The Engineer

by Darran M. Handshaw

"We are born in the shadow of fading memories and fallen dreams, living our days within the decaying bones of an age long gone."

When the Engineer, Actaeon, arrives at Pyramid in the heart of Redemption, nothing goes according to plan. Mysterious raiders pursue him relentlessly across the shattered remains of the ancient metropolis, and the leaders of his homeland pay no heed to his ambitious ideas. Meanwhile, deep beneath Pyramid, a deadly creature stirs. And, when Actaeon meets a skilled young Knight Arbiter with brilliant blue eyes, he starts down a path he could never have imagined.

The vast, fallen city of the Ancients is home to a new people who face the constant struggle to find resources needed to survive in the dangerous ruins. For the Engineer, however, Redemption is a treasure trove of technology, opportunity, and answers. But his unique skills make him a target for those who would use his talents to achieve their own dreams of power and control.

In his endless quest for the truth, will Actaeon discover the fallen city’s greatest secrets? Or will he share the same fate as the Ancients of whom nothing remains but a whisper?

One thing is certain: in Redemption, everything comes with a cost.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia

600 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2017

About the author

Darran M. Handshaw is the author of The Engineer and The Dark Heart of Redemption. In addition to writing, Darran works as an R&D Engineer at a technology company. There he invents and designs new products. He holds more than 70 patents in data capture, vision systems, and emergency services. Darran also volunteers as a firefighter and EMT with his local fire department, where he serves as the Chief of Department. Darran hails from Long Island, NY, where he lives with his wife, Stefanie, and son, Corwin, who fill his life with love, wisdom, and endless adventures.

You can follow Darran below:

On Amazon: amazon.com/author/engineer

On Facebook: facebook.com/ActaeonRellios

On Twitter: twitter.com/Engineer7601

Reviews

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE ENGINEER is a book that I have had on my TBR for quite some time. It was also a book that I couldn't wait to finally get to because I had read the premise over and over and was intrigued by the fact that the story is actually based on the "real life" story of how author Darran M. Handshaw met his wife. Apparently they met while playing a text-based RPG game which she was the co-creator of and they fell in love during that time. I found this so fascinating and was anxious to find out how that would work in a science-fiction story. Redemption, the setting of the book, is named after the setting in the RPG game. It's important for me to also mention that THE ENGINEER made it to the semi-finals in Mark Lawrence's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #4. I'm happy to be able to add another review of a self-published author to my blog and I try to do so as much as possible. I received a review copy from Darran a couple of months ago and just finished the book this past weekend. Let me say that it was indeed an interesting and thought-provoking read which I will now summarize and share my thoughts about.

The story begins in close proximity to a place called Pyramid within the ruined city of Redemption. The opening scene describes one of the two main characters Actaeon being pursued by raiders. Their motives for wanting to capture Actaeon are not entirely clear at first, but we soon learn of their intentions. Redemption can only be described as a somewhat dystopian city that appears to have once been technologically advanced and populated by a highly evolved culture, but is currently home to a people who have awoken from a seemingly collective amnesia. These people are satisfied to exist with whatever they can find in and around the perilous ruins. Actaeon however, is not content to live in this land as currently constituted and his occupation as an engineer only serves to further motivate him to try and rebuild what has been lost. He uses his carefully honed skills to fashion various technologically-advanced tools and weapons in his endeavor to find some answers as to what has befallen this society and to hopefully make it better if he can. The problem is that his tinkering and ambition have put him on the radar of some of the rulers of Redemption. They only see his knowledge as a potential weapon that they can use to further cement their power and to subjugate the clueless inhabitants of this futuristic fiefdom. Throughout much of the story Actaeon juggles his quest for new-found knowledge with his desire to avoid those who are hunting him for their own nefarious ends. In the midst of trying to escape this growing danger, he is rescued by a Knight Arbiter named Eisandre, who saves him from an incredibly perilous situation. Together they travel through Redemption battling various horrific creatures along the way as they try to uncover the secrets buried deep beneath this shattered metropolis, and one particularly mysterious monster who dwells under Pyramid itself. In the midst of all of this menace, a romance begins to develop between the two of them. As the feelings they have for each other progress, they realize that they must use that to unite if they wish to survive in a broken land that holds many more mysteries than they could ever imagine. Who were the Ancients who once dwelled in Redemption and why did they leave? Why can't Redemption's people remember life as it was before the apparent fall? And will Actaeon and Eisandre find answers to these questions before the corrupt leaders of Redemption decide that they have dug way too deep in their inquest for their liking?

For those who have never read my reviews, I'm very much a world-building guy. Don't get me wrong, I like good characterization as well but the thing that makes me get all the feels in a book is incredible world-building. I'm happy to say that THE ENGINEER has that in spades. Darran M. Handshaw has done an excellent job taking the RPG world that this story is based on and further developing it as the backdrop to a delightfully solid SF book. Another thing that I enjoyed about THE ENGINEER was the mystery of the setting itself and the Ancients who were the people of Redemption's predecessors. I thought this mystery really brought an aspect to the story that made me want to continue reading well past my usual bedtime. Although the romance angle wasn't heavy-handed, I did think that at times it did tend to slow the story down in a couple of spots, but that's really the only mild criticism I have if any. That being said, this is a big book and the romance is based on a true love story so it's entirely understandable. As I said though, it's not overdone or distracting and the story always ramps right back up thrusting us immediately back into the main conflict. Another unique element that I liked was how Handshaw infuses his own real life knowledge as an engineer to create a main character in his own image. You can definitely see the technical aspects of what Handshaw brings to the table shine through in Actaeon throughout the entire book. I was simply blown away by the ending and didn't see it coming at all. In fact, I was legitimately surprised by how the story concluded. So this is a book that also isn't predictable by any stretch of the imagination. In conclusion, I can definitely see why THE ENGINEER made it to the semi-finals of SPFBO4, as this is a book that certainly delivers in so many areas. The world-building is awesome, the characters make you care about what happens to them, and the underlying mystery of Redemption's past all combine to make this an excellent read for any discerning science-fiction reader. I truly can't wait to revisit this world again and I hope there is a book two in the works! Pretty sure I read in an interview with Darran that there is, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, I highly recommend THE ENGINEER if you are looking for an engaging story with plenty of thrills at every turn.

[Anj✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Engineer is a refreshing tale set in Redemption, a quirky post-apocalyptic place that follows Actaeon, an engineer, as he proves his worth to the rulers of Redemption and finds his place in this world.

What I like:
- Impressive worldbuilding: it feels ancient and new at the same time. One thing to note here, it's based on an online RPG that I've never seen nor played and Darran Handshaw's detailed description made it alive in my eyes. It's immersive as if I was there. It's just sooo good!
- There's so much going on that I'm like a kid in a candy store. There are strange artifacts from previous civilizations, monsters, ruins to explore, and inventions to build and tinker with Actaeon.
- I really like Actaeon. He's a bit absentminded, usually lost in thoughts and I like that he uses more his brains for new inventions and solving problems + his two sidekicks, Trench and Wave are witty and kickass. These three's bantering is always fun and heartwarming.
- This is a slow burn, kinda weird that I enjoyed the pacing but how I can I enjoy exploring the world if it's fast-paced 🤷🏽‍♀️ There's plenty of action that I think did a great balancing the slow pace.

What I did not like:
- There are some dialogues that felt too formal, stiff, and lengthy
- I liked Eisandre but I'm not sure if an Arbiter is fit for her. I find her too trusting with Actaeon and soft sometimes.

Overall, The Engineer is a fun read with a superb world full of adventures, artifacts waiting to be found, and awesome characters.

Thanks so much Escapist Tours and Darran Handshaw for the ebook. All thoughts and opinions are mine

[S A M | The Book in Hand · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW | THE ENGINEER BY DARRAN M. HANDSHAW

Hey Bookish Folk! I hope you are all doing well.

First and foremost, thank you very much to Darran for sending me a copy of this book, I received an eBook of The Engineer in exchange for an honest review.

Here are a few things you can expect from:

Vivid and detailed World-building;
A fab book cover;
A mysterious world you want to unravel and reveal all its history and secrets;
Based off a true romance; and
An unpredictable read.

On to the full review…

First off I would like to praise the artwork of Marcin Rubinkowski! The cover of this book is so dang cool…

Another quick fire fact about this book is that it made it to the semi-finals in Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off in 2018 I think. Now, if you don’t know about the SPFBO it is a competition between 300 books, all of whom are judged and try and claim the title of winner and The Engineer made it to the semi finals. That is pretty dang impressive and testament to Darran’s talent.

The Engineer has such a cool setting and Darran does incredibly well in building this world, it is a dystopia world while being in a bit of a technical age, though certainly not at its peak considering it is the remanent of an incredibly advance world and people. This world has so much going on, it has artefacts from the previous civilisations, raiders, monsters, ruins and more. It is vast and will no doubt impress you with its scope and imagination. So, if you love amazing world-building and thats your main need in a book, then read The Engineer you will be nothing but impressed with this world and Darran’s ability to immerse you into it.

Darran opens this book really well, we go straight into our main character Actaeon being pursued by raiders and we see him use his brains, while being sarcastic and witty, to get away, and then the journey begins. There is so much mystery within this book and it was great to slowly unravel it.

In the midst of Actaeon’s journey there is a romance, it is not a heavy romance and fits well with the rest of the plot. Although, I did find it slow at times though this is based off Darran’s own romance and love blossoms which ever way it damn well pleases.

The plot of this book, to me, felt somewhat slow despite its constant bouts of action. As with a lot of larger books there are some lull’s within it pages and it didn’t always feel even. Though, that isn’t to say the plot doesn’t progress, it does, and Darran does really well to keep the story moving, I just found it a little slow. I personally would have liked a little more speed, while I don’t need a super-sonic pace in a book, I do need some serious characterisations in them slower phases but this book gives you all its world building glory instead in those sections. You discover this incredible world with Actaeon and his companions as he goes and you unravel the mystery behind its history and the Ancients.

I liked the characters in The Engineer and really enjoyed the little snippets of their relationship building, though I did want to feel more for them. I think my biggest issue, and I would likely have connected a lot more with them if not for this, was the dialogue. It just didn’t feel organic to me. The characters were so well spoken and formal it came across as a little off for me. It was kind of like when you watch a YouTube video and you just know the person is reading a script from someone else, so they have their telephone voice on and you can’t quite feel their individuality.

The Engineer is not a predictable book and you will be sure to find some shocks along the way.

As you can see my above criticism is a preference point for me, do not doubt that Darran is an incredible writer and has written a fab book. I enjoyed this book overall and can see why it made it to the semi-finals with its exceptional world-building, likeable characters and the need to unravel this worlds mysteries.

THE RANKS:

BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE

For me this is a BUY THE EBOOK rating, it is an enjoyable book. One with such an incredible world you cant help but need to know all of its secrets.

You can pick up a copy of this book here

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, the standout aspect of The Engineer has to be its worldbuilding. I’ve sometimes found that to be a somewhat weaker aspect in books inspired by or based on RPG’s, but that is certainly not the case here, as Handshaw has done a fantastic job of taking that original world and the elements of an RPG and transforming it into something more. There was a breadth and depth to the worldbuilding, with many different elements, which meant that it was far more than just a backdrop to the action. I particularly enjoyed the fact that there was some mystery to both the current setting and its history. I always appreciate when we’re given the sense that the world has grown and changed and been shaped over time rather than having us just dropped into the present. This was a world that I wanted to spend more and more time in as the book continued, and that is the kind of worldbuilding that I love.
The characterisation was solid, each character having their own voice and motivations, and they brought a real humanity to the story. I would also love to read more with these characters, especially with some of the secondary characters. While I did find some of the character moments, especially those revolving around the romance a little slower than the rest of the book, they were integral to the book and dealt with in a believable, well-balanced manner that fitted the setting and plot. It was even better knowing that this entire book is based on how the author and his wife met and fell and love. Going into the story knowing this added a whole other dimension to the story, and Handshaw balanced that with action needed for a fantasy. I also like how the author’s own real-life knowledge and experience was infused into the character of Actaeon, and it was fascinating to read a story with an Engineer as the main character, especially with that added dimension of technical knowledge.
The story was just as well-developed as the characters and worldbuilding and brought the other two dimensions together into a well-polished book that pulls you in from start to finish, balancing action with character development. It was an engaging read that still managed to catch me by surprise as I hadn’t seen the conclusion coming, and yet was satisfied by, although I certainly hope to read more in this world. I think my only gripe was the dialogue felt a little stilted in places, but compared to everything else that was a very minor complaint, and certainly didn’t affect the flow of the story.
The Engineer was a fun, engaging read that delivered across the board. It was definitely a standout for the year with its worldbuilding, and if you’re someone who wants to sink into a fantasy world and lose yourself in it, then I can’t recommend this one strongly enough.

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really well-crafted fantasy novel, and is well worth the investment to read.

The world is vivid and detailed, with a distinct and comprehensible socio-political structure. The author does try to include spirituality, although, given the personalities of the main characters, there is little room for this to be explored in detail. (This is an oft-shortchanged component in fantasy novels, and one I find to be the most interesting. I really appreciate that the author does seem to have a vision and plan in progress, even though we don't get to learn much about it so far!)

The characters are also well-developed - especially the male characters. I had difficulty connecting with the few lead female characters - in part, this is due to their personalities (and working in heavily male-dominated spaces, no doubt), but I also found a certain dimension was lacking (unfortunately, I can't identify what, specifically, this is - just that they don't really "feel" female to me). Still, the author does do a very good job of building a world where there is, at least, the appearance of gender parity in terms of having women fill leadership roles with their gender not being a factor in execution.

I found the story moved along at a very good clip, with plenty of action and interesting quests for our titular engineer to solve. Many of these seemed tangential, but the author did do a very good job to ensure that they were ultimately connected to the main action. This indicates an incredible eye for detail! I found these side-quests to be some of the most interesting elements of the story!

The author is very upfront (he states it in the prologue) that there is a romance in this novel, and that it's based on his own experience. I thought that these two characters approached this in a very sweet way - both are new to romantic attachments, and both are socially awkward (to differing extents and in different elements). I think this was well-developed. Still, I found most swathes of the dialogue - exclusively dialogue specific to moving along the romantic element - to be painful to read (it stopped all the action far too often - there are ways to develop a romance without hurting the pace of the main story). I think so much more could have been done in terms of using brief descriptions of body language (e.g. she glanced nervously away as she struggled to find words), etc, to demonstrate the characters' uncertainty. It also seemed to me that both characters retreated to a much more formal use of language - as though using words as armour - which made an awkward (and nonsensical) dichotomy with the soul-baring content of these conversations. To be clear, dialogue in all other situations was very well-executed.

In spite of this being a rather long novel, I am definitely anxious to read more about this world! There are a lot of mysteries left to solve in terms of understanding the history and framework of this world, and I don't feel as though we've finished with these characters! (I really hope we're not finished!)

I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.

[Aline Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw “The Engineer” I was curious to know what was it about, especially because it is not common to see an action-packed story featuring an engineer. And I was surprised to find such a great story, from this excellent writer, Darran Handshaw, which is growing quickly in fame. It is one of the most engaging fantasy novels I have read lately, and it only took a couple of pages to realize this was something you don’t want to miss. The story takes place in a dystopian fantasy world, where Actaeon battles his numerous enemies surrounded by a rich environment that has seen better times, featuring many of the best described, exciting and accurate action scenes I have read in a long time. I’d definitely say that “The Engineer” is a great reading choice because it is a fantastic gate to this other world, that, whilst keeping a light, epic mood also features these very tense, realistic scenes. Being a fan of epic fantasies, I enjoyed every bit of it. A must read!

[Trinity · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, thank you Darren for sending me a copy of this book and being patient with me as we overcame my technical issues. Technology is great until it isn't 🤣

Let me begin this review by saying that Handshaw knows how to build a world. Redemption is built in such vast detail that I can picture every setting in this novel. If you are someone who needs great world-building to love a work, I would highly recommend giving this a read.

However, I am a character and plot driven reader. Add to that, I am a huge stickler for good dialogue so there were a lot of issues I had with this novel. When the conversations happening on page don't feel organic, it pulls me out of the work.

Another good point in this book is plot. Handshaw does drive the plot of the story in each chapter. It was quite fun to explore this world with Aceton, and always gripping when encountering new dangers.
The pacing of the novel really moves in some places, never slowing down for long. There are a ton of action packed moments, alongside heartfelt and genuine character interaction.

Now, for the negative and why I gave it three starts as opposed to four or five. Dialogue. I have a hard time reading a character who's dialogue doesn't feel organic. In this novel, almost everyone speaks very formally. I found it odd and a little jarring as we are introduced to a wide range of characters in this book. It would have been nice to find a difference in each character's voice.

Eisandre was the most problematic. As an Arbiter, I found it unlikely that she would be so soft and forthcoming with Acteaon so quickly. I did enjoy the romance as a whole but there were just a few elements such as this that threw me over the course of it.

Overall, I did enjoy this novel and I think people who love great world-building will love it. I don't know if I was the correct audience for this book though because I really want deep characters and great dialogue and this book was on the weaker end of both.

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-engi...

The Engineer is a really peculiar book, and it is the debut novel from Darran M. Handshaw, being a mix between science fiction, and what we could call an adventures chronicles, featuring Actaeon as one of the main characters, the one that gives sense to the title, and situated in the world of Redemption, which is partially based on the adventures lived by the own author in a text-based RPG, telling also how he met his wife.

The story begins next to Pyramid, one of the most important places in the city of Redemption, showing how Actaeon is being persecuted by some mysterious raiders, without being clear why it is happening. Soon, we get to know that the occupation of Actaeon is a sort of Engineer (and that is his title), trying to research how technology works, and working on developing new kinds of tools. He gets some partners to help him in his explorations of the old places in Redemption, Wave, and Trench, who acts as sidekick characters, also helping to sometimes relax the gravity of the narrative.

This peculiar group is soon joined in the spotlight by Eisandre, a Knight Arbiter, who will become an important piece in the story, representing also the character Darran's wife used to play. In a really fast way, a love relationship also gets developed between Eisandre and Actaeon, despite the cultural differences that exist and the rank Eisandre has. Even with this small gripe, I think the chemistry between these two is soon obvious, and it helps the plot to develop, also taking some of the deductive weight from Actaeon, making Eisandre as important to the development of the plot as the Engineer.

Worldbuilding is probably the aspect that shines more in this book, and honestly, it is difficult for it to not eclipse the rest. Redemption is a dystopic world, in some aspects could be called post-apocalyptic, where society has amnesia, and live in a sort of pre-industrial settlement. In Redemption there are rests of technology from a more advanced civilization, called the Ancients, being the maximum symbol of it Pyramid. Getting to know how this technology works might produce a great advance in civilization, but maybe not all people are focused on it. Through the eyes of Actaeon, his analytical mind, and the adventures he lives, we will get to know more about how this technology can work, and as said previously, it is the best aspect of the book.

Regarding pace, I found it at the start a little bit slow, mostly due to the great amount of information the author wants to give us about the world of Redemption, as it seems he had a clear picture in his mind of how it should be. Once we overcome the first part, where the exposition takes a great part of the focus, we get a really engaging plot, that keeps you hooked until the end, especially because you start discovering how everything works in reality.

In summary, I think The Engineer is a good debut book, and one that is perfect for those readers who enjoy heavy worldbuilding, strange technologies, and an analytical resolution of problems, as that is the main characteristic of the main character. I personally enjoyed it despite the slow start, and honestly, I want to return to Redemption soon.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I felt myself transport through time and worlds reading this. Very immersive storyline and the world building is impeccable. Very nicely written.

[Stan Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written characters

Well written characters, each with their own strenghts and weaknesses in a world that is a combination of fantasy and science.

[Kevin O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a not perfect but very good story in the style of Jack Vance.

Perhaps not as perfectly formed as Jack Vance, but that is an unfair expectation for a new series. While reading, I was constantly reminded of Vance's way of telling a story, and of the complete worlds that very human characters occupied in them, and wondered why none of the billions of self published fantasies ever tried to do anything like that. The reason why is because it is ridiculously hard to write like that. Mr. Handshaw has written a gutsy story where he sets the world and characters in place and they seem advance inevitably to the stories conclusion on their own. This is really well done, and if there is a bit too much Lyonesse or Dying earth lying about, I would say that maybe it isn't possible to have too much Lyonesse lying about, and we can really use more character driven stories in mysterious worlds with ancient artifacts sticking out of the ground like broken bones and strange creatures that no one has a name for lurking about. No one in this story seems to be leveling up like a video game, and while I like me a good old fashioned level up story, it is a relief to read a story that tries to be in the mold of Fritz Leiber and Jack Vance rather than another Sanderson clone. Read it. It is good.

[Stefanie Handshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, I had to read this book. It's the story of how I met my true love in a fantasy world long ago, before I had any idea of the real life adventure that would lead us to this day, when we are happily married (4 years and counting) and have a beautiful son. Once upon a time, I was Eisandre, an Arbiter with a complicated past. When I met Actaeon, the Engineer, my life changed forever. This novel is a creative record of the epic story we wove together, along with many other amazing characters, in my co-created world of Redemption. It is an invitation for you to be a part of our story, to laugh and love and struggle and cry along with us as we strive to build a better future. Please give it a try!

[Lauren Macelveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing job by Darran Handshaw!!! This book was absolutely incredible! Tons of action and romance all around! I definitely recommend it!

[Joseph Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make no mistake, this is a monster of a sci-fi/fantasy (mostly sci-fi I think) novel that is worth the effort. The author here has crafted a world with disparate elements and cultures that erupt like popcorn at the cinema and is no less addictive. The action centers around Acteon, a quirky engineer that lives in a strange post-apocalyptic type society which is focused on survival.

The strengths of this book are 1) the world building -- The author has developed an intriguing world that entices the reader to discover more. The strength of ideas are always the greatest strength of this genre from Asimov to Clarke to Simmons to Lewis and it is equally applicable here. 2) The characters -- Often times I find that mediocre novels in this genre focus more on the world than the characters which ultimately distances the reader to the detraction of the novel. This is not the case here. The characters are well-developed and clear. 3) Polish -- the book is very well polished. In my professional life, I often deal with self-published novelists and poor editorial quality is more often than the rule than the exception. The Engineer is an exception and honestly I think a publisher like Tor should have picked up the title. That being said, I am looking forward to future works by this author -- and I hope there are audio versions read by Wil Wheaton.

Five Stars.

[Christian Freed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that continually pops up in my feeds or timelines. The cover caught my attention after a few times, enough for me to open it up and take a better look. With so many poorly made products crowding the market I felt this was well done and filled with enough detail to make me interested in the book.
I don't normally take chances on indie books, but I am glad I did. Well written from page one, I thoroughly enjoyed delving into the world of the Engineer. Handshaw creates a realistic fantasy realm where the impossible lies an arms reach away. Filled with memorable characters, the scattering of battles, and the promise of more to come, the Engineer is a great first book into what I hope will continue.

[S. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eighty years after the citizens of Shore, Rellios, and their entire world awoke to a world of ancient technological ruins and society wide amnesia, Actaeon hits the scene. Everyone has made the best of life, implementing what tech was easy enough to figure out and simply lining a pre-industrial life. Actaeon however, loves the possibilities that the scientific method employs and fancies himself an engineer. This is the story Actaeon finding his place in the world and taking on projects to make it a better place.

There is also a love story! The author’s prologue reveals that this novel is somehow a dramatized version of he and his wife meeting while playing a game called Redemption. I’m no gamer, but who doesn’t love that idea? Not that the book gets too mushy. Sure, parts would make my tween son cringe, but that is where I would giggle and tell him he’ll understand soon enough! Actaeon may come off as inexperienced with women, but it seems to me like he’s perfectly in his element with this courtship.

It’s not all hugging and doe eyes. There is some gnarly combat! Mostly against monsters that remind me of my middle school Saturday nights spend huddled around the table playing Dungeons and Dragons. It’s so much more fun to root for Wave and Trench (Actaeon’s bodyguards and confidants) to slay when it’s just a scary man eating beastie on the other end of the poker.

The engineer is word-porn for readers who love world building! What better way to discover a fantasy world than to meet the guy who is trying to rebuild it? Actaeon demonstrates various engineering skills like focusing light to make a powerful beam, similar to a laser. I hang around engineers and help them solve problems for a living, so it’s cool to see some shop talk in fantasy!
Handshaw contributed this title for a book listing project I’m working on called My Kinda Geek and when I learned some of the interesting things he included in the story, I had to give it a read! I loved obligation free, no strings attached copy he gifted me and chose to review it all by myself, with my big boy pants on, because I want to. Trench is not lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to upload before he returns my Paperwhite. It’s not like that. I just love talking about good books. I’m happy to add this one to my new domain dedicated to the endeavor! Check out sciencefantasyhub(dot)com for more.

There is a bit of speculation about the race of ancients as well. At one point, Actaeon ponders if the race who inhabited the planet before the society of amnesiacs showed up simply became the unintelligent and uneducated descendants of really smart people. Mike Judge’s film Idiocracy has had me living in fear of such a scenario for years now. Can you make a computer? Didn’t think so!

[Anna K. Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review: https://www.annakscott.net/blog/revie...

I received a copy from the author.

The Engineer is set in something of a post-apocalyptic world, where people from various Dominions fight for survival amongst the ruins of an ancient, advanced civilisation. I must admit, I’m an archaeology graduate, so I loved the setting from the get-go. There’s something exciting about exploring a new world, especially when it is new for the characters too. Strange artefacts and mechanisms have been left behind by these Ancients, like self-regulating baths and eternal lights. And there are even stranger things still, such as the monsters lurking beneath the city of Pyramid.

The main character is Actaeon, the titular Engineer. The story begins with him traversing the ruins of the Boneyards on his way to the Pyramid. He is attacked and manages to escape, but is left with the mystery of who is after him, and what do they want? There are various political and religious factions in this world, many at odds with each other, and Actaeon must tread carefully.

The author is an engineer in real life, which shows through in his writing. He clearly enjoys writing about inventions and how things work. If science and engineering aren’t your thing, then this book probably isn’t for you.

There is plenty of banter between various characters in the book, but I think Trench and Wave’s interactions are my favourite.

‘“Hold on, let me get this straight: You’re gonna shove chickens in these traps to act as bait for a giant snail monster that eats livestock and may or may not be responsible for the disappearance of several missing men, and you’re concerned about whether the chickens are lonely?”’

Sometimes I found the writing a little clunky and there were some minor mistakes, but it improved as the story went on. It wasn’t overly fast paced, and it felt a bit like following along on the Engineer’s side-quests – not necessarily a bad thing, but it took me a little bit to get a feel for the context and where the plot was going.

Overall I found it an engaging and interesting story. The world-building was definitely the highlight for me.

[Taylor Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Darran M. Handshaw contacted me mid-April and requested that I review his novel, and I am extremely pleased that he did! Readers, I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting and held my attention the entire time I was reading it. Additionally, the inspiration for the story is really unique and SUPER cute! But I'll let y'all read the prologue to see for yourselves--I won't spoil the origin story!

Find the full review here: http://bittybooknook.blogspot.com/201...

This really is SUCH a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you're a fan of fantasy, I would absolutely recommend that you pick this one up. Additionally, if you're a fan of archaeology or engineering, this definitely should be your next read! Mr. Handshaw, thank you so much for allowing me to share in your great adventure! I sincerely hope to see more from you in the future!

[Here Be Dragons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give a huge thanks to Darran for sending me a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited, especially when I realized that The Engineer was a semi-finalist in Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off in 2018. That’s already incredibly impressive, but Handshaw just about blew me away with some incredible, vivid world-building and a plot filled with twists and turns around every corner.

If you’re looking for an example of masterful worldbuilding, look no further than The Engineer. Handshaw has a talent for creative settings, as everything – from the history to the setting to the character interactions – worked together to create a fantastical landscape that feels alive; far more than just a backdrop for the protagonist’s adventures.

There’s a very dystopian feeling to this setting as well – taking place among the remnants of an ancient and advanced civilization – but also a sense of hope that I found incredibly refreshing. My absolute favourite part of this book was watching the layers and layers of worldbuilding as they built upon each other to create a phenomenal whole.

The characters were all very likeable and well rounded. Actaeon, a dedicated and inventive engineer, was a very fun protagonist, but my favourite characters were his mercenary companions. Wave and Trench were a fantastic duo and every scene with them absolutely stole the show. The slow-burn romance was also very well done. It felt like the characters were slowly, but steadily, developing a real foundation of friendship and respect, while still making their eventual romance feel real and not at all forced, as can often be the case.

My main criticism is that the plot unfolds at a very slow pace. I don’t need every plot point to rush towards the climax, but some sections went on just a bit too long, resting rather than pulling me forward with the narrative. The other issue I had was with the dialogue. All the characters spoke with the same sort of stiff delivery and formal tone. It made it a bit harder to connect with them since it felt more like they were giving a speech than talking among friends.

Again, keep in mind that all my critiques are based off my own personal preference, and none of that takes away from the fact that Darran is an incredible writer who created a fantastic story. The Engineer is the farthest thing from predictable, and the unravelling of the mysteries of the world and the Ancient civilization are nothing less than thrilling. This was a fantastic book by a fantastic writer, and I hope to see more from him in the future very soon!

[Priyanka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Beautifully written. I really enjoyed reading it but a bit too long and certain parts can feel a little dragged.

In the beginning, the mentioning of the fact that the book is about how the author met his wife in an RPG, sapped away all my enthusiasm for starting a new book. I thought ‘great, another sappy love story, that too game-based’ and sort of wished that I wasn’t aware of the fact.
But it didn’t take me more than two chapters to get lost in the fascinating world of Redemption so beautifully described by the author and forget the fact that it has all happened in a game.
The ingenious way how the author has managed to make some of the most ordinary things seem extraordinary is in itself worthy of an applause. The beautifully described spaces and architecture remain with the reader long after they have finished the book.
While reading the part about the giant slug and the death crawlers (spoiler alert) I kept thinking how it would make for an amazing bedtime story for my nephew’s sleepovers. Of course. I will have to omit certain parts.
However, after a certain point, the book started feeling like a series of mini-adventures punctuated with a couple of big ones with no climax building up and no ending in sight. I couldn’t help but wonder ‘what is this book leading up to?
I enjoyed the adventures of our three musketeers, who are also my favorite characters in the book more than the courtship of Actaeon and Eisandre.
The book will make for a better read if it was split in a series of books (which can even make for a great TV series or movies) where our hero solves the relatively small issues making the realm a safer place while trying to solve the big mystery of cross-face mercenaries; like Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
It was really fun figuring out which artifact was what but for the love of me, I couldn’t figure out what was the last artifact that engulfed our prince.
I had an ear to ear grin on my face which was hard to get rid of when Eisandre proposed Actaeon and in a very bold and manly fashion at that.
In the end, it is a book that can be enjoyed by all age groups, can even be a series of bedtime stories for kids but because of its length, the book struggles to keep the interest of the reader, especially the exclusive Actaeon and Eisandre scenes.

[Madoverbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

. Beautifully written. I really enjoyed reading it but a bit too long and certain parts can feel a little dragged.
In the beginning, the mentioning of the fact that the book is about how the author met his wife in an RPG, sapped away all my enthusiasm for starting a new book. I thought ‘great, another sappy love story, that too game-based’ and sort of wished that I wasn’t aware of the fact.
But it didn’t take me more than two chapters to get lost in the fascinating world of Redemption so beautifully described by the author and forget the fact that it has all happened in a game.
The ingenious way how the author has managed to make some of the most ordinary things seem extraordinary is in itself worthy of applause. The beautifully described spaces and architecture remain with the reader long after they have finished the book.
While reading the part about the giant slug and the death crawlers (spoiler alert) I kept thinking about how it would make for an amazing bedtime story for my nephew’s sleepovers. Of course. I will have to omit certain parts.
However, after a certain point, the book started feeling like a series of mini-adventures punctuated with a couple of big ones with no climax building up and no ending in sight. I couldn’t help but wonder ‘what is this book leading up to?
I enjoyed the adventures of our three musketeers, who are also my favorite characters in the book more than the courtship of Actaeon and Eisandre.
The book will make for a better read if it was split in a series of books (which can even make for a great TV series or movies) where our hero solves the relatively small issues making the realm a safer place while trying to solve the big mystery of cross-face mercenaries; like Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
It was really fun figuring out which artifact was what but for the love of me, I couldn’t figure out what was the last artifact that engulfed our prince.
I had an ear to ear grin on my face which was hard to get rid of when Eisandre proposed Actaeon and in a very bold and manly fashion at that.
In the end, it is a book that can be enjoyed by all age groups, can even be a series of bedtime stories for kids but because of its length, the book struggles to keep the interest of the reader, especially the exclusive Actaeon and Eisandre scenes.

[Matthew Samuels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I was a little bemused and intrigued by the premise of Darran Handshaw’s book; a post-apocalyptic novel, based on a true story. Admittedly, a true story that occurred in an online multiplayer text adventure, but a true story nonetheless – and let’s not forget, it’s the tale of how he met his wife!

Here’s the premise: Actaeon is an engineer looking for new stuff in Pyramid, a city in the land of Redemption. He’s pursued off and on by a gang of strange cultists with crosses painted on their faces, and tries to stay committed to neutrality despite the multiple political factions in the country.
Actaeon tries to establish himself in Pyramid and finds himself bowled over by a lovely Arbiter, one of the peacekeepers in the city. Thankfully, he’s also got two solid friends, Trench and Wave, who start as hired help and gradually become firm friends. Actaeon and his growing gang gradually gather credibility, fame, wealth – as well as finding greater and greater danger in the land.

First and foremost, Handshaw has created a very compelling and immersive world in his novel; the characters have real depth and nuance. Act is fairly straightforward, but I was intrigued by his love interest, Eis, and the flashes of depth and history from his two loveable bro’s, as well as the other characters that he acquires throughout the book. I did find Act a bit slow to like at first – he’s extremely verbose! However, you do eventually get used to it and much like his wooing of the Arbiter, he wins you over in time.

The book’s background as a text adventure is clear – sometimes it does feel like a series of Dungeons and Dragons adventures! This isn’t a bad thing; the adventures are enjoyable and well-thought out, but there were times when I didn’t get an overall sense of the arc of the book’s plot – it starts out being closely related to the cross-faced cultists and eventually morphs into something different and much more political. However, by that point, I’d gotten so into the characters and world that I didn’t really mind – it’s an enjoyable place to stay.

I very much enjoyed this, and will be looking forward to the next one!

[Shannon Rohrer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked The Engineer--I just didn't love it. What initially started out exciting quickly became dull, and I think this fact was exacerbated due to the storyline having no discernible climax--or maybe because what should have been a climax felt pretty much like the majority of the subplots.

There's no denying, the worldbuilding was wonderful. Mr. Handshaw's attention to detail on the peoples, the Dominions, etc. was beautifully done. However, Actaeon just didn't click with me as a character. I get that being verbose was part of who he is, but it did get pretty trying at times, having him go on--sometimes for pages--while explaining something to another character.

I was initially excited to read the story when the Author's Note claimed it was a fictional recounting of his meeting his wife--through an RPG the two used to play. That struck me as cute, and for portions of the book, I did feel like I was immersed in a videogame, following Actaeon along on some of his side quests.

But like I said before, this excitement lessened as the story plodded on; largely because Actaeon would go on tangents explaining things, and also because it was hard for me to care about the end goal when there was so much tedium sprinkled throughout. I also feel like Actaeon and Eisandre (the fictional equivalent of the author's wife) were bland and a bit Mary Sue-ish; it was almost as though the author was afraid to give them discernible flaws, afraid to make them come across unlikeable at any point--which, for me, kind of did make them unlikeable, because it seemed like they were up on a pedestal, and everyone else was meant to be beneath them, adoring and admiring of their smarts and prowess.

All in all, it wasn't a bad book, and the writing was very polished. I just feel some of the fat could've been trimmed, and that a little more risk could have been taken with the characters' personalities and goals.

[Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a word - Entertaining. The Engineer is almost fantasy, almost science fiction and an interesting mix of apocalyptic and alternate universe fiction. To greatly over-simplify the plot: Young nerd meets outcast girl and they both achieve fame, fortune and love in a setting technologically equivalent to our Middle Ages. But it was nicely done.

If there is a drawback in the reading, it would be the lengthy monologues - especially the continuous professions of love between the two protagonists. I would like to see Mr. Handshaw's future works use dialog a bit more effectively. It can become tiresome to read a long response to a simple question.

That said, I think Mr. Handshaw does a fine job of re-spinning a fairly commonplace plot as an engaging story with nice twists to his sub-plots. His action scenes are riveting. He paints excellent word pictures describing an alien world with all it's unusual artifacts. I can't pay him any higher compliment than to say I definitely look forward to reading his future works.

Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this work but without commitment to provide a review.

[Hûw Steer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Engineer is a sprawling tome, packed with fun characters and set in a really interesting world of an abandoned, ancient city. We get brief insights into all aspects of life in Redemption as the book progresses: different societies, warring ideologies, and glimpses of the mysterious forgotten technology of the Ancients. It's the kind of worldbuilding I really enjoy.

The problem is that there are too many concepts and not enough time spent on any of them. Every chapter bounces protagonist Actaeon to a new plotline; there's a romance, 2 or 3 separate political intrigues, evil scientists, artifact hunting and half a dozen more stories. Each one introduces new background information, but very little of it is satisfying fleshed-out.

While each side-story is interesting and fun to read, there are just too many of them and they don't quite come together into a satisfying ending. A tighter focus on a core plot is needed to turn this from a good book into a great one.

[Ian Beckett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel had everything I wanted going in, a city surrounding a giant pyramid, ruins filled with the technology of an ancient race, and terrifying monsters. At the start, I was drawn in and enjoying everything about it. In my eyes, it was a Fallout and Skyrim mix which happen to be two of my favorite video games. With those, my mind was able to wander with imagination. But, as the story progressed, my initial enjoyment started to dip. It seemed to drift off into other plots and antagonists a lot, which caused me to wonder what the story's actual plot was. It was a giant puzzle with all the right pieces that I couldn't connect and put together. I am not saying you shouldn't check it out because it might just right you. It is a novel that I hope to read again in the future to see if my thoughts have changed. But I couldn't connect with it.

[Derk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with an enjoyable main character and important side characters that have personality and development going on.
Sometimes it was a bit hard to follow the so-called dominions and names of all mentioned names.
The romantic aspect was bigger than I thought it would be, and the engineering was a bit less technical mentioned than I would have liked, as it also involved portions of magic. But overall a good and enjoyable read and would recommend it.

[Sean Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story. I felt like I was journeying through a videogame alongside a party of characters with this one, but it also had that classic, epic fantasy feel.

[Cassandra **The Bibliophagist** · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, the cover reminds me of something I would see from Lord of The Rings or another great classic fantasy novel. You can see the various levels of residence here, beginning with tents. In the lower right corner is a shadowy figure that I assume is Actaeon. The cover is intriguing and I find it complex but not overbearing.



Things I didn’t like:

Too many names for the main character
This confused me initially. The main character is named Actaeon but we also see him called the Engineer. Within one paragraph, both names were used and it became just unbearably frustrating at times.
Pacing
Overall, the story moved well but there were a few times I felt it slowed and was drug along, just to make a longer story. There were a few times that I felt things could have been cut without impacting the storyline. It felt like many small adventures that had no real purpose or end goal. I think this would be great if broken into a few smaller books, making a series.

Things I liked:

Worldbuilding
Yes, this is based on the author’s character in an early online multiplayer role-playing game. This means that the world was set out before him and all he had to do was describe it. It was the detail with which he described the world that caught my attention. It was as immersive as if I were playing the game as well, living the events through the eyes of another character.
Romance
Darran is very clear from the beginning that this story is a true one, one of how his wife and he fell in love. How sweet is that? I am a sucker for a good romance and what better way to tell it than through the eyes of your fantasy character? This is such a wonderful way to tell that love. Both characters are a little socially awkward and I enjoy the slow-burn romance that was written here. It is a nice change of pace from the instant-love seen often in most novels lately.
Characters
This is for sure, a character-driven story. I love those! I really get to know the characters and there are many great ones here. Their backgrounds and in-depth and each one brings something unique to the story. The relationships between then grow and develop as we follow them, killing creatures and saving one another, along with their perilous journey.

Final Thoughts

In the end, I did enjoy this book. It was a bit long and the few parts that slowed me down at one point made me want to put it down. But, I am glad I didn’t. I will say that if this were a collection of short stories, I would more than gladly read them accordingly, taking a break in between. The imagery and characters are the two biggest strengths here, along with the fact that this was his way of telling the tale of falling in love with his wife. I do look forward to hearing more about this world. Darran has created such a wonderful fantasy that everyone should give a fair chance, especially if you are a gamer and enjoy a good fantasy tale.