By Alexis Radcliff
Published October 1st, 2015 by Fatecaster Press
338 pages
4 stars - Fantastic!
*A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!*
Summary from Goodreads.com:
A VANISHING GLOW is the exciting opening to THE MYSTECH ARCANUM series, a deep and thrilling blend of steampunk and flintlock fantasy with mature themes.
It is an Age of Revolution, an Age of Industrialism. Constructs, living men who are as much brass and steel as they are flesh, man the factories and wage the wars of a ruling elite who gorge themselves on the fruits of the common man’s labor. Mystech, a brilliant fusion of magic and machine, gives rise to a new class of privileged inventors and merchants even as the country festers with wounds from decades of internal strife.
Only one man holds the promise of a brighter future: Nole Ryon, the crown prince. When his childhood friend Jason Tern answers his call for aid, the two of them set out to fight for the change their country needs in order to survive, even as shadowy foes frustrate their efforts. But soon, Jason and Nole’s idealistic mission of hope becomes a furious manhunt for a political murderer as the nation balances on the precipice of a country-wide civil war. Can they cut through the threads of intrigue to discover their true enemy before everything is lost?
Sweeping from the ancient cities at the heart of the nation to the dusty edges of the war-torn frontier, A Vanishing Glow tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and assassins, friends and lovers, who come together in a time of epic struggle. Here a brave officer risks everything to win back his estranged father’s respect; a brilliant young engineer attempts to atone for her sins; a war-weary commander tries to pick up the pieces of the life he lost; and a man touched by the gods struggles to prepare a nation for the coming of an ancient evil which only he can see. In the dying light of a once-prosperous society, amid twisting plots, suffering and betrayal, lost love and shattered dreams, all must fight for what they hold dear. Who will taste the fruits of victory and who will lie bloodied on the ground in the light of a vanishing glow?
Review:
A Vanishing Glow is unlike what I have read in the past. It is an incredibly intriguing book that incorporates mature themes, neat ideas, and interesting characters.
I was hooked from the start. I wanted to keep on reading to find out who was behind the murders. I can honestly say that I didn't see any of it coming. I was surprised until the very end. There was a ton of action, suspense, and thrilling sequences. Readers will definitely be kept on their toes throughout this book.
The characters were interesting and I enjoyed reading through more than one point of view. There are many different stories told and that made the book that more enjoyable. Each character had to go through some pretty tough situations but they were able to grow from them some in the end.
Then there was the whole fantasy and steampunk feel to this book. Alexis Radcliff's world building and descriptions helped to create a world that felt incredibly real. It felt like I was in a different yet similar world to my own. Radcliff definitely came up with some interesting ideas. I enjoyed the whole idea of magic and mechanics and of people with brass limbs.
All together, this book was a great read! I was interested from the beginning and there were many elements that added together to create something pretty cool. There was action, suspense, love, friendship, and growth. As well as interesting ideas of magic and machine. A pretty great start to this series! Definitely pick up today if you are even slightly interested!
Vanessa
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