THE ATROCITY ENGINE

Agents of a clandestine, evil-combating organization struggle to counter an apocalyptic threat in Waggoner’s supernatural thriller.

Neal Hudson is a 20-year veteran of Maintenance, a company that protects Earth from monsters that pass through “dimensional tears in space.” Tormented by the still-fresh loss of his cherished partner, Neal is saddled with unwanted rookie Gina Sandoval. They’re both Surveyors in the small American town of Ash Creek, keeping their eyes out for entropic energy surges, a sign that something or someone has been “Corrupted” by an interdimensional interloper. A recent run-in with Corruption convinces Neal that an ultra-evil group, the Multitude, has a plan brewing. Indeed, Multitude apprentice Rachel is recruiting people she’s Corrupted to gather essential supplies; she’s constructing a machine that could bring her immeasurable power, although there’s a chance it could obliterate the entire planet and a sizable portion of the solar system. In either case, Neal and Gina, who aren’t even allowed to carry weapons, must thwart her wicked scheme. Waggoner masterfully builds a series-worthy narrative, sprinkling exposition throughout without decelerating the narrative’s brisk momentum. Various characters and pertinent jargon are gradually and deftly introduced, from Rachel’s potential victims to such things as the Corruption-defying chemical Expugent and the extradimensional realm Shadow. The brightest elements of the book are the characterizations of Neal, Gina, and Rachel. Gina is especially intriguing—she’s an ambitious new agent who comes from a wealthy family, and, since her parents and siblings all work at Maintenance, she’s eager to prove herself. At the same time, Neal’s surprising history with Gina’s father invigorates the new partners’ developing relationship. Despite this first installment’s gratifying ending, there’s plenty of material left for sequels to flesh out.

This gripping dark fantasy boasts an indelible cast and an unwavering pace.