A review by helynalc
The Iron Children by Rebecca Fraimow

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

This was so awesome, I loved everything about it. The worldbuilding (sort of...fantasy sci-fi steampunk with cyborg nuns and people basically made into mechas who can be controlled by their commander?), the characters, the conflicts, the humor, the emotion, the three different POVs (I. love. them. all.), the slow development of quietly clashing ideas and feelings. Gahh! So good.

Tension was there from the first page when the battalion is attacked and loses its commander, leaving an unexperienced novice in control of leading the remaining soldiers back to their army...and it constantly evolved as the characters set out on their dangerous journey through a snowy mountain, sort of bouncing between the different pairs and groups as their experiences and opinions made themselves known, smoothing out in unexpected places just to turn on us once again the next page. I'd love to get to know so much more about this world, but in the frame of this novella, it was perfectly enough to feel what one needs to feel. It's about the horror of war, and duty, and sacrifice, and faith (either in higher powers or something more human) and free will, and empathy, and it was done in a very kind, nuanced, not-preachy-for-a-second way that was a joy to read (even when it got sad).

I'm so happy this story exists. This was really really great.