I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This book had a lot to cover, as there was a whole new world to learn about and explore, which dragged down the page of the story a bit. There was also a lot of character development and build-up happening, which I appreciated. It'll make the rest of the series stronger overall, and I was happy to see so much groundwork being done. I haven't read many stories in this steampunk style setting, but I have overall enjoyed the ones I have read, and this one was no exception.

I also found the magic system quite intriguing, and I thought it fit the world and the style of the story very nicely. I also really liked our main characters, and felt they each contributed something of their own to the book. I can't wait to see where this series takes them next!

This was an enjoyable dark fantasy read. It was a little confusing at times but that probably says more about me than it does about the book.

The cover is beautiful and ties in with the story neatly. Miranda was my favourite POV to read about. I loved that she was a woman in what they all think as a mans world. She’s incredibly strong and she won’t take crap from anybody. Overall a really entertaining read.

A fun steampunk fantasy novel. First in the series. Nice world building and interesting characters. Good for fans of the genre.

Fab start to a new series. Happily look out for the next book. Well written, great characters and good storyline. Highly recommend!!

Steampunk magic meets Mission Impossible! In The Censor's Hand, we follow several characters as their lives are intricately woven together. Miranda, a daughter of the Duchess, is a powerful and genius magic-user with a cut-throat desire to become a Master of the cunning arts. Jon is just trying to make an honest living to support his wife, daughter, and mother with his mill. His brother Daniel's heart is set on becoming a censor, a kind of police officer, to avenge for what happened to their sister. All are trying to make their way in a world that is harsh and unyielding, but will soon find out that everything becomes more complicated. How far will each go to achieve their ends?

Masterfully crafted, the plot lines are fantastic and each character is very human with their own motivations and decisions. Three underdogs - three paths. As you follow each one, it can get a bit tedious so you need to buckle down and really pay attention (which is my only complaint, the tediousness of switching perspectives at times). It leaves you enough information to want more - I'm hanging on the edge of my seat to read the next installment. By the end of The Censor's Hand, you will be too.

Told in alternating points of view from three main characters, The Censor’s Hand is a vivid entry in a world where magic is the source powering technology, the rule of law, and the fabric determining the fate of society.

Strong character development with a plot that develops around the murder of a Censor and the conspiracy surrounding it; two brothers follow different paths towards their destinies while a young woman who is the ward of the Duchess strives to break the patriarchal dominance of the Convergence.

Each reaching for their own paths in life; of justice in the Brotherhood of Censors, as an honest denizen tradesman, and as the first female Master of the Company of Cunning; together weaving a wonderful tale in the first chapter of what promises to be a spelling trilogy.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Ptolemy in exchange for an honest review.

A great book with a unique magic system. We follow three protagonists - two brothers, struggling to change their world for very different reasons and in very different ways - and one woman determined to forge her own way in a world that doesn't yet allow her that path.

The characters themselves made some bad decisions that frustrated me! But at the end of the day, the motivations driving them shone through every time. The magic itself was really interesting - I've read a lot in this sort of genre and so far it's completely unique.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for originality and future potential!

4.5 to be accurate. A great and original fantasy world. Well developed characters and a weaving of plot strands that pull together in a tumultuous climax. Looking forward to book 2.

It's a fairly standard fantasy scenario: a woman trying to enter a misogynistic magical society, a bit of brutality and violence thrown in and a likable hero in trouble. But it's well done and the treatment of the standard themes is fresh and interesting.

The first book in the Thrice~Crossed Swords trilogy and pretty much concentrated on the character development and world building. Daniel and Miranda's stories are the best for me; on the other hand, Jon's tale is a little bit depressing yet still a good read.

I'm anticipating for the second installment in the series, The Pillow Knife, because I reckon it would be more action-packed than the first book. If you are enjoying reading fantasy fiction books, mystery, murder, magic, and steampunk, then The Censor's Hand should be on your next read.

4.5/5 stars; a fantasy novel for the adult reader!

The story is told from three distinct points of view - three characters at a crossroads to achieve their destiny - Brothers: one a man struggling in a world where work is replaced by machines and another a hopeful censor, and an orphan, ward of the Duchess (nobility in this world), girl wanting to shatter glass ceilings and be the first female master of cunning, the manipulation of magic.

The story beings with a mystery in the prologue which will be a driving force for change in Daniel, Jon, and Miranda's lives. Beautifully and eloquently written, Steiner weaves an intoxicating web that grabs the reader at the beginning. The book is a long one, but it keeps the interest well as Steiner layers the plot progression well alongside character development and the wider glimpses into the world he has created.

I lost a bit of interest in Jon's story in the last third of the book; however, it does come around in the end and I look forward to the future of his character arc. Miranda was my favorite character until the end of the book. I understand the reasoning for what happens but it does not feel in line with the way her character had been written up until then: an assured woman who wanted to become a m aster, that refused to listen to men tell her that she was doomed to fail because of her sensibilities as a woman. What transpired at the end of the blade feels disingenuous to her character.

All in all I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the second installment of the trilogy. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Ptolemy Publishing UK, for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I downloaded a copy of this book from NetGalley a few months after the publication date. It’s technically an ARC, just not an “advanced from the author/publisher” one. Regardless, the review that follows is my honest and true opinion.

The Censor’s Hand is the first book of the Thrice-Crossed Swords trilogy, an adult fantasy that veers towards the philosophical. I chose it because it’s a little different from what I usually read, but it still sounded promising.

In this fictional world, magic is harnessed via masters of the Honorable Company of Cunning and sold to whoever can afford it, their headquarters located on the island of the Convergence. After a censor, a guardian of justice, is discovered murdered there, a discreet investigation is launched to find the true culprit.

The book follows three POVs. Daniel, a censor-in-training, hopes to land himself a better life and become qualified enough to do the right thing, protecting his home from street gangs and Freemen, a group of terrorists/dissenters protesting the current society. John, Daniel’s brother, is down on his luck, owning a mill falling into ruin after the Company diverted the wind, making the mill’s sails no longer turn. Miranda is an adoptive ward of the Duchess, seeking to be the first woman to ever be accepted into the Company and made a master.

Each of these characters has their own obstacles to overcome. Daniel fails his censor test but is given a second chance to go undercover at the Convergence and solve the murder. Miranda, while accepted to the Convergence, faces sexual discrimination at nearly every turn, despite her natural talent and cunning mind. John makes a desperate move to save his mill, putting himself in debt with gangsters and accidentally allying himself with the Freemen, something his pious, law-abiding moral center vehemently rebels against.

Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get truly immersed into the story. I only really liked Daniel and another censor, Corbin, consistently. John’s situation was sympathetic once it spiraled more and more out of control, but his opening actions were solely his own fault and his sanctimonious attitude got tiring after a while. Miranda was compelling at first. I enjoyed the fact that she was equal parts confident and arrogant, with the talent to back it up, but I grew to hate how she treated servants or anybody “lessor” than her with typical noble disdain. She also can’t stand to be outsmarted or made a fool of, proving she can dish it out but she can’t take it herself.

Though there was nothing wrong with the writing and I liked A. M. Steiner’s style well enough, the story itself didn’t make me come alive with wonder like fantasy usually does. I didn’t hate it—in fact, Steiner had a lot of good points he made about the dangers of unfettered ambition, how “the little man” often gets abandoned in the wake of progress, the desperation that people can be driven to when their options are limited, how politics can overshadow what’s true and what’s false—but I didn’t love it. A little too dry for my tastes.

I’m not certain whether I’ll continue the series to see if it gets more interesting. That’ll depend on what the second book is about, and how I’ll feel more than anything. As I said, there was nothing wrong with the writing itself, more of what story the writing was choosing to tell and how it was telling it. Though it was middle-of-the-road for me, others may find the messages inside The Censor’s Hand to be truly compelling and thought-provoking.

I found this to be a good adult fantasy. The magic system took a bit of time to understand but I believe that was because it was so well thought out and thorough which isn't a bad thing. There were also cultural dilemmas which I felt were carefully tackled, so no complaints there. I suppose this is more of a personal thing but so often in fantasy novels the character names are overly complicated and you are never sure if you are pronouncing them correctly. This book kept it simple with names you can recognize, remember, and pronounce without struggle which was appreciated even though it was at times odd having the common names juxtaposed with a complicated fantastical magic system. Overall, a good read.

The Censor's Hand is the first in a trilogy that takes place in a new fantasy world featuring a unique take on magic. This story follows three characters on three distinctly different paths which provides an opportunity for the author to really focus on world building. There's also a murder mystery thrown in the mix. I feel like this book had way too much going on with not enough character development or connectivity with the characters. It would have done better as at least two separate books to give the time and attention needed to give to the characters. Because of this, I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. The book did provide interesting and creative world building with respect to the role of magic, politics, religion, and caste system. I did enjoy these aspects of the book, but recommend that more character development be included in future installments.

Started off really enjoying the book. We follow Daniel, a hopeful to become a censor (a version of a police officer), his brother, Jon, who deals with the gangs in his neighborhood, and lastly Miranda, a ward of the Duches, hoping to become a Master in the arts of magic. It was an interesting concept, and the plot formed around the investigation of a murder. This is the first book in a series and does a lot of work to set up for the next book. I just got bored with it halfway through. The characters weren't super interesting to me, and the perception of justice and honor among other things was skewed in a way that I personally didn't enjoy.

This was a difficult read for me to review. I liked it and I didn't.

Liked: The magic system, the world, the chaos, intrigue, and some of the characters. A religious fantasy in opposition to the magical hierarchy. The human struggle against tyranny. There is a lot to chew on within the story.

Did not like: Pretty much the 3 main characters. I know, ridiculous right? I felt they were just too self absorbed and really provide no redemption within this first book. Which brings me to the sizable dissatisfaction with the story; there was this huge build up drawing "ever so slowly" the 3 characters very loosely together... but doesn't quite get there. So, the whole book, 4 - 5 hundred some odd pages worth is really just setting the stage.

I'm on the fence over whether I want to invest reading further in the series. I rate this on the lower side of 3 stars. Not a bad tale, but not much which makes the main characters relatable enough for me to care about them. However, several of the secondary characters are quite interesting.

Impressive and original. A touch of steampunk, and loads of magic, interesting protagonists - one of them a very determined young woman - and a mystery to solve. The world-building is carefully done and credibly presented with a range of social ranks and roles, and a dependence on magic that may turn out to be fatal. Good stuff!

The Censor's Hand is a cracking start to a trilogy. As other reviewers have said, it's set in a steampunk world where technology and magic meet. Magic is harvested / mined, by a group of people who are feared (sometimes respected) - the masters, and distrusted by the ultimate law keepers - the Censors. Combine with that, a murder mystery when one of the Censors is murdered, a rebellion in the making, and a young woman challenging the misogynistic society which believed that no "mere woman" could become a master, and you're in for a real treat. The action keeps going at a great pace, and if you're waiting for the next Patrick Rothfuss or George R.R. Martin book, then look no further. If you've tried reading fantasy but found it too much of a slog in the past (e.g. The Wheel of Time, or Lord of the Rings), then don't worry, this will have you gripped from the outset, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Very highly recommended!

This is probably more 3.5 stars than 3.

I feel like the strongest element of this book was the characters. I really enjoyed reading about Daniel and Miranda, although I wasn't as interested in Jon.

It was an easy ready for the most part with good pacing almost consistently throughout.

There were a few things I didn't like, however. First of all, the events of the prologue never really get resolved. I do understand that this is a series, but I kind of felt that there should be some resolution. I didn't like the references to "our" world. Some of it just didn't seem to fit and seemed to just be thrown in haphazardly. The world that was created was interesting enough without obscure references to places and people from history.

Lastly, I found the conversations to be, at times, convoluted. While I understand that the author was trying to convey political intrigue and hidden meanings within the conversations, I felt that this was overcomplicated.

Overall, I did enjoy the majority of the book and at times, I couldn't put it down. It's a fairly solid effort.

I stopped reading this twice.

The first time, at maybe 15%, I went off and read several other books. I didn't feel much desire to go back to it, but I wasn't hating it, so I gave it another go. In part, I wanted to figure out why it was that I didn't care about any of the characters, and give the author a chance to change that.

I got to 64% before I realised why it was that I didn't care, and at that point I stopped.

The narrative follows three loosely connected main characters. One is in financial trouble and about to lose the family business, which would mean his ill mother, his wife, and their baby would have no means of support. You'd think this would make me care about him, but he's so hapless and hopeless, and makes such bad decisions, that I never did. His family seems to be more of a constraint on his actions than people that he cares deeply about.

The second is the first character's brother. He's a competent fighter, and ambitious to clean up their old neighbourhood by becoming a Censor, a kind of lawman. Again, a laudable goal, and you'd think I'd care, but he fumbles around, not showing a lot of focus or competence, serving an obviously heartless organization which considers him a tool, and not a particularly valuable one.

The third character is a woman student - the first woman student - at a magical college, at which the second character is also a student as part of an undercover investigation. They become involved. So why didn't I care about a woman who's making her way in a man's world by being better than the male students? Normally I'd love that story, but this character is so nakedly ambitious, and so uncaring about anyone other than herself, that I had no sympathy for her goals.

And that was the overall problem, I think. Nobody combined competence with idealism; everyone was missing one or the other, and nobody had any noticeable compassion or empathy. Faced with a cast of characters who didn't much care about each other, I didn't care about them either, and stopped reading with no regrets.

I received a review copy via Netgalley.