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Ironbound #2
Cold Wind
Lost and forgotten, Castor is a prisoner of the very Iron Empire he once served.
Thought of as a common criminal, Castor guards his dangerous secret—that he has bound a second Symbol—with his life. If the Censors knew, they’d execute him on the spot.
There is only one path to freedom and avenging his family.
He must earn it no longer as a member of the Iron Legions, but by spilling blood for one of the great Houses.
The dead gods stir in their rotting slumber. Dangerous enemies stalk his new master. Surrounded on all sides, Castor must learn the secrets of his Cor Heart and reach new heights of power before it is too late.
And in the wake of his Ascent comes the first sign of change – A COLD WIND.
Book 2 in this adrenaline-fueled Progression Fantasy Epic from Andrew Givler, bestselling author of Soul Fraud, and the creator of Sigils, a Youtube channel with 1.4+ Million Subscribers.
It's Perfect for fans of Arcane Ascension, Red Rising, and Will of the Many!
Thought of as a common criminal, Castor guards his dangerous secret—that he has bound a second Symbol—with his life. If the Censors knew, they’d execute him on the spot.
There is only one path to freedom and avenging his family.
He must earn it no longer as a member of the Iron Legions, but by spilling blood for one of the great Houses.
The dead gods stir in their rotting slumber. Dangerous enemies stalk his new master. Surrounded on all sides, Castor must learn the secrets of his Cor Heart and reach new heights of power before it is too late.
And in the wake of his Ascent comes the first sign of change – A COLD WIND.
Book 2 in this adrenaline-fueled Progression Fantasy Epic from Andrew Givler, bestselling author of Soul Fraud, and the creator of Sigils, a Youtube channel with 1.4+ Million Subscribers.
It's Perfect for fans of Arcane Ascension, Red Rising, and Will of the Many!
675 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Andrew Givler
9 books1,143 followersAndrew is the author of the Debt Collection and Ironbound series and also a gaming YouTuber known as Sigils. He loves making people laugh, video games, and food. (Not always in that order.) He lives in LA.
To learn more about him you can go to his website: http://andrewgivler.com
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BookTube: http://youtube.com/@GivReads
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sigils
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TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@GivReads
To learn more about him you can go to his website: http://andrewgivler.com
Social Media
BookTube: http://youtube.com/@GivReads
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sigils
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sigils
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@GivReads
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 19, 2026
this book has one of the most unique magic systems i’ve ever read. i loved how we learned more about the different strata to it and its different applications as castor got more attuned to his hearts, as well as seeing how all of the other characters engaged with their elements differently. i also greatly appreciated how there are real consequences embedded in the magic system, some specific to castor’s situation and some that every electi needs to learn to deal with. no one is overpowered, and magic isn’t a cure all— despite how absurdly powerful he is, that power can be and often is crippling. castor having to keep his secret added another interesting layer to this, as the more experienced people were operating under a lack of information, leaving both with opposite pieces of the puzzle.
castor’s character development was also incredible. i admittedly was wondering how much more he could grow after ironbound, but thrown into a new environment, both his strengths and flaws were thrown out into the open. it’s clear how much he’s learned from his time in the legions, but he needs to adapt to the ludus, and its inhabitants, fast. i’m usually not a fan of prolonged training arcs, but we got to learn to much about him as a person through the different styles of training he did, and his successes/failures. every combat scene also allowed for his strategy to develop as new info and technique were added to his catalogue, which made sure the fights never felt stale. i was equally fascinated by the emotional influence his cor hearts had on him, and how that changed him as a person. there’s a scene shortly after he arrived that genuinely gave me chills showing just how deeply that influence runs.
aside from castor, i was impressed by how strong the supporting characters and relationship work were, when basically starting over with a whole new cast. varus, pliny, and illy were all so layered and vibrant, and i enjoyed seeing how castor’s previous experiences shaped his interactions with them. one character i wish we’d seen more of was rin (i actually found her more compelling than alessandra), so i’m excited for her role to develop in book 3 (hopefully).
if you’re a fan of red rising, solo levelling, hierarchy, spartacus, or the first law, you NEED to pick up ironbound. cold wind wws one of my favorite reads of 2026 and i can’t wait for bloody sands!!
castor’s character development was also incredible. i admittedly was wondering how much more he could grow after ironbound, but thrown into a new environment, both his strengths and flaws were thrown out into the open. it’s clear how much he’s learned from his time in the legions, but he needs to adapt to the ludus, and its inhabitants, fast. i’m usually not a fan of prolonged training arcs, but we got to learn to much about him as a person through the different styles of training he did, and his successes/failures. every combat scene also allowed for his strategy to develop as new info and technique were added to his catalogue, which made sure the fights never felt stale. i was equally fascinated by the emotional influence his cor hearts had on him, and how that changed him as a person. there’s a scene shortly after he arrived that genuinely gave me chills showing just how deeply that influence runs.
aside from castor, i was impressed by how strong the supporting characters and relationship work were, when basically starting over with a whole new cast. varus, pliny, and illy were all so layered and vibrant, and i enjoyed seeing how castor’s previous experiences shaped his interactions with them. one character i wish we’d seen more of was rin (i actually found her more compelling than alessandra), so i’m excited for her role to develop in book 3 (hopefully).
if you’re a fan of red rising, solo levelling, hierarchy, spartacus, or the first law, you NEED to pick up ironbound. cold wind wws one of my favorite reads of 2026 and i can’t wait for bloody sands!!
May 20, 2026
Cold Wind's attempts to slow the narrative and focus on training and introspection mostly fall flat for me due to abysmal pacing. Character growth is brought up and resolved far too quickly to be sustainable for a book of this length - in an effort to correct this the narrative inexplicably repeats itself time and time again, with the main character, Castor, relearning the same lessons with no changes in decision making or behavior despite what the narration repeatedly tells us. This repetition carries over to the descriptions of fight scenes. Most every fight towards the back half of the book follows the same formula, sometimes down to repeating the same exact line ("This is it, I'm going to die," followed by some miraculous save), and again, Castor's supposed growth in regards to his training - which the book devotes most of its length to showcasing - doesn't translate to the actual combat scenes, which makes most of the material here feel pointless. What progression he does have comes mostly from random bursts of inspiration, usually right before he or someone he would like to protect could suffer mortal harm. Because so many fights are resolved this way, ideas that could be interesting more come off as a cheap cop-out, which is a shame, as on their own none of these resolutions are outright bad.
The core of these issues, really, comes down to a dissonance between narration and what actually happens in the story. Castor's inner monologue is complex, turmoiled (when not constantly regressing, that is), but his dialogue might be coming out of the mouth of any generic progression fantasy protagonist. He spends most of the book learning how to properly fight without relying on his Cors and then has to win almost every fight by using magic. The narrative wants to hype up his legend and be this imposing, influential figure, but he actually doesn't really do that much over the course of the book, and so what actions he does take receive massively inflated reactions from the other characters in order to bridge that gap, leading to some rather silly scenes where . Castor wants vengeance, swears it, so on so forth, he wants to make sure his legion brothers are safe, or elsewise avenge them, but then he's willing to bind himself to complete loyalty to some random stranger with no plans to escape without any hesitation beyond the occasional lip-service paid by the narrator in the earliest chapters. It ends up tying back into his goals eventually, but that's due to narrative convenience and not a rational character decision. He trusts certain characters far too much than he should because the plot demands it, he's able to access locations which he absolutely should not be able to get to if this world had any thought put into it because that's where the author wants him to go, he's constantly advancing his skills and learning new tricks but none of them seem to matter because the author wants the fights to be tense. All of this was present in the first book but they're all so vastly more prominent here, and they can't be ignored nearly as easily.
However, for ALL of that, this book does do one thing really, really well, and that's the writing of the side characters. Very rarely will a neutral character be one note - I was very pleasantly surprised with how some seemingly simple characters were handled, and ended up quite liking a good few that I hadn't expected to care about. It's those interactions that the author, Andrew Givler, seems to excel at - it was a strength in the first book, and it's a strength, here. Yes, the overall pacing problem can cause characters to open up way before they should, but what they reveal is usually compelling enough to warrant the suspension of disbelief required to accept the scene.
At the end of the day, if the average LITrpg is McDonalds, this is something like Chick-fil-a. It's more than the slop that proliferates the progression fantasy genre, but compared to the greats, it doesn't quite hold up. Still, it's a fun, quick read if you just want to turn your brain off and be entertained. While I don't think it's quite as good as book one, if you enjoyed the first entry, you'll probably like this one, too.
Two and a half stars.
The core of these issues, really, comes down to a dissonance between narration and what actually happens in the story. Castor's inner monologue is complex, turmoiled (when not constantly regressing, that is), but his dialogue might be coming out of the mouth of any generic progression fantasy protagonist. He spends most of the book learning how to properly fight without relying on his Cors and then has to win almost every fight by using magic. The narrative wants to hype up his legend and be this imposing, influential figure, but he actually doesn't really do that much over the course of the book, and so what actions he does take receive massively inflated reactions from the other characters in order to bridge that gap, leading to some rather silly scenes where . Castor wants vengeance, swears it, so on so forth, he wants to make sure his legion brothers are safe, or elsewise avenge them, but then he's willing to bind himself to complete loyalty to some random stranger with no plans to escape without any hesitation beyond the occasional lip-service paid by the narrator in the earliest chapters. It ends up tying back into his goals eventually, but that's due to narrative convenience and not a rational character decision. He trusts certain characters far too much than he should because the plot demands it, he's able to access locations which he absolutely should not be able to get to if this world had any thought put into it because that's where the author wants him to go, he's constantly advancing his skills and learning new tricks but none of them seem to matter because the author wants the fights to be tense. All of this was present in the first book but they're all so vastly more prominent here, and they can't be ignored nearly as easily.
However, for ALL of that, this book does do one thing really, really well, and that's the writing of the side characters. Very rarely will a neutral character be one note - I was very pleasantly surprised with how some seemingly simple characters were handled, and ended up quite liking a good few that I hadn't expected to care about. It's those interactions that the author, Andrew Givler, seems to excel at - it was a strength in the first book, and it's a strength, here. Yes, the overall pacing problem can cause characters to open up way before they should, but what they reveal is usually compelling enough to warrant the suspension of disbelief required to accept the scene.
At the end of the day, if the average LITrpg is McDonalds, this is something like Chick-fil-a. It's more than the slop that proliferates the progression fantasy genre, but compared to the greats, it doesn't quite hold up. Still, it's a fun, quick read if you just want to turn your brain off and be entertained. While I don't think it's quite as good as book one, if you enjoyed the first entry, you'll probably like this one, too.
Two and a half stars.
May 19, 2026
The book is absolute peak. Somehow managed to hook me even further into his grasps and drag me down to Matt’s level of hell with how deeply I am engaged in these books my the most amazing author I’ve ever read
May 19, 2026
Ironbound was one of my surprise favorite reads of the year so far, and Cold Wind is a fantastic second installment in the series!
Unlike every character in the book who is decidedly NOT having a good time, I had so much fun reading this and would recommend to anyone who enjoyed Ironbound.
Cold Wind builds on the strong foundation set up in Ironbound, as Castor’s journey has him navigating his captivity, his power, and his quest for revenge as he continues to evolve both physically & emotionally. The story goes in directions I couldn’t predict, and I really enjoyed the way revenge was explored in this book, both on a personal scale and a larger scale. There’s a lot of great setup for future books and I’m so excited to see what happens next.
I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series, and can’t wait for the release of Bloody Sands later this year!
Unlike every character in the book who is decidedly NOT having a good time, I had so much fun reading this and would recommend to anyone who enjoyed Ironbound.
Cold Wind builds on the strong foundation set up in Ironbound, as Castor’s journey has him navigating his captivity, his power, and his quest for revenge as he continues to evolve both physically & emotionally. The story goes in directions I couldn’t predict, and I really enjoyed the way revenge was explored in this book, both on a personal scale and a larger scale. There’s a lot of great setup for future books and I’m so excited to see what happens next.
I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series, and can’t wait for the release of Bloody Sands later this year!
May 23, 2026
As good as the first book.
Having tragically lost one found family, he forms another—despite being their slave. The magic system and mythology just gets better and better. Loving it!
Having tragically lost one found family, he forms another—despite being their slave. The magic system and mythology just gets better and better. Loving it!
May 27, 2026
4/5
The magic systems and world building are amazing. This series has so much potential.
Im grading this lower then book one nothing is worse it just it did not take a step up and the plot went in a direction I was not a fan of. Felt like a setup book.
The politics of this world have so much potential hope we get to see it.
I do still think this is a good introduction series to progression fantasy
The magic systems and world building are amazing. This series has so much potential.
Im grading this lower then book one nothing is worse it just it did not take a step up and the plot went in a direction I was not a fan of. Felt like a setup book.
The politics of this world have so much potential hope we get to see it.
I do still think this is a good introduction series to progression fantasy
May 23, 2026
Familiar Roman mythology, gladiator fights utilizing unique magic systems, the political scheming of Westeros.....oh yeah and the satisfying feel of a likeable main character advancing their ever-growing power levels. I now men supposedly thing about the Roman Empire at least once a day, but right now I can only think about the Iron Empire and where the story is launching to next.
Fair warning, I am not some professional book reviewer and honestly I rarely ever think a book is less than three stars. I work full time and truly think that if a book is fun and takes me on an adventure then it is great. If that means my opinion is invalid than so be it, but this book was a ton of fun and took my mind away from the real world for a precious few days.
Every now and then I stumble on a book series that completely takes over my life, and this series continues to do so. I read this book in a few days, staying up later than I should on work nights just to see where the main character ends up next, and I was never disappointed. Without spoiling any major plot points from the first book, I will say that I was very satisfied with where Castor ends up in this one. I was initially worried that the second book in this series was going to re-hash the story from the first book in some way or make the events and sacrifices of that book lose their importance and impact, but I really think that this book managed to move the story along without being dull at any point while also managing to be it's own unique story with nearly the entire setting, cast of characters, and plot being different. Overall I think that this book completely succeeded at building upon what the first book did well and after reading the last few chapters I can't wait for the next book to see where we go next and how much stronger the characters will become!
Fair warning, I am not some professional book reviewer and honestly I rarely ever think a book is less than three stars. I work full time and truly think that if a book is fun and takes me on an adventure then it is great. If that means my opinion is invalid than so be it, but this book was a ton of fun and took my mind away from the real world for a precious few days.
Every now and then I stumble on a book series that completely takes over my life, and this series continues to do so. I read this book in a few days, staying up later than I should on work nights just to see where the main character ends up next, and I was never disappointed. Without spoiling any major plot points from the first book, I will say that I was very satisfied with where Castor ends up in this one. I was initially worried that the second book in this series was going to re-hash the story from the first book in some way or make the events and sacrifices of that book lose their importance and impact, but I really think that this book managed to move the story along without being dull at any point while also managing to be it's own unique story with nearly the entire setting, cast of characters, and plot being different. Overall I think that this book completely succeeded at building upon what the first book did well and after reading the last few chapters I can't wait for the next book to see where we go next and how much stronger the characters will become!
May 27, 2026
4.25⭐️ Cold Wind takes the series in a much more intense direction than the first book.
What I liked most was how hard it was to stop reading. Every time Castor learned more about his powers or the Cor Heart system, I just wanted to keep going and see what happened next. The fight scenes were really intense, but I also liked that the book slowed down sometimes to explain the politics, the different Houses, and the mystery with the gods. It definitely feels darker and bigger than Ironbound.
I will say that even though I still really loved this book, I think a small part of me liked Ironbound a little more. That one had more friendship and group dynamics, while Cold Wind focused way more on training, fighting, and survival. I missed some of the character interactions from the first book, but at the same time I understand why this one had to be more intense because of where the story is heading.
There were also a couple parts where the writing felt kinda repetitive or awkward, but honestly I was so into the story that I didn’t really care that much. It’s one of those books where you ignore the small problems because you’re having too much fun reading it.
Overall, Cold Wind was a really strong sequel and now I’m fully invested in this series. If you like fast-paced fantasy with strong character progression, political drama, brutal fights, and a magic system that keeps changing and growing, I’d definitely recommend it.
What I liked most was how hard it was to stop reading. Every time Castor learned more about his powers or the Cor Heart system, I just wanted to keep going and see what happened next. The fight scenes were really intense, but I also liked that the book slowed down sometimes to explain the politics, the different Houses, and the mystery with the gods. It definitely feels darker and bigger than Ironbound.
I will say that even though I still really loved this book, I think a small part of me liked Ironbound a little more. That one had more friendship and group dynamics, while Cold Wind focused way more on training, fighting, and survival. I missed some of the character interactions from the first book, but at the same time I understand why this one had to be more intense because of where the story is heading.
There were also a couple parts where the writing felt kinda repetitive or awkward, but honestly I was so into the story that I didn’t really care that much. It’s one of those books where you ignore the small problems because you’re having too much fun reading it.
Overall, Cold Wind was a really strong sequel and now I’m fully invested in this series. If you like fast-paced fantasy with strong character progression, political drama, brutal fights, and a magic system that keeps changing and growing, I’d definitely recommend it.
May 22, 2026
5 out of 5 stars. I didn't want this book to end it was fantastic. Book 2 takes it to the next level. I feel like every fantasy reader should grab this series asap, its totally underhyped and needs more attention. Book 2 gets a full 5 stars from me because it has fantastic character development, political position, old gods, interesting magic systems, corruption, the under dog vibes, a great plot that is multi layered. Fast paced and really well written. For the romantasy readers this one has zero spice but DO NOT let that stop you from enjoying the awesome plot.
I know the book slump after this is going to be bad.
I know the book slump after this is going to be bad.
May 28, 2026
4.5 stars! This series is shaping up to potentially be one of my favorite fantasy’s! The magic system alone is incredible, then the characters both major and minor are so damn good! The world is so interesting, the fights scenes are epic and I cannot wait to see where this story progresses! Audiobooks are great! Thankful for Aethon sending me this!
May 22, 2026
Plots thicken and Power grows!
Castor gains power, and he's facing off against a whole new set of enemies! Plus old ones who rest their heads. Things are getting deep for him and the sharks would love to eat him up! To make things worse the Empire has a lot of things going on that our intrepid MC is only barely starting to get into. Things are getting crazy and it's only going to get wilder from here!
Castor gains power, and he's facing off against a whole new set of enemies! Plus old ones who rest their heads. Things are getting deep for him and the sharks would love to eat him up! To make things worse the Empire has a lot of things going on that our intrepid MC is only barely starting to get into. Things are getting crazy and it's only going to get wilder from here!
May 24, 2026
This is truly a fantastic and well written story, read this book immediately. Full throttle, very introspective characters, no useless filler, and even the training sequences have you locked in. Amazing follow up to Ironbound, and I cannot wait for the next one. In my opinion this series is right up there with Red Rising and Cradle in elite status. Well done Mr. Givler, just flawless writing.
May 29, 2026
Amazing Again!
This book series does not slow down! Banger after banger! I love Castor and his story as he navigates the twists and turns of his action packed world. I am SO hyped for book three!
This book series does not slow down! Banger after banger! I love Castor and his story as he navigates the twists and turns of his action packed world. I am SO hyped for book three!
May 21, 2026
GREAT book!
This is a great series. The magic system is interesting, and I appreciate there are hints of other systems in this world.
The character is good but not infallible, and the issues he faces are interesting and not easily overcome.
Very interesting politics mixed in with the story of vengeance and survival- can’t wait to see where it goes next!
This is a great series. The magic system is interesting, and I appreciate there are hints of other systems in this world.
The character is good but not infallible, and the issues he faces are interesting and not easily overcome.
Very interesting politics mixed in with the story of vengeance and survival- can’t wait to see where it goes next!
May 21, 2026
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. Watching Castor’s progression is rewarding and exciting — it becomes difficult to put this down and focus on other tasks (which explains why I’ve finished it in two days!)
Can’t get enough. Looking forward to seeing what happens next. I only wish I didn’t start this series so soon because the waiting is killing me.
Can’t get enough. Looking forward to seeing what happens next. I only wish I didn’t start this series so soon because the waiting is killing me.
May 21, 2026
Yea this was great. It had everything from non stop action, progression and much needed introspection in our main character. Castor is still learning to see how rotten the empire is and hasn't gone full open rebellion but we see traces of it in this work, I look forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next book.
May 22, 2026
A good novel
This series is a fun read. The author is really good at descriptive emotive. You feel there at times. The only con is that its a typical fantasy with typical tropes, but that actually doesn't take away from the story since it still feels original.
This series is a fun read. The author is really good at descriptive emotive. You feel there at times. The only con is that its a typical fantasy with typical tropes, but that actually doesn't take away from the story since it still feels original.
May 23, 2026
Givler, my man. You’ve done it
May 24, 2026
Such a great second part of this trilogy. I hope more people find this amazing series!
May 24, 2026
Book is awesome, read it!
May 21, 2026
Interesting and Compelling
This is an excellent read! A great follow-up to an already intriguing storyline! The adaptation of Roman historical figures is compelling, interesting and fresh.
This is an excellent read! A great follow-up to an already intriguing storyline! The adaptation of Roman historical figures is compelling, interesting and fresh.
May 23, 2026
Best Book 2 Ever!!
I didn’t want this to end! It was amazing from the first to last word. I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!!!
I didn’t want this to end! It was amazing from the first to last word. I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!!!
May 23, 2026
Really good book. Great series so far. Fast paced with more details into the power system of the world. The author tends to repeat phrases and words in his writing which I guess all authors do but I noticed it more in this book for some reason.
May 22, 2026
6 star Book
Holy Gods! One of my most anticipated reads this year. If you loved Percy Jackson this is the series for you.
Holy Gods! One of my most anticipated reads this year. If you loved Percy Jackson this is the series for you.
May 20, 2026
Great second entry
Excited to continue the story. I was a little disappointed by how much story progression happened, but overall enjoyed the story quite a bit.
Excited to continue the story. I was a little disappointed by how much story progression happened, but overall enjoyed the story quite a bit.
May 19, 2026
Great
Can't say enough good things of this series. Like the Roman elements and fantasy combination. Definitely a series worth following.
Can't say enough good things of this series. Like the Roman elements and fantasy combination. Definitely a series worth following.
May 29, 2026
I have been waiting for this one since I turned off Book 1. If you read my Ironbound review, you know I loved it. The Roman-inspired empire, the Cor Hearts, the magic system that actually felt cool instead of clinical, the momentum that never let up, and Ralph Lister making all of it feel like a world you were living in rather than listening to. Book 1 was one of those surprises where you go in with decent expectations and come out raving about it to anyone who will listen. So the real question with Cold Wind was always the same one any great sequel has to answer: does it build on what made the first one work, or does it coast on it? The answer here is neither. It blows past it.
Cold Wind picks up right where Ironbound left off, with Castor in a very bad situation. Without getting into specifics, the circumstances he finds himself in at the start of this book are the kind that would break a lesser character. He is stripped of his freedom, his status, and most of what he had earned by the end of Book 1. But what Givler does so well is use that pressure to reveal who Castor actually is when everything is taken away. And the answer turns out to be: more dangerous than ever, and getting more so by the hour.
The action in this book is relentless in the best way possible. Every sequence is sharp, purposeful, and hits with real impact, but it never tips into the kind of noise where you lose track of what is happening or stop caring about the outcome. Givler clearly knows how to construct a fight scene that actually means something rather than just filling space with noise. And when things escalate, and they absolutely escalate, the payoff is there. There is also a fantastic stretch where Castor crosses paths with an Asian-inspired culture that is completely distinct from the Roman world we have been living in, and he ends up being trained in their combat arts. Think intricate sword styles, disciplined technique, a whole different philosophy of fighting layered on top of everything Castor already knows. It has that old school kung-fu movie energy, the kind that Wu-Tang Clan built their whole identity around, and I will be honest with you, by the time the action scenes were flying I had Wu-Tang playing in my head as the unofficial soundtrack. If you know, you know. And if you do not know, go listen to some Wu-Tang and then come back to this book, because it fits perfectly.
But Cold Wind is not just an action delivery machine, and that is what makes it genuinely great rather than just entertaining. The magic system keeps deepening in ways that feel logical and exciting rather than arbitrary. The world gets bigger, we see cultures and corners of this setting that Book 1 only hinted at. The lore around the gods, which was already one of the more intriguing threads in the first book, takes a turn here that had me fully locked in and a little unsettled in the best way. The political machinery of the empire gets another layer of texture. By the time you reach the end, you know considerably more about this world than you did at the start, and somehow it only makes you want more answers.
Ralph Lister deserves the same credit here that he earned in Book 1. His narration is a natural fit for this series, and you can feel that comfort level in how he handles everything from the quieter character moments to the chaos of full combat. He keeps every voice distinct, carries tone and tension without overplaying it, and makes nearly 23 hours feel like it goes by faster than it has any right to. This style of story, gritty, fast, with a world that has real weight to it, is exactly the kind where a great narrator makes the difference between good and unforgettable.
If Ironbound was Andrew Givler announcing himself, Cold Wind is him proving it was not an accident. Everything that worked the first time is sharper here, and there is more of it without any of the bloat. I cannot wait for Book 3. I will continue to recommend this series to everyone, because it just keeps getting better and better.
Cold Wind picks up right where Ironbound left off, with Castor in a very bad situation. Without getting into specifics, the circumstances he finds himself in at the start of this book are the kind that would break a lesser character. He is stripped of his freedom, his status, and most of what he had earned by the end of Book 1. But what Givler does so well is use that pressure to reveal who Castor actually is when everything is taken away. And the answer turns out to be: more dangerous than ever, and getting more so by the hour.
The action in this book is relentless in the best way possible. Every sequence is sharp, purposeful, and hits with real impact, but it never tips into the kind of noise where you lose track of what is happening or stop caring about the outcome. Givler clearly knows how to construct a fight scene that actually means something rather than just filling space with noise. And when things escalate, and they absolutely escalate, the payoff is there. There is also a fantastic stretch where Castor crosses paths with an Asian-inspired culture that is completely distinct from the Roman world we have been living in, and he ends up being trained in their combat arts. Think intricate sword styles, disciplined technique, a whole different philosophy of fighting layered on top of everything Castor already knows. It has that old school kung-fu movie energy, the kind that Wu-Tang Clan built their whole identity around, and I will be honest with you, by the time the action scenes were flying I had Wu-Tang playing in my head as the unofficial soundtrack. If you know, you know. And if you do not know, go listen to some Wu-Tang and then come back to this book, because it fits perfectly.
But Cold Wind is not just an action delivery machine, and that is what makes it genuinely great rather than just entertaining. The magic system keeps deepening in ways that feel logical and exciting rather than arbitrary. The world gets bigger, we see cultures and corners of this setting that Book 1 only hinted at. The lore around the gods, which was already one of the more intriguing threads in the first book, takes a turn here that had me fully locked in and a little unsettled in the best way. The political machinery of the empire gets another layer of texture. By the time you reach the end, you know considerably more about this world than you did at the start, and somehow it only makes you want more answers.
Ralph Lister deserves the same credit here that he earned in Book 1. His narration is a natural fit for this series, and you can feel that comfort level in how he handles everything from the quieter character moments to the chaos of full combat. He keeps every voice distinct, carries tone and tension without overplaying it, and makes nearly 23 hours feel like it goes by faster than it has any right to. This style of story, gritty, fast, with a world that has real weight to it, is exactly the kind where a great narrator makes the difference between good and unforgettable.
If Ironbound was Andrew Givler announcing himself, Cold Wind is him proving it was not an accident. Everything that worked the first time is sharper here, and there is more of it without any of the bloat. I cannot wait for Book 3. I will continue to recommend this series to everyone, because it just keeps getting better and better.
May 27, 2026
Considered 3 stars but...the AI cover art is actual shit, and screams "lazy" to me. The artwork here on Goodreads is very clearly a more polished version of the exact same AI generated image on the paperback edition. Using AI for cover art only invites people to wonder WHAT ELSE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN USED FOR IN THIS PUBLICATION. Do better.
Rant on contributing to the death of creation by willfully feeding real artist's work into an idiot box to generate free, yet terrible "artwork" is now over. Now to the book itself.
This book could have been 200 pages long without the egregious repetition of the same cycle of:
Castor thinks he's a really strong boy
Castor gets shown he is in fact less of a strong boy than he thinks he is by someone much more educated or skilled.
Castor "trains."
Castor wins a fight by just spamming magic in a way not yet introduced instead of actually learning from his mistakes.
How many expert tutors, ironbound guards/soldiers/literal goddam professional Cor assessors can, by force of will alone it seems, avoid noticing he's attuned to iron before it becomes a farce? Including his fucking arch nemesis who simply doesn't recognize him? It'd been like....6 months since Macer got dead. No chance there isn't instant recognition. Don't care that his hair grew a little.
You know it's too repetitive when the chapter on baking bread is an exciting turn of events from magic heavy death brawls. I truly cared more about the rye than the Contessa/pliny interactions after 400 pages of cycling.
Wanted to go lower than 2 stars, but I really do intend to beast the 3rd installment in a sitting just like I did this one. Felt wrong to go lower when it did accomplish that level of excitement somehow.
Rant on contributing to the death of creation by willfully feeding real artist's work into an idiot box to generate free, yet terrible "artwork" is now over. Now to the book itself.
This book could have been 200 pages long without the egregious repetition of the same cycle of:
Castor thinks he's a really strong boy
Castor gets shown he is in fact less of a strong boy than he thinks he is by someone much more educated or skilled.
Castor "trains."
Castor wins a fight by just spamming magic in a way not yet introduced instead of actually learning from his mistakes.
How many expert tutors, ironbound guards/soldiers/literal goddam professional Cor assessors can, by force of will alone it seems, avoid noticing he's attuned to iron before it becomes a farce? Including his fucking arch nemesis who simply doesn't recognize him? It'd been like....6 months since Macer got dead. No chance there isn't instant recognition. Don't care that his hair grew a little.
You know it's too repetitive when the chapter on baking bread is an exciting turn of events from magic heavy death brawls. I truly cared more about the rye than the Contessa/pliny interactions after 400 pages of cycling.
Wanted to go lower than 2 stars, but I really do intend to beast the 3rd installment in a sitting just like I did this one. Felt wrong to go lower when it did accomplish that level of excitement somehow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
Cold Wind by Andrew Givler is a solidly entertaining read that improves on the first book in the series. While I wouldn’t call it incredibly complex (which is why it lands at four stars rather than five for me), the story more than makes up for it with strong pacing and consistent momentum that kept me turning pages.
The prose is relatively straightforward and simplistic compared to the more poetic or flowery writing I usually seek out, but that directness actually serves the story well here. It never gets in the way of the entertainment value, which is high. This is the kind of book you pick up when you want a gripping narrative that doesn’t demand intense scrutiny or mental gymnastics.
What really stands out is the protagonist, Castor. He feels incredibly relatable because his reactions and decisions always make sense. Even in moments where he acts against his own wishes or better instincts, the story gives iron-clad, believable reasons why he has to (I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you read this book you’ll understand why he often times literally cannot do as he wants). He completely breaks the tired cliché of the ever-kind, endlessly forgiving hero that shows up in so much newer fiction. Castor is gritty, spiteful, and at times downright hateful. But it all feels earned and justified by what he’s been through. That refreshing realism in his character is one of the book’s biggest strengths.
Overall, Cold Wind takes the necessary steps forward from the first installment and delivers a compelling, no-frills story with a protagonist who refuses to be boringly virtuous. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good, entertaining read that doesn’t require overthinking. Solid series continuation.
The prose is relatively straightforward and simplistic compared to the more poetic or flowery writing I usually seek out, but that directness actually serves the story well here. It never gets in the way of the entertainment value, which is high. This is the kind of book you pick up when you want a gripping narrative that doesn’t demand intense scrutiny or mental gymnastics.
What really stands out is the protagonist, Castor. He feels incredibly relatable because his reactions and decisions always make sense. Even in moments where he acts against his own wishes or better instincts, the story gives iron-clad, believable reasons why he has to (I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you read this book you’ll understand why he often times literally cannot do as he wants). He completely breaks the tired cliché of the ever-kind, endlessly forgiving hero that shows up in so much newer fiction. Castor is gritty, spiteful, and at times downright hateful. But it all feels earned and justified by what he’s been through. That refreshing realism in his character is one of the book’s biggest strengths.
Overall, Cold Wind takes the necessary steps forward from the first installment and delivers a compelling, no-frills story with a protagonist who refuses to be boringly virtuous. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good, entertaining read that doesn’t require overthinking. Solid series continuation.
May 29, 2026
This book took all the complaints I had about the first book and improved upon them in every way. About a third of the book, I was unconvinced that the writing would get better but after reading the second half, I just have to give props. This was an amazing read even though the premise is very similar to some other books I’ve read.
One huge complaint I had about the first book is that Castor is the best at everything. You don’t question if he succeeds because he always will. In this book, he goes through more difficult obstacles with more consequences and you feel so much more tension in the action because of it. You get more plot, revealing of world mysteries and more of the politics of the Iron Empire. The magic system application is one of the best parts of this book, I love how such a widely recognized elemental style magic system can be used in creative ways. You feel more of that emotional toil in this book and the side characters are also much much better developed in this one.
I felt like the first third of the book was very reminiscent of the first book, but with awkward pacing. The second half of the book almost feels like a different book to me with how much everything just improves. And a huge nitpick I had was how much Castor used his “cold logic” of his cors to shield him from feeling. Like yes, I get it, he has the power and he should use it, but it felt like a narrative crutch at times where I feel like his character should bathe in the rage or sorrow or whatever emotion he feels. It gets better near the end but for another reason.
But all things considered, this is a massive improvement and the way the book set everything up for the final addition, I am actually very excited to see where it all will end.
One huge complaint I had about the first book is that Castor is the best at everything. You don’t question if he succeeds because he always will. In this book, he goes through more difficult obstacles with more consequences and you feel so much more tension in the action because of it. You get more plot, revealing of world mysteries and more of the politics of the Iron Empire. The magic system application is one of the best parts of this book, I love how such a widely recognized elemental style magic system can be used in creative ways. You feel more of that emotional toil in this book and the side characters are also much much better developed in this one.
I felt like the first third of the book was very reminiscent of the first book, but with awkward pacing. The second half of the book almost feels like a different book to me with how much everything just improves. And a huge nitpick I had was how much Castor used his “cold logic” of his cors to shield him from feeling. Like yes, I get it, he has the power and he should use it, but it felt like a narrative crutch at times where I feel like his character should bathe in the rage or sorrow or whatever emotion he feels. It gets better near the end but for another reason.
But all things considered, this is a massive improvement and the way the book set everything up for the final addition, I am actually very excited to see where it all will end.
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