Devices And Desires by K.J. Parker

In a world teetering on the brink of war, an engineer named Ziani Vaatzes finds himself exiled from his homeland after being accused of treason. Driven by a desire to reunite with his family, he uses his unparalleled skills to manipulate the political landscape, setting off a chain of events that could alter the fate of nations. As alliances shift and betrayals unfold, Vaatzes' intricate designs and machinations reveal the thin line between creation and destruction, challenging the very nature of loyalty, ambition, and the human desire for control.

Purchase from Bookshop.org