Metal Slinger (Fire & Metal #1) by Rachel Schneider

 

Summary (from the publisher): Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true.

Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart.

Review: I really liked a lot about this, including how the FMC is raised among a people who are not her own. There are a lot of dramatic scenes early on and while on the high seas and as Brynn begins to learn more about her origins and magic that she has never been able to use while living with the Alaha. The worldbuilding in this felt good and sufficient without bogging me as a reader down and much about the world and magic system felt fresh and unusual when compared to a lot of other fantasy books. 

I also really liked the slow burn romance in this and the way that tension builds over time. This was a complicated relationship, and I liked that nothing was fully as it seemed - especially with the way this ends. 

I started listening to this on audio first and got about halfway through before switching to my kindle. The audio was well done! But for whatever reason, I frequently struggle with fantasy on audio (it's a me problem) and wish I had started in print to begin with because I do think I missed a lot of details when I was struggling to suspend my disbelief while listening.  

There were some transition issues between chapters that feel unpolished at times, especially considering this has moved from indie to trad publishing. I was surprised that the editors didn't address these issues. I also thought this was a bit longer than it needed to be and dragged at times for me, especially the early chapters that I listened to on audio

All I heard going into this book was that there is a massive twist at the end that no one could predict and was shocking and they weren't wrong. I did not see it coming and was taken aback! Talk about a cliffhanger!!! In a way, I am glad I waited to read this until book two is out, because now I don't have to wait to figure out what happens next. 

Stars: 3.5