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.

IF YOU HAVENT READ THIS YET, JUST GO IN COMPLETELY BLIND.

what a ROLLERCOASTER. The end was WILD. I don’t even want to say anything else because I want everyone to just go in and trust the process. A suuuuper solid start to this story, albeit a little confusing at times with the world building. I’m really excited to see what happens next because WOW

the way this book destroyed me isn't even funny. I am going crazy for book 2 and need it injected into my veins ASAP

I remember when the hype first started for this book and I put it on my radar and decided I would read it eventually. I am now kicking myself for not reading it right then because this book was fantastic.
A girl living among a group of people that she doesn’t belong with but making her own way and being one of their soldiers end up going to the yearly market when another soldier from another outlying country charges her with a crime. Her and her other fellow soldiers have nothing but to run back home and on their heels that same soldier from the other country ends up showing up in their land.
I really like the aspect of the whole water world that they’re dealing with the magic system is intriguing and I enjoyed the world building.
I was curious to see specifically how this was going to play out and I will say I was pleasantly surprised that there was a twist. I did not see coming, which now has me equally hooked so now the next book will be one of my highly anticipated books whenever it is announced. I do know that it is currently being worked on! I cannot wait to see where Rachel Schneider takes this!
Thank you, Saint Martin’s press for the complementary copy all thoughts and opinions are my own

The world building and character work in this was messy for me. It felt like every thing and everyone was left vague to keep us on our toes. Our two characters had very little chemistry imo, and honestly they just had surface level interactions with their motivations really never making any sense with information we are given.

I really wish I had liked it more then I had as everyone keeps talking about it being the next big romantasy but truly I felt like this was every other romantasy book I've read.

If you’ve read this…. ARE YOU OKAY???? I think we need a support group because WHAT THE EFF WAS THAT ENDING?!?!?! This book was literal absolute perfection. Maybe my top read of the year. But I threw my kindle at the effing wall at the last 3%. I’m unwell. I’m not sure I will be able to recover until the next book comes out. Rachel Schneider I’m sending you my therapy bills thx.

The perfect blend of action, fantasy, and romance! I’m not sure this story can be topped. I CANNOT wait for the next installment in this series!! This is the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers!!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Rachel Schneider for the eARC of this story!!

THE PERFECT FANTASY, characters, plot everything! I couldn't put this down at all I'm so glad I got approved for this, I laughed, I cried, I died (metaphorically) love this authors style of writing!