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A review by xanthe87
In This Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos
5.0
**4.5 rounded up**
I've not read this author before but was drawn to the story by the blurb and though it took me a moment to get into the story, I was hooked as we follow Damien from when he's living with foster parents aged twelve through meeting the Salgado family and beyond high school to college life at nineteen.
There is so much that happens to this young man before we even meet him that has impacted his life and mental health. A lot of heartbreaking moments and fear is his constant companion along with very little self esteem and self worth. The relationships that develop upon meeting the Salgado's, however, are his saving grace. You can feel the ties that develop and strong bonds that he forms with individuals and them altogether as a family and pack though he is insistent that he is also separate.
What develops between him and Hakan after becoming friends and then family, isn't until about half way through the book that more becomes a thought, feeling and possibility. It's a very slow burn once attraction is acknowledged but I liked the way that it unfolded. It was tentative, not at all going the way that Damien would have wanted but definitely feels like it progresses naturally for the two young men.
This story, for me, focuses on on emotional and mental recovery after instances of non sexual child abuse, and found family that helps to put you back together again. They are a constant source of support and love, though that aspect is very hard for Damien to accept. The shifter part of the story is done slightly differently as well which I liked. Heavy focus on pack bonds and their spirits not that they can shift into animals. I cried several times during this book and found it very hard to put down. It's very well written from Damien's POV and I thought that the character's voice and thought process aged along with the timeline of the book. This is one that I highly recommend for those who enjoy a story full of hurt/comfort.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
I've not read this author before but was drawn to the story by the blurb and though it took me a moment to get into the story, I was hooked as we follow Damien from when he's living with foster parents aged twelve through meeting the Salgado family and beyond high school to college life at nineteen.
There is so much that happens to this young man before we even meet him that has impacted his life and mental health. A lot of heartbreaking moments and fear is his constant companion along with very little self esteem and self worth. The relationships that develop upon meeting the Salgado's, however, are his saving grace. You can feel the ties that develop and strong bonds that he forms with individuals and them altogether as a family and pack though he is insistent that he is also separate.
What develops between him and Hakan after becoming friends and then family, isn't until about half way through the book that more becomes a thought, feeling and possibility. It's a very slow burn once attraction is acknowledged but I liked the way that it unfolded. It was tentative, not at all going the way that Damien would have wanted but definitely feels like it progresses naturally for the two young men.
This story, for me, focuses on on emotional and mental recovery after instances of non sexual child abuse, and found family that helps to put you back together again. They are a constant source of support and love, though that aspect is very hard for Damien to accept. The shifter part of the story is done slightly differently as well which I liked. Heavy focus on pack bonds and their spirits not that they can shift into animals. I cried several times during this book and found it very hard to put down. It's very well written from Damien's POV and I thought that the character's voice and thought process aged along with the timeline of the book. This is one that I highly recommend for those who enjoy a story full of hurt/comfort.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.