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The Aileron Chronicles #1
Steel and Song
Airwitch Tova Vanaskaya's choices are few: use her magic to fly an elite aircraft in the Grand Duchy's army or be shipped to the trenches. But invoking too much magic can kill the wielder, and her Cossack captain has a hell-bent-for-leather streak that pushes her to the brink. It’s a good thing she’s not afraid to push back.
Airship captain Piers Dashkov lost his friends, family ties and self-respect in a rash act years ago, so it's fine by him if the odds of surviving a dogfight are slim to none. His goal is simple: find redemption through valor and regain his lost honor in death if not life. He needs the smart-mouthed airwitch to achieve that impossible goal, but he never thought she would prove to be his salvation.
While the enemy is on the move, and whispers of revolution echo from the salons of the noble Cossack Houses to the tenement slums of Muscovy, one reckless night of passion creates a connection that will reverberate fatally for nations as well as for Tova and Piers.
Airship captain Piers Dashkov lost his friends, family ties and self-respect in a rash act years ago, so it's fine by him if the odds of surviving a dogfight are slim to none. His goal is simple: find redemption through valor and regain his lost honor in death if not life. He needs the smart-mouthed airwitch to achieve that impossible goal, but he never thought she would prove to be his salvation.
While the enemy is on the move, and whispers of revolution echo from the salons of the noble Cossack Houses to the tenement slums of Muscovy, one reckless night of passion creates a connection that will reverberate fatally for nations as well as for Tova and Piers.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2014
About the author
Ani Bolton
8 books11 followersAni Bolton’s love of storytelling started when she was a kid, ignited by Laura Ingalls and Nellie Olsen’s epic smackdown, which stole her sleep on a school night. She’s been scribbling stories ever since.
Her novels blend her love of history and adventure with romance, magic and the occasional foray into the weird.
Find Ani at the following hangouts:
Twitter: @Ani.Bolton and Facebook. Actually, her FB page is kind of a mess.
Her novels blend her love of history and adventure with romance, magic and the occasional foray into the weird.
Find Ani at the following hangouts:
Twitter: @Ani.Bolton and Facebook. Actually, her FB page is kind of a mess.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 10, 2014
What do you get when you mix Dr. Zhivago, Harry Potter, and Flyboys, along with a dash of All Quiet on the Western Front? You get Ani Bolton's amazing Steel and Song. Although it may sound like a strange concoction, it's wonderfully palatable. I was immediately drawn in to Bolton's alt-WW1 Russian landscape, and the expert pace and weave kept me flying till the exciting climax - an unforgettable cross of HP's Quidditch and Native American Baggataway that will leave you breathless.
The characters are well-drawn and believable, the system of magic is grounded in strict limitation, the action is clear and stirring, and the story elements are credible yet incredibly inventive. And even though Bolton's somewhat wicked sense of humor permeates the story, she still managed to create both steamy and moving moments that kept me rooting for romance.
There is a clear story arc for both main characters, and yet this edition leaves us in a perfect place to launch into their next chapter. I can't wait to read on!
The characters are well-drawn and believable, the system of magic is grounded in strict limitation, the action is clear and stirring, and the story elements are credible yet incredibly inventive. And even though Bolton's somewhat wicked sense of humor permeates the story, she still managed to create both steamy and moving moments that kept me rooting for romance.
There is a clear story arc for both main characters, and yet this edition leaves us in a perfect place to launch into their next chapter. I can't wait to read on!
July 27, 2014
Steel and Song is a fast paced, fantasy with fabulous world building and a fresh and highly entertaining plot.
I could go on and on about the world building, the oppressive culture, the prejudice against the magic born people, but I won't...
Did it have steampunk? Check
Did it have romance? Check
Did it have substance? Double Check
Will I read on in this series? Absolutely!!!
I will say Ani Bolton is a gifted and talented writer. She created a dark world where humans with magical abilities are treated much like work animals. Her protagonist, Tova, is an amazingly strong character. She is ready to fight for what she believes in but will face the consequences as they fall.
In the end, I found Steel and Song a wonderful start to The Aileron Chronicles, leaving me wanting more.
I received this copy of Steel and Song from Ani Bolton in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication July 21, 2014.
Written by: Ani Bolton
Series: The Aileron Chronicles
Sequence in Series: 1
Print Length: 188 pages
Publisher: Writer Unboxed Publishing
Publication Date: July 11, 2014
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction | Steampunk
Find this book on: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
I could go on and on about the world building, the oppressive culture, the prejudice against the magic born people, but I won't...
Did it have steampunk? Check
Did it have romance? Check
Did it have substance? Double Check
Will I read on in this series? Absolutely!!!
I will say Ani Bolton is a gifted and talented writer. She created a dark world where humans with magical abilities are treated much like work animals. Her protagonist, Tova, is an amazingly strong character. She is ready to fight for what she believes in but will face the consequences as they fall.
In the end, I found Steel and Song a wonderful start to The Aileron Chronicles, leaving me wanting more.
I received this copy of Steel and Song from Ani Bolton in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication July 21, 2014.
Written by: Ani Bolton
Series: The Aileron Chronicles
Sequence in Series: 1
Print Length: 188 pages
Publisher: Writer Unboxed Publishing
Publication Date: July 11, 2014
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction | Steampunk
Find this book on: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 11, 2014
Steel and Song was a fantastical blend of romance, fantasy and steampunk with a dash of numerous other genres to top it off.
One of the main things that made this book stand apart from others of it's kind is the rich cultures the author has blended into the history of her worlds and mindset of her diverse cast of characters. Although I recognised various elements, reading this book made me keen to do research of my own to distinguish between fact and fiction.
The harsh cultural clash between various peoples (in particular the Sami and Cossacks) led to interesting dynamics between Tova, our heroine, and the airship crew. It also led to a rift forming between her and the noble (although admittedly disgraced) captain Dashkov.
Reading about the disputes between ethnicities was fascinating, and had echoes of many other disputes throughout history. Coupled with magical elements - which lifted the book above what could be some very dark areas - made the sequel to this book jump onto my 'auto-buy' list.
Disclaimer: thank you to netgalley for supplying me with a no-strings-attached copy of this book.
One of the main things that made this book stand apart from others of it's kind is the rich cultures the author has blended into the history of her worlds and mindset of her diverse cast of characters. Although I recognised various elements, reading this book made me keen to do research of my own to distinguish between fact and fiction.
The harsh cultural clash between various peoples (in particular the Sami and Cossacks) led to interesting dynamics between Tova, our heroine, and the airship crew. It also led to a rift forming between her and the noble (although admittedly disgraced) captain Dashkov.
Reading about the disputes between ethnicities was fascinating, and had echoes of many other disputes throughout history. Coupled with magical elements - which lifted the book above what could be some very dark areas - made the sequel to this book jump onto my 'auto-buy' list.
Disclaimer: thank you to netgalley for supplying me with a no-strings-attached copy of this book.
July 25, 2014
Tova is a Sami and an airwitch – and like mist Sami airwitches (and a large amount of Sami in general) she is eventually shipped off to the war between Novgorod and the Franks, a battle that has claimed thousands of lives (especially Sami and the magical gytrash) and has raged for years
She is lucky enough to become part of Ataman Piers’s Aileron crew – it certainly beats near certain death in the trenches. The Cossack noble is in disgrace and can only gain back the glory of House Rus by heroic exploits in battle – but there’s only so far you can push an airwitch before her magic kills her.
But Tova isn’t one to silently suffer her fate and she quickly earns the respect – and more – of the Russian Ataman.
I can see myself writing a hugely long review about the culture and oppression of the magic users in this book so am going to try and write about everything else first before I ramble!
Tova is an excellent protagonist who really reflects the world she’s in. She knows the system is unjust, that her people are persecuted – both gytrash and as Sami – and she rebels against it, she resents it – and she absorbs the ideas of it. She is a wonderfully complex character full of contradictions as she both resents the society around her yet still absorbs its messages. She knows she’s treated as a disposable tool, but still dreams of flying the Aileron, the ultimate fighting machine. She wants things to be different and sympathises with the idea of rebellion, but also believes it to be pointless. She opposes the Novgorod imposition on her people, but is still patriotic in resisting the Franks.
In short, she is both a victim of the system and a product of it. And she shows it beautifully. She’s also brave, snarky, irrepressible (perhaps sometimes when she should stay quiet), has a wicked sense of humour, plenty of irreverence (but also an idea of where to draw the line. Usually) and is generally great fun. I like her, yes yes I do. I do think there are times when her grief isn’t properly maintained (Piers often seems to be more upset than she – but, again, that could be a reflection of her harsh life and his pampered one).
The relationship between Tova Vanaksya and Piers Nikolayevich Dashkov also grows interestingly. He regards her with contempt which very naturally and slowly melts, especially as he is pushed more and more from his own society by his disgrace and reputation. While Tova generally sees Piers as more than some untouchable, abstract force, even a man she’d put on a pedestal as one of the respected Cossacks. I never thought their relationship would work. It should never have worked. It worked.
The world setting is also an excellent one – the Novgorod Empire (Piers is of the House of Rus, but this is not, yet Russia). They’re in a long war with the Franks – it’s devastating and all consuming and fought with the gytrash magic users. Oppressed and regarded with contempt, they keep this whole steampunk-esque (if it can be considered steampunk without technology) world going. It’s a great setting to establish this small crew of aileron pilots. Though I do think the crew is a trifle under-developed. Anya is fun – a loyal scion to the House of Rus, desperate for everything to be proper, desperate for everything to be ordered, desperate to maintain appearances and discipline – she is part martinet, part comic relief as she tries to do the equivalent of herding cats. Igor is a fascinating character – she’s big and tough and an incredibly skilled gunner, loved by her crew – but she has a terrible past (reminding us that it’s not just gytrash who suffer in this system) which she deals with by drinking. She’s an alcoholic, she’s, functional but it’s a problem. She has a lot of pity from the crew, a lot of support and respect but also a lot of frustration from them. It’s a very good portrayal and I like her. She also matters because she and Tova get along – which is essential since Tova clashes with Anya and the only other female character she interacts with she loathes because of a rather unnecessary Mean Girl side plot.
There’s also Daffyd and Gwin. They’re gay men. This is the sum totality of their characters. I’m not even sure what they do on the ship except stand in a corner and be gay
The protagonist is Sami – an ethnicity generally found in Scandinavia and part of Russia. It’s also an ethnicity that has faced considerable historical and present persecution and certainly the first Sami character I’ve come across in the genre.
I can’t say I know much about the Sami people so I won’t even begin to claim if the depiction is accurate or not. I will say that there is a strong sense of research in the depiction, that Tova carries with her a culture and a tradition and a belief that feels like it has been researched and studied rather than guessed and made up. I can’t be sure because of my own ignorance of Sami traditions, but often when reading a book you can feel the difference between decent research, a random guess or “Wikipedia will do, right?” and this feels like research.
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She is lucky enough to become part of Ataman Piers’s Aileron crew – it certainly beats near certain death in the trenches. The Cossack noble is in disgrace and can only gain back the glory of House Rus by heroic exploits in battle – but there’s only so far you can push an airwitch before her magic kills her.
But Tova isn’t one to silently suffer her fate and she quickly earns the respect – and more – of the Russian Ataman.
I can see myself writing a hugely long review about the culture and oppression of the magic users in this book so am going to try and write about everything else first before I ramble!
Tova is an excellent protagonist who really reflects the world she’s in. She knows the system is unjust, that her people are persecuted – both gytrash and as Sami – and she rebels against it, she resents it – and she absorbs the ideas of it. She is a wonderfully complex character full of contradictions as she both resents the society around her yet still absorbs its messages. She knows she’s treated as a disposable tool, but still dreams of flying the Aileron, the ultimate fighting machine. She wants things to be different and sympathises with the idea of rebellion, but also believes it to be pointless. She opposes the Novgorod imposition on her people, but is still patriotic in resisting the Franks.
In short, she is both a victim of the system and a product of it. And she shows it beautifully. She’s also brave, snarky, irrepressible (perhaps sometimes when she should stay quiet), has a wicked sense of humour, plenty of irreverence (but also an idea of where to draw the line. Usually) and is generally great fun. I like her, yes yes I do. I do think there are times when her grief isn’t properly maintained (Piers often seems to be more upset than she – but, again, that could be a reflection of her harsh life and his pampered one).
The relationship between Tova Vanaksya and Piers Nikolayevich Dashkov also grows interestingly. He regards her with contempt which very naturally and slowly melts, especially as he is pushed more and more from his own society by his disgrace and reputation. While Tova generally sees Piers as more than some untouchable, abstract force, even a man she’d put on a pedestal as one of the respected Cossacks. I never thought their relationship would work. It should never have worked. It worked.
The world setting is also an excellent one – the Novgorod Empire (Piers is of the House of Rus, but this is not, yet Russia). They’re in a long war with the Franks – it’s devastating and all consuming and fought with the gytrash magic users. Oppressed and regarded with contempt, they keep this whole steampunk-esque (if it can be considered steampunk without technology) world going. It’s a great setting to establish this small crew of aileron pilots. Though I do think the crew is a trifle under-developed. Anya is fun – a loyal scion to the House of Rus, desperate for everything to be proper, desperate for everything to be ordered, desperate to maintain appearances and discipline – she is part martinet, part comic relief as she tries to do the equivalent of herding cats. Igor is a fascinating character – she’s big and tough and an incredibly skilled gunner, loved by her crew – but she has a terrible past (reminding us that it’s not just gytrash who suffer in this system) which she deals with by drinking. She’s an alcoholic, she’s, functional but it’s a problem. She has a lot of pity from the crew, a lot of support and respect but also a lot of frustration from them. It’s a very good portrayal and I like her. She also matters because she and Tova get along – which is essential since Tova clashes with Anya and the only other female character she interacts with she loathes because of a rather unnecessary Mean Girl side plot.
There’s also Daffyd and Gwin. They’re gay men. This is the sum totality of their characters. I’m not even sure what they do on the ship except stand in a corner and be gay
The protagonist is Sami – an ethnicity generally found in Scandinavia and part of Russia. It’s also an ethnicity that has faced considerable historical and present persecution and certainly the first Sami character I’ve come across in the genre.
I can’t say I know much about the Sami people so I won’t even begin to claim if the depiction is accurate or not. I will say that there is a strong sense of research in the depiction, that Tova carries with her a culture and a tradition and a belief that feels like it has been researched and studied rather than guessed and made up. I can’t be sure because of my own ignorance of Sami traditions, but often when reading a book you can feel the difference between decent research, a random guess or “Wikipedia will do, right?” and this feels like research.
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August 22, 2020
I loved this book! To me this is testimony that independent authors can put out stellar fiction comparable to that produced traditionally.
This book held my attention all the way through. I grew quickly attached to Tova and Dashkov and the engaging setting. I am not a steampunk or dieselpunk reader, but I didn't feel I had to be to enjoy this novel. Ani Bolton uses elements of fantasy, steampunk and historical fiction to bring this story to life with vivid description and narrative that has its own heartbeat. I learned a lot about Russia and finished this story with a craving for ouzo, but more importantly, a craving for book 2 which I look forward to reading this fall.
This book held my attention all the way through. I grew quickly attached to Tova and Dashkov and the engaging setting. I am not a steampunk or dieselpunk reader, but I didn't feel I had to be to enjoy this novel. Ani Bolton uses elements of fantasy, steampunk and historical fiction to bring this story to life with vivid description and narrative that has its own heartbeat. I learned a lot about Russia and finished this story with a craving for ouzo, but more importantly, a craving for book 2 which I look forward to reading this fall.
August 13, 2014
5 stars!!!!
My 2nd Netgalley book
I just loved this book couldn't put it down.
This is like a dystopian world in Russia with some steampunk added in.
Was very dark but exciting. I think fans of books like Hunger Games and Divergent would like this because of the setting and the strong heroine.
Took awhile to warm up to Piers but once you got his back story and he started to see Tova differently I found my heart fluttering for him.
This is a very talented author and I cannot wait for more!!
Would like to say this is a mature YA book cause of the sexual content.
My 2nd Netgalley book
I just loved this book couldn't put it down.
This is like a dystopian world in Russia with some steampunk added in.
Was very dark but exciting. I think fans of books like Hunger Games and Divergent would like this because of the setting and the strong heroine.
Took awhile to warm up to Piers but once you got his back story and he started to see Tova differently I found my heart fluttering for him.
This is a very talented author and I cannot wait for more!!
Would like to say this is a mature YA book cause of the sexual content.
August 6, 2014
Steel and Song is the start of a steampunk romance series. I enjoyed this first installment, but I’m not sure that I love it enough to commit to future installments of a series. The world building is cool and innovative; it was the romance that fell flat for me.
Tova Vanaskaya is an airwitch who has recently been drafted into the army. An airwitch is “born a gytrash, able to draw upon nature to wield magic. But riding the line between life and death meant that, inevitably, a gytrash would get too close to the death side” (p. 8). Airship captain, Piers Dashkov, has no choice to take on Tova as his airwitch; there are no other options. For someone like Piers, a disgraced Cossack, but a warrior-noble nonetheless, Tova is expendable and replaceable. He doesn't care about Tova, he cares about his mission to restore his honour. If that means Tova is killed in the process, so be it. The set up is intriguing but the gaping difference in social status between Piers and Tova do not make for an auspicious start to a romance.
Steel and Song was an exciting and action packed read. I quite liked the world building and I was intrigued by the complex, class-driven society the author created. I liked how this class-consciousness was used to add another layer of conflict in Steel and Song. The fact that Tova and those like her were used as weapons in a long war was horrible, but also recognizable when compared to actual history. Tova’s time in her prisoner camp was realistic and put me in mind of Nazi concentration camps. Add in the fact that Tova and the other gytrash are persecuted because of their abilities (ie. genetic heritage) and you can immediately see the comparison. Since I like history, this alternative storyline appealed to me.
However, what was lacking for me was the romance. Quite simply, I didn’t consider the relationship between Tova and Piers to actually be a romance. For the majority of this short novel, Piers and Tova are rather ambivalent towards each other, especially in the attraction department. Piers’ initial reaction to Tova is one of revulsion: “Damn. The Sami airwitch gave him the creeps” (p. 26). Tova is so obviously “other” to Piers, he doesn’t consider her as a potential lover, at least not yet. Tova is a little more aware, but for most of the novel, I couldn’t really see the romance between these two.
That said, I do think the author did a good job of not rushing the relationship between Tova and Piers. Piers especially needed to come to terms with his past before he could consider a relationship. By the end of novel, Piers and Tova aren’t really “in” a relationship, but they have the potential to form one. And therein lies my discontent with Steel and Song. I was reading this one for the romance, and I don’t feel like there was any real development of a romance outside of lust between Piers and Tova. While I can see why this instant lust fits the wartime atmosphere, I couldn’t help but look for something a little softer and romantic. Ultimately, this is my personal preference in a romance, so take my comments about Steel and Song with a grain of salt when it comes to the romance department, I am fully aware that I am picky about my romance reading.
If you’re looking for some great world building of an alternative history, Steel and Song is for you. If you’re looking for a cut and dry romance, you might want to stay clear until there are further installments to the series. I'm not sure how the relationship between Piers and Tova will develop, but I do find myself curious. There's some great potential here, only future reading will tell me.
For similar reads, head over to The Book Adventures.
*Review copy via NetGalley.
Tova Vanaskaya is an airwitch who has recently been drafted into the army. An airwitch is “born a gytrash, able to draw upon nature to wield magic. But riding the line between life and death meant that, inevitably, a gytrash would get too close to the death side” (p. 8). Airship captain, Piers Dashkov, has no choice to take on Tova as his airwitch; there are no other options. For someone like Piers, a disgraced Cossack, but a warrior-noble nonetheless, Tova is expendable and replaceable. He doesn't care about Tova, he cares about his mission to restore his honour. If that means Tova is killed in the process, so be it. The set up is intriguing but the gaping difference in social status between Piers and Tova do not make for an auspicious start to a romance.
Steel and Song was an exciting and action packed read. I quite liked the world building and I was intrigued by the complex, class-driven society the author created. I liked how this class-consciousness was used to add another layer of conflict in Steel and Song. The fact that Tova and those like her were used as weapons in a long war was horrible, but also recognizable when compared to actual history. Tova’s time in her prisoner camp was realistic and put me in mind of Nazi concentration camps. Add in the fact that Tova and the other gytrash are persecuted because of their abilities (ie. genetic heritage) and you can immediately see the comparison. Since I like history, this alternative storyline appealed to me.
However, what was lacking for me was the romance. Quite simply, I didn’t consider the relationship between Tova and Piers to actually be a romance. For the majority of this short novel, Piers and Tova are rather ambivalent towards each other, especially in the attraction department. Piers’ initial reaction to Tova is one of revulsion: “Damn. The Sami airwitch gave him the creeps” (p. 26). Tova is so obviously “other” to Piers, he doesn’t consider her as a potential lover, at least not yet. Tova is a little more aware, but for most of the novel, I couldn’t really see the romance between these two.
That said, I do think the author did a good job of not rushing the relationship between Tova and Piers. Piers especially needed to come to terms with his past before he could consider a relationship. By the end of novel, Piers and Tova aren’t really “in” a relationship, but they have the potential to form one. And therein lies my discontent with Steel and Song. I was reading this one for the romance, and I don’t feel like there was any real development of a romance outside of lust between Piers and Tova. While I can see why this instant lust fits the wartime atmosphere, I couldn’t help but look for something a little softer and romantic. Ultimately, this is my personal preference in a romance, so take my comments about Steel and Song with a grain of salt when it comes to the romance department, I am fully aware that I am picky about my romance reading.
If you’re looking for some great world building of an alternative history, Steel and Song is for you. If you’re looking for a cut and dry romance, you might want to stay clear until there are further installments to the series. I'm not sure how the relationship between Piers and Tova will develop, but I do find myself curious. There's some great potential here, only future reading will tell me.
For similar reads, head over to The Book Adventures.
*Review copy via NetGalley.
August 28, 2014
3 stars
Well, I want to give Steel and Song 4 (or maybe 5) stars, because I like the idea, the characters, and the world building. I rarely, well, tbh I never read story that have Russian characters, set in Russian, have so many Russian terms and to add some cherry on the mix, set in alternate version of World War I. This is not steampunk, this is diesel punk. And while I have no idea what diesel punk is (haha), actually I enjoy Steel and Song. Its turn up to be a good read but with a BIG FLAW.
What is this flaw you talkin' about Ren?
For a fast action packed story with unique concept and worldbuilding, this book is TOO SHORT! Steel and Song more like novella than full lenghth novel, and this, imho, is the biggest weakness for this book. I just hope that Steel and Song is a full length novel. Heck, I don't mind if the books have more than 500 pages. Ms Bolton writing is very good. She using alternate POV, and not just 1st POV to 1st, but 1st POV (from Tova's POV. Our heroine, in case you wondering who she is) to 3rd POV (from Dahskov's POV. Apparently set to be Tova's lover). And while it can be weird to read 1st to 3rd, Ms Bolton did it smoothly and make readers can understand the story.
Alas, there are some thing that left unexplained. Like, how old Tova was. First, I guess she's in her 17-18-ish. Then, when she first have sex with Dashkov (with a fade to black scene. Thank you! *rolling my eyes), I guess she's on her twenties. Which lead me to more question? Is she virgin? Or not? I guess, she's not for she's so bold to Dashkov on their first time. Not that virgin can't be bold, I can see "war" play a big factor, but really I'm curious if Tova was virgin or not (lol!). Aside from that, I love that she sexually confidence and do not hesitant to take a lead. I'm aggre that the romance start too late, and the troupe is overused by Tova is gytrash (or poor) and Dashkov is Cossack, a peer of his own realm. But, I can't wait to know more about this star-crossed lover.
Put aside romance, like I said before the world building is unique and fascinating. The concept about airwitch is cool. Yes, Steel and Song kinda have a "The Hunger Games" vibe, but its not dystopia. Ms Bolton doesn't hesitant to write about the violence and truth behind war. This book is gritty, unforgiving, dark, full of despair, yet there are some hope. Tova might be gytrash, a lowest caste, feared for her ability to wield magic, yet, she is full of life. She never fear to break the rules. Ms Bolton also put LGBT characters too, a gay couple that is gunners in Dashkov's aileron. Also, I never knew that , one of Dashkov's crew, Igor, can be a woman name! Guess, I don't know anything about Russia :/
I learn so much about Russia and the history. I admit that I google a lot when reading this book. Like what is the meaning of Franks, the Novgorod's enemy, some terms like babushka, ouzo, etc. I see that Ms Bolton did 7 years research, no wonder she can describe about Russian life, history, characters, noble system and culture with so much detail
I hope that in the next book, the length is not just novella, but more like full-lenght (more than 300 pages). Steel and Song is a promising start for a new series, and I can't wait to know what happen with Tova, Dashkov and co.
e-ARC provided by NetGalley and Author for honest review
Well, I want to give Steel and Song 4 (or maybe 5) stars, because I like the idea, the characters, and the world building. I rarely, well, tbh I never read story that have Russian characters, set in Russian, have so many Russian terms and to add some cherry on the mix, set in alternate version of World War I. This is not steampunk, this is diesel punk. And while I have no idea what diesel punk is (haha), actually I enjoy Steel and Song. Its turn up to be a good read but with a BIG FLAW.
What is this flaw you talkin' about Ren?
For a fast action packed story with unique concept and worldbuilding, this book is TOO SHORT! Steel and Song more like novella than full lenghth novel, and this, imho, is the biggest weakness for this book. I just hope that Steel and Song is a full length novel. Heck, I don't mind if the books have more than 500 pages. Ms Bolton writing is very good. She using alternate POV, and not just 1st POV to 1st, but 1st POV (from Tova's POV. Our heroine, in case you wondering who she is) to 3rd POV (from Dahskov's POV. Apparently set to be Tova's lover). And while it can be weird to read 1st to 3rd, Ms Bolton did it smoothly and make readers can understand the story.
Alas, there are some thing that left unexplained. Like, how old Tova was. First, I guess she's in her 17-18-ish. Then, when she first have sex with Dashkov (with a fade to black scene. Thank you! *rolling my eyes), I guess she's on her twenties. Which lead me to more question? Is she virgin? Or not? I guess, she's not for she's so bold to Dashkov on their first time. Not that virgin can't be bold, I can see "war" play a big factor, but really I'm curious if Tova was virgin or not (lol!). Aside from that, I love that she sexually confidence and do not hesitant to take a lead. I'm aggre that the romance start too late, and the troupe is overused by Tova is gytrash (or poor) and Dashkov is Cossack, a peer of his own realm. But, I can't wait to know more about this star-crossed lover.
Put aside romance, like I said before the world building is unique and fascinating. The concept about airwitch is cool. Yes, Steel and Song kinda have a "The Hunger Games" vibe, but its not dystopia. Ms Bolton doesn't hesitant to write about the violence and truth behind war. This book is gritty, unforgiving, dark, full of despair, yet there are some hope. Tova might be gytrash, a lowest caste, feared for her ability to wield magic, yet, she is full of life. She never fear to break the rules. Ms Bolton also put LGBT characters too, a gay couple that is gunners in Dashkov's aileron. Also, I never knew that , one of Dashkov's crew, Igor, can be a woman name! Guess, I don't know anything about Russia :/
I learn so much about Russia and the history. I admit that I google a lot when reading this book. Like what is the meaning of Franks, the Novgorod's enemy, some terms like babushka, ouzo, etc. I see that Ms Bolton did 7 years research, no wonder she can describe about Russian life, history, characters, noble system and culture with so much detail
I hope that in the next book, the length is not just novella, but more like full-lenght (more than 300 pages). Steel and Song is a promising start for a new series, and I can't wait to know what happen with Tova, Dashkov and co.
e-ARC provided by NetGalley and Author for honest review
August 7, 2014
“Steel and Song” was published in 2014 and was written by Ani Bolton (http://www.anibolton.com). This is her second novel and the first in “The Aileron Chronicles” series.
I obtained this novel for free in advance through https://www.netgalley.com for review. This story is a Young Adult / Fantasy / Alternate History / Steampunk tale told in the third person. Due to Mature Language, Mature Situations and Violence, I categorize the book as ‘R’. The novel is set in Russia, but in a different Russia than we know. In this story the Cossacks, rulers of Russia, are at war with the Franks. The primary characters are Tova Vanaskya and Piers Nikolayevich.
Tova is a young peasant girl living in rural Russia. She, as many of her fellow gytrash, have magical skills. In Tova’s case she is an Air Witch with an ability to control the wind. Because of her young age and ability to use her power to navigate a coal barge, she has escaped being drafted into the Cossack’s army. Her luck finally runs out though and she is torn from her mother and younger sister as a conscript.
Piers is a Cossack and is the last young male of the House of Rus, one of the seven Houses. He commands an aileron, a military air ship, and repeatedly throws his ship into battle. He has tallied many kills, but he is never satisfied with his successes, fighting internal demons on every flight. He lost his Air Witch on his last mission and goes looking for a replacement. By the time he makes his way to the replacement depot, all that is left is Tova, which he takes as better than nothing.
Tova displays high skills for someone untrained flying the Aileron. She makes friends with other of the conscripts and finds that there are some ready to revolt against the Cossack’s oppression. She makes friends with the other Aileron crew members, and impresses them and Piers with her ability. There is also a growing attraction between Tova and Piers but as a Cossack, his social position is far above hers.
I enjoyed the five hours I spent reading this novel. There is a touch of romance along with the action Tova and Piers face against the Franks. I thought the characters were well developed, and I liked the story. Over all I give this novel a 5 out of 5.
Other book reviews I have written can be found at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I obtained this novel for free in advance through https://www.netgalley.com for review. This story is a Young Adult / Fantasy / Alternate History / Steampunk tale told in the third person. Due to Mature Language, Mature Situations and Violence, I categorize the book as ‘R’. The novel is set in Russia, but in a different Russia than we know. In this story the Cossacks, rulers of Russia, are at war with the Franks. The primary characters are Tova Vanaskya and Piers Nikolayevich.
Tova is a young peasant girl living in rural Russia. She, as many of her fellow gytrash, have magical skills. In Tova’s case she is an Air Witch with an ability to control the wind. Because of her young age and ability to use her power to navigate a coal barge, she has escaped being drafted into the Cossack’s army. Her luck finally runs out though and she is torn from her mother and younger sister as a conscript.
Piers is a Cossack and is the last young male of the House of Rus, one of the seven Houses. He commands an aileron, a military air ship, and repeatedly throws his ship into battle. He has tallied many kills, but he is never satisfied with his successes, fighting internal demons on every flight. He lost his Air Witch on his last mission and goes looking for a replacement. By the time he makes his way to the replacement depot, all that is left is Tova, which he takes as better than nothing.
Tova displays high skills for someone untrained flying the Aileron. She makes friends with other of the conscripts and finds that there are some ready to revolt against the Cossack’s oppression. She makes friends with the other Aileron crew members, and impresses them and Piers with her ability. There is also a growing attraction between Tova and Piers but as a Cossack, his social position is far above hers.
I enjoyed the five hours I spent reading this novel. There is a touch of romance along with the action Tova and Piers face against the Franks. I thought the characters were well developed, and I liked the story. Over all I give this novel a 5 out of 5.
Other book reviews I have written can be found at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
August 27, 2014
Steel and song had a blend of magic and folklore to it that was very intriguing. The creative thinking that a witch can make a aircraft fly was pretty freaking cool!
Tova has little to no choices in life, use your magic to fly an aileron or go straight to the trenches where her survival rate will be slightly lower than burning out whilst flying. Airwitches are becoming extremely hard to come by during the war. So her journey begins with a misunderstanding in her village that sends her to war. The Vana clan is mostly field sorcerers but she is the only exception. Tova is the odd man out and is dangerously close to going to the trenches when fate steps in and decides if she’s an Airwitch she’ll do. Thrust into flying an aileron with no experience is a care Airship captain Piers Dashkov does not have, if she dies then he’ll find another.
The story really picks up while Tova is under the watchful eye of her crew she struggles with settling in in the military base. On Pier’s crew she non-intentionally makes a difference maybe they realize what a fierce heart she has and this fueled with determination make her valuable to them. That and there is a shortage of Airwitches..
I did enjoy this book I feel like it could have used a glossary, I was lost on a couple terms. I understood that it was about a large war going on and the magic welders were the lower class, a lower class that was preparing for revolution. They were expendable and didn’t realize they actually held all the power. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the read but I wish I would have had a reference to understand more fully about the class system. The book had a steampunk vibe but also some folklore as well. One thing that stood out for me was Tova love to sing and this was forbidden… I wanted to understand this a little more also what the singing had to do with Tova’s magic. Maybe in the next book.
The book was enjoyable and complicated…lol But given the chance I would read the next~
I received this for an honest review~
Tova has little to no choices in life, use your magic to fly an aileron or go straight to the trenches where her survival rate will be slightly lower than burning out whilst flying. Airwitches are becoming extremely hard to come by during the war. So her journey begins with a misunderstanding in her village that sends her to war. The Vana clan is mostly field sorcerers but she is the only exception. Tova is the odd man out and is dangerously close to going to the trenches when fate steps in and decides if she’s an Airwitch she’ll do. Thrust into flying an aileron with no experience is a care Airship captain Piers Dashkov does not have, if she dies then he’ll find another.
The story really picks up while Tova is under the watchful eye of her crew she struggles with settling in in the military base. On Pier’s crew she non-intentionally makes a difference maybe they realize what a fierce heart she has and this fueled with determination make her valuable to them. That and there is a shortage of Airwitches..
I did enjoy this book I feel like it could have used a glossary, I was lost on a couple terms. I understood that it was about a large war going on and the magic welders were the lower class, a lower class that was preparing for revolution. They were expendable and didn’t realize they actually held all the power. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the read but I wish I would have had a reference to understand more fully about the class system. The book had a steampunk vibe but also some folklore as well. One thing that stood out for me was Tova love to sing and this was forbidden… I wanted to understand this a little more also what the singing had to do with Tova’s magic. Maybe in the next book.
The book was enjoyable and complicated…lol But given the chance I would read the next~
I received this for an honest review~
July 25, 2014
Publisher: Ani Bolton
Publishing Date:
ISBN: 0000000000410
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.9/5
Publisher Description: Airwitch Tova Vanaskaya’s choices are few: use her magic to fly an elite aircraft in the Grand Duchy’s army or be shipped to the trenches. But invoking too much magic can kill the wielder, and her Cossack captain has a hell-bent-for-leather streak that pushes her to the brink. It’s a good thing she’s not afraid to push back.
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/07/25...
Review: Really? Tora the airwitch on the cover with frickin’ makeup? How about the constantly dirty airwitch we read about?
This was a surprisingly well written and entertaining novel. The characters, even the bit players, were so well developed that you were drawn into this alternate world with little effort. Tora makes an immediate impression with some of her Sami culture woven into the fabric of her life, then is suddenly ripped from all she loves.
What begins from there is an epic odyssey across the skies of Russia and beyond. You are constantly rooting for Tora to overcome all the obstacle’s, from a-holes that constantly insert themselves into her life to her air magic that threatens to kill if not used judiciously. Tora discovers that she is more than just an airwitch and soon finds love in all the wrong places. I liked seeing Tora grow into a more dominant role from her humble beginnings.
This is a pure indie author. If any publishers are reading this review, you should really consider making this author a deal (Angry Robot). I have read a lot of big publishing house authors in the last year that in no way stack up to this authors’ talent. And no, I do not know the author. If the author doesn’t drag down the next novel with the WUV scenes, this should be a great series.
Publishing Date:
ISBN: 0000000000410
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.9/5
Publisher Description: Airwitch Tova Vanaskaya’s choices are few: use her magic to fly an elite aircraft in the Grand Duchy’s army or be shipped to the trenches. But invoking too much magic can kill the wielder, and her Cossack captain has a hell-bent-for-leather streak that pushes her to the brink. It’s a good thing she’s not afraid to push back.
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/07/25...
Review: Really? Tora the airwitch on the cover with frickin’ makeup? How about the constantly dirty airwitch we read about?
This was a surprisingly well written and entertaining novel. The characters, even the bit players, were so well developed that you were drawn into this alternate world with little effort. Tora makes an immediate impression with some of her Sami culture woven into the fabric of her life, then is suddenly ripped from all she loves.
What begins from there is an epic odyssey across the skies of Russia and beyond. You are constantly rooting for Tora to overcome all the obstacle’s, from a-holes that constantly insert themselves into her life to her air magic that threatens to kill if not used judiciously. Tora discovers that she is more than just an airwitch and soon finds love in all the wrong places. I liked seeing Tora grow into a more dominant role from her humble beginnings.
This is a pure indie author. If any publishers are reading this review, you should really consider making this author a deal (Angry Robot). I have read a lot of big publishing house authors in the last year that in no way stack up to this authors’ talent. And no, I do not know the author. If the author doesn’t drag down the next novel with the WUV scenes, this should be a great series.
December 15, 2014
Because I just finished this book an hour ago, my main thought is, "How cruel can you be, Ani Bolton? I want to read the next book *now"!"
Steel and Song is an engrossing alternate WW I/IIish-era Russia, with cossacks and airships that are held aloft by airwitches, horses driven by magical connections with their handlers, and mining and agriculture accomplished via magic. These people with powers are the slaves of the society, seen as more animal than human by their Russian overlords, to be used until their magic is depleted and they die. It's a fascinating exploration of social systems, but also of human relationships and how failure and loneliness can prompt people to overstep all kinds of boundaries. That and it's just plain cool -- the airships and ailerons (bombers), how it feels to use the magic, the airwitch sled competition.
But to be warned, it ends on such a note of possibility that you'll gasp when you realize it's over and you don't know what happens next. I certainly did.
Steel and Song is an engrossing alternate WW I/IIish-era Russia, with cossacks and airships that are held aloft by airwitches, horses driven by magical connections with their handlers, and mining and agriculture accomplished via magic. These people with powers are the slaves of the society, seen as more animal than human by their Russian overlords, to be used until their magic is depleted and they die. It's a fascinating exploration of social systems, but also of human relationships and how failure and loneliness can prompt people to overstep all kinds of boundaries. That and it's just plain cool -- the airships and ailerons (bombers), how it feels to use the magic, the airwitch sled competition.
But to be warned, it ends on such a note of possibility that you'll gasp when you realize it's over and you don't know what happens next. I certainly did.
July 21, 2014
Steel and Song is a fantastic summer read! Full of action, adventure and romance it's fantastically fast paced and impossible to put down!
The characters are interesting/complex and believable, with plenty of depth and hidden dimensions.
I personally loved the characters, especially Tova.
The world building is fantastically done, the world really springs to life in your imagination.
There's no scrimping on detail!
The romance is the best kind, it slowly builds up and is realistic and believable, as well as fun to witness.
The plot is interesting and keeps you hooked, as well as very well thought out!
Perfect for lying on a beach, or in your garden...either of the two will suffice!
While that's all well and good, it didn't have the extra...I don't know? Sparkle? To quite make it to 4 stars, but it was still enjoyable.
The characters are interesting/complex and believable, with plenty of depth and hidden dimensions.
I personally loved the characters, especially Tova.
The world building is fantastically done, the world really springs to life in your imagination.
There's no scrimping on detail!
The romance is the best kind, it slowly builds up and is realistic and believable, as well as fun to witness.
The plot is interesting and keeps you hooked, as well as very well thought out!
Perfect for lying on a beach, or in your garden...either of the two will suffice!
While that's all well and good, it didn't have the extra...I don't know? Sparkle? To quite make it to 4 stars, but it was still enjoyable.
December 16, 2014
Steel and Song by Ani Bolton for me is Russian revolution and I WW through Steampunk goggles, only this book is as much Steampunk as Hayao Miyazaki's animes are Steampunk.
I was reading it and every now and then I either grunted or laughed out loud. The story is happening in a place that is almost like Russia, the city names are almost like real places, just some letters are either missing or different. There are a lot of things that are almost like the things they got their names from.
It's a mix from Russian history, movies like Anna Kareninga, The Barber of Siberia, Castle in the sky, European alcoholic beverages and YA books.
It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a good one either.
I was reading it and every now and then I either grunted or laughed out loud. The story is happening in a place that is almost like Russia, the city names are almost like real places, just some letters are either missing or different. There are a lot of things that are almost like the things they got their names from.
It's a mix from Russian history, movies like Anna Kareninga, The Barber of Siberia, Castle in the sky, European alcoholic beverages and YA books.
It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a good one either.
July 28, 2014
This was an unexpected book that nosed it's way into my TBR with a 'Me! Me! Read me next!' vibe. I don't regret giving it space. I read it in a little over 24 hours - and was definitely hungry for more when it ended. The lovely Steampunk proto-Russian world that the author has created is delightful and dark by turns. The characters, likewise. There is great potential here for further adventures and I look forward to reading them.
July 30, 2014
This was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the way that magic was worked into the world, both in how it was used to help the society/military to function and as a means of discrimination. The main character had a good balance between strength and weakness without succumbing to either extreme. Overall, it was a quick, fun read.
Note - There was language and a couple of more adult scenes, which might not be appropriate for younger YA readers.
Note - There was language and a couple of more adult scenes, which might not be appropriate for younger YA readers.
July 27, 2014
This book is brilliant. Perfectly paced. Last night I read until I thought I'd drop (75% of the book) and I've just finished it. This was an "I can't put this book down!" book. A beautifully crafted story by Ani Bolton. I look forward to book two of The Aileron chronicles. :D
August 19, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Steel and song was an interesting read with an intriguing pre-World War 1 alternate universe Russia combined with Sami cultural references. All within a world built on magic. However, inconsistencies in story, worldbuilding, and characters did detract from the experience for me.Story: The Novgorod (read: Czarist Russia) have systematically enslaved the Sami people of the far North. After one hundred years of persecution, they are forced into the war with the Franks (read: France) as disposable canon fodder. Tova is a Sami with power of the wind - an airwitch. She is conscripted against her will to pilot the warship of a Cossack noble. It's a dangerous position that kills quickly either through Frank gunfire or depletion of life force through using too much Magic. Both the Cossack and Tova will become embroiled in a revolution that might just kill them before the Franks can.
Bolton has taken great pains to set up the world and characters. We're given a lot of info dumps through conversations as Tova joins the army from her small village and is updated by the soldiers on what is happening beyond that village. Information about the magic system, the pseudo-Russian culture, and the war itself are well explained. As well, the cultural references for the Sami culture are fascinating - from joiking (epic songs) to reindeer idols.
I liked the characters, which is good considering we are given two points of view. The Cossack noble, Piers Dashkov, is suitable haunted and Tova Vanaskaya is both strong yet vulnerable. A cast of side characters fill out the story, though they do serve more as a path to info dump rather than interact with Tova or Piers.
The thing that bothered me about consistency had a lot to do with Tova being both very weak and very strong at the same time. I didn't get a good feel for her character and a lot of her actions fall too often into the 'too stupid to survive' category. She has no sense of fear or respect for her situation - which in turn means we don't either. As well, problems with the worldbuilding (e.g., joiking (singing) is illegal and instant death but she does it throughout most of the book without fear) became frustrating. I would expect, for example, something as important to the Sami as joiking to be done in secret; Tova does it outloud every 5 pages regardless. I couldn't help but feel she'd be a tombstone very fast if the worldbuilding was more logical and we actually were shown what we are told over and over.
Finally, the steampunk here is a bit off to me. I respect a unique view but steampunk to me will always be brass and copper, not steel (which starts to head into dieselpunk territory). As well, there is no steam here - it's all magic. So we lost all that technological wonder and interest of the genre. This is definitely a lot more WW1 alternate universe rather than steampunk. Which is fine - but I do love my Victorian steampunk.
In all, I would rate this 3.5 stars and hope the next book is more consistent. There is a lot of promise in Ani Bolton's first book and I do look forward to the second in the series. Note: this is a novella of around 200 pages, not a full novel.
Reviewed from an ARC.
February 19, 2016
Full review available on All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
I always greet the first book in a new series with a combination of anticipation and dread - it’s always exciting to try something new, but the possibility of getting burnt out by yet another series is so high these days it’s practically a guarantee. Fortunately, the world building in Steel and Song saved it from being a first-book-only read for me. Unfortunately, the romance itself left much to be desired - this is less a story with a HEA and more a giant prologue with great world building.
Tova Vanaskya is an gutrash airwitch. Normally, this wouldn't mean much, but during these days of war, the Russians are drafting all the witches and sorcerers they can find to support the cause. Field sorcerers can find and set off mines, healers are sent all over the lines to support the troops and the doctors, and airwitches fly. With their powers over air, airwitches like Tova lift everything from single person fighters and flyers to giant aileron airships high above the battlefields. Unfortunately, all those with magic will burn out sooner rather than later, leaving an empty husk of a person behind. But Tova doesn't care about that.
Tova cares about few things, actually - as a Sami gytrash (the Sami are a suppressed people, who the Russians have been working on "re-educating" while "gytrash" is a catch-all for people with magic), she has only her mother and sister to rely on. She is surprised by being conscripted for the war effort, pulled away from her family without a chance to say goodbye, and has no expectations when she is confronted by a tall Cossack (noble), Piers Nikolayevich Dashkov, who needs a new airwitch (after the last one went into her death throes and crashed his aileron.) Tova has no training at all, and although she is able to lift the ship, she doesn't know how to interact with her crewmates, or her captain. Luckily for her, Piers cares less about that than getting his ship in the air and returning honor to the family name.
While I enjoyed the story, I could have used something like a quick Wikipedia entry about the world Bolton has created, and the terms she uses. I did google a few things (like the Sami, who are apparently native people in the northeastern areas of Russia), which helped, but I find it frustrating to have to look things up to figure out the story. There is also a heck of a lot going on over the course of the story. We have the war between the Russians and the French, the building revolution of the gytrash against the Russians, Tova's story woven into the whole thing, Piers' story within his family and his social sphere, and then, finally, hidden back in a corner, the romance. Honestly, I wasn't sure if the romance would really happen until the very end - Tova and Piers have sex at one point, but there don't seem to be any emotions attached.
I always greet the first book in a new series with a combination of anticipation and dread - it’s always exciting to try something new, but the possibility of getting burnt out by yet another series is so high these days it’s practically a guarantee. Fortunately, the world building in Steel and Song saved it from being a first-book-only read for me. Unfortunately, the romance itself left much to be desired - this is less a story with a HEA and more a giant prologue with great world building.
Tova Vanaskya is an gutrash airwitch. Normally, this wouldn't mean much, but during these days of war, the Russians are drafting all the witches and sorcerers they can find to support the cause. Field sorcerers can find and set off mines, healers are sent all over the lines to support the troops and the doctors, and airwitches fly. With their powers over air, airwitches like Tova lift everything from single person fighters and flyers to giant aileron airships high above the battlefields. Unfortunately, all those with magic will burn out sooner rather than later, leaving an empty husk of a person behind. But Tova doesn't care about that.
Tova cares about few things, actually - as a Sami gytrash (the Sami are a suppressed people, who the Russians have been working on "re-educating" while "gytrash" is a catch-all for people with magic), she has only her mother and sister to rely on. She is surprised by being conscripted for the war effort, pulled away from her family without a chance to say goodbye, and has no expectations when she is confronted by a tall Cossack (noble), Piers Nikolayevich Dashkov, who needs a new airwitch (after the last one went into her death throes and crashed his aileron.) Tova has no training at all, and although she is able to lift the ship, she doesn't know how to interact with her crewmates, or her captain. Luckily for her, Piers cares less about that than getting his ship in the air and returning honor to the family name.
While I enjoyed the story, I could have used something like a quick Wikipedia entry about the world Bolton has created, and the terms she uses. I did google a few things (like the Sami, who are apparently native people in the northeastern areas of Russia), which helped, but I find it frustrating to have to look things up to figure out the story. There is also a heck of a lot going on over the course of the story. We have the war between the Russians and the French, the building revolution of the gytrash against the Russians, Tova's story woven into the whole thing, Piers' story within his family and his social sphere, and then, finally, hidden back in a corner, the romance. Honestly, I wasn't sure if the romance would really happen until the very end - Tova and Piers have sex at one point, but there don't seem to be any emotions attached.
December 14, 2014
A fast paced, exciting read
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I am eagerly looking forward to the second in this series. I am an avid reader and the steam punk genre needs more good authors like Ms. Bolton. The story was engaging, the characters complex and likeable, and excellent editing. The story moved at a fast pace while allowing the reader to learn about this complex world through the two POVs.
I won't summarize the story, this isn't a book report. The relationships in this novel, all complex, were all very real. The reader isn't left feeling as if things were forced between the two protagonists. There are some open ended,unresolved issues, but it was clear there was to be a second novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. I look forward to the next.
This is the first novel I have read by this author and I am eagerly looking forward to the second in this series. I am an avid reader and the steam punk genre needs more good authors like Ms. Bolton. The story was engaging, the characters complex and likeable, and excellent editing. The story moved at a fast pace while allowing the reader to learn about this complex world through the two POVs.
I won't summarize the story, this isn't a book report. The relationships in this novel, all complex, were all very real. The reader isn't left feeling as if things were forced between the two protagonists. There are some open ended,unresolved issues, but it was clear there was to be a second novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. I look forward to the next.
January 7, 2016
Was looking forward to this book. The world building was good, and novel. However, it didn't grab my attention enough to warrant me reading the next book in the series.
The heroine was a strong character, but the Hero was a bit of a douche. Didn't see what she saw in him.
The heroine was a strong character, but the Hero was a bit of a douche. Didn't see what she saw in him.
December 1, 2014
Bolton's STEEL AND SONG is a thrilling steampunk adventure. It's filled with intriguing characters (an airwitch, a dashing pilot, and more), rich world-building, and plenty of intrigue. I can't wait for the sequel.
January 8, 2015
A breath of fresh air! Steel and Song is fast paced and full of adventure. Bravo to Bolton for creating a world worth getting lost in and characters I loved. Can't wait to read more.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews