‘Whose side was she on? She asked herself the question over and over, but all she could think was that she wanted to be on the good side… whichever that was’

If this week hasn’t been so busy I would’ve devoured this book. I was very lucky to get an ARC of Iron Bound flames from NetGalley (thank you!) and was so quickly drawn into it’s fantasy driven plot.

Written by Melanie Moschella, Iron Bound Flames is book one of The Raek Riders series in which Meera Hailship is trying to escape from loneliness but the ways in which she does so only seems to isolate her more. She’s defined as a weapon by her king, playing the role as his interrogator and spy, but the only thing Meera fears more than being alone is being on the wrong side… but who’s to judge the good from the bad?

I cannot wait to read the rest of the series which, to my impatient luck, is all getting released on the same publication date as book one. Everybody say thank you Melanie!

Thankyou to Netgalley for an arc of this book! This was a good start to an interesting series. I really liked learning about the world and how it was divided, especially for our main character Meera. She goes through lots of change throughout this book and often questions if she makes the right decisions. This was an interesting new take on “dragons” and I enjoyed the interactions Meera had with the captured Raek. The story felt rather slow paced in some places and then almost rushed in others and the weird tension that Meera had with the king was never really explained or expanded upon, overall it was a rather enjoyable read but lacked a bit of substance I think it needed slightly more world building but I assume this will happen more as the series evolves! Interested to see what happens next for Meera and Shael

3.5 Stars for Iron-Bound Flames. OVERVIEW: This YA fantasy is about a young lady, Meera, who volunteers to care for two prisoners, one a reak which is a fire breathing dragon like animal and two a mysterious man. Upon caring for the prisoners she is called upon to complete other tasks for her king. Meera is faced with the challenge of bowing to her king or listening to her heart, if she listens to her heart that is pure treason. This is book 1 of a 5 series book.
REVIEW: I appreciate the world building didn’t overtake the character development. I connected with all of the characters and they felt like real people to me, including the raek. The beginning and end of the book really held my interest to know what’s to come, however, the middle fell a little short as her quest to care for the prisoners seemed repetitive. There was a lot of indecisive inner thoughts which was repetitive. The story holds some valuable lessons like true friendship, staying true to yourself, dealing with loneliness and dealing with consequences of your actions. I will definitely give book 2 a read as I feel this is where the story REALLY begins as I got a little taste of it at the end. This book is very YA so no smut or romance, which may come later in the story though. Also a slow read as it’s a series.

Honestly, the book was “fine”. I liked the general story of the servant girl turned spy who ends up sympathizing with the enemy and having to choose where her loyalties lie. However, I felt like a lot of the book was rushed and yadda yadda’d. I didn’t get to know any of the characters or feel any real affinity for them. We spend all of our time with Meera, and you’d think that I’d have some sort of opinion on her after 300 pages, but I don’t. She just a nice girl with good intentions.

A criticism I have is that we’re told a lot about how she and others are feeling, but I would suggest using more descriptive language so we can feel it with her. I also just didn’t know her motivations for anything. Her reasoning for volunteering to help the raek is because she “likes animals” but she never explains the political conflict with this other territory— why they’re hated so much, etc. So the whole time that she’s defending them, I’m wondering exactly why? Would she have still helped them if she found out they killed villages full of innocent civilians? She never learns if they’re “good” or not but still risks everything to help. It just didn’t add up for me.

Also the side plot with the king and his son were very odd to me. Like the weird tension she had with the king that lead nowhere and her superficial relationship with the solider kid. Lastly, it took way too many pages to really get the story going. I became really interested about 60% in, and by the time that happened, the book was ending. So yeah, I think the concept was good and it was there, but it needed to be explored and fleshed out a little bit more.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
CW: Check Melanie K. Moschella website for details
Keywords: YA, NA elements, Fantasy, Dragons, World-building, magic, and heroism.

"Iron-Bound Flames" by Melanie K. Moschella sets the stage for an enthralling journey into a world where ordinary meets extraordinary in the most unexpected of ways. From the moment you meet Meera Hailship, the kitchen maid turned into an unlikely heroine, you're drawn into a narrative that blends the thrill of dragon-filled adventures with the depth of emotional exploration. There are parts of this that feel like a cozy adventure through Meera's kindness in a world that is not so kind.

What makes this debut novel so captivating is the resonance of its protagonist, Meera. Her initial loneliness and isolation echo relatably, making her transformation all the more inspiring. She isn't a chosen one; rather, she's an ordinary individual propelled by a sequence of choices that redefine not only her life but also her destiny. This book can be for anyone but I love the reminders of the strength of kindness.

The central conflict, beautifully woven throughout the series, is Meera's dilemma. Her connection with the raek, the dangerous and fiery creature, challenges her allegiance as she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues, acting as both spy and interrogator for King Bartro. The tension between loyalty to the king and following her conscience adds layers of complexity to the story, making each decision she faces a poignant moment.

Moschella's inspiration drawn from "Eragon" (The Inheritance Cycle Series) is evident in the rich and vivid world-building. The allure of dragon-riding fantasies is masterfully interwoven into a tale that's both thrilling and introspective. The friendship that blossoms between Meera and the raek unveils a heartfelt connection that propels the narrative forward.

This first installment of "The Raek Riders Series" lays a strong foundation, promising readers an epic adventure ahead. With a mix of political intrigue, fiery companionship, and moral dilemmas, Moschella's storytelling prowess shines brightly. Readers are in for a treat as they embark on Meera's transformative journey, one where bravery, friendship, and the struggle between right and wrong come vividly to life.

The way this ends leaves you wanting more. Excited to read more of this series and excited that it's a complete series from the author writing the whole series (5 books) already. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

Iron-Bound Flames by @melaniekmoschella was such a well written and outstanding read! The story kept unfolding, adding more layers to Meera’s daily life. I love a heartwarming, do the right thing story! I will be reading more of the series in the future for sure! Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this great book!

I adore this book!

I know some other reviews were also amazed, others very critical.. but I can only be said to be pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed every single second of this novel.

By Chapter Three (only about 6% into the book), I was hooked. I was already giddy and just excited to keep reading.

As another, more critical reviewer, mentioned there were a lot of details, that I counted as world building. Mentioning her use of the chamber pot before going to the kitchen to me was important. It set the stage for how routine, mundane, and isolating her life has become, while also showing that we do not have indoor plumbing - we are in a medieval fantasy.

As for it being mostly a lot of "tell not show" for the first 3ish chapters, that to me was "showing." Her not talking to anyone and just idly thinking to "tell" us about the world. It shows us again about her isolation and her routine and mundane world.

This was the first book I've read in a while where I got to the last page, flipped and saw the "About the Author" page, and just went "no!!! I need more!!!". Thank you, Moschella, for giving a 2 chapter sneak preview into book 2! Although you are releasing all five books on the same day (another thank you earned for this stroke of genius!), I did get an ARC through NetGalley.. so I still have three months to go!

Overall, it was a face paced book with great action, suspense/tension, darker themes mixed with lighter, and a solid protagonist who is not infallible nor mythical. She is human, trying her best, but learning just how naive she; she asks all the right questions without jumping to conclusions - the way we should all aspire to be.

This may read as more YA than NA or Adult fantasy, but I do find the MFC acts like an adult in her inner monologue. She is honest, open, rational and strives to always be better.

I found no characters or storylines annoying.. I will gladly read more of every single one of them! I am very excited for the series to come out so that I can binge them in a very unhealthy manner.

This book had some pacing and stylistic issues for me. I thought the writing style was very choppy. There was also too much description for certain things, for example multiple paragraphs on how to curtsy, that made some sections really slow.

The main issue I had with this book was the idea that a single young woman in a feudal society belonging to the middle class would travel, by herself, to the king’s palace and volunteer to work in the kitchens because she was bored and lonely. I could not set aside my disbelief long enough for that to ring true. She also repeatedly complains about being tired, lonely, and not well liked and she could leave at any time because she has money and a home to go back to so the stakes feel very low.

The best part about this book was the raek and I wish we’d spent more time with him.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2.4 rounded down to 2/5.

Melanie K. Moschella's "Iron-Bound Flames" introduces readers to an intriguing world where a kitchen maid, Meera Hailship, takes on unexpected roles as a spy, interrogator, and even a weapon. The plot centers around Meera's impulsive decision to feed a dangerous creature imprisoned at the palace, leading to an unexpected friendship and a moral dilemma. The story is rich with detail, especially in portraying Meera's pain, tiredness, and anxiety, and features the captivating presence of dragons.

While the concept is fascinating, the execution falls short in some aspects. The narrative, although filled with Meera's inner struggles, often relies on telling rather than showing, resulting in clunky character interactions. The novel could benefit from an additional editing round, as there are excessive exclamation points outside of dialogue and some unnecessary information that disrupts the flow.

One of the notable strengths is Meera's ability to see the good in everybody, adding depth to her character. However, the lack of seamless integration between Meera's actions and the broader plot leaves me wanting a more cohesive narrative.

A significant drawback is the apparent rush to release all five books simultaneously. The focus on quantity seems to have affected the quality of the first installment. While reading, I'm left with a sense that more attention to detail could have enhanced the overall reading experience.

One specific instance that stands out is a prolonged description of Meera peeling potatoes without any dialogue. This section detracts from the pacing and could have been condensed or omitted, allowing for a more engaging and focused narrative.

Despite these drawbacks, "Iron-Bound Flames" holds promise. The unique concept, coupled with Meera's journey and the presence of dragons, creates a foundation for an engaging series. With some refinements in editing, character development, and plot integration, this series could evolve into a compelling and well-rounded fantasy adventure.

One of the easiest 5-stars I have ever given!

"Iron-Bound Flames" by Melanie K. Moschella is a breathtaking fantasy debut that sets the bar high for the genre. From the first page to the last, this novel grips the reader with a spellbinding narrative, rich world-building, and a cast of characters that are as compelling as they are complex.

The protagonist, Meera Hailship, a seemingly ordinary kitchen maid, emerges as a true heroine with a heart of gold and a spirit that defies her humble station. Meera's journey starts with her being an overlooked server to the center stage of political intrigue. Her impulsive decision to feed a dangerous creature at the palace not only sets the plot in motion but also marks the beginning of an unexpected fantastical adventure!

The world-building in Iron-Bound Flames is nothing short of phenomenal. The author paints a vivid and immersive landscape where magic, politics, and the bond between a girl and a fire-breathing raek come to life. The intricacies of the palace intrigue and the moral dilemmas faced by Meera elevate the novel beyond a mere fantasy adventure, delving into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the pursuit of one's convictions.

What sets this series apart is the unique concept of releasing all five books on the same day. Moschella's decision to present readers with the entire saga at once is a masterstroke, allowing for an uninterrupted and deeply satisfying immersion into the world of 'The Raek Riders Series'. The pacing of the first novel was exceptional and I fully expect to binge the rest of the series as soon as it is released!

I wholeheartedly give this book a 5/5 rating, and I eagerly anticipate the release of the entire series on March 19th, 2024. It's a journey worth embarking on for any lover of fantasy literature.

As this is my favourite ARC to date, I could not be more genuine in my gratitude to the author, Melanie K. Moschella, and NetGalley for the absolute privilege of getting to read this book in an exchange for a review.

So much I felt for this,first I felt ecstatic for having poc characters for a fantasy book which I only have a small collection of that fits my liking. I was so interested in the main characters inner thoughts they made me understand her even more than her words an feelings, made me feel what she felt an better understand the things she did even if she herself didn't understand. Had a favorite character which was ofcourse 'cook' was a very funny and warming character that made me want to know more about them. But I think what most exciting for me was how the raek is described, I was pleasantly suprised as it being a feathered creature but also reptilian like compared to what I at first though was going to be lizard like skin 😅. But still loved the combination of creature being both reptilian an bird-like. An gosh got to give props to the mc, with how she had such a gruesome an nasty thing happen infront of her an she was still brave enough to do a task that she knew was right in the beginning of the book.

I went into this book with an open mind and really wanted to like it. The story was there- it was imaginative and had some really great fantasy elements and unique pieces (the raek). I enjoyed the protagonist and her personality, and how she develops throughout the book. I also thought it was fairly well paced and flowed from one scene to another. Where it fell flat for me was the writing. I really struggled to get through this at points, especially the beginning. The ideas are there, the story is fun, but it felt clunky and unpolished.

This was a really enjoyable and quick read.

I really liked Meera, the main character and her journey of determining right from wrong and trying to do the right thing and having to face the consequences of her choices and actions throughout the book. However, the biggest problem that bothered me was her physical attraction to the king. Despite the fact that he's married, significantly older than her, her problems with his son, and the fact that she's trying to be a good person, this seemed very out of character.

I also really liked Cerun, the raek. I can't wait to learn more about him and his rider in the next book.

The plot is shaping up nicely, and I'm liking where I see it going. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

I loved the concept of this novel more than the actual novel. It was not bad by any means; it just felt a bit clunky and sewn together. The writing style wasn’t a good match for me unfortunately. The Raeken were definitely the highlight for me and I loved them.

Iron-Bound Flames is the first book in a five book fantasy series, The Raek Riders, set to be released at the same time. In this first one we follow Meera as she works at the castle while her father is off fighting in the war. She doesn't need to work but she would rather not be alone.

What starts out as a job in the kitchen soon leads to spying for the king. But that's not all, for Meera has volunteered to feed and take care of the captive, fearsome raek, And what about his rider who was also captured? What starts out as a job for the king becomes something else as Meera fights for what is right.

This fantasy has an interesting concept. There are going to be five books in this series so we only learn a little about the world and raek with his rider. Iron-Bound Flames is all about Meera. We spend a lot of time with her and her daily activities.

The author does a good job getting the reader to feel what Meera is feeling. There is a lot of detail on the pain, anxiety, and tiredness she is going through. It's a lot at times but it is very effective. The raek and his rider are interesting and I look forward to learning more about them.

Despite all of the detail on Meera's thoughts and activities there is a lot of action. I found this to be a quick read and it leaves you wanting more.

The author is releasing all five books at once so readers won't have to wait to find out what happens. Iron-Bound Flames is clearly just the beginning so don't expect full explanations or a lot of things to be resolved. In fact it is a nice way to get the reader excited for one big story.

This is an incredible start for a series. It had kept my attention and intrigue throughout the whole story. This book has a way to grabbed my attention at the very start and it amazes me. This book has a slow going pace, I love how the author drag the plot as slow as possible but it did not made the book boring. In fact, it kept me entertained until the last pages. I did not even realized that I've finished the entire book.

Meera as a main character is fascinating to read. I love how compassionate and empathetic she is. Her evolution throughout the book is interesting to follow. She's very kind but not in a way that naive. It's so heart-warming to follow her as a character. Despite being kind, Meera has also her own strength in dealing with obstacles. The contrast between her being kind and being clever is mixed well.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book. It's a a bit lighter than my usual fantasy reads, but kept me entertained until the very end. I am so interested to explore more of Meera's adventures in the next book of this series. Highly recommend this one!

This book feels to me as though it’s still in its beginning stages, which is to say that the writing could use some polish. The concept is an interesting one, but the writing and character interactions are clunky.

Meera is a young servant girl working in the palace kitchens when she finds herself volunteering to care for a raek — a dragon-like creature that was captured and has been contained on palace grounds.

From page one there are many issues I had with the writing style. It goes from action to action, never giving the reader any time to sit in the environment and atmosphere of the story as it jolts you along. Stylistic prose starts off as virtually nonexistent within the narrative. To be blunt, there is no thought as to how to grip the reader and pull them into the world. The entire focus is on achieving XYZ within a scene, rather than interweaving that goal into the world and plot. The prologue opens with Meera being jostled through the castle as everyone rushes outside to see the raek; nothing beyond this happens. The next chapter opens with Meera in the kitchen and we spend the entire time in her head, thinking of her father and peeling potatoes. In fact, another major problem with this book is that Meera doesn’t speak at all until we are twenty-one pages into the book (about 6% deep). Much of it is telling and not bothering to show; we’re told about Meera’s relationships with the other servants, but are rarely shown through character action or dialogue. Instead, we’re given unnecessary information – for example: “When she left, she used a chamber pot in a room at the end of the hall dedicated to their use then made her way down the narrow spiral stairs toward the kitchen.” The audience does not need to know she used her chamber pot before going down to the kitchen. The book is bogged down with the weight of scenes that should have been cut down and tightened. We spend a page and a half or so of Meera peeling potatoes at a point in the book where she has not even so much as uttered a word. There are many scenes like this within the book that make it feel slower than it actually is.

Tonal issues are another challenge the story faces as this does not read at all in the beginning as though this will be a dark story; that is, until we are reading descriptions of mutilated corpses. I want to say that I have no issues with darker or more gruesome stories, not at all. It's not so much the content as the way it is presented when the opening felt like an introduction to a lighter fantasy world. There’s a sudden shift in tone that is jarring to read when you get to the portion about the corpses. (This is a sidebar, but another thing that bothered me was when Meera began gathering the corpses up. I mean…I know that the author is trying to convey a sweet and empathetic character, but this was a very strange way of doing it. Not only is the tone off and weird, but she is touching these bodies with her bare hands of her own accord. I understand that she may not know how diseases are spread as this is a fantasy world, but I would still expect her to not want to touch bodies with blown open heads directly. There’s only so far I can suspend my disbelief. If the goal was to have Meera want the corpses to be buried – which is a fine motivation – then I would expect her to try and question the guards who are standing watch nearby as to how to transport their bodies first at the very least. If the corpses were left because they are too close to the raek’s cage to retrieve, then I would expect her next rational thought to be to reason with the raek again to allow people near to move them.)

Moschella has an idea of what she wants to do with her story, but Iron-Bound Flames is all over the place. I think there were certainly positives – I love seeing Meera as a softer protagonist who sees the good in all. I liked that there is a nonbinary character, even if I don’t quite adore the execution. When there is personality within the prose I enjoy it. In my opinion, there could truly be potential here if this story were to go through a few more drafts. As it stands now however – this book is confusing and jumbled, full of unexpected shifts in tone, and sagging with the weight of unnecessary information and writing cliches.

Exciting start to what I hope will be a grand adventure. This book was a lot of world building and set up for the rest of the series. We got a taste of the different characters and the excitement to come. I look forward to reading what comes next.

“Being a scholar doesn’t mean I know everything or even many things, it means I’m painfully aware of how little I know”

Storyline: 4
The story was compelling and well paced, there are characters and events that appear to be well placed foreshadowing (I hope).
Enjoyment: 4
I really like led this book, enough so that by the end I was glad that there was a snippet of the next book, because I was ready to dive in to the rest of the series!
Readability: 3.5
Easy to follow. I hope there is an additional editorial pass before final publication as there were some spelling and grammatical errors that pulled me from the story. Also, overuse of exclamation points outside of dialogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Melanie Moschella for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

I've been reading a lot of "rider" stories recently (mostly dragons) and this one finally gave me what I wanted! Raeken aren't dragons, technically, but they are mostly dragons... but feathery! The feathers do actually make an exciting difference for me visually.

The story kept me engaged the whole way through and the protag, Meera's, relationship with the captive dragon/ride pair was heartfelt and well realized. You don't get to see a lot of the wider setting outside of Meera's book learning, as her view of the world starts off fairly small, but it was enough for me to want to hear more. The bond between the Raek and Meera felt real and earned, even though most of it was wordless on one side. I felt for Meera's sense of loneliness throughout the story and I honestly can't wait for the series to be released so I can find out where her development goes.

There's a lot of what you could call "hurt/comfort" in this story which I ate up. Meera is caring, but not in a way that she feels boring or one note. She's an interesting mixture of thoughtful and impulsive, and the book stays close to her emotional journey. which really worked for me. Even when she was being a bit silly, you could feel where she was coming from. Her victories feel earned.

Also, Raek are very cool fantasy creatures, and the rendering on the cover is beautiful. Cerun sounds like such a pretty boy and I loved him. (Cerun is the Raek... I guess his rider is okay too.)

I feel like I'm descending into rambles, but I was just quite happy with this. The only part I didn't like she when she felt ambivalently hot for the King (girl, I CANNOT relate) but that's just me. Thankfully, that wasn't lingered on too much.