Book review by Corey
Iron Heart
Iron Heart continues the story after Crier's War, with Ayla and Crier separated and forced to deal with the consequences of everything that happened between them. Ayla becomes more involved in the human rebellion, while Crier starts confronting the truth about the Automae, her family, and the system she was raised to believe in.
The book is more political and emotionally intense than the first one, but the relationship between Ayla and Crier is still the heart of the story. Their lesbian romance has more weight here because both of them have changed, and the larger conflict around power, freedom, and identity gives the relationship even more meaning.
The Goods
- Strong lesbian romance
- Ayla and Crier both get good character growth
- The political conflict gets deeper
- More emotional payoff than the first book
- Good conclusion to the duology
The Bads
- The political sections can get dense
- Some side characters feel underused
- A few developments happen quickly
- The pacing is uneven in places
- Works best if Crier's War is still fresh
My Recommendation
This is a strong finish for readers who enjoyed Crier's War and wanted more of Ayla and Crier's relationship alongside the larger rebellion. The lesbian romance is still central, but Iron Heart gives both characters more room to grow individually and makes the political conflict feel more important. If you like LGBTQ+ fantasy with rebellion, slow-burn romance, morally complicated choices, and a satisfying emotional payoff, this is a very good conclusion to the duology.