The survivors of a world destroyed by technological and magical excesses have fled to an island on an ocean planet. Amid a web of conspiracy and betrayal, a young girl holds a power that may prove to be her society’s final hope—or doom.
Rainy days are made for reading. Settle into a comfortable chair with a soft pillow, a warm blanket, and a cup of hot tea. Oh—and Holly Phillips’ new novel, The Engine’s Child. Life, for the moment, cannot get any better.
Phillips captures her reader’s attention early with her rich, almost lyrical prose. Rasnan, an island on an ocean world, shelters the descendants of a people who escaped from a society ruined by magic and technology. Throughout the work, Phillips carefully weaves the two until magic and technology are almost indistinguishable. While this could have been cliché, the author handles the story with such aplomb that the reader is willing to forgive any slight inconsistencies.
Beyond these rich descriptions lies the story. The Society of Doors, a mysterious group, desires to re-open the doors that would lead them back to the dangerous world they fled.
Against this backdrop, however, three people threaten to cripple Rasnan even more: Lord Ghar, follower of the lost gods, who engages in a dangerous power play; Lady Vashmarna, a ruler barely clinging to power, who plots with her scientific idealists; and Moth, a young novice from the Tidal slums, who possesses a link to a dark force that may hold her people’s salvation or destruction.
While Phillips’ velvety-smooth prose is appealing, it is her knack for storytelling that captures the reader. People who enjoy both high concept and dark fantasy should enjoy this richly detailed work. The multilayers of shady dealings, complicated characters, and tight adventure offer exactly the type of read perfect for any day (though especially the rainy ones).
To buy a copy of this book, click here
If you liked this book, check out:
The Love We Share Without Knowing
The Magicians and Mrs. Quent
House of Many Ways
Chalice