Okay, so I first read the opening chapter of The God Engines on John Scalzi's blog, Whatever, and had to buy it.  I found a copy this last weekend and bought it, never mind I dropped $20 on a first edition hardcover.  This book is up for a few awards, as I understand, and has considerable hype.  I do believe it's lived up to it's reputation.

The Characters are immediately strong.  The Captain, the Rook, the Priest, the other crew members, the Defiled god, their own god - all of these are strong, driving forces in the story.  I was very surprised how well characterized these were in so short a length and at so high a pace.  I would personify the people's faith as an entire character in and of it's self, because it's given so many attributes and character that it comes off the page as a living and breathing.

The Setting wasn't all that fantastical.  A practiced reader of science fiction will fill in the holes and understand the setting is space and craft out the other two places where the story unfolds. 

The Plot.... Hold on to your horses because the plot is quick, intense and has a few surprises.  I liked the twists.  There were two moments where I was like - aanndd why are we here?  Couldn't we have learned this in a better way?  But I still get that the places were useful for character development and divulged in an interesting manner.  The plot, as is sort of clear, centers on god engine's; literally gods who are used to supply energy or power for ships.  This is a story about what is wrong in a world and how it is set right.  It explores, albeit briefly, how those remedies are not always rainbows and bunnies.

Go. Read. It. Now.