The Augmentors – a Book Review

Title: The Augmentors

Author: Gemini Gibson

Date/year published: Release date- October 26, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk, Young Adult (YA)

Format: e-pub; received an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) to review.

Why did I choose to read it: YA steampunk?! Yes, please.

Synopsis: A young man, George, works with his uncle after his father’s name has been tarnished. When George learns of a plot that could destroy the empire, he must choose who to believe, decide what is propaganda, and make alliances before he can uncover just how horrible the horrible, and deep, the plot goes. Oh, and there’s a sassy cousin, a helpful butler, zombie-like people, and mysterious time travel.

Thoughts:

This book sounded like something I would enjoy. I was not disappointed. As an us vs. them, man vs. machine, science vs. nature tale woven with intrigue and grey areas, it lived up the steampunk description.  

If steampunk often feels too “science-y” for you, remember this is a YA book and Gibson did a great job of describing scenes, items, and contraptions without detailing the science behind them. A gun is a gun, readers don’t need to know how a plasma gun works to know what happens when someone in shot. In fact, not knowing the science is part of the plot – how does this new locomotive-like thing work? She also did a great job creating a Victorian / Gilded Age feel – which is another key element of steampunk. (Spoiler – there are a few graphic scenes.)  

The story is also timely. As the question of AI is all over the news, this book questions the morality of augmenting humans with robotic parts. Sure, we are already experimenting and making great progress with robotic prosthetic limbs, but this takes it a step further, replacing multiple human functions with robotic pieces and questioning the autonomy, and humanity, of the procedure. How much can be replaced before someone is no longer themselves?  

All the logistics aside, it was also a fun read. The characters were relatable – both the good and the bad. The politics of the conflict were easy to follow, quickly explained from the start, and elaborated as the story progressed, including the grey areas and personal conflicts. The cast of characters was socioeconomically diverse but limited in quantity –meaning there weren’t a gazillion people to confuse while reading. 

I was not a fan of the ending. It felt abrupt, and left room for more even though it could be read as a final conclusion. It closed all the immediate reader questions but I could see it being the start of a series as well.

The only thing that caught my attention as unfinished or unanswered, were the women’s “sleeves” – a type of physical branding mentioned repeatedly in the beginning as an important part of a young female socialite’s upbringing. It was stressed that the two young ladies in George’s circle, his cousin/fiance and his sister, were viewed as rebellious, or even scandalous, for not having sleeves, but not much more was mentioned after that. Granted, there weren’t many other upper-class ladies in the tale, but I noticed sleeves weren’t mentioned later in the book. Insignificant detail to note, but there it is. For all I know, there will be more about them in any possible sequels.  

Would I re-read or recommend it?

Re-read? Possibly, if it were part of a book club, discussion group, or a YA in my life was reading it.

Recommend? Yes, especially if you’re a fantasy, steampunk, urban fantasy fan. Though YA, it was a satisfying read for someone well past the YA age group.