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mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is a collection of novellas and short stories set in the worlds of Iron & Blood novels and Storm & Fury Adventures. It's sort of an anthology. Some of the stories were published in other anthologies, but it's always great to have them all in one handy place.
This is my first adventure in a world I've been wanting to visit. I'm pleased that I took the journey. I love how destruction seems to be left in their wake. I laugh as they are always being shot at and blowing something up, likely blowing up of something valuable too. lol. Also, the "bad guys" don't always fair well when they go against Jacob and Mitch.
Mitch is so drawn to the science-y things. Jacob feels to be the grounded person. But both are big on guns. Mitch and and Jacob kind of have a feel of Lethal Weapon movies with Riggs and Murtaugh for me. They don't always agree but are a great team that gets the work done. Also, one's a little more grounded than the other. And, things do seem to go boom around these two. lol.
Airship Down
This was an interesting investigation for Mitch and Jacob as they follow orbs that make electricity flash. It's fun watching them destroy their travel methods along with a few other things along the way. lol.
I was a little bummed at the end of the short as I felt we didn't get a resolution to the orbs. I'm not sure if these show up in the books or another short though. So maybe there is a resolution in another story? It is sort of mentioned in another short, briefly.
Resurrection Day
Oh this is neat. I like what they find in this short. Resurrection day indeed. This gives a blend between steampunk and supernatural in this world.
This is, however, another case that's not fully answered. I still have questions, like how the resurrection is done and what about two of the bad guys. I do love the world I'm getting glimpses of in these shorts and curious if the answers are given in the novels.
Langiappe
Oh this one is cool. I love the mystery to solve here. This kept my attention the whole time. I love how the pieces puzzle together. This was a cool view into the supernatural world.
Jacob and Mitch aren't as...destructive in this story. But we get to meet a female character, Della, I really loved. She sounds strong and one not to go against. I hope to see more of her.
Grave Voices
This was a longer story that gives us the full view of world and characters. We get a larger cast here and I love how one makes his appearance. The magic and mechanicals of the world are present.
We get a conclusion to the story here. This is cool and leaves a chance of working with others.
This one is full of mystery and action. Nice story. There is a connection to religion and magic and science here too.
Ruin Creek
This is short but a full story of a mission Jake and Mitch head out on. Neat story with ghosts, projections, and maybe aliens.
We see another "bad guy" here that our duo fights against. Gun shots and fighting.
I liked how this one concluded with the whole feel of the story and where they are.
The Hunt
This story as a feel of alien tech in it as well. The blend of steampunk and old west with our agents and town in are an awesome blend.
We get a full story here, and the guys are on their probation from something they blew up and shouldn't have, along with not capturing a bad guy. We get things tied up with what they are looking for along with unfinished business as to why they are here.
Rogue
This story had a feel of a magical National Treasure. Though the treasure wasn't gold but a magical relic. Very interesting how things all connect and the magic that's present. I really liked how the references to history was used to create something new.
Interesting what we see with different groups in the world and how they protect and work together. And the turn of events with one person here. Very good.
Ghost Wolf
He dresses as a wolf and defends the workers that are being attacked. One night the immigrant hating gang might be Irish against Polish, tomorrow it could be a Polish gang against an Irish one. He'll defend each at any time.
This story is set in the world of Storm & Fury but it's not a story of their adventures. We see them briefly as our main character overhears them but that's all.
The character present is important in helping stop fights in New Pittsburgh, and saves the city at the same time.
The Patented Troll
This story is not of Storm and Fury, it's of the inventor that started all with his inventions. This is a lovely little tale that gives the feel of an inventor and how he felt of his inventions, and how others used them. I loved the feel I got from this story with the inventor and a young man that wants to be safe as well.
Iron & Blood (Excerpt)
There is an excerpt of the first book present too. So if you haven't started the series (like me) you get a feel for what we are missing.
This is a collection of novellas and short stories set in the worlds of Iron & Blood novels and Storm & Fury Adventures. It's sort of an anthology. Some of the stories were published in other anthologies, but it's always great to have them all in one handy place.
This is my first adventure in a world I've been wanting to visit. I'm pleased that I took the journey. I love how destruction seems to be left in their wake. I laugh as they are always being shot at and blowing something up, likely blowing up of something valuable too. lol. Also, the "bad guys" don't always fair well when they go against Jacob and Mitch.
Mitch is so drawn to the science-y things. Jacob feels to be the grounded person. But both are big on guns. Mitch and and Jacob kind of have a feel of Lethal Weapon movies with Riggs and Murtaugh for me. They don't always agree but are a great team that gets the work done. Also, one's a little more grounded than the other. And, things do seem to go boom around these two. lol.
Airship Down
This was an interesting investigation for Mitch and Jacob as they follow orbs that make electricity flash. It's fun watching them destroy their travel methods along with a few other things along the way. lol.
I was a little bummed at the end of the short as I felt we didn't get a resolution to the orbs. I'm not sure if these show up in the books or another short though. So maybe there is a resolution in another story? It is sort of mentioned in another short, briefly.
Resurrection Day
Oh this is neat. I like what they find in this short. Resurrection day indeed. This gives a blend between steampunk and supernatural in this world.
This is, however, another case that's not fully answered. I still have questions, like how the resurrection is done and what about two of the bad guys. I do love the world I'm getting glimpses of in these shorts and curious if the answers are given in the novels.
Langiappe
Oh this one is cool. I love the mystery to solve here. This kept my attention the whole time. I love how the pieces puzzle together. This was a cool view into the supernatural world.
Jacob and Mitch aren't as...destructive in this story. But we get to meet a female character, Della, I really loved. She sounds strong and one not to go against. I hope to see more of her.
Grave Voices
This was a longer story that gives us the full view of world and characters. We get a larger cast here and I love how one makes his appearance. The magic and mechanicals of the world are present.
We get a conclusion to the story here. This is cool and leaves a chance of working with others.
This one is full of mystery and action. Nice story. There is a connection to religion and magic and science here too.
Ruin Creek
This is short but a full story of a mission Jake and Mitch head out on. Neat story with ghosts, projections, and maybe aliens.
We see another "bad guy" here that our duo fights against. Gun shots and fighting.
I liked how this one concluded with the whole feel of the story and where they are.
The Hunt
This story as a feel of alien tech in it as well. The blend of steampunk and old west with our agents and town in are an awesome blend.
We get a full story here, and the guys are on their probation from something they blew up and shouldn't have, along with not capturing a bad guy. We get things tied up with what they are looking for along with unfinished business as to why they are here.
Rogue
This story had a feel of a magical National Treasure. Though the treasure wasn't gold but a magical relic. Very interesting how things all connect and the magic that's present. I really liked how the references to history was used to create something new.
Interesting what we see with different groups in the world and how they protect and work together. And the turn of events with one person here. Very good.
Ghost Wolf
He dresses as a wolf and defends the workers that are being attacked. One night the immigrant hating gang might be Irish against Polish, tomorrow it could be a Polish gang against an Irish one. He'll defend each at any time.
This story is set in the world of Storm & Fury but it's not a story of their adventures. We see them briefly as our main character overhears them but that's all.
The character present is important in helping stop fights in New Pittsburgh, and saves the city at the same time.
The Patented Troll
This story is not of Storm and Fury, it's of the inventor that started all with his inventions. This is a lovely little tale that gives the feel of an inventor and how he felt of his inventions, and how others used them. I loved the feel I got from this story with the inventor and a young man that wants to be safe as well.
Iron & Blood (Excerpt)
There is an excerpt of the first book present too. So if you haven't started the series (like me) you get a feel for what we are missing.
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Storm & Fury is a collection of shorter fiction in the Storm & Fury world by creators Gail & Larry Martin. Released 23rd Feb 2019 it's 410 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
There are 10 short-to-novella length pieces included in the collection. Several were previously published in other anthologies, but are collected here with additional material for the first time. They're built around an alternate steampunk timeline in and around Pittsburgh (PA). The two lead characters Mitch and Jacob are partners and agents of the Department of Supernatural Investigation. This gives the authors very broad scope for a range of 'things which go bump (or whizzzz) in the night'.
The stories are well written, genuinely entertaining steampunk fantasy. Some of them (Airship Down) end without a real denouement. I'm not sure if the plotline is taken up in other longer works or not, but I found myself wondering what happened.
Worth mentioning, the electronic ARC I was given for review purposes has a nifty interactive table of contents and hyperlinked resources. Presumably the ebook version does as well.
One of the things I love about collections and anthologies is tjat they usually include extra author/editor information about the stories themselves or the writers. This is completely missing here. The stories are very well written however and it's not a crippling deficiency. The authors do include an afterword about their alt-steampunk Pittsburgh.
I grew up in the area and these stories are obviously written by authors who are intimately familiar with P'burgh and environs.
Strong stories, well written, with mostly appealing protagonists. They are worth a read, definitely.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Storm & Fury is a collection of shorter fiction in the Storm & Fury world by creators Gail & Larry Martin. Released 23rd Feb 2019 it's 410 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
There are 10 short-to-novella length pieces included in the collection. Several were previously published in other anthologies, but are collected here with additional material for the first time. They're built around an alternate steampunk timeline in and around Pittsburgh (PA). The two lead characters Mitch and Jacob are partners and agents of the Department of Supernatural Investigation. This gives the authors very broad scope for a range of 'things which go bump (or whizzzz) in the night'.
The stories are well written, genuinely entertaining steampunk fantasy. Some of them (Airship Down) end without a real denouement. I'm not sure if the plotline is taken up in other longer works or not, but I found myself wondering what happened.
Worth mentioning, the electronic ARC I was given for review purposes has a nifty interactive table of contents and hyperlinked resources. Presumably the ebook version does as well.
One of the things I love about collections and anthologies is tjat they usually include extra author/editor information about the stories themselves or the writers. This is completely missing here. The stories are very well written however and it's not a crippling deficiency. The authors do include an afterword about their alt-steampunk Pittsburgh.
I grew up in the area and these stories are obviously written by authors who are intimately familiar with P'burgh and environs.
Strong stories, well written, with mostly appealing protagonists. They are worth a read, definitely.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
ames599's review
4.0
This collection of stories was a great introduction to the world of New Pittsburgh. It's got a bit of everything, action, adventure, the paranormal, and mystery all wrapped up with a steampunk bow. It was great fun, and after reading these stories I would definitely look up full length works in the world, especially with the main characters from most of these tales. An added bonus is the location. As a Pittsburgher seeing my hometown turned into an 1898 steampunk city was very enjoyable. The authors clearly spent time making the setting believable, considering how fictional this type of world can be. I was able to visualize the places visited, and enjoy the stories even more because of that.
**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
catsluvcoffee's review
DNF for me. While I've loved the authors' other works, I just don't think I'm a steampunk fan.
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