Scan barcode
amybraunauthor's review
5.0
This book was awesome. Just awesome. I wasn't sure where the story would go, but it took a fun turn and changed how I looked at the Strange. The story was divided up mostly between Cedar and Rose's POV's, which meant we were taken on two different adventures. It was great to see old characters and new, especially given how much I missed Hink. The action was steady and strong, and one point at the end caused me to lose a little sleep. It was that intense. The characters were just as loveable as always, and while I adore Cedar, I have to say that Rose stole the show. That girl is just amazing, and I love her strength, her curiosity and quirks. The romance was emotional and deep for both main characters, which I also really enjoyed. While the plot rounded out in the end, there were a lot of major questions left unanswered, including one MAJOR one that happened with Cedar. I'm hoping this means there will be more books (there HAVE to be, considering the epilogue ended with a "cliffhanger" that almost made me scream), because I love this series and have more questions. I want to know more about the world, the Strange, the curse, the witches, and I NEED more Cedar, Hink, Rose, Mae, Madders, and Wil in my life. I need them! Don't miss out on this book!
abigcoffeedragon's review
4.0
This is such a well done series - I enjoy the time period and the play with Clockwork devices and turning the old Fantasy Tropes into newer, fresher ones.
This is book three, but this is NOT a trilogy, as the Epilogue opens the door for a follow on book (a total of seven, if I were a betting man, alchemically speaking of course).
At this point, if you have not read books 1 and 2, then you WILL see plot points revealed from the previous books.
I enjoy the Madder brothers the most. They come off as new world, or even our world, versions of Dwarves, with that same fun and humor that I like from my dwarves. This is all conjecture, as I do not know the root of the ideas from Devon Monk, but that is how they read to me.
There is romance, and the characterizations of two couples (one in book one and then a second in book two) which continue one here. It is not over-bearing, and played out believably.
My only true complaint is that with multiple story-lines going on at the same time, each chapter changes Point of View, which makes it hard sometimes to get into a characters moment, but it has been done well enough, and each chapter ends as it should, with a stab and twist to make you want to know what happens to them next.
I ended 2014 on a high note with Ink and Paper, and look forward to another year of great stories.
This is book three, but this is NOT a trilogy, as the Epilogue opens the door for a follow on book (a total of seven, if I were a betting man, alchemically speaking of course).
At this point, if you have not read books 1 and 2, then you WILL see plot points revealed from the previous books.
I enjoy the Madder brothers the most. They come off as new world, or even our world, versions of Dwarves, with that same fun and humor that I like from my dwarves. This is all conjecture, as I do not know the root of the ideas from Devon Monk, but that is how they read to me.
There is romance, and the characterizations of two couples (one in book one and then a second in book two) which continue one here. It is not over-bearing, and played out believably.
My only true complaint is that with multiple story-lines going on at the same time, each chapter changes Point of View, which makes it hard sometimes to get into a characters moment, but it has been done well enough, and each chapter ends as it should, with a stab and twist to make you want to know what happens to them next.
I ended 2014 on a high note with Ink and Paper, and look forward to another year of great stories.
hannas_heas47's review
5.0
I think I'm becoming a steam punk fanatic, I love this series. The only thing I hate is that it takes so long between books. At least with the Allie Beckstrom series I purchased it at the end and I was able to read them all at once. I love Cedar Hunt and Rose, they are my favorite characters. After the first book I really thought they'd be a couple but it seems they are destined for others. I purchased this book so I will definitely buy more from this author. I would definitely recommend this set of books if you like steam punk. This author really knows how to spin a wild tale.
mjfmjfmjf's review
3.0
Book 3 in a steampunk western series I read primarily for the Endeavour Award. This one got a bit out of hand - too many threads, too much plot - it just basically felt rushed. And the character interaction was a bit too obvious and it just wasn't deep enough. And it doesn't help that I'm not particularly a steampunk nor a western fan. Still, a readable book in a readable series.
rclz's review
5.0
This is good. I'm really enjoying this series and I can't wait to see what mischief the next book brings.
cmbohn's review
I decided not to finish this one since the story wasn't going anywhere and the reviews all said the series doesn't have a conclusion. The first book was really creepy. Too bad about this one.
suzrae73's review
4.0
Another great installment on this series! I can't tell you how much I enjoy all these characters and the predicaments they get themselves into!!!! Very excited to see what they get themselves into next! Hope I don't have to wait too long!
squirrelfish's review
i didn't like one of the plot twists, and gave up the book halfway through.
jaclynder's review
4.0
Cold Copper is the third book in Devon Monk’s steampunk series, Age of Steam. This is a series that I feel keeps getting better with each book as the readers learn more about this alternate American West and the fantastic characters that populate it. This is also a series that must be read in order or you’ll be lost, so fair warning, there may be spoilers ahead for the first two books in the series.
Cold Copper picks up pretty much where book 2, Dead Iron, left off. Cedar Hunt and his brother, Will, have teamed up (reluctantly) with the mysterious Madder brothers to help them hunt down the Holder. The Holder is a dangerous weapon that has been split into many pieces, and as luck would have it, Cedar and Will’s curse makes them the perfect candidates to track the pieces of the Holder. Accompanying the boys on this adventure is the witch and widow, Mae Linston – who is also Cedar’s lady love. Mae has been recently released from her coven and is enjoying her freedom. While the group is on their way to find the pieces of the Holder, they are drawn to the city, Des Moines, Iowa, because of a debt the Madders have to fulfill. Now the Madders and the Hunts have to discover why the children of the city have been disappearing and rescue them if they can, all the while a power hungry mayor tries to lock up the Madders and have them executed.
Alongside Cedar’s narrative, we also have Rose Small’s. Rose is a brilliant inventor who decided to stay behind with the witches’ coven to help repair Captain Hink’s airship. Rose can’t wait to see the world and hopes that being part of the crew of the airship will take her far and wide; it also helps that she’s in love with the captain. However, the captain’s been spending too much time in the local brothels and Rose is none to happy about that, so she decides to strike off on her own, only to find herself in heaps of trouble that looks to be leading her straight to her old friends in Des Moines.
This was another great addition to the Age of Steam series and I wish I could get my hands on the next book immediately. I felt like there was not enough answers to the questions raised in this one. Why can’t the author write faster??? Is that too much to ask?
As I wrote earlier, this is a series that gets better with each book. With each addition to the series I feel like I get a better understanding of not only the world, but the characters as well. Now, I’m a big fan of character driven type books, so I was initially not a lover of the first book; I felt it was too plot based and I wanted more character information. Luckily I decided to give the second book a shot and have not been disappointed with the direction of the series.
What I also find very interesting about Monk’s writing style is the alternative view points we get from characters. The only consistent person we hear from is Cedar. For the rest, we get characters from an alternate trajectory that eventually converges with Cedar’s narrative. At first I found this technique to be a bit strange and hard to follow, but I have come to appreciate this style and I like that the writing feels like a puzzle that will eventually fit together at the end.
Overall, I loved this newest addition, although I hope in the next book we get something from Will’s point of view. He’s an interesting character since his curse is the reverse of Cedars: he remains in wolf form and only returns as a human for short periods of time. I’m hoping that now Will’s in human form we’ll get more development from him since he seems like a cool and funny character (at least when he’s human). I’m also interested to see how the romantic relationships develop. Mae and Cedar seem like a solid and guaranteed thing (but who knows in the world of books), but I also find Rose and Hink’s relationship to be adorable. Looks like I’ll be waiting awhile for the next one!
*Review with read-alikes available here.
Cold Copper picks up pretty much where book 2, Dead Iron, left off. Cedar Hunt and his brother, Will, have teamed up (reluctantly) with the mysterious Madder brothers to help them hunt down the Holder. The Holder is a dangerous weapon that has been split into many pieces, and as luck would have it, Cedar and Will’s curse makes them the perfect candidates to track the pieces of the Holder. Accompanying the boys on this adventure is the witch and widow, Mae Linston – who is also Cedar’s lady love. Mae has been recently released from her coven and is enjoying her freedom. While the group is on their way to find the pieces of the Holder, they are drawn to the city, Des Moines, Iowa, because of a debt the Madders have to fulfill. Now the Madders and the Hunts have to discover why the children of the city have been disappearing and rescue them if they can, all the while a power hungry mayor tries to lock up the Madders and have them executed.
Alongside Cedar’s narrative, we also have Rose Small’s. Rose is a brilliant inventor who decided to stay behind with the witches’ coven to help repair Captain Hink’s airship. Rose can’t wait to see the world and hopes that being part of the crew of the airship will take her far and wide; it also helps that she’s in love with the captain. However, the captain’s been spending too much time in the local brothels and Rose is none to happy about that, so she decides to strike off on her own, only to find herself in heaps of trouble that looks to be leading her straight to her old friends in Des Moines.
This was another great addition to the Age of Steam series and I wish I could get my hands on the next book immediately. I felt like there was not enough answers to the questions raised in this one. Why can’t the author write faster??? Is that too much to ask?
As I wrote earlier, this is a series that gets better with each book. With each addition to the series I feel like I get a better understanding of not only the world, but the characters as well. Now, I’m a big fan of character driven type books, so I was initially not a lover of the first book; I felt it was too plot based and I wanted more character information. Luckily I decided to give the second book a shot and have not been disappointed with the direction of the series.
What I also find very interesting about Monk’s writing style is the alternative view points we get from characters. The only consistent person we hear from is Cedar. For the rest, we get characters from an alternate trajectory that eventually converges with Cedar’s narrative. At first I found this technique to be a bit strange and hard to follow, but I have come to appreciate this style and I like that the writing feels like a puzzle that will eventually fit together at the end.
Overall, I loved this newest addition, although I hope in the next book we get something from Will’s point of view. He’s an interesting character since his curse is the reverse of Cedars: he remains in wolf form and only returns as a human for short periods of time. I’m hoping that now Will’s in human form we’ll get more development from him since he seems like a cool and funny character (at least when he’s human). I’m also interested to see how the romantic relationships develop. Mae and Cedar seem like a solid and guaranteed thing (but who knows in the world of books), but I also find Rose and Hink’s relationship to be adorable. Looks like I’ll be waiting awhile for the next one!
*Review with read-alikes available here.