Like the first in the series, this was a fun read, but in the end it didn't catch me quite as much. The pacing in here is pretty erratic, where at points it's going so slow and other points where everything is happening all at once. I did like the new characters added in here, but they felt a bit like a distraction from the storyline of the series.

Still, this series is good for interesting characters with pretty fleshed-out backgrounds. There's some pretty stilted and cheesy dialogue at times, especially regarding the romances, but it was still a fun story.

So perilously, perilously close to being a five-star book. So close.

Let's start with how this book opens in the super-fun part of Happily Ever After, namely the bit that comes after that, when everything's gone to hell. I LOVE THIS. AUTHORS: DO MORE OF THIS.

No wait, let's start with how this book was everything I really wanted Bioshock: Infinite to be that it wasn't. I really felt some strong parallels between Booker DeWitt and Cedar Hunt, and Alabaster Saint and Zachary Comstock, and the whole corrupt-general-looking-for-post-Civil-War-revenge portion of the game.

And the airships! The airships are wonderful. They are probably my favorite airships ever, due in no small part to the sheer technical excellence of Monk's writing ("The ship's frame screeched under the strain of the dive, her tin bones singing out like a hundred wet fingers over fine crystal"), and how lyrically and extensively they are described. Let us pause here now for the wanton Thank You For Awesome Worldbuilding Dance.

*shimmies*

And just like in the first book, randomly lovely details appear unexpectedly but consistently, now with the added bonus of Captain Hink, who is hilarious. There is also a scene I am not going to spoil for you, but will simply say that it seemed an entirely accurate portrayal of what happens when a hero tries to get his swerve on while the rest of his airship crew is trying to sleep in the same room.

The disconnect between the steampunk Western and the dark fairy stories I felt in the first book don't appear in this one, mainly because the steampunk Western section has clobbered the fairy story into submission. The fairies kind of do their dark and evil thing around the edges of this great big glorious steampunk Western with AIRSHIPS, which I don't think I mentioned that I loved more than a day off, because I am very picky about my AIRSHIPS and having thought it over these are definitely my favorite AIRSHIPS ever.

I did kind of wish that the Madder brothers had had a larger role in the story, and I did object to a major impetus of the story being a thing that happened to one of the characters that I am only going to say HOY, ICEBOX (aka Booker, Catch!) at, which is why we are not seeing our elusive special friend Mr Fifth Star here. But seriously, there is so much *zzzzzip bang! whoosh!* here, and so much action and adventure (AIRSHIPS!) and so many beautiful things that I am hard-pressed to complain.

*recommences worldbuilding dance*

My chief objection to Book 1 in this series was the amount of time spent in the mind of the Bad Guy. This book spends more time than I liked in the mind of the Big Bad, but I found the balance better and didn't object as much. Plot is moving ahead, I am intrigued to see where it goes.

An enjoyable continuation of this fantasy/steampunk/western amalgamation! We not only continue to follow Ceder, Mae, Rose, and the Madder brothers, but are also joined by Wil the wolf and the introduction to Captain Hink of the airship "Swift" (hence the title.) I always love the airship parts of steampunk and this book has plenty of chases, narrow escapes, and burgeoning romance to keep you turning pages. The only downside is that the book's beginning is very abrupt and may leave you wondering how they got to this event. Apparently there is a novella that takes place just before this which should be read to bridge the gap between "Dead Iron" and "Tin Swift." However, I still enjoyed the story and looking forward to the next installment.

I won't say that I loved this but I won't say that I hated it - this got a three star rating because it added one thing that wasn't in the book prior - romance - now, I am a happily married man, so I believe in love, but NOT in my adventure stories - I mean, that is when TV shows go down hill, is when they start to pair of characters - I enjoyed the story itself, and the use of airships and even the new characters - but I could do without the part of people opening to take in the warmth of their romance - just give me the story - save the love for romance novels please - this makes me hesitate for book three -

Second in the Age of Steam steampunk western series for young adults and taking place after the Civil War in America.


My Take
Another riveting tale from Devon Monk as I read with heart in mouth while this party of refugees from Oregon brave the Strange and keep trying to escape aboard the marshal's tin airship.

i don't feel at all sorry for Rose and her condition. Stupid twit just had to waste time in that tiny town. Admittedly, for a good cause, but, in my opinion, the danger outweighed the morality. Then again, discovering what moves in town is too important not to destroy…

Airship pursuits, sky battles, betrayals, and Frankenstein-like operations abound. And Alun speculates that Rose has some of the old blood, a gift from the El, when she doesn't die right away.


The Story
We take up with our band of refugees from Dead Iron while they're on the trail heading back to Kansas before Mae goes completely insane. Hunt intends to see Mae safe, but the Madders have their own agenda.

Their encounters with the townsfolk of Vicinity in the Idaho Territory throws everything apart. The Strange is at work and a piece has embedded itself in Rose. The rising could spell the end for our travelers, but Hink and his Swift just happen to be in the right place for a rescue.

Meanwhile, Saint's allies are hunting the Swift. Captain Hink may be looking to shut down illegal glim mines, but Saint is looking to shut down Hink.


The Characters
Cedar Hunt is under a Pawnee curse to turn into a wolf on every full moon. Only it seems that the change may be pushing its way to other times of the month. He's promised the Madders he'll help them hunt down the seven pieces of the Holder, a powerful weapon that could destroy the world, in return for the help they gave with his brother. Wil Hunt is his brother cursed in reverse to turn into a man when the moon is at its smallest.

Other members of the party of travelers include Rose Small, a tinkerer with glim and anything mechanical. She's of a mind to see the world. Hunt is in love with Mae Lindson, the widowed witch whose worsening condition forces their pace. The three Madder brothers have their own agenda. Alun is the oldest, Bryn the middle, and Cadoc is the youngest. All of them even more talented with devices, gadgets, and matics than Rose.

Captain Hink, a.k.a., U.S. Marshal Paisley Cage, commands the Swift in his undercover role as a glim miner while he hunts down those engaged in illegal activities. Mr. Seldon is his second-in-command and quite efficient; Molly Gregor is the boilerman; Guffin swears in a number of languages, and Lum Ansell sings opera when the going gets tough.

Captain Beaumont of the Coin du Paradis and his passengers Sophie Dupuis, Otto Theobald (Sophie's lover), and Joonie Wright are a group with a mission and a desire for Hunt to join them.

Mae's old coven fears her even as the binding they forced on her is driving her mad. Miss Adaline is the head bitch, er, witch of the coven. And what a bunch of hypocrites!

General Alabaster Saint was a bloodthirsty monster in the Union Army whom Cage testified against. Saint is not a forgiving man and he wants revenge. Along the way, he intends to claim the West as his own. Lieutenant Foster is Saint's crippled sidekick. Les Mullins was the captain of the Iron Draught.

Old Jack is a crook who runs a trading post that can repair airships. Just don't ever turn your back on him.

Mr. Shunt is a Strange. Sewn together and kept going with glim. A dangerous, unkillable monster. I do rather like the deal he makes with Saint...heh-heh-heh...

The Strange are from another world and need bodies to operate in ours.


The Cover
It's an action-packed cover with wolf shifter Cedar Hunt watching for an attack, his "steam" rifle ready to be juked to his shoulder, his long leather coat swirling with the wind while the Swift herself hovers overhead.

The title is all about Marshal Cage's unique ship, his Tin Swift.

So good. SO. GOOD. I really liked the first book, but if I had any doubts, they were erased by the sequel. The story opened intensely and kept up a fantastic pace until the explosive ending. This story was steampunk at its heart with daring chases, rescues, constant peril, romance, and an ending that honestly kept me up at night. I couldn't have put it down if I wanted to. Favourite characters like Cedar, Mae, Rose, and the Madder brothers returned, and we were introduced to new characters like Captain Hink, who is my absolute favourite airship captain EVER. Everything you want in a captain, he's got it. Then there were the villains, who were beyond devious and evil. Terrifying and fantastic to read about. The story took a slow point just past the halfway mark, but I was still immersed because it was filled with passion, tenderness, and built to a battle of epic proportions. I felt like I was right there with the characters. There's so much uniqueness to this book and this series in general. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who enjoys supernatural steampunk adventures with daring airship captains. Best thing is, this book holds well as a standalone. But why would you do that to yourself when there are two other books to snare your attention and take you on more wild adventures?

Started little slow but picked up. Good new characters. Exciting ending.

I have been a fan of Devon Monk for quite some time. I like how she has her different voices for each of eight [so far] series. This series is steampunk western. I enjoyed book one a few years ago then waited to be in the right mood for book two. They are on my keeper shelf.
Sometimes I have voices narrate a book as I read them. This one had the cast from Firefly, the wonderful and sadly short-lived television series. It was a perfect chorus in my cranium.
This story has an intriguing premise, great characters, dialogue that sparks, and the chemistry between the characters is sublime.
The bad is creepy bad and there are so many different big- bads in this book. This was my back patio book which meant I read it in daylight which was good for me and my vivid imagination.
I can highly recommend this book, series and author.

I won't say that I loved this but I won't say that I hated it - this got a three star rating because it added one thing that wasn't in the book prior - romance - now, I am a happily married man, so I believe in love, but NOT in my adventure stories - I mean, that is when TV shows go down hill, is when they start to pair of characters - I enjoyed the story itself, and the use of airships and even the new characters - but I could do without the part of people opening to take in the warmth of their romance - just give me the story - save the love for romance novels please - this makes me hesitate for book three -