thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. i wasn’t sure what to expect when going into this book, and while it wasn’t perfect, i really enjoyed this book. it had likeable and well developed characters, and i loved how the plot unravelled leading up to the ending. a really enjoyable read, so i’m going to give it 4/5 stars.

You know a book is good when you race home from work on your lunch break to finish it!

I have loved everything Levenseller has published, but this story hits differently. Blade of Secrets introduced us to Ziva, a young woman who struggles in the world due to her crippling anxiety and neurodivergence. But Kiva is also a magically gifted smith who can forge incredible weapons with all sorts of powers. All Kiva wants to do is keep herself and her sister Temra safe, but when there are forces trying to take over the kingdom, looking to use Kiva to create weapons to ensure their victory, the sisters can no longer hide in their little forge home and find themselves on the road with a scholar and a mercenary for company.

Master of Iron picks up after the events of Blade of Secrets, and Kiva and her friends aren't safe yet.
I absolutely adore the relationships in this book, particularly Ziva and Kellyn. Their banter is just the sweetest and the way Kellyn tries to understand Ziva and accepts and loves her for who she is just melts my heart. And the way Ziva really flourishes and grows is so satisfying. I love getting to see her mind, her anxiety and her strength.

This duology is the perfect YA fantasy and fans of The Medoran Chronicles, The Prison Healer and the Cursbreaker trilogy will love this one.

Honestly Tricia Levenseller has yet to write a book that I don't adore! I've been anxiously awaiting this sequel and it delivered everything I wanted.

I think Ziva is probably one of my favourite MCs of all time because she reminds me so much of myself. The anxieties she has, how uncomfortable she feels in large groups of people, and how much she can fixate on things are all things I experience and it was so amazing to read a story about a character who faces these problems and still manages to be themself and be strong.

The relationship between Ziva and Kellyn was perfectly written and I especially loved the acknowledgement to consent they had between them which was consistent throughout. The plot itself was rich and action packed, and everything was resolved perfectly

Since read several her books, I never disappointed. Her story always short, enjoyable and her characters always refreshing. For this duology we got an talented artist and she possesses magical talent to make enchanted weapons. However Ziva also struggles with social anxiety and her little sister help her so much in their business. Told ya, she never write typical YA character and I enjoy saw how much Ziva growing from book one.

I enjoy this 2nd book plotline more than book one. It is funny, fast, fill with political twist and turn also so many action. So many challenging in Ziva hero journey, and I love how all those conflics give depth to her character. All of development still realistis with her anxiety tendency but not make it as excuse to make her as meek characters. The supporting character is great, funny and memorable. I love the romance progress and I love how Kellyn not acting like ordinary alpha male hero and still respect Ziva dan give her comfort. I think it is rare quality in a hero. Overall I love how this duology wrapped. Short, satisfaction and wish for another adventurers.

Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press, Pushkin Children's Books for let me read this copy. I am grateful and my thoughts are my own.

Master of Iron is a brilliant follow up from Blade of Secrets, with an even better insight into Ziva and her magic.

Some of the side characters could have done with being fleshed out a bit more, but the plot was fast with plenty of action. Overall, an excellent fantasy!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book in Levenseller's Bladesmith Duology, so I was very excited to see where the second book would take us. And once again, it's a bingeworthy book with the author's trademark approachable writing.

I'm still in love with Ziva, our unique protagonist, big and strong and able to produce magical weapons that could potentially devastate armies. I very much liked her inner conflict when it comes to that potential, too - although admittedly I was a little surprised that the solution to this problem ("do I make magical weapons even for the good side when they only bring death?") had to be given to her instead of her figuring it out, considering it's pretty obvious. I also still very much like the mental illness rep she presents, even though I did think that this time around, her severe (social) anxiety was written a bit more incosistently and at times read a little cliched. Still, it makes her one of the most unique ya fantasy protagonists in a very long while and I loved it.

Book 2 shifts from an adventure story to a story about war, politics and, yes, romance. Now, the plot really is not very complex and the stakes never feel as high as the book wants them to be. The pacing is also very fast, which leads to some of the sequences feeling a little rushed. But the characters and the interesting world-building usually make up for that.

All in all I didn't enjoy this second book as much as I enjoyed the first one, primarily because it felt a little all over the place, but I still had a really good time with it.