I was lucky enough to get to the opportunity to read an early manuscript of The Council of Light, book one in the Mechanic and Architect series by Remy Welch. It had been some time since I dived into a sci-fi epic, but I devoured this one. Welch has an impressive ability to build a unique world of elaborately constructed technology without getting too indulgent. She has written into being a universe I was happy to spend some time in and a cast of characters I want to spend even more time with; from Marim—the Amazonian-like warrior who pummels first and asks questions later, to Lucia—the mysterious wanderer whose ability to cook a serviceable meal without a proper kitchen makes her an indispensable asset for the crew of the hobbled-together duster, the Sheharazade.
The story follows the misadventures of the series titular mechanic, Ben—the ne’er-do-well lone survivor of the catastrophic death of his home planet—and his band of misfit companions as they travel the galaxy searching for bounty and finding trouble, learning along that way that in a big dangerous universe, maybe the only way to survive is to be a bit too weird to be assimilated. Between hunting marks, Ben tells the crew his origin story. The ensuing tale is as tragic as it is hilarious, and you can’t help but root for the foul-mouthed Ben as he recites his past life committing galactic espionage and dealing in illicit substances. From elaborate religions, exquisitely detailed technology, and unique alien races, this story has everything you look for in a rich sci-fi novel.
I look forward to seeing what else Welch has up her sleeve for this series.
So you’ve inadvertently trapped an ancient trans-dimensional god in your backyard shed; what do you do? That’s what Venus McKenzy and her friends would like to know.
I was lucky enough to get to the opportunity to read an early manuscript of The Council of Light, book one in the Mechanic and Architect series by Remy Welch. It had been some time since I dived into a sci-fi epic, but I devoured this one. Welch has an impressive ability to build a unique world of elaborately constructed technology without getting too indulgent. She has written into being a universe I was happy to spend some time in and a cast of characters I want to spend even more time with; from Marim—the Amazonian-like warrior who pummels first and asks questions later, to Lucia—the mysterious wanderer whose ability to cook a serviceable meal without a proper kitchen makes her an indispensable asset for the crew of the hobbled-together duster, the Sheharazade.
The story follows the misadventures of the series titular mechanic, Ben—the ne’er-do-well lone survivor of the catastrophic death of his home planet—and his band of misfit companions as they travel the galaxy searching for bounty and finding trouble, learning along that way that in a big dangerous universe, maybe the only way to survive is to be a bit too weird to be assimilated. Between hunting marks, Ben tells the crew his origin story. The ensuing tale is as tragic as it is hilarious, and you can’t help but root for the foul-mouthed Ben as he recites his past life committing galactic espionage and dealing in illicit substances. From elaborate religions, exquisitely detailed technology, and unique alien races, this story has everything you look for in a rich sci-fi novel.
I look forward to seeing what else Welch has up her sleeve for this series.