Cold Iron (Masters & Mages, #1) by Miles Cameron

Feb 12, 2019 Sebastien Castell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Here’s my problem with epic fantasy: why should anyone learn a thousand names of places, peoples, languages, and various swords, tools, and cutlery, only to discover it was all just window dressing laid on top of the same worn-out narratives? Cold Iron by Miles Cameron’s answer is because sometimes all those things are so well thought-out, so elegantly formed, and so interconnected with the story itself, that they transcend narrative decoration and instead become a deep, convincing, and entirely Here’s my problem with epic fantasy: why should anyone learn a thousand names of places, peoples, languages, and various swords, tools, and cutlery, only to discover it was all just window dressing laid on top of the same worn-out narratives? Cold Iron by Miles Cameron’s answer is because sometimes all those things are so well thought-out, so elegantly formed, and so interconnected with the story itself, that they transcend narrative decoration and instead become a deep, convincing, and entirely immersive world.

Of course, Cameron, in his various guises (he’s also a noted historical adventure author), is known for the integrity and authenticity he brings to his world-building, but that’s never been enough for me to stick through five hundred pages of fantasy. What sets Cold Iron apart for me is how intensely character-focused it is and how willing it is to keep following its lead rather than always move the camera towards whichever giant battle is taking place somewhere. Aranthur is likeable in a way that’s become a bit rare in these Grimdark days: he’s decent, dutiful, and his flaws are ones many of us can recognize in ourselves (as opposed to randomly going off an killing a thousand people or deciding to consecrate his soul to the local demon because he wasn’t loved enough as a child.)

What I enjoyed most, though, was simply that from chapter to chapter I didn’t know what was coming next. Often Cameron brings Aranthur’s story back to his school or his work in a leather shop, his fencing salle or his home village. Each of these chapters is somehow compelling and rich with inner conflict as Aranthur struggles to understand not who or what he is, but who he wants to be. There aren’t many writers who can get me on board with that kind of storytelling, but with Cold Iron, it was as just as easy to get excited about these scenes as those filled with conspiracy, swordplay, and a brewing war.

Speaking of war, this is one of the places where Cold Iron departs from old-school fantasy – not because the book eschews the old “good vs. evil” structure (in fact, Cameron quite readily allows Aranthur to embrace a clear sense of who’s side he – and we – should be on), but rather because the philosophical arguments over cultural purity, a return to a glorious past, and the rationale to despise and mistreat refugees will feel all too familiar to modern audiences. Rather than portray migrants as simple victims, Cameron brings them into the intensely diverse cast of characters who drive the story forward.

There are aspects of Cold Iron that not all readers will enjoy. Aranthur is a young man just entering the world of romance and sexuality. As such he’s . . . distractable. At times he himself notes that he’s so enamoured of whichever woman he’s just gotten to know that he begins to distrust his own motives in pursuing them. To me it read as a realistic, if uncomfortable, reminder of what a lot of us are like in our early twenties. So you kind of have to let go of the notion that fantasy heroes are either instantly monogamous saints or utterly irreverent rogues because Aranthur is somewhere in between and even he’s not sure where he’s going to land as a person. Fortunately, the women he falls for are generally wiser in such matters than he is. It’s worth noting that while Aranthur is straight, there’s plenty of sexual diversity in the world of Cold Iron, and none of the characters seem too fussed about it.

A second issue that might occasionally trip up some readers is simply the depth of the world and its languages. I felt as if what I really wanted was not a map but an atlas of the world. Also, a set of dictionaries. A phone book would’ve helped, too. I know loads of readers adore this kind of expansive world-building, but others find it more challenging to follow. Suffice it to say, the world of Cold Iron is as big and rich as that of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. But that’s where the similarity ends and where my favourite comparison for Cold Iron begins.

For a long time as I read, I kept trying to figure out what book Cold Iron reminded me of. I was intensely enjoying Aranthur’s journeys and discoveries of himself and the world around him, daringly overcoming various challenges, sometimes succumbing to others. In some ways the book reminded me of some of the classic swashbuckling fiction of old: C.S. Forester’s Hornblower or Sabatini’s Scaramouche. But it wasn’t until I recalled a more recent novel, one I’d read some ten years ago now, that I found the real comparison: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Cold Iron brings back vividly that wonderful feeling of spending so much time in one character’s journey and seeing how they progress in an ever more dangerous and complex tale. It takes a master storyteller to make you enjoy spending so much time in one person’s shoes, but Cameron accomplishes it with flair and seeming ease.

So that’s where I’ll end my review: if you’re dying of wait for the next instalment of Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles, do yourself a favour and pick up Cold Iron by Miles Cameron. Not only is it just as compelling and vibrant, but rumour has it he’s already written all three books in the series, so you won’t have to wait long for the next ones to come out! ...more

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Jun 10, 2019 John Gwynne rated it it was amazing

I read this some time ago, and shared what I thought of it on Facebook and Twitter, but somehow I neglected to put my thoughts on Cold Iron down here. This is what I said:

Oh. My. Word.
Utterly, utterly brilliant. A masterclass in how to write modern fantasy - world building, characters, plot and pacing, all perfectly blended.
You might be getting the impression I enjoyed this book. For me this hit all the right spots. A gripping tale set within a fantastical but semi-historical world ...more

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Jun 03, 2019 Edward rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviews, favorites

“It is important to know that you can kill, evenly, ruthlessly, without pause to wrestle your conscience, because the world is full of people who will kill you if you prevaricate.”

This is the second fantasy book I have read by Miles Cameron. Coming straight from the Red Knight really highlighted the themes that are evident within these contrasting books. Where The Red Knight was a book of grim mercenary western-knights and gritty epic battles against fantastical creatures, Cold Iron is a book of Eas “It is important to know that you can kill, evenly, ruthlessly, without pause to wrestle your conscience, because the world is full of people who will kill you if you prevaricate.”

This is the second fantasy book I have read by Miles Cameron. Coming straight from the Red Knight really highlighted the themes that are evident within these contrasting books. Where The Red Knight was a book of grim mercenary western-knights and gritty epic battles against fantastical creatures, Cold Iron is a book of Eastern life within a city, of academia and subtle details of living, racism and refugees struggle. I loved it.

Cold Iron is told from the POV of Aranthur Timos, a student at a city academy. He was born on a farm his father owned out of the city but like many young people in the country, was drawn to the life within a great city. Arranthur is a relatively normal young man, who proceeds to encounter rather un-normal events and be at the centre of them. He develops throughout the story, questions himself, learns, makes friends, makes enemies and grows within himself. His arc was written fantastically and I found myself really liking Aranthur, feeling his frustrations and joys. Aranthur learns throughout Cold Iron sword-craft, leather-work, magik and the ways of socialisation with peers, masters and royalty. I adored all of the subtle details of the world, which completely added to the wonderful world building.

“Boasting is a way of saying you are weak”

Through his adventures in and out of the city, Aranthur meets and befriends many characters, some more memorable than others. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Dhalia, a female interest of Aranthur’s who always keeps him on his toes. One thing I really enjoyed within part 1 of Masters & Mages was the wide range of female characters and their roles within it. After recently completing my dissertation, which concentrated on gender roles and representation within literature, it was fascinating to see how Miles Cameron wrote his female characters. There were those that adhered to tropes of love interests, but they all made their mark on the story and moved away from these classic portrayals. There were also female characters who were witty and sharp, in the duelling ring as well as out of it. Females in positions of power and those that are peers too Aranthur. The wide range of characters Aranthur meets enhanced the enjoyment, and their various portrayals gave the story life.

The plot was very fresh. There was political intrigue and plots and twists in levels of the story from all characters. Aranthur seemed to float from one event to another, always caught up in trouble, all whilst working and learning. There is action, duels, sword-skills, magic use and horse-riding. There is also opera, markets, transcribing ancient texts and farm work. I loved the mix up and the contrast of city life and country life. Aranthur’s city lifestyle and involvement in certain events turning him gradually into a well-known man with high-placed friends and a role to play in the intrigue of the county was fleshed out and built steadily to a crescendo.

“Whats a daesia?”
“A man who lives to… I don’t know. For pleasure. To lie with others. And gamble, and fight, and raise hell. A person who goes to plays and jeers at the playwright. Goes to temple and mocks the priest’s hypocrisy. Goes to the brothel to find love. Fights duels. Writes poetry.” He laughed. “Bad poetry.”
“Sounds wonderful. Where do I sign up?”

5/5 - Certainly spy-novel-esque, Cold Iron had superb world-building, fun characters and action alongside intrigue. Throughly recommended for any readers of fantasy and anything else really, you won’t regret it. ...more

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Dec 31, 2018 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy, epic, arcs-and-galleys, fantasy

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/01/13/...

I’ve always felt like I missed out on something big when it comes to Miles Cameron, not having read his Traitor Son Cycle. And while that series is still on the to-read list, when I found out about Cold Iron, the first book his new series called Master and Mages, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to finally experience this author’s work for myself and see what the fuss is all about.

As such, I had no idea what to expect when I started thi 3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/01/13/...

I’ve always felt like I missed out on something big when it comes to Miles Cameron, not having read his Traitor Son Cycle. And while that series is still on the to-read list, when I found out about Cold Iron, the first book his new series called Master and Mages, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to finally experience this author’s work for myself and see what the fuss is all about.

As such, I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. I was a little surprised to find strong throwback vibes to the classic fantasy stories in which the humble farmboy leaves the sheltered confines of his remote village to go to school and explore the world, only to stumble upon a greater destiny than he ever imagined for himself. At least, this was the novel’s early direction. Readers follow Aranthur, a young mage from the rural outskirts who has been living in the big city to study the magical arts at the prestigious academy. We first meet him on the road as he travels home to spend the holidays with his family, but then our protagonist gets himself mixed up in a violent conflict at a local inn, which ends up with him killing someone in self-defense.

This watershed moment leads Aranthur down a new path to a world full of unexpected and exciting opportunities—the chance to master his skills with the blade and to rub elbows with the city’s most elite. But as the political landscape becomes ever more unstable, Aranthur begins to question his role in all of it, wondering why this life of blood, death, and cold iron is the one fate has chosen for him, and thinking maybe there is still a way to change and protect the people he cares about.

As I said, Cold Iron contains strong allusions to classic and popular fantasy tropes, a no doubt intentional decision by the author, who has made some clear attempts to revitalize how we view the genre. Remarkably, there is a decent amount of freshness in a novel like this, even with all the well-worn ideas, in part because Cameron never takes them to the point where they feel superficial or misused. He also includes themes that contemporary readers can relate to, while being careful not to cross the line into overtly discussing current issues.

Aranthur was also a likeable guy. Like most coming-of-age tales about idealistic and easily impassioned young men, his story was full of surprises. In many ways, his character calls to mind Kvothe from Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind, another novel that has often been described as rooted in the classical fantasy tradition but with updated twists for a modern readership. Both protagonists start from humble beginnings to wind up the central figure in a conflict much bigger than they are, in a position to affect great change with their decisions. Both spend a good chunk of time in a university setting, learning new things and making new friends. Both seem to constantly moan about being broke. Bottom line, there are enough parallels between the two that make me think if you enjoyed one, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the other.

On the flip side, these kinds of stories also tend to have slow buildups and Cold Iron is no exception, especially since it contains so much complex political intrigue. I won’t deny there were parts that had me wishing I could skim, even knowing full well that the narrative is setting up the world and slowly introducing all the key players. As a result, there is a lot of initial wandering and the accompanying stop-and-go pacing. There were several scenes which made me and stop and ask myself, what’s the point? And yet, while not every moment is filled with riveting action or excitement, every new experience Aranthur has, every new encounter with a character or every new relationship he cultivates is another step towards revealing Cameron’s grand plot.

To put it simply, Cold Iron is a good start. The biggest challenge in writing the first book of an epic fantasy series is always the balancing act between the elements of world-building and the overall plot. You want to give enough attention to the former because it is the basis upon which your entire series will be built, but at the same time you don’t want to smother the latter because the main character and his story still needs to be compelling enough to hold the reader’s interest. On the whole, I believe Miles Cameron accomplished this goal. The pacing is shaky in places, it’s true—but I also think he’s also established a solid foundation for the next novel, which should flow more smoothly as a result. But perhaps the biggest proof of this opening novel’s success lies in the fact I’m intrigued by Aranthur and I feel invested in the outcome of his story. Needless to say, I’ll be continuing with the sequel. ...more

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Aug 28, 2018 Emma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

3.5 stars

Aranthur is just another student on the way home for the holidays, but the inn in which he chooses to break the journey turns out to be the very wrong place, and it’s certainly the very wrong time. The bloody episode that follows has ramifications which spread vine like through the narrative, including significant changes for all those who happened to be there. For Aranthur, it sets the path of his life thereafter, throwing him into the heart of political intrigue of the highest sort.< 3.5 stars

Aranthur is just another student on the way home for the holidays, but the inn in which he chooses to break the journey turns out to be the very wrong place, and it’s certainly the very wrong time. The bloody episode that follows has ramifications which spread vine like through the narrative, including significant changes for all those who happened to be there. For Aranthur, it sets the path of his life thereafter, throwing him into the heart of political intrigue of the highest sort.

The story is a meandering one. Safe to say if you’re looking for non-stop action, this is not for you. In fact, this is another book that reminded me very much of The Name of the Wind because it charts the tale of a nobody from nowhere who ends up at the very centre of things, while still having to pay his rent. Aranthur is clearly a ta’veren, but he’s also a minor player in much greater conflicts. He may be the focus of the story and the voice through which the reader sees the events of the book, but it’s made clear that the other characters are deeply involved in the great game- high politics is being played by all, and played to win. It makes you feel for him because he is very much at the mercy of what’s happening around him and while that gives him a pretty passive role in his own life, he works hard within the framework he’s given to do the right thing. In any case, like Kvothe, Aranthur is engaging enough that you don’t mind spending the time with him regardless of whether it’s really moving the plot forwards. And while it might be slow and character focused, when the action hits, it’s brutal and inventive. Shadow monsters come out of nowhere and rip you to bloody shreds. I mean, that’s what might happen. At some point.

The language well reflects the character’s awkwardness, especially in the beginning when he is unsure of himself and his new, more responsible role in society: ‘Join you and do what? With my minimal sword skills and my nonexistent talent for Safiri and power, join you and we’ll save the world?’ Without doubt, this is a coming of age story, a journey in which the reader learns alongside Aranthur, and the development of knowledge is a significant motif in the book. It seems like it’s important to Miles Cameron too since his created world is deeply influenced by our own, peppered with vocabulary from history and classical/world languages: syr for sir and agora (marketplace) to name just two. The scope of the word borrowing extends far outside the timescale in which the book is set, something that feels like the later Middle Ages to Early Modern period. The transition between swords and guns allows for some thrilling fight scenes, never losing that classic swords and sorcery feeling. The magic system itself has a similar set up to The Wheel of Time, with a split between female and male power, here called saar and sihr respectively- the male being the darker as in WoT. The potential of power is hinted at but used sparingly- as with so much in this book, learning is necessary for greater workings. On the other hand, the everyday, smaller, more egalitarian uses of power by normal people is cleverly used as the motivation for the grand struggle: who should get to use it? For some, the Pure, the answer is only the best people. And guess what, that ain’t me and you. It’s an effective way to talk about class struggle and discrimination, especially since, in this world, magic is needed for some basic tasks, ones that keep people alive.

The feeds into another challenging topic the book deals with: racism. Some reviewers have suggested this book might be racist, for example citing ‘mongels’ as an unacceptable term to use in modern writing. No judgement from me on that (because it doesn’t sound good at all), but I think this is a book in which people come to realise, or not, their prejudices, rather than starting out maturely developed. My reading of it was that racism was something the book particularly tries to address, especially through responses to refugees from the wars in the east who continue to arrive in the city and the countryside as things worsen in their former homes. In both environments, refugees are identified as a problem, dealt with in a range of ways. The language used to describe differences between foreigners and local populations come from the mouths of the characters rather than the author and reflect the insidious and ever present nature of racism, the seemingly inescapable need for people to identify and highlight human variation in order to position themselves above others. The supposed clash of cultures is repeatedly utilised as an excuse for a refusal to understand or accept different ways of living, enabling the author to show the sheer irrationality of racial prejudice. It reveals the way ideas about people are created and used to promote specific agendas, whilst the destructive power of such concepts become ever more clearly written in pain and death. It’s a pointed commentary on the effects of war and persecution, one which has special validity for our own society.

Unfortunately, once it hits the high point at the end of Book 1, at about 80%, there’s a bit of a slow down with some serious time given to overexplanation. There’s still a lot going on but I just couldn’t get back that same feeling from the first book. As much as I enjoyed some aspects of the novel, especially the underlying depth and social commentary, there’s not quite enough there to have me rush back. ...more

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Aug 24, 2018 Liviu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read_2018, top_25_2018_books, 2018_releases_read, genre-fantasy

Cold Iron is set in a faux Byzantine ((City, naming, people, old aristocratic families jockeying for power) milieu with magic that has been "freed" by "hero" Tirases a millennium ago to be used by almost anyone in small but essential ways (heating water and houses, controlling fertility etc) which led to a better life for many; there are a lot of familiar elements (the magic academy, the farmer student of middling talent to start with etc combined with a lot of the historical fiction touches fro Cold Iron is set in a faux Byzantine ((City, naming, people, old aristocratic families jockeying for power) milieu with magic that has been "freed" by "hero" Tirases a millennium ago to be used by almost anyone in small but essential ways (heating water and houses, controlling fertility etc) which led to a better life for many; there are a lot of familiar elements (the magic academy, the farmer student of middling talent to start with etc combined with a lot of the historical fiction touches from the author's medieval series like Chivalry and Tom Swan- medieval inn life, manuscripts, horses, clothing and weapon details of the age which is a sort of 1400's with dragons and magic as firearms are slowly appearing but swords and crossbows are still the main weapons).

However a "curtain of war" is coming towards the City from the east - rumors are of conspiracies of the rich and powerful - and especially of a clique of a powerful "Master" and his "Disciples" who want to "conquer the world" in order to restrict the use of magic to themselves while claiming that its continual use by everyone is slowly but surely depleting it from the universe and our hero Aranthur of Arnaut background (and who has many similarities with William Gold the hero of the Chivalry series, though here the story is in third person) gets somehow to be at the center of events (the Arnauts are former mercenaries of the Empire now mostly settled as farmers in the mountainous hinterland and still looked upon as uncouth and violent barbarians by the "Byzas" aristocracy of the city, while in return the Arnaut farmers have their own mythology of past greatness and of being empire saviours and have only contempt and disgust for the "degenerate life" of the City or for the many foreigner refugees from the wars in the East (which slowly becomes another problem for Aranthur as he is caught more and more between his deepening involvement in City and Byzas aristocracy affairs and what he starts perceiving as the boorishness of his former neighbors and childhood friends).

And there is a friendly sentient dragon too, a gift/envoy from the Empire of Zhou in the far east to the City and the Emperor (though he is a figurehead to a large extent with the academy and the aristocratic families being the real powers), whose species is now rare (and on the blacklist of the Master as the dragons can "eat magic")

There is a lot of action and some of the storylines are at least partially solved, while the ending is at a good tbc point.

Very compelling, set in a very rich world with many cultures and a well-realized civilization, with great characters (Aranthur but many others too one will encounter through the story) and highly recommended with volume 2 set for 2019 on my read on release list ...more

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Aug 27, 2018 Hiu Gregg rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

Cold Iron is the first book in the new “Masters and Mages” series from Miles Cameron, author of the Traitor Son Cycle.

Coming into this book, I was mostly familiar with Cameron through reputation only. I’d heard that the Traitor Son Cycle was a great fantasy series, but I’d never experienced his books for myself. You guys know how those TBRs can be.

But after reading Cold Iron, I wish I’d made time to read some of Miles Cameron’s books much earlier.

Cold Iron is Cold Iron is the first book in the new “Masters and Mages” series from Miles Cameron, author of the Traitor Son Cycle.

Coming into this book, I was mostly familiar with Cameron through reputation only. I’d heard that the Traitor Son Cycle was a great fantasy series, but I’d never experienced his books for myself. You guys know how those TBRs can be.

But after reading Cold Iron, I wish I’d made time to read some of Miles Cameron’s books much earlier.

Cold Iron is a bit of a throwback to classical farmboy fantasy. Our main character is Aranthur, who leaves his simple, rural life behind to study languages, philosophy, and even a little magik at the academy in his local city. We first meet Aranthur as he prepares to travel home to spend a holiday with his family. On the way, he stumbles into some trouble which introduces him to a circle of people whom he was previously unfamiliar with.

What’s interesting about this book is that it feels like a classical fantasy story, but with modern tastes and sensibilities in mind. It’s aware of the criticisms that were (and still are) thrown at the farmboy books of yesteryear, and takes steps to address them. Even just considering the way in which Aranthur gets tied up in the plot of this novel: he isn’t a chosen one, and he’s not even the smartest or most talented in his academy. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.

Aranthur is a likeable and relatable character, but not without his flaws. His relatability is a little reminiscent of Kvothe from Pat Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles—in that amongst all the epic and fantastical happenings (and coping with antagonistic and casual racism), Aranthur still has to work a part-time job in order pay rent. Between coursework, work-work, and the trials and tribulations of being a fantasy protagonist… Aranthur just doesn’t have much time to think about anyone but himself. By necessity (or so he thinks), he’s more than a little selfish.

Plot-wise, Aranthur gets dragged into a world which he knows very little about. He meets people from every echelon of society—from drug-addicts to nobility to emperors—and forms unique and engaging relationships. Unfortunately for him, he also becomes involved in the politics that some of these relationships bring with them. He is made aware of a mysterious and powerful “Master” who is said to be at the head of a political conspiracy that threatens war and magical terrorism.

The world of Cold Iron struck me as late-medieval, early-renaissance. Guns are starting to appear, but the main weapons used in combat are still swords, spears, crossbows, and the like. Aranthur is learning to use the sword, and so there is a good number of action-heavy swordfights and duels for those who like that kind of thing.

Something which really stuck out about Cold Iron was the variety of roles which women played. It is a very common and very valid criticism of older farmboy fantasy novels that women characters are often relegated to love interests, courtesans, or the local innkeeper’s wife. Actually, there are characters who fit those descriptions in this book, but the point is that they aren’t confined to them. Women can just as easily be badass swordswomen, super-powerful mages, or intelligent generals and academics.

As a whole, Cold Iron is a very enjoyable book which manages to feel both familiar and fresh. I was intrigued by the world and the characters, and I’m invested in the plot to the extent that I’ll be picking up the sequel as soon as I can get my grubby paws on it.

If you like books with rich worlds, engaging action scenes, and relatable but flawed protagonists, I’d suggest that you pick this one up. ...more

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Oct 22, 2018 Lisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Review from TenaciousReader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2018/1...

So, I want to lead with that I really enjoyed Cameron’s The Red Knight, However, while there were parts of it that I loved, there were also areas where it seemed to lag and there were so many characters that even for an epic fantasy, it felt hard to keep up with all of them at times. So even though I wound up loving the story over all, the pacing issues in Red Knight caused the sequels to fall down my priority enough that I never managed to make the ti Review from TenaciousReader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2018/1...

So, I want to lead with that I really enjoyed Cameron’s The Red Knight, However, while there were parts of it that I loved, there were also areas where it seemed to lag and there were so many characters that even for an epic fantasy, it felt hard to keep up with all of them at times. So even though I wound up loving the story over all, the pacing issues in Red Knight caused the sequels to fall down my priority enough that I never managed to make the time to read them. Cold Iron is a completely different read from The Red Knight. It had absolutely none of those pacing issues I experienced in Red Knight and is a simpler story structure since there is just a single POV, which always helps quite a bit. I by no means mean that this is a simple story. Just that with a smaller cast and with the single perspective, there are not breaks in the flow as you switch from one character’s story line to another’s. It was straight and to the point, we met and learned about our protagonist, Aranthur, and experienced his journey through the book.

This is a classic and fun coming of age story where the farm boy ventures off to school to study magic, and for extra fun, also learns the sword. Aranthur is very much a “Mary Sue” character, he excels at just about everything he tries, but you know what? I don’t really care, because its fun to read about a farm boy that goes to school as an outsider, a racial minority as well as lower class than his peers, but manages to find his place and succeed. He’s not infallible and has much to learn on the social side of things, especially when it comes to women, but he tries to learn from his mistakes. I think the area I enjoyed the least with this book were all things that revolved around his relationships with women, or how they were presented. Getting just his perspective can sort of slant the presentation a bit, and made me question at times the reliability of the narrator. I actually think this can make things more interesting. Getting just one perspective always enables a bit more mystery with everyone else.

The story beyond just Aranthur is also quite good. While in the city, we learn about different factions and groups that are at odds with one another. On top of House affiliations, there are also something like secret (or not so secret) societies that each have their own political or religious agenda. It creates an atmosphere that is headed towards open House wars. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and by the end of the first book, I’m not sure who I can trust from the City. Top this off with larger threats from neighboring lands as well as a bit of a coup, things stay interesting and the pieces keep moving.

And really, another really positive I can say for this book is that I couldn’t put it down. Considering I’ve had quite the reading slump lately, I loved that this book hit all the right buttons for me. It had so many of the traits that I love in my fantasy books, and I can’t wait to read the next one. ...more

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Nov 13, 2018 Nicholas Eames rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really loved this. Cameron writes a lot of historical fiction, and it shows. His world feels so incredibly real, which makes the fantasy elements seem more wondrous than books where such things are commonplace. Aranthur's story--which includes both a student's poverty and an academic's slow but inevitable progress--is extremely compelling. I'm looking very forward to seeing how high he climbs--and how often he stumbles along the way!

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Sep 15, 2018 Mark rated it really liked it

For lots of different reasons, authors often feel the need to change their name when writing different stories. For Stephen King it was Richard Bachman, for Tom Holt it was (and I think still is) K J Parker. In the same way, perhaps, it is not a great secret that Miles Cameron is also historical writer Christian Cameron. He’s not entirely new to Fantasy writing, though. I really liked The Red Knight, the first in the now five-book series, The Traitor Son Cycle, although its rapidly changing points of view d ...more

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Mar 06, 2019 Nils | nilsreviewsit rated it really liked it

“‘It is important to know that you can kill, evenly, ruthlessly, without pause to wrestle your conscious, because the world is full of people who will kill you while you prevaricate.’”
⚜
Cold Iron by Miles Cameron is the first book in the Masters and Mages series, which is reminiscent of a classical high fantasy tale and coming of age story. It’s a methodically paced introduction to what is set to be a great new series.
⚜
The book centres around the main protagonist Aranthur, who is a student “‘It is important to know that you can kill, evenly, ruthlessly, without pause to wrestle your conscious, because the world is full of people who will kill you while you prevaricate.’”
⚜️
Cold Iron by Miles Cameron is the first book in the Masters and Mages series, which is reminiscent of a classical high fantasy tale and coming of age story. It’s a methodically paced introduction to what is set to be a great new series.
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The book centres around the main protagonist Aranthur, who is a student of languages and magical use at an Academy. On his travels back to his home for a short break, he stops at an Inn and after helping a young lady thrown from a carriage, he becomes embroiled in plots and conspiracies he is not even aware of. Throughout the whole book, the reader sees Aranthur grow, learn skills, and try to make sense of the world he lives in.
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Admittedly, it took me a while to get into the story. It has an immense slow build, and I struggled to grasp where the story was heading. However, I’m a fan of Miles Cameron’s writing, I’m partway through his other series, The Traitor’s Son Cycle, and I know that this is his style. Cameron likes to build up characters, and create a vast and complex world, before you’re thrust into a more fast paced plot. So I knew to expect to be hooked by the end.
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I think what I loved most about this book was the rich array of varied cultures and traditions woven into the story. If I’m not mistaken, Cameron used a lot of Eastern and Persian influences, and included many distinct ethnicities to all the characters. This all culminated into a thoroughly detailed world building experience. In fact, there were a lot of names of weaponry, and artefacts I hadn’t come across before and I had to ask a friend, who knows his history better than I do! I applaud Cameron for this, he’s an author who knows his facts, and it is clear he fully enjoys creating an authentic experience for the reader.
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The main character Aranthur, took me a while to warm to. He started out as quite surly but it wasn’t long until he started to grow on me. He was often treated as an outcast due his Arnaut heritage, which meant he came from a farming background, whereas the other characters were more aristocrats. Therefore due to his lack of wealth and his more sheltered lifestyle he often felt alienated in social situations. It was great to see Cameron explore the issues of prejudice attitudes here. Once Aranthur started making a group of friends though, his character started to shine, and I especially loved how much his power grew.
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My favourite character was Dalhia. In fact she’s one of my favourite female characters ever! She’s very forward and likes to take charge. She’s blunt and often flirtatious. Whereas Aranthur who was very much inexperienced with women, and was very timid was always so unsure of how to behave around her. I loved this!
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‘She rolled off his bed and walked over to the sword and took it down. ‘It makes me feel old just holding it in my hand.’
Aranthur just lay there watching her with the sword.’
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Overall it’s going to be great seeing where the story goes in the sequel Dark Forge! I’m told it has a really long battle scene, which Cameron always does well, therefore I’m so looking forward to it!
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Dec 28, 2018 J.P. Ashman rated it it was amazing

Review to follow...

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Jun 18, 2019 Emma rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, magic

This was a bit old school for me. It reminded me of the Wheel of Time, also too old school for me!

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Oct 30, 2018 Charlie - A Reading Machine added it

DNF - Damn I am in one heck of a reading slump. Not grabbed at all. Heard great things so will try and come back to it.

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Oct 08, 2018 Holly (The Grimdragon) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: the-infinite-library, gdm, fantasy-sci-fi

*Review originally published on Grimdark Magazine*

“Superb,” the man in the black cloak said, and slammed his dagger into the young man’s temple, killing him instantly. The blade emerged from the other temple with admirable precision, and the man in the black cloak supported the corpse all the way to the floor, stepping away from the flow of blood. Then he filled the secret compartment with his deadly secret, wearing gloves; one tiny jewel skittered away across the table and he tracked it down, picked it up/>“Superb,” ...more

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Sep 17, 2019 Janny added it

Shelves: own

Farmboy from an outlying province goes to the big city university as a threat shadows the status quo - but the complexity and panache with which Cameron writes eclipses the usual handling of a classic trope. The complexity and diversity of the setting is stellar, the pace moves right along, and the hero is a refreshing read on several counts: he succeeds through hard work, he's not a 'chosen one', and his engaging attitude towards his fellows (both rich and poor) and towards life has heart, and ...more

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Sep 22, 2019 Izzie rated it really liked it

Shelves: epic-fantasy, library

3.5 stars, rounded up because it's well-written and I want to read the rest of the series.

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Aug 28, 2018 James (ObservantRaven) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Shortly after I started reading Cold Iron I was thoroughly engrossed and realised I was nearing the 30 page mark but had yet to see a new chapter so I flicked forward a bit and noticed that indeed Cold Iron didn’t have chapters in it. This shocked me slightly as I have not experienced this since I last read a Terry Pratchett book (which has been quite a number of years) and writing a fantasy book without chapters is no small feat. As I continued to read the book I became increasingly impressed b Shortly after I started reading Cold Iron I was thoroughly engrossed and realised I was nearing the 30 page mark but had yet to see a new chapter so I flicked forward a bit and noticed that indeed Cold Iron didn’t have chapters in it. This shocked me slightly as I have not experienced this since I last read a Terry Pratchett book (which has been quite a number of years) and writing a fantasy book without chapters is no small feat. As I continued to read the book I became increasingly impressed because Miles Cameron has managed to create such a vivid and vast world with extraordinary flow and storytelling which on its own is something to behold but to do this without chapters in something else entirely.

The story Miles Cameron has crafted is something truly amazing as you experience many different cultures, weapons and character styles, you can tell he has been inspired by a number of countries, races and religions when writing Cold Iron. This made reading about each different character, their background and weapons was extremely interesting and intriguing. At times due to the depth put into the world and characters I almost felt like I was reading a great historical fiction book and for me this was a breath of fresh air as I have never experienced this with a fantasy book.

One aspect of the story I thoroughly enjoyed reading was the sword fighting. Miles Cameron has created sword fighting scenes like nothing I have ever experienced. The way he writes them is so fluid and in depth that I found it very easy to vividly imagine a fight scene occur.

When I first read the synopsis for Cold Iron and realised that it was a coming of age fantasy book I had a set idea in my head of what I was going to experience due to the amount of these I have read over the years but was I experienced with Cold Iron was nothing like what I had expected. Miles Cameron has taken some of the typical tropes you would find in a coming of age fantasy and tweaked them into something brilliant. Our main character Aranthur is not a prophesied one, incredibly talented in everything he does or does he succeed at everything. He comes across like a very down to earth character that wants to succeed at what he does through hard work, determination and sometimes through sheer force of will. All the thrown in with his personality traits and attitude makes him extremely enjoyable to read about because you are always left wondering what he is going to do next and when he succeeds at something you find yourself cheering for him. What I did discover with Aranthur was that instead of being exceptional in one area he also seemed to be like a jack of many and the only area I think he maybe excelled at more was his swordsmanship but could have been due to a number of factors that I won’t spoil for you.

There are only a couple of coming of age fantasy books that I have loved as much as I did Cold Iron and this book is truly amazing in its own right without that factor. It is exceptional fantasy book that deserves to be read by everyone who enjoys fantasy and possibly historical fiction. I am extremely glad I read Cold Iron and I am really looking forward to see what Miles Cameron has planned for its sequel, in the mean time however I am going to make sure I pick up his Traitor Son Cycle series. ...more

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Oct 25, 2018 DaMaar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: magic-warrior

The Fight Scenes

The Fight Scenes were amazing! The weapons were many and meticulously detailed but you didn’t feel you were being lectured they were just presented well within the flow of the story. The MC's rise was unhurried and his grasp of fighting was methodical. He learned and applied what he was taught - no magic sword and 2 days of training here.

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Oct 15, 2019 Sam rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, read-2019

I really loved this book at the end but we had a difficult beginning together. The 1/3 of the book is a 5 star for me and I almost rated the book that overall. Upon reflection, I dropped it to a 4. I think the beginning of the book struggles with some pacing. There were some moments where I just wondered what the point was or where I wondered how I was still reading a book where nothing was really happening, at least to the main character.

There are, however, all these hints of deeper ...more

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Sep 13, 2018 Kareem rated it it was amazing

For me, the name ‘Miles Cameron’, and the words, ‘five stars’ go together practically every time.
While this is a big departure from what we are used to with The Traitor Son Cycle, Cold Iron is stuffed to bursting with Cameron’s unique style.

This is a coming of age tale that feels more like traditional fantasy than perhaps his other works. Also, rather than a cast of over 20 POV’s this tale is told (bar the prologue) completely from Aranthur’s point of view, it lets readers settle into the mind For me, the name ‘Miles Cameron’, and the words, ‘five stars’ go together practically every time.
While this is a big departure from what we are used to with The Traitor Son Cycle, Cold Iron is stuffed to bursting with Cameron’s unique style.

This is a coming of age tale that feels more like traditional fantasy than perhaps his other works. Also, rather than a cast of over 20 POV’s this tale is told (bar the prologue) completely from Aranthur’s point of view, it lets readers settle into the mind of a young man finding his way in the world.

Aranthur is my favourite type of character. He is not particularly special in any way but is thrust into a set of remarkable circumstances – and through the many relationships he develops - is able to overcome these trials in entertaining ways.

Cold Iron also boasts a wonderfully diverse cast, it has a nice gender balance and takes place in a big city with different cultures bringing new and exciting elements to the story. It deals with class systems too, and Miles really captures the struggles of the student life in such a way that is realistic but never boring. Aranthur has many talents, but by god does he work for them, and at the end of the day is left with precious little time, food, or money to buy it with. And yet… true to the student life he manages to have fun in that naïve way only the young and inexperienced can. And that is what makes the story and Aranthur so relatable, though the world is different, the situations alien, there is a real familiarity that left me fondly rolling my eyes and saying “Oh Aranthur” quite often.
I don’t want to put readers off, this is by no means a study in the life of a hermetical, sword obsessed student, the story itself is exciting, pacey and engaging. The situations that Aranthur manages to get himself into force you to turn page after page after page long into the night. And in true Miles style, you are left with one hell of an explosive ending.

Jumping into a new series, especially one that follows the 5 book mega series that went before this, is always cause for concern. Can I forgive Miles for departing from a world I love so much and trying something new?

Yes! Yes I can. I loved this book and eagerly await the next instalment!
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Jan 23, 2019 Mike rated it it was amazing

More please! Straight up heroic fantasy with a fixed POV set in an interesting fantasy world vaguely similar our own.

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Sep 08, 2018 Siavahda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, girls-kicking-ass-and-taking-names, automatic-buy-authors, dragons, wonderful-worldbuilding, best-published-and-read-in-2018, strong-women, third-person-pov, awesome-girls, issues-without-preaching

While I still dislike Gollancz for their continuously poor copy-editing - especially with regards to Cameron's works I never find less than dozens of typos/formatting errors, and far too many instances of dialogue where character names are mixed up (one that stands out in Cold Iron is a priest telling someone off and then glaring at 'the priest', ie addressing and then glaring at himself, apparently).

But as usual, Cameron's story and writing is amazing, and it looks like Masters & Mages is ...more

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Sep 03, 2019 Barry Mulvany rated it it was amazing

Well I haven't experienced that in a while, I basically read this in one day.

It tells the story of Aranthur, a literal farmboy who has just spend the last six months in the big city, studying different subjects including magic. When we meet him he is returning home for the holidays when a chance encounter in an inn brings him to the attention of numerous influential people and from which his life is changed forever, though he doesn't know that yet.

This story seems a delib Well I haven't experienced that in a while, I basically read this in one day.

It tells the story of Aranthur, a literal farmboy who has just spend the last six months in the big city, studying different subjects including magic. When we meet him he is returning home for the holidays when a chance encounter in an inn brings him to the attention of numerous influential people and from which his life is changed forever, though he doesn't know that yet.

This story seems a deliberate working of the classic farmboy trope. It contains all the elements in that our protagonist is young, intelligent (relatively), skilled and handsome. He seems to be at the centre of everything, sometimes deliberately placed but often by circumstance. Somehow though it all works. OK sometimes the coincidences seem a bit much but it is only a minor quibble. Maybe it's because Aranthur is so likeable, he generally tries to do the right thing, and is so obliging that it often gets him into trouble. He is completely clueless about women which leads him to do and think some very stupid things but it's not beyond the realm of possibilities due to his age.

The story also works because of the supporting cast. Aranthur is our only POV apart from the prologue but quite a few others are fleshed out well even without a POV. The world is also very interesting. It is an old world that has been in relative peace for a few centuries. Magic is available to most people though mostly only to a very small degree. The magic seems complicated and is explained somewhat but honestly I don't fully understand it yet, though there are echoes of Wheel of Time's saidan and saidar going on. The city itself is riven with different factions that we learn about as the story progresses and makes more and more of an impact. We also start learning of a growing threat far away that could be responsible for the brewing conflict that Aranthur finds himself involved in.

Another thing that really struck me was how real the action was. I understand the author can fight with swords and other weapons and it really shines through. The action scenes are done really well, you felt that any little slip could cause major injury, even while practicing, and it seemed to emphasise just how lethal swords are.

Some people seem to think that this started off slow but I didn't find that at all. It took a little to get into at the start as the names and terms can be confusing but you adjust quick enough. I thought the pace moved well with plenty of action interspersed with more mundane details of day to day life. This was a great book and am already enjoying book two.

Please see this and other reviews at my blog https://barrysbloodybooks.home.blog/ ...more

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Nov 06, 2018 H. P. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: modern-sf

I was a huge fan of Miles Cameron’s Traitor Son Cycle, the first fantasy by an experienced historical fiction writer. I loved that series, but Cold Iron, book one in Cameron’s new fantasy series, may very well exceed it.

It is also a very different book, though, so read on for my thoughts on Cold Iron. And this is a book that left with as many thoughts and feels as it did entertained.

This new Masters & Mages series is different enough from The Traitor Son Cycle that—as ...more

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Sep 14, 2018 Christian N rated it it was amazing

Let’s get it out of the way. Cold Iron is an excellent book. Miles Cameron is a great author. You need to read this book. While you’re at it, read all of his other books. They’re just as good. Cameron writes swords and armor like no one else. His fight scenes are the greatest I have ever read. I’ve even learned some important life lessons from his work. GRRM could learn quite a bit from Cameron. This is my review.

Pros:
1. Superb world-building
Cameron’s world building is some of the m Let’s get it out of the way. Cold Iron is an excellent book. Miles Cameron is a great author. You need to read this book. While you’re at it, read all of his other books. They’re just as good. Cameron writes swords and armor like no one else. His fight scenes are the greatest I have ever read. I’ve even learned some important life lessons from his work. GRRM could learn quite a bit from Cameron. This is my review.

Pros:
1. Superb world-building
Cameron’s world building is some of the most convincing I have ever read. A lot of fantasy worlds are built around a single idea (i.e. the magic system). The danger of this is that sometimes the story lives or dies based on the idea, and it also is not as convincing. Our own world has so many elements to it, so reducing fantastical worlds to a single element sometimes cheapens the feeling of immersion. Cameron, on the other hand, has put a lot of thought into Cold Iron’s cosmology, religion, historical analogues, material culture, beliefs, politics, and society. Because of this, he easily sidesteps the common fantasy problem of exposition dump. Because he has interwoven his world so effectively, when his characters curse by pantheons we have never heard of, it still sounds believable because it is a fundamental part of the world. I also want to point out Cameron’s mastery of material culture and economics. Too often in fantasy the only parts of material culture we get to see are the arms and armor. Cameron talks about leather-making, jewel-making, calligraphy, industry, farming, and tutoring. These things cost money, and so the characters in Cold Iron think about how much items cost, how they are made, the quality they are built with, etc. The result is that the world feels incredibly lived in. There are lives and activities outside the main character that move on with or without his presence. This is a skill that I have not often seen in the fantasy novel business, and it makes Cameron’s work truly stand out.

2. Amazing action scenes with realistic understanding of arms and armor.
Cameron is a reenactor and martial artist, and it truly shows in his fight scenes. Cold Iron has a series of sword fights that place the reader in the midst of the action. Cameron is able to explain the technical aspects of a fight in such a way that the average layman has a clear understanding, yet still remain technical enough that we know we are reading about professionals who know their business in ways that we cannot. His integration of his magic system with his martial qualities are also very well-thought out. For example, in one scene, the main character casts a spell (for lack of a better word) that allows him to see magical power displayed in different colors, which is basically magical night-vision. It’s amazing, partly because, of course someone should come up with a spell like that.

3. Realistic characters
The best part of a Cameron book are the characters. No character is stock. Each one has layers and layers. In my opinion, Miles Cameron writes the best banter of military men and women in the business. Hands down. I will fight you over this. There were lines that had me laughing out loud. And it’s not just military people either. The farmers, shopkeepers, and food sellers are all wonderfully alive and real. Not only are his characters alive, but they also are very realistic. Mainly, because some of his young characters can be very dumb, because young people are usually very dumb. Part of the coming-of-age genre is when the protagonist grows up and realizes just how stupid he or she is. Aranthur is a young man. Most young men think with their groins. This is what Aranthur does. He is also super focused and shuts things and people out. He also doesn’t always use his time well. He gets involved in things he shouldn’t, etc. This leads to many humorous situations that provide excellent story material.
One of the important themes Cameron deals with in Cold Iron is racism. I found his treatment of the topic to be very compelling, and he asks some very piercing questions. Is a person evil if he despises another race? What if he is your uncle? Or your mother? Does that make them irredeemable? These are difficult questions to answer. Aranthur certainly doesn’t have answers and his journey and development in these areas is part of what makes the story so captivating. I did have some issues with this, which I discuss below, but overall, Cameron does a good job of capturing the complexities of his wonderful universe.

Also, my favorite character is Ansu who is basically an incredibly horny Asian guy.

Cons:
1. Themes are a little on the nose this time around.
I’ve read every single Cameron book written (all 36, yes, I might have a problem), and he tends to have themes in his works. In the vast majority of his work, his themes are beautifully interwoven into his characters, world, and plot. I found Cold Iron’s themes regarding refugees, cultures, and societal views to be a bit on the nose and preachy this time around. Mind you, this is in comparison to himself, and when it comes to Cameron’s work, I’m not the most objective reviewer. To another reader, it may not be as obvious.

2. Clearly setup for a second book.
Cold Iron is the first book in a trilogy (Book 2: Anvil of Darkness, Book 3: Lightbringer, tentatively). This book sets up further action and asks future questions. Who is the Master? Who are the Pure? Why are they conquering everyone? Who is Ansu going to bang next? Important questions. For those who like standalone books, this book may not be for them, but most of those people are wrong.
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Jul 01, 2019 Fox rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2-stars, fantasy, 2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 20, 2019 Roy rated it liked it

Dont know where my review for this went

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Jul 22, 2019 Reggie Kray rated it it was amazing

This was a reread. And I am certainly glad I gave it a second go. This was definitely on par with Cameron’s historical fiction (in terms of quality). That speaks volumes. Loved the historical vibes!

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Nov 12, 2018 Adrian Collins rated it really liked it

Originally reviewed by The Grimdragon at Grimdark Magazine.

"Superb,” the man in the black cloak said, and slammed his dagger into the young man’s temple, killing him instantly. The blade emerged from the other temple with admirable precision, and the man in the black cloak supported the corpse all the way to the floor, stepping away from the flow of blood. Then he filled the secret compartment with his deadly secret, wearing gloves; one tiny jewel skittered away across the table and he tracked it down, pic/>

"Superb,” Originally reviewed by The Grimdragon at Grimdark Magazine.

"Superb,” the man in the black cloak said, and slammed his dagger into the young man’s temple, killing him instantly. The blade emerged from the other temple with admirable precision, and the man in the black cloak supported the corpse all the way to the floor, stepping away from the flow of blood. Then he filled the secret compartment with his deadly secret, wearing gloves; one tiny jewel skittered away across the table and he tracked it down, picked it up with coal tongs from the fireplace, and put it in his belt-purse. Then he threw his gloves–fine, black gloves–in the fire, where they sparkled as if impregnated with gunpowder. He left, satisfied, leaving the shop door wide open to the looters already moving along the street like roaches.”

Miles Cameron, also known as Christian Cameron, is a well-respected author who writes mostly historical fiction and fantasy. Cold Iron was my introduction to his work, but his Traitor Son Cycle series is sitting on my shelf staring at me, just begging to be read! SOOON! I follow him on Twitter (that’s such a thing to say these days, isn’t it?) and it’s clear he knows his shit. The man is a military veteran with a medieval history degree, after all.

From what little I know, this is a departure from his other work. Cold Iron is more of a classical fantasy. That’s not to say it isn’t unique in its own way, of course.

Cold Iron is the coming-of-age story of Aranthur Timos, a student training in magic and languages. While on his way home for the holidays, he runs into some trouble involving a political conspiracy, which throws him into the center of things.

Miles Cameron painted such a vivid picture of the world and its inhabitants, laying out the story with a slowly expanding narrative. I’m a sucker for the academia / learning trope if done right… which this was! It had flashes of The Name of the Wind and Age of Assassins, by way of Red Sister. There were some unbelievable action sequences. Just insanely detailed and fucking gloriously bonkers! Not to mention the strong, well thought out female characters. Especially Dahlia. She is a complete badass!

“Fine. You’re dead. First light,” Earrings said. “Then maybe I’ll fuck your corpse.”

“I supposed that passes for a witty exchange, in the North?” Dahlia said. “After I kill you, I will not make any attempts on your corpse. Although I suspect your member will work as well, or ill, after death as before, eh?”

It’s clear that this fantasy was inspired by similar modern world issues we face today. Racism, privilege, religion, feminism, inequality, politics. The world that Cameron created is complex, compelling and carefully crafted. It’s wonderfully diverse and full of culture. However, a criticism I had was that Cameron did such a great job of discussing the racism that is laced throughout this world, that Aranthur faces as an outsider. Yet, on more than one occasion, Aranthur the Arnaut referred to his people as “mongrels.” It was done in a seemingly nonchalant way, which was unusual considering how much of the story is condemning bigotry. This felt out of character to use such an offensive term in this story, especially because Aranthur has struggled with being called a “half-breed” or “mongrel” himself.

It took me a bit to get into the rhythm of Cold Iron with the entire book told through first person narrative. It’s highly subjective, but I would have preferred if there were a few more POV’s thrown into the mix, characters like Dahlia and Iralia. Overall though, I really dug it! If you are looking for blistering pace from beginning to end, this is not that. This is a slow burn. But goddamn.. once it unfolds, it truly builds on the momentum.

Is this grimdark or grimheart? Is it low fantasy or high? While not the most grimdark book that ever grimdarked, there are certainly grimdark elements throughout the more traditional fantasy tone. No matter the subgenre, the storytelling was intriguing, descriptive and exquisite. I nerded out hard over the details of the weaponry, armor, houses and sword-fighting. I was transported into this world, rather than bogged down with exposition. Cameron is a brilliant writer! Why have I waited so long to read him?!?

There is a lot to love about this one and here’s hoping the second book is even better! ...more

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