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The Chronicler Saga #1
Construct
The essence of every construct resides in their core. A fist-sized stone, carefully saturated with khet, mounted in a walking shell – the vessel through which experience will shape them. Wipe a construct’s core – strip all that away – and what’s left?
It’s a quandary that now haunts Samuel’s every step. Hundreds of years of life – the chronicle of his experience – taken from him. All that he once was, replaced by visions of a gruesome murder, the piercing silver eyes of a ruthless hunter, and premonitions of his own destruction. All of it punctuated by the one thing that no construct is supposed to be capable of: emotion.
Relentlessly pursued and adrift in a world that sees constructs as little more than property, Samuel now faces the hardest challenge of all – knowing who to trust.
It’s a quandary that now haunts Samuel’s every step. Hundreds of years of life – the chronicle of his experience – taken from him. All that he once was, replaced by visions of a gruesome murder, the piercing silver eyes of a ruthless hunter, and premonitions of his own destruction. All of it punctuated by the one thing that no construct is supposed to be capable of: emotion.
Relentlessly pursued and adrift in a world that sees constructs as little more than property, Samuel now faces the hardest challenge of all – knowing who to trust.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2014
7 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Luke Matthews
3 books24 followersAn unabashed geek, Luke is a fervent reader, poker player, cinephile, board and video gamer, and comic book fan. A life filled with so many hobbies doesn’t lend itself to easy devotion to a craft, but when the beginnings of CONSTRUCT found the page, those words pulled him inexorably toward writing, now the primary passion in his life.
Luke lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, a lazy cat, and two rambunctious German wirehaired pointers. You can find more of his words on his blog at geekelite.geekerific.com, or check out his board game upgrade obsession at www.pixelartmeeple.com!
Luke lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, a lazy cat, and two rambunctious German wirehaired pointers. You can find more of his words on his blog at geekelite.geekerific.com, or check out his board game upgrade obsession at www.pixelartmeeple.com!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 8, 2017
I have been in a reading slump since I came back home and for the last 3 weeks I haven't read much, this book got me back into the groove.
I loved this book! It was like Bicentennial man meets Fantasy. There were so many elements that were similar to Bicentennial man, an intelligent and caring artificial intelligence that's also just so innocent becuase it doesn't know better, it doesn't have the experience to be jaded and cruel the way the world can sometimes treat them.
Much like Bicentennial man, this is an artificial being that's one of many, and the "Constructs" have been around for hundreds of years, but are not supposed to have emotions, in that way Samuel is very unique. He's on a journey to find out who built him, why, and how his unique construction makes him different.
From the first few chapters I was already attached to Samuel, I love books where I really connect with the main character, and it's extra special when the connection is immediate.
This is a multi POV book and we see the bad guys POV as well which I always enjoy, I like knowing why the bad guys are doing what they are doing, whether their reasoning is sound or not, it's still satisfying for me to see it from their perspective.
Samuel is on the run from two assholes who are leaving a wake of dead bodies whereever they go, hunting down Samuel to kill him. But, we don't know why, and Samuel doesn't either. Samuel is going from town to town, searching out experts in the Construct field to see if they have any insight as to why he's so different, and why people would be hunting him down.
For most of the book we don't know why, and we're as clueless as Samuel, it makes for a lot of mystery and wonder and it's pulled off very well.
The reveal near the end of the book is soooo satisfying as well, as many similar elements from Bicentennial man as there are - this book goes in a totally different direction with the theme of trying to find your meaning and origins.
We meet artificers, sorcerers, theives, assassins, cult leaders, and more.
The world building is also really cool, since Samuel is on the run we get to see a good bit of the world around him and it's very mystical and magical. I LOVE the old sorcerer and his cabin, it reminds me of Merlin from Sword in the Stone, a magical house full of books and the house is alive *sort of*.
Magic is very prevelent in this world and it's called Khet, and I liked the fact that Khet can be used in so many different ways, the way each person is able to use khet is almost unique, there aren't many people who have similar abilities and the variety is refreshing. Khet can also be a drug of sorts, and extracted in ill begotten ways that most of society frowns on. Making for all sorts of dark magic fuckery. Neat!
For a debut novel I'm really impressed, and whenever the sequel is released I'll be all over it.
http://weatherwaxreport.blog
I loved this book! It was like Bicentennial man meets Fantasy. There were so many elements that were similar to Bicentennial man, an intelligent and caring artificial intelligence that's also just so innocent becuase it doesn't know better, it doesn't have the experience to be jaded and cruel the way the world can sometimes treat them.
Much like Bicentennial man, this is an artificial being that's one of many, and the "Constructs" have been around for hundreds of years, but are not supposed to have emotions, in that way Samuel is very unique. He's on a journey to find out who built him, why, and how his unique construction makes him different.
From the first few chapters I was already attached to Samuel, I love books where I really connect with the main character, and it's extra special when the connection is immediate.
This is a multi POV book and we see the bad guys POV as well which I always enjoy, I like knowing why the bad guys are doing what they are doing, whether their reasoning is sound or not, it's still satisfying for me to see it from their perspective.
Samuel is on the run from two assholes who are leaving a wake of dead bodies whereever they go, hunting down Samuel to kill him. But, we don't know why, and Samuel doesn't either. Samuel is going from town to town, searching out experts in the Construct field to see if they have any insight as to why he's so different, and why people would be hunting him down.
For most of the book we don't know why, and we're as clueless as Samuel, it makes for a lot of mystery and wonder and it's pulled off very well.
The reveal near the end of the book is soooo satisfying as well, as many similar elements from Bicentennial man as there are - this book goes in a totally different direction with the theme of trying to find your meaning and origins.
We meet artificers, sorcerers, theives, assassins, cult leaders, and more.
The world building is also really cool, since Samuel is on the run we get to see a good bit of the world around him and it's very mystical and magical. I LOVE the old sorcerer and his cabin, it reminds me of Merlin from Sword in the Stone, a magical house full of books and the house is alive *sort of*.
Magic is very prevelent in this world and it's called Khet, and I liked the fact that Khet can be used in so many different ways, the way each person is able to use khet is almost unique, there aren't many people who have similar abilities and the variety is refreshing. Khet can also be a drug of sorts, and extracted in ill begotten ways that most of society frowns on. Making for all sorts of dark magic fuckery. Neat!
For a debut novel I'm really impressed, and whenever the sequel is released I'll be all over it.
http://weatherwaxreport.blog
July 21, 2018
Better late than never. It took me almost two years to read Construct. Don't repeat my mistake. If you already have this book in your library, start reading it. If you don't, consider getting a copy.
Here's why.
Samuel is a construct - an animated anthropomorphic being magically created from inanimate matter. He looks ancient, but it's difficult to say for sure as Samuel's memories were wiped out. He doesn't know who he is, where he came from and what's his history. One thing is sure, though. Samuel isn't a regular construct. He experiences genuine emotions - the one thing that no construct is supposed to be capable of. Additionally, he's tormented by flashbacks and visions of a gruesome murder and premonitions of his death.
Construct is, essentially, the story of self-discovery of a very unique protagonist. While the plot is rather linear and straightforward, there's a good deal of twists and surprises. Good guys are chased for unknown reasons. In order to stop the bad guys, they have to learn to trust each other, discover forgotten past, and survive. Additionally, there's a murder mystery that needs to be solved to discover why a pair of cruel and relentless hunters pursue Samuel.
The writing is clear, well edited and utilitarian. Also, it's very directed and purposeful. There were very few places where I could have said that something in the book might not be essential to the story at large. There's no filler here.
Samuel is a strong, memorable protagonist. Despite being a construct, he acts intelligently and feels how things really are. Intellectually, it's fascinating that an artificial, non-biological system gives rise to conscious experience. Emotionally, it's incredible that it's so easy to relate to this strange, magically animated creature that looks for answers amidst people who treat constructs as a property. Samuel will need to decide if he can trust others and his relations with people are an essential part of the story.
Secondary characters feel distinct, but compared to Samuel, they remain slightly underdeveloped. On the other hand, his three main "side-kicks" have compelling backstories, and I'm interested in learning more about them. Especially about Jacob - a thief with translocation powers (sort of teleportation), and Eriane - a gunslinging teenage girl with anger management issues.
Both Villains are terrifying and nicely sketched. While their motivations aren't too deep and they lack complexity, they're effectively terrifying. Not only are they cruel, but they also have some dope magical powers that are damn impressive. Some scenes involving villains, like the one in which protagonists and villains observe each other with hatred through a snowstorm, may be considered as a bit cliche, but trust me, they're done very well and immerse the reader in a way good action movie does.
I don't usually appreciate irredeemable villains because of their flatness. In this case, though, I admit that both bad guys remain terrifying without being ridiculous. On the other hand, I feel characterisation could be better. When I think back at them, they're portrayed as a sort of villains who drown puppies recreationally, and there's not much more to them.
The ending is satisfying and doesn't involve any nasty cliffhanger. On the other hand, it leaves many questions unanswered.
Why does Pare hate guns that much?
What's the deal with him anyway?
These two questions torment me a bit. But there's also the third one, probably most vital - is there a chance for the sequel? Construct was published in 2014 as a book one of the Chronicler Saga. Four years have passed and, so far, there's no mention of a second book.
Despite some minor complaints, Construct is absolutely worth the read and the purchase. I'm surprised it doesn't get more hype.
Here's why.
Samuel is a construct - an animated anthropomorphic being magically created from inanimate matter. He looks ancient, but it's difficult to say for sure as Samuel's memories were wiped out. He doesn't know who he is, where he came from and what's his history. One thing is sure, though. Samuel isn't a regular construct. He experiences genuine emotions - the one thing that no construct is supposed to be capable of. Additionally, he's tormented by flashbacks and visions of a gruesome murder and premonitions of his death.
Construct is, essentially, the story of self-discovery of a very unique protagonist. While the plot is rather linear and straightforward, there's a good deal of twists and surprises. Good guys are chased for unknown reasons. In order to stop the bad guys, they have to learn to trust each other, discover forgotten past, and survive. Additionally, there's a murder mystery that needs to be solved to discover why a pair of cruel and relentless hunters pursue Samuel.
The writing is clear, well edited and utilitarian. Also, it's very directed and purposeful. There were very few places where I could have said that something in the book might not be essential to the story at large. There's no filler here.
Samuel is a strong, memorable protagonist. Despite being a construct, he acts intelligently and feels how things really are. Intellectually, it's fascinating that an artificial, non-biological system gives rise to conscious experience. Emotionally, it's incredible that it's so easy to relate to this strange, magically animated creature that looks for answers amidst people who treat constructs as a property. Samuel will need to decide if he can trust others and his relations with people are an essential part of the story.
Secondary characters feel distinct, but compared to Samuel, they remain slightly underdeveloped. On the other hand, his three main "side-kicks" have compelling backstories, and I'm interested in learning more about them. Especially about Jacob - a thief with translocation powers (sort of teleportation), and Eriane - a gunslinging teenage girl with anger management issues.
Both Villains are terrifying and nicely sketched. While their motivations aren't too deep and they lack complexity, they're effectively terrifying. Not only are they cruel, but they also have some dope magical powers that are damn impressive. Some scenes involving villains, like the one in which protagonists and villains observe each other with hatred through a snowstorm, may be considered as a bit cliche, but trust me, they're done very well and immerse the reader in a way good action movie does.
I don't usually appreciate irredeemable villains because of their flatness. In this case, though, I admit that both bad guys remain terrifying without being ridiculous. On the other hand, I feel characterisation could be better. When I think back at them, they're portrayed as a sort of villains who drown puppies recreationally, and there's not much more to them.
The ending is satisfying and doesn't involve any nasty cliffhanger. On the other hand, it leaves many questions unanswered.
Why does Pare hate guns that much?
What's the deal with him anyway?
These two questions torment me a bit. But there's also the third one, probably most vital - is there a chance for the sequel? Construct was published in 2014 as a book one of the Chronicler Saga. Four years have passed and, so far, there's no mention of a second book.
Despite some minor complaints, Construct is absolutely worth the read and the purchase. I'm surprised it doesn't get more hype.
July 22, 2018
That book was fantastic. I sat down with it earlier this afternoon and read it all in one sitting. I even forgot to eat dinner; I was that entranced by it. This book is heavily character-driven and they were done so well they could’ve been real people.
At its very core, Construct is a story about self-discovery. Samuel, the main character, is what’s known as a construct; a golem-like creature powered by magic. He wakes up in a burning house and can’t remember anything, and thus begins his epic journey of self-discovery, friendship, and magic.
Very early on, Samuel discovers that he’s different from normal constructs, unlike the others, he has his own emotions. He’s lonely and wants to know why he’s different. People can see he’s not like them and their reactions differ; he suffers discrimination, hate, and much more.
Samuel and some new friends very quickly learn that two very dangerous people are hunting him down and he has no idea why, and thus begins the major plot. A massive chase across the world as people hunt down the memoryless construct for something he doesn’t remember; meanwhile, Samuel is just trying to work out who he is. Naturally, Samuel makes a few magical friends and they join him on his journey.
The characters in Construct are superb. They feel real and are very likable and sympathetic, and I loved reading about them. The world and the treatment and culture around constructs was very interesting. The pacing and the plot were around medium paced, but when the plot wasn’t advancing, the characters were. All in all, I loved this book and highly recommend it to people who like:
* Character Focus
* Non-human POV
* Sympathetic characters
* Friendship
For more reviews, check out my blog, The Fantasy Inn
At its very core, Construct is a story about self-discovery. Samuel, the main character, is what’s known as a construct; a golem-like creature powered by magic. He wakes up in a burning house and can’t remember anything, and thus begins his epic journey of self-discovery, friendship, and magic.
Very early on, Samuel discovers that he’s different from normal constructs, unlike the others, he has his own emotions. He’s lonely and wants to know why he’s different. People can see he’s not like them and their reactions differ; he suffers discrimination, hate, and much more.
Samuel and some new friends very quickly learn that two very dangerous people are hunting him down and he has no idea why, and thus begins the major plot. A massive chase across the world as people hunt down the memoryless construct for something he doesn’t remember; meanwhile, Samuel is just trying to work out who he is. Naturally, Samuel makes a few magical friends and they join him on his journey.
The characters in Construct are superb. They feel real and are very likable and sympathetic, and I loved reading about them. The world and the treatment and culture around constructs was very interesting. The pacing and the plot were around medium paced, but when the plot wasn’t advancing, the characters were. All in all, I loved this book and highly recommend it to people who like:
* Character Focus
* Non-human POV
* Sympathetic characters
* Friendship
For more reviews, check out my blog, The Fantasy Inn
June 24, 2019
This was a damn good book. Start to finish it hooks you and keeps you engaged. Samuel is a great protagonist and the cast is fun all around. Really can't wait to see what happens next.
June 22, 2019
THIS IS MY KINDA BOOK.
I absolutely, completely loved it.
The pace was slow, but there was constantly that air of suspense hanging over everything. You never knew when it would blow, and when it did it was SO GOOD. I like discovery plots, which makes this a massive plus.
The characters were so well developed, and had amazing personalities. Eri, Pare, Jacob/Kaleb, Samuel... they all had singular, unique personalities. The villains less so, but I do like when villains are just evil, and don't have a redeeming quality. Sometimes, people are just bad. They don't need to be tragic, or make me feel for them.
The writing was professional quality, easy to read and did the story well.
I just... I could gush about this book forever. I truly, truly enjoyed it, and it's immediately hitting my top of 2019 list.
I absolutely, completely loved it.
The pace was slow, but there was constantly that air of suspense hanging over everything. You never knew when it would blow, and when it did it was SO GOOD. I like discovery plots, which makes this a massive plus.
The characters were so well developed, and had amazing personalities. Eri, Pare, Jacob/Kaleb, Samuel... they all had singular, unique personalities. The villains less so, but I do like when villains are just evil, and don't have a redeeming quality. Sometimes, people are just bad. They don't need to be tragic, or make me feel for them.
The writing was professional quality, easy to read and did the story well.
I just... I could gush about this book forever. I truly, truly enjoyed it, and it's immediately hitting my top of 2019 list.
June 25, 2019
This ended up being a very uneven book for me - there were some aspects that I loved, some that left me pretty flat, and a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the book. Overall that's going to land this at 3 stars for me.
I very much liked the premise of the book - a construct who awakes in the aftermath of a (small) disaster, effectively with amnesia. Handled right that's one of my favorite way to discover characters and new fantasy worlds because you can effectively learn along with your amnesiac protagonist. I also liked some of the early musings on the nature of the constructs, their magic, if they can have genuine emotion, and so forth. I felt a little let down that this wasn't pursued in more detail through the book.
I also liked a lot of the characters that were introduced as we went. The villains truly nasty characters, and although we eventually find out their motivations, they don't have much growth to them. Even with their motivations revealed I still had a big "but why" feeling. It seemed like there was a real opportunity to develop the political/wider world of this book that went unfulfilled.
The friendlier characters - especially Pare, Eriane, and Jacob/Kaleb, I had a bit of the same problem. They were interesting and engaging characters, but we never get a deeper understanding of them. Particularly Pare and Jacob/Kaleb, I felt like the book ended with more questions than answers.
The saving grace of the book was how truly likable Samuel the Construct was. The slowly discovered background/history of the constructs was great, and I would have enjoyed if we got more of that along with why the ancient constructs were so different from the "modern" ones. Overall an enjoyable read, but a little uneven. A few too many unsolved mysteries even at the end.
I very much liked the premise of the book - a construct who awakes in the aftermath of a (small) disaster, effectively with amnesia. Handled right that's one of my favorite way to discover characters and new fantasy worlds because you can effectively learn along with your amnesiac protagonist. I also liked some of the early musings on the nature of the constructs, their magic, if they can have genuine emotion, and so forth. I felt a little let down that this wasn't pursued in more detail through the book.
I also liked a lot of the characters that were introduced as we went. The villains truly nasty characters, and although we eventually find out their motivations, they don't have much growth to them. Even with their motivations revealed I still had a big "but why" feeling. It seemed like there was a real opportunity to develop the political/wider world of this book that went unfulfilled.
The friendlier characters - especially Pare, Eriane, and Jacob/Kaleb, I had a bit of the same problem. They were interesting and engaging characters, but we never get a deeper understanding of them. Particularly Pare and Jacob/Kaleb, I felt like the book ended with more questions than answers.
The saving grace of the book was how truly likable Samuel the Construct was. The slowly discovered background/history of the constructs was great, and I would have enjoyed if we got more of that along with why the ancient constructs were so different from the "modern" ones. Overall an enjoyable read, but a little uneven. A few too many unsolved mysteries even at the end.
September 5, 2015
This book really touched me. Within the first few pages, I really just cared about Samuel and wanted him to be OK. And then lo and behold, I met more people, and more people, and more, and I really cared about nearly all of them. I loathed a few, loved a few, but in all cases I felt what I felt really strongly. They all felt REAL. (And I never felt like my emotions were getting yanked around like a Sarah McLachlan commercial.) So now I eagerly await the sequel, because I am moderately desperate to know what happens to Samuel & company.
Technically, this book was solid. The prose swept me along nicely. There were a couple spots that felt a little cliche, but nothing big. And Matthews does this thing in climactic moments of rapidly switching perspective between characters, both good guys and bad guys, that works VERY well. It's a really fun way to write tense scenes. I could see it easily becoming very messy, but Matthews uses it very well.
Highly recommended.
Technically, this book was solid. The prose swept me along nicely. There were a couple spots that felt a little cliche, but nothing big. And Matthews does this thing in climactic moments of rapidly switching perspective between characters, both good guys and bad guys, that works VERY well. It's a really fun way to write tense scenes. I could see it easily becoming very messy, but Matthews uses it very well.
Highly recommended.
April 22, 2017
First, let me just say- How absolutely perfect is that word Construct, for what Samuel the main character in this story is. Robot doesn’t quite fit. Samuel has way too much heart for something that sounds so cold. And Artificial Life Form feels too sciencey and ’tecky’ for the magical world that Samuel is a part of...
Anyway, this begins like a journey of self-discovery with Samuel learning that he is more than just a simple Construct and it is that, but this isn’t just a fantasy coming of age, or a fantasy adventure with magic and a really good mystery, or even just a survival story. It’s a bit of all of that and a little more.
At the heart of the story there are all these wonderful people that are learning about themselves and their places in the world along with Samuel. The characters absolutely won my heart…or some of them did anyway.
There were also those ones that were just such horrible people, that all I wanted was for them to die suitable horror movie deaths! You know the ones- the people in horror movies that aren’t the killer, but are big jerks, and get the best death in the film? Yea- those are the ones I was wishing for.
The story does have its cliché’s in places, and that overlapping pov thing that I personally hate so much…but thankfully the author actually knew how to use it effectively, so it added to the story instead of making me want to pull all my hair out, and it was only in a few places so I didn’t have to suffer through much of it anyway.
I did wish at times that we had more from Samuel’s pov in later chapters, but I also don’t know that I would have traded Eriane’s or Jacob’s pov to have more from Samuel, and including all of them would have drug it down into a snail's pace. It is a toss-up.
I am really curious to see where things go in the next book…which btw I see there isn’t one yet, but thankfully this is a mostly self-contained story and only open-ended enough to have another book if the author wanted.
The final verdict was that this was a great story, with a core that is all heart.
I’m calling it a 3.5 but rounding to 4, because the presentation of this novel deserves special mention. Between that beautiful cover, story and editing, it’s very nice quality work.
Anyway, this begins like a journey of self-discovery with Samuel learning that he is more than just a simple Construct and it is that, but this isn’t just a fantasy coming of age, or a fantasy adventure with magic and a really good mystery, or even just a survival story. It’s a bit of all of that and a little more.
At the heart of the story there are all these wonderful people that are learning about themselves and their places in the world along with Samuel. The characters absolutely won my heart…or some of them did anyway.
There were also those ones that were just such horrible people, that all I wanted was for them to die suitable horror movie deaths! You know the ones- the people in horror movies that aren’t the killer, but are big jerks, and get the best death in the film? Yea- those are the ones I was wishing for.
The story does have its cliché’s in places, and that overlapping pov thing that I personally hate so much…but thankfully the author actually knew how to use it effectively, so it added to the story instead of making me want to pull all my hair out, and it was only in a few places so I didn’t have to suffer through much of it anyway.
I did wish at times that we had more from Samuel’s pov in later chapters, but I also don’t know that I would have traded Eriane’s or Jacob’s pov to have more from Samuel, and including all of them would have drug it down into a snail's pace. It is a toss-up.
I am really curious to see where things go in the next book…which btw I see there isn’t one yet, but thankfully this is a mostly self-contained story and only open-ended enough to have another book if the author wanted.
The final verdict was that this was a great story, with a core that is all heart.
I’m calling it a 3.5 but rounding to 4, because the presentation of this novel deserves special mention. Between that beautiful cover, story and editing, it’s very nice quality work.
January 23, 2015
Construct borrows heavily from established works in terms of its characterisation. You've got a young and naive brother/sister combo, a misunderstood scoundrel with a heart of gold and the irredeemable villains who are almost caricatures.
None of the above are the protagonist of this tale, and that's what lifts this from mediocrity into a truly enjoyable read.
Samuel is our titular amnesiac construct, an artificial life form that was constructed in some unknown age. The main thrust of the book is his self-discovery and interactions therein with the plethora of characters he comes into contact with.
Being the main character, Samuel receives a lot more fleshing out than any of the others in this tale and while it makes his chapters very enjoyable indeed it can also cause minor frustration when the focus gradually shifts onto the other people he meets. There were a number of times I was reading the POV of a different character and all I could think was '...but what about Samuel? What's happening with him?'
Fortunately Luke Matthews is a deft writer with a good sense of pacing, so just as things start to flag in our tale he switches them up and catches our attention again.
It's the classic 'understanding/recovering ones self whilst being chased for reasons unknown' plotline, but it's well-crafted. Samuel and friends are always on the run, and their doing so seems feasible and isn't artificially drawn out.
While Construct for the most part isn't a particularly dark book, there is a particular scene that clarifies just how depraved the antagonists are. This stood out like a sore thumb and took me by surprise, but worked well in doing so. This isn't your classic high fantasy, and shouldn't be treated as such.
The prose is both solid and well-edited and the work as a whole has some nice formatting, something that's becoming increasingly prevalent in the self-publishing industry.
So I've discussed why this elevates things from three stars to four stars, but why not five outright if I enjoyed it so much?
While Construct is careful not to outstay its welcome, it is quite clearly the first in a series. The villains are ultimately pawns in a much larger game and there is a mythos to Matthew's world of constructs that needs to be fleshed out.
Fleshing out is the ultimate complaint, as the characters themselves while not entirely cardboard cut-outs have a limited number of distinguishing factors that need to be expanded upon in later books.
Lastly, while the ending was satisfactory, the urgency with which it was written left little time for reflection amidst all the action and I found it somewhat confusing to follow. This got to the point where I'm now uncertain as to the status of one of the characters. Whether this was deliberate on the author's part is unknown as the reflection from the other characters after the events have passed didn't touch upon it.
Conversely, after the action had ceased we had the inevitable building to the next book in the series in the aftermath, a place where some further reflection upon the events that had just occurred as a recap may have proven useful.
Matthews is a talented writer and deserves plaudits for a strong début without a cliffhanger ending, I hope that this allows him to go from strength to strength in the next of the series. He's earned a fan here and I will be keeping an eye out for his next release.
None of the above are the protagonist of this tale, and that's what lifts this from mediocrity into a truly enjoyable read.
Samuel is our titular amnesiac construct, an artificial life form that was constructed in some unknown age. The main thrust of the book is his self-discovery and interactions therein with the plethora of characters he comes into contact with.
Being the main character, Samuel receives a lot more fleshing out than any of the others in this tale and while it makes his chapters very enjoyable indeed it can also cause minor frustration when the focus gradually shifts onto the other people he meets. There were a number of times I was reading the POV of a different character and all I could think was '...but what about Samuel? What's happening with him?'
Fortunately Luke Matthews is a deft writer with a good sense of pacing, so just as things start to flag in our tale he switches them up and catches our attention again.
It's the classic 'understanding/recovering ones self whilst being chased for reasons unknown' plotline, but it's well-crafted. Samuel and friends are always on the run, and their doing so seems feasible and isn't artificially drawn out.
While Construct for the most part isn't a particularly dark book, there is a particular scene that clarifies just how depraved the antagonists are. This stood out like a sore thumb and took me by surprise, but worked well in doing so. This isn't your classic high fantasy, and shouldn't be treated as such.
The prose is both solid and well-edited and the work as a whole has some nice formatting, something that's becoming increasingly prevalent in the self-publishing industry.
So I've discussed why this elevates things from three stars to four stars, but why not five outright if I enjoyed it so much?
While Construct is careful not to outstay its welcome, it is quite clearly the first in a series. The villains are ultimately pawns in a much larger game and there is a mythos to Matthew's world of constructs that needs to be fleshed out.
Fleshing out is the ultimate complaint, as the characters themselves while not entirely cardboard cut-outs have a limited number of distinguishing factors that need to be expanded upon in later books.
Lastly, while the ending was satisfactory, the urgency with which it was written left little time for reflection amidst all the action and I found it somewhat confusing to follow. This got to the point where I'm now uncertain as to the status of one of the characters. Whether this was deliberate on the author's part is unknown as the reflection from the other characters after the events have passed didn't touch upon it.
Conversely, after the action had ceased we had the inevitable building to the next book in the series in the aftermath, a place where some further reflection upon the events that had just occurred as a recap may have proven useful.
Matthews is a talented writer and deserves plaudits for a strong début without a cliffhanger ending, I hope that this allows him to go from strength to strength in the next of the series. He's earned a fan here and I will be keeping an eye out for his next release.
August 10, 2015
Construct is the debut novel of author/blogger/podcaster Luke Matthews, but you’d hardly know it for its competency. Set in a steam/magic punk world populated by unscrupulous artificers and living automatons, the book strikes a perfect balance between dense world-building and readability. It’s nominally fantasy but blends sci-fi and adventure elements with a fairly modern action sensibility. It’s essentially a road/quest story and it flits deftly between its taut action sequences, pausing occasionally for the occasional, generally well-executed infodump. More info on the familiar, yet original setting is welcome, though, as the scope of the book remains fixed on the central characters and the limited locations they visit in their journey. It’s clear Matthews has built a fully-realized world here and tantalizing glances are caught of the larger setting along with solid hooks into future sequels. Construct suffers somewhat from stock characterization; there’s a roguish, conflicted companion to the hero, a naif wunderkind with psychic power, a sagacious mentor and cackling villains and the main character’s amnesiac, literal lack of identity (though part of the whodunit narrative) often relegates him to an observational, ‘good guy’ role. However, by the book’s end it’s clear the characters that remain (there’s a pretty good body count for a smallish cast) are changed and it is of course the first book of a saga… One standout is the main villain, a bounty hunter of sorts who goes from weary professional to full-on sadist in the closing pages, a great embodiment of the banality of evil.
All in all, a surprising and satisfying debut. Looking forward to Chronicler Saga 2.
All in all, a surprising and satisfying debut. Looking forward to Chronicler Saga 2.
September 25, 2014
Luke Matthews' debut novel is a terrific surprise. Original, quick paced, exciting and suspenseful; I found it difficult to put down and for the first time in years found myself reading for hours and hours at a time and having to force myself to put down my Kindle and go to bed or even interact with my boyfriend, feed the dog, shower...
I will not discuss details so as not to spoil the unfolding of the story as the writer intended. I will say that I am now totally invested in the main characters and want to know much more about the world in which they live. The world created by Luke Matthews is entirely unique in my reading experience and is large and complex enough to be the backdrop for an array of stories and characters.
My only complaint is that book two is not available. If Luke reads this I hereby volunteer to be a beta reader for the 2nd and 3rd novels.
Also, I'd like to suggest (beg) that he throws us some short stories set in this world to hold us until book 2 is published. Perhaps these could be published on his website www.chroniclersaga.com. Just saying...
I will not discuss details so as not to spoil the unfolding of the story as the writer intended. I will say that I am now totally invested in the main characters and want to know much more about the world in which they live. The world created by Luke Matthews is entirely unique in my reading experience and is large and complex enough to be the backdrop for an array of stories and characters.
My only complaint is that book two is not available. If Luke reads this I hereby volunteer to be a beta reader for the 2nd and 3rd novels.
Also, I'd like to suggest (beg) that he throws us some short stories set in this world to hold us until book 2 is published. Perhaps these could be published on his website www.chroniclersaga.com. Just saying...
October 20, 2014
Such a great debut from Luke Matthews. Interesting characters and solid pacing make for an enjoyable read. Loved the mystery woven throughout and I can't wait for the next book in the series! :)
July 12, 2019
Construct is the first book in The Chronicler Saga. Samuel is a construct - a type of artificial intelligence - who wakes in a burning building with no memories except some flashes of a brutal murder. He does have genuine human emotions, though, something supposedly impossible for a construct. We follow Samuel as he travels away from his “birthplace” and attempt to find clues about who or what he is. The book is slowly paced, but deliberately and meaningfully so. The characters and world are fleshed out, well-written, and interesting. The writing style is really enjoyable, and well-matched to the story’s pace and feel of the world. All around a really, really good book.
The world of Construct is very well-crafted. It feels real - it has meaningful history, vibrant locales, and relevant lore. At the time our story takes place, constructs have been reduced to beasts of labor. Though they were once near-equals to their human counterparts, there was war between human and construct, after which the humans subjugated the constructs, limiting their rights and autonomy. Constructs, and other technologies, are powered by khet - a type of pure energy “life force”. Humans with the ability to manipulate khet are wizard-analogues in this world, and each has a talent for one particular application of their abilities.
Samuel is a very Iron Giant type protagonist - his memories are lost to him, and he doesn’t know where he came from or why. When he wakes in a burning building, all he remembers are flashes of a brutal murder. He sets out to find out what or who he is, and why he is being targeted Samuel is easy to care about pretty much immediately. Despite not knowing who he is in the context of the world, he knows who he is - he is a good person, he cares for others and is kind, and he is confident in his personality. He’s a very strong character and very well-written.
Samuel meets several other people along the way, most notably Kaleb - a man with a colorful and incriminating past that he spends most of his time running from; Eriane - a young orphan girl who is taken in as an apprentice to a wizard; and Pare - another young orphan and foster-brother-of-sorts to Eriane. Both Pare and Eriane have tragic, but mostly unexplored, pasts. The contrast of Samuel’s lost memories and quest to get answers about his past and the human characters’ struggles to escape or move on from their pasts is really compelling.
Our two antagonists, Colton and Bales, are assholes to everyone they meet, including one another. We get POV chapters from them, which helps build suspense as we see where they are in relation to our protagonists, and also solidifies that these guys are evil. Don’t look for redeeming qualities, reasoning, or humanity in these two, they’re the bad guys and that’s that.
Recommended for people who particularly enjoy character-focused stories. Those who enjoy a slower paced adventure would appreciate this book. There are some elements of coming-of-age, as well.
5/5, The characters are easy to care for and their stories are captivating. The plot is well-developed and never reveals too much to the reader so we are always kept invested in Samuel’s mystery. The world is well-constructed and feels fleshed out and vibrant. All around a really excellent book.
The world of Construct is very well-crafted. It feels real - it has meaningful history, vibrant locales, and relevant lore. At the time our story takes place, constructs have been reduced to beasts of labor. Though they were once near-equals to their human counterparts, there was war between human and construct, after which the humans subjugated the constructs, limiting their rights and autonomy. Constructs, and other technologies, are powered by khet - a type of pure energy “life force”. Humans with the ability to manipulate khet are wizard-analogues in this world, and each has a talent for one particular application of their abilities.
Samuel is a very Iron Giant type protagonist - his memories are lost to him, and he doesn’t know where he came from or why. When he wakes in a burning building, all he remembers are flashes of a brutal murder. He sets out to find out what or who he is, and why he is being targeted Samuel is easy to care about pretty much immediately. Despite not knowing who he is in the context of the world, he knows who he is - he is a good person, he cares for others and is kind, and he is confident in his personality. He’s a very strong character and very well-written.
Samuel meets several other people along the way, most notably Kaleb - a man with a colorful and incriminating past that he spends most of his time running from; Eriane - a young orphan girl who is taken in as an apprentice to a wizard; and Pare - another young orphan and foster-brother-of-sorts to Eriane. Both Pare and Eriane have tragic, but mostly unexplored, pasts. The contrast of Samuel’s lost memories and quest to get answers about his past and the human characters’ struggles to escape or move on from their pasts is really compelling.
Our two antagonists, Colton and Bales, are assholes to everyone they meet, including one another. We get POV chapters from them, which helps build suspense as we see where they are in relation to our protagonists, and also solidifies that these guys are evil. Don’t look for redeeming qualities, reasoning, or humanity in these two, they’re the bad guys and that’s that.
Recommended for people who particularly enjoy character-focused stories. Those who enjoy a slower paced adventure would appreciate this book. There are some elements of coming-of-age, as well.
5/5, The characters are easy to care for and their stories are captivating. The plot is well-developed and never reveals too much to the reader so we are always kept invested in Samuel’s mystery. The world is well-constructed and feels fleshed out and vibrant. All around a really excellent book.
July 9, 2018
First, thank you to the author, Luke Matthews, who kindly provided this book to me as a prize for r/Fantasy’s Book Bingo. While my interactions with him were limited, he was very polite and gracious.
I really enjoyed this book. Prior to this book, I had only read a couple self published books and none were very good. So I did not have high expectations for Construct. However, my expectations were shattered when I read the first chapter and started to get into the story of a mechanical man with sentience but no memory in a world where mechanical men have memories but not sentience. His journey to discover who he is and who he was is transfixing.
I was expecting to be dragging my feet and struggling to finish, but that was not the case. I anticipated boring cliches and half-baked world dynamics, but it turned out to be well thought out and original. I really enjoyed it. While not perfect, this book was really worth reading and has helped me to see that self published books can be very enjoyable and have original content.
I sincerely hope that Mr Matthews is able to gain a large readership so that he can write more. I will be following his writing from here on out.
I really enjoyed this book. Prior to this book, I had only read a couple self published books and none were very good. So I did not have high expectations for Construct. However, my expectations were shattered when I read the first chapter and started to get into the story of a mechanical man with sentience but no memory in a world where mechanical men have memories but not sentience. His journey to discover who he is and who he was is transfixing.
I was expecting to be dragging my feet and struggling to finish, but that was not the case. I anticipated boring cliches and half-baked world dynamics, but it turned out to be well thought out and original. I really enjoyed it. While not perfect, this book was really worth reading and has helped me to see that self published books can be very enjoyable and have original content.
I sincerely hope that Mr Matthews is able to gain a large readership so that he can write more. I will be following his writing from here on out.
August 31, 2017
Very stilted B-movie dialogue, stark lack of flaws for any of the main characters (other than Kaleb and other than the might-as-well-be-Kryptonite weakness for Samuel that barely shows up), too many hanging plot lines, Saturday morning cartoon level motivations for every single character (if your villains are evil "because it's fun," you may need to rethink your villains - the protagonists don't fare much better).
And ultimately, the plot pivots from a strong "whodunnit murder mystery crossed over with Bourne Identity in an automaton-filled science fantasy world" to a more generic "main character is the chosen one connected to myth but needs to travel with a ragtag group of travelers to find the answers the world needs" that, again, is left hanging by the end.
A fine attempt at a first book that starts off really strong, but I can't say I have any desire to read the next one unless there's some serious improvement and a LOT more closure.
And ultimately, the plot pivots from a strong "whodunnit murder mystery crossed over with Bourne Identity in an automaton-filled science fantasy world" to a more generic "main character is the chosen one connected to myth but needs to travel with a ragtag group of travelers to find the answers the world needs" that, again, is left hanging by the end.
A fine attempt at a first book that starts off really strong, but I can't say I have any desire to read the next one unless there's some serious improvement and a LOT more closure.
September 14, 2015
This was a damn good book. I know that I like a book if I stay up late reading it, and this one was hard for me to put down. The main character, Samuel, wakes up lost and not knowing anything about his world, just like the reader. We explore and learn along with him as he tries to solve the mystery of who he is, what happened to his memories, and how it's connected to his world. The other characters in the book have their own distinct multifaceted personalities. Just when I thought I had someone figured out, they went and did something that surprised me. After finishing the book I immediately went back and started rereading pages, looking for things that I had missed or that might give me clues about what would happen to them next. Great story, great characters, and a fun complex world that I enjoyed spending time in.
March 17, 2020
Read this review and other Sci Fi/Fantasy reviews at The Quill To Live
I’ve never had the inclination to read self-published titles. I’m always worried I’ll read into it too deeply or be overly critical, becauseI can so rarely turn off that portion of my brain. So when Luke Matthews reached out to me and requested an honest review of his self-published book Construct, I was a little hesitant. After thinking about it though, I decided to give it a shot. Construct ended up being something unexpected, and though it certainly has some flaws, the work Matthews put into his world and characters shows a lot of potential.
Construct follows Samuel, an artificial being that has awakened from a terrible memory as the building he is in is burning down around him. He recognizes he is not human, doesn’t know his own name, but feels hunted nonetheless. Deep down he feels his memory is important and puts him in further danger, and so he hides from nearby voices searching the wreckage. He sets off on a journey to find out who and what he is, and why someone would want to kill him. It is a streamlined and clean concept that works for the book.
I want to start off by highlighting my favorite part about this book: Matthews’ writing. He is incredibly thorough with his descriptions, allowing the reader to feel the world. I immediately felt as if I was in some sort of dark fantasy western, where small towns and large cities were miles from each other, and the populace mostly tried to keep out of trouble. People knew each other by their dealings and less by reputation, which was something I rarely notice in other books. Matthews’ descriptions built a good sense of rhythm too, allowing the pace to slow down a little and take stock with more vivid descriptions. Meanwhile, the action scenes and tension heavy dialogues were focused on the characters and their emotions. While Matthew’s prose is his greatest strength, it also shows some weaknesses. Especially when it comes to the emotional range of the characters, they often felt like anime characters, where the most extreme forms of emotion were always on display. It wasn’t bad - especially since he uses a large vocabulary - but once I noticed it, I could not unsee it.
The characters, in general, were enjoyable.. Samuel as the ever-curious and ever-surprising construct was delightful. He has a childlike curiosity that was heightened, not hampered, by the danger he felt. However, this felt like one of the only aspects of his personality and he rarely ever made any character-defining decisions for himself. There often was a lot of telling about how he was different from “other” constructs, without too many comparisons showing how others operate. It became stale fairly quickly as even Samuel began to finish other character’s sentences pointing it out. I do want to point out though that for a decent amount of the book, Samuel did feel out of place, in a good way. The beginning of the book highlighted this the most with his interior narration being distanced even from himself, as he tried to work out who or what he was. It was an excellent beginning to his character that really showed off Matthews’ style.
A lot of the intrigue was dictated by a fairly solid supporting cast. The people Samuel meets along the way, felt like they had their own little lives that were interrupted by his presence. Conversations between Samuel and others were more often revealing of the supporting cast, highlighting their motivations and concerns. They never felt insightful of Samuel himself however, beyond the aforementioned curiosity. There were a few unexplained moments where characters seemed overly reactive to others’ choices, but I think some of that is supposed to be left for another book. The villains felt pretty typical-- overly caricatured as headhunters who really loved to headhunt. I enjoyed the dynamic between the villainous duo, their banter being something I looked forward to, but it didn’t really give me too much insight into who they were. Since they are about thirty percent of the book’s point of view, it felt like more could have been made of them.
As far as the plot goes, while it didn’t reinvent the genre it was also clean and direct. In particular, Matthews excelled in his pacing. The book moves fast, but gives some time for the plot and characters to breathe. There wasn’t a single moment that felt wasted, and it felt pretty good to read a plot-heavy book that did not dilly dally. Each stop along Samuel’s path gave him something to consider, and his presence altered characters he encountered in some fashion. The constant feeling of the chase saturated every page once the reader and Samuel were made aware of it. There were a few contrived moments, especially when there were some out of left field point of view switches, but overall I enjoyed the story. It was a fairly typical story of lost memory but executed well in an entertaining way.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Construct. It is not a heavy read, and it’s fun despite some of its issues. The world is intriguing though I feel like it has not been fully revealed. The characters went through a lot and not everyone comes out okay in the end. Matthews clearly left room for more to be told as there is a lot of character tension left unresolved. I want to thank the author for both the opportunity and the free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. And In the spirit of that, I can honestly say I’m looking forward to more of Matthews’ work.
Rating: Construct - 7.0/10
-Alex
I’ve never had the inclination to read self-published titles. I’m always worried I’ll read into it too deeply or be overly critical, becauseI can so rarely turn off that portion of my brain. So when Luke Matthews reached out to me and requested an honest review of his self-published book Construct, I was a little hesitant. After thinking about it though, I decided to give it a shot. Construct ended up being something unexpected, and though it certainly has some flaws, the work Matthews put into his world and characters shows a lot of potential.
Construct follows Samuel, an artificial being that has awakened from a terrible memory as the building he is in is burning down around him. He recognizes he is not human, doesn’t know his own name, but feels hunted nonetheless. Deep down he feels his memory is important and puts him in further danger, and so he hides from nearby voices searching the wreckage. He sets off on a journey to find out who and what he is, and why someone would want to kill him. It is a streamlined and clean concept that works for the book.
I want to start off by highlighting my favorite part about this book: Matthews’ writing. He is incredibly thorough with his descriptions, allowing the reader to feel the world. I immediately felt as if I was in some sort of dark fantasy western, where small towns and large cities were miles from each other, and the populace mostly tried to keep out of trouble. People knew each other by their dealings and less by reputation, which was something I rarely notice in other books. Matthews’ descriptions built a good sense of rhythm too, allowing the pace to slow down a little and take stock with more vivid descriptions. Meanwhile, the action scenes and tension heavy dialogues were focused on the characters and their emotions. While Matthew’s prose is his greatest strength, it also shows some weaknesses. Especially when it comes to the emotional range of the characters, they often felt like anime characters, where the most extreme forms of emotion were always on display. It wasn’t bad - especially since he uses a large vocabulary - but once I noticed it, I could not unsee it.
The characters, in general, were enjoyable.. Samuel as the ever-curious and ever-surprising construct was delightful. He has a childlike curiosity that was heightened, not hampered, by the danger he felt. However, this felt like one of the only aspects of his personality and he rarely ever made any character-defining decisions for himself. There often was a lot of telling about how he was different from “other” constructs, without too many comparisons showing how others operate. It became stale fairly quickly as even Samuel began to finish other character’s sentences pointing it out. I do want to point out though that for a decent amount of the book, Samuel did feel out of place, in a good way. The beginning of the book highlighted this the most with his interior narration being distanced even from himself, as he tried to work out who or what he was. It was an excellent beginning to his character that really showed off Matthews’ style.
A lot of the intrigue was dictated by a fairly solid supporting cast. The people Samuel meets along the way, felt like they had their own little lives that were interrupted by his presence. Conversations between Samuel and others were more often revealing of the supporting cast, highlighting their motivations and concerns. They never felt insightful of Samuel himself however, beyond the aforementioned curiosity. There were a few unexplained moments where characters seemed overly reactive to others’ choices, but I think some of that is supposed to be left for another book. The villains felt pretty typical-- overly caricatured as headhunters who really loved to headhunt. I enjoyed the dynamic between the villainous duo, their banter being something I looked forward to, but it didn’t really give me too much insight into who they were. Since they are about thirty percent of the book’s point of view, it felt like more could have been made of them.
As far as the plot goes, while it didn’t reinvent the genre it was also clean and direct. In particular, Matthews excelled in his pacing. The book moves fast, but gives some time for the plot and characters to breathe. There wasn’t a single moment that felt wasted, and it felt pretty good to read a plot-heavy book that did not dilly dally. Each stop along Samuel’s path gave him something to consider, and his presence altered characters he encountered in some fashion. The constant feeling of the chase saturated every page once the reader and Samuel were made aware of it. There were a few contrived moments, especially when there were some out of left field point of view switches, but overall I enjoyed the story. It was a fairly typical story of lost memory but executed well in an entertaining way.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Construct. It is not a heavy read, and it’s fun despite some of its issues. The world is intriguing though I feel like it has not been fully revealed. The characters went through a lot and not everyone comes out okay in the end. Matthews clearly left room for more to be told as there is a lot of character tension left unresolved. I want to thank the author for both the opportunity and the free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. And In the spirit of that, I can honestly say I’m looking forward to more of Matthews’ work.
Rating: Construct - 7.0/10
-Alex
October 27, 2014
I am hooked on the series and only the first book is out so far! From the beginning of the book I was intrigued in the storyline and interested in the characters.
June 29, 2015
Loved it! Matthews' style is refreshing and the story is quite the ride. Definitely worth the read. Can't wait for book 2!
July 24, 2020
Full disclosure: I won a copy of this book, but my thoughts remain my own.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, and to be honest, I'm still a bit torn in my thoughts. This is the story of a construct who wakes with no memory, in the ruins of a burned house. Scared and unsure, he sets out to try and get help and figure out who he is. However, he quickly learns that forces bigger than himself are at work, and if he wants to remain free, he will have to fight for his freedom.
On the side of the good, this was well-written and has an intriguing world. I like a bit of genre-bending, and mixing the concept of constructs with a world where magic and guns coexist was pretty cool for me. There are a lot of interesting things that introduced throughout the book, such as the magic that powers constructs, the drug Drift, and the various other sorts of magic that populate the world. I also was really drawn in at first by the main character, who really has no idea of who or what he is, and where he comes from. The villains were also really interesting at first, with some really crazy abilities and a complete lack of conscience that makes them quite scary.
However. As the book wore on, all of these things kind of lost their appeal for me. There's a lot of repetition here, and it gets a bit tedious. The majority of the book is spent on the run, with lots of near misses and daring escapes. This makes for an action-filled book, but not necessarily one that I'm going to be into. I got to a point where I wanted a bit more substance, and I didn't really get it. A lot of things remained unexplained or just alluded to. I can give a little leeway for the main character, but there's actually a second viewpoint introduced just about halfway through the book that should have given a much better reference point for the world, but didn't. For example, there's a big stigma against guns that's emphasized throughout the book, but I never really understood why. Maybe I just missed the explanation, but there are a number of elements like that which I just found a bit annoying.
I also ended up not feeling terribly attached to the characters. I'm very much a character reader, so that lack made me less interested in the story over all. A lot of that was probably because the cast changes fairly frequently, especially at the beginning, but even when it stabilized, I didn't have a lot of feelings one way or the other. Everyone felt very surface-level, which was a disappointment to me.
None of which is to say that this was bad. If you're in the mood for something action-packed with a lot of mysteries to keep you guessing, you might enjoy this. It just didn't hit quite the right notes for me.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, and to be honest, I'm still a bit torn in my thoughts. This is the story of a construct who wakes with no memory, in the ruins of a burned house. Scared and unsure, he sets out to try and get help and figure out who he is. However, he quickly learns that forces bigger than himself are at work, and if he wants to remain free, he will have to fight for his freedom.
On the side of the good, this was well-written and has an intriguing world. I like a bit of genre-bending, and mixing the concept of constructs with a world where magic and guns coexist was pretty cool for me. There are a lot of interesting things that introduced throughout the book, such as the magic that powers constructs, the drug Drift, and the various other sorts of magic that populate the world. I also was really drawn in at first by the main character, who really has no idea of who or what he is, and where he comes from. The villains were also really interesting at first, with some really crazy abilities and a complete lack of conscience that makes them quite scary.
However. As the book wore on, all of these things kind of lost their appeal for me. There's a lot of repetition here, and it gets a bit tedious. The majority of the book is spent on the run, with lots of near misses and daring escapes. This makes for an action-filled book, but not necessarily one that I'm going to be into. I got to a point where I wanted a bit more substance, and I didn't really get it. A lot of things remained unexplained or just alluded to. I can give a little leeway for the main character, but there's actually a second viewpoint introduced just about halfway through the book that should have given a much better reference point for the world, but didn't. For example, there's a big stigma against guns that's emphasized throughout the book, but I never really understood why. Maybe I just missed the explanation, but there are a number of elements like that which I just found a bit annoying.
I also ended up not feeling terribly attached to the characters. I'm very much a character reader, so that lack made me less interested in the story over all. A lot of that was probably because the cast changes fairly frequently, especially at the beginning, but even when it stabilized, I didn't have a lot of feelings one way or the other. Everyone felt very surface-level, which was a disappointment to me.
None of which is to say that this was bad. If you're in the mood for something action-packed with a lot of mysteries to keep you guessing, you might enjoy this. It just didn't hit quite the right notes for me.
November 10, 2019
A refreshing story with plenty of action
I enjoyed this book. The author's style is very evocative with some great descriptions of scenes and places. The stakes are also high, with some terrifying antagonists. Sort of grimdark; darker than I might normally read but worth the journey for its originality and innovative story.
I enjoyed this book. The author's style is very evocative with some great descriptions of scenes and places. The stakes are also high, with some terrifying antagonists. Sort of grimdark; darker than I might normally read but worth the journey for its originality and innovative story.
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