What do you think?
Rate this book
Iron Heart of Terlian
Earth is decaying. They call it Ragnarök. Soon, there'll be nothing green left.
Violet's father believed Earth could heal. But he also believed in forgotten legends, magic, and other worlds, so she never put any stock in his impractical theories—until she accidentally stumbles into one such other world and realizes Earth isn't the only realm desperate for hope.
An exiled royal family. A disillusioned prince. A fathomless hatred of Earth. Magic thieves and lawless thief-hunters. None of it is what Violet bargained for. She just wants to find Earth's cure, not get embroiled in the political tensions of another planet.
But Earth's fate is tied to a thousand-year-old prophecy, one that a desperate vigilante is trying to exploit. When he attacks her new companions, they're forced to race him to the cure. If they don't find it first, their world will fall—and Earth is as good as dead.
Iron Heart of Terlian is Book 1 of a YA portal fantasy duology for fans of layered world-building and themes of friendship, hope, and healing.
Violet's father believed Earth could heal. But he also believed in forgotten legends, magic, and other worlds, so she never put any stock in his impractical theories—until she accidentally stumbles into one such other world and realizes Earth isn't the only realm desperate for hope.
An exiled royal family. A disillusioned prince. A fathomless hatred of Earth. Magic thieves and lawless thief-hunters. None of it is what Violet bargained for. She just wants to find Earth's cure, not get embroiled in the political tensions of another planet.
But Earth's fate is tied to a thousand-year-old prophecy, one that a desperate vigilante is trying to exploit. When he attacks her new companions, they're forced to race him to the cure. If they don't find it first, their world will fall—and Earth is as good as dead.
Iron Heart of Terlian is Book 1 of a YA portal fantasy duology for fans of layered world-building and themes of friendship, hope, and healing.
- GenresFantasy
Unknown Binding
First published November 17, 2025
About the author
Adelaide Thorne
5 books71 followersAs a child, Adelaide Thorne was so picky that her family would sing songs to encourage her to eat. It didn't work. All she ever wanted to eat was pickles and canned Chicken & Stars soup. Then she grew up and became a food journalist and restaurant reviewer for the local newspaper. So, you just never know how people are going to turn out.
She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.
Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne
She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.
Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 11, 2025
When I ordered this ARC, the first thing that caught my eye was the cover. But since the cover isn't everything, let's talk about what matters... The content... The book has a promising premise. The story of young Violet jumping between worlds to save the Earth from an apocalypse sounded exciting, but the plot quickly becomes confusing and predictable. Like all books, it has moments of action and slower ones. The twists and turns are somewhat predictable.
The characters are poorly developed and lack the depth necessary to care about their fate. Instead of feeling transported to a new and fascinating world, we're stuck on the journey. It's not a bad read... Overall, I had a good time reading the book. However, after reading hundreds of books, this isn't one of those I consider 5 stars.
The characters are poorly developed and lack the depth necessary to care about their fate. Instead of feeling transported to a new and fascinating world, we're stuck on the journey. It's not a bad read... Overall, I had a good time reading the book. However, after reading hundreds of books, this isn't one of those I consider 5 stars.
April 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with my first ever ARC in exchange for an honest review! This is also my first review so please bear with me. Please note all thoughts are based on my personal opinion.
I chose this book from the NetGalley read now section after seeing the cover and the name of the author and did not regret it. I know very few people who have the same name as me so it was nice to find another Adelaide. ☺️
I absolutely loved The Iron Heart of Terlian! I felt Violet’s more introverted awkwardness around others of wanting to comfort but not knowing how. As well as the need to help however she can, taking on more than she should and not wanting to ask for help. I understood and can relate to her. I also understand that some people may not like her because of those flaws, but I think that it’s one of the things I love about this book, it shows that no one is perfect we all have our flaws but that okay.
I absolutely loved the depth of the worlds and how each country/planet/world (I’m not sure what to call them) can be related to different countries/cultures on Earth/Terlian. I hope to explore countries (?) and more of the lyrin (magic) in the next book.
Some possible trigger warnings: Grief, murder, loss, torture, fear, loss of family members and blood/pain.
With all that said I am really looking forward to the next book! Thank you for reading my review! I hope it helps you decide whether to read this book or not. ☺️
I chose this book from the NetGalley read now section after seeing the cover and the name of the author and did not regret it. I know very few people who have the same name as me so it was nice to find another Adelaide. ☺️
I absolutely loved The Iron Heart of Terlian! I felt Violet’s more introverted awkwardness around others of wanting to comfort but not knowing how. As well as the need to help however she can, taking on more than she should and not wanting to ask for help. I understood and can relate to her. I also understand that some people may not like her because of those flaws, but I think that it’s one of the things I love about this book, it shows that no one is perfect we all have our flaws but that okay.
I absolutely loved the depth of the worlds and how each country/planet/world (I’m not sure what to call them) can be related to different countries/cultures on Earth/Terlian. I hope to explore countries (?) and more of the lyrin (magic) in the next book.
Some possible trigger warnings: Grief, murder, loss, torture, fear, loss of family members and blood/pain.
With all that said I am really looking forward to the next book! Thank you for reading my review! I hope it helps you decide whether to read this book or not. ☺️
January 10, 2026
Oh. My. Goodness. 🤯🤯🤯this book is insane. As I was reading it ever second I had to put it down and go about my day I was thinking about it. Two weeks later it is still living in my brain rent free. This story is so lush, and deep, and unique nothing I've tried to read since can live up to it.
Only three authors have ever given me a book hang over in my life. Sarah K L Wilson, Suzanne Collins, and Brandon Sanderson. And now I can add Adelaide Thorne (an indie author!) To that list of incredible, next level authors. I saw a post this morning about how indie books are more unique, intriguing, and doing things that are completely new and inspired that traditionally published books never do. Yeah, Iron Heart of Terlian is a perfect example of that.
So, let me tell you what I love about this story so much.
Firstly, the setting. We start off in our normal, modern, every day world. Boring right? Except, it's an alternate history! Aaa, which are stories that I always find intriguing, but they tend to be written by men who throw a ton of convoluted history facts at you and bog down the story. Not this one, Adelaide masterfully takes story lore that could be complex to understand and simplifies it to enhance the plot, not take away from it.
In this world Ragnarok happened. Yeah, the Norse belief of how the world would end. So it's a bit of an apocalyptic setting as the dying planet problem slowly spreads across the globe. But it's not a scientific plague, it's magical. Which is so freaking cool!!! Earth has been dying for hundreds of years and it is nearing the end of days. Clear blue skies? Never heard of them.
The origin of this plague? Greenland. Iceland? I think it was Greenland. And that, is precisely where violet has to go. Yup. We start off the story with eighteen year old Violet going to the origin point of ragnarok with her two dysfunctional siblings in continuing her late father's work.
He believed that archeology, not modern science was the key to saving the world. And Violet intends to finish his work. The complicated emotional dynamics in this family is written incredibly realistically. I really enjoyed Violet as a main character. Her inner thoughts are written very differently from other ya protagonists, but I found it intriguing and relatable at times. She's not over expressive, or emotional, or outgoing. She just is. Which I think everyone has shut down at some point like that, seeing her deal with it throughout the story was a really great subplot. And it added depth to her character and story arc.
What happens in the rest of the story? Well, portal fantasy. 🥳🥳🥳 LET'S GO. I adore portal fantasies, but trad pubs seem to have completely abandoned them. I love that indies haven't though. It really taps into that childhood dream we all had.
Worlds with complex politics where violent rebels are the bad guys. Which is opposite of most fantasies I've read. Usually rebels are the good guys. So it was nice to see people in power actually be good guys for once.
We have found family, quests, and fascinating magic. Every character in this story is distinct and full of life. I couldn't help living so many of them.
💕A sub, sub, slowest of burns romance that's barely there. But also, so surprising. Again, in a typical ya or na it would have been written completely different, and possibly a completely different male love interest. But I really liked this, and the cliffhanger involving the romance has me DYING FOR BOOK TWO
But my favorite part of this story is the lore, the historical inspiration. There are many cultures Adelaide pulls inspo from for different races. But the main one particular to our story is Norse. There is so much norse, viking imagery and language and culture it has me salivating. Oh my gosh it's incredible! And the way she weaves it into the story *chefs kisses* 😍👌🤯😍😍😮💕😍😱😱😍 it's out of this world INCREDIBLE.
I have dnfed a many viking inspired stories due to the toxic nature of them. But this one? Filled with honor, and courage, and the will to do right by your people. The positives about the culture that is often overlooked. Plus, the clothing, swords, and epic braided hair and beards is always such a hoot. Ugh, I adore it.
Language is a big part of this story. Which is so fascinating to read. It's woven into the plot in a way that's reminiscent of Tolkein's work. Violent lives languages, is almost fluent is multiple at the beginning of her journey. So her geeking out over getting to speak old Norse with native speakers was pretty whimsical. I love watching her learn more. Be excited to learn. Also, the way languages are essential to the plot was really special. And logically, something that more fantasies should have. All worlds should have multiples languages, and the struggle to translate when traveling.
Have I convinced you to read this yet? I hope so. It's one of my to books I've read in years. And I'm anxiously awaiting book 2's release. Don't let this book go under appreciated, it deserves so much hype.
Romance and language: Pristine
Violence: killing does happen, off page. Brief torture on page (pg13) Grief, lots of grief
Only three authors have ever given me a book hang over in my life. Sarah K L Wilson, Suzanne Collins, and Brandon Sanderson. And now I can add Adelaide Thorne (an indie author!) To that list of incredible, next level authors. I saw a post this morning about how indie books are more unique, intriguing, and doing things that are completely new and inspired that traditionally published books never do. Yeah, Iron Heart of Terlian is a perfect example of that.
So, let me tell you what I love about this story so much.
Firstly, the setting. We start off in our normal, modern, every day world. Boring right? Except, it's an alternate history! Aaa, which are stories that I always find intriguing, but they tend to be written by men who throw a ton of convoluted history facts at you and bog down the story. Not this one, Adelaide masterfully takes story lore that could be complex to understand and simplifies it to enhance the plot, not take away from it.
In this world Ragnarok happened. Yeah, the Norse belief of how the world would end. So it's a bit of an apocalyptic setting as the dying planet problem slowly spreads across the globe. But it's not a scientific plague, it's magical. Which is so freaking cool!!! Earth has been dying for hundreds of years and it is nearing the end of days. Clear blue skies? Never heard of them.
The origin of this plague? Greenland. Iceland? I think it was Greenland. And that, is precisely where violet has to go. Yup. We start off the story with eighteen year old Violet going to the origin point of ragnarok with her two dysfunctional siblings in continuing her late father's work.
He believed that archeology, not modern science was the key to saving the world. And Violet intends to finish his work. The complicated emotional dynamics in this family is written incredibly realistically. I really enjoyed Violet as a main character. Her inner thoughts are written very differently from other ya protagonists, but I found it intriguing and relatable at times. She's not over expressive, or emotional, or outgoing. She just is. Which I think everyone has shut down at some point like that, seeing her deal with it throughout the story was a really great subplot. And it added depth to her character and story arc.
What happens in the rest of the story? Well, portal fantasy. 🥳🥳🥳 LET'S GO. I adore portal fantasies, but trad pubs seem to have completely abandoned them. I love that indies haven't though. It really taps into that childhood dream we all had.
Worlds with complex politics where violent rebels are the bad guys. Which is opposite of most fantasies I've read. Usually rebels are the good guys. So it was nice to see people in power actually be good guys for once.
We have found family, quests, and fascinating magic. Every character in this story is distinct and full of life. I couldn't help living so many of them.
💕A sub, sub, slowest of burns romance that's barely there. But also, so surprising. Again, in a typical ya or na it would have been written completely different, and possibly a completely different male love interest. But I really liked this, and the cliffhanger involving the romance has me DYING FOR BOOK TWO
But my favorite part of this story is the lore, the historical inspiration. There are many cultures Adelaide pulls inspo from for different races. But the main one particular to our story is Norse. There is so much norse, viking imagery and language and culture it has me salivating. Oh my gosh it's incredible! And the way she weaves it into the story *chefs kisses* 😍👌🤯😍😍😮💕😍😱😱😍 it's out of this world INCREDIBLE.
I have dnfed a many viking inspired stories due to the toxic nature of them. But this one? Filled with honor, and courage, and the will to do right by your people. The positives about the culture that is often overlooked. Plus, the clothing, swords, and epic braided hair and beards is always such a hoot. Ugh, I adore it.
Language is a big part of this story. Which is so fascinating to read. It's woven into the plot in a way that's reminiscent of Tolkein's work. Violent lives languages, is almost fluent is multiple at the beginning of her journey. So her geeking out over getting to speak old Norse with native speakers was pretty whimsical. I love watching her learn more. Be excited to learn. Also, the way languages are essential to the plot was really special. And logically, something that more fantasies should have. All worlds should have multiples languages, and the struggle to translate when traveling.
Have I convinced you to read this yet? I hope so. It's one of my to books I've read in years. And I'm anxiously awaiting book 2's release. Don't let this book go under appreciated, it deserves so much hype.
Romance and language: Pristine
Violence: killing does happen, off page. Brief torture on page (pg13) Grief, lots of grief
May 20, 2026
Thank you to Adelaide Thorne and NetGalley for this free ARC.
'How nice it would be to have someone with her, not merely beside her'
Iron Heart of Terlian is the first book in this Portal Fantasy duology. Both the title and the cover was what drew me in, plus the whole dying Earth dynamic.
✍🏽📖 The Reading Experience
It dragged on a bit at the start. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a slow start—that's how we get to know the characters sometimes—through their day-to-day life. But sometimes, like with Iron Heart, a slow start can drag the story down, despite there being a strong set-up for later on.
I also liked that there was Nordic dialogue in this, especially as there wasn't a translation afterwards, either by the characters or in 'bracket-italics' after. It added the realism that sometimes conversations don't get translated (also loved that there was a translation 'magic' in this that had its limits and wasn't flawless either).
📚 The Story
Violet lives on an Earth in an alternate history. Long ago something happened that's causing the the planet's slow decay.
Having laid her father to rest in the place where everything changed for him, Violet goes out in search of the landmark he'd found years ago. After hours of searching she stumbles upon it, which leads her to a strange light. Upon entering she learns she's in another world, its health, a bizarre thing to her. Meeting new friends, she learns that Earth's fate is tied to various others and that her father could have stumbled on to something that could help all of them. But first they need to find a pendant which will help take her back and help heal Earth.
But a prophecy is in play, one that others are trying to prevent or interpret differently, making their progress difficult.
Which is the right way? Can Violet trust herself and the new path she must lead in order to save them all?
🪄 The Magic System
There are different types of magic or 'liryn' depending on where you were born. The magic is given to a person by their monarch and is seen as an honour, but there are downsides; There's a pain component which is unavoidable and everyone has to endure. The lyrin is also connection to an item, the lose of which can be crippling because it means the one who holds it can use the magic, but without the pain which unfortunately, the original owner still has to deal with.
💡Themes
Self-esteem; which Violet, Alikar, and Eliathor to an extent, have to overcome.
Freedom; there are those who seek to give the lyrin to everyone without the need for the monarchs to choose.
Regret: seen the most with Meliora and Kelispar's relationship.
Control: when to learn to let go and trust in others is something that Violet has to learn.
👥 Characters
Violet: I felt for her introverted awkwardness and watching her grow and become close to her new friends in the latter half of the book— after she (and the story) find their footing—was warming to see.
Alikar: I liked his relationship with both his brother, Kelispar, and Violet. Watching his relationship with the latter progress was sweet even though he didn't seem to resolve his own issues by the end, being more resigned than anything. Hopefully in the next book he'll come to accept and embrace what happened.
Eliathor: He had a lot of potential, which was disappointing given his role in the story. It would have worked better and given him more depth, as well as given the readers more to root for, if he'd been a more active, present presence, instead of appearing here and there—mostly to get Violet and her friends out of trouble.
Meliora & Kelispar: The former is a tragic character to be sure, not seeming to have much luck in the love department, despite multiple men being into her. And while she was nice to all, and I loved her friendship with Violet, I felt more for Kelispar.
He was attentive, polite, protective—a real gentlemen, so I couldn't understand why Meliora chose to be with someone else. His yearning hurt. He was gracious about the woman he loved being with another and was waiting for her. Honestly, he's what really drew me in at the start when my attention was beginning to waver, so his eventual fate left a mark as nothing else in the story did.
Yukiv: He's supposed to be the revolutionary antagonist, yet he fell short of being both. I expected this character to charismatic and dangerous and while he does kill, he wasn't all that menacing. The charisma seemed to be elsewhere because even at the rally scene that spark seemed to be missing.
✔️ Final Thoughts
I liked it but I felt it could have benefitted from more character nuance and development, though I am looking forward to the next book. If you're looking for a Portal fantasy that's Nordic-inspired with some Greek and Persian mixed in, check this out. 😊
'How nice it would be to have someone with her, not merely beside her'
Iron Heart of Terlian is the first book in this Portal Fantasy duology. Both the title and the cover was what drew me in, plus the whole dying Earth dynamic.
✍🏽📖 The Reading Experience
It dragged on a bit at the start. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a slow start—that's how we get to know the characters sometimes—through their day-to-day life. But sometimes, like with Iron Heart, a slow start can drag the story down, despite there being a strong set-up for later on.
I also liked that there was Nordic dialogue in this, especially as there wasn't a translation afterwards, either by the characters or in 'bracket-italics' after. It added the realism that sometimes conversations don't get translated (also loved that there was a translation 'magic' in this that had its limits and wasn't flawless either).
📚 The Story
Violet lives on an Earth in an alternate history. Long ago something happened that's causing the the planet's slow decay.
Having laid her father to rest in the place where everything changed for him, Violet goes out in search of the landmark he'd found years ago. After hours of searching she stumbles upon it, which leads her to a strange light. Upon entering she learns she's in another world, its health, a bizarre thing to her. Meeting new friends, she learns that Earth's fate is tied to various others and that her father could have stumbled on to something that could help all of them. But first they need to find a pendant which will help take her back and help heal Earth.
But a prophecy is in play, one that others are trying to prevent or interpret differently, making their progress difficult.
Which is the right way? Can Violet trust herself and the new path she must lead in order to save them all?
🪄 The Magic System
There are different types of magic or 'liryn' depending on where you were born. The magic is given to a person by their monarch and is seen as an honour, but there are downsides; There's a pain component which is unavoidable and everyone has to endure. The lyrin is also connection to an item, the lose of which can be crippling because it means the one who holds it can use the magic, but without the pain which unfortunately, the original owner still has to deal with.
💡Themes
Self-esteem; which Violet, Alikar, and Eliathor to an extent, have to overcome.
Freedom; there are those who seek to give the lyrin to everyone without the need for the monarchs to choose.
Regret: seen the most with Meliora and Kelispar's relationship.
Control: when to learn to let go and trust in others is something that Violet has to learn.
👥 Characters
Violet: I felt for her introverted awkwardness and watching her grow and become close to her new friends in the latter half of the book— after she (and the story) find their footing—was warming to see.
Alikar: I liked his relationship with both his brother, Kelispar, and Violet. Watching his relationship with the latter progress was sweet even though he didn't seem to resolve his own issues by the end, being more resigned than anything. Hopefully in the next book he'll come to accept and embrace what happened.
Eliathor: He had a lot of potential, which was disappointing given his role in the story. It would have worked better and given him more depth, as well as given the readers more to root for, if he'd been a more active, present presence, instead of appearing here and there—mostly to get Violet and her friends out of trouble.
Meliora & Kelispar: The former is a tragic character to be sure, not seeming to have much luck in the love department, despite multiple men being into her. And while she was nice to all, and I loved her friendship with Violet, I felt more for Kelispar.
He was attentive, polite, protective—a real gentlemen, so I couldn't understand why Meliora chose to be with someone else. His yearning hurt. He was gracious about the woman he loved being with another and was waiting for her. Honestly, he's what really drew me in at the start when my attention was beginning to waver, so his eventual fate left a mark as nothing else in the story did.
Yukiv: He's supposed to be the revolutionary antagonist, yet he fell short of being both. I expected this character to charismatic and dangerous and while he does kill, he wasn't all that menacing. The charisma seemed to be elsewhere because even at the rally scene that spark seemed to be missing.
✔️ Final Thoughts
I liked it but I felt it could have benefitted from more character nuance and development, though I am looking forward to the next book. If you're looking for a Portal fantasy that's Nordic-inspired with some Greek and Persian mixed in, check this out. 😊
November 17, 2025
Iron Heart of Terilian is a strong and fun opening to Adelaide Thorne’s new portal fantasy duology. With immersive worldbuilding, emotional depth, relatable characters,
a hefty dose of political intrigue, and well-placed moments of humor… all while in a race to save a dying Earth, I was hooked!
Violet begins the story uncertain and confused, but through some significant "ah-hah moments," she gradually develops into someone confident and steady in her purpose, which I found both believable and endearing. The touches of wit and sarcasm throughout the story add charm without taking away from the more serious moments, and the world-building (of 2 worlds!) was a notable strength!
The pacing slows somewhat in the middle, but I appreciate a thoughtful slow buildup when it maintains momentum, and this one does. Bring on my mug of tea and cozy blanket! My only point of occasional confusion came from the use of the word crown to describe magical suffering, simply because the story contains so many royals.
The final chapters are gripping and emotionally powerful—I found this part hard to put down. It was both satisfying and heartrending, leaving me very vested in Violet and her companions. Without giving away spoilers, I was left wondering if a love triangle is brewing.
Overall, Iron Heart of Terilian is an impressive beginning to the duology. I am fully invested in Violet, her friends, and her siblings, and I look forward to seeing how they unravel the mysteries that remain in book two! I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy YA fantasy with strong character development and rich worldbuilding.
a hefty dose of political intrigue, and well-placed moments of humor… all while in a race to save a dying Earth, I was hooked!
Violet begins the story uncertain and confused, but through some significant "ah-hah moments," she gradually develops into someone confident and steady in her purpose, which I found both believable and endearing. The touches of wit and sarcasm throughout the story add charm without taking away from the more serious moments, and the world-building (of 2 worlds!) was a notable strength!
The pacing slows somewhat in the middle, but I appreciate a thoughtful slow buildup when it maintains momentum, and this one does. Bring on my mug of tea and cozy blanket! My only point of occasional confusion came from the use of the word crown to describe magical suffering, simply because the story contains so many royals.
The final chapters are gripping and emotionally powerful—I found this part hard to put down. It was both satisfying and heartrending, leaving me very vested in Violet and her companions. Without giving away spoilers, I was left wondering if a love triangle is brewing.
Overall, Iron Heart of Terilian is an impressive beginning to the duology. I am fully invested in Violet, her friends, and her siblings, and I look forward to seeing how they unravel the mysteries that remain in book two! I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy YA fantasy with strong character development and rich worldbuilding.
April 17, 2026
There was a lot to love in this book.
There's a lot going on here, and it's all happening really, really quickly. That said, the breakneck speed really worked to keep the plot manageable - I think a slower pace would have encouraged too many details and left me with too much information to see straight. Life is messy, politics is messier, there was no reason for me to expect our main character to grasp any significant portion of it in the short time the story takes place. I think that lostness helped solidify Violet's actions, reactions, and rapid shifts in train of thought - anything more competent would have read as disingenuous.
I loved the author's way of humanizing our antagonist's motives without automatically redeeming him. While our main villain certainly has valid, heart wrenching reasons for his brutal vigilantism, we never try to excuse that he's also a monster. He's never offered the chance for redemption, we're past that. Not everyone gets to be forgiven, redemption arcs aren't mandatory, and the story stands taller for it.
Possibly my favorite thing, as macabre as it is, was the author's willingness to be brutal. I love the loss of a good character. Two dimensional characters mean nothing to me, it's violence for the sake of violence, but losing a good character? I respect the author's bravery, and savour that pain and righteous anger. Stories should make you feel something, even if that something is like having the breath knocked out of you.
I'm disappointed that it ended, and I look forward to the second book.
Read via Netgalley
There's a lot going on here, and it's all happening really, really quickly. That said, the breakneck speed really worked to keep the plot manageable - I think a slower pace would have encouraged too many details and left me with too much information to see straight. Life is messy, politics is messier, there was no reason for me to expect our main character to grasp any significant portion of it in the short time the story takes place. I think that lostness helped solidify Violet's actions, reactions, and rapid shifts in train of thought - anything more competent would have read as disingenuous.
I loved the author's way of humanizing our antagonist's motives without automatically redeeming him. While our main villain certainly has valid, heart wrenching reasons for his brutal vigilantism, we never try to excuse that he's also a monster. He's never offered the chance for redemption, we're past that. Not everyone gets to be forgiven, redemption arcs aren't mandatory, and the story stands taller for it.
Possibly my favorite thing, as macabre as it is, was the author's willingness to be brutal. I love the loss of a good character. Two dimensional characters mean nothing to me, it's violence for the sake of violence, but losing a good character? I respect the author's bravery, and savour that pain and righteous anger. Stories should make you feel something, even if that something is like having the breath knocked out of you.
I'm disappointed that it ended, and I look forward to the second book.
Read via Netgalley
November 14, 2025
This was such a fun book to read! You are pulled in right away feeling the slow destruction of Earth and wanting to know... what the heck? Why is this happening? How will Violet fix this? I will say that Violet's character flaw was extremely annoying at times and I just wanted her to get over it. BUT when she finally does (I mean.. you knew she would eventually) it's just so great! You want to go high-five someone.
The variety of the characters in the story was wonderful and their dynamics together made you want to jump in and make friends with these people (especially Alikar). The world building of the book was also spot on. I'm a big fan of short, but vivid descriptions and Thorne does just that (sorry Tolkien... I love you, but your descriptions of Middle Earth are just too much!). There is so much information to take in once Violet gets onto the other planet, be prepared to slow down your read from skim to possible "I need to re-read that paragraph". I had to do that a few times because I wanted to make sure I understood what was going on. The good thing is that even if you don't fully understand initially, it becomes clearer as the story goes on. You are learning along with Violet all the different nuances of the culture, politics, and powers that she is now thrown into.
All-in-all it's a great read! I can't wait for book number 2 and I was super bummed when this one ended.
The variety of the characters in the story was wonderful and their dynamics together made you want to jump in and make friends with these people (especially Alikar). The world building of the book was also spot on. I'm a big fan of short, but vivid descriptions and Thorne does just that (sorry Tolkien... I love you, but your descriptions of Middle Earth are just too much!). There is so much information to take in once Violet gets onto the other planet, be prepared to slow down your read from skim to possible "I need to re-read that paragraph". I had to do that a few times because I wanted to make sure I understood what was going on. The good thing is that even if you don't fully understand initially, it becomes clearer as the story goes on. You are learning along with Violet all the different nuances of the culture, politics, and powers that she is now thrown into.
All-in-all it's a great read! I can't wait for book number 2 and I was super bummed when this one ended.
January 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a free copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.
Realistically, I'd rate this about 3.5 stars, maybe 4 if I'm generous. Here's the thing: I think there was a lot of potential with this book. The characters were unique, but they were also overcomplicated. The plot was unique, but it also had too many side-arcs that lowered the overall quality of the book. The blend of cultures and languages was something I found really cool, and I think that was part of what called me to this story. The original blurb that talked about how Earth was dying was something I found really interesting; it kinda pulled sci-fi ideas into the story, which I liked. However, the story's pacing was really slow. I like when a book has all the sufficient information to be a well-written novel, without it feeling like I'm reading a college textbook. Usually, I can read a book like this in a few hours, at max a few days. This book, however, took me a hot minute to finish, and I pretty much forced my way through it. I think the very beginning and end were good, but the middle of the story felt like filler chapters; the whole book felt like a book of filler chapters. But I did like the plot (though hard to follow) due to its unique nature and mix of different cultures, languages, and customs. A good book for enjoyers of language and fantasy + sci-fi, maybe less for the primary fantasy readers.
Realistically, I'd rate this about 3.5 stars, maybe 4 if I'm generous. Here's the thing: I think there was a lot of potential with this book. The characters were unique, but they were also overcomplicated. The plot was unique, but it also had too many side-arcs that lowered the overall quality of the book. The blend of cultures and languages was something I found really cool, and I think that was part of what called me to this story. The original blurb that talked about how Earth was dying was something I found really interesting; it kinda pulled sci-fi ideas into the story, which I liked. However, the story's pacing was really slow. I like when a book has all the sufficient information to be a well-written novel, without it feeling like I'm reading a college textbook. Usually, I can read a book like this in a few hours, at max a few days. This book, however, took me a hot minute to finish, and I pretty much forced my way through it. I think the very beginning and end were good, but the middle of the story felt like filler chapters; the whole book felt like a book of filler chapters. But I did like the plot (though hard to follow) due to its unique nature and mix of different cultures, languages, and customs. A good book for enjoyers of language and fantasy + sci-fi, maybe less for the primary fantasy readers.
February 4, 2026
This was a random book I picked from Netgalleys' Read Now section. Honestly, I judged a book by its' cover and I'm glad I did because this was an excellent read ! It was so intriguing and fast-paced that I've finished it in a couple of sittings.
Iron Heart of Terlian is a fantasy story that begins on a dying Earth...until a girl accidentally enters another realm her father spent his life trying to convince everyone it exists. There, she meets a royal family (I am not sure I figured out who's who but nevermind 😅) that she shares a common goal with.. and others that don't quite share the same goal.
The book felt dark and heavy in a good way. It explores topics of duty to your family, and what it takes to survive. I found it at times intense and bleak, very focused on how people are shaped by their families, tradition, prophecies and political power play. But it also had great lighter elements - I loved the interactions between the siblings and how we got to know each character's personality. I also have a very soft spot for any nordic-inspired literature, and I'm surprised this book is not discussed a lot more by fans of this theme
As a first part of a planned duology, I'm definitely keeping an eye out for the continuation of the story!
Iron Heart of Terlian is a fantasy story that begins on a dying Earth...until a girl accidentally enters another realm her father spent his life trying to convince everyone it exists. There, she meets a royal family (I am not sure I figured out who's who but nevermind 😅) that she shares a common goal with.. and others that don't quite share the same goal.
The book felt dark and heavy in a good way. It explores topics of duty to your family, and what it takes to survive. I found it at times intense and bleak, very focused on how people are shaped by their families, tradition, prophecies and political power play. But it also had great lighter elements - I loved the interactions between the siblings and how we got to know each character's personality. I also have a very soft spot for any nordic-inspired literature, and I'm surprised this book is not discussed a lot more by fans of this theme
As a first part of a planned duology, I'm definitely keeping an eye out for the continuation of the story!
May 9, 2026
The idea of our FMC Violet needing to jump between worlds to save Earth was such an interesting concept to me, and combining that with Norse mythology reeled me in even more. The situation with Earth left me with so many questions and made me eager to learn more, and the author absolutely did not disappoint with the details and world building.
I also felt like the author did not hold back with her writing and wasn’t afraid to make readers feel everything right alongside the characters. The supporting characters didn’t feel plain or one dimensional either. Each of them had their own unique background, culture, and personality that made the world feel even more alive.
Although Violet herself was not my favorite character, I do think she had some of the strongest growth throughout the story, and I appreciated seeing her development unfold over time.
For a YA fantasy, I honestly was not expecting the story and writing to feel this refined, and I appreciated that so much. The balance of emotion, lore, and adventure kept me invested the entire time.
I’m definitely eager to see if book two will be just as good because this one surprised me in the best way.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I also felt like the author did not hold back with her writing and wasn’t afraid to make readers feel everything right alongside the characters. The supporting characters didn’t feel plain or one dimensional either. Each of them had their own unique background, culture, and personality that made the world feel even more alive.
Although Violet herself was not my favorite character, I do think she had some of the strongest growth throughout the story, and I appreciated seeing her development unfold over time.
For a YA fantasy, I honestly was not expecting the story and writing to feel this refined, and I appreciated that so much. The balance of emotion, lore, and adventure kept me invested the entire time.
I’m definitely eager to see if book two will be just as good because this one surprised me in the best way.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2025
I've read all of Thorne's books (her Whitewash trilogy) and Iron Heart is my favorite! I've read it more than once. I didn't want it to end. It's the characters that made me want to stay in the world forever. I love them all but Eliathor is my favorite. I love Alikar too, the references to his Persian culture. And Nikos is so suave and charming, I love him, even if he's ridiculous. I love everyone but Jarek... he's complicated! At least he has his moment in the end. And honestly I don't relate that much to Violet but she's just introverted and awkward and she grows a lot in this book! There's readers out there who will love her. This book needs to be read by anyone looking for a YA book that has characters and values that feel timeless and not modern. Even though it's Young Adult the writing is more sophisticaed and the characters are more mature so it doesn't feel like your average angsty teen book. With dramatic reactions and emotions. The characters feel more grounded, like more old fashioned classic fantasy characters. Anyway I love this book and can't wait for the sequel! Now I'm going to go read it again...
October 15, 2025
This book is such a masterfully crafted and entertaining story that I didn’t want to put it down!
First of all, the unbelievable attention to detail in the world-building blew my mind. New languages, whole histories of other realms, a sort of magic ruled by very specific codes and rituals, and crazy inventions just to name a few. How the author wove so many different real languages with her own creations is beyond me.
But mostly I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t want to leave them when it was over! Violet, the girl who can’t cry, is so wonderfully flawed and all too relatable.
Besides the fate of the dying Earth hanging in the balance, it gets very personal with a villain you want to rip apart limb by limb yourself because he’s so horrible. You get invested in Violet’s success instantly.
The author does a nice job of ripping your heart out but graciously heals it eventually.
Portal fantasy isn’t a genre I normally gravitate towards but, man, I was sucked in by this one!
First of all, the unbelievable attention to detail in the world-building blew my mind. New languages, whole histories of other realms, a sort of magic ruled by very specific codes and rituals, and crazy inventions just to name a few. How the author wove so many different real languages with her own creations is beyond me.
But mostly I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t want to leave them when it was over! Violet, the girl who can’t cry, is so wonderfully flawed and all too relatable.
Besides the fate of the dying Earth hanging in the balance, it gets very personal with a villain you want to rip apart limb by limb yourself because he’s so horrible. You get invested in Violet’s success instantly.
The author does a nice job of ripping your heart out but graciously heals it eventually.
Portal fantasy isn’t a genre I normally gravitate towards but, man, I was sucked in by this one!
November 18, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
A flawed yet totally human main character, a dangerous prophecy (or several versions of one) and hidden magic — I LOVED it.
Our MC, Violet falls (literally) into completely different realm from earth and finds herself right in the middle of danger, magic, and rebellion.
The plot is a really fun mix of fantasy, politics, and corruption. When i first picked this book, i was not expecting it to be this good. Like what??? There was a little spot in the middle where it slowed down and I found myself drifting a bit, but once things picked up again I was fully hooked. Also, all the other side characters were amazing and felt alive, like they had their own stories happening off-page.
✨ Overall vibe
This book has:
a setting I actually wanted to explore
political fantasy
a plot that's actually engaging
teensy weensy bit of romantic tension (so excited to see where this goes)
emotional moments
I closed the book thinking, “Yep. I need book two immediately.”
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A flawed yet totally human main character, a dangerous prophecy (or several versions of one) and hidden magic — I LOVED it.
Our MC, Violet falls (literally) into completely different realm from earth and finds herself right in the middle of danger, magic, and rebellion.
The plot is a really fun mix of fantasy, politics, and corruption. When i first picked this book, i was not expecting it to be this good. Like what??? There was a little spot in the middle where it slowed down and I found myself drifting a bit, but once things picked up again I was fully hooked. Also, all the other side characters were amazing and felt alive, like they had their own stories happening off-page.
✨ Overall vibe
This book has:
a setting I actually wanted to explore
political fantasy
a plot that's actually engaging
teensy weensy bit of romantic tension (so excited to see where this goes)
emotional moments
I closed the book thinking, “Yep. I need book two immediately.”
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 18, 2025
Iron Heart of Terlian is AMAZING. It is one of my favorite books. I'm not going to lie, I am usually not a huge fan of YA books, I'm personally trying to get through the classics, but Adelaide Thorne is a master YA novelist. Her characters are interesting and complex, show growth, and she always manages to appease her readers with the best slow burner romances! But be prepared for your heart to be ripped out with this one 😭 All the characters are extremely likable, it's hard for me to pick a favorite, but I'm keen on Eliathor. Read for yourself, and I promise you'll be dying to read the sequel. So if you like YA, teen-like (or any age really!) special abilities, fantasy portal, romance, multi world building kind of book, written well, but is still EXTREMELY accessible then this is the book for you. I think it's the book for everyone!
February 25, 2026
Iron Heart of Terlian, a YA portal fantasy featuring loose Norse Mythology and an exiled prince.
On paper this description is perfect for me, and I wish more than anything it had come out when I was twenty years younger.
This book is absolutely perfect for young readers discovering their love of fantasy. It has engaging characters and a plot just complicated enough to keep you turning the page to see what happens next.
Where it fails for me as an adult is the bulk of the plot is told through dialogue rather than narrative which can come off as jarring when one is used to more complicated prose. This complaint is exactly what does work for young readers unused to the more complicated narrative of traditionally adult books.
I would absolutely recommend this book to teenagers or anyone who does prefer a more dialogue heavy fantasy story!
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ARC.
On paper this description is perfect for me, and I wish more than anything it had come out when I was twenty years younger.
This book is absolutely perfect for young readers discovering their love of fantasy. It has engaging characters and a plot just complicated enough to keep you turning the page to see what happens next.
Where it fails for me as an adult is the bulk of the plot is told through dialogue rather than narrative which can come off as jarring when one is used to more complicated prose. This complaint is exactly what does work for young readers unused to the more complicated narrative of traditionally adult books.
I would absolutely recommend this book to teenagers or anyone who does prefer a more dialogue heavy fantasy story!
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ARC.
October 20, 2025
What a cool, unique, and intriguing story!! 😍 Iron Heart of Terlian transports you to Iceland in a dying Earth, a girl who’s emotionally closed off, and a portal that takes her on a wild adventure through a whole other magical realm that’s just a little more connected to Earth than you might think. There were many twists I didn’t see coming, which kept me reading to figure it out with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the cast of characters, and the plot! My romantic heart wished there was a little more to the romance, but you get cute, light hints to something more in their relationship, which I’m assuming will develop more in the sequel. You can tell the author has done her research on Scandinavia and all of the languages, which makes the story that much more immersive! 😆
April 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.
I really wanted to like this book so much. The main problem - a world succumbing to blackness after Ragnorak and portals to other dimensions - and the mystical powers was intriguing; but sadly the world building and character development was not as developed as it needed to be. I wanted to have a better visual of the worlds (or realms) and the characters throughout the journey. Both their descriptions and interactions with Violet were lacking in dimension. The interactions improved towards the final portion of the book, but not enough for me to seek out the sequel.
I really wanted to like this book so much. The main problem - a world succumbing to blackness after Ragnorak and portals to other dimensions - and the mystical powers was intriguing; but sadly the world building and character development was not as developed as it needed to be. I wanted to have a better visual of the worlds (or realms) and the characters throughout the journey. Both their descriptions and interactions with Violet were lacking in dimension. The interactions improved towards the final portion of the book, but not enough for me to seek out the sequel.
May 22, 2026
3.5 Stars
I loved every minute how unique this story is and the premise has so much potential. At times I felt the story was simultaneously too simple, but at the same time overcomplicated. Kind of like the author was trying to make a problem more complicated just for the sake of appearing to be a difficult situation.
I did find that as I read, I wasn’t itching to find out what happened next. I wasn’t thinking about the story when I wasn’t reading. I enjoyed the story, but it was a “just ok” book for me.
I loved every minute how unique this story is and the premise has so much potential. At times I felt the story was simultaneously too simple, but at the same time overcomplicated. Kind of like the author was trying to make a problem more complicated just for the sake of appearing to be a difficult situation.
I did find that as I read, I wasn’t itching to find out what happened next. I wasn’t thinking about the story when I wasn’t reading. I enjoyed the story, but it was a “just ok” book for me.
November 13, 2025
Earth is dying, stripped of its greenery in a catastrophe called Ragnarök. Violet, desperate to save her world, stumbles into Terlian—a realm of exiled royals, a disillusioned prince, and dangerous magic thieves. She discovers that Earth’s fate is bound to a thousand‑year‑old prophecy, and a vigilante threatens to twist it for destruction. Though Violet only wants to heal Earth, she’s pulled into a struggle that spans two worlds, where survival and salvation collide.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
Simply put, this book is brilliant. Complex, dynamic characters, intricate worldbuilding, and a plot filled with twists and turns that will keep guessing. Thorne did a masterful job of incorporating different languages into this story, particularly her inclusion of Old Norse. Iron Heart of Terlian is easily one of my favorite books of the year, and I cannot wait for book two!
November 14, 2025
Iron Heart of Terlian was such a fun surprise. The world is vivid, the characters feel real, and the emotional moments hit hard in the best way. It’s the kind of fantasy that’s super easy to fall into and suddenly you’re 10 chapters deep without noticing. Definitely recommend if you love character-driven stories with a bit of romantic tension.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews