Light Wielder

Fire & Metal #2

by Rachel Schneider

THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO METAL SLINGER, AKA THE BOOK WITH THE PLOT TWIST THAT BROKE THE INTERNET

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Sail the seas.

Master the blade.

Protect your heart.

What would you do to have it all?

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READERS ARE GOING WILD FOR METAL SLINGER

'The BEST plot twist to ever grace my Kindle' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The author is a mastermind. Romantasy is back!!!!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Need the next book like I need water' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I foamed at the mouth multiple times because they were so HOT!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'RUN, DON'T WALK. READ THIS RIGHT NOW!!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Fiction, Audiobook

488 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Rachel Schneider lives in South Louisiana with her husband and daughter. She loves curse words, crawfish, and all things romance.

Reviews

[heba]

Update: Do my eyes deceive me, or is the release date May 19, 2026!!?

Don't mind me screaming into the void until book two is announced/released :)

[Kaitlyn]

Completely sat waiting for book two release dates

I fear I am unwell from book one

[katie ୨୧]

i need this book neowww

or i might combust

edit: all i can think about is that viral audio of a woman saying "Show it to me please Rachel please send it to me 🥹" and it fits so perfectly with most of booktok right now in relation to this sequel hhahagha

[thereadernthebeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

What oath do I need to take to get an ARC????

I'M NOT ABOVE BEGGING.
ON MY KNEES.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book description 😭 4 year time jump! Acker is married 😭😵‍💫😭 I’m going to throw up

[emmy; fire breathing kitty queen]

staring into the corner of my room because my brain is literally broken after book 1, and somehow I have to get up for work tomorrow with no possibility of book 2 nearby

[lia]

We have a title 🥳


But based off what I’ve read/heard… I refuse to dive into book 1 until this is released, no matter how much I want to. Cause I do. But I can’t go through another Onyx Storm situation all over again 😩

[Marisa Sobol · Rating 5 out of 5]

“SEND IT TO ME RACHEL”

[Madison Tompkins]

Not to be dramatic or anything, but I need this book more than I need air...

[☕️Meg (in Thailand! afk for reviews June 9th)]

Pre release : 😈💜☔️🦄🪻💛🌻🦋

So your telling me it’s not till June? I’m hopefully in Thailand still to get to read it then for the vibes ! 🤭 can’t wait for this release!! 💜💜

[Adiboutchou]

The sneak peak from the audiobook is killing me !!!!!
I need book 2 😱😳

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the plot twist of all plot twists in Metal Slinger, I was incredibly nervous to read Light Wielder. Was it going to live up to my expectations? How were things going to be resolved in a satisfying way?

Metal Slinger is one of my favourite books of all time and to me, Light Wielder was the perfect continuation of Jovie and Acker’s story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conflicting balance of yearning, betrayal and mistrust between characters. Seeing how powerful Jovie truly was, especially after revelations made in the first book, was incredible.
I loved the journey that these characters went on together and how they navigated the complex relationships within the group. This was an exciting and fulfilling conclusion that not only answered each and every question that I had following Metal Slinger but had me sat on the edge of my seat throughout.

The Fire & Metal series is one that I will reread again and again for years to come! I love these characters so much and I can’t believe the journey is (almost) over!

Thank you so much Gollancz for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and thank you to Rachel for writing these wonderful books!

[Lys Farrell]

The end of book 1 was insane (but kind of in a bad way) and the synopsis for book 2 sounds equally insane (but kind of in a good way)

[Sara B]

WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE AND A COVER

[mentoGirl]

I will sell my left LEG for this to be released NOW.

[EM]

The release date is in May 2026? 😭 The wait is killing me.

[Ekpnoi]

Can't wait for the second book.
The first book was amazing!

Thank you Rachel!

[Mariah]

Metal Slinger had me hooked from the start. As an avid reader, it’s rare that an ending truly surprises me anymore, but this one absolutely did. The cliffhanger was shocking and unforgettable, and it left me thinking about the story long after I finished the last page. To say I’m waiting for Light Wielder with anticipation is an understatement.

[Amy Schwartz]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 stars. This book had so much potential. The world building was lacking, and the FMC who I had a love/hate relationship with turned out to be kind of bad ass in the last 20 pages?? There were so many questions left unanswered or just lacking in depth… hopefully everything will wrap up nicely in the second book.

[Caitlin Runyan]

This book can’t come fast enough!

[Dawn ♡♡♡♡♡]

09/14/2025 - Just noticed the cover & release date 😱 putting it in my Calendar immediately

[anika]

reading this to see exactly how exactly an author can recover from a "the mc was lying the whole time and you didn't know it HAHA you're such a loser, reader" plot twist

[Tabetha (tabsbooknook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: Light Wielder by @rachelschneiderauthor and published by @hachetteaus @thebookishtype_hau
Release date: 9 June 2026

Two Lovers. Two Crowns. Two Kingdoms Burning.
After the ending that blew our collective minds in Metal Slinger, we pick up 4 years later and now find the Matched pair of Jovie and Acker at opposing ends of a war. Will these two ever be able to forgive each other and reunite, or is their love destined to destroy the world?
I liked the fact that this was a duology, so I knew (well hoped) that we wouldn’t be left with another cliffhanger and I particularly enjoyed the time jump between books. There are a lot of battle scenes throughout this book and it’s definitely more action packed than Metal Slinger was. We have a repeat of the slow burn from book 1 and a similar scene plays like the cup scene (IYKYK) so spice is still present but not overwhelming to the storyline.
I am so grateful to @hachetteaus for sending me a PR box and allowing me the opportunity to read this early. I will definitely be looking out for what @rachelschneiderauthor releases in the future 🦋

[zoe]

A COVER??? HELLO!!! A PUBLISH DATE!!!!!!!!!

[anonreader18]

FOUR YEARS LATER???

[Aubreyyyy (In my Boys of Tommen era)]

Umm…. with that plot twist there is no way I will be ok until this book comes out…😁😁💀💀

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing to see here, just me waiting in a corner for this book because I’m strung out since book 1 almost bludgeoned me to death and has held my heart captive. Rachel I need this book neowwww😂😂😂

[Corrine]

I am sat on the edge of my seat waiting for the release date and binding. The first book was one of my favorite reads so far this year

[amyinthepages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I can confirm Rachel still managed to shock me stupid once again - but in the most unexpected way - IYKYK. Pretty sure I had lingering whiplash from Metal Slinger because I never dared trusting anyone the whole way through this. We get more characters, more secrets, more betrayal and more of my boy Messer.

This picks up four years later, war is raging and that tether between them just won't quit it. The dual perspectives are woven masterfully together throughout this which will leave you squirming in your seat as Jovie's yearning refuses to dissipate. Can Acker forgive and forget? It's action packed, anxiety inducing and an epic conclusion to Jovie and Ackers story.

I can't wait for everyone to read this and lose their minds over Chapter 25.

I know I just literally finished but I'm already so excited for book three! You will know who it's about by the end of Light Weidler and I am sat.

"Light burns brightest after the dark"

- kingdoms at war
- dual POV
- secrets & betrayal
- forbidden love
- set 4 years after Metal Slinger
- second chances
- angst & yearning
- shifting loyalties & power struggles
- political intrigue

Spicy Chapters: 25, 36, 42 (and extremely brief mention in 39 & 50)

Thank you to Hachette Australia for the early copy.

[caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪. 𝓹𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭

SSSOOOOOO SO SAT FOR THIS!!! I CANNOT wait to get my hands on book 2!!!! Freaking congrats for getting TRAD PUB our queen!!! I NEEEEEED to know what’s going to happen!!!