Emma Bannon, Sorceress Prime is not among the most popular of her colleagues. She draws her power from the darkest of the dark which can be a bit nervous-making, even for those accustomed to the oddities attending the workings of magic. She has pledged herself to the newly risen queen of the Empire, Victrix who has thrust off the yoke of her domineering mother to take the full cloak of power provided by being the incarnation of the ever-living force of Britannia.

Archibold Clare finds himself in the fascinating position of being the last unregistered mentath alive in England. Solving mysteries and following every clue to its bitter and dangerous source is meat and drink to him. A mentath afflicted with ennui is on a breakneck course to Bedlam. The problem presented by Queen Victrix in the person of her most trusted servant the Sorceress Prime Emma Bannon promises to keep his brain safely between his ears for some time to come.

As a reviewer it is my pleasure to read a goodly number of excellent books. Often entertaining and highly readable, no matter the genre, a well-told story always brings me a bit of joy. It is a very special day when a book rises above the others bringing me page-by-page excitement and an exhilarating ride that I swear had my breath coming short. When the book is also straddling two (or maybe more) of my favorite genres it is gilding on the cake, so to speak. (They make edible gold, right?.)

I have been a fan of some of Saintcrow's other series, in among my other favored Urban Fantasy writers, but in terms of my particular interests, THE IRON WYRM AFFAIR blows the competition out of the water. In this first of her new Bannon and Clare series fantasy-soaked alternate history snuggles comfortably into the Steam Punk genre. Viscerally thrilling action is etched with the cold calculations of Clare who is like Holmes on mental steroids. Fascinating characters on every level people an enthralling world and drives a story that forcibly carries readers along with the chase. It felt as if mere moments passed from first page to last, inciting a hunger for more in the series. Don't get me wrong, the resolution gave great satisfaction, it's just that I missed being in Londinum. Lilith Saintcrow can't possibly write the next quickly enough to sate that need.

Book Summary

Emma Bannon, forensic sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn't help much that they barely tolerate each other, or that Bannon's Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen.

In an alternate London where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare now face hostility, treason, cannon fire, black sorcery, and the problem of reliably finding hansom cabs.

The game is afoot..