I'm glad I got to read this book, it was a pleasant surprise. I was first intrigued by the title and then reading the blurb made me more interested in this story because it doesn't only hints to have elements of fantasy but also touches of mythology and steampunk. Now I don't have much experience reading steampunk but I do find the idea of it quite intriguing and fascinating.

The author, manages to have all these elements and create a unique and interesting story, it has a bit of a slow start but once it picks up it gets even better. Wilbert Stanton created compelling characters and his writing style was one I enjoyed. There's action, humor, a solid plot, it's a story that can be enjoyed by everyone.

If I could complain about something is that it feels a bit too short, like it ended too quickly; hopefully we get more in future books, I'm glad this wasn't a standalone because there's definitely room for more and I know I'd be interested in reading a sequel or sequels to this story.

Gears of Fate has a lot going for it, even from a first glance. After all, who doesn't love a story packed with mythology and folklore? One of the great strengths of this work is the way Stanton blends the different pantheons, drawing them into one tale. Throw in a few steampunk jet packs and the like, and you have something guaranteed to appeal to a wide range of readers. Overall, it works. The story concept is good, there's a fun injection of humour and the main characters are likeable thanks to, rather than in spite of, their flaws. The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the pacing. At about 200 pages, this is a fairly short read. It took a while to introduce the characters and their situations, so I fully expected them not to accomplish most, if not all, of their goals in the course of this opening book, knowing it is the first in a planned series. I was, therefore, surprised when a number of threads suddenly wrapped up in the space of the last few chapters, often behind the scenes, without us 'seeing' any of the action. Yes, there are still issues remaining for the characters to face in the next instalment, but after such a build up about certain events that needed to take place, I was left a little disappointed that they then resolved so quickly. (I won't say to which plot points I refer as I don't want to risk spoilers.) Despite this niggle, Gears of Fate remains a delightful read, with an original plot idea that is sure to please plenty of YA fantasy fans. 3.5 stars.

What a fun book! I was really happy with the plot, pace, and characters. Can't wait for book 2!

Zeus feared no man or beast, and Odin wanting help to fend off this invading army only proved him too weak a god to be called cousin. To make matters worse, the other Olympians were starting to believe Odin's nonsense.

When the book has a sentence such as this one in the prologue, the expectations for what follows are high. And yet, the book holds up to the expectations and manages to surprise the reader. The main character is a poor man from a broken family, and he lives in a slum...or the Fringe as they call it.

Yet this nobody, with alcoholic father and mother who left the family to keep a secret, becomes the most important character in the story, together with an unlikely companion whom he met when she fell from the sky. With the help of friends (or are they?) they embark on the way to save the Earth...and Olympus.

Surprisingly, the gods play only a minor role in the book, with the normal human who is responsible for whether the humanity (and the gods) will live, or will they die?