Engines of Empire

November 8, 2021
Despite a prologue a bit too reminiscent of the start of A Game of Thrones, Ford (the War of the Archons series) succeeds in building a complex fantasy world, complete with warring factions, fearsome creatures, and bloody struggles for power in his Age of Uprising series launch. The nation of Torwyn is distinguished by its focus on engineering; its Hawkspur Guild has achieved ascendancy, from its humble beginnings as couriers, by constructing a comprehensive system of rail lines traversing all of Torwyn. But Guildmaster Rosomon Hawkspur confronts multiple threats to her organization’s primacy and challenges to the reign of Torwyn’s emperor, Sullivar Archwind. Among them is a false accusation that her artificer son, Fulren, assassinated Assenah Neskhon, a royal emissary of a rival nation regarded as demon worshippers. Ford effectively maintains tension by toggling between Fulren’s plight and the perils faced by his siblings: Conall, a military captain, and Tyreta, a webwainer able to manipulate the crystals that are Torwyn’s main energy source. Their struggles build to a well-earned dramatic conclusion that sets up the next book nicely. Fans of R.A. Salvatore’s DemonWars Saga will be especially hooked. John Jarrold, John Jarrold Literary.

Starred review from December 1, 2021
The first installment of Ford's Age of Uprising saga is unadulterated epic fantasy set in an aetherpunk realm where the mining and innovative utilization of magic-powered pyrestones have made the nation of Torwyn a virtual empire of industry. The guilds rule Torwyn--and have for generations. Although newly crowned Emperor Sullivar reigns over the realm, it's the various guilds that are the lifeblood of the nation--controlling the military, transit, mining, farming, etc. But when an emissary from Malador--a country that has been enemies with Torwyn for thousands of years--attending Sullivar's coronation and with a potential peace treaty in the balance is assassinated and Fulren, Sullivar's young nephew, is falsely accused and essentially sentenced to death by being sent to Malador for punishment, Fulren's mother, Rosomon Hawkspur, realizes treachery is afoot. As fanatics from the Draconate Ministry, Torwyn's ecclesiastic power, begin a masterfully planned coup, Rosomon and her children--who are scattered throughout the realm--attempt to stop the rebellion. Conall, a captain in the military, is stationed at a remote outpost; Tyreta, Rosomon's responsibility-shirking daughter, is visiting mining operations in the wild Sundered Isles; and Fulren, now a prisoner in an enemy land, attempts to stay alive long enough to unravel the conspiratorial mystery. Narrated from multiple points of view, the novel fully displays Ford's ability to create dynamic and emotionally connective characters. Additionally, his ability to write and twist together numerous plot threads and have each one feel like the primary narrative makes this grand-scale tale seem less bloated and unwieldy. Although some sequences early on feel a bit contrived, once this mammoth novel gains momentum, readers should disregard this minor flaw and find themselves fully immersed in a story that features a virtual toy chest full of fantasy delights, including magic-powered land- and airships, demon lords, sentient goat-headed beasts, war eagles, pirates, and deified wyrms. Epic fantasy fans listen up: This is the good stuff. Highly recommended.

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December 15, 2021
The Hawkspurs of Wyke are one of the most noble Guilds in all of Torwyn, with matriarch Rosomon even having a royal connection via her brother, the emperor. But surrounding the Hawkspurs are conspiracy and political intrigue, which could spell their doom. Oldest son Conall is performing military duties abroad, where he discovers a potential threat against Torwyn. Daughter Tyreta sets sail for New Flaym to hone her webwainer skills and encounters a deadly resistance to the human inhabitants on the Sundered Isles. Youngest son Fulren is accused of murdering a foreign ambassador and sent into enemy territory to receive punishment. When the emperor is assassinated following a religious coup, the Hawkspurs fight to find their way home before Torwyn is thrown into civil war. The latest from Ford (A Demon in Silver, 2018) is the first in a new series that will give fantasy readers exactly what they want: conspiracy, magic, a delectable cast of characters, and an ending that will leave them begging to know what happens next.

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