Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider

The quick cut: A girl inadvertently becomes the center of political turmoil when chaos ensues at an annual market.

A real review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing the arc for an honest review.

We would like to think that we know the truth behind our origins. The reality is that we rarely know as much as we think we do. For Brynn, this is definitely the case.

Brynn has spent her life not remembering anything prior to seven years old. A girl with no family, she gets by only as well as she does do to her romantic entanglement. When she goes to the annual market, she approaches it as the annual rite of passage it is for young guards. When her presence there causes problems and the potential of her people going hungry, she's unsure how to get out of trouble. Will she find a way through?

I wanted to like this story more, especially considering how strong the book's ending is. The problem is that the middle of the book really drags along and the complicated connections between characters becomes a chore.

Brynn is a girl whose never had a family and she's never really questioned why. When she starts getting answers she never knew existed, it leaves her without alliances. Everyone has lied to her. No one seemingly is looking out for her interests. How that plays out is chaotic and messy for sure.

A significant portion of the book is about the political power of each territory. They each seem to use their abilities to try and outplay the other for more territory. It's what led the Alaha to a life on the sea.

The romantic aspect really isn't as strong a focus as it seems from the book's description. It is more an angle of connections and ties rather than actual passion or love.

A fantasy story that is less romantic and more political than it appears.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5