The Infernal Machine

by Clayton W. Snyder

Arthur White lived a simple life tending the dead in a quiet cemetery, until meeting a mysterious stranger known only as Mr. Black. In a few short hours, the stranger turns the groundskeeper’s life upside down, burdening Arthur with an immortal clockwork heart.

Over the course of years, Arthur works as Mr. Black’s right hand, doing the things the old warlock cannot dirty his hands with. The death of a mutual friend and the discovery of Lucifer’s cast-off heart catalyze them into action, setting off a global chase to recover the artifact and open the door to death.

Along the way, Arthur struggles with evils he’s committed, dreams of loss that plague him, and desperate loneliness that may be cured by the appearance of a mysterious new companion, Ava. But before they can get to know one another, they must confront a cult out to steal the heart for their own ends.

Before it’s over, Arthur, Ava, and Mr. Black will have to face who they are and what they’ve done, or perish in a brutal new world. Whatever remains from the ashes may be their only hope.

Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Science Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2020

Reviews

[Shatarupa Dhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arthur White is the caretaker of a cemetery. After the war, he chose that job in order to heal himself, but he isn't immune to the occasional bouts of loneliness that grips him from time-to-time. And on one such night of melancholy, he meets Aldous Black, who gave him the infernal machine, his mechanical heart. Because Black was lonely too and he wanted the company of White, or so he said. While he no longer feels anything, not even the cravings he once had for alcohol and smoke, he does have to wind the heart once every year. In carrying out Black's dirty deeds to reach a specific goal, how will they fare in the end?


Black reminded me of Victor Frankenstein in a way, even though it's been so long since I read that story. It all starts with Mr White thinking about the past as he gazed at the keyhole in his chest. The night he met Aldous Black. The first night he went on an adventure.

Narrated in the third person, it is followed by Black visiting his past, his love, his Lenore. The same Lenore who died and whom he wants to bring back by getting his hands on Lucifer's heart. As guilty as White is of the deeds he has had to do at the behest of the esoteric Black, he can't even bring himself to take his own life since he feels his time hasn't come yet. But such cruel deeds they were, of killing innocent people in order to grab what he wanted.

What a brilliant concept and an equally intense execution this one had! A twist on the tale of Lucifer's fall from heaven and about his heart which was cast-off that led the characters of this book to go into uncharted realms in the heart's pursuit. Set in Wellington, Aldous Black wants to use that heart to bring back his lover, Lenore Poe. While Arthur White meets Ava Rose and can't get her out of his mind. Arthur still has bad dreams about the second world war and the SS soldiers. Arthur had a wife once, Emily, and there is more tragedy in there even though it's all in the long-gone past.

And then we shall see what we shall see.

A story of shadows and smoke, White has the occasional qualms about helping Black in his journey. About whether the latter's intentions justify the acts that they partake in. Especially when they are not the only ones after the heart, but then is the intention of the other party noble? Ava has her own agenda for joining Black.

It is such an immersive read. Changing landscapes, contorting visions, flitting from dreamscape to reality. There's always this false sense of security which envelops you just before all hell breaks loose. I am in awe of the way the author weaved in the occult with history. And Black's journal entries were something else. The journey through hell was pretty interesting! But there was something that felt like the story was tossed from a high point to a low one, and kept going back and forth in that same arc. Also, it sometimes became tough to distinguish between what was real and what wasn't. Overall, it was a good read though.

His dreams came too, memories he’d never lived of lives never owned, dark and foreboding.

Additional Reading:
Spear of Destiny

Thank you to The Parliament House Press for an e-ARC of the book.

Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Parliament House for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Infernal Machine
By: C. W. Snyder


*REVIEW* ☆☆☆☆
What to say about this book? The Infernal Machine is just plain weird and way out there. For some reason, it brings to mind Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory. I think because it's a strange painting my association between the two is that they feel the same-strangely mesmerizing yet disorienting with a touch of despair. I won't even attempt to explain the plot because you just have to read it for yourself. I liked it, even though I'm not quite sure what I was reading at times. The steampunk vibe is in the story with the clockwork heart. There are so many things going on here that it's crazy! Prepare for weirdness.

[K. Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you do something awful to prevent something even worse? How about sacrifice your own humanity for the greater good? The Infernal Machine by C.W. Snyder explores the concept of right and wrong, as well as the heavy burdens of one's past during a race to save humankind.

For those seeking a steampunk-meets-supernatural guilt trip, The Infernal Machine promises plenty of heavy psychoanalysis and philosophical debates on top of the action and adventure as Arthur White, Mr. Black, and later the mysterious Ava work against a cult out to steal Lucifer's long-lost heart. After disrupting Arthur's quiet life as a groundskeeper, Mr. Black "gifts" him with an immortal clockwork heart so that the younger man can take on the grittier tasks that the warlock himself can't. Years pass, during which Arthur's guilt and misgivings grow, but when a mutual friend dies and the pair discovers the existence of Lucifer's cast-off organ, a global scavenger hunt to recover it and keep death's door shut ensues.

While this book does include a lot of flashbacks and dream sequences, Snyder doesn't fall into the common trap of losing readers with overly complicated twists of reality or overlapping streams of consciousness. Each transition is clearly defined so it's easy to follow what is happening in the present of the novel, as opposed to what has led the main characters to that point. The main warning I would give to the casual reader is that while this is a fantastical work or fiction, this isn't light material. Many of Arthur's struggles center around his soul-crushing guilt, the weight of all he's done for Mr. Black, as well as the loneliness that comes with having the sort of abilities and physical enhancements that his clockwork heart affords. His saving grace, it seems, will be Ava, but even she comes with her own complications and secrets.

The Infernal Machine is a rich, complex amalgamation of plot, subplot, and real world concerns on top of a bigger picture that encompasses one of the ultimate what-ifs. For serious readers who want to explore the repercussions of cutting human feeling out of reason, or those interested in end-of-world scenarios embedded in the supernatural realm, this book is a must.

[Roberta R. (Offbeat YA) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.

Pros: Imaginative journey into despair, guilt, and literal Hell.
Cons: The stream of flashbacks, nightmares and visions (often of alternate lives) is disorienting at times.
WARNING! Lots of heavy imagery/gore.
Will appeal to: Fans of steampunk with a strong supernatural flavour.

First off...DISCLAIMER: I received a review ecopy of this book from the author, and I have already reviewed two of his titles in the past. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.

BLENDING MODE

Since I'm a fan of Snyder's afterlife YA/NA/adult crossover series The Balance, I jumped at the chance of reviewing his standalone adult The Infernal Machine - also because the blurb sounded awesome. Unfortunately - and yes, this is awkward, since I requested the book from its very author - I didn't enjoy TIM as much as Snyder's other titles. On the other hand, there's a lot to love in this book - it's inventive, evocative, and it successfully blends a classic steampunk trope (the clockwork heart) with the abysmal and crazy plan of a Nazi cult (resurrecting Hitler and his clique) and a journey through Hell that rivals the Divine Comedy. Snyder puts a spin on the mechanical heart trope, showing (and sometimes telling) us how it influences the way Arthur feels/reacts to things (or most of the times doesn't), and why he accepts his new life - and the ghastly tasks it involves - the way he does, until Ava stirs something in him. The two of them ultimately embark on a quest for another heart (Lucifer's), in order to open a portal to Hell for a rescue mission, apparently complying with their "saviour" Mr. Black's directive, in fact with plans and motives of their own; all while wizardly Nazi cultists try to beat them to the heart, and later, Hell itself tries its best to undo them. Snyder paints a vivid landscape of dark magic and horrors, on which he projects themes of guilt and redemption, despair and - if not hope - love at least. As outrageous as the mix can sound, it works, and (darkly) entertains. [...]

Whole review here.

[Emma Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my full review here: https://lifesanovelty.blogspot.com/20...


Opinions: I don't know where to start with this book! In one word: fabulous. This is the type of book you'd find at a chain bookstore, not a random freebie you found online. To start, I'll come back the atmosphere of the book, which was a big influence to the theme and tone. Snyder uses imagery, flashbacks, and adjectives perfectly to make the reader cautious and on the edge of their seat throughout the entire book! I was almost overwhelmed with what you could call 'world-building' because it was very important and influential in the book's plot, unlike some other YA. The atmosphere is one of my favourite elements of the book, but another thing I enjoyed was the characters. The first thing I look for when reading is connection to the characters, and this was almost instant in The Infernal Machine. Snyder did an excellent job travelling back and forth in time, thus giving the reader "exclusive" insight on Arthur's life and his goals for the future. I was able to sympathise for him and other characters because they each had complex personalities and rich backstories. All in all, the characters, writing style, and plot of The Infernal Machine were outstanding! This is a must-read for 2020!

My Favourite Thing: I had two favourite subjects in high school, and this book covered them both: religion and history! As a history nerd, I loved and appreciated the ties to Nazism! It was well-developed, researched, and appropriately discussed. The same goes for religion - Snyder successfully spoke explicitly about Christianity without making the book too controversial or obsessive. I truly adored these two elements of the book because you don't see them everywhere in this combination or this well-written.

My Least Favourite Thing: After pondering the elements, features, and outcomes of The Infernal Machine, I can honestly not find a single thing I dislike about it! I hope you read this book and enjoy it as much as I do!

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Welp. This book. I don't even know where to start lol. Thank you to The Parliament Press for the free copy to review. The following opinions are strictly my own.

I'm at war with this book. The premise is very intriguing and overall I found it a very compelling read. That being said, it just wasn't all that enjoyable for me. There was A LOT going on, a lot of questions that went unanswered, and some things that just didn't make any sense to me. Maybe I missed something, but I still had SO MANY questions when I finished. The premise of the book is originally this journey to bring a lost lover back from Hell, and then about 2/3rds of the way through we get a switch up and theres now a different end goal. I understand what the author was trying to do (add a good twist) but in my opinion, it was unnecessary. The book was intriguing and beguiling enough without that. I liked the book enough that I didn't DNF it, but it just wasn't something I think I would have ever picked out for myself. That being said! The world building was phenomenal and the characters were well rounded which is always key to a good book in my humble opinion. If you like slightly fucked up books about Hell and Earth and the depravity humans commit, you may enjoy this one.

[thebookwormscorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much that was good with this book. A steampunk tale with some supernatural vibes (and some gore too!), philosophical situations, flashbacks that don't overwhelm you like some other authors do when they write them.
Arthur White, Mr. Black, and Ava take you on a dark and promising adventure. Arthur meets Mr. Black while he was working as a cemetery caretaker. Mr. Black gifts him an a immortal clockwork heart so Mr. White could do all of Mr. Black's dirty work. We follow Arthur's journey with his rather questionable behavior. After they find out a mutual friend has passed away, they both find that Lucifer's heart is out there and they need to find it.
The Flashbacks and dreams give you a gist of what happened in their lives prior to get to where they did; take you through the dark times. The infernal machine is an amazing work of art. Making you think about all the "what ifs". You'll find demons, devils, and some nazi's.

Thank you to Parliament Press for providing me with a copy in a exchange for an honest review.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dark fantasy is dripping with occult intrigue and an inception-like atmosphere. Fighting Nazi’s, fighting devils, and fighting the demons within, you follow Arthur, or Mr. White, through his tenure as the associate of the strange Mr. Black.

Arthur’s otherwise bleak existence is forever changed by meeting a kindred soul, Ava. Fate ties them together on a common mission, but do they have the strength to do what needs to be done?

I found the most intriguing part of this book we’re the rich dreamscapes that the author included. It leaves you questioning what is real, but it also sheds light on the characters motivations. The mysterious Thule society makes an exciting adversary, but in the end you discover that the real villains are not simply flesh and bone.

This book is pretty different than what I normally read, but I found it enjoyable and look forward to seeing what else comes from this author.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I would like to thank Parliament House press for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.


The beginning was a bit slow for me. It took me a couple tries to go back to it. The world building is different from anything I’ve read; very much suitable for fans of steampunk. The characters are really well written, have their own unique background stories and very relatable. In this standalone, you get time traveling, fighting with nazis, and fighting with demons. Snyder painted a very vivid world and will keep you engage till the very last page. I’m glad I stuck to it till the very end.

[Sheila G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, The Parliament House, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.



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[KD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You Parliament press for giving me an ARC for my honest review.

Review will be fully posted soon......