First off, thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of Engines of War by Richard S. Ford. Engines of War is a triumphant addition to The Age of Uprising fantasy adventure that Richard S. Ford is taking us on. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and this third installment lives up to the high standards that have been set thus far.

Ford had me tearing through this book at breakneck speed, I simply couldn’t read fast enough to satisfy my curiosity and anticipation. It is said that there is no rest for the wicked, and in this case, it is often hard to know where wickedness may lie in wait or what form it may take.

Everything about this story is built on such a grand and stunning scale. A vast world of magic, machines, political intrigue, epic battles and how these things conspire to change the fabric of the people and places that inhabit it..

Each of the characters whose paths we follow must adapt and adjust with the changing tides. Whether this be physical, mental or emotional, the growth and transformations of these characters is profound and hard won. No aspect of the characters Ford has written are simply skin deep. These characters are complex and we follow them through a gambit of twists and turn that shape who they are becoming.

Ford has built a vast, vivid, terrifying and dangerous world that seems to know no bounds. Each locale has its own feel and distinct variation, creating multiple “worlds” within its confines. I was struck by the world-building from the first book and the imagery and description have built upon that with each that has followed.

The epilogue totally ramped up my excitement for what is coming next. New characters, new secrets, more intrigue. What’s not to love? Ford simply can’t write fast enough and I simply can’t wait! Although this battle may be won (may, being the operative word), it appears the war is just beginning.

All of this is to say that I loved it and am completely invested. I have no doubt whatsoever that what’s to come will not disappoint.

Beautifully crafted and well-written, and it was such a journey delving into the character's stories. I admired the character development in this series, with how the characters grew in maturity, no longer the children that grew up with royalty, but children who used their powers and curse to end the war.

The first part of the book was very fast paced, it felt like I can never predict what was going to happen and what will the characters will struggle through. The climax was a bit of a let down, and we were led to believe that it was going to be a major showdown between the main villain and Ansel. However, I understand why the author did it that way. If I had it my way, I would've changed the scene on the mountain to make it more of a fight scene, then spend the last remaining chapters with the characters suffering the repercussions of their choices.

Overall, it was a great read. This book was definitely a set up for the next series ahead. Thank you, Mr Ford!

***Thank you to Orbit Books for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

Engines of War was exactly the thrilling and epic conclusion that I’d expect for such a great series. The plot managed to strike a perfect balance of action-packed content and character-driven storytelling. The story had a lot of ground to cover and so many moving pieces that I’m honestly surprised it all came together into such a cohesive ending.

That being said, Engines of War could have benefited from a refresher at the start. It took me a minute to remember all the characters and plot points from previous books. The story did a great job of organically jogging my memory as it progressed, but even a brief blurb explaining where everyone is starting out would have been appreciated. There were just so many POVs that it took a bit to get oriented.

I cannot praise the character work in Engines of War enough. They’ve all been through so much and changed tremendously over the course of the series. The resolution of each character arc felt appropriate and, more importantly, felt earned. Anselm, in particular, experienced a lot of growth in this story as he fought for redemption after throwing off the yoke of religious fundamentalism. The Hawkspur children all had to reckon with what they’d become, while their mother was trying to hold the guilds together and overthrow the theocracy. Keara’s determination to gain power and restore her guild to prominence also made her a favorite of mine. There was plenty of scheming, treachery, and backstabbing as the characters’ plans came to fruition, which was a lot of fun to read.

I also appreciated how Engines of War confronted the fact that the war between the theocrats and the oligarchy of the guild did little to help the common person. Things stayed largely the same for the citizens regardless of who was in charge. The war just meant needless death and destruction for them for little to no reward. I wish the story had leaned even harder into exploring this theme, though. For most of the book, it did feel a bit like an afterthought.

I can’t end this review without remarking on the main battle in Engines of War. The whole trilogy built up to the final battle for the Anvil between the guilds and Sanctan’s ministry. Overall, it didn’t disappoint. The narrative choices really worked for me, and I liked how they made the battle feel more grounded. Things did seem to wrap up a bit quickly, though, and I was expecting it to be a much larger and prolonged conflict than it turned out to be. I liked that it ended up giving more breathing room to the aftermath of the war and the politics of the restructuring of the government. It was yet another example of how the author did a good job of balancing the action and character-driven political aspects of the book.

All in all, Engines of War was a satisfying conclusion that wrapped up the main conflicts of the trilogy well while also laying the groundwork for potential future installments set in this world. The character work was phenomenal, and the author did a fantastic job of weaving so many story threads into an intricate web of action, intrigue, and captivating world-building. I rarely wanted to put it down. Therefore, I rate this book 4.25 out of 5 stars.

The Age of Uprising series is definitely one of my favorite fantasy series of the past 25 years. R.S. Ford has penned one of the most ingenious magic systems coupled with incredible characterization. You have it all in this series, airships, dark magic, warring factions who will not hesitate to off anyone who gets in their way, and some of the deepest worldbuilding I've come across in quite some time.

As this is the concluding volume in this trilogy, I will steer away from giving up too much of the plot. Suffice to say Ford delivers the goods in every possible aspect. Honestly, I feel like Ford has gotten progressively better with each series (this is his third by the way) and this one should catapult him into the bigtime right along the giant authors in the genre.

The thing that I love about this final book ENGINES OF WAR is that it not only wraps up all of the storylines in a more than satisfying way, but it leaves you wanting more and sad that it is all over. Too many times we see authors whiff and write a conclusion that doesn't live up to the amazing story leading up to it. Not so with this white knuckle epic fantasy thrill ride of a book.

If you only read one fantasy series this year, grab this one and read them all cover to cover. You won't be disappointed and you will be treated to so many twists and turns that will reinvigorate your love for this genre. A game changer for sure that should make tremendous waves. Absolutely a banger of a story that no one should miss.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Engines of War delivers a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the Age of Uprising trilogy, balancing brutal warfare with deeply personal stakes. As the Guilds press toward Torwyn’s capital and dark magic stirs in the shadows, Rosomon Hawkspur’s moral dilemma anchors the chaos with emotional weight. Ford excels at weaving explosive action with character growth, especially as the Hawkspur children take the battlefield, each marked by loss and change. While the pace occasionally stumbles under the weight of its complex politics and lore, the payoff is worth it, a final act full of sacrifice, power, and heart. A gritty, steampunk-tinged finale that burns bright to the end.

I didn't know that this was another part of the journey and not the end of the story. That being said I happy to continue this journey. I found the writing to still be top class, and the story was engaging and entertaining as the previous books. The level of action, intrigue and story tell9ng were still so very good. There were some surprises that were suspected by me, but others may have seen them coming. The characters are growing and changing, and you may like them or not but currently I enjoy the way they are being portrayed and written. Where we are at in the story you can see the glimpses of what may be coming in the future really. Now I wonder what new characters and new paths the future will bring into this story. I can only eagerly wait to see what comes next. As usual many thanks to the author, publishers and netgalley for a chance to read a really good book.

It felt like this was mostly the set up. Airships to solve the issue was cool, but heavily foreshadowed with the names of things. I just didn't feel anything going into the end of the story.

a fun book! i didn't read the first two books (!!) but i found this one still quite satisfactory! maybe i should go back and read them. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I've said this after every book in this series, and I'm going to say it again. I can't believe how underrated this series is! It has become one of my all time favorite series, and it deserves so much more love!

While I'm sad that this is the last book in the trilogy, I can't help but hope for more in this world. Even though there were a lot of reveals, there is still so much unanswered.

It's rare for a series with multi pov's to love every pov, but I loved them all.
These characters and everything that's been thrown at them are just fantastic. Especially the Hawkspurs. All three heirs to the Hawkspur Guild are changed in unthinkable ways, yet they fight on.

Please give me more in this world!

8/10

Thank you to the Author and Publisher for providing me an ARC of one of my most anticipated books this year!

The first thing that I will say here is that having the dramatis personae at the front of this book (as well as a map which I always appreciate) was very helpful given that it has been 2+ years since I read the previous two entries. That being said I would have really appreciated a series recap of sorts at the beginning to really refresh my memory, I always really appreciate one of those. Now obviously this doesn't affect the actual quality of the book itself because I could have reread the previous two books before reading this one if I had the time, so the struggle I had to remember all of the characters at and what had happened to them was just as much on me. Also I went into this book thinking that it was the conclusion of a trilogy. It is not, there is definitely more to come. Again this is on me, but it is not something I am upset about as it means that I do not have to say goodbye to this world/story/characters yet!

Now that all of that is out of the way lets talk about the actual book!

The writing was very well done, as always. The worldbuilding here is minimal, in the sense that it is just expanding on what was established in the previous two books, but is such a cool concept. I love the steampunk-ish fantasy vibes mixed in with some religious oppression. There is a the fight to determine who will rule between a religious despotism and an oligarchy of the Guilds, all while some characters acknowledge that this leaves the average person in the gutter either way. This brings me to the characters themselves. Told through multiple POV's there were certainly some characters I enjoyed reading about more than others, but all are well written and have realistic motivators that drive all of their actions. This makes the characters believable, even as they do, or become, totally unbelievable things, because you know fantasy.

Another thing that I really enjoy about this book, and the series as a whole, is that both the scenes of political machinations and the scenes of combat are treated with equal, or close to equal, measure. Both of them are well written and keep you engaged. There is still a lot of mysticism behind the magic systems in this book though, there is some explanation on how certain things work, but most of it is left purposely vague, for now. I am thinking that this will become much more of a focus in the books to come and I am excited to learn more about that, specifically the magics of Nyrakkis. Most chapters in the book are also fairly short which makes this somewhat long book seem smaller and just fly by as I always found myself thinking "ok maybe one more chapter".

Overall this was a great entry to a, so far, excellent series that I once again would highly recommend others check out. This series deserves so much more attention and hype than I see for it and I am glad that I discovered it!

Unfortunately this was extremely disappointing for me as a conclusion to a trilogy. After not being happy with how characters progressed in book 2 things did not get better from there. No one was a good character they all had such terrible things happen to them, thus leading them to become terrible themselves. And while the main plot mostly wrapped up there are so many unanswered questions that if you care at all for this world you will have to continue reading if spin offs get publish.

I loved the magic and tech mix and wished we'd seen more of that especially with the animal companions we had in book 2 but alas we did not.

I would definitely check out this authors other works but probably won't read the spin offs that none from this.

Check out Richard Swans Empire of the Wolf if you want similar morally grey characters or The Radiant King by David Dalglish

R. S. Ford’s Engines of War is a stunning conclusion to the Age of Uprising trilogy - brimming with high stakes battles, political backstabbing, and powerful emotional payoffs. This final installment brings the Hawkspur family’s turbulent journey to a climactic end, delivering everything fans could hope for - thrilling action, rich character development, and a world pushed to the brink of transformation.

Ford has crafted a fantasy series that’s unafraid to tackle the complexity of revolution, legacy, and ambition, and Engines of War brings those themes into sharp and brutal focus. The pacing is relentless, weaving together the fates of multiple characters with multiple twists. The betrayals, shifting alliances, and moral ambiguity are razor sharp and evoking the best of Game of Thrones with a voice and vision all Ford’s own.

What makes this finale truly shine is its emotional resonance. The Hawkspurs, each on their own harrowing path, must finally face the consequences of their choices, and Ford doesn’t hold back. He brings satisfying closure while leaving just enough rawness and reflection to linger after the final page ( me currently in emotional turmoil).

The world of Torwyn is...gritty, industrial, and teetering on the edge. It feels fully realized and more immersive. From steely war machines to whispered conspiracies in shadowy halls, Ford blends military fantasy and political drama with precision.

Engines of War is an unforgettable, cathartic end to a series that stands tall among modern fantasy epics. Fans of grimdark and epic fantasy: this trilogy is a must-read.

Thank you to R. S. Ford , Orbit Books and Netgalley.. This was an adventure for the books!

The author has a distinct writing style that adds depth and character to the narrative. A compelling read.

The conclusion of this magnificent, dark fantasy series is everything I hoped for. Complex characters and surprising twists and turns keep the reader entertained and surprised from first to last page. The prose is better than average and the chapters are generally not too long, which is a plus for me. I hope to read more from this author and this world.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and I’m soooo happy I got to finally read the conclusion to this beloved trilogy!!! If you havnt started this trilogy this is your sign! Super fast faced from chapter one and utterly unputdownable! The political intrigue will have your head spinning!
A new auto but author! You won’t want to leave this world behind!

Engines of War by R.S. Ford is a fast-paced and gritty fantasy novel that delivers high-octane action with a steampunk edge. Set in a world of clashing empires and war machines, the novel follows a band of misfit soldiers and inventors thrown into the heart of a deadly conflict. Ford weaves together intense battle scenes, dark humor, and compelling character arcs, particularly highlighting the toll of war on both the land and the people.

The book stands out for its vivid world-building and inventive technology, blending magic and machinery in unique ways. While it leans heavily on action, there’s enough political intrigue and character development to keep things grounded. A solid read for fans of grimdark or military fantasy with a mechanical twist.

A dramatic and satisfying conclusion to a series filled with magic and industrialization. Now that the series has finished, I hope to see more readers pick it up. I look forward to what Ford writes next; maybe some prequel novellas or short stories?

From an unmissable voice in epic fantasy comes the final novel in a trilogy where guilds clash, magic fuels machines, and an all-out war has consumed an empire.This is a great finale to a very underrated fantasy series. Final Fantasy mixed with Game of Thrones. Very fast pacecd with tons of action, I absolutely flew through this series. More people need to check out this series!