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Kalima, an Earth-colony world with little iron ore and no fossil fuels, is entrenched in a peaceful feudal society. The Jundom of Mamalakah is ruled by the ambitious Hanna Zah-Hill, wife of the Jun First. Deep in debt, she wants technological progress. But Mistress Li, leader of the Xintou House, prefers to keep the status quo. And has the power to do so.
When Alere Connor – failed xintou-telepath but skilled swordswoman – is sent by Xintou House to act as mistress to Jun First Radan Zah-Hill, she unwittingly triggers a revolution against the House and against the throne. On his deathbed, Radan reveals the existence of a hidden iron deposit. With several factions vying for political domination of the Jundom, control of the iron would tip the balance of power.
Alere is accused of the Jun First's murder and flees for her life. She must reach and warn the Jun Second, Rafi Koh-Lin, on whose lands the iron ore lies. If she fails, all-out war is inevitable - the first ever war in the seven hundred year history of Kalima.
On the way, Alere will uncover the old and bloody secret of her own existence; the reason for her failure as a xintou-telepath; and unlock and even darker future for herself and her companions.
But only if she survives.
When Alere Connor – failed xintou-telepath but skilled swordswoman – is sent by Xintou House to act as mistress to Jun First Radan Zah-Hill, she unwittingly triggers a revolution against the House and against the throne. On his deathbed, Radan reveals the existence of a hidden iron deposit. With several factions vying for political domination of the Jundom, control of the iron would tip the balance of power.
Alere is accused of the Jun First's murder and flees for her life. She must reach and warn the Jun Second, Rafi Koh-Lin, on whose lands the iron ore lies. If she fails, all-out war is inevitable - the first ever war in the seven hundred year history of Kalima.
On the way, Alere will uncover the old and bloody secret of her own existence; the reason for her failure as a xintou-telepath; and unlock and even darker future for herself and her companions.
But only if she survives.
547 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2015
7 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Aiki Flinthart
43 books69 followersAiki lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband, (Ernest), teenage son (Leonidis - not their real names, obviously), aging dog and directionally-challenged fish.
In between being a wife, running a business full-time and helping Leonidis with homework, she squeezes in a few hobbies, including:
Martial arts, painting, writing, reading, bellydancing and playing three or four musical instruments. Occasionally she even sleeps. Very occasionally.
In between being a wife, running a business full-time and helping Leonidis with homework, she squeezes in a few hobbies, including:
Martial arts, painting, writing, reading, bellydancing and playing three or four musical instruments. Occasionally she even sleeps. Very occasionally.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 28, 2018
Aiki Flinthart has created a fantasy word of incredible depth, populated by real characters that you care about right from the beginning. The story begins with Alere, a young woman in a simple setting. Like all good fantasy stories though, things becomes more complex, characters are added, the story twists and yet Flinthart brings the reader along every step with an every expanding plotline and believable characters who grow in depth as the story reveals more.
The tension builds to a crescendo with deft skill with surprise reveals and enough twists to make this a pleasure to read. It has elements of Magician by Raymond Feist in how it grows from something simple to a tour de force. The lush writing style describes a foreign world and culture in exquisite details that springs forth in the mind's eye with an immediacy few other writers can achieve.
I was given a free advance copy and this is my honest review. However, I found this to be approaching the height of great SF/F authors like Margaret Weiss or Katherine Kerr. This is an author to watch and read, and this first book in the series promises great things to come. I don't read a lot of fantasy these days, most hard SF but this really surprised me. I read the whole book over just a few days and loved it. Very nicely done.
The tension builds to a crescendo with deft skill with surprise reveals and enough twists to make this a pleasure to read. It has elements of Magician by Raymond Feist in how it grows from something simple to a tour de force. The lush writing style describes a foreign world and culture in exquisite details that springs forth in the mind's eye with an immediacy few other writers can achieve.
I was given a free advance copy and this is my honest review. However, I found this to be approaching the height of great SF/F authors like Margaret Weiss or Katherine Kerr. This is an author to watch and read, and this first book in the series promises great things to come. I don't read a lot of fantasy these days, most hard SF but this really surprised me. I read the whole book over just a few days and loved it. Very nicely done.
March 30, 2019
Starts with a great first line.
Good world building, interesting characters, sharp prose. All the elements of an engaging read.
Finishes with you wanting more...
Good world building, interesting characters, sharp prose. All the elements of an engaging read.
Finishes with you wanting more...
September 24, 2018
This is the first time I have read one of Aiki Flinthart’s books, but it will definitely not be the last. It started with a bang and set a cracking pace throughout the rest of the story. I was initially a little lost with all the unfamiliar terms, as the people of Kalima speak English interspersed with Mandarin and Arabic words, but soon got caught up in the story. Much like Alere gets caught up in events she has no control over and must go on the run to have any hope of surviving the looming war.
Alere was a wonderful heroine, smart, tenacious, but also flawed. Her determination to do what is right and protect those she cares about, while admitting to her flaws and mistakes and learning from them, made her an engaging character. As the book progresses and everything she thought she knew about herself is challenged, she picks herself up and forces herself to go on despite overwhelming odds and personal pain. The other characters are also richly described, making them appear fully formed with strengths and weaknesses that ring true with their actions.
With Iron, Flinthart has created a story that shines in a unique fantasy world that is as vivid as it is beautiful. As I read, I kept forgetting that none of this was real. The fights scenes were breathtaking and felt so realistic I was wincing each time one of the characters got hurt. I also loved that Alere had to work for her fighting skills, and work hard. It gave the story a wonderful depth to see her striving to be the best, and then having to admit to her limitations.
There were so many twists and turns in this story it kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing the outcome as I raced from page to page. In all, this was a fantastic read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out so I can find out what happens next to Alere and her friends.
Alere was a wonderful heroine, smart, tenacious, but also flawed. Her determination to do what is right and protect those she cares about, while admitting to her flaws and mistakes and learning from them, made her an engaging character. As the book progresses and everything she thought she knew about herself is challenged, she picks herself up and forces herself to go on despite overwhelming odds and personal pain. The other characters are also richly described, making them appear fully formed with strengths and weaknesses that ring true with their actions.
With Iron, Flinthart has created a story that shines in a unique fantasy world that is as vivid as it is beautiful. As I read, I kept forgetting that none of this was real. The fights scenes were breathtaking and felt so realistic I was wincing each time one of the characters got hurt. I also loved that Alere had to work for her fighting skills, and work hard. It gave the story a wonderful depth to see her striving to be the best, and then having to admit to her limitations.
There were so many twists and turns in this story it kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing the outcome as I raced from page to page. In all, this was a fantastic read and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out so I can find out what happens next to Alere and her friends.
March 19, 2019
I picked up Iron as part of a monthly book club read for March. The world building of Kalima is fantastic. Seven hundred years after the arrival of the first colonists, humans have adapted to survive in a world without iron. This changes the way these people move about, and the weapons they use to fight. There are other metals in abundance, such as copper, but they haven’t allowed for the industrialisation which could have occurred if iron was present. An iron deposit is essentially a hidden treasure – a key to advancing technology and a source of wealth and power. Other technology is also explored, including the genetic engineering of babies alongside those who are kin-children – those born naturally. This is another aspect of the worldbuilding that is fascinating because these laws have affected the way in which this society works, and in who holds the power. The cultural aspects are a mix of asian/middle-eastern along with western, and this gives it a different flavour to most other fantasy I’ve read.
The main character of Alere is a fiesty allrounder who never fit in with her xintou-sisters. It is her determination and ability to adapt to whatever situation she finds herself in which makes her a great main character. The side characters are also interesting, especially Kett, who I suspected held secrets of his own and was glad to find he was more than I thought.
The plot stems naturally from the excellent worldbuilding and the characterisation. Alere has important decisions to make throughout the novel, which change the direction of the story. As the first in a series, this book doesn’t wrap up neatly, with plenty of questions still to be answered.
Iron is a fun read and regardless of its YA classification, makes a great fantasy story.
The main character of Alere is a fiesty allrounder who never fit in with her xintou-sisters. It is her determination and ability to adapt to whatever situation she finds herself in which makes her a great main character. The side characters are also interesting, especially Kett, who I suspected held secrets of his own and was glad to find he was more than I thought.
The plot stems naturally from the excellent worldbuilding and the characterisation. Alere has important decisions to make throughout the novel, which change the direction of the story. As the first in a series, this book doesn’t wrap up neatly, with plenty of questions still to be answered.
Iron is a fun read and regardless of its YA classification, makes a great fantasy story.
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July 11, 2019A rollicking good read. Original and carefully constructed world. Believable and relatable three-dimensional characters. Skilful handling of a well-crafted story! One of those books you suddenly find you can't put down. All the things I look for in a fantasy novel. Looking forward to reading book 2.
November 8, 2018
I am a big fan of believable fantasy that provides breathtaking glimpses of another world, and Iron certainly did not disappoint. Alere Connor, the main character, lives in a feudal kingdom founded centuries ago by settlers from distant Earth. Iron is terribly scarce on this world and the settlers have used this to create a society that avoids full-scale war at all costs. For most of the first half, the plot will keep you guessing as Alere’s life takes one unpredictable turn after another. After that, the story settles into a more conventional, but still riveting, quest to prevent the first war from breaking out.
Kalima, as an Earth colony, is perfectly normal one moment and so alien the next. Pets are small, feathered reptiles, wagons are drawn by lumbering beasts, and wild roc eagles big enough to take humans prowl the sky. Behind it all the shadowy telepaths of Xintou House hold a frightening amount of power apart from the thrones of the Jundoms.
Flinthart is a master of writing fight scenes from a woman’s perspective. Alere is not some mystical superhero, but a very real person who must use all her wits and the skills she has learned to stay one step ahead of her enemies. There are some wonderfully deft scenes where the more traditional sword and sorcery battles are replaced by much smarter action. The number of battles and their consequences provide an overall theme of sacrifice for the greater good that I felt may have been slightly overused. Poor Alere never gets a break from the privations she must endure, leaving this reader wishing she could do something the easy way just once. However, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of reading this book and cheering for Alere in every encounter.
Iron is overall, a wonderful rollercoaster ride of conflicting emotions, that draws the reader through to a spectacular climax that is at once as personal as it is brutal. I look forward to reading the rest of the Kalima trilogy when it is released.
This review first appeared on the Aussie Speculative Fiction Review website
I received a free advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Kalima, as an Earth colony, is perfectly normal one moment and so alien the next. Pets are small, feathered reptiles, wagons are drawn by lumbering beasts, and wild roc eagles big enough to take humans prowl the sky. Behind it all the shadowy telepaths of Xintou House hold a frightening amount of power apart from the thrones of the Jundoms.
Flinthart is a master of writing fight scenes from a woman’s perspective. Alere is not some mystical superhero, but a very real person who must use all her wits and the skills she has learned to stay one step ahead of her enemies. There are some wonderfully deft scenes where the more traditional sword and sorcery battles are replaced by much smarter action. The number of battles and their consequences provide an overall theme of sacrifice for the greater good that I felt may have been slightly overused. Poor Alere never gets a break from the privations she must endure, leaving this reader wishing she could do something the easy way just once. However, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of reading this book and cheering for Alere in every encounter.
Iron is overall, a wonderful rollercoaster ride of conflicting emotions, that draws the reader through to a spectacular climax that is at once as personal as it is brutal. I look forward to reading the rest of the Kalima trilogy when it is released.
This review first appeared on the Aussie Speculative Fiction Review website
I received a free advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
October 31, 2018
Iron by Aiki Flinthart is an exceptionally well written fantasy novel that draws you into a world of action and life like characters, making it hard to put down. I read this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down. Alere is a vivacious and determined character who faces some incredible challenges. For a main character I really admired her strength and depth Aiki Flinthart has given her. The way the fight scenes were written made me feel like I was right there in the thick of the action.
Aiki Flinthart paints life in Kalima in a way that makes it feel like Kilima could be real. I loved the idea that humankind had been cut off from fossil fuels and how they would cope considering how much this world relies on it. Also it was interesting to see how people would react to Iron and the possibility of its return.
All in all this story is for you if you love a fantasy story based around a pretty kick-ass female and like loads of action with exceptional world building. I’m not a huge fantasy reader as sometimes they take a lot of mental will-power to get through but this story is not like that. Aiki Flinthart makes sure you never get bored or lost. It's a real page turner. Much like how I felt when I read the hobbit or nearly anything by Neil Gaiman.
Aiki Flinthart paints life in Kalima in a way that makes it feel like Kilima could be real. I loved the idea that humankind had been cut off from fossil fuels and how they would cope considering how much this world relies on it. Also it was interesting to see how people would react to Iron and the possibility of its return.
All in all this story is for you if you love a fantasy story based around a pretty kick-ass female and like loads of action with exceptional world building. I’m not a huge fantasy reader as sometimes they take a lot of mental will-power to get through but this story is not like that. Aiki Flinthart makes sure you never get bored or lost. It's a real page turner. Much like how I felt when I read the hobbit or nearly anything by Neil Gaiman.
February 19, 2019
An Earth colony has established a society on another planet. A world without iron, it is forced into a type of bronze age that becomes quasi-feudal with a strong martial arts influence. Without iron, technology is limited, as are the weapons of war. But there is iron in the form of a buried meteor. The rulers will go to all lengths to get it and if they do then they will have the means to create iron weapons including guns. Few know about the iron, and even fewer can prevent war.
Iron has its roots in SciFi, but it is quickly abandoned for traditional epic fantasy. The plot is quite complex and I had difficulty initially working out who was who and the hierarchy of rulership. I think a glossary of main characters would have helped. This complexity is heightened by the fact that there are many made-up words and no glossary to explain them. The book also lacks a map, so orientating oneself across the world is challenging. The world building, I thought showed promise, but a lack of uniqueness in description let this aspect down. For the majority of the book, I could not distinguish this world from Asia. I also struggled with the main character Alere. She promises to be a warrior along the lines of Black Widow, but she is watered down and spends a lot of time getting beat up as well as crying.
The idea of telepathy and psychic attack are not new, but I wish authors would do their research better. It is well established in science that telepathic skills are non-local meaning they operate within the quantum and are thus not restricted by time, distance or space. One who has the means to launch a psychic attack can do so anywhere at any time; they do not need to be physically present. Yet we continuously see this skill restricted by distance, which is poor science.
The book, however, rumbles along and I found the prose to be well-polished and descriptive. Aside from a few typos, I found the book to be well edited. There is suspense, drama and quite a number of well-choreographed fight scenes. There is the obligatory romantic tension that of course kept in check to ensure it is never resolved. The concept of the book is interesting, but I struggled to figure out how a former space-faring people ended up in a bronze age without even basic technology. I couldn’t quite figure out whether the book was pitched at YA or adults and came to the conclusion the author was hedging her bets. All the profanity has been removed and replaced with made-up words which I found strange. Why would former Earth citizens substitute existing swear words for new ones? The ending is clever, but the threat was resolved a little too easy. I was waiting for a final fight, but it never came.
I did not read the appendix of the world. I believe this information should be contained within the story and reading about it afterwards just doesn’t cut it.
The book, however, did hold my interest and I will read the next in the series, Fire.
Iron has its roots in SciFi, but it is quickly abandoned for traditional epic fantasy. The plot is quite complex and I had difficulty initially working out who was who and the hierarchy of rulership. I think a glossary of main characters would have helped. This complexity is heightened by the fact that there are many made-up words and no glossary to explain them. The book also lacks a map, so orientating oneself across the world is challenging. The world building, I thought showed promise, but a lack of uniqueness in description let this aspect down. For the majority of the book, I could not distinguish this world from Asia. I also struggled with the main character Alere. She promises to be a warrior along the lines of Black Widow, but she is watered down and spends a lot of time getting beat up as well as crying.
The idea of telepathy and psychic attack are not new, but I wish authors would do their research better. It is well established in science that telepathic skills are non-local meaning they operate within the quantum and are thus not restricted by time, distance or space. One who has the means to launch a psychic attack can do so anywhere at any time; they do not need to be physically present. Yet we continuously see this skill restricted by distance, which is poor science.
The book, however, rumbles along and I found the prose to be well-polished and descriptive. Aside from a few typos, I found the book to be well edited. There is suspense, drama and quite a number of well-choreographed fight scenes. There is the obligatory romantic tension that of course kept in check to ensure it is never resolved. The concept of the book is interesting, but I struggled to figure out how a former space-faring people ended up in a bronze age without even basic technology. I couldn’t quite figure out whether the book was pitched at YA or adults and came to the conclusion the author was hedging her bets. All the profanity has been removed and replaced with made-up words which I found strange. Why would former Earth citizens substitute existing swear words for new ones? The ending is clever, but the threat was resolved a little too easy. I was waiting for a final fight, but it never came.
I did not read the appendix of the world. I believe this information should be contained within the story and reading about it afterwards just doesn’t cut it.
The book, however, did hold my interest and I will read the next in the series, Fire.
March 26, 2019
The next Aussie Speculative Fiction book I'm reviewing is IRON by Aiki Flinthart. As well as being a wonderful writer, Brisbane-based Flinthart is an archer, a martial artist, a painter, a musician, runs a business, and manages to find room for her family too.
IRON is a sci-fi story that reads like an action-packed fantasy, and it blew me away. The story is set on Kalima, a human colony on a far-flung planet, cut off from Earth. And Kalima's history means it is short on one very important resource. Iron.
Alere, the protagonist, lives in the city of Madina as a ward of Xintou house under Mistress Li. Xintous are gifted with mind-reading and coercive abilities, however Alere lacks the genetic xintou ability and instead trains as a weishi (a warrior) and a jiaoji (courtesan). She is given the task of serving as jiaoji for Medina's jun (ruler), who has waited for her arrival. On his deathbed, he sends Alere on a mission to find her unknown father and stop a war over a hidden iron deposit.
Her world is thrown into chaos when she is accused of the Jun's murder and flees Madina with her weishi trainer, Kett. Alere battles self-doubt, and worthlessness, obligations and responsibility against her own desire of freedom, and jealousy, guilt and fear. And then there's the weishi of Madina who believe she's responsible for the jun's death and are pursuing her to bring her to justice, not to mention other foes and they meet along the way.
The story and characters are wonderful, complex and engaging, but the real highlight for me is the world that Flinthart has created. What brings the world of Kalima to life so well is the smattering of arabic and mandarin throughout. And because this is done so well, you can't help but be transported into Alere's world.
In conclusion, IRON deserves a five-star rating, the first five-star rating I've given this year. It's technically sci-fi, but as I said, it reads like a fantasy, and have no hesitation in recommending it to both fantasy and sci-fi fans. I have a massive TBR pile, but after finishing IRON I just want to jump right into the sequel, FIRE
IRON is a sci-fi story that reads like an action-packed fantasy, and it blew me away. The story is set on Kalima, a human colony on a far-flung planet, cut off from Earth. And Kalima's history means it is short on one very important resource. Iron.
Alere, the protagonist, lives in the city of Madina as a ward of Xintou house under Mistress Li. Xintous are gifted with mind-reading and coercive abilities, however Alere lacks the genetic xintou ability and instead trains as a weishi (a warrior) and a jiaoji (courtesan). She is given the task of serving as jiaoji for Medina's jun (ruler), who has waited for her arrival. On his deathbed, he sends Alere on a mission to find her unknown father and stop a war over a hidden iron deposit.
Her world is thrown into chaos when she is accused of the Jun's murder and flees Madina with her weishi trainer, Kett. Alere battles self-doubt, and worthlessness, obligations and responsibility against her own desire of freedom, and jealousy, guilt and fear. And then there's the weishi of Madina who believe she's responsible for the jun's death and are pursuing her to bring her to justice, not to mention other foes and they meet along the way.
The story and characters are wonderful, complex and engaging, but the real highlight for me is the world that Flinthart has created. What brings the world of Kalima to life so well is the smattering of arabic and mandarin throughout. And because this is done so well, you can't help but be transported into Alere's world.
In conclusion, IRON deserves a five-star rating, the first five-star rating I've given this year. It's technically sci-fi, but as I said, it reads like a fantasy, and have no hesitation in recommending it to both fantasy and sci-fi fans. I have a massive TBR pile, but after finishing IRON I just want to jump right into the sequel, FIRE
November 18, 2018
Warning! Do not read this book before you go to bed, as you’ll spend a near sleepless night thrashing around sword fighting and reading minds. Yes, it is THAT kind of book! The kind that lights up the senses as you wander around empires that feel so real, you can taste iron on your tongue.
Flinthart is a masterful world builder who has created the mythical Kalima, a colony world without mineable iron. Imagine that?! Flinthart’s geological credentials shine through as she deftly envisions how a society deficient of such a vital resource might respond to the discovery of a secret iron deposit.
I don’t read a lot of fantasy or science fiction and IRON makes me scratch my head and wonder why, because Flinthart’s knack for writing kickarse female characters is beyond thrilling. I’m booked in for a massage tomorrow to work the kinks out of my shoulders and loosen my jaw.
It wasn’t the fight scenes or the suspenseful love scenes (McSteamy!) that kept me turning the page, however. It was the intricate and fragile relationships Flinthart wove through her characters. You will identify with the age-old themes of figuring out who we are, whether to live for others or ourselves, coming of age, building self worth and what family really means.
My takeaway quote comes from my IRON character crush - Kett. His former student and all-round phenomenal warrior woman, Alere asks him why he didn’t stop her from doing something dangerous and he responds, ‘You’re a woman grown. You don’t need me to tell you what you can and can’t handle’. SWOON!
Flinthart is a masterful world builder who has created the mythical Kalima, a colony world without mineable iron. Imagine that?! Flinthart’s geological credentials shine through as she deftly envisions how a society deficient of such a vital resource might respond to the discovery of a secret iron deposit.
I don’t read a lot of fantasy or science fiction and IRON makes me scratch my head and wonder why, because Flinthart’s knack for writing kickarse female characters is beyond thrilling. I’m booked in for a massage tomorrow to work the kinks out of my shoulders and loosen my jaw.
It wasn’t the fight scenes or the suspenseful love scenes (McSteamy!) that kept me turning the page, however. It was the intricate and fragile relationships Flinthart wove through her characters. You will identify with the age-old themes of figuring out who we are, whether to live for others or ourselves, coming of age, building self worth and what family really means.
My takeaway quote comes from my IRON character crush - Kett. His former student and all-round phenomenal warrior woman, Alere asks him why he didn’t stop her from doing something dangerous and he responds, ‘You’re a woman grown. You don’t need me to tell you what you can and can’t handle’. SWOON!
October 3, 2018
In the centuries since earth settled and abandoned the resource-poor colony world of Kalima, its society has changed into Chinese/Korean semi-feudal society. Ruled by houses, where the bonds of family and role dictate a life of service and position.
When her poor skills as a telepath deny her planned future Alere Connor is chosen by Mistress Li of her house as a tool to seek the secrets of the ruling Jun Radan Zah-Hill. His death seemingly by her handset in motion the discovery of a great store of hidden iron for which all the great house will stop at nothing to possess. But Alere is no one's pawn and her skills with swords, viscerally brought to life so you can feel each cut and thrust, helps Alere almost as her resourcefulness and determination.
She discovers hidden motivations of all those around her, a cast of characters worthy to reveal the amazing society of Kalmia: a young healer closer than family, a long-held teacher who is also a better friend and a charming rogue who reveals there are more depths to this world and him than she ever thought.
If you like your stories in a world crafted as rich and well thought out as Frank Herbert's Dune, if you enjoyed Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings and want to read more Silkpunk then Aiki Flinthart's IRON series is the one you want to read.
When her poor skills as a telepath deny her planned future Alere Connor is chosen by Mistress Li of her house as a tool to seek the secrets of the ruling Jun Radan Zah-Hill. His death seemingly by her handset in motion the discovery of a great store of hidden iron for which all the great house will stop at nothing to possess. But Alere is no one's pawn and her skills with swords, viscerally brought to life so you can feel each cut and thrust, helps Alere almost as her resourcefulness and determination.
She discovers hidden motivations of all those around her, a cast of characters worthy to reveal the amazing society of Kalmia: a young healer closer than family, a long-held teacher who is also a better friend and a charming rogue who reveals there are more depths to this world and him than she ever thought.
If you like your stories in a world crafted as rich and well thought out as Frank Herbert's Dune, if you enjoyed Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings and want to read more Silkpunk then Aiki Flinthart's IRON series is the one you want to read.
October 10, 2018
This is my second read and review for IRON, this being the second edition. I loved it even more than the first read!
Firstly, the mixture of cultures and languages (English, Chinese, Arabic) makes this an adventure. Seriously, every cuss word in another language here was spot on – I knew exactly what the character meant without actually knowing what the word itself was, and that is simply brilliant. Kudos to the author!
Secondly, this is an actual adventure that kept me turning virtual pages. The pace is swift, but the characters are well-rounded despite that, and I appreciated that also. I cared about the people on this world. The characters are a mixture of both youthful and more mature, which gives this tale depth … and leads to surprises as well.
The fact that Kalima is a world settled by humankind, only to be cut off from supplies from Earth, means that it is a mixture of olden times and some technology. Interesting, adds a definite twist to the whole.
Cannot wait to read book 2! IRON is a story with a beginning and an end, no cliff-hangers, and yet enough pointers reveal book 2 will be epic. This book certainly sets the scene, and I definitely recommend it to readers of Fantasy who love a touch of Sci-fi weaved in also.
Firstly, the mixture of cultures and languages (English, Chinese, Arabic) makes this an adventure. Seriously, every cuss word in another language here was spot on – I knew exactly what the character meant without actually knowing what the word itself was, and that is simply brilliant. Kudos to the author!
Secondly, this is an actual adventure that kept me turning virtual pages. The pace is swift, but the characters are well-rounded despite that, and I appreciated that also. I cared about the people on this world. The characters are a mixture of both youthful and more mature, which gives this tale depth … and leads to surprises as well.
The fact that Kalima is a world settled by humankind, only to be cut off from supplies from Earth, means that it is a mixture of olden times and some technology. Interesting, adds a definite twist to the whole.
Cannot wait to read book 2! IRON is a story with a beginning and an end, no cliff-hangers, and yet enough pointers reveal book 2 will be epic. This book certainly sets the scene, and I definitely recommend it to readers of Fantasy who love a touch of Sci-fi weaved in also.
December 8, 2018
ONE SPINE TINGLING READ!!!
Wow! Talk about walking blind. Man, if you're looking for an action packed, fast paced, hard hitting, nailbiting, spine tingling, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page turning bombshell that grabs your attention from the start and holds it right until the last word. Congrats my friends you've found it. All the drama, intrigue, deceit, betrayal, lies, uncertainty, danger and suspense increases steadily as the tension spirals while the plot thickens. Twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises make for thrilling experience. A whirlwind of emotions and events that really pulls those heartstrings. On the run not knowing who's friend or foe. Back against the wall with gut wretching dread. Yeah, this bad boy is a definite kicker. The characters are complex and believable with such depth and individuality it's easy to relate. The scenes are so graphically detailed and descriptive it's easy to picture each scenario as they play off one another in perfect balance. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Flinthart did an incredible job bringing this read to life. Fantastic job Flinthart, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Wow! Talk about walking blind. Man, if you're looking for an action packed, fast paced, hard hitting, nailbiting, spine tingling, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page turning bombshell that grabs your attention from the start and holds it right until the last word. Congrats my friends you've found it. All the drama, intrigue, deceit, betrayal, lies, uncertainty, danger and suspense increases steadily as the tension spirals while the plot thickens. Twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises make for thrilling experience. A whirlwind of emotions and events that really pulls those heartstrings. On the run not knowing who's friend or foe. Back against the wall with gut wretching dread. Yeah, this bad boy is a definite kicker. The characters are complex and believable with such depth and individuality it's easy to relate. The scenes are so graphically detailed and descriptive it's easy to picture each scenario as they play off one another in perfect balance. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Flinthart did an incredible job bringing this read to life. Fantastic job Flinthart, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
December 4, 2018
This book had me riveted almost from the very beginning. Since Alere is not able to practice telepathy, she is being trained to serve the High King Radan, in another capacity. Kett, her constant companion and protector, has trained her to protect herself. When Radan dies soon after she meets him, Alere flees his kingdom to save her life and to prevent war. In her travels, Alere will meet other people who help her. I don't want to spoil the book by describing the story further. I received a free copy of this book through eBook Discovery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is a suspenseful adventure. Alere has to use all her wits and skill to survive and honor her promise to Radan. The character development is excellent. The story is mainly from Alere's point of view. Since Kett keeps his emotions and thought private, we don't get Kett's point of view (which I miss). My only quibble with the story is that I didn't get hooked until she meets the high king. I recommend this book and look forward to the future release of the next book in the series.
April 15, 2019
This book is full of characters and at times it can be difficult to keep track of who all the people are. The language includes Mandarin and Arabic words. Most can be worked out through context, but it can slow the reading down while you work out the meaning. There were also a few odd point-of-view changes and I personally would have preferred staying with Alere's POV for the whole story.
If none of the above bothers you, you should love this book. The world was well-developed and the characters fleshed-out. The story leaned slightly more towards fantasy than sci-fi and there were large doses of mystery and political intrigue.
Overall an interesting story.
If none of the above bothers you, you should love this book. The world was well-developed and the characters fleshed-out. The story leaned slightly more towards fantasy than sci-fi and there were large doses of mystery and political intrigue.
Overall an interesting story.
November 29, 2018
I've just finished Iron, my first book of Aiki Flinthart's. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Aiki builds her characters as masterfully as she builds the wold of Kalima. The story draws you in immediately and from page to page you can never guess what will happen next but the one thing you are guaranteed is kick ass fight scenes, engaging characters and a world so real that you can close your eyes and picture yourself there.
For any young adult readers eager to bite into a novel with grit, determination and a crafty plot, I highly recommend Iron.
For any young adult readers eager to bite into a novel with grit, determination and a crafty plot, I highly recommend Iron.
August 3, 2019
This book is NOT what I was expecting. Sure, it's the sort of thing that young adults like. Sure, it's the sort of thing that Fantasy fans like. But it is not the fluffy, bubblegum variety of young adult fantasy. It's more... so much more. The characters are engaging and relatable - (Except Kett, but he's meant to be enigmatic!), and the whole book is packed with action, intrigue, and plot twists that keep you guessing right to the end. I mean that literally. Waiting for book 2 of the Kalima Chronicles was agony! It's a must-read, by a masterful world-builder.
October 28, 2018
What an incredible world this writer catapults you into. You can’t help but be drawn into the world and it’s characters as the writing pulls you along an exciting and detailed journey. I wanted to know more, and was eager to read each page. I highly recommend this book, and can’t wait to dive into this authors other work. I was given a free copy of this book for review purposes. This is my honest review.
October 14, 2018
IRON is an epic adventure that I'm not soon to forget! Flinthart has masterfully woven her complex characters into a world that feels real enough to touch. This is a must read for fans of Suzanne Collins and Sarah J Maas
November 15, 2018
Once again Aiki Flint delivers a character-driven fantasy that wraps it tendrils around your imagination and draws you in until you are a part of the world. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
January 3, 2019
This is probably one of the best fantasy/sci-fi books I read this year. The world is well constructed, with good characterisations and a complex story line.
I am looking forward to the next volume.
I am looking forward to the next volume.
February 17, 2020
This story doesn't lack action at all. Great, well developed characters with stories that mix together beautifully to keep those pages turning. It's a must read. Looking forward to the next in the series.
December 2, 2018
Great story that is set in a rich, detailed world that catches your imagination from the very first chapter. The characters are well thought out and very well written.
January 21, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced, the storytelling kept me wanting to read more.
Loved the characters, and the growth they showed.
Highly recommend
Loved the characters, and the growth they showed.
Highly recommend
February 10, 2019
This is world building on a truly epic scale, combined with a fast paced adventure story. Highly recommended
March 25, 2019
Really good storyline!
the characters, the wisdom, the story is amazing, you just cant stop reading. it is tough,heart wrenching, laugh out loud kind of book
the characters, the wisdom, the story is amazing, you just cant stop reading. it is tough,heart wrenching, laugh out loud kind of book
November 22, 2020
Read upon a recommendation, Iron is gripping and true to Flinthart form. If you like a series that starts off with blockbuster potency, get on board.
Want to read
March 3, 2019This book is an entry in the 2018 Aurealis Awards, for which I am a judge. Any review will be withheld until the results of the awards are announced.
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