A few years after the American Civil War, a small wagon train travels from the untamed west towards Kansas, on a mission of mercy and a hunt for a mysterious weapon.
TIN SWIFT is the second book in Devon Monk's The Age of Steam series. It's set in a magical world that's part Old West and part supernatural myth. The travelers are two brothers cursed by the Pawnee; a woman with a gift to build and operate machines; a witch compelled to return to her coven; and three men driven to find the deadly weapon known as the Holder.
When the travelers find themselves in a ghost town with nowhere to turn, aid swoops down from the sky. The tin airship and its crew are in a rough spot of their own, but they can't turn their backs on people in need. The two groups soon learn they have some common goals and team up to battle the forces of darkness.
I've been aware of the steampunk genre for years, but this is the first book I've read in the genre. It contains all of what I would consider the typical elements: an airship, a magical glowing green substance, goggles with special features, and lots of brass and gears. Throw in some werewolves, witches, and the Strange (an unexplained alien-like group), and it all feels very trendy.
That said, the story at the heart of TIN SWIFT is compelling. The good guys are likeable, and the bad guys are terrifying. In a nod to realism, the characters don't come out of the adventure unscathed. I also like the "old world" feel of the dialogue; for example, even partners and friends call each other mister and miss, and it means something when they use someone's first name.
If you enjoy the steampunk subculture, like alternate histories, or appreciate stories that blend fantasy and science fiction elements, TIN SWIFT provides a thrilling read that's tough to put down.
In steam age America, men, monsters, machines and magic
battle to claim the same scrap of earth and sky. In this
chaos, one man fights to hold on to his humanity--and his
honor. . .
Life on the frontier is full of deceit and danger, but
bounty hunter Cedar Hunt is a man whose word is his bond.
Cursed with becoming a beast every full moon, Cedar once
believed his destiny was to be alone. But now, Cedar finds
himself saddled with a group of refugees, including the
brother he once thought lost.
Keeping his companions alive is proving to be no easy task,
in part because of the promise he made to the unpredictable
Madder brothersβthree miners who know the secret mechanisms
of the Strange. To fulfill his pledge, Cedar must hunt a
powerful weapon known as the Holderβa search that takes him
deep into the savage underbelly of the young country and
high into the killing glim-field skies defended by desperate
men and deadly ships.
But the battles he faces are just a glimmer of a growing war
stirring the country. To keep his word Cedar must navigate
betrayal, lies, and treacherous alliances, risking
everything to save the lives of those he has come to hold
dearβ¦
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