The Engineer

Magic & Steam, Book 1

De: C.S. Poe

Narrado por: Declan Winters

1881 - Special Agent Gillian Hamilton is a magic caster with the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam. He’s sent to Shallow Grave, Arizona, to arrest a madman engineer known as Tinkerer, who’s responsible for blowing up half of Baltimore. Gillian has handled some of the worst criminals in the Bureau’s history, so this assignment shouldn’t be a problem. But even he’s taken aback by a run-in with the country’s most infamous outlaw, Gunner the Deadly.

Gunner is also stalking Shallow Grave in search of Tinkerer, who will stop at nothing to take control of the town’s silver mines. Neither Gillian nor Gunner are willing to let Tinkerer hurt more innocent people, so they agree to a very temporary partnership.

If facing illegal magic, Gatling gun contraptions, and a wild engineer in America’s frontier wasn’t enough trouble for a city boy, Gillian must also come to terms with the reality that he’s rather fond of his partner. But even if they live through this adventure, Gillian fears there’s no chance for love between a special agent and outlaw.

Based on the short story, "Gunner the Deadly." Entirely revised, newly expanded, and book one in the exciting new steampunk series, Magic & Steam.

©2020 C. S. Poe (P)2020 C. S. Poe

Cool Concept

This was a cool concept I'm excited to hear more. The characters were engaging and fleshed out.

Wonderful

Listening to the audio is just as if not better than reading it. The narrator did an excellent job. Loved the story.

Exciting Story Great Narrative

I enjoyed it a lot. It is a break from my usual venue. Narration performance very good.

So this is steampunk! Hecking yeah!

Steampunk has found a brand new fan! I had no real understanding of the word but I believe so sincerely in this writer's work so I clamored to read this story and oh my goodness. C. S. Poe is simply brilliant anyway. But she brings a certain intensity to this story by sweeping the reader right into the action. There's no setting up the scene, this author's no tease... Wham! You're right there in the midst of a gunfight with a combination of extraordinary machines, incredible magic, and two awesome men so gloriously different from each other, one's left speechless! And we haven't yet finished the first chapter! I was listening to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Declan Winters, and went to my sound system to see how much of the story I had remaining because I wanted it to go on for days and knew I would have just a few short hours to enjoy a world I've only just visited. From chapter to chapter, Poe kept the energy high-right until the very last word. Wow, just wow. I am SO looking forward to this series.

So quick!

This was action packed and had a very sweet and tender start to a romance. This book felt more like a part 1 instead of book 1, and left on a HFN. I am waiting for the series to be completed before continuing - I'm really interested in what happens with the plot and romance!

Amazing

Steampunk isn’t my normal thing but I love the author so I gave it a try and I’m so glad I did.

Captivating - with some critiques

This is more a review of the series than of The Engineer specifically. It's an incredibly captivating story, I purchased The Gangster and The Doctor almost immediately after finishing this one.

1. Gillian's powers could use a bit more specificity, particularly when he's doing large spells that do intricate things.

2. Gillian's powers seem limitless. I don't mean in terms of strength but rather, uh, flavour? He'll just do a new form of magic out of nowhere with no previous hint towards it, saying that he simply preferred not to do it.

3. Something happens and you think "small world, huh?" and it just keeps getting smaller.

4. While the intimate scenes are nice, they do seem rather out of place. You learn some things about their dynamic, but mostly I find they grind the story to a halt.

That being said, I'm very much looking forward to the next book.

Imaginative and captivatng.

The engrossing story made me forget this wasn't a full length novel. Great characters, wonderful narration.

Great little novella. Looking Forward to Series

Great two-hour listen with fantastic world-building and characters. I have not enjoyed a mm fantasy/scifi/romance this much in ages. Narration is spot on. Likeable, fully realized protagonists. Nice lead-in to followup books.

This book has it all: airships, cowboys, saloons, and handsome gruff hairy heroes.

Well I'm absolutely IN LOVE

I absolutely loved this book, and loved the audio more! Every character was crafted uniqely, and spot on as far as the delivery matching their character! The saltiness of Gillian, the confidence of Gunner.... I'm absolutely in love all over again!