Starry-Eyed: Mechanized Book 1

by Braden Phillip

He rebuilds a rusted war mech into a legend—one upgrade at a time.

Museum historian Abbott was never meant to pilot a war mech—until a crisis drops him inside a dying relic. To live, he has to bond with it, meditate to control its power, and rebuild it piece by piece.

Because the Null is a machine built to erase worlds, and it doesn’t care who Abbott used to be.

Welcome to Mechanized—a mech-heavy progression sci-fantasy with found-family vibes, where survival demands a mechanical soul.

493 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starry-Eyed: Mechanized Book 1 by Braden Phillip.
4 of 5 Stars.
I will be honest and say that not only is this not a go to genre for me, but I didn’t even know what, “mech-heavy progression sci-fantasy” actually meant! However, I do enjoy reading outside my ‘genre comfort zone’, and I’m glad that I discovered this fast paced, action packed start, to what will no doubt be an exciting series. Abbott is a museum historian who has to learn how to be a war mech pilot, when he finds himself inside a dying relic. In order to survive he has to bond with it, meditate to control its power, and rebuild the rusted war mech piece by piece. Abbott has to be ready for when the Null arrives, a machine built to erase worlds. The world building is great, with the descriptive narrative bringing it vividly to life, making me feel fully immersed in the story. I loved the main character Abbott and felt invested in his adventures. I would definitely read book two when it comes out.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starry‑Eyed didn’t gently invite me into its world — it straight‑up body‑checked me into a dying mech, tossed a meditation pamphlet at my face, and said “figure it out, sweetheart.” Abbott, our poor museum historian, is out here minding his own business, cataloguing dusty relics, when the universe decides to yeet him into a war machine with the emotional stability of a feral toaster.

Watching Abbott try to pilot the Null is like watching a cardigan‑wearing academic get drafted into a cosmic demolition derby. He’s panicking, sweating, spiritually malfunctioning, and somehow still alive through sheer stubbornness and the power of “I did NOT sign up for this.” Meanwhile, the Null is radiating “touch one wrong lever and I will end you” energy. It’s a murder mech with opinions, and Abbott is one intrusive thought away from becoming mech‑paste.

The worldbuilding is cool, the mech lore is fun, and the found‑family vibes sneak up on you like a group hug you didn’t consent to but secretly needed. But sometimes the pacing goes sideways, sometimes the mech‑philosophy gets a little too “zen monk meets industrial accident,” and sometimes Abbott feels like a man who wandered into the wrong book and is too polite to leave.

Still, there’s something charming about watching this anxious historian rebuild a legendary mech one upgrade at a time while trying not to die or spiritually combust. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. It’s strangely wholesome. And it absolutely earns its 3.5 stars — fun, flawed, and full of metal‑clanking heart.

A mech‑heavy sci‑fantasy that feels like being thrown into a cockpit with no training, no plan, and no chill — and somehow having the time of your life anyway.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

OH MY GOSH! I can not tell you how much I loved this book and how eagerly I am waiting for the next instalment, which is apparently coming next year (because I absolutely went to the website and signed up for the newsletter). What can I say, this is everything I look for in a sci-fi book: adventure, mystery, found family, a hero who feels real and who grows as the story goes on, high stakes, and interesting and creative tech.
Phillip absolutely nailed the vibe of this story, and I was hooked from the get-go. Abbott is probably the best main character I have read all year. I loved the way he grew and learnt from those around him, relying on others to help him. I grew so attached to every character in this book, completely with them throughout all the highs and lows of this story. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I just adored the world of the mechs. Phillips' imagination really shone in the Mech lore, and finding out the different stories behind the different models was one of my favourite parts of this story.
Honestly, there is so much that I could wax lyrical about, but I don’t want to give too much away. All I will say is that Grog is so brave and amazing, Des and Doran are unbelievably sweet and some of the best friends anyone could have, and Nessa and the twins are super badass. Ahhh, I’m totally immediately going to start reading this again as soon as I’ve finished writing this because I just know that there are lots of little details I missed.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for an imaginative sci-fi with amazing characters and plenty of twists and turns. I adored this. It's such a strong debut novel, and I can’t wait to read whatever Phillip writes next.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abbott is a mechanic at a museum full of old mechs, relics from a time of war and technological revolution and he is in charge of fixing and maintaining them, that this until one day, after he has had a tough day taking a group of school children round the exhibits, he recovers a call from his best friend about a threat which is heading straight for him and she tells him he needs to get one of the mechs working and leave the city and so he does just that.

Unfortunately for Abbott, the threat is too fast and instead of surrendering to it, he amazingly discovers a way to defeat it instead and afterwards wakes up to celebrity status, at least in his own world, but this leads to a choice about his future, he has to choose between participating in a sport he does not enjoy or a contact with a corporation he despises, both have their positives and negatives, but the repercussions are less in one in particular.

In the end, his choice is made and it includes doing something he loves, building mechs, but now it also includes flying them and this is something he never wanted to do again after his last experience, but as he is learning the tricks of his new trade, nothing is what it seems and everything he thought he knew is warped, but will he survive this new life, or will his past experience be a fluke? This is a dystopian sci-fi with a heap of mechanics and a swirl of adventure.

[Book.Athlete · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Starry-Eyed. From the opening chapters, I was pulled into a fascinating world where science fiction, fantasy, and giant mechs come together in a fresh and exciting way. The premise immediately captured my imagination, and I found myself eager to see where Abbott's unexpected journey would lead.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was watching an ordinary historian step into extraordinary circumstances. Abbott is a relatable protagonist whose growth feels natural, and I enjoyed seeing him adapt to challenges that were far beyond anything he had ever expected. The found-family dynamic added warmth to the adventure, and the relationships helped balance the high-stakes action.

Braden Phillip has created an immersive world with an intriguing magic system, memorable characters, and plenty of action. The pacing kept me turning the pages, while the mysteries surrounding the mechs and their powers left me excited to discover more.

If you enjoy progression fantasy, giant mechs, engaging world-building, and characters who grow through adversity, I highly recommend Starry-Eyed. It's a strong start to the Mechanized series, and I'm already looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book!

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who was going to prepare me for how invested I was going to be here?! A guy rebuilding old war mech doesn’t seem like it would scream “Pick me!” but it’s where I ended up. Watching Abbott go from a quiet museum historian to someone forced to fight for survival was such a satisfying journey. Every new upgrade to the mech felt like a major win, and I was cheering like it was my own project. The mix of progression fantasy, giant mechs, and sci-fi action completely scratched an itch I didn't even know I had. I also loved the found-family vibes because they added so much heart to all the high-stakes chaos. The Null was genuinely terrifying, and the constant sense of danger kept me flying through the pages. This book somehow balanced epic battles with emotional growth in a way that made me care about every single victory. If you love underdog stories, cool mech upgrades, and characters who earn every ounce of their strength, you need this on your shelf immediately. I already need the next installment because I'm way too attached to this world now.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starry-Eyed by Braden Phillip is a futuristic, science-fiction/fantasy filled with technology, machines, and otherworldly characters. It is Book 1 in the Mechanized series and I cannot wait to see where the story leads! We are introduced to Abbott, a tech mechanic keeping up with the obsolete, outdated “mechs" for a museum. The world-building uses amazingly vivid descriptions that place the reader in the middle of an impending attack and allows the reader to feel Abbott's trepidation on having to rely on an outdated mech to survive. The characters are engaging, realistic, and extremely lovable. Phillip blends future technology and history with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes as well as imaginative mech lore that captures your interest. While some of the plot ebbs and flows at an unusual pace, I am still giving Starry-Eyed 5 Stars for its imaginative, engaging, and unique story and wonderful characters. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Mechanized series. This was captivating sci-fi read that had me hooked from the first page. It is an action packed adventure filled with drama, friendship and family dynamics and it’s actioned packed. I haven’t read anything like it before.
We meet our friend Abbott who is a museum historian. It is his job to catalogue and record historical artefact. When he is thrust into an old war machine this is where the fun really begins. You see this machine has mind of its own and won’t be making life easy for Abbot at all. With the machine being one intrusive thought away from combusting Abbott has to figure out who to upgrade the machinery without losing his life in the process. It is a captivating read. I felt like Abbott was just handed some instructors and told to figure it out for himself and to see his growth and development throughout the book really brought it to life for me. I can’t wait for book 2.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starry-Eyed: Mechanized Book 1 by Braden Phillip. This isn't my usual genre but I really enjoyed this book. Its a sci-Fi book about what seemed to me transformer like creations. Its the story of Abbott who works as a mechanic in a Museum. His forte is history but he also works on war mechs and when he gets word that a evil war mech is heading his way he can't help but be excited. This mech's name is Null and he intends to do just what his name says, make the human race null and void! The form he is working on is just that a form that is empty and rusty so when he realizes the only way out of this mess is to put on that old relic and fight. Abbott knows he can slow Null down but can he really damage him and actually stop him? That is the question of the year. Such a fast paced fun sci-Fi read. I was on the edge of my seat right til the end.

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Starry-Eyed" is not my usual type of sci-fi, but I found it fascinating and was hooked from the beginning! The writing style is easy to read, making it accessible to both young adults and older readers.

The main character, Abbott, is a mechanic in a museum that showcases old mechanised fighting machines. While he loves his job of repairing these relics, he rises to the challenge when he is forced to become something more. After all, the fate of the world is in his hands.

Reading about the Mechs reminded me of the Jaegers from the movie "Pacific Rim," though the two operate quite differently.

While the focus is on the war Mechs, the story also explores themes of friendship, bravery, and overcoming obstacles. Abbott learns and grows to become more than he ever imagined possible, and we embark on that journey with him.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Starry-Eyed is the first book in the Mechanized series and debut novel by Braden Phillips. The premise intrigued me, so I happily snapped up a copy and dove right in. This is a sci-fi MECH fantasy with action, adventure, survival, drama, friendship, family/found family, interesting characters, drama, and emotion.
It definitely gave me Neon Genisis Evangelion/Gundam vibes – which I really enjoyed. The only issue I had was that the pacing occasionally faltered and moments where the plot meandered, which caused the tension to wane and pulled me out of the storyline. But not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
I am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for us in the next instalment/s.
Happy reading.

[Wendy Tanguay · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I’m not mechanically inclined at all. I’m not one to pick up a wrench or a screwdriver yet this book intrigued me. Abbot is a historian who works at a museum tuning up old mechs. His world is turned upside down when his friend tells him to steal a mech from the museum and flee because a huge mech named Null is coming to destroy the planet. Abbot uses his knowledge of mechs through history and his mechanical ability to bring down Null temporarily, but a far larger battle looms ahead. The attention to detail such as the gelatinous cubes in many colors that serve as food to the descriptions of aliens make the story oh so real. Add a lovable cat and mech fighting which reminds me of the WWF and you have a fun read. Everything is fluff.

[Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a little odd that this book came into my kindle as I was watching the Transformers movies just last week. This book gave me a bit of those vibes, minus the bot being able to think for itself and, of course, transform. Abbott works as a mechanic in a museum and is very knowledgeable about war mechs. He gets a heads up from a friend that an evil war mech called Null is heading their way and ready to do what it is intended for: erase them. I'm sure Abbott never thought he would have to don one of the suits he was rebuilding piece by piece in order to save humanity. He knows he can slow Null down, even temporarily stop it, but can he completely shut it down? It did take me a little while to get into the story, but I found it interesting and entertaining as it progressed.

[Jennifer Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I gave this book a chance. Love the characters and the storyline. It's like a mash up of Gundam and Pacific Rim. Abbott loves these machines and is a mechanic in a museum who helps make sure the machines are in good shape and look good for people that come and see them. Then a Null attacks the planet and he jumps in one to save the planet even though he knows he can be in a lot of trouble for doing so. He later on goes to an academy to learn how to properly use and fly one of the machines he builds. How will he do in the academy? Will he survive or will he become toast? Just have to read to find out. I now see why my son loves these kinds of books and shows, I can't wait to read the next book and hope to read it with my son.

[Heather Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author and he has a new fan. This is the first book of the Mechanized series. I have not read a sci-fi book in a long time and now I’m hooked. I could not help but to fall in love with these characters right from the start. I could not put this book down and it only took me a few hours to devour this story. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Abbot works in a museum as a historian. He absolutely loves his job. Abbot also works on old mechs which is his favorite. He is told by one of his friends that he needs to fix one because an evil mech is coming to destroy the world. Abbot wants to run but he knows that he could save the world. Will Abbot save the world or will his fear get the best of him?

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised when I first started reading this book. This book kind of reminded me of the game Titianfall and the movie called Pacific Rim. Abbott is a museum historian, he knows everything about everything, except to be a mech pilot. This book definitely had me giggling at some parts. You have Null who screams black cat murder mittens, and then you have Abbott, who is your adorably derpy orange cat. These two very different personalities always seem to have the best dialogue back and forth. Brandon does a very well job of the storytelling, world building and story progression. I absolutely love his characters that he so very rudely thrust into my world and went "Love them please!" I can't to see what these two do next and whatever in gods' name Null puts Abbott through.

[Melissa Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a debut for a series!!!
This book opens up to a mechanic tinkering and fixing robots and vehicles from a massive war. He knows so much about them its adorable and the juxtaposition of him having to switch to a public facing job to cover someone else gave us such a view of the main character and how hes far more talented than hes appreciated for.
This was fast paced and kept me ok my toes. Definitely a sci-fi book but it incorporated the main character as someone you rooted for and wanted him to do big things. If the main character is developed enough for me to start having a bleeding heart the rest of the story is like a dopamine dump and thats what this book is. As usual with series we were left with questions and I lol forward to more.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an interesting and well written sci-fi story that I found myself pulled into with ease. I was intrigued by the story as soon as I read the description and knew I had to read it to discover more. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They brought the whole thing to life and I found myself more invested in them than I expected.
The story the author has created was fun to explore and learn about. It is the kind of story that I was easily swept up in and wanted to keep reading to find out more. There was some strong character development and it fit with the book overall. This was a thoroughly enjoyable story.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t the type of book I most often lean towards but I have been trying to branch out and I am glad I did. We follow Abbot works in a museum. He’s a historian but he also works on old mechs. When he gets a tip from a friend that he needs to take one of these mechs and fix it up because an evil mech is on his way to destroy the world. It kind of reminds me of transformers just a little. This book was a fairly quick read and I would recommend it if youre looking for something new or if youre into scifi. Will Abbot be able to save the world? Will his knowledge and skill be enough? Read to find out.

[Katie Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun and imaginative sci-fantasy adventure that brings together epic mech battles, creative worldbuilding, and a surprisingly heartfelt character journey. Abbott is an easy character to root for as he goes from an unlikely pilot to someone willing to face impossible odds, and I enjoyed watching him grow alongside his rebuilt war mech. The progression elements are satisfying, with each upgrade adding excitement and a sense of discovery, while the found-family themes give the story extra warmth. The action, humour, and emotional moments come together nicely, making this a great read for fans of mechs, progression fantasy, and unique sci-fi adventures.

[Jamie Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine going from studying ancient history in a museum to being thrown head first into an unbelievable world of massive mechs, secrets, and life changing battles. 🤖 No need to say that things get a little twist turned upside down, and that you, "aren't in Kansas anymore".

Starry-Eyed takes history and adds a giant heap of sci-fi and throws in some epic battles, to create a next level adventure that launches your imagination into trubo mode!

When I say, that this book isn't in my normal genre, but that I absolutely loved it, I mean it! The first thought that I was this gives me Transformers vibes! While it was a bit differnt, it was still a fantastic read!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a science fiction-fantasy story and a new author for me. One of the things the author does to keep the story engaging is their use of details. They make you feel as if you are part of the story. This is a story about Abbott and a dying relic, Null. Abbott must bond with Null but the problem is that Null is built to be a fighting machine. Will Abbott lose himself in Null? This is a story that has connectable characters. It also has great growth throughout which helped to keep it entertaining to read. This is a fast paced story and one that I recommend reading.

[Amanda Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 Stars

Starry-Eyed (Mechanized #1) by Braden Phillip

This is the first book I've read by the author. Starry-Eyed is the first book in the Mechanized Series. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

Jon Abbott is a mechanic for the bots and although he likes working on the older ones he does also like the MMM. When he gets told that he's doing tours along with his regular job it gets tough. The quote I chose for him is this: “I’d love to. Those triangular vegetable hybrids they import… literally out of this world.”

[Anantha Rusum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sci-fi/ mechanical read about a historian in the museum who looks after old relics. When a friend warns him that an evil machine is coming to take down the world, he decides to bring down the machine Null. But what entails is that he is pushed inside Null , which happens to be a fighter bot, and control it. The rest of the story is how he tries to maneuver Null and gains the control.

This book is not my favorite genre but I did enjoy it. It was like Ryland Grace trying to control Hail Mary ! Or someone trying to control Decepticon from inside. I over all enjoyed the book.

[Hallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starry-Eyed Mechanized by Braden Phillip was a fabulous book. Abbot is a mechanic who works at a museum for outdated Mechs (In my head they were like autobots). He becomes very important and very vital to the safety of the world. It is really nice to see someone who is passionate about their job in fiction stories; we see people who hate their jobs so frequently. His passion and skill for his job is what makes him the perfect person. I enjoyed the world building, the characters, and the plot of this book.

[Gabrielle Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an engaging story that pulled me in right from the start. When the attack comes Abbott finds himself having to work with a mech and not just take care of the relics. It is not as easy as one would think and Abbott has his work cut out for him. His journey moves at a good pace and is full of ups and downs. I enjoyed seeing how Abbott grows from mechanic to warrior. It was nice to see the relationship build between Abbott and the mech. The author has created a world that gives readers a nice mix of science fiction and fantasy and I am eager to see where this series will go.

[Brandy Jo Rymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Science Fiction is not generally my style of books to read but this one has changed my stance on science fiction stories, they are way cooler than I’d ever imagined. This story had action, excitement, humor, and a bond between man and machine that couldn’t be beat. I learned so much about mechanical engineering and robotics that I’m inspired to read more books of this style. Bravo for an outstanding read to this author. I want more stories about these characters, I’m officially hooked!
@Brandy Rymer
08/2026

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starry-Eyed was a really fun start to the series! I loved the mix of adventure, friendship, and just a hint of romance. The story moved at a great pace, and I was quickly invested in the characters and their journey. There were plenty of exciting moments, but it also had heart and reminded me how important trust, teamwork, and believing in yourself can be. It left me excited to see what happens next, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA sci-fi with memorable characters and lots of adventure.

[Jayme Raffauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, sci-fi fantasy is not my usual genre and so the whole mech thing was a little confusing for me. But the author does great storytelling and world building that I managed to figure it all out quickly. Also, I enjoyed the whole premise of the book and the imaginativeness and creativity shown throughout the story.

Starry-Eyed grabbed my attention right away and kept it all the way through. Well done for a debut novel and it was a solid read for me.

[Jess Dimmock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't my normal sci-fi book go to. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this. My husband plays mechwarrior and various tabletop games with techs, so I'm familiar with them. The characters in this are amazingly well written. I love the character and story arcs. The growth and development is absolutely top notch! I'm actually looking forward to reading the rest of the series! Fans of the genre are in for a treat with this one!