Ziva, Kellyn, and Petrik are racing to Prince Skiro's palace with a mortally wounded Temra to find a magically gifted healer. When they arrive, they discover the healer has been kidnapped by Prince Ravis. In order to save Temra, Ziva must first rescue the healer. In the process, she and Kellyn are taken hostage, and Ziva is forced to do the one thing she never wanted to do: make magical weapons for those who would use them to cause harm. Prince Ravis intends to take the entire kingdom for himself. What can one magically gifted smithy do to prevent a tyrant's takeover, and will Ziva and Kellyn ever be together?

Will be published on Forever Young Adult's blog on 7/25/22.

Careful, Sweetie: spoilers! This is the first book in the Bladesmith duology, so if you haven’t read the previous one, you should probably hop back in the TARDIS and go curl up by the pool in the library with the first book before continuing.

Cover Story: Serviceable

I’d like to think the cover artist was trying to evoke the smithing process with these covers. First the metal needs to be heated (first cover) and then once it’s done it’s thrust into water to stop the process (second cover). From that perspective, I like it. The cover itself on its own, well…it’s not the most interesting one I’ve seen, but Ziva’s hammers are a big part of the story.

The Deal:

Kymora the Warlord has been captured, but it came at a high cost: Ziva’s sister, Temra, was gravely wounded and is fighting for her life. Ziva is pushing her ragtag band of travelers to the limits to get them to Prince Skiro in order to obtain the help of a magical healer. Unfortunately, the healer has been kidnapped by another of the late king’s power-hungry children, and now Ziva, Petrik, and Kellyn have to pull off a rescue attempt.

But going deep into enemy territory yields some unexpected twists and turns, and it’s not just Temra’s fate that feels like it rests on Ziva’s shoulders, but the entirety of Ghadra’s.

BFF Charm: Let Me Love You

As someone who’d rather be alone, living a quiet life, the events of the last few months have been extra torturous on Ziva. She’s grappling with overwhelming anxiety, guilt, anger, fear—you name it, she’s probably had a mini panic attack about it. She doesn’t really need me because she’s got great people surrounding her (and she’s stronger than she thinks!) but I couldn’t help but want to give her a big hug now and then.

Swoonworthy Scale: 8

In her author’s note, Tricia says she promised her readers after The Shadows Between Us that she’d give us more kissing scenes, and I think she fulfilled her promise here! Ziva is angry at Kellyn for not saving her sister at the end of Blade of Secrets, but thankfully she doesn’t spend the entire book shunning him. What Tricia gives us instead is a worthy romantic lead: Kellyn is kind and respectful of Ziva’s boundaries and lets her work out her fears without pushing her, but he’s also down for making out in a dusty, unused room whenever and wherever they’ve got time. THIS is the way to make a genuinely “good boy” book boyfriend not boring.

Talky Talk: Comfort Reads

So I accidentally read this in one sitting overnight (at least I picked a Saturday night instead of a weeknight! Progress!). After I was done, I was happy and satisfied, and I think that’s what I like about Levenseller’s style. Her writing is relatable and her worlds easy to fall into, and she’s giving me a story with plenty of hardship and issues and character growth, but she’s also providing satisfying endings that aren’t there to pull the rug out from under me. A bittersweet or sad ending has its place, but I read for many reasons, and one is because I need a stress-relieving escape.

Bonus Factor: Magic

We know Ziva has magical smithing abilities, but in the first book she spends most of her time running from danger. In this book she’s got longer stretches with access to a forge, as well as being able to connect with other magic-users, and it allows her to explore her abilities in new ways.

Bonus Factor: Mental Health Representation

We also dive deeper into Ziva’s anxiety issues in this book as she tries to cope with all the stressful situations she’s been thrust into. Levenseller does a great job portraying Ziva’s fears and concerns—like at some point I started feeling a little overwhelmed myself—BUT she also has Ziva learning about ways to work through her anxieties, like reframing her negative self-talk and asking people for what she needs at the moment. It’s not a cure-all, and Ziva is never “fixed”, but she does gain more confidence in herself. It’s not something you see often in YA books, and especially not in a fantasy, and I think it’ll be a great boon for many readers to see a main character going through similar struggles.

Anti-Bonus Factor: War

For someone who creates weapons that are, ah, generally for ending someone’s life, Ziva is very uninterested in taking another life. She’ll do what she needs to protect those she loves, but violence is a terrible thing, and Levenseller doesn’t pull her punches when she describes how damaging it is and the toll it can take on your psyche.

Relationship Status: Old Friends

After all our time spent on the road together, Book, it just felt right when we met back up again to exchange details on how our lives have gone since we last parted. You had some wild stories to tell! I’m always rooting for you to live your best life. Let’s catch up again soon, okay?

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Feiwel & Friends. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. Master of Iron is available on July 27, 2022.

I love this book. Ziva and her gang is back as they trie to save her sister and the rest of the world. The main character of Ziva is such a relatable character., who has to find her courage to do what she must to save everyone. For people who like books that contain adventure, romance, and magical swords this book is a must.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of the novel. This was the second book in a dualogy and picks up where the first leaves off. A great conclusion with all the characters from the first. Love this author!!!!

The various kingdoms and cities were introduced in a way that I truly loved, and the world-building was fascinating to read about. Sincerely, I would have liked to learn more about the kingdoms of the other siblings and how they were different from the ones we did visit.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel! 4/5 stars.

This is the second book in the duology, and I absolutely loved the first...so being able to read the ARC of the second was a treat. It picks up right where it left off -- so spoilers ahead for Blade of Secrets -- and this one was significantly more action packed and gory than the first one.

Ziva remains such an interesting character to me. I love how the anxiety and social anxiety and panic attacks are articulated in this duology, and I think Ziva could truly resonate with many teenage (and older) readers with how the anxiety manifests. Kellyn remains a sweetheart, and I loved seeing their relationship grow. Kellyn and Ziva's relationship also shows compassion -- especially when Ziva struggles with anxiety. Temra and Petrik's side story was cute too, but a LOT of this book focuses on Ziva and Kellyn since Temra and Petrik are MIA for much of it (without saying too much for spoilers).

Also, yeah, I wasn't expecting the twist and the plot turn that happened. I didn't really know where the plot was going up until the plot turn, but I don't think I was expecting it? While it was definitely more gory and gruesome than the first book, I really enjoyed this duology. I wish more would have expanded on the magic that Ziva and apparently only a few others have, but this is a good duology and I highly recommend it!

I really loved Blade of Secrets. Tricia Levenseller has a blunt way of writing. Her characters say then do, but it works well!

Master of Iron picks up right where Blade of Secrets stopped. Ziva and her crew are trying to save her sister from her injuries. This installment has more battles, more court life. a little more romance, and ACTION. I loved the battle scenes. Ziva really steps into her personality and grows. Her transformation from the first book is great. I absolutely love her.

All in all, a solid conclusion to the duology.

Tricia Levenseller just knows what's up. I have really liked everything she's ever written, but I was especially excited about this follow-up to Blade of Secrets, which I really loved. The same characters are all back, along with some new ones, and we pick up immediately where we left off in Blade of Secrets, with Ziva and her crew rushing to get her sister Temra to a magical healer. Ziva, Kellyn, and Petrik have the warlord Kymora in chains and are taking her to be imprisoned by Petrik's half-brother, Prince Skiro. When they arrive, they find that Skiro's brother, Prince Ravis, has captured the magical healer and is keeping her hidden in his castle. A rescue mission ensues and goes awry, leaving Ziva and Kellyn captured by Ravis and Ziva forced to created magicked weapons for him with her gift. This book is pretty brutal, with several battle scenes that come with a high head count, but I felt like Levenseller handled the brutality well. Ziva's intense social anxiety and panic attacks are also handled carefully, and I appreciate that she still gets to be a badass heroine even while she's struggling. Another hit for me from Levenseller!

I first fell in love with Tricia Levenseller's writing when I picked up THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US. I was thrilled to pick up BLADE OF SECRETS and loved the versatility and creativity of Levenseller's storytelling. Such different adventures, characters, and motivations, but both equally unique and entertaining. BLADE OF SECRETS ended in a bit of a cliffhanger so I was beyond excited when NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends gave me the opportunity to read and review an eARC of MASTER OF IRON.

Overall, I feel like BLADE OF SECRETS and MASTER OF IRON would have been more effective as a standalone, but I understand it would have made for a really long novel. It took me a quarter of the novel to get into MASTER OF IRON and had this not been an eARC I was reviewing for NetGalley, I might not have finished it. Ravis very much felt like a caricature, so I was never really afraid of him as the villain, and all that romantic tension between Kellyn and Ziva that I loved in the first book didn’t seem as apparent in the first portion of the novel. However, after about the 25% mark, the story picked up again. I really loved Ziva's character development over the course of the two novels and where she ends up at the end of MASTER OF IRON. The ending for Kellyn and Ziva is satisfying. The representation of Ziva's anxiety is so important and nice to see in YA fantasy. While I didn't love MASTER OF IRON as much as BLADE OF SECRETS, I will ultimately still recommend the duology to others.

This book picks up right where the last one left off: <spoiler>Kymora in chains, everyone racing to save Temra's life, and Ziva irrevocably angry with Kellyn.</spoiler>. As they search for a magical healer, Ziva finds herself captured again and forced to magick weapons for a power-hungry despot intent on world domination. Once her refuge, the forge has become another tormentor for Ziva. Can she figure out a way to escape and save those she loves? Can she work through the anxiety to do what she knows must be done? Can Ziva learn to trust those around her and open herself up to the possibilities of both love and pain?

The characters are believable and the character development works - the reader buys into the ways they relate to each other and grow and change. The plot is fast-paced and kept me reading. And, as with the first installment, the world-building is effortless and just flows without the reader even thinking about it. I don't know if the author struggles with anxiety, but I have two children who do and from what I can tell, the portrayal in this book is spot on: the good and the bad.

This is an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the story and I highly recommend it! (You must read Blade of Secrets before reading this one!) 5 enthusiastic stars


Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a brilliant sequel!

I have so many positive things to say. This was such an adventure. It was perfectly paced, finding that careful balance between action and danger and reflective, emotional bits. The Anxiety/Panic rep in this series is bar none, I have quite literally never seen it handled so perfectly and accurately. Ziva suffers from absolutely crippling anxiety, and we have a look inside her head both while she is in the throws of panic as well as when she is able to quietly challenge and reframe her thoughts. The supporting characters uplift her perfectly, being able to sit with her, calm her and validate her when she needs them to, but still live their own lives fully and unapologetically.

This brings me to the romance… Ugh 😍. I wasn’t that wild about Ziva and Kellyn I’m the first installment, but they were so incredibly adorable in this one. Kellyn brings out the best in Ziva, and helps her find the voice she’s been stuffing down for her entire life. Her reminds her I’d her plethora of strengths, and points out when she is negating her own achievements in favor of tearing herself down and drowning in her fear. They had so many sweet moments, I absolutely ate it up.

There is a part of me that wishes this world was a bit better fleshed out, but I think that this duology is better fit for when you’re looking for a fantasy that isn’t going to stuff your brain with world building, but rather give you a fun adventure with magic and danger and battles, and just enough explanation to make it all fit together without any gaps.

This was my second duology by Tricia Levenseller, and I can say without a doubt that I can always expect a worthwhile read from her. This is exciting and fast-paced, reflective and exploratory. It’s focuses on good triumphing over evil and a girl learning to trust herself despite her internal struggles. I adored it.

Thank you to Macmillan Childrens, Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title before publishing!

Pretty convenient plot with a rather juvenile set of characters. Still enjoyable easy read that did a good job tying up the storyline!

Thank you the arc NetGalley!

4.5/5

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan publishing for an eARC.

This is a fantastic ending to this series. Every single character’s story and relationships are tied with a bow by the end of the book.

I love how the flaws of the characters are acknowledged. Everyone knows that Ziva can be pretty selfish at times, but they understand why and help her see why that’s the wrong thing to do. I like how you can feel that Ziva and her sister have history even though most of it is off page. They have a strong bond that can be seen in how deeply they care for each other.

I also love Ziva’s romance with Kellyn. They compliment each other so well and have some adorable moments together. Sometimes couples get boring when they’re together, but that didn’t happen to them.

Some scenes felt like it would’ve been better as a bonus scene in a special edition. There’s a scene Kiva listening to Temra’s conversation with another character that feels a little weird. I think it also should’ve some up in a conversation between Ziva and Temra. It was odd how it was never mentioned again even though Ziva often thinks about how she felt in different embarrassing moments for her.

A sister on the brink of death, a healer to rescue, a war on the brink, and a relationship that might not make it out of the war alive... smithy Ziva has her work cut out for her. Picking up where the first book left off, Ziva’s sister Temra was mortally wounded and Ziva, Petrik, and Kellyn have to get her to a healer or else she’ll die... unfortunately for them said healer has been kidnapped and with the clock ticking they’ll have to find a way to steal her back in time to heal Temra. Ziva is still reeling from the emotional damage she took and not only blames herself but Kellyn for saving her instead of saving her sister... so when they do end up rescuing the healer... only one person has made themselves the distraction and didn’t plan on making it back so that Ziva could save her sister... but there is no way that Ziva will ever let Kellyn die for her, so she breaks off the portal and now finds herself taken hostage by the ruler who threatens to kill Kellyn if she doesn’t make weapons for him to overthrow her home. With enemies at every turn, Ziva will have to find a way to not only escape with Kellyn but to save her home and the people before its too late. On top of that she has to deal with acknowledging her feelings for Kellyn and asking herself if she can forgive him for saving her. This was a great way to end the duology, it wraps up all the storylines and the character arcs ended beautifully. ( Not gonna lie I would absolutely be down for a bonus book with Kellyn and Ziva’s life and relationship afterwards). The struggles and fears that Ziva have are relatable and just how supportive, caring, and sweet Kellyn is, is just amazing. I had a blast reading this series and can’t recommend it enough for anyone who likes fantasy romances!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Series Info/Source: This is the 2nd (and final) book in the Bladesmith duology. I got an eGalley of this book through NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: This was a wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The world is fun, the magic well done, the story is fast-paced and the characters are fantastic.

We start out this book with Ziva and crew racing to get her sister, Temra, help. From there Ziva, Kellyn, Temra, and Petrik are quickly drawn into what could quickly turn into a war. Ziva must decide if she will use her magic to make weapons to support the war. She is strongly against creating more weapons for killing and is struggling with the worth of her magic. Ziva is also struggling with her anxiety disorder and with learning how to trust others.

There is some romance here and it was very well done but not the main point of the story. The story is more about Ziva growing in her magic use, learning to deal with her anxiety, and figuring out how to contribute to the defense of the country in a way she is comfortable with (without creating weapons to kill people).

The writing flows well, this is very entertaining and easy to read. The story is fast-paced and I enjoyed every minute of it!

My Summary (5/5): Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this. This was an incredible story with a lot of magic, great characters and a wonderful world. It wrapped up the duology beautifully and I am eager to see what Levenseller writes next. So far all of her fantasy books have been fantastic and I am dying to read more!

Exciting conclusion!! So happy I got to read this early and not see any spoilers. Definitely best read without seeing anything another blurb. Live in the moment.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan for the eARC!

4 stars :)))

"Master of Iron" was an addictive and exciting read that I could not put down. We're following Ziva and her friends after the events of "Blade of Secrets" and I can't believe I practically read this book in less than a day. There was a lot more politics in this book compared to the main element of adventure in the last book, but I was constantly invested and never bored. Also, despite the amount of politics and strategic planning, there were several mini adventures sprinkled throughout the plot before the main action even happened. So as a result there was that constant feeling of anticipation for what was going to happen to the characters as they rarely seemed to get breaks from the action going on around them. And the romance in this book, the main couple and the side ones, were so well developed and fun to read about.

I really enjoyed the introduction of the different kingdoms and cities as well and the world-building was very interesting to read about. I honestly wish we got to see more of the other siblings' kingdoms and how they differed from the ones we did see.

One of my favorite parts about this book would probably be the mental health representation, though. It was extremely refreshing as it's rare to find anxiety portrayed in an accurate light in any book, let alone in fantasy with the constant threat of danger and need for adventure. However, Ziva set a standard that I'm not sure many other characters will be able to meet up to. Her intrusive thoughts, nervous habits, dislike for socializing, etc. didn't make her any less of a strong and interesting protagonist to read about. In fact, seeing her emotional journey and constant battle with her own head resonated with me a lot and I'm sure it will with a lot of other readers as well. Seeing that she had a strong support system and people who really cared about her and tried their best to understand her was very heartwarming to read about.

This book and these characters, particularly Ziva, will stay with me for a long time and I'll probably be recommending this book to just about everyone I know.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I love this author and her work and she just keeps getting better and better with age.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a ARC copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ziva, Temra, Petrik and Kellyn have defeated Kymora. Secret Eater is now safe, buried to the hilt in stone. Only a true hero with true intentions, can pull the sword free(ummm, Tricia, are we about to have a King Arthur retelling?!?!). While everything may be looking up, things are going downhill quickly. Temra was gravely injured and it’s up to a magical healer in Skiro to save her. It’s a race against the clock to save Temra but it’s not going to be easy.

Upon arriving in Skiro, we learn that the magical healer has been taken to King Ravis’ territory. Well, stolen is more apt definition. Petrik, Ziva and Kellyn all attempt a rescue mission and soon discover the real reason behind the kidnapping.

The story continues as Ziva tries to help save all of Ghadra from losing their freedom to a tyrant. But who is the real tyrant? Who is playing a double agent? Can Ziva overcome her anxiety to be the woman she was destined to be? Can she and Kellyn make up? What about Temra and Petrik? Can a regular old blade smith with anxiety save the realm?

Y’all, Levenseller could write the phone book and I would read it. This is my third book by her and it keeps getting better and better. I was not expecting some of the twists and turns of the series. But I also really appreciated the representation of real anxiety and panic attacks. I’ve only read one other book (see Glass Hearts by Danica Raimz) that had really good representation on what it was like to have a panic attack. So seeing it so well represented was like a breath of fresh air.

As many know, Levenseller is known for her Slytherin romances. And when most think of Slytherin, they think of loud mouth Draco. But there are other personalities in Slytherin. Ones who are cunning but quiet. Ones who are ambitious but in a different way. It was great to see that represented as well. There was also PoC representation as well as plenty of LQBTQ representation.

I really enjoyed this book and if she puts out another in this universe, I will be first in line! Who am I kidding? Anything Levenseller and I’m there.

I love Levenseller's books and Master of Iron was no exception. It was a just what I was looking for in a conclusion to this duology. I love these characters, especially Ziva, and love how Levenseller handled the anxiety piece of her character. It was nice to see that growth and representation. Can't wait to see what this author writes next.