You tell me Asian SF and I’m an instant buy! As soon as I heard about Gearbreakers I was instantly intrigued by this sapphic SF. And what I found was amazing – found family, stories of rebellion, and all the intrigue. Keep reading this book review for my full review.
Summary
The shadow of Godolia’s tyrannical rule is spreading, aided by their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. War and oppression are everyday constants for the people of the Badlands, who live under the thumb of their cruel Godolia overlords.
Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a brash young rebel who specializes in taking down Windups from the inside. When one of her missions goes awry and she finds herself in a Godolia prison, Eris meets Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot. At first Eris sees Sona as her mortal enemy, but Sona has a secret: She has intentionally infiltrated the Windup program to destroy Godolia from within.
As the clock ticks down to their deadliest mission yet, a direct attack to end Godolia’s reign once and for all, Eris and Sona grow closer–as comrades, friends, and perhaps something more..
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: torture
Enemies to possibility, romance, and rebellion – Gearbreakers has it all. While the start was pretty rocky – in terms of all the world construction and getting to know the POVs – I quickly became obsessed. At the beginning, it’s just difficult to get a handle on the technology, the differences and the intricacies of Eris and Sona. Conceptually, cyborgs and SF worlds will always get to my heart. So I was overjoyed when it became a bit clearer and I was able to focus on the story and the characters.
Themes
Gearbreakers blooms into a story about found family, rebellion, and loyalty. For fans of Skyhunter, Gearbreakers has to be the best reading companion! I loved the side characters, the ways they’re all reeling from the effects of the rebellion, the days they spend running for their lives, and the nights haunted by loss. The ways we fear the symbols of death, oppression, and loss, but they’re just made of metal. Gearbreakers examines the different avenues of rebellion. Of commitment and what we are willing to lose.
I adore books that examine the consequences and losses of rebellion. And it’s not hard to love Eris’ snarky spirit and Sona’s fire. The ways they’re, in some ways, driven by that same burning and all consuming rage, but also so different. They have matching fire and fuels, rage that burns with a simmering heart that’s ready to explode. How Gearbreakers allows their relationship to evolve, to see the fears and vulnerabilites with no words. The ways we can call each other out because we see the doubts and fears.
Overall,
If you push through the beginning, you’ll find a book about humanity. The ways we have to be willing to see past the surface to our intentions. You’ll read about characters who were never shown warmth, who have to hide their soft edges, and who learn to unfurl. Full of fantastic battle scenes and a detailed SF world, that ending has lead to many sleepless nights and I need the sequel!
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Find Gearbreakers on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.