We’re back with another finalist review for SPFBO! This time, we look at Of Mages and Makers by Rel Carroll, a swashbuckling fantasy adventure with steampunk vibes!
Let’s see what the judges had to say about it!
Michael Vadney: Of Mages and Makers wastes absolutely zero time. From the very first pages, you know who the main character is, what his conflict looks like, and how the world around him connects to the story about to unfold. That kind of immediate, confident pacing is hard to pull off, and Carrol handles it with real assurance. It’s a very strong start that earns your trust early.
Art is an engaging lead, a dandy who presents one way to the world while being far more competent than he lets on. That gap between appearance and ability makes him fun to follow from the beginning. Audrey is equally compelling, the child of a famous figure, raised by an unapproving grandmother to be a proper lady and soon engaged to a man she has no interest in. Their budding romance is one of the book’s highlights. The chemistry between them is genuine and well-developed over time, built on real interactions rather than forced proximity. It feels earned, which is exactly what a good romance should be.
The world is a steampunk-style setting that blends magic and engineering in an age of discovery, and the way that worldbuilding integrates with the central conflict is immediately apparent. Carrol doesn’t treat setting as backdrop; it’s woven into the story in ways that make the world feel functional and alive.
This is a solid, enjoyable tale. It does what it sets out to do with competence and care, delivering a well-paced story with likable characters, good chemistry, and a world worth spending time in. If you’re looking for a steampunk fantasy with a strong romantic thread and a story that respects your time from page one, Of Mages and Makers is a pleasant read worth picking up.
Will Swardstrom: When I first dove into Of Mages and Makers, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself in for. The first few chapters set up the overall story perfectly and the pacing throughout the book was terrific. There were plenty of times where author Rel Carroll connected our two leads when I wasn’t necessarily expecting it and to be honest, that’s the part of the book that worked the best for me.
The romantic subplot between Art and Audrey was fun and delightful. It was only after I had finished reading Of Mages and Makers that the book’s blurb likened the book to Charlie M. Holmberg’s The Paper Magician – a steampunk-y romantic fantasy with more than a touch of heist to it all. On top of that, I really like Holmberg’s books and that comp is spot-on.
The chapters alternate between Art and Audrey, but occasionally multiple chapters in a row feature only Art’s POV or Audrey’s perspective, making the story a little hard to follow at times. Even then, Carroll paints an easy picture to follow. Once I started, I finished in less than two days, gobbling up this fun story in just a few sittings. The lead characters could use a little more nuance, but Carroll put just enough backstory into them to make them likeable and relatable from start to finish.
I would definitely recommend Of Mages and Makers, especially if you’re in the mood for some light-hearted steampunk/gaslamp romantic fun.
Dave Lawson: This book was utterly delightful. As a Scarlet Pimpernel fan since childhood, this was absolutely my type of book and I absolutely ate it up. Art and Audrey are great protagonists, and I lived for their banter. I love some romance in a book, and this one hit all the right notes. I loved it! Some good steampunk fun and cool worldbuilding adds to the story, but let’s be clear, this is a character-driven adventure and the two mains make it awesome. I definitely recommend this book and it’s one of my favorite finalist reads!
With that, our score for Of Mages and Makers is a 7.5.
We’ll be back soon with the last few scores!
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