommend checking this book out.
The plot of Gearbreakers was moderately paced. It took a bit for things to get going but events unfolded at a relatively steady pace from then on. For an impatient reader like me, I found that the characters immediately grabbed my attention and were enough to keep me reading until the main action got started.
The mechanized weapons, called Windups, were beyond fascinating. I really loved how Mikuta built them into the religion and society of Godolia. The different Windups were fun to read about and I hope there's more of them in book 2. The Windups also opened the door for some interesting questions about humanity and morality in combat when the person committing the bloodshed is sort of at a remove from the horrors they've inflicted. These themes added a lot to what was already a dark, gripping story.
Gearbreakers was a really enjoyable debut novel. If you like revolutions, found family, dark settings, and/or a slow-burn F/F romance, I'd definitely recommend checking this book out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury