Let’s get it out of the way. Cold Iron is an excellent book. Miles Cameron is a great author. You need to read this book. While you’re at it, read all of his other books. They’re just as good. Cameron writes swords and armor like no one else. His fight scenes are the greatest I have ever read. I’ve even learned some important life lessons from his work. GRRM could learn quite a bit from Cameron. This is my review.
Pros:
1. Superb world-building
Cameron’s world building is some of the most convincing I have ever read. A lot of fantasy worlds are built around a single idea (i.e. the magic system). The danger of this is that sometimes the story lives or dies based on the idea, and it also is not as convincing. Our own world has so many elements to it, so reducing fantastical worlds to a single element sometimes cheapens the feeling of immersion. Cameron, on the other hand, has put a lot of thought into Cold Iron’s cosmology, religion, historical analogues, material culture, beliefs, politics, and society. Because of this, he easily sidesteps the common fantasy problem of exposition dump. Because he has interwoven his world so effectively, when his characters curse by pantheons we have never heard of, it still sounds believable because it is a fundamental part of the world. I also want to point out Cameron’s mastery of material culture and economics. Too often in fantasy the only parts of material culture we get to see are the arms and armor. Cameron talks about leather-making, jewel-making, calligraphy, industry, farming, and tutoring. These things cost money, and so the characters in Cold Iron think about how much items cost, how they are made, the quality they are built with, etc. The result is that the world feels incredibly lived in. There are lives and activities outside the main character that move on with or without his presence. This is a skill that I have not often seen in the fantasy novel business, and it makes Cameron’s work truly stand out.
2. Amazing action scenes with realistic understanding of arms and armor.
Cameron is a reenactor and martial artist, and it truly shows in his fight scenes. Cold Iron has a series of sword fights that place the reader in the midst of the action. Cameron is able to explain the technical aspects of a fight in such a way that the average layman has a clear understanding, yet still remain technical enough that we know we are reading about professionals who know their business in ways that we cannot. His integration of his magic system with his martial qualities are also very well-thought out. For example, in one scene, the main character casts a spell (for lack of a better word) that allows him to see magical power displayed in different colors, which is basically magical night-vision. It’s amazing, partly because, of course someone should come up with a spell like that.
3. Realistic characters
The best part of a Cameron book are the characters. No character is stock. Each one has layers and layers. In my opinion, Miles Cameron writes the best banter of military men and women in the business. Hands down. I will fight you over this. There were lines that had me laughing out loud. And it’s not just military people either. The farmers, shopkeepers, and food sellers are all wonderfully alive and real. Not only are his characters alive, but they also are very realistic. Mainly, because some of his young characters can be very dumb, because young people are usually very dumb. Part of the coming-of-age genre is when the protagonist grows up and realizes just how stupid he or she is. Aranthur is a young man. Most young men think with their groins. This is what Aranthur does. He is also super focused and shuts things and people out. He also doesn’t always use his time well. He gets involved in things he shouldn’t, etc. This leads to many humorous situations that provide excellent story material.
One of the important themes Cameron deals with in Cold Iron is racism. I found his treatment of the topic to be very compelling, and he asks some very piercing questions. Is a person evil if he despises another race? What if he is your uncle? Or your mother? Does that make them irredeemable? These are difficult questions to answer. Aranthur certainly doesn’t have answers and his journey and development in these areas is part of what makes the story so captivating. I did have some issues with this, which I discuss below, but overall, Cameron does a good job of capturing the complexities of his wonderful universe.
Also, my favorite character is Ansu who is basically an incredibly horny Asian guy.
Cons:
1. Themes are a little on the nose this time around.
I’ve read every single Cameron book written (all 36, yes, I might have a problem), and he tends to have themes in his works. In the vast majority of his work, his themes are beautifully interwoven into his characters, world, and plot. I found Cold Iron’s themes regarding refugees, cultures, and societal views to be a bit on the nose and preachy this time around. Mind you, this is in comparison to himself, and when it comes to Cameron’s work, I’m not the most objective reviewer. To another reader, it may not be as obvious.
2. Clearly setup for a second book.
Cold Iron is the first book in a trilogy (Book 2: Anvil of Darkness, Book 3: Lightbringer, tentatively). This book sets up further action and asks future questions. Who is the Master? Who are the Pure? Why are they conquering everyone? Who is Ansu going to bang next? Important questions. For those who like standalone books, this book may not be for them, but most of those people are wrong.
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About the author
Introduction to a deep new world full of great characters and interesting lands and swords
This book / series is the best of all Mr. Cameron's previous writings combined in one. As I got deeper into the story I was surprised at the depth and even how the story reflects our current times. The plots are multilevel in nature. Our hero is an everyman ... there are also many strong female leads... magik .... sword fights, gorgeous ladies (and men), travels, spying, refugees, plagues and grand battles and or course a huge magikal city. No detail is to small yet we are not burden by them either. Miles blends magik with swords fights like no other writer I have read. This work is supported by an online readers guide too. I said this is an introduction as this story reveals to us a new land and its history and complex workings.... there is still much more to learn and experience... The book ends on a cliff... 2019 and book 2 can not come to soon.
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