This book by L K Wintur is all about what it would be like if it were in a technological era. It has many aspects that are favorable to readers to readers who are highly invested in science fiction and political intrigue. it follows a boy who discovers that he is something more than he ever thought he was. we see him grow into something more from someone unknown to someone who might decide the fate of their world. His interactions with other side characters also helped in fleshing them out as characters fully.
The positive for me when reading the book is that I was hooked from beginning to end as the story flowed from one paragraph to the other. The other aspect that I liked is that there was very little information dumping hence you do not get to be overloaded.
My only negative is that there was a certain of the book where he forgave an act to me that is unforgivable and that was not to my liking due to my personal preference and inclination.
Overall it was a very enjoyable book and would recommend it to anyone who is into science fiction.

The Engineer's Mechanic is a tricksy little devil in book form. It likes to pose difficult questions and then leave you to sort out the answers. It likes to play with your emotions and hook you on a person, only to see them die in the next chapter. It likes to get scientific one minute and then moral the next. In other words, this is contradictory and messy but enjoyable with it.

Written in the first person, our main POV is Ren Unkno, although another POV is added later on. Ren is an orphan Outsider, who doesn't live within the protecting domes of the Meticities. He also happens to be a mechanical genius, who can turn his hand to anything. In my opinion, I started off connecting with Ren but felt that he became a bit distant and unrelatable much further into the story. This may be planned, due to the events that occur, and would make sense. It just made caring about what happened a little harder. I think this is why the second POV is added but I didn't really gel with that one either. It worked and I enjoyed the story but I wouldn't say that this is character driven.

The storyline starts pretty much as standard. An Outsider is a whizz at something the urbanites are terrible at and happens to be just the person needed. Chance encounters lead to bigger things and trust seems to be a bit freely given, considering the stakes. However, the goes out with a bang about a third of the way into the book. You can see the event coming (plenty of foreshadowing) but the aftermath was eye-opening. It does go a little bit bonkers at one point but it's well within the plot of the story. I had questions but it wasn't enough to put off my enjoyment.

If anything, the book does suffer from pacing issues. The beginning is a little slow and you might begin to wonder where it is going. We then have an almighty surge in events and things happen at a bit of a rush. Then we slow things down again. Then we get a year time jump. Etc etc. It all kind of makes sense in terms of the plot and it is a bit more realistic than a steady stream of plotline but it feels a bit uneven and left me feeling a bit unsure about what was happening. There is also a cliff-hanger ending and some pretty big unanswered questions. I find these to be pretty standard in Sci-fi, as how else to make a series out of one storyline? It just makes me bookmark any sequels for reading when they come out. However, I know that some do find them a deal breaker, so thought it should be mentioned.

If I had to compare this dystopian sci-fi to anything, I would say it is like a more accessible Dune but with a watered-down god complex and no worms. I could definitely see Paul Atreides in Ren, especially in the later portions of the book. It is fun and there are some excellent points made well but some pacing issues left it feeling a bit unstable in some areas. I would definitely read any sequels

This was a strong start to the MetiCity Series, it had a great atmosphere to it and worked with the cast of characters that I was hoping for. It had a great overall story going on and enjoyed the scifi elements that worked with the story. It left me wanting to read more in this series and enjoyed the overall feel to it.

L. K. Wintur starts a tale of a future where most live in MetiCities rated by social interaction. They were built by Zelius Metihand, a mad genius reacting to the collapse of civilization. Ren Unkno is an orphan, with a genius ability to fix machines who lives in the Outskirtz of the city. One day, after rescuing a droid and starting to repair the robot, he is asked to help control a jet racer because of the rumors of his ability. This is an interesting world run by corrupt hidden leaders, and Ren and friends might, by the end, have found a way to bring them down. Along the way Ren learns the dark secret of his birth as the The Engineer's Mechanic (ebook fromYellow Panda Publishing), and has improved the droid enough to win a robot fighting contest. Lots of fun, and I wonder what happens next after all seems lost.

This novel presents a futuristic world ruled by an autocratic corporation, where the majority suffer through hardships and poverty. The main character, Ren, leads a band of rebels on an effort to overthrow their bureaucratic overlords.

Wintur's narrative is an engaging blend of thrilling and light-hearted moments, balancing the novel's exploration of darker themes like dictatorship and societal despair with a sense of adventure. The inclusion of references to classic sci-fi works adds a layer of enjoyment for science fiction enthusiasts. Characters like Zander and Zari add depth to the story, contributing to its dynamic world-building. The book offers an enjoyable reading experience, yet presents an opportunity to delve deeper into its central conflict. I feel that expanding on the intricacies of life under MetiCorp's rule with more complexity and detail would enrich our understanding of the characters' motivations and the societal dynamics of MetiCity. Further nuanced character development, and a more thorough exploration of the setting could, I believe, significantly deepen the reader's engagement with this dystopian world.

The Engineer's Mechanic stands as a promising start to The MetiCity Series. It's a highly recommended read for fans of sci-fi narratives that blend action with societal critique, particularly those interested in stories of individuals challenging overarching corporate powers.

This is L. K. Wintur’s first publication. The Engineer’s Mechanic was published earlier this month and is the first of his MetiCity series novels. It is the 14th book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

Zelius Metihand has become known as The Engineer, and was the founder of MetiCorp. While Metihand is considered a savior of humanity, due to Earth’s deteriorating climate, he was the victim years earlier of a rebellion. The domed cities of MetiCorp are the center of civilization in this dystopian environment. At least for those lucky enough to live in those cities. Many are forced to live in the Outskirtz outside the domes.

The Outskirtz beyond the dome of MetiCity-6 is where Ren Unkno grew up. It is where he still lives, working to just survive. His talents lie in fixing things. He works part-time as a mechanic. That skill is what sets him on his path for this story.

Unkno happens upon a droid being set upon by a street gang in the Outskirtz. He saves the droid and repairs him. The droid, which he names K-2, becomes his companion and sometimes bodyguard. Not long after, Unkno happens upon the famous cage fighter Koujin. After making a quick repair to Koujin’s Biosuit, Unkno is given tickets to the upcoming championship fight.

The developing connection with Koujin brings Unkno to the attention of Zander, the O-Race Cup runner-up. That encounter results in Unkno being hired by Zander as part of his pit crew. That eventually leads to Unkno entering K-2 as a robot cage-fighter. MetiCorp and the high society within the MetiCities are in control and want it to stay that way. Those from the Outskirtz are never allowed to become too successful. When they do, accidents seem to befall them.

Unkno transitions from a young, technically brilliant kid to a daring rebel, risking everything to bring the truth to the people. Along the way, he uncovers the answers to a few of his own secrets. Of course, his adventures also include becoming romantically entangled with the young woman, Taria.

I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 387-page science fiction novel. The novel had an odd start but got better. The plot is busy, heading in many different directions. There is both action and intrigue as Unkno’s tale unwinds. I do like the cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

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I dnf-ed this book around 20%.

I was really excited to read this book but I could not connect with this book and its main character for some reason. I was dreading picking it back up. So at this point I decided to dnf it. I'm still giving it a rating of 3 stars because I think this is a personal thing and that other people will surely enjoy this book. It just was not for me.

Thanks to L. K. Wintur, Yellow Panda Publishing and Netgalley for access to the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun space adventure story with likeable characters. Great worldbuilding as I could envision each area as the book moved from scene to scene. Interesting premise regarding how citizens can earn their way to higher status and ultimately even higher but there are consequences. Great read and potential for a very interesting series of books. Recommended.

Review posted to Goodreads manually due to technical issue.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6249381916

For being the first book by the L.K. Winter duo this was a great read. The world building is detailed, fast paced and adventurous. I loved the character development for the main character Ren, it was absolutely on point. The right amount of tension with lighter moments throughout this story was a great combination.

I did struggle in the beginning of the book with getting through the first few chapters because I had a hard time following what exactly was happening and I also could not get over all the swearing in the book which is the only thing preventing me from giving this book 5 stars. I think the book would be even more stellar if the swearing was toned down a notch and less attitude on some of the characters.

That being said I do look forward to the second book in the series and would love to dive deeper into this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC to me in return for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

DNF at 25%

The premise of the world - a mix of holographic and real worlds - got me interested in the book, and the book delivered on it for the first 5-6%. But then got distractingly misogynistic.

The first 25% of the book focused heavily on traditional gender roles, women (specifically women of color) being objectified, and the MMC's utter surprise at the love interest being good at tech -- which was incredibly baffling to me given the futuristic worldbuilding. I kept trying to figure out how that was relevant to the story, and the lack of relevance kept pulling me out of the story.

I'd have enjoyed the book if it had instead focused on expanding on the glimpses of good world-building we did get (example: how does the social credit system work?) and character motivations and agency (things seemed to happen to the MMC more than him having motivations that he did anything about). The discussions about the state of their society seemed naive and idealistic and couldn't get me to care about what they do about it. I think this book would have done well in the Ready Player One era, but in 2024, I'd rather spend my time on the many excellent books available to us now that feature fantastic female characters and more nuanced conversations.

A brilliant book, which I really enjoyed. Proper sci-fi, with no awful cliffhanger or too much background.
I did find the first few pages a little difficult, in that it wasn't immediately apparent to me what was going on, but quite soon that all fell into place and I began to love the story.
It is the kind of story that is difficult to put down, with plenty of twists and action.
I have been reading sci-fi for many, many decades, so really appreciate some novel ideas, good characters, as well as a well written book. This book has them all..

"The Engineer's Mechanic" pulsates with the energy of rebellion and the fervor of those daring to challenge the oppressive regime of MetiCorp in the domed metropolis of MetiCity-6. Ren, a talented mechanic with extraordinary engineering skills, becomes a beacon of hope as he unveils the sinister truths hidden by the ruling force. This gripping sci-fi adventure takes readers on a journey through holographic and real worlds, where Ren and an unforgettable cast of characters navigate a complex web of power, deceit, and despair. As the quest for justice unfolds, the high-stakes gamble against MetiCorp's dominance becomes a thrilling narrative that keeps readers on the edge, wondering whether Ren's efforts will ignite the flames of revolution or crumble under overwhelming odds.

The author masterfully captures the pulse of a city in turmoil, blending elements of suspense, rebellion, and intricate world-building to deliver a compelling story that resonates with the timeless theme of fighting for freedom against oppressive forces. "The Engineer's Mechanic" is not just a sci-fi adventure; it's a heart-pounding exploration of the human spirit's resilience in the face of tyranny.

This story was quite an interesting one. Reading sci-fi can always be hit or miss for me, but this unique book was one that I thoroughly enjoyed and found to be one I always wanted to come back to. Set in a world where our main character can give life to essentially robots, I found the quest in the story to be entertaining.
Thank you Yellow Panda Publishing for sending me this arc for an honest review.