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jfreud's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aimora's review
5.0
I didn't know anything about this book when I started it, other than that I've enjoyed other books by the author. In This Iron Ground ended up being beautiful and sometimes poetic, as well as devastatingly sad.
In the start of the book, Damian is living with an abusive foster family after his parents are killed. As the story progresses from Damian age 12 to Damian age 19, we see the way Damian feels so completely unworthy of anything good or positive in his life. His inner thoughts made me tear up or outright cry several times. I wanted any of the characters to he able to read his thoughts and tell him he was wrong, give him a hug. Good thing this is fiction and so beautifully written. Loved it.
In the start of the book, Damian is living with an abusive foster family after his parents are killed. As the story progresses from Damian age 12 to Damian age 19, we see the way Damian feels so completely unworthy of anything good or positive in his life. His inner thoughts made me tear up or outright cry several times. I wanted any of the characters to he able to read his thoughts and tell him he was wrong, give him a hug. Good thing this is fiction and so beautifully written. Loved it.
ashlikes's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Car accident, and Vomit
paracosmere's review against another edition
5.0
Man, I don't even know what to say. My brain just couldn't form proper words right now. This book broke me and then built me up over and over again.
I might be clouded with bias but one thing about MV's writing style is it speaks to you. It speaks to you so strongly through each and every single word that you couldn't help but feel whatever it was the narrator was feeling. It's like piercing through multidimensional walls and suddenly you're in the narrator's shoes, at least that's how I feel. Particularly in this book. If that's not magic, then I don't know what is. Just like how magical Damien's life was with the Salgados.
Not magical in the sense that it's all rainbows, and sunshines, and butterflies, no, absolutely not. It's magic that coursed through finding a family, having a second chance, and claiming it. Damien's story portrayed perseverance and somehow, a stark contrast to everything he lived by, hope. I won't even focus on the romance side cos frankly, I think that was only secondary to to the things mentioned above. It's always been the sense of belonging, overcoming obstacles that were out of your control, and finally accepting that not all hope is lost, which is too difficult to accept at times.
In This Iron Ground just digs deep into your soul and takes over your being. This book is all about healing. A nice, warm hug or a just gentle pat on the back that we all need.
I might be clouded with bias but one thing about MV's writing style is it speaks to you. It speaks to you so strongly through each and every single word that you couldn't help but feel whatever it was the narrator was feeling. It's like piercing through multidimensional walls and suddenly you're in the narrator's shoes, at least that's how I feel. Particularly in this book. If that's not magic, then I don't know what is. Just like how magical Damien's life was with the Salgados.
Not magical in the sense that it's all rainbows, and sunshines, and butterflies, no, absolutely not. It's magic that coursed through finding a family, having a second chance, and claiming it. Damien's story portrayed perseverance and somehow, a stark contrast to everything he lived by, hope. I won't even focus on the romance side cos frankly, I think that was only secondary to to the things mentioned above. It's always been the sense of belonging, overcoming obstacles that were out of your control, and finally accepting that not all hope is lost, which is too difficult to accept at times.
In This Iron Ground just digs deep into your soul and takes over your being. This book is all about healing. A nice, warm hug or a just gentle pat on the back that we all need.
bunnybunny_mp3's review against another edition
DNF 72%
Good parts: good representation of trauma and it affects your life. Everyone wants a traumatized character but very little people want to work with the aftermath of said trauma. This story shows exactly how trauma affects your daily life and relationships.
Bad parts: I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters, they felt a little flat to me. The magic system was a little confusing, for me at least. The main couple felt like they would eventually get together simply because they're the main characters, I felt no chemistry between them, so I didn't feel like cheering for them. Also - and that's 100% a personal preference- I hate that trope where the main characters like each other but get into a friends with benefits relationship simply because they don't want to talk with each other about their feelings. Please it's exhausting
｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
This is not a bad book at all, it just felt empty for me
Good parts: good representation of trauma and it affects your life. Everyone wants a traumatized character but very little people want to work with the aftermath of said trauma. This story shows exactly how trauma affects your daily life and relationships.
Bad parts: I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters, they felt a little flat to me. The magic system was a little confusing, for me at least. The main couple felt like they would eventually get together simply because they're the main characters, I felt no chemistry between them, so I didn't feel like cheering for them. Also - and that's 100% a personal preference- I hate that trope where the main characters like each other but get into a friends with benefits relationship simply because they don't want to talk with each other about their feelings. Please it's exhausting
｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
This is not a bad book at all, it just felt empty for me
laviestbelle's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
artareadsatnight's review against another edition
5.0
4,8 stars rounded up.
Ok. Wow. This was. This was something. I cried 3 times in the first 40% of the book. And I’m not prone to crying while reading. It was deep. It was heavy and heartbreaking. And it was beautiful. Brilliant portrayal of the ways our psyche can try to help and protect us, doing the exact opposite. And how deep our fears and inner beliefs are rooted, how very hard it can be to change them.
The writing is beautiful.
I truly recommend this book, if you can stand reading trough child abuse and other heavy topics. I totally understand this isn’t for everyone and can be very difficult to read.
Ok. Wow. This was. This was something. I cried 3 times in the first 40% of the book. And I’m not prone to crying while reading. It was deep. It was heavy and heartbreaking. And it was beautiful. Brilliant portrayal of the ways our psyche can try to help and protect us, doing the exact opposite. And how deep our fears and inner beliefs are rooted, how very hard it can be to change them.
The writing is beautiful.
I truly recommend this book, if you can stand reading trough child abuse and other heavy topics. I totally understand this isn’t for everyone and can be very difficult to read.
jackiestone's review against another edition
4.0
This reminds me a lot of [b:Wolfsong|29233804|Wolfsong (Green Creek, #1)|T.J. Klune|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1463862865l/29233804._SY75_.jpg|49474397].
suflet's review against another edition
5.0
This was an excellent read, I completely enjoyed it and read it in a single sitting. I enjoyed it too much, in fact, and basically had to explain to my thesis advisor why I lost an entire day’s work without anything to show for it, which really is the curse of starting a good book during the week. I would highly, highly recommend this book. If you enjoyed Wolfsong by T.J. Klune, I do think you’re an ideal audience for this book, though the two stories only have three things in common and the first two of them are relatively superficial: They’re both shifter stories, they both feature queer male relationships. The thing these two stories have in common which stood out to me is that they’re both heavily character-driven explorations of family, human relationships, and the struggle to understand oneself. I’d also super recommend this book for fans of Courtney Milan, K.J. Charles.