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House of the Iron Reaper: A sapphic Cinderella retelling
Not yet published
Expected 3 Oct 26
Dragons and magic combine in this sapphic retelling of Cinderella.
Deyanara is one of the last surviving dragons of House Iron, her lineage hanging by a thread after a tragic accident claimed her family. With her House on the brink of ruin, she's determined to work day and night to ensure its survival.
When she's mistaken for a contender in the brutal Ascension Rites—a legendary tournament where dragons fight monsters for the chance at winning divine favour—Deyanara expects humiliation. Instead, she finds a talent for battle and friendships she never expected—including one sharp-tongued rival.
But after a shocking turn sends the Rites spiralling into something far more deadly, Deyanara must decide what she's truly fighting for.
When she's mistaken for a contender in the brutal Ascension Rites—a legendary tournament where dragons fight monsters for the chance at winning divine favour—Deyanara expects humiliation. Instead, she finds a talent for battle and friendships she never expected—including one sharp-tongued rival.
But after a shocking turn sends the Rites spiralling into something far more deadly, Deyanara must decide what she's truly fighting for.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 30, 2026
A massive thank you to Storm Lomax and BookSirens for an ARC of House of the Iron Reaper!
Easily a contender for book of the year for me, a six star read and I’d quite happily reread it again already. It was a fast paced read, I found myself engrossed in the story and ended up reading 100+ pages without even realising it 🫣
The worldbuilding was fantastic, and after seeing the drawings of Coalsburgh on Instagram it’s exactly how I pictured it in my head ✨
The relationship between Novalie and Deyanara was perfectly executed, the angst and slow burn and “just kiss me already” had me rooting for them the whole way though 🙌🏻
I spent this book laughing, crying, and riveted, it was just a joy to read and everyone should add it to their tbr 💛
You’ll enjoy this if you like:
🐉 Dragon Shifters
🫣 Fake Dating
⚔️ Rivals to Lovers
❤️ Found Family
👩🏽❤️👩🏾Sapphic Romance
Easily a contender for book of the year for me, a six star read and I’d quite happily reread it again already. It was a fast paced read, I found myself engrossed in the story and ended up reading 100+ pages without even realising it 🫣
The worldbuilding was fantastic, and after seeing the drawings of Coalsburgh on Instagram it’s exactly how I pictured it in my head ✨
The relationship between Novalie and Deyanara was perfectly executed, the angst and slow burn and “just kiss me already” had me rooting for them the whole way though 🙌🏻
I spent this book laughing, crying, and riveted, it was just a joy to read and everyone should add it to their tbr 💛
You’ll enjoy this if you like:
🐉 Dragon Shifters
🫣 Fake Dating
⚔️ Rivals to Lovers
❤️ Found Family
👩🏽❤️👩🏾Sapphic Romance
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved this book! I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing and the world-building. Everything is so well crafted, and the characters are truly endearing! I just wanted to give Deyanara a big hug, and it’s so satisfying to see her development and how she opens up to others.
I was immediately drawn into the world and the story. I was very surprised by the final villain; perhaps I missed some clues, but it seemed to come a bit out of the blue. Nothing too serious, though.
The only slight downside is the odd typo here and there (not instead of no for example); there aren’t many, but sometimes I had to reread a sentence twice because the typo took me out of the story.
Overall, very good – I’d recommend it to fans of fantasy and dragons!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I was immediately drawn into the world and the story. I was very surprised by the final villain; perhaps I missed some clues, but it seemed to come a bit out of the blue. Nothing too serious, though.
The only slight downside is the odd typo here and there (not instead of no for example); there aren’t many, but sometimes I had to reread a sentence twice because the typo took me out of the story.
Overall, very good – I’d recommend it to fans of fantasy and dragons!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy
Yeah this is only like a 2.5 / 5 stars for me unfortunately. I really try not to DNF ARCs, so I did finish this but it was a struggle. This was just absolutely not the book for me, but based on the goodreads rating I'm obviously in the minority with my experience.
I think my main problem with this book was the worldbuilding, and the general lack of explanations. I usually like it when books don't world-build in very obvious and often obtrusive ways, where the plot stops for a paragraph or two to hold a monologue about an aspect of the world. But this book went too far in the other direction and explains not enough of its world-building, which left me a bit confused, but mainly uninterested.
For example, the ultimate fight and the ascension ceremony/process. The whole book, the four main characters are working towards it, but what it actually is, what the pros and cons, the dangers and such are went mostly unexplained, which made it really hard to care about it in any way. I mostly understood why Lysandra didn't want Deyanara to compete, but I had no clue why Deyanara did want to compete. The stakes in general were just very unclear, and that makes it really hard to get invested in any way.
Other parts of the world were also left too vague for my taste. I was very confused when werewolves were first mentioned, because we get 0 information about them. The physical structure of the city was also quite confusing; it’s divided into tiers, but I never quite understood whether that was more ‘metaphorical’ or if the city is actually fully vertical (like e.g. Zaun/Piltover from Arcane). Also what is a doomkin? A monster obviously, but this world has werewolves, dragon shifters, sirens and more, so I’d really appreaciate a bit more than just that.
There’s also weird incosistencies every now and then. Like in Chapter 10 Novalie says «I have not seen Deyanara even smile, let alone laugh», even though just a few chapters earlier it was an important story-beat that Deyanara laughed while fighting a doomkin. It’s ultimately inconsequential, but it just all kept adding up to make me more and more annoyed at everything.
I really didn’t find much I like about this book. The main characters were okay, though they always felt a bit… rigid? I really liked the dynamic between Deyanara and Lysandra, but I wish their relationship had gotten more page-time. Deyanara’s struggle with her past and how that affected her mental health was also very interesting, but again, I wish it had been discussed more.
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Thank you to the author for the ARC
I think my main problem with this book was the worldbuilding, and the general lack of explanations. I usually like it when books don't world-build in very obvious and often obtrusive ways, where the plot stops for a paragraph or two to hold a monologue about an aspect of the world. But this book went too far in the other direction and explains not enough of its world-building, which left me a bit confused, but mainly uninterested.
For example, the ultimate fight and the ascension ceremony/process. The whole book, the four main characters are working towards it, but what it actually is, what the pros and cons, the dangers and such are went mostly unexplained, which made it really hard to care about it in any way. I mostly understood why Lysandra didn't want Deyanara to compete, but I had no clue why Deyanara did want to compete. The stakes in general were just very unclear, and that makes it really hard to get invested in any way.
Other parts of the world were also left too vague for my taste. I was very confused when werewolves were first mentioned, because we get 0 information about them. The physical structure of the city was also quite confusing; it’s divided into tiers, but I never quite understood whether that was more ‘metaphorical’ or if the city is actually fully vertical (like e.g. Zaun/Piltover from Arcane). Also what is a doomkin? A monster obviously, but this world has werewolves, dragon shifters, sirens and more, so I’d really appreaciate a bit more than just that.
There’s also weird incosistencies every now and then. Like in Chapter 10 Novalie says «I have not seen Deyanara even smile, let alone laugh», even though just a few chapters earlier it was an important story-beat that Deyanara laughed while fighting a doomkin. It’s ultimately inconsequential, but it just all kept adding up to make me more and more annoyed at everything.
I really didn’t find much I like about this book. The main characters were okay, though they always felt a bit… rigid? I really liked the dynamic between Deyanara and Lysandra, but I wish their relationship had gotten more page-time. Deyanara’s struggle with her past and how that affected her mental health was also very interesting, but again, I wish it had been discussed more.
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Thank you to the author for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After devouring Wrath of the Never Queen a few months ago, I followed the author on Instagram, where I saw and loved the blurb reveal for House of the Iron Reaper (sapphic Cinderella retelling with dragon shifters, gladatorial-style tournament AND fake dating in it, yes please!). And then I saw the character art, and I was all in. Honestly, look up the art of Deyanara and Novalie and tell me I'm wrong! So when I saw the ARC appear on NetGalley, I instantly hit that Request button and I'm so glad I got to read House of the Iron Reaper early!
Just like with Wrath of the Never Queen, the writing style pulled me in from the very first page. House of the Iron Reaper was emotional, action-packed, and the character art definitely represented the main characters well. Deyanara and Novalie have a sweet, supportive, no-spice romance arc that was just so lovely to see unfold. There wasn't any drama from their relationship itself, as all of that came from the plot, which is personally my preference!
The Cinderella inspiration was clear but it was integrated so well with this fantasy setting with dragon and wolf shifters, so it felt like a really unique and fresh interpretation of the Cinderella fairytale. The gladiator-style tournament was also refreshing because the competitors weren't competing against each other. They were just there to show their individual worth. The plot genuinely surprised me too, and a few things happened that I just didn't see coming.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Just like with Wrath of the Never Queen, the writing style pulled me in from the very first page. House of the Iron Reaper was emotional, action-packed, and the character art definitely represented the main characters well. Deyanara and Novalie have a sweet, supportive, no-spice romance arc that was just so lovely to see unfold. There wasn't any drama from their relationship itself, as all of that came from the plot, which is personally my preference!
The Cinderella inspiration was clear but it was integrated so well with this fantasy setting with dragon and wolf shifters, so it felt like a really unique and fresh interpretation of the Cinderella fairytale. The gladiator-style tournament was also refreshing because the competitors weren't competing against each other. They were just there to show their individual worth. The plot genuinely surprised me too, and a few things happened that I just didn't see coming.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
July 20, 2026
I adored this book! The world-building, the characters, the emotions, the romance, the growth, the action. It was absolutely incredible. It instantly hooks with a tragic backstory, a deep rooted fear and an instant sense of regret leading to a self-imposed penitence. A house fallen and a child and her soul gift held entirely responsible, serving her time in hard, constant labour. When she finds herself in the wrong place at the right time she is drawn into a training group for ascension, learning her strength, learning to fight and meeting others with difficult pasts and complex relationships with their soul magic. Her new self-proclaimed rival, from a privileged background, a whole other world, with different expectations upon her and different motivations. Alongside their classmates they grow, they mature, they fight.
The relationships evolve so well, well paced and natural. The romance slow and sweet, developing and growing beautifully. Then this book is confronts grief beautifully. The characters share a major loss, and all handle it differently. Their internal breakdowns, their discussions, their growth, it's emotional, it's bittersweet and it's chokingly honest. And, all in the lead up to the exposure of a dark plot, a major confrontation and further character development!
It is brilliantly written, perfectly paced and packed with action, character growth and a sweet sapphic romance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The relationships evolve so well, well paced and natural. The romance slow and sweet, developing and growing beautifully. Then this book is confronts grief beautifully. The characters share a major loss, and all handle it differently. Their internal breakdowns, their discussions, their growth, it's emotional, it's bittersweet and it's chokingly honest. And, all in the lead up to the exposure of a dark plot, a major confrontation and further character development!
It is brilliantly written, perfectly paced and packed with action, character growth and a sweet sapphic romance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
House of the Iron Reaper is a fresh, engaging Cinderella retelling featuring dragon shifters, class divisions, and some fun, gory monster action.
The Cinderella character, a dragon shifter named Deyanara, subverts expectations - she's very deferential, insecure, and emotionally vulnerable due to severe childhood trauma, but is also described as very strong and muscular, seems butch-coded, and is exceedingly powerful in her dragon form. Her stepmother, Lysandra, the leader of their dragon clan, is also a lot more complex than the typical evil-stepmother trope. From there, the story doesn't resemble Cinderella's too much, and rather focuses on a series of trials in which dragons and other shifters fight monsters to prove their worth. Though trials will always feel a bit stale to me at this point, the fight scenes are gripping, and I enjoyed the found-family dynamic between Deyanara, her love interest Novalie, and the other competitors. Deyanara and Novalie's romance is sweet, if fairly rushed and young in feel. The fighters are all meant to be in their 30s - one has children, and it's a big part of his storyline - but they speak and behave a lot younger. It ends up feeling fairly YA, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I recommend House of the Iron Reaper for fans of sapphic retellings, shifter romances, and dragon fantasies. I, for one, will definitely plan to read any further sapphic fairytale remixes by Storm Lomax!
The Cinderella character, a dragon shifter named Deyanara, subverts expectations - she's very deferential, insecure, and emotionally vulnerable due to severe childhood trauma, but is also described as very strong and muscular, seems butch-coded, and is exceedingly powerful in her dragon form. Her stepmother, Lysandra, the leader of their dragon clan, is also a lot more complex than the typical evil-stepmother trope. From there, the story doesn't resemble Cinderella's too much, and rather focuses on a series of trials in which dragons and other shifters fight monsters to prove their worth. Though trials will always feel a bit stale to me at this point, the fight scenes are gripping, and I enjoyed the found-family dynamic between Deyanara, her love interest Novalie, and the other competitors. Deyanara and Novalie's romance is sweet, if fairly rushed and young in feel. The fighters are all meant to be in their 30s - one has children, and it's a big part of his storyline - but they speak and behave a lot younger. It ends up feeling fairly YA, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I recommend House of the Iron Reaper for fans of sapphic retellings, shifter romances, and dragon fantasies. I, for one, will definitely plan to read any further sapphic fairytale remixes by Storm Lomax!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an INCREDIBLE fantasy adventure!!
I was gripped from page one, picking it up whenever I had a chance to read some more and find out what happened next. It is a rare treat to find a book so creative and original, but written in a way that it still feels welcoming and familiar.
I love love love this fantasy world. Many of the creatures are familiar to us – dragons and werewolves, for a start – but their existing lore is only the starting point. Particularly with the dragons, Storm Lomax has created such a rich and intricate society, social structure, and culture. Even just the way dragons exist and work as physical creatures felt fresh and original, without ever losing the ‘dragon-ness’ of it all.
Our two main characters are Deyanara and Novalie, and I really enjoyed their dynamic and seeing how they helped each other grow throughout the book. Deyanara in particular goes on such a journey, and it’s impossible not to be cheering her on and rooting for her the whole way.
There were plenty of action scenes throughout the book, and reading them felt almost cinematic. I could picture it all so clearly in my head, and I loved seeing these incredibly strong women become the warriors they were destined to be.
This was the perfect book to escape for a few hours, and I have definitely found a new favourite author in Storm Lomax!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I was gripped from page one, picking it up whenever I had a chance to read some more and find out what happened next. It is a rare treat to find a book so creative and original, but written in a way that it still feels welcoming and familiar.
I love love love this fantasy world. Many of the creatures are familiar to us – dragons and werewolves, for a start – but their existing lore is only the starting point. Particularly with the dragons, Storm Lomax has created such a rich and intricate society, social structure, and culture. Even just the way dragons exist and work as physical creatures felt fresh and original, without ever losing the ‘dragon-ness’ of it all.
Our two main characters are Deyanara and Novalie, and I really enjoyed their dynamic and seeing how they helped each other grow throughout the book. Deyanara in particular goes on such a journey, and it’s impossible not to be cheering her on and rooting for her the whole way.
There were plenty of action scenes throughout the book, and reading them felt almost cinematic. I could picture it all so clearly in my head, and I loved seeing these incredibly strong women become the warriors they were destined to be.
This was the perfect book to escape for a few hours, and I have definitely found a new favourite author in Storm Lomax!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
House of the Iron Reaper was a refreshing twist on Cinderella that felt completely its own. I especially enjoyed Deyanara as a main character—she starts out simply trying to keep her struggling House alive, but her journey quickly becomes much bigger and more exciting. The gladiatorial-style dragon battles added plenty of action, while the unique magic system kept me interested throughout. Storm Lomax does a great job balancing high-stakes fantasy with character development, making it easy to stay invested in both the world and the people in it.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the relationships. The sapphic romance, rivals-to-lovers dynamic, and fake dating elements blended naturally into the story without taking away from the larger plot. I also loved the found family theme, which gave the book a lot of heart alongside all the action and danger. As a fan of Storm Lomax's writing, this book reminded me why I keep coming back to her stories—engaging characters, imaginative world-building, and an emotional core that makes the adventure feel meaningful. I would definitely recommend House of the Iron Reaper to readers who enjoy fantasy retellings, dragon shifters, and character-driven stories with a strong romantic subplot.
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One of my favorite parts of the book was the relationships. The sapphic romance, rivals-to-lovers dynamic, and fake dating elements blended naturally into the story without taking away from the larger plot. I also loved the found family theme, which gave the book a lot of heart alongside all the action and danger. As a fan of Storm Lomax's writing, this book reminded me why I keep coming back to her stories—engaging characters, imaginative world-building, and an emotional core that makes the adventure feel meaningful. I would definitely recommend House of the Iron Reaper to readers who enjoy fantasy retellings, dragon shifters, and character-driven stories with a strong romantic subplot.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this one and it completely surprised me.
Going in, I was a little hesitant because of the Cinderella retelling angle in the description. Honestly, I think this story is strong enough to stand on its own without leaning on that comparison. It feels like its own unique, dark fantasy rather than just a retelling.
The world-building was fantastic, with plenty of mystery, morally grey characters, and a cast that felt wonderfully flawed. I also loved the dragon shifters and the exploration of class differences.
More than anything, I was surprised by how well written it was. It definitely exceeded my expectations.
Highly recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this arc.
Going in, I was a little hesitant because of the Cinderella retelling angle in the description. Honestly, I think this story is strong enough to stand on its own without leaning on that comparison. It feels like its own unique, dark fantasy rather than just a retelling.
The world-building was fantastic, with plenty of mystery, morally grey characters, and a cast that felt wonderfully flawed. I also loved the dragon shifters and the exploration of class differences.
More than anything, I was surprised by how well written it was. It definitely exceeded my expectations.
Highly recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There aren't enough books about dragon shapeshifters, let alone LGBT+ ones. Great world building and interesting plot. The characters are well developed, the cast is diverse, the action is dynamic. The author has chosen an unusual but effective approach to writing to enhance the emotional impact. Yeah, it made me shed a few tears :). I think the story promises a sequel and I'm looking forward to it, I hope the author gives us more of their fantasy world :).
Review of advance copy received from Author
A deep and intricate world, well described. The main character’s sense of guilt is palpable through the story.
This isn’t your standard wee fantasy story, this is a layered and extremely well put together combination of factors like world building, character growth and action.
I will be rereading this one!
This isn’t your standard wee fantasy story, this is a layered and extremely well put together combination of factors like world building, character growth and action.
I will be rereading this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Excellent follow up to the equally fantastic Wrath of the Neverqueen.
Truly lovable characters who you truly empathise with as they overcome their demons and the fights scenes are explosively entertaining.
Would highly recommend.
Truly lovable characters who you truly empathise with as they overcome their demons and the fights scenes are explosively entertaining.
Would highly recommend.
Review of advance copy
wow phenomenal, I loved reading this book so much that I read it in one go I couldn't put it down the main characters chemistry was scorching their shared bond held no bounds it was exceptionally written with a so depth making you feel apart of their life's a must-read congratulations
July 19, 2026
3.5/5. I’m not even sure I should rate this one, because it was like if a book was selling DLC to get the full story. I mean, I enjoyed the (very clearly written for teens, looking back) story—what there was of it, anyway. But that’s the problem I’m having with trying to rate it. I feel like half of it was missing, but it’s probably not. Like, places where we could’ve been privy as they developed themselves, the relationships could’ve solidified, and their training and interactions could’ve really gone deeper… it just was all missing. The jumps between scenes and events were more like leaps across the Mariana Trench. It was good on the surface, in any case, I just wanted more from it. I guess I didn’t realise it was more of a book not for adults, so maybe it should really be a 4-4.25/5. Idk. I’m just working with what I’ve got.
—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All ratings, reviews, and unwanted opinions are my own.—
—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All ratings, reviews, and unwanted opinions are my own.—
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I truly loved it! From the magic system to the characters and world itself, all of it was awesome.
I truly loved it! From the magic system to the characters and world itself, all of it was awesome.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews