“Des Cartes had led him down a rabbit hole of ancient navel-gazing that culminated in a conclusion so obvious it boggled the mind.” —Erick Ollson meets the classics.
Iron On The Tongue, N.T. Narbutovskih, 2022.
Follow-on story to Steel In The Blood. The ripples from the house of Ollson’s troubles are spreading. In the chaos of a factory world suddenly left without work, Bragja finds strength in grief -- and sets out for revenge on the Ollsons. Patriarch Erick and his daughter Bryn search for clues and prepare for what seems like an inevitable war. Narbutovskih spins an increasingly frenetic web of intrigue and loss set against the specter of war on a horrific scale. Well-written and clever plot, increasingly credible characters, and an ambitious, detailed universe combined to make this an even better read than the first volume of the series. I’m looking forward to more!
Smirk factor: All-clear: 2 pts (1 smirk)
Immersion factor: Chest-high: 1.5 pts
Writing quality: Above-average: 1.5 pts
Character/plot development: Above-average: 1.5 pts
Innovative/interesting: Above-average: 1.5 pts
Total: 8/10 (4 stars)