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bergelicious818's review against another edition
4.0
-Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
I LOVED this book you guys! I was very skeptical going in because I had heard that this edition specifically contained a lot of typos and grammatical errors, plus I'm not generally a huge sci-fi reader, but honestly none of that mattered at all. This was a great book! It was fast paced and constantly moving forward. It was written in a series of POVs, which can sometimes become annoying but I thought that each character had such a distinct voice and their personalities were really able to come through.
This story is supposed to be an Anastasia retelling, except in space, and also Dimitri is a robot named D09. The story definitely includes the major aspects of Anastasia but also throws in its own little twists. The world building was pretty good, although there were times when I felt confused because I didn't have all of the information necessary for me to understand why something was happening. I feel like Poston was attempting to avoid an infodump on how the world works, but I feel like she left things out at certain parts that should've been included in order to allow the reader to better understand what was happening.
Ana was a strong willed and snarky badass of a character. She had the tendency to be whiny at times, but I found her to be generally likable and relatable. D09, who is affectionately nicknamed Di, is Ana's love interest. As a robot, Di isn't supposed to have any feelings, but damage to his memory core is causing him to develop...something (not exactly feelings since he's incapable of that, but its clear he begins to care about her) for Ana, our main character. I thought that their romantic story was incredibly complex and interesting. The ending of this book KILLED me because of the huge plot twist involving their relationship. The other romantic relationship is a homosexual one between Jax, the sassy Solani pilot (my favorite character) and Robb, the rich Ironblood who cannot escape his ruthless family , which had me so goddamn excited. Homosexual relationships were featured throughout the book, which I was living for. I don't appreciate the instalove between Jax and Robb, but I do think they're cute and work well.
All in all, I thought this was a great book. The characters were diverse, interesting and distinctive. The worldbuilding was interesting and smoothly incorporated the aspects of Anastasia into it's futuristic feel. The romances were complex, cute and representative. The ending destroyed me in the best way possible and left me so excited for the next book!
breezyjean's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
3.0
This was pretty good but it never fully grabbed my attention and I can't say why.
I liked the main characters well enough, though the secondary characters weren't very distinct in my mind. Ana was a bit too stupidly headstrong for my taste but I mostly liked her well enough to overlook it. I'm always a fan of found families and the crew of the ship definitely fits the bill.
There was plenty of action, which should have made the book feel like a fast listen, though I kind of kept waiting to get to the point. It felt too long but I can't point at any section that could easily be removed or shortened.
At the same time, I felt the politics of the planet, which are hugely important to the plot, were never explained, well, at all. I'll be honest--I'm still not even sure if Robb's mother and The Grand Duchess are the same person and if that person rules the Ironbloods and why. I thought they were the same, then she sounded positively ancient so I couldn't understand how she would have two teenage sons.
Maybe my problem is an almost complete lack of exposition. We're just thrown in the deep end at the beginning, with Ana and Robb both trying to get coordinates to locate a ship that disappeared about ten years ago. I understand why Robb was looking for it and I was told Ana's reason but I still don't understand why her mission pointed her at that exact ship.
Maybe it was a book that I would have followed better in print than in audio, though I did like Adenrele Ojo's narration. I process print books better though. I had made up my mind to skip the second book in the duology but this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I won't swear that I'll read it (in print this time, just in case that helps me understand things better), but I won't rule it out either.
So I'm obviously conflicted about this one. If you read more science fiction than I do (I typically read more fantasy), you might like it more. I'll also add that I found the Once Upon a Con series by this author to be infinitely better so if you read Heart of Iron and weren't a huge fan, please give Geekerella a chance anyway.
I liked the main characters well enough, though the secondary characters weren't very distinct in my mind. Ana was a bit too stupidly headstrong for my taste but I mostly liked her well enough to overlook it. I'm always a fan of found families and the crew of the ship definitely fits the bill.
There was plenty of action, which should have made the book feel like a fast listen, though I kind of kept waiting to get to the point. It felt too long but I can't point at any section that could easily be removed or shortened.
At the same time, I felt the politics of the planet, which are hugely important to the plot, were never explained, well, at all. I'll be honest--I'm still not even sure if Robb's mother and The Grand Duchess are the same person and if that person rules the Ironbloods and why. I thought they were the same, then she sounded positively ancient so I couldn't understand how she would have two teenage sons.
Maybe my problem is an almost complete lack of exposition. We're just thrown in the deep end at the beginning, with Ana and Robb both trying to get coordinates to locate a ship that disappeared about ten years ago. I understand why Robb was looking for it and I was told Ana's reason but I still don't understand why her mission pointed her at that exact ship.
Maybe it was a book that I would have followed better in print than in audio, though I did like Adenrele Ojo's narration. I process print books better though. I had made up my mind to skip the second book in the duology but this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I won't swear that I'll read it (in print this time, just in case that helps me understand things better), but I won't rule it out either.
So I'm obviously conflicted about this one. If you read more science fiction than I do (I typically read more fantasy), you might like it more. I'll also add that I found the Once Upon a Con series by this author to be infinitely better so if you read Heart of Iron and weren't a huge fan, please give Geekerella a chance anyway.
rooray's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sleepgoblin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This diverse sci-fi reimagining of Anastasia is a high-octane space adventure! Ana wants nothing more than to find the tech necessary to save her best friend (and true love?) D09, an android who has been her constant companion since she was found abandoned on an escape pod as a child. An Ironblood named Robb holds the key to finding the tech, but he also complicates matters because he puts their expedition in the cross-hairs of the rest of the Ironbloods, the royalty of their universe. D09 is my favorite character in this book—his struggle to reconcile his thoughts and feelings with what he believes he should be is compelling, especially once a major change (which I won’t spoil) brings him even further into foreign territory. I also enjoyed the romance between Robb and Jax. I wish there had been a little more time for their feelings to develop, but I still found myself rooting for them as a couple, even when a myriad of complications threatened to pull them apart. I’m eager to read the second book in this duology to find out what happens next!
***Disclosure: I received these books from the publisher via Edelweiss for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This diverse sci-fi reimagining of Anastasia is a high-octane space adventure! Ana wants nothing more than to find the tech necessary to save her best friend (and true love?) D09, an android who has been her constant companion since she was found abandoned on an escape pod as a child. An Ironblood named Robb holds the key to finding the tech, but he also complicates matters because he puts their expedition in the cross-hairs of the rest of the Ironbloods, the royalty of their universe. D09 is my favorite character in this book—his struggle to reconcile his thoughts and feelings with what he believes he should be is compelling, especially once a major change (which I won’t spoil) brings him even further into foreign territory. I also enjoyed the romance between Robb and Jax. I wish there had been a little more time for their feelings to develop, but I still found myself rooting for them as a couple, even when a myriad of complications threatened to pull them apart. I’m eager to read the second book in this duology to find out what happens next!
***Disclosure: I received these books from the publisher via Edelweiss for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
lamom77's review
4.0
I really wanted to love this since it is my daughter's favorite book, but I found it hard to connect to the story and characters until about 2/3 of the way through, but then it finally clicked, and it was hard to put down. Even though the story has elements of many others, I found the characters to be unique.
itsalisha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
amym84's review
4.0
4.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Seven years ago, Ana was found by the dread pirate Captain Siege floating adrift in an escape pod. She has no recollection of why she was there or where she came from, only that she was accompanied by her Metal, D09, who protected her. Now, her stalwart friend is glitching and Ana will do anything in her power to save him.
Once they begin on this quest, however, nothing will ever be the same as they uncover a decades-old plot against the Emperor that led to a rebellion seven years ago and the Iron Kingdom’s Princess, the one foretold who would save the Kingdom from the Great Darkness being declared dead (you can probably guess where this is going). With the Kingdom under threat once again, Ana will have to decide where her heart truly belongs.
For those of you who, like me, may overlook this tidbit: Heart of Iron is a retelling loosely based on the story of Anastasia. It didn’t take me too long to make the connection on my own, however, and once I did the plotline was almost too glaringly obvious. Not in a bad way mind you. For every moment that Heart of Iron drifted too far into predictable territory, Ashley Poston would whip out an equal amount of moments where the twists and turns were lovely and surprising, keeping me on the edge of my seat in certain places.
The story hits the ground running and rarely stops to rest. For the most part this is to the story’s advantage. There’s not a lot of clutter. Every word, every description and piece of dialogue was important. There are things we know and expect to happen, but where the book really excels is figuring out the mystery of what happened to Ana those seven years ago. The piecing together of her lost memories will shape the direction of where the series goes from here I believe.
The book alternates in short chapters between the points of view of our four main characters: Ana, D09 “Di,” pilot Jax, and Ironblood Robb, and these relationships are the most important. Ana and Di’s stands out because Di, being a Metal, shouldn’t adhere to what could be considered “normal” human emotions. Yet he invariably feels a connection to Ana that’s more than simply programming, even if he can’t put a word to those feelings, and Ana feels the same. It’s sweet and heartbreaking, and it’s the relationship that the book revolves around.
Probably my favorite is the opposites-attracting pairing of Jax and Robb. I say opposites attract because at the base level that’s how it appears, but when you start to peel back the layers you find that these two characters are so suited. They both have to deal with the constraints put upon them by their families. While Jax has already broken away, Robb is just starting to understand that he doesn’t have to live by what his family wants, and maybe both can defy what’s written in the stars.
The only drawback I found was the very thing that moves the story forward: the quick revolving chapters. Unfortunately, while I loved the pacing it set, I felt like it also kept me from fully feeling the weight of the characters’ relationships with one another. As a reader, I wanted to have all the feels too, and it was just a smidgeon off the mark for me.
The setup of this story is spot on, however, and I’m hoping as the series goes my feelings will change. On its own, Heart of Iron is an interesting retelling, but really it’s such a fantastic sci-fi adventure. Perfect for fans of Merissa Meyer’s Cinder.
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Seven years ago, Ana was found by the dread pirate Captain Siege floating adrift in an escape pod. She has no recollection of why she was there or where she came from, only that she was accompanied by her Metal, D09, who protected her. Now, her stalwart friend is glitching and Ana will do anything in her power to save him.
Once they begin on this quest, however, nothing will ever be the same as they uncover a decades-old plot against the Emperor that led to a rebellion seven years ago and the Iron Kingdom’s Princess, the one foretold who would save the Kingdom from the Great Darkness being declared dead (you can probably guess where this is going). With the Kingdom under threat once again, Ana will have to decide where her heart truly belongs.
For those of you who, like me, may overlook this tidbit: Heart of Iron is a retelling loosely based on the story of Anastasia. It didn’t take me too long to make the connection on my own, however, and once I did the plotline was almost too glaringly obvious. Not in a bad way mind you. For every moment that Heart of Iron drifted too far into predictable territory, Ashley Poston would whip out an equal amount of moments where the twists and turns were lovely and surprising, keeping me on the edge of my seat in certain places.
The story hits the ground running and rarely stops to rest. For the most part this is to the story’s advantage. There’s not a lot of clutter. Every word, every description and piece of dialogue was important. There are things we know and expect to happen, but where the book really excels is figuring out the mystery of what happened to Ana those seven years ago. The piecing together of her lost memories will shape the direction of where the series goes from here I believe.
The book alternates in short chapters between the points of view of our four main characters: Ana, D09 “Di,” pilot Jax, and Ironblood Robb, and these relationships are the most important. Ana and Di’s stands out because Di, being a Metal, shouldn’t adhere to what could be considered “normal” human emotions. Yet he invariably feels a connection to Ana that’s more than simply programming, even if he can’t put a word to those feelings, and Ana feels the same. It’s sweet and heartbreaking, and it’s the relationship that the book revolves around.
Probably my favorite is the opposites-attracting pairing of Jax and Robb. I say opposites attract because at the base level that’s how it appears, but when you start to peel back the layers you find that these two characters are so suited. They both have to deal with the constraints put upon them by their families. While Jax has already broken away, Robb is just starting to understand that he doesn’t have to live by what his family wants, and maybe both can defy what’s written in the stars.
The only drawback I found was the very thing that moves the story forward: the quick revolving chapters. Unfortunately, while I loved the pacing it set, I felt like it also kept me from fully feeling the weight of the characters’ relationships with one another. As a reader, I wanted to have all the feels too, and it was just a smidgeon off the mark for me.
The setup of this story is spot on, however, and I’m hoping as the series goes my feelings will change. On its own, Heart of Iron is an interesting retelling, but really it’s such a fantastic sci-fi adventure. Perfect for fans of Merissa Meyer’s Cinder.
nchristianson's review
1.0
My 2024 includes for the first time straight DNFing when I'm not having a good time. This books was a bad time for me. Honestly, I couldn't even remotely pretend to get into it. I couldn't even summarize why I didn't like this book so I went to my friend, ChatGPT for help. If you are not a fan of AI's feel free to disregard the remainder of this review but I use ChatGPT for personal use daily and love it. Here is how that conversation went.
Nicole: I'm in a bookclub reading the book "Heart of Iron" by Ashley Poston and I'm having a hard time wanting to finish reading it. The story is not engaging me and I feel that the pacing and worldbuilding is off. Can you help me summarize my feelings on this book?
ChatGPT: Certainly! It sounds like you're struggling with the engagement, pacing, and worldbuilding in "Heart of Iron" by Ashley Poston. Here's a summary of your feelings:
"While reading 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston, I find myself facing difficulties in maintaining interest in the story. The pacing feels off, making it challenging to stay engaged, and the worldbuilding lacks the depth I anticipated. These factors collectively contribute to a sense of disconnect, hindering my enjoyment of the book. I am struggling to find the compelling elements that would encourage me to continue reading and invest in the narrative."
Feel free to elaborate on specific aspects if you'd like to provide more details or discuss certain elements in greater depth.
Nicole: can you help me explain why I feel like this is a bad book?
ChatGPT: Determining whether a book is "bad" is subjective and can vary from reader to reader, as people have different tastes and preferences. However, based on your feedback, it seems like you are identifying specific issues that contribute to your dissatisfaction with "Heart of Iron" by Ashley Poston. Here are some potential reasons why you may feel it's not meeting your expectations:
Pacing Issues: If the pacing is off, it can affect the flow of the story and make it challenging for readers to stay engaged. A poorly paced narrative may feel either too slow, dragging on without significant developments, or too fast, leaving little time for meaningful exploration of characters or plot points.
Lack of Engaging Elements: The story may be lacking elements that typically engage readers, such as well-developed characters, an intriguing plot, or compelling conflicts. Without these, the book might fail to captivate your interest.
Worldbuilding Shortcomings: Worldbuilding is crucial, especially in science fiction or fantasy genres. If the world in "Heart of Iron" is not convincingly constructed or lacks depth, it can make it difficult for readers to immerse themselves in the fictional universe.
Personal Preferences: Sometimes, a book may not resonate with a reader simply due to differences in personal preferences. If the themes, writing style, or genre do not align with your tastes, it can impact your overall enjoyment.
It's essential to recognize that others might have a different opinion on the book, as reading preferences vary widely. If you feel comfortable, you might also want to explore reviews from other readers to see if their perspectives align with or differ from yours.
Nicole: I also felt that this book was way too predictable. Right from the beginning it was very obvious what was going on. it made it so i didnt want to finish it.
ChatGPT:Predictability can indeed be a factor that affects the enjoyment of a book. If you find a story too predictable, it may result in a lack of suspense or surprise, diminishing the overall engagement. Here's how you could express this aspect of your feelings:
"The predictability of 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston is a significant drawback for me. Right from the beginning, the plot twists and turns were too apparent, leaving little room for surprise or suspense. This predictability has impacted my motivation to continue reading, as the lack of unexpected developments makes the story feel formulaic and less engaging. A sense of mystery and unpredictability is often crucial in maintaining interest, and unfortunately, I found these elements lacking in this particular book."
Nicole: i also cannot believe they named the Emperor ERIC. what the hell was that about
ChatGPT: Character names can play a crucial role in shaping a reader's perception of a story, and when a name choice seems out of place or inconsistent with the setting, it can be jarring. If the name "Eric" for the Emperor in "Heart of Iron" struck you as odd or out of sync with the story's context, you can express your feelings like this:
"The choice to name the Emperor 'Eric' in 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston struck me as peculiar and somewhat out of place. In a setting that likely demands names with a certain level of gravitas or cultural relevance, 'Eric' seems too commonplace and modern, creating a disconnect with the fictional world. This seemingly incongruent choice in nomenclature added an element of disbelief for me, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story and take the characters seriously. A more carefully chosen and contextually fitting name could have contributed to a more cohesive and immersive reading experience."
Nicole: based on our conversation, can you summarize everything we discussed into one review
ChatGPT: Certainly! Here's a summary that incorporates the various aspects we discussed:
"In my exploration of 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston, I encountered several challenges that collectively impacted my reading experience. The book's pacing felt off, hindering engagement by either dragging on without significant developments or rushing through key moments. The worldbuilding lacked the depth I expected, making it challenging to fully immerse myself in the fictional universe. Additionally, the predictability of the plot from the very beginning detracted from the overall enjoyment, as it left little room for suspense or surprise. Furthermore, the choice to name the Emperor 'Eric' felt oddly modern and out of place in the story's context, contributing to a sense of disbelief. These combined factors made it difficult for me to connect with the narrative, ultimately diminishing my desire to finish the book."
Nicole: I'm in a bookclub reading the book "Heart of Iron" by Ashley Poston and I'm having a hard time wanting to finish reading it. The story is not engaging me and I feel that the pacing and worldbuilding is off. Can you help me summarize my feelings on this book?
ChatGPT: Certainly! It sounds like you're struggling with the engagement, pacing, and worldbuilding in "Heart of Iron" by Ashley Poston. Here's a summary of your feelings:
"While reading 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston, I find myself facing difficulties in maintaining interest in the story. The pacing feels off, making it challenging to stay engaged, and the worldbuilding lacks the depth I anticipated. These factors collectively contribute to a sense of disconnect, hindering my enjoyment of the book. I am struggling to find the compelling elements that would encourage me to continue reading and invest in the narrative."
Feel free to elaborate on specific aspects if you'd like to provide more details or discuss certain elements in greater depth.
Nicole: can you help me explain why I feel like this is a bad book?
ChatGPT: Determining whether a book is "bad" is subjective and can vary from reader to reader, as people have different tastes and preferences. However, based on your feedback, it seems like you are identifying specific issues that contribute to your dissatisfaction with "Heart of Iron" by Ashley Poston. Here are some potential reasons why you may feel it's not meeting your expectations:
Pacing Issues: If the pacing is off, it can affect the flow of the story and make it challenging for readers to stay engaged. A poorly paced narrative may feel either too slow, dragging on without significant developments, or too fast, leaving little time for meaningful exploration of characters or plot points.
Lack of Engaging Elements: The story may be lacking elements that typically engage readers, such as well-developed characters, an intriguing plot, or compelling conflicts. Without these, the book might fail to captivate your interest.
Worldbuilding Shortcomings: Worldbuilding is crucial, especially in science fiction or fantasy genres. If the world in "Heart of Iron" is not convincingly constructed or lacks depth, it can make it difficult for readers to immerse themselves in the fictional universe.
Personal Preferences: Sometimes, a book may not resonate with a reader simply due to differences in personal preferences. If the themes, writing style, or genre do not align with your tastes, it can impact your overall enjoyment.
It's essential to recognize that others might have a different opinion on the book, as reading preferences vary widely. If you feel comfortable, you might also want to explore reviews from other readers to see if their perspectives align with or differ from yours.
Nicole: I also felt that this book was way too predictable. Right from the beginning it was very obvious what was going on. it made it so i didnt want to finish it.
ChatGPT:Predictability can indeed be a factor that affects the enjoyment of a book. If you find a story too predictable, it may result in a lack of suspense or surprise, diminishing the overall engagement. Here's how you could express this aspect of your feelings:
"The predictability of 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston is a significant drawback for me. Right from the beginning, the plot twists and turns were too apparent, leaving little room for surprise or suspense. This predictability has impacted my motivation to continue reading, as the lack of unexpected developments makes the story feel formulaic and less engaging. A sense of mystery and unpredictability is often crucial in maintaining interest, and unfortunately, I found these elements lacking in this particular book."
Nicole: i also cannot believe they named the Emperor ERIC. what the hell was that about
ChatGPT: Character names can play a crucial role in shaping a reader's perception of a story, and when a name choice seems out of place or inconsistent with the setting, it can be jarring. If the name "Eric" for the Emperor in "Heart of Iron" struck you as odd or out of sync with the story's context, you can express your feelings like this:
"The choice to name the Emperor 'Eric' in 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston struck me as peculiar and somewhat out of place. In a setting that likely demands names with a certain level of gravitas or cultural relevance, 'Eric' seems too commonplace and modern, creating a disconnect with the fictional world. This seemingly incongruent choice in nomenclature added an element of disbelief for me, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story and take the characters seriously. A more carefully chosen and contextually fitting name could have contributed to a more cohesive and immersive reading experience."
Nicole: based on our conversation, can you summarize everything we discussed into one review
ChatGPT: Certainly! Here's a summary that incorporates the various aspects we discussed:
"In my exploration of 'Heart of Iron' by Ashley Poston, I encountered several challenges that collectively impacted my reading experience. The book's pacing felt off, hindering engagement by either dragging on without significant developments or rushing through key moments. The worldbuilding lacked the depth I expected, making it challenging to fully immerse myself in the fictional universe. Additionally, the predictability of the plot from the very beginning detracted from the overall enjoyment, as it left little room for suspense or surprise. Furthermore, the choice to name the Emperor 'Eric' felt oddly modern and out of place in the story's context, contributing to a sense of disbelief. These combined factors made it difficult for me to connect with the narrative, ultimately diminishing my desire to finish the book."