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A review by kblincoln
Tin Swift by Devon Monk
4.0
So here's my problem...Devon Monk is a phenomenal writer with an amazing ability to craft characters who tap into archetypes at the same time as seeming one-of-a-kind.
So what's the problem? Well, I think it's just not always my cup of tea. In Tin Swift, we get the continuation of the story of Cedar Hunt (cursed by Pawnee to shift into a wolf and hunt the Strange) Rose Small (a girl of the wild who likes to tinker) and Mae Lindson (witch).
They are traveling towards Kansas with the Madder brothers to both hunt a Strange weapon and to bring Mae back to her sister-coven before a binding on her drives her crazy.
There are just plain awesome descriptions, like this one of an airship landing in the middle of a gunfight:
"The Swift's fans roared, flattening the smoke into heated whips."
And the characters are just plain cool (the villain, Mr. Shunt, is the creepiest villain I've come across since Mr. Croup from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere). And it has just the right kind of romance that satisfies my romance novel hunger without overpowering the steampunk gadgets and adventure plot.
But....sometimes my attention wondered. I'm not sure if it was because of some slow pacing, or if the way certain descriptions of the characters were reiterated throughout the text in a way that didn't seem to matter much to the storyline. For example, Cedar Hunt often wrangles with the werewolf aspect of himself "..The killing need of the beast rose in him." But after a while, just hearing that without it having much implication on Cedar (he never turns to a wolf at an inappropriate time nor does he harm a main character inappropriately) made it less impactful.
However, don't get me wrong. This is one very well written, steampunk-lovely book. Totally worth your time if you like airships or alternate history or romance or adventure. (cause it's got it all)
This Book's Snack Rating: cheddar kettle chips for the solid crunch of steampunk airships/ideas with a non-spicy flavor of plot
So what's the problem? Well, I think it's just not always my cup of tea. In Tin Swift, we get the continuation of the story of Cedar Hunt (cursed by Pawnee to shift into a wolf and hunt the Strange) Rose Small (a girl of the wild who likes to tinker) and Mae Lindson (witch).
They are traveling towards Kansas with the Madder brothers to both hunt a Strange weapon and to bring Mae back to her sister-coven before a binding on her drives her crazy.
There are just plain awesome descriptions, like this one of an airship landing in the middle of a gunfight:
"The Swift's fans roared, flattening the smoke into heated whips."
And the characters are just plain cool (the villain, Mr. Shunt, is the creepiest villain I've come across since Mr. Croup from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere). And it has just the right kind of romance that satisfies my romance novel hunger without overpowering the steampunk gadgets and adventure plot.
But....sometimes my attention wondered. I'm not sure if it was because of some slow pacing, or if the way certain descriptions of the characters were reiterated throughout the text in a way that didn't seem to matter much to the storyline. For example, Cedar Hunt often wrangles with the werewolf aspect of himself "..The killing need of the beast rose in him." But after a while, just hearing that without it having much implication on Cedar (he never turns to a wolf at an inappropriate time nor does he harm a main character inappropriately) made it less impactful.
However, don't get me wrong. This is one very well written, steampunk-lovely book. Totally worth your time if you like airships or alternate history or romance or adventure. (cause it's got it all)
This Book's Snack Rating: cheddar kettle chips for the solid crunch of steampunk airships/ideas with a non-spicy flavor of plot