The Atrocity Engine

Custodians of the Cosmos, Book 1

By: Tim Waggoner

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Men in Black meets Hellraiser in this rollicking mash-up of urban fantasy and cosmic horror from four-time Bram Stoker Award-Winning author Tim Waggoner.

Creatures from dark dimensions infesting your home? Demonic beings trying to drive you insane? Alien gods attempting to destroy your universe?

Just call Maintenance.

This underpaid and overworked secret organization is dedicated to battling forces that seek to speed up Entropy and hasten the Omniverse’s inevitable death.

Neal Hudson is a twenty-year veteran of Maintenance. A surveyor who drives through the streets of Ash Creek, Ohio constantly scanning for the deadly energy known as Corruption. Since the death of his previous partner, Neal prefers to work alone, and he’s not happy when he’s assigned to mentor a rookie.

But they better learn to get along fast.

The Multitude, a group of godlike beings who seek to increase Entropy at every opportunity, are creating an Atrocity Engine. This foul magical device can destroy the Earth, and they don’t care how many innocent lives it takes to build it. (Spoiler alert: It’s a lot!)

Just another day on the job...

©2024 Aethon Books (P)2024 Aethon Audio

If you like dark fantasy this is the book for you!

4.5 ⭐'s. This was a lot darker than I expected, almost too dark for me, but what hell. What else could I have expected with a name like Atrocity Engine. So although I might not have loved the book to pieces I certainly respected it. It had a great compelling storyline that had me riveted throughout it's entirety, as Gina and Neal race ahead to stop the corruption and Atrocity Engine from being built.
So yeah if you like dark fantasy you won't want to miss this action-driven story by Tim Waggoner and narrated to us by Joe Hemphil.

Outstanding story of Detectives vs Cosmic Horror

If you've taken any time to gaze at that beautifully frightening cover, you can see The Atrocity Engine is an adventure that’s all kinds of “out there” while contained in this artistic portrait of characters in distress. The tags I labeled for this on check quite a few unique boxes while excelling beyond expectations. It's Urban Fantasy Magical Realism with Horror because dumpster monsters can be terrifying, and what’s with the Omniverse turning random objects at the park into monsters? Wait until you get a look at the creatures and characters Tim’s written inside.
Again to the cover: Those are people falling from a monstrous creation of Corruption, and our heroes are a unit of police not quite like what we're used to on Earth.
Waggoner's universe is full of wonder, but his characters would all be average Joe if not for that one thing, and that one thing makes them vibrant and relatable. The way he leaves breadcrumbs tasty enough to keep us going was a real treat to read. I spent a little too much time highlighting quotes and bought the hardcover even though I gobbled this up on my phone already.
I hadn't read Tim Waggoner before, but now that I've seen how he can create an amazing setting and true to life characters, with a plot that doesn't quit, I'm hooked and ready for more. The Lord of the Feast is calling me.
Joe Hempel is a go-to and evokes a nostalgia I’ve gained from many horror books he’s narrated. His quality continues to deliver in this. Great choice for the tone and pacing.

Creative Approach and Entertaining

I enjoyed this book. It’s definitely men in black remade with a twist. I don’t mind though. This book ends really well too. Even though it’s book 1 of hopefully many, it wraps up well so you don’t have to worry about starting a new series and waiting for future releases. I’m happy for this, thank you Tim!

There are aspects of the story I just had to roll with. It was the creative direction and lead into meat for the story and different flavor dynamics for the characters. I would have gone a different direction on roles and responsibilities of the company though… some aspects of surveyors just doesn’t make sense.

It’s a very linear storyline. Some folks like that, some hate it. It made it easy for me to follow and come back to without having to think hard about something.

The story had humor, emotion, and omg disgusting moments. I loved taking the journey.

Don’t take this book seriously, roll with it and you’ll have an entertaining experience.

The story is fantastic.

Well thought out. Well put together. Well read. Worth the credit. You get enough backstory to feel informed but not drowning in it. Wraps up well for a series starter too. Great listen.

made work sufferable

good book made the time go by at work. hopefully this series continues.. I will be looking forward to it