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Cold Iron #1
Cold Iron
For fans of Jeaniene Frost and Kresley Cole, this full-length novel is the first in D.L. McDermott’s fast-paced, sexy paranormal romance series—available exclusively in ebook!
The Fae, the Good Neighbors, the Fair Folk, the Aes Sídhe, creatures of preternatural beauty and seduction. Archaeologist Beth Carter doesn’t believe in them. She’s always credited her extraordinary ability to identify ancient Celtic sites to hard work and intuition—until she discovers a tomb filled with ancient treasure but missing a body. Her ex-husband, the scholar who stifled her career to advance his own, is unconcerned. Corpses don’t fetch much on the antiquities market. Gold does. Beth knows from past experience that if she isn’t vigilant, Frank will make off with the hoard.
So when a man—tall, broad shouldered, and impossibly handsome—turns up in her bedroom claiming to be the tomb’s inhabitant, one of mythic god-kings of old Ireland, Beth believes it is a ploy cooked up by her ex-husband to scare her away from the excavation.
But Conn is all too real. Ancient, alien, irresistible, the Fae are the stuff of dreams and nightmares, their attentions so addictive their abandoned human lovers wither and die. And this one has fixed his supernatural desire on Beth.
The Fae, the Good Neighbors, the Fair Folk, the Aes Sídhe, creatures of preternatural beauty and seduction. Archaeologist Beth Carter doesn’t believe in them. She’s always credited her extraordinary ability to identify ancient Celtic sites to hard work and intuition—until she discovers a tomb filled with ancient treasure but missing a body. Her ex-husband, the scholar who stifled her career to advance his own, is unconcerned. Corpses don’t fetch much on the antiquities market. Gold does. Beth knows from past experience that if she isn’t vigilant, Frank will make off with the hoard.
So when a man—tall, broad shouldered, and impossibly handsome—turns up in her bedroom claiming to be the tomb’s inhabitant, one of mythic god-kings of old Ireland, Beth believes it is a ploy cooked up by her ex-husband to scare her away from the excavation.
But Conn is all too real. Ancient, alien, irresistible, the Fae are the stuff of dreams and nightmares, their attentions so addictive their abandoned human lovers wither and die. And this one has fixed his supernatural desire on Beth.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2014
42 people are currently reading
2482 people want to read
About the author
D.L. McDermott
5 books102 followersD. L. McDermott is the pen name of television writer and historical fiction novelist Donna Thorland. Currently a writer on the WGN historical drama, SALEM, Donna graduated from Yale with a degree in Classics and Art History and managed architecture and interpretation at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem for several years. She earned an MFA in film production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, has been a Disney/ABC Television Writing Fellow and a WGA Writer’s Access Project Honoree, and has written for the TV shows Cupid and Tron: Uprising. The director of several award-winning short films, her most recent project aired on WNET Channel 13. Her fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Her Revolutionary War novels are published by Penguin NAL and she writes urban fantasy for Pocket under the name DL McDermott. Donna is married with two cats and splits her time between Salem and Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
February 7, 2014
Oh, Fae
This was a great paranormal romance. Highly sensual, great worldbuilding, fabulous characters, compelling plot... All great stuff!
We begin with our heroine, Beth Carter, and her absolute arsehole of an ex-husband on an archaeological dig in Ireland. Beth is a fantastic heroine. She's kind of a doormat, and her ex treats her abominably, but she really was great to read. Her journey from the girl in the opening pages, to the woman at the end, was nothing short of momentous.
During the dig, Beth unknowingly awakens Fae warrior Conn. Now Conn was interesting because he's every bit the cold, unfeeling, superior being you might expect from an ancient Fae. He looks down his nose at humans and uses his glamour (compulsion) without qualm. He sees Beth, initially, as someone to take to bed, as is his right, even knowing it will leave her unable to function afterwards. Naturally, therefore, it took a lot longer to warm up to his character than Beth's!
Aside from the sexual connection and a few early interludes, the relationship between Beth and Conn actually progressed fairly slowly due to Beth's mistrust and reticence. However, once the bond began to form it seemed to catch like wildfire. The switch over from lust to love was a little abrupt for my liking. Especially from Conn's side, considering how he was at the start. However, that was probably my only blip in what was, overall, a really enjoyable story.
As well as the romance, COLD IRON also has a really great storyline - A search for a missing sword on the rough Southie streets. We meet some compelling secondary characters that are sure to take centre stage in future instalments, and also have plenty of opportunities to jeer and the slimy villain that is Beth's self-serving ex-husband. Grr!
A highly recommended read!
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great paranormal romance. Highly sensual, great worldbuilding, fabulous characters, compelling plot... All great stuff!
We begin with our heroine, Beth Carter, and her absolute arsehole of an ex-husband on an archaeological dig in Ireland. Beth is a fantastic heroine. She's kind of a doormat, and her ex treats her abominably, but she really was great to read. Her journey from the girl in the opening pages, to the woman at the end, was nothing short of momentous.
During the dig, Beth unknowingly awakens Fae warrior Conn. Now Conn was interesting because he's every bit the cold, unfeeling, superior being you might expect from an ancient Fae. He looks down his nose at humans and uses his glamour (compulsion) without qualm. He sees Beth, initially, as someone to take to bed, as is his right, even knowing it will leave her unable to function afterwards. Naturally, therefore, it took a lot longer to warm up to his character than Beth's!
Aside from the sexual connection and a few early interludes, the relationship between Beth and Conn actually progressed fairly slowly due to Beth's mistrust and reticence. However, once the bond began to form it seemed to catch like wildfire. The switch over from lust to love was a little abrupt for my liking. Especially from Conn's side, considering how he was at the start. However, that was probably my only blip in what was, overall, a really enjoyable story.
As well as the romance, COLD IRON also has a really great storyline - A search for a missing sword on the rough Southie streets. We meet some compelling secondary characters that are sure to take centre stage in future instalments, and also have plenty of opportunities to jeer and the slimy villain that is Beth's self-serving ex-husband. Grr!
A highly recommended read!
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2014
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
WOW! I love finding out new books that grip me this way.
I'm not overly fond of Fae books, but his one was very, very interesting.
Here we have a really bloodthirsty Fae! They're immoral, cruel, and beautiful. They have power and they use it and abuse it without thought.
Even our hero, Conn is like that. He's powerful and he knows it. And he's enjoying it at its fullest.
When he meets Beth, he just want to own her. But his complusion, which have worked so well until then, doesn't work on Beth. She fights him in a very literal sense, even if she's not completly immune to him.
And that's just the start.
Conn is faced with something he hasn't faced since his imprisonment by the Druids. First he's confused and intrigued by her resistance. Then he begins understanding what he's facing in Beth - his worst enemy !
Beth starts as a perfect damisel in distress. Her childhood was strict, she was ridiculed by her family. Her marriage was bad... very bad: she was exploited by her husband and betrayed by him both as a woman and as an archelogist. But she's still fighting.
Both Beth and Conn have a lot of "growing up" to do here.
She to become a free woman, and Conn to understand that Fae are not withour feelings, but have only forgotten them during their long lives.
But beside the main characters and their growing, I enjoyed the description of Fae and their ways. Their behavior is, curiously, very appealing. Their cruelty is almost those of a child that hurts because it can, without thinking about the consequences or other's feeling.
Both Conn and Miach are like that. And Beth confuses them. At the same time she's making them re-think what they want and what they do. She makes them undestand that they're not as immune to compassion and love as they think they are.
I don't want to spoil the book for you and if I go on with this review I'll do exactly that, but I urge you to give it a try - it's woth it! :D
WOW! I love finding out new books that grip me this way.
I'm not overly fond of Fae books, but his one was very, very interesting.
Here we have a really bloodthirsty Fae! They're immoral, cruel, and beautiful. They have power and they use it and abuse it without thought.
Even our hero, Conn is like that. He's powerful and he knows it. And he's enjoying it at its fullest.
When he meets Beth, he just want to own her. But his complusion, which have worked so well until then, doesn't work on Beth. She fights him in a very literal sense, even if she's not completly immune to him.
And that's just the start.
Conn is faced with something he hasn't faced since his imprisonment by the Druids. First he's confused and intrigued by her resistance. Then he begins understanding what he's facing in Beth - his worst enemy !
Beth starts as a perfect damisel in distress. Her childhood was strict, she was ridiculed by her family. Her marriage was bad... very bad: she was exploited by her husband and betrayed by him both as a woman and as an archelogist. But she's still fighting.
Both Beth and Conn have a lot of "growing up" to do here.
She to become a free woman, and Conn to understand that Fae are not withour feelings, but have only forgotten them during their long lives.
But beside the main characters and their growing, I enjoyed the description of Fae and their ways. Their behavior is, curiously, very appealing. Their cruelty is almost those of a child that hurts because it can, without thinking about the consequences or other's feeling.
Both Conn and Miach are like that. And Beth confuses them. At the same time she's making them re-think what they want and what they do. She makes them undestand that they're not as immune to compassion and love as they think they are.
I don't want to spoil the book for you and if I go on with this review I'll do exactly that, but I urge you to give it a try - it's woth it! :D
December 30, 2013
I love reading Fae books and this was no exception. This book also combines a lot of things I enjoy reading about such as archaeology, Fae, Celtic history and Druids.
Beth’s character showed a lot of growth through the book. We learn of how she was stifled as a child and how her ex-husband treated her but also we see how strong she has become and that she can stand up for herself. I was not expecting the revelation about Beth although I should have expected it. It just helped to thicken the plot. I am glad to see that in the next book that we still follow Beth’s progress. I really enjoyed learning her heritage with her as well as seeing just how strong she really is. Beth’s best friend was a great character also I suspect we will see her more often in the next book.
What I am looking forward to the most in the next book is Beth’s training. I can’t wait to see what she is capable of and how she gets trained by a Fae. I also am looking forward to seeing how Miach progresses as he tries to get Helene to choose him. I have a feeling there may be some funny moments coming there. Conn was a perfect blend of arrogance and lethalness that he was a perfect Fae. The only thing I didn’t completely like was that Conn almost changed to fast and to perfectly in the book to become what he is by the end. However whether you believe it or not he is still a great addition to the story.
This series shows great promise and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book so that I can see what happens next. I am curious how the Prince finds his way back because I am sure in the future that he will along with the council. It may take a few books but that is my thoughts.
*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Beth’s character showed a lot of growth through the book. We learn of how she was stifled as a child and how her ex-husband treated her but also we see how strong she has become and that she can stand up for herself. I was not expecting the revelation about Beth although I should have expected it. It just helped to thicken the plot. I am glad to see that in the next book that we still follow Beth’s progress. I really enjoyed learning her heritage with her as well as seeing just how strong she really is. Beth’s best friend was a great character also I suspect we will see her more often in the next book.
What I am looking forward to the most in the next book is Beth’s training. I can’t wait to see what she is capable of and how she gets trained by a Fae. I also am looking forward to seeing how Miach progresses as he tries to get Helene to choose him. I have a feeling there may be some funny moments coming there. Conn was a perfect blend of arrogance and lethalness that he was a perfect Fae. The only thing I didn’t completely like was that Conn almost changed to fast and to perfectly in the book to become what he is by the end. However whether you believe it or not he is still a great addition to the story.
This series shows great promise and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book so that I can see what happens next. I am curious how the Prince finds his way back because I am sure in the future that he will along with the council. It may take a few books but that is my thoughts.
*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
March 17, 2014
Inconsistencies galore. Combined with plot holes. And mediocre writing. DNF at 60%.
Just a few points:
If fae can't stand being close to iron, and the iron in the church gates in the museum is enough to sting Conn, how is he able to get into a car? Which is made of steel. Which is basically iron.
Why does Conn leave Beth alone in the museum with the sword (that holds the potential to free the nasty fae and thus destroy the world and human society)? He could have stayed hidden in his glamor on the other side of the iron gate and wait for an opportunity to get it back. He decided to roam around instead.
Why does Miach leave the two women with the guys if he knows that his son is a traitor?
(And then there was the bad decision making - thrown in with the plot holes.)
Beth is basically TSTL, she ignores her instincts, changes her opinion by the minute and is totally naive in believing that she can salvage her career by proving her ex-husband's theft. But she was in possession of the stolen goods - why would anybody believe her, that it was not her who stole the stuff??? She decides that cleaning her name is more important than making sure the world is safe from the dangerous and lethal fae court. Self-centered much?
Nothing makes any sense.
Conn is a hunky fae, who changes from "I can rape you with a thought because I am a cruel, but beautiful fae. Oh, and I am cold and don't have feelings" to an infatuated Teddybear within a few pages. No explanation, but Beth being "special". Right. Especially stupid. But what can you do when insta-love has you in its ugly claws...
But Conn has nipple piercings, and did I mention that he is totally hot? Besides the totally wimpy metamorphosis into a sappy puppy. And his favourite compliment towards Beth? That she has "cow-eyes" - who could resist this kind of charm?
Just a few points:
If fae can't stand being close to iron, and the iron in the church gates in the museum is enough to sting Conn, how is he able to get into a car? Which is made of steel. Which is basically iron.
Why does Conn leave Beth alone in the museum with the sword (that holds the potential to free the nasty fae and thus destroy the world and human society)? He could have stayed hidden in his glamor on the other side of the iron gate and wait for an opportunity to get it back. He decided to roam around instead.
Why does Miach leave the two women with the guys if he knows that his son is a traitor?
(And then there was the bad decision making - thrown in with the plot holes.)
Beth is basically TSTL, she ignores her instincts, changes her opinion by the minute and is totally naive in believing that she can salvage her career by proving her ex-husband's theft. But she was in possession of the stolen goods - why would anybody believe her, that it was not her who stole the stuff??? She decides that cleaning her name is more important than making sure the world is safe from the dangerous and lethal fae court. Self-centered much?
Nothing makes any sense.
Conn is a hunky fae, who changes from "I can rape you with a thought because I am a cruel, but beautiful fae. Oh, and I am cold and don't have feelings" to an infatuated Teddybear within a few pages. No explanation, but Beth being "special". Right. Especially stupid. But what can you do when insta-love has you in its ugly claws...
But Conn has nipple piercings, and did I mention that he is totally hot? Besides the totally wimpy metamorphosis into a sappy puppy. And his favourite compliment towards Beth? That she has "cow-eyes" - who could resist this kind of charm?
September 7, 2016
Archaeologist Beth has a knack for finding sites of Celtic significance, career-wise she's shackled to her douche of an ex-husband who light-fingered valuable artifacts from their latest discovery in Ireland and he smuggled them into the States in her luggage, so that she'll take the fall if she tells. One of the items is a sword of great importance to the Fae, and its Guardian, ancient Fae warrior Conn, wants it back. But Conn also wants Beth - since somehow she can resist his glamor it makes the chase more of a challenge - but other Fae are on the hunt for the sword and for Beth too.
I really liked Cold Iron (which is still 1.99 on kindle at the time I posted this.) Conn starts out icy, alien and cold and far from hero material- Conn's accustomed to taking his due from the humans around him by using his ablity to control and compel. So initially, he's death in a beautiful and seductive package since the normal outcome of being touched by a Fae leads to obsession and a wasting death - not the stuff of any girl's romantic fantasy. However Conn decides he wants the challenge of winning Beth to his bed without his magic, and that pursuit gives him a chance to thaw before they hook up and the transition makes the nicely steamy romance work.
I started out feeling really sorry for Beth -her ex truly has her painted into a corner. But despite the fact that she has been so stomped on by her ex that she starts out pretty pathetic, Beth quickly decides to take her life back and she gains strength in her dealings with the Fae, and she grows to the point that by the end of the story she is a victim no longer.
The secondary characters of the Fae sorcerer Miach and Beth's friend Helen are strong and the set ups for them as the next up starring pair ( in Silver Skin which I pre-ordered) are all good and I also liked the character who I am guessing will be the lead in the third book (Stone Song). I am really looking forward to more of the Fae and where the story goes next.
I really liked Cold Iron (which is still 1.99 on kindle at the time I posted this.) Conn starts out icy, alien and cold and far from hero material- Conn's accustomed to taking his due from the humans around him by using his ablity to control and compel. So initially, he's death in a beautiful and seductive package since the normal outcome of being touched by a Fae leads to obsession and a wasting death - not the stuff of any girl's romantic fantasy. However Conn decides he wants the challenge of winning Beth to his bed without his magic, and that pursuit gives him a chance to thaw before they hook up and the transition makes the nicely steamy romance work.
I started out feeling really sorry for Beth -her ex truly has her painted into a corner. But despite the fact that she has been so stomped on by her ex that she starts out pretty pathetic, Beth quickly decides to take her life back and she gains strength in her dealings with the Fae, and she grows to the point that by the end of the story she is a victim no longer.
The secondary characters of the Fae sorcerer Miach and Beth's friend Helen are strong and the set ups for them as the next up starring pair ( in Silver Skin which I pre-ordered) are all good and I also liked the character who I am guessing will be the lead in the third book (Stone Song). I am really looking forward to more of the Fae and where the story goes next.
February 5, 2021
Was little wary of reading this book as Fae is one of my least favorite paranormal/fantasy creatures to read about but to my surprise I enjoyed this a lot, it was a great deal of fun. With an archeological main heroine and Fae love interest. A lot of sexual tension and a fun plot to go with is as well. Definitely going continue with this series!
March 31, 2016
Cold Iron is a unique story with well developed characters it takes place in our day and age which made the cover a little misleading as one could think that it is a historical romance but thankfully it isn't. It was tough to rate this book but I'll get to that later after thinking about it for two days I have come to the conclusion that it is 3.5 - 3.75 Star read. But as GR offers only be able to give either 3 Stars or 4 Stars I have rounded it up to 4 Stars.
The book had all needed elements to make it a spectacular read but in some places it fell short. The beginning started off really well and then it ebbed and after 30% it nearly became a DNF for me but thankfully after hitting 31 % it suddenly picked up.
Archaeologist Beth Carter is one of a kind in her field unfortunately she has been pushed into a corner by her ex husband who has lived off her finds when it comes to find Celtic burial grounds. He is a thief and a douchebag. They find a burial mound but all the gold is there but no body.
A few days ago, Beth would have insisted on driving - it was her town, after all - but after being skewered by a Fae sword, tattooed by a Fae sorcerer, and nearly ravished by her new Fae master, she felt cold and tired and couldn't stop shivering.
Conn has been set free and is the betrayer for his race the Aes Sídhe or the Fae. He needs a woman and goes after Beth unfortunately Frank has looted the burial and sends an important artifact back to the States.
Beth finds out something about herself which leads to a chain of events that could change everything. The book dragged out in certain places but it is very well done and I look forward to the next book.
Book received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The book had all needed elements to make it a spectacular read but in some places it fell short. The beginning started off really well and then it ebbed and after 30% it nearly became a DNF for me but thankfully after hitting 31 % it suddenly picked up.
Archaeologist Beth Carter is one of a kind in her field unfortunately she has been pushed into a corner by her ex husband who has lived off her finds when it comes to find Celtic burial grounds. He is a thief and a douchebag. They find a burial mound but all the gold is there but no body.
A few days ago, Beth would have insisted on driving - it was her town, after all - but after being skewered by a Fae sword, tattooed by a Fae sorcerer, and nearly ravished by her new Fae master, she felt cold and tired and couldn't stop shivering.
Conn has been set free and is the betrayer for his race the Aes Sídhe or the Fae. He needs a woman and goes after Beth unfortunately Frank has looted the burial and sends an important artifact back to the States.
Beth finds out something about herself which leads to a chain of events that could change everything. The book dragged out in certain places but it is very well done and I look forward to the next book.
Book received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 17, 2014
Cold Iron rocked! What a treat to find a new author that grabs your interest from the first page! McDermott catapults you into a world that has endless possibilities. Conn's story was an amazing start to this new series. He transforms right before our eyes with Beth as the catalyst to a new megacosm. Although Con and Beth's story is wonderful, the true alpha, in my opinion, was Miach. He exudes power and sex appeal in troves! Cold Iron would not have been what it is without McDermott interweaving Miach the way she bewitchingly did. The discovery of latent powers and hidden secrets fuel a non stop paranormal. A "Deosil" journey, creating magic at every turn. Lovers of all things Fae will find themselves encased in a rich story. Teaming with Fae magic, Druid powers, and fairytale charm. I highly recommend this book and know all bookish and wise friends will fall to its endless charms. I'm delighted to say the next story in the series, Silver Skin, and it will be Miach and Helene's story. I'm salivating for that one!
March 27, 2016
3.5 Stars
April 12, 2014
4 ½ Stars
Originally Posted at The Bookaholic Cat
Cold Iron is the first installment in the Cold Iron series by D.L. McDermott.
Reading a debut novel is almost like buying a lottery ticket (especially if there are not yet reviews for that book). You invest your money (time) and hope for a winning ticket (book). Sometimes you don’t win anything (a bad book), sometimes you get a small price (a book with some potential), other few times you get a second best price (a good book with a few problems) and rarely you get the winning ticket (a book that surprise you and leaves you wanting for more).
I played the lottery when I requested Cold Iron and I’m happy to say I got a winning ticket.
Beth Carter is an archaeologist trying to survive in a man’s world. Something made harder thanks to her ex-husband, Frank, and his manipulations. He has earned the recognition she deserved for her work and there is not much she can do about it. Even after divorcing him he continues to exploits Beth’s ability to identify ancient Celtic sites and gets the credit for it, but Beth is done with Frank and his antics, especially after he desecrated their latest site in Ireland, a tomb preserved in perfect condition, the only thing missing was the body of the inhabitant of the tomb, something Frank didn’t care about.
Beth is tired of Frank machinations, she knows he will try to scare her away from the site, so he can steal artifacts to sell them in the black market. What Beth wasn’t expecting was a man showing up in her room at the inn she was staying, saying his name is Conn and he’s the inhabitant of the tomb and asking for his missing sword. Beth thinks he’s an actor paid by Frank to scare her away. She has had enough and decides to return to the US to denounce Frank with the museum authorities.
In Boston, Beth is surprised when she receives a shipment made by Frank on her name. After further examination Beth discovers Frank mailed the artifacts under her name to incriminate her. But what really worries Beth is that Conn has come to Boston looking for her and his sword. After some encounters with him she can’t deny that he is what he says he is, one of the Fae. A ruthless “man” that won’t stop at anything to get what he wants, including her.
I really liked Beth; she’s a strong heroine that grows page after page. She has been used in the past and is tired of it, so she takes the reins of her life and is willing to do anything to survive, including allying with a man like Conn, whom she finds very attractive, attraction she won’t act upon because she knows the consequences of loving a Fae. They use the women and leave them to die after making them addicted to their “attentions”.
Conn is used to get what he wants when he wants, so when Beth says No to him he finds it frustrating but intriguing. Conn starts as a cold, unfeeling character until his interaction with Beth make him considering his actions. He knows he wants Beth as he hasn’t wanted anybody before, he also knows he needs to change for her to accept him, something not easily done after millennia of being simple a Fae and taking what he wants.
Beth and Conn’s relationship develops slowly, they not only need to learn to trust each other to be together, they also need to adjust to their circumstances, the Fae touch is addictive to humans and the last thing they want is for Beth to suffer from it. I really liked them together, I liked how Beth made Conn softer and I liked how Conn gave strength to Beth to become a better and stronger woman.
From the secondary characters I liked Beth’s friend, Helene, she’s sassy, smart and strong. The other character I really liked is the Fae, Miach MacCecht. Miach is mysterious in a good way, it’s clearly he has a good heart, a heart that is interested in Helene. The second book,Silver Skin, will be their book and saying I can’t wait to read it is the understatement of the year.
The Fae D.L. McDermott gives us in her debut novel are the ones I like, they are not sweet and caring, they are scary and unfeeling, just the way I imagine them to be. At the same time “some of them” are redeemable, they just need to find a good woman to make them want to be better. That was the case of Conn; seeing him go through that transformation was a very nice treat.
The world D.L. McDermott created in Cold Iron is complex and solid. The plot is engaging and with enough twists and turns to have you glued to the pages and leave you wanting for more. So much, that I’m counting the days left to April 14th, to get my hands on the next installment of this series, Silver Skin.
Originally Posted at The Bookaholic Cat
Cold Iron is the first installment in the Cold Iron series by D.L. McDermott.
Reading a debut novel is almost like buying a lottery ticket (especially if there are not yet reviews for that book). You invest your money (time) and hope for a winning ticket (book). Sometimes you don’t win anything (a bad book), sometimes you get a small price (a book with some potential), other few times you get a second best price (a good book with a few problems) and rarely you get the winning ticket (a book that surprise you and leaves you wanting for more).
I played the lottery when I requested Cold Iron and I’m happy to say I got a winning ticket.
Beth Carter is an archaeologist trying to survive in a man’s world. Something made harder thanks to her ex-husband, Frank, and his manipulations. He has earned the recognition she deserved for her work and there is not much she can do about it. Even after divorcing him he continues to exploits Beth’s ability to identify ancient Celtic sites and gets the credit for it, but Beth is done with Frank and his antics, especially after he desecrated their latest site in Ireland, a tomb preserved in perfect condition, the only thing missing was the body of the inhabitant of the tomb, something Frank didn’t care about.
Beth is tired of Frank machinations, she knows he will try to scare her away from the site, so he can steal artifacts to sell them in the black market. What Beth wasn’t expecting was a man showing up in her room at the inn she was staying, saying his name is Conn and he’s the inhabitant of the tomb and asking for his missing sword. Beth thinks he’s an actor paid by Frank to scare her away. She has had enough and decides to return to the US to denounce Frank with the museum authorities.
In Boston, Beth is surprised when she receives a shipment made by Frank on her name. After further examination Beth discovers Frank mailed the artifacts under her name to incriminate her. But what really worries Beth is that Conn has come to Boston looking for her and his sword. After some encounters with him she can’t deny that he is what he says he is, one of the Fae. A ruthless “man” that won’t stop at anything to get what he wants, including her.
I really liked Beth; she’s a strong heroine that grows page after page. She has been used in the past and is tired of it, so she takes the reins of her life and is willing to do anything to survive, including allying with a man like Conn, whom she finds very attractive, attraction she won’t act upon because she knows the consequences of loving a Fae. They use the women and leave them to die after making them addicted to their “attentions”.
Conn is used to get what he wants when he wants, so when Beth says No to him he finds it frustrating but intriguing. Conn starts as a cold, unfeeling character until his interaction with Beth make him considering his actions. He knows he wants Beth as he hasn’t wanted anybody before, he also knows he needs to change for her to accept him, something not easily done after millennia of being simple a Fae and taking what he wants.
Beth and Conn’s relationship develops slowly, they not only need to learn to trust each other to be together, they also need to adjust to their circumstances, the Fae touch is addictive to humans and the last thing they want is for Beth to suffer from it. I really liked them together, I liked how Beth made Conn softer and I liked how Conn gave strength to Beth to become a better and stronger woman.
From the secondary characters I liked Beth’s friend, Helene, she’s sassy, smart and strong. The other character I really liked is the Fae, Miach MacCecht. Miach is mysterious in a good way, it’s clearly he has a good heart, a heart that is interested in Helene. The second book,Silver Skin, will be their book and saying I can’t wait to read it is the understatement of the year.
The Fae D.L. McDermott gives us in her debut novel are the ones I like, they are not sweet and caring, they are scary and unfeeling, just the way I imagine them to be. At the same time “some of them” are redeemable, they just need to find a good woman to make them want to be better. That was the case of Conn; seeing him go through that transformation was a very nice treat.
The world D.L. McDermott created in Cold Iron is complex and solid. The plot is engaging and with enough twists and turns to have you glued to the pages and leave you wanting for more. So much, that I’m counting the days left to April 14th, to get my hands on the next installment of this series, Silver Skin.
February 23, 2014
I am not sure why this series is considered dark. Sure it's not fluffy and uberlight, but it doesn't fall into my category of dark. The People of tradition are cruel and uncaring [think Pratchett's Lords and Ladies], but those here aren't gruesomely so. They simply are Fae.
And none of those important in the story are really such. The Betrayer comes out as a nice misunderstood guy, Micah as a patriarch defending his family. Meh.
As a purely personal peeve, the love in a week storyline is never my cup. But I appreciate that the author made a well defined stand separating lust and love. I didn't feel the second, I got no idea why the two fell for each other. But it is an almost "fresh" start when a PNR author doesn't try to shove down my troat the insta/love/lust.
Overall it's a nice PNR, but nothing to talk about. I enjoyed reading it, but it's too standard to be really engaging. Once ended, nothing really stands out. Still, I'm probably going to read the second.
And none of those important in the story are really such. The Betrayer comes out as a nice misunderstood guy, Micah as a patriarch defending his family. Meh.
As a purely personal peeve, the love in a week storyline is never my cup. But I appreciate that the author made a well defined stand separating lust and love. I didn't feel the second, I got no idea why the two fell for each other. But it is an almost "fresh" start when a PNR author doesn't try to shove down my troat the insta/love/lust.
Overall it's a nice PNR, but nothing to talk about. I enjoyed reading it, but it's too standard to be really engaging. Once ended, nothing really stands out. Still, I'm probably going to read the second.
December 28, 2013
I received an ARC of this book.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, I've read books similar to this one about the Fae but didn't really get hooked. I really liked this book and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
The author focuses on the real Fae, not the cute little fairies people often think of. The story revolves around a woman who had some not so good things happen to her in the past but the author portrays her as a strong female which I like. When she comes up against the main male character she doesn't give in to him, which I kind of expected.
I thought it was well written and it kept my attention. I liked the characters and how the Fae had to fight internally with the behavior they are predisposed towards and what is expected when dealing with humans.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, I've read books similar to this one about the Fae but didn't really get hooked. I really liked this book and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
The author focuses on the real Fae, not the cute little fairies people often think of. The story revolves around a woman who had some not so good things happen to her in the past but the author portrays her as a strong female which I like. When she comes up against the main male character she doesn't give in to him, which I kind of expected.
I thought it was well written and it kept my attention. I liked the characters and how the Fae had to fight internally with the behavior they are predisposed towards and what is expected when dealing with humans.
February 18, 2014
Originally published at The Book Pushers
I have serious mixed feelings about this book.
On one side, the plot and worldbuilding were cool. We have an archaeologist with the talent for finding faery mounds and burial sites by “dowsing” through a map. And then she finds a burial mound that is still in use, because the fae folk, sometimes known as the Aes Sidhe or the Tuatha de Danaan, were not just real but a few of them are still around.
And they are not nice faeries; they are terrible and beautiful. The story even makes a nod to the Disneyfication of the fae by explaining that we created those sweet stories to explain away the original amoral versions.
Even the idea that the ancient Druids were not just real, but actually the enemies, make that the downright nemesis, of the fae, was an interesting concept.
However, when it got down to the actual hero and heroine, there were more than a few things that bothered me.
A lot.
Beth Carter, our heroine, is the archaelogist. She’s tremendously talented, but her entire career has been sabotaged by her ex-husband, who charms everyone else, but seriously abused her. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, you name it, he did it. And he’s still dealing out career abuse right, left and center, and she’s still taking that part.
I know academic politics are vicious, but that she never completely broke away set my teeth on edge.
And when she discovers the fae mound that contains the hero, Conn, things get even crazier. Because of course he’s instantly attracted to her, but because she’s suffered so much abuse she has completely buried her sexual impulses. And Conn has just the magic to “cure” her of all her trauma. The magic peen strikes again.
There’s even an element of the magic va-jay-jay, because Beth turns out to be the first woman who has ever made him feel anything emotional in centuries.
Then it turns out that Beth is a druid, even though she doesn’t know it. Her power is supposed to be so awesome, except that someone needs to die for her to come into her power. In the plot, it seems that she gets pregnant just so that she can have a miscarriage in the climax of the story and use the innocent sacrifice to gain her powers.
Beth just gets traumatized way too much and often, but Conn loving her cures all.
But while Beth keeps taking abuse, and getting kidnapped and drugged (again, her ex pulled that trick before) there’s the story of the fae living in the modern world, how they survive, and that some of them will do anything to bring the old ways back.
The secondary characters in the story were often more interesting than the main characters., Particularly the sorceror Miach who has sired a whole clan of half-fae and is the gang lord of South Boston. (I think his story is the next book in the series, and I want to read it)
However, the way that Beth gets not just beaten, but beaten up at every turn hit too many triggers for me. It’s great that she got past everything, but there was too much everything. I liked the plot, but not the way the heroine started out as a victim and kept getting victimized.
I give Cold Iron a C.
I have serious mixed feelings about this book.
On one side, the plot and worldbuilding were cool. We have an archaeologist with the talent for finding faery mounds and burial sites by “dowsing” through a map. And then she finds a burial mound that is still in use, because the fae folk, sometimes known as the Aes Sidhe or the Tuatha de Danaan, were not just real but a few of them are still around.
And they are not nice faeries; they are terrible and beautiful. The story even makes a nod to the Disneyfication of the fae by explaining that we created those sweet stories to explain away the original amoral versions.
Even the idea that the ancient Druids were not just real, but actually the enemies, make that the downright nemesis, of the fae, was an interesting concept.
However, when it got down to the actual hero and heroine, there were more than a few things that bothered me.
A lot.
Beth Carter, our heroine, is the archaelogist. She’s tremendously talented, but her entire career has been sabotaged by her ex-husband, who charms everyone else, but seriously abused her. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, you name it, he did it. And he’s still dealing out career abuse right, left and center, and she’s still taking that part.
I know academic politics are vicious, but that she never completely broke away set my teeth on edge.
And when she discovers the fae mound that contains the hero, Conn, things get even crazier. Because of course he’s instantly attracted to her, but because she’s suffered so much abuse she has completely buried her sexual impulses. And Conn has just the magic to “cure” her of all her trauma. The magic peen strikes again.
There’s even an element of the magic va-jay-jay, because Beth turns out to be the first woman who has ever made him feel anything emotional in centuries.
Then it turns out that Beth is a druid, even though she doesn’t know it. Her power is supposed to be so awesome, except that someone needs to die for her to come into her power. In the plot, it seems that she gets pregnant just so that she can have a miscarriage in the climax of the story and use the innocent sacrifice to gain her powers.
Beth just gets traumatized way too much and often, but Conn loving her cures all.
But while Beth keeps taking abuse, and getting kidnapped and drugged (again, her ex pulled that trick before) there’s the story of the fae living in the modern world, how they survive, and that some of them will do anything to bring the old ways back.
The secondary characters in the story were often more interesting than the main characters., Particularly the sorceror Miach who has sired a whole clan of half-fae and is the gang lord of South Boston. (I think his story is the next book in the series, and I want to read it)
However, the way that Beth gets not just beaten, but beaten up at every turn hit too many triggers for me. It’s great that she got past everything, but there was too much everything. I liked the plot, but not the way the heroine started out as a victim and kept getting victimized.
I give Cold Iron a C.
March 31, 2014
Fae lovers this is a must read new series. In Cold Iron, Ms. McDermott creates a fresh look at Fae and Druids. While the Fae Court is still locked away in a world away from ours, there are a few Fae still roaming freely on earth. Conn is such a fae. His home is disturbed by archeologists. The person of interest is Beth Carter. Beth possesses extra senses she is unable to explain. While her credit stealing ex-husband discounts her abilities, he has no qualms about abusing her to use them.
The characters in this story are fabulous. This is because they are not black or white. Each character contains different shades of "evil" in them. Evil not as the devil, but more a darkness which allows a person to become callous and lacking in morals. The degree is different for each main character as it is for each secondary character. For Beth, she comes across wholesome pure, until her heritage is uncovered. Will she be able to resist the power she is able to tap into? Time will tell. Rather than only one anti-hero in this book, there are two. One is Conn, the lead protagonist. The second is secondary yet important character, Miach. Both of these male fae are alpha males who will do what they need to make sure their families are protected. It seems a bit inhumane, but really, from an Eastern culture, not so much. This is no Disney fairy tale. This is a fairy tale on par with Grimm. This is why I like the book so much.
This world is gritty and filled with darkness which a person with power must constantly stay vigilant against. For a weak person, it would be too much. Beth starts out coming across as a weak-willed female cowed by her asshole ex-husband. As the story progresses, she strengthens and grows. This is a delight to witness. It's even better that as she becomes stronger, the men still treasure her and aren't afraid of her. They may be afraid of what she can do and what will happen if she falls into the wrong hands, but they don't fear her for her power nor do they want to strip it away from her. This is want made the story so good for me.
Ms. McDermott does a great job with the erotic part of this story. This is unexpected yet deliciously kinky at times. There is a hint of D/s which is to be expected when dominant males are in control. The provocative sex tied to a geas is rather hawt in a sexual submissive manner. The sexual chemistry between Beth and Conn is smoking. There are too few scenes of their rough sex. This is an Urban Fantasy rather than erotic romance so this is to be expected. The sex in this story gives it an added appealing erotic element. This is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next two books. This Urban Fantasy is recommended to fae lovers who also enjoy spicy sex.
*provided by Edelweiss
The characters in this story are fabulous. This is because they are not black or white. Each character contains different shades of "evil" in them. Evil not as the devil, but more a darkness which allows a person to become callous and lacking in morals. The degree is different for each main character as it is for each secondary character. For Beth, she comes across wholesome pure, until her heritage is uncovered. Will she be able to resist the power she is able to tap into? Time will tell. Rather than only one anti-hero in this book, there are two. One is Conn, the lead protagonist. The second is secondary yet important character, Miach. Both of these male fae are alpha males who will do what they need to make sure their families are protected. It seems a bit inhumane, but really, from an Eastern culture, not so much. This is no Disney fairy tale. This is a fairy tale on par with Grimm. This is why I like the book so much.
This world is gritty and filled with darkness which a person with power must constantly stay vigilant against. For a weak person, it would be too much. Beth starts out coming across as a weak-willed female cowed by her asshole ex-husband. As the story progresses, she strengthens and grows. This is a delight to witness. It's even better that as she becomes stronger, the men still treasure her and aren't afraid of her. They may be afraid of what she can do and what will happen if she falls into the wrong hands, but they don't fear her for her power nor do they want to strip it away from her. This is want made the story so good for me.
Ms. McDermott does a great job with the erotic part of this story. This is unexpected yet deliciously kinky at times. There is a hint of D/s which is to be expected when dominant males are in control. The provocative sex tied to a geas is rather hawt in a sexual submissive manner. The sexual chemistry between Beth and Conn is smoking. There are too few scenes of their rough sex. This is an Urban Fantasy rather than erotic romance so this is to be expected. The sex in this story gives it an added appealing erotic element. This is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next two books. This Urban Fantasy is recommended to fae lovers who also enjoy spicy sex.
*provided by Edelweiss
February 25, 2014
The synopsis says " For fans of Jeaniene Frost and Kresley Cole" I am a big fan of theirs and this book does NOT live up to that sentence.
While I cannot say that this book was not written well, I can say it was filled with hopelessness, depression and uncomfortable stress for the reader.
Conn was cold and manipulative for most of the first 50% of the book, Beth was horribly submissive and allowed herself to be beaten down and used by a abusive and horrible ex-husband for years. A candidate for TSTL for a good portion of the book.
The threat of death and torture was around every turn and made the novel less than entertaining for myself for a majority of the book. The ending was good, the results good but I can't give 4-5 Stars on the last 20% of the book.
This could have been a much better book for me but if you enjoy dystopian, hopelessness and depression then this might be your book. I might pick up the sequel but I doubt it at the moment since there are more entertaining books to read but you never know.
Bottom Line: Conn and Beth ended this book great, she proved to be smart and he was a good hero but when I spent 80% of the book NOT really enjoying the story, I give it 3 Stars and unless you are a literary masochist I think most people will feel the same.
While I cannot say that this book was not written well, I can say it was filled with hopelessness, depression and uncomfortable stress for the reader.
Conn was cold and manipulative for most of the first 50% of the book, Beth was horribly submissive and allowed herself to be beaten down and used by a abusive and horrible ex-husband for years. A candidate for TSTL for a good portion of the book.
The threat of death and torture was around every turn and made the novel less than entertaining for myself for a majority of the book. The ending was good, the results good but I can't give 4-5 Stars on the last 20% of the book.
This could have been a much better book for me but if you enjoy dystopian, hopelessness and depression then this might be your book. I might pick up the sequel but I doubt it at the moment since there are more entertaining books to read but you never know.
Bottom Line: Conn and Beth ended this book great, she proved to be smart and he was a good hero but when I spent 80% of the book NOT really enjoying the story, I give it 3 Stars and unless you are a literary masochist I think most people will feel the same.
June 15, 2019
Fey.
I am gonna be honest and say i have never really liked Fey or fairies. Read a few bad ones that really ruined it for me.
This book, however, surprised me. It was well -written, action packed and highly believable.
The characters seemed a little 'flat' to me though and I had no trouble in leaving it for a bit to read other books.
I would have giving it 3.5 Stars if i had the chance.
Read: 14/01/2016
1st rating: 3.5 stars
Genre/sub-genres: Fey/romance-action
Cover: 3 stars
Will I recommend: Hmm. Yes. I think I will. It’s no Laura Thalassa or Amelia Hutchins.
I am gonna be honest and say i have never really liked Fey or fairies. Read a few bad ones that really ruined it for me.
This book, however, surprised me. It was well -written, action packed and highly believable.
The characters seemed a little 'flat' to me though and I had no trouble in leaving it for a bit to read other books.
I would have giving it 3.5 Stars if i had the chance.
Read: 14/01/2016
1st rating: 3.5 stars
Genre/sub-genres: Fey/romance-action
Cover: 3 stars
Will I recommend: Hmm. Yes. I think I will. It’s no Laura Thalassa or Amelia Hutchins.
April 3, 2014
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
D.L. McDermott's new paranormal romance series, Cold Iron, got off to a fun if slightly bumpy start with Cold Iron. This series delves into Celtic mythology and the fae but places them in a modern setting. Some of the fae have always been part of our society, but others have been locked away for centuries. This book follows shy archeologist Beth and domineering warrior fae Conn.
One of Cold Iron's strongest aspects was the world building. The fae are not nice people in this book; they are cruel and uncaring, almost alien. They definitely do not feel or react like humans and have some very specific ideas on what we are good for. The human druids decided to turn against their fae masters and sent away as many of them as they could, unless there was a way they could use a specific fae here or there. These "useful" fae weren't sent to another dimension like most of their kin, but they were locked away in tombs until the druids had need of them. A few fae escaped the druids and have gone on to live at the fringes of society.
Conn is one of the fae that was locked away in a tomb and Beth unknowingly frees him. While they are in Ireland, you can see the old beliefs concerning the fae are still prevalent, but not all-consuming. The elder people respect Conn, but they also don't want to let him take Beth. They try to work around him without directly opposing him. It's an interesting dynamic. When Beth and Conn return to the US, the beliefs are completely different. No one believes in the fae here and Conn finds he has to learn how to work within the confines of this new society.
Cold Iron had some really fascinating characters. Beth is an archeologist that should be famous. She has a sixth-sense when it comes to choosing dig sites and is very capable. Her problem is that she made a horrible choice of a husband and now, even though they divorced, he is controlling her career since his name was attached to every dig they did while married. He already had a well-known reputation and he uses it to keep Beth down -- to make her feel like she can't strike out on her own because no one would finance her without him. Come to find out, there are even more sinister things that happened and continue to happen between Beth and her ex; I just felt so bad for the lady. She does come into her own in this book though and I am really interested to see her progress with her newfound abilities.
I wasn't quite as sold on Conn as I was on Beth. He started off as a pretty horrible character. He was one of the "god-kings" of old that thought humans were to be used and thrown away. He was basically a rapist back in the day, even though he used glamour to make the women think they are consenting. Then, when he was done with them, he would just leave them and they would waste away from want. When he first lays eyes on Beth, he decides he's going to take her and it's only the touch of cold iron that allows her to keep her wits. Throughout Cold Iron, Conn did learn what it means to love and wants to take care of Beth, but it was still kind of hard to forget his past. I did like him and Beth together and I do think he is a different person now, but it's almost like his past was glossed over and the reader wasn't meant to think too hard about how terrible he was before.
As much as I did enjoy reading about Conn and Beth, I think my favorite characters in Cold Iron were Helene and Miach. Helene was Beth's beautiful, Amazonian friend from the museum and Miach was an ally to Conn. I'm excited that they will be featured in the next book! There's major sparkage between the two of them, but I'm just not sure how they will overcome the events of this book.
Cold Iron seems like it will become a very intriguing series. There are a lot of great ideas here concerning the fae and the use of Celtic mythology. D.L. McDermott knows how to write a steamy scene and the plot had a nice tension throughout. While I didn't love Beth and Conn as a couple 100%, I do think this series has promise and I am especially excited for the next book, Silver Skin.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pocket Star for providing a review copy of this book!
D.L. McDermott's new paranormal romance series, Cold Iron, got off to a fun if slightly bumpy start with Cold Iron. This series delves into Celtic mythology and the fae but places them in a modern setting. Some of the fae have always been part of our society, but others have been locked away for centuries. This book follows shy archeologist Beth and domineering warrior fae Conn.
One of Cold Iron's strongest aspects was the world building. The fae are not nice people in this book; they are cruel and uncaring, almost alien. They definitely do not feel or react like humans and have some very specific ideas on what we are good for. The human druids decided to turn against their fae masters and sent away as many of them as they could, unless there was a way they could use a specific fae here or there. These "useful" fae weren't sent to another dimension like most of their kin, but they were locked away in tombs until the druids had need of them. A few fae escaped the druids and have gone on to live at the fringes of society.
Conn is one of the fae that was locked away in a tomb and Beth unknowingly frees him. While they are in Ireland, you can see the old beliefs concerning the fae are still prevalent, but not all-consuming. The elder people respect Conn, but they also don't want to let him take Beth. They try to work around him without directly opposing him. It's an interesting dynamic. When Beth and Conn return to the US, the beliefs are completely different. No one believes in the fae here and Conn finds he has to learn how to work within the confines of this new society.
Cold Iron had some really fascinating characters. Beth is an archeologist that should be famous. She has a sixth-sense when it comes to choosing dig sites and is very capable. Her problem is that she made a horrible choice of a husband and now, even though they divorced, he is controlling her career since his name was attached to every dig they did while married. He already had a well-known reputation and he uses it to keep Beth down -- to make her feel like she can't strike out on her own because no one would finance her without him. Come to find out, there are even more sinister things that happened and continue to happen between Beth and her ex; I just felt so bad for the lady. She does come into her own in this book though and I am really interested to see her progress with her newfound abilities.
I wasn't quite as sold on Conn as I was on Beth. He started off as a pretty horrible character. He was one of the "god-kings" of old that thought humans were to be used and thrown away. He was basically a rapist back in the day, even though he used glamour to make the women think they are consenting. Then, when he was done with them, he would just leave them and they would waste away from want. When he first lays eyes on Beth, he decides he's going to take her and it's only the touch of cold iron that allows her to keep her wits. Throughout Cold Iron, Conn did learn what it means to love and wants to take care of Beth, but it was still kind of hard to forget his past. I did like him and Beth together and I do think he is a different person now, but it's almost like his past was glossed over and the reader wasn't meant to think too hard about how terrible he was before.
As much as I did enjoy reading about Conn and Beth, I think my favorite characters in Cold Iron were Helene and Miach. Helene was Beth's beautiful, Amazonian friend from the museum and Miach was an ally to Conn. I'm excited that they will be featured in the next book! There's major sparkage between the two of them, but I'm just not sure how they will overcome the events of this book.
Cold Iron seems like it will become a very intriguing series. There are a lot of great ideas here concerning the fae and the use of Celtic mythology. D.L. McDermott knows how to write a steamy scene and the plot had a nice tension throughout. While I didn't love Beth and Conn as a couple 100%, I do think this series has promise and I am especially excited for the next book, Silver Skin.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pocket Star for providing a review copy of this book!
March 28, 2015
Oh my gosh, I loved this book! I picked it up as a kindle daily deal, never having heard of it before but was intrigued by the synopsis. I love books about mythology, and I'm so glad that I read this! I adored how the Celtic mythology was interwoven with the modern day world. And I adored the two main characters, and I'm happy that their POVs were distinct. Our heroine, Beth, is intelligent, quick-witted, and courageous. She was the perfect blend of vulnerability and strength, and I loved her growth. Our hero, Conn, is tortured, protective, and fierce. He came from a world that prided itself on violence and destruction, and he realized how bad those ideals were when he met Beth. A woman who matched him, who was his equal. Their romance developed quickly, to be sure, but it was believable. And steamy! Such great banter, between them, and with all of the other characters. The secondary ones added such a rich element to the story, and I can't wait to read more about them in the rest of the books! The plot was great, tangled with so much Celtic mythology but it was never very confusing. It was a quick read, and one that I enjoyed immensely. And I'm so glad that this was a standalone, and that Silver Skin focuses on Helene and Micah. I can't wait to read their story! :)
November 8, 2015
j'ai trouvé ça assez sympathique, sans être pour autant exceptionnel ^^
l'intrigue fonctionne bien : entre Beth qui découvre ses pouvoirs, l'épée de Conn qu'il faut retrouver avant qu'un méchant Prince Fae ouvre une porte vers la Cour Fae piégée depuis 2000 ans (forcément vont pas être super content quand ils revenir chez les humains xD), et les problèmes internes dans la mafia irlandaise-fae ^^
le côté romance est plutôt sobre et minime par rapport à l'intrigue, au final les moments les plus hot sont quand tous les Fae de l'histoire essaient de faire succomber Beth à la tentation en manipulant son esprit... fort heureusement comme ça marche pas, Conn part donc dans une croisade de séduction plus "classique" xD (en respectant jusqu'au bout de ne pas aller dans sa tête même si c'est juste pour vérifier qu'elle est en vie #GoConnGo).
j'ai bien aimé Miach (que j'ai appelé Micah tout le livre, mais c'est bien Miach son nom xD) et c'est le héros du tome 2 yippiiii ^^
seul bémol : certains passage intéressants sont un peu baclés, genre les batailles, et surtout la fin est abrupte, il y a aussi au moins 2 trucs dont j'aurais aimé un peu plus d'explications sur leur devenir (mais je dis rien c'est spoiler :P)
l'intrigue fonctionne bien : entre Beth qui découvre ses pouvoirs, l'épée de Conn qu'il faut retrouver avant qu'un méchant Prince Fae ouvre une porte vers la Cour Fae piégée depuis 2000 ans (forcément vont pas être super content quand ils revenir chez les humains xD), et les problèmes internes dans la mafia irlandaise-fae ^^
le côté romance est plutôt sobre et minime par rapport à l'intrigue, au final les moments les plus hot sont quand tous les Fae de l'histoire essaient de faire succomber Beth à la tentation en manipulant son esprit... fort heureusement comme ça marche pas, Conn part donc dans une croisade de séduction plus "classique" xD (en respectant jusqu'au bout de ne pas aller dans sa tête même si c'est juste pour vérifier qu'elle est en vie #GoConnGo).
j'ai bien aimé Miach (que j'ai appelé Micah tout le livre, mais c'est bien Miach son nom xD) et c'est le héros du tome 2 yippiiii ^^
seul bémol : certains passage intéressants sont un peu baclés, genre les batailles, et surtout la fin est abrupte, il y a aussi au moins 2 trucs dont j'aurais aimé un peu plus d'explications sur leur devenir (mais je dis rien c'est spoiler :P)
April 10, 2014
I sort if liked this book. It took a lot of concentration on my part. I don't know if I just wasn't felling it but it was sort of boring. Not dreadfully boring but I can admit I started skipping a couple of pages towards the end.
The heroine is sort of underdeveloped. She had all the right things it was just something missing from her. She wasn't a badass or a geek or even a push over she was just there nothing to make her stand out. I can't even remember her name. Although I can remember her best friends name, but I can't seem to recall the main heroines name. She was a disappointment I felt like she could of been more. I mean she has all these awesome Druid powers! Something to distinguish her from the rest would of set her off. But she was just the little Druid what the characters called her.
I've got nothing on the hero Conn. I liked him and he contributed to the story. He had a personality.
Overall I can just say I liked this book I might read the second story because it's about the best friend Helene and she had a little spank.
The heroine is sort of underdeveloped. She had all the right things it was just something missing from her. She wasn't a badass or a geek or even a push over she was just there nothing to make her stand out. I can't even remember her name. Although I can remember her best friends name, but I can't seem to recall the main heroines name. She was a disappointment I felt like she could of been more. I mean she has all these awesome Druid powers! Something to distinguish her from the rest would of set her off. But she was just the little Druid what the characters called her.
I've got nothing on the hero Conn. I liked him and he contributed to the story. He had a personality.
Overall I can just say I liked this book I might read the second story because it's about the best friend Helene and she had a little spank.
March 10, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Cold Iron, it has a great storyline and the characters are wonderful, once I started reading I found it hard to put down.
The story starts with Beth Carter and her ex-husband Frank on a archaeological dig in which Beth unknowingly awakens a Fae warrior named Conn. He wanted to use Beth for his own means so his character was very cold and not very nice at all in the beginning but improved as the story progressed and a closeness began between them and then love.
Beth and Conn go in search for a sword which Conn needs and which has been stolen, we also meet characters that are to have their story's in future books in the series.
There is a nice peak at the next novel "Silver Skin" at the back of the book, I look forward to reading Helene and Miach's full story.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts with Beth Carter and her ex-husband Frank on a archaeological dig in which Beth unknowingly awakens a Fae warrior named Conn. He wanted to use Beth for his own means so his character was very cold and not very nice at all in the beginning but improved as the story progressed and a closeness began between them and then love.
Beth and Conn go in search for a sword which Conn needs and which has been stolen, we also meet characters that are to have their story's in future books in the series.
There is a nice peak at the next novel "Silver Skin" at the back of the book, I look forward to reading Helene and Miach's full story.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2014
A good beginning to a new series I'll be keeping up with. The background building wasn't overwhelming, like in some first books. There was a nice balance of it and the romance between Conn and Beth. And speaking of the romance between Conn and Beth...I loved them together. The twist with who Beth really is, and how she ended up being strong when she started off vulnerable and on the weak side cause of her self-esteem issues was perfect. I hope we get to see more of her and Conn in other books in the series.
February 17, 2014
2.5 stars
Not 'bad,' but just didn't draw me in. I easily put it down and read other books in between. I think the characters may just have felt a bit flat to me. I have no interest in continuing on with the other books in the series.
Not 'bad,' but just didn't draw me in. I easily put it down and read other books in between. I think the characters may just have felt a bit flat to me. I have no interest in continuing on with the other books in the series.
November 14, 2013
I LOVE when the fae are portrayed as terrifying as old legends have them, rather than the neutered Disney version.
4/5 Stars, full review to follow.
4/5 Stars, full review to follow.
February 18, 2014
Oooh nice Fae series that makes them and Druids so dark and terrifying. The smut was good and the plot was awesome. Great start to a new series. Eeee!
May 22, 2019
3.75* Bought on a whim as the premise was entertaining to me - I love Celtic mythology and haven't done a whole lot of romance reading, and Cold Iron sounded like a fun read.
The plotline had lots of dark elements and kept me excited for what would be happening next. I liked the heroine quite a bit, as well as the 'otherworldly' descriptions of the fae themselves, but I found myself distracted by a few strange inconsistencies as to what constitutes impassable iron vs. Tolerable iron, and what felt like a pretty rushed/purely physical relationship development between the MCs.
All in all, suspenseful and engaging plotline, interesting worldbuilding, but I don't think I'll keep reading the series.
The plotline had lots of dark elements and kept me excited for what would be happening next. I liked the heroine quite a bit, as well as the 'otherworldly' descriptions of the fae themselves, but I found myself distracted by a few strange inconsistencies as to what constitutes impassable iron vs. Tolerable iron, and what felt like a pretty rushed/purely physical relationship development between the MCs.
All in all, suspenseful and engaging plotline, interesting worldbuilding, but I don't think I'll keep reading the series.
June 17, 2018
I tried, but just couldn't do it. The heroine not only allowed her ex husband to take advantage of her professionally, but the "hero" has no regard for humans, much less woman and multiple times "glamours" her into doing things against her will. After he was using their connection through the tattoo that saved her life, I called it.
December 22, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: An archaeologist discovers the existence of the Fae and must help a Fae lord find a sword that has the power to open the door to the Otherworld in order to prevent the Fae from returning, all while fighting an irresistible attraction to the man.
Opening Sentence: “If this is a tomb, then where’s the body?”
The Review:
I hadn’t heard anything about this series before starting the book, so I had no expectations going into it. The first five to ten percent of the book was extremely rough, and I thought I was in for a long, unpleasant read. Thankfully, this book is proof of the fact that even if a story starts out roughly, it can turn out great by the end because after I got past that first 10 percent, I couldn’t put the book down.
Beth is an archaeologist who has always had a knack for knowing where the great Celtic finds are going to be. This knack has consistently been exploited by her ex-husband, another archaeologist who has taken credit for each of Beth’s finds. Upon arriving back at the Irish inn she is staying at during one dig with her ex-husband, Beth is surprised to find a stranger in her room, one with abilities that no human has. He tells her his name is Conn, and he is a member of the Fae. He is bound to a sword named The Summoner, which until recently, had been housed in the mound Beth and her ex-husband were exploring. Turns out Beth’s ex has sticky fingers and took the sword. Now, Conn must find it before it’s used to open the doors to the Otherworld where the rest of the Fae have been locked away. While searching for the sword, Conn decides he also wouldn’t mind starting something up with Beth. Will she be able to resist the handsome Fae lord?
It is important to state up front that the Fae are not nice in this world, and that includes Conn. After he was introduced, I literally had to double check the synopsis to make sure he was the hero and not the villain. I was completely turned off. But then, something funny happened, and I somehow found myself liking Conn so much that I could totally overlook all the things he had done in his past. I have no idea how D.L. McDermott managed to do that, but I have to applaud her. Not only did I end up loving Conn, I also loved Miach, another Fae who is living amongst the humans, and I can’t wait to read his book.
I also really liked Beth. After everything her ex-husband put her through (and some of it is truly horrendous), she has managed to bounce back and turn herself into a totally independent and strong woman. Watching her face off with Conn and the other Fae, even knowing they have the power to glamour her, made me really like her and admire her spirit.
One tiny negative aspect of the book is that the point of view switches often and suddenly. I have no problem with multiple narrators, but the transitions between narrators were rough, and it would sometimes take me a minute to readjust to the new perspective. All in all though, this book was truly enjoyable. Be prepared for a rough start with an unlikeable hero, but know that it will improve quickly. I’m very much looking forward to book 2!
Notable Scene:
“I won’t let you leave with the sword.” She took a step forward, putting herself square in front of him.
The shock was plain on Frank’s face. She never stood up to him. Only that once, when she’d refused to identify another site for him. And he’d cooked up a piece of nastiness that had put her-oh, how it had put her-back in her place. Not anymore. “Give it to me.” She held her hand out, a plain demand.
For a second Frank looked quite affected. He offered her the weapon, hilt first. When she moved to take it, he snatched it back and spluttered with laughter.
“You didn’t really think I was going to hand it over, did you? What? So it can gather dust in some museum in Dublin? What do you care, Beth? You’re not going to get the credit for the dig. You’re never going to get the credit for a dig. And if you go on slumming with that Paddy, next time I won’t even let you come along.”
He took a step toward the door. Her anger boiled over. She grabbed the hilt of the sword, below where his hands clasped the cross guard, and pulled. He pulled back. In a game of tug-of-war with a man a foot taller and seventy pounds heavier than she was, she didn’t stand a chance. If she played fair.
But Frank never played fair, and tonight Beth wouldn’t either. She was wearing heels. Not spiky or high, just a two-inch kitten, but she stomped down on his instep with all of her pent-up fury. Frank howled and doubled over but didn’t relinquish his grip on the sword.
Neither did Beth. As Frank lurched forward, his weight drove the foible of the blade down, the razor shard edge heading straight for Beth’s neck. She dove to the side but not fast enough.
The blade whispered past her ear, and sliced through hair, velvet, sinew, blood, and bone.
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Cold Iron. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: An archaeologist discovers the existence of the Fae and must help a Fae lord find a sword that has the power to open the door to the Otherworld in order to prevent the Fae from returning, all while fighting an irresistible attraction to the man.
Opening Sentence: “If this is a tomb, then where’s the body?”
The Review:
I hadn’t heard anything about this series before starting the book, so I had no expectations going into it. The first five to ten percent of the book was extremely rough, and I thought I was in for a long, unpleasant read. Thankfully, this book is proof of the fact that even if a story starts out roughly, it can turn out great by the end because after I got past that first 10 percent, I couldn’t put the book down.
Beth is an archaeologist who has always had a knack for knowing where the great Celtic finds are going to be. This knack has consistently been exploited by her ex-husband, another archaeologist who has taken credit for each of Beth’s finds. Upon arriving back at the Irish inn she is staying at during one dig with her ex-husband, Beth is surprised to find a stranger in her room, one with abilities that no human has. He tells her his name is Conn, and he is a member of the Fae. He is bound to a sword named The Summoner, which until recently, had been housed in the mound Beth and her ex-husband were exploring. Turns out Beth’s ex has sticky fingers and took the sword. Now, Conn must find it before it’s used to open the doors to the Otherworld where the rest of the Fae have been locked away. While searching for the sword, Conn decides he also wouldn’t mind starting something up with Beth. Will she be able to resist the handsome Fae lord?
It is important to state up front that the Fae are not nice in this world, and that includes Conn. After he was introduced, I literally had to double check the synopsis to make sure he was the hero and not the villain. I was completely turned off. But then, something funny happened, and I somehow found myself liking Conn so much that I could totally overlook all the things he had done in his past. I have no idea how D.L. McDermott managed to do that, but I have to applaud her. Not only did I end up loving Conn, I also loved Miach, another Fae who is living amongst the humans, and I can’t wait to read his book.
I also really liked Beth. After everything her ex-husband put her through (and some of it is truly horrendous), she has managed to bounce back and turn herself into a totally independent and strong woman. Watching her face off with Conn and the other Fae, even knowing they have the power to glamour her, made me really like her and admire her spirit.
One tiny negative aspect of the book is that the point of view switches often and suddenly. I have no problem with multiple narrators, but the transitions between narrators were rough, and it would sometimes take me a minute to readjust to the new perspective. All in all though, this book was truly enjoyable. Be prepared for a rough start with an unlikeable hero, but know that it will improve quickly. I’m very much looking forward to book 2!
Notable Scene:
“I won’t let you leave with the sword.” She took a step forward, putting herself square in front of him.
The shock was plain on Frank’s face. She never stood up to him. Only that once, when she’d refused to identify another site for him. And he’d cooked up a piece of nastiness that had put her-oh, how it had put her-back in her place. Not anymore. “Give it to me.” She held her hand out, a plain demand.
For a second Frank looked quite affected. He offered her the weapon, hilt first. When she moved to take it, he snatched it back and spluttered with laughter.
“You didn’t really think I was going to hand it over, did you? What? So it can gather dust in some museum in Dublin? What do you care, Beth? You’re not going to get the credit for the dig. You’re never going to get the credit for a dig. And if you go on slumming with that Paddy, next time I won’t even let you come along.”
He took a step toward the door. Her anger boiled over. She grabbed the hilt of the sword, below where his hands clasped the cross guard, and pulled. He pulled back. In a game of tug-of-war with a man a foot taller and seventy pounds heavier than she was, she didn’t stand a chance. If she played fair.
But Frank never played fair, and tonight Beth wouldn’t either. She was wearing heels. Not spiky or high, just a two-inch kitten, but she stomped down on his instep with all of her pent-up fury. Frank howled and doubled over but didn’t relinquish his grip on the sword.
Neither did Beth. As Frank lurched forward, his weight drove the foible of the blade down, the razor shard edge heading straight for Beth’s neck. She dove to the side but not fast enough.
The blade whispered past her ear, and sliced through hair, velvet, sinew, blood, and bone.
FTC Advisory: Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Cold Iron. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
dnf-dnr
September 10, 2019I tried... made it to 12% before I had to call it quits
November 14, 2015
The world of urban fantasy in dealing with the subject of the Fae except for a few exceptions is mostly erotica, with little plot to hold a reader beyond the desire to read about beautiful people have lots and lots of kinky sex. The fair folk of myth are tricksters and one should never bargain with the Fae, honestly they should be avoided at all cost and if you find a fairy ring in your yard, leave a bit of honey as a gift; it can’t hurt and no one wants to offend even by accident the immortal Fae. The Fae even turn on their own heroes, so be warned before you go a hunting for them.
In Cold Iron, Beth Carter, intrepid archaeologist goes a hunting, not for the Fae, but for Celtic burial mounds, because the Fae have been relegated to myth and legends, and the belief in them has been muted by time and remembrance. Hmmm….. maybe Beth should have read a few cautionary book reviews before she wine off to Ireland to excavate some Celtic burial mounds. Along for the hunt for Celtic artifacts in Ireland, is her ex-husband and her colleague, Frank Carter, whom happened to have been her professor at university when she was a student. ARGH!!!! Do fictional college professors have no morals? Well in the case of this book, Frank has no morals and pretty much slithers on his belly because he is a snake. In making the previous statement I am actually insulting snakes. The intrepid grave robbers (archeaologist), thanks to Beth’s ability to find Celtic artifacts, finds an untouched barrow. Only problem is that nothing in the millennium old mound has be touched by the ravages of time. Everything in the chamber is in pristine condition. HUH? In my humble opinion, warning bells should have been flying off in Beth’s brain. Come on you have a Ph.D in archaeology and you are not freaking out. I have been to digs and nothing is ever untouched by time, even in the Arizona desert, just imagine what rain and wet does to the artifacts in Ireland. I might have rolled my eyes when she leaves only one guard at the site, but it is a book; so I won’t go into cataloging a dig site; because that would be boring to everyone except for me. Now to the fun and oh so not boring part, the barrow belongs to a very sexy, very pissed off and horny Fae named Conn. It is his gold and weapons in the mound, and he just happened to get a whiff of the lovely and lush Beth. He has decided for her trespass he is going to exact some good ole sexual revenge from her. As fae are irresistible to mere mortals and no one has ever resisted Conn’s sexual prowess. Okay maybe this is a book with a kinky sexy fae, but it also has a killer plot, which happens to center around his sword, a real sword made of not iron, as fae can’t abide the touch or iron. I know you all thought ‘sword’ meant something else as the book is about a fae. The plot goes on to involve Conn’s betrayal of the fae to the Druids, and the reasons that the Fae Court should never return to this plane of existence. As the Fae are the dominate predators and we poor humans would never stand a chance if they returned.
The majority of the book takes place in Boston, as that is where Beth lives and works. All of McDermott’s characters are fleshed out and even their conflicting reasons for what some of them do is clear, with the exception of Frank’s best friend Jack Egan, I don’t know why he was part of the story except to show that someone could be even more reprehensible than Frank and the Fae. Both the characters of Egan and Carter made my skin crawl. As honestly I could actually understand the cruel fae more than humans killing and torturing for money. As the fae are only acting like fae, they are set up as an alien race, with their emotions atrophied. What excuse do Egan and Carter have except for being pure evil?
Everyone who ever reads one of my reviews will know I like strong female characters and McDermott writes very strong female characters in Beth and her friend Helene Whitney. She also does of course writes sexy alpha male characters; as what would a romance be with a whiney dude? The men are not warm and cuddly and they might kill you as sure and try to seduce you as fae see humans as ‘toys’; so fae loving woman beware if you encounter any devastatingly beautiful men, that don’t have pointy ears, but carry large sharp pointy swords.
I was at times perplexed by how the Fae in Boston were able to move around so easily; as Boston is one of the oldest cities in the Unites States and has a lot of iron and steel in it’s construction. Also McDermott’s fae are able to travel by cars, ummm lots of metal in them. The entire world mythos that revolves around the fae is how deadly iron is to them. I am hoping as the series progresses the author is able to reconcile these issues.
I enjoyed this first book very much and will be leaping into book two Silver Skin.
In Cold Iron, Beth Carter, intrepid archaeologist goes a hunting, not for the Fae, but for Celtic burial mounds, because the Fae have been relegated to myth and legends, and the belief in them has been muted by time and remembrance. Hmmm….. maybe Beth should have read a few cautionary book reviews before she wine off to Ireland to excavate some Celtic burial mounds. Along for the hunt for Celtic artifacts in Ireland, is her ex-husband and her colleague, Frank Carter, whom happened to have been her professor at university when she was a student. ARGH!!!! Do fictional college professors have no morals? Well in the case of this book, Frank has no morals and pretty much slithers on his belly because he is a snake. In making the previous statement I am actually insulting snakes. The intrepid grave robbers (archeaologist), thanks to Beth’s ability to find Celtic artifacts, finds an untouched barrow. Only problem is that nothing in the millennium old mound has be touched by the ravages of time. Everything in the chamber is in pristine condition. HUH? In my humble opinion, warning bells should have been flying off in Beth’s brain. Come on you have a Ph.D in archaeology and you are not freaking out. I have been to digs and nothing is ever untouched by time, even in the Arizona desert, just imagine what rain and wet does to the artifacts in Ireland. I might have rolled my eyes when she leaves only one guard at the site, but it is a book; so I won’t go into cataloging a dig site; because that would be boring to everyone except for me. Now to the fun and oh so not boring part, the barrow belongs to a very sexy, very pissed off and horny Fae named Conn. It is his gold and weapons in the mound, and he just happened to get a whiff of the lovely and lush Beth. He has decided for her trespass he is going to exact some good ole sexual revenge from her. As fae are irresistible to mere mortals and no one has ever resisted Conn’s sexual prowess. Okay maybe this is a book with a kinky sexy fae, but it also has a killer plot, which happens to center around his sword, a real sword made of not iron, as fae can’t abide the touch or iron. I know you all thought ‘sword’ meant something else as the book is about a fae. The plot goes on to involve Conn’s betrayal of the fae to the Druids, and the reasons that the Fae Court should never return to this plane of existence. As the Fae are the dominate predators and we poor humans would never stand a chance if they returned.
The majority of the book takes place in Boston, as that is where Beth lives and works. All of McDermott’s characters are fleshed out and even their conflicting reasons for what some of them do is clear, with the exception of Frank’s best friend Jack Egan, I don’t know why he was part of the story except to show that someone could be even more reprehensible than Frank and the Fae. Both the characters of Egan and Carter made my skin crawl. As honestly I could actually understand the cruel fae more than humans killing and torturing for money. As the fae are only acting like fae, they are set up as an alien race, with their emotions atrophied. What excuse do Egan and Carter have except for being pure evil?
Everyone who ever reads one of my reviews will know I like strong female characters and McDermott writes very strong female characters in Beth and her friend Helene Whitney. She also does of course writes sexy alpha male characters; as what would a romance be with a whiney dude? The men are not warm and cuddly and they might kill you as sure and try to seduce you as fae see humans as ‘toys’; so fae loving woman beware if you encounter any devastatingly beautiful men, that don’t have pointy ears, but carry large sharp pointy swords.
I was at times perplexed by how the Fae in Boston were able to move around so easily; as Boston is one of the oldest cities in the Unites States and has a lot of iron and steel in it’s construction. Also McDermott’s fae are able to travel by cars, ummm lots of metal in them. The entire world mythos that revolves around the fae is how deadly iron is to them. I am hoping as the series progresses the author is able to reconcile these issues.
I enjoyed this first book very much and will be leaping into book two Silver Skin.
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