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Apocalypse Engineering #1
Voltsmith
To Hal Riley, the apocalypse is just another problem to solve—all he needs to do is build the right tools.
It's rush hour in Chicago when a system integration ends the world as Hal Riley knows it. Forced into its hardcore tutorial, Hal adapts, thrives, and emerges with the perfect class for an auto [Voltsmith].
His new class promises to teach him the very secrets of the Universal Order. All he needs to do is understand the underlying principles of magical engineering, use them to build bigger weapons and greater tools, and perhaps even uncover the inner workings of the system itself.
But as Hal builds his creations and grows in power, his enemies grow stronger, too—and not just the ones in the dungeons across Chicago. Gangs looking to rule, rogue tutorial survivors, and powerful world bosses roam the city, and beyond its borders, there’s smoke on the horizon.
Hal’s ready, though. The apocalypse is just a bunch of nails, and he’s making hammers. It’s time to engineer his way through the apocalypse.
It's rush hour in Chicago when a system integration ends the world as Hal Riley knows it. Forced into its hardcore tutorial, Hal adapts, thrives, and emerges with the perfect class for an auto [Voltsmith].
His new class promises to teach him the very secrets of the Universal Order. All he needs to do is understand the underlying principles of magical engineering, use them to build bigger weapons and greater tools, and perhaps even uncover the inner workings of the system itself.
But as Hal builds his creations and grows in power, his enemies grow stronger, too—and not just the ones in the dungeons across Chicago. Gangs looking to rule, rogue tutorial survivors, and powerful world bosses roam the city, and beyond its borders, there’s smoke on the horizon.
Hal’s ready, though. The apocalypse is just a bunch of nails, and he’s making hammers. It’s time to engineer his way through the apocalypse.
591 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 1, 2025
Very zaney and wacky
Kind of like Looney tunes lit RPG? Kind of along the lines of dungeon crawler Carl so if you're into that this might be for you and it is a fairly lengthy book. Most of the writing is okay but the parts that counts aren't. The protagonist makes a habit and then gets a class out of making zany objects and then basically gives up ability to use any and all magic in order to do this better? Not really clear. But it basically nerfs the protagonist. And then there's just a lot of very heavy-handed plot armor and The story is very plot driven. I was kind of putting up with it but then when the protagonist gets nerfed somewhere around 12 to 15% of the way in I just couldn't take it anymore. There's probably a lot of folks who will love this but it was just very much not for me.
Kind of like Looney tunes lit RPG? Kind of along the lines of dungeon crawler Carl so if you're into that this might be for you and it is a fairly lengthy book. Most of the writing is okay but the parts that counts aren't. The protagonist makes a habit and then gets a class out of making zany objects and then basically gives up ability to use any and all magic in order to do this better? Not really clear. But it basically nerfs the protagonist. And then there's just a lot of very heavy-handed plot armor and The story is very plot driven. I was kind of putting up with it but then when the protagonist gets nerfed somewhere around 12 to 15% of the way in I just couldn't take it anymore. There's probably a lot of folks who will love this but it was just very much not for me.
January 11, 2026
Character inaction/lack of dimensionality and just plain stupidity is a problem right from the start. It does not make for a perceivable cohesive movie in your mind. Very lacking.
The MC doesn't try basic things like checking for things like a status screen, inventory or the like until at least the status function is shoved in his face later on. So little to No Deductive Reasoning. Keep in mind this is supposed to be HC mode.
Guy walks about the full length distance from one subway/tram stop to another,.. during this time there are no contemplation about arming himself from whatever possible nor considerations about probable adversaries/mobs/monsters. The guy reaches the so called 'terraformed' subway station he set out for and just walks willy nilly into the first mob like a retard.
It just continues on from there.. Next nonsensical thing is the mc crafting two full suits/sets of Roman style leather body armour from super convenient materials. Pretty much in a jiffy.. With what tools and worksurface I ask you!? Keep in mind the fool still hasn't checked to see if an inventory system exists. So he is humping along that extra armour set, he crafted for one of his possible future companions, with not a single lightbulb going off.
The way this is written is not making sense,.. just, wtf level plot contrivance/convenience and doltish total dimensionless linearity.
The MC doesn't try basic things like checking for things like a status screen, inventory or the like until at least the status function is shoved in his face later on. So little to No Deductive Reasoning. Keep in mind this is supposed to be HC mode.
Guy walks about the full length distance from one subway/tram stop to another,.. during this time there are no contemplation about arming himself from whatever possible nor considerations about probable adversaries/mobs/monsters. The guy reaches the so called 'terraformed' subway station he set out for and just walks willy nilly into the first mob like a retard.
It just continues on from there.. Next nonsensical thing is the mc crafting two full suits/sets of Roman style leather body armour from super convenient materials. Pretty much in a jiffy.. With what tools and worksurface I ask you!? Keep in mind the fool still hasn't checked to see if an inventory system exists. So he is humping along that extra armour set, he crafted for one of his possible future companions, with not a single lightbulb going off.
The way this is written is not making sense,.. just, wtf level plot contrivance/convenience and doltish total dimensionless linearity.
March 12, 2026
Ok so not a bad start but where is the loot???? He's in a dungeon come on why thats the 2nd best part of a LitRPG book is the LOOT i have been coming across alot of books lately with NO Loot seriously I don't understand what's the point without it and i eventually dropp them all because they were basically fantasy books because the system was barely a thought and no loot booo hoping this book has loot or i will probably drop it to don't know if I will keep listening though the mc helps a teenager and basically takes junk and makes weapons i had to speed up the audiobook because the gut talks so slow it was putting me to sleep 😴 WTH I am so done with this book so the mc beat the dungeon and all he got at the end was class choices really which you should get when you hit a certain level how lame and of course NO LOOT DNF this author tried to hard missed the mark
November 4, 2025
Hal is a mechanic in a garage when the apocalypse starts. He's in a subway, on the way home, when he and a teenage girl end up in a hardcore dungeon.
If you like crafting LitRPG novels, you might like this one. Hal becomes a Voltsmith, and spends a lot of time crafting weapons and armor. In spite of the descriptions, I couldn't quite picture what his weapons looked like, but that's okay. What I liked was the way his mind worked - every problem was a puzzle to be solved.
Tori, a defensive, angry fifteen year old, started out as a typical teenager, but grew and matured during the book. She still has a lot of growing to do, but I like where she's going. Some of the other side characters were well done.
The writing needs a bit more polish, but the world building has me intrigued.
If you like crafting LitRPG novels, you might like this one. Hal becomes a Voltsmith, and spends a lot of time crafting weapons and armor. In spite of the descriptions, I couldn't quite picture what his weapons looked like, but that's okay. What I liked was the way his mind worked - every problem was a puzzle to be solved.
Tori, a defensive, angry fifteen year old, started out as a typical teenager, but grew and matured during the book. She still has a lot of growing to do, but I like where she's going. Some of the other side characters were well done.
The writing needs a bit more polish, but the world building has me intrigued.
February 9, 2026
It's fine.
There was nothing particularly wrong with this title, aside from the repeated use of "roared", "smashed", and "crashed". I found the characters largely tolerable. Every time Hal said "X was like figuring out a machine" or "a problem to be solved" I sighed. More showing how he was working the problem would be nice, like that bit of reasoning with the fuel line problems in the Explorer. I really liked that. More of that, please, but for how he's beating monsters, solving dungeons, even building Voltsmith things. The RPG elements were almost distracting, and I don't feel like I got a good sense of the relative scales, powers, or expected system behaviors. It wasn't bad; just a little empty, like a thin soup.
There was nothing particularly wrong with this title, aside from the repeated use of "roared", "smashed", and "crashed". I found the characters largely tolerable. Every time Hal said "X was like figuring out a machine" or "a problem to be solved" I sighed. More showing how he was working the problem would be nice, like that bit of reasoning with the fuel line problems in the Explorer. I really liked that. More of that, please, but for how he's beating monsters, solving dungeons, even building Voltsmith things. The RPG elements were almost distracting, and I don't feel like I got a good sense of the relative scales, powers, or expected system behaviors. It wasn't bad; just a little empty, like a thin soup.
February 11, 2026
Good Read
I really enjoyed this one. I loved how it started out; the beginning of Phase One and the way your team was made up completely random by level was a good change up for me. The characters were fleshed out well, and I liked that they weren't all good or bad; some definitely had moments of both. But I didn't like Calvin or Jessica that much; who can afford not to fight during an apocalypse??? And the way Hal treated Tori like a Beth substitute, at times, wasnt that good either. I rated this book a 5 stars, but its definitely a good 4/5, and I'll definitely read book 2.
I really enjoyed this one. I loved how it started out; the beginning of Phase One and the way your team was made up completely random by level was a good change up for me. The characters were fleshed out well, and I liked that they weren't all good or bad; some definitely had moments of both. But I didn't like Calvin or Jessica that much; who can afford not to fight during an apocalypse??? And the way Hal treated Tori like a Beth substitute, at times, wasnt that good either. I rated this book a 5 stars, but its definitely a good 4/5, and I'll definitely read book 2.
September 29, 2025
Great Read
I accidentally stumbled across this book while in between series releases. Cover caught my eye and I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did. I absolutely love stories with crafters, especially if they are more mechanically focused. So I was surprised and delighted to find this gem of a read. It checks so many of my boxes that I wish more books were already out right now. I look forward to reading more of Hal's adventures and how the world progresses in the future.
I accidentally stumbled across this book while in between series releases. Cover caught my eye and I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did. I absolutely love stories with crafters, especially if they are more mechanically focused. So I was surprised and delighted to find this gem of a read. It checks so many of my boxes that I wish more books were already out right now. I look forward to reading more of Hal's adventures and how the world progresses in the future.
September 8, 2025
Interesting new story
Interesting and well developed characters and excellent world building. I am always interested in a story with a crafting classed MC, and this story delivers!
Interesting and well developed characters and excellent world building. I am always interested in a story with a crafting classed MC, and this story delivers!
September 6, 2025
Really good
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There are parts that get really dark, not too bad, but they are there.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There are parts that get really dark, not too bad, but they are there.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
Highly recommended.
October 16, 2025
Good read
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books will lot of action.
I enjoyed reading this book and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books will lot of action.
December 21, 2025
Great book
Stellar work from Aest Belequa! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Stellar work from Aest Belequa! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to reading the next one.
January 11, 2026
Narrator sounds like he's from southern america- drops all "g's" from "ing" words. Seriously annoying.
didn-t-like-it
March 18, 2026Note to self: It was fine, but certain elements annoyed me enough that just fine wasn't enough to stick around.
March 28, 2026
I’m def rating higher only because it’s in chicago. Prob would be 4 stars if not. Good premise and fun classes but would prefer more “loot” and depth for Jessica/ Calvin
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews