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The Darkwolf Saga #2
The Iron Citadel
War has broken out in Alluria...and we are losing.Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer are faced with a choice;They can either stay home, trying to live their old lives, or travel back to Alluria and help their friend, Ariel, fight the armies of the dreaded Shadowlord.
˃˃˃ But what can three teenagers do? If they are to save the kingdom of Chalon they must discover the identity of a deadly assassin before it’s too late, battling barbarian hordes, ogres, and even a dragon along the way.
˃˃˃ They discover an ancient prophecy that foretells the coming of three outlanders who are destined to battle the forces of evil for the fate of Alluria. Can the trio rise to the occasion?
˃˃˃ Are they truly the heroes of prophecy? It’s a race against time to save a world from falling into darkness.
Scroll up and grab a copy of The Iron Citadel today.
˃˃˃ But what can three teenagers do? If they are to save the kingdom of Chalon they must discover the identity of a deadly assassin before it’s too late, battling barbarian hordes, ogres, and even a dragon along the way.
˃˃˃ They discover an ancient prophecy that foretells the coming of three outlanders who are destined to battle the forces of evil for the fate of Alluria. Can the trio rise to the occasion?
˃˃˃ Are they truly the heroes of prophecy? It’s a race against time to save a world from falling into darkness.
Scroll up and grab a copy of The Iron Citadel today.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2018
65 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 9, 2018
“The Iron Citadel” by Mitch Reinhardt is the second book in the Darkwolf saga, and is an amazing new addition. Preceded by “Wizard’s Key”, and succeeded by “The Scarlet Queen”, and “Bloodmoon”, it continues the escapade of Geoff, Sawyer, and Jane, where they have to choose between self-preservation and saving their friends Ariel and Ishara. They help the elves to battle the Shadowlord, whose identity remains a secret until almost the end of the book.
And the characters aren’t just normal teenagers. Sawyer is called Stormlord, and, though a rather reluctant hero, is the master of the Stormblade. Jane is continuing her Druid training, and is becoming more practiced in her studies of healing charms and nature spells. Geoff is suspected of possessing the magic of a wizard.
This fast-paced young adult fantasy book takes readers through the land of Alluria, where the main characters face many menacing mythical beings, such as dragons, ogres, werewolves, dwarves, elves, orcs, gryphons, and much more.
This novel is a winding and bumpy ride that is action-packed and will keep readers guessing right up to the last pages.
The ending of this book is more than enough to leave you hanging-and anxiously waiting to read the next books.
I would definitely recommend this book (and series) to any fan of action and adventure. Great read!!
And the characters aren’t just normal teenagers. Sawyer is called Stormlord, and, though a rather reluctant hero, is the master of the Stormblade. Jane is continuing her Druid training, and is becoming more practiced in her studies of healing charms and nature spells. Geoff is suspected of possessing the magic of a wizard.
This fast-paced young adult fantasy book takes readers through the land of Alluria, where the main characters face many menacing mythical beings, such as dragons, ogres, werewolves, dwarves, elves, orcs, gryphons, and much more.
This novel is a winding and bumpy ride that is action-packed and will keep readers guessing right up to the last pages.
The ending of this book is more than enough to leave you hanging-and anxiously waiting to read the next books.
I would definitely recommend this book (and series) to any fan of action and adventure. Great read!!
September 29, 2018
I loved this story, and only wish I had found this book earlier, and had read the first book first (I will definitely have to give it a read now that I’ve read the 2nd one). I love the characters, they feel very real. I especially loved when the story was told from Geoff and Jane’s perspectives. Geoff is so sweet, and any kissing scene between Sawyer and Jane had me squealing with joy. They’re a very cute couple, and I love how Jane is trying to make Sawyer a better person. The fight scenes are also wonderful. I was on the edge of my seat during every one, and I was so scared that Ariel was going to die in that first battle with the Shadowlord. This is a great tale of medieval-like times and was a very enjoyable for that reason. This really is a page turner, and I would highly recommend it! It’s the perfect YA book full of adventure and romance, and I’d be very interested to see if this got turned into a movie. I’m someone who isn’t always a fan of large amounts of detail, but Reinhardt has found the perfect balance of detail, dialogue, and plot that doesn’t bog a reader like me down. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
September 19, 2018
The sign of a worthy series is the ability to jump in and lose yourself in the world and characters an author has constructed. The sign of an exceptional series is the ability to jump in at any point along the path and find amazing levels of enjoyment with characters and settings you are encountering for the first time. The Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt is one such series, having begun with Wizard’s Key in 2016, and followed up for this year with the fascinating second book, The Iron Citadel. This is where I entered, dipping my toes into the Sea of Sorcery, and found myself drenched in magic and mystery.
Geoffrey Vincent is a bullied young man, and had previously shared a trip to Aluria, a magical world not unlike Narnia, with his tormentor Sawyer, and Jane. We are given only the briefest of views of his real world life before he is attacked, only to be saved by Ariel, the High Druid of Aluria, in a moment that begins our adventure.
There is so much to enjoy about the way Reinhart constructs his story. There is a war in Aluria, and Geoffrey, Sawyer, and Jane may be the saviors of Alurian prophesy. That is if they can break out of the places they occupy in the real world.
This is well-trod territory, no doubt. While Narnia comes to mind, as well as The Fillory stories within The Magicians perhaps, the character-building and world doesn’t feel re-hashed, but built anew. It is as if Reinhardt had taken what he wished of those worlds and built his own with deep connections to fantasy traditions within young adult literature. When reading passages that deal with the emotions of these characters, specifically Geoff, I found myself looking away from the world-construct and deeply into a person, fully-formed and dealing with a strange world.
If there is a weakness, it is a minor stiffness to the dialogue. It’s not too jarring, but compared to the clarity and impressive drive of the exposition, it does stand out a bit.
There is so much to enjoy in The Iron Citadel. When the action picks up, it is a remarkably fun and exciting read; when it pauses to give us a view of relationships and character growth, it rewards the reader with impressive maturity. This is a YA novel that does not trade on its attack alone, but on the hearts that beat within it.
Geoffrey Vincent is a bullied young man, and had previously shared a trip to Aluria, a magical world not unlike Narnia, with his tormentor Sawyer, and Jane. We are given only the briefest of views of his real world life before he is attacked, only to be saved by Ariel, the High Druid of Aluria, in a moment that begins our adventure.
There is so much to enjoy about the way Reinhart constructs his story. There is a war in Aluria, and Geoffrey, Sawyer, and Jane may be the saviors of Alurian prophesy. That is if they can break out of the places they occupy in the real world.
This is well-trod territory, no doubt. While Narnia comes to mind, as well as The Fillory stories within The Magicians perhaps, the character-building and world doesn’t feel re-hashed, but built anew. It is as if Reinhardt had taken what he wished of those worlds and built his own with deep connections to fantasy traditions within young adult literature. When reading passages that deal with the emotions of these characters, specifically Geoff, I found myself looking away from the world-construct and deeply into a person, fully-formed and dealing with a strange world.
If there is a weakness, it is a minor stiffness to the dialogue. It’s not too jarring, but compared to the clarity and impressive drive of the exposition, it does stand out a bit.
There is so much to enjoy in The Iron Citadel. When the action picks up, it is a remarkably fun and exciting read; when it pauses to give us a view of relationships and character growth, it rewards the reader with impressive maturity. This is a YA novel that does not trade on its attack alone, but on the hearts that beat within it.
September 20, 2018
‘The Iron Citadel’ by Mitch Reinhardt opens to a scene where we have one of the main characters, Geoff, being under heavy pursuit by a skeletal assassin with glowing green fires for eyes. Geoff soon learns from his friend, Ariel, the high druid of the elven kingdom, that the skeleton was sent by the Shadowlord, who now sees Geoff and his friends as a threat.
Ariel tells Geoff that the magical land of Alluria has succumbed to warfare and that they were losing to the dark forces of the Shadowlord and his barbarian army.
Geoff gathers up his friends Jane and Sawyer, and reluctantly they agree to join forces with Ariel in order to turn the tides of war.
Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer have already been down this path before. In the book prior to this, the friends had embarked on an adventure to Alluria after finding the wizard’s key, a token that allowed them access to the far-off kingdom. The key was among Geoff’s father’s items, who was a respected archaeologist and had come across the box of objects from the Carpathian Mountains.
The key once presented before the large stone archway that could also be found in Geoff’s father’s study, projected a portal that transported Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer to Alluria.
In Alluria, Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer find out that they possess some great abilities. Sawyer after battling a troll, retained the coveted title of, Stormlord, while also getting to weld a powerful sword against his enemies, while Jane finds out she has abilities in harnessing druidic healing charms, and Geoff shows fledgling talent in wizardry.
Together with Ariel and Ishara, a fellow elf and Geoff’s love interest, the heroes embark on a perilous journey to Chalon, a walled-off city with many riches.
But as news reaches them that an army from the north and east encroaches upon Chalon, the heroes along with Ariel and Ishara are faced with many challenges as well as a mysterious prophecy of the wayward travelers that looms ominously over them and their every heroic deed.
As Book 2 to The Darkwolf Saga, the book is able to give some good exposition via dialogue that offers a layer of backstory to the overall overarching tale, and I, as a reader, was cued in immediately and was able to latch on fairly quickly to what was going on even though I never read Book 1 of the series. There was little to no confusion, and I was able to zero into the piece through the strong construct.
While many obstacles are thrown in the heroes’ way, it seemed like it would help propel the story even more if Geoff realizes early on his potential as a wizard. With him only able to practice his magical abilities only after meeting Maelord, and this only happens about half-way into the book, this seemed to stall the story as Geoff does nothing but stand around until mid-way into the novel.
But other than that, I found the story to progress smoothly from therein and out.
As a Young Adult Fantasy, this was a very quick and easy read. I was able to get through the book in record speed, and I found that the clear writing style really helped in propelling me through this book.
The novel was filled with action and some high adventure, and I found myself engaged and very entertained throughout this entire read. This book has piqued my interest in not only continuing, but also retracting and reading the first book, this being my first introduction to the series. If there will be any follow-ups to this saga, it is likely that I will also be picking up the new books.
Ariel tells Geoff that the magical land of Alluria has succumbed to warfare and that they were losing to the dark forces of the Shadowlord and his barbarian army.
Geoff gathers up his friends Jane and Sawyer, and reluctantly they agree to join forces with Ariel in order to turn the tides of war.
Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer have already been down this path before. In the book prior to this, the friends had embarked on an adventure to Alluria after finding the wizard’s key, a token that allowed them access to the far-off kingdom. The key was among Geoff’s father’s items, who was a respected archaeologist and had come across the box of objects from the Carpathian Mountains.
The key once presented before the large stone archway that could also be found in Geoff’s father’s study, projected a portal that transported Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer to Alluria.
In Alluria, Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer find out that they possess some great abilities. Sawyer after battling a troll, retained the coveted title of, Stormlord, while also getting to weld a powerful sword against his enemies, while Jane finds out she has abilities in harnessing druidic healing charms, and Geoff shows fledgling talent in wizardry.
Together with Ariel and Ishara, a fellow elf and Geoff’s love interest, the heroes embark on a perilous journey to Chalon, a walled-off city with many riches.
But as news reaches them that an army from the north and east encroaches upon Chalon, the heroes along with Ariel and Ishara are faced with many challenges as well as a mysterious prophecy of the wayward travelers that looms ominously over them and their every heroic deed.
As Book 2 to The Darkwolf Saga, the book is able to give some good exposition via dialogue that offers a layer of backstory to the overall overarching tale, and I, as a reader, was cued in immediately and was able to latch on fairly quickly to what was going on even though I never read Book 1 of the series. There was little to no confusion, and I was able to zero into the piece through the strong construct.
While many obstacles are thrown in the heroes’ way, it seemed like it would help propel the story even more if Geoff realizes early on his potential as a wizard. With him only able to practice his magical abilities only after meeting Maelord, and this only happens about half-way into the book, this seemed to stall the story as Geoff does nothing but stand around until mid-way into the novel.
But other than that, I found the story to progress smoothly from therein and out.
As a Young Adult Fantasy, this was a very quick and easy read. I was able to get through the book in record speed, and I found that the clear writing style really helped in propelling me through this book.
The novel was filled with action and some high adventure, and I found myself engaged and very entertained throughout this entire read. This book has piqued my interest in not only continuing, but also retracting and reading the first book, this being my first introduction to the series. If there will be any follow-ups to this saga, it is likely that I will also be picking up the new books.
October 2, 2018
This book picks up almost immediately with an action scene and never slows down. Even the ending will just make you immediately want to read the next book in the series.
The Iron Citadel picks up after the events of the first book in the series, The Wizard's Key. At the start of the Iron Citadel, the three main (human) characters have been trying to readjust back to their normal lives after their initial adventure. Alluria isn't done with them yet, however, and both an assassin and an old friend make their way to the kids' town to draw them back into fantastical adventures.
There are clear parallels to Narnia with this story - the idea of a seemingly ordinary object becoming a doorway to another world, kids getting drawn into a battle between good and evil, and having abilities or influence in the fantasy world far beyond expected. The way they return to their normal world, but end up coming back to Alluria again. There are other similar tropes/cliches well known to the fantasy genre found in this book as well. However, I don't consider this to necessarily be a bad thing - it's only a negative if it's executed poorly. Reinhardt makes these plot points his own and gives them his own flavor. His writing style is exceptionally different from authors of fantasy classics like Lewis or Tolkien, and it's something I think would be much more 'real' and appealing to teenagers. The characters in this novel are kids. They have been through quite a bit, but they are still just kids. Reinhardt lets them have that. The impulsivity, indecision, insecurity, and dashes of blossoming first romances are all in line with their ages/experiences/maturity levels. There are moments where a character is wondering if another character is going to kiss them, are they in a relationship, should they hold hands in front of everyone? And then the next moment these characters are embracing their destinies, working to save each other and thousands of other people (and elves, and wizards, and dwarves...).
This novel is a fast paced read with twists and turns around every corner. There are some unexpected character reveals that, while surprising, still make sense with the foreshadowing given. It is definitely an entertaining read. Every time Ariel goes into battle solo and her incredible skills are described, I can't help but imagine myself as Link rushing into a crowd of enemies in The Legend of Zelda (big Zelda fan, sucker for the impossibly skilled hero vs horde of baddies concept).
I will say this book reads young. The main characters are teens, and it shows. If this isn't your style - if you prefer adult or more mature voices as narrators - this may not be the series for you. However, if you enjoyed Narnia, Harry Potter, Maze Runner, even video games like Zelda, then this will be right up your alley. It's been a while since I read YA material that is new to me, as opposed to rereading something from my youth. It was a fun change, and I bet my teenage self would have been all about this series.
The Iron Citadel picks up after the events of the first book in the series, The Wizard's Key. At the start of the Iron Citadel, the three main (human) characters have been trying to readjust back to their normal lives after their initial adventure. Alluria isn't done with them yet, however, and both an assassin and an old friend make their way to the kids' town to draw them back into fantastical adventures.
There are clear parallels to Narnia with this story - the idea of a seemingly ordinary object becoming a doorway to another world, kids getting drawn into a battle between good and evil, and having abilities or influence in the fantasy world far beyond expected. The way they return to their normal world, but end up coming back to Alluria again. There are other similar tropes/cliches well known to the fantasy genre found in this book as well. However, I don't consider this to necessarily be a bad thing - it's only a negative if it's executed poorly. Reinhardt makes these plot points his own and gives them his own flavor. His writing style is exceptionally different from authors of fantasy classics like Lewis or Tolkien, and it's something I think would be much more 'real' and appealing to teenagers. The characters in this novel are kids. They have been through quite a bit, but they are still just kids. Reinhardt lets them have that. The impulsivity, indecision, insecurity, and dashes of blossoming first romances are all in line with their ages/experiences/maturity levels. There are moments where a character is wondering if another character is going to kiss them, are they in a relationship, should they hold hands in front of everyone? And then the next moment these characters are embracing their destinies, working to save each other and thousands of other people (and elves, and wizards, and dwarves...).
This novel is a fast paced read with twists and turns around every corner. There are some unexpected character reveals that, while surprising, still make sense with the foreshadowing given. It is definitely an entertaining read. Every time Ariel goes into battle solo and her incredible skills are described, I can't help but imagine myself as Link rushing into a crowd of enemies in The Legend of Zelda (big Zelda fan, sucker for the impossibly skilled hero vs horde of baddies concept).
I will say this book reads young. The main characters are teens, and it shows. If this isn't your style - if you prefer adult or more mature voices as narrators - this may not be the series for you. However, if you enjoyed Narnia, Harry Potter, Maze Runner, even video games like Zelda, then this will be right up your alley. It's been a while since I read YA material that is new to me, as opposed to rereading something from my youth. It was a fun change, and I bet my teenage self would have been all about this series.
September 28, 2018
The Iron Citadel is the second installment in the Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt; filled with fantasy, friendship, and action-packed adventure from cover to cover! The ideal book for any YA reader who enjoys medieval, fantasy and science fiction stories.
Picking up from where book one left off, the story line continues a with Geoff, Jane and Sawyer returning to the magical kingdom of Alluria to help Ariel battle in the war against the evil forces of the Shadowlord. As the story develops in Alluria, Geoff, Jane and Sawyer discover that they each have extraordinary supernatural abilities that will be of great use to them while in Alluria. The teens band together to build their strengths and hone in on their skills to prepare for battle against the dark forces waiting for them.
Without giving too much of the story line away, Reinhardt does a stellar job creating characters with vivid illustration, it’s as though you can picture each interaction, experience and fight sequence as if you’re there to see it for yourself. Told from the point of view of Geoff and Jane, the dialogue from these multidimensional characters continues to build with each turn of the page. Ending with a cliffhanger and perfect set up for book 3, The Iron Citadel is full of surprises, revelations, true identities and good versus evil.
Merged review:
The Iron Citadel is the second installment in the Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt; filled with fantasy, friendship, and action-packed adventure from cover to cover! The ideal book for any YA reader who enjoys medieval, fantasy and science fiction stories.
Picking up from where book one left off, the story line continues a with Geoff, Jane and Sawyer returning to the magical kingdom of Alluria to help Ariel battle in the war against the evil forces of the Shadowlord. As the story develops in Alluria, Geoff, Jane and Sawyer discover that they each have extraordinary supernatural abilities that will be of great use to them while in Alluria. The teens band together to build their strengths and hone in on their skills to prepare for battle against the dark forces waiting for them.
Without giving too much of the story line away, Reinhardt does a stellar job creating characters with vivid illustration, it’s as though you can picture each interaction, experience and fight sequence as if you’re there to see it for yourself. Told from the point of view of Geoff and Jane, the dialogue from these multidimensional characters continues to build with each turn of the page. Ending with a cliffhanger and perfect set up for book 3, The Iron Citadel is full of surprises, revelations, true identities and good versus evil.
Picking up from where book one left off, the story line continues a with Geoff, Jane and Sawyer returning to the magical kingdom of Alluria to help Ariel battle in the war against the evil forces of the Shadowlord. As the story develops in Alluria, Geoff, Jane and Sawyer discover that they each have extraordinary supernatural abilities that will be of great use to them while in Alluria. The teens band together to build their strengths and hone in on their skills to prepare for battle against the dark forces waiting for them.
Without giving too much of the story line away, Reinhardt does a stellar job creating characters with vivid illustration, it’s as though you can picture each interaction, experience and fight sequence as if you’re there to see it for yourself. Told from the point of view of Geoff and Jane, the dialogue from these multidimensional characters continues to build with each turn of the page. Ending with a cliffhanger and perfect set up for book 3, The Iron Citadel is full of surprises, revelations, true identities and good versus evil.
Merged review:
The Iron Citadel is the second installment in the Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt; filled with fantasy, friendship, and action-packed adventure from cover to cover! The ideal book for any YA reader who enjoys medieval, fantasy and science fiction stories.
Picking up from where book one left off, the story line continues a with Geoff, Jane and Sawyer returning to the magical kingdom of Alluria to help Ariel battle in the war against the evil forces of the Shadowlord. As the story develops in Alluria, Geoff, Jane and Sawyer discover that they each have extraordinary supernatural abilities that will be of great use to them while in Alluria. The teens band together to build their strengths and hone in on their skills to prepare for battle against the dark forces waiting for them.
Without giving too much of the story line away, Reinhardt does a stellar job creating characters with vivid illustration, it’s as though you can picture each interaction, experience and fight sequence as if you’re there to see it for yourself. Told from the point of view of Geoff and Jane, the dialogue from these multidimensional characters continues to build with each turn of the page. Ending with a cliffhanger and perfect set up for book 3, The Iron Citadel is full of surprises, revelations, true identities and good versus evil.
December 19, 2018
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (12/18)
“The Iron Citadel” is the second book in the Darkwolf Saga series by Mitch Reinhardt. In this fantastical, young adult adventure, three teenagers named Sawyer, Geoff and Jane, are called back to the land of Alluria to help fight a war against the evil Shadowlord. The teens each have special magical gifts which are used in this battle. The trio is comprised of a druid, a wizard and a Stormlord. It is believed that they are the three outlanders that are mentioned in a prophecy, who will help defeat the evil that is overtaking the land. Their elven friends Ariel, who is now a high-ranking druid and Ishara help them develop their magical talents, learn how to fight and how to deal with the pompous, incompetent aristocracy that is now running the kingdom of Chalon. The group must battle assassins, barbarians, dragons, orcs, werewolves and otherworldly creatures while trying to deal with their own teen angst issues. Along the way, they discover answers to secrets about themselves and about the people whom they are battling. The more they learn, the stronger they become. As they proceed into the next book in the series, the question remains, “Are they strong enough to defeat the evil?”
“The Iron Citadel” was the first book in this series for me to read. As soon as I began reading, I found myself rapidly immersed in the ongoing adventure. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series because the author does an exceptional job of catching the reader up on the storyline and characters. However, I enjoyed this book enough, that I soon hope to go back and do so.
In this fantasy, the author has done an excellent job of creating a land where magic dwells and where complicated good and evil characters are brought to life. The characters and the lands are described in such vivid detail, I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a novel. The characters are also complex, and I enjoyed not being able to guess everything about the plot. It was fun to be caught off guard. While this fantasy is mostly about high school age kids, I did not feel that it is limited just to that age group.
Fantasy loving adults such as myself, will really enjoy reading “The Iron Citadel” by Mitch Reinhardt. I look forward to the next novel in this series, because the storyline has gotten very complex and I need to know how it plays out!
“The Iron Citadel” is the second book in the Darkwolf Saga series by Mitch Reinhardt. In this fantastical, young adult adventure, three teenagers named Sawyer, Geoff and Jane, are called back to the land of Alluria to help fight a war against the evil Shadowlord. The teens each have special magical gifts which are used in this battle. The trio is comprised of a druid, a wizard and a Stormlord. It is believed that they are the three outlanders that are mentioned in a prophecy, who will help defeat the evil that is overtaking the land. Their elven friends Ariel, who is now a high-ranking druid and Ishara help them develop their magical talents, learn how to fight and how to deal with the pompous, incompetent aristocracy that is now running the kingdom of Chalon. The group must battle assassins, barbarians, dragons, orcs, werewolves and otherworldly creatures while trying to deal with their own teen angst issues. Along the way, they discover answers to secrets about themselves and about the people whom they are battling. The more they learn, the stronger they become. As they proceed into the next book in the series, the question remains, “Are they strong enough to defeat the evil?”
“The Iron Citadel” was the first book in this series for me to read. As soon as I began reading, I found myself rapidly immersed in the ongoing adventure. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series because the author does an exceptional job of catching the reader up on the storyline and characters. However, I enjoyed this book enough, that I soon hope to go back and do so.
In this fantasy, the author has done an excellent job of creating a land where magic dwells and where complicated good and evil characters are brought to life. The characters and the lands are described in such vivid detail, I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a novel. The characters are also complex, and I enjoyed not being able to guess everything about the plot. It was fun to be caught off guard. While this fantasy is mostly about high school age kids, I did not feel that it is limited just to that age group.
Fantasy loving adults such as myself, will really enjoy reading “The Iron Citadel” by Mitch Reinhardt. I look forward to the next novel in this series, because the storyline has gotten very complex and I need to know how it plays out!
September 25, 2018
This coming-of-age story is a fun, grand, sweeping fantasy adventure filled with mystery, intrigue, danger, action and magic for readers young and young at heart.
The Iron Citadel is the second book in The Darkwolf Saga. It’s so well done, with enough detail given about what happened in the first book, that I was able to go along with the story without feeling like I had missed too much by starting at this point in the series. Although if this book is any indication, I will definitely need to read the rest of the series.
At the opening of the book, its been two months since our young heroes Geoff, Sawyer and Jane returned from their adventures in wild, magical Alluria and they’ve been trying to get back to their normal lives as high school student. Until a ghostly assassin arrives to kill Geoff. His elven friend Ariel, now the high druid of Alluria, arrives just in time to save him. She also brings news that the evil and mighty Shadowlord considers Geoff and his friends to be a threat to him. Worse still, humans are losing the war against his evil, barbaric forces and she needs their help. Geoff gathers Jane and Sawyer and they agree to follow Ariel back to Alluria.
Each of the young friends goes on a journey, not only of staying alive while being hunted by a werewolf, the Shadowlord, more assassins, surrounded by hostile armies on all sides, and having to journey straight into the heart of darkness to challenge the Shadowlord himself. They must also discover who they really are, what they are capable of, and what they really want. Sawyer, the school bully has to overcome his fears and self-doubts to be realize he’s worthy of the title Stormlord. Jane finds out she is stronger, and has deeper wells of compassion, than she ever realized before. Geoff realizes he’s not limited to just being the lonely, bullied, nerdy kid at school, that he has great abilities waiting for him to tap into.
The author is not only skilled at throwing obstacles into his characters’ paths for them to overcome but in also keeping the reader on tinder hooks with cliffhanger after cliffhanger. Woven into the story are themes of how destructive prejudices are, being true to yourself, and the power of friendship. It reminds me of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, especially with its classic themes of good versus evil, but it is also its own, fresh take on a thrilling fantasy saga.
The Iron Citadel is the second book in The Darkwolf Saga. It’s so well done, with enough detail given about what happened in the first book, that I was able to go along with the story without feeling like I had missed too much by starting at this point in the series. Although if this book is any indication, I will definitely need to read the rest of the series.
At the opening of the book, its been two months since our young heroes Geoff, Sawyer and Jane returned from their adventures in wild, magical Alluria and they’ve been trying to get back to their normal lives as high school student. Until a ghostly assassin arrives to kill Geoff. His elven friend Ariel, now the high druid of Alluria, arrives just in time to save him. She also brings news that the evil and mighty Shadowlord considers Geoff and his friends to be a threat to him. Worse still, humans are losing the war against his evil, barbaric forces and she needs their help. Geoff gathers Jane and Sawyer and they agree to follow Ariel back to Alluria.
Each of the young friends goes on a journey, not only of staying alive while being hunted by a werewolf, the Shadowlord, more assassins, surrounded by hostile armies on all sides, and having to journey straight into the heart of darkness to challenge the Shadowlord himself. They must also discover who they really are, what they are capable of, and what they really want. Sawyer, the school bully has to overcome his fears and self-doubts to be realize he’s worthy of the title Stormlord. Jane finds out she is stronger, and has deeper wells of compassion, than she ever realized before. Geoff realizes he’s not limited to just being the lonely, bullied, nerdy kid at school, that he has great abilities waiting for him to tap into.
The author is not only skilled at throwing obstacles into his characters’ paths for them to overcome but in also keeping the reader on tinder hooks with cliffhanger after cliffhanger. Woven into the story are themes of how destructive prejudices are, being true to yourself, and the power of friendship. It reminds me of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, especially with its classic themes of good versus evil, but it is also its own, fresh take on a thrilling fantasy saga.
October 16, 2018
If you dream adventure of a lifetime… Read Iron Citadel
The author masterfully twined fantasy and reality in “The Iron Citadel”. Magical beings (elves, dragons, werewolves) appeared in a world with humans (barbarians and children). He introduced us to extraordinary scenes that piqued our curiosity and fast-moving battles that quenched our thirst for adventure. The Iron Citdael had interesting suspenseful moments that pulled the reader into the fantasy land of Alluria and the mystical and magical journey of three (human) heroes Geoff, Sawyer and Jane.
I enjoyed reading this book because it plunged the three human heroes on a path of self discovery. Along the way Geoff, Sawyer and Jane learned about the war between good and evil. They discovered some things about friendship as well as their innate gifts and survival abilities. As the story unfolded, they learned that a wise oracle had foretold of their visit to Alluria long before their arrival. She had prophesized that “ three outlanders would appear in Alluria during a time of darkness and chaos”.
Alluria was a a war-torn land at the time of their visit. It appeared that Geoff, Jane and Sawyer were the “three outlanders” spoken about in the prophecy. The spellbinding moments in the story had me turning the pages. It seemed that during each depth of the darkness, the three heroes faced un-surmountable obstacles.
There were many near-death moments for our heroes as they battled the forces of evil. One formidable foe was the Shadowlord , who lived in the towering fortress of the Iron Citadel. Jane was kidnapped by the Shadowlord and spent some time with him at his castle. She discovered his secret one day after an epic battle with a werewolf. It was bizarre how the Shadowlord used his secret to beguile Jane. What happened when her friends found her? The chain of events in the story demonstrated the author’s ability to keep the reader in suspense. If you have a vivid imagination, the book will fascinate you.
September 25, 2018
The Iron Citadel is Book Two in the Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt. A cross between 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' and 'The Hobbit,' this fantasy series is set in a medieval land filled with werewolves, elves, dwarfs, trolls, orcs, ogres, gryphons, and other mythical creatures. This book continues the story a few months after the end of Book One. Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer must return to Alluria to help their elf friends, Ariel and Ishara, battle the Shadowlord. But the three humans are not normal teenagers--they possess extraordinary talents. Jane continues training as a Druid, learning to cast healing charms and spells that affect nature. Sawyer, a reluctant hero turned warrior called Stormlord, is master of the Stormblade. And Geoff is believed to possess the magic of a wizard. Amid doubts of their abilities and fears of the dangers they face, they learn that a prophecy foretells of three outlanders coming from far away, as a time of darkness begins.
This adventure story includes lots of action scenes that are well written and fast paced. The fight sequences are exciting and detailed, allowing readers to picture the scene like a movie playing out in their mind. The author's vivid descriptions of characters and landscapes pull the reader into the story, as though experiencing it right along with the main characters. Most of the story is told from the point of view of Geoff and Jane, but a few other characters have a scene or two, as well, which adds to the story. Readers of young adult romance will enjoy the romantic element introduced between Geoff and Ishara, and between Sawyer and Jane. There are several surprising twists in this story, such as the identity of the wizard, Maelord, that most readers will not see coming. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which leaves all the characters in eminent peril, and the story continues in Book Three of the Darkwolf Saga, The Scarlet Queen, and Book Four, Bloodmoon.
This adventure story includes lots of action scenes that are well written and fast paced. The fight sequences are exciting and detailed, allowing readers to picture the scene like a movie playing out in their mind. The author's vivid descriptions of characters and landscapes pull the reader into the story, as though experiencing it right along with the main characters. Most of the story is told from the point of view of Geoff and Jane, but a few other characters have a scene or two, as well, which adds to the story. Readers of young adult romance will enjoy the romantic element introduced between Geoff and Ishara, and between Sawyer and Jane. There are several surprising twists in this story, such as the identity of the wizard, Maelord, that most readers will not see coming. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which leaves all the characters in eminent peril, and the story continues in Book Three of the Darkwolf Saga, The Scarlet Queen, and Book Four, Bloodmoon.
September 25, 2018
I am an avid fan of YA fantasy and always looking for new books and series to add to my collection. "The Iron Citadel" by Mitch Reinhardt has been a wonderful addition to my library!
The story begins with our main character, Geoff, encountering a foe in his own home. It is a very tense scene and just when you fear Geoff's story is going to be cut short, High Druid Ariel saves him. Ariel explains that the foe who attacked him was summoned by the Shadowlord to kill him and thus begins our adventure. Geoff and his companions, Sawyer and Jane, are re-united once more on a quest back to Alluria to vanquish the forces of evil. The trio had previously ventured to Alluria (in the first book of the series, "Wizard's Key), but this journey promised to be even more exciting.
This novel really hits on all the markers of a good fantasy novel: tons of adventure, epic battles, interesting character development. Although it shares similarities with other YA fantasy series (The Chronicles of Narnia especially come to mind), "The Iron Citadel" puts new twists on these similarities. Reinhardt has built a wonderful new world that captures your attention and leaves you wanting more after you finish reading.
Apart from the actual story, I found myself truly connecting with the characters as well. Geoff in particular is very fleshed-out and a well-rounded character. He has true flaws, but his flaws work in his favor to make him extremely likeable and relatable. You truly want Geoff and his companions to succeed!
I won't spoil anything more than I already have, but I implore you to give "The Iron Citadel" a chance. If you're a fan of YA fantasy and have been looking for a book with wonderful characters, an interesting plot, and a unique world... this book is it! I found myself lost while reading and I'm certainly looking forward to any future installments in the series.
The story begins with our main character, Geoff, encountering a foe in his own home. It is a very tense scene and just when you fear Geoff's story is going to be cut short, High Druid Ariel saves him. Ariel explains that the foe who attacked him was summoned by the Shadowlord to kill him and thus begins our adventure. Geoff and his companions, Sawyer and Jane, are re-united once more on a quest back to Alluria to vanquish the forces of evil. The trio had previously ventured to Alluria (in the first book of the series, "Wizard's Key), but this journey promised to be even more exciting.
This novel really hits on all the markers of a good fantasy novel: tons of adventure, epic battles, interesting character development. Although it shares similarities with other YA fantasy series (The Chronicles of Narnia especially come to mind), "The Iron Citadel" puts new twists on these similarities. Reinhardt has built a wonderful new world that captures your attention and leaves you wanting more after you finish reading.
Apart from the actual story, I found myself truly connecting with the characters as well. Geoff in particular is very fleshed-out and a well-rounded character. He has true flaws, but his flaws work in his favor to make him extremely likeable and relatable. You truly want Geoff and his companions to succeed!
I won't spoil anything more than I already have, but I implore you to give "The Iron Citadel" a chance. If you're a fan of YA fantasy and have been looking for a book with wonderful characters, an interesting plot, and a unique world... this book is it! I found myself lost while reading and I'm certainly looking forward to any future installments in the series.
September 25, 2018
The Iron Citadel is the second book in The Darkwolf Sage by author Mitch Reinhardt. This book follows the continued adventure of Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer as they must decide whether to once again risk their lives to save their friend Ariel in the land of Alluria. This book is a fantastical young adult adventure that brings together everything you want in a teen fantasy novel. The characters are taken to a magical world, must fight the forces of evil, with dragon’s, ogres, prophecies, and a great army. The book is exciting, fast passed, and a captivating read. As the sequel to the series, this novel is a great addition to the story. The book starts with a subtle recap of the last book, making sure the reader remembers the characters, who they are, their relationships, and what they have been through.
For me I found the relationship between the characters to be very strong. There is a complexity as the characters are not four friends that have been whisked off on a grand adventure but have complicated histories that add a depth to their adventures. Geoff makes for a great character to follow as he is a relatable character but also interesting with his archeologist father, proficiency at magic, and loyalty to his friends. I thought that Reinhardt did an excellent job of not only letting his characters have interesting growth individually but working on the relationships between the characters and making them grow and change as the characters go through different experiences.
The stakes in this book felt real which added to the excitement and made it hard to put the book down. The book has mystery, action, romance, and magic, what more could you want! I found this to be an incredibly enjoyable read and would definitely suggest it to those you love young adult fantasy stories. I look forward to continuing this adventure!
For me I found the relationship between the characters to be very strong. There is a complexity as the characters are not four friends that have been whisked off on a grand adventure but have complicated histories that add a depth to their adventures. Geoff makes for a great character to follow as he is a relatable character but also interesting with his archeologist father, proficiency at magic, and loyalty to his friends. I thought that Reinhardt did an excellent job of not only letting his characters have interesting growth individually but working on the relationships between the characters and making them grow and change as the characters go through different experiences.
The stakes in this book felt real which added to the excitement and made it hard to put the book down. The book has mystery, action, romance, and magic, what more could you want! I found this to be an incredibly enjoyable read and would definitely suggest it to those you love young adult fantasy stories. I look forward to continuing this adventure!
September 29, 2018
You can take the three travelers out of Alluria… but then the Shadowlord will just send undead assassins their way. Talk about catch 22s.
Mitch Reinhardt brings us a second round of his charming character driven storytelling. This time, much of the prose concerns holding Wizard’s Key back are resolved by the latter half. Most of the scenes feel both immersive and meaningful. Again, a result of Reinhardt doing an admirable job of portraying his character’s reactions to the plot. Even when something doesn’t seem organic, if you’ve a shred of sympathy, you’ll be more worried about the cast’s well-being than the improbability of the situations they get into.
The villains even, manage to leave the kind of impression that makes you wish they didn’t have to suffer. I’m quite fond of the werewolf, and I’m pleased that he was neither a one-off encounter nor a persistently ominous figure whose purpose was to only drive conflict.
The romantic subplots seem just a tad rushed, on Jane’s end especially, but none of them are downright obtrusive. It’s cute.
The worldbuilding still leaves me a bit sore; I want to know more about what powers the series’ magic system. I still want to discover the ins and outs of aura, the history of Alluria’s varied nations, and its denizens. A lot of the setting relies on previously established tropes, or at least seems that way at first. That in and of itself is just fine, but there isn’t much to be said about how the existence of unicorns and wizards shape the setting beyond the broad strokes. We aren’t at a complete loss for answers, or hints, I’d just like more lore to devour. There is quite a bit of room for that in future installments, so I’ll remain hopeful.
If you can muster your courage, make way for Alluria. There’s some unfinished business to settle.
Mitch Reinhardt brings us a second round of his charming character driven storytelling. This time, much of the prose concerns holding Wizard’s Key back are resolved by the latter half. Most of the scenes feel both immersive and meaningful. Again, a result of Reinhardt doing an admirable job of portraying his character’s reactions to the plot. Even when something doesn’t seem organic, if you’ve a shred of sympathy, you’ll be more worried about the cast’s well-being than the improbability of the situations they get into.
The villains even, manage to leave the kind of impression that makes you wish they didn’t have to suffer. I’m quite fond of the werewolf, and I’m pleased that he was neither a one-off encounter nor a persistently ominous figure whose purpose was to only drive conflict.
The romantic subplots seem just a tad rushed, on Jane’s end especially, but none of them are downright obtrusive. It’s cute.
The worldbuilding still leaves me a bit sore; I want to know more about what powers the series’ magic system. I still want to discover the ins and outs of aura, the history of Alluria’s varied nations, and its denizens. A lot of the setting relies on previously established tropes, or at least seems that way at first. That in and of itself is just fine, but there isn’t much to be said about how the existence of unicorns and wizards shape the setting beyond the broad strokes. We aren’t at a complete loss for answers, or hints, I’d just like more lore to devour. There is quite a bit of room for that in future installments, so I’ll remain hopeful.
If you can muster your courage, make way for Alluria. There’s some unfinished business to settle.
October 22, 2018
What a Lovely Book Full of Adventures and Real Life Experiences
The background setting of this book has been majored on fantasy and reality of various life experiences. I guess the author new the interest of many readers and decided to come up with this saga book which is full of adventures and fantasy all over. I just love it because it is full of magic, action, fear and excitement. The story line kicks off in a very cool environment where Geoffrey Vincent spends his two hours studying world history in his book-filled room on the first floor of the spacious house. After finishing he decides to take a break but suddenly a light flashed him. He stopped and started asking himself what that one could be. The light reminded him of a strobe light that had drawn him, Sawyer and Jane into Alluria. He got excited because it had been two months since their unplanned adventure. At first he thought she was Ariel who had helped them return home. He called out his name as he ran back to his study home only to find the door shattered and fell in front of him. Geoffrey was very shocked to see a black-cloaked figure in rotting black leather armor. This book is just exciting from the start to the end, making you read every sentence line in the book. I really love the writing style that has been used by the author; it removes boredom as one continues to read the book. The intruder was well armed with swords making it hard for Geoffrey to escape. Luckily, Ariel came into his aid. Ariel explained to Geoffrey that the skeletal assassin that attacked him was summoned by the Shadow lord. As the story line continues, Jane interrupts in and decides to call Sawyer. What makes the book to be more interesting is the way the author has used humor to express the message. I highly recommend this book to those who love life adventures.
The background setting of this book has been majored on fantasy and reality of various life experiences. I guess the author new the interest of many readers and decided to come up with this saga book which is full of adventures and fantasy all over. I just love it because it is full of magic, action, fear and excitement. The story line kicks off in a very cool environment where Geoffrey Vincent spends his two hours studying world history in his book-filled room on the first floor of the spacious house. After finishing he decides to take a break but suddenly a light flashed him. He stopped and started asking himself what that one could be. The light reminded him of a strobe light that had drawn him, Sawyer and Jane into Alluria. He got excited because it had been two months since their unplanned adventure. At first he thought she was Ariel who had helped them return home. He called out his name as he ran back to his study home only to find the door shattered and fell in front of him. Geoffrey was very shocked to see a black-cloaked figure in rotting black leather armor. This book is just exciting from the start to the end, making you read every sentence line in the book. I really love the writing style that has been used by the author; it removes boredom as one continues to read the book. The intruder was well armed with swords making it hard for Geoffrey to escape. Luckily, Ariel came into his aid. Ariel explained to Geoffrey that the skeletal assassin that attacked him was summoned by the Shadow lord. As the story line continues, Jane interrupts in and decides to call Sawyer. What makes the book to be more interesting is the way the author has used humor to express the message. I highly recommend this book to those who love life adventures.
September 25, 2018
Book Review: The Iron Citadel – (The DarkWolf Saga Book 2)
Name of the Book: The Iron Citadel – The DarkWolf Saga Book 2
Author: Mitch Reinhardt
Publication Date: September 12, 2018
Book Length: 400 pages
Closeup of Plot/Story of Book:
The book’s premise is all about a choice. A choice that three particular teenagers do need to make. What is this choice? It’s to decide if they are going to come together to save the Kingdom of Chalon. To preserve the Kingdom of Chalon,, they need to discover the identity of an assassin and to get this assassin they need to fight their way. They must go up against barbarian hordes, ogres, and a mean dragon. The Iron Citadel – The DarkWolf Saga Book 2 is filled to the brim with an extreme adventure to achieve this quest.
Who is the main character and or the goal of the book?
Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer share the spot of the main character equally. They are a unique team of youngsters who decide to come together to aid their friend Ariel. The one thing that they can do is to fight the dreaded armies of the Shadowlord. Are they the heroes of the prophecy? Were they destined to fight the evil forces for the fate of Alluria?
What is the overall objective of this book?
The sole objective of of this book is to be an engaging, riveting, and on the edge of your seat fantasy story.
My Personal Experiences -
My Opinion -
Did I like the book or not?
The answer’s yes. I found the book to be a real page-turner in every sense of the word.
What Is My Recommendation For This Book? -
Who would enjoy reading this book the most?
I think people of all ages would love this book. It’s filled with action and much more.
How Many Stars Does This Book Get In Rating?
****
The book review was written by Julie A. Sullivan.
September 20, 2018
Fantasy meets reality yet again in the second installment of Mitch Reinhardt’s Dark Wolf Saga. Our three young heroes return to Alluria with the help of Ariel, the high druid elven priestess. It’s classic story of action, love, fantasy, friendship, and good versus evil. There are new challenges, new foes, and new adventures that Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer encounter along their way to defeat a formidable foe. It’s a great book for young adults or anyone who is a fan of science fiction, medieval times, and fantasy worlds. While I was reading, I got a very Lord of the Rings/ Legend of Zelda/Camelot feel.
Reinhardt is able to paint a vivid picture of Alluria and all the experiences that occur in the fantasy land. The characters must put aside their original biases, work together, and help the people of Alluria against evil beings. Although I feel that this story is not original in the sense that I’ve read plenty of stories like this before, I found myself wanting to read chapter after chapter to see what happened next. Reinhardt illustrates his characters in a multidimensional fashion, where you begin to get attached to each individual’s story. I think that Jane, Geoff, and Sawyer serve as inspiring heroes that anyone can learn a thing or two from.
The second book of the Dark Wolf saga invites us into Reinhardt’s personal dream world that is plentiful with magical beings, extraordinary scenes, adventurous fighting, and truly makes me wish I could make a visit to Alluria one day. The Iron Citadel is a good read for anyone that wants to escape into a world that once was…and let me know that good truly does triumph over evil.
Reinhardt is able to paint a vivid picture of Alluria and all the experiences that occur in the fantasy land. The characters must put aside their original biases, work together, and help the people of Alluria against evil beings. Although I feel that this story is not original in the sense that I’ve read plenty of stories like this before, I found myself wanting to read chapter after chapter to see what happened next. Reinhardt illustrates his characters in a multidimensional fashion, where you begin to get attached to each individual’s story. I think that Jane, Geoff, and Sawyer serve as inspiring heroes that anyone can learn a thing or two from.
The second book of the Dark Wolf saga invites us into Reinhardt’s personal dream world that is plentiful with magical beings, extraordinary scenes, adventurous fighting, and truly makes me wish I could make a visit to Alluria one day. The Iron Citadel is a good read for anyone that wants to escape into a world that once was…and let me know that good truly does triumph over evil.
October 20, 2018
The Iron Citadel is the sequel to The Wizard’s Key, but readers can pick up in book two without too much confusion. When the story opens, teenage protagonist Geoff, along with his friend Jane and frenemy Sawyer are immediately pulled back into the land of Alluria. The trio has already had an adventure here, but as their supernatural visitor Ariel explains, there’s a new, pressing danger to the three teenagers, and to Alluria itself. Readers who’ve read the first novel will recognize people and places, but don’t worry, new readers can pick it up quickly as their adventure begins.
The trio are quickly reunited with more friends from the first adventure. Each friend (or frenemy) has different powers. For example, Jane is a druid, which means she can do plant-based magic. Ishura is a sharpshooting archer. They combine their different powers, and start off to protect their magical kingdom. Human opponents like barbarians and assassins, and fantasy monsters like ogres and werewolves are no match for their combined powers! This adventure feels like a fun D&D campaign, with different character classes fighting increasingly difficult fantasy enemies.
Eventually, some of Sawyer’s crankiness and bullying are explained, and he learns to be brave on the inside, as well as talking tough on the outside. Geoff’s relationships with his friends are developed over the course of the story (just like in a good D&D campaign), and the mix of fantastical setting and realistic relationships makes a compelling story. We also get to know some interesting characters, both human and other worldly, over the course of this book.
The trio are quickly reunited with more friends from the first adventure. Each friend (or frenemy) has different powers. For example, Jane is a druid, which means she can do plant-based magic. Ishura is a sharpshooting archer. They combine their different powers, and start off to protect their magical kingdom. Human opponents like barbarians and assassins, and fantasy monsters like ogres and werewolves are no match for their combined powers! This adventure feels like a fun D&D campaign, with different character classes fighting increasingly difficult fantasy enemies.
Eventually, some of Sawyer’s crankiness and bullying are explained, and he learns to be brave on the inside, as well as talking tough on the outside. Geoff’s relationships with his friends are developed over the course of the story (just like in a good D&D campaign), and the mix of fantastical setting and realistic relationships makes a compelling story. We also get to know some interesting characters, both human and other worldly, over the course of this book.
September 25, 2018
This was the most entertaining book that I've read so far this year. And I've read a lot of books. The fact is that it was almost perfect in every respect. The reason why I'm not giving it five stars has to do with its beginning. But first, the good part. This novel was action-packed, and not in a bad way. Every scene is suffused with action. But that was part of the problem. You see, in the beginning of the book, there are many references to a previous episode in the series (this book is the second episode). It normally wouldn't bother me - I've read sequels before - but in this novel the past remembrances are handled in such an obtuse way that they are impossible to see around. It was almost as if the author was deliberately pointing to the action in the previous novel to compensate for a slow beginning in this one, but that would've been totally unnecessary, because this novel is full of action. And, I know what you're thinking: "Why didn't you just read the previous episode so that you wouldn't be lost?" Well, that's not necessarily true. I have read the fourth installment of Harry Potter, without reading the previous installments. That novel acknowledges that it's a sequel, but it doesn't beat the reader over the head with that fact. I just think that writing sequels is an art, kind of like developing a golf swing. Towards the middle of the novel, the action picks up even more. They have a squad mate named Sawyer who goes into a "trance" every time danger is near. Sort of like Lord of the Rings, but more benign.
September 27, 2018
The story of the Iron Citadel revolves around three teens: Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer. When assassins are hired to killed them back home, the trio must return to Alluria, an enchanted land that they never expected to see again. Not only do they have to evade a werewolf, but there is a new evil waging war and killing innocents: the Shadowlord. The three along with their companions and trainers, the elven Ariel and Ishara, must find a way to defeat the most powerful evil they have ever faced.
Even though Geoff, who is more of a nerd-type than the other two, tries to be open to friendship back home, he struggles with Sawyer, his bully and tormentor. Jane wants to do the right thing, but also has her emotions toward her friends to consider. The life or death conundrum moves all three of them to help rather than stay home and risk death without the protection of their friends. The prophecy tells of the outlanders who can bring peace, but it is vague on what their role is and if they will return home.
The author does so well in creating a world of enchantment with characters so rich and fascinating. It doesn't matter if they are warriors or druids, wizards or humans. They all have a story of their own and a piece of the action in this battle against evil. They also learn more about themselves along the way. It is the second book in the series, but it does well on its own. With a page turner like this, reading the first part of the series will not be hard to do.
Even though Geoff, who is more of a nerd-type than the other two, tries to be open to friendship back home, he struggles with Sawyer, his bully and tormentor. Jane wants to do the right thing, but also has her emotions toward her friends to consider. The life or death conundrum moves all three of them to help rather than stay home and risk death without the protection of their friends. The prophecy tells of the outlanders who can bring peace, but it is vague on what their role is and if they will return home.
The author does so well in creating a world of enchantment with characters so rich and fascinating. It doesn't matter if they are warriors or druids, wizards or humans. They all have a story of their own and a piece of the action in this battle against evil. They also learn more about themselves along the way. It is the second book in the series, but it does well on its own. With a page turner like this, reading the first part of the series will not be hard to do.
October 16, 2018
The story full of spices, I mean: drama, love laughter, sadness, crime,adventure, I mean everything you would find in a great story. The plot is wonderful, it evolve family, school, friends, parents, but in the parents side is tricky as the main character here, Geoffrey, stays with her step mother who really don’t like her. She have never struck her but it is because I guess the presence of his dad. But the grounding itself is more than being struck by a wood!! Imagine this world of technology, a teen or anyone being stolen from media, or rather being restricted not to enjoy TV programs, computer and the rest!! This is exactly what goes on in Geoff’s house when he misbehaves, plus cleaning and the rest. We all know how a hating step mother can be, and their looks that are usually pathetic. All this is brought in the story, I mean, the author is really smart.
Sometimes we make decisions that are even too way confusing than life itself. We can decide to keep off from people, mark Geoff and Jane. Like one just decide to let feelings go… but I have to admit it. At the first chapter I was really confused, kind off, the story started off from a contiation story that I hadn’t read, but thanks to the author the connection and the flash backs in the story, like telling a part of the story just to keep people like me in the hook.
Am off to find the first book on the story. It is so interesting to ignore, I really want to know the Genesis. Nice read….
Sometimes we make decisions that are even too way confusing than life itself. We can decide to keep off from people, mark Geoff and Jane. Like one just decide to let feelings go… but I have to admit it. At the first chapter I was really confused, kind off, the story started off from a contiation story that I hadn’t read, but thanks to the author the connection and the flash backs in the story, like telling a part of the story just to keep people like me in the hook.
Am off to find the first book on the story. It is so interesting to ignore, I really want to know the Genesis. Nice read….
September 24, 2018
The Iron Citadel, book two in The Darkwolf Saga, features the continuing adventures of Geoff, Jane and Sawyer in the magical medieval country of Alluria. Accompanied by their elf friends Ariel and Ishara, they work to end the devastating war begun by the Shadowlord. It’s not necessary to have read the first book, Wizards Key, to fully enjoy and understand the second as key details are referenced well enough for new readers to understand the important prior plot points, but not overly so as to bore returning readers. Overall, the story is a good balance of action and political mystery, with relaxing moments of interactions between the cast of protagonists; Ishara, being my personal favorite. The highly skilled elven archer shadows the group as a key defender and intel gatherer. Moments between her and Geoff are adorable gems. Many of the calmer scenes between the groups’ members are delightful. Showing the well-built balance of the team and their complex interwoven relationships. A trouble, though, is the author’s tendency to tell rather than show their actions and feelings. As the narration shift, primarily, between the five protagonists, this made some sections feel narrow and the world a bit flat. Overall, The Iron Citadel is a solid story with cliffhangers that make you want to read just one more chapter.
September 21, 2018
Three teenagers return to a world of magic and find themselves developing and cultivating magical gifts of their own. “The Iron Citadel” is the second in a series of young adult fiction that leads three main characters on an adventure of a lifetime. The story includes coming of age and unlikely hero themes, and it is a story of hope and acceptance. Geoff, Sawyer, and Jane battle some of the same issues teenagers deal with: insecurities, romantic relationships, and changes. Each chapter ends in suspense, and werewolves, druids, and other magical beings are threaded within the pages. At first the story seemed to start off slow, and I had some unanswered questions about the plot, but halfway through new plot twists and developments in the characters’ personalities swept me through to the final pages of this sequel. There’s plenty of dialogue throughout the story, but at times there’s a bit more “tell” than “show.” There’s humor that surfaces between the teenage characters, as they are on a quest to save Alluria, along with two druids. The vibe has a bit of a Rick Riordan feel to it, as Geoff, Sawyer, and Jane are discovering who they are and trying to save the world at the same time.
October 15, 2018
The Iron Citadel
This is the second book in the Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt and continues the original story, while simultaneously creating its own through character story and development. The premise is that the main characters, Sawyer, Jane, and Geoff, must work together to help each other and a kingdom at risk. The story follows the characters and their personal growth and challenges. Don’t be fooled by the genre of Young Adult fiction as this story has depth; It has love, loss, fear, and sacrifice as the main characters prepare for a war. For me, this book grabbed my attention from the beginning and I am happy that I found a new series to follow. The book reminded me of stories such as Lord of the Rings and the Shadow Hunters series. The element of science fiction can be found in the antagonistic characters and challenges that they face. I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for something similar to the writing of Jim Butcher and the general premise of humans and mystical creatures banning together to battle for their beliefs and forces greater than themselves, I am confident you will enjoy this book.
This is the second book in the Darkwolf Saga by Mitch Reinhardt and continues the original story, while simultaneously creating its own through character story and development. The premise is that the main characters, Sawyer, Jane, and Geoff, must work together to help each other and a kingdom at risk. The story follows the characters and their personal growth and challenges. Don’t be fooled by the genre of Young Adult fiction as this story has depth; It has love, loss, fear, and sacrifice as the main characters prepare for a war. For me, this book grabbed my attention from the beginning and I am happy that I found a new series to follow. The book reminded me of stories such as Lord of the Rings and the Shadow Hunters series. The element of science fiction can be found in the antagonistic characters and challenges that they face. I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for something similar to the writing of Jim Butcher and the general premise of humans and mystical creatures banning together to battle for their beliefs and forces greater than themselves, I am confident you will enjoy this book.
October 22, 2018
The Iron Citadel is book 2 of the Darkwolf Saga. I love the “fantasy superhero” theme of these young adult books! The heroes of the story are three teenagers who must make a choice. This choice is not one of the run-of-the-mill daily “what am I going to where” choices, but one of staying home where it is safe; or going back to Alluria to help their friend. Of course, this is a harrowing journey, full of adventure and terrible danger, especially for three teenagers. Mitch Reinhardt authored the Darkwolf saga. He has written an engaging and exciting young adult fantasy. I am not a young adult yet could not put this book down. It is full of fantastical battles and great character creation. The three teenagers of the story, Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer, along with their Druid elf friend, Ariel, travel into the magical world of Alluria where there are werewolves, elves, and dragons. They face murder and evil. The author spins a wonderful story of suspense, fantasy, and friendship. Although these are choices of a fantastical story; they are a real part of teenage life today. Bravo to this author!
October 16, 2018
I am kicking myself for not reading the first one before this! At the beginning I though t the author pushed a bit too hard at what happened in the first book by pointed explanations rather than letting the memories unfold naturally. This in no way took away from how action packed and enticing this book was to read! I honestly could not put it down! It is a YA fantasy and was incredibly smooth and quick to read. It’s NOT a short novella, I just could not stop reading it! Geoff, Sawyer, and Jane were very relatable characters and I love the magic woven into the story! Ariel made a wonderful entry into the second book that made her warrior skills truly stand out. Fast-pasted, action packed, twists and turns around every corner, surprise foes! Wizard, Warrior, Druid? I’m honestly surprised that those three classes work so well together when the teens return to Alluria. Overall I loved the characters, the setting, and the plot! The Iron Citadel truly is a book worth reading!
November 1, 2018
Great Sequel
Reinhardt writes The Iron Citadel as a sequel to "Wizard's Key." This story definitely does not disappoint. It's focus is for young adults, but those young at heart that love a good fantasy may enjoy this book. The characters have depth and abilities which are simply magical. There is a great balance of the dark versus the light, adding in humor that brings realism to the story. Not everything should be all dark and all action, and this book brings that in. I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Reinhardt writes The Iron Citadel as a sequel to "Wizard's Key." This story definitely does not disappoint. It's focus is for young adults, but those young at heart that love a good fantasy may enjoy this book. The characters have depth and abilities which are simply magical. There is a great balance of the dark versus the light, adding in humor that brings realism to the story. Not everything should be all dark and all action, and this book brings that in. I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more by this author.
October 11, 2018
Outstanding sequel
This book continues the earlier adventures of the first book perfectly. Once again I was drawn into these two worlds and was captivated the whole time. Really looking forward to the next book.
This book continues the earlier adventures of the first book perfectly. Once again I was drawn into these two worlds and was captivated the whole time. Really looking forward to the next book.
March 8, 2019
Exciting and thrilling are two words that encapsulate that which is known as The Iron Citadel. The story quickly begins where the previous book left off and we are off again on an exciting adventure. Geoff, Jane, and Sawyer are faced with the perilous decision of helping out the evil scourge that is facing Alluria. Those who have fallen in love with other fantasy YA novels will enjoy the journey that these three teenagers face in their journey to save the fate of Alluria.
Though this is a second book, new readers will be able to pick up quickly and roll with this second without having to stress over not reading the first book. Those who have followed the story to this point will see familiar characters and new ones that they will find themselves rooting for.
My favorite part of this book is the balance that Mitch wrote. There is plenty of action, political intrigue, and story building that made the 500 pages fly by. There were points where I literally had no clue what was coming next and found myself eating up the pages to figure it out. The work that Mitch put into this enjoyable masterpiece is evident and has the makings of the next big hit in the YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre. I can’t wait for the next one!
Though this is a second book, new readers will be able to pick up quickly and roll with this second without having to stress over not reading the first book. Those who have followed the story to this point will see familiar characters and new ones that they will find themselves rooting for.
My favorite part of this book is the balance that Mitch wrote. There is plenty of action, political intrigue, and story building that made the 500 pages fly by. There were points where I literally had no clue what was coming next and found myself eating up the pages to figure it out. The work that Mitch put into this enjoyable masterpiece is evident and has the makings of the next big hit in the YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre. I can’t wait for the next one!
January 19, 2019
Short Take: Adventurous and easy read.
Having returned home after a battle with the werewolf, Geoff, Sawyer and Jane hope to have a safe and mundane life on earth. But fate has other plans for them. They simply cannot stay out of Alluria, A land that opened to them with the Wizard’s key and wizard’s archway of Geoff’s home in book one.
Books two starts off with a dark creature trying to kill Geoff and Ariel killing it and requesting that the three humans come back to Alluria since their home is no longer safe. And so their journey begins - as a prophecy is revealed about three travellers who will help in the battle between good and evil in the land of Alluria. Can these three humans rise to the occasion?
A fantasy read - but for novice fantasy readers. Those who have read Tolkien, I doubt it would be interesting enough. it is difficult to please an LOTR fan who lived in the world of Tolkien’s poetry!! :)
But, worth a read for all those fantasy adventure lovers, as long as you don’t draw parallels or compare the other creatures in the book to that of LOTR creatures, like I seem to have been doing!! :(
Having returned home after a battle with the werewolf, Geoff, Sawyer and Jane hope to have a safe and mundane life on earth. But fate has other plans for them. They simply cannot stay out of Alluria, A land that opened to them with the Wizard’s key and wizard’s archway of Geoff’s home in book one.
Books two starts off with a dark creature trying to kill Geoff and Ariel killing it and requesting that the three humans come back to Alluria since their home is no longer safe. And so their journey begins - as a prophecy is revealed about three travellers who will help in the battle between good and evil in the land of Alluria. Can these three humans rise to the occasion?
A fantasy read - but for novice fantasy readers. Those who have read Tolkien, I doubt it would be interesting enough. it is difficult to please an LOTR fan who lived in the world of Tolkien’s poetry!! :)
But, worth a read for all those fantasy adventure lovers, as long as you don’t draw parallels or compare the other creatures in the book to that of LOTR creatures, like I seem to have been doing!! :(
February 10, 2019
Great read!
This book was awesome. I was a bit irritated with Sawyer though. After the first book and their adventure together, I figured they all would continue being friends. However, Sawyer turned to his old bullying ways leaving Geoff alone and without friends. Jane came by and worked her magic in his fathers greenhouse occasionally, but they weren’t close as a I was expecting. Then they get lured back to where it all began much to Sawyers chagrin. Sawyer had a bit of an attitude in this book, which I didn’t care for. Geoff still seemed scared of everything that moved. I’m hoping in the next book, Geoff matures enough to not be such a scaredy cat and Sawyer loses his bad attitude and Jane comes to her senses. My heart actually went out to the Dark Lord after hearing his story. He feels responsible for Alex’s demise and it ended with him down this dark path. Heart wrenching story in some parts. I enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the next book. 😊
This book was awesome. I was a bit irritated with Sawyer though. After the first book and their adventure together, I figured they all would continue being friends. However, Sawyer turned to his old bullying ways leaving Geoff alone and without friends. Jane came by and worked her magic in his fathers greenhouse occasionally, but they weren’t close as a I was expecting. Then they get lured back to where it all began much to Sawyers chagrin. Sawyer had a bit of an attitude in this book, which I didn’t care for. Geoff still seemed scared of everything that moved. I’m hoping in the next book, Geoff matures enough to not be such a scaredy cat and Sawyer loses his bad attitude and Jane comes to her senses. My heart actually went out to the Dark Lord after hearing his story. He feels responsible for Alex’s demise and it ended with him down this dark path. Heart wrenching story in some parts. I enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the next book. 😊
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