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The Shattered West #1
The Flux Engine
In this steampunk western, a trio of adventurers search for a powerful crystal an evil villain hopes to transform into a deadly weapon.
John Porter didn’t expect his experiment to go horribly awry and send every Tommy in town on a rampage. The steam-powered metal men tore down half of Sprocketville before they were stopped. After that debacle, John expected a visit from the sheriff . . . not a robber who stole his heirloom crystal—a mysterious gift from his long-lost mother—and then shot him in the chest for good measure.
Left for dead, John is revived, and then deputized, by legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok, who represents shadowy powers that are also after John’s crystal. Throwing in with Hickok and the daughter of the world’s greatest thief, John embarks on a perilous journey to recover his crystal, discover his legacy, and ultimately save the world from a villain who intends to use the crystal to create the deadliest weapon ever known.
John Porter didn’t expect his experiment to go horribly awry and send every Tommy in town on a rampage. The steam-powered metal men tore down half of Sprocketville before they were stopped. After that debacle, John expected a visit from the sheriff . . . not a robber who stole his heirloom crystal—a mysterious gift from his long-lost mother—and then shot him in the chest for good measure.
Left for dead, John is revived, and then deputized, by legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok, who represents shadowy powers that are also after John’s crystal. Throwing in with Hickok and the daughter of the world’s greatest thief, John embarks on a perilous journey to recover his crystal, discover his legacy, and ultimately save the world from a villain who intends to use the crystal to create the deadliest weapon ever known.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2012
15 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Dan Willis
61 books312 followersDan is an award-winning, best-selling author who has been writing for most of his life. He wrote for the long running DragonLance series and has worked in the board game and video game industries as well. His current work is the Arcane Casebook series, a fantasy twist on the 1930’s noir detective story.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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December 12, 2021Not giving a star rating as I don't think my rating would be helpful to potential readers TBH.
First off, It's a steampunk western. Not my favourite genre (Western, but the steampunk would help with that - that part actually reminded me a bit of Ilona Andrews' The Edge series).
Liked the characters and plot, but the problem I had was with all the descriptions. It is not as character driven as his Arcade Casebook series. That's not to say it's devoid of personal interaction between characters, just that, to be blunt, it reads more like a "guy" book - a lot of descriptions of mechanical concepts, how the machinery looked, etc. than the interpersonal stuff. I don't care about the colour of each garment of clothing and specific details about what soldiers and background people looked like, etc... It was just way too many details for me.
In short, it was more how slow-paced sci-fi, and sword and sorcery books are than how space opera or urban fantasy operates. The concept is really fun though, I just wish it cut down on the descriptions. If you like slow-paced sword and sorcery or similar types of fantasy, and the summary looks interesting to you, I think you'll find the average GR reading fits. If you are thinking about reading this solely because you loved the Arcane Casefiles and rather eat cardboard than read a slow paced fantasy, look elsewhere.
First off, It's a steampunk western. Not my favourite genre (Western, but the steampunk would help with that - that part actually reminded me a bit of Ilona Andrews' The Edge series).
Liked the characters and plot, but the problem I had was with all the descriptions. It is not as character driven as his Arcade Casebook series. That's not to say it's devoid of personal interaction between characters, just that, to be blunt, it reads more like a "guy" book - a lot of descriptions of mechanical concepts, how the machinery looked, etc. than the interpersonal stuff. I don't care about the colour of each garment of clothing and specific details about what soldiers and background people looked like, etc... It was just way too many details for me.
In short, it was more how slow-paced sci-fi, and sword and sorcery books are than how space opera or urban fantasy operates. The concept is really fun though, I just wish it cut down on the descriptions. If you like slow-paced sword and sorcery or similar types of fantasy, and the summary looks interesting to you, I think you'll find the average GR reading fits. If you are thinking about reading this solely because you loved the Arcane Casefiles and rather eat cardboard than read a slow paced fantasy, look elsewhere.
June 26, 2021
An Unexpected Dividend
Doing research for my St. Antoni series, I’ve read a number of steampunk stories. The majority of them seem to follow a set formula, and this one does too to a certain extent. However, it is heads above many that I read. Although the tech does take up a portion of the story, this tale is about the people in it rather than the science. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Doing research for my St. Antoni series, I’ve read a number of steampunk stories. The majority of them seem to follow a set formula, and this one does too to a certain extent. However, it is heads above many that I read. Although the tech does take up a portion of the story, this tale is about the people in it rather than the science. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 6, 2023
Great characters in a fun read
This book was a really fun read. The universe filled in as the story went along. There was action, adventure, intrigue...no magic, but then again it is steam punk vs magic based, so that worked out. I hope this is part of a series or these characters come back in other books as I want to see what happens next. I recommend this book.
This book was a really fun read. The universe filled in as the story went along. There was action, adventure, intrigue...no magic, but then again it is steam punk vs magic based, so that worked out. I hope this is part of a series or these characters come back in other books as I want to see what happens next. I recommend this book.
October 2, 2021
Excellent!!
This is a really well developed story with action, intrigue, love and feeling. The characters are real and the story is so engaging and enjoyable putting it down will be hard to do.
This is a really well developed story with action, intrigue, love and feeling. The characters are real and the story is so engaging and enjoyable putting it down will be hard to do.
January 7, 2023
I have loved Willis's Arcane Casebook series so it seemed a good idea to try this one. It's steampunk rather than urban fantasy.
While on the whole a very good adventure story, there are more lighthearted moments than in Casebook.
While on the whole a very good adventure story, there are more lighthearted moments than in Casebook.
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June 17, 2023Very good story. I enjoyed how Mr Willis weaved various characters of the old west into the story, Wild Bill, Doc Holliday, Virgil Earp, Jane. Very enjoyable. Hopefully he will write a couple of more stories. Highly recommend this story and others he has written.
January 17, 2024
A great book.
This is a great beginning to what I hope will be a very long series of books. The world and characters are very interesting. I hope to be reading another adventurous tale soon.
This is a great beginning to what I hope will be a very long series of books. The world and characters are very interesting. I hope to be reading another adventurous tale soon.
September 16, 2020
I needed this!
Well written and funny. I loved the spin on history and how a small invention can change everything. Where is book 2 ?
Well written and funny. I loved the spin on history and how a small invention can change everything. Where is book 2 ?
April 18, 2022
Entertaining
Well defined characters with an interesting storyline hat kept my interest throughout. Looking forward to the next in the series that I’m hoping will come soon.
Well defined characters with an interesting storyline hat kept my interest throughout. Looking forward to the next in the series that I’m hoping will come soon.
October 4, 2022
Very nice
The world building is a little rough. Keep reading all is explained. This is more action adventure than comedy/romance. Young adult but there are deaths.
The world building is a little rough. Keep reading all is explained. This is more action adventure than comedy/romance. Young adult but there are deaths.
October 20, 2022
It's crystal punk a thing?
A YA novel, but works for adults too. A little harder to get into than his other novel, but lots of fun. Over the top adventure
A YA novel, but works for adults too. A little harder to get into than his other novel, but lots of fun. Over the top adventure
November 7, 2022
Need to rat a sequel. Plenty of options.
September 16, 2025
I enjoy Willis’ Arcane Casebook series quite a bit. This one wasn’t bad, but not up to the level of the other series.
December 6, 2014
I am a professional freelance editor and met the author at a book festival. I am so glad I bought his book! I enjoyed every minute of this steampunk, crystalpunk adventure.
I loved the story and characters, but it is the author's ability to describe that really blew me away. I felt fully enveloped into this world and it's interesting use of crystals and flux. I loved the well-envisioned details of cities, technology and consequences of such technology, and was truly transported.
The only thing that keeps this book from a five star rating (I would give four and a half if I could) is the story's need for greater pacing and forward moving momentum. Nothing is broken in the plot, the story is very solid. For that reason, I wish that the character's thoughts, little clues foreshadowed, and questions raised were added in to keep the story pointing forward. But, this is nit-picky, and somewhat subjective to the kind of fast-paced stories our current generation craves. Nor did this ruin the story for me, I still loved it and have been raving about it.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of adventure, Wild West and steampunk. It is a great read for YA and Adults alike.
I loved the story and characters, but it is the author's ability to describe that really blew me away. I felt fully enveloped into this world and it's interesting use of crystals and flux. I loved the well-envisioned details of cities, technology and consequences of such technology, and was truly transported.
The only thing that keeps this book from a five star rating (I would give four and a half if I could) is the story's need for greater pacing and forward moving momentum. Nothing is broken in the plot, the story is very solid. For that reason, I wish that the character's thoughts, little clues foreshadowed, and questions raised were added in to keep the story pointing forward. But, this is nit-picky, and somewhat subjective to the kind of fast-paced stories our current generation craves. Nor did this ruin the story for me, I still loved it and have been raving about it.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of adventure, Wild West and steampunk. It is a great read for YA and Adults alike.
December 28, 2012
A great story of an alternate American West where the technology is a combination of crystal based steampunk and interesting alchemy. Essentially a story of questing, adventure, growth and a bit of romance. If that sounds in any way appealing to you then you should definitely give this book a go. I really enjoyed it and am now waiting impatiently and hoping that there will be more books to follow.
March 4, 2014
I got this from the author at LTUE. From the cover, I was expecting more of a young adult book, full of tense situations and humor and all is well. Nope. This was a rough and tumble book of the old steam punk west, with people getting killed, with mild swearing, with lots of action and sometimes sadness. After I got over my initial confusion, it settled down into a great read for me. And the ending left plenty of sequel ideas. C'mon, Dan, write!
January 13, 2013
This is not the next greatest literature work in sci-fi or fantasy. The plot is standard, the characters standard, and does not ask any particularly great probing questions.
It is however, a very fun read. Think sci-fi with the technology replaced with steampunk, and placed in a western setting.
It is however, a very fun read. Think sci-fi with the technology replaced with steampunk, and placed in a western setting.
March 24, 2013
I enjoyed this book. A few of the characters are known characters from the old west and earlier. I can't decide if that was needed or not. I liked the characters and the plot.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews