Metal Slinger: Fire & Metal: Book One

I read Metal Slinger in about three days. The premise is genuinely intriguing, and the story had potential to be a standout in the romantasy space. But the execution left me frustrated.

The pacing felt uneven, and the magic system often came across as too convenient—more like a plot device than something fully developed. The ending was abrupt, and while it did leave me curious about what happens next, I couldn’t imagine continuing the book any longer. I might skim a summary of the sequel just to tie up loose ends, but I’m not sure I’ll commit to reading it.

I’m usually not too picky about grammar or spelling errors in published works—things get missed, and that’s understandable. But this was excessive. Misspelled words, missing words, poor grammar… it was a mess throughout, and only got worse toward the end. It wasn’t just distracting—it made the storytelling feel rushed and under-edited. The characters didn’t help either. I struggled to connect with the MCs, and they didn’t feel fleshed out enough to carry the emotional weight of the story.

What’s especially disappointing is that this book could have been a 4 or even 5-star read with stronger editing and deeper character work. I really wanted to love it. What’s baffling is how much attention Metal Slinger is getting on Instagram and BookTok, while so many better-crafted romantasy series are flying under the radar. The hype doesn’t match the quality, and it’s frustrating to see overlooked gems passed by in favor of something that feels unfinished.

As it stands, this is a 2, maybe 2.5-star read for me. I wish it had been given more time and care—it deserved it.

Metal Slinger is going to feel very familiar if you’ve read even a handful of romantasy books lately. I say that with both a knowing smile and a slightly raised eyebrow. The story drops us into a seafaring world split between kingdoms, rebellion, and long-buried magic. Brynn, who is very much not just Brynn (hello secret identity Jovie), makes one impulsive decision at a market that sets everything spiraling. Suddenly, she’s caught between royal politics, a rebellion she may or may not be helping lead, and a broody enemy soldier who is very obviously more than he seems. Throw in hidden heritage, magical awakening, and a journey that peels back layer after layer of truth, and you have all the ingredients of a classic romantasy setup. Listen, the setup works. I was locked in for a good chunk of this. The tension between Jovie and Acker? Delicious. The whole enemies-to-lovers energy paired with literal mind reading? Peak drama. There is a moment where Acker very casually offers to help Jovie with all that built-up tension, and she blushes. Ma’am! I was rooting for her to get it together immediately. Here’s where things started to wobble for me. The book leans hard into familiar tropes without really elevating them. Hidden princess, secret rebellion, mate bond, and morally gray love interests. It’s all there, but it never quite becomes more than the sum of its parts. It felt like checking boxes instead of building something distinct. While that can still be fun, it does make the story feel a little interchangeable with others in the genre. The biggest issue is the twist and character logic. The unreliable narrator angle had potential, but it didn’t fully land. We’re told Jovie is playing a long game while hiding major truths about her identity and leadership role. Her internal thoughts don’t consistently support that. Which makes the reveal feel less like a clever twist and more like a disconnect. Add in the fact that Acker can literally read her mind, and suddenly there are some very big “Wait, how?” questions that pulled me out of the story. I hate to say it, but once you start questioning the logic in a romantasy, it’s hard to stop. The romance itself is solid. The chemistry is there, the tension builds well, and the spice delivers. The story just doesn’t push any boundaries. It’s good, but not groundbreaking. On the audiobook side, Andi Eloise does a perfectly fine job. This is one of those stories that needed a full cast. With so many characters and shifting dynamics, it was sometimes hard to track who was speaking. Which took away from the immersion. Metal Slinger is an easy, bingeable romantasy that hits all the expected beats. This one might leave you wanting more if you’re craving something that reinvents the genre or digs deeper into its twists. The sequel is very clearly set up. I just won’t be continuing.

This book is 5.5; it’s a MUST READ. Can’t wait for book 2! You will want to re-read. The audio is PERFECT. Can’t believe I would be saying this from an audio that wasn’t dual nor had anything but her voice. She was perfect; even when doing the male characters. About the book = don’t read if prefer to not know anything at all (does not contain spoilers): The story has a bit of everything: mates, politics, oaths, ETL, magic/powers, strong FMC, strong MMC, touch her and you die vibes, spice (not it’s strength but ok), romance, heartbreak, animal shifting, AND A PLOT TWIST THAT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN YET. I had read about this and STILL was taken-a-back. My heart is broken into pieces. I’m not sure I’ll be able to recover even with book 2.

*shocked Pikachu face*

“The world was perfect by [Mother Nature’s] design, a gift to her four children: air, water, fire, and earth. But legend says they constantly fought for dominance, and it created a world of chaos, not the stability Mother Nature intended. To protect the earth from total decimation, Mother slipped her own creations into the world—humans with gifts fit to control the elements…And the last time a light wielder walked the earth, she ruled the earth and the four elements within it.” Acker is “what they call an elemental…able to wield anything with metals. Iron, steel, brass…Whenever a weapon is handmade from the hearthstone of the land, it is magicked to belong to you. Axes or swords or even a battering ram— whatever it is will always answer the call of the person who made it. It’s why most blacksmiths are blood-oathed. Only the most righteous are trusted to forge for others.” “He’s loyal to a fault—a dangerous fault. The kind where he’d risk life and limb to save someone he cares about, to save his people…There are only two sides of Acker: people he’s loyal to and everyone else. And trust me when I say there’s a side you never want to be on.” “I’ve seen the soldier, seen the arrogance. I’ve seen the fighter and the annihilator of a man trained to kill without a second thought, and I’ve seen the caring protector. I’ve even seen the boy who was seeking his father’s approval moments ago. But this is the first time I’ve seen the predilection for power lurking underneath. Sitting upon a metal throne, surrounded by his liege, in a palace coated in gold. The abilities he has could ravage this building and everyone in it.” “Magic always comes with a price…There are good people in the world, the same as there are bad, except the bad people with magical abilities are exceptionally dangerous when left unchecked…I’m offering you the throne because I know your heart. You deserve the crown.” And Rachel Schneider’s Metal Slinger deserves a diadem!