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Ironbound #1
Ironbound
An action-packed progression fantasy epic from Andrew Givler, bestselling author of Soul Fraud.
In the Iron Empire, only the strongest are given a chance to Ascend.
As long as he can remember, Castor has wanted nothing more than to fuse with a Cor Heart. Made from an otherworldly metal, it would give him the ability to bind a Symbol and manipulate the elements.
The day of trial has finally arrived—a chance for Castor to prove his worth. Only after winning the Empress’ blessing can he begin his life of adventure.
When his chance is interrupted by a vicious attack, he finds his home in ruins and his family in mortal peril.
Conscripted into the Legions, bound to a Symbol he never wanted, Castor must survive the Iron City, his enemies in the frozen North, and clandestine traitors within the rusting Empire itself.
But more than anything, he wants revenge against those who took everything from him.
This is the first step of the rise of the Ironbound.
Don't miss the start of this adrenaline-fueled Progression Fantasy Epic from Andrew Givler, bestselling author of Soul Fraud, and the creator of Sigils, a Youtube channel with 1.4+ Million Subscribers. It's Perfect for fans of Arcane Ascension, Red Rising, and Will of the Many.
In the Iron Empire, only the strongest are given a chance to Ascend.
As long as he can remember, Castor has wanted nothing more than to fuse with a Cor Heart. Made from an otherworldly metal, it would give him the ability to bind a Symbol and manipulate the elements.
The day of trial has finally arrived—a chance for Castor to prove his worth. Only after winning the Empress’ blessing can he begin his life of adventure.
When his chance is interrupted by a vicious attack, he finds his home in ruins and his family in mortal peril.
Conscripted into the Legions, bound to a Symbol he never wanted, Castor must survive the Iron City, his enemies in the frozen North, and clandestine traitors within the rusting Empire itself.
But more than anything, he wants revenge against those who took everything from him.
This is the first step of the rise of the Ironbound.
Don't miss the start of this adrenaline-fueled Progression Fantasy Epic from Andrew Givler, bestselling author of Soul Fraud, and the creator of Sigils, a Youtube channel with 1.4+ Million Subscribers. It's Perfect for fans of Arcane Ascension, Red Rising, and Will of the Many.
609 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
About the author
Andrew Givler
9 books1,168 followersAndrew is the author of the Debt Collection and Ironbound series and also a gaming YouTuber known as Sigils. He loves making people laugh, video games, and food. (Not always in that order.) He lives in LA.
To learn more about him you can go to his website: http://andrewgivler.com
Social Media
BookTube: http://youtube.com/@GivReads
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sigils
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sigils
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@GivReads
To learn more about him you can go to his website: http://andrewgivler.com
Social Media
BookTube: http://youtube.com/@GivReads
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sigils
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sigils
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@GivReads
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
June 19, 2026
Absolutely couldn’t put it down. I discovered it through litRPG but there aren’t any stats just a wonderful alt Roman world with magic. Love love!
January 30, 2026
"We are lost men. We are a long way from our homes and can never return. They burned them down behind us. They killed our mothers and fathers. Our sisters and brothers. Our dogs. But they made a mistake. They left us alive. They sent us to be forged into weapons and then forgot about us. But Iron has a long memory." [Castor]
I discovered Ironbound through booktok, where someone made a video recommending books similar to the Red Rising series. I was so excited to read it, confident that it's gonna be a new addition to the list of my favorite series. And I enjoyed reading it. I truly did.
At first, at least.
What is the book about?
Throughout Ironbound we follow Castor Castus, a member of a Roman-inspired society, that is about to enter adulthood through an event called the Sententia. He and forty-nine other kids are about to compete against each other to receive a blessing of an Empress which is called a Cor Heart that will give them powers through a bond with a chosen Symbol. However, the competition ends badly for everyone. Castor and his comrades are betrayed and forcefully sent up to become legionnaires and fight for their Empire on the North, where they discover that everything they had been taught is a lie.
My first problem with the book: the lack of emotions.
I am numb, deep in the embrace of my Iron Symbol. The world is muted. I feel nothing. I only obey. [Castor]
When you read info about Ironbound, you will find out that it's an action-packed story. Action is needed to make you engaged and to raise the stakes, but the moment the balance between the action and emotions is disturbed, my enjoyment of reading is also disturbed.
Ironbound's action is a masterclass. But the story is heavily lacking when it comes to the emotional area, which is truly strange, considering how many tragedies happen through it, and the characters should respond to them accordingly. Did we forget through all the action that our characters aren't androids, but humans? Because that's what it felt like.
In a short amount of time Castor survived events that normally would be traumatic, but all we get from Castor are either a complete suppression of emotions through his bond to the Iron Symbol or just short sentences like: "I felt guilty", "I felt scared", "I felt bad". Whenever something traumatic happens, it's immediately followed by action. We as the readers don't get a chance to emotionally bond with Castor's character, because he doesn't give us that chance. He doesn't feel like a human being, he feels like a pretender, and it doesn't change to the very last page of the book.
My second problem with the book: Castor's goal of revenge.
"If war is not dead, then neither is vengeance." [Castor]
The moment the big tragedy strikes, it's understandable that the reader would assume that his goal and the big theme of the story will be revenge. Castor himself talks about revenge, but the problem is that that theme of revenge is acknowledged too rarely for it to be meaningful. Castor spends more time feeling proud of himself that he had finally got a title of a Primus and enjoying being a legionnaire than plotting his revenge. And the fact of his tragedy is also rarely acknowledged, and if it is, it lacks emotions. Castor talks about his family's deaths like he talks about the weather. It's not emotionally impactful for him, and in return, it's not emotionally impactful for us as the readers. That's one of the things that make a difference between the characters of Castor and the characters of Darrow (Red Rising) and Vis (Hierarchy). Wherever Darrow and Vis go throughout their storylines, the loss of their beloved ones follows. The memories of their families, the lessons that they had learned from them, everything impacts them as characters and the future events. It's not what happens to Castor in Ironbound, so his goal of revenge is hardly believable.
My third problem with the book: Castor's superiority.
I'm not sure why I'm able to command the iron better than my peers. Maybe because I've been bound longer. [Castor]
It's not just that, but that's a part of the reason why I called Castor superior over everybody else. He struggles through the Sententia, yes, but the moment he gets his long awaited Cor and (forcefully) becomes a legionnaire, things starts to shift for his benefit. He still struggles like his comrades, but he adapts faster to the new circumstances than others (even faster than his friend, Marcus, who was the only one who wanted to become a legionnaire in the first place) and things overall are way more easier for him than for everybody else, mostly because of his bond with his Symbol. What is strange is that he never questioned why he was a better user of the Iron Symbol than the others. He never tried to teach his comrades how to use the Iron Symbol, which would benefit everybody. He never freaked out (just questioned it for, like, a second) about the depth of his bond with the Iron Symbol, even when he, while being numb because of his Symbol's influence, decided to kill his superior officer out of the blue.
I don't think he ever lost a fight, not counting the Sententia events. He was easily breaking all the historical records, being stopped from Ascending only by the fact that he was a member of the infamous Twelfth Legion. Throughout the story he became stronger and stronger, to the point that fighting a dangerous monster called the furia became a child's play for him. How can you root for someone like that if you already know that he will win?
It's truly a shame, because, if you don't count these problems, the story is truly well-written. I like the Roman-inspired fantasy world created by the author. I liked the military aspect, the corrupted government and the sick society status quo. I liked the mystery of the Cor metal and the furia, and the underrated Twelfth Legion. Out of all the characters I liked the Marius brothers (Gaius and Percy). They both had very interesting backgrounds and I liked to know them more and more throughout the story. I also liked Felix. I think if he was chosen as the main character, as the only plebeian between the comrades of a higher status, the story would have been much better. But that's just my opinion.
I don't know if I will read the next book. I don't have any interest in what awaits Castor and his crew, but maybe I will give it a chance. I will have to think about it (hopefully book two is better).
P.S. Any Solo Leveling fans in here? Castor's SHATTER command reminded me of Sung Jinwoo's ARISE 😆
I discovered Ironbound through booktok, where someone made a video recommending books similar to the Red Rising series. I was so excited to read it, confident that it's gonna be a new addition to the list of my favorite series. And I enjoyed reading it. I truly did.
At first, at least.
What is the book about?
Throughout Ironbound we follow Castor Castus, a member of a Roman-inspired society, that is about to enter adulthood through an event called the Sententia. He and forty-nine other kids are about to compete against each other to receive a blessing of an Empress which is called a Cor Heart that will give them powers through a bond with a chosen Symbol. However, the competition ends badly for everyone. Castor and his comrades are betrayed and forcefully sent up to become legionnaires and fight for their Empire on the North, where they discover that everything they had been taught is a lie.
My first problem with the book: the lack of emotions.
I am numb, deep in the embrace of my Iron Symbol. The world is muted. I feel nothing. I only obey. [Castor]
When you read info about Ironbound, you will find out that it's an action-packed story. Action is needed to make you engaged and to raise the stakes, but the moment the balance between the action and emotions is disturbed, my enjoyment of reading is also disturbed.
Ironbound's action is a masterclass. But the story is heavily lacking when it comes to the emotional area, which is truly strange, considering how many tragedies happen through it, and the characters should respond to them accordingly. Did we forget through all the action that our characters aren't androids, but humans? Because that's what it felt like.
In a short amount of time Castor survived events that normally would be traumatic, but all we get from Castor are either a complete suppression of emotions through his bond to the Iron Symbol or just short sentences like: "I felt guilty", "I felt scared", "I felt bad". Whenever something traumatic happens, it's immediately followed by action. We as the readers don't get a chance to emotionally bond with Castor's character, because he doesn't give us that chance. He doesn't feel like a human being, he feels like a pretender, and it doesn't change to the very last page of the book.
My second problem with the book: Castor's goal of revenge.
"If war is not dead, then neither is vengeance." [Castor]
The moment the big tragedy strikes, it's understandable that the reader would assume that his goal and the big theme of the story will be revenge. Castor himself talks about revenge, but the problem is that that theme of revenge is acknowledged too rarely for it to be meaningful. Castor spends more time feeling proud of himself that he had finally got a title of a Primus and enjoying being a legionnaire than plotting his revenge. And the fact of his tragedy is also rarely acknowledged, and if it is, it lacks emotions. Castor talks about his family's deaths like he talks about the weather. It's not emotionally impactful for him, and in return, it's not emotionally impactful for us as the readers. That's one of the things that make a difference between the characters of Castor and the characters of Darrow (Red Rising) and Vis (Hierarchy). Wherever Darrow and Vis go throughout their storylines, the loss of their beloved ones follows. The memories of their families, the lessons that they had learned from them, everything impacts them as characters and the future events. It's not what happens to Castor in Ironbound, so his goal of revenge is hardly believable.
My third problem with the book: Castor's superiority.
I'm not sure why I'm able to command the iron better than my peers. Maybe because I've been bound longer. [Castor]
It's not just that, but that's a part of the reason why I called Castor superior over everybody else. He struggles through the Sententia, yes, but the moment he gets his long awaited Cor and (forcefully) becomes a legionnaire, things starts to shift for his benefit. He still struggles like his comrades, but he adapts faster to the new circumstances than others (even faster than his friend, Marcus, who was the only one who wanted to become a legionnaire in the first place) and things overall are way more easier for him than for everybody else, mostly because of his bond with his Symbol. What is strange is that he never questioned why he was a better user of the Iron Symbol than the others. He never tried to teach his comrades how to use the Iron Symbol, which would benefit everybody. He never freaked out (just questioned it for, like, a second) about the depth of his bond with the Iron Symbol, even when he, while being numb because of his Symbol's influence, decided to kill his superior officer out of the blue.
I don't think he ever lost a fight, not counting the Sententia events. He was easily breaking all the historical records, being stopped from Ascending only by the fact that he was a member of the infamous Twelfth Legion. Throughout the story he became stronger and stronger, to the point that fighting a dangerous monster called the furia became a child's play for him. How can you root for someone like that if you already know that he will win?
It's truly a shame, because, if you don't count these problems, the story is truly well-written. I like the Roman-inspired fantasy world created by the author. I liked the military aspect, the corrupted government and the sick society status quo. I liked the mystery of the Cor metal and the furia, and the underrated Twelfth Legion. Out of all the characters I liked the Marius brothers (Gaius and Percy). They both had very interesting backgrounds and I liked to know them more and more throughout the story. I also liked Felix. I think if he was chosen as the main character, as the only plebeian between the comrades of a higher status, the story would have been much better. But that's just my opinion.
I don't know if I will read the next book. I don't have any interest in what awaits Castor and his crew, but maybe I will give it a chance. I will have to think about it (hopefully book two is better).
P.S. Any Solo Leveling fans in here? Castor's SHATTER command reminded me of Sung Jinwoo's ARISE 😆
May 2, 2026
The Will of the Many meets Cradle. The pace is relentless, the action is nonstop, and the magic system is genius. I can't wait for the next one.
November 23, 2025
If you’re looking for something that feels like Kaladin popped into The Will of the Many and adopted Vis’ attitude, then definitely check out Ironbound. The magic system is very cool. The plot is engaging, so much so that I finished it in less than 24 hours.
This is a story about a young man who has spent his entire life training toward being selected to bond with magic entity. After a series of trials, he is on the cusp of his dream when all is stolen from him and his friends, and they are sent to die in the lowest ranks of the military. Yet his thirst for revenge fuels him.
My only qualms are the pacing, which gets a bit bogged down at certain points, and the main character being a typical young dude who thinks he knows everything. But like a lot of other fantasy that starts off with a young male protagonist, I hope he grows out of this phase quickly as the series continues. I can’t wait to see where the story heads next.
This is a story about a young man who has spent his entire life training toward being selected to bond with magic entity. After a series of trials, he is on the cusp of his dream when all is stolen from him and his friends, and they are sent to die in the lowest ranks of the military. Yet his thirst for revenge fuels him.
My only qualms are the pacing, which gets a bit bogged down at certain points, and the main character being a typical young dude who thinks he knows everything. But like a lot of other fantasy that starts off with a young male protagonist, I hope he grows out of this phase quickly as the series continues. I can’t wait to see where the story heads next.
January 30, 2026
if the will of the many was a progression fantasy and more Roman. An awesome start to the series with a banging start and plenty of intense training. Filled with action, magic, and pure brotherhood, you don't want to miss this one
October 14, 2025
Have you ever listened to an audiobook so compelling that you immediately felt the need to own a physical copy so you could read it all over again? That was my experience with Ironbound!
I went into this story knowing very little, but the blurb alone promised to be epic. Ironbound delivered an exhilarating, fast-paced narrative that is both dark and highly addictive.
The world-building is top-notch. Ironbound delivers an intriguing, well-thought-out magic system that left me constantly craving more details. More than just a complex system, the world immediately draws you in with its strong Roman inspiration, giving off Gladiator and Spartacus vibes. From its militant structure to the detailed political landscape, this setting feels real and believable.
But the book truly shines in its character development. Our main character, Castor, undergoes an emotionally wrenching transformation. He begins as a devoted subject of the Empire and is quickly pushed into a slave for the Empire's legion in a brutal quest fueled by rage, revenge, and a demand for justice for his people. The emotional toll of everything he combats and overcomes sets an intensely gripping tone, making his journey impossible to put down.
There is so much to love here from the detailed narrative, the incredible character arc, and some truly epic battles. For fans of character-driven military fantasy or Roman-inspired epics, I cannot recommend Ironbound highly enough. I'd definitely recommend this to my fellow Red Rising fans as well. It's a must-read! I immediately ordered a physical copy just so I could experience it again!
I went into this story knowing very little, but the blurb alone promised to be epic. Ironbound delivered an exhilarating, fast-paced narrative that is both dark and highly addictive.
The world-building is top-notch. Ironbound delivers an intriguing, well-thought-out magic system that left me constantly craving more details. More than just a complex system, the world immediately draws you in with its strong Roman inspiration, giving off Gladiator and Spartacus vibes. From its militant structure to the detailed political landscape, this setting feels real and believable.
But the book truly shines in its character development. Our main character, Castor, undergoes an emotionally wrenching transformation. He begins as a devoted subject of the Empire and is quickly pushed into a slave for the Empire's legion in a brutal quest fueled by rage, revenge, and a demand for justice for his people. The emotional toll of everything he combats and overcomes sets an intensely gripping tone, making his journey impossible to put down.
There is so much to love here from the detailed narrative, the incredible character arc, and some truly epic battles. For fans of character-driven military fantasy or Roman-inspired epics, I cannot recommend Ironbound highly enough. I'd definitely recommend this to my fellow Red Rising fans as well. It's a must-read! I immediately ordered a physical copy just so I could experience it again!
Read
April 12, 2026No rating bc I couldn’t make it past page 391 and decided I had enough of the book. I really enjoyed the first 100 pages of the book so I thought I made it past the DNF part of the book. Then I got bored around the 200 page mark. It felt so flat and the characters were so bland. And don’t get me started on all the trials/fighting the book had and each one coming out with the same results. The MMC triumphantly winning but still was considered the loser. This happened over and over and over. I put the book down for about 5 days for a brain break. When I picked it back up, I started to enjoy it again. That lasted about 50 pages. I had such high hopes for this book too. Too many books on my TBR to put anymore energy into this book.
December 15, 2025
4.5 stars! This was such a good book! I am loving getting back into these epic journeys lately. I highly recommend this one!
March 14, 2026
9.5/10
What can I say, I'm a sucker for Greco-Roman revenge fantasy. And it actually managed to be pretty unique.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for Greco-Roman revenge fantasy. And it actually managed to be pretty unique.
July 16, 2025
5* rating stands after I read it. As the first review on here I recommend this to anyone. It has up and downs and Andrew has written another good book. It’s a different style than the Debt Collection and I love it. The ending and other parts left me heartbroken but I would buy this when it comes out in a heartbeat (I read an unedited version). Fans of Red Rising would indeed love it (I am a fan)!
December 16, 2025
amazing book one. Great paceing. Roman inspired magic and military schools. cool magic system.
if you love will of the many give it a shot.
if you love will of the many give it a shot.
January 7, 2026
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER BEEN SO HAPPY ABOUT BEING SO MAD.
Well, it's always nice to read your first Five Star book of a new year. Mine happened to be my second read!
That said, screw this book, screw Andrew Givler, screw my inability to see this book as anything but relentlessly MOMENTOUS. It's a rageful adrenaline fest that grabs you by the throat and slams you into the concrete repeatedly, all while you thank it for its kindness.
It read sort of like a combination of Red Rising and The Rage Of Dragons with a Progression core to its magic system, except I didn't once feel like it was derivative in any way. That's simply the best comparative explanation for what I just read that I can think of.
I'm SO ANGRY THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR BOOK TWO. Why did I have to read this when book one was the only installment released?
Special shout out to the Bookstreet Boys server on Discord for making it our Book Of The Month. I know exactly who to blame for this now.
Did I mention I love this book? It feels like the beginning of the next BIG THING. Read it and join me in my joyous rage.
Well, it's always nice to read your first Five Star book of a new year. Mine happened to be my second read!
That said, screw this book, screw Andrew Givler, screw my inability to see this book as anything but relentlessly MOMENTOUS. It's a rageful adrenaline fest that grabs you by the throat and slams you into the concrete repeatedly, all while you thank it for its kindness.
It read sort of like a combination of Red Rising and The Rage Of Dragons with a Progression core to its magic system, except I didn't once feel like it was derivative in any way. That's simply the best comparative explanation for what I just read that I can think of.
I'm SO ANGRY THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR BOOK TWO. Why did I have to read this when book one was the only installment released?
Special shout out to the Bookstreet Boys server on Discord for making it our Book Of The Month. I know exactly who to blame for this now.
Did I mention I love this book? It feels like the beginning of the next BIG THING. Read it and join me in my joyous rage.
October 29, 2025
www.instagram.com/novelswithnick
4.5
If you are a Red Rising or The Will of the Many fan then you should definitely pick this up as you are bound to love it. I didn’t think this was just a copy of them though, although some similarities, this stands as its own
Not only was the main character a great follow, the character development from start to finish was strong with a well crafted story to go with it. The world building was great too with an interesting and unique magic system to complement it
There’s epic battle scenes, twists and some tense moments and I’m really looking forward to book 2!
Thank you to @aethonbooks for sending this over!
4.5
If you are a Red Rising or The Will of the Many fan then you should definitely pick this up as you are bound to love it. I didn’t think this was just a copy of them though, although some similarities, this stands as its own
Not only was the main character a great follow, the character development from start to finish was strong with a well crafted story to go with it. The world building was great too with an interesting and unique magic system to complement it
There’s epic battle scenes, twists and some tense moments and I’m really looking forward to book 2!
Thank you to @aethonbooks for sending this over!
Read
January 22, 2026dnf @42%
I felt no connection to the MMC at all. Everything was described in such a surface-level way.
The MMC loses his entire family, and the inner monologue is basically just “my family is dead".
I NEED MORE DEPTH
I felt no connection to the MMC at all. Everything was described in such a surface-level way.
The MMC loses his entire family, and the inner monologue is basically just “my family is dead".
I NEED MORE DEPTH
May 21, 2026
"I need to write a review. But the deadline is coming fast. How can I get it done in time? I'm a reviewer, that much is clear. But time is running out and I don't know how I can accomplish the task set before me. But how can I review a book with such an interesting premise and plot, but such grating narration (both in authorial choices and audiobook voice)? There are good things here. Unexpected twists. Genuine stakes. Good emotional heft (when it's not being shoved down my throat). I refocus on the task at hand: a review is due. Maybe if I reiterate and reanalyze every aspect of the scenario, a solution will become clear. I'm a reviewer; I write reviews, I am bonded to them. But this one will be tricky. Then I have an idea. There's no time to think it through, so I begin...I draw upon my core power: words. What if I wrote a review in the style of this book, so that others can see how annoying the narration is? I'm bonded to words, this just might work..."
Rating: 2.25☆ (Slightly Below Average)
Blurb Review: A seed of a great story that is unfortunately overshadowed by writing that really didn't work for me and some poor audio narration choices.
Worldbuilding/Immersion: 3☆
There are good bones here - yet, for all the overexplaining this novel does, somehow I did feel like I needed just a hint more of the world building to truly understand the history of the world and how it functions.
Characters: 2☆
Nothing terribly surprising here. The characters tend towards 'stock-character' tropes without much nuance, but there are exceptions. A few characters are lacking in clear motives for their actions, even huge, plot-defining actions, which is annoying. The main character is both incredibly insightful (when the author/plot needs him to be) but also really, really slow to realize blindingly obvious facts (when the author wants to create a mystery? that the reader totally sees through multiple chapters before the POV character?)
Plot: 4☆
There's a genuinely entertaining plot here with good twists, including a couple major ones I didn't see coming. A few beats are telegraphed, but on the whole it's pretty excellent.
Investment/Stakes/Emotional Impact: 3☆
At times the emotions are earned and genuine, at other's I'm being told what the character feels (even when he's not acting at all consistently with what he's telling me he's feeling).
Writing/Prose: 1☆
This category was the one where there was much room for improvement for me. I don't think the book went more than a few lines without pulling me out of the experience with a clumsily worded sentence, a nonsensical simile, or a repetitive thought. The first-person present-tense may just not be a good match for this author (I know I would struggle to write in it!). The author keeps writing lines with future perspective that the character shouldn't have (writing: "I make a mistake by..." and not revealing how it's a mistake until a couple lines later. The character making the mistake doesn't know it's a mistake when he makes it so the narration doesn't work.) The character also narrates every single thought he has as if he's never had it before. Nothing is trusted to be remembered or taken for baseline knowledge that someone doesn't bring up over and over again (for example: the main character continually thinks of another as "his best friend since childhood", which is good introductory information, but who in the world thinks to themselves, "he's been my best friend since childhood" every single time they see their best friend? If we're living in his head, the thoughts should be more like how an actual person thinks). He can't let any aspect of a thought go unwritten - every facet clearly has to be put onto the page (including in the middle of action scenes: the character should be dead multiple times in every fight because he's always analyzing four separate observations about his enemy and five ideas of how to counter them and six reminders of who he is and where he comes from and why he fights and what's at stake if he dies...every time an enemy rushes at him.) There are frequently repeated words in back-to-back sentences. I found myself constantly pulled out of the story thinking, "real people don't think/talk/act like this!"
Audiobook Narration: 1.5☆
Every voice was high pitched and snarly. Male, female, doesn't matter. Didn't matter how the author described them either - there were moments where a voice was described as "deep" or "soft" and it still was narrated with a higher pitch than the normal narration and angry-sounding or grating in some way. Not my favourite narrator choices.
True Myth Quotient*: 3.25☆
There are some decent thematic explorations of injustice, fate, and the corrupting nature of power. I'd have to read further into the series to see what's done with them...but I doubt I will. Here, injustice is seen as evil and there is decent nuance recognized between the "home" culture and the "foreign" culture - that there can be good and evil on both sides. The main character has to hide things from his friends but learns to trust. The content is violent, but there isn't much language and no sensuality. Some spirituality and pagan mysticism that feels world-appropriate.
***
Fiction Review Rubric:
5☆ = Masterful
4.75☆ = Exemplary
4.5☆ = Outstanding
4.25☆ = Excellent
4☆ = Great
3.75☆ = Highly Enjoyable
3.5☆ = Really Good
3.25☆ = Solid
3☆ = Good
2.75☆ = Slightly Above Average
2.5☆ = Average
2.25☆ = Slightly Below Average
2☆ = Mediocre
1.5☆ = Poor
1☆ = Bad
0.5☆ = Truly Awful
*True Myth Quotient: Does this novel ring with an echo of the True Myth?
What does it want me to be entertained by and to cheer for? Does it promote what is “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise” (Phil. 4:8)? Is it allegorical (directly or indirectly)? What content and themes are found within and does good outweigh bad in the overall balance?
Rating: 2.25☆ (Slightly Below Average)
Blurb Review: A seed of a great story that is unfortunately overshadowed by writing that really didn't work for me and some poor audio narration choices.
Worldbuilding/Immersion: 3☆
There are good bones here - yet, for all the overexplaining this novel does, somehow I did feel like I needed just a hint more of the world building to truly understand the history of the world and how it functions.
Characters: 2☆
Nothing terribly surprising here. The characters tend towards 'stock-character' tropes without much nuance, but there are exceptions. A few characters are lacking in clear motives for their actions, even huge, plot-defining actions, which is annoying. The main character is both incredibly insightful (when the author/plot needs him to be) but also really, really slow to realize blindingly obvious facts (when the author wants to create a mystery? that the reader totally sees through multiple chapters before the POV character?)
Plot: 4☆
There's a genuinely entertaining plot here with good twists, including a couple major ones I didn't see coming. A few beats are telegraphed, but on the whole it's pretty excellent.
Investment/Stakes/Emotional Impact: 3☆
At times the emotions are earned and genuine, at other's I'm being told what the character feels (even when he's not acting at all consistently with what he's telling me he's feeling).
Writing/Prose: 1☆
This category was the one where there was much room for improvement for me. I don't think the book went more than a few lines without pulling me out of the experience with a clumsily worded sentence, a nonsensical simile, or a repetitive thought. The first-person present-tense may just not be a good match for this author (I know I would struggle to write in it!). The author keeps writing lines with future perspective that the character shouldn't have (writing: "I make a mistake by..." and not revealing how it's a mistake until a couple lines later. The character making the mistake doesn't know it's a mistake when he makes it so the narration doesn't work.) The character also narrates every single thought he has as if he's never had it before. Nothing is trusted to be remembered or taken for baseline knowledge that someone doesn't bring up over and over again (for example: the main character continually thinks of another as "his best friend since childhood", which is good introductory information, but who in the world thinks to themselves, "he's been my best friend since childhood" every single time they see their best friend? If we're living in his head, the thoughts should be more like how an actual person thinks). He can't let any aspect of a thought go unwritten - every facet clearly has to be put onto the page (including in the middle of action scenes: the character should be dead multiple times in every fight because he's always analyzing four separate observations about his enemy and five ideas of how to counter them and six reminders of who he is and where he comes from and why he fights and what's at stake if he dies...every time an enemy rushes at him.) There are frequently repeated words in back-to-back sentences. I found myself constantly pulled out of the story thinking, "real people don't think/talk/act like this!"
Audiobook Narration: 1.5☆
Every voice was high pitched and snarly. Male, female, doesn't matter. Didn't matter how the author described them either - there were moments where a voice was described as "deep" or "soft" and it still was narrated with a higher pitch than the normal narration and angry-sounding or grating in some way. Not my favourite narrator choices.
True Myth Quotient*: 3.25☆
There are some decent thematic explorations of injustice, fate, and the corrupting nature of power. I'd have to read further into the series to see what's done with them...but I doubt I will. Here, injustice is seen as evil and there is decent nuance recognized between the "home" culture and the "foreign" culture - that there can be good and evil on both sides. The main character has to hide things from his friends but learns to trust. The content is violent, but there isn't much language and no sensuality. Some spirituality and pagan mysticism that feels world-appropriate.
***
Fiction Review Rubric:
5☆ = Masterful
4.75☆ = Exemplary
4.5☆ = Outstanding
4.25☆ = Excellent
4☆ = Great
3.75☆ = Highly Enjoyable
3.5☆ = Really Good
3.25☆ = Solid
3☆ = Good
2.75☆ = Slightly Above Average
2.5☆ = Average
2.25☆ = Slightly Below Average
2☆ = Mediocre
1.5☆ = Poor
1☆ = Bad
0.5☆ = Truly Awful
*True Myth Quotient: Does this novel ring with an echo of the True Myth?
What does it want me to be entertained by and to cheer for? Does it promote what is “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise” (Phil. 4:8)? Is it allegorical (directly or indirectly)? What content and themes are found within and does good outweigh bad in the overall balance?
May 18, 2026
I could not put this book down for the life of me. A Roman inspired progression fantasy?! Sign me up! These characters were awesome, the magic system was absolutely fire; I enjoyed everything about this book and the way it ended.. yeah. Gonna need book two ASAP
November 9, 2025
I was lucky enough to get both the ALC and ARC of Ironbound, and I’m so glad I did. The audiobook narrator does an absolutely fantastic job — his performance really adds intensity and emotion to every scene and made it even harder to put the story down.
This Roman-inspired progression fantasy has everything I want in a book: a fascinating magic system that feels fresh and well thought out, a sprawling world filled with political intrigue and corruption, and brutal, bloody battles that feel real and high-stakes. The worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming, and the pacing kept me hooked all the way through.
I loved the characters, especially Castor. He’s such a compelling main character — ambitious, determined, and constantly tested in ways that made me root for him even more. Watching him grow and adapt to the chaos around him was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Ironbound is an incredible start to a series that feels epic in scope and full of promise. Andrew Givler did an amazing job weaving together character, action, and worldbuilding into something that feels both brutal and beautiful. I can’t wait to see where Castor’s story goes next!
This Roman-inspired progression fantasy has everything I want in a book: a fascinating magic system that feels fresh and well thought out, a sprawling world filled with political intrigue and corruption, and brutal, bloody battles that feel real and high-stakes. The worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming, and the pacing kept me hooked all the way through.
I loved the characters, especially Castor. He’s such a compelling main character — ambitious, determined, and constantly tested in ways that made me root for him even more. Watching him grow and adapt to the chaos around him was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Ironbound is an incredible start to a series that feels epic in scope and full of promise. Andrew Givler did an amazing job weaving together character, action, and worldbuilding into something that feels both brutal and beautiful. I can’t wait to see where Castor’s story goes next!
November 3, 2025
Too pretentious for me.
Any time an author insists on repeatedly using non-English words for common concepts, it’s a red flag. When they insist on italicizing them every time to call out how “special” and “cultured” it is, it’s eye-rollingly painful. Is it truly necessary to write Mons Olympus instead of Mount Olympus, or Luna instead of the moon, or Sextus instead of sixth place? Jarred me out of the narrative every time until I DNF’d just a few chapters in.
Any time an author insists on repeatedly using non-English words for common concepts, it’s a red flag. When they insist on italicizing them every time to call out how “special” and “cultured” it is, it’s eye-rollingly painful. Is it truly necessary to write Mons Olympus instead of Mount Olympus, or Luna instead of the moon, or Sextus instead of sixth place? Jarred me out of the narrative every time until I DNF’d just a few chapters in.
March 19, 2026
Esse livro foi interessante. A impressão que eu tenho é que o autor pegou todas as tropes preferidas dele (de livros famosos como O caminho dos reis, The will of the many, Fúria Vermelha, The rage of dragons, asioaf, etc) e fez essa história só pra se divertir juntando tudo. Eu respeito autores que escrevem os livros que ELES querem ler, por isso aumentei meia estrela.
Aqui, temos três partes muito diferentes umas das outras. A parte 1 foi bem ruim, com escrita amadora, infodump, má apresentação de personagens e informações desconectadas. A parte 2 teve uma boa melhora, mas ainda apresentou alguns desses problemas. A parte 3 foi na maior parte ótima, com cenas de ação excelentes - é aí que esse autor brilha. O desenvolvimento do protagonista foi um dos pontos altos do livro também. Infelizmente, o final ficou desconexo e apressado igual aos finais das outras partes.
Enfim, eu poderia reclamar mais, porém o autor usou todas as minhas tropes preferidas também... ou seja: me diverti. Podem ter certeza de que lerei o segundo.
Aqui, temos três partes muito diferentes umas das outras. A parte 1 foi bem ruim, com escrita amadora, infodump, má apresentação de personagens e informações desconectadas. A parte 2 teve uma boa melhora, mas ainda apresentou alguns desses problemas. A parte 3 foi na maior parte ótima, com cenas de ação excelentes - é aí que esse autor brilha. O desenvolvimento do protagonista foi um dos pontos altos do livro também. Infelizmente, o final ficou desconexo e apressado igual aos finais das outras partes.
Enfim, eu poderia reclamar mais, porém o autor usou todas as minhas tropes preferidas também... ou seja: me diverti. Podem ter certeza de que lerei o segundo.
November 16, 2025
I had such a good time with this one. It’s got that perfect mix of intense battle scenes, solid character development, and a found-family thread that totally won me over and the magic system was just plain cool!
The action is so well done fast, bloody, clear, and never confusing. Every fight actually moved the story forward instead of just being noise, which I really appreciate in fantasy. But honestly, the character work is what hooked me. Watching this group grow, clash, rely on each other, and slowly shift into a little chaotic family unit was my favorite part. I love when you can actually feel characters leveling up emotionally and not just magically.
The worldbuilding is engaging without being overwhelming, the pacing feels steady, and by the end I was fully invested in where this story is heading next. It hit all the things I love in a progression-style fantasy, and now I’m dying for book two because I need to know what happens with this group.
If you’re into great battles, strong character arcs, and a really satisfying found-family dynamic, this one is definitely worth picking up.
The action is so well done fast, bloody, clear, and never confusing. Every fight actually moved the story forward instead of just being noise, which I really appreciate in fantasy. But honestly, the character work is what hooked me. Watching this group grow, clash, rely on each other, and slowly shift into a little chaotic family unit was my favorite part. I love when you can actually feel characters leveling up emotionally and not just magically.
The worldbuilding is engaging without being overwhelming, the pacing feels steady, and by the end I was fully invested in where this story is heading next. It hit all the things I love in a progression-style fantasy, and now I’m dying for book two because I need to know what happens with this group.
If you’re into great battles, strong character arcs, and a really satisfying found-family dynamic, this one is definitely worth picking up.
March 15, 2026
I found this extremely interesting and easy to read. I love first person POV because I just find it so much easier to get invested quickly in the story and the characters. Even though some of the things that happened did feel borrowed from other series to me - I was also so surprised by a couple of the twists that I did not see coming. The book also does not end at all like I expected it to so I am excited that book 2 comes out this year so I can continue on. Definitely looking forward to Cold Wind!
June 18, 2026
This book cooks. I’m pretty impressed with this book, I really enjoyed it. I went in with low expectations because it doesn’t have very many ratings on goodreads and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! This felt like a book that was written for me based on other books I have enjoyed, just couldn’t pit it down. It was will of the many vibes mixed with the way of kings and red rising. Easily one of my favorite fantasy books I’ve read and I’m very excited to continue the story and jump in to book 2!
March 2, 2026
4.5. That was a lot of fun! I enjoyed it, can’t wait for book 2!
March 16, 2026
I keep seeing people compare this book to Will of the Many, but I don’t think that it is really all that great of a comparison. Yes, the world is Roman inspired and both MCs may have pretty much lost everything and also just so happen to basically be really good at everything but that is it. This doesn’t really have much of an Academy setting and the characters in this are pretty bare bones. Also, this had “Gods” and at least as of WotM there aren’t any so far. To me it’s just a lazy comparison.
This is really just your average revenge plot.
This is really just your average revenge plot.
June 17, 2026
Love me a good progression fantasy. Our main character is just like the goat Wei Shi Lindon and Kaladin. Book 2 should be a lot of fun.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
January 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Basically Will of the Many meets Red Rising and Cassius au Bellona is the main character iykyk
Basically Will of the Many meets Red Rising and Cassius au Bellona is the main character iykyk
October 16, 2025
Ironbound by Andrew Givler is a book that I went into known very little and came out wanting to know so much more.
With comparisons to Red Rising and Will of the Many, this was always going to be something I had my eye on so when Aethon Books reached out and asked if I'd like a copy I jumped at the chance and it shot straight up the TBR. I'm so glad that it did because I ended up listening to this non-stop.
I immensely enjoyed the worldbuilding here. It's intriguing, each area is different and you really get a sense of the environment in the way that Andrew describes each scene. From the warm deserts to the cold ice, each landscape was described perfectly. The magic itself was well-thought and each revelation made sense. This is a slight progression fantasy but the way that Andrew described how the main character got out of situations, or how they developed certain things made sense for the story.
The main character, Castor, goes through emotional trauma which leads them on their journey for revenge. The decisions that he made were made in mind of this and I liked how Andrew handled certain developments in line with the story. There's a reason for all the rage and the mistakes made and it's refreshing to see a character learn from those.
This is John Gwynne's battles meets Pierce Brown's revenge and I am all here for it. Definitely one to pick up.
With comparisons to Red Rising and Will of the Many, this was always going to be something I had my eye on so when Aethon Books reached out and asked if I'd like a copy I jumped at the chance and it shot straight up the TBR. I'm so glad that it did because I ended up listening to this non-stop.
I immensely enjoyed the worldbuilding here. It's intriguing, each area is different and you really get a sense of the environment in the way that Andrew describes each scene. From the warm deserts to the cold ice, each landscape was described perfectly. The magic itself was well-thought and each revelation made sense. This is a slight progression fantasy but the way that Andrew described how the main character got out of situations, or how they developed certain things made sense for the story.
The main character, Castor, goes through emotional trauma which leads them on their journey for revenge. The decisions that he made were made in mind of this and I liked how Andrew handled certain developments in line with the story. There's a reason for all the rage and the mistakes made and it's refreshing to see a character learn from those.
This is John Gwynne's battles meets Pierce Brown's revenge and I am all here for it. Definitely one to pick up.
December 31, 2025
Mix in Kaladin from Stormlight Archives, Lindon from Cradle and John Snow from GoT and you get our boy Castor! At first I was skeptical due to the many (and there are many) similarities in the world building, magic systems and character arcs of the above mentioned books, but Ironbound adds it's own flavour to them and comes out with flying colours! I didn't even mind the first person writing in this and usually that's a turn off for me. Strong start to 2026!
November 10, 2025
Note to self: nope. Also, the audiobook narrator is good, but the MC is 16-18? And the narrator sounds like he gargles whiskey and smokes a pack a day; hard to buy the MC's age like that (but that's a personal thing).
You might say the book starts when the MC gets conscripted, as the inciting event. Chapter 14, four hours later in the audiobook, and it still hasn't happened. Thankfully, an hour in and I started skipping, otherwise I'd be more annoyed.
If you want to save some time, listen to the beginning, get the gist, and skip to chapter 15.
Or, like me, get annoyed and just move on because you get easily annoyed at never-ending, what might as well be, prologues.
You might say the book starts when the MC gets conscripted, as the inciting event. Chapter 14, four hours later in the audiobook, and it still hasn't happened. Thankfully, an hour in and I started skipping, otherwise I'd be more annoyed.
If you want to save some time, listen to the beginning, get the gist, and skip to chapter 15.
Or, like me, get annoyed and just move on because you get easily annoyed at never-ending, what might as well be, prologues.
March 18, 2026
I'm surprised that people have been comparing this so heavily with The Will of the Many. Yeah, they're both Roman-themed fantasy but I think the difference in quality is pretty large.
I think the writing here is slightly better than what you would find in your average Royal Road story, but not by much. I just can't get immersed in this one. It doesn't help that the first few chapters batter you over the head with Roman terminology. In chapter two, I think the author even gives a chair a roman name and explanation even though it had zero relevance to the scene.
Just not for me, I guess.
I think the writing here is slightly better than what you would find in your average Royal Road story, but not by much. I just can't get immersed in this one. It doesn't help that the first few chapters batter you over the head with Roman terminology. In chapter two, I think the author even gives a chair a roman name and explanation even though it had zero relevance to the scene.
Just not for me, I guess.
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