A woman with the strength to rebel. A shapeshifter who wears the souls of the dead. Together, they face a lethal enemy. In a 19th Century Australian city owned by industrialists, Em sells her magic to make ends meet. The extraction procedure is brutal and potentially deadly. Desperate for change, she joins an underground resistance movement to weaponize her magic and stop the abuse of workers. Meanwhile, a mysterious voice wakes Ruk from a decades long slumber and compels him to become human. He wants to break free but is torn between his shapeshifter instincts and the needs of the soul that sustains him. On streets haunted by outcasts and predatory automatons, a new danger emerges – an ever-growing corruption of magic and science. Em and Ruk must put aside their differences and pursue it. Their discovery will forever change their lives. Or end them.
An intriguing read. Not usually a fan of steampunk but I really was drawn in by the Ruk and Em characters and the magic system. Complex and fascinating.
Makes for engrossing reading
...this is a fresh and extremely engrossing read! Steampunk, magic and use of Leibnitz ideas woven in a great story! Lots of unexecpected twists and turns...
"I thoroughly enjoyed The Eternal Machine, and it is a welcome addition to the genre"
"The novel offers well-delineated characters and a compelling plot."
"This debut novel is a truly original fantasy/sci-fi book with steampunk and Victorian vibes."
"Steampunk with heart...I truly didn't want to put it down as I just needed answers."
Steampunk, magic, and wonderfully drawn characters, who began to care about from the book's beginning.
...an inventive and elaborate debut novel firmly within the Steampunk sub-genre of science fiction, and Ryles has crafted a one-of-a-kind magic system that both underlies and drives the plot throughout. Balancing the elegant world-building is a rich cast of colourful characters that bring the city of Forsham and its dark workings to life. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys detailed world-building, Steampunk fiction, or dark fantasy epics!
One of the best fantasies I've read recently. The book describes a very rich world and very plausible characters without ever being didactic on one hand or obscurantist on the other. Very readable and engrossing.
"A new steampunk read from a debut author in the genre. Highly sophisticated world-building with combination of alternate history, steampunk and gaslamp fantasy makes this suitable for audiences of all three genres. A well-recommended read!"
