A review by mommasaystoread
In This Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos

4.0

This one is a bit different than the usual shifter romance. The shifters are there along with the pack mentality, scent marking, full and half shifts, etc. But the story is more about Damien, who is orphaned at nine and is then put into the foster care system where his experiences are anything but pleasant. Parts of his story were truly heartbreaking, and I'll admit that I spent a fair amount of the beginning of this story wondering where it was going. Nevertheless, it is a compelling story and we do eventually get to the romance, but that's just a small part of Damien's journey. He has an uphill climb as he tries to figure out his place in the world while also dealing with all the self-doubt and low self-esteem instilled in him during his time in the system. Even when he finds a home with the Salgado's, he struggles and can't quite let his guard down. The writing style is also a little different, especially with the lead-ins for memories and dreams. It has a storyteller feel to it, which would normally be a source of contention for me, but with this one, it somehow works. I will say that the above mentioned wondering was laid to rest once everything came together. It may have been a journey, but it is a engaging story and I enjoyed the trip.