This was such a fantastic fantasy with an interesting magic system and an epic journey. The slow burn with all the tension was top tier, and I'm absolutely obsessed with Acker. I loved the hidden identity and found family aspects also. This has all the making for an amazing fantasy series, and I'm literally feral for the next book! That cliffhanger and plot twist at the end was absolutely diabolical and completely genius. I'll be not so patiently waiting to have my heart ripped out in the next book.

I’m stunned.
I think I’ve been sitting here trying to think of what to say in my review for 30 minutes
I’m speechless!
I enjoyed how this book throws the typical romantasy tropes on its head.
That ending was like a slap in the face though.
Apparently I need to start of list of authors I have beef with and Rachel in on that list now 😂

I really loved the main character, Brynn/Jovie—especially watching her learn about the different types of magic and develop relationships both old and new. The whole book carefully builds up her bond with Acker, her connections back home, and the new relationships she's forming… only for the twist at the end to seemingly make all of that irrelevant.

And revealing that she was a secret double agent in just one chapter? I’m still not sure how I feel about that. I have a lot of emotions when it comes to this story—conflicted, frustrated, impressed.

What I can say is that I’m genuinely impressed by the author’s ability to evoke such a strong emotional response. This book surprised me, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

Edit: upon re-reading this, I decided to stick with the 4 star rating because the ending really got me, but the rest didn’t stand out as much. The book is fun and easy to read, high on romantic tension and adventure. I would like to see more of the author’s voice in the sequel. I just felt like you could slap a different author’s name on this and I wouldn’t be able to tell.

I went into this completely blind because I kept seeing people post 5 star reviews and I had FOMO. I don’t want to say too much about this book because I think going in blind is best. As I was reading, I definitely enjoyed the story and it was easy to read and engaging, but I didn’t really understand why it was so hyped up…then I got to the final 10% and I get it now.

I would have liked a little more description on the various magical abilities. I believe the vagueness is purposeful, since the main character is rather ignorant to the magics of the realm. However, it left me wanting more. I hope the author elaborates on those in the next book.

My only real gripe was that it was heavily romance driven, which I simply wasn’t in the mood for. That’s nothing against the book and definitely a ME issue. So I would just keep this in mind if you’re a fellow mood reader.

I enjoyed this book start to finish. There wasn't a single moment that was lacking for me. The descriptions in this book were so vivid I could imagine being there with the characters.

I enjoyed the unexpected allies that the main female character meets. And the self-discovery she goes through along the way.

That ending though!!!! Normally I can see the twist coming and it doesn't bother me. But this one I did not see coming one bit! The last two chapters had me wanting to throw my book across the room.

Infinity stars for me. Can't wait for book two!

i don’t even have the right words to explain how this book made me feel. i just finished and im still processing my emotions at this point—i fear this book may be my new roman empire.

i was so invested right from the jump, i quite literally could not put this book down once i was in the thick of it. rachel littered this book with many a plot twist and the amnesia trope/unreliable narrator aspect played in SO perfectly with the ending. since i am reading this well after it popped off initially on bookstagram i already knew the plot twist was a thing, so i found myself coming up with constant theories along the way, only to be swindled every time. i did not see this one coming AT ALL and now waiting for book two will be all the more treacherous with the longer wait since it was picked up by a publisher.

while many romantasy books rely on genre common tropes to paint the picture of the story, this felt like the most perfect balance of expected and unexpected results from said tropes. like, i LOVE court intrigue, mated pairs and the carnal/primal responses that come with them, found family, the amnesia trope and so forth, but i feel like everything the story was leading you towards was a perfectly crafted lie. this world and story were so overwhelming immersive i felt like i was experiencing everything the characters were right alongside them. every character was exceptionally well done, their emotions and reactions to plot points made it feel like they were real people which is an necessity for me to feel a genuine connection to the story. they are all strong, likeable, and REAL. everything that happened elicited such a strong response out of me, i was clinching my fist and screaming and yelling and couldn’t stay still as i was reading because of the broad spectrum of emotions i was feeling.

truly, the story has only just now begun after the reveal. there is so much more we get to explore, and i am so wholeheartedly excited. i just know how painful the next book is going to be as we learn more context and true motivations are revealed.

I was so happy to get a chance to read this book. I have heard so many good things. What really drew me in was the world-building, it was something new to me and had me so curious. I did feel like thier were some gaps in minor ways that I hope get more exploration further in the series. The romance was good overall, some moments were amazing but I did cringe a time or two. Overall this was definitely and enjoyable read and that ending makes me desperate for the next one.

Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ | "Peace treaties are made to be broken, hearts are made to be stolen"

Holy. Sh*t. Rachel Schneider just obliterated my soul and I'm thanking her for it.

This book grabbed me by the throat from page one and didn't let go. Brynn accidentally shatters a century-old peace treaty between the sea-dwelling Alaha and land-bound Kenta, and everything spirals beautifully from there. The worldbuilding feels effortless yet intricate, the magic system is chef's kiss, and don't even get me started on Acker with his nose ring and devastating secrets.

But that ENDING. Rachel, what did you DO to me?! I literally gasped out loud, then stared at my wall for twenty minutes processing the emotional devastation. Everything was right there in the details and I missed it completely. I feel so beautifully deceived.

I need book two injected directly into my veins. This is enemies-to-lovers perfection wrapped in political intrigue and I'm completely wrecked.

Vibes We Are Tracking:
🌊 Enemies to lovers perfection (or is it? 🤔)
⚔️ Accidental treaty destroyer
🔥 Mysterious characters with secrets
💔 Soul-crushing plot twists
🎭 Political intrigue and rebellion

I was very intrigued by this book. It seemed promising with the fantasy world that was being setup but at times I felt a little confused with trying to understand certain things-for example, what and where Brynn and the Alaha were living. What I did really like were the initial interactions with Brynn and Acker and where that led us to the journey that Brynn would take to discover who she really was. The magical elements were a fun element too, and felt new and original. I enjoyed their journey over the seas and to the land of the Kenta and felt like the story was very immersive at this point. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, tension and yearning and unseen betrayal that definitely kept me wanting more and kept me wondering what else is in store. I’m excited to discover more in the next book!

I am RAGING!!!!!!! Never in my life have I ever been so bamboozled by a book!!!!! This is a good thing... but I'm mad! *Inserts Tyra Banks yelling "we were all rooting for you!"*

I loved this so much. I was slumping so hard and this took me right out of it! I am actually still staring at a wall after that ending.

Links to come!

Brynn is an outsider raised with the Alaha people to become a guard. Every year, her people visit a market hosted by the Kenta people, who have exiled her community to life at sea. While on Kenta land, Brynn accidentally breaks their peace treaty and runs into a hostile Kenta soldier who is hell bent on her capture. When her world is flipped on its axis, Brynn escapes with the Kenta soldier and learns about the world of magic and who she actually is.

Ahh, this was such a fun read. We basically have kingdoms with tumultuous relationships, where loyalties are constantly tested. I loved seeing Brynn learn about herself and come to know the MMC. He did a few things that annoyed me and I was willing to look past. BUT THEN THE END! I can't remember the last time I was so mad at the ending. This book ends on a massive cliffhanger and I am so confused and I feel betrayed. I'm not sure how I feel about the twist. I don't think I like it. That being said, I need to know what happens in the next book. Ugh. Until then.

4.5 stars

What a fun ride! I picked up Metal Slinger after seeing it recommended on social media & devoured it in a day. I loved how fully immersed you were in the story right from the first page; no extensive worldbuilding to slog through first. The fantasy world the author has built was interesting and the conflicts within it felt realistic. I do wish the magic system was a bit more fleshed out, but given the narrative structure I can see why we as the readers still don't have the full picture. The plot took twists and turns I did not expect. There was a bit of a lull in the plot around 30% while our characters wandered a bit too long, but nothing that made me put the book down. The FMC was strong and multi-faceted; the cast of characters as a whole was quite interesting. There do appear to be a few continuity issues that left me scratching my head (the entire Olivia & Wells storyline came out of left field). Overall Metal Slinger was a rompin' good time & left me craving book two!

This book was a LOT of fun, adventure, and my favorite trope- slow(ish) burn enemies to lovers. I really enjoyed the overall plot, side characters that were hilarious/fun, and the developing romance. There were definitely some time periods that seemed to drag in the middle that made me stop reading for a while, but it was nothing some minor structural editing couldn't fix. Now the ending, I have mixed feelings about. It's a great plot twist, however I found it hard to believe based on this book being 1st POV from the FMC the entire time. I've read unreliable narrators before, but we are literally in this woman's head the entire book and I just don't buy that she was able to keep all those secrets locked down, even when she was speaking to the audience. Overall though, this is a great romantasy book and delivers on all the popular tropes. I look forward to reading book 2.

that ending?! i am in complete and utter shock right now lol. i truly never saw that plot twist coming.

i can’t even lie, when i started this book i really didn’t think id enjoy it. it picked up immediately and truly i was wondering if i was even reading the first book, but eventually it did start to make more sense. this is just an incredibly fast paced book, i mean there is really no point where it slows down and while that’s nice, at times it felt like it got ahead of itself which is really the only reason this isn’t getting a 5 star from me. since this did work itself out as we gained more information and insight, i do think the second book will be a much more seamless and enjoyable reading experience and im super excited to read book 2 after that INSANE ending. i did really love all of the characters in this and feel so invested in literally every single one of them. i honestly feel like it’s difficult to fully review this without giving spoilers based on the ending, but this really is such a fun book that i highly recommend reading.

I was hooked from the start, and the unique story kept me hooked for the whole book. Honestly, at some points, you think you know what is going to happen at the end and can guess the twists and turns coming. NOPE. I was legit pacing and screaming at the end of this book, in the best way, because as someone who reads a couple hundred books a year, it is rare to be surprised by a story.

🦋METAL SLINGER🦋
New paperback with book two snippet releases 6\17\25
I’m still unwell after finishing this book lol but what a fantastic ride!! Every moment of it was thrilling and interesting. Im in pieces over this book lol and book two can’t come fast enough omg. The characters are genuinely some of my favorites and I loved the magic incorporated in this story. My heart and head are were racing by the end. Anyway, This is my new obsession so don’t mind me 😌

✨enemies to lovers
✨fated mates
✨twists/secrets
✨slow burn

Thank you so much st martins press, Saturday books and netgalley for this read in exchange for an honest review! 🦋💕✨

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.