A Kingdom of Iron & Wine | Candace Osmond | Book Review

My Review

A Kingdom of Iron & Wine depicts the life of Avery Quinn, who moves from the country home to the city with her closest friend, Julie, to attend her dream college. When her nightmares start to take on the shape of reality, she finds herself surrounded by the creatures of an unknown magical world. The more she knows, the more she discovers that magic resides in her, and beyond her world, someone hires an assassin to hunt her.

My expectations for this book were absurdly high. The cover, blurb, and title all drew me in right away. When I read the prologue, it raised my hopes. However, it does not have the long-lasting effect on me as I had hoped.

The depiction of the universe in this novel is so vibrant and alive that it makes me admire Osmond's writing. The narration is fantastic, the pacing is ideal, and the plot is entertaining, but it had so much more potential. It took me to a few chapters, then I was captivated by this book, and there was no turning back. The mystery, perplexity, and secrets that remained unsolved sparked my curiosity. The characters are admirable, and the plot is well-written. Avery is a diamond, Julie is not far behind, and I quite enjoy their friendship. Lattie will certainly come on my favorite list, and there are plenty of other characters ready to be adored.

There are a few other points I'd like to bring out. This book's synopsis paints a different picture from what I read in the book. The blurb mentions that Cillian is a vampire with a soul, but it is never there in the book. Yes, there are some ambiguous undertones in the storyline. The romance in the first half was slow, containing the emotional turmoil, then rushed in the end. Because of her sudden change of heart about Cillian, I found it very difficult to connect with Avery, and the romance fell flat for me in the last few chapters. And the blurb gives us a love triangle vibe, but that uncertainty vanishes in the end.

Still, I enjoy the plot and devour the fantasy world of many mythical creatures. In this book, the world has the same fae and vampires we know, cherish, and love, but the author works her magic to make it new and unique, piquing our interest in learning about her world's stories. The setting is reminiscent of Holly Black's world and the tension and slow-burn romance evocative of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Sarah J. Maas's work, albeit not as slow as Armentrout's. I can't wait to return to the adventure of Ironworld with Avery.

Recommendation

• Grab this book if you prefer to read fantasy romance books with low expectations.
• Choose this book if you want to read about the variety of mythical creatures in one book.
• This book is perfect for mature readers.
• If you enjoy reading books that give the feel of Holly Black, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sarah J. Maas's works yet include their own work.
• A perfect book for beginners.

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