The Iron Flower (The Black Witch Chronicles#2) by Laurie Forest
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley for a for a fair review.
Publish date: September 18, 2018
Elloren Gardner and her friends continue to help the resistance against the Gardnerian government as they encounter more and more social injustices. Each time they feel like they make any progress their hopes are squashed again and again as all hell breaks loose with the more power Gardneria gets in Verpacia.
The Story
Okay, so I think if you liked the first book you will really like this one. Despite how dense this book was, I gobbled it all up.
Taking off pretty much where it left off in the first book, Eloren’s character learns more and more about what’s wrong about her people and religion. Meanwhile, she, and everyone else, is just trying to survive. Like the first, this book brings out a lot of real life prejudices and social problems that is intricately woven into a fantasy setting.
If you’re like me, and like a good love triangle then strap in. This book takes the confusion emotions of attraction and not only keeps Elloren confused about what she should do, but draws out the romance through the entire book. I was strangling my book and screaming KISS ALREADY! Because, I ship them so much. And Forest has made internal magic seem so ridiculously sexy. If you read it, you will know what I’m talking about.
While I had a lot of theories about how the book would end, I did have one lingering in my mind that had me thinking, I freaking knew it. Poor Solomon had to put up with all my reaction snapchats and theories throughout my day.
The World Building
This book has such detailed world building. Not only do we get a descriptive look at the surrounding world, but palpable magic that affects Elloren in a way that gets my heart racing.
In this second book we get a closer look at some of the other races lives. Selkies and Amaz people really stand out as they are major factors in this book, and each race has such a diverse look at the world, religion and politics. As the series progresses I am eager to look more into the difference races that hold a part of this world. I follower Laurie on Instagram, and oh my, she’s going to bring in some dryads into the next book and the imagery she spotlighted was so amazing. I seriously cannot wait, will they be friend or foe?
The Characters
Elloren had such a major character ARC in the first book that it’s hardly noticeable in this one. As she comes to understand more about how she feels we get a stronger understanding to her sense of justice. She is more and more willing to go to the extreme to protect her friends and family that, despite her naiveté, you really want someone as fierce as her in your life.
What I love about these books is that each of the characters have their own prejudices and hurdles to jump in regards to each other. But as they encounter their difficulties they learn to band together and hold affection for each other so that they can support each other through their individual tribulations.
The Soundtrack
RKCB – Disorder
