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Iron #1
Blood In Iron
Even the purest of bloodlines can begin in darkness.
Kory has never been afraid to walk down a dark, decrepit street at night for two reasons. One, she can see the villains lurking in the shadows, hear their footsteps as they approach, feel their malicious presence closing the distance. And two, on any given day or night she’s more dangerous than them. Or so she thought.
When the rebellious teen discovers the true evil underbelly of Bishop City, Kory’s life and all she’s ever known is irrevocably shattered. She’s caught between simply surviving and following the path she never knew existed. Rex becomes her teacher and the chemistry between them is both undeniable and forbidden.
Relationships and loyalties are tested and, as Kory falls deeper into this new supernatural world, dark secrets arise, hinting that her destiny might be more than she bargained for. Is she simply another demon hunter? Or is her blood the key to something darker?
***Mature YA. Intended for audiences 17+ due to language, violence, drugs, and some sexual content***
Kory has never been afraid to walk down a dark, decrepit street at night for two reasons. One, she can see the villains lurking in the shadows, hear their footsteps as they approach, feel their malicious presence closing the distance. And two, on any given day or night she’s more dangerous than them. Or so she thought.
When the rebellious teen discovers the true evil underbelly of Bishop City, Kory’s life and all she’s ever known is irrevocably shattered. She’s caught between simply surviving and following the path she never knew existed. Rex becomes her teacher and the chemistry between them is both undeniable and forbidden.
Relationships and loyalties are tested and, as Kory falls deeper into this new supernatural world, dark secrets arise, hinting that her destiny might be more than she bargained for. Is she simply another demon hunter? Or is her blood the key to something darker?
***Mature YA. Intended for audiences 17+ due to language, violence, drugs, and some sexual content***
272 pages, ebook
First published August 4, 2015
92 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Colon
46 books303 followersUSA Today Bestselling author J.N. Colon writes fast-paced paranormal romance and urban fantasy. As a bona fide bookworm and paranormal junkie, she’ll snatch readers from their cozy couches and drop them in a perilous world ripe with mystery, danger, and romance. While sipping mocha lattes and devouring sweets, she crafts chilling adventures starring snarky heroines and brooding bad boys. Binge-watching reruns of Supernatural and Vampire Diaries help her create the perfect blend of thrilling action and epic romance. Subscribe to J.N.’s newsletter for a free book and dive into a spine-tingling journey today. www.jncolon.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 29, 2017
Loved snarky, kick-ass tough girl Kory. Her life has been hard, losing her parents young then living with and caring for her drug addicted aunt. She has had to get tough to survive and her life has made hers independent, suspicious, lacking in trust, full of attitude and quick with her fists. And I loved that about her. Luckily she also has a little extra something that makes her extra quick and strong and always able to see and hear those who hide in the shadows. Kory is unaware that this little extra something is the result of her being a pure blood demon hunter until the night she is attacked by a demon and shortly after demon hunter Rex approaches her. At first Kory is not interesting in pursuing her heratige but after she see the damage the demons can do she decides she can’t ignore it anymore and agrees to train so long as Rex is the one to do it. I really enjoyed her friendship with nerdy Stein, and how it kind of snuck up on her. I was less keen on the whole thing with Rex though. I mean you can feel the chemistry between them and I can understand why Rex is not pursuing a relationship despite the sparks given the age difference (Kory is 17, Rex is 25) and the fact that he is her teacher. But I actually don’t have a problem with the age difference this time because of how hard her life has been she had to grow up pretty quickly so to me she has the maturity to know what she wants. What I didn’t like was how Rex has a girlfriend that he doesn’t mention and he gives out major mixed signals and he brings his gf around and is staying with her even when it is super obvious how into Kory he is.
August 19, 2017
Kory’s life is as gritty and raw as any living nightmare can be. She has always known she is different, darker and more dangerous than those around her and she fears nothing, because she has the edge of preternatural ability to sense the evil that is lurking in the shadows. Kory is also a teen in crisis, orphaned, living with a drug-addict aunt, keeping it all buried inside, because no one can break down her defenses, until one day, someone did. That someone knows the truth of who and what Kory is and he will be her teacher. Kory’s world has just taken a turn of demonic proportions and she is destined to be the hunter that keeps humanity safe from the evil that lurks in the shadows and Rex will be the forbidden fruit she craves.
BLOOD IN IRON by J.N. Colon will feed your need for that special heroine with attitude, a need to protect and care for others, (but good grief, do NOT acknowledge that), an unbridled mouth and the strength that far surpasses a normal human.
Dark and brittle, J.N. Colon’s style brings Kory’s world to life as she etches each scene with bold clarity and creates characters that are emotionally riveting. Looking for something bold that shouts off the pages at you? BLOOD IN IRON is a strong cornerstone for what looks to be one heck of a series and it is all because of Kory.
Series: The Iron Series - Book 1
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: J.N. Colon
Genre: Older YA Fantasy
Print Length: 259 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
BLOOD IN IRON by J.N. Colon will feed your need for that special heroine with attitude, a need to protect and care for others, (but good grief, do NOT acknowledge that), an unbridled mouth and the strength that far surpasses a normal human.
Dark and brittle, J.N. Colon’s style brings Kory’s world to life as she etches each scene with bold clarity and creates characters that are emotionally riveting. Looking for something bold that shouts off the pages at you? BLOOD IN IRON is a strong cornerstone for what looks to be one heck of a series and it is all because of Kory.
Series: The Iron Series - Book 1
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: J.N. Colon
Genre: Older YA Fantasy
Print Length: 259 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 23, 2018
Blood in Iron is book 1 in the Iron Series.
I really did enjoy reading this book! This may be because Kory and Rex reminded me of Rose and Dimitri from Vampire Academy! I was really engrossed reading this and it was quite hard for me to put down too. Oh and I hated the new intro later in the book: Bridget. I don't think she's a good person. But definitely want to read the next book now!
I really did enjoy reading this book! This may be because Kory and Rex reminded me of Rose and Dimitri from Vampire Academy! I was really engrossed reading this and it was quite hard for me to put down too. Oh and I hated the new intro later in the book: Bridget. I don't think she's a good person. But definitely want to read the next book now!
March 19, 2016
What can I say about Blood in Iron? How ‘bout it’s freaking amazing. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down. The author does an excellent job of pulling the reader right in to the story and captures Kory’s thoughts and moods perfectly, while introducing the reader to a new, refreshing, and unique twist on the vampire / demon hunter mythology.
Kory’s life is anything but easy. Her parents died when she was young, her aunt became a drug addict, and Kory had to develop a tough outer shell to protect herself from the harshness of her everyday life, which gets her into lots of trouble and fights. By seventeen she’s one tough badass everyone fears, but when she enters into a fight with some creep on the street things take a scary turn and Kory learns first hand that the worlds a lot darker than she ever imagined and full of terrifying beings she never would have believed existed. From this moment on her life is forever changed and she’s thrust into a frightening supernatural world where she’ll discover who she really is and who she’s meant to become whether she wants to or not.
Blood In Iron is gritty and raw in its environment with its use of bad home situations, drugs, drinking, foul language, and anger issues, making it not your typical teenage supernatural read, (which I loved) as we see Kory’s character grow and evolve when new kid Stein and hot demon hunter Rex enter her life. All in all, I absolutely loved this book and will definitely be getting the next book in the series.
Kory’s life is anything but easy. Her parents died when she was young, her aunt became a drug addict, and Kory had to develop a tough outer shell to protect herself from the harshness of her everyday life, which gets her into lots of trouble and fights. By seventeen she’s one tough badass everyone fears, but when she enters into a fight with some creep on the street things take a scary turn and Kory learns first hand that the worlds a lot darker than she ever imagined and full of terrifying beings she never would have believed existed. From this moment on her life is forever changed and she’s thrust into a frightening supernatural world where she’ll discover who she really is and who she’s meant to become whether she wants to or not.
Blood In Iron is gritty and raw in its environment with its use of bad home situations, drugs, drinking, foul language, and anger issues, making it not your typical teenage supernatural read, (which I loved) as we see Kory’s character grow and evolve when new kid Stein and hot demon hunter Rex enter her life. All in all, I absolutely loved this book and will definitely be getting the next book in the series.
February 2, 2018
3.5 Stars...I rounded up because I found myself really engrossed in the story.
Kory has always known she was different but it isn't until she meets Rex that she knows why. Apparently she is a descendent of some goddess tasked with fighting the demons who go around sucking the life out of people. Kory is very jaded and does not trust easily so learning these things about herself is not easy to take. And the fact that she has a major crush on Rex but he seems too straight laced to acknowledge the chemistry is just another reason for her to be cautious.
I liked the idea behind this story, I thought maybe there could have been a little more background into the whole ferrum thing...but there was enough o follow along. For the most part I liked Kory, yeah she was stubborn and kinda bitchy but she did make exceptions. What I did not like was Rex. The fact that his behavior never...not even once...indicated that he had a girlfriend really angered e. And for him to act like Kory was the one being weird just made me angry. So, as he is obviously the love interest in this tale I'm not sure if I will be able to bring myself to read on. Which would be a bummer because I think there is a lot of potential here.
Kory has always known she was different but it isn't until she meets Rex that she knows why. Apparently she is a descendent of some goddess tasked with fighting the demons who go around sucking the life out of people. Kory is very jaded and does not trust easily so learning these things about herself is not easy to take. And the fact that she has a major crush on Rex but he seems too straight laced to acknowledge the chemistry is just another reason for her to be cautious.
I liked the idea behind this story, I thought maybe there could have been a little more background into the whole ferrum thing...but there was enough o follow along. For the most part I liked Kory, yeah she was stubborn and kinda bitchy but she did make exceptions. What I did not like was Rex. The fact that his behavior never...not even once...indicated that he had a girlfriend really angered e. And for him to act like Kory was the one being weird just made me angry. So, as he is obviously the love interest in this tale I'm not sure if I will be able to bring myself to read on. Which would be a bummer because I think there is a lot of potential here.
November 28, 2017
I downloaded Blood in Iron as a free book from Amazon. Personally, I give this book three-stars because I dislike Rex's character--he annoyed the heck out of me. But, because that is a subjective choice on my part, and I don't think all readers will hold his a$$holishness against him, I rounded my rating up to reflect my appreciation for a unique and engaging plot with some (other) good characters. Excellent ending, by the way, although the door is left open for more of the story.
November 7, 2018
Kory is one tough girl and not really a girl at that but a women forced to grow up a lot fast the most others her age. But her world get turn upside down once she met Rex and learns that the monsters of the night are real. Will she finally have someone to trust with Rex in her life or will he let her down like everyone else. Also will she make it in this new world unscreathed, and is their more to her parents secrets than she thought.
August 22, 2024
This one is only so-so for me
Not really sure I like the FMC and the only really redeeming things about the MMC are that he’s not a total douche. But the only things between them are lust and it just doesn’t sit well with me.
None of it does. Kory is a very gritty character and I suppose this is a gritty storyline, but I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea.
I’ll see if book 2 redeems itself, but I’m honestly not holding my breath.
Not really sure I like the FMC and the only really redeeming things about the MMC are that he’s not a total douche. But the only things between them are lust and it just doesn’t sit well with me.
None of it does. Kory is a very gritty character and I suppose this is a gritty storyline, but I’m not sure it’s my cup of tea.
I’ll see if book 2 redeems itself, but I’m honestly not holding my breath.
June 6, 2017
Definitely worth the read! This book has a different perspective than most, and Kory's spunk and badassery is so very entertaining! Have to say that the relationship between Rex & Kory is really frustrating, but worth the pain in the end. And god... the British Twit... she's one of those characters you just love to hate 😂
September 15, 2018
Average
The story was pretty interesting, but some things bothered me about the book. Kory could be annoying at times, but I did like the development her character went through. I wish the author would expand on the world building. The reader just gets perks at the supernatural parts of this world.
The story was pretty interesting, but some things bothered me about the book. Kory could be annoying at times, but I did like the development her character went through. I wish the author would expand on the world building. The reader just gets perks at the supernatural parts of this world.
June 2, 2019
I read this book in a matter of hours. It is amazing. I love the characters, especially Rex - whew! The story is unique and I could not put it down. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series!
June 7, 2017
😻
Very dark, but very entertaining. Not something you see from a YA book very often. Makes you want to go and help her. Glad book two is already out. So I can go read it.
Very dark, but very entertaining. Not something you see from a YA book very often. Makes you want to go and help her. Glad book two is already out. So I can go read it.
December 1, 2017
My kind of heroine, loved Kory from the first page to the last
September 7, 2018
3 stars because I felt like Kory was a bit bratty at times and that annoyed me. Yes, I know she's 17, it still bugged me.
August 21, 2019
Loved it!
Very entertaining story. I want to be Kory. Bad to the bone but with a soft heart. Couldn’t stop reading. Looking forward to reading more.
Very entertaining story. I want to be Kory. Bad to the bone but with a soft heart. Couldn’t stop reading. Looking forward to reading more.
September 23, 2023
Once again I have found a good book in these stories. I found it hard to put it down until the end. This was part of the Anthology 'Magic & Monsters'.
December 27, 2024
I could not put this book down! JN Colon is so good at pulling readers into a story and getting them captivated! I can’t wait to start the next book in the series to see where we go from here!
March 22, 2017
I ripped through this very quickly, loved the pace, characters and story line. I'm eager to read more in this series.
September 29, 2016
Many YA books have at their center a girl that could be anybody. A normal girl, one who doesn't stand out, but who has something extraordinary in her, and all it takes is the right set of circumstances for her to realize it. Blood in Iron's Kory is NOT such a girl.
Seventeen-year-old Kory is most assuredly not the kind of character that is easy to identify with unless we've been through some serious trauma. Orphaned at an early age, Kory now lives with her drug-addict mother, and who has been forced to deal drugs to her fellow high-schoolers in order to keep the electricity on. She has a rock-hard shell, exuding toughness and anger. She's coarse, crass, and will pick a fight with anyone at any time, including the jocks.
And oh, she's also a full-blooded demon-hunter known as a Ferrum.
When she has the fortune to survive an encounter with a vicious demon, her world is turned inside out. She falls in with a group of local hunters, and her training begins at the hands of the mega-hawt Rex, with whom she has an undeniable chemistry but who insists on a platonic relationship.
I really enjoyed this book. Kory is not the kind of heroine you see every day - flawed, forced to do bad things for the right reasons. Her character grows considerably over the course of the story, as she learns to set a higher standard for herself, and thanks in large part to Stein, the geeky wallflower she takes under her wing and forms a sweet friendship with.
I would have liked a little more demon-kicking action in the story, but I expect I'll get that in the next book, which I'll be moving on to without delay.
Seventeen-year-old Kory is most assuredly not the kind of character that is easy to identify with unless we've been through some serious trauma. Orphaned at an early age, Kory now lives with her drug-addict mother, and who has been forced to deal drugs to her fellow high-schoolers in order to keep the electricity on. She has a rock-hard shell, exuding toughness and anger. She's coarse, crass, and will pick a fight with anyone at any time, including the jocks.
And oh, she's also a full-blooded demon-hunter known as a Ferrum.
When she has the fortune to survive an encounter with a vicious demon, her world is turned inside out. She falls in with a group of local hunters, and her training begins at the hands of the mega-hawt Rex, with whom she has an undeniable chemistry but who insists on a platonic relationship.
I really enjoyed this book. Kory is not the kind of heroine you see every day - flawed, forced to do bad things for the right reasons. Her character grows considerably over the course of the story, as she learns to set a higher standard for herself, and thanks in large part to Stein, the geeky wallflower she takes under her wing and forms a sweet friendship with.
I would have liked a little more demon-kicking action in the story, but I expect I'll get that in the next book, which I'll be moving on to without delay.
March 31, 2016
Kory has never been afraid to walk down a dark, decrepit street at night for two reasons. One, she can see the villains lurking in the shadows, hear their footsteps as they approach, and feel their malicious presence closing the distance. And two, on any given day or night she’s more dangerous than them. Or so she thought. When the rebellious teen discovers the true evil underbelly of Bishop City, Kory’s life and all she’s ever known is irrevocably shattered. She’s caught between simply surviving and following the path she never knew existed. Rex, a Demon Hunter, becomes her teacher and the chemistry between them is both undeniable and forbidden.
Want a snarky, kick-ass teenager know it all as the main character? But underneath that tough exterior is just a girl who can hide her emotions well. Loved Kory's character. Her "biting" exterior and interior struggles, paved the way to a great story. The budding, yet forbidden romance between her and Rex ... WOW! I think I read the book in two days and craved the second book and read that in a day. Which only left me hanging for the third book that's not out yet. Big Bummer! But of course I'll wait and maybe try to get my hands on an ARC.
Want a snarky, kick-ass teenager know it all as the main character? But underneath that tough exterior is just a girl who can hide her emotions well. Loved Kory's character. Her "biting" exterior and interior struggles, paved the way to a great story. The budding, yet forbidden romance between her and Rex ... WOW! I think I read the book in two days and craved the second book and read that in a day. Which only left me hanging for the third book that's not out yet. Big Bummer! But of course I'll wait and maybe try to get my hands on an ARC.
August 12, 2015
I am a big fan of YA supernatural romance so when I saw the description, it seemed like a perfect fit. After the first few chapters, I could not put the book down! I pretty much read the entire book in 2 days. The author paints a very vivid picture with extremely detailed descriptions and scenes. I was absolutely sucked into the story. I really liked the arc of the heroine Kory, there was a lot of growth and development for her character. And I’m a huge sucker for romance, so my favorite parts were the interactions between Kory and her teacher/trainer Rex. The story reminded me of Vampire Academy which I absolutely loved so this was the perfect read for me. I highly recommend this novel for fans of YA supernatural, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
January 3, 2017
Exceeded my expectations. Really like the main character Kory. She reminds me of Rose from Vampire Academy. Rex kind of reminds me of Dimitri. There are some similiarites between these two series, the dhampirs are ferrums and the vampires are demons. However, this does have it's own original & unique premise.
December 17, 2016
Great Book
I know that you will find out that you will
love the book too.
Thank you for letting me read this book .
I love it ! you will to I hope
I know that you will find out that you will
love the book too.
Thank you for letting me read this book .
I love it ! you will to I hope
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews