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The Black Witch Chronicles #2
The Iron Flower
In this magical sequel to The Black Witch, Elloren Gardner must embrace a power she never knew she had, a power to hold back the dark forces sweeping across Erthia.
Elloren Gardner and her friends were only seeking to right a few wrongs, but their actions have propelled them straight into the ranks of the realm-wide Resistance against Gardnerian encroachment. As the Resistance struggles against the harsh rulings of High Priest Marcus Vogel and the Mage Council, Elloren begins to realize that none of the people she cares about will be safe if Gardneria seizes control of the Western Realm.
With tensions heating up in Verpacia, more and more Gardnerian soldiers continue to descend upon the university…led by none other than Lukas Grey, now commander of the newly rebuilt Fourth Division base. Though Elloren tries to keep him at arm’s length, Lukas is determined to wandfast to her, convinced that she has inherited her grandmother’s magic—the prophesied power of the Black Witch. As his very nearness seems to awaken a darkness inside her, Elloren finds it more and more difficult to believe that she’s truly powerless, as her uncle always claimed.
Caught between her growing feelings for the rebellious Yvan Guriel and the seductive power offered by Lukas Grey, Elloren must find a way to stay true to what she knows is right and protect everyone she loves…even if that means protecting them from herself.
Elloren Gardner and her friends were only seeking to right a few wrongs, but their actions have propelled them straight into the ranks of the realm-wide Resistance against Gardnerian encroachment. As the Resistance struggles against the harsh rulings of High Priest Marcus Vogel and the Mage Council, Elloren begins to realize that none of the people she cares about will be safe if Gardneria seizes control of the Western Realm.
With tensions heating up in Verpacia, more and more Gardnerian soldiers continue to descend upon the university…led by none other than Lukas Grey, now commander of the newly rebuilt Fourth Division base. Though Elloren tries to keep him at arm’s length, Lukas is determined to wandfast to her, convinced that she has inherited her grandmother’s magic—the prophesied power of the Black Witch. As his very nearness seems to awaken a darkness inside her, Elloren finds it more and more difficult to believe that she’s truly powerless, as her uncle always claimed.
Caught between her growing feelings for the rebellious Yvan Guriel and the seductive power offered by Lukas Grey, Elloren must find a way to stay true to what she knows is right and protect everyone she loves…even if that means protecting them from herself.
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First published September 18, 2018
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About the author
Laurie Forest
22 books4,293 followersLaurie Forest is a New York Times, USA Today & Internationally Bestselling Author who lives deep in the backwoods of Vermont where she sits in front of a wood stove drinking strong tea and dreaming up tales full of dryads, dragons and wands. She has penned THE BLACK WITCH CHRONICLES including - THE BLACK WITCH, THE REBEL MAGES (a compilation of the prequel novels WANDFASTED & LIGHT MAGE), THE SHADOW WAND, THE DEMON TIDE & THE DRYAD STORM. She is currently working on her first standalone adult romantasy - SILVERLING.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,425 reviews
November 26, 2017
Busy editing The Iron Flower today - very excited to share the continuing story with you all in 2018 - thank you to all my readers for so much support and enthusiasm for this series and its anti-prejudice message. #grateful (and I can't wait to share the cover with you).
October 16, 2020
2.5 stars. I've been VERY slow about getting this full review written (probably because I just wasn't terribly excited by this sequel to The Black Witch) but here it is! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
When Laurie Forest’s debut YA fantasy novel The Black Witch was published in 2017, there was a massive explosion of outrage in the Twitterverse and elsewhere online. Accusations of various types of prejudice — racism (albeit based on fantasy races), homophobia, white saviorism, ableism, lookism and more — were hurled against it. In my opinion those charges were unfair and based on a superficial reading of the text, missing the fact that the main character’s prejudices were clearly being shown as unthinking bias and bigotry, and in fact she does very gradually change her thinking over the course of the book. Still, I’m sure it was stressful for the author, so my assumption going into this sequel was that Forest likely probably worked overtime to make sure The Iron Flower wouldn’t offend anyone. It will come as no surprise to anyone that this assumption was correct. Unfortunately, what remains after the controversial elements have been removed is a run-of-the-mill romantic fantasy.
As The Iron Flower begins, Elloren Gardner and her friends at the University in the country of Verpacia have joined the Resistance, an underground group that seeks to undermine the Gardnerian conquest of neighboring lands and their violent bigotry toward other races. Elloren is one of the privileged Gardnerians, but with one brother who’s gay (forbidden sexual orientation!) and another who’s fallen in love with a werewolf (forbidden mixing of races!), and a set of friends that includes numerous other races, she’s now fully committed to battling Gardnerian oppression in all its forms.
It doesn’t hurt that Elloren is also falling in love with (or at least crushing hard on) Yvan, a Keltic young man who alternates between gazing at Elloren longingly and pushing her away for reasons he refuses to divulge. At the same time, Elloren is still having mixed feelings about Lukas Grey, the hot Gardnerian military commander that her powerful Aunt Vyvian has been pushing her to wandfast with (the Gardnerian version of marriage). Elloran has never had any magical power, but Lukas is certain that locked within her is the tremendous power of the Black Witch of prophecy.
The first half of The Iron Flower is slowish and muddled and I kept bogging down and setting it aside. Every moment that Elloren isn’t being OUTRAGED by the social injustices of her society, she’s obsessing about her feelings for Yvan or dithering about (and kissing) Lukas. Lukas is aware of Elloren’s rebellious leanings but still wants her, even though he “doesn’t believe in love.” Also, unless you remember all of the secondary and minor characters from The Black Witch, you’re going to find the large cast of characters confusing.
In the second half of the book, the plot finally snaps into focus and things get more interesting. The most intriguing character by far was Lukas, who turns out to have some unanticipated depths. However, the ending is, if not exactly a cliffhanger, very much just a mid-story stopping place, with the overarching plot left unresolved. More problematic, Forest’s writing style is basic and she uses first person present tense narration, which tends to come across as amateurish in less-skilled hands.
If you were an enthusiastic fan of The Black Witch, then you’ll likely enjoy The Iron Flower, though you may need to push yourself through the slower-paced first half. If you despised The Black Witch because Elloren was prejudiced in so very many ways, you can at least rest assured that she’s now fully woke.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you!
When Laurie Forest’s debut YA fantasy novel The Black Witch was published in 2017, there was a massive explosion of outrage in the Twitterverse and elsewhere online. Accusations of various types of prejudice — racism (albeit based on fantasy races), homophobia, white saviorism, ableism, lookism and more — were hurled against it. In my opinion those charges were unfair and based on a superficial reading of the text, missing the fact that the main character’s prejudices were clearly being shown as unthinking bias and bigotry, and in fact she does very gradually change her thinking over the course of the book. Still, I’m sure it was stressful for the author, so my assumption going into this sequel was that Forest likely probably worked overtime to make sure The Iron Flower wouldn’t offend anyone. It will come as no surprise to anyone that this assumption was correct. Unfortunately, what remains after the controversial elements have been removed is a run-of-the-mill romantic fantasy.
As The Iron Flower begins, Elloren Gardner and her friends at the University in the country of Verpacia have joined the Resistance, an underground group that seeks to undermine the Gardnerian conquest of neighboring lands and their violent bigotry toward other races. Elloren is one of the privileged Gardnerians, but with one brother who’s gay (forbidden sexual orientation!) and another who’s fallen in love with a werewolf (forbidden mixing of races!), and a set of friends that includes numerous other races, she’s now fully committed to battling Gardnerian oppression in all its forms.
It doesn’t hurt that Elloren is also falling in love with (or at least crushing hard on) Yvan, a Keltic young man who alternates between gazing at Elloren longingly and pushing her away for reasons he refuses to divulge. At the same time, Elloren is still having mixed feelings about Lukas Grey, the hot Gardnerian military commander that her powerful Aunt Vyvian has been pushing her to wandfast with (the Gardnerian version of marriage). Elloran has never had any magical power, but Lukas is certain that locked within her is the tremendous power of the Black Witch of prophecy.
The first half of The Iron Flower is slowish and muddled and I kept bogging down and setting it aside. Every moment that Elloren isn’t being OUTRAGED by the social injustices of her society, she’s obsessing about her feelings for Yvan or dithering about (and kissing) Lukas. Lukas is aware of Elloren’s rebellious leanings but still wants her, even though he “doesn’t believe in love.” Also, unless you remember all of the secondary and minor characters from The Black Witch, you’re going to find the large cast of characters confusing.
In the second half of the book, the plot finally snaps into focus and things get more interesting. The most intriguing character by far was Lukas, who turns out to have some unanticipated depths. However, the ending is, if not exactly a cliffhanger, very much just a mid-story stopping place, with the overarching plot left unresolved. More problematic, Forest’s writing style is basic and she uses first person present tense narration, which tends to come across as amateurish in less-skilled hands.
If you were an enthusiastic fan of The Black Witch, then you’ll likely enjoy The Iron Flower, though you may need to push yourself through the slower-paced first half. If you despised The Black Witch because Elloren was prejudiced in so very many ways, you can at least rest assured that she’s now fully woke.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you!
December 29, 2018
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG
All my theories from the first book are null and void! My head is so confused and foggy. My heart just hurts!
*Spends rest of day staring off vacantly*
All my theories from the first book are null and void! My head is so confused and foggy. My heart just hurts!
*Spends rest of day staring off vacantly*
November 18, 2018
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ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley for a for a fair review.
Elloren Gardner and her friends continue to help the resistance against the Gardnerian government as they encounter more and more social injustices. Each time they feel like they make any progress their hopes are squashed again and again as all hell breaks loose with the more power Gardneria gets in Verpacia.
Story-
Okay, so I think if you liked the first book you will really like this one. Despite how dense this book was, I gobbled it all up.
Taking off pretty much where it left off in the first book, Eloren’s character learns more and more about what’s wrong about her people and religion. Meanwhile, she, and everyone else, is just trying to survive. Like the first, this book brings out a lot of real life prejudices and social problems that is intricately woven into a fantasy setting.
If you’re like me, and like a good love triangle then strap in. This book takes the confusion emotions of attraction and not only keeps Elloren confused about what she should do, but draws out the romance through the entire book. I was strangling my book and screaming KISS ALREADY! Because, I ship them so much. And Forest has made internal magic seem so ridiculously sexy. If you read it, you will know what I’m talking about.
While I had a lot of theories about how the book would end, I did have one lingering in my mind that had me thinking, I freaking knew it. Poor Solomon had to put up with all my reaction snapchats and theories throughout my day
World Building-
This book has such detailed world building. Not only do we get a descriptive look at the surrounding world, but palpable magic that affects Elloren in a way that gets my heart racing.
In this second book we get a closer look at some of the other races lives. Selkies and Amaz people really stand out as they are major factors in this book, and each race has such a diverse look at the world, religion and politics. As the series progresses I am eager to look more into the difference races that hold a part of this world. I follower Laurie on Instagram, and oh my, she’s going to bring in some dryads into the next book and the imagery she spotlighted was so amazing. I seriously cannot wait, will they be friend or foe?
The Characters-
Elloren had such a major character ARC in the first book that it’s hardly noticeable in this one. As she comes to understand more about how she feels we get a stronger understanding to her sense of justice. She is more and more willing to go to the extreme to protect her friends and family that, despite her naiveté, you really want someone as fierce as her in your life.
What I love about these books is that each of the characters have their own prejudices and hurdles to jump in regards to each other. But as they encounter their difficulties they learn to band together and hold affection for each other so that they can support each other through their individual tribulations.
September 28, 2019
If you liked the first, chances are you’ll like the sequel. It carries on in the same vein as the first with predictable plot progression but an unfortunate lack of character growth. Grammatically, I have zero issues. The book was actually very well written; I didn’t have any hang-ups that pulled me out of the story. And story-wise, the characters and plot are consistent with what was established in The Black Witch, and I know there's a fairly large audience that liked it and won't be disappointed. I had my fingers crossed for the sequel, hoping that the series would improve (as in, make the characters more likable). Spoiler alert –– superstitions won't save you here. And that cover was so beautiful too. *sigh*
The target audience:
If you like romantic tropes, with a helpless-yet-simultaneously-powerful heroine who obsesses over a boy, a love triangle, and a hate-to-not-yet-love romance — talking to you, Twilight fans — then this book may be for you. The plot drags, but these tropes may pull you through the slow bits if you thrive on that kind of thing. Maybe if I weren’t so annoyed be Elloren and so bored with Yvan, I could’ve appreciated the predictability.
Spoilers ahead!
Elloren:
My largest complaint is our protag, Elloren. And she is my largest complaint because I’m stuck behind her POV the whole story, which is torture because I fricken’ hate her. It’s like being strapped in a chair with my eyes pinned open watching Twilight on repeat. I’m not saying this is an equivalent of Twilight, because the stories are definitely not the same, but there are enough similarities between Bella and Elloren for me to see them as equally frustrating.
Elloren literally obsesses over Yvan the whole book. And the same circle of thoughts go through her head on repeat. Here’s the condensed version: “Why is Yvan cold and distant? We should be together. He has feelings for me, I know it. We can’t be together, it’s impossible. We should be together. *sad puppy-dog eyes*”
Also, Yvan bores me. You could’ve switched him with a cardboard cutout of bearded Chris Evans, and I would’ve been infinitely more interested. His whole hot and cold thing is annoying. But Elloren annoys me too, so I guess they’re a perfect match.
And she's written to be so perfect but still the object of so much contempt. Can she not do anything wrong? She's inhuman, both flawless and yet victimized. She's Bambi. And two beautiful men both vying for her affection. In the words of Heath Ledger, "What is it with this chick, she have beer-flavored nipples?"
Supporting characters:
Complaint number 2: her surrounding cast is essentially a ploy to make Elloren more likable. Apparently I should feel sorry towards Elloren because she's descended from the powerful Black Witch, earning the instant hatred of the "good guys." They attempt to put her in the underdog position, as she’s an outcast among the cool kids, but the story is telling me to like the cool kids since they're cruel because they’ve been persecuted unfairly, so how the heck do I get over that paradox? I'm supposed to like bigots? I get they've been through a lot, but it doesn't make their prejudice OK. But they only exist to make Elloren the martyr, so really, they're pointless.
And Elloren’s response to the haters? Cue sad puppy-dog eyes AGAIN, because apparently she can’t feel the irony of her situation. Does she have to be nice to everyone? It’s like she’s a Disney princess, and can’t act human — ZERO instinct for self-preservation. She's nice to everyone except for the one guy that everyone hates –– she'll willingly hate him too. She can't think for herself.
I can't relate to her. No defiance, no petty behavior, she just absorbs the hate. I can’t relate, I’d kick ‘em in the shins. She deals with being the victim of racism over and over again, and yet she panders to the people who judge her. How can you tell me she’s a strong character, book — I’m not buying it.
Oh, and her cursed heritage that she’s struggling to overcome comes with a large amount of untapped power, so I’m supposed to feel sorry for her again? Um, what? Don’t get how that works. Apparently she’s simultaneously the underdog and the top dog. I’m drowning in the inconsistencies.
Plot:
As far as the plot goes.. meh. I didn’t care about the story. It dragged me from place to place, showing me characters that I was supposed to care about but couldn’t. There’s plenty of drama, but it just felt like Super Bowl halftime show — never quite lives up to what you’re anticipating, and you could’ve been watching Friends reruns instead.
The ONLY compelling character:
The only character I felt myself caring about was Lukas, a flawed character with hidden potential that goes undeveloped. He pursues Elloren, partly because her untapped power can boost his own abilities (selfish motivation — hello someone relatable!). Lukas and Elloren can’t lie to each other because plot magic, so he’s up front about his disbelief in love and his ambition, but he also has a strong attraction to her and they’ve got chemistry that develops into something deeper— at least on his side. You get the impression he’s confused about his feelings, which I get; I’d be confused too if I had feelings for Elloren. You see his internal struggle throughout the book, and notice his moral progress even if Elloren is blind to it (again, frustrating!). Out of all people, Elloren should be the one to recognize that Lukas isn't what everyone thinks he is (see what I mean about the irony?).
What Lukas and Elloren have going on — the challenge they are for each other — is so much more interesting than whatever will-they-won’t-they dance Elloren is doing with Yvan. How is Lukas not our love interest?! Unfortunately, at this point it seems Lukas is a tragic character doomed to an unhappy ending. I’m seriously hoping his story doesn’t continue on that way, but I guess we’ll see. He’s the one redeeming thing about this book. It’d be a waste to kill him off.
The target audience:
If you like romantic tropes, with a helpless-yet-simultaneously-powerful heroine who obsesses over a boy, a love triangle, and a hate-to-not-yet-love romance — talking to you, Twilight fans — then this book may be for you. The plot drags, but these tropes may pull you through the slow bits if you thrive on that kind of thing. Maybe if I weren’t so annoyed be Elloren and so bored with Yvan, I could’ve appreciated the predictability.
Spoilers ahead!
Elloren:
My largest complaint is our protag, Elloren. And she is my largest complaint because I’m stuck behind her POV the whole story, which is torture because I fricken’ hate her. It’s like being strapped in a chair with my eyes pinned open watching Twilight on repeat. I’m not saying this is an equivalent of Twilight, because the stories are definitely not the same, but there are enough similarities between Bella and Elloren for me to see them as equally frustrating.
Elloren literally obsesses over Yvan the whole book. And the same circle of thoughts go through her head on repeat. Here’s the condensed version: “Why is Yvan cold and distant? We should be together. He has feelings for me, I know it. We can’t be together, it’s impossible. We should be together. *sad puppy-dog eyes*”
Also, Yvan bores me. You could’ve switched him with a cardboard cutout of bearded Chris Evans, and I would’ve been infinitely more interested. His whole hot and cold thing is annoying. But Elloren annoys me too, so I guess they’re a perfect match.
And she's written to be so perfect but still the object of so much contempt. Can she not do anything wrong? She's inhuman, both flawless and yet victimized. She's Bambi. And two beautiful men both vying for her affection. In the words of Heath Ledger, "What is it with this chick, she have beer-flavored nipples?"
Supporting characters:
Complaint number 2: her surrounding cast is essentially a ploy to make Elloren more likable. Apparently I should feel sorry towards Elloren because she's descended from the powerful Black Witch, earning the instant hatred of the "good guys." They attempt to put her in the underdog position, as she’s an outcast among the cool kids, but the story is telling me to like the cool kids since they're cruel because they’ve been persecuted unfairly, so how the heck do I get over that paradox? I'm supposed to like bigots? I get they've been through a lot, but it doesn't make their prejudice OK. But they only exist to make Elloren the martyr, so really, they're pointless.
And Elloren’s response to the haters? Cue sad puppy-dog eyes AGAIN, because apparently she can’t feel the irony of her situation. Does she have to be nice to everyone? It’s like she’s a Disney princess, and can’t act human — ZERO instinct for self-preservation. She's nice to everyone except for the one guy that everyone hates –– she'll willingly hate him too. She can't think for herself.
I can't relate to her. No defiance, no petty behavior, she just absorbs the hate. I can’t relate, I’d kick ‘em in the shins. She deals with being the victim of racism over and over again, and yet she panders to the people who judge her. How can you tell me she’s a strong character, book — I’m not buying it.
Oh, and her cursed heritage that she’s struggling to overcome comes with a large amount of untapped power, so I’m supposed to feel sorry for her again? Um, what? Don’t get how that works. Apparently she’s simultaneously the underdog and the top dog. I’m drowning in the inconsistencies.
Plot:
As far as the plot goes.. meh. I didn’t care about the story. It dragged me from place to place, showing me characters that I was supposed to care about but couldn’t. There’s plenty of drama, but it just felt like Super Bowl halftime show — never quite lives up to what you’re anticipating, and you could’ve been watching Friends reruns instead.
The ONLY compelling character:
The only character I felt myself caring about was Lukas, a flawed character with hidden potential that goes undeveloped. He pursues Elloren, partly because her untapped power can boost his own abilities (selfish motivation — hello someone relatable!). Lukas and Elloren can’t lie to each other because plot magic, so he’s up front about his disbelief in love and his ambition, but he also has a strong attraction to her and they’ve got chemistry that develops into something deeper— at least on his side. You get the impression he’s confused about his feelings, which I get; I’d be confused too if I had feelings for Elloren. You see his internal struggle throughout the book, and notice his moral progress even if Elloren is blind to it (again, frustrating!). Out of all people, Elloren should be the one to recognize that Lukas isn't what everyone thinks he is (see what I mean about the irony?).
What Lukas and Elloren have going on — the challenge they are for each other — is so much more interesting than whatever will-they-won’t-they dance Elloren is doing with Yvan. How is Lukas not our love interest?! Unfortunately, at this point it seems Lukas is a tragic character doomed to an unhappy ending. I’m seriously hoping his story doesn’t continue on that way, but I guess we’ll see. He’s the one redeeming thing about this book. It’d be a waste to kill him off.
August 24, 2022
I remembering really enjoying The Black Witch but I wasn't terribly impressed by this. I'm not sure if part of that was due to the fact that I forgot a lot what happened in the first book so I was missing context while reading. The pacing felt sporadic, at times it felt like the plot were dragging. I also found reading about Elloren and Yvan to be tedious. Maybe its because I've read a lot of YA so the dynamic between them just felt very tired. It wouldn't have been so bad if the majority of the book didn't revolved around it. There was also something repetitive about the plot, it just felt like the author kept trying to reiterate how bad oppression and subjugation are but in what felt like a pretty superficial way. I already borrowed the next book in the series so here's to hoping that one is better.
September 27, 2018
2/5 stars
DNF at 33 %
So not the rating I thought I was going to be giving this book, I was pretty sure that this would have been a 5 star, boy was I wrong. Gorgeous cover though, so that's something.
To start off, I'm not giving this 1 star, despite having dnf-d it, because I only save 1 stars for books I really did not like. And I just didn't care for Iron Flower, it's not a bad book, but it isn't a book for me, unfortunately. The Black Witch was though, so I honestly have no idea how the book went from that to this...
So, let me summarize this book for you:
"Oh Yvan! Oh Lucas! Oh Yvan! Let me make out with Lucas. But Yvan is so beautiful! But I can't have him. Oh Lucas! blah blah blerhhh!!"
In other words, ya fantasy is dead because ya romance has killed it. RIP. The entirety of 33 percent of the book that I read was filled with Elloren wishing she was with Yvan, Elloren thinking that Yvan is beautiful, Yvan glaring at Elloren with passion, Elloren making out with Lucas, Elloren thinking how she can't have Yvan.... You got the idea. If romance overload and love triangle tropes are your jam, you will love this book. Me? I loathe those things.
For a book that's 608 pages long 33 percent is not little, so for nothing to happen in those 33 percent is really mind boggling. That's why I just had to give up reading - I couldn't care less about the romance, or Elloren as a main character, and with plot going absolutely nowhere and telling us nothing new, even Diana (what little of her was there) couldn't save this book for me.
Which is really sad because I was so sure that I'd have loved this. So what happened? The Black Witch (despite rising a storm of stupid controversy) was a wonderful and engaging book. Sure, the romance was still there but other things more than made up for it. I read Black Witch in 1 day! That's 608 pages in 24 hours people, and it isn't a small feat.
The Black Witch had a story - it was a beginning, a new chapter in life for Elloren - she was sheltered, she was naive, she was bullied and she had to go out there and find her truth. And she did, and it was beautiful. The Iron Flower focused more on which character was in love with which character, what material her dress was made of and how many times can Yvan stare at her without Elloren bursting into flames of passion. There was very little substance, unfortunately, in it for me.
The writing also got very repetitive - there was a lot of "shivering", "glaring", "drawing a breath" and in general the descriptions were over explained an drawn out. The ending of The Black Witch had a huge cast of characters and they were all present almost immediately here without any throwbacks really, so it was hard to remember who was who at first. I'm sure the book gets better, and some things do happen eventually, I just don't have any patience to wait around for that.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for providing me with a digital arc of the book. All opinions are my own, honest and come from the heart.
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DNF at 33 %
So not the rating I thought I was going to be giving this book, I was pretty sure that this would have been a 5 star, boy was I wrong. Gorgeous cover though, so that's something.
To start off, I'm not giving this 1 star, despite having dnf-d it, because I only save 1 stars for books I really did not like. And I just didn't care for Iron Flower, it's not a bad book, but it isn't a book for me, unfortunately. The Black Witch was though, so I honestly have no idea how the book went from that to this...
So, let me summarize this book for you:
"Oh Yvan! Oh Lucas! Oh Yvan! Let me make out with Lucas. But Yvan is so beautiful! But I can't have him. Oh Lucas! blah blah blerhhh!!"
In other words, ya fantasy is dead because ya romance has killed it. RIP. The entirety of 33 percent of the book that I read was filled with Elloren wishing she was with Yvan, Elloren thinking that Yvan is beautiful, Yvan glaring at Elloren with passion, Elloren making out with Lucas, Elloren thinking how she can't have Yvan.... You got the idea. If romance overload and love triangle tropes are your jam, you will love this book. Me? I loathe those things.
For a book that's 608 pages long 33 percent is not little, so for nothing to happen in those 33 percent is really mind boggling. That's why I just had to give up reading - I couldn't care less about the romance, or Elloren as a main character, and with plot going absolutely nowhere and telling us nothing new, even Diana (what little of her was there) couldn't save this book for me.
Which is really sad because I was so sure that I'd have loved this. So what happened? The Black Witch (despite rising a storm of stupid controversy) was a wonderful and engaging book. Sure, the romance was still there but other things more than made up for it. I read Black Witch in 1 day! That's 608 pages in 24 hours people, and it isn't a small feat.
The Black Witch had a story - it was a beginning, a new chapter in life for Elloren - she was sheltered, she was naive, she was bullied and she had to go out there and find her truth. And she did, and it was beautiful. The Iron Flower focused more on which character was in love with which character, what material her dress was made of and how many times can Yvan stare at her without Elloren bursting into flames of passion. There was very little substance, unfortunately, in it for me.
The writing also got very repetitive - there was a lot of "shivering", "glaring", "drawing a breath" and in general the descriptions were over explained an drawn out. The ending of The Black Witch had a huge cast of characters and they were all present almost immediately here without any throwbacks really, so it was hard to remember who was who at first. I'm sure the book gets better, and some things do happen eventually, I just don't have any patience to wait around for that.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for providing me with a digital arc of the book. All opinions are my own, honest and come from the heart.
My WEBSITE
My INSTAGRAM
My WORDPRESS BLOG
September 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this sequel to The Black Witch, the controversial YA fantasy book that explores racism by way of a world filled with many races such as Urisks, Lupines, Kelts, Fae, Icarals, etc. who all have their own prejudices against each other. In the first book, we saw a young girl overcome the ignorance she was raised with and learn to be better. In this sequel, we see tensions rise in Verpacia and a need for the Resistance to act. Elloren finds herself torn between Lukas Grey and Yvan. What an adventure!!
I don’t want to dive deep into the plot. This is a 600 page book, like the first, so there is a lot to unpack in these pages. In ways, it reminds me of Harry Potter in that way where the books have so much that happen within them and there is the boarding school setting. It’s a nice similarity to have, while also being completely it’s own story.
The writing flows nicely maintaining a steady pace throughout. There are times the action ramps up a bit more, which is nothing but exciting. The characters are well-written. Some of the side characters are developed a bit more in this sequel. The romance is a bit more prominent here than in the first. In fact, a love triangle begins to ensue….
I loved getting a chance to explore the world Forest created even more here. I loved the choices characters made and the side-journeys they went on. The way this one ends has me anxiously waiting the sequel. The pace really picked up at the end ramping up to the big twist leaving me dying to know what happens next.
Overall, if you enjoyed The Black Witch, you’ll enjoy this sequel. I am really loving how this series is turning out.
I don’t want to dive deep into the plot. This is a 600 page book, like the first, so there is a lot to unpack in these pages. In ways, it reminds me of Harry Potter in that way where the books have so much that happen within them and there is the boarding school setting. It’s a nice similarity to have, while also being completely it’s own story.
The writing flows nicely maintaining a steady pace throughout. There are times the action ramps up a bit more, which is nothing but exciting. The characters are well-written. Some of the side characters are developed a bit more in this sequel. The romance is a bit more prominent here than in the first. In fact, a love triangle begins to ensue….
I loved getting a chance to explore the world Forest created even more here. I loved the choices characters made and the side-journeys they went on. The way this one ends has me anxiously waiting the sequel. The pace really picked up at the end ramping up to the big twist leaving me dying to know what happens next.
Overall, if you enjoyed The Black Witch, you’ll enjoy this sequel. I am really loving how this series is turning out.
June 27, 2018
***** 4.5 Stars *****
Cannot be read as a standalone.
I want to cry right now....
I want to cry because the next book isn't available yet!!!
The Iron Flower is even better than the first book. All the characters are wonderfully written, and the relationship between Elloren and Yvan is so heartfelt.
This story is dark and ugly. High Priest Marcus Vogel rules the land and plans on purifying the race and conquering neighboring territories. It isn't safe anywhere, and Elloren and her diverse group of friends have to face terrible events.
Although Elloren is powerless, she is stronger, wiser, and braver than before. She proves to people that she is not like her murderous grandmother and makes a lasting impression on everyone she meets.
This story is a hot mess (the best kind, of course), and I can't wait for the next book!
Cannot be read as a standalone.
I want to cry right now....
I want to cry because the next book isn't available yet!!!
The Iron Flower is even better than the first book. All the characters are wonderfully written, and the relationship between Elloren and Yvan is so heartfelt.
This story is dark and ugly. High Priest Marcus Vogel rules the land and plans on purifying the race and conquering neighboring territories. It isn't safe anywhere, and Elloren and her diverse group of friends have to face terrible events.
Although Elloren is powerless, she is stronger, wiser, and braver than before. She proves to people that she is not like her murderous grandmother and makes a lasting impression on everyone she meets.
This story is a hot mess (the best kind, of course), and I can't wait for the next book!
October 18, 2018
See this review and more like it on Bookbastion.net!
________
You might remember that last year I championed really hard for a little young adult debut fantasy book called The Black Witch, which was being unfairly lampooned by some overzealous keyboard warriors on Twitter who hadn't even bothered to read the book before judging it. Well, I read the book, and I became pretty passionate about defending it because it turns out, it was actually a pretty decent read with a subtext about the importance of inclusion - if you gave it a chance and didn't judge it without reading.
I will defend that book, and my decision to read it and the fact that I enjoyed it a great deal until my dying day. So when I remembered that The Iron Flower - Laurie Forest's followup to her debut novel - was hitting shelves this October, I ran out out to greet it with a fervor I reserve only for my most anticipated reads of the year.
In the regards of finally getting to catch up with Elloren and Yvan's story and place in this unique fantasy landscape definitely didn't disappoint. If you were a fan of the high fantasy landscape and vivid imagery put on display in the first book, you absolutely will not be let down revisiting that here. The world is still quite well realized in its various cultures and the ways that they play off of each other, and Laurie Forest still kills it with the way she describes the lay of the land in this world and her character's placement in it.
That being said, I unfortunately felt the bite of the dreaded sophomore slump with this one and would be remiss if I didn't cover the aspects I struggled with as well. First things is first: What happened to the university setting from the first book?? In The Black Witch, Elloren's studies - and her inability to master them - were quite prominent throughout. I think there were maybe 2 scenes that took place in a classroom in this book. The rest either take place in the North Tower (basically Elloren's dorm room) or in various kingdoms surrounding the University.
Unfortunately, this makes the world feel very small at times. When Elloren and company travel to the surrounding kingdoms, it takes them about one evening to get anywhere, which means that these vast cultures that are at war with each other are basically living right in one another's backyard. I think the story would have benefited from remaining within the confines of the University setting, still revealing aspects of the world without showing us how they always seemed to be right around the corner.
It was as though Forest grew tired of writing the characters within the confines of this school she had placed them in within the first book, and just conveniently drops the setting here in favor of writing more character driven drama. I wasn't entirely sure if Elloren and friends were even still a part of the university or not for a large chunk of the story. It's a head scratcher for sure.
And then we've got to talk about my biggest pet peeve in YA novels: the dreaded love triangle. I can't lie, the romantic aspects of this book were almost a dealbreaker for me.
The first half of the novel is almost entirely dedicated to Elloren alternating between the will they, or won't they dynamic Elloren and Yvan has, and Elloren being drawn to Lukas Grey and his sultry smolder as well. Honestly, I was just over it and ready for the plot to actually get started. Seriously, I spent way too long in this book wondering when the actual story was going to pick up again.
That being said, when the plot picks up (around the 50% mark) the pacing of this novel dramatically improved as well. I was much, much more bought in to the second half of the story. Things go from zero to 100 pretty quickly and whereas I felt like the first 50% was a slow burn that I struggled with, I flew through the latter half feeling much more committed to events.
Reader be warned again though that this world is still incredibly dark and dangerous. The world is in the midst of what is essentially the start of a great world war between the various cultures and kingdoms, which lends itself to strained relationships among the groups. People who struggled with the content of book one will probably have similar issues here as well. That being said, this book was edited with the aid of sensitivity readers so I think even those who had complaints about the way things were handled in book one might find themselves pleasantly surprised here.
If you're looking for compelling YA fantasy set in a vast and dangerous world, look no further than The Iron Flower. While I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first, I'm sure I'll pick up book 3. Based on how this one ends, the next book is bound to be wild!
3 out of 5 stars
________
You might remember that last year I championed really hard for a little young adult debut fantasy book called The Black Witch, which was being unfairly lampooned by some overzealous keyboard warriors on Twitter who hadn't even bothered to read the book before judging it. Well, I read the book, and I became pretty passionate about defending it because it turns out, it was actually a pretty decent read with a subtext about the importance of inclusion - if you gave it a chance and didn't judge it without reading.
I will defend that book, and my decision to read it and the fact that I enjoyed it a great deal until my dying day. So when I remembered that The Iron Flower - Laurie Forest's followup to her debut novel - was hitting shelves this October, I ran out out to greet it with a fervor I reserve only for my most anticipated reads of the year.
In the regards of finally getting to catch up with Elloren and Yvan's story and place in this unique fantasy landscape definitely didn't disappoint. If you were a fan of the high fantasy landscape and vivid imagery put on display in the first book, you absolutely will not be let down revisiting that here. The world is still quite well realized in its various cultures and the ways that they play off of each other, and Laurie Forest still kills it with the way she describes the lay of the land in this world and her character's placement in it.
That being said, I unfortunately felt the bite of the dreaded sophomore slump with this one and would be remiss if I didn't cover the aspects I struggled with as well. First things is first: What happened to the university setting from the first book?? In The Black Witch, Elloren's studies - and her inability to master them - were quite prominent throughout. I think there were maybe 2 scenes that took place in a classroom in this book. The rest either take place in the North Tower (basically Elloren's dorm room) or in various kingdoms surrounding the University.
Unfortunately, this makes the world feel very small at times. When Elloren and company travel to the surrounding kingdoms, it takes them about one evening to get anywhere, which means that these vast cultures that are at war with each other are basically living right in one another's backyard. I think the story would have benefited from remaining within the confines of the University setting, still revealing aspects of the world without showing us how they always seemed to be right around the corner.
It was as though Forest grew tired of writing the characters within the confines of this school she had placed them in within the first book, and just conveniently drops the setting here in favor of writing more character driven drama. I wasn't entirely sure if Elloren and friends were even still a part of the university or not for a large chunk of the story. It's a head scratcher for sure.
And then we've got to talk about my biggest pet peeve in YA novels: the dreaded love triangle. I can't lie, the romantic aspects of this book were almost a dealbreaker for me.
The first half of the novel is almost entirely dedicated to Elloren alternating between the will they, or won't they dynamic Elloren and Yvan has, and Elloren being drawn to Lukas Grey and his sultry smolder as well. Honestly, I was just over it and ready for the plot to actually get started. Seriously, I spent way too long in this book wondering when the actual story was going to pick up again.
That being said, when the plot picks up (around the 50% mark) the pacing of this novel dramatically improved as well. I was much, much more bought in to the second half of the story. Things go from zero to 100 pretty quickly and whereas I felt like the first 50% was a slow burn that I struggled with, I flew through the latter half feeling much more committed to events.
Reader be warned again though that this world is still incredibly dark and dangerous. The world is in the midst of what is essentially the start of a great world war between the various cultures and kingdoms, which lends itself to strained relationships among the groups. People who struggled with the content of book one will probably have similar issues here as well. That being said, this book was edited with the aid of sensitivity readers so I think even those who had complaints about the way things were handled in book one might find themselves pleasantly surprised here.
If you're looking for compelling YA fantasy set in a vast and dangerous world, look no further than The Iron Flower. While I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first, I'm sure I'll pick up book 3. Based on how this one ends, the next book is bound to be wild!
3 out of 5 stars
April 7, 2022
La flor de hierro es incluso mejor que su predecesora, La Bruja Negra, consagrando esta serie como una fundamental para los amantes de la fantasía que quieren encontrar crítica social y revolución en los libros del género.
Reseña: https://voragineinterna.blogspot.com/...
Relectura para leer el tercero:
HE AMADO TANTO A SUS PERSONAJES EN ESTE LIBRO. Si sigue manteniendo este buen nivel, o incluso lo mejora, se convertirá en una de mis series favoritas.
Reseña: https://voragineinterna.blogspot.com/...
Relectura para leer el tercero:
HE AMADO TANTO A SUS PERSONAJES EN ESTE LIBRO. Si sigue manteniendo este buen nivel, o incluso lo mejora, se convertirá en una de mis series favoritas.
June 25, 2018
June 24th:
I finally wrote my review!
You can read the full thing on my blog HERE!
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June 23rd:
I just finished this after devouring the final 300 pages today! This is sooooo good and it makes me so so sad that more people are not reading this series due to Lots of Reader Issues a couple years ago with The Black Witch. BUT ANYWAYS, The Iron Flower is such a fantastically beautiful book and so many SHOCKERS that I was dumbfounded. Laurie Forest really just blew it out the water with this one, so so so great and I can't wait till it's released into the world <3
RTC.
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June 16th:
FINALLY GET TO START THIS YES ! SO PUMPED ! HOORAY !
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June 4th:
Thank you Harlequin Teen for sending me an ARC! I'm so so so excited to read this and to go through this fantastic world. This book is thicc and I pray it's as great as The Black Witch XD
I finally wrote my review!
You can read the full thing on my blog HERE!
\\
June 23rd:
I just finished this after devouring the final 300 pages today! This is sooooo good and it makes me so so sad that more people are not reading this series due to Lots of Reader Issues a couple years ago with The Black Witch. BUT ANYWAYS, The Iron Flower is such a fantastically beautiful book and so many SHOCKERS that I was dumbfounded. Laurie Forest really just blew it out the water with this one, so so so great and I can't wait till it's released into the world <3
RTC.
\\
June 16th:
FINALLY GET TO START THIS YES ! SO PUMPED ! HOORAY !
\\
June 4th:
Thank you Harlequin Teen for sending me an ARC! I'm so so so excited to read this and to go through this fantastic world. This book is thicc and I pray it's as great as The Black Witch XD
July 17, 2018
*I was lucky enough for NetGalley and Harlequin Teen to approve me for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Holy Jesus! I did not see that twist coming! I still can't even fully process what just happened and I'm so upset that I have so long to read the next one. You can't just leave a girl hanging like that!!!
Okay, let my try and reign myself in here. The Iron Flower, in my opinion, is even better than The Black Witch, it's still very very heavy handed in it's ideals and such but that's the whole point of this series and it's making it's point very well known. The characters are flushed out so well that I honestly feel like they could be real. Even the side characters are well developed.
The first one was more about Ren overcoming what her people had always told her, seeing the other people as just that, people. This one leans more towards the romance (swoon Yven) and her helping the resistance. This book made me cry, laugh, pump my fist into he air, scream, and even at the end, blew my mind.
The writing is fine, detailed wonderfully, the pace is also much better than the first, I don't feel there's any parts that drag. Overall, I can't wait to see what happens to Elloren next because she's got her plate full now.
Holy Jesus! I did not see that twist coming! I still can't even fully process what just happened and I'm so upset that I have so long to read the next one. You can't just leave a girl hanging like that!!!
Okay, let my try and reign myself in here. The Iron Flower, in my opinion, is even better than The Black Witch, it's still very very heavy handed in it's ideals and such but that's the whole point of this series and it's making it's point very well known. The characters are flushed out so well that I honestly feel like they could be real. Even the side characters are well developed.
The first one was more about Ren overcoming what her people had always told her, seeing the other people as just that, people. This one leans more towards the romance (swoon Yven) and her helping the resistance. This book made me cry, laugh, pump my fist into he air, scream, and even at the end, blew my mind.
The writing is fine, detailed wonderfully, the pace is also much better than the first, I don't feel there's any parts that drag. Overall, I can't wait to see what happens to Elloren next because she's got her plate full now.
July 5, 2024
Ein sehr starker zweiter Band dieser Reihe, ich habs total genossen!😍
Die Verstrickungen werden immer komplexer. Elloren und ihre Freunde können den Machenschaften des fanatischen Magus Vogel und seinen Anhängern kaum noch entgehen.
Richtig krasse Sachen passieren in diesem Band: es gibt Tote, nicht nur bei den Feinden (😱😱😭) und es wird immer enger für Ellorens Freunde, aber auch sie selbst wird von ihrer fiesen Tante Vivien weiterhin bedrängt.
"Erkenntnis" trifft diesen Band sehr gut. Nicht alle hätten wir gar nicht kommen sehen😉 Einige wiederum haben mich doch überrascht 😵
Dagmar Bittner hat wieder sehr schön gelesen, es war spannend, es war herzzerreißend, es war traurig, aber auch schön! Laurie Forest hat hier eine ganz tolle Welt erschaffen, es ist wirklich endlich Mal wieder YA Fantasy, mit der ich auch was anfangen kann. Wo die Figuren keine Dramen heraufbeschwören, weil sie nicht miteinander sprechen. Wo es nicht nur um Spice geht. Es macht so viel Spaß, ich freue mich total auf das nächste Buch❤️🔥❤️🔥
Die Verstrickungen werden immer komplexer. Elloren und ihre Freunde können den Machenschaften des fanatischen Magus Vogel und seinen Anhängern kaum noch entgehen.
Richtig krasse Sachen passieren in diesem Band: es gibt Tote, nicht nur bei den Feinden (😱😱😭) und es wird immer enger für Ellorens Freunde, aber auch sie selbst wird von ihrer fiesen Tante Vivien weiterhin bedrängt.
"Erkenntnis" trifft diesen Band sehr gut. Nicht alle hätten wir gar nicht kommen sehen😉 Einige wiederum haben mich doch überrascht 😵
Dagmar Bittner hat wieder sehr schön gelesen, es war spannend, es war herzzerreißend, es war traurig, aber auch schön! Laurie Forest hat hier eine ganz tolle Welt erschaffen, es ist wirklich endlich Mal wieder YA Fantasy, mit der ich auch was anfangen kann. Wo die Figuren keine Dramen heraufbeschwören, weil sie nicht miteinander sprechen. Wo es nicht nur um Spice geht. Es macht so viel Spaß, ich freue mich total auf das nächste Buch❤️🔥❤️🔥
soon-to-be-read
September 3, 2018This is coming out this month! I'm excited to see where Forest takes us in this installment. :)
November 14, 2018
Wow, I’m speechless. I’m trying to gather my thoughts but I can’t seem to coherently grasp them. I’ve been left emotionally wrecked and exhausted. All I know is that this was the perfect sequel to The Black Witch Chronicles. And Yvan, yes he was everything I expected and so much more. He is quickly gaining the top spot of my endless list of book boyfriends.
September 22, 2018
I find this super dissapointing considering I loved The Black Witch and ..... I have a ship
The Black Witch series have created great awareness regarding racism but its getting very old when the two novellas and now the second book also talks about racism.
In Iron Flower, we have to keep reading about how oppressive Kelt/Gardneria is and Elloren always have to listen to someone else's sob story. The whole chunk of it is Elloren trying to save oppressed ppl, trying to be the perfect superhero. It get tiring to reading after a little while
Well there goes my longing for book 3
The Black Witch series have created great awareness regarding racism but its getting very old when the two novellas and now the second book also talks about racism.
In Iron Flower, we have to keep reading about how oppressive Kelt/Gardneria is and Elloren always have to listen to someone else's sob story. The whole chunk of it is Elloren trying to save oppressed ppl, trying to be the perfect superhero. It get tiring to reading after a little while
Well there goes my longing for book 3
November 9, 2018
I loved this book. I found it so drenched with fantasy and I just hated having to put the book up for the night when reading it. I truly loved this one more than the first and I believe I gave the first book a four or five star rating. Readers really learn way more about the characters’ upbringings in this one; more so than the first book where we are introduced to them. I cannot wait for book three to come out next year!
My quick and simple overall: so good! For a 600 page book, it is actually a fast read because it is so hard to put down.
My quick and simple overall: so good! For a 600 page book, it is actually a fast read because it is so hard to put down.
July 26, 2018
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book!
Here is my review of the book! I'm trying not to include spoilers, but please read with caution and I'll try to catch anything I might write by accident! I only had one issue with the book and that will be addressed but, just so you know, this novel was great!
What a breath of fresh air. Laurie Forest seriously knows how to write epic fantasy. Forest knows she doesn't need a book filled with plot for the sake of plot - sometimes it's nice to have moments where we just see friends together, enjoying life or school. So many moments in this book made me smile, and one actually made me cry - and I don't cry at books!
Following the strife of The Iron Witch, we follow Elloren as she learns how she can defeat the evils her race is perpetuating - and Forest doesn't hold back on this. With a realistic view on the demonisations of opposing races, torture, murder and the like (although it's not explicit) it's enough to send the reader into a whole new world that we need changed. I feel just as much desire as Elloren to have this world changed and made egalitarian. Forest does an amazing job of tugging on the reader's heartstrings and making us feel desperate and filled with a need to see this world become a better place for everyone.
I love the way Elloren makes mistakes. She's not the perfect protagonist with all the answers, instead she makes assumptions and mistakes and is not afraid to ask for help when she needs it.
Elloren is treated with suspicion this entire novel - but this does not shake her faith in what she's doing. Sometimes she needs to act or behave a certain way around other groups of people. Imagine being her ally in the "good guys team" and seeing her around her own race, pretending to be allied with them. It would confuse you and maybe make you not trust her. However, her friends never once grow confused or question her allegiance. This makes me love her friends even more!
Villains! Aunt Vivian becomes worse than bloody Vogel! She takes control of everyone's lives and makes them miserable. Fallon is pretty much off camera and I hope that's not because of the nasty reviews Forest got for "girl-on-girl hate". Fallon was a great character, and although she had her time on the pages as well, I hope she comes back to work some rudeness on the pages! Vogel is also a bit of a baddie - and that's what I love. He's a huge villain, but he doesn't have to cross paths with Elloren yet! Such a shock to read in a novel these days - we're setting up so much and don't need to have fight scenes with the bad guy every so often to remind the reader they're there.
Dare I say I loved the fashion in this novel? Because I did! Elloren has strict guidelines as to what she is and isn't allowed to wear. It has to be black, she has to have layers, she has to cover herself up etc. In this one? She puts on dresses and flowers and really has fun with what she wears! Although we don't catch her wearing a baby pink tutu, she still broadens her horizons as to what she can and cannot wear.
The only problem I had with this book was the SJM effect. (SJM = Sarah J Maas). Maas has an issue with making sure there's someone for everyone. No one is allowed to be single and they all have to find the person they're going to be with forever and ever and ever. This book grew similar in that ideology, although it didn't completely take over.
I really loved the ending to this book. Now, we have THE plot twist which I saw coming. It wasn't secret and I don't know why anyone was surprised. It was pretty much explained (which I'll do here for anyone interested but don't open the spoiler if you're not ready!
Then, even after that massive moment, we have ANOTHER one! Again, spoiler, don't open if you're ready, etc.
To finish, I love the Forest tries to escape tropes. Love does not conquer all, children are not safe from death, sometimes looks DO matter, abuse shouldn't be brushed over lightly and sometimes we see things that we wish we could stop but we're powerless to do so. It's realistic, it's harsh, but it happens. Forest throws us into a fantasy world filled with horrors. These are not imaginary but problems that litter our modern world as well. We need to remember this as we read the book because one person can really change the future.
Here is my review of the book! I'm trying not to include spoilers, but please read with caution and I'll try to catch anything I might write by accident! I only had one issue with the book and that will be addressed but, just so you know, this novel was great!
What a breath of fresh air. Laurie Forest seriously knows how to write epic fantasy. Forest knows she doesn't need a book filled with plot for the sake of plot - sometimes it's nice to have moments where we just see friends together, enjoying life or school. So many moments in this book made me smile, and one actually made me cry - and I don't cry at books!
Following the strife of The Iron Witch, we follow Elloren as she learns how she can defeat the evils her race is perpetuating - and Forest doesn't hold back on this. With a realistic view on the demonisations of opposing races, torture, murder and the like (although it's not explicit) it's enough to send the reader into a whole new world that we need changed. I feel just as much desire as Elloren to have this world changed and made egalitarian. Forest does an amazing job of tugging on the reader's heartstrings and making us feel desperate and filled with a need to see this world become a better place for everyone.
I love the way Elloren makes mistakes. She's not the perfect protagonist with all the answers, instead she makes assumptions and mistakes and is not afraid to ask for help when she needs it.
Elloren is treated with suspicion this entire novel - but this does not shake her faith in what she's doing. Sometimes she needs to act or behave a certain way around other groups of people. Imagine being her ally in the "good guys team" and seeing her around her own race, pretending to be allied with them. It would confuse you and maybe make you not trust her. However, her friends never once grow confused or question her allegiance. This makes me love her friends even more!
Villains! Aunt Vivian becomes worse than bloody Vogel! She takes control of everyone's lives and makes them miserable. Fallon is pretty much off camera and I hope that's not because of the nasty reviews Forest got for "girl-on-girl hate". Fallon was a great character, and although she had her time on the pages as well, I hope she comes back to work some rudeness on the pages! Vogel is also a bit of a baddie - and that's what I love. He's a huge villain, but he doesn't have to cross paths with Elloren yet! Such a shock to read in a novel these days - we're setting up so much and don't need to have fight scenes with the bad guy every so often to remind the reader they're there.
Dare I say I loved the fashion in this novel? Because I did! Elloren has strict guidelines as to what she is and isn't allowed to wear. It has to be black, she has to have layers, she has to cover herself up etc. In this one? She puts on dresses and flowers and really has fun with what she wears! Although we don't catch her wearing a baby pink tutu, she still broadens her horizons as to what she can and cannot wear.
The only problem I had with this book was the SJM effect. (SJM = Sarah J Maas). Maas has an issue with making sure there's someone for everyone. No one is allowed to be single and they all have to find the person they're going to be with forever and ever and ever. This book grew similar in that ideology, although it didn't completely take over.
I really loved the ending to this book. Now, we have THE plot twist which I saw coming. It wasn't secret and I don't know why anyone was surprised. It was pretty much explained (which I'll do here for anyone interested but don't open the spoiler if you're not ready!
Then, even after that massive moment, we have ANOTHER one! Again, spoiler, don't open if you're ready, etc.
To finish, I love the Forest tries to escape tropes. Love does not conquer all, children are not safe from death, sometimes looks DO matter, abuse shouldn't be brushed over lightly and sometimes we see things that we wish we could stop but we're powerless to do so. It's realistic, it's harsh, but it happens. Forest throws us into a fantasy world filled with horrors. These are not imaginary but problems that litter our modern world as well. We need to remember this as we read the book because one person can really change the future.
October 16, 2018
This was a very entertaining, creative, and fantastical sequel to "The Black Witch".
In this follow-up, I continued to really enjoy the unique world that was created. Laurie Forest truly created a unique world of her own and the world-building was exemplary in that all of the background was explained in detail. With that being said, there were moments that that novel felt longer than necessary, but I appreciated the attention to detail.
This novel's storyline progressed and developed much different than the original novel (in a good way). I found myself more interested in the story of this second novel and the content within came across as more dark, serious, and full of mystery.
The downfall of this novel, as mentioned, was the length. There were moments of intensity and other moments that I found myself racing through the pages, however; there were sections of this novel that I felt my eyes would glaze over. It was a catch-22 in the respect that although I did appreciate the attention to detail, occasionally I felt that there were too many details that were not necessary to include.
I know that I will continue the series with the next book that is released as I want to see where the story goes from here. There is still quite a lot of unanswered questions and climactic moments that need to resolve and I'm interested to see what happens next.
***Thank you to HCC Frenzy for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
In this follow-up, I continued to really enjoy the unique world that was created. Laurie Forest truly created a unique world of her own and the world-building was exemplary in that all of the background was explained in detail. With that being said, there were moments that that novel felt longer than necessary, but I appreciated the attention to detail.
This novel's storyline progressed and developed much different than the original novel (in a good way). I found myself more interested in the story of this second novel and the content within came across as more dark, serious, and full of mystery.
The downfall of this novel, as mentioned, was the length. There were moments of intensity and other moments that I found myself racing through the pages, however; there were sections of this novel that I felt my eyes would glaze over. It was a catch-22 in the respect that although I did appreciate the attention to detail, occasionally I felt that there were too many details that were not necessary to include.
I know that I will continue the series with the next book that is released as I want to see where the story goes from here. There is still quite a lot of unanswered questions and climactic moments that need to resolve and I'm interested to see what happens next.
***Thank you to HCC Frenzy for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
February 17, 2019
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
4.5/5 Stars
The story begins right where the first book ended. As it progresses, Elloren and her friends continue to help the resistance and fight for those who are oppressed by their society. They learn more about the other races that surround them and how they differ from them in many ways.
The love triangle is much more prominent in this book, becoming more intense as Elloren battles with her conflicting emotions. . It does get a tad annoying at times how much Elloren obsesses over her love interests and becomes repetitive after awhile. Personally, I like who she ends up choosing and I'm happy that she finally makes up her mind in the end. At times it did feel as though this became the main plot line for the book which was disappointing to me. I enjoyed learning about the politics of the first book so much and would have preferred more of a focus on that than the romances, but they were still entertaining.
I could not put this book down after immediately picking it up after I finished Black Witch. The story is engaging and you can't help needing to know what happens next to Elloren and her friends. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
4.5/5 Stars
The story begins right where the first book ended. As it progresses, Elloren and her friends continue to help the resistance and fight for those who are oppressed by their society. They learn more about the other races that surround them and how they differ from them in many ways.
The love triangle is much more prominent in this book, becoming more intense as Elloren battles with her conflicting emotions. . It does get a tad annoying at times how much Elloren obsesses over her love interests and becomes repetitive after awhile. Personally, I like who she ends up choosing and I'm happy that she finally makes up her mind in the end. At times it did feel as though this became the main plot line for the book which was disappointing to me. I enjoyed learning about the politics of the first book so much and would have preferred more of a focus on that than the romances, but they were still entertaining.
I could not put this book down after immediately picking it up after I finished Black Witch. The story is engaging and you can't help needing to know what happens next to Elloren and her friends. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!
March 31, 2022
I have finally read the sequel guys! I was beyond excited to jump into The Iron Flower but then I met some unlikable characters very quickly. Honestly, so many things didn't make sense and when the big reveals came my way, I wasn't one bit surprised. Sad, yes. It just sucks that I knew things were coming my way ever since the first book in this series.
It's fair to assume that I hate certain things and people. Mostly Elloren's aunt, because she is completely horrible and the forced freaking fasting. I just don't get it and I sure as hell don't approve it. So, when it happens in front of my eyes - well, I'm completely disappointed in every person that was participating.
As for everything else that happened throughout this book, I don't think I was prepared for any of it. I wanted to cry so many times with what went down. I also have no idea how to prepare myself for the next book either. We see the prophecy in play (sort of) and I hope they can both change the overall outcome that people are sort of preparing them for. Maybe for the better.
In the end, I'm emotional and need the next book in this series stat.
It's fair to assume that I hate certain things and people. Mostly Elloren's aunt, because she is completely horrible and the forced freaking fasting. I just don't get it and I sure as hell don't approve it. So, when it happens in front of my eyes - well, I'm completely disappointed in every person that was participating.
As for everything else that happened throughout this book, I don't think I was prepared for any of it. I wanted to cry so many times with what went down. I also have no idea how to prepare myself for the next book either. We see the prophecy in play (sort of) and I hope they can both change the overall outcome that people are sort of preparing them for. Maybe for the better.
In the end, I'm emotional and need the next book in this series stat.
June 8, 2018
ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS
I didn't like Elloren that much in the first book but the story was great so I was definitely looking forward to reading The Iron Flower.
And WOW.
I'm glad I decided to continue on with this series!
Here's a summarized/short review for now:
PLOT - 4.5 (So goooood!)
WRITING STYLE - 4.5
CHARACTERS - 4.5 (Diana is my absolute favorite! And there's definitely character development.)
ROMANCE - 5 (I loved the tension between Elloren and Yvan so much + Diana and Rafe were couple goals.)
UNPUTDOWNABLE LEVEL - 5 (I savored it)
It's easily one of my top favorites this year. Now I can't wait for the third book!
(Thanks to Edelweiss and Macmillan for my advance reader's copy!)
I didn't like Elloren that much in the first book but the story was great so I was definitely looking forward to reading The Iron Flower.
And WOW.
I'm glad I decided to continue on with this series!
Here's a summarized/short review for now:
PLOT - 4.5 (So goooood!)
WRITING STYLE - 4.5
CHARACTERS - 4.5 (Diana is my absolute favorite! And there's definitely character development.)
ROMANCE - 5 (I loved the tension between Elloren and Yvan so much + Diana and Rafe were couple goals.)
UNPUTDOWNABLE LEVEL - 5 (I savored it)
It's easily one of my top favorites this year. Now I can't wait for the third book!
(Thanks to Edelweiss and Macmillan for my advance reader's copy!)
December 16, 2021
4.5 stars! I enjoyed the second book of The Black Witch Chronicles. While the first was more focused on character development, this book is more about the events which overtake the characters as racial tensions heat up.
I love the villains in this book. There were some big surprises along the way, but the repetitiveness of Elloran’s reception with every new group of people she meets did get a little tiring.
There is a great set up for the third book with some intrigue around the prophecy, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
I love the villains in this book. There were some big surprises along the way, but the repetitiveness of Elloran’s reception with every new group of people she meets did get a little tiring.
There is a great set up for the third book with some intrigue around the prophecy, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
June 20, 2019
*anxiously awaiting* I need to wait till May 2018 :(
November 19, 2018
Well I’m dead....that was fabulous. This series is so underrated and is definitely one of my favorites.
Eek! I love this cover, can't wait to read it.
Eek! I love this cover, can't wait to read it.
Want to read
January 9, 2018IT HAS A COVERRR. And it’s gorgeous!!
January 2, 2019
Loved this! So looking forward to what comes next!
March 3, 2023
Each novel of Laurie Forest's Black Witch Chronicles is a mountain to climb, but in the best way: challenging and invigorating, they make you feel free and alive, connected to the great aspirational elements of the human spirit. The battle has barely begun for the Resistance as Gardneria marshals its national military under the direction of its High Mage, the darkly charismatic Marcus Vogel. Elloren Gardner spent most of the first book, The Black Witch, overcoming her pro-Gardnerian biases to recognize the messy history of her people when they were led by her grandmother, the now deceased Black Witch Carnissa Gardner. Elloren's aunt, Vyvian Damon, is paying Elloren's tuition at Verpax University and has done her best to shield Elloren from opinions critical of Gardneria's political history, but Elloren nonetheless has been influenced by peers at the University, and is finding her niche in the Resistance. Tierney Calix, a glamoured Asrai Fae, is in danger as Gardneria seeks to annex Verpacia and its University; Fae would be among the first racial groups eradicated if Mage Vogel has his way. Yvan Guriel, a Kelt who works in the University kitchen alongside Elloren, also faces peril. His instinct from day one was to loathe Elloren because of her uncanny resemblance to the Black Witch, but her similarities to Carnissa have proven to be only skin deep, and over the months Yvan has bonded with her. The fragile multicultural system at the University could tip over and shatter at any time if Gardneria nudges hard enough, but the Resistance grows stronger as the enemy clearly defines itself. War is on the horizon.
"You never can tell what the future holds, even in times as dark as these."
—Jules Kristian, The Iron Flower, P. 409
Professor Jules Kristian and Vice Chancellor Lucretia Quillen secretly manage the Resistance from Verpax University as The Iron Flower opens. Mage Vogel and the Gardnerian Council are handing down provocative edicts at a frantic pace, and the Selkies—shapeshifters who live in water and are often captured and abused by Gardnerian men—are in imminent danger of being wiped out. Elloren rescued one Selkie, Marina, from her coldhearted master, but thousands more are at risk, and the Gardnerians know their weakness: Selkies shed their "skin" when they transition to human form, and whoever possesses the skin has the power to destroy the Selkie. As Selkies become a target for Mage Vogel to demonstrate his burgeoning strength throughout the Western Realm, the Resistance plots a mass evacuation to a sympathetic region. Few autonomous peoples would dare defy Gardneria, but the most likely are the Amazakaran women of the Caledonian Mountains. A society of female warriors that slays all men who enter their borders, the Amaz are sure to feel solidarity with the exploited Selkies and may offer them sanctuary. Elloren, Yvan, and their Lupine friends Diana and Jarod Ulrich set off on a journey to Amaz lands, the fate of the Selkies resting on their ability to persuade the Amaz to intervene.
"Sometimes pushing the wheels of change into motion is the bulk of the battle."
—Jules Kristian, P. 408
"We don't get to choose what we are...But we do get to choose who we are."
—Fernyllia Hawthorn, The Iron Flower, P. 14
Elloren's willingness to condemn and actively oppose the evils of her own people has earned a few fiercely loyal friends as she ventures into foreign lands. Diana is aggressive enough as her human self, but in lupine form she is an awesome predator dedicated to keeping Elloren from harm. Yvan has powers of his own, some of which remain a mystery to Elloren. She struggles to tamp down her romantic feelings toward him; Yvan is kinder to her these days, but may already be paired with someone else, and the Resistance wants Elloren to maintain a strategic romance with Lukas Grey, whose father, Lachlan, is High Commander of Gardneria's army. A volatile chemistry exists between Elloren and Lukas, though it can't measure up to the fire energy that explodes in her fastlines when she's close to Yvan. Yet even as Elloren senses that he returns her feelings, Yvan shuts down all romantic overtures. If they became more than friends, it would create a weak spot in the Resistance for Gardnerian officials to attack. Reluctantly, they both agree to deny themselves a relationship as lovers.
Mage Vogel's public silence in the aftermath of the Selkie rescue operation is disconcerting, especially after Gunther Ulrich, Alpha of the Gerwulf Pack, declares the Lupine Territories will accept refugees fleeing Gardneria. This is a direct affront to Mage Vogel's empire, so why isn't he responding? Does he have a secret strategy that can't lose? Elloren and her University friends prepare to seek asylum across the Lupine border, but Gardneria strikes before they make it. The assault comes in nightmarish waves, crushing any hint of anti-Gardnerian organization. Icarals, Selkies, Kelts, Smaragdalfar Elves, and Fae are tortured without mercy, and dreams of safety from Mage Vogel's oppressive regime blow away like chaff in the wind. How long before Aunt Vyvian comes for Elloren at the University and demands she fast to Lukas Grey immediately? Lukas has shown signs that he may not agree with the violent new direction taken by the Council, but if pressured will he behave as a Resistance ally, or submit to his domineering father? Watching her friends suffer at the hands of Gardnerian soldiers, Elloren wishes that she, not Fallon Bane, had been born with the talent for magic to succeed Carnissa Gardner as the next Black Witch. Elloren could wield the magic to clear a pathway to freedom for all, the opposite of her grandmother's legacy. Yet Elloren may not be powerless as she believes; with the fate of the Western Realm and all of Erthia in the balance, hidden truths will emerge that shape the war ahead. Is there any hope for Elloren to wandfast with Yvan, or must they choose between their own happiness and the survival of the Western Realm? Are Elloren's friends all doomed to bloody, agonizing deaths, or is there a way to preserve society for people who fervently hold differing worldviews but are committed to coexistence? Elloren is exhausted by the tragedies that befall her, yet she's buoyed by a renewed determination to lead the charge against Gardnerian hegemony. Can Mage Vogel's push for ethnic cleansing be stopped? We shall see.
Optimism and pessimism quietly rage within Elloren as she acts on behalf of the Resistance. She reminds herself that good things are happening, such as when she rescued the Selkie, Marina. Even some Resistance members doubt that Selkies are sentient beings equal to people, but Elloren is slowly developing a system of communication with Marina, the first time this has been achieved with a Selkie. Marina is definitely a person, and having her close by reminds Elloren that her own efforts are not in vain. "One Selkie rescued from a terrible fate...might seem like a small thing in the face of a mountain of darkness, but her freedom is one bright spot of hope." When the enemy seems omnipotent, it's vital to keep in mind the faces of those you spared from destruction. It will energize you for the struggles still to come.
Perhaps the most fascinating storyline of The Iron Flower is the Resistance's interactions with the Amaz. Male Resistance members can't set foot in Amaz territory or they'll be slain; the Amaz hate men, using them only for breeding. They consider the brutality with which Gardnerian men treat Selkies to be confirmation that every male person is irredeemable. We see this in the outraged words of Alcippe, an Amaz warrior, when the Selkies are delivered into their land for asylum. "I tell you this..." Alcippe says with barely controlled fury. "(I)f I am ever face-to-face with any of your men, even the ones you call your friends, the ones you call your brothers, I will slice them in two. This is why the Goddess tells us to cast them out at birth. To live apart from them. To be stronger than they are. Because even the most harmless male baby—this is what he will grow up to do!" Faced with evil, it's easy to fall into the trap of overbroad judgment. Condemning all men for what only some have done is as bad as the bigotry of the Gardnerian Council, who use past atrocities committed by Kelts, Fae, and other races to justify persecuting them now. There are good and bad members of every people group; moral character and actions must be assessed on an individual basis, not corporately. Human nature is prone to overcorrection, but it is essential that we look past external differences and align with others who share values of freedom, justice, and responsibility. The world needs both male and female energy, a yin and yang tension that encourages ongoing personal improvement. Assertiveness and ambition, a nurturing heart and desire for peace: neither type of energy should dominate the other in a society dedicated to being the best it can be. We all have contributions to make.
"Knowledge is never wasted, my dear. No matter how obscure or difficult...or confusing. It always serves to enrich our lives, if we let it, and in ways we can rarely anticipate."
—Jules Kristian, P. 410
Jules Kristian's dialogue is where the wisdom of this series crystalizes. His words help clarify a world in which good and evil aren't always easily identifiable. Jules reminds Elloren that her current hardships are strengthening her for the battles ahead: "The Ironwood tree has an interesting life cycle...It spends one long year on the forest floor as a delicate, fragile flower. Easily broken. Easily destroyed...But if it survives, it seeds to become a strong, deeply rooted tree." Even the best among us require years of immaturity to attain our full height so we can stand against the hurricane winds of the enemy. Jules is counting on Elloren's deep roots to help her survive and deliver the Western Realm from supremacist aggression. She doesn't have the potency of the Black Witch's magic, but Elloren can subvert authoritarianism in simple ways on a daily basis until the Resistance is ready to go to war with Mage Vogel. As Jules remarks, "You will find that, when you're as powerless as we are, it helps to be clever." You may not have the clout to ignore the whims of every tyrant, but you can use cleverness to carve out little pockets of freedom so you don't go crazy. Learn to survive and even thrive under awful conditions, and someday you'll be ready to do more. Given time and rich soil, a sapling grows into a well-rooted tree.
"The true demons of this world come in many guises...Go find them...And go fight them."
—Jules Kristian, P. 594
Laurie Forest's Black Witch Chronicles is amazingly consistent, delivering storylines that stem from characters whose rate of personal growth mirrors real life. The lush fantasy elements are reminiscent of the best work of YA authors Robin McKinley and Laini Taylor, whose ability to articulate detailed, luminous new worlds is awe-inspiring. The only area where the Black Witch Chronicles lags a bit thus far in the series is raw emotion: there are plenty of scenes depicting tragedy or horrific violations of decency, but the impact never fully translates to the reader. The moments don't hit us viscerally, an effect most great authors are able to engineer. Regardless, The Iron Flower is at least equal to The Black Witch; I might rate it three and a half stars, and the themes of the series continue to expand and evolve. Laurie Forest's legacy was already well established at this early stage of her career.
"You never can tell what the future holds, even in times as dark as these."
—Jules Kristian, The Iron Flower, P. 409
Professor Jules Kristian and Vice Chancellor Lucretia Quillen secretly manage the Resistance from Verpax University as The Iron Flower opens. Mage Vogel and the Gardnerian Council are handing down provocative edicts at a frantic pace, and the Selkies—shapeshifters who live in water and are often captured and abused by Gardnerian men—are in imminent danger of being wiped out. Elloren rescued one Selkie, Marina, from her coldhearted master, but thousands more are at risk, and the Gardnerians know their weakness: Selkies shed their "skin" when they transition to human form, and whoever possesses the skin has the power to destroy the Selkie. As Selkies become a target for Mage Vogel to demonstrate his burgeoning strength throughout the Western Realm, the Resistance plots a mass evacuation to a sympathetic region. Few autonomous peoples would dare defy Gardneria, but the most likely are the Amazakaran women of the Caledonian Mountains. A society of female warriors that slays all men who enter their borders, the Amaz are sure to feel solidarity with the exploited Selkies and may offer them sanctuary. Elloren, Yvan, and their Lupine friends Diana and Jarod Ulrich set off on a journey to Amaz lands, the fate of the Selkies resting on their ability to persuade the Amaz to intervene.
"Sometimes pushing the wheels of change into motion is the bulk of the battle."
—Jules Kristian, P. 408
"We don't get to choose what we are...But we do get to choose who we are."
—Fernyllia Hawthorn, The Iron Flower, P. 14
Elloren's willingness to condemn and actively oppose the evils of her own people has earned a few fiercely loyal friends as she ventures into foreign lands. Diana is aggressive enough as her human self, but in lupine form she is an awesome predator dedicated to keeping Elloren from harm. Yvan has powers of his own, some of which remain a mystery to Elloren. She struggles to tamp down her romantic feelings toward him; Yvan is kinder to her these days, but may already be paired with someone else, and the Resistance wants Elloren to maintain a strategic romance with Lukas Grey, whose father, Lachlan, is High Commander of Gardneria's army. A volatile chemistry exists between Elloren and Lukas, though it can't measure up to the fire energy that explodes in her fastlines when she's close to Yvan. Yet even as Elloren senses that he returns her feelings, Yvan shuts down all romantic overtures. If they became more than friends, it would create a weak spot in the Resistance for Gardnerian officials to attack. Reluctantly, they both agree to deny themselves a relationship as lovers.
Mage Vogel's public silence in the aftermath of the Selkie rescue operation is disconcerting, especially after Gunther Ulrich, Alpha of the Gerwulf Pack, declares the Lupine Territories will accept refugees fleeing Gardneria. This is a direct affront to Mage Vogel's empire, so why isn't he responding? Does he have a secret strategy that can't lose? Elloren and her University friends prepare to seek asylum across the Lupine border, but Gardneria strikes before they make it. The assault comes in nightmarish waves, crushing any hint of anti-Gardnerian organization. Icarals, Selkies, Kelts, Smaragdalfar Elves, and Fae are tortured without mercy, and dreams of safety from Mage Vogel's oppressive regime blow away like chaff in the wind. How long before Aunt Vyvian comes for Elloren at the University and demands she fast to Lukas Grey immediately? Lukas has shown signs that he may not agree with the violent new direction taken by the Council, but if pressured will he behave as a Resistance ally, or submit to his domineering father? Watching her friends suffer at the hands of Gardnerian soldiers, Elloren wishes that she, not Fallon Bane, had been born with the talent for magic to succeed Carnissa Gardner as the next Black Witch. Elloren could wield the magic to clear a pathway to freedom for all, the opposite of her grandmother's legacy. Yet Elloren may not be powerless as she believes; with the fate of the Western Realm and all of Erthia in the balance, hidden truths will emerge that shape the war ahead. Is there any hope for Elloren to wandfast with Yvan, or must they choose between their own happiness and the survival of the Western Realm? Are Elloren's friends all doomed to bloody, agonizing deaths, or is there a way to preserve society for people who fervently hold differing worldviews but are committed to coexistence? Elloren is exhausted by the tragedies that befall her, yet she's buoyed by a renewed determination to lead the charge against Gardnerian hegemony. Can Mage Vogel's push for ethnic cleansing be stopped? We shall see.
Optimism and pessimism quietly rage within Elloren as she acts on behalf of the Resistance. She reminds herself that good things are happening, such as when she rescued the Selkie, Marina. Even some Resistance members doubt that Selkies are sentient beings equal to people, but Elloren is slowly developing a system of communication with Marina, the first time this has been achieved with a Selkie. Marina is definitely a person, and having her close by reminds Elloren that her own efforts are not in vain. "One Selkie rescued from a terrible fate...might seem like a small thing in the face of a mountain of darkness, but her freedom is one bright spot of hope." When the enemy seems omnipotent, it's vital to keep in mind the faces of those you spared from destruction. It will energize you for the struggles still to come.
Perhaps the most fascinating storyline of The Iron Flower is the Resistance's interactions with the Amaz. Male Resistance members can't set foot in Amaz territory or they'll be slain; the Amaz hate men, using them only for breeding. They consider the brutality with which Gardnerian men treat Selkies to be confirmation that every male person is irredeemable. We see this in the outraged words of Alcippe, an Amaz warrior, when the Selkies are delivered into their land for asylum. "I tell you this..." Alcippe says with barely controlled fury. "(I)f I am ever face-to-face with any of your men, even the ones you call your friends, the ones you call your brothers, I will slice them in two. This is why the Goddess tells us to cast them out at birth. To live apart from them. To be stronger than they are. Because even the most harmless male baby—this is what he will grow up to do!" Faced with evil, it's easy to fall into the trap of overbroad judgment. Condemning all men for what only some have done is as bad as the bigotry of the Gardnerian Council, who use past atrocities committed by Kelts, Fae, and other races to justify persecuting them now. There are good and bad members of every people group; moral character and actions must be assessed on an individual basis, not corporately. Human nature is prone to overcorrection, but it is essential that we look past external differences and align with others who share values of freedom, justice, and responsibility. The world needs both male and female energy, a yin and yang tension that encourages ongoing personal improvement. Assertiveness and ambition, a nurturing heart and desire for peace: neither type of energy should dominate the other in a society dedicated to being the best it can be. We all have contributions to make.
"Knowledge is never wasted, my dear. No matter how obscure or difficult...or confusing. It always serves to enrich our lives, if we let it, and in ways we can rarely anticipate."
—Jules Kristian, P. 410
Jules Kristian's dialogue is where the wisdom of this series crystalizes. His words help clarify a world in which good and evil aren't always easily identifiable. Jules reminds Elloren that her current hardships are strengthening her for the battles ahead: "The Ironwood tree has an interesting life cycle...It spends one long year on the forest floor as a delicate, fragile flower. Easily broken. Easily destroyed...But if it survives, it seeds to become a strong, deeply rooted tree." Even the best among us require years of immaturity to attain our full height so we can stand against the hurricane winds of the enemy. Jules is counting on Elloren's deep roots to help her survive and deliver the Western Realm from supremacist aggression. She doesn't have the potency of the Black Witch's magic, but Elloren can subvert authoritarianism in simple ways on a daily basis until the Resistance is ready to go to war with Mage Vogel. As Jules remarks, "You will find that, when you're as powerless as we are, it helps to be clever." You may not have the clout to ignore the whims of every tyrant, but you can use cleverness to carve out little pockets of freedom so you don't go crazy. Learn to survive and even thrive under awful conditions, and someday you'll be ready to do more. Given time and rich soil, a sapling grows into a well-rooted tree.
"The true demons of this world come in many guises...Go find them...And go fight them."
—Jules Kristian, P. 594
Laurie Forest's Black Witch Chronicles is amazingly consistent, delivering storylines that stem from characters whose rate of personal growth mirrors real life. The lush fantasy elements are reminiscent of the best work of YA authors Robin McKinley and Laini Taylor, whose ability to articulate detailed, luminous new worlds is awe-inspiring. The only area where the Black Witch Chronicles lags a bit thus far in the series is raw emotion: there are plenty of scenes depicting tragedy or horrific violations of decency, but the impact never fully translates to the reader. The moments don't hit us viscerally, an effect most great authors are able to engineer. Regardless, The Iron Flower is at least equal to The Black Witch; I might rate it three and a half stars, and the themes of the series continue to expand and evolve. Laurie Forest's legacy was already well established at this early stage of her career.
March 27, 2021
4,25 ⭐️
TW/CW: death, murder, racism, homophobia, misogyny, disabilities, discrimination, abuse (physical and mental), genocide
I'll keep this short and sweet - I love this series, these characters and everything in between. These are not small books but they read so easily and quickly and oh my god it had me CRYING like a baby at 2 a.m. just full on bawling trying to be quiet and not wake anyone up.
I took this answer from one of the questions made in the book page, because a ton of people said the first book was racist and problematic but honestly I think they never even read the book because this is what it's about: "The book isn't riddled with problematic racism. It shows HOW problematic racism can be, and how it can destabilize whole groups. If anything this book is all about recognizing privilege and racism and striving to overcome it, about being more than what you were taught to believe."
It does have a slower pace than the first book in my opinion, and I had some issues with the "love triangle" even though it's resolved I think, it did take up a big part of the plot in this book and kind of became repetitive at times. Overall I still highly enjoy this story and can't wait to pick up book 3 later this year because I think things are going to heat up and go where I want and back to the pacing style of book 1!
I don't want to make this review in detail and potentially spoil parts of other books and this one so I'll just say please read this series.
TW/CW: death, murder, racism, homophobia, misogyny, disabilities, discrimination, abuse (physical and mental), genocide
I'll keep this short and sweet - I love this series, these characters and everything in between. These are not small books but they read so easily and quickly and oh my god it had me CRYING like a baby at 2 a.m. just full on bawling trying to be quiet and not wake anyone up.
"We don't get to choose what we are." she says finally, her voice low. "But we do get to choose who we are."
I took this answer from one of the questions made in the book page, because a ton of people said the first book was racist and problematic but honestly I think they never even read the book because this is what it's about: "The book isn't riddled with problematic racism. It shows HOW problematic racism can be, and how it can destabilize whole groups. If anything this book is all about recognizing privilege and racism and striving to overcome it, about being more than what you were taught to believe."
It does have a slower pace than the first book in my opinion, and I had some issues with the "love triangle" even though it's resolved I think, it did take up a big part of the plot in this book and kind of became repetitive at times. Overall I still highly enjoy this story and can't wait to pick up book 3 later this year because I think things are going to heat up and go where I want and back to the pacing style of book 1!
I don't want to make this review in detail and potentially spoil parts of other books and this one so I'll just say please read this series.
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