What would you do if you knew in your heart that you were meant to be a mecha pilot but the rest of the world repeatedly told you no? Would you give up or would you try and find a way to become a mecha pilot no matter how much extra work it might take? That’s the question set before Mac Fujimoto in Mecha Samurai Empire as he keeps fighting his way through the obstacles set before him because he wants to be a pilot for the Japanese Empire so badly. All of this is set against a fascinating geopolitical backdrop that will intrigue fans of both history and mechas alike and makes for an equally fascinating novel.

The second novel set in this universe, Mecha Samurai Empire stands on its own although, if you’re like me, you’ll most certainly feel inclined to go back and read the first once you reach the last page because you have to know more about this world. It’s an alternate reality where the Axis won World War II, divided up the United States, and tensions are rising between Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany in their own version of the Cold War. The book’s premise might sound familiar to some but author Peter Tieryas makes it his own. Let’s be blunt: in our current world, this can sometimes be a very uncomfortable book to read. Yes, the Nazis are the opposition and many within the United States of Japan really do not like them but they still won the war. It’s unsettling to read even though we know it’s fiction because of how real Tieryas makes everything seem even with the smaller details like how everyone in the United States of Japan has a Japanese name regardless of ethnicity or what sort of cuisine is popular. And yet despite the discomfort, it makes for a fascinating read.

Another part of what makes the book really works is the protagonist himself. Mac isn’t a typical underdog story and neither is he a shining paragon of perfection who just keeps being dealt a bad hand of cards. He feels like a typical guy who might be in your high school class with a dream career in mind but without the grades or connections to back it up. In the hands of a less talented author, Mac might have been a little more perfect and therefore, less real. That’s not to say that Mac doesn’t have a gift for mecha piloting because he certainly does. He just doesn’t get to skate by on talent alone and genuinely has to work for it. It’s a refreshing sort of character to read in a world filled with gifted and/or chosen ones.

The book’s biggest failing is that it feels like it’s building up to something huge (which it does) and then abruptly ends after this significant battle. I was left wanting to know what happens next because it feels like there’s more to Mac’s story. Judging by Tieryas’ website, it looks as if the next book set in this world will also be a standalone which is great for those who love reading this universe but potentially not so great for anyone who wants to know what happens to Mac next.

Mecha Samurai Empire is a book that you’ll want to devote a weekend to reading. From the fascinating yet unsettling world to the protagonist you can’t help but root for, it’s a well written story that’ll keep you thinking about it for days after you read the last page. Add in the giant robots and honestly, what’s not to love?

Thank you to ACE and Wunderkind PR for providing a copy of the book for review purposes.