Cold Iron

By Melisa Michaels

Book Overview

When hard-bitten but pretty California private investigator Rose Lavine is hired to protect Jorandel, the charismatic singer of an ""elf-rock"" band, she discovers dark secrets lying behind the Fairy... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451456548
• ISBN13: 9780451456540
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful, complicated, compelling book!

I can't for a minute understand why some of the other reviewers didn't like this book. Sure, it isn't traditional fantasy, though it does have elves. Sure, it isn't Tolkein. It is a tough, contemporary, urban fantasy novel with a very strong mystery. Though its characters are not always (even usually) admirable, COLD IRON is absolutely compelling, with exceptionally strong narration and enough plot twists to make even the most experienced mystery fan (like myself) happy.This is not a story about happy woodland creatures flitting among the trees; this is a story of hardened people, of hopes and dreams, of the horrible decadence of (some) rock bands. The magic and even the existence of the elves does not need to be explained by Ms. Michaels. They are woven seamlessly into contemporary society and are utterly believeable in the framework of this novel. The subculture that Ms. Michaels has created works - that's all that is important, not how it got to be that way. It just is. You believe it.Even as you may not respect or agree with some of the decisions made by the characters, their choices are within character and hold together. The elfrock musicians are certainly not put forth to be emulated, but they can be studied and understood. We don't have to like all of them, but we have to believe that they could - and do - exist in the world that Ms. Michaels has created. In my eyes, that is high praise indeed.I heartily recommend COLD IRON. It definitely is not high fantasy, but is an interesting and compelling book with a great deal going on beneath the surface. Above all, this book is engaging and entertaining! Isn't that what we look for when we read?

Melisa Micheals book Cold Iron

Cold Iron is a wonderfull book to read...Page turning and fast paced action...Makes for a real good night's read...I could not put it down...If she write's any more book along the same line then she will have her own little coner of the fantasy reader's truning to her book in a rush. Tragic,Enlighting,and thoughtfully put together with a plot that renders the haert.

Great writing conquers all!

I was persuaded to try COLD IRON even though I don't like rock music, don't like urban fantasy, and don't like "private eye" stories...Surprise! This book smashed all those prejudices! I liked the heroine immediately (she's as much of a curmudgeon as I am...and incidentally she hates being called a private eye: it's private INVESTIGATOR). Then the compelling writing and razor-sharp wit kept me reading eagerly to the end. I look forward to the next book by Melisa Michaels no matter WHAT genre it's in!

Really unique and enjoyable

For the most part, books about people from magical lands coming to earth don't seem to work for me. Afterall, what's so great about normal old earth companred with a land of elves, dwarves and the occasional dragon? It works pretty well in COLD IRON by Melisa Michaels. The concept is that elves from Fairie had grown tired of the homeland and with their exceptional musical skills, travel to earth to become musicians. Once such band is COLD IRON. When a girl comes into the office of private investigator Rose Lavine claiming that someone's trying to kill the lead singer of COLD IRON, Lavine reluctantly agrees to help. This book isn't your typical fantasy with a culturally diverse band of strangers on a magical quest. So if you've been looking for something a little different, then maybe COLD IRON is for you. Casey Thomaston