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bassgirl456's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kevinscorner's review against another edition
4.0
The Moonsteel Crown by Stephen Deas was a fun read, telling a smaller story but with far reaching implications. It is set in the Empire of Aria where zombies “Dead Men” are commonplace and the priesthood are responsible for releasing them in peace. We follow three members of a criminal street gang as they unwittingly become embroiled in a plot far over their heads.
Seth is an excommunicated priest-in-training who discovers a secret his religion wants to hide. Fings is a talented, but superstitious, thief who can’t help but lie and steal. Myla is a skilled sword-monk on the run, whose past is about to catch up with her. Together, they form a team of sorts that can’t quite be trusted as they each plot and keep secrets from each other.
There’s a lot of fun to be had in this book with its funny banter and surprising amount of gore as well as the deep mystery set in a richly filled world. Fings provides plenty of comic relief to balance the much darker tones of Seth’s storyline. Myla brings the action and the moral qualms as she is the more noble and questioning of the three.
What I needed more of though are explanations about the politics and religious landscape the book is set in as it felt intricate and complex. However, we only get glimpses and casual references to them that left me confused as to who was in what faction and what each group was all about. A sequel would probably flesh this out more.
The Moonsteel Crown is a fun fantasy caper with a balanced trio of characters and a potential for even more good things to come.
Seth is an excommunicated priest-in-training who discovers a secret his religion wants to hide. Fings is a talented, but superstitious, thief who can’t help but lie and steal. Myla is a skilled sword-monk on the run, whose past is about to catch up with her. Together, they form a team of sorts that can’t quite be trusted as they each plot and keep secrets from each other.
There’s a lot of fun to be had in this book with its funny banter and surprising amount of gore as well as the deep mystery set in a richly filled world. Fings provides plenty of comic relief to balance the much darker tones of Seth’s storyline. Myla brings the action and the moral qualms as she is the more noble and questioning of the three.
What I needed more of though are explanations about the politics and religious landscape the book is set in as it felt intricate and complex. However, we only get glimpses and casual references to them that left me confused as to who was in what faction and what each group was all about. A sequel would probably flesh this out more.
The Moonsteel Crown is a fun fantasy caper with a balanced trio of characters and a potential for even more good things to come.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Moonsteel Crown is the first book in a new epic quest SF series with an ensemble cast of exquisitely rendered (but admittedly trope-y) characters by veteran speculative fiction author Stephen Deas. Released 9th Feb 2021 by Angry Robot, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
I've been on a bad-luck run with my speculative fiction choices lately, so it was doubly refreshing to find a well written, engaging, epic group-quest introduction to a promising new series. It could be slightly benefiting by comparison to my recent dearth of good SF/fantasy reads, but I don't think so. It's a strong read, well plotted and put together, set in a realistically built up city-state with mages, thieves, battles, epic quests, powerful magical talismans, and a trio of heroes (badass female sword-monk, thief, and defrocked cleric straight to order).
I enjoyed watching the realistic interplay of the three main characters set against the overwhelming odds arrayed against them. The dialogue is well done and never clunky. There is a lot of snark, but I never found that it shaded over into irritating. There are some genuinely warm and humorous interactions and I found myself smiling throughout much of the book.
There is an average amount of strong language and some graphic violence. One place the author really shines is in his sleek battle and combat descriptions. No 34 page overwhelming massive battles full of strategic minutiae necessary (I'm looking at you, GRRM).
Four stars. Highly recommended for fans of the genre looking for new series to follow.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Moonsteel Crown is the first book in a new epic quest SF series with an ensemble cast of exquisitely rendered (but admittedly trope-y) characters by veteran speculative fiction author Stephen Deas. Released 9th Feb 2021 by Angry Robot, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
I've been on a bad-luck run with my speculative fiction choices lately, so it was doubly refreshing to find a well written, engaging, epic group-quest introduction to a promising new series. It could be slightly benefiting by comparison to my recent dearth of good SF/fantasy reads, but I don't think so. It's a strong read, well plotted and put together, set in a realistically built up city-state with mages, thieves, battles, epic quests, powerful magical talismans, and a trio of heroes (badass female sword-monk, thief, and defrocked cleric straight to order).
I enjoyed watching the realistic interplay of the three main characters set against the overwhelming odds arrayed against them. The dialogue is well done and never clunky. There is a lot of snark, but I never found that it shaded over into irritating. There are some genuinely warm and humorous interactions and I found myself smiling throughout much of the book.
There is an average amount of strong language and some graphic violence. One place the author really shines is in his sleek battle and combat descriptions. No 34 page overwhelming massive battles full of strategic minutiae necessary (I'm looking at you, GRRM).
Four stars. Highly recommended for fans of the genre looking for new series to follow.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
wednesday13's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars because reasons below.
The story as a whole is fantastic. I loved how everything tied together at the end. Also top shelf cursing and insults.
The structure of the story sent my ADHD brain into a tailspin of confusion. Some chapters were flashbacks of events that led the characters to where they are now, but it wasn't really announced it was a flashback so there I was, BBQ sauce on my...wait sorry.
Was following progression with Myla and Fings only to be thrown back into a memory Seth had before he got yeeted off the path.
Overall, a solid story. Will read the next book and check out more by this author.
The story as a whole is fantastic. I loved how everything tied together at the end. Also top shelf cursing and insults.
The structure of the story sent my ADHD brain into a tailspin of confusion. Some chapters were flashbacks of events that led the characters to where they are now, but it wasn't really announced it was a flashback so there I was, BBQ sauce on my...wait sorry.
Was following progression with Myla and Fings only to be thrown back into a memory Seth had before he got yeeted off the path.
Overall, a solid story. Will read the next book and check out more by this author.
sarrie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Moonsteel Crown is a classic heist gone wrong type of story. We’ve got three PoVs throughout the book, two of which were involved in the heist and the third a close compatriot of the other two. It’s cold and dark, and spends a lot of time in our characters mind as they navigate the fallout of this heist.
I’ll go ahead and say - this was not my favorite and I’m not sure if it’s due to when I read it or the book itself. It’s pacy, with short chapters and the ideas and most of the characters sounded good on paper. I also loved the magic and setup around the world but there was one big flaw for me, and that was the way the characters thought. We weren’t in a first person PoV, but a third person with access to our characters thoughts and by god they thought a lot. It was a lot and a lot of back and forth with themselves, actual arguments with themselves, and guilt about events that are constantly teased with reveals that are drawn out.
They’re clearly very flawed characters, our one female character seduced and tried to break up her sister’s engagement just because she could. One of the male protagonists was too curious, finding dark secrets about the religion and magic of his world and getting booted from the church because of it. The third, the only redeemable character for me was a simple man who believed everything and anything, every saying or fairy tale, but who was a fantastic thief. But those two heavily flawed characters have constant guilt trips within their own minds, and that led me to being frustrated. All I was left with of the world was that it was cold and dark. I didn’t have a clear understanding of the magic. All that I had was clarity about guilt and how circular the characters thought processes were.
Perhaps this is something that’s explored more as the books progress, and I’m not against giving the book a second go, but I was grumpy and annoyed by the end of this - not a good sign. It will definitely work for some but for me it was just… fine. Mostly a miss.
P.S. It is very clear to me that the flaw of the female character is actually a very bad flaw where the male characters have what could actually be seen as positive flaws. I’m giving the book grace on this, hopefully this is not a trend with the other books.
reader89's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
markyon's review against another edition
4.0
You may or may not know that I have been known to grumble about some of the ‘new’ Fantasy books of late. As much as I love the genre, many of the recent publications, often described as “the best read ever”, have really not been for me and left me wondering whether I’ve been reading the same book. I know fellow reviewer at SFFWorld Rob Bedford has felt the same.
And yet we keep looking, keep trying. I know that not everything we try is going to be liked. And there have been some diamonds found amongst the rest.
To this I’m very pleased to add The Moonsteel Crown. It’s a book that seems to have been rather missed amongst the deluge of Covid-delayed books released. And yet when I sat down with no knowledge of its contents, I was unprepared for what a gripping read I was about to experience.
From the publisher: “The Emperor of Aria has been murdered, the Empire is in crisis, and Dead Men walk the streets...
But Myla, Fings, and Seth couldn't care less. They're too busy just trying to survive in the Sulk-struck city of Varr, committing petty violence and pettier crimes to earn their keep in the Unrulys, a motley gang led by Blackhand.
When the Unrulys are commissioned to steal a mysterious item to order, by an equally mysterious patron, the trio are thrust right into the bitter heart of a struggle for the Crown, where every faction is after what they have.
Forced to lie low in a city on lockdown, they will have to work together if they want to save their skins... and maybe just save the Empire as well.”
Whilst the book is sweary and violent and focuses on the lowborn, the outsiders, the ones who tend to get unnoticed, I am reluctant to refer to it as Grimdark. The characters are not as smug as some I have recently tried, nor as unpleasant as others.
The characters in this caper are quite mismatched. Myla is the combat efficient one – a partly trained sword-monk who is on the run being hunted by someone important she has crossed in the past, Seth is the academic-priest, thrown out of his order and discriminated for his unfortunate interest in forbidden knowledge, whilst Fings is the nervy, paranoid thief, always seeing signs that the omens are against them.
And there are many mysterious things on the streets of Varr, with arcane artifacts, strange mages and the zombie-like Dead Men walking the streets. Myla, Fings, and Seth travel through the many areas of the city such as the Glass Market and the Spice Market, the places where trades such as the Bonecarvers live and ceremonial areas such as the Circus of Dead Emperors trying to avoid rival gangs such as the Spicers. Working for Blackhand and Wil who are based at the tavern called the Unruly Pig they are managing a living. Until a job comes up for Sulfane that could set them up for life, but actually puts them all in grave danger.
The protagonists are undeniably conflicted and tormented, but unlike most Grimdark books they are actually quite likeable – most of the time. The situations they find themselves in are on the whole not too far-fetched (and I know how that sounds in a Fantasy novel!) nor too forced for the convenience of a plot point. There is humour but it is generally of a good-humoured if rather base nature and not as darkly cynical as many books currently feel the need to be.
Overall, there is a feeling that these characters know and understand each other well. Drawn together through adversity, there’s a camaraderie forged from friendship here, and even when they bicker and fall out, and when there are times when these relationships are sorely tested, it still feels genuine. For all their faults, you want to know how it works out, and this is the strength of the novel. For all that is going on, the focus is on the main characters.
In terms of the bigger picture, it is pretty clear from the start that Myla, Fings, and Seth’s mission to steal what they later discover is the Moonsteel Crown is part of a major scheme to overthrow the Empire and usurp power, though who is doing it remains a mystery for much on the book. When we do get a glimpse of things going on beyond the city of Varr, it becomes apparent that there is more to tell in this story. Though there is an agreeable ending to the novel, I am sure other books in this series will tell us more about this.
In short, The Moonsteel Crown is an engaging Fantasy, with sensible and imaginative world building, a variety of great characters and a nice sense of humour (something I usually find very difficult for writers to do.) It is deserving of your attention.
And yet we keep looking, keep trying. I know that not everything we try is going to be liked. And there have been some diamonds found amongst the rest.
To this I’m very pleased to add The Moonsteel Crown. It’s a book that seems to have been rather missed amongst the deluge of Covid-delayed books released. And yet when I sat down with no knowledge of its contents, I was unprepared for what a gripping read I was about to experience.
From the publisher: “The Emperor of Aria has been murdered, the Empire is in crisis, and Dead Men walk the streets...
But Myla, Fings, and Seth couldn't care less. They're too busy just trying to survive in the Sulk-struck city of Varr, committing petty violence and pettier crimes to earn their keep in the Unrulys, a motley gang led by Blackhand.
When the Unrulys are commissioned to steal a mysterious item to order, by an equally mysterious patron, the trio are thrust right into the bitter heart of a struggle for the Crown, where every faction is after what they have.
Forced to lie low in a city on lockdown, they will have to work together if they want to save their skins... and maybe just save the Empire as well.”
Whilst the book is sweary and violent and focuses on the lowborn, the outsiders, the ones who tend to get unnoticed, I am reluctant to refer to it as Grimdark. The characters are not as smug as some I have recently tried, nor as unpleasant as others.
The characters in this caper are quite mismatched. Myla is the combat efficient one – a partly trained sword-monk who is on the run being hunted by someone important she has crossed in the past, Seth is the academic-priest, thrown out of his order and discriminated for his unfortunate interest in forbidden knowledge, whilst Fings is the nervy, paranoid thief, always seeing signs that the omens are against them.
And there are many mysterious things on the streets of Varr, with arcane artifacts, strange mages and the zombie-like Dead Men walking the streets. Myla, Fings, and Seth travel through the many areas of the city such as the Glass Market and the Spice Market, the places where trades such as the Bonecarvers live and ceremonial areas such as the Circus of Dead Emperors trying to avoid rival gangs such as the Spicers. Working for Blackhand and Wil who are based at the tavern called the Unruly Pig they are managing a living. Until a job comes up for Sulfane that could set them up for life, but actually puts them all in grave danger.
The protagonists are undeniably conflicted and tormented, but unlike most Grimdark books they are actually quite likeable – most of the time. The situations they find themselves in are on the whole not too far-fetched (and I know how that sounds in a Fantasy novel!) nor too forced for the convenience of a plot point. There is humour but it is generally of a good-humoured if rather base nature and not as darkly cynical as many books currently feel the need to be.
Overall, there is a feeling that these characters know and understand each other well. Drawn together through adversity, there’s a camaraderie forged from friendship here, and even when they bicker and fall out, and when there are times when these relationships are sorely tested, it still feels genuine. For all their faults, you want to know how it works out, and this is the strength of the novel. For all that is going on, the focus is on the main characters.
In terms of the bigger picture, it is pretty clear from the start that Myla, Fings, and Seth’s mission to steal what they later discover is the Moonsteel Crown is part of a major scheme to overthrow the Empire and usurp power, though who is doing it remains a mystery for much on the book. When we do get a glimpse of things going on beyond the city of Varr, it becomes apparent that there is more to tell in this story. Though there is an agreeable ending to the novel, I am sure other books in this series will tell us more about this.
In short, The Moonsteel Crown is an engaging Fantasy, with sensible and imaginative world building, a variety of great characters and a nice sense of humour (something I usually find very difficult for writers to do.) It is deserving of your attention.
fratnanny's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know how all y'all write these epic reviews. I just finished listening to this book on Librofm and I have to say that I truly enjoyed it. Was it perfect? No. I think it was a perfect setup for grand things to come in the future.
There is a bit of everything in this book, thieves, magic, zombies, and some very strong characters. I find that the author did a fantastic job to keep readers on their toes. You might think one thing about a certain character only to be thrown for a loop in the next chapter. You root for them and then you dislike them and then you root for them again.
I am really excited for the next in the series and can't wait for how this entire spiel plays out. Very, very good book.
There is a bit of everything in this book, thieves, magic, zombies, and some very strong characters. I find that the author did a fantastic job to keep readers on their toes. You might think one thing about a certain character only to be thrown for a loop in the next chapter. You root for them and then you dislike them and then you root for them again.
I am really excited for the next in the series and can't wait for how this entire spiel plays out. Very, very good book.
skyreadstoomuch's review against another edition
3.0
⭐Unpopular opinion alert⭐
I went into this book with really high expectations an came out of it honestly just kinda confused. The world building, for me, wasn't what I was expecting. The characters were flat and I wasn't convinced by their relationships with each other. I couldn't tell you a single thing about how this world looks other than it snows. It's always snowing. It never stops snowing. What about the characters? What do they look like?
Great question, I don't know. One is scrawny and has a pointy beard. Everyone else is kind of a blob of characters in my mind, none of them unique enough to really have their own personality traits.
I'm hoping this book was a lot of build up to what's going to happen next in the series, so I will keep my fingers crossed that it gets better.
I went into this book with really high expectations an came out of it honestly just kinda confused. The world building, for me, wasn't what I was expecting. The characters were flat and I wasn't convinced by their relationships with each other. I couldn't tell you a single thing about how this world looks other than it snows. It's always snowing. It never stops snowing. What about the characters? What do they look like?
Great question, I don't know. One is scrawny and has a pointy beard. Everyone else is kind of a blob of characters in my mind, none of them unique enough to really have their own personality traits.
I'm hoping this book was a lot of build up to what's going to happen next in the series, so I will keep my fingers crossed that it gets better.