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Free-Wrench #1
Free-Wrench
The islands of Caldera are a shining jewel in a rather bleak world. A terrible calamity in the past had blanketed much of the world with a toxic "fug." Those who survived were forced to take to the mountains and the skies in wondrous airships. Life has since been a struggle, with only the most ruthless and crafty able to survive. To spare themselves the same fate, the Calderans erected a battery of guns to fend off the airships of the mainland. They isolated themselves from the madness of the world, choosing instead to focus on the pursuits of art and creativity. Few believe the technologically advanced but socially barbarous outsiders have anything to offer. Amanita Graus, though, is hoping that they do.
Nita's mother has lost her livelihood and perhaps soon her life to a terrible disease. Already the black sheep of the family for embracing engineering rather than art, Nita resolves to leave the safety of her home and do whatever it takes to find a cure. For a price, the bizarre crew of an airship called The Wind Breaker are willing to grant her a meeting with their mysterious benefactors, and thus a chance to procure the one thing with a chance to save her mother.
Free-Wrench follows Nita’s adventures in a steampunk world of airships and lunatics. Helping her in her journey are an eccentric crew of smugglers; the gruff Cap’n Mack, the simple but enthusiastic Lil and Coop, the arrogant marksman Gunner, the surly surgeon Butch, and the irritable mascot Wink. To survive and find what she seeks she’ll need to earn their trust, follow their rules, and meet face to face with the people who pull the strings of their society.
Nita's mother has lost her livelihood and perhaps soon her life to a terrible disease. Already the black sheep of the family for embracing engineering rather than art, Nita resolves to leave the safety of her home and do whatever it takes to find a cure. For a price, the bizarre crew of an airship called The Wind Breaker are willing to grant her a meeting with their mysterious benefactors, and thus a chance to procure the one thing with a chance to save her mother.
Free-Wrench follows Nita’s adventures in a steampunk world of airships and lunatics. Helping her in her journey are an eccentric crew of smugglers; the gruff Cap’n Mack, the simple but enthusiastic Lil and Coop, the arrogant marksman Gunner, the surly surgeon Butch, and the irritable mascot Wink. To survive and find what she seeks she’ll need to earn their trust, follow their rules, and meet face to face with the people who pull the strings of their society.
153 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2014
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1086 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
October 20, 2017
I just loved this book, in every way imaginable. I'm pretty stingy with my five stars, but this one made me a very happy woman.
I had the paperback copy bought for me as a gift, and I was kind of spellbound as soon as I read the back cover. I mean, Steampunk AND a STRONG FEMALE PROTAGONIST? I thought this would make for a rather grand read.
The story follows a girl called Nita, and her place of work involves keeping the steamworks running. Even though I NEVER use the term "Man's work"as I simply don't believe such work exists, Nita does seem to work in an all male environment. She thrives in her work, has no fear and loves getting her hands dirty. She reminds me of myself in some ways.
Without ruining too much of the storyline, Free-Wrench is based around the adventures Nita and her crew have on a ship called The Wind breaker. While this story was an introduction to those things, it was also so much more than that. There was a rather moving and remarkable story to be told, and there were moments of danger, threat and sheer poignancy.
As for the Steampunk side of things, I just love Steampunk. I enjoyed the sheer depth that Lallo went into when describing the gears and taking control of the steam. I think it's absolutely fascinating.
Now this is over, I'm hungry to read more about Nita and her adventures aboard The Wind Breaker!
I had the paperback copy bought for me as a gift, and I was kind of spellbound as soon as I read the back cover. I mean, Steampunk AND a STRONG FEMALE PROTAGONIST? I thought this would make for a rather grand read.
The story follows a girl called Nita, and her place of work involves keeping the steamworks running. Even though I NEVER use the term "Man's work"as I simply don't believe such work exists, Nita does seem to work in an all male environment. She thrives in her work, has no fear and loves getting her hands dirty. She reminds me of myself in some ways.
Without ruining too much of the storyline, Free-Wrench is based around the adventures Nita and her crew have on a ship called The Wind breaker. While this story was an introduction to those things, it was also so much more than that. There was a rather moving and remarkable story to be told, and there were moments of danger, threat and sheer poignancy.
As for the Steampunk side of things, I just love Steampunk. I enjoyed the sheer depth that Lallo went into when describing the gears and taking control of the steam. I think it's absolutely fascinating.
Now this is over, I'm hungry to read more about Nita and her adventures aboard The Wind Breaker!
March 9, 2025
My rating 4.8
The book "Free-Wrench (Free-Wrench # 1) by Joseph R. Lallo is a perfect steampunk fantasy. Even better, it was free on Amazon so anyone can download and read it. The writer introduced me to a fantasy world with ease, and I enjoyed reading the book. Flying ships, cities with fog, and the whole world in the story are so lifelike and simply drags you to read it. The characters in the book are vivid, and all the lovers of Steampunk will enjoy this book.
The main character in the book is Amanita Graus who lives on the Islands of Caldara. In her desire to help her mother, she will enter the adventure of her life and join the crew of the smuggling ship. But buying a drug for her mother will soon turn into an adventure that will change the existing world. much.
So, if it's still free on Amazon, download it and start reading it. I'm sure you will enjoy the story.
The book "Free-Wrench (Free-Wrench # 1) by Joseph R. Lallo is a perfect steampunk fantasy. Even better, it was free on Amazon so anyone can download and read it. The writer introduced me to a fantasy world with ease, and I enjoyed reading the book. Flying ships, cities with fog, and the whole world in the story are so lifelike and simply drags you to read it. The characters in the book are vivid, and all the lovers of Steampunk will enjoy this book.
The main character in the book is Amanita Graus who lives on the Islands of Caldara. In her desire to help her mother, she will enter the adventure of her life and join the crew of the smuggling ship. But buying a drug for her mother will soon turn into an adventure that will change the existing world. much.
So, if it's still free on Amazon, download it and start reading it. I'm sure you will enjoy the story.
January 18, 2018
Very nice little book.
Free-Wrench is a steampunk fantasy about a girl named Nita going on an adventure to save a family member, by joining a group of rogue but friendly airship pirates/traders as they sail about the fug-wrapped world. It's a classic tale of an old disaster mystery - how and why the world came to be covered with this purple noxious fog and the resulting upheaval of society - blended with strong focus on the mechanical ins and outs of 1850s steam-powered technology.
The writing is naive but pleasant. Things would not necessarily work out this way in real life, not by a long shot, and there are some obvious cliches, but the action is fast, colorful, the characters are varied and sufficiently interesting if again, rather cliche. More like a computer game campaign than a proper book, but it's quite all right for the first installment in the series, and it does leave enough room for future development and adventure. Simple, enjoyable. I liked the way Joseph tells his story, and the technobabble is also quite all right. The story is quite short, and the resolution almost too straightforward, but that's expected give the lighthearted premise. I like.
There shall be no limericks as the limerick king is resting.
Igor
Free-Wrench is a steampunk fantasy about a girl named Nita going on an adventure to save a family member, by joining a group of rogue but friendly airship pirates/traders as they sail about the fug-wrapped world. It's a classic tale of an old disaster mystery - how and why the world came to be covered with this purple noxious fog and the resulting upheaval of society - blended with strong focus on the mechanical ins and outs of 1850s steam-powered technology.
The writing is naive but pleasant. Things would not necessarily work out this way in real life, not by a long shot, and there are some obvious cliches, but the action is fast, colorful, the characters are varied and sufficiently interesting if again, rather cliche. More like a computer game campaign than a proper book, but it's quite all right for the first installment in the series, and it does leave enough room for future development and adventure. Simple, enjoyable. I liked the way Joseph tells his story, and the technobabble is also quite all right. The story is quite short, and the resolution almost too straightforward, but that's expected give the lighthearted premise. I like.
There shall be no limericks as the limerick king is resting.
Igor
August 23, 2018
Pretty entertaining romp through the steam-powered airship-filled skies. Not perfect, but fun.
April 26, 2016
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
There are two types of Steampunk–though like many things the genre is a spectrum–the ones focused on Victorian society and the ones all about the machines. I love both for very different reasons, but my favorite has to be the stories where gears are turned and steam is controlled.
Free-Wrench, which should come as no surprise considering the name, is very much the second type. Aminita Graus, who goes by Nita, is something of an anomaly in her talented, artistic family. While they create great works of art and music, she helps keep the steamworks running, a dirty, dangerous job that produces none of the beauty their culture is founded on.
The story begins in the middle of a disaster, clearly demonstrating the type of person Nita is. I’ll admit to finding the fast-paced start a bit slow simply because I could not see the shape of the story, leaving me no way to anticipate what would come next or tell what the book was really about. Which is not to say I didn’t enjoy the glimpse into the world or the interesting characters. The last is what kept me reading beyond the initial crisis, a fact I am thrilled with.
Everything I learned about Nita in that bridging conflict comes into play as she discovers an opportunity to help her dying mother and takes it with little thought to the consequences. It’s the same as when she charges toward the problem during the beginning crisis when any reasonable person would have been looking for cover. She’s impulsive, focused, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her aims. Nita recognizes the existence of consequences. She doesn’t act so in blissful ignorance. No, she’s just willing to accept what will happen next as long as she gets the results she’s seeking, at least when she doesn’t believe she can get away with it.
There are a ton of wonderful characters from Lil and Coop who are eager, willing, and none-too-smart, to Captain Mack, Gunner, even Drew, her coworker at the steamworks, as well as many more. The description is rich (though on occasion a bit heavy for me), the mechanics are viable and clever, and the world is well thought out. It surprises me not at all to learn readers of this book demanded more.
While Free-Wrench is clearly an introduction of the world and the crew of the Wind Breaker, it serves much more than that in providing a strong, moving story with moments of danger, very real threats, well-seeded espionage (I figured it out early, but it didn’t spoil how the characters remained ignorant because it still made sense), and both comradery and betrayal. This is my sweet spot between earnest if not exactly legit characters and a grand adventure that requires them to pull out all the stops to achieve what they set out to do. The world is harsh and hard, but the people don’t have to let that define them.
I recommend this book hands down.
There are two types of Steampunk–though like many things the genre is a spectrum–the ones focused on Victorian society and the ones all about the machines. I love both for very different reasons, but my favorite has to be the stories where gears are turned and steam is controlled.
Free-Wrench, which should come as no surprise considering the name, is very much the second type. Aminita Graus, who goes by Nita, is something of an anomaly in her talented, artistic family. While they create great works of art and music, she helps keep the steamworks running, a dirty, dangerous job that produces none of the beauty their culture is founded on.
The story begins in the middle of a disaster, clearly demonstrating the type of person Nita is. I’ll admit to finding the fast-paced start a bit slow simply because I could not see the shape of the story, leaving me no way to anticipate what would come next or tell what the book was really about. Which is not to say I didn’t enjoy the glimpse into the world or the interesting characters. The last is what kept me reading beyond the initial crisis, a fact I am thrilled with.
Everything I learned about Nita in that bridging conflict comes into play as she discovers an opportunity to help her dying mother and takes it with little thought to the consequences. It’s the same as when she charges toward the problem during the beginning crisis when any reasonable person would have been looking for cover. She’s impulsive, focused, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her aims. Nita recognizes the existence of consequences. She doesn’t act so in blissful ignorance. No, she’s just willing to accept what will happen next as long as she gets the results she’s seeking, at least when she doesn’t believe she can get away with it.
There are a ton of wonderful characters from Lil and Coop who are eager, willing, and none-too-smart, to Captain Mack, Gunner, even Drew, her coworker at the steamworks, as well as many more. The description is rich (though on occasion a bit heavy for me), the mechanics are viable and clever, and the world is well thought out. It surprises me not at all to learn readers of this book demanded more.
While Free-Wrench is clearly an introduction of the world and the crew of the Wind Breaker, it serves much more than that in providing a strong, moving story with moments of danger, very real threats, well-seeded espionage (I figured it out early, but it didn’t spoil how the characters remained ignorant because it still made sense), and both comradery and betrayal. This is my sweet spot between earnest if not exactly legit characters and a grand adventure that requires them to pull out all the stops to achieve what they set out to do. The world is harsh and hard, but the people don’t have to let that define them.
I recommend this book hands down.
June 9, 2014
I read this after winning a set of the SF/F NaNoWriMo StoryBundle.
As it stands, this book is very enjoyable, but not without flaws. It's fast-paced and generally light-hearted, with a hopelessly optimistic (and endlessly competent) heroine who joins the crew of a merchant airship. (Bonus points for having a female engineer as the lead). It's an airship because it's steampunk, but basically the story would play out the same in the Age of Sail if the protagonist knew something about sails instead of steam. It's a lot of fun to read only so long as you don't allow yourself to think about it. I read for escapism and can still give 5 stars for that, but I want to warn readers who hate "fridge logic" problems.
The major problem is that the setting is underdeveloped. It's obvious that the author knows more about the setting than we ever learn. In fact, we learn the most about the heroine's homeland, which she promptly leaves and returns to only for the epilogue. The world is apparently earthlike, except most of the lowlands are covered in "fug", a toxic purple fog inhabited by mutant "fug-folk" or "fuggers". "Fug" was as poor a name for this substance as you can imagine, given its near-homophone. Anyway, most of the human societies (excepting the heroine's isolationist nation) seem deeply dysfunctional and jealous of the people stuck in the fog, who have inexplicably developed much better technology than those living in the sunlight. I think the world could be self-consistent but we don't get enough worldbuilding to know. I'd love another couple chapters' worth of material interspersed explaining the history of this world.
The second significant issue is the heroine's insane willingness to, well, be an action heroine. It's not quite a Mary Sue problem, but it's like she knows subconciously she has plot armor. Her motivation for leaving her home and traveling to barter with the fug folk is nominally her mother's illness: reasonable. However, she decides to take off with a bunch of smugglers she's never met in a matter of moments, taking nothing but what she happens to be carrying: totally unreasonable. The captain of the airship she joins points out that her decision was flagrantly foolish, and nobly informs her that the crew could rape, rob, and murder her without ever being punished for it - but they won't because they're nice people. Some of her other decisions seem equally foolhardy.
As it stands, this book is very enjoyable, but not without flaws. It's fast-paced and generally light-hearted, with a hopelessly optimistic (and endlessly competent) heroine who joins the crew of a merchant airship. (Bonus points for having a female engineer as the lead). It's an airship because it's steampunk, but basically the story would play out the same in the Age of Sail if the protagonist knew something about sails instead of steam. It's a lot of fun to read only so long as you don't allow yourself to think about it. I read for escapism and can still give 5 stars for that, but I want to warn readers who hate "fridge logic" problems.
The major problem is that the setting is underdeveloped. It's obvious that the author knows more about the setting than we ever learn. In fact, we learn the most about the heroine's homeland, which she promptly leaves and returns to only for the epilogue. The world is apparently earthlike, except most of the lowlands are covered in "fug", a toxic purple fog inhabited by mutant "fug-folk" or "fuggers". "Fug" was as poor a name for this substance as you can imagine, given its near-homophone. Anyway, most of the human societies (excepting the heroine's isolationist nation) seem deeply dysfunctional and jealous of the people stuck in the fog, who have inexplicably developed much better technology than those living in the sunlight. I think the world could be self-consistent but we don't get enough worldbuilding to know. I'd love another couple chapters' worth of material interspersed explaining the history of this world.
The second significant issue is the heroine's insane willingness to, well, be an action heroine. It's not quite a Mary Sue problem, but it's like she knows subconciously she has plot armor. Her motivation for leaving her home and traveling to barter with the fug folk is nominally her mother's illness: reasonable. However, she decides to take off with a bunch of smugglers she's never met in a matter of moments, taking nothing but what she happens to be carrying: totally unreasonable. The captain of the airship she joins points out that her decision was flagrantly foolish, and nobly informs her that the crew could rape, rob, and murder her without ever being punished for it - but they won't because they're nice people. Some of her other decisions seem equally foolhardy.
February 10, 2017
Finally! A teenage female protagonist who has more on her mind than boys! Free-Wrench was a refreshing change from the drama queens and hormone-driven young women that seem to populate fantasy these days.
Nita, the main character, is in search of a life with purpose. She leaves her sheltered island home in search of a cure for her dying mother. What she finds is a wide and richly varied world filled with possibilities and risks. She learns some hard lessons on her journey, but she handles her mistakes with grace. She's accompanied by an interesting supporting cast.
The setting is described in enough detail that I could see it in my mind, but not so over-blown that the story bogged down in too much detail. The plot races along with difficult obstacles and believable escapes.
If you're looking for light good fun with a smart character set in a dystopian steampunk world, give this a try. I've already purchased the next in the series.
Nita, the main character, is in search of a life with purpose. She leaves her sheltered island home in search of a cure for her dying mother. What she finds is a wide and richly varied world filled with possibilities and risks. She learns some hard lessons on her journey, but she handles her mistakes with grace. She's accompanied by an interesting supporting cast.
The setting is described in enough detail that I could see it in my mind, but not so over-blown that the story bogged down in too much detail. The plot races along with difficult obstacles and believable escapes.
If you're looking for light good fun with a smart character set in a dystopian steampunk world, give this a try. I've already purchased the next in the series.
September 4, 2020
“A ship may cut your days short, but it’ll make sure the ones you’ve got are filled to the brim. I call it a fair trade.”
Popcorn for the brain. Enjoyable, if lightweight steampunk science fiction. Identifiable world and protagonist.
“I’m giving you an awful lot of rope. Enough to hang yourself and the lot of us. So do us all a favor and don’t go tying any nooses.”
Written in one month as part of the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo, every November), which may explain the simple plot and exposition.
“Pursuing perfection does nothing but steal time from things that desperately need work. The policy of this ship is ‘Good enough is good enough.’”
Popcorn for the brain. Enjoyable, if lightweight steampunk science fiction. Identifiable world and protagonist.
“I’m giving you an awful lot of rope. Enough to hang yourself and the lot of us. So do us all a favor and don’t go tying any nooses.”
Written in one month as part of the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo, every November), which may explain the simple plot and exposition.
“Pursuing perfection does nothing but steal time from things that desperately need work. The policy of this ship is ‘Good enough is good enough.’”
March 22, 2017
I’ve had this book on my TBR list for a while and I thought it was about time I gave the author my attention. I’m very glad I did.
Free-Wrench follows Nita, she’s good with machines..I think she could probably fix anything given the time.
The book starts off giving a little background to Nita’s life.. she works in the steamworks which is a very demanding job and we quickly learn how good she is.
A couple of events happen that conspire to change her life forever. Her mother has an illness which can’t be cured and by chance see gets to meet some smugglers.. these smugglers know a lot about the world and know a cure is out there..but it will be a high price if they can get it for her at all.
Nita is happy to pay the price but doesn’t trust the smugglers so adds her services to the bargain in order to keep an eye on things.. this is when things quickly escalate.
Loyalties are tested, relationships forged in the heat of battle and secrets are revealed..It appears those who pull strings hold all the cards..but for how long?
This was a very enjoyable tale with airships and gun battles and one very interesting/fun and nosy lead character.
What made the tale even better was the crew of the airship, the Wind Breaker. Each have their own reason for being on board and we learn a little about each throughout the tale. The interactions between the characters is really what made me enjoy the book, fun at times then at others deathly serious.
This is a great introduction to a series which I fully intend to keep reading. I can only say I’m sorry it took me so long :)
It’s a fast paced, well written, easy flowing, wild ride of a tale suitable for young adults up and at 153 pages it won’t take you long to be hooked in.
Free-Wrench follows Nita, she’s good with machines..I think she could probably fix anything given the time.
The book starts off giving a little background to Nita’s life.. she works in the steamworks which is a very demanding job and we quickly learn how good she is.
A couple of events happen that conspire to change her life forever. Her mother has an illness which can’t be cured and by chance see gets to meet some smugglers.. these smugglers know a lot about the world and know a cure is out there..but it will be a high price if they can get it for her at all.
Nita is happy to pay the price but doesn’t trust the smugglers so adds her services to the bargain in order to keep an eye on things.. this is when things quickly escalate.
Loyalties are tested, relationships forged in the heat of battle and secrets are revealed..It appears those who pull strings hold all the cards..but for how long?
This was a very enjoyable tale with airships and gun battles and one very interesting/fun and nosy lead character.
What made the tale even better was the crew of the airship, the Wind Breaker. Each have their own reason for being on board and we learn a little about each throughout the tale. The interactions between the characters is really what made me enjoy the book, fun at times then at others deathly serious.
This is a great introduction to a series which I fully intend to keep reading. I can only say I’m sorry it took me so long :)
It’s a fast paced, well written, easy flowing, wild ride of a tale suitable for young adults up and at 153 pages it won’t take you long to be hooked in.
December 13, 2016
I finished the book without much difficulty, though there were some awkward moments. Some of the dialogue felt forced, and a lot of the prose seemed to run off a LOT of telling. The plot was eh, overall and for the most part I was intrigued about the world more-so than what was happening.
However, I enjoyed the protagonist and many of the other characters (Lil especially) and was very pleased to note that there wasn't a single romance! It was action driven and overall wasn't all that bad. I enjoyed reading it.
However, I enjoyed the protagonist and many of the other characters (Lil especially) and was very pleased to note that there wasn't a single romance! It was action driven and overall wasn't all that bad. I enjoyed reading it.
April 13, 2023
The cover intrigued me so I picked it up and started reading it.
Nita finds herself departing her country on an airboat with a rag-tag crew. Her goal is to score some medication that her mom needs from a race of mutant technicians called the FUG.
Nita finds herself departing her country on an airboat with a rag-tag crew. Her goal is to score some medication that her mom needs from a race of mutant technicians called the FUG.
May 18, 2017
Quite good, and a free Kindle book, at least as of this writing.
September 8, 2019
Good story! Action packed fun in a steampunk world! And free on Kindle!
September 23, 2019
I love Steampunk - but I'm really picky about airship adventures. I've run into some that focus SO much on the airship that they forget to develop the characters... or the plot! Not so with Free-Wrench. Everything's here, and in good balance. It was very easy to become emotionally invested in everyone, and the adventure was non-stop surprise after surprise. Onward to book 2 for me!
October 13, 2019
An interesting introduction, but it went slowly downhill after that. I quite often found myself questioning the ‘World’ the author had created. It really doesn’t bear close inspection, it’s probably my own fault for not realising this was a YA/Childrens book before I started. In the end I just didn’t enjoy the story and eventually gave up.
May 14, 2014
his review is for the Kindle edition ebook.
Disclosure: I was given my copy of this book by the author as a review copy.
Excitement, action, family, and circumstances out of control all come together to create a terrific story.
An isolated by choice country, Caldera was a chain of volcanoes. Most of the citizens were artists, a few had to work steam plants, for the volcanoes kindly provided heat and steam for the entire country. Amanita Graus was unique among steam workers, being female. However, she was very good at her job. A chance to save her mother's life meant breaking laws and customs, even venturing into an unknown world. Would she survive and return?
I am thrilled to see a strong female hero in this story. While this hero may not always make the best decisions, she is not reduced to tears when nothing goes quite right. I really like that Nita is able to overcome the odds and show strength when needed. The fact that she is absolutely sure of herself under pressure makes her a hero.
Joseph Lallo set out to write a steampunk novel in 30 days of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). In my opinion, he succeeded. This is the type of novel that really shows what can be done with determination and patience. As I read this story, it grabbed my attention and hung on. I hated to put the book down, it drew me right in to the story.
I would recommend this book to those who read science fiction. It is a good story, with fast-paced action. I have found this author writes very good books, and have read several of his stories already. I will continue to read his books, as long as he is willing to continue writing them.
StoryBundle will be the source for this book, for a limited time, starting May 14, 2014. StoryBundle allows the reader to purchase a group of books in a bundle, and name the price they are willing to pay for those books. This bundle will consist of NaNoWriMo novels, at your price. The bundle is only available for 14 days. I have purchased several of these bundles, and have never been disappointed.
Disclosure: I was given my copy of this book by the author as a review copy.
Excitement, action, family, and circumstances out of control all come together to create a terrific story.
An isolated by choice country, Caldera was a chain of volcanoes. Most of the citizens were artists, a few had to work steam plants, for the volcanoes kindly provided heat and steam for the entire country. Amanita Graus was unique among steam workers, being female. However, she was very good at her job. A chance to save her mother's life meant breaking laws and customs, even venturing into an unknown world. Would she survive and return?
I am thrilled to see a strong female hero in this story. While this hero may not always make the best decisions, she is not reduced to tears when nothing goes quite right. I really like that Nita is able to overcome the odds and show strength when needed. The fact that she is absolutely sure of herself under pressure makes her a hero.
Joseph Lallo set out to write a steampunk novel in 30 days of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). In my opinion, he succeeded. This is the type of novel that really shows what can be done with determination and patience. As I read this story, it grabbed my attention and hung on. I hated to put the book down, it drew me right in to the story.
I would recommend this book to those who read science fiction. It is a good story, with fast-paced action. I have found this author writes very good books, and have read several of his stories already. I will continue to read his books, as long as he is willing to continue writing them.
StoryBundle will be the source for this book, for a limited time, starting May 14, 2014. StoryBundle allows the reader to purchase a group of books in a bundle, and name the price they are willing to pay for those books. This bundle will consist of NaNoWriMo novels, at your price. The bundle is only available for 14 days. I have purchased several of these bundles, and have never been disappointed.
November 17, 2016
The book Free Wrench is about a girl doing a mans work. In her city the practice of firms arts is praised over dirty work. She then starts to trade with black marketers from the outsides of the city walls. My favorite part is when she uses all of her knowledge to fix the wedged valve that could have destroyed the whole mountain with everyone in it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a characters self thought and every day thrillers.
November 26, 2016
This was my first experience with steampunk. It was a pretty wild ride I will definitely give another one a go! I hope this is indicative of the genre.
Read
October 30, 2019Personal Response: I kind of like Free Wrench because it has a little action in it. It does take a long time for the action to begin in the storyline. The book gets interesting when Nita plans to leave her island of safety. I would rate this book a four out of five.
Plot: Amanita Graus lives with her brother and her twin sister on the island of Caldera. Amanita’s nickname is Nita. The reason her family lives on the island is because of the fog that either makes people leave for the mountains or move off the mainland. Some people make ships that hover over the mountains and the fog. Caldera is one of the many islands that is taken over by a group of people. They have security and guns to keep the ships away and to keep the people of Caldera safe. Amanita’s mother is ill and lives on the island. There is no medicine for her on the island. Nita flies on a ship to find medicine for her mom. The ship’s name is Windbreaker. Captain Mack and his crew help her on the journey to get medicine for her mother.
Characterization: Amanita is the weird one out of her family because the girls in her family are usually creative and artistic. Nita likes engineering. Nita is smart because she works in the factory and helps everyone out. Nita changes in the story when she becomes brave enough to leave the safety of the island to find medicine for her mom.
Captain Mack helps Nita throughout her journey to get a cure for her mother. Captian Mack does not seem like he cares and is grumpy at the beginning of the story. As he gets to know Nita, he changes and will do anything to help her find a cure for her mother.
Setting: This book takes place on the island of Caldera where Nita and her family live. The book also takes place in the waters around Caldera and the mainlands while Nita searches for medicine for her mom. This book takes place in the future because there are flying spaceships. Caldera is important to the story because it is a safe place for Nita to leave away from the mainland fog. Nita leaves the safety of Caldera to search for medicine for her mom. The futuristic setting is important because Nita flies on a ship to search for her mom’s medicine.
Thematic connection: The theme is love and sacrifice for family because Nita leaves the safety of the island to sacrifice for her family. She travels to danger to find a cure for her mother who is slowing dying. Nita puts her life on the line asking strangers to help her find this cure for her mother. She is willing to sacrifice her life for her mom.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to males and females ages 15 and up because it is a neutral book for both genders. It has male and female characters who will keep both genders entertained. I think it should be for ages 15 and up because of some strong language and graphic content.
Plot: Amanita Graus lives with her brother and her twin sister on the island of Caldera. Amanita’s nickname is Nita. The reason her family lives on the island is because of the fog that either makes people leave for the mountains or move off the mainland. Some people make ships that hover over the mountains and the fog. Caldera is one of the many islands that is taken over by a group of people. They have security and guns to keep the ships away and to keep the people of Caldera safe. Amanita’s mother is ill and lives on the island. There is no medicine for her on the island. Nita flies on a ship to find medicine for her mom. The ship’s name is Windbreaker. Captain Mack and his crew help her on the journey to get medicine for her mother.
Characterization: Amanita is the weird one out of her family because the girls in her family are usually creative and artistic. Nita likes engineering. Nita is smart because she works in the factory and helps everyone out. Nita changes in the story when she becomes brave enough to leave the safety of the island to find medicine for her mom.
Captain Mack helps Nita throughout her journey to get a cure for her mother. Captian Mack does not seem like he cares and is grumpy at the beginning of the story. As he gets to know Nita, he changes and will do anything to help her find a cure for her mother.
Setting: This book takes place on the island of Caldera where Nita and her family live. The book also takes place in the waters around Caldera and the mainlands while Nita searches for medicine for her mom. This book takes place in the future because there are flying spaceships. Caldera is important to the story because it is a safe place for Nita to leave away from the mainland fog. Nita leaves the safety of Caldera to search for medicine for her mom. The futuristic setting is important because Nita flies on a ship to search for her mom’s medicine.
Thematic connection: The theme is love and sacrifice for family because Nita leaves the safety of the island to sacrifice for her family. She travels to danger to find a cure for her mother who is slowing dying. Nita puts her life on the line asking strangers to help her find this cure for her mother. She is willing to sacrifice her life for her mom.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to males and females ages 15 and up because it is a neutral book for both genders. It has male and female characters who will keep both genders entertained. I think it should be for ages 15 and up because of some strong language and graphic content.
October 23, 2019
First steampunk story I ever read. Free-Wrench was a good introduction and a great ride -- I want to read MORE!
May 24, 2023
fun and fast little steam punk adventure
May 13, 2024
Excellent Steam Punk adventure highly entertaining especially as it was written as an exercise in 3 months. Can’t wait to read number 2 in the series. A great read.
March 7, 2022
This steampunk book was a lot of fun. Nita Graus comes from a family of artisans but she isn't one herself. Nita's a steamfitter, one who repairs boilers and piping affiliated with them.
This book takes her on the biggest adventure of her life
This book takes her on the biggest adventure of her life
September 10, 2019
A very good and entertaining steampunk read.
I really like the characters and all the action in the book, and the description of places and people helped to picture everything very well.
:-)
I really like the characters and all the action in the book, and the description of places and people helped to picture everything very well.
:-)
March 20, 2015
Steamy Adventures (The Joy Of Steampunk)
A rip roaring action packed thriller. Air battles, land conflicts as action packed as any streaming you can encounter. 110% enjoyable, don't miss this one.
A rip roaring action packed thriller. Air battles, land conflicts as action packed as any streaming you can encounter. 110% enjoyable, don't miss this one.
May 20, 2014
Very enjoyable! First time I've read anything in the steam punk genre and thought it had a great pirate high seas vibe to it. Would recommend.
June 10, 2014
This is an excellent novel! I'm impressed with the quality since it was written as part of NaNoWriMo. I'd say, if you're a fan of the TV show Firefly, then you'll probably love this book.
November 7, 2017
Steampunk is rapidly becoming one of my favorite genres -- despite the limited-sounding description of the genre (science fiction that incorporates technology and aesthetics from an antiquated era, such as Victorian England or the Wild West of the US), it's one that's ripe for exploration and experimentation. I've found some wonderful favorite series in the genre, such as Cherie Priest's "Clockwork Century" and Gail Carriger's "Parasol Protectorate" and "Finishing School" series. But sadly, it can also be something of a "hack" genre, where someone falls back on the steampunk trappings to interest the reader and ends up neglecting important things such as plot and characters.
Joseph Lallo's "Free-Wrench," to my delight, doesn't fall into this trap. Not only does he give us a well-done heroine and a slew of fun side characters, but his setting, while still steampunk in nature, is unique and fascinating.
"Free-Wrench" follows the titular free-wrench mechanic -- Nita, who is the oddball of her family for being an engineer and mechanically-minded sort instead of an artist... and in the land of Caldera, which prizes art and beauty above all else, she's entirely out of place. Caldera has long isolated itself from the rest of the world, which is blanketed in a toxic cloud called "fug" and is said to be full of barbarians and pirates. But when Nita's mother falls ill, it seems only a cure from beyond Caldera can help her, and so she throws in her lot with a surly airship captain and his eclectic crew. To survive in this strange new world, Nita must learn to live by a whole new set of rules and gain the trust of the ship's crew... but when she discovers just who is pulling the strings in the world beyond Caldera, she decides to take matters into her own hands...
Most steampunk takes place in Victorian England or, less commonly, the frontier days of American history. It's a treat to find a steampunk novel set in an original location, one that nonetheless follows a set logic and makes sense. Creating a new setting is all well and good, but even the most whimsical and fantastic settings need to follow some sort of internal logic, and thankfully Joseph Lallo's world of the fug is well-constructed and compelling. I hope to see it explored further in future books, as the glimpses we got here were tantalizing.
I especially liked the heroine, Nita. She's a determined soul with her own strengths and weaknesses, and with the drive to set out to solve a problem herself instead of relying on another to do it for her. And while there were times I wanted to slap the character upside the head when she did something stupid, I actually liked that -- no one is perfect, and a character that never makes mistakes is boring. And it's nice to see a heroine actually see real consequences for breaking the rules, instead of getting off scot-free. The minor characters are a fun bunch as well, from the gruff captain to the brother-sister duo who help run the ship to the trigger-happy gunner. Even the ship's mascot, a creature named Wink, is more than just an animal and shows his own personality.
The book moves along at a steady clip, never lagging or feeling rushed. Action scenes are well-done and downright exciting, and while the prose can be fairly workmanlike, there are some good descriptions throughout as well. And one of the best things I appreciate about this book -- unlike a lot of Kindle freebies or first books in a series, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I hate it when the first book in a series ends without resolving anything, and I'm a firm believer in providing some sort of closure in a book, even if the main plot isn't resolved yet. "Free-Wrench" certainly leaves the door open for future adventures, but it can stand nicely on its own as well and doesn't force you to buy the next book to see how things end.
A delightful steampunk/science-fantasy novel from a promising author, "Free-Wrench" promises good things, with a well-constructed world and a likable main character. I'm keeping an eye on this series...
Joseph Lallo's "Free-Wrench," to my delight, doesn't fall into this trap. Not only does he give us a well-done heroine and a slew of fun side characters, but his setting, while still steampunk in nature, is unique and fascinating.
"Free-Wrench" follows the titular free-wrench mechanic -- Nita, who is the oddball of her family for being an engineer and mechanically-minded sort instead of an artist... and in the land of Caldera, which prizes art and beauty above all else, she's entirely out of place. Caldera has long isolated itself from the rest of the world, which is blanketed in a toxic cloud called "fug" and is said to be full of barbarians and pirates. But when Nita's mother falls ill, it seems only a cure from beyond Caldera can help her, and so she throws in her lot with a surly airship captain and his eclectic crew. To survive in this strange new world, Nita must learn to live by a whole new set of rules and gain the trust of the ship's crew... but when she discovers just who is pulling the strings in the world beyond Caldera, she decides to take matters into her own hands...
Most steampunk takes place in Victorian England or, less commonly, the frontier days of American history. It's a treat to find a steampunk novel set in an original location, one that nonetheless follows a set logic and makes sense. Creating a new setting is all well and good, but even the most whimsical and fantastic settings need to follow some sort of internal logic, and thankfully Joseph Lallo's world of the fug is well-constructed and compelling. I hope to see it explored further in future books, as the glimpses we got here were tantalizing.
I especially liked the heroine, Nita. She's a determined soul with her own strengths and weaknesses, and with the drive to set out to solve a problem herself instead of relying on another to do it for her. And while there were times I wanted to slap the character upside the head when she did something stupid, I actually liked that -- no one is perfect, and a character that never makes mistakes is boring. And it's nice to see a heroine actually see real consequences for breaking the rules, instead of getting off scot-free. The minor characters are a fun bunch as well, from the gruff captain to the brother-sister duo who help run the ship to the trigger-happy gunner. Even the ship's mascot, a creature named Wink, is more than just an animal and shows his own personality.
The book moves along at a steady clip, never lagging or feeling rushed. Action scenes are well-done and downright exciting, and while the prose can be fairly workmanlike, there are some good descriptions throughout as well. And one of the best things I appreciate about this book -- unlike a lot of Kindle freebies or first books in a series, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I hate it when the first book in a series ends without resolving anything, and I'm a firm believer in providing some sort of closure in a book, even if the main plot isn't resolved yet. "Free-Wrench" certainly leaves the door open for future adventures, but it can stand nicely on its own as well and doesn't force you to buy the next book to see how things end.
A delightful steampunk/science-fantasy novel from a promising author, "Free-Wrench" promises good things, with a well-constructed world and a likable main character. I'm keeping an eye on this series...
December 19, 2016
Free Wrench by Joseph R. Lallo
4 – Stars
There's been a few Steampunk books this year that I've tried getting into and they just didn't work for various reasons. Free Wrench isn't one of them and was a fun book.
Our MC is Nita from the land of Caldera. She's from the upper crust of society, her parents and siblings all artists as expected from a society that values art more than most other things. Nita however chooses to work in the steam tunnels fixing boilers and pipes that keep their land supplied with power.
Her land chose a number of generations before to close itself off from the outside world and one day Nita after work, she's invited by a coworker and friend to trade with some smugglers from far away. When she learns that there's a medicine that can cure her ailing mother (a disease that is fatal in Caldera), her rather impetuous nature takes over and she decides that she must be present when trading for it.
Once on board the airship she's told she'll have to work and prove that she isn't a burden because she'll be with them for a month. During their journey they are attacked by an assortment of little ships and some damage is taken.
Letting the Captain know that with her job in the steam tunnels and the fact that she's brought along her tools, she can fix the boiler which is overly complex as well as some other things. She's told that under no circumstances is she to perform any repairs because the people they trade with are the only ones allowed to fix the ship.
Upon hearing the journey will take an additional month because of the damage, she chooses to fix something and then hide what she'd fixed only to be found out when the ship goes in for repair.
Now at this point when she attempts to trade it's pointed out that not only do they know she tinkered with the ship, but that they wouldn't have traded anyway because there is no need for continued trade. The Captain is forced to pay a 'fee' for her deceit and then Nita points out the obvious too him. I won't mention it here as a spoiler, but you'll know it when it comes. You'll likely know it long before it comes.
Once he knows the truth they decide to pull off a heist. Lot's of action, lot's of steampunky stuff. The book's pace is pretty quick and only here and there did I find some of the dialog a bit awkward. All in all a quick and worthy read.
4 – Stars
There's been a few Steampunk books this year that I've tried getting into and they just didn't work for various reasons. Free Wrench isn't one of them and was a fun book.
Our MC is Nita from the land of Caldera. She's from the upper crust of society, her parents and siblings all artists as expected from a society that values art more than most other things. Nita however chooses to work in the steam tunnels fixing boilers and pipes that keep their land supplied with power.
Her land chose a number of generations before to close itself off from the outside world and one day Nita after work, she's invited by a coworker and friend to trade with some smugglers from far away. When she learns that there's a medicine that can cure her ailing mother (a disease that is fatal in Caldera), her rather impetuous nature takes over and she decides that she must be present when trading for it.
Once on board the airship she's told she'll have to work and prove that she isn't a burden because she'll be with them for a month. During their journey they are attacked by an assortment of little ships and some damage is taken.
Letting the Captain know that with her job in the steam tunnels and the fact that she's brought along her tools, she can fix the boiler which is overly complex as well as some other things. She's told that under no circumstances is she to perform any repairs because the people they trade with are the only ones allowed to fix the ship.
Upon hearing the journey will take an additional month because of the damage, she chooses to fix something and then hide what she'd fixed only to be found out when the ship goes in for repair.
Now at this point when she attempts to trade it's pointed out that not only do they know she tinkered with the ship, but that they wouldn't have traded anyway because there is no need for continued trade. The Captain is forced to pay a 'fee' for her deceit and then Nita points out the obvious too him. I won't mention it here as a spoiler, but you'll know it when it comes. You'll likely know it long before it comes.
Once he knows the truth they decide to pull off a heist. Lot's of action, lot's of steampunky stuff. The book's pace is pretty quick and only here and there did I find some of the dialog a bit awkward. All in all a quick and worthy read.
December 17, 2018
Free-Wrench is a relatively short but enjoyable story set in a world of steampunk airships, bandits and mysterious fog.
A great calamity smothered the world in a toxic fog. The islands of Caldera are one of the last remnants of beauty left and the inhabitants want to keep the grim world out through a closed border policy. We follow the story of Nita. Her family is wealthy, famous and powerful. Most of them are accomplished artists or sculptors, but Nita has always had an interest in machinery and engineering.
Nita's mother is sick with a disease that cannot be treated in Caldera. Once a renowned sculpturer, the illness left her hands trembling. It's only a matter of time before the disease takes her life.
Through a work colleague, Nita learns of black market trade ships that, at a price, could find the medicine that would cure her mother's illness.
Most of the story is spent on a decrepit but wondrous steam-powered airship called The Windbreaker. On a mission to save her mother, Nita must step aboard the airship and come along for the journey. Here we meet the quirky and loveable crew of the ship. The author did a great job of bringing these eccentric characters to life through their dialogue with one another and I quickly grew attached to them. Each character has their own unique personality and theme. Gunner likes salvaging and using weapons and the ship's captain seems hard at first but underneath that tough exterior, he really cares for the wellbeing of his crew. Life on the ship is a constant struggle in this bleak world. But it's also incredibly exciting and the outside world is full of new dangers.
Free-Wrench is full of adventure, fun characters and wacky machinery, gadgets and weapons. On their journey, they will encounter bandits piloting marvellous flying contraptions, see the world outside Caldera for the first time and deal with the "fug folk" - peculiar creatures adapted to survive in the fog who seem to have a very strong hold on technology and trade in the rim.
I picked up Free-Wrench for free on Kindle and was pleasantly surprised. The book is simple and enjoyable and I now look forward to reading the next in this series.
A great calamity smothered the world in a toxic fog. The islands of Caldera are one of the last remnants of beauty left and the inhabitants want to keep the grim world out through a closed border policy. We follow the story of Nita. Her family is wealthy, famous and powerful. Most of them are accomplished artists or sculptors, but Nita has always had an interest in machinery and engineering.
Nita's mother is sick with a disease that cannot be treated in Caldera. Once a renowned sculpturer, the illness left her hands trembling. It's only a matter of time before the disease takes her life.
Through a work colleague, Nita learns of black market trade ships that, at a price, could find the medicine that would cure her mother's illness.
Most of the story is spent on a decrepit but wondrous steam-powered airship called The Windbreaker. On a mission to save her mother, Nita must step aboard the airship and come along for the journey. Here we meet the quirky and loveable crew of the ship. The author did a great job of bringing these eccentric characters to life through their dialogue with one another and I quickly grew attached to them. Each character has their own unique personality and theme. Gunner likes salvaging and using weapons and the ship's captain seems hard at first but underneath that tough exterior, he really cares for the wellbeing of his crew. Life on the ship is a constant struggle in this bleak world. But it's also incredibly exciting and the outside world is full of new dangers.
Free-Wrench is full of adventure, fun characters and wacky machinery, gadgets and weapons. On their journey, they will encounter bandits piloting marvellous flying contraptions, see the world outside Caldera for the first time and deal with the "fug folk" - peculiar creatures adapted to survive in the fog who seem to have a very strong hold on technology and trade in the rim.
I picked up Free-Wrench for free on Kindle and was pleasantly surprised. The book is simple and enjoyable and I now look forward to reading the next in this series.
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