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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
fast-paced
4.25 stars. AGGHHH! “The Iron Flower” was amazing! Filled with incredible world-building, magic, high stakes, and plot twists. Another unputdownable story.
Laurie Forest has crafted a fantastical world that feels, in some ways, like a mirror to our own existence. Many of the issues the characters in this story face reflect our world’s past and present. I love when authors tie real-world issues into the narrative in this way and have deeper discussions about important topics. I also appreciated how Forest allowed the characters to uncover the plot in natural ways, rather than creating events in the story that felt fabricated for the purpose of making the novel more interesting.
And I LOVED the storyline surrounding Yvan and Elloren. Give me a star-crossed lovers trope and I am sold! And finding out Yvan could be the Icaral of prophecy? That added a whole new layer to the story. I’m also excited for the changes we might get to see in Lukas because it appears as though he is full of complexities.
I will say, however, that for a vast majority of the novel, I felt like the whole storyline surrounding the Selkies took over the plot, and while I understood that it brought to light the realities of the war they were facing and the horrors that were often overlooked, it also brought serious darkness to the story and made me question whether I wanted to continue reading. And when Diana and Jarod lost their entire Lupine pack, and Ariel died?! I was devastated! Laurie Forest is definitely not an author who shies away from the atrocities that occur before, during, and after wartime.
Laurie Forest has crafted a fantastical world that feels, in some ways, like a mirror to our own existence. Many of the issues the characters in this story face reflect our world’s past and present. I love when authors tie real-world issues into the narrative in this way and have deeper discussions about important topics. I also appreciated how Forest allowed the characters to uncover the plot in natural ways, rather than creating events in the story that felt fabricated for the purpose of making the novel more interesting.
And I LOVED the storyline surrounding Yvan and Elloren. Give me a star-crossed lovers trope and I am sold! And finding out Yvan could be the Icaral of prophecy? That added a whole new layer to the story. I’m also excited for the changes we might get to see in Lukas because it appears as though he is full of complexities.
I will say, however, that for a vast majority of the novel, I felt like the whole storyline surrounding the Selkies took over the plot, and while I understood that it brought to light the realities of the war they were facing and the horrors that were often overlooked, it also brought serious darkness to the story and made me question whether I wanted to continue reading. And when Diana and Jarod lost their entire Lupine pack, and Ariel died?! I was devastated! Laurie Forest is definitely not an author who shies away from the atrocities that occur before, during, and after wartime.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where do I even begin – this book was amazing, it was fast paced, full of adventure and continued the character development seen throughout the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this book as it was more centered around events, than character development than the first. The fight to break the systematic prejudice against the different species continues through them joining the Resistance.
It’s interesting to read how they react to the increased threat on the non-Gardnerians and what the group do to help those in threat escape to safer lands.
I think the main thing that I really enjoyed was the continued world-building seen in this book. The fact that she is remarked to look so much alike her grandmother strikes as such a challenge for her throughout the books – with most people only seeing her exterior and assuming she is exactly like her grandmother. This in a sense extends the prejudice to Elloren alone, for she is both analyzed and oppressed by her own people and the other species just because of her looks and her family history. They only see what she looks like and assume that is all there is to it. So, when she is finally able to prove that she is not anything like her grandmother and the surprise shown by them is an awesome thing to see.
Let us take a moment to talk about the romance. We finally see more of the spark between Yvan and Elloren with them growing increasingly closer in this book. I would have liked to see more of Lukas in this book, and more of Ellorens conflicting feelings for him. I think that would have made it more intriguing to read. Though, it is interesting reading about Lukas’ loyalties and how they are very close to changing towards the end of the book.
☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆
My full review on this book can be found here:
https://bookswithniamh.wordpress.com/2021/06/27/the-iron-flower-by-laurie-forest/
It’s interesting to read how they react to the increased threat on the non-Gardnerians and what the group do to help those in threat escape to safer lands.
I think the main thing that I really enjoyed was the continued world-building seen in this book. The fact that she is remarked to look so much alike her grandmother strikes as such a challenge for her throughout the books – with most people only seeing her exterior and assuming she is exactly like her grandmother. This in a sense extends the prejudice to Elloren alone, for she is both analyzed and oppressed by her own people and the other species just because of her looks and her family history. They only see what she looks like and assume that is all there is to it. So, when she is finally able to prove that she is not anything like her grandmother and the surprise shown by them is an awesome thing to see.
Let us take a moment to talk about the romance. We finally see more of the spark between Yvan and Elloren with them growing increasingly closer in this book. I would have liked to see more of Lukas in this book, and more of Ellorens conflicting feelings for him. I think that would have made it more intriguing to read. Though, it is interesting reading about Lukas’ loyalties and how they are very close to changing towards the end of the book.
☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆▪︎☆
My full review on this book can be found here:
https://bookswithniamh.wordpress.com/2021/06/27/the-iron-flower-by-laurie-forest/
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I would say that it’s a somewhat disappointing continuation but still good enough to make me reach for the third book. I like the setting and the vibes, more than anything… However, things often lack nuance and easily fall into black-and-white distinctions and well-known tropes. Also, there really are too many characters.
Pacing wise, I found it uneven—a little repetitive and boring at times, although the last third of the book was definitely more action-filled and exciting.
Pacing wise, I found it uneven—a little repetitive and boring at times, although the last third of the book was definitely more action-filled and exciting.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
This one was not as good as the first one. The writing was stilted, the story was very rushed, and there were so many pat little tie ups of random characters stories that really felt forced and awkward.
By the end, I was back into the story, but I don’t know why the writing got so much worse between the first book and this one. I almost put it down after the first couple chapters, it was so painful to read.
I like the story though, I just wish the writing maintained the first book’s quality.
By the end, I was back into the story, but I don’t know why the writing got so much worse between the first book and this one. I almost put it down after the first couple chapters, it was so painful to read.
I like the story though, I just wish the writing maintained the first book’s quality.