Finished it this weekend and I like what I got.
The plot wasn't that innovative, but hell I've read a lot of books, saw a lot of movies and played a lot of games with worse stories.
Most of the so-called plot holes mentioned here didn't bother me much.
I also love how nothing is thoroughly explained, I cringe every time I play, read or watch something where they force dialog to explain the world and setting to you. The world is there, just roll with it.
The acting was top notch and I found the characters very believable.
As mentioned before in this thread all actions are in a way logically explained.
Fighting the rebels is clearly not the main focus of the Order. Gallahad and his team are reprimanded several times for their involvement in the rebel outbreaks. In the first encountered they are instructed to minimalise casualties as they are still citizens, later the grand master is appalled by the fact that they killed too many rebels instead of capturing them. Gallahad had his reasons of course, at that point het thought they were in league with their sworn enemies and after the life of Lord Hastings.
Gallahad feels something is off within the order from the beginning. He and Percival talk about how the order isn't what it used to be. Then he sees Percival talking with the Old man, Percival mentiones there's more going on on the airship and he sees Percival trying to reason with the suicide rebel before his death.
In grief and following the second attempt on the life of Lord Hastings he goes ballistic, but in the back of his mind he knows something is seriously off in this whole situation. He goes looking for answers, he needs closure. And then he meets Lakshmi, a queen herself who offers him the key to unravel this mystery. He doesn't trust her as is apparent during their excursion to the shipyard. But the proof is overwhelming.
He can't trust his own order any more and does not want to endanger his love, who he almost lost mere days before, and his young colleague, who doesn't have any weight in the order yet. So he attempts to get the aid of the only man with enough enfluence: Sir Lucan. Lucan already gave them permision to go against the Grand Masters wishes before, so he seemed like a good bet.
Then everything goes to hell, he is stabbed in the back and knows it's over for him. The corruption is too far spread and he stands alone. The justice system in those days also wouldn't be what it is today, so he knows he's properly fucked. His trial is a farce, and Sir Lucan defending him at the beginning of the trial undermines any point he can try to make. He has given up at that point.
After his escape he's in debt to the rebels, not to mention Nicola, who as a mere human risked his life to save him. So it's logical he wants to repay the favor.
Percival tried to protect his companions and the order,
Jealosy led Issy to lose her trust in Gallahad, on top of that it was him against her brother.
Lafayet keeps faith in Gallahad but knows the time isn't ripe for action.
The grand Master feels everything is going to shit, but is old and tired and most of all acts out of love for his adopted child.
etc...
Also the world was amazing.
I work in a museum for the History of Sciences, and I loved how correct Tesla's lab looked. I loved the war of currents mentioned etc...
I hope a sequel is already in development and I really hope this sells well enough to get it on the market.
I really don't get the overly negative reviews at all. This gen is so bitter and harsh.
