Book Review: Crucible Zero (House Immortal #3) by Devon Monk

Crucible Zero (House Immortal #3)

by Devon Monk

Paperback, 356 pages

September 1st 2015 by Roc

The national bestselling author of Infinity Bell returns to her “fresh and unique”* world where the truce between the ruling Houses has shattered and chaos now reigns. Only one woman has the power to save the world—but she could also destroy it...

Matilda Case never thought of herself as a hero. But because she is galvanized—and nearly immortal in her stitched, endlessly healing body—she doesn’t have much of a choice. Even if she doesn’t want to save the world, she’s the only one capable of traveling in time to do so.

But her rescue attempt hasn’t gone as planned. She’s stuck in an alternate universe, and her world is in danger of disappearing. Worst of all, an unfathomably powerful man who can also travel through history doesn’t want her to put things to rights. He’s willing to wage bloody war to stop Matilda, unless she surrenders control of time to him.

Now, with the minutes ticking, Matilda must make impossible decisions, knowing that one wrong choice will destroy her—and any chance of saving everything she loves...

amazon

Being stitched is not easy, especially when you are not exactly immortal and a dangerous man is trying to kill you. There are not many stitched aka Galvanized people, in fact you can barely count them on two hands. Galvanized were once heroes in their time. The problem is, this is a different time. Matilda Case seemed to have traveled through time but not an actual time and day more like a parallel universe. The people are the same but they also are not. Not even Matilda Case was the same.

In this time there were beasts, the plague and machines such as computers seemed to have been wiped out. The man who is trying to kill Matilda has not changed, he still wants power and full control over all the houses. She has to stop him and put things right. She has no choice no one else can travel. If she managed to kill him, which time is the right time, does she get to choose which time she stays in? The man she loves is in both times, one remembers her one does not, however in both times regardless, the sparks fly.

I have been following The Immortal series from the beginning. What an interesting concept, I love it. The characters are very well written, each brings their own unique story and balance throughout. I would like to know more about each but can’t pick which one because again they all bring a little something. I highly recommend, you will not be disappointed.

Review: House Immortal (book #1)
Review: Infinity Bell (book #2)

5 Stitched Sheep

Tammy K

About the Author:
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Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and the Age of Steam steampunk series, knits silly things, and lives in Oregon.

Book Review:Infinity Bell (House Immortal #2) by Devon Monk

Infinity Bell (House Immortal #2)

by Devon Monk
Paperback, 368 pages
Published March 3rd 2015 by Roc

Return to national bestselling author Devon Monk's heartpounding House Immortal series, where eleven powerful Houses control the world and all its resources. But now, the treaty between them has been broken, and no one—not even the immortal galvanized—is safe....

Matilda Case isn’t normal. Normal people aren’t stitched together, inhumanly strong, and ageless, as she and the other galvanized are. Normal people’s bodies don’t hold the secret to immortality—something the powerful Houses will kill to possess. And normal people don’t know that they’re going to die in a few days.

Matilda’s fight to protect the people she loves triggered a chaotic war between the Houses and shattered the world’s peace. On the run, she must find a way to stop the repeat of the ancient time experiment that gifted her and the other galvanized with immortality. Because this time, it will destroy her and everything she holds dear.

Caught in a cat-and-mouse game of lies, betrayal, and unseen foes, Matilda must fight to save the world from utter destruction. But time itself is her enemy, and every second brings her one step closer to disaster.

"Back to The Future" and the "Dark Tower" rolled into one harrowing science fiction paranormal episode! A race to find the glitch in time and save millions (and perhaps kill hundreds) of people at the same time. I believe this is the main premise of the story but the author made it a little difficult to find and follow a direct path to the conclusion. Whew...I really had a workout making sure I had my facts ( or her facts to be exact) straight and find a common thread to the story.

Matilda is a product of her genius brother's creation. A "galvanized." Dying of an incurable disease as a human, he makes her into a "patched" up humanoid made of her mind but a different body...(Frankenstein has nothing on her!). And there are 12 more of her kind. But where they came from I don't have a clue!

Imagine a world whose ruling heads are divided into factions, or "Houses" in this case, that are decidedly responsible for: defense, medical, technical, air, water, money, faith and—Hmmmm...starting to sound a little like having too many branches of government? All with their own agendas? The "heads" of these "Houses" convene to conspire about what must be done to control or contain the uprising of the "galvanized" population that they have been using as service labor and protection for many years. Even the futuristic ruling houses are not above sabotage and "golf course" politics.

Due to the deaths of two rulers of the Houses, they are hunting for Matilda, her brother and a couple accomplices who are on a mission to right a mistake that their grandfather made in calculating a "time warp" situation. Trying time travel is not a new idea in books and movies so making it interesting is the key to success. I am not sure the author hit that at 100%.

You really must pay attention in this story. It took me quite a few chapters to understand everyone's role and history (would probably have helped if I had read the first book in this series or the last few chapters first where the threads were more precisely explained). Even as a stand alone episode, the plot and storyline is filled with innuendos that would be easier understood with a little more background information in the beginning. A lot of exhausting running, hiding, near death injuries and experiences make up 90% of the reading. A dangerous chase across time and country ensue for the characters who are from a "House" that wants to remain apart from the otherwise ruling "Houses". Rather like wanting to withdraw from the Union and declaring a "civil war" on the rest of the world in a futuristic setting.

Video cameras and microphones are everywhere and all business, transportation and technology are controlled by the Ruling Houses. With no where to hide, Matilda and her Merry Band of Brothers seek help and solace anywhere they can. Can you really blame them? Who really wants to live "on the grid" where everyone and everything is controlled by a few department heads!

The danger and race to "fix time" is occasionally interrupted by some romantic passages and gives a new prospective about how to live for the moment and not "waste" opportunities when they present themselves but truthfully these parts felt a little awkward and unimportant to the story. To save her family and love interest, Matilda has to travel back in time and convince her (great, great, great) grandfather to fix a problem he unknowingly created! Oh...and all in about 5 hours...Geeze!

About half way through I found my footing and became engaged in the story of the "dissidents" and their fight to derail a possible catastrophic event and to pursue a life of autonomy for those who desire such. I just wasn't sold on the "Frankenstein" type characters as to their value in the story (unless it was to depict immortality). I felt there was some contradiction in initial descriptions of the characters and their ongoing displayed characteristics. Without giving anything away, the ending left me a little exhausted and I said to myself..."what the heck?!" That being said, I am still a "sucker" for "futuristic" stories and guess I might be interested enough to go back and read the first book hoping for a little clarification.
5 Sheep Review: House Immortal (House Immortal #1)

I give this book 3 sheep

Jeanie G

About the Author:
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Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and the Age of Steam steampunk series, knits silly things, and lives in Oregon.

Book Review: House Immortal (House Immortal #1) by Devon Monk

House Immortal (House Immortal #1)
by Devon Monk

Paperback, 368 pages
September 2nd 2014 by Roc

One hundred years ago, eleven powerful ruling Houses consolidated all of the world’s resources and authority into their own grasping hands. Only one power wasn’t placed under the command of a single House: the control over the immortal galvanized....

Matilda Case isn’t like most folk. In fact, she’s unique in the world, the crowning achievement of her father’s experiments, a girl pieced together from bits. Or so she believes, until Abraham Seventh shows up at her door, stitched with life thread just like her and insisting that enemies are coming to kill them all.

Tilly is one of thirteen incredible creations known as the galvanized, stitched together beings immortal and unfathomably strong. For a century, each House has fought for control over the galvanized. Now the Houses are also tangled in a deadly struggle for dominion over death—and Tilly and her kind hold the key to unlocking eternity

The secrets that Tilly must fight to protect are hidden within the very seams of her being. And to get the secrets, her enemies are willing to tear her apart piece by piece.…

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!

One Hundred years ago the world was divided by houses. Each house represented major resources from the world. House Brown however did not fall under the scrutiny or demand of the other houses or the laws they followed; it stayed under the radar. They were free and made up of people who refused to pick a house; however freedom came with great consequences. They were not considered a real house and were shunned, left to fend for themselves. 

House Brown was founded by the Galvanized, but they were forced to join another house in order to save House Brown. The Galvanized are people who were created by stitching them together from bits. They are immortal and only 12 of them existed, or so they thought, until Matilda was found. Matilda tried to hide under the radar and thought she was doing a great job until Abraham Seventh showed up at her door, another stitch, to warn her that enemies are coming to kill them all.

House Immortal was not a book I would have normally picked up. In fact I never even heard of the author. I am so glad I decided to read it. This story was captivating from the get go. The author had me at chapter one, well she probably had me by page 2. Her writing sucked me into her world, making me feel like I was really there. I needed to know what was going to happen every step of the way and Monk also took me through the emotions as we got there. It was action packed with just enough romance. I highly recommend this book/series.

5 "Immortal Stitched" Sheep

TammyK

About the Author:
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Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and the Age of Steam steampunk series, knits silly things, and lives in Oregon.

Book Review: Stone Cold (Broken Magic #2) by Devon Monk

Stone Cold (Broken Magic #2)
By: Devon Monk
Kindle Edition, 368 pages
Release Date: April 1st 2014 by Roc

This two-book series is set in the Allie Beckstrom universe. It takes place three years after the end of the Allie Beckstrom books. While it stands on its own and can be read without having to read the Allie Beckstrom novels, the experience may be even richer if both series are read.

The latest Broken Magic novel from national bestselling author Devon Monk.

Marked by Life and Death magic, Shame Flynn and Terric Conley are “breakers”—those who can use magic to its full extent. Most of the time, they can barely stand each other, but they know they have to work together to defeat a common enemy—rogue magic user Eli Collins.

Backed by the government, Eli is trying to use magic as a weapon by carving spells into the flesh of innocents and turning them into brainless walking bombs. To stop him, Shame and Terric will need to call on their magic, even as it threatens to consume them—because the price they must pay to wield Life and Death could change the very fate of the world...and magic itself.

While I have read some of the Allie Beckstrom books, I have not yet read book one of this spinoff series; however, that was just fine as there was wonderful world building and flashbacks to bring us into the current adventure without that feeling of being lost or unable to relate to the characters.

Stone Cold is told primarily from Shame's point of view. He has been marked by Death magic or more accurately is now death and is continuously, as well as dangerously close to losing control of this hunger to eat life whether this is human, plant, or animal. In the meantime allies are being kidnapped and tortured with spells turning them into walking weapons and soul compliments are in danger of being killed. Eli is this adventure's primary nutbunny baddie, he is backed by the government and is using evil magic to claim worldwide superiority and produce the ultimate weapons for the highest bidder. In the meantime Shame must work to save his allies and fellow soul compliments as he suffers trying to hold back death and not harm those around him. And adjust to the relationship he has with Terric who is his soul compliment and marked by Life. 

Stone Cold is full of action and adventure, heartache, discovery, and is everything you could want in an outstanding urban fantasy read. It is a rollercoaster ride that is a delight for the reader to dive into and is one of those books that was very difficult to put down once the journey began. The storytelling continues to be superb, is fresh, and very well written. I have definitely added book one to my reading list and am looking forward to the next installment in this series on pins and needles to see where Shame's and Terric's adventures take them next. I received this book via NetGalley.

5 Sheep

DeniseZ

About the Author:
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Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. She writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series and the Age of Steam steampunk series, knits silly things, and lives in Oregon. Find out more at.

Devon Monk's TIN SWIFT blog tour + Give Away

Welcome to Chapter 7 of Devon Monk's online story

Hang Fire

HANG FIRE is a steampunk short story set in late 1800's America. It takes place between the Age of Steam book #1, DEAD IRON and book #2 TIN SWIFT. The story is broken into 20 "chapters" and posted, one chapter at a time, on 20 awesome blogs. To read the whole story, start at chapter 1 at www.candacesbookblog.com and follow the "read the next chapter" links at the end of the post. This story won't be found anywhere else on the web or in ebook form!

Today we start off with the cursed bounty hunter Cedar Hunt, who has just discovered his good friend, Rose Small, is about to be killed by a strange steam matic. Then we switch to the airship the Swift and Captain Hink who must out-fly the bigger, heavier-gunned airship crewed by glim pirates, before they blow him and his crew out of the sky....

...read chapter 6 at: Fantasy Literature

HANG FIRE - Chapter 7

Cedar Hunt sighted down the length of his rifle, taking aim at the metal contraption bearing down fast behind Rose Small.

Rose was dazed, her hat having fallen back to rest between her shoulders, the chin strap tugged tight around her throat. A thin streak of blood smeared the side of her cheek.

Her horse was nowhere to be seen. Cedar knew she was a smart woman and wouldn’t have gone running off on foot into the forest on a foolish whim.

She must have heard Cedar yell. She must, at this moment, hear the metal device puffing and clattering behind her.

But she turned toward him, not toward the danger.

And in doing so, put herself dead center in the line of fire.

Cedar swore under his breath and jerked the rifle down. He bolted across the forest floor, aiming to reach Rose before the matic did.

Wil, still in wolf form, and Mae Lindson rushed after him.

Maybe it was the flicker of light sliding like oil down the trip wire. Maybe it was the sudden knowledge that Wil was trying to twist to the side before his feet hit the ground.

Whatever it was, Cedar had just enough time to pivot and wrap his arms around Mae before the forest floor opened up beneath them and they fell into darkness.

The Swift fell through the sky like a man tripping off a cliff.

“Hold her steady!” Captain Hink yelled. He braced one boot against the open door and gripped the overhead bar as his airship screamed down, her tin bones singing, all the steam and power out of her, just like he’d told his crew he wanted.

Mr. Guffin, at the helm, was swearing in French and doing a surprisingly good job of it. That might have made Hink wonder about the man’s parentage, if they weren’t currently plummeting to their imminent death.

Mr. Ansel worked the Swift’s wings, keeping them tight, so they could take the fall as level as possible. He was also singing a song he must have picked up while they were out Chicago way. It was a mournful tune that went well with the short, stout man’s surprisingly operatic voice. Hink would have enjoyed hearing the whole diddy, but Mr. Ansel only sang when things were going very, very wrong.

And that was about to change.

The two airships on their tail were still climbing, still gunning ahead. Heading for the glim fields. Headed for Captain Hink’s glim stake.

Which was another thing he wasn’t about to let happen. All the Swift needed was a belly full of fire to bring her back to life.

“Hit the bell,” he hollered to Mr. Guffin. Then, back toward his boilerman who would not hear him through the thick metal door at the rear of the ship. “Molly Gregor, give her steam!”

Mr. Guffin was tugging on the bell wire so hard, Captain Hink thought he’d break it straight through.

They needed canons, they needed lift, and by God and glim, they needed steam.

“Steam,” he whispered, “give her steam, give her steam.” Every kick of his heart tapped out a beggar’s eternity.

He glanced out the port door. Land was coming up pretty damn fast to make acquaintance of his little ship. And though he’d had more than his share of chances to look his own death straight in both eyes, he was not about to go softly into that night.

“Molly!” he yelled.

Then he felt one shuddering thump.

...read chapter 8 at All Things Urban Fantasy

TIN SWIFT (Roc Trade Paperback Original; $15.00; ISBN: 978-0451464538), the second book Devon Monk’s widely-praised Age of Steam series hit shelves on July 3rd!

In steam age America, men, monsters, machines and magic battle to claim the same scrap of earth and sky. In this chaos, one man fights to hold on to his humanity--and his honor. . .

Life on the frontier is full of deceit and danger, but bounty hunter Cedar Hunt is a man whose word is his bond. Cursed with becoming a beast every full moon, Cedar once believed his destiny was to be alone. But now, Cedar finds himself saddled with a group of refugees, including the brother he once thought lost.

Keeping his companions alive is proving to be no easy task, in part because of the promise he made to the unpredictable Madder brothers—three miners who know the secret mechanisms of the Strange. To fulfill his pledge, Cedar must hunt a powerful weapon known as the Holder—a search that takes him deep into the savage underbelly of the young country and high into the killing glim-field skies defended by desperate men and deadly ships.

But the battles he faces are just a glimmer of a growing war stirring the country. To keep his word Cedar must navigate betrayal, lies, and treacherous alliances, risking everything to save the lives of those he has come to hold dear…

***GIVE AWAY***
Devon Monk is offering one winner
1. Copy of Tin Swift 2. Tin Swift magnet 3. Handmade (by me) signed steampunk airship bookmark

To enter:
1. Leave contact info
2. Tell me what Steampunk accessory would you like to own
*followers get double entries

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