I will sleep wherever you want me to.
Whether it’s on the floor or in the dirt or in your bed...
Whether it’s on the floor or in the dirt or in your bed...
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| Available at Amazon.com |
Metal SlingerBrynn is a proud member of the Alaha, a people banished to life on ships after losing the war so many years ago. It's tradition, however, for the graduating class, those coming of age, to be allowed to come to shore and visit the annual Markets. They get just one day.
Rachel Schneider
Fire & Metal, book one
Kindle Edition, 497 pages
First published May 12, 2024
ISBN 9798324986469
Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.
Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.
Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.
When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…
…including her heart.
It's a day Brynn has been anticipating for forever. It's also the day her best friend, Kai, has chosen to reveal to her that he's asked his parents' permission to choose her at the Matching Ceremony.
But Kai is the Captain's son. And Brynn is an urchin. What kind of match is that. And he'd never even hinted of his affection for her before that moment. So, she bolts...
Into the crowd of the Market, lost among the Kenta and their strange clothes. The women in their richly colored skirts and dresses. The soldiers in their metal helmets with just the slightest slits with which to see.
Soon enough, she catches someone's eyes. Someone she's noticed before. Someone who's following her.
Dark hair, dark eyes, a gold ring in one nostril. Lips I somehow know often say crude things-or maybe it's his entire demeanor that tells me that, but there's something inherently vulgar in his beauty.
Color me intrigued.
Brynn attempts to lose her stalker but sure enough she gets caught, and accused of being a thief. As disorienting as it was to be dropped into mid conversation with the very first line of this book, the turn a nice trip to the markets took into a wild chase was just as jolting.
He orders the command into my ear for only me to hear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Place your hand against the stone.” He’s not simply playing games with me like I had suspected.
I shake my head despite the sting of the blade. “Why are you doing this?”
He’s done waiting for me to comply. Instead, he uses his free hand to grab mine and places my trembling palm against the warm stone, his hand covering mine.
Pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt before lances through my body. Heat sears my arm and my chest, down my body and into my legs. It’s like a live current, similar to the electric eels found in the coral outside Alaha, but times a thousand. I scream.
Then, in the span of a blink, it’s over.
…
I look up, up, up and into the soldier’s face. He looks as stunned as I feel, eyes wide as he stares down at me, breath frozen in his chest.
Kai’s voice shouts over the gathered voices. “Let her go!”
But the soldier doesn’t break eye contact with me, something between awe and fear staring back at me.
“I said,” Kai demands, the voice he rarely uses silencing the crowd. “Let her go.”
The soldier is slow to turn, head swiveling in Kai’s direction before his gaze slides away from me, face transforming from awestruck to cold as he looks at Kai. “That won’t work on me,” he says, voice low and undeterred. “You have no power here.”
I struggle to get to my feet, legs giving way when I try to put my weight on them. I can’t look behind me to see Kai’s expression, but the unflinching gaze of the soldier tells me this isn’t going to end without collateral damage. He flips the blade in his hand, a visual reminder that Kai and I are defenseless against him and his men.
“Let her go,” Kai repeats, more placating than before.
The soldier tips a brow. “She’s not yours.”
::chokes:: I shake my head despite the sting of the blade. “Why are you doing this?”
He’s done waiting for me to comply. Instead, he uses his free hand to grab mine and places my trembling palm against the warm stone, his hand covering mine.
Pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt before lances through my body. Heat sears my arm and my chest, down my body and into my legs. It’s like a live current, similar to the electric eels found in the coral outside Alaha, but times a thousand. I scream.
Then, in the span of a blink, it’s over.
…
I look up, up, up and into the soldier’s face. He looks as stunned as I feel, eyes wide as he stares down at me, breath frozen in his chest.
Kai’s voice shouts over the gathered voices. “Let her go!”
But the soldier doesn’t break eye contact with me, something between awe and fear staring back at me.
“I said,” Kai demands, the voice he rarely uses silencing the crowd. “Let her go.”
The soldier is slow to turn, head swiveling in Kai’s direction before his gaze slides away from me, face transforming from awestruck to cold as he looks at Kai. “That won’t work on me,” he says, voice low and undeterred. “You have no power here.”
I struggle to get to my feet, legs giving way when I try to put my weight on them. I can’t look behind me to see Kai’s expression, but the unflinching gaze of the soldier tells me this isn’t going to end without collateral damage. He flips the blade in his hand, a visual reminder that Kai and I are defenseless against him and his men.
“Let her go,” Kai repeats, more placating than before.
The soldier tips a brow. “She’s not yours.”
Sir, I don’t yet know your name but I like you. Watching the wrong woman though. Damn, Aurora, was blowing up the market really your go-to? Brynn was just here for the pastries. And Kai? Big Aetos energy with that one, except he'd actually chuck the rigid pda rules just for a kiss. While Messer is their best swordsman and resident peacemaker and slut.
Love Kai's parents! But "suspect?" Rofl. You suspect the girl who blew up the market is a part of an uprising? What was your second clue? Still, it's so refreshing when characters have loving, supportive parents despite... yeah.
I picked this ebook up somewhat randomly while recovering from the beating I took from AcoMaF. If I didn't find a proper distraction I would have grabbed up Wings & Ruin and no... No. This Maas addiction will not be made real.
Made it 15% before going back and preordering the hardcover copy due out in February 2026 all because he hit him! He damn well hit him! Whatdidhesayyyyy??Whydidhehithimmm???
Every chapter, one after another, is just checking each of my boxes. Every character. Every detail. All the things I love about fantasy romance right here. Rachel Schneider, the writer that you are!
Then Acker finally starts talking-his name being the only downfall of this book-and now my mind is reeling because a large percentage of the characters I love may be the devil in disguise. And I'm loving them even more for it!
This book is wild and oh so good. Kai has a secret. Messer has a secret. Acker has many secrets. Oh how the twists turn and the turns twist! The eyun! The squid! Hallis with the wisdom. Beau! Gurl! Here I thought Aurora was the badass chick of the book, and then Beau says Hold my beer.
And take a lesson, Feyre darling. This is how one responds when they discover their mate knew about the bond and didn't reveal it. Very demure. Very mindful.
And then Chapter 56 happened and it broke me. Turns out the one with the most secrets, was Brynn.
5 out of 5 stars. And I still don't know what he said when he hit him!!
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
If book two isn't Acker hunting her to the ends of the earth then I don't want it. Justice for Acker! Justice for the man who wanted to swim among the stars!!
