Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Of Iron and Moonlight: Book One of Stones of Oraith

Not yet published
Expected 8 Oct 26
Rate this book
For generations, the fae have been absent from human lands—long enough for most people to forget they ever existed, and for the old stories to become little more than myth.

Then people start disappearing.

The search for answers draws a grieving duke into a growing political crisis, sends a young woman in desperate pursuit of her missing best friend, and traps a blacksmith inside the stolen identity he never intended to keep. Their paths converge as buried histories resurface, dormant powers awaken, and the boundaries between human and fae begin to unravel.

Because while humans forgot the fae, the fae never forgot them.

742 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 8, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Irene Edwards

1 book15 followers
Irene Edwards is a New York–based author who writes stories for readers who still believe there’s a little mischief and magic left in the world. Her epic fantasy novels combine sprawling worlds, political intrigue, slow-burn romance, and unforgettable characters who fight for hope even when the odds seem impossible. Inspired in part by her time living in the Nordics, she created the world of Oraith—a place where humans have forgotten the fae, ancient powers are awakening, and old stories refuse to stay buried. She is the author of the Stones of Oraith series, beginning with Of Iron and Moonlight. When she’s not writing, she’s usually planning her next adventure, exploring somewhere new, or getting lost in a good book.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
8 (72%)
4 stars
2 (18%)
3 stars
1 (9%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Lauren.
98 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 1, 2026
Kindly received an ARC copy for an honest review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

⭐ Slow-Burn Romance
⭐ Enemies to Lovers
⭐ Found Family
⭐ Stolen Identity

As someone who has always loved multiple POV's this novel captivated me from chapter one! As the book developed I slowly became more and more obsessed with the characters in Oraith. The quests and romance scenes reminded me of Mistborn and Throne of Glass with the witty dialogues and sweet words.

We essentially got two entire stories for the price of one and they were both beautifully woven in together. I felt all the emotions and even cried during some of the chapters. Irene Edwards said she healed writing this book, reading this book healed parts of me I long forgot. She touches on grief and the impact of knowing we are not alone and always loved by those around us.

Kora's character reminded me much of myself in the sense of feeling like a wallflower who doesn't always realize how much she shines. We quickly learn there is more beneath the surface, as she is a knowledgeable, witty businesswoman with a love for learning. Elara is amazing, and I admire how she cares for the people in her life and the lengths she’s willing to go to support them.

The chapter lengths were not long at all which made it easy to keep reading. I quickly got hooked to this captivating fantasy world and I did not want to leave! I am so excited to see where the next story unfolds <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for taysbookreads.
2 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 12, 2026
Thank you so much to Irene Edwards for trusting me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How is this a debut?!

Irene’s writing completely swept me into Oraith. I genuinely don’t think there was a single perspective I wasn’t excited to return to, which is incredibly rare for me in a multi-POV fantasy. I loved that this wasn’t a story carried by one character alone. Every character had something meaningful to contribute

I loved how effortlessly Irene balanced two completely different romances without either one overshadowing the story. One relationship quietly grew through trust and respect, while the other simmered with tension and banter. Neither romance felt like it existed simply because the story needed one.

“I love that you ask the second question when others would stop at the first… And most of all, I love that you feel fear and never let it rule you.”

Neither romance relied on huge dramatic moments. It was the little observations & quiet conversations that makes the romance more real.

“Loss only exists because love came first.. It doesn’t make absence easier. But it means something endured.”

Irene trusted the reader. She doesn’t hand you the entire history of Oraith in one go. Instead, she lets you uncover it slowly through the characters, the politics and the choices they make. You feel the grief alongside them, you feel how every decision they make has consequences. It made the world so much more immersive and that I was learning alongside the characters.

If you’re looking for..

✨ Slow-burn romance
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Marriage of convenience
✨ Stolen Identity
✨ Political intrigue

then I genuinely think you’ll love this book.

Excuse me but the ending ?!!

Without giving anything away, Irene quietly plants the smallest seed that there could be more to this story.. I HOPE BECAUSE I NEED TO GO BACK pls

If Of Iron and Moonlight is what Irene Edwards can do with a debut novel, I genuinely cannot wait to see what she writes next. And I’ll be first in line to read anything in the future!
Profile Image for Ashley Sands.
7 reviews
August 12, 2026
Can I just start by saying thank you NetGalley and Irene Edwards for this ARC.

Let’s start by saying just wow! This book was absolutely amazing. This was hands down one of the best books I have read in awhile especially in the fantasy genre. If you are a fan of George R. R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson it is like they had a baby.

The world is so beautifully written you feel like you are there. You can imagine and see it clearly even the smells. All of the characters are so well written you feel like you know them and connect with them. She makes you fall in love with and grow attached.

I loved the multiple POVs there wasn’t one that I didn’t care for. I wanted to know everything that was going on with each one. The romance was done so well there was enough of it but it wasn’t the forefront of the story. I can not wait to step back into her world.
Profile Image for Jodie Saunders.
24 reviews
August 11, 2026
ARC REVIEW

I’m not usually an fan of 3rd person writing but it was easy to follow along as there were multiple POV’s per chapter. The chapters were fairly short which helped with the flow of the book. I enjoyed this book and the growth of the characters all in all good read
Profile Image for Kelsey .
21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 11, 2026
I received an advanced reader copy.

This book has a little bit of everything, in all the best ways. There are court politics, romance, secret pasts and identities, conspiring nobles, battles, and so much more. An amazing accomplishment from debut author Irene Edwards.

This book is filled with characters you love and hate. The book is written in third person with multiple POV characters. I love books with multiple POVs, though there are so many that, in the beginning, I was a little put off by all the new POVs that were being introduced. But by the end of the book, I looked forward to each POV. I love how the author intersected the storylines of different characters in unexpected ways, leading to a ragtag group of individuals all working together to save the empire.

The setting and world-building are top-notch. The world-building feels natural, and the descriptions are beautiful without being overly flowery or long. I loved how each of the different duchies and kingdoms felt unique in their way of life and the surrounding terrain. I already want to go back into this world, and I can't wait for the next book.

I loved the romance that was sprinkled in alongside all of the political intrigue and conflict of the world. The romance is closed-door, and it is present without feeling like the overwhelming focus of the book. Edwards also excels at writing the friendships in this book. Whether they are lifelong or newly formed, the friendships in this book are so believable and well done.

The ending was very well done. So many loose threads were wrapped up, and it doesn't feel rushed. There is also a nice cliffhanger for the next book, along with more questions to explore, without this book feeling unfinished.

Why it's not a five-star read:

The beginning is hard. There is a lot of information that takes a while to grasp, along with a lot of characters. It is worth it to keep reading, but just know that the beginning is a slow build. It's not overly exposition-heavy, and the world-building is subtly added rather than being dumped on you.

I loved all of this book aside from one part near the end. The choice the author made regarding one of the characters' directions was very jarring and felt completely unexpected. I don't want to spoil it, and other readers might not mind, so it is not a reason I wouldn't recommend the book.

Aside from those two areas, I loved reading this book, and I would highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Sarah Rogers.
317 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 25, 2026
Of Iron and Moonlight is one of the best-balanced blends of epic fantasy and romantasy I’ve read.

You get two traditional romantasy tropes for the price of one - arranged marriage and enemies-to-lovers. These are adults with established loyalties, grief, responsibilities, and bad habits, and love gives them more to risk rather than solving everything for them. Duncan and Kora’s arranged marriage works because Edwards makes mutual respect as important as attraction. They fall for each other partly by watching the other person govern and solve problems. Njall and Elara bring a very different energy, with suspicion, sharp banter, and two people who are much more comfortable challenging than trusting each other. It is deeply satisfying to read romances where competence matters and partnership develops through more than chemistry.

The wider book has that same patience. It starts with people trying to survive the roles already chosen for them, then keeps widening until those private struggles are tangled up in imperial reform, fae politics, magical exploitation, and war. The separate storylines take time to show their connections, but the eventual convergence feels like something that was thoughtfully worked towards from beginning to end.

Edwards takes the political and cultural parts of the world seriously. Titles create obligations. Reform creates winners and losers. Roads, trade, food, climate, faith, and local customs all change what power looks like from one region to another. The atmosphere changes with them, moving from domestic warmth into something colder and increasingly threatening.

It is a long book, with more than one hundred short chapters and a large rotating cast, but I was rarely intimidated by its size while reading it. The chapter length keeps it moving, and each new connection makes the world feel larger without allowing the scale to swallow the characters. It is firmly epic fantasy in its density and scope, but the relationships keep all the politics and war personal.

Irene Edwards has arrived with an indie debut that leaves no doubt about what she can do. An easy five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Irene Edwards for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sam.
163 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 10, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ How is this an indie debut?! Thank you so much to the Author for this ARC. I seriously could not be more impressed.

Of Iron and Moonlight by Irene Edwards was SO good. This is easily one of the best blends of epic fantasy and romantasy I’ve read, and I genuinely cannot believe this is a debut.

The worldbuilding was incredible without ever feeling like I was being hit over the head with information. You slowly learn about Oraith through the characters, politics, different regions, and the choices they make. Everything actually feels important and connected, and I loved how much thought went into the world.

And the characters?! I don’t think there was a single POV I didn’t want to get back to, which is pretty impressive considering there are a LOT of them. Even though this book is long and has over 100 chapters, the short chapters made it fly by.

The dual romances were SO good. Irene is giving us TWO romance stories in one book and is doing better than most authors do with one.

Duncan & Kora gave me arranged marriage, slow-burn, mutual respect, and two competent adults slowly falling for each other.

Njall & Elara were completely different with their enemies-to-lovers tension, banter, and constant suspicion of each other.

I loved that both relationships felt earned. These aren’t characters whose entire personalities disappear once they fall in love. They have responsibilities, trauma, loyalties, and actual lives outside of their relationships.

The story starts out feeling almost cozy before slowly getting darker and more intense, and by the end I was completely invested in all of these characters and their stories.

For an indie debut, this was seriously impressive. I cannot wait to see what Irene Edwards does next! 🖤
Profile Image for Kelly.
53 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 11, 2026
**Review of advanced readers copy from author**

For this to be a debut novel is a feat in of itself. Most debut authors cannot write an over 700 page book as their debut and have done it well at the same time.

However, since it is such a long book, and it is the author's first novel, this might put some people off. Why risk your time reading such a long book by someone you've never heard of when you can reach for a trusted author.

However, based off of mine, and the other ARC readers reviews, if you like fantasy, political intrigue, magic, and a sprinkle of romance, then this is for you. It's definitely worth giving it a shot.

The book is over 100 chapters long, but the chapters themselves are short and each is told from a different POV. I enjoyed each POV, there wasn't one that I found myself wanting to skip through, or hating that it was now their turn.

Each character grew and changed throughout their journeys in their own way, and it was interesting to see them all go through those changes from their POV.

The only reason why this wasn't a 5 star read for me was because it did take me a while to get into it. A lot of characters were introduced at the beginning and it took me a while to get them straight. The beginning of the book was also very politics heavy, and it took a while for the plot to pick up or for the action to happen. Once I got passed that and got into the book, I was gone.

If these tropes sound up your alley, give this book a shot. Just be ready for some heartbreak.
Profile Image for YW.
31 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 28, 2026
Like all great fantasy romance books, I started off needing to get to know the characters and the world. Irene’s world-building is rich and full of detail, and once I grasped the names and the setting, I was completely hooked! I mean this is a big book and I got through it quick!!

As the book goes on, you really get to know the characters, and I found myself extremely attached to their separate stories. I went through ALL the emotions during this book! All of them!

With multiple POVs, you get multiple tropes and different couples:
* Marriage of convenience: A story where their mutual respect and care for each other grows into something truly beautiful. Where the slow burn was burrningggggg 🔥🔥
* Enemies to lovers: A dynamic where they were never truly enemies, and despite their best efforts, they still gravitate toward each other.
* Found family, all the main characters find a place they belong and forge a family of their own.

🌶️ Low spice
💍 Marriage of Convenience: Slow burn, miscommunication, war, and “oh no, I actually love them.”
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers: High tension, intense chemistry, magnetizing pull.
🧚 World & Plot: Fae vs. Human, high-stakes political intrigue, found family.
📚 Format: Multi-POV with multiple couples to obsess over.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this!
Profile Image for Michelle Stewart.
593 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 30, 2026
What a fantastic book.
I normally don't love when there is a bunch of different pov's because it can make it hard to follow but I don't think I would have lived this book as much without them.
I loved the real slow burn eventual fall in love in spite of everything with Duncan and Kora. The way their relationship evolved gradually was realistic and sweet. The way Duncan let her just be herself and didn't try to change anything about her.
The other love story was just as good though more an enemies to lovers then slow burn. Njall and Elara come from different worlds and united in a cause before the end just brought them closer together. In the end they both lost someone that meant everything to them and I can't wait to see how their relationship pothead in the next book.
The villians were truly evil and there is no redemption but they also were not always the most obvious ones. I really hope that they get what is coming to them.
There were losses of characters I thought would make it through to the end and it was devastating. My heart broke add it all unfolded.
I received an advance review copy but these thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Erin Masura.
127 reviews22 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 4, 2026
Holy slooooow burn! It burns in the best way.
This beautifully written book has multiple pov’s and it is done so well. I absolutely ate this book up. The character development and world building draw you in and the love for the characters keep you turning page after page until way past bedtime. The two main couples Kora & Duncan and Njall & Elara have two very different storylines but again the author flows everything together perfectly. Kora and Duncan have an arranged marriage, mutual respect, trust and love that builds slow yet fiercely. Kora is wise beyond her years and not to be underestimated! Njall & Elara start off with some serious enemies to lovers energy and great banter.
I need to give a special shout out to Isander he may just be one of my favorite loyal best friend. He has a special piece of of heart.
Some serious emotions take place as you read the words! Highly recommend this book!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews