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The Coilhunter Chronicles #1
Coilhunter
Welcome to the Wild North, a desolate wasteland where criminals go to hide—if they can outlast the drought and the dangers of the desert. Or the dangers of something else.
Meet Nox, the Coilhunter. A mechanic and toymaker by trade, a bounty hunter by circumstance. He isn't in it for the money. He's in it for justice, and there's a lot of justice that needs to be paid.
Between each kill, he's looking for someone who has kept out of his crosshairs for quite a while—the person who murdered his wife and children. The trail has long gone cold, but there are changes happening, the kind of changes that uncover footprints and spent bullet casings.
Plagued by nightmares, he's made himself into a living one, the kind the criminals and conmen fear.
So, welcome, fair folk, to the Wild North. If the land doesn't get you, the Coilhunter will.
Meet Nox, the Coilhunter. A mechanic and toymaker by trade, a bounty hunter by circumstance. He isn't in it for the money. He's in it for justice, and there's a lot of justice that needs to be paid.
Between each kill, he's looking for someone who has kept out of his crosshairs for quite a while—the person who murdered his wife and children. The trail has long gone cold, but there are changes happening, the kind of changes that uncover footprints and spent bullet casings.
Plagued by nightmares, he's made himself into a living one, the kind the criminals and conmen fear.
So, welcome, fair folk, to the Wild North. If the land doesn't get you, the Coilhunter will.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2017
About the author
Dean F. Wilson
29 books2,112 followersUSA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.
He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.
Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.
Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.
He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.
Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
January 24, 2023
I received this for free without much of an idea what to expect via one of the freebie reader-friendly sites. After reading this novel, I am tempted to buy the entire series. I am very big on the sci-fi/western blend. (I loved it, frankly.) Not wholly original, but still an excellent plot with cool characters; both our protagonists and antagonists are memorable. I love the lead character, and the insight into his backstory. I love the Heinlein convention of just mentioning a piece of technology and not stopping to describe it nor explain it such as the monowheel and toy ducks. It allows the reader to imagine the device and create a milieu in which such a thing exists simply by contextualizing its uses. Super fun and enjoyable! The Coilhunter is a bounty hunter and coils are what passes for money. Thoroughly impressed by Dean Wilson who now writes Trek stuff, too. Damn, Dude! Color me impressed.
March 10, 2018
I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. :)
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2.5 stars
I liked the idea and the main character but this was a struggle to get through it at times. Part of it I think was that the POV choice made it feel dry and made it hard for me to completely get into what was going on.
It felt like I had been set down in the middle of the series and was missing some key factors. It didn't irritate me, just had me a bit confused sometimes.
Won't be continuing with the series, not my thing overall *shrugs* Aah well, can't win em all hmm?
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2.5 stars
I liked the idea and the main character but this was a struggle to get through it at times. Part of it I think was that the POV choice made it feel dry and made it hard for me to completely get into what was going on.
It felt like I had been set down in the middle of the series and was missing some key factors. It didn't irritate me, just had me a bit confused sometimes.
Won't be continuing with the series, not my thing overall *shrugs* Aah well, can't win em all hmm?
March 2, 2019
Color me pleasantly surprised! I didn't know what to anticipate coming into this, and it ended up being so refreshingly original.
This book was a weird gumbo of spaghetti western meets Borderlands vibe meets Clint Eastwood meets steampunk. The dialogue was mildly cheesy at times, but never felt cringey in keeping with the old-school western feel.
The author raced through interesting settings, inventions, towns, and characters quickly enough that something new was constantly happening.
Maybe the four star rating is due to the element of surprise I experienced in enjoying the blend of funky genres. Maybe it's because it's a new and original world setting. So we'll see if the ratings stay up through the rest of the trilogy. So far, so good! I'm digging it.
I'd rate this book a PG-13 for some peril, violence, and scary scenes.
This book was a weird gumbo of spaghetti western meets Borderlands vibe meets Clint Eastwood meets steampunk. The dialogue was mildly cheesy at times, but never felt cringey in keeping with the old-school western feel.
The author raced through interesting settings, inventions, towns, and characters quickly enough that something new was constantly happening.
Maybe the four star rating is due to the element of surprise I experienced in enjoying the blend of funky genres. Maybe it's because it's a new and original world setting. So we'll see if the ratings stay up through the rest of the trilogy. So far, so good! I'm digging it.
I'd rate this book a PG-13 for some peril, violence, and scary scenes.
May 1, 2017
Perfect blends don’t only come in packs of tea. Coilhunter will offer you elements of scifi, steampunk and western as promised, all fused together in perfectly measured amounts.
Nox- a man that has lost all he held dear is now the unofficial sheriff of the Wild North. A bountyhunter that many fear. Wearing a multifunctional mask over his nose and mouth, he travels on his monowheel, accompianied by a mechanical duck, to hunt down the faces on the Wanted posters, while keeping an ear to the ground to find out who murdered his family.
There’s money to be made, but Nox doesn’t do it for the money. He does it for justice. If your face was on the Wanted poster, consider yourself hunted. Even worse, consider yourself most certainly on borrowed time and soon dead if it was the Coilhunter that was after you.
Nox himself is of course the most important and full-bodied character of the novel. With a troubled soul and an immense drive to make sure he saves people before they become the victims of the criminals, there is no grey area with him. It’s either black or white. Criminal? You get a bullet. And the Wild North has taught his trigger finger not to tremble when facing scum.
But Nox isn’t just a grumpy, mask wearing guy trading bodies for coils (that’s moolah, btw). He can also be quite sarcastic and what I loved most about him was the fact that in certain situations he just walked away. Like he was too good, too busy to mingle with the underbelly of society. He doesn’t waste time nor breath on small talk or flirtations. Nox is cunning, smart and a man on a mission.
From beginning to end, this novel is action packed and fast paced. Where there’s Coilhunter, there’s plenty of background criminals. Sorry, characters! Each with a fantastically fitting name. We have TNT Tom, Danny Deadmaker, Nine-finger Nancy… nine-finger Nancy, who ‘only needs one finger to pull the trigger‘… heh… fabulous!
Wild North is like a sandy jungle of gangs and criminals, all making money off whatever they can. But there are some rules. Rules created by those who have the most money, power and presence in the vast desert.
The writing, as the case has always been with Wilson’s creation, is flawless and full of thoughtful little gems in addition to making the desert arena come alive with descriptions which will make you feel the sand and dust, the smell of gunpowder, the tense yet slow motion moments of pistols being drawn. The scenes where the tension was the highest (and there were many of those) fully captured me. These intense moments offered equal amounts of apprehension, humor and matter-of-fact philosophy.
Nox- a man that has lost all he held dear is now the unofficial sheriff of the Wild North. A bountyhunter that many fear. Wearing a multifunctional mask over his nose and mouth, he travels on his monowheel, accompianied by a mechanical duck, to hunt down the faces on the Wanted posters, while keeping an ear to the ground to find out who murdered his family.
There’s money to be made, but Nox doesn’t do it for the money. He does it for justice. If your face was on the Wanted poster, consider yourself hunted. Even worse, consider yourself most certainly on borrowed time and soon dead if it was the Coilhunter that was after you.
Nox himself is of course the most important and full-bodied character of the novel. With a troubled soul and an immense drive to make sure he saves people before they become the victims of the criminals, there is no grey area with him. It’s either black or white. Criminal? You get a bullet. And the Wild North has taught his trigger finger not to tremble when facing scum.
But Nox isn’t just a grumpy, mask wearing guy trading bodies for coils (that’s moolah, btw). He can also be quite sarcastic and what I loved most about him was the fact that in certain situations he just walked away. Like he was too good, too busy to mingle with the underbelly of society. He doesn’t waste time nor breath on small talk or flirtations. Nox is cunning, smart and a man on a mission.
From beginning to end, this novel is action packed and fast paced. Where there’s Coilhunter, there’s plenty of background criminals. Sorry, characters! Each with a fantastically fitting name. We have TNT Tom, Danny Deadmaker, Nine-finger Nancy… nine-finger Nancy, who ‘only needs one finger to pull the trigger‘… heh… fabulous!
Wild North is like a sandy jungle of gangs and criminals, all making money off whatever they can. But there are some rules. Rules created by those who have the most money, power and presence in the vast desert.
The writing, as the case has always been with Wilson’s creation, is flawless and full of thoughtful little gems in addition to making the desert arena come alive with descriptions which will make you feel the sand and dust, the smell of gunpowder, the tense yet slow motion moments of pistols being drawn. The scenes where the tension was the highest (and there were many of those) fully captured me. These intense moments offered equal amounts of apprehension, humor and matter-of-fact philosophy.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 8, 2017DNF 30%
It's not that it's bad, I just can't stand the writing style. The relentless statements like this, "Mid-stride, Handcart Sally took an ornate, copper pistol from her belt. Nox spotted it with his eagle eyes, and was ready with his eagle claws to fling some bullets of his own..." Ugh, it's all like this, over and over and over again.
Plus, I'm at 30% and there's no sign of a plot yet. I know Nox lost his family. This seems to be the only bit of background the reader is expected to need, not exactly a deep character, and he considers himself so badass he can't be bothered to do anything but threaten and kill people. 30% and that's literally all I know. I'm giving up now as I'm not yet invested and don't expect I will become invested anytime soon.
It's not that it's bad, I just can't stand the writing style. The relentless statements like this, "Mid-stride, Handcart Sally took an ornate, copper pistol from her belt. Nox spotted it with his eagle eyes, and was ready with his eagle claws to fling some bullets of his own..." Ugh, it's all like this, over and over and over again.
Plus, I'm at 30% and there's no sign of a plot yet. I know Nox lost his family. This seems to be the only bit of background the reader is expected to need, not exactly a deep character, and he considers himself so badass he can't be bothered to do anything but threaten and kill people. 30% and that's literally all I know. I'm giving up now as I'm not yet invested and don't expect I will become invested anytime soon.
October 31, 2017
I didn't know what to expect from this novel, as I'm not a huge fan of Westerns. But I LOVED this book from start to finish!
Read the rest on my website: http://andypeloquin.com/book-review-c...
Read the rest on my website: http://andypeloquin.com/book-review-c...
May 20, 2021
A fun little sci-fi Weird West adventure that reminded me of Trigun, except that the protagonist is more the Man with No Name. It's a bit on the cliche side but I had a lot of fun with this indie book. You should buy it if you want a day long read. I especially liked Handcart Sally.
April 30, 2017
This latest offering from author Dean F. Wilson is a treat for those lovers of pulp fiction. It is a mixture of sci-fi, adventure, the American Old West, and just all-around good fun.
Nox is the Coilhunter, a bounty hunter in a land that might be the only thing tougher than him. The story pulls the reader into his life of searching for wanted criminals, and sandwiched between these captures and killings is his never-ending search for the murderer of his family. Nox moves from one encounter to the next with a melodramatic flair, a one-liner for every situation (though most of his answers usually center around death or a bad outcome for the other person).
The Coilhunter is a man bordering on near superhero status. He has fantastic gear that he employs, and his skills are far above most men. In one instance, when a fleeing criminal takes to the rooftops, Nox “…ran towards the wall, simultaneously throwing a knife from his belt at the stone, where it lodged in place, and then another a little further up, and another higher still. He used them like stairs, dashing up the sides of the blades.” While this might strain one’s belief level, Dean Wilson’s talent makes it all seem like an everyday thing. After all, why wouldn’t the Coilhunter possess these skills?
Though this book leads into a Coilhunter series, Mr. Wilson ties everything up nicely and avoids the potential cliffhanger. This was a quick, enjoyable read and I look forward to the next Coilhunter Chronicles Novel. Five stars.
Nox is the Coilhunter, a bounty hunter in a land that might be the only thing tougher than him. The story pulls the reader into his life of searching for wanted criminals, and sandwiched between these captures and killings is his never-ending search for the murderer of his family. Nox moves from one encounter to the next with a melodramatic flair, a one-liner for every situation (though most of his answers usually center around death or a bad outcome for the other person).
The Coilhunter is a man bordering on near superhero status. He has fantastic gear that he employs, and his skills are far above most men. In one instance, when a fleeing criminal takes to the rooftops, Nox “…ran towards the wall, simultaneously throwing a knife from his belt at the stone, where it lodged in place, and then another a little further up, and another higher still. He used them like stairs, dashing up the sides of the blades.” While this might strain one’s belief level, Dean Wilson’s talent makes it all seem like an everyday thing. After all, why wouldn’t the Coilhunter possess these skills?
Though this book leads into a Coilhunter series, Mr. Wilson ties everything up nicely and avoids the potential cliffhanger. This was a quick, enjoyable read and I look forward to the next Coilhunter Chronicles Novel. Five stars.
January 5, 2019
I am a massive fan of the work Dean Wilson has created with Coilhunter, and the first book in the series introduces his unique world and characters and sets the stage for some groundbreaking and unique storytelling.
On the surface, the novel takes place in a dystopian steampunk world in The Wild North, more or less a wasteland full of wanted criminals. At the start, we find The Coilhunter, in true Western fashion, hunting bad guys (complete with classic western trope names like Old Mad Jack) on Wanted posters and serving his own form of vigilante quick draw justice.
As the novel progresses we learn that Nox, as the titular MC begins being referred to as, has a tragic backstory that leads him to his lonely life as a feared bounty hunter. There is a secret hidden with the buried corpse of an old friend and he’ll stop at nothing to solve the mystery ,achieve justice and finally allow himself to be at peace.
Aside from the incredible descriptions of the world , specifically the technology (Nox drives a circular Monowheel which simply needs to find its way to film), what makes the novel brilliant is the way each chapter brings us further in to the mind of it’s anti-hero. The stereotypical cowboy vigilante of the first chapter becomes a philosophical three dimensional character, who constantly questions his choices, his lifestyle, and his entire self concept. Where other fictional vigilantes allow their tragedy to envelope them completely in their Grimdark quest, Wilson’s Coilhunter, is unable to prevent the kindness he possessed in his former life from seeping in to his interactions. He struggles with his reputation as a feared killer, the desire to be decent and just, and his selfish want to complete his personal quest and be left alone.
Then there is the action. Oh the glory of the Monowheel chases, the shoot em ups, and the desert monster fights. These are a pulp lover’s dream come true. Wilson is clearly a film lover and he’s perfectly juggled the quiet nuanced character moments with massive blockbuster action sequences. It was hard not to hear a John Williams score while reading them.
Coilhunter was a lot of fun to read. It was entirely different than just about any speculative fiction I’ve read of late. It is far from a comedic story, though at times, Wilson’s narrative reminded me of Hunter S Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, and the quirky and more abstract sections found me laughing and wanting to capture quotes as there were so many memorable ones.
There’s no doubt that after reading this novel you will need to devour the other books in the series, and if you’re like me you’ll be holding out hope that this amazing series will one day make it to the big screen.
On the surface, the novel takes place in a dystopian steampunk world in The Wild North, more or less a wasteland full of wanted criminals. At the start, we find The Coilhunter, in true Western fashion, hunting bad guys (complete with classic western trope names like Old Mad Jack) on Wanted posters and serving his own form of vigilante quick draw justice.
As the novel progresses we learn that Nox, as the titular MC begins being referred to as, has a tragic backstory that leads him to his lonely life as a feared bounty hunter. There is a secret hidden with the buried corpse of an old friend and he’ll stop at nothing to solve the mystery ,achieve justice and finally allow himself to be at peace.
Aside from the incredible descriptions of the world , specifically the technology (Nox drives a circular Monowheel which simply needs to find its way to film), what makes the novel brilliant is the way each chapter brings us further in to the mind of it’s anti-hero. The stereotypical cowboy vigilante of the first chapter becomes a philosophical three dimensional character, who constantly questions his choices, his lifestyle, and his entire self concept. Where other fictional vigilantes allow their tragedy to envelope them completely in their Grimdark quest, Wilson’s Coilhunter, is unable to prevent the kindness he possessed in his former life from seeping in to his interactions. He struggles with his reputation as a feared killer, the desire to be decent and just, and his selfish want to complete his personal quest and be left alone.
Then there is the action. Oh the glory of the Monowheel chases, the shoot em ups, and the desert monster fights. These are a pulp lover’s dream come true. Wilson is clearly a film lover and he’s perfectly juggled the quiet nuanced character moments with massive blockbuster action sequences. It was hard not to hear a John Williams score while reading them.
Coilhunter was a lot of fun to read. It was entirely different than just about any speculative fiction I’ve read of late. It is far from a comedic story, though at times, Wilson’s narrative reminded me of Hunter S Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, and the quirky and more abstract sections found me laughing and wanting to capture quotes as there were so many memorable ones.
There’s no doubt that after reading this novel you will need to devour the other books in the series, and if you’re like me you’ll be holding out hope that this amazing series will one day make it to the big screen.
April 17, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A bounty hunter hunts fugitives in a postapocalyptic world. Tries too hard to talk tough and almost becomes a parody.
A bounty hunter hunts fugitives in a postapocalyptic world. Tries too hard to talk tough and almost becomes a parody.
January 6, 2019
If I was asked to summarize this book in one word, it would be “fun”.
This book is the first in a series of standalone books centered around Nox, a bounty hunter with a tragic past and a need for vengeance. He thinks of himself as the law, and I’ll admit, I’m a little bit of a sucker for a story revolving around this type of character. He’s a broken man, but he keeps his actions in line with his beliefs.
The storyline and characters are by no means original, but the idea of a bounty hunter seeking vengeance for his family as a western is a romantic ideal—and I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have a few authors I would put into my “guilty pleasures” category, this author being one of them. It’s fun, and there’s a hardcore bounty hunter with skills that defy gravity and at times, logic. The point is to have characters larger than life with fun action stunts, and it’s been a while since I’ve read a storyline that was this action packed and full of suave characters who you love to hate.
Being my first read in this genre, I enjoyed the imaginative aspect of Nox’s vehicle, a giant monowheel that one sits in, and his mechanical watch-dog, duck. There seemed to be more of this in the beginning of the book, but I’m sure in other books there’s more aspects of the steampunk side. Nox himself seems to be a talented tinkerer, and I hope to read about more of this in future installments. There were a few hints of backstory in this installment that piqued my interest, all of which I’m sure will be expanded upon at some part (or already have).
The narrative style is a pleasure to read, full of details and dialog that bring the world to life. I particularly liked how the setting is even a character in this world, letting you know that this is a world where the strong survive and where rules are arbitrary. It matters only how fast you can draw your gun and with whom you spend your company.
For the plot of this book, we meet Handcart Sally who works alongside the Coilhunter for a part of this book, becoming an almost ally to the bounty hunter on his quest to find the truth about the death of his family. (I say almost because I don’t think Nox has any friends, other than his trusty duck and monowheel). Overall, the pacing was great. It kept my interest and there were a few very memorable exchanges between characters in interesting places.
If you’re looking for something fun to read, I recommend you give this series a shot. I certainly enjoyed it myself.
This book is the first in a series of standalone books centered around Nox, a bounty hunter with a tragic past and a need for vengeance. He thinks of himself as the law, and I’ll admit, I’m a little bit of a sucker for a story revolving around this type of character. He’s a broken man, but he keeps his actions in line with his beliefs.
The storyline and characters are by no means original, but the idea of a bounty hunter seeking vengeance for his family as a western is a romantic ideal—and I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have a few authors I would put into my “guilty pleasures” category, this author being one of them. It’s fun, and there’s a hardcore bounty hunter with skills that defy gravity and at times, logic. The point is to have characters larger than life with fun action stunts, and it’s been a while since I’ve read a storyline that was this action packed and full of suave characters who you love to hate.
Being my first read in this genre, I enjoyed the imaginative aspect of Nox’s vehicle, a giant monowheel that one sits in, and his mechanical watch-dog, duck. There seemed to be more of this in the beginning of the book, but I’m sure in other books there’s more aspects of the steampunk side. Nox himself seems to be a talented tinkerer, and I hope to read about more of this in future installments. There were a few hints of backstory in this installment that piqued my interest, all of which I’m sure will be expanded upon at some part (or already have).
The narrative style is a pleasure to read, full of details and dialog that bring the world to life. I particularly liked how the setting is even a character in this world, letting you know that this is a world where the strong survive and where rules are arbitrary. It matters only how fast you can draw your gun and with whom you spend your company.
For the plot of this book, we meet Handcart Sally who works alongside the Coilhunter for a part of this book, becoming an almost ally to the bounty hunter on his quest to find the truth about the death of his family. (I say almost because I don’t think Nox has any friends, other than his trusty duck and monowheel). Overall, the pacing was great. It kept my interest and there were a few very memorable exchanges between characters in interesting places.
If you’re looking for something fun to read, I recommend you give this series a shot. I certainly enjoyed it myself.
January 11, 2019
The Coilhunter Chronicles (Books 1-3) by Dean. F. Wilson is an exceptional dark ride through a world of western steampunk! Strongly recommend if you enjoy these types of books.
This series consists of three books, Coilhunter, Rustkiller and Dustrunner. All take place in the Wild North- a place with no laws or rules. Coilhunter is mainly focused on Nox finding his family's killer/s. Rustkiller involves Nox helping kids track down their parents in a place no one ventures and many steampunk elements. Dustrunner involves Nox being framed for murder and trying to clear his name while finding the killer/s. Dustrunner contains a little less steampunk elements than the previous books.
Each book is unique yet ties together nicely, whether it be the theme or characters. It's hard to pick a favorite. I enjoyed the duck, Oddcopper (wish it would have had a larger part), and the Iron gunslinger the most.
The narrator, R. C. Bray, is marvelous. He hits the characters dead on and is a perfect fit for this series.
These are the steampunk books I've been waiting for. I haven’t been fully satisfied with a steampunk book for a while and this has changed that. I can’t recommend it enough. Ended up buying the ebook series as well as it will be a repeat listen/read.
Older reviews mention inaccuracy with shot gun shells and grammar, those have been corrected.
Should you listen or read this? Absolutely, especially if you're looking for an odd, darker, steampunk western fantasy. Be warned, if you're looking for a happy ending, you may not find it here, but yes, the ending fits well with tone of the books.
Parental advisory/trigger warnings: hell, damn are occasionally used (no s or f words), death, weapons-mainly guns, fighting, deaths by fire, loss of family (spouse and children), prostitution, drinking, burn victim, people being sold and forced to work as slaves in mines, parents abandoning their children (I’ll leave it at that due to spoilers). There are no laws in the Wild North, which result in violence and death on many levels.
If I had any critique for the author/book, it would be to infuse more of Nox’s toys into the last book.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
#steampunk #western #fantasy #coilhunter #rustkiller #dustrunner #scifi #dark
This series consists of three books, Coilhunter, Rustkiller and Dustrunner. All take place in the Wild North- a place with no laws or rules. Coilhunter is mainly focused on Nox finding his family's killer/s. Rustkiller involves Nox helping kids track down their parents in a place no one ventures and many steampunk elements. Dustrunner involves Nox being framed for murder and trying to clear his name while finding the killer/s. Dustrunner contains a little less steampunk elements than the previous books.
Each book is unique yet ties together nicely, whether it be the theme or characters. It's hard to pick a favorite. I enjoyed the duck, Oddcopper (wish it would have had a larger part), and the Iron gunslinger the most.
The narrator, R. C. Bray, is marvelous. He hits the characters dead on and is a perfect fit for this series.
These are the steampunk books I've been waiting for. I haven’t been fully satisfied with a steampunk book for a while and this has changed that. I can’t recommend it enough. Ended up buying the ebook series as well as it will be a repeat listen/read.
Older reviews mention inaccuracy with shot gun shells and grammar, those have been corrected.
Should you listen or read this? Absolutely, especially if you're looking for an odd, darker, steampunk western fantasy. Be warned, if you're looking for a happy ending, you may not find it here, but yes, the ending fits well with tone of the books.
Parental advisory/trigger warnings: hell, damn are occasionally used (no s or f words), death, weapons-mainly guns, fighting, deaths by fire, loss of family (spouse and children), prostitution, drinking, burn victim, people being sold and forced to work as slaves in mines, parents abandoning their children (I’ll leave it at that due to spoilers). There are no laws in the Wild North, which result in violence and death on many levels.
If I had any critique for the author/book, it would be to infuse more of Nox’s toys into the last book.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
#steampunk #western #fantasy #coilhunter #rustkiller #dustrunner #scifi #dark
June 9, 2018
Oh my God this book was such fun!
I'm currently reading The Iron Wars series in conjunction with the Coilhunter series - both are Steampunk / Sci Fi hybrids, both are great, both for different reasons.
This is so light, fast paced and instantly enjoyable. Nox is an awesome character. Imagine the cowboy Clint Eastwood, mixed with Dirty Harry and throw in Mad Max!
Add elements of Steampunk, Wild West and Sci Fi, sprinkle with a darkly romantic backstory and you have this masterpiece.
Instantly engaging, you are caught up in the bounty hunters search for wrongdoers, meet some truly surprising adversaries and feel like you are part of a blockbuster movie.
The action never lets up until the last page. I can't wait to see what happens in Rustkiller!
If you want a fast read with lots of action, great characters and a mix of genres you need this book.
I'm currently reading The Iron Wars series in conjunction with the Coilhunter series - both are Steampunk / Sci Fi hybrids, both are great, both for different reasons.
This is so light, fast paced and instantly enjoyable. Nox is an awesome character. Imagine the cowboy Clint Eastwood, mixed with Dirty Harry and throw in Mad Max!
Add elements of Steampunk, Wild West and Sci Fi, sprinkle with a darkly romantic backstory and you have this masterpiece.
Instantly engaging, you are caught up in the bounty hunters search for wrongdoers, meet some truly surprising adversaries and feel like you are part of a blockbuster movie.
The action never lets up until the last page. I can't wait to see what happens in Rustkiller!
If you want a fast read with lots of action, great characters and a mix of genres you need this book.
April 25, 2017
Loved It!
Dean F. Wilson pens a riveting tale of the old West mixed with a healthy dose of science fiction. The result is a gritty drama with even grittier characters, action and the added coolness of science fiction!
Dean F. Wilson pens a riveting tale of the old West mixed with a healthy dose of science fiction. The result is a gritty drama with even grittier characters, action and the added coolness of science fiction!
March 6, 2018
A fantastic concept!
Think ‘old wild west’ meets ‘dystopian future’ and the setting for this great novel will become easier to understand.
Apart from trying to ‘place’ it (which is probably more about ‘me’ than about the book) I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next one(s).
Think ‘old wild west’ meets ‘dystopian future’ and the setting for this great novel will become easier to understand.
Apart from trying to ‘place’ it (which is probably more about ‘me’ than about the book) I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next one(s).
July 22, 2018
Coils and toils
This is a science fiction horse opera. A sci-fi western. Very good adventure. It’s a fine tale with no horses on a desert world. Water is a premium. Travel is haphazard.
This is a science fiction horse opera. A sci-fi western. Very good adventure. It’s a fine tale with no horses on a desert world. Water is a premium. Travel is haphazard.
October 29, 2018
Steampunk meets the old wild west. What else is there to say.
It's a very good book, really enjoyed it.
It's a very good book, really enjoyed it.
January 25, 2020
Since this audiobook was read by R. C. Bray, it would have been difficult to dislike. The story is kind of a mix of "Mad Max," "Priest," and "The Wild, Wild West." The MC, Nox, is a bounty hunter, and although he does it for the money, he's also looking for the perps from a family tragedy, so it IS personal. The sidekick is fun—I liked her—and the world is appropriately desolate, like most of the American Southwest. A fast no-brainer with lots of violence and a gruff-voiced anti-hero.
February 14, 2018
kindle unlimited but actually got it on a freebie day linked to amazon so wanted to see what this one and other 2 were about. Defininitely something different about these, little bit of 'clockwork' too. NOTE: read review AFTER reading book, as always and NO you should NOT be able to rate any book you did NOT read/read all the way through; NO, you should NOT be allowed to rate lower based on the fact that you do NOT understand literary meaning of 'fan' the gun, 'bullet' being used even when it's rifle, and other trifling things to begin with, and NO a book you could 'not put down' should NOT receive a 3 rating which means 'okay', and for some on amazon means 'bad' though in reality it means NOT terrible/bad NOT great/fantastic JUST OKAY, but if you couldn't put it down you rate it a 3, sheesh, another reason I NEVER read the reviews anymore, people aren't following the basic review rules SET BY amazon. I found the mix interesting, and know enough about writing, literature, and weapons to NOT have found ANY of those 'issues' to BE real issues.
Welcome to the Wild North, a desolate wasteland where criminals go to hide—if they can outlast the drought and the dangers of the desert. Or the dangers of something else.
Meet Nox, the Coilhunter. A mechanic and toymaker by trade, a bounty hunter by circumstance. He isn't in it for the money. He's in it for justice, and there's a lot of justice that needs to be paid.
Between each kill, he's looking for someone who has kept out of his crosshairs for quite a while—the person who murdered his wife and children. The trail has long gone cold, but there are changes happening, the kind of changes that uncover footprints and spent bullet casings.
Plagued by nightmares, he's made himself into a living one, the kind the criminals and conmen fear. So, welcome, fair folk, to the Wild North. If the land doesn't get you, the Coilhunter will.
This is a standalone book in the Coilhunter Chronicles series, which can be read in any order.
A Science Fiction Western Adventure
Coilhunter (The Coilhunter Chronicles, #1)
Rustkiller (The Coilhunter Chronicles Book 2)
Dustrunner (The Coilhunter Chronicles Book 3)
Welcome to the Wild North, a desolate wasteland where criminals go to hide—if they can outlast the drought and the dangers of the desert. Or the dangers of something else.
Meet Nox, the Coilhunter. A mechanic and toymaker by trade, a bounty hunter by circumstance. He isn't in it for the money. He's in it for justice, and there's a lot of justice that needs to be paid.
Between each kill, he's looking for someone who has kept out of his crosshairs for quite a while—the person who murdered his wife and children. The trail has long gone cold, but there are changes happening, the kind of changes that uncover footprints and spent bullet casings.
Plagued by nightmares, he's made himself into a living one, the kind the criminals and conmen fear. So, welcome, fair folk, to the Wild North. If the land doesn't get you, the Coilhunter will.
This is a standalone book in the Coilhunter Chronicles series, which can be read in any order.
A Science Fiction Western Adventure
Coilhunter (The Coilhunter Chronicles, #1)
Rustkiller (The Coilhunter Chronicles Book 2)
Dustrunner (The Coilhunter Chronicles Book 3)
March 26, 2019
What a change of pace from my usual audiobooks. This was the first western I have ever listened to. This is also the first Steampunk novel I have ever listened to. To be honest, when I picked up this story it was because it was being narrated by R.C. Bray so, aside from the summary, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. However, after numerous positive reviews in various audiobook social media groups, I can honestly say I wasn't led astray.
I really didn't know what to expect from the Steampunk genre, despite my wife reading a large number of Steampunk books. Again, however, I was not disappointed and Dean did a wonderful job combining the two into a very entertaining tale. Nox is a justice seeker who is very easy to get behind. His stream of highly inventive gadgets presents a unique twist to a western tale.
For all of the characters introduced in the story, Luke and Sally stood out as my favorites. Sally for her shift early on in the tale and Luke because he introduced a very interesting perspective I never see addressed in any audiobooks I've listened to. Luke's condition was an interesting take on the challenges a family or group can face when presented with a medical dilemma. I won't go into many details for fear of introducing spoilers.
Dean is quite the wordsmith and I found all of the action scenes to be well thought out. Oh, and I almost forgot, I love the pet duck! Given that R.C. Bray is how I found Dean's work, I was not surprised to see his narration be anything other than on-par with his other works. Bray's vocalistic talents were brought to light by the many characters Dean introduced.
I can't wait to see if there is a follow-on to this trilogy. If so, I will be first in line with my Audible credit!
5/5
I really didn't know what to expect from the Steampunk genre, despite my wife reading a large number of Steampunk books. Again, however, I was not disappointed and Dean did a wonderful job combining the two into a very entertaining tale. Nox is a justice seeker who is very easy to get behind. His stream of highly inventive gadgets presents a unique twist to a western tale.
For all of the characters introduced in the story, Luke and Sally stood out as my favorites. Sally for her shift early on in the tale and Luke because he introduced a very interesting perspective I never see addressed in any audiobooks I've listened to. Luke's condition was an interesting take on the challenges a family or group can face when presented with a medical dilemma. I won't go into many details for fear of introducing spoilers.
Dean is quite the wordsmith and I found all of the action scenes to be well thought out. Oh, and I almost forgot, I love the pet duck! Given that R.C. Bray is how I found Dean's work, I was not surprised to see his narration be anything other than on-par with his other works. Bray's vocalistic talents were brought to light by the many characters Dean introduced.
I can't wait to see if there is a follow-on to this trilogy. If so, I will be first in line with my Audible credit!
5/5
October 2, 2017
The Coilhunter is the first in a new space western series. It's really more of a Steam Punk Western but that doesn't take away from the adventure. And adventure is just what you get with the Coilhunter. It's like sitting down to watch your favorite western movie on a Saturday afternoon.
The Coilhunter, Nox, is a bounty hunter in the Wild North where there is no true law. He rides around on his Monowheel with his pet mechanical duck tracking down bounty after bounty looking for redemption, justice, possibly peace and those responsible for the brutal murder of his family. To get a really good feel of his character, take a tough and gritty Clint Eastwood from all of his westerns and put him together with The Punisher (from the comics...not the movies) and you've got Nox. I really liked this characterization and spent the whole book rooting for, and feeling sympathy and anguish for Nox.
From crazy chases across roof tops pursuing Handcart Sally to fighting off monsters in a mine and giant scorpions in the desert, The Coilhunter is an engaging adventure with a heartfelt story underneath. I felt Dean F. Wilson crafted a fine tale and built wonderfully on top of a world he created in his Iron War series (which is also a great read). It was fun to read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The Coilhunter, Nox, is a bounty hunter in the Wild North where there is no true law. He rides around on his Monowheel with his pet mechanical duck tracking down bounty after bounty looking for redemption, justice, possibly peace and those responsible for the brutal murder of his family. To get a really good feel of his character, take a tough and gritty Clint Eastwood from all of his westerns and put him together with The Punisher (from the comics...not the movies) and you've got Nox. I really liked this characterization and spent the whole book rooting for, and feeling sympathy and anguish for Nox.
From crazy chases across roof tops pursuing Handcart Sally to fighting off monsters in a mine and giant scorpions in the desert, The Coilhunter is an engaging adventure with a heartfelt story underneath. I felt Dean F. Wilson crafted a fine tale and built wonderfully on top of a world he created in his Iron War series (which is also a great read). It was fun to read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
August 22, 2017
The Wild Wild West meets Mad Max
The book gets your attention from the very first page. Within the first few pages, I thought I might not like this book. The “hero” Nox is not always a nice guy and yet he tries to do the right thing.
Nox is on a mission and is not going to let anything get in his way. People think he bounty hunts for the money. He does it as a way to fund his search. He doesn't care how many criminals he hurts or kills in the process. However, he goes out of his way to avoid injuring an innocent as he calls them.
The adventure really begins when Nox goes after the bounty on Handcart Sally. He does finally capture her which is unusual. Most of Nox’s bounties are dead or alive and with Nox that means dead. Nox and Sally have to become partners to survive and are chased by monsters, surrounded by giant scorpions and “talk” to ghosts.
I liked this book for a number of reasons. It is extremely fast paced and doesn’t slow down. The characters seem more real because of their flaws. The world they survive in explains their actions. The number one reason I like this book is that it ties up loose ends. I can’t stand cliffhangers. Mr. Wilson ends the book reasonably and allows for another without the frustration created by leaving critical issues unresolved
The book gets your attention from the very first page. Within the first few pages, I thought I might not like this book. The “hero” Nox is not always a nice guy and yet he tries to do the right thing.
Nox is on a mission and is not going to let anything get in his way. People think he bounty hunts for the money. He does it as a way to fund his search. He doesn't care how many criminals he hurts or kills in the process. However, he goes out of his way to avoid injuring an innocent as he calls them.
The adventure really begins when Nox goes after the bounty on Handcart Sally. He does finally capture her which is unusual. Most of Nox’s bounties are dead or alive and with Nox that means dead. Nox and Sally have to become partners to survive and are chased by monsters, surrounded by giant scorpions and “talk” to ghosts.
I liked this book for a number of reasons. It is extremely fast paced and doesn’t slow down. The characters seem more real because of their flaws. The world they survive in explains their actions. The number one reason I like this book is that it ties up loose ends. I can’t stand cliffhangers. Mr. Wilson ends the book reasonably and allows for another without the frustration created by leaving critical issues unresolved
August 30, 2017
Barely Western, Barely Edited.
I don't know what makes this a science fiction western, as there was no evidence of science fiction in sight, and only the author's conception of B-movie Western cliches and wafer thin characters.
Only the Coilhunter wears movie gunfighter clothing. Only the Coilhunter spurs out maxims from old Westerns about justice, killing, bad guys and death. These are the only things that resemble a Western.
A guy In NYC with two Colt revolvers, who thought he was a cowboy on a trail of vengeance, because he had mentally lost it when his family was mute - that story would have the same level of Western.
In addition, the editing was sadly lacking. Spelling and grammar should be fixed at a minimum ( spin, spun, span problem as example ), but consistency is a huge issue. One example is the dialogue of the Coilhunter is three mixed types: a poor attempt at a cowboy(?), or old prospector accent, as well as British and more a formal, modern dialogue. Really? Did anyone read and edit this?
In my opinion, it felt like the book was slapped together with little thought to quality. Don't get me started on the writing.
Just skip it.
I don't know what makes this a science fiction western, as there was no evidence of science fiction in sight, and only the author's conception of B-movie Western cliches and wafer thin characters.
Only the Coilhunter wears movie gunfighter clothing. Only the Coilhunter spurs out maxims from old Westerns about justice, killing, bad guys and death. These are the only things that resemble a Western.
A guy In NYC with two Colt revolvers, who thought he was a cowboy on a trail of vengeance, because he had mentally lost it when his family was mute - that story would have the same level of Western.
In addition, the editing was sadly lacking. Spelling and grammar should be fixed at a minimum ( spin, spun, span problem as example ), but consistency is a huge issue. One example is the dialogue of the Coilhunter is three mixed types: a poor attempt at a cowboy(?), or old prospector accent, as well as British and more a formal, modern dialogue. Really? Did anyone read and edit this?
In my opinion, it felt like the book was slapped together with little thought to quality. Don't get me started on the writing.
Just skip it.
May 23, 2017
This story is emotionally poignant while remaining wildly exciting and action packed. It is a fantastically unforgettable start to a new series in a land that already has a hold of my heart and my imagination. The vividly visual descriptions bring this desert to life, laying the framework for the roller coaster ride that Wilson takes his readers on. The plot was tightly woven and kept my attention throughout. At the same time, this dystopian, steampunk wild west was amazing. The world building was so vivid that I feel as if I've been there.
Wilson has filled this novel with unforgettable characters. I love Nox and his story. He's such a fantastic wounded hero. I felt my heart going out to him even as I saw his imperfection.
This novel was fun & adventure packed. Wilson has launched this series in a manner that dystopian and steampunk lovers will all love, whether they've read Wilson's work before or are just coming into it now.
Please note that I was gifted a copy of this novel and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Wilson has filled this novel with unforgettable characters. I love Nox and his story. He's such a fantastic wounded hero. I felt my heart going out to him even as I saw his imperfection.
This novel was fun & adventure packed. Wilson has launched this series in a manner that dystopian and steampunk lovers will all love, whether they've read Wilson's work before or are just coming into it now.
Please note that I was gifted a copy of this novel and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 8, 2018
Wild Wild West but instead of starring Will Smith (and Kevin Kline) replace him with Clint Eastwood.
The Wild Wild West is one of my favorite movies but comes across as cheesy which is one of the reasons I love it. Coilhunter is a serious book with a flawed protagonist that is reminiscent of the Man with No Name portrayed by Clint Eastwood. He's a bounty hunter that doesn't do it for the cash (coils) but does it for the justice that he has made his life purpose.
This book has some gadgets and gunfights along with an interesting story line that I found fairly fast paced. To me it was the kind of book that you can put down and come back to most of the time, but definitely not during one of the fight/suspenseful scenes.
Overall, I was impressed with the writing style and thought reading this book was time well spent. I will say though, I feel like the author should explore some more unique plots and not a well-used but satisfying one. If he took a risk he could have the next bestseller on his hands.
The Wild Wild West is one of my favorite movies but comes across as cheesy which is one of the reasons I love it. Coilhunter is a serious book with a flawed protagonist that is reminiscent of the Man with No Name portrayed by Clint Eastwood. He's a bounty hunter that doesn't do it for the cash (coils) but does it for the justice that he has made his life purpose.
This book has some gadgets and gunfights along with an interesting story line that I found fairly fast paced. To me it was the kind of book that you can put down and come back to most of the time, but definitely not during one of the fight/suspenseful scenes.
Overall, I was impressed with the writing style and thought reading this book was time well spent. I will say though, I feel like the author should explore some more unique plots and not a well-used but satisfying one. If he took a risk he could have the next bestseller on his hands.
August 4, 2019
A pretty solid first book
Good overall story and world-building. A post-apocalyptic steampunk world. Kind of makes your mind wander at the possibilities. The only shortcoming from this first book to me was an almost too easygoing flow from one event to the other...almost like he’s creating the “map” of this place a little too carelessly. I can’t believe that a couple days drive from one major town to another and there’s “unknown things” along the way. Seems to me that the Wild North shouldn’t be too wild so close to settlements. The author needs to be careful not to seem like he’s “making it up as he goes along”...without a proper plan. Good enough for me to start the second book...and I’m hoping for a more coherent story...something that brings things together and moves forward with some real structure.
Good overall story and world-building. A post-apocalyptic steampunk world. Kind of makes your mind wander at the possibilities. The only shortcoming from this first book to me was an almost too easygoing flow from one event to the other...almost like he’s creating the “map” of this place a little too carelessly. I can’t believe that a couple days drive from one major town to another and there’s “unknown things” along the way. Seems to me that the Wild North shouldn’t be too wild so close to settlements. The author needs to be careful not to seem like he’s “making it up as he goes along”...without a proper plan. Good enough for me to start the second book...and I’m hoping for a more coherent story...something that brings things together and moves forward with some real structure.
January 8, 2020
I was a bit unsure of this book at the start & had a aborted start to the book back in 2018.
Looking through my kindle came across Coilhunter so thought I would give it a second go in the later part of 2019.
After the first chapter or two I was hooked.
The book has more than a few twists and turns some of which you would never guess.
The book is a mix of wild west and steampunk with a fair amount of action and with enough storylines to keep things interesting.
After finishing the first coilhunter book I have bought the second book, my first book purchase of 2020, in the series which I am currently reading now.
I am looking forward to where the story of Nox goes and cant wait to see what other gadget Nox has to use as the Monowheel, mechanical duck and mechanical butterflies play such a part in the first book.
Looking through my kindle came across Coilhunter so thought I would give it a second go in the later part of 2019.
After the first chapter or two I was hooked.
The book has more than a few twists and turns some of which you would never guess.
The book is a mix of wild west and steampunk with a fair amount of action and with enough storylines to keep things interesting.
After finishing the first coilhunter book I have bought the second book, my first book purchase of 2020, in the series which I am currently reading now.
I am looking forward to where the story of Nox goes and cant wait to see what other gadget Nox has to use as the Monowheel, mechanical duck and mechanical butterflies play such a part in the first book.
June 12, 2017
A fun scifi western in a fully fleshed out world. Given that this is the first book, I'm assuming that most of the unanswered questions will be explored in forthcoming additions. It was fun to learn about the current state of this planet and the lawless area known as the Wild North, outside the realms of the Iron Empire. The Coilhunter is a man who has taken to dishing out justice following the death of his family. Reading, like a classic spaghetti western this book is a great read for fans of weird westerns.
March 10, 2018
Coilhunter is a Weird Western by prolific indie author Dean F. Wilson. It’s the first in his Coilhunter series. The third book just came out last week, and all three are on Kindle Unlimited as of this writing. I plan on reviewing all three for reasons you’ll see below.
The story opens with a scene familiar to devotees of spaghetti Westerns. A lone lawmaker, made steampunk by the presence of an air filtering mask, waltzes into a saloon where a group of men are busying themselves with a poker game. He’s looking for an outlaw, and his mere presence strikes fear into the hearts of all four men. What follows is a quick action sequence where the Coilhunter showcases his gun-toting prowess and brings the body into the lawman’s office, only to find that his usual payment officer has disappeared.
This leads him to hunt down the people who murdered his friend…and eventually the people who murdered his family.
The writing style is a bit distant and many of the scenes felt ripped from the movies rather than realistic, but this is often the case for modern Westerns and Weird Westerns in particular, so I didn’t let it bother me too much. That said, some segments (particularly in the beginning) got a little tell-y, and I didn’t feel like I really sank into Nox’s point of view fully until around a third of the way through.
The world is rich and imaginative. Creatures encountered in the mines and through the desert on Nox’s journey felt threatening and (mostly) realistic, and even the minor characters were engaging and interesting. Dean’s real talents showcase themselves in dialogue. For a “man of few words,” Nox ends up speaking with others quite a bit, and his tongue-in cheek wit and no-nonsense approach to being his own lawman won me over by the end.
The greatest weaknesses in the piece came in toward the beginning and end. The opening tone was distant and as mentioned previously, I had a bit of a hard time sinking into the story until deeper in than I would’ve liked. The ending felt quite rushed and the final scene felt a little cliche, though I’m still interested in seeing where the series ends up going as a whole.
All and all an entertaining read.
4/5, I’ve already borrowed the next two and plan on reviewing them sometime next month.
The story opens with a scene familiar to devotees of spaghetti Westerns. A lone lawmaker, made steampunk by the presence of an air filtering mask, waltzes into a saloon where a group of men are busying themselves with a poker game. He’s looking for an outlaw, and his mere presence strikes fear into the hearts of all four men. What follows is a quick action sequence where the Coilhunter showcases his gun-toting prowess and brings the body into the lawman’s office, only to find that his usual payment officer has disappeared.
This leads him to hunt down the people who murdered his friend…and eventually the people who murdered his family.
The writing style is a bit distant and many of the scenes felt ripped from the movies rather than realistic, but this is often the case for modern Westerns and Weird Westerns in particular, so I didn’t let it bother me too much. That said, some segments (particularly in the beginning) got a little tell-y, and I didn’t feel like I really sank into Nox’s point of view fully until around a third of the way through.
The world is rich and imaginative. Creatures encountered in the mines and through the desert on Nox’s journey felt threatening and (mostly) realistic, and even the minor characters were engaging and interesting. Dean’s real talents showcase themselves in dialogue. For a “man of few words,” Nox ends up speaking with others quite a bit, and his tongue-in cheek wit and no-nonsense approach to being his own lawman won me over by the end.
The greatest weaknesses in the piece came in toward the beginning and end. The opening tone was distant and as mentioned previously, I had a bit of a hard time sinking into the story until deeper in than I would’ve liked. The ending felt quite rushed and the final scene felt a little cliche, though I’m still interested in seeing where the series ends up going as a whole.
All and all an entertaining read.
4/5, I’ve already borrowed the next two and plan on reviewing them sometime next month.
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