Although this was a short story, it certainly packed a punch.

The characters are well developed and the story moved at a good pace.

As with all short stories it did feel rushed and left me wanting more.

The Iron Children is hard to categorize as a story. It's definitely a novella in length--less that 200 pages--and outstanding in the world building. It's part fantasy, part science fiction, part religious commentary, and all fascinating.

I was blown away by Rebecca Fraimow's mastery of story craft. In the space of roughly half the length of most novels, Rebecca creates relatable characters, a complex world, high-stakes conflict, an established military hierarchy, and a complicated belief system. I've read (and enjoyed) novels with more pages and less substance that The Iron Children. Seriously, my hat's off to Fraimow.

Told in alternative points of view, the reader is given insight into the world via Asher, a Sor-Commander novice; Barghest, a Dedicate sergeant; and the unnamed spy among the troops. Asher and Barghest's points of view are written third person while the spy's is written as first person. This is a clever writing choice because it keeps the reader questioning the spy's identity and building suspense until the pivotal "big reveal."

Overall, The Iron Children is an outstanding addition to both the science fiction and fantasy genres and is worth a read by anyone who enjoys blurring the lines between these genres.

On the surface, the story of "The Iron Children" is straightforward. A squadron commander is heading over a mountain to the war's front, accompanied by her squad and her novice Asher. After a surprise attack at night, several are wounded, and there are casualties, including the commander. The novice must step up and continue to lead the remaining wounded soldiers to the front, while navigating unfamiliar topography, and deal with her insecurities, as she's never led before. There's an additional wrinkle: one of the soldiers is a spy for the enemy, intent on stealing the commander's codes.

Now, imagine that the squad commander is an AI in a constructed body, the soldiers are multi-limbed cyborgs who are controlled telepathically by the AI, and the novice is in training to become a nun.

And instead of big, explodey conflicts we have quiet moments in the group, as injuries mount and morale wavers, rendering the heretofore faceless cyborgs increasingly vulnerable and human, and the novice doubting herself while navigating treacherous, unknown physical and mental terrain.

It's a skillful portrayal of character, a fascinating examination of duty and belief. It's also a surprisingly gentle, thoughtful story.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Rebellion for this ARC in exchange for my review.

In the war between the Csteli and the much larger Levastani Army, the Csteli have created magical exo-skeletons that turn their dedicated children into The Iron Children (ebook from Rebellion Publishing Ltd). Led by nuns whose souls have been downloaded into the mechanical body of the Sor. Asher is in training to become one of these Sor commanders. Her commander is wounded badly enough to be returned for repair, leaving her in charge. An earthquake throws a small platoon into disarray, making them vulnerable to the traitor dedicate among them. Rebecca Fraimow tells an intense war tale on a strange world. Recommended.

3.25

This was an interesting novella that packed a punch but still left me wanting. The plot is tight. It follows a novice who is quickly thrown into a position of power while traveling with a group of soldiers because the commander is incapacitated, except someone in the group is not who they seem.

I loved the atmosphere here. Rebecca Fraimow does a good job of setting up the cold isolated setting and I liked the way she utilized first person perspective to give us insight into the imposter and create that tension. This book also touches on a lot of themes like religion/faith/ideology and autonomy and humanity.

I did find the start a little jarring because Fraimow doesn’t hold back from the worldbuilding so by the time I felt settled into the world the book was basically over. I also found the non-perspective characters a little flat for my tastes, though that could be because of the length.

Overall, I thought this was spam interesting thought experiment and would love to read more from this author or in this world.

War unsurprisingly is often a tale of two sides. Clearly diplomacy has failed and now own side is going to have to lose or at best both sides rediscover the power of communication. War in fantasy tends to aim for the epic; the heroic but so often that one side is right. In Rebecca Fraimow’s fascinating science fiction novella The Iron Children we get a tale of a single entry in a larger conflict and get to witness it from both side’s point of view in a unusual way.

The Levestani forces have been battling the Celesti for many years trying to regain part of their empire. What is stopping them is the Celesti’s skill with metal - they have Sisters whose bodies are entirely now metallic offering speed and resilience and the form soldiers are the multi armed Dedicates - humans transformed into a mix of metal and flesh that the Sisters can at times control with their minds. One such mission in the mountains though goes wrong. The Sister is damaged after battle and sent home leaving a young Human Novice in charge of her Dedicates troop and unbeknownst to anyone a spy is now in the camp.

I was really impressed with this story. The simple plot of new and inexperienced officer in charge of a troop is used to tell us a fascinating tale about this world, it’s technology, beliefs and politics as well as delivering thoughts on who is human. We get our views switch from watching our Novice Agatha learning to take command contrasted with the great character of Sergeant Barghest - a very experienced veteran who kindly shows Agatha the ropes but doing it subtly (which is impressive when you have no face, four arms and a metal body) their dynamic throughout the story is fascinating watching them learn to work together and Agatha building her confidence.

But the great addition to the story is having a spy in the ranks who is disrupting things for their own purpose. Their identity is withheld from us first we just get to witness their thoughts and their hatred for the Celesti; which we find they were part of and why they can hide as a Dedicate in plain sight. Stuck on a remote volcanic ice volcano allows our spy to work out how to stop Agatha and seek their own goals. But throw in eruptions and unexpected geysers it all gets unpredictable. it’s a fascinating game of cat and mouse with neither fully aware what the other is up to with interesting twists as Agatha has the technology allowing her to enter Dedicate’s minds.

The ultimately impressive part of Fraimow’s storytelling is no one is truly shown as the evil enemy. This is a war and we hear how both sides have treated the other. They are equally culpable and also can justify their actions. War is not a game or that honourable and the interesting element is can the cycle be broken. Fraimow gets us to show even under metal exoskeletons these soldiers are people suffering their own loss and carrying their own fauna so we never actively hate anyone which is an impressive type of war story. This single skirmish does end in the novella but with characters in very different places to when we first met them and raises questions about what can happen next. I would be fascinated to visit this world again.

The Iron Children is a compelling SF war story but with unique worlds, characters and view of war to make it feel a refreshing take on a familiar subject. Definitely an author I will keep an eye out for more work from. Highly recommended!

The cover of The Iron Children is an instant attention grabber for those of us who love a good bit of Science-Fiction. Because what is better than a cyborg? We don't get real cyborgs but if you push through, this story will be worth it.

Let us start with what I think is the biggest let down for this novella is. And that is the amount of information you have to absorbe to get a good grasp on things. Especially in the first few pages terms like Sor-Commander, Dedicate and a control panel are being thrown at you. I had to go back to the synopsis to feel like I didn't miss a few installments. After the first 10-20 pages it gets better but I know that a steep learning curve like that will and can make some readers stop reading. Not everyone wants to put in that effort for a novella.

Having said I do think this novella is worth pushing through those first few pages. Ones you get a handle on the terms and the setting, a whole new world opens up. While we don't get cyborgs we get a type of hybrid. Humans that are in exoskeletons. The Sor-Commander is the leader of an unit who can control the Dedicates by a control panel. The dedicates are foot soldiers.

THis novella is about the foot soldiers. About the unit. About losing those around you. About what they had to give up (voluntarily or otherwise) to become a Dedicate. And while we get Asher mostly as a main character, the focus often lies on the Dedicates. She doesn't focus on keeping herself alive but on how to keep the unit together. And I think the strength of the novella lies with that.

I love both Sci Fi and Fantasy but more and more I'm drawn to the philosophical questions that great Sci Fi encourages us to explore. And Fraimow has asked some brilliant thought-provoking questions in this well crafted, clever Sci Fi novella.
Asher is a novice on a training run with her trainer. They are in charge of a group of Dedicates who are moving towards an encounter with the encroaching enemy, their neighbours from Levastani. Finding herself in charge and then with a traitor in her midst, Asher starts to question her role as commander-in-training as well as the way that soldiers are recruited, trained and used in war. It causes her to question her life-choices and soon she is battling both external and internal forces to successfully bring her battalion home.
A clever, well written novel with a slight hint of the great Murder-bot novels, The Iron Children really delivers and with hope Fraimow will continue to deliver stories of this world.

A fascinating story of soldiers surviving against treachery and the elements. This is an absolutely fast-paced read which I tore through in almost one sitting. It starts when Asher's commander is slain in a surprise attack, and it is left up to her to bring the surviving Dedicates, holy warriors both machine and flesh usually controlled at a distance by a Sor-Commander, across a mountain to their main fighting force. Unbeknownst to her, there is a traitor in her unit and the author does a great job keeping the reader guessing at who it might be. The novel, while short and light on worldbuilding, also manages to ask some interesting questions about autonomy and agency and consent while also serving up a real thriller. Although the resolution of the book felt open-ended and somewhat unresolved, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Hatchet by Gary Paulson or Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

"The Iron Children" is a dark and evocative young adult fantasy novel that explores themes of power, loyalty, and sacrifice. Set in a world where magic is both feared and revered, the story follows two main characters, Lynet and Rion, as they navigate a world of political intrigue and danger.

Lynet is a powerful mage, feared by many for her abilities to control metal and machinery. Her father, the king of their land, has used her powers to build a powerful army of machines, known as the Iron Children. But Lynet is also fiercely independent and determined to protect her people, even if it means defying her father's wishes and risking her own safety.

Rion is a young soldier who has been tasked with guarding Lynet and ensuring her loyalty to the king. He is fiercely devoted to his duty, but as he gets to know Lynet and sees the brutality of the king's methods, he begins to question whether he is on the right side of the conflict.

As the story unfolds, Lynet and Rion are thrown into a series of dangerous situations that force them to confront their own beliefs and allegiances. The world-building in "The Iron Children" is rich and immersive, and the author does an excellent job of creating a sense of tension and unease throughout the novel.

One of the strengths of the book is its portrayal of Lynet as a strong and complex female character. She is not defined solely by her magical powers, but rather by her determination to do what is right and protect those she cares about. Her relationship with Rion is also well-developed, and the slow burn romance between them adds another layer of tension to the story.

Another strength of "The Iron Children" is its exploration of the moral complexities of war and political power. The king's use of magic and machinery to create a powerful army raises questions about the nature of power and the cost of achieving it. The novel also touches on themes of colonization and exploitation, as the king's desire for control over neighboring lands puts him at odds with Lynet's desire for peace and cooperation.

Overall, "The Iron Children" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and political intrigue. The characters are well-drawn and the world-building is immersive, making for a rich and satisfying reading experience. While the book deals with some heavy themes, it also has moments of humor and heart, making it a well-balanced and engaging read. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.

Underwhelming, disappointed by the writing and thought that there were a lot more parts that could be explored in terms of the moral issues hinted at in the book. The world-building felt underdeveloped for an SFF book.

The Iron Children by Rebecca Fraimow will be out in early April; I read an ARC via Netgalley. In this novella, two countries are at war. The larger and more powerful Levastani want to take back the smaller country, which split off long ago due to their Celesti religious faith. The Celesti faith includes a strong belief in service, and in true speculative fiction fashion, some of their nuns gave up their bodies to become armored warriors who can telepathically control the bodies of armored Dedicate soldiers. If the Sor bodies are killed, usually the Sor can be moved into a new body. The Dedicates mostly originated as children orphaned by the war, who are now sealed within armor with an extra set of arms to aid them in battle, and a chip of “godstone” in their necks that allows the nuns, the Sor-Commanders, to control them at need. The Dedicates cannot remove their armor, and when they are killed, it is permanent. The story opens with a young nun in training, Asher, accompanying her Sor-Commander and a small group of Dedicates to the front, but then disaster strikes and Asher is left in command, relying heavily on Sergeant Barghest for advice and reconsidering all that she thought she knew about her world. Asher, Barghest, and a traitor in the group are all narrators at different points; their deep characterization enriched the worldbuilding and various ethical concerns of this intriguing secondary world. I would happily read about these characters again, to learn how their experiences in this story change them and their society.

I was really intrigued by the world shown in The Iron Children and felt quite invested in what would happen with the characters. However, I think this novella would work better if we knew it was part of a series - as a standalone, it feels rather incomplete. I would like to learn more about the Sisters, and the Dedicates - it wasn't always clear how their situations worked. Despite the short length of time we meet these characters for, and the multiple POVs (I particularly liked the switch from first to third person depending on who we were focussing on), the characters all feel well-developed and have clear motivations. I would be keen to read more from Rebecca Fraimow, and definitely anything else set in this world - however, as a singular instalment, I was left hoping for more.

I loved this book, I don't think I've read anything like this it's so different and it left me wanting to find out more about the world's and the people . I hope we here more from these characters in the future

THE IRON CHILDREN is a sci-fi novella about the morals and consequences of making people into soldiers. Here, their bodies are changed and their commanders have the ability to control their minds.

The book follows an inexperience novice thrust into command, a duty-driven sergeant, and a spy hiding in their midst. These perspectives allow for different approaches to the matter (is it right? Have they even considered it?) and how adversity, close quarters, and opening up changes opinions.

It's also a survival novella with the small cast the survivors after a brutal attack. They're thrown together, low on supplies, and with a broken command structure. That breakdown coupled with the stress really allows for stress to let things leak, and thus conversations that would not usually happen between these characters does.

I really liked the murky nature of the final choices made. Some were more "nope, out of here, it's wrong", others were seeing it in shades of grey and choosing what they saw to be the lesser of many evils. That grey area really fit with the tone of grappling with ethical dilemas.

This novella has three narrators, two of whom are in third person past tense. However, the enemy spy is written in first person past tense. It was a little jarring at first but I soon got used to it and it's a very effective way of showing the friction between the spy and the others by having that narrative voice so at odds.

I devoured The Iron Children in a matter of two days and found myself wishing for more. This is an excellent take on the military fantasy genre, featuring an isolated unit with a rookie commander, slogging through dangerous terrain with an imposter in their midst. The novel moves between three points of view: first, the aforementioned rookie commander, Asher; then, the Dedicate Sergeant Barghest, and finally, the infiltrator, whose name we don't learn until close to the end of the book.

Asher's task was supposed to be to learn and observe while Sor Elena, a soul in a metal body, actually commanded the troops of their unit. She was to assist Sor Elena with maintenance, study terrain, and learn all the things she needed to know about command before she shed her flesh body for a metal habit and became a Sor-Commander herself. Instead, Sor Elena's habit is injured in an ambush and has to be sent back, while Asher continues on to the front with the metal-clad but still flesh-bound Dedicates.

Barghest is the sergeant of the Dedicate unit assigned to Sor Elena, one of the oldest Dedicates, veteran of many battles. They care about their fellow Dedicates, which alternately clashes with and supports their sense of duty toward their country.

The infiltrator was made into a Dedicate but then escaped to the enemy country. Now their goal is to kill Asher, steal the command plate with which she can control the Dedicates, and suborn her unit of Dedicates to fight for their enemy.

I love the way all of these perspectives complicate each other and how the harrowing journey through the snowy mountains forces all the characters to confront each others' humanity, in all its many facets. This novel is a masterful first book, and I absolutely cannot wait for a possible sequel.

Fraimow has brilliantly crafted this war-torn world and its compelling characters in just 150 pages. While I was confused going in (and still don't understand whether this is part of a series?), I found the discussions of religion and autonomy to be unique and interesting. I would love to see more from this world.

PLOT: This story was so fun! It was fast paced and action-packed, but still had several moments where the reader could breathe. It follows Asher (a commander in training) and her team as they navigate the aftermath of an ambush.
Aside from all the cool lore/history, Rebecca Fraimow posed many interesting questions about religion, autonomy, and what it means to maintain your humanity. Truly a treat.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: It was really easy to care about (and empathize with) all the characters: the main protagonists, their chaotic team of Dedicates, and even the secret enemy that lurked among them. And, in the end, they all came out of their adventure with deeper insight—whether it was newfound empathy, confidence, or even a little bit of doubt.

WORLD BUILDING: The world in this book was fascinating. Although a bit loaded, the cohesive, easy-to-follow narration made it easier to understand the deeper intricacies behind the Levastani vs. Celesti conflict, the different ranks within Asher's team (Sor Commander, Sergeant, Dedicate, etc.), and the sacrifices they had to make to become a part of a greater(?) cause.

OTHER: If the author ever chooses to make this novella into a book, or a series, I will read it all.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Iron Children is a fast paced novella with a tight prose that doesn't waste any words.

The books main theme seems to ask the ethical question of how far should a country go in order to win their side of the war? And the author does this beautifully through the sci-fi lens.

There are no heroes or villains in this book. Cause like in real war both sides commit atrocities. Like in The Iron Children religion plays a big part in the kingdom of Cesteli where because of their gods they create the Dedicates and the Habited Sisters regardless of the atrocities that entails. And the Levastan kingdom condemn them for it but then if they had the means would turn around and do the exact same thing.

There are many shades of gray in this short but thought provoking book.

Absolutely fantastic novella about duty, loyalty, pietas, and free will, in a very cool sci-fantasy setting and with a perfectly-sized set of characters (a troop of cyborg-soldiers and a novice commander struggling over a blizzard-swept mountain). It's a tremendously rich world (amazingly so, for such a short piece), but all conveyed through how different religious, political, career, and personal histories have shaped the characters. Still, I really hope Fraimow returns to this setting.