I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley (thank you St Martin’s Press!) not knowing it was a trad publication re-release! All thoughts are my own.

First of all, I’m having such a hard time writing this review without giving away any of the plot! The story sucked me in right from the beginning and it usually takes me the first 150-200 pages of a fantasy book before I get invested in the story. Schneider is masterful at world building at the perfect pace (not too fast and not too slow). I was shocked with each and every plot twist and turn, and my jaw was ON THE FLOOR for that ending. Needless to say, I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next book in the series to be released!

This book is pure romantasy adrenaline. Metal Slinger is for readers who want their heroines sharp, their love interests brooding, and their plot twists to make them scream into a pillow at 2 a.m. Brynn is a knife-wielding, loyalty-torn guard who finds out she is more than she ever imagined. Her connection with the enemy soldier sent to retrieve her crackles from the first moment, and the seafaring high-stakes drama delivers from page one. This is for fans of fantasy with teeth. I already need book two like air.

It’s time for a Metal Slinger Review 🗡️

You’re JOKING. I finished this book last night and it’s all I could think about while trying to fall asleep. I woke up and it’s STILL all I can think about. @rachelschneiderauthor you are BRILLIANT. I want to reread this book even though I just finished it and that has to be a tell tale sign that it deserves a 5 🌟.

This book throws you RIGHT into the action. I was actually a little confused because I thought my book was initially missing chapters from how fast we jumped into things. 🫨

This was the type of book that had me giggling and gasping out loud. The world building is nothing like I’ve ever read before and the plot had me SAT 🧎🏻‍♀️. The angst and tension between the FMC and MMC was so so good and all the primary side characters felt well-developed.

The ENDING though? Not to be dramatic but I had to reread the last few chapters multiple times because I thought that it was a MISTAKE or that I had MISREAD. Initially, I didn’t know how to feel about the ending, but it grows on me more as time passes. I have so many questions and thoughts I still cannot articulate quite yet, but I know one thing for sure—I WILL be reading book 2!!! 👏🏼

Metal Slinger was so good! After seeing all the hype on TikTok and Instagram, I went in with pretty high expectations, and this book did not disappoint.

It completely sucked me in from the start.! This is a wild, emotional, high-stakes adventure that’s honestly hard to put down. The world is rich and imaginative, but super easy to follow (which I really appreciated). I was so invested in everything happening, like FULLY on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The character dynamics are everything.
Good banter? YES. Delicious tension? YES.
And the relationships? Whether it’s the slow-burning pull between Brynn and Acker or the chats with side characters, each one felt real. I especially appreciated how much care was given to the side characters and I cannot wait to see more of them in the second book.

Lastly, that ending!?!?!?
I did not see that twist coming. I was completely blindsided in the best way possible! Everything I thought I knew got flipped, and now I have so many questions. You best believe that when the second book drops, I’m booking the day off work to devour it. No interruptions, no responsibilities—just me, snacks, and finding out what happens next.

THAT ENDING?!!??
I am one of those people that can sometimes see a plot twist coming and usually have a decent idea of what's going to happen by the end of the book....
THIS one GOT ME!!!
The last 10% of this book took it from 4 stars to 5 stars for me, which is fantastic and kudos to the author for pulling that off so well.

Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider 🗡️✨
3.5/5⭐️

Metal Slinger is the first book in the Fire & Metal duology. This book is action packed, adventurous, filled with elemental magic, political intrigue, good banter, and a slow burn romance.

I really liked the characters in this. Acker is resourceful, charming, slightly ruthless, and intriguing. Brynn (also known as Jovie) is a strong, powerful, badass woman with a soft and caring heart. Their chemistry was undeniable and you could feel the tension between them right off the bat, and I loved every bit of it. And Messer, what a great, loyal side character.

I enjoyed reading about their adventures but I just felt that some parts of it dragged on for way too many chapters than necessary. I get it was probably to make it seem realistic but it got a bit boring and didn’t need to be shown for so long in the book. The action was good in this, I just wish we got to see more of Brynn kicking ass in the book like she was apparently trained for.

Overall, it was an alright read. The plot was interesting. It started out with good world building around the political part and the characters but not so much around the magic system because the rules seemed to change constantly. And we didn’t get any hints leading up to the plot twist, it was unexpected and also kind of smacked us in the face. I was shocked in the moment while reading it but afterwards I felt like it took away from something good happening in the book but I can also see why the author went that route with it. But anyways, I can see why so many people loved this one, it just wasn’t my favourite but I still look forward to reading the second book so I can see how the duology ends.

Tropes/What to Expect:
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🩶 Elemental Magic
🗡️ Banter
🩶 Only one horse
🗡️ Forgotten Identity
🩶 Slow burn
🗡️ Political Intrigue
🩶 She’s a light wielder / He’s a metal slinger
🗡️ Gives off Shadow & Bone vibes

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Saturday Books & NetGalley for the arc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (up until the end… then more like ⭐️⭐️⭐️)

I was genuinely having a great time with this one. The worldbuilding? Super cool. The pacing? Solid. The vibes? Exactly what I signed up for. Rachel Schneider really pulled me in with the whole metal slinging concept—it felt fresh and fun, and I was along for the ride.

But then… the ending. That plot twist hit and I just sat there like: wait, what? It didn’t feel like a twist so much as a plot hole dressed up as a twist. I kept trying to make it make sense, but no matter how I turned it around in my head, I couldn’t quite connect the dots. Like something big was either missing or just didn’t fully track with what had been built up.

Honestly, I was ready to give this 4+ stars if it had stuck the landing. Still, it was an enjoyable read overall, but that ending kinda knocked the wind out of my sails. I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for something unique and fast-paced—but maybe temper expectations for the final reveal.

I absolutely ate this up!!! I have been in such a big fantasy mood lately which made this ten times better. Brynn and Acker are some of my favorite fantasy book characters now! I love the banter between them, the world building and the wild twist at the end that made me want book 2 immediately!!

(100000000 ⭐️)
(2.5 🌶️)



Five stars does not do this justice. This book grips you from the moment you pick it up and takes you on the absolutely BEST adventure as it goes on. The world building was incredible, and so easy to follow along. When I tell you I was so so invested in everything happening in this world. The whole time, I was at the edge of my seat. The banter between the characters, the tension, the stress! It truly PAINED me to put this down at the end of the day every day because I didn’t want to stop! And the audio book?! Absolutely perfect! Andi Eloise did such an incredible job bring Bryn and Acker to life. I will likely need 3-5 business days to recover from this book because it was just astounding! A true masterpiece. I was giggling, kicking my feet and screaming at my book the entire way through.

Acker?! My GOD ACKER. This man is better than any of your current book boyfriends, I promise.

OMFG. LISTEN okay, like i knew that book would be good (like our queen emmy loved it so duh), but like i wasn’t expecting to be absolutely floored!! my jaw is still on the floor tbh

i have such a complicated relationship with every single one of these characters. i love and hate them all. i have so many questions and theories and thoughts and i’m like lowkey obsessed with everyone. like um? yeah. acker, B, ackers sister, messer, kai, the guy whos name starts with H i forgot how to spell.. (hollis?) BLUE (ugh i love that bird). yeah i’m sure i’m forgetting someone but the moral of the story is they were all so great and actually soooo complex i’m obsessed

the plot of this book was so complex at times. it reminded me a lot of several other books i quite enjoyed if i’m being honest. it reminded me of things like game of thrones (listen only certain parts, but like iykyk), acotar, and some others that are suddenly escaping me. this book was reminiscent of those books while also being soooo unique and fun. it felt familiar while still being it’s own thing and I LOVED that. also that ENDING??? UH HELLO?? RACHEL I NEED BOOK 2 YESTERDAY PLS AND THANK YOU. yeah overall the vibes were immaculate

anywho i would absolutely recommend this book if that wasn’t obvious and i am so so so happy i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and St. Martin's Press, thank you so much for the opportunity!

This one’s five stars for me. It’s the kind of romantasy that does exactly what I wanted it to do. The plot moves, the tension builds, and the world feels solid without dumping a bunch of lore on you upfront.

There’s a twist toward the end that completely flipped what I thought was happening. I had to put the book down for a second and just sit with it. It was the kind of reveal that makes you want to go back and re-read earlier chapters to see what you missed.

The romance isn’t spicy, but the tension between Brynn and Acker is doing all the work it needs to. Their scenes together had me way more keyed in than I expected. It’s quiet, but it’s loaded. You can feel every shift in the room.

Brynn really opens up in the second half, and I liked her more with every chapter. By the end, I didn’t want to leave her story behind.

I could see this one catching fire on TikTok. It hits that sweet spot where romantasy readers can get fully invested without needing a 700-page commitment. I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever comes next.

I don’t even have the right words—this book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. From the very first page, I was completely hooked, and once the story picked up, I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Rachel builds a world that feels instantly immersive, filled with court intrigue, mated bonds, found family, and the kind of primal, emotional tension that pulls you in deep.

The use of the amnesia trope and the unreliable narrator was done so well—it kept me constantly guessing. Even going in knowing a twist was coming (thanks, Bookstagram), I was still blindsided. I had theory after theory, only to be completely swindled every time. The plot twists were jaw-dropping, and the final reveal changed everything in such a gut-wrenching, brilliant way.

What really sets this book apart is how alive the characters feel. Every emotional beat landed hard—their reactions, choices, and relationships made them feel real. I found myself yelling, crying, and clenching my fists—fully feeling everything right alongside them.

And the best (or worst?) part? It’s clear the story is only just beginning. The stakes have exploded, motivations are shifting, and waiting for book two now that it’s been picked up by a publisher is going to be absolute agony. This book might just be my new Roman Empire—and I already know the next installment will destroy me in all the right ways.

I was obsessed with this book to the point that I couldn't stop reading it and wanted to do nothing but open it back up. Then the last 7% happened and what was going to be a 4.5 star read went down to a 2 star read.

There are a lot of plot holes and inconsistencies within the story - I was more than willing to overlook them because honestly I was having a good time. There were plenty of instances where I felt like the author had done some editing but forgot to actually change the parts surrounding the edits therefore making it seem out of place.

Normally, I wouldn't let such a small portion of the book affect my rating so drastically but honestly I feel 100% justified in my opinion and have yet to find someone that is able to give me a solid counter argument about why it's okay.

It's hard to really discuss it without spoilers so if you'd like to know a title that did something similar I will list it here, but just know if you click it you will absolutely know what happens at the end: <spoiler> It ends similarly to How Does It Feel by Jeneane ORiley</spoiler>

The rest of this review will have spoilers so if you want to give the book an honest try I suggest you do not read. If bad form storytelling gets you heated then maybe skim this and see if they are things that you can deal with:

<spoiler>
That ending. How do you have an entire book written in FIRST PERSON, where you SEE ALL OF HER THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, and then just go "haha guess what tricked ya!!". That's not how first person works. If the author had been extra careful about the exact wording of Jovie/Brynn's feelings then sure - *maybe*. But in order to reasonably pull off a big "gotcha" moment you really should consider third person not first. I'm shocked that Saturday read this book and didn't make that change. It makes zero sense as is. It's entirely illogical.

And not only does Jovie/Brynn have this huge betrayal reveal - it comes to light that Messer is in on it? The same Messer that is a shape shifter that hung out with her constantly in Alaha that her thoughts actively discussed and NOWHERE did she make any indication that she was aware of who or what it was. Just dumb. Dumb dumb dumb.

All the scheming and she somehow convinces Beau to help her off-page in like a day? She betrays her brother and family and country for this girl she's known for a couple weeks? Jovie/Brynn doesn't even TRY to convince Acker to join her? Doesn't bother to do literally anything besides trick him? And for what? To what end?

As for the "rebellion" we DID get a tiny bit of a mention of its existence early on - but within her own thoughts she doesn't indicate that she's part of it. And what are they even rebelling for? Against what country? What person? Are they fighting everyone? Wren? Kenta? Maile? None of the above? It just makes zero sense and was NEVER mentioned again after the very beginning.

I could forgive a lot of things. But when you write a book that explicitly shares the character's inner thoughts and internal monologues with you you can't just decide that the character is lying to themselves the entire time. It just does not make sense. Brynn/Jovie actively contradicted literally the entire end scenes throughout the book. Even when she was alone with her thoughts she was apparently just pretending???
</spoiler>

Anyway, I'm very sad over this because I truly thought that this was going to be a new all time favorite and comfort read and now all I wish is that I had those two days of my life back.

I ended up DNF-ing The Metal Slinger, and I want to be really clear: my decision had nothing to do with the story itself or with Rachel Schneider as an author. I’m genuinely so excited that she got picked up by a traditional publisher—her journey from indie to St. Martin’s Press is incredible, and I’m rooting for her every step of the way.

That said, I know e-ARCs are unedited and often rough around the edges, but the version I read had so many typos and structural inconsistencies that it pulled me out of the story. At times, I couldn’t even tell which character was speaking, which made it really hard to stay immersed. The bones of something really interesting are definitely there—I was super intrigued by the worldbuilding and where the plot seemed to be going—but the execution just wasn’t quite working for me in this format.

I’m absolutely open to revisiting this book once it’s gone through final edits, because I think there’s a great story here. It just wasn’t the right time for me to read it in this form.

I inhaled this book! No slow starts here - we get thrown right in the middle of action from the get go. Intrigue, action, romance, betrayal! This story has it all. And to top it all off, it was twistier than most thrillers I read!!!

This book was initially indie published, blew up on BookTok (I’m so glad I was unaware of the hype going on) and now is being traditionally published. If you’re looking for action packed romantasy with an interesting magical system and high escapism factor, this one ticks all of those boxes.

Grab this one if you enjoy
⚔️ enemies to lovers
⚔️ fated mates
⚔️ action packed romantasy
⚔️ slow burn romance

Loved that this was our #burriedinbookbuddies pick for this month. I know it’s going to be an interesting chat!

A huge thank you to Saturday Books St Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First, I want to say thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book. I loved the premise of this book. It is so unique and interesting. I found the magic system interesting and the awakening aspect was really cool.

Unfortunately, what is actually happening in this book is completely undecipherable. I spent so much time flipping between pages, trying to figure out where we were, who we were talking to, or what just happened. The book is descriptive but the descriptions don't help generate any meaningful picture in your head. It took 21 chapters to find out what color the hair of the fmc was & I still don't know if Alaha was a boat, a smidgen of land, a boat with a rock base? Literally no idea. Some times conversation snippets would say something and I'd genuinely sit there and be like when was this brought up?? How do you know this? It was really frustrating to read. I clocked Kai ick from the beginning but I'm shocked at how much Acker gave me the ick during this story. I hate how he seems to manipulate Jovie because of her lack of understanding. Overall, this book just wasn't for me & the plot holes were too great for me to vibe my way through it with any enjoyment.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-copy of this book.
Sadly, I did not enjoy this book. I initially wanted to read this book from the reviews of people saying it was the best plot twist ever. But the plot twist was just a plot hole. It makes zero sense and does not align with the entire 95% of the story.
The characters were not well-rounded, so much was missing from the story itself, and even some of the world building (while a great premise) did not make sense.
While it ended on a cliffhanger, I will not be reading the next book.

4.25 stars...first off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC of the book. I also saw it a lot on booktok and some on my book groups on fb. I really enjoyed this one. Loved the magic/powers and the characters, the banter, the little bits of spice, and the plotline. I was hooked from the beginning and very intrigued. I will be patiently awaiting the next book in the series. What's not to love?! And hello cliffhanger! Yes I would recommend this to readers just because.

Was this the biggest plot twist I've ever read?? Possibly.
WHAT IS REAL ANYMORE!

I have been begging for a fantasy book like this for a while. I wanted adventure, a little magic, ROMANCE, fighting, and a good betrayal.
Oh boy did this deliver. I am obsessed.

We have Brynn who is an actual badass in the military and can keep up with the boys without making it her entire personality... Her friends are loyal, she has a childhood crush that is so sweet and finally reciprocated, and then we have an explosion.

Our MMC is swoon worthy and so gently, while also strong and a huge support.
We border on miscommunication so much without fully going there that it is almost as annoying as actual miscommunication. There is a lot of filler that could have been flushed out for me, which is why I am giving 4 stars. But honestly, that freaking ending deserves a whole star rating system for itself. I was floored and I need to re-read it again to feel that rush. wowowowowow.

“You’re kind of beautiful when you lie.”

OH WHAT IN THE EVERLOVING FUCK

“I will sleep wherever you want me to. Whether it’s on the floor or in the dirt or in your bed, I’ll be there if you want me.”

4.5 stars

I’ve seen comments everywhere about the end, mostly about how it ruined it, but NO SIR NOT FOR ME. I cannot wait to see how this plays out! I do wish it was a little less “in your face” though, more organically thrown in instead of spelled out like it was.

“Tomorrow morning, I’m taking you down to start training.” He leans close, placing soft lips on mine. “I’m eager to see you with a sword in your hand.”

This ending actually raised the rating for me, you know, shock-value, because I had some big issues with this, mainly the editing. I read the ARC of the trad published version, so why were there still so many grammatical issues? The formatting problems? Hopefully just the ARC but come on, these editing issues were obvious and annoying.

“You’ve been feeding me with the same dagger you put through a man’s eyeball?”

The beginning was also awkwardly written, I dunno, I had a hard time for the first 30%-ish? But once a certain event happened, I was ALL IN LET’S GO

“Don’t worry [Brynn], I’m going to court you so well you’ll be begging to climb into bed with me.”

I loved the boat journey and their trek across land too, it was so heartbreaking, watching them kinda wither away at some points. Seeing them grow closer and you know, almost die, was great for their development.

THE FUCKING BIRD yes - loved all of that, and how it played out in the end

There were actually a few things I didn’t love about Acker. Don’t get me wrong, there were lots of things I loved, but a few that just didn’t sit right with me. But I am very much invested in the outcome of this series.

I loved the relationships that formed in the book, not just between our main characters but the side characters and the main characters as well!

“Cold soup as payment for saving your life,” I say, lifting a brow. “When you put it in perspective, couldn’t you have at least saved the whole roll for me?”
He quirks a sardonic smile. “After hearing my captor profess his love for you? I would have rather died.”

So that doesn’t sound like a positive review, but I still really enjoyed this! Obviously, I rated it pretty high lmao. Anyway, thank you to Saturday Books and the author for this ARC!