3.0 

The Sin in the Steel

By Ryan Van Loan
The Sin in the Steel by Ryan Van Loan digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Ryan Van Loan's The Sin in the Steel is 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.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

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The Sin in the Steel Reviews

3.0
“A promising new fantasy novel with unexpected twists throughout The Sin in the Steel opens with the two main characters in immediate peril and doesn't slow down from there. Sambucina Alhurra, or Buc as she prefers, is a highly intelligent girl with a tough as nails upbringing. She parters with Eld, a no-nonsense ex-soldier who is the diplomatic half of the pair. Together they use their unique skills on various jobs. The two take a job to avoid the noose, and it leads to an adventure of epic proportions involving a trade war, pirate queen, a secret, and a war between the gods. Filled with twists and double-crosses, this book keeps you on your toes throughout. The ending naturally calls for another installment to see where the characters and the story continue. I did enjoy a few aspects of the book. Buc's intelligence and near uncanny ability to recall information were quite refreshing to see highlighted in a female protagonist. I do wish she used it more instead of just plans that seem to work out by chance or coincidence. Also I did enjoy the fact that she doesn't hesitate to speak her mind, using whatever language she deems fit. The book is filled with great vocabulary, but some terms are overused or seem out of place based on the theme and period of the setting. I also feel that this book would highly benefit from a glossary of terms in either the beginning or the end of the book. There are quite a few terms and descriptions that are specific to the story, and having the definition would benefit the reader. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and I really look forward to following this story in any potential books or stories in the future.”
“unfortunately I have a DNF review to share with you today, but I also want to share why I think this isn’t a bad book. This was more of a case of right book, wrong person. I don’t really connect with or enjoy books if they are too intense or graphic. I know this sounds strange, because I love thrillers, but if a book is too intense then I just can’t enjoy it. That was the case with this book. I actually loved the prose and the main character; Buc was so witty, so I found myself drawn to her and rooting for her from the first page. However, the other main character, Eld, was an ex-soldier and there were some scenes where he shared about his soldier experience that I really struggled to get through. It was after this point I decided I should just stop reading. I also found the worldbuilding very unique and slightly confusing, but I have a feeling that my questions would’ve been answered had I kept reading. If you like action-packed stories with gruff and strong-willed heroes, you might really enjoy this book! I hope you do, if you decide to read it!”

About Ryan Van Loan

RYAN VAN LOAN served six years in the US Army Infantry, on the front lines of Afghanistan. He now works in healthcare innovation. The Sin in the Steel is his debut novel. Van Loan and his wife live in Pennsylvania.

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