Breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre. The unique world and action will have you captivated from the beginning. The forced proximity of an action packed escape adventure will keep you hooked!

I loved getting to explore this new world through the POV of our FMC! She's learning with us, so it makes all the world building easily digestible. Along the way there were a bunch of surprises that left me with my jaw on the floor. The stakes are high, but the author seamlessly adds in these really sweet scenes that balance the mood of the book perfectly.

Now lets talk about the big final twist! Spoilers ahead!
I have a big love/ hate relationship with this twist. Love because of where the story will go from here. There are so many possibilities and the concept is unique. I hated it because it doesn't really make any sense for 1st person POV! It brings into question the rest of the book. It should have been written in 3rd person! Literally would have been perfection in 3rd. Regardless, I had such a good time reading this book that I will most definitely be continuing on this series!

“You’re delusional if you think I’d go anywhere with you.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5

Metal Slinger was originally indie and picked up for trad publishing by Saturday Books. I have the indie paperback as well as the e-arc of the trad version. I found very few differences between the versions of this book.

Metal Slinger was a really fun, fast paced book. It was kind of a standard romantasy, but there was something a bit addictive about it. Overall, the writing is simple and at times there were parts where it felt like the plot was a bit choppy. It definitely could be a bit more polished. All that to say, I had a great time reading this book and I will definitely be reading the second book.

There are some big plot twists, and I would agree with many other reviews that I have seen of this book that say just go in blind. Don’t go in with any background or expectations for maximum enjoyment.

Thank you to Saturday Books for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

Stars: 4.25

Overall, I was vibing with the book but the last few chapters totally amped it up to a whole new level. What an ending! I don’t get surprised easily anymore since I read so many romantasy books but this one really threw me through a loop. I’ve been thinking about it since I finished it a couple of days ago, and I honestly can’t wait to read how Rachel handles the aftermath of the plot twist in the second book.

Thank you to Rachel Schneider and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for providing an ebook. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

I thought the Maas-verse would never have a rival, but this is REALLY close. I thought I knew what was going on, it was a really good story, and then the last 20 pages had me backtracking every single line trying to figure things out. I was amazed at how satisfying the first read was, and even more so after the twist. I can't put this book down, even after reading it through twice. I am so thankful and thrilled to be introduced to this series and can't wait to see what happens next!

This story was incredibly addicting to read and I genuinely couldn't get enough of it!! The plot twists and turns throughout this book were so shocking and so good that I was completely immersed. I loved the pacing of this book because it wasn't too slow, but it also wasn't too fast, which was perfect. I can't wait for the next book!!

Rachel Schneider's *Metal Slinger*, the debut installment in her *Fire and Metal* series, is a Romantasy that pulled me in from the first page. The fiery tension between Brynn and Acker, laced with witty banter and undeniable chemistry, makes the slow-burn romance irresistible. I finished it in a single sitting, and that ending—bring on book two!

I was excited to pick up Metal Slinger since it was getting a lot of praise before being picked up for traditional publishing. I’m sad that it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me.

What I liked - I thought the side characters were really compelling. I liked how they supported the main characters and added to the story.

What I didn’t like - the ending pretty much ruined the book for me. It didn’t make sense at all? It felt like it was a plot twist to just have a plot twist. We spend all this time in the main characters head and it all felt negated with the last couple of chapters. All the character development and world building pretty much went out the window. There were also several scenes that pretty much added nothing to the story, even though it feels like they maybe originally did and were taken out later. There were also several contradictions to people’s descriptions and action sequences.

I think romantasy lovers will really enjoy this one, unfortunately, that just isn’t me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! It was entertaining, the magic system is cool, I like the characters, and I was SHOCKED at the ending.

I’ve pretty much become an “I trust no one” reader at this point, which made this even more enjoyable for me because I was suspicious of everyone’s sincerity and therefore was just anxiously awaiting everyone to fool me.

There were a few confusing moments, but who cares. Overall I really liked it. I loved that it was fast paced and took place over several different settings. It didn’t get boring or stale. Can’t wait for book 2.

Thank you St Marten Press and NetGalley for opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review

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.