The plot begins to thicken like a good stock with the introduction of a former Chief Sergeant of the Dragon Corps, named Owen Adamo. Now a professor of strategy at the university of Volstov, Adamo learns that Esar, the ruler of the capital, has a covert agenda to bring back magically powered sentient robot dragons, despite the likelihood of this action starting a new war. Adamo's confederates, the gay magician Royston, and the former corpsman, Balfour, would like to stop Esar's risky ambitions, but have to watch their step. Royston has already been exiled once, and Balfour, the steelhands of the title, is hampered by the degree of control his has over his metallic hands; replacements that are powered by the same type of magic as the dragons that Esar is attempting to resurrect. Oblique assistance arrives in the form of two rather different students. Toverre is what the great Ray Davies called a dedicated follower of fashion, with a penchant for his fiancé's clothes, and Laurence, who is in fact a woman, has been brought up as the son her father truly wanted. So, not the usual slackers. It is when Laurence develops suspicions about a strange illness affecting the freshers, and brings this to the attention of Adamo, that major events are set in motion.

What Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett present here is a first person POV delivered by distinct, oddball characters, who by their very nature stand aside from the crowd. Best among these, at least for me, were the tomboy girl, Laurence, and here effeminate beau, Toverre, whom I found quite entertaining as they adapt to life at the university and the university adapts to them. But it is the harder edged, somewhat grizzled trio of Adamo, Royston and Balfour who move things along politically. As events unfold, the twin threads combine in ways that will surprise few. Although, having said that, this is the kind of book where how we get there is more important than the standard way-points along the journey. Considering that there are two writers, each taking the reins when the other has run dry, the plot flows nicely enough, and is well constructed. The key strength that Jones and Bennett exhibit is diverse and convincing characterisation, which goes a long way to make up for aspects of the story which are more run of the mill. It is the distinct and individual viewpoints of the main characters that helps Steelhands to peek above the battlements of its genre.

In summary, this is a refreshing work, with just enough of everything to make it worthwhile. It's not by any means a classic, but for readers who want something that is very readable, often witty, and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone title, Steelhands does the job.