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The Techno Mage
A trio of friends, a mythical man, and a race to destroy the equally mythical airship Faugregir. Will they make it in time?
Close friends Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana always knew the dangers of sky pirates, but what they didn't expect was having their airship repair shop pillaged and being separated when Magaliana, a noble, is sold for a hefty bounty.
Once in the hands of the Techno Mage, her world changes. He's a mythical man with the ability to flawlessly combine both technology and alchemy, and his mythical ship is a haven for Magaliana. There, she discovers how to refine her craft.
Ikarim and Arteus are determined to escape the sky pirates to save her, but do they have what it takes before the Techno Mage initiates his grand plan?
Close friends Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana always knew the dangers of sky pirates, but what they didn't expect was having their airship repair shop pillaged and being separated when Magaliana, a noble, is sold for a hefty bounty.
Once in the hands of the Techno Mage, her world changes. He's a mythical man with the ability to flawlessly combine both technology and alchemy, and his mythical ship is a haven for Magaliana. There, she discovers how to refine her craft.
Ikarim and Arteus are determined to escape the sky pirates to save her, but do they have what it takes before the Techno Mage initiates his grand plan?
- GenresSteampunk
403 pages, ebook
Published September 15, 2020
6 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Raine
4 books73 followersJust call her Raine. S.W. Raine writes steampunk and urban fantasy adventures full of action, banter, and found-family vibes. A Canadian-born mischief-maker now living in Michigan, she’s usually scheming new ways to put her characters through magical mayhem, adventuring with her family, or wrangling two cats who are probably plotting world domination. She’s also a gamer and Marvel fangirl—especially when it comes to Loki and Bucky. Want more mischief and magic? Join her newsletter for sneak peeks and stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 28, 2023
The Techno Mage was one of the most surprising books I have read this year. When I signed up to be a part of S.W. Raines launch team, I honestly had no idea of the treat that was waiting in store for me. Truthfully, I had never read any other Steam-Punk novels before and signed up to branch out beyond my typical genre choices. Best decision ever!
I absolutely LOVED this book! While it's obvious that steam-punk is the driving genre, this book is loaded with adventure, action, and even romance. All of the characters are phenomenal, and the world building was done exquisitely. I will say, though, that there are portions in the story that were explained briefly and could develop into stories of their own. One obvious example is Joss and his wife. It is no secret that I simply adored Joss, villain, or not. He was my absolute favorite character ( PRETTY PLEASE GIVE HIM HIS OWN BOOK ;) ).
As far as debut novels go, S.W. Raine nailed it, and she has earned a loyal reader. I highly recommend this book to fans of steampunk and sci-fi fantasy. I also think that readers young and "old" alike could easily read and enjoy it!
Thank you again, S.W. Raine, thank you for taking me along with you on this journey. It was truly a blast, and I look forward to reading your future works.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely LOVED this book! While it's obvious that steam-punk is the driving genre, this book is loaded with adventure, action, and even romance. All of the characters are phenomenal, and the world building was done exquisitely. I will say, though, that there are portions in the story that were explained briefly and could develop into stories of their own. One obvious example is Joss and his wife. It is no secret that I simply adored Joss, villain, or not. He was my absolute favorite character ( PRETTY PLEASE GIVE HIM HIS OWN BOOK ;) ).
As far as debut novels go, S.W. Raine nailed it, and she has earned a loyal reader. I highly recommend this book to fans of steampunk and sci-fi fantasy. I also think that readers young and "old" alike could easily read and enjoy it!
Thank you again, S.W. Raine, thank you for taking me along with you on this journey. It was truly a blast, and I look forward to reading your future works.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2020
Arrg. I don't want to put this book down. Every time I start reading a few pages, I am interrupted.
The friendships, the emotions! I cannot wait to reread this (with no interruptions!).
The friendships, the emotions! I cannot wait to reread this (with no interruptions!).
June 2, 2022
I KNOW THIS AUTHOR!!! AHH!!!
I'm willing to admit that I'm a little biased because of this, as Raine works INCREDIBLY HARD and I've had the pleasure of listening to her explain the ins and outs of her writing life. It's not easy, folks, but she does it well!
Anyway, back to the book, The Techno Mage. It's steampunk, which is a genre I know more about in terms of art and fashion than in books. The opening had amazing imagery that I felt belonged in a Disney movie, honestly. Nothing went over my head, which was appreciated as someone who isn't well-versed in alchemy or engineering. The introduction of the sky pirates changed the tone a bit, from my perspective, as Captain Benedict Keenan came off as a little more vicious and cutthroat than what I was expecting. Knowing he has his own spin-off novel is another exciting tidbit! Once we meet the Techno Mage, I was immediately suspicious, but the mystery was well-paced. Concerning the ending, I did NOT see that coming! An epic twist that was well-written and surprising at the same time. Of course this book is getting 5 stars, and a big shout-out to my friend! Go read this one RIGHT NOW!!!
I'm willing to admit that I'm a little biased because of this, as Raine works INCREDIBLY HARD and I've had the pleasure of listening to her explain the ins and outs of her writing life. It's not easy, folks, but she does it well!
Anyway, back to the book, The Techno Mage. It's steampunk, which is a genre I know more about in terms of art and fashion than in books. The opening had amazing imagery that I felt belonged in a Disney movie, honestly. Nothing went over my head, which was appreciated as someone who isn't well-versed in alchemy or engineering. The introduction of the sky pirates changed the tone a bit, from my perspective, as Captain Benedict Keenan came off as a little more vicious and cutthroat than what I was expecting. Knowing he has his own spin-off novel is another exciting tidbit! Once we meet the Techno Mage, I was immediately suspicious, but the mystery was well-paced. Concerning the ending, I did NOT see that coming! An epic twist that was well-written and surprising at the same time. Of course this book is getting 5 stars, and a big shout-out to my friend! Go read this one RIGHT NOW!!!
January 21, 2022
A fun read that is my first foray into reading steampunk but won’t be my last. The author has created a believable and vivid dystopian world where most of humanity lives in the sky– the Upper Lands – and travel by various types of airships. The surface of the earth – the Lower Lands – now being too dangerous to live on, it is a precarious life.
Rich with detail of the many devices and machines that the people of this world rely on, the author infuses the reader with a real sense of being present in the landscape she has created. The three young people who are the focus of the plot are well-rounded and three dimensional, right down to an unrequited love triangle that had the reader wondering throughout how it would be resolved.
All in all, a very interesting read and I look forward to discovering more by this author.
Rich with detail of the many devices and machines that the people of this world rely on, the author infuses the reader with a real sense of being present in the landscape she has created. The three young people who are the focus of the plot are well-rounded and three dimensional, right down to an unrequited love triangle that had the reader wondering throughout how it would be resolved.
All in all, a very interesting read and I look forward to discovering more by this author.
September 7, 2020
Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.25 / 5 stars)
Airships teeter in the sky. Alchemy fuels the mechanisms. As two mechanics and an alchemist, Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana have ingrained themselves into society while under the wing of Arteus’s father. But after Art’s father dies and sky pirates raid their shop, the trio are sent on a whirlwind of an adventure, surrounding the mythical figure: the Techno Mage.
The mage is everything Magaliana thought was fantasy: charming, charismatic, and with the ability to perform true alchemy, he completely enthralls her. She wants nothing more but to master the art of alchemy just like he did. But will mastering it mean sacrificing her own values?
A well written, fast paced adventure, S.W. Raine’s debut novel will whisk readers young and old into a world of magic and technology. The characters are well defined: hot-headed Arteus, level-headed Ikarin, and tough-as-nails Magaliana serve as three different insights into the story. Then you have Josepheus, the slimy Technomage, who’s voice cuts through the paper like a deceptive breeze. The beginning is well thought out, giving the reader a chance to get to know the characters and see their motivations, as well as learn what brought them all together. Even if you haven’t read too much steampunk fiction, Raine does a good job at introducing the different elements to the world without inundating the reader with world building.
Yet, despite the well thought out beginning, the pacing grows muddy throughout the narrative. Parts will meander, before speeding up. While this often happens in many narratives, there were parts I would have enjoyed exploring more in depth: the Haze, the dichotomy between the above and below worlds, the second half of Mags’s arc, as well as the ultimate confrontation with the Technomage and his beloved Juliet. Yet, despite the fast paced nature of these part, I learned enough to still enjoy the story.
What did ultimately knock this book down to 3 stars for me though was a single trope. This is a personal opinion and might not impact most people’s thoughts on the book. Unfortunately, while Magaliana is a tough, powerful, and intelligent woman who I really adore, she falls into the “Smurfette Principle.” She is basically the only woman in the story. Yes there is Juliet and the characters mother’s, but they’re so brief in comparison to Magaliana’s role. While this occurs plenty in fiction, and often times is easy to overlook, the one issue I had was how so many of the male characters were infatuated with Magaliana, or used her to their advantage. Yes, Magaliana is endearing and intelligent, but it was something that personally made me a bit uneasy. This was made worse by how I interpreted the ages of characters, which are never blatantly mentioned, placing Magaliana’s fate at the hands of men older than her.
That being said though, Magaliana does receive some justice at the end by choosing her own destiny. I do hope to explore more of her adventures one day too, to explore more of her abilities as well as how her experiences shaped her into a powerful alchemist.
Still, The Techno Mage by S.W. Raine is a promising first novel that will captivate audiences. I definitely recommend that people jump on this voyage with Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana…it will be a fun time.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Airships teeter in the sky. Alchemy fuels the mechanisms. As two mechanics and an alchemist, Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana have ingrained themselves into society while under the wing of Arteus’s father. But after Art’s father dies and sky pirates raid their shop, the trio are sent on a whirlwind of an adventure, surrounding the mythical figure: the Techno Mage.
The mage is everything Magaliana thought was fantasy: charming, charismatic, and with the ability to perform true alchemy, he completely enthralls her. She wants nothing more but to master the art of alchemy just like he did. But will mastering it mean sacrificing her own values?
A well written, fast paced adventure, S.W. Raine’s debut novel will whisk readers young and old into a world of magic and technology. The characters are well defined: hot-headed Arteus, level-headed Ikarin, and tough-as-nails Magaliana serve as three different insights into the story. Then you have Josepheus, the slimy Technomage, who’s voice cuts through the paper like a deceptive breeze. The beginning is well thought out, giving the reader a chance to get to know the characters and see their motivations, as well as learn what brought them all together. Even if you haven’t read too much steampunk fiction, Raine does a good job at introducing the different elements to the world without inundating the reader with world building.
Yet, despite the well thought out beginning, the pacing grows muddy throughout the narrative. Parts will meander, before speeding up. While this often happens in many narratives, there were parts I would have enjoyed exploring more in depth: the Haze, the dichotomy between the above and below worlds, the second half of Mags’s arc, as well as the ultimate confrontation with the Technomage and his beloved Juliet. Yet, despite the fast paced nature of these part, I learned enough to still enjoy the story.
What did ultimately knock this book down to 3 stars for me though was a single trope. This is a personal opinion and might not impact most people’s thoughts on the book. Unfortunately, while Magaliana is a tough, powerful, and intelligent woman who I really adore, she falls into the “Smurfette Principle.” She is basically the only woman in the story. Yes there is Juliet and the characters mother’s, but they’re so brief in comparison to Magaliana’s role. While this occurs plenty in fiction, and often times is easy to overlook, the one issue I had was how so many of the male characters were infatuated with Magaliana, or used her to their advantage. Yes, Magaliana is endearing and intelligent, but it was something that personally made me a bit uneasy. This was made worse by how I interpreted the ages of characters, which are never blatantly mentioned, placing Magaliana’s fate at the hands of men older than her.
That being said though, Magaliana does receive some justice at the end by choosing her own destiny. I do hope to explore more of her adventures one day too, to explore more of her abilities as well as how her experiences shaped her into a powerful alchemist.
Still, The Techno Mage by S.W. Raine is a promising first novel that will captivate audiences. I definitely recommend that people jump on this voyage with Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana…it will be a fun time.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
"The Techno Mage" by S.W. Raine combines elements of sci-fi fantasy in a fast paced adventure with a tint of the macabre.
Three friends, Magaliana "Mags," Arteus, and Ikarim, work together with Doctor Gesselmeyer using their own particular talents. With their individual strengths, they lead a successful life amid airships, science, technology, and alchemy in there Germanic home.
All is well until one day their boss and head of the family, Gesselmeyer, returns from a secretive trip gravely ill. Upon his death, Arteus learns a life-changing fact that swerves his fate. He himself has a secret that shames him, a matter so personal that he feels the need to keep even his beloved Mags from knowing. Ikarim is the loyal friend who keeps the peace, even when they encounter airship pirates and are separated by the influence of the Techno Mage. The Techno Mage is a foe so powerful that most civilians do not dare defy him, and the three friends crumble in his evil plot.
Mags has been pressed by her parents to marry and settle down into the more acceptable lifestyle as an aristocrat. Instead, she naively embarks on a voyage with the Techno Mage. She is determined to learn his craft of alchemy as she pursues excellence din her own practice. Little by little, she becomes charmed by the Techno Mage, and agrees to marry him.
When the wedding turns into a rescue mission, the three friends are changed forever. Watching Mags fall overboard the airship to a certain death, Arteus does to recover her body and avenge her. Ikarim is also heart broken by the loss of Mags, and accompanies Arteus on his mission. First they must enlist in the armed forces together in order to gain the necessary skills to find Mags's remains and conquer the Techno Mage once and for all.
There are more secrets yet to unfold. The Techno Mage holds more power than any of the friends imagined. It is a vile, filthy, nasty, disgusting secret that suddenly comes to light in the most gruesome way.
Then Arteus and Ikarim encounter a mysterious woman and find themselves at her mercy. Their mission has evolved, and so has the Techno Mage.
Despite their individual flaws and fights, Arteus and Ikarim prove to be a competent team. Even when the worst they could have dreamed of throws them into a battle they cannot win, they persevere together.
This novel is packed with high energy, rewarding character development, and one of the grossest scenes I have ever been delighted to read. In fact, I read this book front to back twice in a row because I just couldn't get enough!
I have been careful in this review not to divulge any spoilers. This entire book flows with so many twists and turns, it was difficult not to reveal too much!
The character arcs were fulfilling. At first, I didn't;t particularly like any of the characters. They changed appropriately through the challenges of their separate and combined fates in ways that was exceptionally satisfying.
I highly recommend this book to fans of steampunk, dieselpunk, and sci-fi fantasy. It is appropriate for teens as well as adults. What a breathtaking adventure!
Three friends, Magaliana "Mags," Arteus, and Ikarim, work together with Doctor Gesselmeyer using their own particular talents. With their individual strengths, they lead a successful life amid airships, science, technology, and alchemy in there Germanic home.
All is well until one day their boss and head of the family, Gesselmeyer, returns from a secretive trip gravely ill. Upon his death, Arteus learns a life-changing fact that swerves his fate. He himself has a secret that shames him, a matter so personal that he feels the need to keep even his beloved Mags from knowing. Ikarim is the loyal friend who keeps the peace, even when they encounter airship pirates and are separated by the influence of the Techno Mage. The Techno Mage is a foe so powerful that most civilians do not dare defy him, and the three friends crumble in his evil plot.
Mags has been pressed by her parents to marry and settle down into the more acceptable lifestyle as an aristocrat. Instead, she naively embarks on a voyage with the Techno Mage. She is determined to learn his craft of alchemy as she pursues excellence din her own practice. Little by little, she becomes charmed by the Techno Mage, and agrees to marry him.
When the wedding turns into a rescue mission, the three friends are changed forever. Watching Mags fall overboard the airship to a certain death, Arteus does to recover her body and avenge her. Ikarim is also heart broken by the loss of Mags, and accompanies Arteus on his mission. First they must enlist in the armed forces together in order to gain the necessary skills to find Mags's remains and conquer the Techno Mage once and for all.
There are more secrets yet to unfold. The Techno Mage holds more power than any of the friends imagined. It is a vile, filthy, nasty, disgusting secret that suddenly comes to light in the most gruesome way.
Then Arteus and Ikarim encounter a mysterious woman and find themselves at her mercy. Their mission has evolved, and so has the Techno Mage.
Despite their individual flaws and fights, Arteus and Ikarim prove to be a competent team. Even when the worst they could have dreamed of throws them into a battle they cannot win, they persevere together.
This novel is packed with high energy, rewarding character development, and one of the grossest scenes I have ever been delighted to read. In fact, I read this book front to back twice in a row because I just couldn't get enough!
I have been careful in this review not to divulge any spoilers. This entire book flows with so many twists and turns, it was difficult not to reveal too much!
The character arcs were fulfilling. At first, I didn't;t particularly like any of the characters. They changed appropriately through the challenges of their separate and combined fates in ways that was exceptionally satisfying.
I highly recommend this book to fans of steampunk, dieselpunk, and sci-fi fantasy. It is appropriate for teens as well as adults. What a breathtaking adventure!
September 5, 2020
I received this ARC and was asked to give an honest review and I have to say... I was stunned. As an editor I’ve seen it all. Fanfic quality to literary gold and I have to say that this was fantastic. I loved the world building. The characters, and their fates, truly mattered to me. But the thing that impressed me the most I have to say was the way she surprised me. The way things played out was almost never what I expected and that really made this read a wild ride. The only criticisms I have are that I feel the synopsis gives away a little too much and that I felt a bit thrust into this new word. I didn’t read the blurb and found I was happily surprised throughout my read, but I did have to google a bit. I’d say that this is for someone who is already more familiar with alchemy and steampunk, if not this can still be for you, but you may want to google a bit along the way. I truly am excited to read more from this author and look forward to her bright future in authorship!
September 14, 2020
I love this novel. It's got all action, adventure, and steampunk goodness anyone could ask for. The villain is incredible too. Any villain you love to hate is a great one. Definitely worth reading.
September 16, 2020
I loved this story so much. I had read steampunk before but never a story like this. So glad I took a chance on this novel. I was very pleased and can't wait to read more from this author.
December 28, 2021
This ticked all the boxes for me... Epic storytelling, masterful writing, compelling characters, sky pirates... And of course my absolute favourite element STEAMPUNK! Can't wait to read more by this author.
February 17, 2022
A steampunk adventure!
Such a different and interesting book from what I'm used to! The story kept taking turns I wasn't expecting, keeping me on my toes the whole time I was reading.
The writing style is easy to follow, not too flourished, but not plain either. It was well written and the characters were interesting and original.
Such a different and interesting book from what I'm used to! The story kept taking turns I wasn't expecting, keeping me on my toes the whole time I was reading.
The writing style is easy to follow, not too flourished, but not plain either. It was well written and the characters were interesting and original.
October 19, 2021
If you're looking for a fun adventure with a steampunk twist, this needs to be your next read! The Techno Mage is such a good time from the pithy dialogue to the jaw-dropping surprises! A great debut from Raine!
February 21, 2021
This is a well written book, but I really did not like the main characters in the beginning. There were a few details early on (below the *** to help avoid spoilers) that almost made me put down the book.
I hung on because 1) I really liked the world 2) the blurb on the back gave me hope Mags' "friends" would see her as a person and not just an object of affection and 3) it was good writing.
****
Art was uncomfortably angry and obsessed with Mags. It became is defining feature early on, and I was a little creeped out.
I like Ikraim at the beginning, but when he told Art he would "lead Mags to Art" I was creeped out because neither Art or Ikarim ever seemed interested in having a conversation with Mags about her feelings towards them -- it made the whole group dynamic feel weird because both only saw Mags as a object to be desired. I was very happy when she got away from them and went her own way at the end.
I do get the marry Mags obsession set up some character growth moments, and I appreciate a story about Mag's continually dodging suitors... I just wish her friends weren't kinda creepy.
There were some other choices that did make me cringe... Mag's dreads seemed purely stylistic (though very keeping of the convo about the appropriation of dreads in the steampunk/goth community) and the stereotypical depiction (or presence) of "violent natives in the bush" on the island where Mags is sold to the Techno Mage. To me, these were some questionable details.
I hung on because 1) I really liked the world 2) the blurb on the back gave me hope Mags' "friends" would see her as a person and not just an object of affection and 3) it was good writing.
****
Art was uncomfortably angry and obsessed with Mags. It became is defining feature early on, and I was a little creeped out.
I like Ikraim at the beginning, but when he told Art he would "lead Mags to Art" I was creeped out because neither Art or Ikarim ever seemed interested in having a conversation with Mags about her feelings towards them -- it made the whole group dynamic feel weird because both only saw Mags as a object to be desired. I was very happy when she got away from them and went her own way at the end.
I do get the marry Mags obsession set up some character growth moments, and I appreciate a story about Mag's continually dodging suitors... I just wish her friends weren't kinda creepy.
There were some other choices that did make me cringe... Mag's dreads seemed purely stylistic (though very keeping of the convo about the appropriation of dreads in the steampunk/goth community) and the stereotypical depiction (or presence) of "violent natives in the bush" on the island where Mags is sold to the Techno Mage. To me, these were some questionable details.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2022
True rating: 3.5
This book was a fun and entertaining read and certainly a unique twist on an underrated genre. I was in suspense for a lot of it, shocked at many revelations, and definitely creeped right out at that one scene (iykyk). The ending was also thoroughly satisfying and well-rounded.
However, I did have a few qualms with this book. The pacing was a little all over the place at times, a couple of the plot points didn't seem exactly necessary, and the characters weren't as lively as I would've like. Mags almost seemed like a puppet at times. The chapters also jumped between viewpoints, which I found a little disorienting because the character voices weren't unique enough. I feel the book could've benefited in that regard from POV headers.
All that being said, this was a great debut novel. As an author myself, I know that the first book isn't going to be perfect and there's so much room to grow. Raine's second book, Rise of The Sky Pirate (a prequel/companion to the Techno Mage) was hands down a 5 star read for me.
I am excited to visit this world again in the future.
This book was a fun and entertaining read and certainly a unique twist on an underrated genre. I was in suspense for a lot of it, shocked at many revelations, and definitely creeped right out at that one scene (iykyk). The ending was also thoroughly satisfying and well-rounded.
However, I did have a few qualms with this book. The pacing was a little all over the place at times, a couple of the plot points didn't seem exactly necessary, and the characters weren't as lively as I would've like. Mags almost seemed like a puppet at times. The chapters also jumped between viewpoints, which I found a little disorienting because the character voices weren't unique enough. I feel the book could've benefited in that regard from POV headers.
All that being said, this was a great debut novel. As an author myself, I know that the first book isn't going to be perfect and there's so much room to grow. Raine's second book, Rise of The Sky Pirate (a prequel/companion to the Techno Mage) was hands down a 5 star read for me.
I am excited to visit this world again in the future.
May 6, 2025
This book was EVERYTHING I wanted in a steampunk story. One: the characters were so so unique. The friendship between Art, Ike, and Mags was to DIE for. I always love ride-or-die friendships. I love that this takes place in Europe; I always crave European settings and history and this book HAS IT. I really enjoyed the twists and turns this book takes, especially regarding the worldbuilding and the Techno Mage himself. He was truly a unique character, charming, but manipulative, which makes the perfect love-to-hate villain. The author does an awesome job balancing fun banter, friendships, adventure, and sweet tender moments. I highly recommend this for your next steampunk read!
June 16, 2022
Overall I enjoyed the story, but at time I felt the style was little overly complicated for no reason. I didn't like how the characters were referred to as the strong arm or the mechanic instead of their names. I also wasn't the biggest fan of Mags as I had a hard time following her motivation and decision making at times. It just didn't seem logical or like she had a real purpose at times. This is the first steampunk book I've read and maybe I'm just not as familiar with the genre norms to really appreciate these aspects of the story.
November 18, 2023
Fun easy read. Love the steampunk elements!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews