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btaylorb's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun premise and characters that I loved. This book had a weirdly high number of errors in syntax that would have been fixed by an extra editor. It did slow me down in places where I had to re-read a sentence or two.
But the book is relatively slow-going anyway. It’s very much a “the journey is the destination” kind of story. I would have liked a more firm grasp on how magic works in the world of the book, but think it was also the point- that Isobel and therefore the reader were both figuring things out as we went along. Definitely intrigued enough to read the rest of the series.
A side note: While reading I had some flashbacks to when I was 11 and reading Tamara Pierce’s “Wild Magic” quartet and feeling slightly scandalized by a mentor-mentee relationship between a young girl and a much older man that turns romantic in the last book. There are some moments where both Isobel and Gabriel are aware of the assumptions the rest of the world places on them, but I did not get any romantic vibes here. I desperately hope it doesn’t happen later in the series.
Finally , this book is surprisingly (refreshingly ?)wholesome to the point that I’m hard pressed to think of any major content warnings.
But the book is relatively slow-going anyway. It’s very much a “the journey is the destination” kind of story. I would have liked a more firm grasp on how magic works in the world of the book, but think it was also the point- that Isobel and therefore the reader were both figuring things out as we went along. Definitely intrigued enough to read the rest of the series.
A side note: While reading I had some flashbacks to when I was 11 and reading Tamara Pierce’s “Wild Magic” quartet and feeling slightly scandalized by a mentor-mentee relationship between a young girl and a much older man that turns romantic in the last book. There are some moments where both Isobel and Gabriel are aware of the assumptions the rest of the world places on them, but I did not get any romantic vibes here. I desperately hope it doesn’t happen later in the series.
Finally , this book is surprisingly (refreshingly ?)wholesome to the point that I’m hard pressed to think of any major content warnings.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
blatheringgeek's review
3.0
An intriguing cast of characters and foundation for a story marred by poor editing that cause the book to feel pretty amateur at times. Begins slow, but as the world was unveiled I began to just enjoy the journey rather than expecting action. The ending feels more like this book was just an introduction of things to come, rather than offer any sort of resolution or climax.
eric_conrad's review
3.0
A fun read set in an alternate version of the American Old West with a likeable heroine. No immediate need to read the next book in the trilogy, but I might someday.
uhhlexiconic's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Slowly easing its way through its heroine's development, Silver on the Road has little in the way of plot but plenty in the way of vibe.
wetdryvac's review
5.0
Way, way better than I was expecting. And I was expecting pretty bloody good.
midrel's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a marvellous premise, interestingly woven character and excellent prose. All brought low by the plot's execution. I honestly felt like the instances where something was actually happening were few and far between. Those instances were without a fault intensely engaging and interesting. But the rest of the time was spent on what felt like aimless, purposeless wandering.
I know we are probably meant to see Iz's growth from a child who had never left Flood to a proper rider, but like in [b:God's War|9359818|God's War (Bel Dame Apocrypha, #1)|Kameron Hurley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303144535l/9359818._SY75_.jpg|14243275], the previous book I read, we mostly just see a lot of moving around. Waking up, preparing camp, random bit of world-building, moving on, rinse, repeat. Granted, there's a point to all the moving, but the fact remains there's little to no actual advancement of the book's apparent plot for most of the book itself, the important scenes peppered in between a whole lot of nothing. And no matter how prettily written it is, it still is mostly uninteresting. Even if it compels you to read on somehow.
I'll admit, I feel a little guilty writing this. I don't know whether I am simply being too harsh on the book. Perhaps there's just some genre convention that I am missing. It is possible, as I honestly just decided to read it based on the premise and little attention was paid to anything else. But in any case, for the few interesting scenes, and the engaging characters (I loved Farron and Isobel) and the premise itself, and the hope that the second book will redeem the failing's of the first, I give it three stars.
I know we are probably meant to see Iz's growth from a child who had never left Flood to a proper rider, but like in [b:God's War|9359818|God's War (Bel Dame Apocrypha, #1)|Kameron Hurley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303144535l/9359818._SY75_.jpg|14243275], the previous book I read, we mostly just see a lot of moving around. Waking up, preparing camp, random bit of world-building, moving on, rinse, repeat. Granted, there's a point to all the moving, but the fact remains there's little to no actual advancement of the book's apparent plot for most of the book itself, the important scenes peppered in between a whole lot of nothing. And no matter how prettily written it is, it still is mostly uninteresting. Even if it compels you to read on somehow.
I'll admit, I feel a little guilty writing this. I don't know whether I am simply being too harsh on the book. Perhaps there's just some genre convention that I am missing. It is possible, as I honestly just decided to read it based on the premise and little attention was paid to anything else. But in any case, for the few interesting scenes, and the engaging characters (I loved Farron and Isobel) and the premise itself, and the hope that the second book will redeem the failing's of the first, I give it three stars.
hoperu's review against another edition
4.0
The Old West, as ruled by the devil, where magicians and spirits and demons and magic exist. Isobel is the Devil's Hand - a sort of special agent - but she is brand new to the job and untested and untrained. As she starts out on the road, she finds that the job is not what she expected, and there is danger coming into the territory that she alone can stop.
I like this and hope that it does indeed have a sequel or two. I appreciated that although the two main characters are a man and a young woman thrown together, there was no romance, and I am happy about that primarily because Isobel is only 16, something that is a prominent point.
I like this and hope that it does indeed have a sequel or two. I appreciated that although the two main characters are a man and a young woman thrown together, there was no romance, and I am happy about that primarily because Isobel is only 16, something that is a prominent point.
lsoccer12's review against another edition
I wanted to love this one, and I did- right up to the part where nothing happened. For pages.
Definitely a slow-moving, dark western fantasy. Not my speed, but very well-written.
_X_ Try it! You’ll probably like it (wasn’t for me, but it’s well-written).
__ Meh. If you have nothing else to read, try it.
__ Don’t waste your time with this one!
Definitely a slow-moving, dark western fantasy. Not my speed, but very well-written.
_X_ Try it! You’ll probably like it (wasn’t for me, but it’s well-written).
__ Meh. If you have nothing else to read, try it.
__ Don’t waste your time with this one!
aphelia88's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this on a whim when I needed to add more to an online order to earn free shipping
acstoppelreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The author did a really good job creating an eerie feeling to the books. I really enjoy the way she portrays relationships in a very realistic way. I just wish that the main characters powers had lived up to the build up to the big boss fight. I will still be continuing the series and just hoping that Isobel's powers develop more and more.