The first novel in the Machinery trilogy.
It's pretty good. I wasn't sure what to expect before starting, but Cowan is a pretty good writer. The novel didn't wholly grab my attention (perhaps my mood at the time meant I wasn't really into it), but the prose style is accessible and well-paced.

An interesting novel, I'm looking forward to reading the other two novels.

The Machinery is a fast paced and exciting tale from author Gerard Cowan. The title and cover art made me believe that this book was a science fiction novel, but it definitely lands in the fantasy category. The story drops us right into the midst of the action and is full to the brim with magic, prophecies and political intrigue.

I really enjoyed Cowan's writing style. It was so easy to sink into the story and become completely absorbed for hours on end. The story is told through multiple third person POVs, giving us the chance to get to know the different characters in the story. The world building in the story is well plotted and detailed, something that helped me to understand what was going on in the story. There is a bit of mystery surrounding what is going on, and I found myself a little confused at times as to what was actually happening.

The Machinery is an impressive start to what I am sure will be an action packed and heart pounding series. I'm interested to find out how the story will continue in book two, especially given that a number of questions are left unanswered in book one. If you're looking for some fast and gripping fantasy this summer, The Machinery is exactly what you're looking for.

I requested this book when I first joined NetGalley however reading the premise now this is not a book that appeals to me and therefore I will not be reading and reviewing it. Due to this I have rated the book 3 stars as I think this is a fair rating.

The premise of The Machinery really intrigued me so I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, for me, I just couldn’t get into it. Nothing wrong with the book, this one is on me. The writing is good, the idea solid, but it just wasn’t for me!

I wasn't able to finish The Machinery. I tried several times, but I couldn't get into the story. I found it hard to follow. I was confused about what was going on, especially at the very beginning. Because I never finished reading it, Normally I wouldn't give stars to a book that I didn't finish, but Netgalley won't let me submit this without stars. So, to be fair to the author, I am giving it a 3 star rating, which is a so-so rating by my scale. Perhaps other readers will enjoy this story. It wasn't boring; it just wasn't for me. And, as I said, I kept getting confused about what was going on. That might just be me, though, and I don't want to deter anyone from reading the book.