blueshadow's review
4.0
A fun fantasy-adventure
I especially liked the snark and banter
I also liked the sufficiently twisty Fae plot, and how the plot was very typically Fae - featuring bargains, blessings (and curses), and quests.
This author was new to me, and her writing is pretty good. A really good job with the plotting, with lots of things happening and not a lot of time spent on less important details, yet still getting adequate character development in. The writing style was very conversational, which isn't typically my favorite, but it worked very well in this book.
I especially liked the snark and banter
I also liked the sufficiently twisty Fae plot, and how the plot was very typically Fae - featuring bargains, blessings (and curses), and quests.
This author was new to me, and her writing is pretty good. A really good job with the plotting, with lots of things happening and not a lot of time spent on less important details, yet still getting adequate character development in. The writing style was very conversational, which isn't typically my favorite, but it worked very well in this book.
carina_shephard's review
3.0
3.5 stars // finished December 2021
This could’ve been a 4 star read, but the last chapter left me with Very Mixed Feelings.
Things I Liked:
-Yay for homeschool rep!
This could’ve been a 4 star read, but the last chapter left me with Very Mixed Feelings.
Things I Liked:
-Yay for homeschool rep!
delandjessica's review
4.0
Let me start by saying that I wasn't expecting this book to be great. For about the first 1/4 of the book, the characters are literally just standing around exchanging exposition through dialogue at each other while the main character, through the first-person narrative, throws even more exposition at the readers. This backwards tell don't show attitude made for a very slow and unimpressive start, especially since a lot of the plot setup could have been included naturally had the author begun the book chronologically earlier and dropped in those details while the characters were heading toward the place where the story currently begins.
However, once you get through all that, despite my initial impression that this book was going to be a poor man's take on fairies that Julie Kagawa did so much better in her Iron Fey series, the actual plot of this book is creative and unique. The world building is engaging and original, and I became emotionally invested in the overall plot and how the story was going to end. I went from wondering how long this book would take to get through to watching the end grow ever closer and wishing it would go on longer. I really enjoyed ever moment of it.
But in the spirit of honesty, I didn't end up loving this book because it was perfect. The main character's inner monologues and commentary are often long-winded and repetitious, and I was frustrated by her lack of useful skills and frequent need to be rescued by others despite her and her brother having supposedly been raised to deal with fairies and these kinds of circumstances. Some of the better plot points are handled clumsily and unrealistically, and there are frequent grammar mistakes, usually in the form of missing commas and run-on sentences.
However, what sold this book for me was the immersive story the author has created here. I came to really love each of the characters and was truly invested in their backstories and well-being and success. Ravven was my particular favorite because he reminded me so much of the morally gray character of Jacks from Stephanie Garber's Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series. The clean, slow-burn romance was overall well done, though the main character comes across as rather dense in that she doesn't realize it is a romance for far too long. And what an ending! I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say I didn't see it coming and I loved it.
So if you're willing to forgive this book its rocky start and shortcomings, I highly recommend it for the great story it is. The author has gained herself a new fan in me, and I've already downloaded book 2 and am eager to see where the story goes next!
However, once you get through all that, despite my initial impression that this book was going to be a poor man's take on fairies that Julie Kagawa did so much better in her Iron Fey series, the actual plot of this book is creative and unique. The world building is engaging and original, and I became emotionally invested in the overall plot and how the story was going to end. I went from wondering how long this book would take to get through to watching the end grow ever closer and wishing it would go on longer. I really enjoyed ever moment of it.
But in the spirit of honesty, I didn't end up loving this book because it was perfect. The main character's inner monologues and commentary are often long-winded and repetitious, and I was frustrated by her lack of useful skills and frequent need to be rescued by others despite her and her brother having supposedly been raised to deal with fairies and these kinds of circumstances. Some of the better plot points are handled clumsily and unrealistically, and there are frequent grammar mistakes, usually in the form of missing commas and run-on sentences.
However, what sold this book for me was the immersive story the author has created here. I came to really love each of the characters and was truly invested in their backstories and well-being and success. Ravven was my particular favorite because he reminded me so much of the morally gray character of Jacks from Stephanie Garber's Caraval and Once Upon a Broken Heart series. The clean, slow-burn romance was overall well done, though the main character comes across as rather dense in that she doesn't realize it is a romance for far too long. And what an ending! I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say I didn't see it coming and I loved it.
So if you're willing to forgive this book its rocky start and shortcomings, I highly recommend it for the great story it is. The author has gained herself a new fan in me, and I've already downloaded book 2 and am eager to see where the story goes next!
kitkatmichelle's review
5.0
I want to see a movie adaptation of this SO bad. The wardrobe is impeccable, and the setting is one of the most beautiful I've seen in fiction. Jaye has such a distinct and wonderful voice to carry us through her journey in the Otherworld - we dive more deeply into her mind than I find usual for YA fantasy, following the trail of her thoughts and REALLY getting to know her view of the circumstances and characters surrounding her. And don't even get me started on how addictive the complicated relationship between Ravven and Jaye is. The ending ripped my heart out just as surely as it did the first time.
longtimereader's review
4.0
I liked A Week of Werewolves, so here's Of Gold and Iron. There are enough fairy stories that at this point you either love them, hate them, or have worn out of them. Enter this tale. Boom, Jaye and her brother have gotten trapped in the Otherworld. I loved the dialog, the setting, and well, there's not much to not like. This book hits all the key points, action, romance, adventure, drama, myths are all here as well. It's a clean read that I'd call high fantasy. Not a lot of faith elements, but this is book one in the series. I hate that the ending is yet another cliffhanger. That tends to make me very agitated, but I will hold on for the rest of the series as I have found the world-building and characters to be very interesting!
Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my ci=opy of this book. This review is my own, left freely. A positive review is never required.
Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my ci=opy of this book. This review is my own, left freely. A positive review is never required.
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