Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided [Book 3 - Complete]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Mecha. Magic. Mythos. And the clash of two worlds.

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TheOsten Empire, wielders ofarcane sorcery, and theDunkelheit Empire, masters ofadvanced mechs and mobile suits, have waged war for decades, their conflict stretching across the stars. But everything changes when aforbidden spell, the Light of Punishment, is unleashed, shattering the balance of power and plunging both empires into chaos.

Jack Squirewas never a soldier. A veterandebris collector, he had spent years drifting through space, scavenging wreckage for a paycheck, with only one goal in mind:reuniting with his familyon Earth. He had no interest in the war, no stake in the empires’ struggle.

But fate had other plans.

When theLight of Punishmentis unleashed, Jack finds himself stranded in a warzone wheremagic defies logic,andmachines shape destiny. With his survival instincts and a lifetime of piloting experience navigating treacherous space wreckage, he mustadapt, upskill, and outmaneuverenemies far beyond his league. Every choice he makes could mean the difference between life and death, and the only way forward is through the battlefield.

He’s not fighting for a cause. He’s fighting tostay aliveand tofind the people he lovesbefore it’s too late.

But as alliances shift and war machines clash against sorcery, ahidden forceemerges. One that couldrewrite the fate of both empiresand change the course of history forever.

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What to Expect

- Epic Science Fantasy

- Multiple POVs, but still centre MC

- Space Opera

- Love, War and Tragedy

- Slight Anime Undertone

- Clash of Ideologies

- Fast-paced

The average chapter length:Avg.2k Words. |Release schedule:3 chapters per week.

Notice:

Book 1 and 2 of Machina Arcanis are STUBBED and can be read on Kindle Unlimited here:https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0FZDLJF88

Book 1 commissioned art from Polar Engine Studio. Book 2 commissioned art from Incross.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Joeing_25

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.1/ 5.0
Followers: 756
Views: 77,909

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

pretty juiceRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Honestly, the storyline of the novel is pretty compelling in its own way, whether you like it or not. It’s easy to understand the world it builds, at least more than I expected at first. Yeah, there are some errors here and there, but if you can look past those, the story itself is actually quite good. It feels real and relatable in a way.
Deadly_SinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So far, the novel has been enjoyable to me with the cinematic actions and character introduction. Nothing is bland/dull about them. There are bits and crumbs of foreshadowing and lore, and I believe this is handled with a certain level of planning. It either leaves people in disarray or extremely intrigued, like myself. I want to read more when I get the chance. The slow revelation has been pretty rewarding. I feel like something big is lurking… So I’m quite excited to read more, but here’s what I’ve got to say about this saga:
Machina Arcanis offers a compelling sci-fi/fantasy blend, establishing a world torn between the technological Dunkelheit Empire and the magic-wielding Osten Empire. The conflict is uniquely viewed through Jack Squire, a relatable debris collector, giving a civilian perspective on the war. The pacing is brisk, escalating from a routine mission to the "Light of Punishment," a cataclysmic event that destroys Luna Base and strands Jack on a war-torn Earth, shifting the story's tone. Early chapters adeptly build the world by introducing concepts like puny bots, Armatus mobile suits, and the core geopolitical conflict. Character development is effective, focusing on Jack’s transformation from a simple worker into a resourceful survivor. The supporting cast introduces key facets of the world: Rhok Wagner as the hardened super-soldier, Lupus Hoffmann as the whimsical arcanist, and Frain adds social commentary on slavery and prejudice. The plot skillfully weaves multiple perspectives, from personal survival to military campaigns and high-level political tension. With the exploit of multiple POVs, its show-don't-tell approach to the world's systems, like the neural load of piloting bots or the power of high-tier magic, is highly immersive and feels logical. Overall, it establishes a rich, conflict-driven world with fun characters.
Don'tMessWithMeKiddoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Ok, the blurp doesn’t lie… There’s huge cast of characters. But, but, but, he did a pretty good job making them unique with a few lines.
Get ready for a wild ride where the only thing bigger than the explosions is the main character's sheer, dumb luck! Our MC, Jack Squire, is a middle-aged (what?), back-aching space janitor whose only goal is to retire and see his family. But the universe has other plans, throwing a full-scale intergalactic war at him, complete with giant mechs, magical space lasers. I’ve been curious to see how the fight turns out I wonder how the author managed to paint this so vividly.
A ridiculously overpowered bunny-girl mage who might just be the death of him… ahem… by thigh-choke!
Pacing is insane and fast, pretty simulating in a way.
One minute Jack's snatching treasure and cracking jokes with his buddy David. The next, he's surviving a moon-shattering apocalypse , hijacking an enemy Armatus with a bluff , and crash-landing on a war-torn planet. No rest for our MC then?
He then teams up with Lupus Hoffmann, an "Olympian mage" who's as deadly in a fight as she is childishly playful, and Frain, a quiet lioness Wildren with a soft spot for head pats and a surprisingly massive battle axe.
This book is an (at-time) hilarious, action-packed mashup of space opera chaos and fantasy absurdity.
I think there’s foreshadowing going on, I just couldn’t piece it together yet.
MOMONGAAINZRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
https://www.royalroad.com/fi
The writing style is cinematic and intense, perfectly suited for the high-stakes, war-driven narrative. The author effectively conveys tension and urgency, especially in battle sequences, making them feel immersive and fast-paced. Descriptions of mecha combat, arcane sorcery, and large-scale conflicts are vivid and engaging. The dialogue is crisp, and the characters’ voices are distinct, adding to the overall depth of the story. There’s a good balance between action and introspection, allowing the reader to feel the weight of the war while staying engaged with the plot.
Story:
The fusion of mecha warfare and arcane magic is an exhilarating concept that is executed well. The story’s premise, where two vastly different civilizations—one wielding advanced technology and the other ancient magic—collide in an all-out war, is compelling. The stakes feel appropriately high, with the introduction of powerful factions, forbidden spells, and devastating consequences like the destruction of Luna Base. The narrative seamlessly shifts between perspectives, giving a well-rounded view of the unfolding conflict. The worldbuilding is rich, with well-developed lore and political intrigue that adds layers to the main storyline.
Grammar:
The grammar is mostly solid, with only minor errors that do not detract from the reading experience. Sentence structures are varied, which helps maintain a dynamic flow throughout the novel. However, there are occasional awkward phrasings and punctuation missteps, but nothing that disrupts comprehension. The prose is engaging, though it could benefit from slight refinements for even greater clarity and impact.
Character:
The protagonist, Jack Squire, is an excellent focal point for the story’s opening. His perspective as a debris collector caught in a war beyond his control adds a grounded, relatable element to the narrative. Meanwhile, characters like Queen Charlotte and Rhok Wagner bring distinct personalities and motivat
RainieRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I only read the first chapter, but omg I was hooked already! This won’t be an in depth analysis or anything but the prologue was amazing. Maybe because I haven’t read an sci-fi novel in a long time, but I was so captivated. The Enders Game was the last sci-fi book I read, so I think I just found my next sci-fi novel to read! Thank you!
Rayne-rueRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It was great reading the book and it actually felt as if I were watching it live. great character descriptions, although I have already fallen for one character haha. Loved how the Author wrote each word for quite an interesting book; wouldn't mind reading it again or recommending it. The world background absolutely loved it—kings and castles, my kind of good read. Thumbs Up!!!
D.N. NewynRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I've read forward to Chapter 9 but somehow it shows Chapter 8, just want to let you know.
I have yet to read a story that blends magic arcane magic and technology together, but this one has met my expectation of how the concept should be tackled. With a cinematic writing style, the author effectively captured the tension of the life of a man amidst warfare and chaos.
Style: As said above, the author's gone with a cinematic style that works well for this kind of story. The action is described with a sharp and visceral clarity, and many scenes were very much alive. The fight scenes blend magic and tech together and are an absolute joy to read.
Story: So far the most interesting aspect of this story is the clash between machine and magic. However, it doesn't mean that Jack's personal journey lacks substance. He has a backstory deep-rooted in magic despite working on a high-tech Luna Base, and it is interesting to see how he manages. The lore is well-developed and the build-up towards the all-out war is appropriately-paced.
Grammar: Apart from some small mistakes, I don't really see any grammatical errors. The writing is clean and easy to follow, and I wasn't taken out of the story at any time.
Character: Jack is a likeable protagonist, and the characters around him serve their purposes. If anything, I would like him to have a more established personality and a more burning desire toward a goal in his life. Hopefully we'll see more of his backstory and personal commentary on the war!
All in all, this is a solid story that effectively merges magic and technology in a way that feels natural and compelling. The world is immersive, the action is thrilling, and the protagonist's journey holds plenty of promise. Give it a go!
RageVanesRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
Okay so i was interested in reading this as its description makes it out to be pretty cool…except that out of everything that coulda made me drop this the only thing that i didnt like made it unbearable to read…the romance…Lupus the female lead comes off as a badass when you first see her while she messes around with the enemy…and then meets the MC and IMMEDIATELY attacks him so no prob with that but after he wakes up shes in love…no development or anything…just falls in love without any hesitation and then she sees a slave girl, buys her, and then they are all like family? Wtf is this? It happens way to damn fast that even reading past it all i can think of is that and it just ruins the entire thing as hardly anyone seems to take things seriously…2 leader who antagonize each other till one kills the other…in what I thought was a peace meeting but it turns out the one that died didnt as she has nine other lives? Then theres another character that falls in love with the girl hes protecting but she dosent realize that…so yeah interesting idea but not much thought put into fleshing out the story instead of ticking points off
Valinor89Royal Road
★★★ 3.0
I read the entire first book just before the stub, and even with the rev 2 chapters I found it a bit of a chore because I was just not enjoying it.
What really put me off were the way some characters act, some of them create such whiplash in theyr actions that it totally threw me off. I get that this is a novel and some suspense of disbelief has to be applied but the way the characters act was too much for me.
Also, the end of the first book... I see what the author is trying to do and I don't want to go there.
Dropped.
ZobosoRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
Let be be clear that there is nothing wrong with the grammar or the story in an of itself, but when the author says that there is a large cast in the synopsis, they are not lying. unfortunately said cast is poorly managed, and the story only holds together by liberally switching POV. Unfortunately the real drawback of all that switching exposes that their internal monologues are structured the same. Makes them feel interchangeable and irrelevant which I feel isn't what the author really wanted for the ensemble cast being built.
Note: The foxgirl on the cover gets the worst of the above, she should act more refined and doesn't.