Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this arc!
<b>I’m chomping at the bit for the next book in the series!</b>

In Ice We Steel is your typical story about a group of rebels who have had enough of their oppressive regime and have decided now is the time to rise and fight, with a hint of heist. I often picture movies in my mind when I’m reading, but something about the writing in this novel made it so easy and vivid to see everything playing out.
My one complaint is the pacing, and this is wholly based on personal preference. I wish the story had either been homed in on or pushed out from the story we received. I will explain more of what I mean by this in the spoiler section below.
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<spoiler>I really enjoy a training, mentor/mentee moment, so I was disappointed we didn’t get more time with Ax and Emre training with the rebels prior to the heist. I wanted more of Veyre making her way, wounded, through the woods to reveal the rebels location. And I DEFINITELY a POV chapter from Rumiro closing in on the camp to discover it empty and then all going *kaboom*.</spoiler>
<spoiler>Without these smaller struggles, the story could’ve pivoted out to include moments from book2 which HAS to have Veyre switch sides….right? RIGHT? I expected it throughout this entire story but at each point she just got more and more hateful. I both love and hate that I understand why.</spoiler>
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this story and can’t wait for book 2. Release date?

In Ice We Steel is a steampunk sci-fi set in a dystopian-style world. Between rebels, peacekeepers and protectors, each upholding their own version of the narrative, we’re taken on a journey that explores the power of propaganda and its impact on people and the decisions they make.

Tbh, it took me a while to wrap my head around this world. But I was glad I held on, because the eventual ride was thrilling.

What started as strange myths and magic slowly unravelled into an imaginative dystopian world that turns out to be uncomfortably closer to reality than I first assumed.

A rebellion is stewing in Kerti and our main leads are on opposite ends of it. Though the worldbuilding is great, In Ice We Steel doesn’t scrimp on character development.

Verye is a Peacekeeper who appears strong and loyal, but she isn’t blind to the discrepancies she sees in the system. Ngl, seeing Verye try to downplay her father’s detachment was very painful. Ax is a thief burdened by a hefty debt, a hefty fear of the regime, and an even heftier need to protect his family.
Watching them struggle against the beliefs that shaped their world had me rooting for both of them equally. Toward the end, I found myself completely torn between the two.

Then there’s Zea from the Prologue, whom I can’t seem to forget, and whose happiness I find myself rooting for, too.

As expected, several loose ends were tied up in the next book. But I wished that we could have spent more time with Verye as she navigated grief and loss, and with Ax as he struggles to assimilate into a new community.

With so much going on, I was expecting a messier conclusion. Thankfully, this has a somewhat satisfactory ending that wraps up the key theme of the book. However, it does leave me wondering what the cast of characters will have to face in the next instalment.

If you like dystopian steampunk layered with purposeful myths and explorations of the human condition, pick this up and brace yourself for a wild ride.

This was a great journey. The characters were written so well and it was had to stop reading. It does start a little show but picks up quick and then kept me up late reading to see what happens next.

The book as a nice pace and you can see the characters as they build and become fleshed out.

Definitely worth taking the chance to read this book.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a unique concept for a book, I just had to read it! The story is amazing and very well thought out, I had a blast the entire time I was reading it. This is why fantasy is my favorite genre!

I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing fantasy ARC!

The prophecy from the lost chapter:

“The Savior will bring the Rise, and eternal damnation awaits those who choose not to unite under this army of hers. The night will shine red, and the sea will open up and swallow the nonbelievers. For that will be the Wrath of the Goddess Alvarra. For the Savior is Alvarra’s daughter.”

The people of Kerti have been oppressed under a tyrannical regime that does not care for its people. But now the time has come, and the rebellion has begun. Hardships and adversity make the rebels stronger. After all, “In ice we steel. In fire we harden.”

This book follows a dual POV with parallel storylines on opposite sides of the war. There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book and again before the chapters in which they occur. While nothing is explicitly described, certain topics are referenced and mentioned.

Personal Opinions:
* I liked the map included in the book because it helped readers understand the layout of Kerti. I
especially loved the scribbles and markings that made it feel hand-drawn, much like a real rebel
map.
* Personally, I felt the first chapter was a bit long, especially with the POV switches within the
chapter. However, I understand that this is common in epic fantasy novels, and the story flowed
much more smoothly after the first few chapters.

Overall, this is a great read for fans of epic fantasy, rebellions, and stories about overthrowing tyrannical governments. I would definitely recommend it!

It took me a while to get into this one, but the story hooked me in the end. Looking forward to the sequel.