Before the Fall

Empire of Engines #2

by Rachel Terry

Anarsha stands alone.

The kingdom of Anarsha waits in fear. With its machines of war, the marauding Akkadian Empire has marched across the land, conquering neighboring kingdoms. Anarsha’s only hope against the approaching Empire of Engines are the dragons they fight alongside.

Chandra knows nothing of war. Living with her grandmother and cousin, she fills her days making candles for her family’s shop. But war has come for her family, her kingdom, and she will have to take her place in it.

When tragedy strikes, Chandra finds herself recruited into an army desperate to increase its ranks. Paired with a dragon named Sheboleth, the two must form a bond that will help them survive on the battlefield and see them through the war.

But Anarsha will need more powerful allies still if they are to win. Desperate to save his people, the Anarshan king turns to a higher power—one even the Empire cannot conquer. But what he unleashes may lead to the ruin of all…

Set a thousand years before Beyond the Throne, Before the Fall chronicles the fall of a kingdom and the rise of an empire.

471 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2025

About the author

Rachel Terry grew up in a small town where nothing much ever happened, dreaming of grand adventures and far-away places, which she found between the pages of books. When not writing, she can be found reading, making YouTube videos, gaming with friends, or indulging in her love of history. She currently resides in the Midwest with her family and a cat named Crinkles.

Visit her online at: rachel-terry.com
YouTube: RachelTerryAuthor
Instagram: rterrywriter
Facebook: rachelterryauthor
TikTok: rterrywriter

Reviews

[C.B. Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book by Rachel Terry I have read, and it is incredible to watch her refine her craft with every new work! Before the Fall is the prequel to Beyond the Throne, which I read and loved earlier this year, and if there are two things that Terry has perfected, they are prequels and villain origin stories.

This story had so much depth and realism, exploring the grim and painful realities of war. It portrays the moral dilemmas faced in times of absolute desperation. This is not a fluffy fairy tale and there is no romance, but for me, I found that it so refreshing and real. There is something so clean, readable, and intelligent about Terry’s writing that I can never get enough of.

There are dragons, mechs (primitive forms of the dragon automatons from Beyond the Throne), saints and demons, and I was so excited to see my favorite dragon Sheboleth again!

Chandra and Roman were both compelling characters, who struggle with real suffering in a corrupt world, and I adored the bond formed between them.

I wholeheartedly loved this book and would recommend it to fans of Winters Maiden by Morgan L. Busse.

[Gil-Lana Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read.


Before the Fall by Rachel Terry is one of those character-driven stories that sneaks up on you. The plot moves at a measured pace, but the emotional undercurrents—and especially the characters—kept me turning pages.

Ava is the standout for me. She’s messy, guarded, and constantly trying to hold herself together, and Terry gives her a depth that feels incredibly real. Even when I didn’t agree with her choices, I understood them. She reads like someone who has been shaped by fear and loss, but still fights—sometimes stubbornly—for the life she wants.

Miles is quieter but just as compelling. He brings a steady, grounding presence that balances Ava’s internal chaos. I loved that he isn’t written as the “perfect” support figure; he has his own frustrations and boundaries, which makes their relationship feel authentic and earned.

And Lena… honestly, she might be the most complex character in the book. Sharp-tongued, defensive, but carrying a vulnerability she tries so hard to hide. The tension between her and Ava creates some of the most emotionally charged scenes, and I appreciated that Terry didn’t reduce her to a simple antagonist.

The story itself unwinds slowly, focusing more on the characters’ histories, motivations, and small turning points than on big twists. I occasionally wanted things to move faster, but the slower pace works in service of the emotional depth Terry is aiming for.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, intimate read with rich character work and a lingering sense of hope.

[R. Driskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Terry's "Before the Fall" delivers exactly what I want from her work—solid characters, real stakes, and world-building that doesn't waste time explaining things that don't need explaining.
Chandra works because she's not special. She's making candles when war arrives, and watching her become a dragon rider feels earned instead of convenient. Her partnership with Sheboleth adds weight to the combat scenes without getting sentimental.
Terry understands the cost of war without turning the book into a meditation on suffering. The Akkadian Empire's war machines create genuine threat. The dragons provide counterbalance. Anarsha's king makes desperate choices that muddy the usual good-versus-evil setup in ways that feel real.
What really works is how this connects to the larger series. Knowing this happens a thousand years before "Beyond the Throne" adds layers of tragedy and meaning that wouldn't exist otherwise. The ending hits hard—both emotionally and in terms of world-building payoff.
If you've read the series, this is essential. If you haven't, it's a solid entry point that doesn't require homework. Terry keeps proving she knows what she's doing, and I'll keep reading whatever she writes.

[Jason Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel, so there are no real spoilers, we all know how this is going to end.
That said, this was still a bit of a surprise to me. Given how weak and ineffectual the Anarshan council is, I am surprised that the country lasted as long as it did.
Especially the way they acted after the raid that Roman, Chandra and the others did. At that point I wanted to throw the book across the room, I was just like, they totally deserve to lose.

I did find the way that Anarsha collapsed from within fascinating. The author obviously spent some time thinking about how that would play out, even after they handed the Empire its greatest defeat. Well done, I applauded.

It’s almost too bad that this story is complete, but I really don’t see anywhere else it could go. I look forward to reading more stories from this author.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book, and I’m so glad I did as it was such an incredible read! The world-building was detailed and immersive, pulling me right into the story from the first few chapters. I became completely invested in all the characters, especially the villain, whose POVs were fascinating and added so much nuance to the conflict.
The battles were intense and beautifully written; I could feel the tension in every moment. The FMC’s struggle with grief and anger as she fought to stand against the Empire was especially moving and gave the story real emotional depth. And the dragons… I absolutely loved them!!
The ending absolutely shattered me and I was in tears by the last pages. It’s a story that left me both heartbroken and eager for more.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not the biggest fan of multi-perspective books, but Terry is a great descriptive writer. I didn't feel attached to any of the characters, and in the end, it probably saved me a great deal of heartache. Rather than spending the first few hundred pages world-building, Terry brings you right into the chaos. It's a fast-paced read set in a fantasy world; no romantasy here, though. I did not read Empire of Engines #1, but it was not a prerequisite to understand the multi-narratives and political landscape. Worth a read if you enjoy dragons, but want to skip the backstory tied to dragons because you have read too many variations, too many times.

[Heather Altundağ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I absolutely LOVED this book! I think it helped round out what happened in the first one. In the first book, you catch glimpses of what happened during the fall of the empires and what characters were there. But in this one, you really get to see the characters and where their stories came from. It was really cool to see the crossover of characters, because I found myself jumping back to book 1 to see where they came into play. This book really rounded out the entire story and plot for me and was a great ending to this duology. I cannot wait to see what else this author has in store!

[Mandy Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before the Fall is a gripping prequel that proves Rachel Terry has perfected the villain origin story. This is an unflinching, non-sentimental look at the grim realities of war, featuring dragons, mechs, and moral dilemmas. Chandra's journey from candle-maker to dragon rider (alongside Sheboleth!) feels totally earned. The ending lands hard, providing essential context for Beyond the Throne. A must-read standalone that is definitely not a fairy tale.

[Kashena Dykeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be a standalone, but if you don't read it that way be warned it does not have a fluffy ending. This is a villain origin story, not a fairy tale.

MPOV fantasy war with mechanics, and dragons. Very interesting story.