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hematitesoul's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
waclements7's review against another edition
5.0
I read a lot of entire series this year because I only just found out about them, so they are all a little entangled in my mind. This is one of them, so if it doesn't appear completely cohesive, I apologize.
****It does contain some spoilers***
I’m just going to come right out and confess I read these almost a year ago, but I really, really liked them at the time. The idea was very clever, I thought. Dragons that were built with a specific member of the flight corps in mind, in one case, the dragon had been built for one man’s brother, but his brother had died and he was genetically close enough that he could ride the same dragon. The dragons and the riders learn each others’ personalities—despite the fact they have been engineered, the dragons are sentient and learn. The series starts with the whole corps having been disciplined for their appalling behavior at an important event which involved women and large amounts of alcohol. It is decided, then, that they need “etiquette training,” and a young professor is sent in to teach them, supposedly, everything they are supposed to know. Naturally he meets with resistance and insolence, a naïve professor and a hardened flight corps—no problems here. There are characters that are lost through the course of the series, some of which I was surprised to feel sad about even though their characters were at times annoying—they all fit a purpose within the corps to make it a cohesive group, and their loss changed that. Steelhands centers on one young corpsman who has lost his hands in the battle in the previous book, and has new ones made from the same metal the dragons are constructed from, and how he learns to adapt as everything is different now. Two of the original Dragon Corps have decided to stay in the desert where the final battle occurred, but they begin to uncover mysterious and disturbing things about the dragons, which they report back to their old commander. Despite the fact that the Dragon Corps could generally be referred to at the beginning of the series as a very motley crew of men, they were a motley crew of men who depended and trusted each other to cover their backs, and they genuinely cared for each other. The idea of the importance of human interaction and relationships continues in Steelhands. Jones and Bennett have created a wonderful world populated by interesting people and creatures. I was lucky enough to have found out about the series when Steelhands was released, so was able to read all of them at once (one after the other, that is). I think sometimes that’s the most marvelous way to read books—to suddenly discover a new series that already has a few books out and just become inundated in their world, which was easy in this case. The characters are so different, yet fully realized, there is just enough description where is doesn’t become tedious, and the world-building is such that it makes perfect sense that these dragons exist. I’m hoping Steelhands isn’t the last one in the series, as I’m curious to learn more, but if it is, I’m very happy to have read the ones that are here.
****It does contain some spoilers***
I’m just going to come right out and confess I read these almost a year ago, but I really, really liked them at the time. The idea was very clever, I thought. Dragons that were built with a specific member of the flight corps in mind, in one case, the dragon had been built for one man’s brother, but his brother had died and he was genetically close enough that he could ride the same dragon. The dragons and the riders learn each others’ personalities—despite the fact they have been engineered, the dragons are sentient and learn. The series starts with the whole corps having been disciplined for their appalling behavior at an important event which involved women and large amounts of alcohol. It is decided, then, that they need “etiquette training,” and a young professor is sent in to teach them, supposedly, everything they are supposed to know. Naturally he meets with resistance and insolence, a naïve professor and a hardened flight corps—no problems here. There are characters that are lost through the course of the series, some of which I was surprised to feel sad about even though their characters were at times annoying—they all fit a purpose within the corps to make it a cohesive group, and their loss changed that. Steelhands centers on one young corpsman who has lost his hands in the battle in the previous book, and has new ones made from the same metal the dragons are constructed from, and how he learns to adapt as everything is different now. Two of the original Dragon Corps have decided to stay in the desert where the final battle occurred, but they begin to uncover mysterious and disturbing things about the dragons, which they report back to their old commander. Despite the fact that the Dragon Corps could generally be referred to at the beginning of the series as a very motley crew of men, they were a motley crew of men who depended and trusted each other to cover their backs, and they genuinely cared for each other. The idea of the importance of human interaction and relationships continues in Steelhands. Jones and Bennett have created a wonderful world populated by interesting people and creatures. I was lucky enough to have found out about the series when Steelhands was released, so was able to read all of them at once (one after the other, that is). I think sometimes that’s the most marvelous way to read books—to suddenly discover a new series that already has a few books out and just become inundated in their world, which was easy in this case. The characters are so different, yet fully realized, there is just enough description where is doesn’t become tedious, and the world-building is such that it makes perfect sense that these dragons exist. I’m hoping Steelhands isn’t the last one in the series, as I’m curious to learn more, but if it is, I’m very happy to have read the ones that are here.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
Four and a half stars
I hate starting in the middle of a series. I'm usually pretty compulsive about it - if I haven't read book one, I won't read any of it. But sometimes I will put my name in for something on the LibraryThing Early Reviewers page, wherever the book falls in its series - kind of on the assumption that I'm not going to get it. From the May batch of early reviewers I received Steelhands, by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett - "Havemercy #4". Feeling my duty to get the read and review done before the anticipated release date in August, I squared my shoulders and plunged in.
The two ladies who wrote this should give lessons to all writers, fantasy and otherwise, who write more than one book in the same world. All of them. I don't remember ever reading another book which handled the problem of InfoDump in such a skilful manner: I always knew exactly what I needed to know, when I needed to know it - no less, but also no more, or not much more, so I'm left with the deep need to read the other books. Soon.
The story is told in a revolving first person point of view, moving fluidly from ex–Chief Sergeant of the Dragon Corps to his old comrade Balfour to (from Goodreads via randomhouse.com) "Laurence, a feisty young woman whose father raised her to be the son he never had, and Toverre, her fiancé, a brilliant if neurotic dandy who would sooner share his wife-to-be’s clothes than her bed". That's pretty good. They're terrific characters, and each has his own voice which is identifiable and unique from the others, in small ways and large. I've read reviews of other books which don't like alternating first-person narrations; this is not for them (though I wish they'd give it a try). I do (I've actually started a book using the technique), and I loved this.
Steelhands was beautifully written - original, and wonderfully imagined and thought through. I've read very little steampunk so far, but this is exactly what I hoped for and wanted from the genre. The characters were not necessarily all people I'd want to go out to dinner with (most of them not, I think), but I loved spending page-time with them, and I look forward to meeting many of them again. They were all of them excellent companions on the page.
I've discovered a reason to plunge in in the middle of a series: it's lovely that there are more books in a current series already in existence - I don't have to wait for their publication. My birthday's coming up ...
I hate starting in the middle of a series. I'm usually pretty compulsive about it - if I haven't read book one, I won't read any of it. But sometimes I will put my name in for something on the LibraryThing Early Reviewers page, wherever the book falls in its series - kind of on the assumption that I'm not going to get it. From the May batch of early reviewers I received Steelhands, by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett - "Havemercy #4". Feeling my duty to get the read and review done before the anticipated release date in August, I squared my shoulders and plunged in.
The two ladies who wrote this should give lessons to all writers, fantasy and otherwise, who write more than one book in the same world. All of them. I don't remember ever reading another book which handled the problem of InfoDump in such a skilful manner: I always knew exactly what I needed to know, when I needed to know it - no less, but also no more, or not much more, so I'm left with the deep need to read the other books. Soon.
The story is told in a revolving first person point of view, moving fluidly from ex–Chief Sergeant of the Dragon Corps to his old comrade Balfour to (from Goodreads via randomhouse.com) "Laurence, a feisty young woman whose father raised her to be the son he never had, and Toverre, her fiancé, a brilliant if neurotic dandy who would sooner share his wife-to-be’s clothes than her bed". That's pretty good. They're terrific characters, and each has his own voice which is identifiable and unique from the others, in small ways and large. I've read reviews of other books which don't like alternating first-person narrations; this is not for them (though I wish they'd give it a try). I do (I've actually started a book using the technique), and I loved this.
Steelhands was beautifully written - original, and wonderfully imagined and thought through. I've read very little steampunk so far, but this is exactly what I hoped for and wanted from the genre. The characters were not necessarily all people I'd want to go out to dinner with (most of them not, I think), but I loved spending page-time with them, and I look forward to meeting many of them again. They were all of them excellent companions on the page.
I've discovered a reason to plunge in in the middle of a series: it's lovely that there are more books in a current series already in existence - I don't have to wait for their publication. My birthday's coming up ...
silquesoleil's review against another edition
4.0
As a huge fan of the authors and their books and newbie member of the Thremedon fandom, I'm a bit biased when it comes to this and I may tend to ignore some of the flaws of this work. Expect this review to be enthusiastic and just a bit analyzing.
One of the main complaints about the books – not just this one – has been that they lack plot. I won't deny that, but here's a thing: there are more aspects of a book than just the plot. Plot, character development, mood, and pacing are the main aspects and as one can see from the four POV writing style, “Steelhands” as well as its previous novels are character- and mood-driven, so it's only natural that plot and pace fall a bit short. But they work, because these authors know exactly what they are doing. The writing style of every character differs, based on his or her personality and upbringing or current environment and that's what makes these books so interesting.
At least one of the authors had their origins I writing fanfiction (but as all the good fanfic writers, they only make money with their original fiction because they have honor and talent), and they have the power of fan service. I read these books because I fell in love with the characters right away. Two of them are old acquaintances, two of them became new friends. So... why don't we start with them?
Owen Adamo
The Ex-Chief Sergeant of the Dragon Corps had me since “Havemercy” when he told his boys, his fellow airmen to stop calling Margrave Royston “the Mary Margrave”. Backing up for his gay friend in front of an ill-mannered horde of dragon riders? He was my hero. Adamo is grumpy, a hulk of a man and yet a mother-hen. He refers to the airmen as 'his boys'. He and Royston couldn't be more different which makes their friendship very interesting and well, this book examines the relationship of the two men a bit closer.
At the beginning of the book, he has a position as a professor at the 'Versity, teaching young students about battle techniques in a very unique way. And because I mentioned fan service earlier – there is a lot of talk about Adamo's pants. It's not important but please do consider that most readers of this books like male/male romance stories and talking about a man's pants – be they on fire or not – is a lot of fun.
Balfour Vallet
Another ex-member of the Dragon Corps. It is impossible not to like Balfour – he is kind, actually has some decent manners and in “Havemercy” he stood out because he was the only one who was actually nice to poor Thom (and it's nice to know that they are still sending each other letters). Also, his hands are made of steel. I admit, I'm a sucker for metallic prosthetics in any shape or form, because... they are steampunk and steampunk is sexy?
After the end of the war he became a diplomat, which is a profession that suits his character quite well (if one can ignore that he has to talk to Arlemagne people most of the time and we all know that the relationship between the Arlemagne and the airmen is not the best ever since Rook mistook that diplomat's wife for a prostitute and slapped her rear end in public. Ah, the good old times!)
Laurence & Toverre
The engaged young couple from the country. Like many other young men and few women (misogynist society, deal with it!) they are allowed to study at the 'Versity because the Esar thought it would be a nice gesture and he should do something for the education of his subjects. Well, not really. But this man's true motivation is something that the book will dwell upon, so I'm not going to explain it here.
Laurence, or Laure, is one of those girls who got a boy's name because her father wanted to have a son. She's fierce, she's a redhead, she's busty and very unafraid to speak her mind. Torrence is... not like her at all. A twiggy young man, gay, with unrealistic romantic expectations and obsessed with fashion. His worst enemies are dirt and germs. Their engagement was arranged but they are another pair of unusual friends.
The story:
Well, as I have probably already mentioned, not much happens plot-wise. Adamo gets a letter from Thom in which the reader gets a summary of the outcome of the previous book and he's not quite happy because the knowledge of the events is a bit dangerous, especially when you're living under the reign of the Esar, who gets more and more paranoid and who suspects treason behind every corner. He asks Royston to have an ear open for rumors at the Basquiat.
Balfour has troubles with his prosthetic hands and goes to see the Margrave who is in charge of inspecting them, but the lady is not to be found.
Laure and Toverre make a friend, try to get used to the city life and attend their courses. But strange things happen at the 'Versity. Students are struck by fever, very few of them even die. People disappear. The four protagonists hold several puzzle pieces to solve the mystery of this book but it takes a while until they all come together to put some of the pieces together.
Then of course, there are also slight romantic subplots, lots of fun with Luvander, who is fabulous and got more than just five lines in this book.
It's not so much the story that matters. It's the characters, their relationship to each other, their daily struggle with things that most of the readers could relate to. Adamo and Balfour try to find a new place in life, now that the Dragon Corps is no longer and to make it all worse, Adamo is struggling to accept Royton's new boyfriend because Roy has a shit taste in men and it's always Adamo who has to pick up the pieces when Roy gets left.
Toverre is struggling with, um, dirt and Laure has to fight prejudices.
In the end, I rated the book four stars because though I have been entertained a lot, I got the impression that some of the foreshadowing wasn't as subtle as it was supposed to be, so during the big revelation at the end, I was only half-surprised. So, I liked the book a lot, it made me giddy with glee but it's not quite enough to be considered “awesome”. Hence, only four stars.
But I do hope there will be another one.
One of the main complaints about the books – not just this one – has been that they lack plot. I won't deny that, but here's a thing: there are more aspects of a book than just the plot. Plot, character development, mood, and pacing are the main aspects and as one can see from the four POV writing style, “Steelhands” as well as its previous novels are character- and mood-driven, so it's only natural that plot and pace fall a bit short. But they work, because these authors know exactly what they are doing. The writing style of every character differs, based on his or her personality and upbringing or current environment and that's what makes these books so interesting.
At least one of the authors had their origins I writing fanfiction (but as all the good fanfic writers, they only make money with their original fiction because they have honor and talent), and they have the power of fan service. I read these books because I fell in love with the characters right away. Two of them are old acquaintances, two of them became new friends. So... why don't we start with them?
Owen Adamo
The Ex-Chief Sergeant of the Dragon Corps had me since “Havemercy” when he told his boys, his fellow airmen to stop calling Margrave Royston “the Mary Margrave”. Backing up for his gay friend in front of an ill-mannered horde of dragon riders? He was my hero. Adamo is grumpy, a hulk of a man and yet a mother-hen. He refers to the airmen as 'his boys'. He and Royston couldn't be more different which makes their friendship very interesting and well, this book examines the relationship of the two men a bit closer.
At the beginning of the book, he has a position as a professor at the 'Versity, teaching young students about battle techniques in a very unique way. And because I mentioned fan service earlier – there is a lot of talk about Adamo's pants. It's not important but please do consider that most readers of this books like male/male romance stories and talking about a man's pants – be they on fire or not – is a lot of fun.
Balfour Vallet
Another ex-member of the Dragon Corps. It is impossible not to like Balfour – he is kind, actually has some decent manners and in “Havemercy” he stood out because he was the only one who was actually nice to poor Thom (and it's nice to know that they are still sending each other letters). Also, his hands are made of steel. I admit, I'm a sucker for metallic prosthetics in any shape or form, because... they are steampunk and steampunk is sexy?
After the end of the war he became a diplomat, which is a profession that suits his character quite well (if one can ignore that he has to talk to Arlemagne people most of the time and we all know that the relationship between the Arlemagne and the airmen is not the best ever since Rook mistook that diplomat's wife for a prostitute and slapped her rear end in public. Ah, the good old times!)
Laurence & Toverre
The engaged young couple from the country. Like many other young men and few women (misogynist society, deal with it!) they are allowed to study at the 'Versity because the Esar thought it would be a nice gesture and he should do something for the education of his subjects. Well, not really. But this man's true motivation is something that the book will dwell upon, so I'm not going to explain it here.
Laurence, or Laure, is one of those girls who got a boy's name because her father wanted to have a son. She's fierce, she's a redhead, she's busty and very unafraid to speak her mind. Torrence is... not like her at all. A twiggy young man, gay, with unrealistic romantic expectations and obsessed with fashion. His worst enemies are dirt and germs. Their engagement was arranged but they are another pair of unusual friends.
The story:
Well, as I have probably already mentioned, not much happens plot-wise. Adamo gets a letter from Thom in which the reader gets a summary of the outcome of the previous book and he's not quite happy because the knowledge of the events is a bit dangerous, especially when you're living under the reign of the Esar, who gets more and more paranoid and who suspects treason behind every corner. He asks Royston to have an ear open for rumors at the Basquiat.
Balfour has troubles with his prosthetic hands and goes to see the Margrave who is in charge of inspecting them, but the lady is not to be found.
Laure and Toverre make a friend, try to get used to the city life and attend their courses. But strange things happen at the 'Versity. Students are struck by fever, very few of them even die. People disappear. The four protagonists hold several puzzle pieces to solve the mystery of this book but it takes a while until they all come together to put some of the pieces together.
Then of course, there are also slight romantic subplots, lots of fun with Luvander, who is fabulous and got more than just five lines in this book.
It's not so much the story that matters. It's the characters, their relationship to each other, their daily struggle with things that most of the readers could relate to. Adamo and Balfour try to find a new place in life, now that the Dragon Corps is no longer and to make it all worse, Adamo is struggling to accept Royton's new boyfriend because Roy has a shit taste in men and it's always Adamo who has to pick up the pieces when Roy gets left.
Toverre is struggling with, um, dirt and Laure has to fight prejudices.
In the end, I rated the book four stars because though I have been entertained a lot, I got the impression that some of the foreshadowing wasn't as subtle as it was supposed to be, so during the big revelation at the end, I was only half-surprised. So, I liked the book a lot, it made me giddy with glee but it's not quite enough to be considered “awesome”. Hence, only four stars.
But I do hope there will be another one.
hpstrangelove's review against another edition
5.0
This is my last review - due to the horrendous layout of the book page, I no longer find Goodreads a useful website. I am sorry that this will be affecting authors as I always like to leave my impressions on their books, especially when I think the book was great, as I think this one is! But Goodreads' forcing their 'mobile' bookpage design onto desktop users is simply lazy and irresponsible on their part. Desktop users have voiced their 'dislike' (that's putting it mildly) of the redesign but have been ignored. Maybe if authors start complaining about it, something might be done, but from what I hear from my author friends, they cannot get support from Goodreads librarians when they see something on their author page or their book is incorrect and needs fixing.
(Just tried to post my review and now I have to deal with a CAPTCHA! Horrible, just - horrible UI)
That said, there is my final review:
Audiobook review. Narrator: Cornell Collins.
Wow, what a great ending to this series (and I really wish this was not the end - there is potential for the story to be continued). I wasn't sure about the introduction of several new characters, but they caught my heart from the very beginning and I fell in love with all of them right away. I had a suspicion as to what might be going on, but was truly surprised when all was revealed. Cornell Collins, as always, did a wonderful job of the voices. I stretched out my listening of the last chapter just to savor the book a little longer, knowing this was the end.
(Just tried to post my review and now I have to deal with a CAPTCHA! Horrible, just - horrible UI)
That said, there is my final review:
Audiobook review. Narrator: Cornell Collins.
Wow, what a great ending to this series (and I really wish this was not the end - there is potential for the story to be continued). I wasn't sure about the introduction of several new characters, but they caught my heart from the very beginning and I fell in love with all of them right away. I had a suspicion as to what might be going on, but was truly surprised when all was revealed. Cornell Collins, as always, did a wonderful job of the voices. I stretched out my listening of the last chapter just to savor the book a little longer, knowing this was the end.
lautir's review against another edition
3.0
I keep reading these books out of the feeling of needed to support internet writers. Oh, and metal dragons.
I would have to say that this might be the best the the current four book series plots wise, but the ending was still predictable and straight forward. There were so many possibilities for complications! And there were a fair bit of characters who I wish could have been shown off a bit more who seemed interesting than the four main narrators.
Narrators wise, these main have been the more simplistic ones out of the series. Previously I always had a character whose chapters I looked forward to reading over the other 3 but this time around the voices weren't as distinctive so none of them really stood out in my mind.
I would have to say that this might be the best the the current four book series plots wise, but the ending was still predictable and straight forward. There were so many possibilities for complications! And there were a fair bit of characters who I wish could have been shown off a bit more who seemed interesting than the four main narrators.
Narrators wise, these main have been the more simplistic ones out of the series. Previously I always had a character whose chapters I looked forward to reading over the other 3 but this time around the voices weren't as distinctive so none of them really stood out in my mind.
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
Gosh I really wish Jones and Bennett would finish remembering how to write again, I only have so much patience. :< Guys just make your characters' voices distinct from one another. I'm tired of four books reading this, there's no way you're not sick writing it. Also ladies, I still want more of them. I feel like this series could benefit from one simple rule: ladies in the absence of any compelling reason this should not be the case. Toverre? Ought to have been a woman, they can be best friends instead of fiancees if their village wouldn't have been down with that. Adamo? Woman, the Dragoncorps coped because you try telling a hundred pound metal dragon they can't have the captain they've chosen. Balfour? Most certainly a woman which lends a nasty edge to the hazing the corps put her through but ehh we already realized the place was a festering copse of misogyny. Like seriously there is absolutely no reason I should have had to sit through thirteen dude POVs out of the sixteen this series have offered so far. Truly no excuse. 3 stars
christycorr's review against another edition
I really couldn’t manage to care about anything that happened in this instalment, and I’ve tried to pick it up again several times since I last stopped reading it in 2021—to no avail. At this point if I try again I need to start from scratch. But it’s doubtful—I didn’t enjoy any of the sequels as much as I did the first book in this series :/
andreabrownriley's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading the conclusion of this series. I feel like it came back around quite nicely.
I enjoyed the new characters that we were introduced to, but REALLY enjoyed getting to know some of the older characters better.
The only issue I had was with the random romance that the authors seemed to be forcing into the plot. It seemed wholly unnecessary and completely out of character for both parties involved. I would have really enjoyed the book without it.
Otherwise, this final book in the series was a satisfying ending to the story.
I enjoyed the new characters that we were introduced to, but REALLY enjoyed getting to know some of the older characters better.
The only issue I had was with the random romance that the authors seemed to be forcing into the plot. It seemed wholly unnecessary and completely out of character for both parties involved. I would have really enjoyed the book without it.
Otherwise, this final book in the series was a satisfying ending to the story.
niidz's review
3.0
Well i finally finished the series, this book was more interesting(plot wise) than the before but not more than the 2nd, i have a serious soft spot for Balfour so reading more about him is always nice, i still don't know how i feel about Adamo and i actually wanted to read more about Laure and Toverre, and maybe some more about Toverre and Gaeth but as always it falls a bit short and i wanted more and i kept waiting for more, but I guess of all of the books i would say this is my 2nd favorite. 3 stars because the writing as always is captivating but 2 stars less because it failed to deliver