Early Review: The Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman

Series: The Devil's West #2
Publisher: Saga Press
Source: the author and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 10th, 2017
Challenges: Finishing the Series Reading Challenge | NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

In the anticipated sequel to Silver on the Road, Isobel is riding circuit through the Territory as the Devil's Left Hand. But when she responds to a natural disaster, she learns the limits of her power and the growing danger of something mysterious that is threatening not just her life, but the whole Territory.

Isobel is the left hand of the old man of the Territory, the Boss—better known as the Devil. Along with her mentor, Gabriel, she is traveling circuit through Flood to represent the power of the Devil and uphold the agreement he made with the people to protect them. Here in the Territory, magic exists—sometimes wild and perilous.

But there is a growing danger in the bones of the land that is killing livestock, threatening souls, and weakening the power of magic. In the next installment of the Devil’s West series, Isobel and Gabriel are in over their heads as they find what’s happening and try to stop the people behind it before it unravels the Territory. (less)

My Thoughts:

The first book in this series, "Silver on the Road", enthralled me when I read it and I knew I wanted to read the next book, "The Cold Eye". I requested it via NetGalley almost as soon as it was available. But my request had been pending for many weeks when Gilman mentioned on Facebook that she had review copies available. I asked, and she sent me a copy; then, four and a half months after I submitted my request on NetGalley, I was approved and ended up with two e-galleys. Feast or famine, lol.

In "The Cold Eye", Gilman picks up shortly after "Silver on the Road". Isobel and her mentor Gabriel are still on the road. Isobel is more experienced now where traveling on the road is concerned and she's learning her job as she goes. She's responsible for enforcing the Devil's will and ensuring that justice is done. The extent of her powers is something she's still learning and she is tested in this story. She and Gabriel have to deal with an incident early on that ends up having a longer reach and greater consequences than they originally realize. Gilman sets up story lines for the next book and the series as a whole.

I love Gilman's version of the old west and history and I would love to see m more of the Devil, he fascinates me. Her world building is solid and intriguing but for me, it's the characters who make the story. Isobel is on the one hand quite mature for sixteen years and yet she's also very much a teen, eager to be an adult, to be respected, to make something of herself, impatient at times with the occasional necessity to let Gabriel take charge. But Isobel is strong, smart, unexpectedly wise at times, compassionate, clear eyed, and courageous. No matter the cost to her, and magic does take its toll, she forges ahead, doing what she must. At times its easy to forget she's a teenager. Gabriel too is fascinating. He's a mature adult, older than Isobel, trying to find his path in life, balancing different parts of his life. He has secrets, secrets that Gilman is slowly doling out and I am eager to learn more.

Although a lot happens in "The Cold Eye" it's not an action packed book. It's more subtle than that, and explores choices, decisions, consequences, community, and power. There's politics, subtle magic, personal growth and development, some action, and not a hint of romance. It's a fascinating story, full of little details and big ideas, and I'm already counting down to the next book's release.

Bea's Review of book 1, "Silver on the Road"
Read an Excerpt from "Silver on the Road"