That twist at the end....my jaw was on the floor I fear.

This is a previously independently published book being picked up for traditional publishing. I start off on that note because there are some significant errors in the ARC that really need to be addressed before the publish date in June. As just one example, the main character mentions the names of people that she doesn't meet for the first time until after she mentions them (which makes no sense!)

Brynn is our main character, and she's a member of the Alaha, a group of people who have been exiled and forced to live at sea. She's an outsider among them, training to be a guard, but is close friends with the son of the leader of the Alaha. The Alaha, although exiled, trade with the landed kingdoms, and the book begins with Brynn traveling to one of these markets in the Kenta kingdom for the first time. While there, she is accused of being a thief by a strange man, which leads to conflict between the Alaha and soldiers of the Kenta and risking the fragile peace that has existed between these groups for years. The strange man, Acker (sorry I just can't take that name seriously I truly wish he had like almost any other name), follows Brynn to the Alaha's location and tells her that she's not actually a member of the Alaha, but a princess of the Maile kingdom and was kidnapped by the Alaha. She helps Acker escape and adventures ensue as Brynn attempts to return to her homeland. Acker and Brynn were childhood friends and possibly more...but there are secrets held by all of the characters and a brewing conflict between the various kingdoms as they fight for land and power, with Brynn caught in the middle.

The twist tore me up like I can't believe that I really think I'm going to have to read the second book just to see how this goes. There were some moments where Acker kind of gave me the ick which is unfortunate since he is the love interest and it's like girl I have to say she kind of has more chemistry with her friend Messer but it is what it is. Acker is giving a men's rights vibe that I just don't appreciate. Free Brynn! FREE HER! You love her but you don't know her at all I'll say it!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I picked up this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect and now that I’ve finished it, I cannot wait for the sequel. This book felt so unique to me and had an amazing cast of characters. The romance was so fun and a lot of the twists surprised me. While the ending initially felt abrupt, a few days later I was able to appreciate the shocking twist and cliffhanger for the masterful choice it was. This is definitely worth picking up if you love romantasy books or if you’re interested in picking one up!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for the eARC.

I have heard so much about this book and it really did deliver on a crazy ending. Getting there was kind of shaky at first but this book was a wild ride and I could not put it down.

It left a lot of questions however and I am desperate for the next book. There is seriously a lot of things that were either forgotten about or just set aside for now. The vibes for this book were so good that I’m willing to over look that.

I really don’t want to spoil too much about the plot, characters and especially the ending. It’s really best if you don’t know too much before reading it.

I did enjoy it and it’s quick read despite being almost 500 pages! I love the short chapters which I feel most books really need to start doing.

Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider is a fantasy adventure set in a richly imagined world where the Alaha people have been cast out and forced to survive off-land, only visiting for brief moments to trade and resupply. Life on the water is all most Alaha ever know, and the book wastes no time immersing the reader in that unique, dangerous way of life.

We follow Brynn, a young Alaha girl in training to become a guard, as she travels to a market hosted by the land-dwelling Kenta. From there, the story slowly unfolds—introducing us to a mysterious stranger who seems to know more than he should, a treacherous journey over water, and magic no one was aware about.

The plot builds gradually, and while I enjoyed the ride from the beginning, I didn’t find myself fully hooked until the final two chapters. Up until then, I was hovering around a 3.5 to 3.75 star rating. The story was solid and the worldbuilding compelling, but I wasn’t entirely emotionally invested. Then, the plot twist hit: and it changed everything. It pulled everything I’d been reading into a new light and gave the entire narrative a sharper edge. That twist alone brought my rating up to a 4.25, because of how it reframed earlier moments in the book and made me want to go back and reread to spot the clues I missed.

As for the characters: Brynn is a strong lead, easy to root for, and her determination to protect her people and understand the truth gives the story a clear emotional center. Acker started off with a lot of promise—mysterious, confident, and interesting—but for me, he lost some momentum as the story progressed. His development didn’t quite keep pace with the stakes being raised, and I found myself more invested in the side characters than in him. Messer, though, completely stole the show for me. He is layered, complex, and so deeply loyal. He’s the kind of character who leaps off the page and stays with you long after you finish. I’d give my life for him, and I do not say that lightly.

The story itself is engaging, with a lot of heart and movement. The lore and magic are introduced slowly, but steadily enough that it doesn't feel lost. Even the more unbelievable elements (THAT PLOT TWIST) start to click when viewed through the lens of hindsight. There’s clearly a lot more to this world than what we’ve seen so far, and I’m curious to see where future books might take it.

Overall, Metal Slinger is a fresh fantasy with a strong heroine, a plot that builds to something truly satisfying, and a cast of characters worth following. Definitely a book worth reading.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Let’s talk about Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider

I can say without a doubt that I need book two right now. This book is so under-hyped that it needs to be in the forefront of some of the best Romantasy books out there.

Not only is the world building and characters so interesting, the magic system and politics within the story drive it home. It’s like you have this glorious ball of storytelling all in the palm of your hand and you cannot wait to gobble it up.

And the slow burn…the slow burn is perfect. Just enough to keep you yearning for more and more. Brynn and Anker characters are so well written, you can’t but help to love them.

Yet…the end of the book? Just - whoa. It made me so want to cry, scream, fall out of my bed on what happened. I have no words.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for my honest feedback.

This book was just amazing.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥

✨ Found family
✨ Friends to lovers/enemies to lovers
✨ Slow burn
✨ World building
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Fated mates
✨ Magical system

Ok well HOLY FREAKING PLOT TWIST! I am unwell. I did NOT see that coming. I feel enraged. And upset! What a wonderful, twisty book! I loved how the setting of this world is described.
It was quite different from some romantasy books, and I appreciated the uniqueness of it.
I don't know who to trust now. Who to love. Who to hate. I am feeling so many emotions after the last several chapters. I feel like i have emotional whiplash! I am so heartbroken for Acker. I truly did not see that coming, and usually things like this are easy to spot. But wow. I am mind blown. I should've known considering the FMC started to annoy me at about 75% through. But man. I can't handle it. I need book 2 immediately!!! Everything I thought I knew about how I was feeling about this book has left me on a breeze. I have no Words!

This one got me. The twists and turns got me.

I’ve been seeing this book all over the internet so I HAD to pick it up. And I’m so happy I did.

I suggest going in as blind as possible honestly. It made for such a great reading experience.

Cannot wait for book 2!

Fully read it because BookTok and Emmy Rosam recommended it and it DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT!! I am so addicted now

Rating: 3.5 stars

Going into this book, I knew the main that had everyone’s attention was the plot twist and so I made a mental note to myself to be on the lookout for it. Funnily enough, I had no idea the plot twist was happening until it actually happened. It caught me completely off guard and yes it was a really good plot twist but I will say that everything else about the book felt like it was very much secondary.

It was a good and enjoyable read but I wouldn’t say anything stood out to me in particular apart from the ending. It started off very fast pace in the beginning but hit a lull towards the middle and i was left scrambling at the end. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy beginners because it’s one of the better “intro to romantasy” style books i’ve read.

The final 3 chapters throw so much at you! The story feels interesting and makes sense but then she threw in auch major twists. I need to know what happened to Ackers mother and how Beau got involved (her mother?) and potentially Hollis. Who knew and what's the plan now, ah!

I just consumed this in 48 hours and loved every second of it. This is exactly what I want in a Romantasy!!! The ending.. BLEW ME AWAY and left me itching for the next book immediately but now we wait!!

This captured me right from the start! If you enjoy an easy (beginner) Romantasy, this is for you!! The magic system is so freaking cool. I will say, it did start to get a tad slow from 50-70% but I just loved the entire concept and storyline of this book so much, I simply cannot give it anything less than 5 stars. This is one of my favorites this year!

“She has beautiful eyes,” he says softly, like he’s lost to memory. “They’re brown and green and amber, like every color of every season. I’ve looked everywhere for eyes like hers, and nothing has ever been able to compare.”

So glad this book is now getting the recognition and hype it deserves!!! Loved it. Cant wait to get a physical copy for my shelves.

I am so thrilled to see Metal Slinger get picked up for traditional publishing! This book shook me to my core and still remains one of the most jaw dropping stories I've read in a while. We follow Brynn, who is part of the exiled Alaha who live their lives over the sea. Brynn finally gets an opportunity to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta. While at the market, things don't go according to plan and Brynn eventually finds herself on an action-packed adventure to new lands with a mysterious solider. This is one of those books that you just need to go in mostly blind. The PLOT TWISTS in this book were truly so well done I saw exactly zero of them coming. What to expect from Metal Slinger:

- Enemies to lovers
- Magic
- Forced proximity
- Hidden identities
- Plot twists

THAT CLIFFHANGER, RACHEL?!?! It’s the reason I have trust issues.

Really though, what a fun exploration of elemental magic and I always LOVE a lost/stolen princess trope!

I think I’m gonna be the odd one out but I wasn’t really a big fan of this book. For me, it starts off pretty slow with all the action coming in later on. I finished the book but just isn’t my cup of tea. I’ll try to read again in the future.

Metal Slinger is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled ride that absolutely lives up to the TikTok hype. From the very first page, the book hooks you with its gritty world-building, sharp dialogue, and a main character who feels both tough and deeply human. The steampunk-meets-dystopia vibe is fresh, and the action sequences are cinematic and intense.

What really elevates Metal Slinger, though, is its ending. Without spoiling anything, the final chapters deliver a twist that’s both emotionally satisfying and narratively bold. It ties together threads you didn’t even realize were building throughout the story, and leaves you with a sense of awe and reflection. It’s one of those rare endings that makes you want to immediately go back and re-read earlier parts with new eyes.

The only reason for not giving a full five stars is that a few middle chapters drag slightly with some repetitive inner monologues. But that’s a minor gripe in an otherwise thrilling read. If you love books with high stakes, inventive settings, and endings that hit hard, Metal Slinger is worth every page.

I went into this book knowing only 2 things — it’s popping up in many of my reading groups and the ending is wild in some manner. That was enough of a hook for me to want to dive into it, and I’m so glad I did. There’s a lot to like about this book especially the world building. There’s a lot to take in from the different locations to the politics to the magic systems. I’m excited to learn more about the magic in the next book. The plot moved at a good pace with enough happening to keep readers interest. There’s plenty of secrets, betrayals, political intrigue, and action throughout the entire story. It did feel at first like I was dropped into a story that was already in progress, but I had no issues catching on. the FMC, Brynne, is absolutely fascinating. The more time we spend with her, the more we learn she’s full of surprises. Be prepared, this book ends on a cliffhanger. Also the hype surrounding this book and specifically, the ending, is absolutely warranted. It was intense, mind-blowing, and I’m still thinking about it.

That ending literally had me sitting at the edge of my seat. I did not see that coming. I thought I knew what was going to happen but I wasn't even close. I had it all wrong and I loved how wrong I was. It's been so long since a book ending has shocked me the way this one did. I could not put this down, especially when I got to the last 2 chapters. I need everyone I know to read this now so I can see their reactions to that ending. I originally read this back in November 2024 when it was Indie published and I think about it constantly. It's a must read and I recommend it to everyone. I will have to reread it to see what clues I missed leading up to that ending. Book 2 cannot come out fast enough! So happy to see this get picked up by a publisher so it can get more exposure.

Metal Slinger

I have a lot of thoughts about this book! It is devourable (if that’s a verb ??). I am extremely tired but happily choose this over sleep.

there’s a lot of hype surrounding this book on socials, I’d say the hype is deserved .

Except (dont hate me), I’m not an Acker fan 🤷‍♀️. Wasn’t for the whole book.

Beau - I’m a fan 10/10
Messer - yeah! Super fan !
Brynn- MEGA FAN ! Her journey and emotional battles feel very real. I’m so invested and can’t wait for Book 2!

The ending 🤯🤯🤯🤯. Omg the author got me! wow . Wow . Wow.

Okay, Metal Slinger completely hooked me. I wasn’t expecting to fall so hard for the world Rachel Schneider built—it’s gritty, haunting, and somehow still beautiful. The way she weaves in tech, rebellion, and raw survival instincts made everything feel real, like I could breathe the dust and feel the tension rising with each chapter.

And that ending. I genuinely thought I had it figured out, and then BAM—she pulled the rug out from under me in the most brilliant, gut-punch way. It changed everything and somehow made me want to reread it immediately just to catch the clues.

There’s just enough romance threaded through to keep romantasy lovers like me fully invested, but it’s the world and the characters that really stayed with me. If you love high-stakes plots, a slow unraveling of secrets, and the kind of twist that leaves you staring at the wall...this one’s for you.