Iron Cast by Destiny Soria
Posted: 01 Oct 2016, 12:29
This standalone novel will be published October 11th, 2016.
The Iron Cast is a night club and sanctuary for those known as hemopaths: people who can create illusions or emotions through the arts. Some use their words, while others might use a song. Because of the nefarious possibilities of such power, using it is strictly illegal and those who use it are hunted down. For Corinne and Ada, life is very much about survival in the times just before prohibition.
Reading this book was a breath of fresh air. It's a stand alone, historical fiction with a fantasy element, and any romance present in the story takes a back seat to the plot. I've felt like so many of the Young Adult books I've been reading lately have had plots that must share center stage with a love story. I'm all for romance in my novels, but I love the tasteful way that Iron Cast included the romantic element without it being a vital part of the book.
I loved how the two main characters balanced each other out. Corinne is bull-headed and a bit irrational, but she has such a strong spirit a ferocity to her that leads her to do everything she can to protect those she loves and cares for. Ada, her best friend, is calm and more mature than Corinne, but has a lot of anxiety in her heart. Ada helps keep Corrine out of trouble, and Corinne gives Ada the hope and boost of encouragement she needs sometimes. Both of these girls were a pleasure to get to know and follow along their journey.
While there are many other characters to get to know within the story, part of the fun and intrigue of this book are the surprises as you learn more about characters. While the first part of the book sets the scene and introduces the important people around town, the second half of the book is a page turner. The were so many great changes as the plot got rolling, and I enjoyed every second of it. The ending felt final and left me feeling satisfied.
When I first started the book, I was really confused what the hemopaths were. There are mentioned before they are fully explained, but by a couple chapters in I had a solid understanding. So, if you start the book with a bit of confusion, please carry on. I promise it gets better!
There were also a couple of points in the book where I found myself skeptically questioning something, or felt it wasn't explained enough. One example is at the beginning of the book when the hint at something going on in the basement of the Asylum, but then I didn't hear more about it. It felt like foreshadowing, but then it felt like the characters were never going to come back to that question and the reader would be left wondering. It did, however, come back to it later in the book. In fact, EVERY question I had that I felt wasn't well explained came to be fully explained in the plot later on in the book. I was very pleased to have all my questions answered.
Rating
Overall I would give this book a 4 out of 4. Even with a bit of confusion in the beginning, this book felt so fresh and different and exciting to me that it was well worth it. I'm not sure this book will have a lot of reread value due to the nature of the plot, but it is so worth the initial read. I loved it, and I would highly recommend it. And, there's no sequel to painfully wait for! =)
The Iron Cast is a night club and sanctuary for those known as hemopaths: people who can create illusions or emotions through the arts. Some use their words, while others might use a song. Because of the nefarious possibilities of such power, using it is strictly illegal and those who use it are hunted down. For Corinne and Ada, life is very much about survival in the times just before prohibition.
Reading this book was a breath of fresh air. It's a stand alone, historical fiction with a fantasy element, and any romance present in the story takes a back seat to the plot. I've felt like so many of the Young Adult books I've been reading lately have had plots that must share center stage with a love story. I'm all for romance in my novels, but I love the tasteful way that Iron Cast included the romantic element without it being a vital part of the book.
I loved how the two main characters balanced each other out. Corinne is bull-headed and a bit irrational, but she has such a strong spirit a ferocity to her that leads her to do everything she can to protect those she loves and cares for. Ada, her best friend, is calm and more mature than Corinne, but has a lot of anxiety in her heart. Ada helps keep Corrine out of trouble, and Corinne gives Ada the hope and boost of encouragement she needs sometimes. Both of these girls were a pleasure to get to know and follow along their journey.
While there are many other characters to get to know within the story, part of the fun and intrigue of this book are the surprises as you learn more about characters. While the first part of the book sets the scene and introduces the important people around town, the second half of the book is a page turner. The were so many great changes as the plot got rolling, and I enjoyed every second of it. The ending felt final and left me feeling satisfied.
When I first started the book, I was really confused what the hemopaths were. There are mentioned before they are fully explained, but by a couple chapters in I had a solid understanding. So, if you start the book with a bit of confusion, please carry on. I promise it gets better!
There were also a couple of points in the book where I found myself skeptically questioning something, or felt it wasn't explained enough. One example is at the beginning of the book when the hint at something going on in the basement of the Asylum, but then I didn't hear more about it. It felt like foreshadowing, but then it felt like the characters were never going to come back to that question and the reader would be left wondering. It did, however, come back to it later in the book. In fact, EVERY question I had that I felt wasn't well explained came to be fully explained in the plot later on in the book. I was very pleased to have all my questions answered.
Rating
Overall I would give this book a 4 out of 4. Even with a bit of confusion in the beginning, this book felt so fresh and different and exciting to me that it was well worth it. I'm not sure this book will have a lot of reread value due to the nature of the plot, but it is so worth the initial read. I loved it, and I would highly recommend it. And, there's no sequel to painfully wait for! =)