Synopsis
In the Iron Empire only the strongest are given the chance to Ascend.
Castor has wanted to fuse with a Cor Heart since he was a boy. Made from an otherworldly metal, it will give him the ability to manipulate an element. Now that the trial has finally arrived, it is his chance to prove his worth.
Once he has won the Empress’ blessing, he can attune to a Symbol and begin a life of adventure.
But during the trial, his dreams are interrupted by a vicious attack. His home is left in ruins and his family in peril, all while Castor and his friends are carried away to be conscripted into the Legions.
Bound to a Symbol he never wanted, Castor must survive the Iron City, the enemies in the frozen North, and hidden traitors inside the Rusting Empire before he can get revenge on the ones who took everything from him.
This is the first step of the rise of the Ironbound.
Review
This book surprised me. Similar in nature to Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn and Tori Tecken’s Blood Stones, I was instantly addicted. Told in first person, it is intensely personal. Ironbound follows the story of a young man in an elite training academy, competing for an iron “Cor Heart,” a metal orb that is inserted into the body to grant the person exceptional powers. The “Ironbound” can then be put on a path to rise in rank and power or be conscripted into the army.
The protagonist, Castor, reveals his character early on when he shows kindness to an outcast. He also shows his rebel spirit, setting off a chain of events when he chooses friendship over the laws that bind the empire by taking an outlawed blood oath.
Things, of course, do not go as expected. Tragedy ensues, and Castor is set on a path he did not want or choose. Familiar, universal themes propel the story forward. A corrupt empire, betrayal, and clashes among the young elite and Ironbound create ongoing tension.
Castor finds himself in a leadership role and, due to his unusual gift, is able to break certain norms and constraints, setting him on a dangerous path. Gods rear their heads, power descends on Castor, and he is driven into more and more challenging situations.
The stakes heighten and the fantasy elements intensify, making this an epic, multi-layered story of legends and heroes. It takes place in a Roman-esque setting, where gods live and the empire exerts a stranglehold on its people.
A truly compelling story that kept me riveted, to the point that I picked up the next book, Cold Wind, immediately, and cannot to wait for the third, Bloody Sands.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ralph Lister, and it was excellent.
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