Destiny Soria

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Seeing a person of colour on the cover really inspired me to pick Iron Cast by Destiny Soria up. I feel like it’s so rare to find a YA/paranormal book that dares to feature someone who isn’t milky white, that I knew I had to figure out what this book was about and give it a shot. I’m glad I did because this story was absolutely fantastic. Not only did it include bits reminding that Ada, one of the main characters, is a person of color and show more therefore treated differently, it also featured a great plot that surprised even me at the end!

The start, I must say, was a bit confusing simply because I didn’t know what a hemopath was. I had forgotten the description of it from the synopsis and was just like okay something with the blood, but what? It did get explained, but not until a bit later on. I mean, in one sense, it did keep the story flowing realistically since the characters would all obviously know what a hemopath was and therefore didn’t need to explain it, but on the other, I was lost for a bit wondering what their magical powers were.

The characters are fun. Ada especially, I loved. She tries to move around this world as though she doesn’t have multiple strikes against her (I mean, this is prohibition era). And yet, she perseveres and tries to remain true to herself. Her romance with Charlie, I died. It was so great and natural and I just loved that pairing. I worried that perhaps opening with them together would mean Soria would do something to tear them apart later on, but, well, you’ll see. Corinne is interesting in that she is white and privileged and yet, because of her “affliction,” she has to slum it, ending up becoming friends with Ada. Best friends, actually. What I loved about Corinne, apart from her unending loyalty, is how she deals with Gabriel. Most YA heroines would just swoon, but she remained firm at the end and I thought yes, I need more characters like this in other YA books!

When it comes to the plot, however, Iron Cast truly excels. It held so many different layers that the ending came as such a surprise for me. Soria really, truly did her research in that time period and used all of it to layer a plot and story that felt credible. The pacing was a steady crescendo towards the climax and the resolution was a bit heartbreaking. I wonder if there might be a part two so we can follow what becomes of all the outcasts.

Iron Cast by Destiny Soria is perfect for readers that are interested in reading more historical novels, but with a slight paranormal twist. The author does a fantastic job weaving together all of the political and societal undertones happening during the time period into a plot that takes twists and turns.

// I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. // show less

I loved this book so much. It had a strong female friendship, diverse characters, a twisty as hell plot, an interesting magic system, and it all takes place in an alternate history jazz age!

Cons: There's no sequel? Also, Corinne and Ada were woefully naive at times though thankfully they seemed to be so separately and thus could keep each other in check.

But overall, a fantastic book. I would have read this in one sitting if life had allowed. I fell in world with this world Soria created, show more taking the bones of pre-Prohibition U.S. and adding in the idea that there are people who can do magic, but that magic is outlawed. Instead of speakeasies, there are underground clubs where regs come to be enspelled by hemopaths - who can create illusions, invoke emotions, and do even more using the power of their voice, music, or artistic skills.

The plot was so twisty and interesting! Hemopaths, if found using their powers, get carted off to a "safe house" that is one of those "you check in but don't check out" sort of places. There's bootlegging, and cons, and political corruption, and family dynamics. And woven throughout are strong friendships based on trust and respect. Corinne and Ada are wonderful, and I loved them both.

And that ending! That glorious twist of an ending! I swoon. show less

"A turn in the tale is not the end." - Chapter Nineteen

Iron Cast made my heart ache for the potent brew of true friendship. It filled me up, patted me down for spare emotions, and set me down gently. I have a feeling Ada and Corinne will be with me for a while.

Living in Boston myself, I enjoyed being able to picture the landmarks of 1919 Boston, smoke unfurling from parted lips and sidewalk gratings as my daring new friends Ada and Corinne led me through their colorful, dangerous show more adventures.

This book is for the outcasts. Welcome to the Cast Iron. show less

I loved this book a lot more than I ever could have predicted. If you have any interest at all in a YA historical fantasy with a focus on female friendship, you should read this book.

Ada Navarra and Corinne Wells are best of friends who preform together at the Cast Iron nightclub in Boston, the year of 1919. But their performance is no usual routine, for Ada and Corinne are hemopaths – people who’s afflicted blood gives them magical abilities based on the arts. Ada can affect people’s show more emotions with her music and Corinne can use her poetry recital to craft illusions. But it’s not easy to be a hemopath in Boston of 1919. Performances have been outlawed and while the club still performs illegally, Ada and Corinne have been running cons to make ends meet. At the beginning of Iron Cast, Ada has been captured and imprisoned in one of the institutions designed to be the “humane” solution for the hemopath “problem.” But that’s only the start of the pair’s trouble.

Destiny Soria brilliantly creates her vision of a magical, 1919 Boston. I felt utterly transported into her setting, and while I’m not an expert on the time period, her version rang true to me. Iron Cast takes you from shadowy clubs to splendid ballrooms, and every moment was wonderful. I also really loved the magical system of the book. I’ve seen various other versions of “art as magic” stories, but Iron Cast is undoubtedly my favorite. Soria’s writing really conveys the beauty and emotion of her protagonist’s artwork.

Speaking of emotion, Iron Cast got me so emotional! I don’t think I’m normally this caught up in a story. When things looked bad for our protagonists, I felt panicky and on the edge of my seat. I had to know what happened next! The beginning may have been a bit slow, but by the second half I was practically glued to the pages.

However, the main highlight of Iron Cast was the relationship between Ada and Corinne. It’s unusual to see friendship treated as this important and powerful, especially between female characters. I adored it. I love how much these two girls love each each other and support each other. Together, they are an unstoppable force, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Not only were Ada and Corinne well developed, but the supporting cast was strong as well. I’m writing this review two weeks after reading the book and I can still remember the names of the supporting characters. This is huge for me. I’m also happy with how diverse the cast was in terms of race, gender, and sexual orientation. Ada’s mixed race, and the difficulties of being black and female in 1919 aren’t glossed over. Oh, and doesn’t she look so beautiful on the cover? Honestly, cover love is what drew me to this book in the first place.

Iron Cast isn’t exactly a heist book per se, but it had enough of those elements to keep me happy. While the story stands alone, I hope that Soria decides to write a sequel because I’d love to return to this world and these characters. This is one of those books where I’ll be enthusiastically pushing my copy onto my friends, begging them to read it. I can’t recommend it enough, and I am excited to read whatever Soria writes next!

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page. show less