Road to Ruin

Magebike Courier, Book 1

By: Hana Lee

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

An electrifying, gritty fantasy from debut author Hana Lee that takes a royal messenger on a high-speed chase across a climate-ravaged wasteland, featuring motorcycles, monsters, and magic.

Jin-Lu has the most dangerous job in the wasteland. She’s a magebike courier, one of the few who venture outside the domed cities on motorcycles powered by magic. Every day, she braves the wasteland’s dangers—deadly storms, roving marauders, and territorial beasts—to deliver her wares.

Her most valuable cargo? A prince’s love letters addressed to Yi-Nereen, a princess desperate to escape the clutches of her abusive family and soon-to-be husband. Jin, desperately in love with both her and the prince, can’t refuse Yi-Nereen’s plea for help. The two of them flee across the wastes, pursued by Yi-Nereen’s furious father, her scheming betrothed, and a bounty hunter with mysterious powers.

A storm to end all storms is brewing and dark secrets about the heritability of magic are coming to light. Jin’s heart has led her into peril before, but this time she may not find her way back.

©2024 Hana Lee (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Magitek, Romance, and Dinosaurs

I was very interested in this book when I first read about it--a magitek adventure-romance in a dinosaur wasteland sounded right up my alley--and while I did enjoy the story and world, I wasn't as much a fan of, what felt like to me, an extremely awkward love triangle.

I admit, I respect this book for being a literal love triangle and not a love V, but it all just felt so clunky. I get that one of our main character's flaws is that she supposedly falls in live too easily, and I think that's fine; it just didn't resonate with me. I really feel like the characters who were in love with her back had no real chemistry with her. To me, it felt like a love triangle for love triangles sake.

That being said, I do really respect how the romance was handled. I don't want to cime across like a little gremlin who doesn't like the romance in a romance story. I do think the characters are all enjoyable to follow, and there are lots of interesting questions about how the romance between our three leads will end. That interest is something that really kept me going.

Lastly, I loved the idea for this world, but I wish there would've been a bit more devoted to the world itself. I understand wanting to leave things for the sequel, but I was really interested in a lot of the lore as well as a lot of the magical tech. I don't think I'd be too interested in the sequel if not for how interested in and curious I am about the world.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, and while I rolled my eyes a good many times our main character fawns over her love interests, I was captivated the whole time.

a solid beginning to something that is sure to be a cherished series

a good first book in a series with much more to come. solid intro to characters and the world they live in. I look forward to further character development in the books to come and learning g about the world the live in.

Awesome Start!

Really really enjoyed this story. Loved the world building, characters, and their relationship dynamics. There’s so much content to explore here, super excited for the direction it’s going, can’t wait to read what’s next!
Fantastic narration. This is a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable listen.

Fantastic story

Really enjoyed this book. The story, the feel of the world, the characters and the ending all.