I found myself more engaged with the story in audiobook format than when I read the physical book. The story is fun, but some prose feels a little drawn out and flowery.

Zoe Hana Mikuta’s stellar debut is an intense dystopian sci-fi about the country of Godolia and their army of Windups. Mikuta’s take on mechas (a 200-foot giant humanoid robot suit that has a pilot inside) was refreshing and dynamic. One of our story’s main characters, Sona, is one such pilot. Our other MC is Eris, a Gearbreaker, who’s one mission is to fight Godolia and destroy the existing Windups.

When Eris is captured on a Gearbreaker mission, she’s thrown into the midst of her enemy with no friendly faces. Or are there? Sona is a victim of Godolia’s cruelty too, but sided with them because she had nowhere else to turn to. She sees escape in Eris, a place to run to. As they team up and plan their deadliest mission yet, Eris and Sona have to learn to trust each other—as teammates, friends, and perhaps something more...

The pros:
-Well developed sci-fi/dystopian world as the backdrop to the story
-Cool giant robots
-Amazing character creation and development. You will grow attached to Eris and Sona, as well as several of their friends! It’s always an amazing thing when a book is driven by fantastic characters, and Mikuta has done so with this debut.
-Catherine Ho and Cindy Kay are fantastic narrators who each bring such vibrant life to these characters and their story.

The cons:
-The book ends in a cliff-hanger that will leave you dying for book two. With how attached to the characters I became, and with the ambiguous ending, I’m hanging off the edge of my seat over here!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this audiobook!


Unfortunately, as I went to download and read this title, I realised that it had archived in my NG app. I'm planning on reading this one in the very near future, so once I have I will be editing and updating my review.

The story itself is a whole other review but yes it is wonderful. The audiobook though, added a whole new layer to this story. It was emotive and very well done.

We went past praying to deities and started to build them instead”

This is a story about raging against the machines.

I saw this pitched as Red Rising meets Pacific Rim, and as I love both of those things I was all in & thrilled when the publisher was lovely enough to provide e & audio copies.

So was it as advertised? Yes, and no. While it had reminiscent aspects, this was entirely its own story. The author avoided so many of the tropes that pop up in YA & Sci Fi in general, and created a vast world with so many possibilities for future books. The characters were compelling, and I cared about their dynamics even when their interactions were brief.

While I thoroughly enjoyed it & it’s an amazing debut, l did want more time & world building. I think the content of this book easily could have been spread into a trilogy, because there were so many aspects that felt like they flew by.. hoping for a lengthy sequel!

Thank you so much netgalley & recorded books for the audio arc!

Simplest way to describe this book? Pacific Rim minus the aliens then add LGBT rep. It was awesome.

The story alternates between Sona, a Pilot for Godolia, and Eris, a renegade aiming to take down the empire. The two storylines play off each other effectively, creating tension and emotion for both young women. There is a budding romance, but it is handled in a slow burn way. In fact, it really takes a backseat to the rest of the story, which, even as a romance reader, I greatly appreciated. It allowed for Sona's and Eris's feelings to grow organically and feel more real rather than forcing the issue.

With the romance taking a backseat, what the listener gets instead is Sona's quiet rage and Eris's incandescent fury as they battle an empire that does everything in its power to maintain the status quo and beat down those without power. The internal struggle Sona faces as a Pilot and a renegade is especially fascinating.

The narrators, Catherine Ho and Cindy Kay, are simply fantastic. Both bring their respective characters to life and it was a joy to listen to them.

DNF at 93%

I received Gearbreakers as an audiobook ARC. I was initially drawn into the book as the setting is well-conceived. The country of Godolia is an authoritarian, resource-extracting, technologically advanced military-industrial complex that cares more about production quotas than the lives of its citizens.

Sona is an orphan of a Godolian massacre but she is recruited into an elite cadre of enhanced supersoldiers that perpetrate further Godolian state violence. Her plans to oppose Godolia from within come to naught until she meets Eris, a leader of a militant civilian opposition group. Together they possess the knowledge, skills, and righteous anger to take down Godolia.

There were things to like about this book--Sona’s back story, the complicated relationship between Eris and her sister, the community and familial love between Eris and her gearbreaker crew, interesting questions about the humanity of people with techy body mods--but the overarching plot left much to be desired. We all love an underdog story, but I *really* had to suspend my disbelief at the notion that these two young women could topple a tyrannical surveillance state. The storyline felt extremely predictable, which made it hard to stay engaged. So much so that I didn’t feel like I needed to stick it out for the ending. I DNFed at 93% as Sona, Eris, and the gearbreakers were preparing for their big showdown with Godolia

The story is told from alternating POVs, but this structure was weird in the audiobook. When Sona was speaking in chapters from Eris’s POV, the narrator used a weird, flat, emotionless, almost mechanical sounding voice. This voice was vastly different from the more animated, emotional voice used when the story was told in Sona’s POV, reflecting her inner thoughts. I assume this variation was to underscore how Eris and the others saw Sona as part-machine and not fully human, whereas Sona herself still felt fully in touch with her humanity. In fact, this was continuously the main tension in Sona and Eris’s relationship throughout the book. It felt like a strange choice to make for the audiobook narration though. For one, it was confusing to recognize Sona’s words and thoughts expressed in different voices. Two, the dispassionate tone made it harder to connect to Sona. And three, it renders a very different experience of Sona’s character than reading the print book would.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for giving me advance access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this! So much fun, loved the asian and lesbian rep, and the plot was truly creative and original

First, I want to say that the narrator is awesome !!
Then the story is really awesome, something that we have never heard of. The beginning is a little bit complicated, we don’t understand some things, but all become clearer after that

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me a copy of this audiobook

I should preface this to say that this is the first audiobook I've listened to in many years. While I would never disparage the media, it's just not one I tend to listen to. And so I freely acknowledge that when I say that there were times I had trouble following along, I know that is a me thing, and not a comment on the quality of the production or the narrators, Catherine Ho & Cindy Kay. That said, I feel like this was a learning experience, in that when I was able to give it my full attention, I loved the experience of listening to this story. However, unlike some people I know, I realized that I cannot listen to an audiobook, and attempt to do something else, while I was working for example. I just can't divide my attention in that way, and being a visual person, whatever I would try to work on won out, and I missed bits of the story and had to go back at times. As I say, this is a me-thing, and none of you care about that, so...

As far as the narrators go, both Catherine and Cindy did a great job, making Eris and Sona distinct characters. Their narrations were clean and crisp, with just enough emotion to get across the gravity of the situation. There were a couple times they felt a bit dry, but those were few and far between.

As for the story, I loved it. I will definitely be going back to read the actual text of the story again because, as I said, being a visual person I think the text will sink in more fully, or there were parts where the narrators went into another character speaking and it wasn't as distinct as it may be if I could see the words on the page.

The characters are really good, though I do hope for more development in the sequel, Sona getting to win back more of her humanity for example, even if she's permanently altered physically. Eris was definitely developed more, though most of that development was anger. Also, the romance between the two, at least as I picked up on it in the audio form (one of the reasons I wanna re-read the actual text) felt underplayed, almost embarrassed at times, compared to Eris sleeping with toxic-boy whose name I forget.

The supporting cast was for the most part great, though I did find the gearbreaker crew blended together at times, maybe because they were so close. I thought Sona's...friends? Fellow students?...at the Windup Academy stood out a little more...I reallyfelt it when Sona had to kill the one girl that was always nice to her. They were also an interesting look at the nature of fanaticism and early indoctrination.

There were certain parts that really stood out to me and I think about still, while others are a complete blur (again, probably an audio attention thing), so for now, I've giving this a 4 out of 5.

I really enjoyed this, but not as much as I thought I would. I have a lot of thoughts.

Full review coming soon!

Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read with dynamic and charismatic dialogue and great action! I really liked the setup of of the two sides in this fight, and some of the cool inventions that the gearbreakers were using as well! I found both MC’s to be unique, and loved their relationship with each other. I had a hard time getting into it until about 25%, and for some reason really struggled with distinguishing the two perspectives for the first portion of the book (not sure if this is because I was using the audiobook or not, or possibly just a me problem). Overall, a very exciting read that I would recommend to anyone who liked sapphics and tech!

This is the first instalment in the Gearbreakers series.

One-hundred foot tall false gods rule the kingdom but the ragtag crew, called the Gearbreakers, are determined to bring an end to their reign. Eris is one of the Gearbreakers but finds herself detained by the opposition. There she meets Sona, who should be her mortal enemy but reveals herself as a spy who has infiltrated the other side. She is now willing to work with Eris and her crew to take over the ones destroying their land.

I adored how unique this world was, and all those who dwelt inside of it were crafted with the same ingenuity. Each character, place, and construction was vivid, original, and authentic. It was a joy, from page one, to read something that felt so different from anything else I have experienced, and this continued throughout. Some small factors about the science-based elements of the novel were lost on me but these were minor to my overall enjoyment and understanding of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, Zoe Hana Mikuta, Catherine Ho (narrator), and Cindy Kay (narrator) for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Gearbreakers in exchange for an honest review.

I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this book. The app has really come a long way with its audiobook use. It is smooth to download and listen, easy to save your place when reading, and easy to navigate to different chapters. The playback speed options are nice as well. Both narrators sound very similar, but they really do a great job in bringing Eris' and Sona's story to life.

Godolia falls farther and father under tyrannical rule. The country uses giant mecha weapons, called Windups, to keep people in their place. No one can oppose a giant, weaponized robot, right? Wrong. Eris, a girl with a band of rebels trying to break down the tyranny of Godolia, specializes in infiltrating Windups and destroying them from the inside. These people of the rebel faction who specialize in destroying the mechs are called Gearbreakers. Makes sense. Break up the gears that run the mech, win a rebellion. Eris is very good at her job, but not all missions run smoothly. 

When Eris winds up in a Godolia prison, she meets Sona, a girl with cyber enhancements who also happens to be a Windup pilot. Face-to-face with the enemy, Eris actually learns that Sona is deep undercover, and that she is actually trying to bring Godolia down from the inside by being one of its Windup pilots. What better way to start bringing down a tyrannical ruler with weaponized mechs than to infiltrate and learn how to use a mech yourself? This will be great for the rebellion, but if Eris makes it out alive, and if Sona makes her presence known, how well will the other Gearbreakers receive her?

This novel not only has some action-packed battle scenes, but revolves around Eris and Sona as they develop a friendship that might even turn into something more. If it does develop, how will that affect the Gearbreakers and their goal? How will Sona's undercover plan come to light? Despite the circumstances of their relationship, both hold the future of Godolia as their driving force within themselves.

I would recommend this novel for those seeking a war romance, LGBTQ romance, lovers of mechs (like Gundam or Evangelion), or just someone looking for a well-written, well voice-acted audiobook novel in the science fiction genre. This book is great for a teen audience, though unless they are very into this genre, it might not be everyone's cup of tea. I found this to be a very enjoyable listen.

**Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media, Recorded Books for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my rating**

I had been wanting to read Gearbreakers for a really long time, so I was so excited when I was approved for the audiobook galley. That said, I"m really glad it got approved after the book was released because the narrator for Eris had a very strange accent when she was doing Sona and it was grating to me 😬 It's 100% a me problem. I'm sure she's a very good narrator in other books. I just found her doing her version of a "Godolia" accent sounded kind of like a posh lady with a head cold, so I borrowed the book from the library to read concurrently with the audiobook. The narrator for Sona had a very pleasant voice and I would listen to a book narrated by her again.

Audiobook specific criticism aside, I really enjoyed this book! It's a bit of a slow burn, which is unusual for me to enjoy, but there was so much action going on in between that the pacing felt correct. I liked that Mikuta took time to differentiate her mechas, that there were different classes and skills for each one instead of one "main" one and some older ones mentioned. You can tell she put a lot of thought into the world building and the plot for this book. The two main characters were great. I liked that they both were capable and strong while also having vulnerable sides. Personally, I think my favorite character was Jenny, who's a side character but is incredibly intelligent and knows it! We need more female characters like that, who know their worth and aren't afraid to acknowledge it. Sona and Eris both have moments like this, too, so great for female rep. The romance, while slowburn, was well written. I don't feel like I can comment on the rep since I'm not part of the community, but I personally enjoyed their relationship.

Overall, I really liked this book. I would read book two (the ending!!) and I look forward to seeing what Ms. Mikuta has up her sleeves next.

3.75 stars rounded up

There's a lot I enjoyed about this book. People piloting giant robots, similar to Pacific Rim, is a concept I love. I think it's cool and the kind of futuristic thing I like to see. I also thought Sona and Eris' relationship was well written, with a slow burn and great chemistry. I knew they would be getting together but the little moments they shared that bonded them made the romance so good!

What I struggled with was the world building. I had a difficult time immersing myself and still don't understand exactly why the countries are at war and the different kinds of robots were lost on me. This is definitely a character driven story and while I don't mind that, I wish there was more background to fill in the gaps.

I still liked the story and thought it was decently paced. I got to know the characters and really felt for what they were going through. I'm looking forward to the sequel and I hope we learn more about the war and delve deeper into the world.

The audiobook is great and I was happy to have two narrators to differentiate between the girls. I hope they come back for the sequel!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the copy.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I don't read too many sci-fi novels but thought this one was unique.

I liked the relationship between Sona and Eris. I thought the dynamic between the two of them worked well and they both brought different perspectives which I liked. I'm also a fan of slow burn and definitely felt that in this one.

The world-building was the hardest for me to keep up on and caused some confusion. It was fast-paced and although the romance was slow-burn the world-building felt a bit too rush for me and I got lost in it a bit. I wanted to understand more of it while reading.

Overall I thought this was an interesting concept and enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook and thought it was well done. I did struggle with the narrator at times being a bit sleepy in her tone but overall I'd recommend the audiobook to avid listeners.

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the copy.

Pacific Rim meets Tehlor Kay Mejia''s We Set the Dark on Fire in this story about gigantic robotic "gods," the young people piloting them, and the rebels fighting back against them. Sona Steelcrest is a windup pilot. She was cybernetically enhanced by the rulers of Godolia to become part of an elite unit of pilots controlling the Valkyries, enormous robotic fighting machines that reign down destruction on all who stand in their way. But she's hiding a secret: her childhood home was destroyed by Godolia, crushed beneath the feet of a windup just like the one she now pilots. So when she sees a chance to rescue one of the Gearbreakers who takes down windups like hers, she leaps on it. In a dangerous gamble, the two break out of the academy where Sona was trained, full of pilots just like her and their monstrous windups. But though she's helped save Eris, one of the best the Gearbreakers have to offer, will Sona ever be accepted as anything other than a Godolian abomination?

I absolutely loved this book and the story of these broken girls trying to survive and learn to deal with their emotions in a horrific dystopian world. I listened to the audio version of this book, and it is wonderfully narrated. Catherine Ho and Cindy Kay really bring the characters to life and their distinctive voices make it easy to keep track of which girl's perspective we're getting in each chapter. There are lots of unknowns since this is clearly the start of a series, but I don't mind that too much since so much is set up and the story we do get is so good. But Mikuta is clearly not messing around with that cliffhanger. Consider yourself warned.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital galley of this book and Macmillian Audio for the ALC.

In the Badlands, every day is war, literally. Godolia’s rule is spreading, due in large part to their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. Gearbreaker Eris Shindanai specializes in taking down these machines from the inside. When she’s captured, she’ll have to rely on help from Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot, to survive. Sona wants out, and she’s willing to help her enemy in order to escape. As the two grow closer, Eris will have to convince her crew that not only can Sona be trusted, but she can help them take down the Windups and build a better future, for both their people and each other.

I flitted back and forth between the print and audio version of this, and both experiences were a blast. It moves quickly, and I’m a sucker for humans who have been made into part machines. Make it queer, and you have got me 100%. I liked the push and pull between the two main characters. It’s an enemies to lovers story, but it’s grittier than a romance novel. Definitely hard sci-fi with a somewhat romantic subplot.

I enjoyed the characters immensely, anti-heroes, rebels, and those with the fight to change. They are as gritty as their world and stories. The narration was excellent in the audio version and kept me embroiled in the adventure from start to finish. If you’re looking for something with high tension and enormous stakes, definitely check this one out. Do recommend.

I have never found interest in Mecha as an anime genre. But boy, does it hit different as a written work.

I had a hell of a time putting this book down. Both because it was jarring to leave the world Zoe Hana Mikuta has built, but also because you're constantly on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. There are no stops on this train, and you must be ready for the long haul.

It's GAY! and it slaps! Literally, since it is Enemies to Lovers.