Every victory is its own defeat. General Rommond’s efforts to amass technological superiority over the enemy has resulted in the creation of a weapon that could destroy everything, and a faction just mad enough to use it.
The Armageddon Brigade has awoken from its deep slumber, and it seeks to wake the world with it. Attracting the brightest, and most unstable, of minds, this splinter group of the Resistance has become the greatest thorn in Rommond’s side.
The Resistance and the Regime must unite to defeat a foe that answers to neither of them. Yet their deep divisions and long-held suspicions threaten to end the Great Iron War once and for all—by ending everything.
The Great Iron War series keeps delivering. Worldwaker is Book #5 in the series and while you may think- how long can a war last, and what is there to read about for 5 books? Oh, plenty. Plus, it continues into Book #6 and I can’t wait to get my mitts on it. The character development has been so very brilliant and Dean manages to inject perfect twists and turn of events for natural progression.
While in the Resistance, our heros have been battling with the Regime side by side, in Worldwaker the mission to end the war divides into three separate individual journeys.
Rommond, the general of Resistance will have to find friends among enemies and even then, the mistrust is keeping everyone’s trigger fingers twitching. Jacob as a character has now reached the point of maturity that makes him easily one of my favorite characters. His relationship with Whistler (who’s half human, half demon) which is similar to that of a father and son kept giving me the warm fuzzies.
Brooklyn, the tribesman who is now half robot returns to his maker in an attempt to break free of the commanding hold that has him imprisoned from within. Brooklyn, Rommond’s partner and genius behind every war machine, has always heard the mechanical spirits… will he be able to tap into more dialects and help create peace?
Taberah- The Scorpion, Whistler’s mother, Jacob’s love interest, a woman hurt inside… Her mission goes straight into the Birth Masters’ cave where Glass shards could easily end a life. With help from her two elderly friends she decides to bring an end to the Birth Masters’ rule over female wombs across land, no matter the cost.
The suspense was skyhigh throughout the book for me. I loved the ingenious progression of The Great Iron War series. I was introduced to a set of new characters, but also had to endure the loss of characters I have come to know. Yet… this is war… and what a war it is. The machines, the battles, the heartless bullets to the countless heads…
This is a steampunk series with its main focus for the war strongly around iron, dead, sandy environment and lots of mechanical instruments. The copters are kept in the sky with coal, the levers open hatches and the Worldwaker is made of thousands of pieces. Even though the machines are what fuels this series on, and cause grief or advancement for our characters, it does not feel overbearing and could easily be enjoyed by any reader. This series has a great balance in between the human and machine aspect, in between the individual and larger picture- all weaved into a dystopian picture.
What really strikes me every time I have read a book in this series is the way Dean manages to take the horror of the war and put it to paper beautifully.
“The demons don’t scare me,” Whistler sobbed. “The humans do.”
“I know. It’s all wrong. Some of the people we’re fighting against are better than we are, and some of the people fighting on our side are the worst I’ve seen. There’s no black and white in war, even though people try to make us think there is. It brings out the best in some, and the worst in others. I hate that we can’t depend on people.”
Overall: I feel Book #5 is the strongest in the series. I did absolutely love books 1-4 as well with their interesting characters and battles, but Worldwaker delivered on many fronts. Maybe because there was three separate missions within the war. Maybe because there were so many heartbreaking moments. Maybe because Porridge was introduced, maybe because Whistler has come to a point where his development will finally start to hatch from that of a scared child into something bigger, better, braver. I loved this book with its grim, with its battles, with its snippets of wisdom and easily drawn parallels to real life. 5*****
Worldwaker, Book #5 was published on August 31st. You can grab your copy from one of the links below:
If you’re interested in my reviews for books 1-4, find out about the inspiration which fuelled this series or just ogle at these fantastic looking covers then here are some more links:
Hopebreaker (The Great Iron War, Book 1) by Dean F. Wilson
Lifemaker (The Great Iron War #2) by Dean F. Wilson
[Book] Skyshaker by Dean F Wilson
The Inspiration of The Great Iron War by Dean F. Wilson
Author Interview: Dean F. Wilson
Cover to Cover 
I have yet to really read a steam punk title. I need to though. I think I have several on my shelf. I also happen to absolutely love dystopian reads, so it sounds like this series my be a good option!
LikeLiked by 1 person
M, you might just like it. While the steampunk is totally relevant, as is dystopia the character development, for me, has been such a great ride! I hope you enjoy I you decide to try this series 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leapin’ lizards! Book #5 already O_o. It feels like it was just the other day when you reviewed #4 and I said I had bought the first 3 but hadn’t gotten to them yet. D’AWWE!! And yet another gorgeous cover! Love, love, love the colourfulness (if that’s a word). And yer saying that this one is even better than the previous ones??
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL @ leapin’ lizards! hahaha.. my husband’s 4 year old nephew named me Lizard because Liz was apparently too boring for him 😀
Yes, Book 5 already… I think it’s a solid series. A lot happens, the progression is good and character development is just great! And in book #5, different/parallel stuff starts to go down and that’s what made it even more adventurous I think?!
LikeLike