Steelhands

by Jaida Jones, Danielle Bennett | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0553593056 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 4/26/2015
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, April 26, 2015
I got this softcover at Toadstool Books in Milford NH. I'd enjoyed the book, and was glad for another release copy.

This is the fourth book in the series that began with Havemercy, and picks up on the stories of some of the characters who appeared seldom if at all in the intermediate books Shadow Magic and Dragon Soul. (While there's enough background explanation that one could enjoy this as a stand-alone book, it's more satisfying if you've read Havemercy, and, though not essential, Dragon Soul adds a good bit as well.)

The book focuses on the (too few) surviving dragon-riders - including some that I didn't get to know that well in the first book but was glad to learn more about, such as main character Balfour, whose magical/robotic hands inspire the title of the story. (He lost his hands during the big battle at the end of the first novel; there's a point here where he describes how it happens, surprised by the blunt-but-honest curiosity of Laure, a young woman from the country who's now a student in the city.)

Other point-of-view characters include Laure herself, her friend and nominal fiance Toverre (he's actually gay, which the readers realize before some of the characters do - and it's not much of a spoiler to mention that the two of them rearrange their relationship satisfactorily by the end of the story), and Adamo, formerly chief sergeant of the Dragon Corps, who is now an instructor at the university. We also meet mage Royston and his lover Hal - the two of them very happy together, mainly because Hal's learned how to manage his often-trying mate {wry grin}, and ex-dragon-rider Luvander, who runs a fashionable hat shop, with occasional forays into exotic goods thanks to his friend and fellow survivor Ghislaine.

Thom and Rook do not appear in person here, as they're still off wandering as per the end of Dragon Soul, but Thom and Balfour have been corresponding (Balfour's letters are hilarious!), and it's a remark of Thom's in another letter to Adamo about his and Rook's adventures that touches off the main plot of this book.

Most of the characters run into each other at or near the university, with Adamo noticing Laure due to her outspokenness in class. Toverre is drawn to another student, a tall country boy - who stops attending class rather suddenly, and whose disappearance draws Toverre and Laure into the plot. Several other students have come down with an odd, flu-like fever, and when one strikes Laure herself... well, things get interesting!

I really enjoyed the dynamics between all the characters, especially the Dragon Corps folk; it seems that Balfour (who'd been the butt of the group until Thom showed up) had not reconnected with his surviving mates, but in this book he manages to meet them and, eventually, work out a prickly-but-fond relationship with them. This is good, because he has other problems, among them growing troubles with his mechani-magick hands that lead him into dealings with mages (always unsettling for the non-mages in this world). When his usual mechanic-mage goes missing, he starts to get caught up in the plot as well.

And then there are the unusual voices that some of the characters hear; for Balfour it's a hauntingly familiar one, for Laure it's vague and troubling. What this all leads to makes sense in the context of the story, but managed to surprise me in its details and motivation. I was delighted with the way all the characters were drawn together for the climax, with lots of snarky byplay, occasional explosions (hey, Royston's involved, and he's the Mage of Blowing Things Up), and a poignant denouement that pleased me even as it made me fret for possible future griefs. There were some matches made, friendships forged and/or renewed, battles fought, plots confounded - and new ones formed... Very satisfying story! I don't know if the authors are planning any more books in this world, but I would like to spend more time with these characters.

Oh, and though I don't want to give away the key surprise in the plot - Cornflower! Just... Cornflower... {grin}

[The TV Tropes page on the series is informative and entertaining, but do beware of spoilers.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, May 1, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (5/2/2015 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm adding this to the A-to-Z bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon.

Letter: S

Journal Entry 3 by winginnaewing at Aurora, Colorado USA on Sunday, July 26, 2015
Came home with the Alphabet book box - representing S

I have so many books right now, I am even trying to weed out the ones languishing on Mt TBR, so I am endeavoring not to add -- unless I just can't help myself :-) - this one is avl

Journal Entry 4 by winginnaewing at -- Wild Released In Granby in Granby, Colorado USA on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Released 6 yrs ago (6/11/2017 UTC) at -- Wild Released In Granby in Granby, Colorado USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Congratulations!! You have found a rare and unique gift, a travelling book!!


While it is possible I have read and given my thoughts on this book, it is more likely it is a book I found/purchased specifically to send out into the world! In either case, please read what has been said before, where has this book been, who enjoyed it, who didn't -- and perhaps, if you care to, you can add your two cents!


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