The Soul Machines by Alexandru Czimbor

Religion, superstition, oppression, and the drive for radical change collide in Alexandru Czimbor’s enrapturing novel, The Soul Machines.

After unearthing a bizarre metal boat while avoiding the cruel baron’s guards and their vicious hounds, rebellious young Tudor’s life spins into an incredible adventure that will change the course of humanity. Finding this treasure could bring Tudor the fortune he needs to court a young noblewoman who has stolen his heart, but it also attracts the attention of strange and influential people, from holy men to manipulative politicians, some of whom are willing to kill to secure the artifact’s power for themselves.

Remarkable in its historical authenticity and depth of development for its protagonist trio, this novel captures a murky and supernatural portrait of the tottering Austro-Hungarian Empire in the generation before its collapse. The diversity of settings, language, cultures, and relationships keeps the prose fresh and immersive, while the patient unraveling of the story – and the prolonged mystery of the soul-imprisoning device – keeps the reader flipping the pages.

There are some editing slips, including idiomatic and anachronistic words in both narration and dialogue that jar against the consistently colloquial language used by the characters, but overall, this is a mysterious, romantic, socio-critical, and incisively written novel with a meticulously crafted world that envelops you from start to finish.