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The Fall of the Gods #1
The Sin in the Steel
A sparkling debut fantasy set in a diverse world, featuring dead gods, a pirate queen, shapeshifting mages, and a Sherlockian teenager determined to upend her society.
Heroes for hire. If you can pay.
Buc:
Brilliant street-rat
Her mind leaps from clues to conclusions in the blink of an eye.
Eld:
Ex-soldier
Buc's partner-in-crime.
No. Not in crime--in crime-solving.
They've been hired for their biggest job yet--one that will set them up for a life of ease.
If they survive.
Buc and Eld are the first private detectives in a world where pirates roam the seas, mages speak to each other across oceans, mechanical devices change the tide of battle, and earthly wealth is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few.
It's been weeks since ships last returned to the magnificent city of Servenza with bounty from the Shattered Coast. Disaster threatens not just the city's trading companies but the empire itself. When Buc and Eld are hired to investigate, Buc swiftly discovers that the trade routes have become the domain of a sharp-eyed pirate queen who sinks all who defy her.
Now all Buc and Eld have to do is sink the Widowmaker's ship....
Unfortunately for Buc, the gods have other plans.
Unfortunately for the gods, so does Buc.
Heroes for hire. If you can pay.
Buc:
Brilliant street-rat
Her mind leaps from clues to conclusions in the blink of an eye.
Eld:
Ex-soldier
Buc's partner-in-crime.
No. Not in crime--in crime-solving.
They've been hired for their biggest job yet--one that will set them up for a life of ease.
If they survive.
Buc and Eld are the first private detectives in a world where pirates roam the seas, mages speak to each other across oceans, mechanical devices change the tide of battle, and earthly wealth is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few.
It's been weeks since ships last returned to the magnificent city of Servenza with bounty from the Shattered Coast. Disaster threatens not just the city's trading companies but the empire itself. When Buc and Eld are hired to investigate, Buc swiftly discovers that the trade routes have become the domain of a sharp-eyed pirate queen who sinks all who defy her.
Now all Buc and Eld have to do is sink the Widowmaker's ship....
Unfortunately for Buc, the gods have other plans.
Unfortunately for the gods, so does Buc.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 5, 2020
The Sin In The Steel is a fantastic debut, full of twists and turns and excellent world building. "A Sherlockian teenager determined to upend her society"? Sign me up! I absolutely adore when authors blend classic mystery elements with a deeply engaging fantasy world, and Ryan Van Loan didn't disappoint in either department. As a huge sucker for any book that features pirates and unique fantastical religious entities, TSITS was right up my alley. The only thing that kept me from giving this the full 5 stars is that the pacing in the second half of the book is noticeably slower than in the first, but there is a banging ending that left me incredibly hungry for the next installment in the series.
Won via raffle on Bookish First!
Won via raffle on Bookish First!
May 7, 2020
Ryan Von Loan's The Sin in the Steel is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure about a wicked-smahht, pissed-off, teenage revolutionary and her damaged soldier friend who are hired by a massive trading corporation to find out why their ships are disappearing along an important trade route. Could it be mad mages? Pirates? Asshole, vengeful gods and their mad cult followers? Perhaps a combination of all three?
Buc is gifted with genius intelligence but was given a shitty lot in life. An orphan, growing up on the hard city streets, Buc learned how to wield knives and use her wits to stay alive. Her destitution and rebellious attitude evolved into arrogance and disgust for the way the world is: vengeful gods, nonsensical religions, corporate sleaze, and imperial politics around every corner. So she decided to make it her life’s mission to upend the status quo and change the world.
Buc reminds of a sixteen-year-old Alexander Hamilton, if Hamilton were into stabbing and mayhem.
Her companion Eld is a talented but despondent soldier with a tragic past and a deep hatred for magic after being dishonorably discharged from the military. He and Buc find each other at the right moment in time, pulling each other up by their bootstraps to form a strong bond of care and support with the same mission to accomplish: overturn the hierarchy responsible for the oppression that seeps through every pore of society.
The book utlizes quite a bit of humor, but since this is mostly set in a world of pirates, it's not going to be Sesame Street jokes. I quite enjoyed the constant levity as well as the different magical engineering contraptions that were peppered through the story, but there are a couple of elements that prevented me from giving this book a higher score.
First, Buc’s intelligence was often overshadowed by her total arrogance and kneejerk, poor decision-making. For someone who’s supposed to be so smart, it was tough to buy into her character completely. Even though she's only sixteen and is not expected to act as rational as she had planned, it still seemed a bit off that she was unable to hold back her temper or tongue and made everything much worse. This made her downright unlikeable at times. Also, many of her successful plans were circumstancial. She's more lucky -- incredibly, unbelievably lucky -- than a brilliant planner. She has a sharp memory, but I'm not sold on her being the Sherlock Holmes of this story.
There was also a noticeable slowdown of pacing towards the back half of the book, and it took me about twice as long to get through it as the first half. The end, however, pulled the various strings together nicely.
The story ends on a high note, and promises some very different, interesting perspectives for the next entry. There's some weird new dynamics -- in a good way -- and some new fish to fry. (Sailor's joke! Yarrrr.) So sharpen your poignards and buckle your swashes for some foul-mouthed, high seas, sacrilegious anarchy with your favorite teenage smartass and her soul-searching, shell-shocked best pal. Ryan Van Loan's has created a world thick with intrigue in his debut novel and I get a sense that the best is yet to come.
Buc is gifted with genius intelligence but was given a shitty lot in life. An orphan, growing up on the hard city streets, Buc learned how to wield knives and use her wits to stay alive. Her destitution and rebellious attitude evolved into arrogance and disgust for the way the world is: vengeful gods, nonsensical religions, corporate sleaze, and imperial politics around every corner. So she decided to make it her life’s mission to upend the status quo and change the world.
Buc reminds of a sixteen-year-old Alexander Hamilton, if Hamilton were into stabbing and mayhem.
Her companion Eld is a talented but despondent soldier with a tragic past and a deep hatred for magic after being dishonorably discharged from the military. He and Buc find each other at the right moment in time, pulling each other up by their bootstraps to form a strong bond of care and support with the same mission to accomplish: overturn the hierarchy responsible for the oppression that seeps through every pore of society.
The book utlizes quite a bit of humor, but since this is mostly set in a world of pirates, it's not going to be Sesame Street jokes. I quite enjoyed the constant levity as well as the different magical engineering contraptions that were peppered through the story, but there are a couple of elements that prevented me from giving this book a higher score.
First, Buc’s intelligence was often overshadowed by her total arrogance and kneejerk, poor decision-making. For someone who’s supposed to be so smart, it was tough to buy into her character completely. Even though she's only sixteen and is not expected to act as rational as she had planned, it still seemed a bit off that she was unable to hold back her temper or tongue and made everything much worse. This made her downright unlikeable at times. Also, many of her successful plans were circumstancial. She's more lucky -- incredibly, unbelievably lucky -- than a brilliant planner. She has a sharp memory, but I'm not sold on her being the Sherlock Holmes of this story.
There was also a noticeable slowdown of pacing towards the back half of the book, and it took me about twice as long to get through it as the first half. The end, however, pulled the various strings together nicely.
The story ends on a high note, and promises some very different, interesting perspectives for the next entry. There's some weird new dynamics -- in a good way -- and some new fish to fry. (Sailor's joke! Yarrrr.) So sharpen your poignards and buckle your swashes for some foul-mouthed, high seas, sacrilegious anarchy with your favorite teenage smartass and her soul-searching, shell-shocked best pal. Ryan Van Loan's has created a world thick with intrigue in his debut novel and I get a sense that the best is yet to come.
July 22, 2020
DNFed at page 236. I skimmed the rest, found more of the same, and figure I've given it a fair shot for 236 pages, and if I've nothing good to say now I might as well not waste any more time on it.
I was drawn in by the description and thought it looked fabulous, and so used my bookishfirst points to claim an ARC. Which I regret now, tbh.
At first I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and even found myself interested in the plot as it zipped along and growing slightly fond of Buc and Eld. That quickly soured. Buc is supposed to be this Sherlock Holmes character - and in some ways she is, from her rapid mind to her drug habit. But in other ways, she really isn't. She jumps to conclusions, refuses to take care of herself (causing her more problems later) and is so sure that she's brilliant when most of her successes seem to be down to dumb luck. The sheer improbability of the events that come rapid-fire on top of one another soon made me lose what little interest in the plot I had. But those aren't my main problem.
The biggest problem I have with this novel is the way it treats women. Now, you might say 'oh, but Buc is a woman! and the widowmaker as well!" and that's true. However.
-Buc seems to despise all women. She even calls one a c*** to her face which strikes me as a little over the top, even with the amount of profanity and crude language in the book.
-*Every* woman is beautiful and has a propensity to wear threadbare clothes and stand in front of bright lights... and has their figure described.
-Buc is scrawny and several times mentions her lack of breasts and then after being so ill she loses weight she thinks about how it all goes on her butt and now even that curve is lessened. She really doesn't come off as a street rat here.
-Aaaaaand the hints of romance.
-The ARC has a sticker indicating the ages are wrong and Buc is 17 and Eld 19 in the finished copy. Which would be fine but in the ARC they’re 16 and nearly 22 which is a bit... uncomfortable. The ages are also brought up repeatedly so I'm not sure how much they changed in the finished copy.
-Not only that, but Eld apparently rescued Buc from the streets when he was 19 and she 14. He wonders if he's a lecher for falling for her. Immediately afterward, she assures him 'age is just a number.'
It just comes off as creepy in a lot of places tbh and I have wasted enough of my life reading this improbable and uncomfortable book.
*thanks to bookishfirst and the publisher for an ARC
I was drawn in by the description and thought it looked fabulous, and so used my bookishfirst points to claim an ARC. Which I regret now, tbh.
At first I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and even found myself interested in the plot as it zipped along and growing slightly fond of Buc and Eld. That quickly soured. Buc is supposed to be this Sherlock Holmes character - and in some ways she is, from her rapid mind to her drug habit. But in other ways, she really isn't. She jumps to conclusions, refuses to take care of herself (causing her more problems later) and is so sure that she's brilliant when most of her successes seem to be down to dumb luck. The sheer improbability of the events that come rapid-fire on top of one another soon made me lose what little interest in the plot I had. But those aren't my main problem.
The biggest problem I have with this novel is the way it treats women. Now, you might say 'oh, but Buc is a woman! and the widowmaker as well!" and that's true. However.
-Buc seems to despise all women. She even calls one a c*** to her face which strikes me as a little over the top, even with the amount of profanity and crude language in the book.
-*Every* woman is beautiful and has a propensity to wear threadbare clothes and stand in front of bright lights... and has their figure described.
-Buc is scrawny and several times mentions her lack of breasts and then after being so ill she loses weight she thinks about how it all goes on her butt and now even that curve is lessened. She really doesn't come off as a street rat here.
-Aaaaaand the hints of romance.
-The ARC has a sticker indicating the ages are wrong and Buc is 17 and Eld 19 in the finished copy. Which would be fine but in the ARC they’re 16 and nearly 22 which is a bit... uncomfortable. The ages are also brought up repeatedly so I'm not sure how much they changed in the finished copy.
-Not only that, but Eld apparently rescued Buc from the streets when he was 19 and she 14. He wonders if he's a lecher for falling for her. Immediately afterward, she assures him 'age is just a number.'
It just comes off as creepy in a lot of places tbh and I have wasted enough of my life reading this improbable and uncomfortable book.
*thanks to bookishfirst and the publisher for an ARC
September 27, 2019
I am privileged to be in Ryan's writing group and from his first WIP, I knew he was going to be published. I'm so happy for him that SIN IN THE STEEL--which also passed through our group--is his debut, and what a debut it is! Adventure on the high seas, magic run rampant, and a heroine with a wit sharper than a sword's edge. Be prepared to keep flipping the page with this one, folks.
August 6, 2020
Let a man think you weak, let him think you vulnerable, and he’ll never see the blade until it’s planted in his ribs.
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian side character
CWs: violence, gore
Galley provided by publisher
You know those books where you can see there is a lot to like, and you do, to an extent, like it, but at the same time it’s not quite for you? That was The Sin in the Steel for me.
The story follows Buc and Eld, a Sherlock and Watson-type pairing, who are somewhat coerced into solving the mystery of why a trading company’s ships are not returning to port. In doing so, they uncover a war between gods and mages, and zombie pirates (!!!).
So first up, what’s good about this book?
The worldbuilding. The world that Van Loan has created is so interesting, from the locations to the mythos and everything in between, and particularly how it all interacts. I feel like I say this about a lot of fantasy novels at the moment (possibly because it does feel like we’re going through a real glut of creative worldbuilding), but it was probably one of the most interesting I’ve read.
The mystery. Give me a mystery and I’ll love it. Give me a mystery combined with another genre (e.g. sci fi, fantasy, historical) and I will enjoy it even more. And the mystery-slash-adventure here was definitely a good one. It’s fast-paced and exciting, and there are zombie pirates so… A definite win.
The found family. I love a good found family, and Buc and Eld definitely provide that. And the combination of Buc who is prickly and argumentative with Eld who is, generally, kind-hearted and slow to anger (except when it involves someone threatening Buc). Beautiful.
The voice. Buc’s narrative voice was so distinctive, I loved that about it. There were a few other POVs in the book, but Buc’s voice stood out above all (not only because it was first person I mean). And it reminded me a whole lot of that scene in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, where Arthur is describing (lying about) his day to the captain of the guard.
But a quick note also on why it didn’t work for me. Firstly, as much as I liked the relationship between Buc and Eld, they were 16 and 22 respectively and I couldn’t get past that (didn’t help I kept getting reminded of it either). Yeah, so it’s fantasy, it’s a different world and all, but that age gap was just a no from me. Secondly, while Buc’s voice was distinctive, it also came to grate on me just the slightest. I think it’s a book I needed to spend time on rather than trying to race through.
But overall, it was a solid debut, and an author I will be looking out for more from.
September 18, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Epic Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
The Sin in the Steel is the first novel in author Ryan Van Loan's The Fall of Gods series. It is also the authors debut novel. 17-year old Sambuciña (Buc) Alhurra is a smart, arrogant, and witty character who grew up living on the streets of Servenza not knowing who her parents were. For the past 2 years, she's been partnered with Eldritch (Eld) Rawlings a talented soldier she rescued who has a tragic past and a deep hatred for magic. The pair have worked together solving cases thought unsolvable. One of their cases ends with Buc and Eld being summoned by the Kanadas Trading Company.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Epic Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
The Sin in the Steel is the first novel in author Ryan Van Loan's The Fall of Gods series. It is also the authors debut novel. 17-year old Sambuciña (Buc) Alhurra is a smart, arrogant, and witty character who grew up living on the streets of Servenza not knowing who her parents were. For the past 2 years, she's been partnered with Eldritch (Eld) Rawlings a talented soldier she rescued who has a tragic past and a deep hatred for magic. The pair have worked together solving cases thought unsolvable. One of their cases ends with Buc and Eld being summoned by the Kanadas Trading Company.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 2, 2020
*4.5
This was genuinely so fun and exactly what I needed right now. Adventure! Pirates! Ships! Sarcasm and snark! A compelling duo! Really looking forward to seeing how this world will expand in future books.
This was genuinely so fun and exactly what I needed right now. Adventure! Pirates! Ships! Sarcasm and snark! A compelling duo! Really looking forward to seeing how this world will expand in future books.
July 15, 2020
The Sin in the Steel is a very pirate-y adventure story about two friends/amateur detectives (Buc and Eld) who are hired by one of the big trading companies to find out why their ships carrying sugar have been disappearing. This is a game changer for the duo, and if they succeed the results could be life-changing. Of course, nothing goes as planned as our protagonists are in for the ride of their life.
Author Ryan Van Loan has hit a home run with The Sin in the Steel, the first in the The Fall of the Gods series. I enjoyed just about everything about this book: the characters are easy to connect with, the world building is interesting, the plot is a whole lot of fun, and there are plenty of surprises to keep things fresh.
Character-wise, the main character, Buc, is absolutely amazing. Not afraid to say what is on her mind, she is snarky and brash and has so many great one-liners. Buc's dialogue was so much fun I just kept a constant drumroll going on in my head. I also love that her weapon of choice is a slingshot, which might sound weak to you, but Buc has no qualm telling you why it is the best weapon to have on hand. She is clever and witty and has an intriguing backstory, too, which not only adds depth to her character and guides her decisions, but also has a larger effect on the overall narrative, as well. Buc also has a love for libraries, and I think we would probably be BFFs IRL (though she is so anti that she would probably reject that I just said that).
Eld is the other protagonist, and Buc's partner in crime. We do not get much of Eld's backstory, just that he is a few years older than Buc and was there for her when she needed it. Eld has a much more calm demeanor, more pensive, less sharp of tongue. More of a Yin to Buc's Yang, Eld creates much-needed balance in a story that Buc threatens to spin out of control at times (though, he does not always succeed). The relationship between and Buc and Eld is one of the best aspects of the book.
The rest of the cast of characters are really intriguing, as well. Chan Sha is another main-ish character that gains importance as the story goes on. She is the captain of a pirate ship Buc and Eld encounter. There are also gods and demi-gods (i think? more about that later), mages, scores of undead, plus others that I do not wish to mention out of fear of spoiling some things. For me, this is a very character-driven story, and the author has done a great job of creating a unique, diverse, balanced, and interesting character set that carried this book all the way through.
Though I read the synopsis before picking up the book, I was still surprised at the direction of the plot. It turns out, this book is a sea adventure! And a fun one at that, with big ships, crazy crew members, pirates, people being made to walk the plank, lost islands, sword fights, and sea battles complete with cannons and mortars. The narrative was basically non-stop, cover-to-cover action. I was grateful for that, because Buc and Eld are so energetic that they deserve a plot with intensity to match. That is exactly what they got - a dynamic sea adventure worthy of their enthusiasm.
I mentioned the world-building before, and I do find the world in this book intriguing. There are big trading companies that control commerce, and this is the backdrop for a haves-to-have-nots dynamic. You kind of get what you expect from that atmosphere: gangs fighting for power, pirates making a living on the sea, and people who pay for protection. There is also a situation with Gods and Demi-Gods, I think, that are in business with mages who use magic to assert a certain amount of control over the world. This was one of the drawbacks for me, as I did not quite understand this dynamic. They actually play a large role in the story, but their relationship to this world was unclear to me. I will say, it looks like the series sets it up for book 2 to explore that connection more.
The Sin in the Steel is a fun book with great characters and a whole lot of adventure. It gets my recommendation for fans of fantasy, and for those looking for their next great maritime read, this is it.
Author Ryan Van Loan has hit a home run with The Sin in the Steel, the first in the The Fall of the Gods series. I enjoyed just about everything about this book: the characters are easy to connect with, the world building is interesting, the plot is a whole lot of fun, and there are plenty of surprises to keep things fresh.
Character-wise, the main character, Buc, is absolutely amazing. Not afraid to say what is on her mind, she is snarky and brash and has so many great one-liners. Buc's dialogue was so much fun I just kept a constant drumroll going on in my head. I also love that her weapon of choice is a slingshot, which might sound weak to you, but Buc has no qualm telling you why it is the best weapon to have on hand. She is clever and witty and has an intriguing backstory, too, which not only adds depth to her character and guides her decisions, but also has a larger effect on the overall narrative, as well. Buc also has a love for libraries, and I think we would probably be BFFs IRL (though she is so anti that she would probably reject that I just said that).
Eld is the other protagonist, and Buc's partner in crime. We do not get much of Eld's backstory, just that he is a few years older than Buc and was there for her when she needed it. Eld has a much more calm demeanor, more pensive, less sharp of tongue. More of a Yin to Buc's Yang, Eld creates much-needed balance in a story that Buc threatens to spin out of control at times (though, he does not always succeed). The relationship between and Buc and Eld is one of the best aspects of the book.
The rest of the cast of characters are really intriguing, as well. Chan Sha is another main-ish character that gains importance as the story goes on. She is the captain of a pirate ship Buc and Eld encounter. There are also gods and demi-gods (i think? more about that later), mages, scores of undead, plus others that I do not wish to mention out of fear of spoiling some things. For me, this is a very character-driven story, and the author has done a great job of creating a unique, diverse, balanced, and interesting character set that carried this book all the way through.
Though I read the synopsis before picking up the book, I was still surprised at the direction of the plot. It turns out, this book is a sea adventure! And a fun one at that, with big ships, crazy crew members, pirates, people being made to walk the plank, lost islands, sword fights, and sea battles complete with cannons and mortars. The narrative was basically non-stop, cover-to-cover action. I was grateful for that, because Buc and Eld are so energetic that they deserve a plot with intensity to match. That is exactly what they got - a dynamic sea adventure worthy of their enthusiasm.
I mentioned the world-building before, and I do find the world in this book intriguing. There are big trading companies that control commerce, and this is the backdrop for a haves-to-have-nots dynamic. You kind of get what you expect from that atmosphere: gangs fighting for power, pirates making a living on the sea, and people who pay for protection. There is also a situation with Gods and Demi-Gods, I think, that are in business with mages who use magic to assert a certain amount of control over the world. This was one of the drawbacks for me, as I did not quite understand this dynamic. They actually play a large role in the story, but their relationship to this world was unclear to me. I will say, it looks like the series sets it up for book 2 to explore that connection more.
The Sin in the Steel is a fun book with great characters and a whole lot of adventure. It gets my recommendation for fans of fantasy, and for those looking for their next great maritime read, this is it.
July 22, 2020
>Mon avis en Français
My English review
I must admit that the synopsis of this novel attracted me immediately. When I saw the mention of pirates, mages and detective, it didn’t take much to make me read it!
Buc and Eld are two acolytes who didn’t think they had to deal with blackmail. Indeed, captured in an unfortunate situation, they have no choice but to work for a powerful young woman who wants to understand why ships no longer return to port. Between that and death, our heroes quickly choose to leave in search of answers. Yet they may well discover a lot of trouble at the same time.
I had a great time with the story and our heroes. Buc is a smartass and Eld is more settled. They’re about to be thrust into a story that’s bigger than they are and attract the attention of the Gods. I was curious to see how they were going to cope and I must say the whole thing was very nice.
A new novel to discover!
My English review
I must admit that the synopsis of this novel attracted me immediately. When I saw the mention of pirates, mages and detective, it didn’t take much to make me read it!
Buc and Eld are two acolytes who didn’t think they had to deal with blackmail. Indeed, captured in an unfortunate situation, they have no choice but to work for a powerful young woman who wants to understand why ships no longer return to port. Between that and death, our heroes quickly choose to leave in search of answers. Yet they may well discover a lot of trouble at the same time.
I had a great time with the story and our heroes. Buc is a smartass and Eld is more settled. They’re about to be thrust into a story that’s bigger than they are and attract the attention of the Gods. I was curious to see how they were going to cope and I must say the whole thing was very nice.
A new novel to discover!
July 23, 2020
Here we have a rip roaring adventure tale, set maybe on this planet centuries in the future or on another planet entirely. I tend to lean toward the first, but it doesn't make much difference to the story. We are presented with two teenagers, one a military veteran and the other a super smart "street rat". The young man Eld was a soldier for a while. After he left, he met Buc, and they have been together as friends ever since.
Before we go any further, I liked this story. It was filled with with all kinds of action. There are Gods. There are Mages who are connected to a particular God for their power. There are pirates. Who doesn't love pirates? There are walking, fighting corpses which are not zombies. I really got into it.
I do have a couple of things that pulled me out of the story. The ages of the main characters were a problem for me. Keeping Buc at 17 makes it easier to call this a YA book. Making Eld 19 presents even more problems.
Buc gets to go first. She takes drugs to "slow her mind down". Okay, she has a bad case of ADHD and had discovered a way to self-medicate. This is a good thing for her. She doesn't abuse the drug she takes. She is 14 when she first meets Eld. They form a fast friendship and have many adventures. Plus he teaches her how to read. She had been living on the streets, meaning she lies, steals, uses whatever comes to hand to survive. She is not an innocent. She should be in her early 20's, at least 4 to 5 years older than listed. By the way, most people who have read the number of books Buc is credited with reading after the age of 14 have taken more than 3 years to do it, especially when they are also earning a living and solving mysteries like Buc is reported to have done.
Now we come to Eld. How do you even say that combination of letters? It's actually worse when you learn in his full first name, the l and the d are in different syllables. That is minor, though, when I consider his age. He is supposed to be 19. Originally, he was older, but that made the age difference noticeable and upset some readers. This means he met Buc when he was 16. It's possible, but Eld is a younger son of an important, possible noble, family. He is a veteran. He lead men fighting in military action. Anybody but me getting the idea of child soldiers? Ignore that. Based on what I remember of medieval noble families, sons started learning to be squires between 10 and 12. They didn't actually gain that rank for 2 to 4 years. Maybe a fast learner in a liberal family would be ready to be a junior knight by the time he was 17. Even then, he would not be leading troops into battle. He would have had a senior officer with him. And we have Eld as having done all that and "retired" from it by the time he's 16. Eld is too young.
Other than that, the world building is imaginative. The Gods are interesting as they could be aliens or super computer AIs. There might be some kind of genetic modification done to Mages, considering the ability of some to regenerate. I guess we'll find out which when The Artifact is found.
Which bring us to what this adventure story is all about. This is a quest and The Artifact is the prize. We are not told any more about it than it is something the Gods are looking for. They do not know where it is. They are counting on their Mages to find it. That is where Buc and Eld come in, although they don't know finding The Artifact is What they were really hired to do. They have their own plans, somehow involving changing the economic structure of their world. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Before we go any further, I liked this story. It was filled with with all kinds of action. There are Gods. There are Mages who are connected to a particular God for their power. There are pirates. Who doesn't love pirates? There are walking, fighting corpses which are not zombies. I really got into it.
I do have a couple of things that pulled me out of the story. The ages of the main characters were a problem for me. Keeping Buc at 17 makes it easier to call this a YA book. Making Eld 19 presents even more problems.
Buc gets to go first. She takes drugs to "slow her mind down". Okay, she has a bad case of ADHD and had discovered a way to self-medicate. This is a good thing for her. She doesn't abuse the drug she takes. She is 14 when she first meets Eld. They form a fast friendship and have many adventures. Plus he teaches her how to read. She had been living on the streets, meaning she lies, steals, uses whatever comes to hand to survive. She is not an innocent. She should be in her early 20's, at least 4 to 5 years older than listed. By the way, most people who have read the number of books Buc is credited with reading after the age of 14 have taken more than 3 years to do it, especially when they are also earning a living and solving mysteries like Buc is reported to have done.
Now we come to Eld. How do you even say that combination of letters? It's actually worse when you learn in his full first name, the l and the d are in different syllables. That is minor, though, when I consider his age. He is supposed to be 19. Originally, he was older, but that made the age difference noticeable and upset some readers. This means he met Buc when he was 16. It's possible, but Eld is a younger son of an important, possible noble, family. He is a veteran. He lead men fighting in military action. Anybody but me getting the idea of child soldiers? Ignore that. Based on what I remember of medieval noble families, sons started learning to be squires between 10 and 12. They didn't actually gain that rank for 2 to 4 years. Maybe a fast learner in a liberal family would be ready to be a junior knight by the time he was 17. Even then, he would not be leading troops into battle. He would have had a senior officer with him. And we have Eld as having done all that and "retired" from it by the time he's 16. Eld is too young.
Other than that, the world building is imaginative. The Gods are interesting as they could be aliens or super computer AIs. There might be some kind of genetic modification done to Mages, considering the ability of some to regenerate. I guess we'll find out which when The Artifact is found.
Which bring us to what this adventure story is all about. This is a quest and The Artifact is the prize. We are not told any more about it than it is something the Gods are looking for. They do not know where it is. They are counting on their Mages to find it. That is where Buc and Eld come in, although they don't know finding The Artifact is What they were really hired to do. They have their own plans, somehow involving changing the economic structure of their world. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
August 21, 2022DNF at 73%
C/W:
The Sin in the Steel started out really promising. The dynamic between brilliant, detached Buc and the strong, kind Eld grabbed my attention from the beginning. It isn't quite a Sherlock and Watson vibe as thankfully Buc is more aware of how the world works than Sherlock typically is. The balance between Buc and Eld is great, though, and kept me invested in the story for at least the first hundred pages.
The two main things I struggled with in The Sin in the Steel were the world-building and the character development. I'm pretty open to different world-building methods, particularly in debuts, as long as it's done in a way where I have a sufficient sense of how the world works. I was baffled about the various religious groups and their politics, which initially seemed insignificant but was getting increasingly more important as the book went on. If I don't understand some of the key players in a world, it's hard to feel invested in the stakes of the story.
The number one reason I set this book aside was the character development. The archetypes Buc and Eld fit into appeal to me enough that I didn't need a ton of additional character development at the beginning to have a fun time. As the book went on, though, I started to care less and less about these characters. With Buc in particular it seemed like there just wasn't more to her than the genius who doesn't communicate plans and pretends not to care about people but does. As most of the book is narrated from Buc's perspective, this ended up making for a frustrating reading experience. Her tragic backstory kept being teased as the reason for Buc's behavior. I don't like when trauma is set up to be a plot device and/or character development reveal, which is where it felt like this was headed. We still hadn't gotten the reason for Buc's behavior when I set the book down at 73%.
I liked the concept of a dynamic duo solving mysteries on pirate ships but sadly the execution just did not work for me.
C/W:
The Sin in the Steel started out really promising. The dynamic between brilliant, detached Buc and the strong, kind Eld grabbed my attention from the beginning. It isn't quite a Sherlock and Watson vibe as thankfully Buc is more aware of how the world works than Sherlock typically is. The balance between Buc and Eld is great, though, and kept me invested in the story for at least the first hundred pages.
The two main things I struggled with in The Sin in the Steel were the world-building and the character development. I'm pretty open to different world-building methods, particularly in debuts, as long as it's done in a way where I have a sufficient sense of how the world works. I was baffled about the various religious groups and their politics, which initially seemed insignificant but was getting increasingly more important as the book went on. If I don't understand some of the key players in a world, it's hard to feel invested in the stakes of the story.
The number one reason I set this book aside was the character development. The archetypes Buc and Eld fit into appeal to me enough that I didn't need a ton of additional character development at the beginning to have a fun time. As the book went on, though, I started to care less and less about these characters. With Buc in particular it seemed like there just wasn't more to her than the genius who doesn't communicate plans and pretends not to care about people but does. As most of the book is narrated from Buc's perspective, this ended up making for a frustrating reading experience. Her tragic backstory kept being teased as the reason for Buc's behavior. I don't like when trauma is set up to be a plot device and/or character development reveal, which is where it felt like this was headed. We still hadn't gotten the reason for Buc's behavior when I set the book down at 73%.
I liked the concept of a dynamic duo solving mysteries on pirate ships but sadly the execution just did not work for me.
August 4, 2020
The Sin in the Steel // by Ryan Van Loan
Heroes for hire. If you can pay.
Synopsis: Buc and Eld are the first private detectives in a world where pirates roam the seas, mages speak to each other across oceans, mechanical devices change the tide of battle, and earthly wealth is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few. It’s been weeks since ships last returned to the magnificent city of Servenza with bounty from the Shattered Coast. Disaster threatens not just the city’s trading companies but the empire itself. When Buc and Eld are hired to investigate, Buc swiftly discovers that the trade routes have become the domain of a sharp-eyed pirate queen who sinks all who defy her. Now all Buc and Eld have to do is sink the Widowmaker's ship…. Unfortunately for Buc, the gods have other plans. Unfortunately for the gods, so does Buc.
I cannot believe that this is the author's debut novel. I was hooked on this story as soon as it started and am in love with the two main characters, Buc and Eld. The setting has a Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it with a modern twist as well as magic. A big difference though is that men and women seem to be seen as equals, holding high ranking positions in companies and what are seen as male-dominated spaces usually, such as the captain of a ship. This itself is a huge reason why I enjoyed the setup. There are also several times where the men of the story have no issue looking at two of the main female characters as the smartest people in the room. Despite the focus on the strength of the characters (especially the women) though, it was also nice to see those same characters recognize their weaknesses as well. It made them seem even more realistic.The only thing I was not top sure about was Buc's age. Even with a brilliant mind, that does seem very young.
I loved the story itself just as much as the characters and the setting. Being a bookworm myself, I enjoyed the many references to the books that Buc has read and how she uses that knowledge to her advantage during their adventures. Eld, being only a little older than her, seems to have years of experience on her and uses his own military training to their advantage as well, despite the fact that he does not like to talk about it. the story moves along at a steady pace with a lot of action happening throughout the entire book. It was fun to be able to decipher the problems along with Buc, though I do have to admit that I am not nearly as smart as her and was unable to predict several things in this book, which is not something I am used to in these types of stories. I especially enjoyed the part of the story that resulted in the name of this book!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and BookishFirst for providing me with a free copy of this fantastic book. Again, I cannot believe that this is Van Ryan's debut novel! I really hope I will be able to snag an ARC for the next book in this series as well.
Heroes for hire. If you can pay.
Synopsis: Buc and Eld are the first private detectives in a world where pirates roam the seas, mages speak to each other across oceans, mechanical devices change the tide of battle, and earthly wealth is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few. It’s been weeks since ships last returned to the magnificent city of Servenza with bounty from the Shattered Coast. Disaster threatens not just the city’s trading companies but the empire itself. When Buc and Eld are hired to investigate, Buc swiftly discovers that the trade routes have become the domain of a sharp-eyed pirate queen who sinks all who defy her. Now all Buc and Eld have to do is sink the Widowmaker's ship…. Unfortunately for Buc, the gods have other plans. Unfortunately for the gods, so does Buc.
I cannot believe that this is the author's debut novel. I was hooked on this story as soon as it started and am in love with the two main characters, Buc and Eld. The setting has a Pirates of the Caribbean feel to it with a modern twist as well as magic. A big difference though is that men and women seem to be seen as equals, holding high ranking positions in companies and what are seen as male-dominated spaces usually, such as the captain of a ship. This itself is a huge reason why I enjoyed the setup. There are also several times where the men of the story have no issue looking at two of the main female characters as the smartest people in the room. Despite the focus on the strength of the characters (especially the women) though, it was also nice to see those same characters recognize their weaknesses as well. It made them seem even more realistic.The only thing I was not top sure about was Buc's age. Even with a brilliant mind, that does seem very young.
I loved the story itself just as much as the characters and the setting. Being a bookworm myself, I enjoyed the many references to the books that Buc has read and how she uses that knowledge to her advantage during their adventures. Eld, being only a little older than her, seems to have years of experience on her and uses his own military training to their advantage as well, despite the fact that he does not like to talk about it. the story moves along at a steady pace with a lot of action happening throughout the entire book. It was fun to be able to decipher the problems along with Buc, though I do have to admit that I am not nearly as smart as her and was unable to predict several things in this book, which is not something I am used to in these types of stories. I especially enjoyed the part of the story that resulted in the name of this book!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and BookishFirst for providing me with a free copy of this fantastic book. Again, I cannot believe that this is Van Ryan's debut novel! I really hope I will be able to snag an ARC for the next book in this series as well.
November 12, 2020
There could possibly be a lot to like here, but I just don't think this book is for me. It's a lot of nonstop action and fighting scenes, and I just...don't like that. By the end I found myself skimming.
I did enjoy Buc, though - she's pretty much Alexander Hamilton (the musical version) in that she's brilliant but rash and unlikable and overbearing, which made for a pretty interesting character. It was exhausting being in her head, though; there was just something off about the narration that made it difficult to understand what was going on in her head, or what was happening with the plot. I think I would have liked this book a lot more if it had been told from another POV.
And that's my main issue - I don't know if I'm just groggy these days or what, but I struggled to follow along with much of the worldbuilding and the mystery. It felt like a lot of stuff happened at random or very coincidentally and none of the characters' motivations really made sense to me. Buc herself has such lofty desires (she wants to...take over the world and change it, basically) that they mean absolutely nothing at all, practically speaking, and it made it hard to take her (or Eld) seriously. So, when I got to the end, it felt like I was still waiting for something to be explained to me, and there was little to no payoff.
Still, there were some portions that were entertaining and there was a certain quality to the story that kept me reading, so it's a 2.5 stars from me, but I won't be continuing with the series.
I did enjoy Buc, though - she's pretty much Alexander Hamilton (the musical version) in that she's brilliant but rash and unlikable and overbearing, which made for a pretty interesting character. It was exhausting being in her head, though; there was just something off about the narration that made it difficult to understand what was going on in her head, or what was happening with the plot. I think I would have liked this book a lot more if it had been told from another POV.
And that's my main issue - I don't know if I'm just groggy these days or what, but I struggled to follow along with much of the worldbuilding and the mystery. It felt like a lot of stuff happened at random or very coincidentally and none of the characters' motivations really made sense to me. Buc herself has such lofty desires (she wants to...take over the world and change it, basically) that they mean absolutely nothing at all, practically speaking, and it made it hard to take her (or Eld) seriously. So, when I got to the end, it felt like I was still waiting for something to be explained to me, and there was little to no payoff.
Still, there were some portions that were entertaining and there was a certain quality to the story that kept me reading, so it's a 2.5 stars from me, but I won't be continuing with the series.
August 11, 2020
I picked this one up with super high hopes esp as it seemed like an adventure in the vein of Locke Lamora and boy, was I disappointed
I didnt have fun with this at all - even after resetting expectations somewhere around the midpoint - dont know why I actually finished this one, I kept waiting and waiting for the book to get better and then at a point (by which it was too late), decided to finish it
Should have abandoned it and now regretting
The lead character is absolutely not likeable at all - she thinks shes smart but through the books makes stupid decisions that dont show an ounce of smartness at all. Things just seem to happen rather fortuitously
Puzzling part is there are a lot of good reviews from folks whose reviews usually match mine but the book just didnt work for me at all - Ugh
I didnt have fun with this at all - even after resetting expectations somewhere around the midpoint - dont know why I actually finished this one, I kept waiting and waiting for the book to get better and then at a point (by which it was too late), decided to finish it
Should have abandoned it and now regretting
The lead character is absolutely not likeable at all - she thinks shes smart but through the books makes stupid decisions that dont show an ounce of smartness at all. Things just seem to happen rather fortuitously
Puzzling part is there are a lot of good reviews from folks whose reviews usually match mine but the book just didnt work for me at all - Ugh
January 21, 2021
The Sin in the Steel is the first book in the Fall of the Gods series by Ryan Van Loan.
The story is about two best friends Buc and Eld who are hired by a big trading company to find out why their ships carrying sugar are disappearing. Buc, 17 is street smart and Eld, 19, is an ex-soldier, both teenagers, both determined to take on the adventure of sinking the Widowmaker's ship, that will set them up for life, if they can survive. The book is full of pirates, mages, dead gods, swashbuckling violence and gore. I must say this book is definitely a fantasy packed adventure with very interesting characters, that will keep you entertained, wanting more.
Thank you to BookishFirst for my advanced copy.
November 11, 2020
One of my favorite partner in cime/crime-fighting is Sherlock and Watson... so if you're a fan of them, definitely add this one to your TBR! I was interested in this book when I saw “heroes for hire.” Then I met Buc, who’s too smart for her own good, and I couldn’t put it down!
I received an ARC copy of this book from Tor, but that did not impact my review!
I received an ARC copy of this book from Tor, but that did not impact my review!
July 6, 2020
I received The Sin in the Steel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Sin in the Steel is the first novel in The Fall of the Gods series by Ryan Van Loan. It's a series that mixes many elements together in order to create something fun an exciting. Pirates, magic, dead gods can all be found. Oh and a Sherlockian twist as well.
Buc is a prodigy, plain and simple. She grew up as a street rat, but once handed an ounce of knowledge she suddenly couldn't get enough of it. With the ex-soldier Eld taking care of her, keeping her safe while she developed her mind, it felt like she was unstoppable.
Now Buc and Eld have been tasked to solve a crime, under penalty of death if they fail. All they have to do is take on pirates, the infamous Widowmaker, and maybe a dead god or two. No big deal, right?
“But while the world may be driven by knowledge, it runs on gold. The hard kind. And if my plans were to succeed, that was the kind of leverage I needed. I saw my chance, placed my wager, and took my seat at the table.”
The Sin in the Steel is a brilliant and fast-paced read, one that you're not going to want to put down. At least, I know I didn't! I loved all of the themes that went into this book, but especially the combination of pirate vibes and Sherlockian logic. It made for something fun and different.
Buc is the highlight of the novel, without a doubt. She's a brilliant mind, one that sometimes has too much processing all at once. I felt like this aspect was portrayed very nicely. That she grew up on the streets isn't forgotten, though it does make her love of reading all the more impressive.
The world and magic within were absolutely fascinating. I would honestly read a dozen more books set in this world, and still feel like there was more to learn. For that reason, I am very much looking forward to any and all sequels.
The Sherlockian elements were fun, and on the whole, pretty well done. I wouldn't have minded seeing just a touch more of that, as clearly Buc has a brilliant mind. Albeit it frequently felt like that mind was doing a better job of getting her into more trouble than anything (sound familiar?). I actually adore that other elements were pulled from Sherlock, instead of just his wits and need to solve mysteries. It's refreshing. Even if it sometimes results with people wanting to strangle Buc.
I should probably mention one thing: the ages in the ARC I read are different from the ages in the finished book. Knowing that going into this read made a major difference (especially if looking at other reviews is any indication). The relationship between Buc and Eld is not nearly so creepy. Though it does take the edge off some of their age-related jokes, for good or for ill.
I'm curious to see where this story is going to lead in the long run. It feels like whatever Buc has started will eventually change her world, on a smaller and more personal scale as well as on a much grander one.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Sin in the Steel is the first novel in The Fall of the Gods series by Ryan Van Loan. It's a series that mixes many elements together in order to create something fun an exciting. Pirates, magic, dead gods can all be found. Oh and a Sherlockian twist as well.
Buc is a prodigy, plain and simple. She grew up as a street rat, but once handed an ounce of knowledge she suddenly couldn't get enough of it. With the ex-soldier Eld taking care of her, keeping her safe while she developed her mind, it felt like she was unstoppable.
Now Buc and Eld have been tasked to solve a crime, under penalty of death if they fail. All they have to do is take on pirates, the infamous Widowmaker, and maybe a dead god or two. No big deal, right?
“But while the world may be driven by knowledge, it runs on gold. The hard kind. And if my plans were to succeed, that was the kind of leverage I needed. I saw my chance, placed my wager, and took my seat at the table.”
The Sin in the Steel is a brilliant and fast-paced read, one that you're not going to want to put down. At least, I know I didn't! I loved all of the themes that went into this book, but especially the combination of pirate vibes and Sherlockian logic. It made for something fun and different.
Buc is the highlight of the novel, without a doubt. She's a brilliant mind, one that sometimes has too much processing all at once. I felt like this aspect was portrayed very nicely. That she grew up on the streets isn't forgotten, though it does make her love of reading all the more impressive.
The world and magic within were absolutely fascinating. I would honestly read a dozen more books set in this world, and still feel like there was more to learn. For that reason, I am very much looking forward to any and all sequels.
The Sherlockian elements were fun, and on the whole, pretty well done. I wouldn't have minded seeing just a touch more of that, as clearly Buc has a brilliant mind. Albeit it frequently felt like that mind was doing a better job of getting her into more trouble than anything (sound familiar?). I actually adore that other elements were pulled from Sherlock, instead of just his wits and need to solve mysteries. It's refreshing. Even if it sometimes results with people wanting to strangle Buc.
I should probably mention one thing: the ages in the ARC I read are different from the ages in the finished book. Knowing that going into this read made a major difference (especially if looking at other reviews is any indication). The relationship between Buc and Eld is not nearly so creepy. Though it does take the edge off some of their age-related jokes, for good or for ill.
I'm curious to see where this story is going to lead in the long run. It feels like whatever Buc has started will eventually change her world, on a smaller and more personal scale as well as on a much grander one.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
October 19, 2020
I'm giving this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I chose to round up because ultimately I enjoyed it enough to do so but I'm not sure it's a book that would appeal to all readers.
In my opinion the main drawback is a lack of details and clarity on the world it's set in. Understanding that the copy I received was an uncorrected advance reading copy, it's possible that some adjustments will be made. It felt to me reading it that the mythology of the world it's set in as well as the history of the world it's set in isn't clearly fleshed out enough to really get some readers fully invested in the work. I'm someone who loves detail, I would rather have something over explained than feel like I'm missing something and for me the details of this world left something to be desired. Don't get me wrong, there's a general sense of a mythology there - two warring religions with mages involved in both, pirates and trading companies, wars referenced between lands - but for me personally I often found it distracting that there were details lacking, and to me not for the purpose of reveals or twists later on.
Now that being said, there's a lot there for people to enjoy. For me I think the main characters Buc and Eld were really compelling and had a dynamic that was very entertaining to read. Much of their personal history is alluded to but again the details left out, however, I think in this instance it works because the author has given you a good sense of their dynamic and relationship, so the specifics maybe matter less.
In addition, this book is action-packed. It is non-stop action, action, action. It will go from one action sequence directly into the next without a moment's notice. In fact, sometimes it will begin a new sequence before it feels like the previous one has met its conclusion. I really enjoyed the pacing of it because there was never a dull moment.
If you're looking for fantasy that is heavy on the action and adventure, has fun and sharp characters, but is maybe sometimes a little light on the details this is a great choice.
In my opinion the main drawback is a lack of details and clarity on the world it's set in. Understanding that the copy I received was an uncorrected advance reading copy, it's possible that some adjustments will be made. It felt to me reading it that the mythology of the world it's set in as well as the history of the world it's set in isn't clearly fleshed out enough to really get some readers fully invested in the work. I'm someone who loves detail, I would rather have something over explained than feel like I'm missing something and for me the details of this world left something to be desired. Don't get me wrong, there's a general sense of a mythology there - two warring religions with mages involved in both, pirates and trading companies, wars referenced between lands - but for me personally I often found it distracting that there were details lacking, and to me not for the purpose of reveals or twists later on.
Now that being said, there's a lot there for people to enjoy. For me I think the main characters Buc and Eld were really compelling and had a dynamic that was very entertaining to read. Much of their personal history is alluded to but again the details left out, however, I think in this instance it works because the author has given you a good sense of their dynamic and relationship, so the specifics maybe matter less.
In addition, this book is action-packed. It is non-stop action, action, action. It will go from one action sequence directly into the next without a moment's notice. In fact, sometimes it will begin a new sequence before it feels like the previous one has met its conclusion. I really enjoyed the pacing of it because there was never a dull moment.
If you're looking for fantasy that is heavy on the action and adventure, has fun and sharp characters, but is maybe sometimes a little light on the details this is a great choice.
July 21, 2020
Very well-defined characters make The Sin in the Steel an enjoyable read. Though, I did not care for the heroine, Buc (short for Sambuciña). She is said to be 16 years old, but acts more like 36. I thought she was a sociopath. Exhibiting few emotions, Buc believes she was always right and loves manipulating people. She also believes in success at any cost, despite her humble beginnings and her wish to change to world into something better. I did love that she practically drooled over books. On the flip side, I did not care for the corporate who didn’t care how many books Buc carted out her library. I mean, who treats books which such an offhand manner?
Buc’s companion, Eld, is pretty cool. He has honor, courage, and steadfastness. He needs a bigger role. I hope in future installments, Eld will become a stronger character and temper Buc’s less desirable traits. Eld was the only character I had any kind of sympathy for. However, Eld’s role as second banana means my sympathy is not enough to make me really love this book.
Chan Sha, also known as the Widowmaker, is an engaging pirate captain. She may be more than just a pirate. She has been targeting the Ghost Captain, also known as the Dead Walker. Chan Sha forms a tenuous alliance with Buc and Eld. Emphasis on the word ‘tenuous’.
And through it all, there is magic. Magic comes from the gods. Dead and living gods. By the way, there seems to be a war between the gods. Power struggles between the gods is kind of like today’s power struggles. Success at any cost. Pay no mind to the people who get trampled.
The Sin in the Steel is a swashbuckler. There are ships, pirates and blades.
The Sin in the Steel is a horror story. There are zombies, aka, Shambles.
The Sin in the Steel is a fantasy with dead gods and live gods going up against each other.
As I read this book, I kept thinking – All this would make a pretty exciting action adventure film.
Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Buc’s companion, Eld, is pretty cool. He has honor, courage, and steadfastness. He needs a bigger role. I hope in future installments, Eld will become a stronger character and temper Buc’s less desirable traits. Eld was the only character I had any kind of sympathy for. However, Eld’s role as second banana means my sympathy is not enough to make me really love this book.
Chan Sha, also known as the Widowmaker, is an engaging pirate captain. She may be more than just a pirate. She has been targeting the Ghost Captain, also known as the Dead Walker. Chan Sha forms a tenuous alliance with Buc and Eld. Emphasis on the word ‘tenuous’.
And through it all, there is magic. Magic comes from the gods. Dead and living gods. By the way, there seems to be a war between the gods. Power struggles between the gods is kind of like today’s power struggles. Success at any cost. Pay no mind to the people who get trampled.
The Sin in the Steel is a swashbuckler. There are ships, pirates and blades.
The Sin in the Steel is a horror story. There are zombies, aka, Shambles.
The Sin in the Steel is a fantasy with dead gods and live gods going up against each other.
As I read this book, I kept thinking – All this would make a pretty exciting action adventure film.
Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 24, 2020
4/5 Stars
Two ruffians for hire. Missing shipments belonging to a very powerful group. Old and New Gods locked in a battle for millennia. What could go wrong?
This novel was a whirlwind of a story. Every time the characters think they know what they are getting into, something more happens. I very much enjoyed that there was no simple answer to the mysteries laid before Buc and Eld. The complexities were intriguing but not over the top.
Since I had received an ARC of this novel, there was a matter of their ages since there was a bit of a love story trying to brew. However, I think it was good on the author to make Buc and Eld closer in age-17 and 19 respectively, as opposed to the original 16 and 22. Had the author stuck with the original ages, I would have loved a more sibling esque relationship as opposed to romantic inclinations.
Where this story left off leaves many questions, but thankfully that just tempts me to buy the second book once its published. I love when the unanswered questions roll around in my mind so I can make inferences and hypotheses before the next novel.
I cannot wait for more.
Disclaimer: Thanks to BookishFirst I received an ARC to read
Two ruffians for hire. Missing shipments belonging to a very powerful group. Old and New Gods locked in a battle for millennia. What could go wrong?
This novel was a whirlwind of a story. Every time the characters think they know what they are getting into, something more happens. I very much enjoyed that there was no simple answer to the mysteries laid before Buc and Eld. The complexities were intriguing but not over the top.
Since I had received an ARC of this novel, there was a matter of their ages since there was a bit of a love story trying to brew. However, I think it was good on the author to make Buc and Eld closer in age-17 and 19 respectively, as opposed to the original 16 and 22. Had the author stuck with the original ages, I would have loved a more sibling esque relationship as opposed to romantic inclinations.
Where this story left off leaves many questions, but thankfully that just tempts me to buy the second book once its published. I love when the unanswered questions roll around in my mind so I can make inferences and hypotheses before the next novel.
I cannot wait for more.
Disclaimer: Thanks to BookishFirst I received an ARC to read
December 21, 2022
4/5⭐️ |
I found the story idea to be interesting: ✅
There were few to no instances in which the writing or writing style detracted from my reading experience in a jarring way: ✅
I found the plot to be well executed (little to no plot holes, appropriate pacing): ✅
I found the world building to be immersive and particularly well done: ✅
I liked the main character or felt personally connected to them in some way: ✅
I adored the chemistry between the MC and the love interest/other significant characters: ✅
This book made me reflect on some aspect of life in a meaningful or socially productive way: ❌
I was moved emotionally at some point during my reading experience: ❌
I was satisfied with the ending: ✅
There is a page-turning, unputdownable element to this story, and I would re-read happily or recommend passionately: ✅
________________
*EXTRA CREDIT* Half point available for a book with some intriguing albeit minor element that makes me feel inclined to award a slightly higher rating: ❌
*Petty Privilege* Half point deducted because I’m petty. There was an element that made me feel angry or uncomfortable or unhappy or annoyed, and I therefore feel inclined to award a slightly lower rating: ❌
(1/2 point = 1/4⭐️)
________________
Star Rating: [8/10 points] ➡️ 4⭐️
I found the story idea to be interesting: ✅
There were few to no instances in which the writing or writing style detracted from my reading experience in a jarring way: ✅
I found the plot to be well executed (little to no plot holes, appropriate pacing): ✅
I found the world building to be immersive and particularly well done: ✅
I liked the main character or felt personally connected to them in some way: ✅
I adored the chemistry between the MC and the love interest/other significant characters: ✅
This book made me reflect on some aspect of life in a meaningful or socially productive way: ❌
I was moved emotionally at some point during my reading experience: ❌
I was satisfied with the ending: ✅
There is a page-turning, unputdownable element to this story, and I would re-read happily or recommend passionately: ✅
________________
*EXTRA CREDIT* Half point available for a book with some intriguing albeit minor element that makes me feel inclined to award a slightly higher rating: ❌
*Petty Privilege* Half point deducted because I’m petty. There was an element that made me feel angry or uncomfortable or unhappy or annoyed, and I therefore feel inclined to award a slightly lower rating: ❌
(1/2 point = 1/4⭐️)
________________
Star Rating: [8/10 points] ➡️ 4⭐️
July 7, 2020
The main characters Buc and Eld have a Sherlock-Watson kind of vibe. Buc is a genius street rat who loves to read, and needs to slow her mind down with drugs to stop it from racing. Eld is a sensible ex-soldier, two years older than Buc, with a hatred for magic. They are employed by a trading company to find out why ships carrying sugar are going missing. The action was non-stop and there was a lot of humor. There are two warring religions with associated mages, action on the high seas with zombie pirates and a variety of interesting islands. The world building is really good and enticing; I just felt there could have been more of it. I would have happily have read dozens of extra pages just to have more detail about this fascinating world. The start of the book is a little confusing as the reader is dropped in, just as Buc and Eld are extricated from a whole pile of trouble and launched into an impossible quest. Overall, The Sin in the Steel is a really enjoyable fantasy and I'll be looking for a second installment.
July 19, 2020
Buc and Eld are hired/blackmailed to solve a case and discover why ships are disappearing. They must do this in a world full of magic, warring religions, and cutthroat pirates. Luckily, Buc and Eld themselves are cutthroat and do whatever they must to solve this mystery and win back their freedom through an adventure on the high seas.
I am so impressed that this is a debut book for the author. The writing is well done and propels me forward in a complex world mixing magic and pirates. What really made this book for me are Buc and Eld. At just 17, Buc is a genius without mercy. At first I thought she was a little ridiculous and acted too tough, but soon I saw this was her and she is fully bada**. She takes charge in any situation and will swipe the head off a guy who insults her; thankfully, she doesn’t always have to as her bodyguard, Eld, will happily dispose of anyone who threatens her. They are a no-nonsense, violent pair who I was rooting for the entire time. There was a bit of romance that helped take away from the immense violence/gore that sometimes occurred, but that also gave it that darker, more mature adventure. What was missing for me in this novel was a bit more world building or explanation between the different religions and the magic they use.
If you like a darker read, don’t mind a lot of killing, and like a strong, young female lead with a penchant for getting herself out of seemingly impossible dangerous situations, you will love this book!
Thank you BookishFirst and Tor for a free copy in return for an honest review.
I am so impressed that this is a debut book for the author. The writing is well done and propels me forward in a complex world mixing magic and pirates. What really made this book for me are Buc and Eld. At just 17, Buc is a genius without mercy. At first I thought she was a little ridiculous and acted too tough, but soon I saw this was her and she is fully bada**. She takes charge in any situation and will swipe the head off a guy who insults her; thankfully, she doesn’t always have to as her bodyguard, Eld, will happily dispose of anyone who threatens her. They are a no-nonsense, violent pair who I was rooting for the entire time. There was a bit of romance that helped take away from the immense violence/gore that sometimes occurred, but that also gave it that darker, more mature adventure. What was missing for me in this novel was a bit more world building or explanation between the different religions and the magic they use.
If you like a darker read, don’t mind a lot of killing, and like a strong, young female lead with a penchant for getting herself out of seemingly impossible dangerous situations, you will love this book!
Thank you BookishFirst and Tor for a free copy in return for an honest review.
July 15, 2020
This was a really intriguing fantasy novel set in a unique world and I would hope more are written someday. The characters were great and even pulled through a couple of slower parts as I needed to know what happened next to Buc and Eld. The plot was a nice adventure with a touch of mystery. It was a little heavy in this world’s religious politics but that seemed to be intentional. The system of magic was quite unique which can be difficult to find so I thoroughly enjoyed that. Buc and Eld make their living by solving the unsolvable and Buc seems like a young, female, version of Sherlock Holmes at times. They get caught up into a case that takes them far from home and in constant risk of peril.
July 23, 2020
When I saw that this book was about pirates, dead gods, shape- shifting mages and a super smart teenager I was immediately intrigued. This looked like a crazy story and I wondered just how in the world would all of these elements come together to make a novel that wasn't goofy. The Sin In The Steel is an epic adventure novel. I loved the super smart totally crass Buc and her cohort Eld. Buc is a woman after my own heart and she has the mouth to match. The mages and their religions are interesting and I enjoyed the detail put into describing how each organization differs from the other. The story is not lacking in action and there was never a dull or boring moment while reading. I can not think of one bad thing to say about this novel and I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good adventure. I am looking forwarded to reading more from Ryan Van Loan!!
June 16, 2020
The Sin in the Steel
@gwendalun_books_
@torbooks
Van Loan high stakes, dark intrigue, action-packed, coming-of-age debut,
The Sin in the Steel is the first installment in the Fall of the Gods series.
An incredible fantasy experience with swashbuckling, high seas adventures.
A wonderful creative Sherlock/Watson duo. A teenage girl, known as Buc and her damaged soldier sidekick Eld. A sparkling world of dead gods, a pirate queen, shapeshifting mages in a stunning set diverse world.
#thesininthestee out from @torbooks 07.21.2020 and they are amazing! one
#book #bookstagram #fantasy #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #books #creativity #fuel #read #booklover #readers #readersofinstagram #goal #goals #lifegoals #bestseller #goodreads #hope #dreams #motivation #dothework #debut #thriller #thrilling #goodreads
@gwendalun_books_
@torbooks
Van Loan high stakes, dark intrigue, action-packed, coming-of-age debut,
The Sin in the Steel is the first installment in the Fall of the Gods series.
An incredible fantasy experience with swashbuckling, high seas adventures.
A wonderful creative Sherlock/Watson duo. A teenage girl, known as Buc and her damaged soldier sidekick Eld. A sparkling world of dead gods, a pirate queen, shapeshifting mages in a stunning set diverse world.
#thesininthestee out from @torbooks 07.21.2020 and they are amazing! one
#book #bookstagram #fantasy #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #books #creativity #fuel #read #booklover #readers #readersofinstagram #goal #goals #lifegoals #bestseller #goodreads #hope #dreams #motivation #dothework #debut #thriller #thrilling #goodreads
August 3, 2020
A fast paced, action packed, gripping and entertaining read.
I liked the good world building and character development and the excellent storytelling.
I can't wait to read the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I liked the good world building and character development and the excellent storytelling.
I can't wait to read the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 7, 2020
There wasn’t much to the sample, so I can’t say much, but I did want to read more, so it must’ve done something right! I liked all the characters that we met so far, and I can’t wait to read more, and see what happens to the characters in these stories.
I hope that we get to see exactly what happened to the mage, and I hope we find out why he killed the guy that he was working for. I love the premise of the story and I definitely want to read more, and explore the world more because it sounds like it’s a lot of fun, and something that I would enjoy reading!
The main character seems very likable. I love her sass, her wit, and she loves books! That’s always a plus. I want to see more of her interaction with her partner! They seem like a fun duo!
I hope that we get to see exactly what happened to the mage, and I hope we find out why he killed the guy that he was working for. I love the premise of the story and I definitely want to read more, and explore the world more because it sounds like it’s a lot of fun, and something that I would enjoy reading!
The main character seems very likable. I love her sass, her wit, and she loves books! That’s always a plus. I want to see more of her interaction with her partner! They seem like a fun duo!
July 25, 2020
I loved this story! It had everything. Action, mystery, horror, surprise twist at end and since it's the first of a series, the potential for more. Where better to read about shipwrecks, pirates and magic than the beach!!
August 3, 2020
The author is very talented with his prose and did a great job creating a voice that was authentic for the high seas. It was extremely fast-paced and the world building was on point; I love the term "Dead Gods" because it conjures up all sorts of cool images. A parallel can definitely be made between this book and Pirates of the Caribbean, from the , pirates and magic, to both this book and the movie creating a fictional version of the East India Trading Company. I loved Pirates of the Caribbean, so being able to revisit a world like this was a treat. It'll be fun to see where Buc and Eld go in the sequel.
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