missingvolume | #46 The Dragons of Dorcastle by Jack Campbell

This originally came out as an audio book only but has since been released as an ebook. The premise is there are two guilds in this world. One is the Mages and the other is the Mechanics. Neither guild has anything to do with the other stating that each uses tricks and lies and that they are the only ones doing real work. The common folk are treated lesser by both groups with the Mages the worse of the two since they will take anything they want without paying for it and even raping someone if they feel like it. The rape point I felt was a bit odd since the Mages are taught to be emotionless. The Mechanics will pay for things but will still order a common person around when the need arises.

Alain is a mage on his first assignment of guarding a caravan to another city. They are ambushed and the only survivor is a Mechanic named Mari. They agree to team up to make it through the desert to their destination. This causes no end of grief for the both of them from their respective guilds. And things are not what they seemed at either guild when they do arrive. Interesting world building in the story with more details about the world coming out near the end.

Digital review copy provided by the agent through NetGalley