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Crier's War #2
Iron Heart
Critically acclaimed author Nina Varela delivers a stunning sequel to the richly imagined queer epic fantasy Crier’s War , which SLJ called “perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass.” For too long, Automae have lorded over the kingdom of Rabu, oppressing its human citizens. But the human revolution has risen, and at its heart is Ayla. Once a handmaiden, now a fugitive, Ayla narrowly escaped the palace of Lady Crier, the girl she would’ve killed if she hadn’t fallen in love first. Now Ayla has pledged her allegiance to Queen Junn, who can help accomplish the human rebellion’s ultimate destroy the Iron Heart. Without its power, the Automae will be weakened to the point of extinction. Ayla wants to succeed, but can’t shake the strong feelings she’s developed for Crier. And unbeknownst to her, Crier has also fled the palace, taking up among traveling rebels, determined to find and protect Ayla. Even as their paths collide, nothing can prepare them for the dark secret underlying the Iron Heart.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
1115 people are currently reading
34360 people want to read
About the author
Nina Varela
6 books2,955 followersHi! Thank y'all so much for reading my books!
I'm not active on here, but you can find me on instagram @ninavarelas_ or at www.ninavarela.com.
I'm not active on here, but you can find me on instagram @ninavarelas_ or at www.ninavarela.com.
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August 24, 2020hi,
i hope y'all enjoy the second half of crier and ayla's story. thank you so much for reading and caring and for loving them; thank you for sharing your excitement about this book. it's all for you.
content warnings can be found here: https://www.ninavarela.com/content
<3,
nina
i hope y'all enjoy the second half of crier and ayla's story. thank you so much for reading and caring and for loving them; thank you for sharing your excitement about this book. it's all for you.
content warnings can be found here: https://www.ninavarela.com/content
<3,
nina
October 3, 2020
3.5 stars
Following the thrilling events of Crier’s War, the sequel Iron Heart dives back into the story of Crier and Ayla, Automa and human enemies turned… something else. A war is brewing as rebellions and revolutions rise, and Crier and Ayla, along with other allies, must fight for a world where Automae and humans can coexist without one causing the pain of the other, or risk losing more than each other.
Crier’s War saw beautiful writing, a slowburn romance, and riveting character arcs, and these are even more prominent in the sequel—I dare say they got even better. It’s a solid conclusion to the series, as well as the intricate, emotional journeys of Crier and Ayla.
As in the first book, Crier and Ayla were such strong characters. I loved seeing Crier break free from certain restraints and expectations that had been placed on her, as an Automa, but also as the daughter of the sovereign. She still has the sweetness and innocence she had before, but now it has morphed into something more passionate and determined, funneled into a want to help humans after the horrors her Kind has inflicted upon them, and it was beautiful to see.
I loved Ayla and her arc in this sequel so much, too. She spent her entire life with one goal in mind—revenge—but now she has to deal with the result of what she did (or didn’t) do in the first book. She learns that there’s no one way to fight, that there’s no one way to be angry and strong and defiant, and through this realization, a softer, gentler side of her appears. One of my favorite things about sequels is that it allows characters the space to develop more into a rounded person, and that kind of growth was beautiful to see in both Crier and Ayla.
I think the highlight of this book for me was Crier and Ayla’s romance. I’m not usually one to care about romance this much, and it’s definitely not the central focus of the book, but I loved it so much. They were slowly realizing that they didn’t hate each other (even after certain events of the first book), and coming to terms with the fact that they felt so much for each other, all the while still trying to deny it. The yearning was just so, so good, and I died at least ten times reading certain parts. It is just so very gay, and I could not be happier.
Varela’s writing in this book is simply delectable. I’d forgotten how much I loved each word that Varela crafts—all of them feel so meaningful and valuable, and paint such a lovely picture of the setting, the characters, and their emotions. It’s elegant and fits the story so well, and it is so easy to devour and tempts you into reading more and more without you realizing. (Plus, the writing in some of the more romantic scenes made me lose my mind.)
Just as with Crier’s War, the themes that Iron Heart dives into were explored and written so well. At the heart of it at all (no pun intended), the series to me is about what it means to be human, and where humanity starts and ends. It is a book about intolerance, division, and war, and though it wasn’t sad, there were actually some parts that made me want to cry.
Even though I was physically reading it quickly and there were exciting scenes that keep me engaged, somehow the book felt like it was going by slowly. I also had a hard time with how some characters were introduced or included, but not much was explored with them, which was an issue I had with Crier’s War too. Another minor complaint was that the last few chapters felt rushed and anticlimactic to me, and the ending was a bit abrupt even with an epilogue. All of these made me feel like I couldn’t rate this a full 4 stars, but I really did enjoy this book, despite these small issues I had!
While there were some things that didn’t quite work for me with this sequel, it was not enough to diminish my overall enjoyment of and love for this book and series. With truly gorgeous prose, an achingly heartwarming romance, and compelling characters, Crier’s War and Iron Heart make an unforgettable duology. I am so excited to read all of Varela’s future works: I just know they’ll be as good (and gay) as this beautifully written series.
—★—
:: rep :: POC lesbian MC, POC bisexual MC
:: content warnings :: death/murder (of loved ones), violence, depictions of blood, use of drug-like substance, body horror [more details]
Following the thrilling events of Crier’s War, the sequel Iron Heart dives back into the story of Crier and Ayla, Automa and human enemies turned… something else. A war is brewing as rebellions and revolutions rise, and Crier and Ayla, along with other allies, must fight for a world where Automae and humans can coexist without one causing the pain of the other, or risk losing more than each other.
Crier’s War saw beautiful writing, a slowburn romance, and riveting character arcs, and these are even more prominent in the sequel—I dare say they got even better. It’s a solid conclusion to the series, as well as the intricate, emotional journeys of Crier and Ayla.
“Strength isn’t measured by the ability to cause harm.”
As in the first book, Crier and Ayla were such strong characters. I loved seeing Crier break free from certain restraints and expectations that had been placed on her, as an Automa, but also as the daughter of the sovereign. She still has the sweetness and innocence she had before, but now it has morphed into something more passionate and determined, funneled into a want to help humans after the horrors her Kind has inflicted upon them, and it was beautiful to see.
I loved Ayla and her arc in this sequel so much, too. She spent her entire life with one goal in mind—revenge—but now she has to deal with the result of what she did (or didn’t) do in the first book. She learns that there’s no one way to fight, that there’s no one way to be angry and strong and defiant, and through this realization, a softer, gentler side of her appears. One of my favorite things about sequels is that it allows characters the space to develop more into a rounded person, and that kind of growth was beautiful to see in both Crier and Ayla.
I think the highlight of this book for me was Crier and Ayla’s romance. I’m not usually one to care about romance this much, and it’s definitely not the central focus of the book, but I loved it so much. They were slowly realizing that they didn’t hate each other (even after certain events of the first book), and coming to terms with the fact that they felt so much for each other, all the while still trying to deny it. The yearning was just so, so good, and I died at least ten times reading certain parts. It is just so very gay, and I could not be happier.
“You want her. Or love her. Or at least something close. Something just as intense as your hatred.”
Varela’s writing in this book is simply delectable. I’d forgotten how much I loved each word that Varela crafts—all of them feel so meaningful and valuable, and paint such a lovely picture of the setting, the characters, and their emotions. It’s elegant and fits the story so well, and it is so easy to devour and tempts you into reading more and more without you realizing. (Plus, the writing in some of the more romantic scenes made me lose my mind.)
Just as with Crier’s War, the themes that Iron Heart dives into were explored and written so well. At the heart of it at all (no pun intended), the series to me is about what it means to be human, and where humanity starts and ends. It is a book about intolerance, division, and war, and though it wasn’t sad, there were actually some parts that made me want to cry.
Even though I was physically reading it quickly and there were exciting scenes that keep me engaged, somehow the book felt like it was going by slowly. I also had a hard time with how some characters were introduced or included, but not much was explored with them, which was an issue I had with Crier’s War too. Another minor complaint was that the last few chapters felt rushed and anticlimactic to me, and the ending was a bit abrupt even with an epilogue. All of these made me feel like I couldn’t rate this a full 4 stars, but I really did enjoy this book, despite these small issues I had!
Because it’s you.
It’s you, the wash of starlight, the old paradox: if the Universe were static, I could stand anywhere in this world and I swear my line of sight would end on you. I swear I’d find you in the dark.
While there were some things that didn’t quite work for me with this sequel, it was not enough to diminish my overall enjoyment of and love for this book and series. With truly gorgeous prose, an achingly heartwarming romance, and compelling characters, Crier’s War and Iron Heart make an unforgettable duology. I am so excited to read all of Varela’s future works: I just know they’ll be as good (and gay) as this beautifully written series.
—★—
:: rep :: POC lesbian MC, POC bisexual MC
:: content warnings :: death/murder (of loved ones), violence, depictions of blood, use of drug-like substance, body horror [more details]
Thank you to HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a spot on this blog tour! This did not affect my opinions in any way.
All quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in final publication.
Want to read
September 9, 2020*mutters sapphic summoning spells furiously under her breath*
//
also does the title refer to Ayla's stubborn iron heart JUST LOVE CRIER DAMN YOU
//
the fact this is coming out a month later in the uk is some kind of personal attack on my person istg
//
also does the title refer to Ayla's stubborn iron heart JUST LOVE CRIER DAMN YOU
//
July 11, 2022
I just think that sapphic fantasy is the best genre right now and you can't change my mind
Iron Heart is the sequel and conclusion to Crier’s War , an opener of a duology that changed me deeply. With Ayla on the run and Scyre Kinok gaining increasing power, Crier is left needing to decide where her loyalties lie.
Ayla’s journey in this sequel is primarily about power: her new desire to gain, and her newfound agency in making decisions about which types of power to wield. She's a character who has been through a lot, and always survived, which makes her compelling. But she is also a character who is terrified to let her guard down. Falling in love with Crier challenges her and forces her to push herself. Seeing her take up a new role in politics of the land was immensely satisfying, and I was consistently invested.
Throughout this series I have been increasingly invested in Crier as a character, and her arc here is especially relevant. Crier yearns to be human; so much so, in fact, that she pretends to be one. In book one, this dynamic built to her falling in love, believing all along this made her flawed. In this sequel, Varela addresses a deeper question: How is she truly different from any other human? Her defiance of her father, her falling for Ayla, and her meeting human friends all serve as key parts of her character arc.
The dynamic between Crier and Ayla is, as always, incredibly tender. While their dynamic in book one caught me, I definitely stayed hooked; I found several lines of dialogue between them genuinely heartbreaking (this one above took my breath away).
Generally, though, this did not quite live up to book one for me. I noticed a distinct amount of tell not show around the beginning. There’s also a specific issue with point of view that bugged me a lot: sometimes, point of view stays stable in each chapter, and sometimes it switches. I did not remember this happening in book one, so I do not know if this was not intentional, and I did not like it. And this series has always relied a bit on plot happening to the characters, but I felt that repeated a lot here.
In a lot of ways, I think it was my enjoyment of book one that led to my enjoyment of this book, rather than anything specific about this sequel. Yet a few other dynamics of this book stood out to me. Junn is an excellent side character, and her development stood out as a highlight here. She serves as an excellent narrative foil to both Crier and Ayla and is by far the most fleshed-out character within the book. While I wanted more from I definitely enjoyed his dynamic with Ayla.
This duology was an excellent read and I am so excited for more by Nina Varela. If you haven't picked up Crier's War yet... well. You really should.
Blog | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | About |
“Because you surprise me. Because I’m not done being surprised by you.”
Iron Heart is the sequel and conclusion to Crier’s War , an opener of a duology that changed me deeply. With Ayla on the run and Scyre Kinok gaining increasing power, Crier is left needing to decide where her loyalties lie.
Ayla’s journey in this sequel is primarily about power: her new desire to gain, and her newfound agency in making decisions about which types of power to wield. She's a character who has been through a lot, and always survived, which makes her compelling. But she is also a character who is terrified to let her guard down. Falling in love with Crier challenges her and forces her to push herself. Seeing her take up a new role in politics of the land was immensely satisfying, and I was consistently invested.
Throughout this series I have been increasingly invested in Crier as a character, and her arc here is especially relevant. Crier yearns to be human; so much so, in fact, that she pretends to be one. In book one, this dynamic built to her falling in love, believing all along this made her flawed. In this sequel, Varela addresses a deeper question: How is she truly different from any other human? Her defiance of her father, her falling for Ayla, and her meeting human friends all serve as key parts of her character arc.
“You can’t read me once and know everything.”
“Then I will read you again and again.”
The dynamic between Crier and Ayla is, as always, incredibly tender. While their dynamic in book one caught me, I definitely stayed hooked; I found several lines of dialogue between them genuinely heartbreaking (this one above took my breath away).
Generally, though, this did not quite live up to book one for me. I noticed a distinct amount of tell not show around the beginning. There’s also a specific issue with point of view that bugged me a lot: sometimes, point of view stays stable in each chapter, and sometimes it switches. I did not remember this happening in book one, so I do not know if this was not intentional, and I did not like it. And this series has always relied a bit on plot happening to the characters, but I felt that repeated a lot here.
“Because you deserve to be known, in whatever capacity you wish. I am trying to become a person who deserves to know you. I want that more than anything.”
In a lot of ways, I think it was my enjoyment of book one that led to my enjoyment of this book, rather than anything specific about this sequel. Yet a few other dynamics of this book stood out to me. Junn is an excellent side character, and her development stood out as a highlight here. She serves as an excellent narrative foil to both Crier and Ayla and is by far the most fleshed-out character within the book. While I wanted more from I definitely enjoyed his dynamic with Ayla.
This duology was an excellent read and I am so excited for more by Nina Varela. If you haven't picked up Crier's War yet... well. You really should.
Blog | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | About |
January 2, 2025
LET ME IIIIIIIN LET ME IIIIIIIINNNNNNN
Update: I finished it! I love Crier and Ayla so much
Update: I finished it! I love Crier and Ayla so much
January 21, 2024
rep: lesbian poc mc, bi poc mc, poc cast, side m/nb couple, side mlm & wlw couples
tw: body horror (chapter 6 & 14), panic attack, torture, murder
Review is also on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
Five Reasons to Read This Book
Number One: It’s a sequel to an absolutely amazing Crier’s War and that, in all honesty, is a good reason on its own. If you loved the first book, you definitely want to see what the girls are up to now, how Automae are fairing, how the humans are fairing, if the war that’s been brewing for a while now will happen and what will it bring. Iron Heart works great as a sequel, answers all the important questions, makes you feel welcomed in a world you have come to know and love.
Number Two: It’s sapphic. It’s sapphic in a very bold and unapologetic way. I have whole pages of quotes saved in a google doc which are showcasing the desire and love Ayla and Crier have for each other. But it’s also sapphic in a very authentic way. Showed in small glimpses, in passing thoughts, in a myriad of minute ways that are all obvious to a gay reader.
Number Three: The absolute lack of homophobia. I’ve been praising this aspect of Varela’s world ever since I read Crier’s War, but it’s still just as visible in Iron Heart. And I don’t just mean the fact that the main romance is between two girls. I mean that any time someone tells a fairy tale in this book (and it happens quite a number of times), it’s a gay one. Any time someone mentions having a spouse and it turns out to be a gay marriage, it earns no comments on that front. Any time a nonbinary character is introduced, no one has troubles with using correct pronouns. It feels a little bit like a miracle and like a gift.
Number Four: Plot and twists of it. A lot happens in this book, you will definitely not be bored while reading. And what’s more, Iron Heart keeps you on your toes. Characters reveal hidden layers, their motifs make more and more sense as you learn about their background. Surprises wait at almost every corner, so that rather than an easy sprint from point A to point B, you get a walk through a labyrinth and sometimes even circle back to get to the end. It’s great.
Number Five: It almost feels like retracing my last statement, but here we go – this book is very much focused on the political side of things. It comes from introducing new characters and from giving old ones (Queen Junn) more spotlight. It makes the whole world feel way more real, makes the stakes of the human-Automae conflict more real, the villains more evil. It allows for some sublte commentary on our world, as well. It basically makes everything better.
tw: body horror (chapter 6 & 14), panic attack, torture, murder
Review is also on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
Five Reasons to Read This Book
Number One: It’s a sequel to an absolutely amazing Crier’s War and that, in all honesty, is a good reason on its own. If you loved the first book, you definitely want to see what the girls are up to now, how Automae are fairing, how the humans are fairing, if the war that’s been brewing for a while now will happen and what will it bring. Iron Heart works great as a sequel, answers all the important questions, makes you feel welcomed in a world you have come to know and love.
Number Two: It’s sapphic. It’s sapphic in a very bold and unapologetic way. I have whole pages of quotes saved in a google doc which are showcasing the desire and love Ayla and Crier have for each other. But it’s also sapphic in a very authentic way. Showed in small glimpses, in passing thoughts, in a myriad of minute ways that are all obvious to a gay reader.
Number Three: The absolute lack of homophobia. I’ve been praising this aspect of Varela’s world ever since I read Crier’s War, but it’s still just as visible in Iron Heart. And I don’t just mean the fact that the main romance is between two girls. I mean that any time someone tells a fairy tale in this book (and it happens quite a number of times), it’s a gay one. Any time someone mentions having a spouse and it turns out to be a gay marriage, it earns no comments on that front. Any time a nonbinary character is introduced, no one has troubles with using correct pronouns. It feels a little bit like a miracle and like a gift.
Number Four: Plot and twists of it. A lot happens in this book, you will definitely not be bored while reading. And what’s more, Iron Heart keeps you on your toes. Characters reveal hidden layers, their motifs make more and more sense as you learn about their background. Surprises wait at almost every corner, so that rather than an easy sprint from point A to point B, you get a walk through a labyrinth and sometimes even circle back to get to the end. It’s great.
Number Five: It almost feels like retracing my last statement, but here we go – this book is very much focused on the political side of things. It comes from introducing new characters and from giving old ones (Queen Junn) more spotlight. It makes the whole world feel way more real, makes the stakes of the human-Automae conflict more real, the villains more evil. It allows for some sublte commentary on our world, as well. It basically makes everything better.
Want to read
January 1, 2020i finished the book like five minutes ago and i already miss crier and ayla :/ an enemies to lovers sapphic fantasy...nina varela knows how to feed us well
September 18, 2022
3.5 stars
As much as I love the characters and loved the original story of this world, I was slightly disappointed by this book.
Okay so: I still loved Crier. Her story line in this book was actually my favorite because her character developed amazingly in this book and her working by herself was a great setting to this book.
I also really liked Ayla's storyline and how more characters were introduced in her pov that I found really interesting and was very excited to read about.
yet I had a few issues with the entire plot:
In the beginning there were a lot of flashbacks and just summaries of the plot of the first book, I just think there were too many recaps to book one but maybe that was just me because I read them right after each other. Idk it felt like on of those "previously on pll" flashbacks in tv series.
I also kind of did not get that surprised by the so called "reveal" in this book since it was hinted to in book one IF YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES which I did.
Was that my mistake? maybe but I still think it was pretty obvious and I also did not think that crier should have been surprised by the reveal. Ayla, the human? sure but the Automae? nope .
As much as I love the characters and loved the original story of this world, I was slightly disappointed by this book.
Okay so: I still loved Crier. Her story line in this book was actually my favorite because her character developed amazingly in this book and her working by herself was a great setting to this book.
I also really liked Ayla's storyline and how more characters were introduced in her pov that I found really interesting and was very excited to read about.
yet I had a few issues with the entire plot:
In the beginning there were a lot of flashbacks and just summaries of the plot of the first book, I just think there were too many recaps to book one but maybe that was just me because I read them right after each other. Idk it felt like on of those "previously on pll" flashbacks in tv series.
I also kind of did not get that surprised by the so called "reveal" in this book since it was hinted to in book one IF YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES which I did.
Was that my mistake? maybe but I still think it was pretty obvious and I also did not think that crier should have been surprised by the reveal. Ayla, the human? sure but the Automae? nope .
September 18, 2020
The world and characters of this duology have so much potential but sadly this book is very disappointing.
The plot is all over the place, way too convenient or random events happen to make things move and a lot of them aren't addressed later or don't have any impact on anything else. I wouldn't care for a weak plot if the romance made up for it, but sadly it didn't happen in a way I could believe in.
From Crier's POV, it makes sense she'd fall for Ayla in book 1, but I expected more resistance on her part to forgive her in book 2. From Ayla's POV, there wasn't enough development in book 1 to justify her intense longing and feelings right at the start of book 2. I hoped they'd eventually meet and slowly fall for each other as they got to know their true selves, which wasn't what happened at all. Their relationship is supposed to be the focus, costing other characters and plot from being stronger, but it doesn't grow in a believable way.
The only characters I cared about were Crier, who had a nice development of breaking free and becoming independent, and sometimes Ayla (more in book 1). All the new characters introduced were shallow and basically irrelevant — I'd forget their names as soon as they left the page. Characters from book 1 who I hoped to learn more from were barely in the book. Even Benjy who was so important to Ayla was put to the side and they hardly interacted or developed their friendship. We learn the very basics from Storme and never see them learning how to be siblings and in each other's lives again, which was something I was looking forward in this story. Queen Junn's twist adds nothing to the plot? I don't understand it happening either. Kinok's conclusion was so disappointing and bland I don't even wanna mention it.
There are so many cool concepts from the world of this story, but sadly we never see their full potential.
The plot is all over the place, way too convenient or random events happen to make things move and a lot of them aren't addressed later or don't have any impact on anything else. I wouldn't care for a weak plot if the romance made up for it, but sadly it didn't happen in a way I could believe in.
From Crier's POV, it makes sense she'd fall for Ayla in book 1, but I expected more resistance on her part to forgive her in book 2. From Ayla's POV, there wasn't enough development in book 1 to justify her intense longing and feelings right at the start of book 2. I hoped they'd eventually meet and slowly fall for each other as they got to know their true selves, which wasn't what happened at all. Their relationship is supposed to be the focus, costing other characters and plot from being stronger, but it doesn't grow in a believable way.
The only characters I cared about were Crier, who had a nice development of breaking free and becoming independent, and sometimes Ayla (more in book 1). All the new characters introduced were shallow and basically irrelevant — I'd forget their names as soon as they left the page. Characters from book 1 who I hoped to learn more from were barely in the book. Even Benjy who was so important to Ayla was put to the side and they hardly interacted or developed their friendship. We learn the very basics from Storme and never see them learning how to be siblings and in each other's lives again, which was something I was looking forward in this story. Queen Junn's twist adds nothing to the plot? I don't understand it happening either. Kinok's conclusion was so disappointing and bland I don't even wanna mention it.
There are so many cool concepts from the world of this story, but sadly we never see their full potential.
September 11, 2020
Second book syndrome? Nina doesn't know her.
Yes, Nina Varela made me cry several times. Yes, I highly recommend Iron Heart. And yes, this perfectly written sequel gave me the comfort and delicious yearning I needed.
Yes, Nina Varela made me cry several times. Yes, I highly recommend Iron Heart. And yes, this perfectly written sequel gave me the comfort and delicious yearning I needed.
June 17, 2021
CWs: brief scenes with body horror, panic attack
Rep: lesbian MC, bisexual MC, nonbinary side character, minor m/nb couple
3.5/5
This was definitely better than the first book. I admit I wasn't the biggest fan of Crier's War and some of the same issues I had still carried over in this sequel, like:
- the side characters - nowhere near as memorable as the main characters. Benjy is as bland, mildly annoying and useless as ever. We get to know more about Storme and his backstory but...I still didn't like him. I kept getting the impression that he just didn't care as much about Ayla as she did for him. Their sibling dynamic felt very imbalanced and off to me. Again, we learn more about Queen Junn and I wanted to like her but there just wasn't much for me to hold on to. There are new, super intriguing side characters introduced and I wish the book had been a little longer so we could've seen more of them.
- the villain is sadly as generic as ever.
- the worldbuilding is fairly decent but I wanted more details on Tarreen and also the alchemy, the magick, etc.
But there were definitely improvements this time around that I appreciated seeing:
- the pacing is a lot better done here - it's faster and made the book go by very quickly.
- the plot is way more solid - there's a concrete goal the protagonists are aiming towards, stakes are higher, no vagueness or meandering around. It made Ayla and Crier's separate journeys in the first half easy to emotionally invest into; there are some pretty interesting twists, the setting is expanded, and once they're finally reunited? Perfection.
- I liked Crier and Ayla's dynamic a lot more in this book. I loved how they saw each other, the slight parallels to their interactions in the first book, just everything about them honestly. Crier is still my favorite character but Ayla grew on me a lot. The sheer yearning of this romance...phew.
The ending was a bit anti-climactic for me but overall, this was a fun duology to read.
Rep: lesbian MC, bisexual MC, nonbinary side character, minor m/nb couple
3.5/5
This was definitely better than the first book. I admit I wasn't the biggest fan of Crier's War and some of the same issues I had still carried over in this sequel, like:
- the side characters - nowhere near as memorable as the main characters. Benjy is as bland, mildly annoying and useless as ever. We get to know more about Storme and his backstory but...I still didn't like him. I kept getting the impression that he just didn't care as much about Ayla as she did for him. Their sibling dynamic felt very imbalanced and off to me. Again, we learn more about Queen Junn and I wanted to like her but there just wasn't much for me to hold on to. There are new, super intriguing side characters introduced and I wish the book had been a little longer so we could've seen more of them.
- the villain is sadly as generic as ever.
- the worldbuilding is fairly decent but I wanted more details on Tarreen and also the alchemy, the magick, etc.
But there were definitely improvements this time around that I appreciated seeing:
- the pacing is a lot better done here - it's faster and made the book go by very quickly.
- the plot is way more solid - there's a concrete goal the protagonists are aiming towards, stakes are higher, no vagueness or meandering around. It made Ayla and Crier's separate journeys in the first half easy to emotionally invest into; there are some pretty interesting twists, the setting is expanded, and once they're finally reunited? Perfection.
- I liked Crier and Ayla's dynamic a lot more in this book. I loved how they saw each other, the slight parallels to their interactions in the first book, just everything about them honestly. Crier is still my favorite character but Ayla grew on me a lot. The sheer yearning of this romance...phew.
The ending was a bit anti-climactic for me but overall, this was a fun duology to read.
August 13, 2022
FOUR STARS!!
So......yeah....this book was an emotional rollercoaster. I really liked it.
also glad kinok got the fate he deserves!!!
--------------------
They finally had their happy ending!!!
Review To Come
So......yeah....this book was an emotional rollercoaster. I really liked it.
also glad kinok got the fate he deserves!!!
--------------------
They finally had their happy ending!!!
Review To Come
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book as part of my participation in Caffeine Book Tours book tour to promote this novel. This in no way impacted my opinion."
Iron Heart by Nina Varela is the stunning sequel to Crier's War. This duology takes place in a world where two different species exist - humans and Automae. The Automae rule the land, resigning humans to a life of servitude and violence. The reader follows the journey of one Automae and one human, Crier and Ayla, respectively.
Let's start with obvious: As nearly everyone knows by now, Crier's War is my favorite book (~technically~ by second favorite book of all-time, but there's no need to get ~technical~). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I was...basically...in love with Iron Heart even before I'd read it.
I did, in fact, read this beginning to end in one day, and I did, as well, experience more emotions than I will ever be able to vocalize in that one day.
Characters:
The first aspect of Iron Heart that jumped out at me is how all of the characters feel older in this novel - not in a bad way, but in a way that reflects the suffering they've endured, the realities they've confronted, the actions they have had to take.
If someone asked me for advice on writing character growth (though I do not suggest anyone do), I would simply hand them a copy of Iron Heart.
Individually and together, the characters of this novel are the core of the overarching story, and they do not take their roles lightly.
Crier is the daughter of the Sovereign of Rabu, or, the man who controls almost all the land, and who has and continues to carry massacres against human villages, among other cruelties. Crier's War is the tale of Crier waking up, of Crier recognizing the true impact, or, more accurately, the true danger of her people, and of her own potential.
In Iron Heart, though, Crier renounces her past naivety and complicity in her people's--her father's--cruelty. Crier is now ready to defy her father , and her entire government, to forgo her past life as a noble.
And. Yeah. I love Crier's growth. Even within the first novel, I was so impressed with how Varela established Crier. But in Iron Heart, I was downright floored .
Ayla is a revolutionary. After losing her family to Hesod's, Crier's father's, cruelty, Ayla transformed into a raging fire. In Crier's War, we see-no, we feel Ayla's fury. We see her power. We see the revolutionary, the rebel.
In Iron Heart, we feel Ayla's grief. We see her strength, her endurance. We see Ayla the human.
I. Love. Angry. Women. Give me angry women any day. But to truly understand justified anger, one must also understand all of the emotions buried underneath her anger - her shield . One must know the woman behind the fire.
Iron Heart gave us that opportunity.
Queen Junn , also known as the Bone Eater, as the Mad Queen, is a character we truly delve into for the first time in this novel.
Junn is a fascinating character; I don't know that anyone - character or reader alike - will ever be able to fully understand her. But that's what makes her so compelling.
I constantly forgot her age - around 18 - if it hadn't been recently mentioned, because of...well... her .
Junn is a character I can neither like nor dislike; she is a character I can respect .
Benjy , Ayla's best friend and a fellow revolutionary, went on a path I...did not expect. At all.
Nina herself said she thought readers may be surprised by the path Benjy goes on in this book...yeah I was.
When it comes to that theme of growing up , Benjy is it. He grows up like no other character does.
And it's exactly what he needs.
I still cannot wrap my head around his journey as I did not see it coming, but I can see that this is the path he needed - the right path for him.
Outside of our four person ~ squad ~, we also spend time with a few others - Storme, Ayla's twin brother and Junn's human advisor (and ~ boyfriend ~) ; Faye, a servant at the Palace thought to have been driven insane by Kinok's cruelty ; Hook and co., a new ~ squad ~ that I love So. Much. (seriously. I love Hook So. Much. Where is the spin-off Ms. Varela.) ; and a few other new faces.
I could write entire essays on each of these characters, but I'll spare both you and I from that fate. I will say, though, that these character are just as, if not more, impactful as/than Crier and Ayla. Their being 'supporting characters' does not lessen their contribution to the story in the slightest.
Relationships:
If I thought Crier's War did a phenomenal job with relationships...Iron Heart laughed in my face before surpassing it, reaching a level I didn't even know existed.
Every relationship, whether positive, negative, or neutral, was so layered, so well-constructed.
The development of Crier's relationship with her father was heartbreaking and necessary. I knew it was coming, and so did she, but it's never fun to have a parent who has no love for you.
The exploration of Storme and Ayla's relationship was...it also hurt at times, but it didn't at others. Within their relationship, all I could see is that no matter the pain they put each other through, their love will always be the brightest star in the sky. I see the full, unadulterated power sibling bonds possess.
As for Benjy and Ayla...their relationship is so special. I'm a sucker for having that One Person. It's my jam, and that's exactly this dynamic. Their bond isn't the same this time-around - it's evolved, for better or for worse, but it cannot be broken .
Crier as a character, though, sees for the first time what friendship truly means. She gets to start forming relationships in the first place. And it is beautiful.
As for The Girls, Crier and Ayla ,~ Crayla ~, Varela invented the word yearning . This novel is literally just a bunch of badass rebels destroying a colonialist system...and two Lesbians Without Braincells trying to figure out how to ~ gay ~ together.
In all honesty, though, Varela truly does a fucking fantastic job with their relationship. Writing a relationship - a romance , no less - between the daughter of The Oppressor and a servant whose life was destroyed by Him is...more than a little challenging.
Varela intentionally has these two girls grow individually and together before allowing anything to exist between them. She simultaneously handles a tricky subject with such care, while also writing The ~ Tension ~.
i mean...slow-burn / enemies-to-lovers lesbians... who could resist???
Other:
While I could, and partially want to, include sections about other aspects such as the incredible world and Varela's breath-taking writing, this review is also so long, so I'll just provide a few brief notes.
The theme of revolution and rebellion within fantasy is one I adore, when done right.
Varela most certainly does it right. This entire book is basically just fuck colonialism . But, really, Varela truly manages to so seamlessly incorporate the fantasy elements of the Automae and the fairy-tale feel of Crier's story in a world that is founded on the same horrors as our own world. She straddles the line between reality and escapism so effortlessly.
She executes the theme of revolution , creating a story where the revolution goes beyond one specific person - it is the effort of many, and includes disagreements among them as well. It is not One. Large. War. It is everyday battles, constant efforts to make lasting change. It is real .
As for Varela's writing, what I will say is this: From the very first sentence to the very last, you will be enamored by her words.
With that. I. really love this book. This Duology. There is so much more to say, but once I start, I won't be able to stop.
so: thank you, crier and ayla, for letting me be a part of your journeys, the good and the bad. it made a difference.
[slightly paraphrased]
content warnings: war, death, violence/descriptions of blood, drug use/addiction, body horror
representation: queer characters, MCs of color (implied but not explicit), lesbian MCs, f/f romance
"Strength isn't measured by the ability to cause harm."
Iron Heart by Nina Varela is the stunning sequel to Crier's War. This duology takes place in a world where two different species exist - humans and Automae. The Automae rule the land, resigning humans to a life of servitude and violence. The reader follows the journey of one Automae and one human, Crier and Ayla, respectively.
Let's start with obvious: As nearly everyone knows by now, Crier's War is my favorite book (~technically~ by second favorite book of all-time, but there's no need to get ~technical~). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I was...basically...in love with Iron Heart even before I'd read it.
I did, in fact, read this beginning to end in one day, and I did, as well, experience more emotions than I will ever be able to vocalize in that one day.
Characters:
The first aspect of Iron Heart that jumped out at me is how all of the characters feel older in this novel - not in a bad way, but in a way that reflects the suffering they've endured, the realities they've confronted, the actions they have had to take.
If someone asked me for advice on writing character growth (though I do not suggest anyone do), I would simply hand them a copy of Iron Heart.
Individually and together, the characters of this novel are the core of the overarching story, and they do not take their roles lightly.
Crier is the daughter of the Sovereign of Rabu, or, the man who controls almost all the land, and who has and continues to carry massacres against human villages, among other cruelties. Crier's War is the tale of Crier waking up, of Crier recognizing the true impact, or, more accurately, the true danger of her people, and of her own potential.
In Iron Heart, though, Crier renounces her past naivety and complicity in her people's--her father's--cruelty. Crier is now ready to defy her father , and her entire government, to forgo her past life as a noble.
And. Yeah. I love Crier's growth. Even within the first novel, I was so impressed with how Varela established Crier. But in Iron Heart, I was downright floored .
Ayla is a revolutionary. After losing her family to Hesod's, Crier's father's, cruelty, Ayla transformed into a raging fire. In Crier's War, we see-no, we feel Ayla's fury. We see her power. We see the revolutionary, the rebel.
In Iron Heart, we feel Ayla's grief. We see her strength, her endurance. We see Ayla the human.
I. Love. Angry. Women. Give me angry women any day. But to truly understand justified anger, one must also understand all of the emotions buried underneath her anger - her shield . One must know the woman behind the fire.
Iron Heart gave us that opportunity.
Queen Junn , also known as the Bone Eater, as the Mad Queen, is a character we truly delve into for the first time in this novel.
Junn is a fascinating character; I don't know that anyone - character or reader alike - will ever be able to fully understand her. But that's what makes her so compelling.
I constantly forgot her age - around 18 - if it hadn't been recently mentioned, because of...well... her .
Junn is a character I can neither like nor dislike; she is a character I can respect .
Benjy , Ayla's best friend and a fellow revolutionary, went on a path I...did not expect. At all.
Nina herself said she thought readers may be surprised by the path Benjy goes on in this book...yeah I was.
When it comes to that theme of growing up , Benjy is it. He grows up like no other character does.
And it's exactly what he needs.
I still cannot wrap my head around his journey as I did not see it coming, but I can see that this is the path he needed - the right path for him.
Outside of our four person ~ squad ~, we also spend time with a few others - Storme, Ayla's twin brother and Junn's human advisor (and ~ boyfriend ~) ; Faye, a servant at the Palace thought to have been driven insane by Kinok's cruelty ; Hook and co., a new ~ squad ~ that I love So. Much. (seriously. I love Hook So. Much. Where is the spin-off Ms. Varela.) ; and a few other new faces.
I could write entire essays on each of these characters, but I'll spare both you and I from that fate. I will say, though, that these character are just as, if not more, impactful as/than Crier and Ayla. Their being 'supporting characters' does not lessen their contribution to the story in the slightest.
Relationships:
If I thought Crier's War did a phenomenal job with relationships...Iron Heart laughed in my face before surpassing it, reaching a level I didn't even know existed.
Every relationship, whether positive, negative, or neutral, was so layered, so well-constructed.
The development of Crier's relationship with her father was heartbreaking and necessary. I knew it was coming, and so did she, but it's never fun to have a parent who has no love for you.
The exploration of Storme and Ayla's relationship was...it also hurt at times, but it didn't at others. Within their relationship, all I could see is that no matter the pain they put each other through, their love will always be the brightest star in the sky. I see the full, unadulterated power sibling bonds possess.
As for Benjy and Ayla...their relationship is so special. I'm a sucker for having that One Person. It's my jam, and that's exactly this dynamic. Their bond isn't the same this time-around - it's evolved, for better or for worse, but it cannot be broken .
Crier as a character, though, sees for the first time what friendship truly means. She gets to start forming relationships in the first place. And it is beautiful.
As for The Girls, Crier and Ayla ,~ Crayla ~, Varela invented the word yearning . This novel is literally just a bunch of badass rebels destroying a colonialist system...and two Lesbians Without Braincells trying to figure out how to ~ gay ~ together.
In all honesty, though, Varela truly does a fucking fantastic job with their relationship. Writing a relationship - a romance , no less - between the daughter of The Oppressor and a servant whose life was destroyed by Him is...more than a little challenging.
Varela intentionally has these two girls grow individually and together before allowing anything to exist between them. She simultaneously handles a tricky subject with such care, while also writing The ~ Tension ~.
i mean...slow-burn / enemies-to-lovers lesbians... who could resist???
"You want her. Or love her. Or at least something else. Something just as intense as your hatred."
Other:
While I could, and partially want to, include sections about other aspects such as the incredible world and Varela's breath-taking writing, this review is also so long, so I'll just provide a few brief notes.
The theme of revolution and rebellion within fantasy is one I adore, when done right.
Varela most certainly does it right. This entire book is basically just fuck colonialism . But, really, Varela truly manages to so seamlessly incorporate the fantasy elements of the Automae and the fairy-tale feel of Crier's story in a world that is founded on the same horrors as our own world. She straddles the line between reality and escapism so effortlessly.
She executes the theme of revolution , creating a story where the revolution goes beyond one specific person - it is the effort of many, and includes disagreements among them as well. It is not One. Large. War. It is everyday battles, constant efforts to make lasting change. It is real .
As for Varela's writing, what I will say is this: From the very first sentence to the very last, you will be enamored by her words.
With that. I. really love this book. This Duology. There is so much more to say, but once I start, I won't be able to stop.
so: thank you, crier and ayla, for letting me be a part of your journeys, the good and the bad. it made a difference.
[slightly paraphrased]
"We won't give up. We never give up."
"Because...because there are things worth dying for."
"Nah...because there are things worth living for."
content warnings: war, death, violence/descriptions of blood, drug use/addiction, body horror
representation: queer characters, MCs of color (implied but not explicit), lesbian MCs, f/f romance
February 4, 2022
So the strong part of the last book was really the chemistry between Crier and Ayla. This book really suffered for them being separated for a good 60 percent of it. Not terrible but not great either.
The book really slowed down and unfortunately fell apart at the seams when I’m not blinded by adorable lesbians the whole time. Ayla and Crier are separated for the first 200 pages or so, having separate journeys in plot. The romance was what kept me from looking over contrived plot issues, plot holes themselves, shallow side character work and the absolute ridiculous situations where the characters find themselves in the last book but since that constant togetherness isn’t here in this book, those things stand out a lot more.
The conclusion of this book depended entirely on luck and the mistakes of the villain which is so lame. There are scenes where things just straight up don’t make sense or are so unbelievable even in a fantasy that you can’t suspend your disbelief that far. Its scoffably cheesy at points. There are way too many side characters that make appearances and add really very little to the story. And Nina you can’t describe every character at their intro by saying “she was surprised to see he/she was only a little older/younger/similar in age than myself” and then talk about their age constantly as looking younger/older than they did before.
So why still not terrible? Cause the adorable lesbians are still together for half of it! Apparently my opinions can’t be fully trusted when there is cute gay banter. There are also some absolutely great lines and a good sense of humor throughout. I think Nina Varela could do a little better with a stronger plot outline but the writing itself is still good. It was never hard to read even if it was silly.
But overall a solid meh conclusion. I have not had good luck with duologies lately. Anybody got any good ones?
The book really slowed down and unfortunately fell apart at the seams when I’m not blinded by adorable lesbians the whole time. Ayla and Crier are separated for the first 200 pages or so, having separate journeys in plot. The romance was what kept me from looking over contrived plot issues, plot holes themselves, shallow side character work and the absolute ridiculous situations where the characters find themselves in the last book but since that constant togetherness isn’t here in this book, those things stand out a lot more.
The conclusion of this book depended entirely on luck and the mistakes of the villain which is so lame. There are scenes where things just straight up don’t make sense or are so unbelievable even in a fantasy that you can’t suspend your disbelief that far. Its scoffably cheesy at points. There are way too many side characters that make appearances and add really very little to the story. And Nina you can’t describe every character at their intro by saying “she was surprised to see he/she was only a little older/younger/similar in age than myself” and then talk about their age constantly as looking younger/older than they did before.
So why still not terrible? Cause the adorable lesbians are still together for half of it! Apparently my opinions can’t be fully trusted when there is cute gay banter. There are also some absolutely great lines and a good sense of humor throughout. I think Nina Varela could do a little better with a stronger plot outline but the writing itself is still good. It was never hard to read even if it was silly.
But overall a solid meh conclusion. I have not had good luck with duologies lately. Anybody got any good ones?
September 29, 2025
⋆˚࿔ review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
4⭐️
Crier, my tortured lover 😭 She was so deeply in love with Ayla, and it showed in every little moment—it broke me in the best way.
The heartbreak in this one was definitely painful 😖 but thank god they got their happy ending because I don’t think I could’ve taken anything else.
Pacing-wise, this felt a little slower than the first book, mostly because of the repetition. But once it picked up, it really picked up, and I was all in again.
And don’t even get me started on that evil twat… ugh. I hated him with every fiber of my being.
4⭐️
Crier, my tortured lover 😭 She was so deeply in love with Ayla, and it showed in every little moment—it broke me in the best way.
The heartbreak in this one was definitely painful 😖 but thank god they got their happy ending because I don’t think I could’ve taken anything else.
Pacing-wise, this felt a little slower than the first book, mostly because of the repetition. But once it picked up, it really picked up, and I was all in again.
And don’t even get me started on that evil twat… ugh. I hated him with every fiber of my being.
August 28, 2021
hey um wtf this was so good? i'm not ok? prolly never will be? i need more. like i would never like this story to end. ever. go read these book. rn. holy shit. nina varela is a god.
January 9, 2022
“If the universe were static, I could stand anywhere in this world and I swear my line of sight would end on you. I swear I'd find you in the dark.”
Crier's War was definitely one of my favourite books of 2019, and I enjoyed it just as much when I reread it. It took me way too long to get to this sequel (life happens etc) but when I finally did get to it, I enjoyed it immensely.
Iron Heart maintains exactly what was great about Crier's War; characters who have interesting character development as individuals and as a couple, slow-burn romance full of yearning and tenderness and fun political fantasy elements + worldbuilding. Plot and world-wise, it's not overly complex - but it's fun, and it has a little historical mystery at it's core which is one of my favourite fantasy tropes.
I found this to be pretty action packed with good pacing for the first two thirds. I really liked the use of dual POV to build suspense and create intrigue. Dual POV was utilised skillfully to create drama and mystery, ending each POV with a cliffhanger that forced you to keep going. I think both POVs were interesting, though I tended to prefer Crier's just a tad.
The use of a dual POV also allowed for an excellent build-up toward the climactic reunion scene. The core of this series really is the relationship between Crier and Ayla, and this climax understood that.
UNFORTUNATELY, this is where we run into my issues. I thought the third act was a mess. It was anti-climactic and poorly paced, feeling like too little time was left to manage too much, which led to unsatisfying reveals and conclusions to plot threads. Major discoveries were made in ways that seemed to be extremely easy and cheap, which made some of the build-up seem pointless and disappointing. The conclusion seemed way too simple and too easy, and considering this is a 400 page book I think it left too little too late. It should have been longer, or certain discovering should have been made earlier.
That said, overall I did still really enjoy my time with this book, and this series. Crier and Ayla's story was concluded well, and I thought their romance was so well done. It's definitely one of my favourite slowburn f/f stories to date. I would love to see Varela write more in this world, I think it has potential and I would definitely read something with more deep, complex worldbuilding because I would find that so intriguing.
July 5, 2022
“it's you, the wash of starlight, the old paradox: if the universe were static, i could stand anywhere in this world and i swear my line of sight would end on you. i swear i'd find you in the dark.”
B R U H
B R U H
March 8, 2024
i feel like it would have worked better as a trilogy
October 20, 2022
**This review contains major spoilers**
This was a letdown. The only saving graces were that I loved Crier’s War, adored Crier, and it was sapphic. There was a huge amount of potential here and I really can’t understand what happened to it.
My biggest issue was the almost complete lack of agency of the two MCs in this book. After Crier’s rebellion at the beginning, the rest of the story essentially just happened TO them. Crier and Ayla weren’t faced with any real decisions or difficult moral dilemmas because all of the major events and decisions happen off the page, orchestrated by side characters. I genuinely feel like the MCs just kind of stood there with their jaws on the floor, shocked and confused through the entire story, while a mostly unforgettable and pointless cast of side characters revealed everything to them. The fact that an absolutely monumental event – the overthrowing of the Sovereign – happened off the page and was revealed as a throwaway comment by a side character like, “Oh, I already did that,” was an absolute eye roll.
I feel like the actual main character in this story was the Automa Queen Junn – the most intriguing character in the entire book, in my opinion. The Mad Queen has so much control over the events in the story, controlling a network of spies, working against Kinok before Crier and Ayla even knew he was a threat, and overthrowing Sovereign Hessod. Her big reveal toward the end of the book was the only surprising and interesting thing that happened (sadly, there was no follow-up or consequence to it), and I genuinely feel like this story would have been a thousand times more interesting from her POV.
The main villain, Kinok, was a complete joke; his plans made no sense at all! He wanted to create a substitute for this precious resource, heartstone, which the Automae need to survive. The substitute ended up creating mindless robotic monsters instead. Kinok’s reponse? Oh well, just blow up the Automae’s single source of heartstone anyway. Oh, and the destruction of the big, top-secret Iron Heart mine where heartstone was produced (and that had been a source of mystery and intrigue through both books) happened off the page – the MCs just felt the explosion from a distance. To add to Kinok’s absolute buffoonery, his eventual, utterly pathetic defeat happened at the hands of yet another random side character - a human. Kinok was an Automa – stronger, faster, smarter – but was stabbed, full-frontal in the chest, because he just didn’t notice the girl who was about to stab him? And then her was so shocked he allowed her to continue stabbing him??? Can we please address how utterly ridiculous that is, to the point of unbelievable, even for the fantasy genre? That’s on top of the fact that there are two armies preparing and marching for war, but nothing happened except for that moron being stabbed by a side character. Oh, and what was the point of those mindless robotic monsters? I mean, how were those not even part of the final “battle”?
As far as character development and relationships go, I was disappointed there as well. Crier actually dealt with some internal struggles and really did evolve and make some huge and impressive changes. Ayla just floundered through the entire book and only plays one important role at the end – which comes across as utterly contrived, but could have been significantly more epic AND tied in a lot of loose ends (huge missed opportunity, one of many). Their romance fell flat and felt unfounded in the second book. The chemistry between them was well-written in the first book, but in the second it just feels forced and shallow. I mean, Ayla tried to kill Crier, but that was barely touched on and Crier doesn’t even struggle with that fact at all. It should have been a point of some tension in their relationship where Crier struggled to trust and forgive Ayla; that would have given the romance so much more depth and believability. The relationships between both MCs and some of the side characters as well, like Ayla's brother and her best friend or Crier's dad, were so poorly written and pointless.
As far as the overall plot goes, it was just bad. There was SO MUCH POTENTIAL, so many directions this story could have taken, so many opportunities for difficult moral decisions and epic conclusions and reveals… Unfortunately, all of the threads (well, the ones that were actually tied off by the end of it – and let me tell you, there are A LOT of loose threads in this book; it was infuriating) are resolved in the most boring and mundane possible ways. Really, the best description for all of it was ANTICLIMACTIC AF. Rife with coincidence and over-simplification, this was just an absolute letdown.
I’m sorry to say it, but I DO NOT recommend this one. I wish I could, but Crier’s War was an amazing story and deserved a proper conclusion – this was NOT it. If you are going to give it a go, I would personally not recommend the audio version, I didn't care for the narration.
This was a letdown. The only saving graces were that I loved Crier’s War, adored Crier, and it was sapphic. There was a huge amount of potential here and I really can’t understand what happened to it.
My biggest issue was the almost complete lack of agency of the two MCs in this book. After Crier’s rebellion at the beginning, the rest of the story essentially just happened TO them. Crier and Ayla weren’t faced with any real decisions or difficult moral dilemmas because all of the major events and decisions happen off the page, orchestrated by side characters. I genuinely feel like the MCs just kind of stood there with their jaws on the floor, shocked and confused through the entire story, while a mostly unforgettable and pointless cast of side characters revealed everything to them. The fact that an absolutely monumental event – the overthrowing of the Sovereign – happened off the page and was revealed as a throwaway comment by a side character like, “Oh, I already did that,” was an absolute eye roll.
I feel like the actual main character in this story was the Automa Queen Junn – the most intriguing character in the entire book, in my opinion. The Mad Queen has so much control over the events in the story, controlling a network of spies, working against Kinok before Crier and Ayla even knew he was a threat, and overthrowing Sovereign Hessod. Her big reveal toward the end of the book was the only surprising and interesting thing that happened (sadly, there was no follow-up or consequence to it), and I genuinely feel like this story would have been a thousand times more interesting from her POV.
The main villain, Kinok, was a complete joke; his plans made no sense at all! He wanted to create a substitute for this precious resource, heartstone, which the Automae need to survive. The substitute ended up creating mindless robotic monsters instead. Kinok’s reponse? Oh well, just blow up the Automae’s single source of heartstone anyway. Oh, and the destruction of the big, top-secret Iron Heart mine where heartstone was produced (and that had been a source of mystery and intrigue through both books) happened off the page – the MCs just felt the explosion from a distance. To add to Kinok’s absolute buffoonery, his eventual, utterly pathetic defeat happened at the hands of yet another random side character - a human. Kinok was an Automa – stronger, faster, smarter – but was stabbed, full-frontal in the chest, because he just didn’t notice the girl who was about to stab him? And then her was so shocked he allowed her to continue stabbing him??? Can we please address how utterly ridiculous that is, to the point of unbelievable, even for the fantasy genre? That’s on top of the fact that there are two armies preparing and marching for war, but nothing happened except for that moron being stabbed by a side character. Oh, and what was the point of those mindless robotic monsters? I mean, how were those not even part of the final “battle”?
As far as character development and relationships go, I was disappointed there as well. Crier actually dealt with some internal struggles and really did evolve and make some huge and impressive changes. Ayla just floundered through the entire book and only plays one important role at the end – which comes across as utterly contrived, but could have been significantly more epic AND tied in a lot of loose ends (huge missed opportunity, one of many). Their romance fell flat and felt unfounded in the second book. The chemistry between them was well-written in the first book, but in the second it just feels forced and shallow. I mean, Ayla tried to kill Crier, but that was barely touched on and Crier doesn’t even struggle with that fact at all. It should have been a point of some tension in their relationship where Crier struggled to trust and forgive Ayla; that would have given the romance so much more depth and believability. The relationships between both MCs and some of the side characters as well, like Ayla's brother and her best friend or Crier's dad, were so poorly written and pointless.
As far as the overall plot goes, it was just bad. There was SO MUCH POTENTIAL, so many directions this story could have taken, so many opportunities for difficult moral decisions and epic conclusions and reveals… Unfortunately, all of the threads (well, the ones that were actually tied off by the end of it – and let me tell you, there are A LOT of loose threads in this book; it was infuriating) are resolved in the most boring and mundane possible ways. Really, the best description for all of it was ANTICLIMACTIC AF. Rife with coincidence and over-simplification, this was just an absolute letdown.
I’m sorry to say it, but I DO NOT recommend this one. I wish I could, but Crier’s War was an amazing story and deserved a proper conclusion – this was NOT it. If you are going to give it a go, I would personally not recommend the audio version, I didn't care for the narration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2021
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I will say this was a tiny bit anticlimactic at the end, but DAMN IT WAS SO GOOD I LOVE CRIER AND AYLA SO MUCH AHHH
I will say this was a tiny bit anticlimactic at the end, but DAMN IT WAS SO GOOD I LOVE CRIER AND AYLA SO MUCH AHHH
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September 9, 2020Yay! Finally got the book!!! But K don't know why I am this excited 🤦I am still obsessed with the villains 🖤🖤🖤
Make Crier the character she's supposed to be in the sequel 🖤🖤🖤 fingers crossed 🤞
Make Crier the character she's supposed to be in the sequel 🖤🖤🖤 fingers crossed 🤞
August 29, 2021
4.5
I loved this conclusion of Ayla and Crier’s story, however some things felt a bit rushed here. I can’t help but think that it’d be better if the author had made this a trilogy instead, and explored some things in greater depth. For example, Queen Junn was a fascinating character and I wouldn’t mind learning more about her, and Varn itself. Also, while I liked how plot-oriented this book was, I was hoping for more romance. But we can’t have everything, can we. Still, the ending was very satisfying and everything I could’ve hoped for!
I loved this conclusion of Ayla and Crier’s story, however some things felt a bit rushed here. I can’t help but think that it’d be better if the author had made this a trilogy instead, and explored some things in greater depth. For example, Queen Junn was a fascinating character and I wouldn’t mind learning more about her, and Varn itself. Also, while I liked how plot-oriented this book was, I was hoping for more romance. But we can’t have everything, can we. Still, the ending was very satisfying and everything I could’ve hoped for!
September 9, 2020
FUCKKKK.
September 28, 2020
“Oh, hell.”
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
January 14, 2021
This series is so incredibly frustrating because you can practically taste the potential. All the pieces to make it groundbreaking were right there and were just ignored completely.
What I liked: Crier and her arc regarding freedom, acknowledging her feelings, getting to tell her dad a big fancy fuck you. I’ll always admire a girl that runs out of her wedding and runs around in the woods. There were so many gorgeous quotes specifically in Crier’s chapters about her awareness of her body and being more than what she was created to be that really stuck out.
What I didn’t like: The shallow world-building. I never got the sense that there were people outside of the (shallow) rotating cast of characters that we got. The side characters were shallow and convenient and none of their relationships to Crier and Ayla felt solid. Queen Jun’s reveal wasn’t foreshadowed in any way and felt random. We didn’t get any development between Ayla and her brother. The romance between Crier and Ayla, which already left something to be desired in book 1, felt rushed in the sense that Crier just completely forgot about Ayla’s murder attempt the second they were reunited and after like 1 day together Ayla was going around saying she trusted Crier with her life. Why was Ayla in love with Crier? The romance made sense on Crier’s end but it never felt genuine or moving from Ayla’s.
Also how are you going to introduce zombie robots and just forget about them during the final battle? That final confrontation with Kinok was so anti-climatic.
There was so much there that could’ve been amazing but I just felt frustrated the entire novel. It took me months to get past the first 100 pages. I wanted to like this series more than I actually did.
What I liked: Crier and her arc regarding freedom, acknowledging her feelings, getting to tell her dad a big fancy fuck you. I’ll always admire a girl that runs out of her wedding and runs around in the woods. There were so many gorgeous quotes specifically in Crier’s chapters about her awareness of her body and being more than what she was created to be that really stuck out.
What I didn’t like: The shallow world-building. I never got the sense that there were people outside of the (shallow) rotating cast of characters that we got. The side characters were shallow and convenient and none of their relationships to Crier and Ayla felt solid. Queen Jun’s reveal wasn’t foreshadowed in any way and felt random. We didn’t get any development between Ayla and her brother. The romance between Crier and Ayla, which already left something to be desired in book 1, felt rushed in the sense that Crier just completely forgot about Ayla’s murder attempt the second they were reunited and after like 1 day together Ayla was going around saying she trusted Crier with her life. Why was Ayla in love with Crier? The romance made sense on Crier’s end but it never felt genuine or moving from Ayla’s.
Also how are you going to introduce zombie robots and just forget about them during the final battle? That final confrontation with Kinok was so anti-climatic.
There was so much there that could’ve been amazing but I just felt frustrated the entire novel. It took me months to get past the first 100 pages. I wanted to like this series more than I actually did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2021
SHUT UP I’M CRYING THE ENDING WAS SO SWEET
AAAAAAAAAAAAA i can’t form any coherent thoughts, i think my brain is melting
AAAAAAAAAAAAA i can’t form any coherent thoughts, i think my brain is melting
September 28, 2021
4.5 ⭐️ so sad to leave this universe and characters 😢 i would do anything for more of this story & these books, i just adored this
November 26, 2024
i didn't love this as much as book 1, but i also did audiobook which is harder for me to process than reading visually.
overall though, this was a fun conclusion. i love ayla and crier sm.
overall though, this was a fun conclusion. i love ayla and crier sm.
September 11, 2020
↠ 4 stars
When I say nothing encapsulates yearning like this series, I mean it. The next installment really held on to that standard, and what can I say, I love consistency. Iron Heart is an enthralling conclusion that attempts a lot, over such a short page count. Tying in the events from the first book, whilst managing to carve out a distinct part that is completely its own. There really is something so comforting about returning to this world and its characters. Everything, from the pacing to the plot development was absolutely fantastic. To see where the story drew to its natural conclusion and how both characters found their way back to one another was so wonderful. This book dealt with all of the characters from the previous book, but also introduced some key new characters in a way that didn't detract from everything else that was happening. My only complaint is that I would have loved a longer epilogue, given that this was the final book in the series. I find that is often the case with duologies, but I will take what I am given. Now to deal with the somewhat crippling state of yearning this book has left me in.
When I say nothing encapsulates yearning like this series, I mean it. The next installment really held on to that standard, and what can I say, I love consistency. Iron Heart is an enthralling conclusion that attempts a lot, over such a short page count. Tying in the events from the first book, whilst managing to carve out a distinct part that is completely its own. There really is something so comforting about returning to this world and its characters. Everything, from the pacing to the plot development was absolutely fantastic. To see where the story drew to its natural conclusion and how both characters found their way back to one another was so wonderful. This book dealt with all of the characters from the previous book, but also introduced some key new characters in a way that didn't detract from everything else that was happening. My only complaint is that I would have loved a longer epilogue, given that this was the final book in the series. I find that is often the case with duologies, but I will take what I am given. Now to deal with the somewhat crippling state of yearning this book has left me in.
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