Cover Image: The Eternal Machine

The Eternal Machine

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Member Reviews

Steampunk, fantasy and magic! What a great mix. The premise of this book intrigued me and I was fascinated to see where the author would take this book.

While I enjoy fantasy, the steampunk aspect of this story made this surprisingly more complex and interesting.

I found the story easy to follow and engaging at the same time. The MCs were relatable and magical, a great mix of characters you'll connect with and love. And those you'll dislike immensely.

Definitely an interesting read and an author I'll look out for more from.

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This book is full of people, heart magic, skin magic, mages, earth spirits, demons and automata. Em has to sell her magic to help her father, who is usually drunk and unable to take care of himself. Her boyfriend wants her to run away but she cannot go. He tries to leave but is killed and right at the moment of dying a shapeshifer takes over his body. Together they work to defeat those taking advantage of the downtrodden.

Through her journey Em discovers how strong a leader she has always been and what she can do to help others.

I was confused for the first part of the book, but soon caught on and enjoyed the story. I recommend anyone who is a little confused to give it a little longer and hold on for the ride.

I was given the opportunity to read this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to the publisher, netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this eARC, I feel so blessed to be able to have critical conversations about great books and recommend books to my book club.

This is a 19th-century alternative magic fantasy book with beautiful characters and a dash of romance between the main two characters who are strong and magical. This is perfect told and well-paced, I would like to read more of Carol's work in the future.

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In the fascinating, inventive steampunk world of Forsham, an alternate 19th-century Australia, in a tale inspired by Leibniz's theory of monadology, there are mages, commoners, and shifters. Mages, possessing heart magic, hold power, and drain weaker skin magic in a painful extraction process from commoners, who do it to earn what little money they can. Shifters, meanwhile, are beings of pure magic who can 'shift' (take on the 'blueprints') into other creatures. In this book, we follow Em, a strong-willed commoner who possesses heart magic, as she gets drawn into an underground resistance movement, and Ruk, a shifter without his memories and is plagued by a mysterious voice.

What I really enjoyed about this book was, for one, the world and the magic system -- as I said, it's inventive and like nothing I've ever really read before. Definitely very interesting and that lured me to this book and hooked me in for the first half. I also liked the alternating POVs between Em and Ruk, interspersed with flashbacks to the oppressive Ambrus Grindle and what happened decades earlier that gives you insight into his actions and motivations and bleeds into today, which comes to a startling revelation at the end. The ending was also done pretty well, with some sense of resolution without being too rushed.

What I didn't really like were that around halfway or three-quarters in, it felt like there was a lull -- like the story was getting too dragged-out, and I definitely felt this way as I reached the ending revelations and it made me look back and think "Why did it take so long to get here?". In addition to this, I didn't feel any emotional connection to or resonance from the characters and their relationships to one another and the world/magic around them, which made it hard for me to actually care about them or buy certain relationships; I definitely felt this aspect could have been better-written. And, I thought some smaller story elements felt unresolved, or even abandoned; it kind of felt like a bait-and-switch, because it felt like it started out as a story of revolution against an oppressive industrialist regime, where the underground resistance Groundist movement felt like they were winding up to be the central focus of the story with Em and her magic at the heart of it, but then it morphed into .... being about shifters?

Overall, while the worldbuilding elements were pretty good and interesting, the characters and their dynamics could have been much better-written.

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I received an ARC of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was curious about this book for two reasons. The first being its Australian setting and the second being the blending of magic with steampunk which I thought was a promising premise. With regards to the former, I was utterly disappointed. There is no reason to believe that it has anything to do with Australia. The story felt like it could be set anywhere. While the latter is certainly there within the story as promised - I for one thought the notion of Skin/Heart Magic to be very interesting - I could not get deep enough into the narrative to see it properly developed. 5 chapters in I was already frustrated by how I couldn't see where anything was going. The stakes were not clear. Em acts without any strong enough motivations and Ruk just appears out of nowhere. This is further marred by the introduction of yet another protagonist (Ambrus) which confuses what we're supposed to get out of the story. I also did not enjoy the character Solly whose random usage of pinyin felt like a desperate attempt to inject diversity into the work. That said, I persevered onto Chapter 15 but still, I couldn't get interested in the story. Altogether, Ryles clearly put quite a lot of thought into the world-building and while that is commendable, the book reads a lot like an info dump and I can't say that I enjoyed it.

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Strange steampunk world of magic and soul-taking shifters - pulls you into their dark reality and holds you there until the end. Raw emotions and fears give it a feel of reality and will pull you into the characters and their strife. Not a happy story, but an engaging one that will keep you turning the page.

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Thank you, Netgalley, for the free ARC of the Eernal Machine. This was a steampunk speculative fiction story that had an interesting blend if science and magic. Technicslly, the writing had few errors. The overall language was not difficult to read.

I had mixed feelings about the story. My favorite POV was Ambrus, though he was unlikeable and his story was mostly told in flashbacks. The present day story had potential, but the multiple characters, including some who went by different identities, sometimes left me confused. The action scenes were excited, but were interspersed with a lot of talking that made the overall pace a little uneven.

Though I had some issues with it, I think it was worth reading and I would consider reading other books by the same author.

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Steampunk, magic, and wonderfully drawn characters who I began to care about from the book's beginning. Prime protagonists are clearly created with their intentions consistent throughout the entire story. Easy to tell the 'good guys' from the 'bad', which is a refreshing change from similar fantasy/ magic books I've read lately. Mostly I mostly read 'hard' science-fiction, so comprehending the magic rules was confusing for me. Over time it makes sense and with the unique world-building; I became to love its twists and turns. Although I received the book at no cost in exchange for an honest review, I'm going to purchase the book anyway- to support an author whose work I sincerely want to see more of.

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I'm conflicted about this one. While I enjoyed most of this story some parts just felt wrong. Like they shouldn't have even been put in this story. Idk, probably just me but ehhh

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Good read! Nice mix of steampunk and magic. We all heard about atoms, but how many of us heard or read about monads? Here we have factories, automatons, mages and magic... People who wants to live in peace, follow their dreams... And others who wants power... Who Em really is? What will happen to Ruk? Read it to find out 😁

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*** I received an ARC version in exchange for an honest review ***

Thank you #NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC of #TheEternalMachine

The Eternal Machine is a fascinating alternate history exploring the industrialisation era and social class suppression. I particularly enjoyed the combination of steampunk and gaslamp fantasy, the use of magic and technology in an alternative history setting was very well done. Perhaps the only downside to the book was it felt unnecessarily long, and some character development was rushed when introducing motivations which the extra length of the book could have focused on better. Overall, the world-building was supreme and the concept unique and refreshing.

Conclusion
A new steampunk read from a debut author in the genre. Highly sophisticated world-building with combination of alternate history, steampunk and gaslamp fantasy makes this suitable for audiences of all three genres. A well-recommended read!

Review:

The Eternal Machine follows the protagonist Emma as she ekes out an existence in the lower classes of society, selling her magic alongside many others for the money to support themselves. Their magic is used to as energy for the powerhouses that support the industrialisation movement in this steampunk version of Victorian society. But as Emma begins to realise the extent of her true magical strength when left undrained by the powerhouses, she rivals the mages who run the powerhouses and society. Together with her partner Lucien, she begins to investigate the Groundists, a movement of radicalised lower classes determined to topple the powerhouses and the mages who rule them.

But Emma’s magic awakens an ancient shape-shifter, Ruk, who begins searching for her. The shape-shifters are few but powerful beings and Ruk kills Lucien, assuming his form and identity. But as Emma and Ruk enter the Groundist movement, Emma begins to learn more about her past as demons awaken and like the shape-shifters, are drawn to her power. In a company of other powerful Groundists, Ruk and his fellow shape-shifters, Emma and others battle the mages and the demons until the truth of Emma’s birth right is known and her entire world changes forever.

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Ah, this is a fresh and extremely engrossing read! Steampunk, magic and use of Leibnitz ideas woven in a great story! Lots of unexecpected twists and turns, which had a hold of me more than I thought it would. Finished it in an eyeblink.
Great book to start a year with!
Will most definitely look up the other author's work, as well.

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Not for me. The premise isn't interesting enough to let me overlook the casual cruelty in things like this.
__________
It took all of Ambrus’s strength to not laugh. Arabella had been married for nigh on four years and had yet to produce offspring. “Dear sister,” he said, “your hostile womb ensures the Grindle bloodline requires me more than it will ever require you.”
__________

That and the use of 'hussy' made me think this book is a few decades late for its optimal release date. There's some internalised misogyny that needs to be dealt with here.

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Thanks Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Very original mix between Sci-Fi and Fantasy. I think it's daring challenge to mix both genres and to create something successful, but the author handles this challenge very, very well.

The book has a lot of things that every fantasy and sci-fi loves - steampunk setting in a fictional dystopian 19th century ; main cast and side characters that are well developed, complex in nature and morally grey; a conflict between those born with magic and those born without it that isn't unfamiliar in its core, even if transformed to fit the setting; a bittersweet ending that offers more hope for the future than an actual resolution not without a sacrifice and good dose of drama and suffering.

It's definitely a must-read and I recommend it to everyone!

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I really enjoyed this book. The two kinds of magic a person might have are intriguing, and a bit confusing. Skin magic, which everyone can use to share "well wishing" or create a little light, and heart magic which can create fire and electric bolts, or be used to heal by reversing time in a localized area. Also, another kind of magic altogether which can manifest as humanoid or anything else, but which also engages with skin and heart magic. The magic is stored in a person like a battery, and can be transferred to another person, or an inanimate magic storage system. The mechanical assistance of magic draining, transfer, and storage are big factors in the story. The characters are interesting and well developed, especially Ruk. The book is well written, ends in a very satisfactory manner, and has some pretty original ideas.

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I received an arc of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This debut novel is a truly original fantasy/sci-fi book with steampunk and Victorian vibes. We follow 2 separate timelines for much of the book and see how they come together. The characters are well developed and often morally grey. The plot is intriguing, dark and complex.

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It's been a while since I've read a truly original fantasy, or even a truly original steampunk, for that matter. The fact is that "The eternal Machine" is both a fantasy and a steampunk, and it carries its two natures to the end, perfectly balancing the ingredients in a way that makes you think that, rather than an experiment (which also brings in a lot of scientific elements and a good dose of metaphysical theories that have gone all the way from an idea of a wacky mind, to stuff for gullible people, to an attempt to explain an intuition that is probably correct by someone who didn't yet have the language to do it), it's a precise and mature genre.
In addition to these surprising aspects, the novel offers well-delineated characters and a compelling plot. What more could you want?

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Very difficult to write a review of this excellent story as there is so much to tell and that is what the book is here for! There are some lovely and believable people and some that I suspect that you too would willingly strangle given half a chance.

Whilst the book is Steampunk in style and set in the 19th Century I can so easily see parallels in the 21st Century, even down to the number of exploiters that I might willingly do away with. In some ways, much as I enjoy Steampunk, this tale might have worked even better set in today's days of exploitation where so many things are offered "as a way to improve one's lot" when, in reality, they are designed to demean and degrade and devalue.

Thoroughly enjoyed the story, even though it made me incredibly angry at several of the characters.

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Steampunk with heart.
I guess from my initial thoughts it's easy to tell I loved this although at times it wasn't perfect but then again what is ? We have three main protagonists Em, Ruk and Ambrus although the myriad of supporting characters added greatly to bring emotion to this story. The hideous idea of humanity being used as a kind of fuel or battery even has been touted by authors and indeed movie makers but this particular tale took a very different approach by adding Shifters of pure magic into the mix. I've no wish to give spoilers but will say at times it's worth pushing through the explanations and brushes with the metaphysical because the story has much more than merit it has heart and I truly didn't want to put it down as I just needed answers. This ends not exactly with triumph although there is a resolution but what I take away from it is a sense of hope and possibility which leaves me satisfied and eager to read more from this new to me author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair!

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Book takes place in a 19th century environment. Some people are born with magic and some without. The super magical, the mages, steal magic from all others. And so starts the conflict...I enjoyed Ryles book.

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