2.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 3).

I sadly was not able to get through this audiobook. The concept is outstanding—noir like fantasy mystery of whodunnit and main character with a redemption arc/self-growth to accept themselves. However, after so many times of having to deal with the cliche detective speech and wise lines, I found myself lost and not able to stay on top of the plot. In some parts it felt to drag because of it.

I will say I thought the narrator did a good job of staying in character and the accent choice set the mood for the audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook arc. I really tried giving this a chance. The concept is very good. it's an urban fantasy set in NYC with supernatural creatures. The mmc is a private detective who is also half human so he is not wanted by both worlds. there are different cases he solves and you see the dynamic of the supernatural. I thought the cases were interesting but overall I got very bored. I was hoping a case would lead up to a big conspiracy. it would be better if they focused on one case and expanded on it. I just couldn't get into it. the story is in first place but I got the ick every time John talked about himself in third person. He sounds so patronizing like oh I'm the Ironwood and I'm the best rather than showing he is the best. if the narrator voice was deeper, it would fit the gritty noir vibe. I felt the narrator was alright. I just can't stand when the mmc talks about himself in third person to the point I thought the story was in third person. That mainly ruin the book for me.

A tarnished white knight in the guise of a 1930’s classic noir detective, John Ironwood is a half breed Fae-human who can wield the element Fe, iron. Iron is the one elemental weakness that can pierce a purebred Fae’s magic. Ironwood identifies himself as a “walking, talking iron maiden” and a menace to any Fae who seek to commit evil acts in his city. Steven Savile draws upon a multitude of cultural references, from 1960’s Star Trek ‘grups’, to gritty detective novels, Marvel comic book characters, and the gray sprawl of Batman’s Gotham City to name a few, in order to best voice his ass kicking wise-cracking detective. Ironwood is a fedora-wearing trench coat clothed 1930’s hard-boiled detective who drives a “rust bucket” Plymouth Belevdere as he investigates murder, thumbs his nose at the Seelie court, takes on an Unseelie cult, an evil necromancer, holds double-entendre conversations with a sexy succubus and so much more. This book is a roller coaster ride of clever non-stop alliterations that are both entertaining and a bit over the top. At first I thought a frustrated English teacher was responsible for the creative flow of cultural references so fabulously wide ranged and perfectly aligned with both the noir detective genre of the 1930’s and the Fae, demon, and other paranormal creatures in modern popular novels. I enjoyed this book, albeit in 3-4 chapter chunks with a break in between. I honestly think this would make a fantastic comic book series if Savile broke John Ironwood’s adventures into separate units. Or make it into an anime series like Cowboy BeBop. This book definitely has that kind of global entertainment potential.

So I am going to give this book a 3* because I think there is a great deal of potential. Personally, I was pretty sold on the first 20% and was enjoying it the way I would a Dresden installment or Something from the Nightside. It's main character is a dark, urban fantasy detective who seems to be part fae but also seems to be kind of invincible to fae-kind because he is imbued with iron.

I really wanted to like this book but the further I got into it, the more the author became obsessed with filling the pages with as many hyperboles, similes, metaphors, and alliterations. I did not mind that each chapter was about a different adventure but it did feel as though some of the stories could have been flushed out more to create longer works. If this is a half-fae detective, he could have gone with writing these like he was recapping some of his most recent cases, or he could have even just gone the way of the Dresden Files and really dived into the stories ,giving more depth and development.

The main character Johnny Ironwood is kind of like a cross between Constantine and Harry Dreseden but this guy has no shame about telling you how awesome he is. It should have been right up my alley as I really love this kind of dark, gritty, urban fantasy. But there is something about the writing and the character that just doesn't work for me. I am impressed with the narrator for being able to read all of the alliteration without stumbling. I swear, there were points where the stories could not move forward because the writer decided to try and be clever with his writing style and language choices. I really would love to see an edit of this where the author develops some of the stories more and takes it easy on the vocabulary.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC. The following are my own thoughts and opinions in reviewing the book:
* The cover art and premise made me excited for this book. With a promise of a rugged, western-style protagonist investigating and bringing justice in a fantasy world. And while those things are true on the page, the tone and style were just not there for me. Frankly, the reading experience was not enjoyable due to the dialogue and character issues alone.
* The dialogue went too far in a negative direction of fake slang, where every other line was a crap joke or a poor attempt at a pun. There were also terribly cliche’d lines from the protagonist and side characters in many conversations, so much so that it actively took me out of the story every time they were said. This feels like a parody of a fantasy novel, and I don’t think that was the author’s intention.
* The characters are, unfortunately, entirely one dimensional. John Ironwood, the main character, is the only name I even remember. The rest were forgettable stand-ins for John’s supposedly badass adventure. John thinks he is Batman. Unironically. I cringed more than once while reading and for that reason can’t recommend this to anyone who values well developed characters. He has no depth, nothing relatable that I can latch onto, and the same things are even more true for each of the side characters.
* The plot was the final weak point worth mentioning. To say this story has an overarching plot or story to tell is to say that most sitcoms have a deeper story to tell. Each chapter sees John dealing with a new flavor of evil fae - overthrow a dark plot, uncover a murderer, defeat a necromancer. All on paper sound like good adventures, except there is zero connection and zero stakes. Each chapter is completely unrelated except for the tiniest of reference lines, and I frankly didn’t have the patience to try to get invested beyond that. It was frustrating to see the potential for large-scale stories in this world squandered like that.
* The setting was a highlight for me - it is a relatively unique take on the Seelie/Unseelie Fae that I don’t see too often in recent fantasy novels, but in a modern setting with cities, real-world celebrities, and a strange mix of real and fictional history.
* The fae campiness is fully embraced, and someone who is a big fan of that may enjoy the read. For most, however, I suspect the struggling dialogue, lack of character work, and all-over-the-place plot will be a turn-off.

Definitely NOT my cup of tea.
I did stick with it through the end, but I kind of wish I had just stopped halfway through …

This is a collection of stories about an old-time PI that is half Fae, half human…but, he is living in modern times. So, that screwed me up to start with. (It seems like they’re talking about the 1920’s, but no… it’s actually a time in the future. ) ????

So, with each new chapter seems to come a new story. But, I felt like the story before never really ended….

Ironwood talks about himself in third party…all the time. Something else that threw me off.

And, he is CONSTANTLY patting himself on the back…even though it seems like there wouldn’t have been stories to talk about if his tried and true friends didn’t keep showing up time and again!

OK…I’m going to stop 🛑 right here. 🛑

To me there was way too much repetition, and him giving himself praise (all the time) …and not enough ‘grit’ there for me to enjoy or even like the stories too much.

But, if this is something that calls to you, please keep your eyes 👀 open for it!

3 🌟🌟🌟 for me. Not my favorite, but ok.

#Ironwood by Steven Savile and narrated nicely by Joe Hempel.


*** RELEASE DATE IS COMING SOON ON JULY 8, 2025 !! ***
***SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES SOON!!!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #TantorAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Well, if you enjoy a very overpowered detective who talks about himself in the third person (about how he is halfblood gumshoe detective, protector of the changelings and others who fall victim to the unseelie or seelie or demon or djinn or whatever plans to destroy the world/bring about the apocalypse and tends to solve the problem by sticking his silvery shadow sword into said problem a few times (or shooting his trusty Remington), then you will enjoy this book. Each chapter seems to be a new evil scheme discovered by John Ironwood and how he saves the day again and again with witty remarks and his sword or a spell or other secondary character who tends to die by the end of the chapter after saving John (except for a certain succubus who shows up for a few chapters for sultry secrets revealed and sexy sayings to keep up John's spirits). I will say I did become amazed by all the alliterations in the descriptions of speech of the characters and that kept me listening, just to see how long of a phrase could happen with all the alliterations. A couple examples I enjoyed were how the fire was "hotter than the hearth in hell" or "Fair folk fell upon the feast in fervor". Or my favorite "with a single swipe of my singing severance sword!"

I could see this as a weekly release and if the characters had more depth, or any depth, then it would be good. But in book format it tends to be quite repetitive. The narrator did a good job of smoothly telling the story but the story needs more. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to enjoy the crazy alliteration of this audiobook.

Johnny Ironwood is a half-Fae private detective in New York. He uses his skills and his network of friends to defeat otherworldly outlaws threatening mortals. He must face king Somnus but is he strong enough to survive?

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this fantasy novel with lots of foes, fights, friends and dangers. Not only is New York in danger but Johnny will not back down.

This audiobook introduces us to The New PI for those with hell in their tails. Has the non-stop PI noir words, filled with similes, metaphor and hyperbole as this genre should be. But the narrator is just too nice (see more below). Hence, at least a star less than the author’s words or imagination probably merited.

In a mythological, baddy fest, fantasy noir drenched world, when you’ve made the wrong deal or have an eldritch villain ready to tare you or your family apart, go find Johnny Ironwood. He is ‘The Man’ with the answers or availability of a magical weapon arsenal to get the job done and come out the other side.
The narrator has a nice voice, and for me that’s the major issue with this audiobook. No gravel, no grit, no scars, no hurt, just too smooth to be the voice of Johnny. At least at the 2/2.5 speed I like to run my audiobooks at. I did have a play and found 0.5 speed gave a whole different feel, and maybe would have been a better listening speed.
Thank you to Tantor Audio, RBmedia and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

**ARC reader**
thank you to netgalley for providing the audiobook.

I usually try to finish even the books i'm not feeling, and it does take quite a bit for me to actually DNF a book. This is unfortunately one of those times and as such I have my first DNF of the year.
I got 25.6% through the audiobook before I decided to just call it quits, knowing damn well that this book just wasnt for me. After the main protagonist referred to himself in third person for what felt like the millionth time, I just couldnt bring myself to keep going.

The female characters who are introduced are flat, the protagonist spends a significant amount of time talking about himself in third person (If I have to stomach another "I am johnny Ironwood, great detective blah blah.." I will throw my phone across the room) and while there was soooo much happening just in the first 25% of the book, none of it felt like anything more than a power fantasy.
I had hoped that this would be a fun and intriguing gritty, mystery novel set in an urban fantasy setting but it just felt dull and frustrating.

I contemplated giving this rating an extra star for the sake of the audiobook narrator who despite the material was great. I would love to see what other books the narrator have worked with.

This was a very interesting story, and I would like to first thank NetGalley for my chance to listen to the audiobook.

Personally, I feel like this book wasn’t really my cup of tea. I thought it would be as it was marketed as a book that was similar to the Dresden Files. However, after listening to it I don’t feel like it was exactly that. The only similarities I found was that it was an urban fantasy with a mystery plot line. I think what bothered me about this book was its episodic nature. I personally felt like it didn’t lend itself to a book format.

Because this story was written to emulate old style private eye stories the vernacular and episodic nature don’t feel like they fit into a typical urban fantasy book style. It really felt like it should be a radio series like private eye stories originated. Also, many of the tropes that are original to private eye stories such as the femme fatal and the unknown background of the POV character are a bit cliche and frowned upon in modern literature as times and literary styles of changed. I feel like that fact that these tropes are not only still in this story combined with the fact that the writing is not written in a style or language that is easy for the common reader – made it a little bit frustrating and probably difficult to market to the average reader.

However, the narration itself was very well done. The voice of the narrator matched the style of narration very well without falling into any of the typical stereotypes of what an old private eye story would sound like – i.e. they didn’t fall into any period or area accents. The grittiness of the voice matched the grittiness of the story and managed to convey not only the tenseness of the action but also the blase attitude of the POV character.

Overall, I would give this story a 2.5 out of 5 (rounding to 3 for the sake of Goodreads rating system). The narration was good; the concept of the story was interesting, and I loved the use of vocabulary and alliteration. This story I think would have done better as a paid podcast series than a narrated audiobook.

Thank you to netgalley and the author and audio peeps for the opportunity to listen to this Audio ARC! 

This was my first time diving into fantasy/sci-fi and I was super excited for the story. It just didn't hit how I thought it would. 

Each chapter ends with a bloody battle that was won and then a new adventure begins. However, I was hoping for more high stakes rather than just reading that the impending doom of the apocalypse is coming, there's no great risk because each battle is won, each fight with some type of bad guy is victorious, and it was just wasn't that great. 

The trenchcoat wearing, half-fae, half sarcastic and actually only a little bit cool, investigator dude just fell flat for me. If you're a super macho dude who likes this kind of stuff, then for sure this book is for you. However, I found myself listening and with each chapter that passed, there was no depth, no heartfelt character building, just straight up battle sequences that felt rushed with an over use of metaphors that made it feel like it was just for filler. 

Overall, 2.5 stars because I enjoyed the overall premise, but it just wasn't executed well.

🗽John "Ironwood" Irons is a half-fae detective in 1970s New York who fights mundane and supernatural criminals while trying to save the world from ancient evil rising.

The writer's style and the audiobook made me believe this was a 1940s or 1950s radio drama. Witty dialogues, creative and metaphorical monologues, suspense, mystery, gloomy atmosphere, fedoras - it all made me think of detective films noir. Johnny is everything you expect from the main character in those old detective movies, but he is also like John Constantine fighting supernatural villains all by himself. 📽️🕵🏻‍♀️🗡️💀

The chapters are mostly long and almost seem like separate stories, but it all comes together in the end. Our detective gets help in the final battle from those he helped through the book. After defeating evil we learn that he can not rest for too long. There are more stories and more horrors awaiting him. Ain't no rest for the wicked.🦹🏻‍♀️

I admit that it was hard for me to get used to this writing and voice acting style, but, surprisingly, I did enjoy it. I mean, I love detective noir films but I could live without constant bragging of the main character (which is absolutely one of the characteristics of the genre). The book is so full of everything that it feels overwhelming sometimes, but I loved all the one liners and the metaphors that I might or might not plan using when the time is right. 😁😁

🎙️The voice acting really sets the right mood! 👏🏻

✨If you are into American Gods, detective film noir, and John Constantine, I definitely recommend Ironwood as your next read!

This was one hell of a disappointing listen. Ironwood reads like a fever dream with so much happening and very little making sense. The protagonist is a terrible Harry Dresden knock-off with more self-proclaimed titles than one can count. Every other sentence is an analogy that honestly serves no real purpose other than to confuse the reader into thinking that the protagonist is very witty. Each chapter (at least till the 25% I could stomach) is a short story where we see our protagonist face some great foe only for him to succeed without much trouble at all because it's what he does. Case comes in, John Ironwood takes the case after mentally congratulating himself for being such a benevolent champion of the weak and helpless, goes to shady area to get intel, is threatened by people who after one threat give him any information he wants, calls for help from a ragtag group of misfits, big bad enemy is taken down without much trouble at all, mentally congratulates himself for being the one that stands before evil. This was every chapter so far.

The only saving grace is the audiobook narrator who does a damn good job regardless of the content.

🎧 Audiobook 🎧 is super well-read for the gritty noir style of supernatural investigation. The second star is all for this narrator.

This book is essentially a graphic-novel version of the Dresden Files, with less charm and more grit. Written as a series of short stories that each could be their own comic, we follow half-Fae private investigator, Ironwood, on his harrowing adventures. Disappointingly full of even more male machismo than the Dresden Files (As a female reader, I was hoping for the exact opposite). While there is a kickass young female side-kick who sometimes helps with bigger cases when Ironwood needs backup, she has zero depth or true presence. Otherwise, the world-building is essentially the Dresden Files, rebranded for a different city. Swap out wizard in a leather trench coat for half-Fae in a bedraggled fabric trench coat ....

I mean, if this kind of ultra-male urban fantasy where you are rooting for the underdog is your thing, you'll likely enjoy this audiobook. But if you are any gender but the most priviledged and sick of the audacity transferring onto the written page, maybe give this a miss. This is my first attempt at reading this author's work. And, while I am glad to have given it a shot, the fantasy and sci.fi. worlds desperately need more diverse voices being championed by the big publishers!!

Huge gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher, Tantor Audio, for an Audio-ARC of this book in exchange for my (way too) honest review.

This book was not the book for me. It is the first book that I have tried from Mr. Savile and where this is the first book of the series, I found it hard to follow. There were a lot of things going on in the plot leaving me confused as to what was going on. I only made it 28% of the way through the book before giving up. In the end this is not the book for me.