3.75 rounded up to 4.

Brynn has grown up as an urchin in Alaha. Until an unfortunate visit to Kenta's Market and a visitor to Alaha that flips her life upside down.

This book was a fascinating, easy read. There were a couple parts that struggled with pacing, however overall it was rather fast-paced and easy to fall into and come out 2 hours later thinking it had been 10 minutes.

I spent 99% of this book trusting no one. I expected some of the usual tropes and endings, but what actually happened, I was not expecting at all! I enjoyed the characters of this book. This does not suffer from the side characters not having a personality or job outside of furthering the story problem. Even though this book is all told from Brynn's POV, we get to see their character development and growth as well.

Overall, this was a fun book that could have had a couple bits shortened, but unique magic and relationships and an ending that I did not see coming at all!

I am rating this book 3.5 stars. I feel like it had a lot of potential. There were times I was confused at who was talking because the dialogue between two people were in the same paragraph. I definitely think will proper editing that will be corrected. There was also a point where Jovie had thoughts about some characters named Olivia and Wells before we even met them. I’m not sure if that was on purpose on accidental. But I remember being confused and then we met them a few chapters later. However, with all that being said, I do plan to continue this series! I’m intrigued to see where this story goes. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books and Rachel Schneider for the gifted eARC of Metal Slinger! All opinions are my own.


You know how we use B.C. and A.D. to mark a specific shift in history? Well for me, there is before Metal Slinger and after Metal Slinger. I feel like I have been to hell and back. I’ve come out of this book emotionally gutted, feral, and forever changed and I mean that in the best way possible.


I know some people consider even mentioning a plot twist a spoiler, but hear me out: nothing I could say would EVER prepare you for what Rachel Schneider has in store. The twist will chew you up and spit you out—you will be reeling. It’s been two weeks since I finished this book, and I’m just now able to form coherent thoughts. That’s how hard it hits.


The dynamic characters, unique magic system, and the sheer emotional weight of Schneider’s storytelling elevate this story from great to absolutely unforgettable. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page. And honestly, I want to recommend this to everyone I’ve ever met and say, “Just trust me, you want to read this book. I promise—the pain is worth it.”


Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
My review was posted to Goodreads on 5/24/25.
My Instagram review will be posted on 6/4/25.
My Amazon review will be posted on 6/17/25.

Ummmm....WHAT was that ending??? I am usually fairly astute at spotting upcoming plot twists, but I never saw that one coming! Even prior to the ending, I was enjoying this book. There were definitely some pacing problems, especially during the main duo's time at sea, and some plot holes (perhaps left open purposefully to be addressed in a later book?), but the story overall was well told. The world and its magic system were understandable without being too simplistic, the main couple had chemistry, and there are some truly excellent secondary characters. I would very much like the next book as soon as possible.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

This is one of those books that you need to go into blind. I knew very little about the plot going in and was immediately sucked in to the story. Rachel Schneider certainly knows how to craft intrigue while simultaneously furthering the plot with plenty of tension and anticipation. It was impossible to guess where the next plot twist was coming from and the pacing of the story gave me very little time to recover from each new revelation. I had a phenomenal time reading Metal Slinger! The characters and the plot were immaculate and I could not have asked for a more entertaining and engaging read. This book has the potential to be a Roman Empire series for me and is easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

I personally feel this is overhyped. That being said, I don't think this was bad and I can admit there's an audience for it. It just felt like so many other romantasy books I've read. The plot twist revealed at the end did catch me by surprise, but I became uninterested way before that point. To me, there just wasn't anything super special or original about these characters. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I just finished this book and I’m going to need 5-7 more business days to process.

I understand now why everyone on the internet has been raving about this one. This book was incredible! I know we’re not even halfway through the year but I predict this being one of my top reads for 2025. I have not been hooked in this quickly by a book in a long time…especially by a first book in a series. And that ending!!! I was completely blown away!

Overall, I really enjoyed the characters. The FMC and MMC had great chemistry throughout. There are also some amazing side characters that I need more of in book 2. The pacing was great. There was one part in the middle that was starting to slow a bit for me but as soon as I felt that way things started to pick back up again. This book was so easy to read while not simplifying or sacrificing on the world building at all. This would be a great book for someone who is just getting into fantasy books…all of the fun magic system and world building but not heavy or overly complex.

If you haven’t read this one yet I’m not sure what you’re waiting for!

Tropes:

🗡️Enemies to lovers
🗡️Slow burn
🗡️Forced proximity
🗡️Touch her and die
🗡️He falls first
🗡️One horse AND one bed

Thank you so much to Rachel Schneider, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Saturday Books for an advanced copy of this amazing book!

i need book 2 now because what the hell was that ending??? i definitely didn’t expect the book to take that wild turn at the end!

in the beginning i was a little lost, but honestly, i usually am lost in the beginning of any fantasy book 🤪 the world building just gets to me lol. but once i started following the story better, i absolutely loved it - characters (minus a few, i’m looking at you kai), plot, overall story. it was just fantastic.

brynn is our fmc - she is such a strong fmc! & just overall badass character! acker is our mmc - a charming, dark haired man - i love him 🥺

messer was definitely my favourite side character and i’m hoping to seeing more of him in future books!

thank you netgalley, st.martin’s press, & rachel for sending me an e-arc for an honest review!

what to expect:
- romantasy
- enemies to lovers
- forbidden love
- hidden identity/secrets
- elemental magic
- fated mates
- slow burn
- touch her & die

4.25 | I'm sorry?! Did we all get swindled???? The betrayal at the end, I was not expecting to happen!! This is literally insane. I need book 2 ASAP. First of all, this book had me hooked from the beginning. The characters were phenomenal, the world building incredible and the magic system was so unique. Were there slow aspects of this book? Yes. However, those parts were so important to the story.

WOW! I couldn’t put this book down!! Easily one of my fav books of this year.
I went in with fairly low expectations and was immediately drawn in and caught off guard by the action and chemistry.

I’m obsessed with the FMC and MMC and can’t wait to continue their story 🥰

I have concerns / issues with one part of the story but want to keep it spoiler free so I’ll just say I need book 2 like yesterday and will be impatiently waiting!!

Thanks so much for the arc St Martins Press, Saturday Books and NetGalley for the arc!

This is a fun read for lovers of Romantasy. There were a few plot holes but I'm hoping the author has big plans for book 2 since it ended on such a cliffhanger. I loved the twist at the end. I did not see it coming at all.

This would have been a five star book if not for the last 5%. I adored everything about this fantasy book, from the world building to the romance to the set up for the rest of the series, until everything I read was ripped away at the last second. The author clearly wanted to include a "mind blowing twist" as a "gotcha" for readers, but it just made the entire book feel pointless. If this plot twist had been revealed and explored further halfway through the book, it would have been an incredibly unique story rather than a complete bait and switch for readers.

Somebody pick my jaw up off the floor because I’m speechless. This book wrecked me in the best possible way. I’m so grateful I got to read the ARC, but I’m also mad at myself for not diving into it sooner. People scream about The Empyrean — and sure, it’s great — but this? This deserves to be shouted from the rooftops. And yet… the selfish part of me wants to keep it all to myself.

Thank you to Saturday Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

↠ 4.5 stars, rounded up ⭐️

Oh my GOD. I went into this one blind, and I’m so glad I did! This book had me in an absolute chokehold, drawing me in immediately and never letting me go. The writing was immersive and fast-paced, and every chapter left me wanting more more more. I simply could not put it down—and my sleep schedule this week can attest to this.

Metal Slinger has everything I look for in a fantasy romance. It’s fast-paced and full of adventure, dripping with tension and romantic yearning, has a unique magic system, political intrigue, wonderful characters, and an utterly delicious slow burn.

But I think the best part of this book is its unpredictability. Romantasy books often have the same recipe—similar plots and/or characters, different font. However, that wasn’t the case here. This was so unique and had lots of twists I wasn’t expecting. And my god, did it end with the most BRUTAL plot twist and cliffhanger. It left me in utter shambles and I still haven’t picked my jaw up off the floor. I will not know peace until Book 2 is in my hands.

I will admit the pacing was a little slow at some points, and there were occasions were I had to backtrack and reread parts to understand what was happening—but overall, the vibes were immaculate and ending more than made up for any complaints I may have had.

If you’re looking for something fresh and original in the world of romantasy, look no further! And I highly, highly recommend going in blind for this one, because Metal Slinger will not leave you disappointed!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Rachel Schneider, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

🔥 Book Review: Metal Slinger 🔥

Author: Rachel Schneider
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press — Saturday Books
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Originally released as an indie hit, Metal Slinger is now being traditionally published by St. Martin’s Press — and it totally deserves the spotlight!
Big thanks to @stmartinspress, @saturdaybooks, and @netgalley for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

🗡️ My Thoughts:
First off—this book? Absolutely amazing. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The writing pulls you in immediately, and the pacing never lets up. Every single chapter ended in a way that made me say, “Okay, just one more…” and then another… and another. Basically, the book was whispering, “Keep reading, you know you want to,” and I fully gave in. 😅
The characters felt so real, the stakes kept rising, and the world-building was both rich and effortless. I was constantly curious—Why did that just happen? Who can I trust? What’s next?? It’s one of those stories that doesn’t let you catch your breath, but you love it for that exact reason.

Then came the ending (don’t worry, no spoilers)… and I just sat there. Staring. Processing. Thinking,
“WHAT did I just read?? Did that seriously just happen??”
And then I answered myself:
“Yes. Yes, it did.”
Cue me frantically searching for any and all information about book two because I need it. Immediately. Preferably in my hands. Yesterday. 🙃 This book is bold, emotional, and electric. If you’re craving a story that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, Metal Slinger is the one. 💥🖤

Metal Slinger is a perfect fantasy escape read. It is super fast paced - you won't want to put it down! Offering a unique magic system, mating bonds, and characters that you will love, Metal Slinger is worth a read. I definitely felt like there were a few plot holes, but I hope that the second/remaining books can clear those up. Looking forward to finishing the series! Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Schneider, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Schneider, and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was invested in the first 40% of the book, but the lack of world-building and character development made the story surface-level. Don’t get me wrong; there were parts of the story that I liked, but I just wanted more. I found the side characters to be more interesting than the main characters. I’m not sure if I will continue this series. I’ll have to see what the reviews are like for book 2.

I could write a lot, but honestly, I just wanna say: "I read it with my mouth hanging open and crying..."

That's it.

I thought it was just another typical romantasy, so I didn't wanna read it at first, but I gave it a shot.

AND I DON'T REGRET

The Metal Slinger by Rachel Shneider
Rating: 4 stars
Re-Release date: 6/17

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press (Saturday Books) for the advanced copy!

The story kicks off with Brynn, a young guard from the sea-bound territory of Alaha, finally getting her chance to visit the Kenta land market, only to accidentally spark some major political chaos. From there, it’s non-stop action, magic, and one very mysterious enemy soldier who changes everything.

Did I finish this book, or did it finish me? I’m honestly still figuring it out. I went in expecting a fun romantasy and ended up on an emotional rollercoaster I did not sign up for. That ending? I’m still not over it.

Brynn is a solid main character. She’s strong, smart, and not one to back down. And Acker is the strong, silent type with that quiet obsession energy that I just love. Their grumpy/sunshine dynamic is the kind I obsess over in a fantasy novel.

That being said, there are some pacing issues and plot holes that are hard to ignore, which is why this isn’t a five-star read. Time jumps in general aren’t my favorite, and there are quite a few of those in this story, as well.

Overall, this was still a really fun read. The world-building is super easy to follow, which makes this a good pick if you're newer to fantasy romance. It’s packed with classic tropes, but they’re done well, with enough fresh twists to keep things interesting. After that wild ending, I will be first in line to read the next book in the series.

Read if you like:
*he falls first
*unique magic system
*touch her and die
*slow burn
*single POV

𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙮 𝙃𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚



𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙏𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚: Metal Slinger

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: Rachel Schneider

𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ★★★☆☆.5

𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡: Medium

𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜: Check before reading!



𝙈𝙮 𝙃𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚:

This book is a hard one for me to review because I had two very different stages while reading it. At first, I wanted to put it down and call it good—it was slow, boring, and just kinda blah. But I forced myself to keep going because of all the hype around it... and I’m so glad I did, because boy oh boy did it pick up!

The last 60 pages had me freaking the f* out**. I’m not easily surprised by books, but this one got me good. 👀

All I can say now is… give me the second one. Like, now.

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𝙃𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙨: #BookReview #SlowStartStrongFinish #ThatPlotTwistTho #BookHangover #OnToBookTwo #WorthTheHype