The Engineer's Mechanic [Post-Apocalyptic/Cyberpunk/Sci-Fi]

Information

Status

Ongoing

Year

2023

Author

L.K. Wintur

• Chapter 5
  Oct 16, 2023
• Chapter 4
  Oct 16, 2023
• Chapter 3
  Oct 16, 2023
• Chapter 2
  Oct 16, 2023
• Chapter 1
  Oct 16, 2023

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• Bjorn56Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I found this story to be a very pleasant surprise. I often find a cyberpunk genre to be hit or miss. It has felt very stagnant for a long time. That being said, I can safely say this story is a hit for me. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.
  The story is written in first person. While I'm not usually the biggest fan of first person, this is a well-executed first person. So no complaints on that front.
  The world-building is pretty good too. On the surface, it does seem kind of generic. i.e., desert outside of a cyberpunk city. Nomads moving across said futuristic desert—that kind of thing. Once you get deeper into the world, there are some interesting ideas at play that I've not seen before. I like the idea of an algorithm that can't be changed controling the social class of the city. It reminds me a lot of the social credit system in China, which I find to be compelling. All of this stuff helps the world transcend beyond generic into something much more interesting.
  Story 4/5
  I find the story engaging enough to keep my interest. I don't quite know where it's going, which could be a good thing. I get the vibe that it's got a direction it's heading in, so I don't really have complaints. I like the idea of finding a prototype robot just wandering around. I'm assuming that maybe it holds some kind of secret data or something. The overall story of having to beat the city algorithm at its own game in order to gain the information they want to leak is a good one. I also like that the challenges they have to complete are not what you would expect. Like winning a race or developing new code to support the city. It's a cool premise.
  One thing I would say is that the story could probably use an antagonist who isn't like the big corporation as a whole. Someone more personable that we can get to understand and hate. That might be coming later, but I always feel an antagonist of some sort helps focus a story.
  Characters 4/5
  The characters are all really good. Some of them I haven'
• SmirkyWRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The only things I really had any problems with were all personal preferences, which I will het into later. That said, I don't like to make subjective reviews, and score  everything based on what was done well. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean anyone else won't either.
  Style- Really everything I didn't like to start off. The story is written in present tense, which I admittedly wasn't a huge fan. It works incredibly well, but going into things, my motivation didn't start high. Still, as I read further, I actually found myself enjoying what I was reading quite a lot, and getting accustomed to narration too!
  Story- Things started off a bit rocky here as well. I'm not usually a fan of sci-fi, but the worldbuilding here is done well enough that I found myself interested regardless. I also really really like that Ren is mechanic, and we get to see that side of things. I haven't read many sci-fi stories, but none of them have had an MC that knows the tech quite as well as Ren does, which is a breath of fresh air for me! Overall, Really liking the story so far, and am excited to see where it goes!
  Grammar- Not much to say here. Didn't really notice any errors.
  Characters- The dialogue between characters is written very well, and actually feels like two people talking. Not just two people having a conversation to push the story along. Characters make or break any story for me, and the ones here did a great job of getting me interested in the story overall. Well done!
  Overall- It's important to bring up that I'm just not the target audience here. I'm a fantasy nerd that loves magic and spells and pointy-eared elves. Which is why I think it's notable that I'm giving this such high marks anyway. From a technical standpoint, this is about as good as I can ask for. Very few mistakes, and most things are written very well. From a personal standpoint, I think it's even more notavle that I enjoyed this as much as I have so far. Looking forward to reading more, and wo
• Twin258Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I never write reviews, I can't remember that last one I typed up and i read way too many stories on here. This story is that awesome. Keep up the great work and if you're thinking of reading this story just stop and do it! I just binged all there is so far and cannot wait for the next update.
• clenched_fistsRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The Engineer's Mechanic takes you on a gripping journey through a unique and captivating world. I don't usually enjoy first person narrative but its done so well I didn't even care.
  From the beginning you're taken on an adrenaline-fueled ride full of innovation and creativity. The storytelling masterfully weaves together the elements of technology, suspense, and the human spirit's resilience. The stirred in horrors as well as the realistic characters really make for an edge of your seat experience.
  Ren's evolution as a protagonist from a gifted mechanic to a pivotal figure in the rebellion against MetiCorp is both inspiring and enthralling. His quest to achieve ICON status while navigating a maze of dangers keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the story. The fusion of holographic and tangible threats creates an intense atmosphere, plunging you into a world where every turn holds unforeseen challenges.
  A must-read for any fan of sci-fi adventure! I can't wait to read more!
• spikeregalRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Draws you in especially for the first few chapter. I’m interested to see where the story goes as the world building is phenomenal thus far with the author effortlessly painting a vibrant world where everything gold doesn’t shine. I’m interested to see where the story threads lead. Feels very anime inspired and a nice breathe of fresh air from the typical post apocalypse drab worlds. Really interested in what the full races are going to be like with us just hearing of the events at this point. It’s a fast read with more focus on moving the story than prose. I could see this translating easily to a manga or anime.
• Frosty I. FrostRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This one actually hooked me in, and I'm not saying this out of courtesy. The cover of the story is great, as a start and the images in the chapters are a nice touch (making it easier for the reader to picture the scene the same as the author). The story is set in a dystopic future with stuff you'd see in Star Wars and Fallout. Everything seems like your normal sci-fi story at first with an orphaned MC who's a good mechanic but this doesn't mean it's bad (I'm behind the idea that even if something has been done many times before, it doesn't make it bad) because this is a nicely written story with a good plot, good characters and good grammar.
  Style Score:
  This is a 4.5 for me solely because the way the author wrote dialogue is that he/she points out everything at the end of each sentence. Of course, this is a choice but that gets repetitive in my opinion. To set the mood and the emotions of the characters, you could point it out once and keep writing until there is a tone shift in the scene (you don't need to point out every single detail, show don't tell rule). Normally, it should be a 4 but this issue gets fixed later on.
  Story Score:
  This and the character score is where the story shines. The story is about an orphan named Ren, who's a mechanic from the Outskirtz (a place where the poor or the lower class people live in). He is very good at what he does and one day, he finds a droid being rag dolled around by some punks. He saves the droid from them and takes it home to fix it. However, he is invited to a party in the main city by his friend and things take off from there. He bumps into a guy in power armor and helps him fix a small malfunction, which the guy (named Koujin), in return, gifts him with VIP tickets to his fight. I'd keep talking about it but it'd spoil everything.
  As you can see, this is a normal sci-fi setting which many of us probably saw/read before but it just pulls you in. Even though I read many similar sci-fi dystopic stories before, I kept re
• FrostyTNTRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This is probably the best book I've found on Royal Road, it's quite literally a diamond in the rough. The sheer amount of effort put into the plot, characters, and everything else is a true CRIME this isn't on rising stars.
  The genre is a mix of sci-fi, dystopian, and cyber punk mixed in, which I've never been a fan of, but this does it extremely well.
  The style:
  The way the authors describe the surroundings makes me feel like I'm there and I'm standing right next to all these characters. The style is hardly ever wordy or hard to read and is never overbearing. I personally liked the fact that they included pictures, just to really place you into the world. I know this sounds a bit nit-picky but my only gripe with style was the fact that the author barely uses the word 'said' which is inherently not a bad thing, it's just sometimes it feels off, in a sense.
  Story:
  After the third chapter is really when things started taking a turn for the better. I liked how Ren, who was originally from the Outskirtz is now being thrust into MetiCity. And am looking forward to how he adapts to the hardships.
  Grammer:
  I'm not an English professor so I can't critique it much, but even so, the grammar is on point and feels extremely polished and professional.
  Character:
  Ren is the main star, he's an orphan who is 'the best mechanic in Outskitz' and there is nothing wrong with him. Sure he falls into the troupe of the orphaned main character, but I for one am a strong believer that even if something is 'overused' it can still be great.
  Overall 5/5. Great story!
• Little RacoonRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The Engineer's Mechanic is a shockingly good story, the vibrant characters reflecting the cyberpunk-esque world. From the first chapter, the reader is hooked in  with the story's foundation being strongly set up for the future.
  Style: 5/5. No complaints here. Although written in a first-person POV, it didn't feel off at all, something not very common for the stories I've read. The pacing is handled very well, progressing the story in a natural way. There are no spots where it felt too slow or fast. The author clearly has a lot of control over their writing style, displaying their maturity in their craft.
  Story: 4.5/5. The world is set up pretty quickly, and the character interactions allow deeper dives into certain areas. There is a clear plot progression with the introduction of the strange droid while also offering glimpses of the messed up societal structures brought about by technological progress, a classic from the cyberpunk genre.
  Grammar: 5/5. Everything is generally handled well.
  Character: 5/5. This is the author's greatest strength. Each major character is believable, the humour was well delivered, and the interactions served to build up each character's personalities. Ren and Migo, the main duo, complement each other's personalities, leading to dynamic and interesting interactions between the two.
  Overall, the story paints a very vivid picture of the Outskirtz and MetiCity, explored through the lens of Ren, and I'm excited for where this'll lead.
• FelixBRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  The Engineer’s Mechanic follows Ren, a very technically gifted engineer who, having lived life with very little, suddenly finds many new and exciting opportunities appearing in front of him.
  I found that the story progressed at a relaxed yet deliberate pace which I found enjoyable. There’s the discovery of a droid, a run in with a famed fighter, and a new job opportunity that all kind of falls into Ren’s lap. There could be a feeling that this is too much happenstance, but there’s enough in the narrative to prevent all these lucky turns from feeling too good to be true. I’d attribute this to the fact that there are enough mysterious undertones going on in the periphery that give the sense that this will all soon come crashing down. And while it’s quite satisfying reading this rags-to-riches type story early on, it seems the first domino has already dropped in chapter seven, making a promise that it won't be all sunshine for Ren moving forward.
  The plotting and pacing of what I’ve read so far has been well handled which gives me confidence that all these different plates Ren are juggling (the droid, the arena storyline, the racing storyline) are about to coalesce into a singular narrative thread. There’s definitely a building anticipation of dread that compliments all the early good happening to Ren.
  The world feels well realised and there’s a sense of history the author is able to convey in mostly naturalistic ways. I felt that the story really should have started at chapter two since I felt like chapter one was doing just a little too much in setting up the world of MetiCity-6. The rest of the way the history of the various MetiCitys, allusions to a past war and the role of biosuits and droids, and the various strata of the world’s populations are explored at a more easily digestible pace that feels more natural than it did in the opening chapter.
  The strongest aspect of this story has to be the characters. From Ren to the supporting cast there is a clear voice acc
• ys_ogRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  To start off I have to add in my own subjective thoughts, but I love coming across a great NON-LitRPG Sci-fi that comes up both unique and doesn't go overboard with fantasy elements. And while I tend to author bigger, heavier plots, it doesn't mean I don't prefer reading other author's faster paced, streamlined stories because I actually do. And this one doesn't disappoint.
  Following Ren and his experiences through his perspective is incredibly smoothly written. I haven't come across many first person perspective stories where I could get past the first chapter, but the author has this one presented in a very natural feel that doesn't have gobs of monologue that get in the way, yet has the right amount to keep the main character's thoughts in play when relevant through each event along the way. Words aren't wasted and the plot moves along at a nice pace.
  The story itself starts off fairly quickly, making it clear early on what life Ren led in the Outskirtz while having an outside-looking-in perspective of the metropolis life of his acquaintances from "MetiCity", even though the events that begin to unfold end up becoming the reasons he himself would start a new life in that very city. The plot is plenty feasible given Ren's skills as a mechanic, and while his skills seem top notch it isn't like he has super powers or some inexplicably/magically strong ability that leaves you wondering how he was in the Outskirtz to begin with, but rather a guy who has had less fortunes in his life growing up.
  Speaking of that, however, the more you read the more you feel like many events in the plot serve as foreshadows for future twists or other reveals, leaving me wanting to read more to see exactly how things do turn up because anything I just stated might prove to be in fact different from my initial assumptions.
  The character interactions are for the most part very organic and realistic, and plenty of their backgrounds is given in well-spaced chunks. Dialogue/mannerisms/etc. ar