The Iron Cliffs

The Iron Cliffs #1

by Rachel McClellan

Some places shape you. Some places break you. And some places live inside you, whether you want them to or not

For Talon Kane, the Iron Cliffs have always been a prison—jagged rock and rusted metal, a place where survival is measured in scraps of food and fleeting moments of mercy. He thought he hated it. He thought he wanted to escape. But only when he’s ripped away does he realize the The Iron Cliffs are in his blood. They are the beat of his heart, the fire in his soul, the only home he’s ever known.

Now, forced into a brutal war he never asked for, Talon will have to decide—will he fight for the Iron Cliffs, or let them fade into dust?

If you love the brutal survival of The Hunger Games, the rebellion and caste-driven conflict of Red Rising, or the harsh, resource-starved landscapes of Dune and The Water Knife, then The Iron Cliffs is your next must-read!

"An addictive, fast-paced read with layers of depth that I couldn’t get enough of. Highly recommend!" ~ Reader Review ★★★★★

"What a fantastic start to a new series by Rachel McClellan!" ~ Reader Review ★★★★★

"Mind blown! I stayed up all night to finish it! I finally found a dystopian novel I love as much as The Hunger Games and Maze Runner!" ~ Reader Review ★★★★★

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Rachel lives in New Hampshire, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four children. Her love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…

Reviews

[Sarah Southgate · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting ending! I thought there might be something about Genesis but I didn't expect that. Only a 4 because it took me too long to get into it at the start that I almost put it down. Very glad I read to the end, it's almost like holding a mirror up to the state of the world now

[MaryAnn Costanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read! You have 3 factions and of course being from the worse faction you are exploited. Your young men and women are taken every 4 years to fight for Windland against Loburn. But this year they came early. What nobody expected was Talon taking control and leading the Locusts which Windland soldiers that were the weakest of all and take them to places that Windland soldiers were not able to do for years. Of course there is a woman(Genesis) that has caught Talons eye with beautiful blue eyes who has secrets of her own. All those secrets come out at the end and holy cow what secrets they are. I can't wait for the next installment of the Iron Cliffs.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Iron Cliffs! A captivating story, pulling you into a society with high stakes and deep secrets. Talon is such a compelling protagonist—his internal struggles and journey of self-discovery are so well done. The tension between the Iron Cliffs and Windland keeps you on edge, and I couldn’t put the book down, constantly wanting to know what would happen next. The themes of survival, rebellion, and loyalty were powerful, and the twists were unexpected and thrilling. Overall, it’s an addictive, fast-paced read with layers of depth that I couldn’t get enough of. Highly recommend!

[Sam Corwil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel McClellan once again has gifted us with another world and characters to fall in love with. The descriptions are so beautiful and creative, it has honestly made me want to become an author. This book was a huge pleasure to read, easily making it into my top 3. I’ve already started re-reading it just because I can’t stop thinking about Talon, haha. I can’t wait for book 2!

[Kimijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Iron Cliffs is a gritty dystopian survival tale where Talon Kane, torn from the only home he’s ever known, must decide whether to fight for the brutal, resource starved cliffs that shaped him or let them vanish into dust. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, Red Rising, and Dune, it’s a fast-paced, addictive read of rebellion, sacrifice, and belonging.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, amazing world building! I couldn't keep my mind off it, even when I wasn't reading, it just stuck with me so much. I can't wait for the next one, there are so many questions I want answered!

[Natalie Noblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic start to a new series by Rachel McClellan. I’ve read all her books as well as the ones under her pen name Raven Steele. This new series definitely does not disappoint.
A city forced to live in horrendous conditions, barely surviving. Young ‘Cliffies’ forced from their families to fight for their repressors. Loyalty. Lies. Betrayal. Truths are revealed and all is not what they were led to believe their entire lives.
The story was unique and engaging and I can’t wait to continue on Talon and Genesis’s journey.