Explore The Galaxy & Enter The Iron Kingdom🚀✨ (Review & Author Interview)

Title: Heart Of Iron

Author: Ashley Poston

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Page Count: 467

Publication Date: February 27, 2018

Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Retelling

Trigger Warnings: Corpse, Blood, Death, Mild mention of a sex scene?

Heey Unicorns, it’s Lori!🦄 I’m baaaack with another review! This book holds a special place in my heart for sure, but I will always be openly honest on critiquing. Here we go…Let’s enter the Iron Kingdom, shall we? *robot beeps*🚀✨

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.

Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.

When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.

What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives—and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana’s past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?

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“All stories are built from the bones of something true. You are the daughter of iron and stars. You are the symbol of hope in a time when light only shines from things that burn” (Poston, 275 ).

My Thoughts

I want to mention that I went into this story kinda blind since I wasn’t familiar with the original story of Anastasia that inspired this retelling. (I know, kill me later). This novel was my highly anticipated release of 2018 & it didn’t disappoint! I’m a HUGE Sci-fi & Fantasy fan so this book was a drug for me. Heart Of Iron had me up until 3AM reading it & was totally worth it.

I’ve been trying to find such a perfect sci-fi book set in space & I’ve officially found it. To sum up my thoughts on this book I’d say: Ashley delivers such a beautifully descriptive world, plot, characters and LGBTQ Rep like no other. It’s fast faced, thrilling, adventurous, & humorous nature is well written. The lighthearted & genuine atmosphere flies out of the pages & allows you to enter the Iron Kingdom.

I appreciate the LGBTQ Rep & Diverse cast! The characters are all flawed, & lovable in their own unique way which offered more to the plot & setting. Each character has a special place in my heart. I related to each character & grew attached. Also, the crew Ana was in was so united like a family and would risk their own lives for each other without hesitation. As a reader, It felt amazing to feel included in their family.

I’d also like to mention I ACTUALLY cried during a scene that really meant so much to me personally. (I won’t say the scene because spoilers). This is officially my favorite book so far & I REALLY mean it. This book actually met my expectations which is surprising.

Cons…

To be honest at first, each scene was to fast paced that I couldn’t get a chance to savor it fully. But after awhile I eased into Ashley’s writing style and enjoyed it. I grew attached to her writing style & realized this is the perfect pace.

I also wanted to mention that at first I wasn’t a big fan of a human having romantic feelings towards a robot. It would’ve been nice to experience a human & robot friendship instead. Personally, I’ve been longing for a human/robot friendship like Poe Dameron & BB8 from Star Wars.

But the more I read the book the less I felt this way. Maybe it was the idea of a human loving an emotionless metal computer that didn’t sit right with me??

As the story progresses this relationship fit perfectly. THE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END KILLED ME THOUGH.

Although, I must say the relationship between Jax & Robb kinda had Instant love. They’re the cutest couple & I don’t doubt their relationship, but their connection was too quick that it lacked qualities of a realistic relationship.

I admit this book wasn’t perfect and had flaws like a few plot hole questions left unanswered & quick unnecessary deaths. But I’m sure the unanswered questions will arise again in the sequel. For Instance, the significant origin story of their saying “May The Stars Keep You Steady & Iron Keep You Safe.”

Final Thoughts…

This Sci-Fi Fantasy will either be a hit or miss. But, for me, it was a SMASHING hit. You maybe have a different opinion than me & that’s totally ok.

I’m currently in a book slump after this… *curls into a ball and cries*

Overall, this perfectly satisfied my nerdy sci-fi fantasy & gay needs. The characters and world building is what brought the book to life with it’s thrilling nature.

My Rating is…..

4.6 /5 Stars

About The Author

Ashley Poston loves dread pirates, moving castles, and starry night skies. When not lost in a book, she’s lost in real life, searching for her next great adventure. She is the author of Heart of Iron and Geekerella and can be found online at www.ashposton.com.

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Exclusive Interview w/Ashley

1) When writing, what is one part of the book you have planned before everything else? As in Plot, Title, Setting etc.

A: Hmm, that’s tough. Usually, it’s the characters and how they interact with each other? Do they have history? What sort of emotional arc will they go through? Who will they fall in love with? I think it’s most fun that way!

2) Usually, authors watch or listen to something that inspires them during or before they write. What do you watch/listen to for inspiration?

A: It really depends on the story. For Geekerella, I put together a playlist and listened to that on repeat before/after my writing sessions. For Heart of Iron, it was one song in particular — No Place Like Home by Marianas Trench.

3) Without giving spoilers— What was your favorite scene to write and why?

A: I love every scene with D09–every single one of them. He was both the easiest and hardest character to write because I can relate so much to him.

4)What’s everyone’s Hogwarts house?

A: Ana is a Slytherin-leaning Gryffindor, D09 a Hufflepuff, Robb is a burned Hufflepuff, and Jax is a Slytherin…for reasons you’ll find out in the sequel, Soul of Stars!

5) Lastly, If you’re able to, can you tell us about any upcoming projects now that Heart Of Iron is released?

A: Aside from Soul of Stars, I really can’t say much about other projects! Or if I have them? Or what, in fact, is that Untitled Fantasy that also sold with Soul of Stars.

Lori’s QOTD: If you could choose one bookish character to be apart of your crew, who would it be?