Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal)

While I’ve read some amazing books this year, it’s been awhile since I have completely devoured a book in less than 24 hours. This book was one I truly could not put down. I couldn’t fall asleep because I didn’t want to stop reading what happened next. The way this book starts is one of my absolute favorite ways to fall into a story - with no preamble and immediate conspiring amongst characters. Brynn has quickly become one of my new favorite FMCs. She is just so REAL. No whining or blaming her situation on everyone and everything else. She accepts her role in the world, but also holds a fierce determination to know the truth of that world. She is brave, yet terrified. Strong, yet self-conscious. She is cunning and intelligent and she doesn’t shy away from what is hard or allow emotion to overcome logic. I feel like she’s such a relatable character in everything that happens to her. Then we have Kai…our commander and son of the leader. He’s got secrets. Big ones. And the amount of times my feelings for him flipped in this book is insane. I’m still honestly reeling… Acker, my man…he’s mysterious, yet he doesn’t pull his punches. He’s loyal to a fault. He feels things deeply and he is fervent in his beliefs and desires. I adore him and yet want to shake him for the way he goes about making decisions and only sharing half truths. And right now my heart is aching for him and also terrified of him. When I say I need book 2 like I need water, that’s an understatement. I don’t have space to discuss every side character, but just know that I love them deeply and they each have big personalities of their own. The miscommunication honestly feels more like a necessity and less of a trope. The MCs don’t truly know one another, so of course there’s hesitancy to share everything with a stranger who has been somewhat forced upon you due to the situation you’ve both found yourself in. But it also is refreshing to watch them both learn to trust and communicate more and more as they go. The world building was exciting and unique - unlike anything I’ve read before. The kingdoms and their systems and the unique magics all create this setting that is utterly perfect. I never felt confused, but could easily envision everything as it was explained in detail. The slow burn and spice was paced so perfectly and realistically that it never felt weird or forced or annoying. It unfolds the way most normal relationships would (minus the magic and fantasy aspects). I truly cheered for our MCs and loved the way they finally came together. This story takes all the tropes we know and love and twists them into something unique and entirely different than all the other stories we’ve grown used to. And when I tell you that you will NEVER see the plot twists coming, HOLY SMOKES BATMAN! And the last 2 chapters took me ALL THE WAY OUT. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to be okay after that. I almost want to go back to chapter 55 and pretend the rest didn’t happen…but of course I can’t do that and now I’ll just be dying a little inside every day until I get my hands on book two! If you enjoy fantasy or romantasy, this has to be your next read. All the rest can wait. Grab your copy YESTERDAY.

I DEVOURED this book. I was in a huge slump after reading a horrible series right before this but after 3 pages of this book, I was hooked. I read the whole book in 2 days. I think the author did an amazing job at writing an engaging story with an amazing twist at the end. I know many readers feel betrayed by the twist and find the narrator to be unreliable but I feel that the twist was done in a great unsuspecting way. Though I do feel betrayed, I think there is so much room for redemption in the second book! The author also did an amazing job at world/character building. She was able to do so without interrupting the story which is one of my huge pet peeves. A lot of authors build by taking breaks in the plot or dialogue which I find choppy and disengaging but this author was able to build in an engaging way. There was some lack of world/character building but I think that was due to keeping reader in the dark. The world, politics, and characters were all very easy to understand. I found the romance a little lackluster and a bit off-kilter. Some of it was really pushy and rushed which left a bad taste in my mouth. I do hope the author delves deeper into the romance in coming books. The FMC was a breath of fresh air. She was not whiny or stuck-up like most books. She was never afraid to accept help from others but she was still able to shine with her intelligence. Not once did I think she made a poor decision just for the sake of a plot point. She was really easy to like. The MMC could use some work but I think that will happen more in coming books. This is a MUST read, my only advice would be to wait until it is a finished series!

Holy heck am I completely obsessed by this book! I devoured this book in no time flat! It was the most extreme struggle to out this book down to even take care of basic life needs, like eating or sleeping!! I had no idea what I was in for when I read the blurb for this book. It sounded amazing and I knew I needed to read it. But, good gods, this book is so much more than what the overview lets on. I was taken for the most epic ride here folks! This book is fast paced and full of intense emotion. I didn’t know how much I needed this book until I was done and looking for more! The characters, and all of their dynamics are so exquisitely written. They are complex, well thought out and charismatic. The world building is absolutely fantastic with so much political strife. The magic system was interesting and completely sucked me in! The emotions I experience while reading this book just took it to a whole other level - from anger, to giddiness, to complete shock at the end! There are so many jaw dropping twists and turns throughout this book. There was never a dull moment to be had and I was constantly edging my seat waiting for what may or may not be coming. But that ending…THAT ENDING, GOOD GODS!! I never EVER saw that coming! My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach with a jolt. How? How did I not see ingenious twist in the story! This is some BRILLIANT writing! Schneider did an amazing job with this book! And now I want MORE!!! I will, no doubt, be rereading this once the traditionally published book is released!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.8/5 Spice: 🌶️🌶️ she's gonna build for sure KU: nope but spend the $ I need to preface this by saying I ALWAYS see the plot twist coming, or I google ending because I must know. I had seen that this book was marked to have the plot twists of all plot twists so of course naturally I googled to see what it was. I was then unimpressed by what I'd found thinking that's not that big of a plot twist. That it seemed pretty predictable and I was unsure how so many people were so shocked. So I went on reading completely invested in the story but feeling like I knew what was coming. It turns out what I read was not the true plot twist, there are a few, but the main one I DID not read about and it hit me like a Mack truck. My jaw hit the floor. I HAD NO IDEA. If anyone who's read it saw it coming let me know (spoiler free) am I just naive or was it really that good? I don't even know how to describe this book. Enemies to lovers, pirate ish energy, elemental magic style, political climate, fantasy world, fated bonds, found family, amnesia trope, me wanting to punch main characters in the face for their miscommunication and a smart mouthed deadly MMC with a bookish, orphaned FMC. Count Me In. I've been struggling with fantasy books for a while and it took me a while to get full hooked in but once I was there was no turning back. In my mind it's absolutely worth the hype, the vibes were immaculate and I was happily along for my delulu ride. The cliff hanger destroyed me as expected but what's a good fantasy story without a devastating cliffhanger. Thankfully LJ Andrews prepared me well through the Broken Kingdoms and Ever Seas. Can't wait for the book hangover to hit me tomorrow 💙🫠Please no spoilers people deserve to experience it!! 🫠💙

ow, wow, WOW!!! What a book! I went into this knowing that it had an insane plot twist and even when I was looking for it on every single page I still did not see that one coming!!! This book is nothing but jaw dropping, goose pimpling, page turning fun! I loved every little thing about this book, the magic system, the history, the characters, the fated mates, the banter, the happy and the sad parts!!! Even the spice had meaning! The FMC is badass, and the MMC is everything I want in a fictional man he’s powerful, protective, patient and they honestly just fit so well together! This book and these characters are my new Roman Empire and I’m so so glad I’m late to the party so I don’t have to wait as long for the second book…I mean I need it now, but I’ll settle for reading this one all over again!! 😂😂

That ending, that freaking ending !!!!!!! I haven’t read a book like this never before!!! I need book 2 now!!!!

This was the first book I‘ve read in 2025 and I already know - this will be one of my favorites from this year. It was sooo good! It gripped me from beginning to end (what.an.ending.that.was!! 😱) and delivered with a very unique setting without being overwhelming. The plot was super interesting and always kept me wondering what would happen next. I‘m not going to dive deeper into the plot, because I would strongly advise going into this not knowing too much and just let the journey surprise you. When it comes the the MCs, I really liked them both. The FMC is smart and had some real bad@ss moments 💅🏻 The MMC Acker has a touch her and 💀attitude, is morally grey and has a fricking nose ring 🫠 And if that wasn’t enough, he falls first and is known for being ruthless af 🖤 I was talking to myself while reading the last two chapters 🫣 Like, WHAT.DO.YOU.MEAN??😭😭 Rachel Schneider is a mastermind of twists and revelations and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book.

Read the book for a book club reading. Loved it. Csnnot wait for book 2