This is a debut book in the fantasy genre for this author.

It was a difficult read to get into for me, but once the action picked up it became a page turner.

Charlotte is a strong headed and not so levelheaded MFC. Thought the author does a good job of developing this skill in her throughout the story.

Luc is your run of the mill MMC "bad boy", though again the author did a decent job bring depth to his character.

The light vs dark theme in the book is very evident. The use of herbal magic was a great new twist in magic use in a fantasy.

Over all I enjoyed the story and look forward to more fantasy from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Holiday House / Peachtree for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Lady of Steel and Straw" by Erica Ivy Rodgers offers a rich and immersive YA fantasy world filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists. Set against the backdrop of a society inspired by French history, the book introduces you to a unique blend of magic and political intrigue that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely loved the unique world that Rodgers created. I have never read a book quite like this one before with the worldbuilding and the specific plot. While there were some cliché troupes throughout the book, the world in which they were established was so engaging and fresh that I fell in love with those troupes all over again.

I found this book to be a refreshing take on the YA fantasy genre. I’ve found myself growing a bit tired of YA fantasy books recently as they all seem the same. However, in this book, the use of scarecrow warriors imbued with magical powers adds a fresh twist to the story, offering something new to explore within the familiar landscape of fantasy literature. The characters, particularly Charlotte and Luc, had excellent depth and development throughout the story. As a reader, you were able to see these characters grow and transform before your eyes, and I absolutely loved the dynamic between these two. Also, the relationship between Charlotte and her parental figure, Worth, offered a welcome departure from the typical focus on romantic relationships, which I definitely enjoyed.

The pacing of the novel was on point as it was a fast read despite being over 400 pages long. At several points throughout the book, I found myself unable to put the book down as I found myself immersed in the worldbuilding while also still being engaged with the plot points. The story's twists and mysteries were well written. I did think the ending was a bit hasty, though that may be due to the author wanting to set up for a sequel, which I wasn’t expecting. I think a little more time could have been spent on the ending, but I am definitely eagerly waiting for the sequel.

Overall, "Lady of Steel and Straw" was such a fun and imaginative YA fantasy! Despite some familiar tropes, the book stands out as a must-read for fans of YA fantasy looking for a fresh take on the genre.

I want to say thank you to NetGalley and the publisher to have this amazing opportunity to receive this arc.
When I first got this arc, I didn’t think I was even going to get one.
Now to my review.
I literally loved this book. I could not put this down. The different point of views, the strong minded and character of charlotte. Love.
To get to know more about Luc and Worth,
Can’t wait to actually get the physical copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself eagerly turning the pages. I hadn't realised it was the start of a series though so had thought everything would be wrapped up although hastily admit I'd definitely read the next book. Apparently the author was inspired by the ideas behind the Three Musketeers by Dumas and having finished it I can quite see what she has tried to incorporate.
A world were once Spirits were trapped as Wraiths and controlled by those who understood the Dark. Yet into this came Immortals who literally gave their lives to lay those tormented and used to rest. Fast forward though and those of the Order ( imagine they are trapped as scarecrow while sleeping) are apparently not needed but about to have their hearts quite literally ripped out and given to the Prince and his Cardinal who advises him. Yet Worth, the first of these Immortals is woken by a grieving, vengeful Charlotte who saw the evil the Cardinals men are capable of and there fellow reader is were this story truly begins !
Yes things happen very quickly in the beginning and it held my attention but honestly the second half definitely ups the ante. I really enjoyed the banter and obvious affection between these characters and it was always obvious just who the big bad was but even then there's surprises waiting. Good versus evil is a definite theme and if you enjoy magic then the ideas here involving bone magic will most assuredly be entertaining. This ends with hope as heroes live to fight another day but there's about to be monumental change amongst those who protect although sadly my lips are sealed. Honestly I look forward so much to what happens next and hop the wait won't be too long.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

This was a brand new author to me and I was very intrigued by the description of this. I this this was a wonderful book and very well done. I loved the Wizard of Oz references and lore, and was really into the world created here. It had a great cast of characters and a plot that kept me hooked the entire time. I can see a lot of people loving this book and it becoming popular. Can't wait to see what this author does next!

I loved the fantasy elements to this book, it had that young adult element that I was hoping for. I enjoyed the idea that the main character had a dark gift and enjoyed the overall feel of Lady Charlotte. The plot was beautifully done and left me wanting to read more in this world. Erica Ivy Rodgers had a great writing style and can't wait for more. The cover was beautifully done and I'm glad I got to read this.

I enjoyed Lady of Steel and Straw. It contains many standard YA fantasy tropes, but the premise of the Guardians brings a wonderful freshness which makes it still manage to stand out from others in the genre. The idea of these spirit-powered scarecrow warriors really struck a chord with me: it was compelling and new and worked really well within the plot. Charlotte annoyed me a little at times as she caused so many issues simply by her own erratic behaviour, but her development within that sphere and her relationships with the other characters were well portrayed. Luc felt somewhat of a stereotype at first, but towards the end of the book we learnt more about his background which helped to flesh him out. Overall, the book held my interest from start to finish and when I closed the last page I was left wanting to read on in the series. As such, I am giving this one 4.5 stars and would recommend it to fans of YA fantasy looking for something with a new twist.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson, this YA fantasy contains:

⚔️ Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
🩶 Light x Dark
🩷 Slowburn Full of Tension
🍀 Heartwarming Chosen Family
⚜️ Three Musketeers-inspired Setting
🪦 A Thoughtful Approach to Death and Mourning
✨An Extremely Unique Magic System

It's not everyday that you jump into an ARC, expecting to have a good time but not much else, to find yourself completely enamored by a beautifully crafted story that deals with sensitive themes and crafts emotionally compelling, vivid characters in such a way that you cannot seem to put the book down. Even when you have a university paper due the next day, true story.

I'll try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible because I'd like other readers to have the same experience I did. I went into the book blind, and it was as if I were transported to the world within. Erica's prose is absolutely lovely, with none of the well-known clunkiness of some YA titles to be seen. It flows naturally and gracefully without being pompous or try-hard. The dialog is realistic, and each character has a tone of their own. I can fully recommend this book to adult readers; you will not have the feeling of being talked down to, and I'm sure more mature readers will appreciate the way certain topics are approached in the story.

I would also like to highlight a few stand-out aspects of the story, starting with Charlotte and Worth's relationship. It's very rare to see in a YA book a main character who has their growth and discovery journey accompanied by a parental figure instead of a love interest. This book does it impeccably; their care and love for each other is palpable from the moment we are introduced to them, but the rocky patches and frustrations are also emotional and realistic. The other characters that make up the core cast are also refreshing. St. Claire and Lorraine were highlights to me, as we rarely get older female characters so well written and fleshed out, and in an YA book, a main character has their growth and discovery journey accompanied by a parental figure instead of a love interest. This book does it impeccably; their care and love for each other is palpable from the moment we are introduced to them, but the rocky patches and frustrations are also emotional and realistic. The other characters that make up the core cast are also refreshing. St. Claire and Lorraine were highlights to me, as we rarely get older female characters so well written and fleshed out and in such prominent roles in fantasy.

That doesn't mean the love interest is sidelined; Luc is a main character of his own, boasting of his own point of view in the book (which I always appreciate). Something that made me realize from the get-go I was in for a fantastic book was the way his first meeting with Charlotte is described and how he's, well, not a copy paste of every chiseled jawline brooding impossibly perfect love interest; Luc feels real. And so do his struggles, mainly his grapple with his own religion, which puts him against Charlotte and her friends. And yes, the book does deal with religious themes, but another thing that elevates the writing and worldbuilding to me is that none of the two religions have a 1:1 real-life counterpart, which I feel can sometimes unecessarily make readers feel demonized. Both religions in the book are unique in their beliefs and societal arrangements, and the religious conflict is written with sensibility and care.

And the twists! The mysteries that slowly unraveled themselves left me gripping at my seat, especially during the latter half of the book and everything that surrounded the villain.

Lady of Steel and Straw is an uncontested five-star read to me that's going straight into my favorites shelf and my heart. You should definitely read it. The only complaint I have is that I don't have the second book on my hands to continue reading right away.

The only thing that was nice in this, for me, was the magic system based on scarecrows that have the power to ward off the dangerous wraiths that threaten to take over Niveaux. It feels a bit like a darker Wizard of Oz at times, so not a wholly original concept but an interesting and refreshing one that I was roped in by this alone into reading the book.

(Full review in link)