Cold Iron

21 September 2022:

Okay, this book has a lot of things going on. The world building is based off of a mix of real world eastern countries culture. The magic system is present but it doesn't solve all the hurdles and is in fact a major fact in the story's plot. There's also usage of puffers and incredibly detailed and researched sword fights. 

And that's all amazing but, a major, MAJOR flaw of this book is that it's trying too much all at once. While the sword fighting and the culture and history is aptly handled, the characters feel sorely lacking. They say one thing at one moment and something else the other. It's also very hard to get attached or feel some interest to follow them because the book tries to focus on conspiracy and mystery and uses it to cover up why the interactions are not more in depth. Making the relationships feel plastic and orchestrated. Not natural at all. 

The middle of the book also drags a lot and the convoluted prose doesn't exactly help.

What saved it for me, at last, was the third part which made other things make a little more sense. And the ending, without which I wouldn't have given the book this rating. 


Final rating: 2.5/5