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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
641 people are currently reading
4541 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Givler
7 books1,044 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 144 reviews
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.
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!
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!
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)!
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!
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.
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 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.
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.
November 8, 2025
4.8
Really good. Had almost all of the plot devices I usually enjoy and a strong main character which made it feel like a very easy read for me. The writing was solid, nothing extraordinary, but it did the job. The main thing that kept it from a 5 star for me was the ending which left off in a place I could see myself disliking in the second book but hopefully it surprises me.
Really good. Had almost all of the plot devices I usually enjoy and a strong main character which made it feel like a very easy read for me. The writing was solid, nothing extraordinary, but it did the job. The main thing that kept it from a 5 star for me was the ending which left off in a place I could see myself disliking in the second book but hopefully it surprises me.
October 14, 2025
I loved every moment of this book!
One of my top reads of the year!
One of my top reads of the year!
October 17, 2025
Ironbound felt like if you took The Will of The Many, sprinkled a bit of The Shadow of The Gods and presented it as a Progression Fantasy story. However it still feels like its own unique story. I loved this book from beginning to the end!
October 29, 2025
Wow!
First I want to thank Aethon Books for sending me a copy of this book to review.
I will be honest in saying I have been eying getting into Progression Fantasy for a while now. Sort of looking for that long, escalating series that will grab me and be a comfort read for me like I have heard some many progression fantasy enjoyers talk about.
I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted or what I expected but it doesn’t matter now because this book gave me everything I needed.
Likable main character you route for? Check
Cool and lovable side characters? Check
Super sick progression/magic system? Check
Super hate-able villains? Check
This was just a super fun ride from start to finish and I desperately want to see where this character and this story goes next!
4.75 stars
First I want to thank Aethon Books for sending me a copy of this book to review.
I will be honest in saying I have been eying getting into Progression Fantasy for a while now. Sort of looking for that long, escalating series that will grab me and be a comfort read for me like I have heard some many progression fantasy enjoyers talk about.
I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted or what I expected but it doesn’t matter now because this book gave me everything I needed.
Likable main character you route for? Check
Cool and lovable side characters? Check
Super sick progression/magic system? Check
Super hate-able villains? Check
This was just a super fun ride from start to finish and I desperately want to see where this character and this story goes next!
4.75 stars
December 4, 2025
I did not want this book to end! I was gripped and couldnt put this book down. Castor is an amazing MC that has truly grown from boy to man throughout this book. I loved his comrades in Marcus and Felix as well and watching their growth. I was at the edge of my seat with his battle with Vixa, Astrid, and when Gaius marched all the way to get Brennus for murdering Macer. That whole scene was intense when he was whipping the crap out of him! I cant wait for the 2nd book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
3.5
I think the latter half of this book is where it really comes together. I like how the book handles the main character’s motivation for revenge where its not constantly in your face. It’s a good first book, lots of questions unanswered…excited to see where it goes and how much more intricate the magic system can get
This book is like if you put The will of the many, Red rising, Game of Thrones in a blender.
I think the latter half of this book is where it really comes together. I like how the book handles the main character’s motivation for revenge where its not constantly in your face. It’s a good first book, lots of questions unanswered…excited to see where it goes and how much more intricate the magic system can get
This book is like if you put The will of the many, Red rising, Game of Thrones in a blender.
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!
September 8, 2025
This book is Amazing! It's A masterpiece. I picked it up, curious about it because of his video, and couldn't put it down. The characters are fun, in-depth, and detailed. The story is enjoyable and intriguing. 10/10, would recommend.
November 3, 2025
4.05/5
Great premise, great story telling and twists, the ending was kind of jarring and I am unsure how to feel but I’m looking forward to the next book!
Great premise, great story telling and twists, the ending was kind of jarring and I am unsure how to feel but I’m looking forward to the next book!
January 1, 2026
Loved this book!! I had come off a hangover from reading The Strength of the Few and this book popped up as a recommendation. It was a perfect follow up in a somewhat similar world. The MC was very relatable and I really appreciated that he was an honorable character (taking on the punishments of others, the progression of him becoming a leader, etc). The only thing I wished was that he had more of a camaraderie with his commanding officers, since they believed in him and his story (which was huge, since so many fantasies really draw this theme out). I loved the side characters- they were well done, and I was so sad when one of them died! Overall this was a top read for me this year and I'm so glad I picked up the book. Definitely recommend it if you like the Hierarchy series. Looking forward to what comes in book 2!
January 4, 2026
love the story
December 28, 2025
Really enjoyed the my first foray into progression fantasy, but the ending was very abrupt. 1 minute we are fighting gods and mythical creatures, then boom, credits role. 3.5.
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.
December 22, 2025
Progression Fantasy isn't a genre I've spent that much time with recently. However, as I've been clearing out my Kindle Unlimited cache, it popped up and I said 'fuck it, let's take a risk on another Roman-coded setting.' Will of the Many was fun. Not mind blowing, but fun. And I think that's where I fall with Ironbound. The Holy Roman Empire may consume the minds of straight men, but 700 pages of it was more than enough for me to feel exhausted by the end.
Read if Looking For: an overpowered morally upstanding hero who has been utterly wronged, lots of fight scenes, Roman settings without any of the queerness from actual Rome
Avoid if Looking for: thematic depth, creative use of powers, female characters (even side ones)
Want More Reviews Like This? try my blog CosmicReads
Elevator Pitch
Castor has worked all of his (admittedly rather short) life trying to earn the Empire’s favor to gain magic. Few earn the privilege, for the metal granting these powers is a rare resource. The story begins when his school goes through their final tests, determining which students will become elite members of their society. Unfortunately, things go to pieces when a wolf-headed monster attacks the ceremony, and Castor takes the blame. HIs family dead, his life forever changed, Castor vows revenge against the Empire who wronged him.
What Worked For Me
I think this will probably come off as a negative, but I promise it isn’t. Even when I started to think ‘wow, this book is really dragging things out, isn’t it?’ I kept picking it back up, reading the next chapter, and staying up late. It felt a bit like when I used to binge Dominos pizzas. Felt a bit shit afterwards and questioned my life choices, but the process was really enjoyable. If you’re looking for something brutally mindless, with an overpowered protagonist who you know is eventually going to grind every foe under his boot-heel, or the epitome of the ‘whack things hard’ type of wish fulfillment, this is a great book for you. If that’s not the vibe you’re looking for, you probably shouldn’t pick it up.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The way that Ironbound chose to interact with noble privilege was annoying enough to start pissing me off (perhaps unfairly). In the long tradition of me throwing away my usual plan on not getting too hung up on explaining plot details in my reviews, I’ll toss that out the window if something annoys me enough.
This book really wants to be a ‘fuck the noble pricks’ type story. Most of the enemies are nobles who stab Castor in the back at various points, and the system is corrupt beyond saving. The only problem? Castor is himself a noble, albeit a minor rural one. In fact, a small early plot point is how the only commoner who went to their elite magic prep-school was ignored and bullied despite being the best in their year. On the surface, this set me up for a recurring plotline of the Castor grappling with his privilege (even superficially) and learning to appreciate the strengths of a wide variety of backgrounds. Unfortunately, that all mostly flew out the window, and the story settled into a weird clash of an explicit ‘nobles are evil and shouldn’t look down on people’ message, when the authorial choices really reinforce the idea that nobility will always be better than commoners.
When the first plot twist hits and Castor’s life begins to fall apart, he finds himself drafted into the army. Specifically, he’s in Legion 12, filled with all sorts of criminals who are in the military as punishment, instead of choice. Of the 125 warriors, the 9 nobles (and one commoner who went to noble school) find themselves at the top of the pack. Interestingly, none of the skills learned in that school should have helped in the legions. It’s commented on multiple times that the fighting style is totally different, and that the sympathetic connections they practiced in school (to help with magic) aren’t used in the Legions whose Iron magic is more straightforward. The author couldn’t find it in him to have even a single token murderer or gang member who was as skilled as the nobles from the experiences fighting on the streets. Plus, only Castor and the other nobles ended up getting fucked by society; all the real criminals are here because they committed real crimes.
I got my hopes up again when we meet a thief who got more than a passing mention. I had hoped he’d be introduced as a major main character to join the nobles, perhaps who showed how alternate backgrounds can prove just as useful as Castor’s. Nope, he exists merely to show how great a leader Castor is by taking a whipping for his men, and then later to die dramatically while saving Castor’s life and singing his praises. Over and over this story painted the nobility in the legions as prejudiced and bad, without the author realizing that his treatment of Castor/his fellow nobles was pushing the story in the opposite direction.
It reminded me a bit about China Mievelle’s criticism of the fantasy genre, that it idealizes problematic social structures in the name of nostalgia. Givler wants this story to be an action-packed story about fighting against the odds, but never wanted to commit to what that means for his characters. This is probably an unfair level of criticism against a mindless popcorn book.
Conclusion: action-packed wish fulfillment in a kind-of-Ancient-Rome, but not much more
Read if Looking For: an overpowered morally upstanding hero who has been utterly wronged, lots of fight scenes, Roman settings without any of the queerness from actual Rome
Avoid if Looking for: thematic depth, creative use of powers, female characters (even side ones)
Want More Reviews Like This? try my blog CosmicReads
Elevator Pitch
Castor has worked all of his (admittedly rather short) life trying to earn the Empire’s favor to gain magic. Few earn the privilege, for the metal granting these powers is a rare resource. The story begins when his school goes through their final tests, determining which students will become elite members of their society. Unfortunately, things go to pieces when a wolf-headed monster attacks the ceremony, and Castor takes the blame. HIs family dead, his life forever changed, Castor vows revenge against the Empire who wronged him.
What Worked For Me
I think this will probably come off as a negative, but I promise it isn’t. Even when I started to think ‘wow, this book is really dragging things out, isn’t it?’ I kept picking it back up, reading the next chapter, and staying up late. It felt a bit like when I used to binge Dominos pizzas. Felt a bit shit afterwards and questioned my life choices, but the process was really enjoyable. If you’re looking for something brutally mindless, with an overpowered protagonist who you know is eventually going to grind every foe under his boot-heel, or the epitome of the ‘whack things hard’ type of wish fulfillment, this is a great book for you. If that’s not the vibe you’re looking for, you probably shouldn’t pick it up.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The way that Ironbound chose to interact with noble privilege was annoying enough to start pissing me off (perhaps unfairly). In the long tradition of me throwing away my usual plan on not getting too hung up on explaining plot details in my reviews, I’ll toss that out the window if something annoys me enough.
This book really wants to be a ‘fuck the noble pricks’ type story. Most of the enemies are nobles who stab Castor in the back at various points, and the system is corrupt beyond saving. The only problem? Castor is himself a noble, albeit a minor rural one. In fact, a small early plot point is how the only commoner who went to their elite magic prep-school was ignored and bullied despite being the best in their year. On the surface, this set me up for a recurring plotline of the Castor grappling with his privilege (even superficially) and learning to appreciate the strengths of a wide variety of backgrounds. Unfortunately, that all mostly flew out the window, and the story settled into a weird clash of an explicit ‘nobles are evil and shouldn’t look down on people’ message, when the authorial choices really reinforce the idea that nobility will always be better than commoners.
When the first plot twist hits and Castor’s life begins to fall apart, he finds himself drafted into the army. Specifically, he’s in Legion 12, filled with all sorts of criminals who are in the military as punishment, instead of choice. Of the 125 warriors, the 9 nobles (and one commoner who went to noble school) find themselves at the top of the pack. Interestingly, none of the skills learned in that school should have helped in the legions. It’s commented on multiple times that the fighting style is totally different, and that the sympathetic connections they practiced in school (to help with magic) aren’t used in the Legions whose Iron magic is more straightforward. The author couldn’t find it in him to have even a single token murderer or gang member who was as skilled as the nobles from the experiences fighting on the streets. Plus, only Castor and the other nobles ended up getting fucked by society; all the real criminals are here because they committed real crimes.
I got my hopes up again when we meet a thief who got more than a passing mention. I had hoped he’d be introduced as a major main character to join the nobles, perhaps who showed how alternate backgrounds can prove just as useful as Castor’s. Nope, he exists merely to show how great a leader Castor is by taking a whipping for his men, and then later to die dramatically while saving Castor’s life and singing his praises. Over and over this story painted the nobility in the legions as prejudiced and bad, without the author realizing that his treatment of Castor/his fellow nobles was pushing the story in the opposite direction.
It reminded me a bit about China Mievelle’s criticism of the fantasy genre, that it idealizes problematic social structures in the name of nostalgia. Givler wants this story to be an action-packed story about fighting against the odds, but never wanted to commit to what that means for his characters. This is probably an unfair level of criticism against a mindless popcorn book.
Conclusion: action-packed wish fulfillment in a kind-of-Ancient-Rome, but not much more
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.
October 1, 2025
Full transparency: I’m the Director of Publicity for Aethon Books. However, this review is 100% honest, unbiased, and based solely on my reading experience.
TL;DR Review: Addictive, fast-paced, and beautifully dark. A progression fantasy I’m still thinking about weeks after reading!
Full Review:
I went into this book with no idea of what to expect, and ended up becoming thoroughly addicted.
Ironbound is progression fantasy at its most potent: a compelling character, a magic system that is easy to grasp but offers immense possibility for complexity, a zippy plot, and just enough gritty darkness to keep me hooked.
The story follows Castor, a young patrician who is attending his city’s academy to learn the ways of Cor, the magical hearts that grant the chosen magical abilities. He is far from the best student, but he’s clever, insightful, and works harder than anyone else—the perfect candidate for being chosen, if luck falls on his side.
The first ¼ or so was exactly the sort of story I expected from a progression fantasy. From magical academy lessons to inter-classmate squabbling, a tight-knit group of friends determined to succeed at any cost to a labyrinth test to determine who will be awarded hearts. But once the testing is over, things take an utterly unexpected turn and go SO MUCH DARKER than I could have anticipated. Which I absolutely loved.
From magical academy to military slave, Castor finds himself marching in the dregs of the Legion, condemned to fight until he dies as arrow fodder. But in true Kaladin fashion, he makes the best of a bad situation and leads his squad of soldiers to one victory after another. Slowly, he claws his way up the ranks of his company to become the foremost of his fellow soldiers.
I won’t spoil things for you by telling you where it goes, but suffice it to say, BRACE YOURSELF. The story continually shocked me with how much it was willing to mess with Castor and his fellow soldiers. Anytime it could go darker, it did, and in ways I never saw coming.
The world is very evocative of Spartacus, Gladiator, and The Will of the Many. A very Roman-esque society where the powerful oppress those below them, and everything is political manipulation and double-dealings. But there are those Legionnaires who truly make us feel like we belong, like we’re in a proper brotherhood, and that it is worth fighting for those at our side. This military flavor is everything I loved about the Bridgeburners and the Bloodsworn, and it made this story so much more addictive for its presence.
I’m not big on magic systems, but the magic in Ironbound was particularly fascinating. Each character can attune to one thing: Fire, Ice, Wind, Iron, Wheat, and the list goes on. But many of these things have “congruencies”, or similarities that allow them to be connected and utilized in clever ways. Effectively, it sets up a magic system built to be broken and twisted—which we see Castor and others do to marvelous result over the course of the story. The potential for complexity is evident from the beginning, and it creates a lot of speculation as to where the magical powers could go not only in this book, but in future books, too.
At the end of the day, Ironbound is just a really well-conceived, well-crafted, clever story that goes hard with the character growth, the progression pacing, and the dark, gritty twists. It’s the best progression fantasy book I’ve read this year, and one I place solidly on par with my other favorites: Cradle, Iron Prince, and Bastion.
If you’re a progression fantasy fan, or just want to give progression fantasy a try, I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
TL;DR Review: Addictive, fast-paced, and beautifully dark. A progression fantasy I’m still thinking about weeks after reading!
Full Review:
I went into this book with no idea of what to expect, and ended up becoming thoroughly addicted.
Ironbound is progression fantasy at its most potent: a compelling character, a magic system that is easy to grasp but offers immense possibility for complexity, a zippy plot, and just enough gritty darkness to keep me hooked.
The story follows Castor, a young patrician who is attending his city’s academy to learn the ways of Cor, the magical hearts that grant the chosen magical abilities. He is far from the best student, but he’s clever, insightful, and works harder than anyone else—the perfect candidate for being chosen, if luck falls on his side.
The first ¼ or so was exactly the sort of story I expected from a progression fantasy. From magical academy lessons to inter-classmate squabbling, a tight-knit group of friends determined to succeed at any cost to a labyrinth test to determine who will be awarded hearts. But once the testing is over, things take an utterly unexpected turn and go SO MUCH DARKER than I could have anticipated. Which I absolutely loved.
From magical academy to military slave, Castor finds himself marching in the dregs of the Legion, condemned to fight until he dies as arrow fodder. But in true Kaladin fashion, he makes the best of a bad situation and leads his squad of soldiers to one victory after another. Slowly, he claws his way up the ranks of his company to become the foremost of his fellow soldiers.
I won’t spoil things for you by telling you where it goes, but suffice it to say, BRACE YOURSELF. The story continually shocked me with how much it was willing to mess with Castor and his fellow soldiers. Anytime it could go darker, it did, and in ways I never saw coming.
The world is very evocative of Spartacus, Gladiator, and The Will of the Many. A very Roman-esque society where the powerful oppress those below them, and everything is political manipulation and double-dealings. But there are those Legionnaires who truly make us feel like we belong, like we’re in a proper brotherhood, and that it is worth fighting for those at our side. This military flavor is everything I loved about the Bridgeburners and the Bloodsworn, and it made this story so much more addictive for its presence.
I’m not big on magic systems, but the magic in Ironbound was particularly fascinating. Each character can attune to one thing: Fire, Ice, Wind, Iron, Wheat, and the list goes on. But many of these things have “congruencies”, or similarities that allow them to be connected and utilized in clever ways. Effectively, it sets up a magic system built to be broken and twisted—which we see Castor and others do to marvelous result over the course of the story. The potential for complexity is evident from the beginning, and it creates a lot of speculation as to where the magical powers could go not only in this book, but in future books, too.
At the end of the day, Ironbound is just a really well-conceived, well-crafted, clever story that goes hard with the character growth, the progression pacing, and the dark, gritty twists. It’s the best progression fantasy book I’ve read this year, and one I place solidly on par with my other favorites: Cradle, Iron Prince, and Bastion.
If you’re a progression fantasy fan, or just want to give progression fantasy a try, I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
November 12, 2025
Ironbound é daqueles livros que lendo você vê claramente TODOS os livros que ele foi inspirado, isso em algumas situações é muito complicado de ignorar. Uma coisa é ser indicado para leitores de tal livro outra coisa é durante a leitura a gente enxergar claramente a mesma formula de construção de personagem/universo que os livros que ele é indicado por ser parecido e pior ainda é ver essa formula falhar nesse nível.
Meu problema começa bem no simples: eu não acho que o sistema de magia funciona, acho que não faz sentido. Quando vai ver a forma como esse poder se manifesta e o que eles enfrentam, ou até mesmo séculos antes quando esse império conquistou esse poder, não faz a menor lógica desde o começo.
Ai temos o protagonista que faz tempo que não vejo uma construção tão preguiçosa: tudo é extremamente conveniente para que esse querido seja melhor de alguma forma. Ao mesmo tempo que ele faz parte de uma parte privilegiada da sociedade, a família dele além de bem conectada é herdeira e poderosa também, ele nunca passou dificuldade na vida mas nos primeiros momentos que temos para ver o crescimento dele: ele já é bom no teste de resistência e ele diz isso como se fosse algo que ele é merecedor mesmo. Isso segue em varias pequenas interações: mesmo não sendo uma minoria de nenhuma forma ele aparentemente sofre bullying; ele não é nem perto de ser o primeiro colocado na classificação da escola mas ainda assim age como se fosse perseguido, ainda meio que tem uma rivalidade com o “primus” sendo que ele nem sequer esta próximo do cara, enfim assim segue no rolê sem fim.
Sobre a construção do universo: como falei o sistema de magia não fez sentido pra mim, a gente vê muito pouco sobre política: tem uma imperatriz, na cidade dele tem um prefeito daí é uma sociedade extremamente militarizada: mas ele nem sequer quer ir pro exercito ele quer viajar e conhecer o mundo e aparentemente conseguir o poder vai ajudar ele nisso mas eu não entendi como sendo que em nenhum momento realmente se fala de carreiras e como funciona esse universo para essas pessoas que recebem esse poder muito menos para quem não recebe. Nem entendi da onde vem essas esferas de poder, acho que alguma coisa sobre chover? Sei lá! Sobre essa sociedade que tem um exercito formidável: não sei quem ameaça esse império sendo que as criaturas do Norte aparentemente são invenções da mente dos homens que servem lá. Tem até um momento do treinamento dele que ele se pergunta porque ele treina como se fosse lutar com outros ironbound mas isso não leva a lugar nenhum depois disso.
Enfim, toda a evolução e qualquer coisa que ele faz de diferente que vai tornando ele especial surge TUDO durante as lutas porque “uma ideia” apareceu na cabeça dele, além de ser ensinado a marchar e segurar um escudo (isso resume 99% do treinamento deles no exercito) todo o restante ele aprende sozinho.
Toda reviravolta do livro é horrível, as aparições e como todo mundo fica chocado com ele ou como homens endurecidos de guerra dão moral pra esse menino véi que não entende nada… fico em choque. Todas as relações dele são rasas, nenhuma amizade realmente parece amizade de verdade. Os pactos são uma palhaçada, não vou nem entrar no ultimo. Por que diabos aquele ser iria precisar desse menino pra se vingar daquele povo, ele querer se vingar daquele povo também não faz lógica. O final é nada com nada, um momento tem dois personagens no outro só um. Como diabos ele quebrou aquele negocio?
Meu problema começa bem no simples: eu não acho que o sistema de magia funciona, acho que não faz sentido. Quando vai ver a forma como esse poder se manifesta e o que eles enfrentam, ou até mesmo séculos antes quando esse império conquistou esse poder, não faz a menor lógica desde o começo.
Ai temos o protagonista que faz tempo que não vejo uma construção tão preguiçosa: tudo é extremamente conveniente para que esse querido seja melhor de alguma forma. Ao mesmo tempo que ele faz parte de uma parte privilegiada da sociedade, a família dele além de bem conectada é herdeira e poderosa também, ele nunca passou dificuldade na vida mas nos primeiros momentos que temos para ver o crescimento dele: ele já é bom no teste de resistência e ele diz isso como se fosse algo que ele é merecedor mesmo. Isso segue em varias pequenas interações: mesmo não sendo uma minoria de nenhuma forma ele aparentemente sofre bullying; ele não é nem perto de ser o primeiro colocado na classificação da escola mas ainda assim age como se fosse perseguido, ainda meio que tem uma rivalidade com o “primus” sendo que ele nem sequer esta próximo do cara, enfim assim segue no rolê sem fim.
Sobre a construção do universo: como falei o sistema de magia não fez sentido pra mim, a gente vê muito pouco sobre política: tem uma imperatriz, na cidade dele tem um prefeito daí é uma sociedade extremamente militarizada: mas ele nem sequer quer ir pro exercito ele quer viajar e conhecer o mundo e aparentemente conseguir o poder vai ajudar ele nisso mas eu não entendi como sendo que em nenhum momento realmente se fala de carreiras e como funciona esse universo para essas pessoas que recebem esse poder muito menos para quem não recebe. Nem entendi da onde vem essas esferas de poder, acho que alguma coisa sobre chover? Sei lá! Sobre essa sociedade que tem um exercito formidável: não sei quem ameaça esse império sendo que as criaturas do Norte aparentemente são invenções da mente dos homens que servem lá. Tem até um momento do treinamento dele que ele se pergunta porque ele treina como se fosse lutar com outros ironbound mas isso não leva a lugar nenhum depois disso.
Enfim, toda a evolução e qualquer coisa que ele faz de diferente que vai tornando ele especial surge TUDO durante as lutas porque “uma ideia” apareceu na cabeça dele, além de ser ensinado a marchar e segurar um escudo (isso resume 99% do treinamento deles no exercito) todo o restante ele aprende sozinho.
Toda reviravolta do livro é horrível, as aparições e como todo mundo fica chocado com ele ou como homens endurecidos de guerra dão moral pra esse menino véi que não entende nada… fico em choque. Todas as relações dele são rasas, nenhuma amizade realmente parece amizade de verdade. Os pactos são uma palhaçada, não vou nem entrar no ultimo. Por que diabos aquele ser iria precisar desse menino pra se vingar daquele povo, ele querer se vingar daquele povo também não faz lógica. O final é nada com nada, um momento tem dois personagens no outro só um. Como diabos ele quebrou aquele negocio?
January 4, 2026
I wish I could rate this 4.5 stars!
I genuinely loved this audiobook. Ironbound is one of those books that reminds you how powerful a straightforward, confident story can be when the author trusts the plot, the characters, and the momentum. There’s no sense of the book trying to impress you with filler, inflated scenes, or endless “look how clever this is” detours. It just moves cleanly and purposefully, and that makes the big moments hit harder because you never feel like you’re wading through nonsense to get to the good stuff.
Now, I’m not going to pretend the influences aren’t there. Early on, you can absolutely feel echoes of other successful modern fantasy and sci-fi-fantasy hybrids like The Will of the Many and Red Rising, that whole lane of ruthless systems, climbing the ladder, training arcs, and pressure-cooker institutions. But here’s the thing: the moment I started wondering, “Okay… is this going to be that kind of book?” it immediately proved it wasn’t content to stay in anyone else’s shadow. About a quarter of the way in, the story pivots, finds its own identity, and suddenly you’re not comparing it anymore. You’re just strapped in for the ride. That’s the moment it becomes Ironbound and not “Ironbound, but like something else.”
The worldbuilding is a huge part of why it works. The setting has this ancient Rome energy: legions, hierarchy, power, conquest, except it’s layered with a really compelling twist. The gods have been defeated, and whatever ancient magic is left in the world isn’t something everyone gets to touch. It feels like a prize, a status symbol, and a tool of control, something the ruling class can gatekeep and weaponize. And that theme of power being “earned” through training, and through surviving systems designed to break you, runs through everything. The legion life and the empire’s structure give the story a real weight and texture, while the fantasy elements bring danger and scale without turning the whole thing into a rulebook.
And I have to say, I’m not usually the person who wants a super intricate, technical magic system. I don’t need ten pages explaining mana channels and spell lattices. The magic here is exactly the right level of cool. It’s impactful, it has presence, it feels earned, and it doesn’t tip into goofy or overly game-like. That’s where the progression-fantasy label surprised me. I went into this expecting a gimmick, like the book would be more interested in leveling up than telling a story. Instead, it feels like the progression elements are simply the engine under the hood. The book is still primarily a strong fantasy narrative, with military grit, high stakes, and a growing sense that there’s much more going on than you initially understand.
Since this is non-spoiler, I won’t get into plot specifics, but I can say the book nails the balance that a lot of series struggle with: it gives you characters you actually care about, it keeps the cast understandable, and it doesn’t drown you in weird terms, constant POV swaps, or ten different subplots you’re expected to track like homework. It’s immersive without being exhausting. And when the action shows up, especially the larger conflicts, it delivers. There are epic battles here, and the author does an excellent job describing them in a way that’s vivid and cinematic without becoming confusing. You can feel the scale, the danger, the urgency, and the cost.
Ralph Lister also deserves real credit. His narration sells the setting, the weight of the empire, the grit of the military side, and the tension in scenes where everything is on the line. The voices are distinct, and he has that rare skill of making the world feel lived-in, not like he’s reading lines off a page. With a book like this, where atmosphere matters as much as plot, having a narrator who can carry tone and intensity is a massive upgrade, and he absolutely delivers.
By the time I finished, I was already feeling that “I need the next one” itch. I can’t wait to continue the series when book two drops. And yeah, I’m going to say it: I might have enjoyed this even more than The Will of the Many. Not because it’s trying to outdo it, but because it surprised me. It starts with familiar ingredients, then chooses its own direction, and ends up feeling like a story that actually has something to say about power, class, loyalty, and the machinery of empires, while still being ridiculously entertaining.
If you want a fast-moving, character-driven fantasy with a Roman-flavored world, earned abilities, strong military aspects, and action that actually lands, Ironbound is an easy recommendation.
I genuinely loved this audiobook. Ironbound is one of those books that reminds you how powerful a straightforward, confident story can be when the author trusts the plot, the characters, and the momentum. There’s no sense of the book trying to impress you with filler, inflated scenes, or endless “look how clever this is” detours. It just moves cleanly and purposefully, and that makes the big moments hit harder because you never feel like you’re wading through nonsense to get to the good stuff.
Now, I’m not going to pretend the influences aren’t there. Early on, you can absolutely feel echoes of other successful modern fantasy and sci-fi-fantasy hybrids like The Will of the Many and Red Rising, that whole lane of ruthless systems, climbing the ladder, training arcs, and pressure-cooker institutions. But here’s the thing: the moment I started wondering, “Okay… is this going to be that kind of book?” it immediately proved it wasn’t content to stay in anyone else’s shadow. About a quarter of the way in, the story pivots, finds its own identity, and suddenly you’re not comparing it anymore. You’re just strapped in for the ride. That’s the moment it becomes Ironbound and not “Ironbound, but like something else.”
The worldbuilding is a huge part of why it works. The setting has this ancient Rome energy: legions, hierarchy, power, conquest, except it’s layered with a really compelling twist. The gods have been defeated, and whatever ancient magic is left in the world isn’t something everyone gets to touch. It feels like a prize, a status symbol, and a tool of control, something the ruling class can gatekeep and weaponize. And that theme of power being “earned” through training, and through surviving systems designed to break you, runs through everything. The legion life and the empire’s structure give the story a real weight and texture, while the fantasy elements bring danger and scale without turning the whole thing into a rulebook.
And I have to say, I’m not usually the person who wants a super intricate, technical magic system. I don’t need ten pages explaining mana channels and spell lattices. The magic here is exactly the right level of cool. It’s impactful, it has presence, it feels earned, and it doesn’t tip into goofy or overly game-like. That’s where the progression-fantasy label surprised me. I went into this expecting a gimmick, like the book would be more interested in leveling up than telling a story. Instead, it feels like the progression elements are simply the engine under the hood. The book is still primarily a strong fantasy narrative, with military grit, high stakes, and a growing sense that there’s much more going on than you initially understand.
Since this is non-spoiler, I won’t get into plot specifics, but I can say the book nails the balance that a lot of series struggle with: it gives you characters you actually care about, it keeps the cast understandable, and it doesn’t drown you in weird terms, constant POV swaps, or ten different subplots you’re expected to track like homework. It’s immersive without being exhausting. And when the action shows up, especially the larger conflicts, it delivers. There are epic battles here, and the author does an excellent job describing them in a way that’s vivid and cinematic without becoming confusing. You can feel the scale, the danger, the urgency, and the cost.
Ralph Lister also deserves real credit. His narration sells the setting, the weight of the empire, the grit of the military side, and the tension in scenes where everything is on the line. The voices are distinct, and he has that rare skill of making the world feel lived-in, not like he’s reading lines off a page. With a book like this, where atmosphere matters as much as plot, having a narrator who can carry tone and intensity is a massive upgrade, and he absolutely delivers.
By the time I finished, I was already feeling that “I need the next one” itch. I can’t wait to continue the series when book two drops. And yeah, I’m going to say it: I might have enjoyed this even more than The Will of the Many. Not because it’s trying to outdo it, but because it surprised me. It starts with familiar ingredients, then chooses its own direction, and ends up feeling like a story that actually has something to say about power, class, loyalty, and the machinery of empires, while still being ridiculously entertaining.
If you want a fast-moving, character-driven fantasy with a Roman-flavored world, earned abilities, strong military aspects, and action that actually lands, Ironbound is an easy recommendation.
December 24, 2025
tldr: shelved, looking forward to reading the rest of the series, good but not the rest, some grievances about the genre as a whole
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i will first say that i am writing and shelving this book after finishing part 2, like 2/3 done, and I want to give it a good 4 stars, but not five because i really save that for my give stars; and heres why i shelved it for now.
ill throw all of my complaints under spoilers, because i dont want to be a debby downer
---
i will first say that i am writing and shelving this book after finishing part 2, like 2/3 done, and I want to give it a good 4 stars, but not five because i really save that for my give stars; and heres why i shelved it for now.
ill throw all of my complaints under spoilers, because i dont want to be a debby downer
October 31, 2025
“War is not dead–he merely rests in you, his iron children.”
Stars: 5
Thanks, Andrew, for getting me in trouble with my girlfriend this week after I neglected all my responsibilities in favor of reading the shit out of this.
Ironbound came out of nowhere and was one of the best books I’ve read this year. I was doomscrolling Goodreads, Reddit, and Kindle after finishing my last book, unsure what to read next when I picked it out, having recently completed another progression fantasy from the same publisher (Academy of Outcasts).
The narrative and themes feel a LOT like the first parts of James Islington’s The Will of the Many. I don’t know how he feels about that but I loved it. Combine that with the vibe of… dare I say… Red Rising and you’ve created Ironbound. (Also, Castor reminds me a lot of Darrow and Valentina had the potential to be Mustang. But alas.)
The expansive worldbuilding across environments and fantasy elements centered on the mutable elements of the world, like iron, are both accessible and engaging, integrated well without slowing the story down. The pacing and passage of time meant Givler accomplishes a lot of shit (aka significant plot development) in one book, a welcome change from the many series that spend multiple books on setup. The friendship between the three main characters adds an emotional layer beyond the fighting and it felt like every other page had a banger of a line that tugged on my heart strings. The balance between character drama and action maintained strong momentum and kept me invested from start to tear-jerking end. The last third of the book narrows in scope though, with a lot of 1v1 battles, and I hope book two brings back more expansiveness.
Andrew, if you have a heart that isn’t bound to iron, please send me a Cold Wind ARC.
Also, I have not forgiven you for what happened to Macer.
Stars: 5
Thanks, Andrew, for getting me in trouble with my girlfriend this week after I neglected all my responsibilities in favor of reading the shit out of this.
Ironbound came out of nowhere and was one of the best books I’ve read this year. I was doomscrolling Goodreads, Reddit, and Kindle after finishing my last book, unsure what to read next when I picked it out, having recently completed another progression fantasy from the same publisher (Academy of Outcasts).
The narrative and themes feel a LOT like the first parts of James Islington’s The Will of the Many. I don’t know how he feels about that but I loved it. Combine that with the vibe of… dare I say… Red Rising and you’ve created Ironbound. (Also, Castor reminds me a lot of Darrow and Valentina had the potential to be Mustang. But alas.)
The expansive worldbuilding across environments and fantasy elements centered on the mutable elements of the world, like iron, are both accessible and engaging, integrated well without slowing the story down. The pacing and passage of time meant Givler accomplishes a lot of shit (aka significant plot development) in one book, a welcome change from the many series that spend multiple books on setup. The friendship between the three main characters adds an emotional layer beyond the fighting and it felt like every other page had a banger of a line that tugged on my heart strings. The balance between character drama and action maintained strong momentum and kept me invested from start to tear-jerking end. The last third of the book narrows in scope though, with a lot of 1v1 battles, and I hope book two brings back more expansiveness.
Andrew, if you have a heart that isn’t bound to iron, please send me a Cold Wind ARC.
Also, I have not forgiven you for what happened to Macer.
October 10, 2025
The Review
This was a compelling, gripping epic fantasy read. The worldbuilding here was top-notch, giving readers a magical system and a rich mythos that made this world feel real and tangible on the page. The use of Roman historical concepts and societal aspects of the Roman Empire in this narrative, and the ways this informed the main narrative and the significant plot developments, made this story engrossing, as readers found themselves lost in the world and invested in how these characters are pushed to their limits.
The character development was the heart of this story. Castor was a complex protagonist, showing his metamorphosis from a devoted and hopeful servant of the Empire to a revenge-fueled slave seeking justice for his people in the wake of a tragic accident that turned violent. The psychological and emotional toll this took on him, as well as the mounting losses he suffers throughout the book, give the novel a truly gripping, haunting tone that drives it significantly.
The Verdict
If readers were to imagine Gladiator mixed with Game of Thrones and the Thread of Souls series, they would recognize author Andrew Givler’s “Ironbound” as a must-read epic fantasy novel and a great start to a brand new fantasy series. The twists and turns the story takes, the rich imagery of the author’s writing that brings these gritty, brutal battles to life, and the narrative's detailed pacing as a whole elevated the character development and mythos to all-new heights, leaving readers eager for book two in the series.
This was a compelling, gripping epic fantasy read. The worldbuilding here was top-notch, giving readers a magical system and a rich mythos that made this world feel real and tangible on the page. The use of Roman historical concepts and societal aspects of the Roman Empire in this narrative, and the ways this informed the main narrative and the significant plot developments, made this story engrossing, as readers found themselves lost in the world and invested in how these characters are pushed to their limits.
The character development was the heart of this story. Castor was a complex protagonist, showing his metamorphosis from a devoted and hopeful servant of the Empire to a revenge-fueled slave seeking justice for his people in the wake of a tragic accident that turned violent. The psychological and emotional toll this took on him, as well as the mounting losses he suffers throughout the book, give the novel a truly gripping, haunting tone that drives it significantly.
The Verdict
If readers were to imagine Gladiator mixed with Game of Thrones and the Thread of Souls series, they would recognize author Andrew Givler’s “Ironbound” as a must-read epic fantasy novel and a great start to a brand new fantasy series. The twists and turns the story takes, the rich imagery of the author’s writing that brings these gritty, brutal battles to life, and the narrative's detailed pacing as a whole elevated the character development and mythos to all-new heights, leaving readers eager for book two in the series.
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