"I've known men who wanted to be gods on earth, and a god who wanted to be a man. One would think someone, somewhere would be happy with their station in life."

The Faith Machine is author Tone Milazzo's provocative delve into the realm of Psychic Science Fiction Thrillers, a noir-esque tale that focuses on the arrogance of mankind, and the dangers of playing at God. Incorporating the concepts of troubling technology and manufactured faith, this is a brisk narrative that sweeps readers on a journey across the globe to unearth a deadly weapon with the fate of all hanging in the balance. Various factions, whose intentions continue to remain cloudy, battle to reign supreme in this breakneck race to the finish line, and there's never a moment of rest – once one secret is uncovered, another begins to emerge from the depths rearing its ugly head. Filled with twists and turns, this is a consuming expedition that's unafraid to shed light on the darkest corners of the human psyche, presenting a story of those that are willing to do anything in the name of the greater good.

"The seven of us are some of the most powerful individuals on the planet. We're demigods among men."

This story revolves around a relatively large, diverse cast of characters that each have their own distinct voice. Readers follow the misadventures of rogue government agents bestowed with psychic powers, who also happen to suffer from severe mental disorders. Dr. Park, a doctor of psychiatry, leads a team consisting of those with skills, called cards, that include enhanced reflexes, the ability to learn expertise telepathically, the ability to induce paralysis through speech, electokinesis, probability distortion, and precognition, on a hunt to save humanity from those who would use belief as a weapon. While the characters can come across as very stereotypical, it was a treat to learn all their interesting quirks and disastrous dynamics as the story unfurled. Despite the fact they always seemed to be in a state of disagreement, the seven work exceedingly well together to bring this story to life.

Milazzo crafts his tale with simple prose, making this a smooth, straightforward read that is easy to devour. Bite-sized chapters, each featuring a different POV or set of POVs, tell the story in as linear a way as possible – I found the author's choice of infrequently portraying the same occurrence through the eyes of multiple characters to give readers insight from all angles a wise decision. The fat smartly trimmed, every page in the book matters, each incident playing a pivotal role in the outcome of the tightly weaved plot. The book doesn't suffer from exhaustive details, allowing the reader to deduce on their own until the larger picture comes into focus. And when it does, it does so with a gargantuan, unexpected bang.

The Faith Machine was a refreshing read that strays far from the norm of my usual literary diet, and I'm so glad I was given the chance to give this thriller a go. A quick, entertaining, action-packed read that refuses to hold anything back as it violently drags its readers along with a group of unlikely spy-type heroes, who inevitably leave a trail of destruction in their wake. The contained story itself ties up nicely, but leaves plenty of room for more in the future, and I'm excited to see what happens next in the world of ESPionage. If you're looking for something a little different infused with intrigue and tension, then this may be the one for you, and I recommend you give it a try.

My Rating: 3.5, but let's round up!

Note: A huge thank you to the author for providing a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CW: This may not be for the squeamish or easily offended – violence, racism, torture, sexual assault, gore, death.