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shellscharlotte's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jaclynder's review
3.0
I really enjoy Williams' first installment featuring the Copper Cat and her disreputable companions, and like its predecessor The Iron Ghost is filled with excellent characters who embark on fantastic, yet morally ambiguous adventures in which our heroes learn that they should yet again be asking more questions before agreeing to taking on a job.
The only complaint that I have with The Iron Ghost is that it didn't seem different enough from the first book. I would have liked to have seen more focus on the characters and how they have been changed by their adventures (both past and present). Instead, The Iron Ghost ended up reading more like filler segments that are building towards a bigger event. Not a bad thing in and of itself, but it did make for a less satisfying reading experience than the first book.
If you enjoyed The Copper Cat this second book will appeal, if only to see what the intrepid trio is up to. There is a lot of development in larger world of the book, which will presumably have an impact in the next book, but I will be reading to see how Cat, Aaron and Sebastian ultimately solve their lasting problems.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The only complaint that I have with The Iron Ghost is that it didn't seem different enough from the first book. I would have liked to have seen more focus on the characters and how they have been changed by their adventures (both past and present). Instead, The Iron Ghost ended up reading more like filler segments that are building towards a bigger event. Not a bad thing in and of itself, but it did make for a less satisfying reading experience than the first book.
If you enjoyed The Copper Cat this second book will appeal, if only to see what the intrepid trio is up to. There is a lot of development in larger world of the book, which will presumably have an impact in the next book, but I will be reading to see how Cat, Aaron and Sebastian ultimately solve their lasting problems.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
ronmccutchan's review against another edition
5.0
I can't say enough good things about the Copper Cat series - unique and quirky characters with rich backstories and evolving relationships, BIG deeds and landscape but also humor and personal insight. I'm eagerly waiting the final book in the series (and the series being published here in the U.S. so I can recommend it to friends who don't necessarily order from amazon.co.uk because they can't wait!)
clendorie's review
adventurous
2.75
Two years ago, I read The Copper Promise during summer-break, and I really enjoyed it. It was like watching a group of friends playing D&D with all the flashy actions, magical trinkets and sassy banters. Just fun.
Obviously, I bought the sequels and, like so many people with more books than time, didn’t read them. Until five months ago, when I picked up The Iron Ghost for a quick and fun read. It didn’t go well, with a four-months break until I power-read through the last two-hundred pages.
Unlike The Copper Promise which started as a fix-up of four novellas, The Iron Ghost is a single story. But weirdly enough, it felt more disjointed than the first one with a lot of jumping around in time and space. We’ve got the Black Feather Three, who are hired to retrieve a stolen artefact in the frozen mountains of Skaldshollow. Then, there is an assassin from a secret cult killing people and collecting their blood for a mysterious sponsor. Next, we have flashbacks with Sebastian and the Broodsisters. Some pieces come together at the end but others… are just here.
As for the characters, we are reunited with the old cast, heroes and enemies altogether with a few additions. Wydrin is the most palatable with great banters and a refreshing “who cares” attitude. Frith is his usual lord Edgy Mc Edginess – I know people like this archetype but not my cup of tea – and Sebastian is conflicted by a lot of things. Aside from Ephemeral and Joah, the new guys felt pretty flat.At least they make a great body-count.
I will probably try the last entry because I love pirate-setting in fantasy (insert obligatory Liveship Traders reference) and the mention of Wydrin’s mother makes me hope that Frith will not be the front piece of the story.
Obviously, I bought the sequels and, like so many people with more books than time, didn’t read them. Until five months ago, when I picked up The Iron Ghost for a quick and fun read. It didn’t go well, with a four-months break until I power-read through the last two-hundred pages.
Unlike The Copper Promise which started as a fix-up of four novellas, The Iron Ghost is a single story. But weirdly enough, it felt more disjointed than the first one with a lot of jumping around in time and space. We’ve got the Black Feather Three, who are hired to retrieve a stolen artefact in the frozen mountains of Skaldshollow. Then, there is an assassin from a secret cult killing people and collecting their blood for a mysterious sponsor. Next, we have flashbacks with Sebastian and the Broodsisters. Some pieces come together at the end but others… are just here.
As for the characters, we are reunited with the old cast, heroes and enemies altogether with a few additions. Wydrin is the most palatable with great banters and a refreshing “who cares” attitude. Frith is his usual lord Edgy Mc Edginess – I know people like this archetype but not my cup of tea – and Sebastian is conflicted by a lot of things. Aside from Ephemeral and Joah, the new guys felt pretty flat.
I will probably try the last entry because I love pirate-setting in fantasy (insert obligatory Liveship Traders reference) and the mention of Wydrin’s mother makes me hope that Frith will not be the front piece of the story.
somecharm's review against another edition
5.0
The Iron Ghost was the second of three in The Copper Cat trilogy and it brings back characters from the first book The Copper Promise in full force. This story follows the Blackfeather Three as they travel to a place called Skaldshollow to assist the Skald people in getting back a stolen artefact. As soon as they arrive things start to go wrong and The Blackfeather Three come face to face with trials and tribulations to rival their exploits in the first book.
Ice people, wyverns, crazy mad mages with a thirst for blood and a familiar yet hated demon child all abound and cause all sorts of trouble for Wydrin, Frith and Sebastian.
There’s a neat – if slightly unobvious – split between tenses in this book which was slightly off putting; for example it’d be one chapter in present day Skaldshollow and then the next would be set in the past usually with Sebastian at the Order Temple. It wasn’t bad only unclearly marked, but on the flip side the writing itself showed the tense changes really well.
As with the previous book everything that could go wrong went wrong but the plot line followed a set rhythm that deviated in the smallest of ways but also the biggest – by this I mean that the plot stayed on the same sort of course but then all of a sudden something that was unexpected was thrown in the works and it threw me for a loop.
Other than Bezcavar the new big bad in this book was a long dead mage by the name of Joah Lightbringer or Joah Demonsworn who is miraculously brought back to life by the help of BBezcavar(surprise surprise) so he can continue on in his great, albeit incredibly insane work.
There’s magic galore from Frith, Joah, the Skaldshollow, Bezcavar and even Sebastian! Something happened with Wydrin that I won’t spoil for any of you who haven’t read this book (I highly recommend it!) that completely threw me and made me keep reading until the early hours of the morning. I had a combined “What the hell JW” and “Oh thank you, thank you” moment.
I’m about 110 pages into the third and final installment. I had a heart crumbling moment when Jen told me that on Twitter but made up for it with a pre-order of her new book.
Ice people, wyverns, crazy mad mages with a thirst for blood and a familiar yet hated demon child all abound and cause all sorts of trouble for Wydrin, Frith and Sebastian.
There’s a neat – if slightly unobvious – split between tenses in this book which was slightly off putting; for example it’d be one chapter in present day Skaldshollow and then the next would be set in the past usually with Sebastian at the Order Temple. It wasn’t bad only unclearly marked, but on the flip side the writing itself showed the tense changes really well.
As with the previous book everything that could go wrong went wrong but the plot line followed a set rhythm that deviated in the smallest of ways but also the biggest – by this I mean that the plot stayed on the same sort of course but then all of a sudden something that was unexpected was thrown in the works and it threw me for a loop.
Other than Bezcavar the new big bad in this book was a long dead mage by the name of Joah Lightbringer or Joah Demonsworn who is miraculously brought back to life by the help of BBezcavar(surprise surprise) so he can continue on in his great, albeit incredibly insane work.
There’s magic galore from Frith, Joah, the Skaldshollow, Bezcavar and even Sebastian! Something happened with Wydrin that I won’t spoil for any of you who haven’t read this book (I highly recommend it!) that completely threw me and made me keep reading until the early hours of the morning. I had a combined “What the hell JW” and “Oh thank you, thank you” moment.
I’m about 110 pages into the third and final installment. I had a heart crumbling moment when Jen told me that on Twitter but made up for it with a pre-order of her new book.
nonesensed's review against another edition
4.0
Wydrin, Frith and Sebastian, known as the Blackfeathered Three, have had plenty of adventures together. They've recently been called to the distant northern Skaldshollow to help the locals regain a magical artifact: the Heart-Stone. They get there safely, but once involved in this seemingly straightforward quest they realize things aren't as simple as at first glance. Not only might the "thieves" have more claim to the heart than the people of Skaldshollow say but Skaldshollow itself contains a familiar but terrible face.
Had a good time reading this! I got more into this book than the first one, since I feel like I know the characters better now. It did lose me a little in places. This is because our dear main characters keep almost dying as soon as they end up in any kind of danger - making them feel less skilled and experienced and more dependent on pure luck - and because the POV shifts a lot.
It's kinda like reading about someone's D&D campaign. A lot of scenes would be super emotional and engaging if they were acted out, but written down they're rather brief and sudden. Then again, some scenes are very impactful (thinking especially about one scene near the end with Frith making a certain trap...) There's a lot of plot build-up so the emotional build-up comes and goes, getting shoved to the background and therefore harder to engage in. But all in all, an interesting ride!
Had a good time reading this! I got more into this book than the first one, since I feel like I know the characters better now. It did lose me a little in places. This is because our dear main characters keep almost dying as soon as they end up in any kind of danger - making them feel less skilled and experienced and more dependent on pure luck - and because the POV shifts a lot.
It's kinda like reading about someone's D&D campaign. A lot of scenes would be super emotional and engaging if they were acted out, but written down they're rather brief and sudden. Then again, some scenes are very impactful (thinking especially about one scene near the end with Frith making a certain trap...) There's a lot of plot build-up so the emotional build-up comes and goes, getting shoved to the background and therefore harder to engage in. But all in all, an interesting ride!
tooshorttoread's review against another edition
4.0
Having previously read and really enjoyed the first instalment in the series The Copper Promise – reviewed here – I was looking forward to this one.
There were clearly a lot of plot strands left hanging at the end of The Copper Promise and some of them are explored here with others left for the final instalment – The Silver Tide. If it’s half as good as the previous books we’re in for a real treat. Anyway, back to the second instalment….
We start the story after a time skip from the end of the first book. Over a series of jobs The Black Feather Three have developed something of a reputation as swords for hire who are good at unusual situations. But all is not well amongst the group. Sebastian is struggling with the consequences of his actions at the end of the first book, Frith is torn between his duties as a Lord and his place in The Three and Wydrin is still very much Wydrin but now with a bit more to lose.
The action is spread across two timelines. In the present the gang are on a new job – quite possibly their final one as a trio – and this time they’re heading to a completely foreign part of the world. In the past we learn a little bit more about the time that we’ve skipped and finally learn the fate of Sebastian’s ‘daughters’ as they seek sanctuary in the mountains.
I’m still unsure about how I feel about this split timeline. I may be in the minority with this, but I loved the episodic feel of the first book. I felt like I was watching a really good TV series, but with longer episodes and no adverts – I was surprised to find that I enjoyed that! I know that this format was largely the result of Copper being initially written as a series of novellas. but it worked for me and I missed that this time round. Williams still writes in a similar way – in a series on interlocking incidents leading to a big battle at the end. But in this format I found it harder to connect with. The time frame is considerably compressed and you really have to suspend your disbelief, because if all of that happened in such a short space of time the trio would definitely be dead.
I was also little unsure how Williams was going to top the villains of the last story – I mean, world devouring Dragon God anyone? But she had a good go at it, coming at it from a very new angle whilst sticking to some of the previous themes and by and large it works. I suppose I did feel like this villain was a bit over the top in places and I was initially bewildered that he didn’t just kill them all in the first few pages after his arrival. But Williams won me over, he had his reasons and I began to believe them as the novel progressed. He’s a very different sort of evil, there’s more humanity in him and he has a past that was intriguing to watch unfold.
Aside from these quibbles, I did still really enjoy it. I was intrigued by the world building and I got quite invested in the fates of the side characters. There’s a lot to like here – the mountain’s heart, the mage’s version of Howl’s moving castle, the new peoples we meet along the way.
I was also glad that we got to see more of the ‘daughters’. They’re becoming much more distinct characters and their path to becoming more human without losing who they are is very interesting to follow.
We get to see other elements of the first book too – but I’m not going to go into them here because of spoilers. Needless to say I was glad they cropped up; Williams’ handles them very deftly and weaves them into the plot of this book well. Despite the completely different setting this book does deal with the aftermath of nearly ending the world in some very clever ways….
In the end, form quibbles aside, I’m definitely going to pick up the next book – hopefully soon – where I’m hoping to see a little more humour and to tie up some more loose ends!
There were clearly a lot of plot strands left hanging at the end of The Copper Promise and some of them are explored here with others left for the final instalment – The Silver Tide. If it’s half as good as the previous books we’re in for a real treat. Anyway, back to the second instalment….
We start the story after a time skip from the end of the first book. Over a series of jobs The Black Feather Three have developed something of a reputation as swords for hire who are good at unusual situations. But all is not well amongst the group. Sebastian is struggling with the consequences of his actions at the end of the first book, Frith is torn between his duties as a Lord and his place in The Three and Wydrin is still very much Wydrin but now with a bit more to lose.
The action is spread across two timelines. In the present the gang are on a new job – quite possibly their final one as a trio – and this time they’re heading to a completely foreign part of the world. In the past we learn a little bit more about the time that we’ve skipped and finally learn the fate of Sebastian’s ‘daughters’ as they seek sanctuary in the mountains.
I’m still unsure about how I feel about this split timeline. I may be in the minority with this, but I loved the episodic feel of the first book. I felt like I was watching a really good TV series, but with longer episodes and no adverts – I was surprised to find that I enjoyed that! I know that this format was largely the result of Copper being initially written as a series of novellas. but it worked for me and I missed that this time round. Williams still writes in a similar way – in a series on interlocking incidents leading to a big battle at the end. But in this format I found it harder to connect with. The time frame is considerably compressed and you really have to suspend your disbelief, because if all of that happened in such a short space of time the trio would definitely be dead.
I was also little unsure how Williams was going to top the villains of the last story – I mean, world devouring Dragon God anyone? But she had a good go at it, coming at it from a very new angle whilst sticking to some of the previous themes and by and large it works. I suppose I did feel like this villain was a bit over the top in places and I was initially bewildered that he didn’t just kill them all in the first few pages after his arrival. But Williams won me over, he had his reasons and I began to believe them as the novel progressed. He’s a very different sort of evil, there’s more humanity in him and he has a past that was intriguing to watch unfold.
Aside from these quibbles, I did still really enjoy it. I was intrigued by the world building and I got quite invested in the fates of the side characters. There’s a lot to like here – the mountain’s heart, the mage’s version of Howl’s moving castle, the new peoples we meet along the way.
I was also glad that we got to see more of the ‘daughters’. They’re becoming much more distinct characters and their path to becoming more human without losing who they are is very interesting to follow.
We get to see other elements of the first book too – but I’m not going to go into them here because of spoilers. Needless to say I was glad they cropped up; Williams’ handles them very deftly and weaves them into the plot of this book well. Despite the completely different setting this book does deal with the aftermath of nearly ending the world in some very clever ways….
In the end, form quibbles aside, I’m definitely going to pick up the next book – hopefully soon – where I’m hoping to see a little more humour and to tie up some more loose ends!
somedaysitsharder's review
1.0
You know what, I give up. I just have so many better things to do than to plough through this predictable, dull and utterly charmless drag of a novel. The prose is mediocre at best and needlessly wordy at worst (and, I'm sorry, but you can take all those epithets and shove them), the characters are still entirely void of personality, and the world in which it is all set is lifeless, generic, and incoherent. One could think the prospect of an exiled ice prince romancing an outcast knight would have kept me going, but no. NO. I am done.
I was really hoping that it all would pick up after the first book, or get better the more time I spent with those characters, but wow.
It really, really didn't.
DNF
I am throwing those books out.
I was really hoping that it all would pick up after the first book, or get better the more time I spent with those characters, but wow.
It really, really didn't.
DNF
I am throwing those books out.
wordsofclover's review against another edition
4.0
This series is such a great high fantasy series. I loved returning to Sir Sebastian, Wydrin and Lord Frith. They are so much fun with a great chemistry between them all not to mention that each character has a real depth to them (though I'd love to find out more about Wydrin's past). The Iron Ghost brought us into different lands than The Copper Promise. The first book was very much set in a part of the world that was highly populated and a warmer, more forestry environment and climate.. The Iron Ghost was definitely colder. Snow and ice and more mountains with hidden spirits inside of them. I thought the exploration and world building was excellent and I loved finding out more about the Skalds and the Narhls (I found the Narhls particularly interesting - they were like white walkers but like, not the walking undead and mostly nice ).
I took away a star because it just dragged a little bit for me in the middle though by the end I was completely hooked. And I can't wait to see what the Black Feathered Three get up to next! I'm predicting the jungle of Onwai as it was mentioned on three different occasions during The Iron Ghost and my interest is peaked! I definitely recommend this series for fantasy lovers looking for a new adventure!
I took away a star because it just dragged a little bit for me in the middle though by the end I was completely hooked. And I can't wait to see what the Black Feathered Three get up to next! I'm predicting the jungle of Onwai as it was mentioned on three different occasions during The Iron Ghost and my interest is peaked! I definitely recommend this series for fantasy lovers looking for a new adventure!
gikairan's review against another edition
4.0
Finding a new author for me is a long, painful process sometimes. I'm fussy with how I like prose to read, and grow ever-so-tired of the misogyny and homophobia that seems to be deeply rooted in the genre.
So finding Jen William's Copper Cat series has been a breath of fresh air thats greatly welcome.
I've suffered greatly from a reading slump over the last few years, partly over having to find new authors and new series to read and just... not finding it. So to spend most of my weekend reading the 70% of this very book that I didn't already read on the flights to and from Porto earlier this week shows how enjoyable I found this book.
So far, 2 books in, The Copper Cat is a series that has kept me surprised at every page turn. I have no idea where Jen was taking the story- which is always a great thing.
Shes created an interesting world that I'd love to see what other surprises it has in store for me. The characters are a bit of a band of misfits, but you can tell how they deeply care for each other. And I'm ALWAYS a sucker for a found family. The supporting cast were also extremely enjoyable, and their corner of Ede was fascinating.
I also appreciate Jens inclusion of a diverse cast across the two books so far. And how the female characters are never told they're Lesser because they're women. Fantasy, at times, can be such a straight white mans club that its refreshing to read characters that aren't any of those things.
That being said, I do much prefer a longer book with more Meat to it so I don't feel I could quite give it five stars.
But so far, the Copper Cat is proving itself to be a delightfully easy read thats kept me completely in the dark about what the next page will contain. I'm looking forward to reading book 3, as well as reading more from Jen. ... However it is going to have to wait until next year, after I clear a little more of my backlog
So finding Jen William's Copper Cat series has been a breath of fresh air thats greatly welcome.
I've suffered greatly from a reading slump over the last few years, partly over having to find new authors and new series to read and just... not finding it. So to spend most of my weekend reading the 70% of this very book that I didn't already read on the flights to and from Porto earlier this week shows how enjoyable I found this book.
So far, 2 books in, The Copper Cat is a series that has kept me surprised at every page turn. I have no idea where Jen was taking the story- which is always a great thing.
Shes created an interesting world that I'd love to see what other surprises it has in store for me. The characters are a bit of a band of misfits, but you can tell how they deeply care for each other. And I'm ALWAYS a sucker for a found family. The supporting cast were also extremely enjoyable, and their corner of Ede was fascinating.
I also appreciate Jens inclusion of a diverse cast across the two books so far. And how the female characters are never told they're Lesser because they're women. Fantasy, at times, can be such a straight white mans club that its refreshing to read characters that aren't any of those things.
That being said, I do much prefer a longer book with more Meat to it so I don't feel I could quite give it five stars.
But so far, the Copper Cat is proving itself to be a delightfully easy read thats kept me completely in the dark about what the next page will contain. I'm looking forward to reading book 3, as well as reading more from Jen. ... However it is going to have to wait until next year, after I clear a little more of my backlog