Steelborn

The Steelborn Saga #1

by Taylor J. LaRue

Enter a world ruled by tyrants and thieves, where magic is outlawed, revolution brews, desire is dangerous, and an impossible cure may prove deadlier than the curse. This deluxe hardcover publication features stunning edges, illustrated endpapers, foil-stamped case cover, and special effects on the jacket.

Never run. Never bow. Never die.

Reya Connery became the Crimson Dagger, the most notorious thief in Rhiterra, by following a strict set of rules. There is no honor among thieves. A good blade is key to any negotiation. Only the dead keep secrets. And Reya has a secret that must be kept at all costs. But when a heist goes wrong on the eve of paying off her debt to a ruthless crime lord, Reya may need a new set of rules. And a lot of coin. Fast.

Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic makes him a valuable target – if the curse inching closer to his heart doesn’t kill him first. There’s just one person who might be desperate enough to try and get their hands on the fabled cure in time to save his life, someone whose legend claims they can steal the Crimson Dagger. A male of honor, Caelan loathes everything the beautiful, cocky thief represents, yet knows that Reya is his last hope for survival.

Their search takes them to the edge of the known world, where Reya discovers that there is far more at stake than her and Caelan’s own lives. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, her growing attraction to the immortal who is as lethal as his jawline is perfect, and the rage she’s spent a lifetime trying to bury. This time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all magic-born hangs in the balance.

Introducing an epic, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romantasy novel about a heroine forged in steel and rage, and the cursed immortal who might turn out to be as much her salvation as she is his, perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen and Callie Hart.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Enemies To Lovers, Fae

432 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Taylor J. LaRue began her career as a journalist in the Windy City. Now she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her high school sweetheart turned husband, their tiny human tyrant, and one very soggy puppy. Steelborn is her debut novel.

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!

this was such a fun romantasy!!!

the strongest part of the book was definitely reya. she's confident, intelligent, stubborn, and feels like she has a lot more depth than the typical romantasy heroine. i also adored her dynamic with caelan - the enemies-to-lovers progression felt natural, and although it wasn’t a ‘proper’ slow burn, it felt slower than a lot of my other recent romantasy reads.

the worldbuilding was super interesting, i feel like it was rich enough but still easy to understand. also loved the side characters that we met a bit later in the book!

my main complaint is that the pacing wasn't always consistent. the beginning hooked me immediately, but the middle section dragged at times and some plot points felt stretched out longer than necessary.

overall, this was a super enjoyable read with a compelling main character, good romantic tension, and some really fun twists. would highly recommend!!

[sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, that classic, and super relatable, age gap where a man male who has survived centuries of war looks at a 21 year old and thinks, “Yes, this is my true love.”

Let me get this out of the way real quick because it’s all I could think about as I read this book: the writing style and plot feel so Sarah J Maas coded. Think Heir of Fire but with way less emotional payoff.

Now that that’s done:

The first chapters do a great job setting up Reya’s motivations and stakes. The pacing is fast, and there is SO much going on. I mean this book truly has everything. From Fae and elementals to krakens, pirates and sirens. But even with all that going on, this is still a formulaic, rinse and repeat romantasy which is ABSOLUTELY FINE in most circumstances, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the romance.

The whole enemies thing felt so mild for me. She’s a thief in need of fast cash, while he’s dying and needs her help. Sure, she steals from him and he blackmails her (loved that), but then he also promises to pay her debts? Let's be honest, the stakes were not high enough. They hated each other for maybe the first 30% of the book, and this simply did not work for me.

He calls her thief and she calls him fire fingers, and I’ll admit that was cute the first time because of their reactions. But by the 20th time I read it, I was tired and found it to be way overused.

And while they don’t immediately jump into each other’s pants, it’s clear they want to. There’s a tug and pull, a will they, won’t they, actually, no, more like a they will but WHEN, that I just don’t care for. Seriously, the lust here was LUSTING. It’s one thing to acknowledge someone is hot, but it’s another to be constantly reminded of their sexual attraction (and the smell of that attraction). And *of course* they antagonized each other with very sexual undertones. Clearly, we have a very different definition of a slow burn, and it shows. Not to say that their emotional connection didn’t improve throughout the book (which it did!) but at the same time, and for me at least, it still happened too soon. Maybe my enjoyment was just a victim of my own expectations for the romance. But there’s nothing I can do about that now.

And Caelan… this man is the definition of a tortured soul. Past trauma and vulnerability? I loved to see it. But I also felt like we barely scratched the surface here! I really needed a culmination of all this guilt and suffering in the final chapters but there was nothing. By the end of the book this man is a simp for Reya and has lost all personality. Goodbye, noble and brave hero. Hello, obsessive and possessive male.

And sorry, but what do you mean a 21 year old was giving advice on how to win a war to a group of centuries old beings who actually participated in a bunch of them? And proceeded to tell them things any seasoned warrior would already know... and they took her seriously? *Sigh*

Then she goes and does something at the end ALONE that honestly made no sense either but of course it worked wonderfully. *Double sigh*

I’m just so tired of the trope where a barely legal girl is suddenly better at everything than immortals with centuries of experience. But hey, perks of being The Chosen One, I guess.

That said, if you're looking for something to scratch that romantasy itch, this will absolutely deliver. I know I’m being tough on it, but that’s because I was looking for something *very* specific when I picked this up and this just wasn’t it. But this is still good... kinda.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen, you say? that’s me 🙋‍♀️ i’m holding you to that “slow burn enemies-to-lovers” promise. do not let me down, i am begging you 💀

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Booktrovert and the publisher for the arc!

[𝘫𝘢𝘴 ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

No notes.

I don’t even know what to say. I’m obsessed, I’m in love, I’m destroyed, nothing I read after this will come close to measuring up.

I need the next book YESTERDAY.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

thank you to the publisher for the arc♡

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was non stop adventure, yearning, battles and betrayals. I mean some really deep betrayals. Not to mention all of the plot twists and reveals. You will be addicted to this high stakes romantasy, with a very fierce FMC, from the very first page. The world building and magic system is fascinating. There is so much that happens is this book and this is just book 1. I cannot wait for book 2.

Reya is extremely impressive and tenacious. You will find yourself rooting for her through every challenge that this thrown at her. She feels cursed but our MMC, Caelan is actually cursed. Reya is known as the Crimson Dagger who is the most notorious thief in Rhiterra and Caelan needs her special skills. They both set off on a dangerous quest to find a very rare substance that will change both of their lives. If only the dread wolves and Blood watchers would stop hunting them. If magic born weren’t constantly being hunted. If only the impending war would just go away and if she didn’t have to wonder on how to save the magic born from Bladestone Prison where they are being experimented on. If only everyone would stop trying to take her sword!! And that is just a few of the problems. Then a few of Caelan’s friends show up and they have even more to pile on her shoulders. Not to mention, Reya is trying to figure out what is going between her and Caelan. So much tension and banter. She just wants to honor her father and open up a forge.

This barely touches what goes on in this story. Highly recommend reading this book!!

🗡️Slow Burn Romance
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🗡️Deadly Curses
🔥Tortured Immortal Hero
🗡️Secret identity
🔥Forced Proximity
🗡️Found Family
🔥Only One Saddle

Thank you to the author, @requited and @hachettebookgroup for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Or maybe love is fierce. When those we care for are in danger—maybe love has teeth.”

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?! I truly would not be surprised if this is the romantasy of the year. When I tell you this was pure addiction on a page, I could NOT put this book down and basically dropped off the face of the earth and ignored everyone while I devoured this masterpiece lol.

It starts off w/ a bang, and continues to keep your attention the entire way through. There’s so much action, so much going on, and something that needs to be done, with very limited time. I couldn’t stop yapping about Caelan and all the theories that I was SO excited to talk about with my best friends, ( we literally STILL can’t stop talking about this book lol ).

Think Assassins Blade.. but if it were more. More everything, more action, more plot twists, a slow yearn and major tension buildup that has you pulling strands of hair just begging for a kiss lol. So many heartfelt moments, our fmc is SO SO resilient, and Caelan is definitely a new favorite book bf to add to the list.

Taylor is a genius, I need book two DESPERATELY lol.

NEVER RUN, NEVER BOW, NEVER DIE. I AM STEELBORN. ⚔️

[Alicia | kindleandmagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙪𝙣. 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙬. 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙚.”

I knew when I first read the summary of this that it was going to be an epic adventure. And I was right.

This is like Throne of Glass meets Shield of Sparrows meets Pirates of the Caribbean while still feeling like it’s own brand of original.

I simply could not put this down. And for it to be a debut??? My mind is blown.

I loved our fmc, Reya, from the start. She’s intelligent, methodical, strategic, and most of all: strong. A Steelborn kind of strong.

And when our MMC comes into the picture, the plot really starts to unfold. The quests and challenges they face along the way had me on the edge of my seat, and the slow-burn tension between them was sizzling hot.

“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙.”

And as the plot kept thickening, my mind was spiraling. I have a whole novel-length note saved in my phone of theories, info, and possible Easter eggs. I will definitely be looking forward to book 2.

“𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙍𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙬𝙮𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣.”

Thank you so much @taylorjlarue @readrequited and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Steelborn releases August 4, 2026.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll prob write more when I can type on a computer, but I inhaled this book in 24 hrs. Thank you to NetGalley and Booktrovert for the eArc.

Fae, magic-born, and human? Pirates and kraken and sirens? I have no idea how, but this WORKED for me. I love the FMC and MMC, their dynamic, and the growth. The pacing - perfection. I had two small smut icks. I don’t need birth control morality in my fantasy and I’m unsure about getting busy on a moving horse. I could mark this down 4.5 for that. But I don’t want to because it the writing was otherwise solid and mature. And I have been trying lots of romantasy where I can’t look past the writing.

Also, I teared up during her hero’s journey. Which means they made me believe in her emotional world. This and Atmosphere are the only ones that made me cry so far in 2026

It is also quite graphic at times. I’d give it 3 🗡️🗡️🗡️ and 3 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If life is about learning to bloom where you're planted, Reya Connery has blossomed like a wild rose from scorched earth: an impossible beauty with steel daggers for thorns and fiery crimson petals.

She's the portrait of resilience. A proper firecracker who’s confident, clever, charming, and witty. In other words, she’s my favorite kind of heroine.

What makes her all the more admirable is how she’s never lost those parts of herself despite the many hardships she’s endured. Reya was abandoned at birth and orphaned at eleven after her adoptive parents were murdered, leaving her starving and destitute on the streets. But, “like all her pain, she’d turned it into a weapon.”

We meet Reya a decade after she’s managed to rebuild a life for herself. Unfortunately, that life happened to be built upon a foundation laid by a notorious crime lord, Lennox, who preyed upon her vulnerability and locked her into ten years of servitude as his henchwoman in exchange for food, shelter, and safety.

But if there’s one thing Reya’s going to do, it’s make lemonade from whatever lemons life throws her way. So she became a formidable force within the city’s criminal underbelly in her own right. Known as the Crimson Dagger, Reya is a legendary thief and cloaked enigma who leaves even the most fearsome guardsmen quaking in their boots.

While this lifestyle has forged Reya into a weapon of steel, she’s never abandoned her heart of gold. And when a critical heist forces her to choose between her values and the freedom it would finally grant her from Lennox, her integrity wins out. That choice comes at a steep cost and thrusts her into an insurmountable, perilous quest that could sever her ties to Lennox for good, or bind her to another decade under his ruthless control. It pushes her criminal prowess to its limits and compels her to confront the dangerous truth of who and what she truly is.

Along the way, we witness perhaps Reya’s greatest heist of all: stealing the impenetrable heart of Caelan Halcyon. He’s a stoic, emotionally guarded, quasi-immortal warrior who, like Reya, is determined to rewrite his fate by any means necessary.

Their love is inevitable yet impossible. A tragic romance that had me clutching my pearls and praying to the stars that the tides would turn in their favor. I enjoyed their cheeky banter and the gradual unfolding of their connection. The slow burn is incredibly effective, and they don't truly come together until the final 25% of the story when it feels earned.

I also appreciated how Reya never became the lustful, brain-dead FMC who accepts scraps from the aloof MMC and wants to ravage him at the most inopportune and infuriating times (like I’ve seen play out in countless other romantasy novels).

I did, however, find that once Caelan fully embraced his desire for Reya, the floodgates of his heart came crashing down in a way that felt a bit too soft relative to his character. By this point, we've come to know him as a fierce warrior who's battle-hardened and emotionally unavailable; a wise man of few words who has fully devoted his life to protecting his people against the impending threat of genocide. He felt like something of a crossover between Thor, Eeyore, and Confucius to me. So I found it slightly jarring to watch him quickly do a full 180 and melt into a pile of puddy regarding Reya near the end of the story.

In terms of the narrative and world building, my initial experience was one of major déjà vu (mostly in the first 10% of the story) after having recently read Quicksilver by Callie Hart. They both feature a thieving, orphaned FMC who’s introduced to us while knee-deep in a heist in ‘Silver City’ (literally the same exact name), which is ruled by a tyrannical monarch who has outlawed magic. Her father was also a blacksmith and there's a lot of symbolism related to precious metals, though in this case the focus is steel. But beyond this overlap, Steelborn feels unique and inventive, with poetic prose, gripping action, and nuanced, layered characters which I really enjoyed.

At its core, this is a story about self-acceptance and the journey of a woman who’s learning to love and embrace all parts of herself. It’s about reclaiming your magic and power; not just in the supernatural sense, but the raw and intrinsic kind that’s forged from every challenge we've endured and the strength we've gained because of it. Reya’s character arc is a jagged yet beautiful journey where she learns that her life path doesn’t define her worth.

“She was everything this world had made her and more. She had survived. And surviving wasn’t always clean. Sometimes it was ugly and cruel. Thief. Liar. Killer. She would own it all—the light, the dark, and everything in between. Because there was no part of her that was not worthy of the rest."

And she comes to learn that she doesn't have to fit herself into the mold that's been laid by those who came before her. In fact, what the world needs most is her exactly as she is. And that, my friends, leaves me misty-eyed as I conclude this review because it strikes a little too close to home...

I’ll absolutely be continuing the series, as while we’re not left dangling on a harrowing cliff-hanger, the ending does crack open the door to an entirely new mission for Reya. She and Caelan still have much to conquer and plenty of retribution to seek, and I’m ready to devour every morsel of that conquest and vengeance once book two arrives.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Requited, and Taylor J. LaRue for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Raisa (TBRaisaa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5/✨ voor Steelborn van Taylor J. LaRue.

Ten eerste wil ik LoveBooks bedanken voor de fysieke ARC.

Dit is EXACT wat je verwacht van een romantasy waarbij de nadruk NIET ligt op de romance maar op de worldbuilding, character development, het magiesysteem en het plot.

Maar omg, dit boek was actie op actie op actie. Elke keer dacht ik: oh, dit zal wel de grote ontknoping zijn. En dan werd dat probleem halverwege het verhaal alweer opgelost en gingen we vrolijk door naar het volgende probleem waar eerder al naar gehint werd. Ik heb me echt geen moment verveeld.

Verrassend genoeg zat er ook smut in dit boek, maar GODZIJDANK heeft de auteur daadwerkelijk tijd en energie gestoken in het opbouwen van de band tussen de FMC en MMC. Al is de FMC zelf ook gewoon een horny bish (same girl) en maakte ze absoluut niet geheim dat de MMC haar wat betreft best even aan het spit mocht roosteren.

Daarnaast waren er geen onnodige herhalingen, was de worldbuilding kleurrijk maar compact en kreeg je precies genoeg informatie om altijd te begrijpen waar je was en wat er gebeurde zonder dat je verdronk in ellenlange uitleg.

En misschien nog wel het meest indrukwekkende: dit is een debuut.

Dus als dit haar allereerste boek is, dan ben ik echt ontzettend benieuwd naar boek 2. Want dat belooft nog heel veel goeds.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! One of my favorite things about Steelborn was how fierce both of the MCs, Reya and Caelan, were. Reya is strong, resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, but what really stood out to me was her character growth. Watching her move beyond her life as a thief, confront her past, and finally stop being afraid of who she is made her journey incredibly compelling. Caelan was the perfect complement to her, encouraging Reya to accept herself instead of trying to change her. Their slow burn romance, tension, and banter were also perfection!

This story was packed with action, making it incredibly difficult to put down. There was always something happening that kept the momentum going, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next. I also really enjoyed the magic system and the way it was woven into the story, and I hope to learn more about it in the future installments!

If you’re looking for a romantasy with fierce characters, a sizzling romance, nonstop action, scheming, and an intriguing magic system, I definitely recommend picking up Steelborn. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

[mary stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review!! 💫 I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was reminiscent of Throne of Glass and Quicksilver in a number of ways, particularly Heir of Fire. That said, it was still its own thing and I appreciated that! I wouldn’t be surprised if this book does very well upon its release in August, and I’m very intrigued to see where the author takes the series. It left enough open and I’m curious about where some of the characters and the plot will go so I’m gonna tag along on the ride for now! The one bummer about reading an ARC is that now I have to wait even longer for the second book lol

[M.J. Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC but romantasy fans, watch for this one!

[em (whats.em.reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

so bloody enjoyable - RTC

[Destinee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You do not cower before anyone. Entire armies will cower before you.”

THIS IS HOW YOU DO ROMANTASY 👏🏼

I have not felt this way since reading Throne of Glass/Heir of Fire. Reya is a FORCE to be reckoned with. She is top tier bad*ss FMC that will take care of business 🙂‍↕️

This was action packed and high stakes throughout the book. It does not stop you get sucked into the world and it’s so easy to consume this book because it keeps you so intrigued on what is happening next.

And the slow burn yearning/tension from Reya and Caelan?! Enemies to reluctant allies to being so down bad for her?! Yes please I’ll take 15 of them.

“Because I will choose you. Because loving you would be apocalyptic.”

I cannot wait to see how this story unfolds in book two 🙌🏼

Thank you to Requited Hachette Books and Taylor for this eARC 💖

[Stephanie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was sooo good I can't wait to find out what happens next I do love a well written female thief/killer. Great romance too with a strong male lead while not taking anything from the strong female lead. Just fanrastic

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this one wasn't the right fit for me.

The premise initially caught my attention, but I struggled to connect with the story and characters. While the book contains many popular fantasy romance elements, a thief with a debt to repay, hidden identities, magical powers, and a protective love interest, I found the execution lacking the depth needed to make those familiar tropes feel fresh.

My biggest challenge was connecting with the characters. The character development felt limited, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in their journeys. The romance also felt rushed at times, moving from bickering and mistrust to attraction and protectiveness before I felt the relationship had been fully developed on the page.

I also found myself pulled out of the story by some of the dialogue and descriptions. Certain lines felt immature or unnatural, and there were moments where character actions seemed inconsistent with what had been established previously. Because of this, I struggled to stay immersed in the world and found myself losing interest rather than becoming more invested as the story progressed.

By the halfway point, I was considering a DNF, and after skimming the remainder of the book, many of the same issues remained for me. The chapter endings and plot progression never quite created the momentum I was looking for, and I found it difficult to stay engaged.

That said, every reader connects with stories differently, and I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy fantasy romance with a protective hero, magical training, and familiar genre tropes. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't a match for my reading tastes.

I received an advance review copy of this book for through Net Galley. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Kassidy Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, so, there wasn’t one original idea is this book. Steelborn wanted to be Throne of Glass so badly. A young girl “saved” by a notorious assassin king/crime lord and raised to be his little minion after family tragedy, a pirate lord, and an evil king walk into a bar… Oh, and the MMC’s name is spelled Caelan which just seems so close to Celaena to me. And the ruby hilted weapon….

If you like reading the same romantasy stories over and over again, then maybe you will like Steelborn.

I also just didn’t feel the romance at all. There wasn’t really any buildup to make me care about their relationship nor them as characters. Honestly, Thance and the little kid at the end of the book were my favorite characters.

I made it to the end and didn’t DNF, so I guess that makes it deserve 2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Requited for the ARC!

[ameliiesmithh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!!! crazy good ending

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved some aspects, not a fan of other aspects. Feelings undecided as of now lol

[Shayelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book yesterday. It was so fresh to me and different but also like so familiar if u get what i mean.

Going into it the character reminded me so much of Aelin (who is my fav character ever) so I was already hooked, but then we got into the magic system, and the world building was top notch in my opinion.

For her debut novel Taylor LaRue slayed the boots down. From the angst to the character dynamics to even the big plot reveals — I was gagged and hooked at every turn.

If I had anything to complain about, it would be the political system. I think it needs a better foundation // explanation — but it wasn’t really at the core of the story so I get it. I think the future of the series will expand more on it ibc I think she’s more important than what we r told bc we’re in her pov.
My other thing is I’m a suckkkerrrr for yearning and as much as there was yearning and tension, it happened a little too fast for my liking but I still absolutely ate it up all the same. I just wish maybe it cldve waited till the second book? Idk I love tortured lovers.

I think the strength of this novel are the two main characters for sure. Their trauma, their aura, their strength like ugh I love a cool character.
Also the magic system was just so different and cool from anything I’ve read. It’s also like familiar? Idk, I just liked how it showed their magic through their veins like it’s just very cool I think.

Anyway I’m so excited for the future of this series . I’m sat in the theater , the workers are scared. I need book 2 NEOW.

Special thanks to the publishers for sending a copy to my B&N work location bc I feel #special for being able to read it 2 months in advance.

[reverie ☁️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy I managed to get an ARC from BookCon as this was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and man did it not disappoint!

I would lean more towards 4.5 stars rather than 5 stars, simply for some pacing issues and typos (persimmon instead of permission made me laugh though, lol).

Reya is a badass FMC who clears her own path in the world and doesn't apologize for it. Caelan is an equally strong MMC and I loved their dynamic throughout the book. They had great synergy together and even more so with the side characters. The side characters themselves were very well developed and we got to know their personalities, their stories and really got to know them in general. The only thing I wish I would've seen more in terms of side characters would be more of the Bluehoods, as they don't really get any screen time and are pretty relevant to the story IMO.

The plot was jam packed full of adventure, banter, quests, magic, betrayal, a great love story, dynamic characters and a sprinkle of magical creatures. I really liked the writing style of this author as well, and I definitely plan on reading more books from her. I found it to be a little bit off pace in some areas, where it dragged on unnecessarily in one aspect of the plot and went too fast in other places.

I really appreciated that there was no cliffhanger and although I have questions and want the next book ASAP, I know it didn't leave me high and dry and cursing her name for ending the book in a horrible way. I feel like it was left perfectly for a continuation without it being overboard.

Overall, though, I had a blast reading this and am really happy I waited over an hour in line and was able to get this ARC - so worth it!!! Once it's published, I highly recommend anyone who loves fantasy romance books that have pirates, magical creatures, underground thieving societies, and unique magic systems to read it!

[Sofia&#; thebookishpalss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good, i can’t believe it’s a debut! I absolutely loved Reya, she’s smart, resourceful, fierce and headstrong but also empathetic, she’s truly a great heroine.
As for the plot, i must say that I was never bored, there are so many different plots coming together with pirates, sea monsters, crazy wolves, different magical species, evil kings and prison escapes!

I also liked the system of powers for the Sages, they can be elementals for example, control minds, change shape and many of them also have multiple kinds of powers which was really cool (oh and the colour their Ire changes based on their power!)

Caelan was also a nice character, besides a small part of the book where I found him slightly insufferable, he was overall great. The romance was quite solid and genuine but I must say I loved how Reya kept doing her own stuff in spite of missing him, she
knows her priorities and has always a plan figured out somehow. (I feel like this book would’ve worked out without the romance as well, but those intimate scenes were😮‍💨🤭).

I feel like readers of Heir of Fire would enjoy this book as well. I’m very curious to read the next book in the series!!

Thanks so much to Edelweiss and the publisher for a free earc, all opinions are my own!

[looselipslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steelborn is a great debut novel and one I think many romantasy readers will love. Full of action, adventure, romance with a great message that you are worthy.

Reya, the FMC is one of my favorite FMCs ever. She’s smart, a menace, arrogant (rightfully so) but with a good heart and a feisty spirit that made the banter with the MMC a lot of fun. Especially when she was threatening him. 😂 The push and pull of their relationship was great.

Caelan, the MMC, quickly became one of my favorite MMCs ever. I found myself highlighting so many things he said (I don’t want to spoil too much). He’s strong, guarded, smoking hot 🔥 & almost loyal to a fault. My favorite aspect of their relationship was his need to remind Reya that she is enough. No matter what she’s been told or has had to do to survive, she is worthy is happiness and love. And she always has been. He respects her enough to know that she can take care of herself but has her back while also reminding her that she doesn’t have to be alone.

Other things I liked:

- Likable side characters that I’m excited to see more of. There is so much potential for growth and found family.

- I appreciate that the ending wrapped a lot of things up nicely but also left so much more to be explored in the next book!

- Im excited to see more fantasy creatures going forward!

- The deluxe hardcover is SO beautiful and that’s what initially caught my eye. I can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy.

Honestly, I had a lot of fun with this book and couldn’t put it down!

Some quotes I liked:

“Maybe love is fierce. When those you care for are in danger- maybe love has teeth.”

“She trusted no one with her heart, but she trusted Caelan with her life.”

“You do not cower before anyone. Entire armies will cower before you.”

“Never run. Never bow. Never die.”

“She loved this part. When at last they saw her for the menace she was.”

[QueenoftheBookDragons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to put into words how incredible this book was. And it’s Taylor Larue’s DEBUT??? My God, woman, you’ve just become an instant read author for me.

This book is rich, the world building and lore is captivating and so well done. Not too much but not too little either.
This is a deliciously slowwww burnnnnnn that is full of yearning between two people beholden to the oaths they’ve taken to their people and responsibilities on their shoulders.
Reya and Caelan’s journey is so satisfying and beautiful. The exact type of partnership I look for in my top tier FMC/MMC’s.

I cannot wait for the next books in this series!!!

Thank you thank you, Booktrovert.com for this arc opportunity. I can’t wait to get my hands on the audiobook eventually and listen to it all over again.

Absolutely amazing debut, Taylor 👌🏽😵👏🏽

Okay…gonna go sit in my slump corner and just live in the nothingness that an amazing book leaves you with 🫶🏼🥰

[Jessie (JessShelfAware) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy.

Who doesn’t love a slow burn 🔥

This book definitely had me eager to keep reading. I really enjoyed the characters and am excited to see where the author takes them in the next installments. I’m especially hoping for more backstory and time to watch their growth and development unfold. I also appreciated the magic system—it felt refreshing to see something beyond just fae, with a variety of mythical creatures that I hope will play a larger role as the story continues.

Also, for anyone like me who worry about throw the book across the room cliffhangers…this one is manageable. Think Quicksilver type cliffhanger.

[Annie M.]

this was so good!!!! very much looking forward to the rest of this series 🤩

[Lauren McGraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid fantasy with some romance thrown in I’m excited to read the next one. Is it a little predictable? Yes. Do I care? Not at all. I had fun reading it and that’s what matters. Also. Pirates!

[Lou (fairytales.and.fantasy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

Oh my goodness this was PERFECT! My new top read of the year? 👀

Steelborn had literally everything i want in a book. A vivid fantasy vibed setting, a perilous horseback journey, enemies to lovers, some spice that was earned after a delicious slow burn romance, interesting side characters, high stakes, fast pacing, action/violence, emotion, a mystery threat, a super interesting plot with tonnes of lore… and even a trek across the sea with some pirates! I could literally go on and on, there was not a single thing i would change about this book, i LOVED it. I pretty much knew i would really enjoy this (hence asking for a proof copy) but i genuinely wasn’t prepared to love it as much as i did.

Would i read it again? If my tbr wasn’t so out of control right now, i would be picking this up immediately for a re-read, and im hoping to read my Waterstones edition the moment it arrives next month because i just need to be back in this book again.

Thankyou so much to the publisher for the gifted proof copy, i am forever grateful 🫶🏻

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, there was a few different side quests. I liked the characters and felt like the banter between the fmc and mmc was good. Minor characters stand out.

[Alyson Lucille · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - conflicted on how to rate this. This had highs and lows for me. Overall, really liked the FMC. And loved the pirate scenes. But some parts of the journey lagged for me.