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Coat of Iron: Book 1 in the Red War Saga
Not yet published
Expected 1 Oct 26Beneath a ceiling of Red, all Len Reyus has known is garbage and death.
Two hundred years have passed since an element once thought to be a miracle closed off Earth, trapping those left behind during the evacuation in a nightmare. Barely thirty thousand remain, now, and like most, Len is a scavenger, not because she wishes to be, but because that's all that's left.
But this is not the life Len wants.
A desire to fulfill a greater purpose continuously tugs at the back of her mind, an itch that she's meant for more than the hills of trash she spends her days searching through, hoping to find something of value.
When that opportunity comes, Len does not hesitate, even when it comes in the form of a giant machine.
Thrust into the cockpit of a Reaver—a humanoid mech used to combat the creations born within the planet's core—Len finds herself caught amidst a two-front war fighting against impossible odds. But a once-simple conflict takes a turn, and Len is faced with a terrible truth.
When searching for a purpose, one must be careful not to lose oneself… and become something else.
Two hundred years have passed since an element once thought to be a miracle closed off Earth, trapping those left behind during the evacuation in a nightmare. Barely thirty thousand remain, now, and like most, Len is a scavenger, not because she wishes to be, but because that's all that's left.
But this is not the life Len wants.
A desire to fulfill a greater purpose continuously tugs at the back of her mind, an itch that she's meant for more than the hills of trash she spends her days searching through, hoping to find something of value.
When that opportunity comes, Len does not hesitate, even when it comes in the form of a giant machine.
Thrust into the cockpit of a Reaver—a humanoid mech used to combat the creations born within the planet's core—Len finds herself caught amidst a two-front war fighting against impossible odds. But a once-simple conflict takes a turn, and Len is faced with a terrible truth.
When searching for a purpose, one must be careful not to lose oneself… and become something else.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 4, 2026
4/5 ⭐️ Thanks so much to Josh Volk for providing me with an advanced copy!!! Coat of Iron releases in October 2026.
For me, the best way to describe Coat of Iron would be “Neon Genesis Evangelion meets Gothic meets Annihilation”. A civilization trapped behind an impenetrable barrier where nothing gets in or out? A world where nature itself seems to have declared war on humanity? And in the midst of all, we have the young MC Len piloting a giant mech against monstrous entities? Yeah, sign me up.
What kept me turning the pages most, though, was Josh Volk’s chapter endings. Almost every chapter ends on some kind of cliffhanger or reveal, making it ridiculously easy to justify reading “just one more“ :)
The worldbuilding was easily one of the strongest parts for me. I loved the concept of the Red Flow and how deeply it shaped the planet, its people and the mech pilots.
The characters also surprised me. At only around 370 pages, I expected to need another book before I actually cared about anyone, but Len’s crew genuinely felt like a real friend group. Their banter, quirks, and found-family dynamics made it feel like I’d known them for much longer than I actually had. I also came to especially like Robert, and by the end, I found myself surprisingly invested in his personal tragedy.
And then… that midpoint climax omg!!! So much action, so much happening at once, barely a second to breathe, and then those consequences?? I was shook!! 💀💀
And don’t even get me started on that epilogue. Excuse me? What do you mean epilogue?? That ending was absolutely diabolical, and I’m already curious to see where the story goes from there.
That said, I still had some issues.
First of all: why did three central characters have to be named Kane, Akane, and Arcade, respectively, in the same book? Every time those three names appeared close together my brain was struggling.
My biggest criticism, though, was Len herself. I really got to like her, however, she often felt way too composed in situations where I expected her to completely fall apart. Time and time again she’d be exhausted, injured, or overwhelmed, only to immediately push through because “I am a pilot.” While I understand the intended determination, it started to feel like a convenient shortcut whenever the story needed her to overcome an obstacle. That also sometimes affected the pacing of the conflicts. Training, emotional struggles, even parts of the combat often resolved a little too cleanly for my taste. There were several moments where it felt like sheer willpower solved problems that I’d hoped would require a bit more growth or consequence.
I’m also still conflicted about the main antagonist. I actually like her portrayal and the overall moral ambiguity (which I found much more interesting than a simple “big bad villain“), but despite her constantly looming over the story, appearing almost everywhere and haunting multiple characters, I never really felt her presence the way I think I was supposed to. I struggled to visualize her, and even the final confrontation felt a little too quickly wrapped up (keeping this spoiler-free).
The pacing after the midpoint also slowed down considerably to focus on the aftermath. While it wasn’t necessarily what I wanted in the moment, I eventually did come to appreciate why Josh Volk chose to spend that time exploring Len’s emotional state instead of immediately rushing to the finish line.
Overall, Coat of Iron is a very compelling sci-fi debut with excellent worldbuilding, lovable found-family dynamics, incredible chapter hooks, and an ending that practically screams,“you’re reading book two, right??“ haha
For me, the best way to describe Coat of Iron would be “Neon Genesis Evangelion meets Gothic meets Annihilation”. A civilization trapped behind an impenetrable barrier where nothing gets in or out? A world where nature itself seems to have declared war on humanity? And in the midst of all, we have the young MC Len piloting a giant mech against monstrous entities? Yeah, sign me up.
What kept me turning the pages most, though, was Josh Volk’s chapter endings. Almost every chapter ends on some kind of cliffhanger or reveal, making it ridiculously easy to justify reading “just one more“ :)
The worldbuilding was easily one of the strongest parts for me. I loved the concept of the Red Flow and how deeply it shaped the planet, its people and the mech pilots.
The characters also surprised me. At only around 370 pages, I expected to need another book before I actually cared about anyone, but Len’s crew genuinely felt like a real friend group. Their banter, quirks, and found-family dynamics made it feel like I’d known them for much longer than I actually had. I also came to especially like Robert, and by the end, I found myself surprisingly invested in his personal tragedy.
And then… that midpoint climax omg!!! So much action, so much happening at once, barely a second to breathe, and then those consequences?? I was shook!! 💀💀
And don’t even get me started on that epilogue. Excuse me? What do you mean epilogue?? That ending was absolutely diabolical, and I’m already curious to see where the story goes from there.
That said, I still had some issues.
First of all: why did three central characters have to be named Kane, Akane, and Arcade, respectively, in the same book? Every time those three names appeared close together my brain was struggling.
My biggest criticism, though, was Len herself. I really got to like her, however, she often felt way too composed in situations where I expected her to completely fall apart. Time and time again she’d be exhausted, injured, or overwhelmed, only to immediately push through because “I am a pilot.” While I understand the intended determination, it started to feel like a convenient shortcut whenever the story needed her to overcome an obstacle. That also sometimes affected the pacing of the conflicts. Training, emotional struggles, even parts of the combat often resolved a little too cleanly for my taste. There were several moments where it felt like sheer willpower solved problems that I’d hoped would require a bit more growth or consequence.
I’m also still conflicted about the main antagonist. I actually like her portrayal and the overall moral ambiguity (which I found much more interesting than a simple “big bad villain“), but despite her constantly looming over the story, appearing almost everywhere and haunting multiple characters, I never really felt her presence the way I think I was supposed to. I struggled to visualize her, and even the final confrontation felt a little too quickly wrapped up (keeping this spoiler-free).
The pacing after the midpoint also slowed down considerably to focus on the aftermath. While it wasn’t necessarily what I wanted in the moment, I eventually did come to appreciate why Josh Volk chose to spend that time exploring Len’s emotional state instead of immediately rushing to the finish line.
Overall, Coat of Iron is a very compelling sci-fi debut with excellent worldbuilding, lovable found-family dynamics, incredible chapter hooks, and an ending that practically screams,“you’re reading book two, right??“ haha
July 14, 2026
it’s insane how the antagonist has only one scene on page and still has such a presence. they’re easily my favorite thing about the book, specifically because of how the myth surrounding them is built up. i also loved being inside the protagonist’s head. len is refreshing because she’s a young protagonist who actually feels young, and is allowed to make stakes and be extremely flawed. she’s basically the opposite of a mary sue, but still strong in her own way, and you can’t help but root for her.
the found family aspect was really fun as well, and i liked that everyone in the crew had such a distinct personality, but also a distinct role. my favorite was kane (which is almost definitely a hot take, but i will forever stand by it). i like how they each tested each other, and len, in different ways.
the science was also extremely interesting, especially the concept of red flow. the worldbuilding is quite elaborate, but because it’s being filtered through len’s pov, it never feels difficult to digest. it’s woven in very naturally, and it’s very clear that there’s more to uncover in the sequel.
the found family aspect was really fun as well, and i liked that everyone in the crew had such a distinct personality, but also a distinct role. my favorite was kane (which is almost definitely a hot take, but i will forever stand by it). i like how they each tested each other, and len, in different ways.
the science was also extremely interesting, especially the concept of red flow. the worldbuilding is quite elaborate, but because it’s being filtered through len’s pov, it never feels difficult to digest. it’s woven in very naturally, and it’s very clear that there’s more to uncover in the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Josh Volk really manages to portray Len’s conflicted feelings of not belonging anywhere and of finally finding her place in this entirely new world she suddenly finds herself in. She goes from being a nobody to being a somebody in the blink of an eye, and being able to follow her reasoning and thoughts as she leaves her old life behind is what makes the book so great. You can truly feel her emotions.
Even though the main antagonist is scarcely described and does not make her first appearance until late in the story, she remains a strong presence throughout the entire book. Her absence from the narrative, combined with the immense impact she has on the characters, allows readers to create their own interpretation of the “monster” that is Cel.
Even though the main antagonist is scarcely described and does not make her first appearance until late in the story, she remains a strong presence throughout the entire book. Her absence from the narrative, combined with the immense impact she has on the characters, allows readers to create their own interpretation of the “monster” that is Cel.
Review of advance copy
Out of everything I've ever written, nothing has given me nightmares like the antagonist in this series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews