Cold Iron

Masters and Mages #1

by Miles Cameron

A young mage-in-training takes up the sword and is unwittingly pulled into a violent political upheaval, in the first book of this epic fantasy trilogy by Miles Cameron, author of The Red Knight.Aranthur is a promising young mage. But the world is not safe and after a confrontation leaves him no choice but to display his skill with a blade, Aranthur is instructed to train under a renowned Master of Swords.During his intensive training he begins to question the bloody life he's chosen. And while studying under the Master, he finds himself thrown into the middle of a political revolt that will impact everyone he's come to know.To protect his friends, Arnathur will be forced to decide if he can truly follow the Master of Swords into a life of violence and cold-hearted commitment to the blade.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Audiobook

496 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2018

About the author

Miles Cameron is an author, a re-enactor, an outdoors expert and a weapons specialist. He lives, works and writes in Toronto, where he lives with his family. This is his debut fantasy novel.

Reviews

[Sebastien Castell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[John Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, characters that feel real, that ache and hurt and love and lie. The attention to detail is staggering, but never too-much.
Miles Cameron is at the top of his game. To say I loved it is an understatement, and I am struggling with the fact I have to wait for book 2. Highly recommended.

Update: I've finished Book 2, Dark Forge, and it is equally brilliant. I'll be posting my thoughts on it soon.

[William Gwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne

Shockingly, Cold Iron is the first book I have read by Miles Cameron. I listened to this on Audible, and both the narration and story were very enjoyable.

A particular element of the story that was brilliant was the description of the action sequences. The author’s own re-ennactment experience obviously played a part in making these parts so incredibly authentic. But in the manner that is immersive, yet fluid, and relays the panic and adrenaline of the moments when one’s life is at risk.

“Boasting is a way of saying you are weak"

Cold Iron is inspired by an Eastern setting, set within a bustling city with a mixture of cultures as a result of a renowned university. Our central figure, Aranthur, is a student at this academic centre, adapting to urban life though he grew up on a farm and certainly not in a setting driven by scholarship. Yet alongside his academic passions, he is caught up in intrigue and military matters, with his intelligence and curiosity often placing him in places of danger.

Cold Iron could easily have become too fast paced, too busy and too confusing. Yet Miles Cameron moulded the plot and progression of the story in such a manner that it was interesting, with a mixture of fast pace and moments of pause which form a well-crafted arc.

“He could take some extra fencing lessons. He was in love with his sword, purchased in a used clothing market on a whim. With his rent money, because he was a fool.”

A strength of Cold Iron is placed within the side characters. Whilst we solely follow the perspective of out central protagonist, Aranthur, Cameron nicely develops a wide and varied side cast that incorporates characters of mixed backgrounds and interests. This was relatable to the world of Stephen King that I have read, in creating that atmosphere of town life that brings the setting to life.

Overall, I Cold Iron was a fresh and enjoyable read. I thought it was a beautifully crafted piece with elegant prose, intriguing plot and good characters.

4/5 STARS

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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.

[Mogsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Nicholas Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Hiu Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Maja]

DNF at 22%

Sorry I just can't do it. Nothing with the book is especially bad, I just couldn't click with the writing, plot or the characters. I also read it on my kindle and I find it harder to finish a book I don't much like when I read it as ebook and not a physical copy.

[Kareem · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: Mixed Feelings

3.5

I had very mixed feelings about this one. It’s an epic sword and sorcery fantasy, by the way.

Story

Aranthur is a student at The Academy. He’s a poor, rural, farm boy adjusting to city life. He’s an Arnaut, a dark skinned people that many hate and look down on. He’s learning a little magick, a little philosophy. He’s not an outstanding student.

But he is drawn into a nasty conflict without his knowledge or consent.

He turns out to be a talented swordsman and a natural hero. And he surrounds himself with a group of friends, several of whom are of debatable loyalty.

He works hard at his studies, and his paying work as a leather craftsman. He becomes a much better student. He also finds time to study swordsmanship.

He’s a magnet for both disaster and women, the latter in spite of his inexperience with them.

He always seems to inadvertently end up at the center of important events.

Characters

There were too many characters to keep track of, honestly.

Here a a few of the main ones:

Dahlia Aranthur’s friend, then girlfriend, then ex.

Prince Ansu Royalty from a country resembling China.
Humorously frank about his lust towards many women.

Sasan A drug addict

Alis Tribane An imperial General

Tiy Drako A spy

Iralia A beautiful woman and a powerful mage

Lecne An innkeeper’s son

Mikal Kallinikos A wealthy, young aristocratic student, generous to his friends.

The Emperor


Pros and Cons

Pros

1. This book was interesting and lively enough for me to finish reading it.

2. The characters were somewhat interesting.

3. Towards the end, the scope widened from the micro (Aranthur’s point of view) to the macro (an international conflict).

4. There were a variety of races, nationalities, and languages. in this fantasy world.

5. The story was engaging. There were plenty of interesting plot twists. Many I didn’t anticipate.

6. There was lots of action.

Cons

1. The usual cliched tropes of epic fantasy are reproduced here. Aranthur is the farm boy who makes good in the city.

2. Aranthur also has women throwing themselves at him left and right (another somewhat tired epic fantasy trope).

3. Aranthur becomes the warrior hero whose fighting skills were augmented by magic (yet another trope).

4. There isn’t a single female point of view, although there are plenty of female characters (mostly either Aranthur’s romantic interests or older, motherly types). Aranthur is the only point of view character.

5. I got bored with the highly detailed descriptions of sword fights (endless descriptions of parries, counters, etc.)

6. There were too many minor characters to keep track of. After awhile, when certain minor characters were referenced, I went “huh? Who was that, again?”

7. The characters were compelling, but not that compelling.

8. Most of the nationalities and languages were thinly veiled references to those in our real world: i.e., China, Greece, Italy, Iran, etc.

9. Things often got confusing. For example, I never really understood the meaning of the title. Obviously it refers to the lethal power of the sword, but there was supposed to be a more specific meaning that was explained somewhere in the book. Damned if I can remember what that was or where it was explained.

I Was Not the Audience for This Book

I think the real problem here was that I wasn’t part of the right audience for this novel.

The people it seemed aimed at were young men; people interested in fighting and martial arts in general and sword fighting in particular; and historical re-enacters (like author Miles Cameron himself).

Summary

This was an enjoyable read, but I don’t think I liked it enough to continue with the series.

Audio Reader

Mark Meadows wasn’t a bad audio narrator, although he did make a few missteps.

For example, he initially voiced Iralia with a Cockney accent, and later with a breathy seductiveness. That’s a change that made no sense to me.

[Shreyas Deshpande · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The characters were diverse and well developed through the story.
The action and descriptions of the fights were colorful and educational. The plot is not straight forward and keeps you guessing.
I look forward to the next installment.

Actual Ratings:- 4.5 stars

[Janny]

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 courage, and a mature awareness that deepens as he outgrows his country origins. Simpler in scale than Cameron's five book Traitor Son Cycle (Cold Iron has fewer characters to follow), nevertheless, a solidly intriguing read. I will enthusiastically tackle the next, with the expectation of deepening insight, great fight scenes, and building stakes. Cameron is a master of character, setting and plot, and he does his research/knows his weapons - and a rarity these days, doesn't stoop to oversimplicity in any arena.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 did frustrate some readers.

Cold Iron is a new series and a fresh start. And the good news is, it’s very good indeed.

From the publisher: “Aranthur is a student. He showed a little magical talent, is studying at the local academy, and is nothing particularly special. Others are smarter. Others are more talented. Others are quicker to pick up techniques. But none of them are with him when he breaks his journey home for the holidays in an inn. None of them step in to help when a young woman is thrown off a passing stage coach into the deep snow at the side of the road. And none of them are drawn into a fight to protect her.

One of the others might have realised she was manipulating him all along . . .


A powerful story about beginnings, coming of age, and the way choosing to take one step towards violence can lead to a slippery and dangerous slope, this is an accomplished fantasy series driven by strong characters and fast-paced action.”


So where does this book get it right? From the start, it is clear that the author is an experienced writer with a considerable amount of knowledge used to enhance the novel. The prose is tight, precise and skilfully developed, with few of the common errors often seen in less-accomplished work. Things develop smoothly and logically, and details are dropped into the plot carefully without massive info-dumping. There is clearly a well-developed backstory and history that is drip-fed to the reader to give a sense of the wider world that don’t feel bolted-on.

The world-building is imaginative and detailed, enough to make the reader feel like they are wandering through the streets, fighting or living in the decrepit hovels of ‘The City’. Though the city itself is not named, there’s a really nice sense of place here that I haven’t felt as strongly about since reading Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, in its imaginative details of buildings and streets. The world is medieval-esque, but with touches of other cultures and ideas that are combined to make a world that seems to work. Whilst there are admittedly medieval elements shown, this one is more Bradley Beaulieu’s Sharakhai than Steven Erikson’s Malazan, though there are aspects of both here. The city feels like a huge Mediterranean-style urban area, and the society a combination of Renaissance and Roman Italy.

Secondly, the characterisation is excellent. Aranthur is charming, polite and blithely-unaware of his effect on other people. He often seems to go where he feels he should, unknowing of his own limits. We do not have young characters able to achieve magical things within hours, without a logical and reasonable explanation for it. The story takes its time to unfold and does not make massive leaps of faith or coincidence. Any action is given reason that is appropriate. Whatever happens seems right, logical and sensible, and this creates a feeling to the reader that the place seems real.

Most of all, there is an almost casual level of detail that is so well-done that this feels as if you are there. The details on horses, weaponry, housing and urban and rural life given are not superficial, nor are they there to show off to the reader the writer’s knowledge and research. Duels are described in detail, the effects of weapons used grimly effective. It is the sort of thing that is written so well that it feels like it can only be written from experience. It’s thoughtful and clever and yet eminently accessible. Miles knows what details to include and what to leave out, managing to balance details of weaponry, horses and fencing with religion, magyk and politics.

Of course, none of this would work unless there is a plot to follow and develop. Most of all, perhaps, Cold Iron is a story about choices and how decisions made can lead to unexpected consequences, be they good or bad. As the book progresses, Aranthur finds himself drawn more to a life of swordsmanship than study, although it is clear that he has some magical (or magikal) ability, which is why he’s at college.

I guess that if the author had wanted, he could have made this a historical novel, but I liked the point that this is unashamedly a Fantasy novel. The fantasy element is integral to the story and not just bolted on, with mention of ‘magyk’ essential to the plot and the use of crystals for generating various magikal actions being an important element. What was a nice development was that the fighting and fencing, that Aranthur clearly develops a taste for, affects his magikal abilities. Indeed, much of the book is about the choices he has to make, and being a young man, it is not always clear which is the right one.

In terms of plot, there’s a bildungsroman-esque story of the growth of Aranthur, in that ‘farm-boy to important-person’ kind of progress. It’s quite old-school in its style and tone, though there are definitely grim moments. As Aranthur is an Arnaut, from the less progressive South, he is unused to many of the social and cultural aspects of ‘The City’, which would normally limit a person’s progress. Here it seems to be less of an issue, although by making Aranthur someone ‘on the outside’ it does allow both the author and the plot to observe events with a degree of objectivity and also discuss aspects of racism, immigration and inequality.

Such actions do lead to two weaknesses in the book, although at least one is commented on by the characters themselves. It is quite uncanny how Aranthur makes progress socially and politically through the book, as the people he meets and aids are often then connected to others. It is not for Aranthur to start socially low and remain low, for by the end of the book he is known by academics, military leaders, swordsmen, princes and even the Emperor himself. Whilst it could be argued that there is a degree of manipulation on some of the character’s part for this to happen, there were times when this aspect of the novel seemed rather too frequent and coincidental.

The second issue is that there is an unusual pace to the novel. To begin with, there are no separate chapters in the novel – somewhat different to the Traitor Son series – although there are breaks in the narrative. It is the antithesis of the Traitor Son series, I think deliberately so. I didn’t find it to be too much of an issue, but some readers might.

Perhaps more frustrating is the fact that, having spent 350 pages of the novel in “Book One”, the last 80-or-so pages end on a rather abrupt note that will clearly be continued in Book Two. Whilst things are resolved in these last pages, the imbalance and the abrupt conclusion does seem a little odd. When the whole trilogy is complete, I suspect that it will be published as one volume where such issues will be less apparent.

Despite this, my overall impression is that Cold Iron is a terrifically good novel that epitomises how good Fantasy novels can be when done right. This is an author with a tale to tell and the skills to do so admirably. I couldn’t put this one down. Reading this story, compared with other recent Fantasy novels I’ve read, felt like I was reading a university-level piece of work compared to essays written at high school. Put this up there with The Name of the Wind and, more recently, Twelve Kings for me.  Definitely one of my best of the year – I look forward to the next book with excitement.

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘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 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.
⚜️
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.
⚜️
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.
⚜️
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.
⚜️
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!
~
‘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.’
~
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!

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I have always heard that the Red Knight was super dense, so I was nervous that Cold Iron would be hard to follow. Yet I was pleasantly surprised to find this one incredibly accessible. It's more in scale, following our main character which made for an easy, yet enjoyable reading experience.

The main character was likable with a sympathetic perspective. I enjoyed this coming of age journey which was simplistic yet well done. I usually prefer political fantasy over more action driven narratives, but I found this one was focused enough on the characters to keep me engaged. I may continue on with the series.

[Yuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 rounded up.

This is my kind of book, really immersive, slow but eventful. The characters were great, the worldbuilding was great...
Aranthur is (apart from the prologue) the sole POV, but there are a lot of characters to meet along the way.

I haven’t had coffee yet and my head is nearly exploding from the effort of writing in English and thinking at all so bear with me.

Aranthur is a farmboy turned student who finds himself in the middle of almost every major event, he dives in head first and the consequences be damned. Duelling without any significant experience, taking on life threatening tasks, Aranthur says yes to everything without thinking.

During the whole of the book there is a conflict brewing in an eastern country, but getting ever closer. Refugees have come pouring into the city as a result. I feel like there is so much I can’t tell without spoiling parts of the story.

The worldbuilding is top notch, just amazing, there are different countries, languages, factions, gods...
There is Quaveh which is a kind of spicy soup. There are names for a great many things things without it getting overwhelming or confusing. I’d like to get to know more about the specifics of the magic system, but I think that’s coming in the sequel.

This is shaping up to be one of my favorite series ever, go read it!

[J.P. Ashman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow...

[Charlie]

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.

[Holly (The GrimDragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*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 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! This is a slow burn. If you are looking for blistering pace from beginning to end, this is not that. 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!

(Big thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy!)

[P.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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.”

Miles Cameron (otherwise known by pen names that include Christian Cameron, and Gordon Kent) is one of my all-time favourite authors. This prolific, best-selling author of over 40 novels, has penned one of my top ten fantasy series ever: "The Traitor Son Cycle".

But with a ponderous reading schedule, I had not yet gotten to his “Masters and Mages” series yet, though I was itching to give it a try. Finally, I’ve read book one of the series, “Cold Iron”. It was fabulous, and leaves me eminently excited for the rest of “Masters and Mages”!

This novel begins with a fantastic, shocking prologue. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know that I adore prologues, especially when they’re done right. “Cold Iron” definitely hits the mark with its opening, as we follow a character whose fate in inextricably linked with the protagonist, Aranthur.

Once the prologue is behind us, we meet our aforementioned main character. Aranthur is a young man at odds, perhaps, with what path he’s embarked on, versus who he really aspires to be. That path he’s treading is one of a mage, engaged in studies at a distinguished magical academy. But what Aranthur really craves is to be an elite swordsman and warrior.

That route to self-discovery and self-fulfillment seems far away for our young main character, as he’s a middling, unremarkable student. Additionally, while not a master with the sword, he’s strong, quick, daring, and eager to learn.

The novice duelist Aranthur comes from humble but honest stock, and he departs school for the holidays, headed back to his home village, stopping to shelter in an inn enroute. There his life takes a decided turn, as he intervenes in a vicious attack at the inn.

Aranthur becomes caught up in a web of complicated subterfuge, that on the surface involves the inn’s proprietor and his family, an expert but arrogant swordsman, an mystifying but gorgeous courtesan, and a young spy.

Aranthur soon learns that he’s nowhere near as good a swordsman as he needs to be, that he has a lot to understand about the chaotic world events swirling around him, and that once you take the path of the sword, it’s not easy to turn back.

A brilliant character-focused book, just my jam, the reader follows a main character who is very well fleshed-out, and very realistic as a young man in the grips of angst, turmoil, and finding his way socially, emotionally, as he evolves into true adulthood.

Aranthur as he acts somewhat obtusely at times, led by his hormones, falling in and out of infatuation with various women, and doing all the frustrating things young people might be prone to do. He is distracted, fickle, and sometimes weak-willed and erratic in how he feels about the women in his life, and I thought Cameron did a fabulous job with capturing the tumultuous nature of the protagonist.

The secondary players are amazing, complex, and very flawed, more so than Aranthur, and some of them are particularly mysterious and intriguing. Amongst all the wonderful auxiliary players, Dahlia stood out for me, with her steely courage, frank and funny manner, and much more worldly and mature outlook on things, compared to Aranthur.

The worldbuilding is extremely lush and expansive. For me, reminiscent of the Turko-Mongol dynasty era, with flintlock level armaments and advancements, definitely Eastern-inspired, replete with the engrossing details of a uniquely created language, a world of academia and magecraft, marketplaces and military institutions, various cultures and races, backstory and incredible lore.

Cameron does not shy away from difficult themes in this book, and they were dealt with in his usual adroit style. Social injustice, racism, bigotry, sexism, immigration policies, and more are tackled head-on, and very adeptly.

The political intrigue definitely has a dash of almost a Dan Brown thriller (with the requisite secret organizations and intricate plots) in the mix, as a clandestine group known as the “Disciples” are trying to revert the world to an elitist state, where magic is only in the hands of the nobility, and aristocratic houses vie for control of said magic.

And yes, there is magic, oh boy, in this book, and it is wonderful. I’m not even going to speak to the magic elements here for fear of spoiling it…just go read the book, and know that I found the magic to be delicious.

The level of detail attained with weaponry, armour, fighting techniques, and strategy, are of course, in the top-most tier of fantasy books, because after all ladies and gentlemen, this is a Miles Cameron novel.

A veteran re-enactor and expert in ancient warfare, Cameron brings a verisimilitude to the one-on-one duel or big battle scene that makes the hair stands up on the back of your neck, your palms sweaty, and your heart beat faster as tension created prior to the conflict, the raising of stakes, then the sudden explosion, makes for a bloody, thrilling, and haunting spectacle.

One thing that stood out to me about the fight scenes in “Cold Iron”, was that the “non-lethal” results often seemed more devastating than those where people actually died, showing just how awful a debilitating injury can be, when sustained at the edge of a blade.

While by no means purple, Cameron’s prose will always be exquisite, descriptive, raw and bawdy when required, lyrical and beautiful when the scene calls for it. With a sparsity of longer exposition passages, Cameron still succeeds in completely immersing the reader in his world with his prose; the mark of a seasoned and very skilled writer.

Slow-burn, then punctuated by the eruptive fight scenes, with lots of quiet and introspective moments, Cameron manages to simultaneously achieve a “Name of the Wind”-like (Rothfuss) level of coming-of-age story and in-depth characterization (as a matter of fact I found a lot of similarities between Aranthur and Kovthe), a richness to the lore of the world with the scope of “A Song of Ice and Fire” (GRRM), and the unflinching realism in terms of battle and strife of Cameron’s own “Traitor’s Son Cycle”. Let’s be clear, to accomplish this is incredibly difficult. Nonetheless, this is what Cameron has achieved.

Coming-of-age, epic high fantasy, combined with very compelling themes, fabulous worldbuilding, outstanding character work, and the type of jaw-dropping fight scenes we have come to expect from the master of writing combat who is Miles Cameron, this gritty and realistic first installment into “Masters and Mages” smashes, and I’m all in for the rest of the series!

Five plus glowing stars!

[Mike Shackle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give this book more than 5 stars if I could. It's just wonderful. The characters, the world-building, the magic, the twists, the turns. This is the work of a master at the top of his game. Halfway through, I bought books 2 & 3 as I didn't want to wait to find out what happened next. Pure bloody genius

[Shane Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Izzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[James (ObservantRaven) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Siavahda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 going to be an extremely worthy successor to the Traitor Son Cycle. I couldn't put Cold Iron down and resented anything that pulled me away from its pages; it's intricate, clever, sneakily feminist, and the magic in this world is elegantly tied to the socio-economics of the same - something that is the driving force behind the overarching plot. I really loved that aspect of the story, and having a main character who comes from a minority group viewed as thugs and thieves by the rest of the world; the dissection of racist micro-aggressions, social class, and privilege (especially regarding wealth) is all so deft and subtle that you absorb the commentary without ever being lectured on it.

I'm deeply in love with all of the characters, and although the M&M world is clearly inspired by ours, it's vastly different enough to have some truly amazing worldbuilding that I'm dying to see more of. There's also so much going on; not so much that the book feels crowded or that anything is left half-baked for lack of development, but enough to make reading this an intense experience. I needed a quick nap after finishing it; not because I was bored, but because I felt like I'd gone adventuring myself, so wholly does the story pull you in.

In short, I need book 2 immediately!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 political intrigue. So much more is going on in the world than we really get to see from our classic fantasy hero, the farmboy. It is fun to learn of the things as Aranthur learns of them, but some times this leads to a heavy struggle of the reader not knowing enough. It kills the pacing in the beginning when the farmboy knows nothing until the end when he's figuring out thing after thing after thing. It's definitely a difficult struggle as a writer.

Luckily Aranthur is a likeable enough character to keep you going through the book. He plays the classic hero quite well. Solid, dependable, a good friend and always willing to jump into the scrap to save others. He's easy to identify with and root for.

The world reminds me a lot of Miles Cameron's Traitor Son series which I also enjoy. It's very rooted in medieval history despite the hints of magic. Miles Cameron also has a deep love for swords and swordplay which shines in this series as much as his other. It can be too much for me at moments. The swordplay is so detailed that I'm either slowing in my reading to envision it or skimming because the intense detail is taking me out of the action of the moment.

Overall though, I can't wait to get a copy of the second book. I highly recommend this even if you struggle in the beginning.