Heart of Iron

Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Excellent
Recommended: Recommended
Level: High School

Oh what a surprise, I requested another space opera for review. What is not a surprise is that it’s my favorite of the three I’ve read so far this year.

I love love loved Ashley Poston’s Geekerella, so when I found out she was writing an Anastasia retelling set in space I had grabby hands immediately, and I can now say that I love love loved her second novel, Heart of Iron, just as much.

Ana is a girl with no recollection of her past, living day to day on a spaceship with a band of outlaws that have come to be family. When her beloved best friend (maybe more?) D09, a Metal that’s been with her all her life, starts to glitch, Ana risks show more everything to save the android. Along the way she uncovers secrets about her mysterious past that change her future forever.

The characters in this book are plentiful, jumping back and forth between points of view. While in some cases this can be confusing and a turn off, I really loved it. The multiple POVs aided in the fast pacing of the novel, and really allowed Poston to clearly show what was happening in different parts of the universe through the eyes of characters we had come to know. Each of them is so different and fleshed out; it was refreshing to read about so many characters with strong back stories. Of course there is always room for even more development and insight, but that’s what potential sequels are for.

Di was probably my favorite character, but that’s not really surprising to me because I almost always love the droid the most in sci fi works. He was just so personable for a mechanical being and the development he underwent, becoming more human, was not necessarily the most original plot point, but it was heartfelt and enjoyable all the same. I loved his relationship with Ana, and how they would go to ends of the galaxy for each other.

One of the best things about this book is the diversity and representation for people of color and the LGBTQ community. Couple the positive representation with humor, romance, action, adventure, backstabbing, and betrayal, then set it in SPACE, and you’ve got in my opinion, the perfect read.

I loved Heart of Iron, and I cannot wait to see what’s next for this crew! show less

This novel really hit the spot for me. Set in space, Ana is a teenager with no memory of her childhood, just D09, the android she was discovered in an escape pod alongside, and the crew of the Dossier who have adopted her as family. But D09 is experiencing glitches and Ana is desperate to help him - enough to steal the coordinates to missing spaceship and upset some of the most powerful people in the Iron Kingdom. While this book wasn't perfect (for example, why does the Iron Kingdom have an emperor/empress and not a king?), I enjoy the character interactions and I appreciate the fast pace that delivered plenty of twists and new revelations.

I have really mixed feelings about Heart of Iron. As an Anastasia retelling, I thought it did an excellent job, but it comes back again to romantic relationships muddling up the plot. This is a huge pet peeve of mine and while it's more common in YA, it happens in adult novels as well. In the case of Heart of Iron, the twist at the end relied on a romantic relationship that had a good foundation, but developed in such a clunky way that I wasn't feeling it at all. Because the story relied so much on this relationship, I found my interest waning from time to time.

On the other hand, behind one odd relationship and another instalove one, there was a really interesting story here, and it kept me reading. The world building is really great show more and left me wanting more. We see bits and pieces of a space pirate's life, and a smattering of life in the Royal Palace, but not nearly enough to satiate. It's possible these settings and the political and cultural backgrounds will be more fleshed out in the second book - or, at least, I hope so, because these were my favorite parts. I feel like the history of this world and what happened during the Plague offers a whole story in itself, and that's what I'd like to see.

I think Heart of Iron will appeal to the general YA audience, complete with its mushy love story, dire betrayal, and swashbuckling infiltrations. I think Ashley Poston has a lot to offer this genre... I just want to see MORE of the things she didn't give us... and maybe fewer feelings? show less

“Far above the crown of stars, there lay a kingdom cast in shadows until a daughter born of light drove the night away. And so the Great Dark waited a thousand turns around the sun and promised on its heart of iron to once again return. —“Origin of the Moon Goddess,” The Cantos of Light”
― Ashley Poston, Heart of Iron

I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler free way. If you feel anything in my review is a spoiler and is not already hidden in spoiler brackets please let me know. Thank you.
Ana and D09 are outlaws, and D09 is glitching, and if he isn't fixed soon, Ana may lose him forever. This is not ok with her as her feeling for D09 run deep. So after an ironblood, Robb, takes of with the cordinates, she show more needs. She follows him back to the palace and steals them back, but he comes with. Now Ana, D09, Robb, and Jax (the best pilot in the universe), as well as the rest of the crew in Ana's family are on a mission to the cordinates to save D09 and for Robb to maybe find his father. But it sets Ana and D09 on a course that reveals so much more about them and their pasts.

Found this lovely picture of our main characters!

Picture source at Book Dragon Lair

Loved it. I'm normal not super big into scifi and I almost didnt read this one, but I'm so glad I did. It had so much going on all the time, but without feeling overwhelmed. The characters were easily lovable and very diverse. At this point, my favorite character is a toss up between Di and Jax. It was easy for me to give it a 5 star. I can't wait till I read the sequel, cause this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm not even bad about it. I haven't look much into this, so I could be completely off, or spot on, but in my opinion, I think the author got a lot of her inspiration for the book from Star Wars. Its what popped into my head a lot while I read it at least. lol. I will be following this author from here on out and will make time to read book 2.
How I choose my rating:
1* Did not finish, or hated it but forced myself to finish.
2** Didn't really like it. Didn't hate it but not sure why I finished it other then for some closure.
3*** I liked it. I had some issues with it, but as a whole it was good. I probably won't reread again ever, but there is a chance I might finish the series. (If part of one) But if not it's not a huge loss.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this again, and I will finish the series. (If part of one) I would recommend to those I know hold interest in this books content.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will definitely be rereading this and probably more than once. I will finish the series and reread it multiple times. (If part of one) I will recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!! show less

“Stalo ban ach van’en. Stars are not afraid.”

I have wanted to read this story since I heard it pitched as “Anastasia in space”, and while I definitely see some Anastasia elements, Heart of Iron truly shines in it’s characters and relationships. We follow Ana, a girl with no memory of her past, as she fights to save her Metal companion, Di from a broken memory core. Along the way, Anna meets new friends and uncovers secrets about her past that leads to revelations she would never have expects.

Things I Liked
I loved Ana and Di’s relationship. I instantly felt their history and connection. They have a fun and vibrant friendship that feels real, but they also had some deeper emotional moments that drew me in as well. You can show more just tell that they really love each other.

I also really liked Jax and Robb. They were beyond ADORABLE together. They have some pretty instantaneous flirty when they meet and banter that was so fantastic to read.

I liked a lot of the worldbuilding elements in the story. I really learning about the Solani people, even if I feel like it took a little long to get the info. I liked learning about the Iron Kingdom and their customs - who rules, how their political system is setup. And I thought the use of Androids , or Metals, was interesting, especially with the looming HIVE threat.

There was a lot of diversity in the story, which is always fantastic. There’s a gay couple( Jax and Robb), a lesbian couple (Captain Seige and her wife), and many people of color.

The chapters were so short and easy to read that I flew through this book!

Things I Didn’t Like
While I really liked the 4 main characters who have POVs in this book - their personalities all felt pretty similar (apart from Di). Ana, Jax, and Robb all have a confidence and sarcasm that, while engaging, felt kinda the same.

Heart of Iron was a super quick, fun SciFi read, and I honestly think I would have liked it even more if it was a standalone. But I thoroughly enjoyed the many different character dynamics we see, and they really drew me in. Heart of Iron is a story of self discovery and fighting to create a better future.

I received a copy of the book from Balzer Bray via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. show less

Honestly thought I would DNF this book in the beginning - but about 1/4-1/2 way through it really picked up the pace - I loved Di and his story, I didn't care for Ana and the story between Jax and Robb was amazing - I think i'd be down for a story of Jax and his life before he got where he was. And I'd really love a story about Di - but I don't think I'll continue the series after this. I really have words for Erik - I had words for some of the others too but he really got in my head. I must have misread some part of the book because I thought something horrible had happened and I wanted to throw the book a little, but alas - I kind of want to know about the end - like, did she really have what she says she does - it doesn't make sense show more to me - hmmmm - questions show less

I don't know why it took me so long to pick up this book but I really flew through it. I loved all these characters so much and was so invested in all the POVS. I really enjoyed the short chapters and also the plot had me super engaged. I really flew through this book. I also love the diversity of this cast but also how Poston turn the lost princess myth on its head! I really enjoyed this book and also am dying for book 2!