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Iron Heart of Terlian
Earth is decaying. They call it Ragnarök. Soon, there'll be nothing green left.
Violet's father believed Earth could heal. But he also believed in forgotten legends, magic, and other worlds, so she never put any stock in his impractical theories—until she accidentally stumbles into one such other world and realizes Earth isn't the only realm desperate for hope.
An exiled royal family. A disillusioned prince. A fathomless hatred of Earth. Magic thieves and lawless thief-hunters. None of it is what Violet bargained for. She just wants to find Earth's cure, not get embroiled in the political tensions of another planet.
But Earth's fate is tied to a thousand-year-old prophecy, one that a desperate vigilante is trying to exploit. When he attacks her new companions, they're forced to race him to the cure. If they don't find it first, their world will fall—and Earth is as good as dead.
Iron Heart of Terlian is Book 1 of a YA portal fantasy duology for fans of layered world-building and themes of friendship, hope, and healing.
Violet's father believed Earth could heal. But he also believed in forgotten legends, magic, and other worlds, so she never put any stock in his impractical theories—until she accidentally stumbles into one such other world and realizes Earth isn't the only realm desperate for hope.
An exiled royal family. A disillusioned prince. A fathomless hatred of Earth. Magic thieves and lawless thief-hunters. None of it is what Violet bargained for. She just wants to find Earth's cure, not get embroiled in the political tensions of another planet.
But Earth's fate is tied to a thousand-year-old prophecy, one that a desperate vigilante is trying to exploit. When he attacks her new companions, they're forced to race him to the cure. If they don't find it first, their world will fall—and Earth is as good as dead.
Iron Heart of Terlian is Book 1 of a YA portal fantasy duology for fans of layered world-building and themes of friendship, hope, and healing.
- GenresFantasy
Unknown Binding
First published November 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Adelaide Thorne
5 books68 followersAs a child, Adelaide Thorne was so picky that her family would sing songs to encourage her to eat. It didn't work. All she ever wanted to eat was pickles and canned Chicken & Stars soup. Then she grew up and became a food journalist and restaurant reviewer for the local newspaper. So, you just never know how people are going to turn out.
She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.
Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne
She once dragged her friends all the way to Iceland for book research. She never did find a portal to another world, but at least she got to climb an inactive volcano. Currently she lives with her family in the muggy wetlands of Florida, where she is known to be allergic to palmetto bugs, humidity, and flip-flops. Soup is still her favorite food.
Find her online at AdelaideThorne.com
instagram.com/adelaidethorne
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 13, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I’d been debating about whether to read this book but I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading, the book was slow to start as the author is world building but once the action starts it was non stop. Due something that happened about 1000 years ago the earth is slowing being covered by wastelands and everything is looking pretty dire. When the story starts Violet and her siblings are heading to ground zero to bury their Dad, I really felt for Violet as the siblings were really fragmented. Their Dad has been filling Violet’s head with tales of magic and other worlds but Violet didn’t believe him, I really felt for her Dad as he didn’t have the easiest life. This is where it starts to get really interesting as Violet accidentally stumbles into another world and realises hers is not the only world in danger, together with the ragtag group she meets they set out to find the cure. But they aren’t the only people looking for it.
I really enjoyed this book, I’m a massive fantasy fan so this was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the world building and all the characters were really well fleshed out with back stories and the plot was pretty easy to follow. There wasn’t one point where I had no idea what was going on, I loved Violet and out of all the other characters Aliskar was my favourite, even though I didn’t initially warm to him and I liked his brother Kelispar too. I didn’t work the out the twist at the end, as the red herrings threw me off. I loved the friendship between Violet and Aliskar, even though it was a bit rocky at one point and I’m really hoping they get together in the next book. If you like fantasy then I think you will enjoy this book, it was really well written and I enjoyed it. This book has a lot going for it, worlds in peril, a royal family in exile, magic, action, portals to other worlds and following your own destiny. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
I’d been debating about whether to read this book but I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading, the book was slow to start as the author is world building but once the action starts it was non stop. Due something that happened about 1000 years ago the earth is slowing being covered by wastelands and everything is looking pretty dire. When the story starts Violet and her siblings are heading to ground zero to bury their Dad, I really felt for Violet as the siblings were really fragmented. Their Dad has been filling Violet’s head with tales of magic and other worlds but Violet didn’t believe him, I really felt for her Dad as he didn’t have the easiest life. This is where it starts to get really interesting as Violet accidentally stumbles into another world and realises hers is not the only world in danger, together with the ragtag group she meets they set out to find the cure. But they aren’t the only people looking for it.
I really enjoyed this book, I’m a massive fantasy fan so this was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the world building and all the characters were really well fleshed out with back stories and the plot was pretty easy to follow. There wasn’t one point where I had no idea what was going on, I loved Violet and out of all the other characters Aliskar was my favourite, even though I didn’t initially warm to him and I liked his brother Kelispar too. I didn’t work the out the twist at the end, as the red herrings threw me off. I loved the friendship between Violet and Aliskar, even though it was a bit rocky at one point and I’m really hoping they get together in the next book. If you like fantasy then I think you will enjoy this book, it was really well written and I enjoyed it. This book has a lot going for it, worlds in peril, a royal family in exile, magic, action, portals to other worlds and following your own destiny. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
October 11, 2025
When I ordered this ARC, the first thing that caught my eye was the cover. But since the cover isn't everything, let's talk about what matters... The content... The book has a promising premise. The story of young Violet jumping between worlds to save the Earth from an apocalypse sounded exciting, but the plot quickly becomes confusing and predictable. Like all books, it has moments of action and slower ones. The twists and turns are somewhat predictable.
The characters are poorly developed and lack the depth necessary to care about their fate. Instead of feeling transported to a new and fascinating world, we're stuck on the journey. It's not a bad read... Overall, I had a good time reading the book. However, after reading hundreds of books, this isn't one of those I consider 5 stars.
The characters are poorly developed and lack the depth necessary to care about their fate. Instead of feeling transported to a new and fascinating world, we're stuck on the journey. It's not a bad read... Overall, I had a good time reading the book. However, after reading hundreds of books, this isn't one of those I consider 5 stars.
January 10, 2026
Oh. My. Goodness. 🤯🤯🤯this book is insane. As I was reading it ever second I had to put it down and go about my day I was thinking about it. Two weeks later it is still living in my brain rent free. This story is so lush, and deep, and unique nothing I've tried to read since can live up to it.
Only three authors have ever given me a book hang over in my life. Sarah K L Wilson, Suzanne Collins, and Brandon Sanderson. And now I can add Adelaide Thorne (an indie author!) To that list of incredible, next level authors. I saw a post this morning about how indie books are more unique, intriguing, and doing things that are completely new and inspired that traditionally published books never do. Yeah, Iron Heart of Terlian is a perfect example of that.
So, let me tell you what I love about this story so much.
Firstly, the setting. We start off in our normal, modern, every day world. Boring right? Except, it's an alternate history! Aaa, which are stories that I always find intriguing, but they tend to be written by men who throw a ton of convoluted history facts at you and bog down the story. Not this one, Adelaide masterfully takes story lore that could be complex to understand and simplifies it to enhance the plot, not take away from it.
In this world Ragnarok happened. Yeah, the Norse belief of how the world would end. So it's a bit of an apocalyptic setting as the dying planet problem slowly spreads across the globe. But it's not a scientific plague, it's magical. Which is so freaking cool!!! Earth has been dying for hundreds of years and it is nearing the end of days. Clear blue skies? Never heard of them.
The origin of this plague? Greenland. Iceland? I think it was Greenland. And that, is precisely where violet has to go. Yup. We start off the story with eighteen year old Violet going to the origin point of ragnarok with her two dysfunctional siblings in continuing her late father's work.
He believed that archeology, not modern science was the key to saving the world. And Violet intends to finish his work. The complicated emotional dynamics in this family is written incredibly realistically. I really enjoyed Violet as a main character. Her inner thoughts are written very differently from other ya protagonists, but I found it intriguing and relatable at times. She's not over expressive, or emotional, or outgoing. She just is. Which I think everyone has shut down at some point like that, seeing her deal with it throughout the story was a really great subplot. And it added depth to her character and story arc.
What happens in the rest of the story? Well, portal fantasy. 🥳🥳🥳 LET'S GO. I adore portal fantasies, but trad pubs seem to have completely abandoned them. I love that indies haven't though. It really taps into that childhood dream we all had.
Worlds with complex politics where violent rebels are the bad guys. Which is opposite of most fantasies I've read. Usually rebels are the good guys. So it was nice to see people in power actually be good guys for once.
We have found family, quests, and fascinating magic. Every character in this story is distinct and full of life. I couldn't help living so many of them.
💕A sub, sub, slowest of burns romance that's barely there. But also, so surprising. Again, in a typical ya or na it would have been written completely different, and possibly a completely different male love interest. But I really liked this, and the cliffhanger involving the romance has me DYING FOR BOOK TWO
But my favorite part of this story is the lore, the historical inspiration. There are many cultures Adelaide pulls inspo from for different races. But the main one particular to our story is Norse. There is so much norse, viking imagery and language and culture it has me salivating. Oh my gosh it's incredible! And the way she weaves it into the story *chefs kisses* 😍👌🤯😍😍😮💕😍😱😱😍 it's out of this world INCREDIBLE.
I have dnfed a many viking inspired stories due to the toxic nature of them. But this one? Filled with honor, and courage, and the will to do right by your people. The positives about the culture that is often overlooked. Plus, the clothing, swords, and epic braided hair and beards is always such a hoot. Ugh, I adore it.
Language is a big part of this story. Which is so fascinating to read. It's woven into the plot in a way that's reminiscent of Tolkein's work. Violent lives languages, is almost fluent is multiple at the beginning of her journey. So her geeking out over getting to speak old Norse with native speakers was pretty whimsical. I love watching her learn more. Be excited to learn. Also, the way languages are essential to the plot was really special. And logically, something that more fantasies should have. All worlds should have multiples languages, and the struggle to translate when traveling.
Have I convinced you to read this yet? I hope so. It's one of my to books I've read in years. And I'm anxiously awaiting book 2's release. Don't let this book go under appreciated, it deserves so much hype.
Romance and language: Pristine
Violence: killing does happen, off page. Brief torture on page (pg13) Grief, lots of grief
Only three authors have ever given me a book hang over in my life. Sarah K L Wilson, Suzanne Collins, and Brandon Sanderson. And now I can add Adelaide Thorne (an indie author!) To that list of incredible, next level authors. I saw a post this morning about how indie books are more unique, intriguing, and doing things that are completely new and inspired that traditionally published books never do. Yeah, Iron Heart of Terlian is a perfect example of that.
So, let me tell you what I love about this story so much.
Firstly, the setting. We start off in our normal, modern, every day world. Boring right? Except, it's an alternate history! Aaa, which are stories that I always find intriguing, but they tend to be written by men who throw a ton of convoluted history facts at you and bog down the story. Not this one, Adelaide masterfully takes story lore that could be complex to understand and simplifies it to enhance the plot, not take away from it.
In this world Ragnarok happened. Yeah, the Norse belief of how the world would end. So it's a bit of an apocalyptic setting as the dying planet problem slowly spreads across the globe. But it's not a scientific plague, it's magical. Which is so freaking cool!!! Earth has been dying for hundreds of years and it is nearing the end of days. Clear blue skies? Never heard of them.
The origin of this plague? Greenland. Iceland? I think it was Greenland. And that, is precisely where violet has to go. Yup. We start off the story with eighteen year old Violet going to the origin point of ragnarok with her two dysfunctional siblings in continuing her late father's work.
He believed that archeology, not modern science was the key to saving the world. And Violet intends to finish his work. The complicated emotional dynamics in this family is written incredibly realistically. I really enjoyed Violet as a main character. Her inner thoughts are written very differently from other ya protagonists, but I found it intriguing and relatable at times. She's not over expressive, or emotional, or outgoing. She just is. Which I think everyone has shut down at some point like that, seeing her deal with it throughout the story was a really great subplot. And it added depth to her character and story arc.
What happens in the rest of the story? Well, portal fantasy. 🥳🥳🥳 LET'S GO. I adore portal fantasies, but trad pubs seem to have completely abandoned them. I love that indies haven't though. It really taps into that childhood dream we all had.
Worlds with complex politics where violent rebels are the bad guys. Which is opposite of most fantasies I've read. Usually rebels are the good guys. So it was nice to see people in power actually be good guys for once.
We have found family, quests, and fascinating magic. Every character in this story is distinct and full of life. I couldn't help living so many of them.
💕A sub, sub, slowest of burns romance that's barely there. But also, so surprising. Again, in a typical ya or na it would have been written completely different, and possibly a completely different male love interest. But I really liked this, and the cliffhanger involving the romance has me DYING FOR BOOK TWO
But my favorite part of this story is the lore, the historical inspiration. There are many cultures Adelaide pulls inspo from for different races. But the main one particular to our story is Norse. There is so much norse, viking imagery and language and culture it has me salivating. Oh my gosh it's incredible! And the way she weaves it into the story *chefs kisses* 😍👌🤯😍😍😮💕😍😱😱😍 it's out of this world INCREDIBLE.
I have dnfed a many viking inspired stories due to the toxic nature of them. But this one? Filled with honor, and courage, and the will to do right by your people. The positives about the culture that is often overlooked. Plus, the clothing, swords, and epic braided hair and beards is always such a hoot. Ugh, I adore it.
Language is a big part of this story. Which is so fascinating to read. It's woven into the plot in a way that's reminiscent of Tolkein's work. Violent lives languages, is almost fluent is multiple at the beginning of her journey. So her geeking out over getting to speak old Norse with native speakers was pretty whimsical. I love watching her learn more. Be excited to learn. Also, the way languages are essential to the plot was really special. And logically, something that more fantasies should have. All worlds should have multiples languages, and the struggle to translate when traveling.
Have I convinced you to read this yet? I hope so. It's one of my to books I've read in years. And I'm anxiously awaiting book 2's release. Don't let this book go under appreciated, it deserves so much hype.
Romance and language: Pristine
Violence: killing does happen, off page. Brief torture on page (pg13) Grief, lots of grief
November 17, 2025
Iron Heart of Terilian is a strong and fun opening to Adelaide Thorne’s new portal fantasy duology. With immersive worldbuilding, emotional depth, relatable characters,
a hefty dose of political intrigue, and well-placed moments of humor… all while in a race to save a dying Earth, I was hooked!
Violet begins the story uncertain and confused, but through some significant "ah-hah moments," she gradually develops into someone confident and steady in her purpose, which I found both believable and endearing. The touches of wit and sarcasm throughout the story add charm without taking away from the more serious moments, and the world-building (of 2 worlds!) was a notable strength!
The pacing slows somewhat in the middle, but I appreciate a thoughtful slow buildup when it maintains momentum, and this one does. Bring on my mug of tea and cozy blanket! My only point of occasional confusion came from the use of the word crown to describe magical suffering, simply because the story contains so many royals.
The final chapters are gripping and emotionally powerful—I found this part hard to put down. It was both satisfying and heartrending, leaving me very vested in Violet and her companions. Without giving away spoilers, I was left wondering if a love triangle is brewing.
Overall, Iron Heart of Terilian is an impressive beginning to the duology. I am fully invested in Violet, her friends, and her siblings, and I look forward to seeing how they unravel the mysteries that remain in book two! I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy YA fantasy with strong character development and rich worldbuilding.
a hefty dose of political intrigue, and well-placed moments of humor… all while in a race to save a dying Earth, I was hooked!
Violet begins the story uncertain and confused, but through some significant "ah-hah moments," she gradually develops into someone confident and steady in her purpose, which I found both believable and endearing. The touches of wit and sarcasm throughout the story add charm without taking away from the more serious moments, and the world-building (of 2 worlds!) was a notable strength!
The pacing slows somewhat in the middle, but I appreciate a thoughtful slow buildup when it maintains momentum, and this one does. Bring on my mug of tea and cozy blanket! My only point of occasional confusion came from the use of the word crown to describe magical suffering, simply because the story contains so many royals.
The final chapters are gripping and emotionally powerful—I found this part hard to put down. It was both satisfying and heartrending, leaving me very vested in Violet and her companions. Without giving away spoilers, I was left wondering if a love triangle is brewing.
Overall, Iron Heart of Terilian is an impressive beginning to the duology. I am fully invested in Violet, her friends, and her siblings, and I look forward to seeing how they unravel the mysteries that remain in book two! I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy YA fantasy with strong character development and rich worldbuilding.
November 14, 2025
This was such a fun book to read! You are pulled in right away feeling the slow destruction of Earth and wanting to know... what the heck? Why is this happening? How will Violet fix this? I will say that Violet's character flaw was extremely annoying at times and I just wanted her to get over it. BUT when she finally does (I mean.. you knew she would eventually) it's just so great! You want to go high-five someone.
The variety of the characters in the story was wonderful and their dynamics together made you want to jump in and make friends with these people (especially Alikar). The world building of the book was also spot on. I'm a big fan of short, but vivid descriptions and Thorne does just that (sorry Tolkien... I love you, but your descriptions of Middle Earth are just too much!). There is so much information to take in once Violet gets onto the other planet, be prepared to slow down your read from skim to possible "I need to re-read that paragraph". I had to do that a few times because I wanted to make sure I understood what was going on. The good thing is that even if you don't fully understand initially, it becomes clearer as the story goes on. You are learning along with Violet all the different nuances of the culture, politics, and powers that she is now thrown into.
All-in-all it's a great read! I can't wait for book number 2 and I was super bummed when this one ended.
The variety of the characters in the story was wonderful and their dynamics together made you want to jump in and make friends with these people (especially Alikar). The world building of the book was also spot on. I'm a big fan of short, but vivid descriptions and Thorne does just that (sorry Tolkien... I love you, but your descriptions of Middle Earth are just too much!). There is so much information to take in once Violet gets onto the other planet, be prepared to slow down your read from skim to possible "I need to re-read that paragraph". I had to do that a few times because I wanted to make sure I understood what was going on. The good thing is that even if you don't fully understand initially, it becomes clearer as the story goes on. You are learning along with Violet all the different nuances of the culture, politics, and powers that she is now thrown into.
All-in-all it's a great read! I can't wait for book number 2 and I was super bummed when this one ended.
January 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a free copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.
Realistically, I'd rate this about 3.5 stars, maybe 4 if I'm generous. Here's the thing: I think there was a lot of potential with this book. The characters were unique, but they were also overcomplicated. The plot was unique, but it also had too many side-arcs that lowered the overall quality of the book. The blend of cultures and languages was something I found really cool, and I think that was part of what called me to this story. The original blurb that talked about how Earth was dying was something I found really interesting; it kinda pulled sci-fi ideas into the story, which I liked. However, the story's pacing was really slow. I like when a book has all the sufficient information to be a well-written novel, without it feeling like I'm reading a college textbook. Usually, I can read a book like this in a few hours, at max a few days. This book, however, took me a hot minute to finish, and I pretty much forced my way through it. I think the very beginning and end were good, but the middle of the story felt like filler chapters; the whole book felt like a book of filler chapters. But I did like the plot (though hard to follow) due to its unique nature and mix of different cultures, languages, and customs. A good book for enjoyers of language and fantasy + sci-fi, maybe less for the primary fantasy readers.
Realistically, I'd rate this about 3.5 stars, maybe 4 if I'm generous. Here's the thing: I think there was a lot of potential with this book. The characters were unique, but they were also overcomplicated. The plot was unique, but it also had too many side-arcs that lowered the overall quality of the book. The blend of cultures and languages was something I found really cool, and I think that was part of what called me to this story. The original blurb that talked about how Earth was dying was something I found really interesting; it kinda pulled sci-fi ideas into the story, which I liked. However, the story's pacing was really slow. I like when a book has all the sufficient information to be a well-written novel, without it feeling like I'm reading a college textbook. Usually, I can read a book like this in a few hours, at max a few days. This book, however, took me a hot minute to finish, and I pretty much forced my way through it. I think the very beginning and end were good, but the middle of the story felt like filler chapters; the whole book felt like a book of filler chapters. But I did like the plot (though hard to follow) due to its unique nature and mix of different cultures, languages, and customs. A good book for enjoyers of language and fantasy + sci-fi, maybe less for the primary fantasy readers.
February 4, 2026
This was a random book I picked from Netgalleys' Read Now section. Honestly, I judged a book by its' cover and I'm glad I did because this was an excellent read ! It was so intriguing and fast-paced that I've finished it in a couple of sittings.
Iron Heart of Terlian is a fantasy story that begins on a dying Earth...until a girl accidentally enters another realm her father spent his life trying to convince everyone it exists. There, she meets a royal family (I am not sure I figured out who's who but nevermind 😅) that she shares a common goal with.. and others that don't quite share the same goal.
The book felt dark and heavy in a good way. It explores topics of duty to your family, and what it takes to survive. I found it at times intense and bleak, very focused on how people are shaped by their families, tradition, prophecies and political power play. But it also had great lighter elements - I loved the interactions between the siblings and how we got to know each character's personality. I also have a very soft spot for any nordic-inspired literature, and I'm surprised this book is not discussed a lot more by fans of this theme
As a first part of a planned duology, I'm definitely keeping an eye out for the continuation of the story!
Iron Heart of Terlian is a fantasy story that begins on a dying Earth...until a girl accidentally enters another realm her father spent his life trying to convince everyone it exists. There, she meets a royal family (I am not sure I figured out who's who but nevermind 😅) that she shares a common goal with.. and others that don't quite share the same goal.
The book felt dark and heavy in a good way. It explores topics of duty to your family, and what it takes to survive. I found it at times intense and bleak, very focused on how people are shaped by their families, tradition, prophecies and political power play. But it also had great lighter elements - I loved the interactions between the siblings and how we got to know each character's personality. I also have a very soft spot for any nordic-inspired literature, and I'm surprised this book is not discussed a lot more by fans of this theme
As a first part of a planned duology, I'm definitely keeping an eye out for the continuation of the story!
November 2, 2025
I've read all of Thorne's books (her Whitewash trilogy) and Iron Heart is my favorite! I've read it more than once. I didn't want it to end. It's the characters that made me want to stay in the world forever. I love them all but Eliathor is my favorite. I love Alikar too, the references to his Persian culture. And Nikos is so suave and charming, I love him, even if he's ridiculous. I love everyone but Jarek... he's complicated! At least he has his moment in the end. And honestly I don't relate that much to Violet but she's just introverted and awkward and she grows a lot in this book! There's readers out there who will love her. This book needs to be read by anyone looking for a YA book that has characters and values that feel timeless and not modern. Even though it's Young Adult the writing is more sophisticaed and the characters are more mature so it doesn't feel like your average angsty teen book. With dramatic reactions and emotions. The characters feel more grounded, like more old fashioned classic fantasy characters. Anyway I love this book and can't wait for the sequel! Now I'm going to go read it again...
October 15, 2025
This book is such a masterfully crafted and entertaining story that I didn’t want to put it down!
First of all, the unbelievable attention to detail in the world-building blew my mind. New languages, whole histories of other realms, a sort of magic ruled by very specific codes and rituals, and crazy inventions just to name a few. How the author wove so many different real languages with her own creations is beyond me.
But mostly I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t want to leave them when it was over! Violet, the girl who can’t cry, is so wonderfully flawed and all too relatable.
Besides the fate of the dying Earth hanging in the balance, it gets very personal with a villain you want to rip apart limb by limb yourself because he’s so horrible. You get invested in Violet’s success instantly.
The author does a nice job of ripping your heart out but graciously heals it eventually.
Portal fantasy isn’t a genre I normally gravitate towards but, man, I was sucked in by this one!
First of all, the unbelievable attention to detail in the world-building blew my mind. New languages, whole histories of other realms, a sort of magic ruled by very specific codes and rituals, and crazy inventions just to name a few. How the author wove so many different real languages with her own creations is beyond me.
But mostly I was so invested in the characters that I didn’t want to leave them when it was over! Violet, the girl who can’t cry, is so wonderfully flawed and all too relatable.
Besides the fate of the dying Earth hanging in the balance, it gets very personal with a villain you want to rip apart limb by limb yourself because he’s so horrible. You get invested in Violet’s success instantly.
The author does a nice job of ripping your heart out but graciously heals it eventually.
Portal fantasy isn’t a genre I normally gravitate towards but, man, I was sucked in by this one!
November 18, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
A flawed yet totally human main character, a dangerous prophecy (or several versions of one) and hidden magic — I LOVED it.
Our MC, Violet falls (literally) into completely different realm from earth and finds herself right in the middle of danger, magic, and rebellion.
The plot is a really fun mix of fantasy, politics, and corruption. When i first picked this book, i was not expecting it to be this good. Like what??? There was a little spot in the middle where it slowed down and I found myself drifting a bit, but once things picked up again I was fully hooked. Also, all the other side characters were amazing and felt alive, like they had their own stories happening off-page.
✨ Overall vibe
This book has:
a setting I actually wanted to explore
political fantasy
a plot that's actually engaging
teensy weensy bit of romantic tension (so excited to see where this goes)
emotional moments
I closed the book thinking, “Yep. I need book two immediately.”
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A flawed yet totally human main character, a dangerous prophecy (or several versions of one) and hidden magic — I LOVED it.
Our MC, Violet falls (literally) into completely different realm from earth and finds herself right in the middle of danger, magic, and rebellion.
The plot is a really fun mix of fantasy, politics, and corruption. When i first picked this book, i was not expecting it to be this good. Like what??? There was a little spot in the middle where it slowed down and I found myself drifting a bit, but once things picked up again I was fully hooked. Also, all the other side characters were amazing and felt alive, like they had their own stories happening off-page.
✨ Overall vibe
This book has:
a setting I actually wanted to explore
political fantasy
a plot that's actually engaging
teensy weensy bit of romantic tension (so excited to see where this goes)
emotional moments
I closed the book thinking, “Yep. I need book two immediately.”
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 9, 2026
Iron Heart of Terlian by Adelaide Thorne is a captivating YA portal fantasy that blends environmental stakes, magic, and political intrigue into a layered and immersive narrative. Violet’s journey from skepticism to discovery is compelling, and her encounters with exiled royals, disillusioned princes, and lawless thief-hunters keep the stakes high while giving readers a strong emotional anchor. Thorne’s world-building is rich and imaginative, seamlessly connecting Earth’s ecological struggles with fantastical realms, making both feel urgent and alive.
The novel expertly balances action, suspense, and hope, while exploring themes of friendship, resilience, and healing. With a prophecy that binds multiple worlds and a vigilante antagonist who raises the tension, Iron Heart of Terlian delivers a story that is both epic and intimate. Fans of layered YA fantasy such as The Bone Season or A Court of Thorns and Roses will find themselves drawn into Thorne’s inventive world and eagerly anticipating the continuation of the duology.
The novel expertly balances action, suspense, and hope, while exploring themes of friendship, resilience, and healing. With a prophecy that binds multiple worlds and a vigilante antagonist who raises the tension, Iron Heart of Terlian delivers a story that is both epic and intimate. Fans of layered YA fantasy such as The Bone Season or A Court of Thorns and Roses will find themselves drawn into Thorne’s inventive world and eagerly anticipating the continuation of the duology.
November 18, 2025
Iron Heart of Terlian is AMAZING. It is one of my favorite books. I'm not going to lie, I am usually not a huge fan of YA books, I'm personally trying to get through the classics, but Adelaide Thorne is a master YA novelist. Her characters are interesting and complex, show growth, and she always manages to appease her readers with the best slow burner romances! But be prepared for your heart to be ripped out with this one 😭 All the characters are extremely likable, it's hard for me to pick a favorite, but I'm keen on Eliathor. Read for yourself, and I promise you'll be dying to read the sequel. So if you like YA, teen-like (or any age really!) special abilities, fantasy portal, romance, multi world building kind of book, written well, but is still EXTREMELY accessible then this is the book for you. I think it's the book for everyone!
February 25, 2026
Iron Heart of Terlian, a YA portal fantasy featuring loose Norse Mythology and an exiled prince.
On paper this description is perfect for me, and I wish more than anything it had come out when I was twenty years younger.
This book is absolutely perfect for young readers discovering their love of fantasy. It has engaging characters and a plot just complicated enough to keep you turning the page to see what happens next.
Where it fails for me as an adult is the bulk of the plot is told through dialogue rather than narrative which can come off as jarring when one is used to more complicated prose. This complaint is exactly what does work for young readers unused to the more complicated narrative of traditionally adult books.
I would absolutely recommend this book to teenagers or anyone who does prefer a more dialogue heavy fantasy story!
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ARC.
On paper this description is perfect for me, and I wish more than anything it had come out when I was twenty years younger.
This book is absolutely perfect for young readers discovering their love of fantasy. It has engaging characters and a plot just complicated enough to keep you turning the page to see what happens next.
Where it fails for me as an adult is the bulk of the plot is told through dialogue rather than narrative which can come off as jarring when one is used to more complicated prose. This complaint is exactly what does work for young readers unused to the more complicated narrative of traditionally adult books.
I would absolutely recommend this book to teenagers or anyone who does prefer a more dialogue heavy fantasy story!
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ARC.
October 20, 2025
What a cool, unique, and intriguing story!! 😍 Iron Heart of Terlian transports you to Iceland in a dying Earth, a girl who’s emotionally closed off, and a portal that takes her on a wild adventure through a whole other magical realm that’s just a little more connected to Earth than you might think. There were many twists I didn’t see coming, which kept me reading to figure it out with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the cast of characters, and the plot! My romantic heart wished there was a little more to the romance, but you get cute, light hints to something more in their relationship, which I’m assuming will develop more in the sequel. You can tell the author has done her research on Scandinavia and all of the languages, which makes the story that much more immersive! 😆
November 13, 2025
Earth is dying, stripped of its greenery in a catastrophe called Ragnarök. Violet, desperate to save her world, stumbles into Terlian—a realm of exiled royals, a disillusioned prince, and dangerous magic thieves. She discovers that Earth’s fate is bound to a thousand‑year‑old prophecy, and a vigilante threatens to twist it for destruction. Though Violet only wants to heal Earth, she’s pulled into a struggle that spans two worlds, where survival and salvation collide.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
Simply put, this book is brilliant. Complex, dynamic characters, intricate worldbuilding, and a plot filled with twists and turns that will keep guessing. Thorne did a masterful job of incorporating different languages into this story, particularly her inclusion of Old Norse. Iron Heart of Terlian is easily one of my favorite books of the year, and I cannot wait for book two!
November 14, 2025
Iron Heart of Terlian was such a fun surprise. The world is vivid, the characters feel real, and the emotional moments hit hard in the best way. It’s the kind of fantasy that’s super easy to fall into and suddenly you’re 10 chapters deep without noticing. Definitely recommend if you love character-driven stories with a bit of romantic tension.
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