Book Review - Dead Iron by Devon Monk

I've been a huge fan of Devon Monk's "Allie Beckstrom" novels, set in a modern Portland, Oregon, where magic is quite prominent. When authors move out of the zone that they're known for, it can be a hit or miss proposition. So when I saw that Monk had written a Steampunk novel with magic, I knew I had to pick it up.

Called Dead Iron, it's a mix of mechanical beings and magic, the walking dead, werewolves, and even more in between all of that.

It's also quite obviously the set-up to a series of books about the collection of characters Monk has created. In fact, it almost feels like a pilot episode of some TV show.

My review is now up on Curled Up With a Good Book.

From the review:

Cedar Hunt is a man with a problem. Cursed with lycanthropy, he has to chain himself into his house three nights every month to prevent his bloodlust from affecting the good people of Hallelujah, Oregon. He's a bounty hunter, making his way from the East and running from the fact that he's responsible for his brother's death - until a trio of eccentric miners in town offer him the possibility that his brother may still be alive. This chance will force him to cross the path of Shard Lefel, a railroad tycoon who is threatening to bring civilization to Hallelujah. He also plans on using the railroad and what he's found in Hallelujah to allow him to get back home, as he is a banished member of the Strange, something he has to do before his time on this Earth is ended permanently.

Overall, I loved the setting and writing, which is just as good as Monk ever is.

Unfortunately, where she fell down this time is in her usual strength: the characterization. None of the characters leaped off the page at me, and I can only hope subsequent books bring that more to the forefront.

Read the review to find out the rest. And let me know what you think!