Fall of the Iron Gods

The Mechanists #2

by Olivia Chadha

The South Asian Province's secret prison has been destroyed and its leaders are on trial. But the Red Hand is more endangered than ever. The Planetary Alliance Commission has branded them public enemy number one and is determined to root their remaining forces out of their Himalayan base, even as the pandemic rages on in the province.

Ashiva, armed with a new bionic upgrade, leads a team back into the fray to track down a mysterious beacon that may well be a trap. Synch helps lock down and evacuate their mountain stronghold. Taru discovers a precious resource that everyone--especially the PAC--is desperate to control. And the PAC is all too willing to sacrifice an entire province to achieve their optimal results.

Ashiva, Synch, and Taru must save their homeland before its entire population is sacrificed for the greater planetary good.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Cyberpunk, Dystopia, Aapi

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2022

About the author

Olivia Chadha is the author of Balance of Fragile Things, the Mechanist duology with Rise of the Red Hand and Fall of the Iron Gods, and a contributor to the anthologies The Gathering Dark and Magic Has No Borders.

Reviews

[Keri Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Rise of the Red Hand and conclusion to the Mechanist duology. It takes place after WW3, climate change, and paints a dystopian world that details cyberpunk rebellion of the Red Hand against the evil AI rule. The battle between the outlanders and the PAC.

The writer does a great job continuing the world building and character development. There are plot twists and an epic ending. Overall, it was a fun read for those of us who enjoy sci-fi dystopian worlds.

[Laura Rueckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Fall of the Iron Gods, Olivia Chadha has created a perfectly detailed futuristic world ravaged by an environmental catastrophe. I’d recommend this book for anyone who likes sci-fi, dystopian, cyberpunk, and cli-fi. Although this is a YA sci-fi, the characters seem quite adult, so I think people who prefer to read adult sci-fi would really enjoy it. I especially felt the book had a really lovely ending.

[Kristjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the two book The Mechanists series
Previous Review of Rise of the Read Hand

This is the second and final book of the series, and as the author notes in the acknowledgements, this is a different beast. Where the first book was a bit choppy and hard to really connect with, this one was much better with the two (2) main PoVs for Ashiva and her sister Taru … members of the rebel/terrorist group known as the Red Hand. Frankly, this book could be read by itself, but you would miss some of the unique world building that sets it apart … and it has a lot to say about human predation and environmental degradation that didn’t come through as much in the first book. We get a little more detail on the cybernetic “replacements” that seem to provide a vague “Alita Battle Angel” with just enough of a difference to avoid being derivative. Of course, you still have the ubiquitous network that is being subverted by the authorities, along with giant battle mechs and “synthetic” androids … all under the control of a growing artificial intelligence that all treads familiar ground, but again does so with enough nuance t keep it fresh and interesting. In fact, part of that familiarity helps to build up the suspense that make the final resolution at the end so satisfying (with the last chapter providing an epilogue of sorts). Finally, after a slow start, the action in the second half picks up nicely, making it a fairly quick read for me.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#FallOfTheIronGods #Mechanists #NetGalley

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

◇ Synopsis
The South Asian Province's secret prison is destroyed, and its leaders are on trial, but the Red Hand faces greater danger. The Planetary Alliance Commission (PAC) has branded them public enemy number one and aims to eradicate their forces from their Himalayan base amid a raging pandemic. Ashiva, with a new bionic upgrade, leads a team to track down a potential trap. Synch works on securing and evacuating their stronghold, while Taru discovers a precious resource the PAC desperately wants. Ashiva, Synch, and Taru must save their homeland before the PAC sacrifices the entire province for their goals.
◇ Thoughts
This sci-fi novel, set in a dystopian future where humans struggle against AI overlords, offers a thrilling and fast-paced adventure. The well-developed characters and unexpected plot twists keep readers engaged throughout. As the second book in "The Mechanist" series, it stands well on its own, but it also piques interest in the rest of the series. While the story starts off a bit slow—possibly due to not having read the first book—the action significantly ramps up in the second half. This South Asian-inspired duology sequel delivers a rich cyberpunk, dystopian experience. Despite being a quick read, it left me eager to explore more works by this author.
Special thanks to the author for the giveaway!

[Samantha Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a little harder for me to review. I read Rise of the Red Hand sometime last year and the formatting and language in that one was kind of hard to get a good grasp on but once I did everything felt so explosive and fast paced. The writing is the same in this sequel but I felt like it slogged a lot due to the fact that most of it was centralized around the events that had already happened. I just felt like it kept going around in circles in the first half so when we got to the actual action it wasn't as exciting or rewarding. This has lots of espionage and mystery in it to keep me going but I felt like every good thing I liked in the first book just wasn't there. Still a good book just I found it dissapointing compared to the first book. Still recommend to cyberpunk readers and ones who love scifi.

[Athene Z. Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Fall of the Iron Gods, the Planetary Alliance Commission targets resistance fighters who must try to save their homeland before their population is sacrificed for the survival of the powerful and wealthy. Having read book #1, it's easier to delve back into this post-apocalyptic world. The book starts slow but reader investment in the characters happens once each of the three young heroes begin their individual missions. Then the pacing quickens into good action. The first half of the story plants clues leading up to one of the major plot points regarding bionic technology, and the disastrous effects of climate change in a post-WWIII are nicely detailed. This South Asian-inspired duology sequel offers a fulsome cyberpunk, dystopian experience.

[Sofi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fall of the Iron Gods" by Olivia Chadha is an enthralling masterpiece that captures the reader from the very first page. Chadha's vivid storytelling and intricate world-building are nothing short of spectacular, weaving a tale of adventure, intrigue, and emotion that is both timeless and utterly unique. The characters are richly developed, each with their own compelling arcs that draw you deeper into their lives and struggles. The plot is expertly paced, filled with unexpected twists and heart-pounding moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. "Fall of the Iron Gods" is a must-read for anyone who loves a well-crafted, immersive fantasy novel. Chadha has truly outdone herself with this remarkable work.

[Aaron Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in "The Mechanist" series. A wonderful read that flows nicely from the first book continuing the battle. Can be read without having read the first book and still really enjoy but the more subtle nuisances do elevate the reading.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an sci-fi novel set in a dystopian future where humans struggle against AI overlords. The characters are well developed and the plot is fast paced, filled with unexpected twists. Overall a thought provoking book.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex and interesting characters. Awesome and relevant themes. Dystopian, environmental.

[Emerald Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance kills sci Fi for me. Was fine, not as good as the first one

[Agnesophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wish Saachi and Ferric made it 😔😔😔

[Jennifer Sigman · Rating 4 out of 5]

To quote another franchise, "Rebellions are built on hope."

[Fernanda Granzotto · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own *

3.5 stars

One of the reasons it took me so long to write this review is simple: disappointment. I absolutely love the first book in this duology. In fact, when I reread it, I fell in love with it even more.
Because of that, I went into the second book with very high expectations — and I think that’s where things went wrong.
I don’t remember every detail of the story anymore, but the feeling of disappointment is still very strong.
Unfortunately, this book never really worked for me.
I feel like the author gets a bit lost along the way.
There are many new characters and new plotlines introduced, and instead of enriching the story, they pulled me out of it.
The world expands a lot, but the new characters didn’t connect with me in the same way.
I’m not even sure I can point to one specific thing I disliked — it’s more about the overall feeling.
In the first book, I wanted to highlight everything.
Every scene felt meaningful, every piece of worldbuilding mattered, and I was deeply connected to the characters.
In this second book, that connection was lost.
Some characters felt almost unrecognizable, and the constant separation between them made the story feel fragmented.
Even though I read the books back to back, that emotional bond slowly disappeared.
Maybe I should have written this review right after finishing the book, but I was too disappointed then — and, honestly, I still am. That said, this is not a bad book.
It just doesn’t come close to the brilliance of the first one.
I still highly recommend the first book.
It’s one of my all-time favorites, a story I’ve read, reread, and will always recommend. While it can’t be fully read as a standalone, it remains an incredible experience.
Sadly, the second book doesn’t live up to it.