The Dragon Machine

Magebreakers, Book 3

By: Ben S. Dobson

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A missing girl leads the Magebreakers into a deadly race, with her life as the prize.

Thaless is still reeling from the actions of the assassin known as the Emperor's Mask, and in the aftermath, believers in magical superiority have been greatly emboldened. When a goblin girl named Tinga Vreeg goes missing, it seems like a tragic consequence of the atmosphere of hostility and anger toward the non-magical. But when Tane and Kadka investigate, they find a much deeper mystery. Tinga isn't the only one missing—and she might have been on the trail of something important herself.

Maybe something that can explain the impossible strength and speed of the killers trying to track her down. Or the silver fire burning in their eyes.

But one thing is certain: if Tane and Kadka don't find her first, someone is going to make sure that Tinga never tells anyone what she knows.

©2018 Ben S. Dobson (P)2023 Tantor

good series

this story seemed a little rushed. overall good, but seemed like the author was rushed

Terrible Narrator

I really enjoyed the previous two books in this series. the author is the same, but for some reason they changed narrators and it REALLY takes away from the experience. his voice barely changes for the various characters, which makes it really hard to follow who's saying what in the conversations. I have to concentrate way too hard to follow along. huge disappointment.

Best of the three so far!

This book grabs you and wont let go! I am completely obsessed with this series. the world building is spectacular, the characters are real and compelling and the relationships feel so real its like you're apart of the story. I can't wait to start book 4!

Good stuff not to heavy but not too much fluff ether

Good stuff not to heavy but not too much fluff ether. Glad they took a break from the main villain in the previous books.

Great Addition

This definitely has all the hallmarks of a Magebreakers adventure. Following all the clues they start to uncover a larger mystery. As their notoriety spreads the duo has a much harder time trying do anything on the down low. I didn't find this book quite as good as the first two but it was still an enjoyable read with great characters.

The narrator changes for this one and it seems like Joe Hempel tried to maintain the same voices from the first two books but he just doesn't do it as well. You can still tell who all the characters are, it just sounds a bit different. Not bad, but I do prefer the first narrator.

Entertaining and an interesting magic

I didn’t like the fact that they changed readers, but the new guy did a good job. It’s just always odd when they do that.

I do enjoy the magic system that the author has created, especially how detailed he hast to be in order for a private detective with no magic to unwind the tail 

Not as good

The storyline wasn’t as good as the first two books. Changing up the narration also was a change for the worse. Very mediocre. Next story better pickup or I move on.

Good story but different voice

As the title of my comment implies: this is not narrated by the same narrator as the first two books. Is instead of narrated very well by a different voice actor. Please do not let the difference in voice change your enjoyment of the story, however! It is still just as good as the first two books.

One thing, however, if at all I have as a complaint: is that the villain is not who you initially suspected to be, and it feels almost out of left field. I do, however, think that the ending is very fitting and that it opens up for plenty more in the other books, which I haven’t heard yet.

Of the three book, my least favorite

it's not terrible, but you'll first notice the narrator. A moderate voice range that makes characters less distinct. He tries, it's not a monotone, but very noticeable compared to the first 2 books.

Storywise the author adds backstory recaps with returning characters, stresses out the secretive but blatantly hinted at twist for a character... well, not my favorite.