Engines of Empire

The Age of Uprising #1

by Richard S. Ford

This epic fantasy tells the tales of clashing Guilds, magic-fueled machines, intrigue and revolution—and the one family that stands between an empire's salvation or destruction.

The nation of Torwyn is run on the power of industry, and industry is run by the Guilds. Chief among them are the Hawkspurs, and their responsibility is to keep the gears of the empire turning. It’s exactly why matriarch Rosomon Hawkspur sends each of her heirs to the far reaches of the nation. 

Conall, the eldest son, is sent to the distant frontier to earn his stripes in the military. It is here that he faces a threat he could have never seen coming: the first rumblings of revolution.

Tyreta’s sorcerous connection to the magical resource of pyrstone that fuels the empire’s machines makes her a perfect heir–in theory. While Tyreta hopes that she might shirk her responsibilities during her journey one of Torwyn’s most important pyrestone mines, she instead finds the dark horrors of industry that the empire would prefer to keep hidden. 

The youngest, Fulren, is a talented artificer, and finds himself acting as consort to a foreign emissary. Soon after, he is framed for a crime he never committed. A crime that could start a war. 

As each of the Hawkspurs grapple with the many threats that face the nation within and without, they must finally prove themselves worthy–or their empire will fall apart. 

Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk, Epic Fantasy, Adult, Fiction, High Fantasy, Science Fiction

625 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2022

About the author

R S Ford originally hails from Leeds in the heartland of Yorkshire. He is a writer of fantasy and historical fiction (check out Richard Cullen on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)

You can find out more about what he's up to, and download free stuff, here:
http://wordhog.co.uk

And follow him on Twitter here: @rich4ord
And Instagram here: thewordhog

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ford’s Engines of Empire is the first novel in an epic fantasy that throws about everything including the kitchen sink at you. Set in an age of swords and kings and guilds, there are also artifices and airships and jewels of power as well as giant mind-controlled machines. Moreover, there are ramshead giants, flying reptiles, trained war eagles, and all kinds of fell creatures. Magic too plays a strong role as demons and witches abound. But with all these different things, the fantasy world offered still feels genuine and authentic.

Engines of Empire, as so many novels these days do, offers a number of alternative points of view rather than just following one character through a series of adventures. The Hawkspurs Guild is though the center of attention and, not only is head of the guild Rosomon given a point of view, but each of her children, the princes and princesses, who are headstrong and full of themselves and have to mature into their roles. Conall is sent off into the military to patrol the Desolation on the borders where he must learn to follow orders and not act impulsively. Fulren is a craftsman who has to learn who to trust and what the limits of his craft are. Tyreta heads off into the jungle playing games with giant machines, but learns how to become a leader. Each of these characters begins the story well-placed with no worries but faces a world with everything they knew and relied on ripped out from under them.

It’s a terrific read right from the spellbinding action in the prologue to the last page. There’s plenty of action to keep you fascinated through many hours of reading.

[Allen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review: https://youtu.be/7aJCcwKS4Jw

Edit: on sitting longer with this, I find myself remembering the awesome parts of this way more than the parts I took issue with. As such, 4.5⭐, rounded up to 5. Review soon.

Review to come, but I am pumped to read book 2.

[Mark Lawrence]

I has copy.

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.S. Ford is an author whose books I have been meaning to check out for a while, but for whatever reason it just hadn't happened as of yet. All that thankfully changed when I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of his brand new book ENGINES OF EMPIRE from publisher Orbit Books. So it was with much curiosity and excitement that I leapt into the opening pages.

I had a feeling right off the bat that I was going to enjoy this book as things take shape fairly quickly and the intrigue is intense very early on in the story. Not a lot of setup and dilly-dallying about as it were. And in the end that's a big part of what made this a great book and not just a good book for me.

We are told this story mainly through the eyes of three siblings from the very influential Hawkspur guild. Every so often a different POV chapter is interspersed, but the three main characters carry the bulk of the tale. Torwyn is a nation and empire that is at the height of its power, built mostly through industry. And yet there is also a hinting that at one time they were vulnerable, most specifically from a neighboring nation Nyrakkis. There are still worries throughout the kingdom that certain parts of their border are susceptible to aggression from across the border.

Much of this concern begins to dissipate when out of the blue an emissary from Nyrakkis shows up in an airship (i'll get to that later) asking for an audience with the leader of Torwyn. The emissary claims to be there with a peace offering and a deal that would usher in a new era of cooperation and harmony between the two formal rival lands. Old suspicions die hard however, and many in Torwyn speculate whether this is simply a ploy to gain sensitive intelligence rather than the olive branch it is being portrayed as. When something unexpected happens during the emissary's visit, the three siblings each find themselves faced with their own burdens to avoid a catastrophic war, and maybe even save their own lives in the process.

And this is really where the intriguing element of the book I was talking about grabs you and never lets go through the 600 or so pages. Each POV chapter takes you back to a part of the story that is engrossing in its own right and also integral to the overall plot, which we know will at some point come back together again. I love books like this because we aren't focused on one linear viewpoint that can sometimes tend to get boring and stagnant. There's none of that here as each time we jump into another sibling's adventure, it's almost like reading three books in one. Ford handles this very skillfully and keeps the focus on the main conflict, which is quite fantastic and kept me fixated on every word.

But what truly separates this book from just good fantasy and catapults it into great fantasy is the world-building and magic. Yes, the characters are amazing, the story is super intense and interesting, but where I was really dazzled was Ford's brilliant world that didn't fit in the typical box we see in so many epic fantasies. In this world we encounter multiple moons that you would normally see in science-fiction, yet it felt totally unique and mysterious set in this fantasy setting. And those airships! No this isn't a steampunk novel, but a main mode of transportation are enormous airships. And wait until you find out what powers these mysterious flying machines in their "engine rooms". It completely blew me away!

I guess you could say I had a giant crush on this book. It came as a breath of fresh air for me as just when I would think the story was headed in one direction, I was continually kept off balance. Nothing is as it seems in ENGINES OF EMPIRE and Ford has pushed the boundaries to give us an epic fantasy that feels very different and doesn't follow the rules. This is a wonderful thing and I believe that anyone who picks up this book will be treated to a story that while not conventional epic fantasy, still captivates with the same sense of wonder that we find in those reads. Get ready for an entertaining and magical book that will keep you up until the early morning hours dying to know what happens next!

[Alex Nieves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool beginning to a fantasy story here that clearly sets up further books. I love the blend of fantasy writing w/ the tech that is introduced in the world. Ford blends some sci-fi elements and robotics with fantasy elements and magic very well. The magic-powered mech in this universe definitely remind me of Final Fantasy so that gets a thumbs up from me. The plot was intriguing and this is definitely a plot-forward book, which lead me to not really fall in love with the characters but that's really the biggest critique that I have. Looking forward to book 2!

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
My favourite aspect of this novel was the intersection between technology and magic. In this world, some technology exists, but it is controlled and powered through technology rather than through traditional means. 

Yet despite this worldbuilding, I was surprised to find this to be a very traditional fantasy narrative. The story is very action based while hitting on a lot of the classic tropes of the genre. The characters are all quite young and immature, despite this being an adult fantasy.

Overall, this was a good fantasy story, but not as new or inventive as I expected. I liked but did not love it. I would recommend primarily to readers who do not tire of traditional fantasy narratives.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Read By Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for the copy in exchange for an honest review!

So, Engines of Empire.... super mixed feelings but overall an enjoyable start to a new series!. My biggest issue is that it felt like Ford was too afraid to let things breathe. I've read non-stop action books before but they usually feel a lot more confident, this felt like he was worried if he didn't throw a giant lizard or a betrayal or an explosion into every single chapter people would DNF. Some of the time, he would introduce a twist or an obstacle or kill a character and then the following chapter would bring entirely new circumstances so the previous thing was almost an irrelevant event meant to keep the plot "moving" at all times. Many aspects of the world are just introduced for a chapter or two and then never spoken about again- some of the early stuff I almost forgot was even introduced. A secondary aspect of this is that there were times where he let the reader know about a reveal or some juicy information *immediately* and I think the reading experience would have been better with a bit more delay to build the tension. The dialogue was never better than serviceable and was cliche at times. It felt like Ford took a lot of inspiration from ASOIAF for characters/plot but took all the wrong lessons from the back half of the show- he went for spectacle every time over substance. There's a character that is so clearly inspired by Jaime Lannister that it's almost funny.

But all that said, I was super entertained the whole time. I devoured the book quickly and set aside every other book to read it. The plots introduced were really cool and I greatly enjoyed learning more about the world, the multiple magic systems, the types of sentient creatures, and the technology in Torwyn, the main civilization we follow. The book follows four major POVs (with another POV joining later) and each of these four POVs are in the same family and go off on their separate adventures, like the Starks. I enjoyed every POV character which is a difficult feat, although my favorites were Fulren and Tyreta. The end of the book was a bit of a forced cliffhanger, but I enjoyed reading the climax immensely. I'm definitely going to read the second book. I just hope Ford can learn to trust his story.

I listened to this book primarily on audio and I have to say, the audiobook was fantastic! Each POV had a different narrator and all of them did a great job at performing the book, I was engaged the entire time. I think the narrator for Fulren was my favorite.

I'm gonna say 7.5/10

[Luke Scull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Ford returns with Engines of Empire, an engrossing epic fantasy novel which expertly weaves together the stories of the noble Hawkspur clan into a wide-ranging and compelling narrative featuring demons, magic, steampunk-style constructs and much political intrigue.

The writing is solid and the world-building intriguing in this 600 page monster of a book. Each chapter unfolds like an episode of a fast-paced TV show as the heroes encounter constant peril and the stakes continue to ramp up. It's refreshingly old school in many ways, not quite as gritty as Ford's previous novels but still packed with bloody violence and action.

In spite of a slowish start and some uninspiring cover art, this is an easy book to recommend and is certainly Ford's best work since the excellent Heralds of the Storm.

[Devin The Book Dragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of this books speaks of magic-powered machines, guilds, empires, and war. In my mind, this was sort of a steampunk fantasy which is something I am really interested in. This book follows 3 siblings with vastly different paths, and each POV was unique. The concept of this book is what originally drew me to it. That and the fact this book is published by one of my favorite publishers, Orbit, I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, this seemed to be missing some key elements for me to be able to really love it.

One thing I think could be improved upon is the beginning of this book. There are a lot of character that are introduced and I forgot most of them right away. I think taking the time to explain the political hierarchy would have been helpful, and how each members contributes to the Guilds and the Empire. This might have created an info dump, but I think it would have been helpful to the reader in order to understand the setup better. After I continued reading, there never seemed to be a clear explanation of this in the entire book, so the majority of the time I was confused while reading this.

I also failed to see what the plot of this book was. It seems that all the characters were doing completely different things for completely different reasons. It didn’t really seem like anyone was working to achieve anything, apart from Fulren. I would have loved to see a more cohesive goal from all the characters, but the majority of this book I just kept wondering “What is the point? What is the reason this is happening or this choice is being made?” I could not find an answer, which left me bored and a little frustrated.

I still feel like this book could work for some people. I would say if you are drawn to the concept of this book, give it a chance. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me.

[Maude Br · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engines of Empire was my first 5-star read of the year. It delivered. I’ve been searching for a great book with industrial and steampunk vibes ever since finishing The Olympian Affair, the second book in Jim Butcher’s Cinder Spires series. I love that kind of setting, but it’s not super popular at the moment, so finding a book that scratches that itch was a rare gift. Engines of Empire did exactly that, blending magic and technology—naturally at war with each other—and creating a world that I wanted to get lost in.

The setting immediately drew me in, reminding me a lot of Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, one of my favorite video games growing up. The combination of industrial power, magical forces, and political intrigue was seamlessly woven together. The world felt lived-in and real. One side had Mechwarriors and guns, and the other had demon power. Believe me, I was smiling!

But a great setting means nothing without compelling characters, and here, they were amazing! We follow a family—three siblings and their mother—who stand at the head of a powerful technological guild. Each character has their own POV chapters, and every single one was engaging. Not once did I feel like skimming or rushing through a perspective to get back to another. Each storyline was strong, and I was invested in all of them. I particularly loved Fulren. Since all the siblings were scattered across different parts of the world, we naturally discovered new locations and conflicts alongside them, which made the worldbuilding feel even more organic.

The pacing was relentless in the best way possible. Every chapter had something happening to propel the plot forward—there was no sluggish middle or unnecessary filler. The action was non-stop, and the fight scenes were written with precision and impact. At over 600 pages, the book could have felt long, but instead, it flew by. It could have taken its time a little more (Fulren’s story, in particular, needed a breather for him to process his trauma), but any added length would have made the book very long.

Read it, you will not regret it! I am going the buy the sequel.... now!

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stars: 1 out of 5.

DNF at 30%.

The description of this book sounded so promising, and I was really excited to start it... Unfortunately, my excitement quickly turned into puzzlement, then annoyance, then simply boredom.

This story feels so... disjointed. First we have a prologue that has almost nothing to do with the story itself - we are introduced to characters that never appear in the book again (at least in the part I read before I called it quits), in a location that is barely mentioned again, only because one of the protagonists is sent there. But then again, that particular protagonist has the least page time, so I maybe got to read his POV twice before I dropped the book.

Then we are briefly introduced to our protagonists who are promptly sent their separate ways, so we don't really get a feel for their family dynamics or feelings. They are together for maybe a couple pages and manage to squabble like kindergarteners for that whole duration. There is no sense of familial ties or history there. Then they leave to their specified locations... and that's it for the ties between them.

I understand that that the author wanted to show different parts of this seemingly vast empire through the eyes of the protagonists. Unfortunately, that didn't work for me. There isn't enough meat in the worldbuilding to visualize the actual world. We have this Empire that is seemingly ruled by industrial Guilds. And the Emperor is the head of the most powerful Guild... Okay, how does this work? Apart from a brief reception for a foreign dignitary (during which the emperor behaved like a simpleton), and a sham of a trial in front of the Guild council, we get nothing about what makes this empire tick - what about the non-guild citizens? Army? Militia? Judiciary system? Anything? Same for the "Demon empire" that supposedly was their enemy for a thousand years. We get disjointed glimpses of things but they don't make a clear picture.

It didn't help that I couldn't like any of the protagonist enough to care about them. Especially Tyreta, who behaves like an entitled brat with no self-control for most of the story I managed to get through. And while that could have been excused for a teenager, her mother, who is supposedly in her 40s, isn't much better. This book suffers from a distinct lack of good characterization.

Finally, the fight scenes are... uninspired to say the least. Who could imagine that a fight scene can be boring? Well, they are in this book. They last for pages at a time but aren't dynamic or suspenseful. They are just boring. I found myself skipping paragraphs during the fights.

Maybe I am just spoiled by other great epic fantasy books I read this year, since a lot of people seemed to have loved this one and left me cold.

PS: I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engines of Empire is an epic flintlock style fantasy. The world is an interesting mix of technology and magic. Magic is mainly drawn from stones called pyrestones that are different colors and have different effects. These stones fuel artifice including stuff like ships, some weapons and walking mech like armor things. (awesome)

Clashing with this in the central empire of Torwyn is its religion the Draconate Ministry who worship five dragon gods (awesome) and used to rule things long ago so there is strife between the artifice guilds and the religious order, as well as with neighboring empires and lands.

The story follows four main point of views based around one of the major guild houses clan Hawkspur and it's heirs. While the story has plenty of action and a forward moving plot to keep you engaged I found I enjoyed the character work a lot as well. At the start of the book I didn't much care for a couple of the characters but by the end I loved them so that is a sign of a good story to me!

Besides the main land and empire of Torwyn we get a peak into a neighboring empire of demon worshipping magic users who have tattooed glyphs on them called necroglyphs (awesome) that channel magic a different way than the pyrestones of the main empire. The magic systems aren't necessarily hyper detailed but were enough so that I was never confused.

We also go to an island nation where there's a human city on the outskirts of a jungle that is filled with savage cat people warriors called Kesh, and to another battlefront where there are savage goat people called Durga.

Overall I found the book well written, engaging, and with enough action to keep me entertained. I would give this 4.5 stars and a big recommend!

Also people fly around on giant eagles! (awesome)

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a new epic fantasy series! Very much looking forward to the next installment.

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

If you're looking to start off your new year by jumping into a brand new, action-packed epic fantasy, then Engines of Empire is a great place to start. This adventurous new fantasy has a wide variety of settings and elements that should provide a little something for just about everybody.

Engines of Empire follows various members of the Hawkspurs Guild (plus one extra!) through clashes of power, revolutions, and some really unique, compelling new magic. I've seen this described as steampunk because of the magic and pyrestone that fuels the entire world, and I think 'epic steampunk fantasy' is really a pretty accurate general idea of the feel of this book. The world is essentially dominated by different Guilds, of which the Hawkspurs are one of the most powerful. This leads to constant threats against them, as well as plenty of room for treachery and plots that must be constantly assessed.

This story switches between a total of five POVs, which sounds like a lot but actually works really well for the story. I had no real issues distinguishing between any of the characters, as they were all really well defined and I appreciated how well Ford managed to tell each of their storylines. We follow: Tyreta, whose interest in magic takes her to far-reaching places; Conall, who is shipped out to the brutal desert to carry out his military duties and gain experience; Fulren, framed for a crime he didn't commit and who is sent off to a new land as a result; Rosomon, mother to Tyreta, Conall, and Fulren and who must fight for her safety after grave betrayals; and lastly is Lancelin, a man hated by the Hawkspur children who ends up with a much larger role than I expected–and who I really came to appreciate.

The world of Engines of Empire is huge, and I loved how much of it we got to explore in this first book alone. It makes me that much more excited to see what will be explored in future books. We get to explore a jungle-based island setting, a desert called the Desolation, the impressive nation of Torwyn, and more. Ford has created a world bursting with detail and world-building, and I think he did a great job of introducing a lot without ever overwhelming the reader with too much at any time. This book also plays with a lot of themes and ideas, including those such as revolutions based around an indigenous/colonizer dynamic, as well as conflicts that span from personal to empire-sized, and I appreciated the care and detail given to these topics and discussions.

The pacing of Engines of Empire is on the faster side, which I appreciated in how it kept the plot moving and made it easy to sort of follow along on the characters' journeys. If an epic fantasy this big and with this many characters has pacing that is too slow, I sometimes find it harder to stay connected with the characters if it takes too long to return to their POVs, an issue that I'm happy to say was not an issue with this book. I sometimes felt as though I wanted to slow down and take a breath away from the events of this book, but I also can't really fault a pace that allowed me to speed through this book in enjoyment and eagerness to see how it would all work out.

Overall, I've given Engines of Empire 4.25 stars! I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this new epic fantasy series, and if you are looking for an exciting, adventurous new epic fantasy then I would absolutely recommend you pick this one up.

*I received a copy of Engines of Empire courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Kevin Xu · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book felt like a mess, each of the point of views didn't feel like they connected, making the overall plot and story not having the best experience

[Ashutosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Game of Thrones on steroids. Highly Underrated. An amazing start to a series"

Engines of Empire grips you throughout and keeps you on the edge, as just like GOT, the characters are killed out of nowhere, with plots shifting after every 2-3 chapters.

We follow multiple perspectives in this introductory book of The Age Of Uprising. The story starts with an intense prologue that keeps you wanting for more but gets completely sidelined throughout the book, leaving you in shambles as to how it'll converge and most likely disrupt the main plot.

After the prologue, we are hopping among different perspectives...

Tyreta Hawkspur - Daughter of Rosomon Hawkspur, one of the rarest webwainers(people who draw power from pyrestones and instill life in engines), who initially seems indifferent to the politics and royal formalities, but then things get out of hand(as they do frequently in this book) and she meets herself by the end of the book after struggling through some intense mindf**kery.

Fulren Hawkspur, the Younger brother of Tyreta Hawspur, is a talented artificer carrying a deep hatred towards Lancelin Jagdor who slew his father in a duel. However, before he could do anything about it, he finds himself in the most critical position he could've ever imagined, merely a pawn in a much larger game, the first step towards the Uprising.

Conall Hawkspur, Elder Brother of Tyreta Hawspur, a military commander, travels to the distant frontier to prove his worth, only to later realize that there's a much bigger fish to fry than the military.

Last but not the least, my favorite character from the book...

Rosomon Hawkspur, Guildmaster of the Hawkspur Guild, Mother to Conall, Tyreta, and Fulren, after the death of her husband Melrone Hawkspur, she had been dealing with all the obligations of the Hawkspur guild, trying her best to keep things intact when it came to political stability throughout Torwyn. Little did she know that she was surrounded by the most treacherous people the whole time, just acting their parts, waiting patiently for the creation of their path towards the Uprising.

These all belong to the Hawkspur guild if it wasn't obvious already, responsible for transportation, food, and precious devices that bond magic to technology. There are other groups also, but not much crucial to the main storyline. All the aforementioned perspectives have little to no interconnections as the author makes sure to use the "Divided we fall" tool perfectly.

There's one more character whose perspective is introduced to us, but I won't get into that as it might enter spoiler territory.

Just like the characters are left at the mercy of their fate, you as a reader are left wondering what more trouble the characters can endure in this intensely gripping story of politics, betrayal, bloody battles, a tinge of magic, and a unique and modernistic setting to bind them all.

The writing style and the descriptions are almost perfect to get you immersed in the world, however, the action scenes could have been more nicely described as in some instances I couldn't imagine what was going on. The magic system is dispersed throughout the plot and mostly undermined due to politics.

The audiobook narration was one of the best, as different perspectives are narrated by different people and they capture the essence of the characters perfectly. Overall, a brilliant set of narrators.

To sum it up, this was a super intense, thrilling, and wild ride. A perfect example of how to start a series, establish the stakes, the promises, and most importantly the characters in an engaging manner.

*There was a similarly captivating prologue for the upcoming book "Engines of Chaos", in the ebook I read, and it touched upon the thing discussed in this book's prologue 😍. Can't wait to read it!!*

[Abby Salter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Miggins (Hobbit Hole Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engines of Empire is a book that deserves to upend the fantasy publishing world in the same way the events of this book upend the empire of Torwyn. It is a tantalising mix of epic fantasy within a steampunk world full of political conspiracy, danger, and wonder. We experience several different locales, each with their own flavour, and I truly appreciated the effort put into a diversified world in this novel. The worldbuilding was baked into the narrative, giving readers enough of a glimpse without being overbearing whilst the magic was in the peripheral for a lot of the tale, and yet clearly there is more to learn in future books which has me intrigued.

Whilst this book was not one to pull on my emotions in the same devastating fashion as some others within the fantasy genre, this did not hinder it in the slightest. It was pure zany unadulterated fun, much of it enabled by a pace that needs to be experienced to be believed! I listened to the audiobook, and it is the most well produced I have ever had the pleasure of piping into my ears. A full cast narration, with each POV a different actor, the effort really shone through and immersed me even more into this fantastical world. I eagerly await the sequel, sure to be full of chaos and uprising!

4.5*/5

A big thanks to Mr Ford for running a giveaway for the audiobook, which enabled me to have the pleasure of listening to this magical tale.

We’ll start at the very beginning, a very good place to start! What a fantastically atmospheric start it is, the audiobook drawing you in in a swirl of well-produced mystery. I mean I had absolutely zero idea what was going on, but it was a hoot! References to dragon gods known as the great wyrms, a mysterious ‘demonic’ stranger coming to attack, it really hit the ground running.

Suddenly we are introduced to the story proper with an introduction to Tyreta Hawkspur, female heir of the mighty Hawkspur guild. Here we first see some of her plucky nature as she uses her magical prowess to speed the airship ahead to the city of Torwind. It is here, at the centre of world trade, that the guilds rule in tandem with the religious Draconate ministry, and where events mainly take place. The story revolves mainly around the Hawkspur family and the world shifting events they find them spiralled into. The characters for the most part do follow familiar tropes, and that’s ok because what they did was actually very suprising! Tyreta is the plucky young troublemaker, Conall the heir to the guild shouldered with responsibility, Fulren the quirky young scientist, and Rosomon the iron matriarch wh om holds it all together. They do tend to stay within their character boundaries, although this isn’t precluding any growth within them, but not every book has to be an intense character dive. Ford knows his characters, and knows them well, letting the plot drive them forward instead of the other way around.

I would argue in tandem with the worldbuilding, that the plot is the true standout of this engrossing series opener. There was one single element that I *did* guess, but it certainly didn’t spoil it by any means. The story goes that the torwind empire has long been at war with the Nirakis empire, a people whom they believe to be demonic. Out of the blue an emissary arrives to broker a potential peace and trade deal, something that Emperor Sullivar welcomes. But conspiracy and greed runs to the heart of this empire, some grudges long held in the dark, and now is their time to break into the light. As her children all branch out into the empire on different paths, Rosomon Hawkspur is left to control the chaos left behind. But each of these characters will all be drawn into danger of their own, revolution is in the air, and with it all of Torwind will be alight.

I simply loved the many twists and turns in this book, that were so well crafted I never could’ve seen any but the most obvious coming. I NEVER ever gasp or cheer at a book, but this had me whooping and thumping along as the story raced on. It does have a necessary slower pace whilst in Torwind, however once it gets going, this thing paces it like it’s Usain Bolt at the Olympics! But it never feels too fast, never skips the necessary character moments, and they all get a fitting emotional climax. Whilst this wasn’t one to make me cry, it truly engaged me like almost no other.

I really liked phase two of the MCU because each one felt like a supehero movie with a different flavour to it, be it conspiracy thriller or buddy movie. Similarly, each character’s tale felt like it had its own nature to it. Tyreta felt like an Avatar (James Cameron) flavour, Rosomon a political thriller, and I won’t spoil the others to enjoy! Unexpected characters turn up and take things for a ride as well, keeping it always fresh and exciting, your mind will change on other characters in ways you could never have imagined, just a total blast.

The magic system is quite soft at this point in the series, there’s a lot that isn’t explained, but it’s clear there are depths to plumb in later novels. Its based around the energy within precious gems called Pyrestone, and in Nyrakis they have a sort of tatoo/runic baased magic system. I don’t go into detail much here because tbh there isn’t much detail within, and I liked it. I usually get quite lost in a magic system as I’m not really sciency and authors often follow a Sandersonian style of sciency hard magic in fantasy atm. Here it was enough to not be deus ex machina, whilst not bamboozling me. If I can understand it, you dear reader can too!

Overall, this was a rip-roaring yarn of the highest order. Never have I been so entranced by an audiobook, one that truly took me on a journey. It totally changed my perceptions of steampunk and truly deserves to take the fantasy world by storm. RS Ford has made an adventure for the ages and I can’t wait to read the full tapestry.

[Tyra Leann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars.

Link to review on FanFiAddict: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-engine...

Engines of Empire is a phenomenal debut to a new epic fantasy series. All of the main POVs go through their own complex journey's full of successes and failures.

The setting of the book was diverse and sprawling, and the magic system was very interesting, in fact I'm looking forward to continuing to explore that particular aspect in book two.

I do think that there were parts of the book where the suspense and tension could have been built up a bit more, reveals kept coming quite quickly. And the pacing was break-neck pretty much the entire time and could have been slowed down.

So if you're looking for a fast-paced book with a great magic system, this is it.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Fernanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was disappointing...

I really thought the premise showed real promise, specially because it seemed that the book was going to be really interesting steampunk fantasy. But what I found in this book were only badly executed cliches and tropes and characters I could not care about. Every time a new situation presented itself, I could tell exactly what was going to happen since the beginning.

The book is a mess of all the possible fantasy cliches thrown togeteher in order to try to establish the world and to develop the story. The attempt to create "danger" for characters that I didn't care about simply didn't work, just made the plot convoluted and without real stakes. Even the dialogue "-you won't get away with this!! -I already have" was used in order to convey the evil of the main villain (telegraphed since page 1).

The world created is also uninspired... It's barely explained, and the reader just gets bits and pieces of the world and the magic when it's convenient for the plot. There is no history, no structure, just information thrown in order to be able to move the plot along. There is no explanation for so much of the characters interactions, why some people hate some of the characters aside from the fact that the author wanted to throw some unnecessary hostility at them in order to create tension that went nowehere.

The main plot of the book has been done so many times and so much better in other books. I really wished we've gotten the story that was promised in the blurb.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engines of Empire
I gone this 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
Transformers maybe not.. ok.. transfused robots with Magic through there robotic limbs that s little better

Give this a very heavily political hierarchy.
Highly story driven plot.. grabbing you every chapter with something new characters! Five major POVs different narrator for each! the multiple magic systems, creatures, and tech!!

I will say this is a good porterhouse with fries !!This is very tasty. Very chewy very goes down with a 🍺

[Mark - Shield Anvil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review! (My first ever eARC!!)

I tried to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible. I'd like to start with literally the first few lines of the prologue...

"Courage. That ever-elusive virtue. Willet had once been told a man could never possess true courage without first knowing true fear."

Dragon-gods, demon worshippers, magic-infused machines? Those are just a few of the things you will find in Engines of Empire by R.S. Ford. It's the first book in a new epic fantasy series called The Age of Uprising. The setting mainly takes place in the nation of Torwyn, which is at the height of industry and ruled by guilds. There are a variety of guilds and they are all family run. The highest among them are the Hawkspurs, whom four of our five point of view characters are members of.

"Are you so easily swayed by riches? Don't let your greed overcome your reason."

Rosomon is the matriarch of the family. She is a powerful asset of the Hawkspur guild and pretty much takes on the duty of trying to keep the nation afloat behind the scenes. Especially after her brother proclaims himself emperor and her husband was killed years ago. There is much greed within the political system and Rosomon faces the brunt of it. She became my favorite character, I think she is the most developed and given the most unique voice amongst them. I'm always a fan of strong independent women who aren't afraid to act!

Moving on to Conall, he is the eldest of the Hawkspur children. He is the heir to the guild and with that duty looming over him he finds it best to earn respect and goes off to the military located in a different area called the Karna Uzan. There he is a captain of the Phoenix Battalion. He faces many obstacles, mainly that of Frontier Marshall Beringer, whose bias towards the wealthy and pampered halts a lot of Conall's discoveries. Conall starts to uncover something very detriment to the safety of Torwyn.

Overall I didn't care much for Conall in this book. I felt he was dull and under-developed. He is very inconsistent in his mindset. He tries to balance the line of being a good solider with respect but also wanting to help his family, which is a hard choice to make however he does it over and over again! I didn't care for that repetition. It felt like he was making progress in his decision to just go back and erase it. I'm hoping to see some more depth with him in the next entry.

How long do you think the battalions will carry on this war when it stops being profitable? This won't last."

Tyreta, the daughter of Rosomon Hawkspur is the next character whom we see thru POV chapters. She is a webwainer, which is a sorceress that has the ability to channel the power of pyrestones (a glowing stone that has many uses and is the main conductor/energy source to most of the machinery in the story). Like Conall, she almost immediately leaves Torwyn to go to the mines where Pyrestone is harvested in order to learn more about the process. However what she discovers there throws her into a dangerous pit of war between the original inhabitants of that land and the colonizers from her nation.

"By placing a number of pyrestones inside small conversion chambers, a webwainer could use them to imbue any piece of artifice to life."

Tyreta's arc is my least favorite in the book, not because she's a bad character but just because of how fast she becomes adept at fighting, using a bow. She just automatically becomes friends with an indigenous tribe even though her people are hurting them. The speed of this book is very good in many ways, a lot happens but I wish this part slowed down so her abilities and relatinships could develop more.

Fulren Hawkspur. I like Fulren a lot! He is the youngest son of the Hawkspur family and a prodigy artificer. Unlike his brother and Sister he has no desire to leave Torwyn. He becomes a guide to a woman from Nyrakkis, Assenah Neskhon. Nyrakkis is a rival nation (that worships demons!) and Assenah has traveled to Torwyn in order to make a trade deal between the nations. However, during Fulren's showing her of the city he becomes embroiled in a plot and framed for a heinous crime he had nothing to do with.

We see a lot of growth with Fulren, it may be because he is the youngest in the family and has the most growth to achieve or he goes through the most traumatic experiences in the book. Needless to say his journey is astounding. He does suffer like Tyreta of making friends of strangers too quickly though and wish that was fleshed out more delicately.

"But don't you see? This is our future. The old gods are not revered as they were. We are done with that past. Inventions like this will ensure that famine and hunger are eradicated from Torwyn. They offer so much potential."

The last POV of the book is that of Lancelin Jagdor. He is a swordwright, which is a highly trained swordsman. Lancelin is bad-ass! He is a great character. I don't want to get into much more about him since it's spoilery but I really don't have any issues with his arc.

Some last things I want to touch on in this book is the religion of Torwyn. The religion is called The Draconate Ministry and it worships the five Great Wyrms (dragon gods) which are as follows: Ammenodus Rex, Ravenothrax the Unvanquished, Saphenodon, Undometh, and Vermitrix. I just wanted to list those, how absolutely awesome are those names? I just want to know and see more of the religion. I wish there was more about it in this book but being the first in the series I understand there needs to be that build-up.

"Only you seem to have many great things in your country. Great Wyrms, a Great Library. Is anything merely mundane?"

Score: 3/5 - A good start to a series with atmospheric world-building, unique magic mixed with artifice and treacherous politics and religion. I would have liked to see more character development and less auto-friendships. The prose was fine, easy to read but didn't leave a lasting impression. I thought the magic would also be more prevalent after the stunning prologue. Overall, an enjoyable read and I will be continuing the series once the next is released.

Review also on my blog here: https://shieldanvilsstudy.wordpress.c...

[Viv (vivianneslibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. I found all of our point of views to be compelling and equal in enjoyment which is so rare. It was a slower moving story with not the most cohesive plot but I think I see the vision. The reviews are so mixed on here though it almost makes me feel like I missed something. I was never bored and didn’t find the writing to be poor. The audiobook narrators were also superb.
4.5 ⭐️

[John Folk-Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first volume of a new fantasy series (The Age of Uprising) by R.S. Ford is a solid, well-plotted adventure story told from the points of view of five major characters tied together by the frayed bonds of a ruling family in an empire about to come apart at the seams. It’s non-stop action in a steampunk world powered by pyrestone and the magic certain individuals cultivate to make it work. In this empire managed by Guilds, the powerful Hawkspur family is tested in war, conspiracy, treachery and hand-to-hand combat. Rosomon, matriarch of the Hawkspurs, is sister to the overly sanguine emperor Sullivar. Her husband had been killed by the superskilled warrior, known as a swordwright, named Lancelin Archwind of a rival guild but closely committed to Rosomon and her children. The children, Fulren, an artisan skilled in producing the engines and machines that keep the empire going, Tyreta, learned in magic, and Conall, a soldier - are all eager to prove themselves and also take vengeance on Lancelin.

A complex series of events, starting with the assassination of an enchanting visiting emissary quickly evolves into a general conspiracy to overthrow the government of the Guilds. It thrusts each member of the Hawkspur family into close encounters with death at the hands of various enemies and traitors. The action scenes are all well-rendered, but there is always a sense that each member of this family is likely to survive. And in general I found the turns of plot and fight scenes all predictable, though all are quite well realized and exciting to read. The characters are engaging, and the very different environments and communities the Hawkspurs are thrown into are carefully constructed and believable. But there is nothing much beneath the exciting surface of this fast-paced adventure. So if that’s what you’re looking for, this will be a completely satisfying story. There are so many writers of much greater ambition, daring and originality in fantasy fiction that this story left me wanting more.

[christea ☁️]

this was fine... i guess

the world, magic, and politics had a lot of potential, but i feel like it all went to waste because what we ended up getting was all very surface level and bland. i was expecting more political intrigue, but then we only got the faintest shadow of that. none of the characters were particularly likeable either, so i wasn't rooting for any of them or cared about what happened to them. if a character is unlikeable, then they need to at least have a compelling storyline that keeps you intrigued and invested, but we didn't seem to get that either.

i don't think this was a bad book, but it wasn't anything special, and i will sadly not be continuing with the series

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting beginning to a new epic fantasy series.

Family drama, political intrigue, an expansive world, and a nicely paced plot. It's similar to A Game of Thrones although the writing isn't to the same level. Still, it was easy to flip through the pages, and I found myself becoming attached to most of the characters by the end of the book.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope the world-building is even more fleshed out as that was my favorite part of the book.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried but when you read a lot of fantasy many begin to feel the same. Generic. This is one. Seems to be good generic but I’m older time is short and I’ve gots more great books to read.

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Engines of Empire" is enthralling and it was a book that I never wanted to put down! It intricately explores the dynamics of power, industry vs religion, and familial responsibility within the. The Hawkspur family takes center stage, each child embarking on a distinct journey that exposes the empire's deep-seated vulnerabilities. There is also attention paid to their mother and the man who killed their father in a duel long before.

Ford crafts a gripping story brimming with political intrigue and unforeseen challenges, rendering the audiobook adaptation all the more captivating with its full cast. The multifaceted characters, from the determined Conall, to the fearless Tyreta, and the talented Fulren, are compelling in their individual struggles, making for a rich and immersive reading experience. The exploration of the empire's reliance on industry and magic-fueled machines is particularly engaging, delving into the hidden horrors and complexities that underlie its function. The author skillfully employs shifting perspectives to heighten the tension, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the palpable stress that permeates the story. SO MUCH STRESS, but in a good way.

Overall, "Engines of Empire" is a testament to Ford's adept world-building and storytelling prowess, presenting a narrative that effortlessly blends political intricacies with personal struggles, resulting in an unputdownable read that lingers long after the final page.

[Chisom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️

Epic fantasy with a beautiful blend of sorcery, magic and mechanical engineering. So many story threads were created with just enough resolved to keep the reader satisfied as this is the first book in a series, allowing the author to leave some mystery for exploration further along the line along with room for an expansion into what is an interesting world to say the least.

The story explores the complex nature of the human condition from the elements of religion, power, betrayal, loyalty to name a few. The "protagonist" are as human as I love to expect in the fact that their imperfections are laid bare and the reader gets to see them grow and life continues to happen to them.

I look forward to the next book in the series as I continue on this adventure.

I do have a bone to pick with the author though for not exploring what happened in the prologue further except for a passing comment in the entire text. I guess that is what the rest of the series is for :)

Thank you #NetGalley and #OrbitBooks for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engines of Empire starts off an ambitious fantasy trilogy with a blend of political intrigue, steampunk aesthetics, and sprawling world building. Ford crafts a vivid, industrialized world where innovation and ambition clash with tradition and power. The narrative follows the Hawkspur family, each member navigating their own path through war, rebellion, and courtly schemes.

The book is paced steadily with action and layered characters. The multiple POVs give the story real depth, giving us insight on each one of the siblings inner workings as well. Some plot threads take time to gain momentum, but the payoff is worth it, especially as the story ramps up toward the climax.

Ford's prose is immersive, and the themes of technology with magic, loyalty versus ambition - are handled with nuance. Engines of Empire is an impressive and immersive series opener that fans of epic fantasy and steampunk will find themselves adventuring. I am on to the second book in this trilogy and cannot wait for the third installment!

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this.
A lot of names that needs getting used to remembering, but overall, it's gripping.