The Augmentors was a 2023 release ARC novel I received from Lost Boy’s Press written by Gemini Gibson.
I was honored to read this unique take on a story set in a fantasy-scifi take on the British Empire. The book places you within the world of the MC George, a young man who is caught in a political drama regarding his father’s failures and the future of a technological project that the whole Empire awaits the completion of. The book launches you directly into action and introduces the conflict of the book along with other major characters in a manner that leaves you needing to know more.
I found myself a bit thrown off at first by this quick pace, but the book easily settled into chapters that easily showed various perspectives on a growing issue with the book’s conflict point: the Sky Locomotive, a groundbreaking technology with almost a fantasy-esque feeling to it. Gemini blended the feeling of both a technology-driven world with the sense of grandeur and fantasy-style politics together to make a beautiful backdrop for George’s adventures.
George Moore, the book’s MC was someone I connected with throughout the book. He is a mild-mannered character, but no less of an interesting one as he seeks to navigate his way through a world demanding much of him, but not always clarifying who’s right and who’s wrong. George’s internal turmoil fed into the greater conflict of the book making him compelling and easy to read.
Regarding the conflict, I think that Gemini has made an interesting stage to show various classes and how the needs of each are highlighted, as well as how the classes often come at odds with one another. The lower classes are shown often to be exploited and ignored, while royals and politicians enjoy frivolity and comfort. It really sets a stark picture of the gap that can grow between people when those in power forget the people they rule.
I would recommend Augmentor’s to anyone who enjoys fantasy politics, stories about righting injustice, strong female characters, or science-fantasy-driven plots. Secrets and mysteries about in the Augmentors, as well as action played out both behind government doors and on steel girders. It’s a fast-paced exciting read that sometimes twists in ways you don’t expect, but that only makes it more fun as you yourself try to figure out whose side YOU’RE really on.