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Iron Cast
It’s Boston, 1919, and the Cast Iron club is packed. On stage, hemopaths—whose “afflicted” blood gives them the ability to create illusions through art—Corinne and Ada have been best friends ever since infamous gangster Johnny Dervish recruited them into his circle. By night they perform for Johnny’s crowds, and by day they con Boston’s elite. When a job goes wrong and Ada is imprisoned, she realizes how precarious their position is. After she escapes, two of the Cast Iron’s hires are shot, and Johnny disappears. With the law closing in, Corinne and Ada are forced to hunt for answers, even as betrayal faces them at every turn. An ideal next read for fans of Libba Bray’s The Diviners.
384 pages, ebook
First published October 11, 2016
About the author
Destiny Soria
3 books380 followersDestiny Soria is a Young Adult fantasy author and freelance writer. Her novels feature magic, mystery, and an excess of witty banter. She lives in Birmingham, AL, where she spends her time trying to come up with bios that make her sound kind of cool. She has yet to succeed.
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October 13, 2016
This book just did not hold my attention. I liked the idea, but the plot was so uninteresting and the two MCs had the exact same (and dull) personality.
Things I Liked
* Diversity
* Low on romance
* Addresses racism
* Black cover model (and the cover in general is quite appealing)
That's kind of it, though. I think even some more romance would have been welcome here to give the dragging pace and boring story some life.
Iron Cast starts slow, plodding along as a lot of time is taken to explain and demonstrate the concept of hemopathy. It's basically a way of conjuring illusions through various forms of art and making people believe what you want them to believe; and it's also illegal in this world. Corinne uses words, poetry usually, to create her illusions, and Ada uses songs. When they're not performing for the crowds at Johnny Dervish's Cast Iron club, they're conning rich people out of their money.
Then Ada is imprisoned in the Haversham asylum after a job gone wrong. Corinne helps her escape but then stuff goes down and Johnny disappears. This is nothing that the blurb doesn't tell you, and yet it is a huge chunk of the plot. Problem is, not that much happens in the book. The author prefers to spend time playing with the illusions or talking snoozeworthy gangster politics, and when things did start to move forward, I just didn't care. Maybe I am simply not that interested in gangster and con stories, or maybe this wasn't a great example of one - either way, it was a struggle to finish.
I also think a lot of my problem hangs on my lack of interest in any of the characters. ALL of the characters are forgettable and that is, for me, unforgivable. I need to care about my characters if I am to care about the story. Not only do Corinne and Ada remain indistinguishable throughout, but they also feel very modern. I just realized I've gotten this far into the review and not mentioned that it's set in 1919 Boston. That's because I keep forgetting.
The hemopathy scenes in the club are well-crafted with lots of attention to detail, but beyond that, there's very little atmosphere. I got no sense that I was in the early twentieth century, sneaking around clubs in Prohibition-era America.
Iron Cast is a book I took a chance on, knowing very little about it. Sadly, it didn't work out. I wanted so much more from the characters, from the plot, and from the setting. If you want a paranormal historical novel set in the early twentieth century, read The Diviners instead.
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Things I Liked
* Diversity
* Low on romance
* Addresses racism
* Black cover model (and the cover in general is quite appealing)
That's kind of it, though. I think even some more romance would have been welcome here to give the dragging pace and boring story some life.
Iron Cast starts slow, plodding along as a lot of time is taken to explain and demonstrate the concept of hemopathy. It's basically a way of conjuring illusions through various forms of art and making people believe what you want them to believe; and it's also illegal in this world. Corinne uses words, poetry usually, to create her illusions, and Ada uses songs. When they're not performing for the crowds at Johnny Dervish's Cast Iron club, they're conning rich people out of their money.
“Unlike his predecessor, Johnny ran the club like a business instead of a social fraternity. Those who did the work earned a cut of the profits. Some of the jobs were less legal than others, but in times like these the line was blurred at best.”
Then Ada is imprisoned in the Haversham asylum after a job gone wrong. Corinne helps her escape but then stuff goes down and Johnny disappears. This is nothing that the blurb doesn't tell you, and yet it is a huge chunk of the plot. Problem is, not that much happens in the book. The author prefers to spend time playing with the illusions or talking snoozeworthy gangster politics, and when things did start to move forward, I just didn't care. Maybe I am simply not that interested in gangster and con stories, or maybe this wasn't a great example of one - either way, it was a struggle to finish.
I also think a lot of my problem hangs on my lack of interest in any of the characters. ALL of the characters are forgettable and that is, for me, unforgivable. I need to care about my characters if I am to care about the story. Not only do Corinne and Ada remain indistinguishable throughout, but they also feel very modern. I just realized I've gotten this far into the review and not mentioned that it's set in 1919 Boston. That's because I keep forgetting.
The hemopathy scenes in the club are well-crafted with lots of attention to detail, but beyond that, there's very little atmosphere. I got no sense that I was in the early twentieth century, sneaking around clubs in Prohibition-era America.
Iron Cast is a book I took a chance on, knowing very little about it. Sadly, it didn't work out. I wanted so much more from the characters, from the plot, and from the setting. If you want a paranormal historical novel set in the early twentieth century, read The Diviners instead.
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September 26, 2018I found this book really difficult to get through. There were times where I questioned if I should just DNF it, but I ultimately pulled through. I felt a major disconnect with the characters throughout this book, which made it hard to care for the things they were going through. I did like the plot, though there were moments where I felt it lulled. My favorite part was the magic system and I wish we would've seen more of it throughout the story. Overall this was a miss for me, which makes me sad. I wanted to love it!
November 7, 2016
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/11/06/...
I didn’t really expect much from Iron Cast. It’s one of those books where its cover caught my eye while browsing Goodreads one day, and the description sounded interesting enough that it led me to add it to my to-watch list. Afterwards though, I must admit it’d pretty much flown out of my mind— that is, until one day I read a very positive review from Kaja whose blog I follow, and her praise was enough to put this book on my radar again. When the opportunity to review the Iron Cast audiobook came along, I jumped on it, and I am very glad I did.
The story is a historical fantasy that takes place in Boston. The year is 1919 and the city’s club scene is full of life, even as the country teeters on the cusp of the Prohibition Era. In underground venues all over, hemopaths entertain patrons on stage. They are the “blood afflicted” ones, gifted—or cursed, depending on your point of view—with the ability to create illusions and affect emotions through art. Best friends Corinne and Ada are two such talented individuals, employed at Johnny Dervish’s Cast Iron Club. By night, Corinne recites beautiful poetry while Ada plays mesmerizing tunes on her violin, but by day, the two young women work their magic as con artists.
Our protagonists aren’t exactly proud of what they do, but it’s a rough world out there for hemopaths and they have to take certain measures to keep themselves and their families safe. Ada and Corinne rationalize that they are cheating and stealing only from the people who deserve it, using the funds to hide the secret of their abilities and what they do for Johnny Dervish. Hemopaths using their abilities is illegal, and those captured are taken to institutions where inhumane experiments take place on prisoners under the pretense of rehabilitating them and making them “fit” to enter society again. One day after a botched job, Ada finds herself thrown into one such place, the nightmare that is Haversham Asylum. Corinne manages to break her out, but upon returning to the Cast Iron, the two of them discover to their horror that even worse misfortunes have befallen their friends at their beloved club.
In many ways, this book reminded me of a lot of Lee Kelly’s A Criminal Magic, another novel I read this year about illegal sorcery as a form of entertainment in clandestine nightclubs, which also takes place around this historical time period. While I enjoyed that one quite a bit, I do think Iron Cast managed to handle several elements with a lot more flair and energy. First of all, the setting: Destiny Soria really captured the essence of 1919 Boston in her descriptions of the people and places, from the poor and downtrodden in the urban tenements to the glitz and glamour of the city’s elite. It’s also an era of tumultuous politics, which is subtly but unmistakably reflected in the social climate portrayed in the story. The nature and soul of the time and place is so important for me when it comes to historical fiction, and in my opinion, the author nailed it. As I listened to the audio, I could practically feel the atmosphere oozing from every word.
Second, I adored Soria’s approach to the theme of female friendship. I know that’s a term that gets thrown around a lot, especially in YA where perhaps more readers are seeking out stories that feature strong friendships as a counterbalance to the genre’s heavy emphasis on romance. I’ve been drawn to books before that claim “female friendship” only to be disappointed the moment a guy steps in and overshadows that relationship (Truthwitch is an example that immediately comes to mind) so you can understand why I went into this one with no small amount of skepticism. Thankfully, those turned out to be unfounded. Corinne and Ada are indeed the best of friends and the strength of their bond was apparent from the get go. The two of them come from very different worlds—Corinne’s parents are prominent and wealthy members of the Boston elite and her brother is running for political office, while Ada is the daughter of two hardworking but impoverished immigrants and her father has been jailed for a crime he did not commit.
It may seem like a cliché for two girls from such different walks of life to bond over their shared hemopathy, but there’s so much more to their friendship than that. Corinne and Ada provide each other comfort and support, but each character also shows time and time again that she is willing to put the other’s safety and happiness above her own. That unconditional love means that they are aware of each other’s foibles and they even joke about how they drive each other up the wall—but all it does is make that loyalty stronger.
All told, I thought this was a great novel and a rather happy surprise. The audiobook was a great way to experience the story, with Christine Marshall’s narration bringing to life all the beauty and magic of Boston in the post-WWI era. I enjoyed her accents and intonations for the various characters and the way her smooth reading kept even the slower, more understated parts of the story moving along at a smart pace. A fantastic debut and highly recommended.
I didn’t really expect much from Iron Cast. It’s one of those books where its cover caught my eye while browsing Goodreads one day, and the description sounded interesting enough that it led me to add it to my to-watch list. Afterwards though, I must admit it’d pretty much flown out of my mind— that is, until one day I read a very positive review from Kaja whose blog I follow, and her praise was enough to put this book on my radar again. When the opportunity to review the Iron Cast audiobook came along, I jumped on it, and I am very glad I did.
The story is a historical fantasy that takes place in Boston. The year is 1919 and the city’s club scene is full of life, even as the country teeters on the cusp of the Prohibition Era. In underground venues all over, hemopaths entertain patrons on stage. They are the “blood afflicted” ones, gifted—or cursed, depending on your point of view—with the ability to create illusions and affect emotions through art. Best friends Corinne and Ada are two such talented individuals, employed at Johnny Dervish’s Cast Iron Club. By night, Corinne recites beautiful poetry while Ada plays mesmerizing tunes on her violin, but by day, the two young women work their magic as con artists.
Our protagonists aren’t exactly proud of what they do, but it’s a rough world out there for hemopaths and they have to take certain measures to keep themselves and their families safe. Ada and Corinne rationalize that they are cheating and stealing only from the people who deserve it, using the funds to hide the secret of their abilities and what they do for Johnny Dervish. Hemopaths using their abilities is illegal, and those captured are taken to institutions where inhumane experiments take place on prisoners under the pretense of rehabilitating them and making them “fit” to enter society again. One day after a botched job, Ada finds herself thrown into one such place, the nightmare that is Haversham Asylum. Corinne manages to break her out, but upon returning to the Cast Iron, the two of them discover to their horror that even worse misfortunes have befallen their friends at their beloved club.
In many ways, this book reminded me of a lot of Lee Kelly’s A Criminal Magic, another novel I read this year about illegal sorcery as a form of entertainment in clandestine nightclubs, which also takes place around this historical time period. While I enjoyed that one quite a bit, I do think Iron Cast managed to handle several elements with a lot more flair and energy. First of all, the setting: Destiny Soria really captured the essence of 1919 Boston in her descriptions of the people and places, from the poor and downtrodden in the urban tenements to the glitz and glamour of the city’s elite. It’s also an era of tumultuous politics, which is subtly but unmistakably reflected in the social climate portrayed in the story. The nature and soul of the time and place is so important for me when it comes to historical fiction, and in my opinion, the author nailed it. As I listened to the audio, I could practically feel the atmosphere oozing from every word.
Second, I adored Soria’s approach to the theme of female friendship. I know that’s a term that gets thrown around a lot, especially in YA where perhaps more readers are seeking out stories that feature strong friendships as a counterbalance to the genre’s heavy emphasis on romance. I’ve been drawn to books before that claim “female friendship” only to be disappointed the moment a guy steps in and overshadows that relationship (Truthwitch is an example that immediately comes to mind) so you can understand why I went into this one with no small amount of skepticism. Thankfully, those turned out to be unfounded. Corinne and Ada are indeed the best of friends and the strength of their bond was apparent from the get go. The two of them come from very different worlds—Corinne’s parents are prominent and wealthy members of the Boston elite and her brother is running for political office, while Ada is the daughter of two hardworking but impoverished immigrants and her father has been jailed for a crime he did not commit.
It may seem like a cliché for two girls from such different walks of life to bond over their shared hemopathy, but there’s so much more to their friendship than that. Corinne and Ada provide each other comfort and support, but each character also shows time and time again that she is willing to put the other’s safety and happiness above her own. That unconditional love means that they are aware of each other’s foibles and they even joke about how they drive each other up the wall—but all it does is make that loyalty stronger.
All told, I thought this was a great novel and a rather happy surprise. The audiobook was a great way to experience the story, with Christine Marshall’s narration bringing to life all the beauty and magic of Boston in the post-WWI era. I enjoyed her accents and intonations for the various characters and the way her smooth reading kept even the slower, more understated parts of the story moving along at a smart pace. A fantastic debut and highly recommended.
February 19, 2017
4.5
¿Los años 20? Amo. ¿Personas con poderes? AMO. ¿Personajes diversos? AMO.
Este libro tienen todo lo que me podría gustar y más, no se si es un "muder mistery" per se, pero tiene mucho de esa onda, hay mucho misterio, mucho "problema" entre bandas y clubes, si les gusta ese tipo de cosa les va a re gustar.
La ambientación super '20, me envolvió y atrapó.
¿Te interesa The Diviners? Esto también te va a gustar.
(PD: es autoconclusivo)
Reseña completa en Gracias a los Libros.
¿Los años 20? Amo. ¿Personas con poderes? AMO. ¿Personajes diversos? AMO.
Este libro tienen todo lo que me podría gustar y más, no se si es un "muder mistery" per se, pero tiene mucho de esa onda, hay mucho misterio, mucho "problema" entre bandas y clubes, si les gusta ese tipo de cosa les va a re gustar.
La ambientación super '20, me envolvió y atrapó.
¿Te interesa The Diviners? Esto también te va a gustar.
(PD: es autoconclusivo)
Reseña completa en Gracias a los Libros.
January 10, 2019
More than anything, she wanted to kiss him. He was so bright and beautiful and vulnerable in the daylight. But she couldn't let herself.
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: Afro-Latina mc, black li, mlm side characters
Hands down, this is one of the best books I've read this year. Perhaps I found it a little slow, up until about the halfway point, and was thinking of rating it only 4 stars, but then it burst into life. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and I was emotionally drained by the end.
Iron Cast is set in Boston in 1919, in a world where there exist 'hemopaths' - people with powers to create illusions, manipulate memories, and various other things, based on poetry or music or painting. Following a con where a politician ended up losing $2,000, the use of these powers is outlawed and the Hemopath Protection Agency is set up, ostensibly to register and protect hemopaths, but more often than not they pick up hemopaths and take them to Haversham Asylum. In the city however, there remain clubs where hemopaths put on shows. The main characters, Ada and Corinne, are members of the Cast Iron club, one such place. Then the club owner, Johnny Dervish, is killed and suddenly they are no longer safe.
I honestly don't know how to review this book. It was so amazing and I loved pretty much everything about it. The setting was so unique and interesting - it reminded me a little of The Diviners (but almost in reverse because hemopaths are persecuted in this) and The Great Gatsby (which I hate but love the setting of). Fantasy like this, based in the real world but in the past, is my favourite kind, really.
Beyond the setting, the characters were amazing too. Maybe they could have done with a little more fleshing out. In some cases, it seemed that the reasons behind their doing things (like Corinne moving to the Cast Iron club) were a little bit subtext rather than being explicitly stated (which, I guess is OK as the reader, it's just when she was talking to Gabriel about things that it felt slightly off). Other than that, they were all brilliant, and I probably cried a few times over them but I'm not admitting to anything.
Then there are the plot twists. Not one of them I saw coming - each and every one was a (usually unwelcome) shock. And they went on right to the end. I don't think I've read many books that have had so many twists in such quick succession and I've not been able to see any of them coming.
Overall, this book was amazing and everyone should read it, basically.
February 17, 2017
ok, I might be biased because this time period + paranormal is the key to my heart but I really loved this book.
it had amazing things, like a diverse cast, a lot of focus on female friendships and young girls that can take down whatever they want if they just try a bit hard. but it was the little details that got me. for example, there's characters from portuguese speaking countries. and they speak portuguese, with correct grammar!! there's even one that has a portuguese name. you have no idea how that made me happy. as a portuguese person, I've seen my language been slaughtered in so many different mediums, it feels amazing to see someone that actually cares enough to make their book coherent and perfect in every way. I could say this same thing about many other stuff in this title.
y'all definitely need to read this book!!
full review here: https://catshelf.wordpress.com/2016/0...
it had amazing things, like a diverse cast, a lot of focus on female friendships and young girls that can take down whatever they want if they just try a bit hard. but it was the little details that got me. for example, there's characters from portuguese speaking countries. and they speak portuguese, with correct grammar!! there's even one that has a portuguese name. you have no idea how that made me happy. as a portuguese person, I've seen my language been slaughtered in so many different mediums, it feels amazing to see someone that actually cares enough to make their book coherent and perfect in every way. I could say this same thing about many other stuff in this title.
y'all definitely need to read this book!!
full review here: https://catshelf.wordpress.com/2016/0...
October 27, 2016
Iron Cast was a novel I was really looking forward to reading as I had heard a lot about it around the book community on both blogs and Instagram alike. I really liked the premise, and I was also looking forward to having some black culture included in the novel too. It’s not every day that both of the main characters in a novel are coloured!
Personally, it took me a little while to warm up to this novel, but once I did I was head over heels in love with it. The two main characters are Ada and Corinne, who are both really tight friends and both have quite the sarcastic attitude to match it. I loved them both. At the beginning I was always confused because I felt like they were pretty similar. Ada and Corinne both seemed to act the same to me and it was hard to see them as individuals… but eventually as I read along I got a better understanding of them both and they became more unique. I learned that Corinne was more the headstrong and confident one, while Ada was more quiet and sensible. Once you see the distinction, the lines won’t blur anymore.
I also really loved the idea of hemopathy in general. Hemopathy means you have certain skills which act a bit like unique powers, except metals like steel and iron are your kryptonite. Also, hemopaths are seen as dangerous and get locked away or abused by the other members of society. Immediately you can see that this novel is going to dive into the theme of social classes, and discrimination. Maybe it wasn’t segregation because of skin colour, or gender, but because of ‘race’ in a way. And this novel managed to cover the theme well. Shouldn’t we be accepting of these minor differences and if the hemopaths are going to be law abiding, then why shouldn’t they live like anyone else? Labeling people as criminal only makes them more likely to enact criminal behaviour.
Of course, these girls did have other issues as well. They’re not only hemopaths, but they’re also female and coloured. I was surprised by how little the author delved into those latter two topics and themes, but Soria had enough going on in this novel that I think the addition of those would have become overwhelming anyway.
Ada’s hemopathic ability is being able to play music and make others feel emotions. Corinne’s is being able to recite poetry and use those words to cause illusions. Coupled together, these two are quite powerful. But what I liked most about their abilities was hoe it showed an appreciation for the arts. More books with art appreciation is always good to me :D
I also think that the secondary characters were developed pretty well. In the second half of the book you really get a feel for those other characters and a dive into their backstory as well. I loved Maddie, Ada’s mother, Charlie and Gabriel especially. I think what struck me most about these other secondary characters were that they were not puppets. They had their own issues, their own choices to make which impacted the story and their own lives. We see how they entwine, but also why they do what they do too.
I felt like there were a lot of betrayals and plot twists that I didn’t see coming at all. It made the second half of the book amazingly good. It was action packed, and it seemed not to end so all I could do was helplessly turn page after page until I had read everything! It was so good in terms of plot line.
I’m not going to say much about this, but the theme of family and what that means and entails was handled spectacularly as well. I loved it.
One little thing I didn’t understand was why the movie was called Iron Cast. The place where this novel is set and centers around is called Cast Iron. I know Iron Cast sounds better, but then just call the café in the book that as well!
In conclusion, I loved it. I didn’t expect to love it quite this much. I’ll definitely be reading whatever this author writes next.
Gif Summary:
[image error]
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
Personally, it took me a little while to warm up to this novel, but once I did I was head over heels in love with it. The two main characters are Ada and Corinne, who are both really tight friends and both have quite the sarcastic attitude to match it. I loved them both. At the beginning I was always confused because I felt like they were pretty similar. Ada and Corinne both seemed to act the same to me and it was hard to see them as individuals… but eventually as I read along I got a better understanding of them both and they became more unique. I learned that Corinne was more the headstrong and confident one, while Ada was more quiet and sensible. Once you see the distinction, the lines won’t blur anymore.
I also really loved the idea of hemopathy in general. Hemopathy means you have certain skills which act a bit like unique powers, except metals like steel and iron are your kryptonite. Also, hemopaths are seen as dangerous and get locked away or abused by the other members of society. Immediately you can see that this novel is going to dive into the theme of social classes, and discrimination. Maybe it wasn’t segregation because of skin colour, or gender, but because of ‘race’ in a way. And this novel managed to cover the theme well. Shouldn’t we be accepting of these minor differences and if the hemopaths are going to be law abiding, then why shouldn’t they live like anyone else? Labeling people as criminal only makes them more likely to enact criminal behaviour.
Of course, these girls did have other issues as well. They’re not only hemopaths, but they’re also female and coloured. I was surprised by how little the author delved into those latter two topics and themes, but Soria had enough going on in this novel that I think the addition of those would have become overwhelming anyway.
Ada’s hemopathic ability is being able to play music and make others feel emotions. Corinne’s is being able to recite poetry and use those words to cause illusions. Coupled together, these two are quite powerful. But what I liked most about their abilities was hoe it showed an appreciation for the arts. More books with art appreciation is always good to me :D
I also think that the secondary characters were developed pretty well. In the second half of the book you really get a feel for those other characters and a dive into their backstory as well. I loved Maddie, Ada’s mother, Charlie and Gabriel especially. I think what struck me most about these other secondary characters were that they were not puppets. They had their own issues, their own choices to make which impacted the story and their own lives. We see how they entwine, but also why they do what they do too.
I felt like there were a lot of betrayals and plot twists that I didn’t see coming at all. It made the second half of the book amazingly good. It was action packed, and it seemed not to end so all I could do was helplessly turn page after page until I had read everything! It was so good in terms of plot line.
I’m not going to say much about this, but the theme of family and what that means and entails was handled spectacularly as well. I loved it.
One little thing I didn’t understand was why the movie was called Iron Cast. The place where this novel is set and centers around is called Cast Iron. I know Iron Cast sounds better, but then just call the café in the book that as well!
In conclusion, I loved it. I didn’t expect to love it quite this much. I’ll definitely be reading whatever this author writes next.
Gif Summary:
[image error]
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
July 14, 2016
Five very convincing reasons to read Iron Cast that will also serve as a countdown to you immediately starting it:
5. The pitch: Iron Cast mashes up con artists, magic, art and the jazz era and they fit together so well you wonder why no one has done this before. If you’re a fan of the setting of The Great Gatsby and The Diviners, along with the deception and trickery in things like Ocean’s Eleven, The Sting, The Prestige, Inception and the first Mistborn book (but have also wondered why each of those has like fifty dudes and the one girl) then this is the book for you.
4. The world: Set in an alternate 1919 Boston, Iron Cast vividly depicts a mistrustful world. Prohibition is just around the corner, but hemopaths have already been banned from using their powers to create illusions out of their art. The tension is palpable everywhere– the high society parties, the underground gangster hideouts, the mysterious government institutions. Between the complicated political climate and the little bits of personal history each character carries with them, this world feels smart, lived-in and fully realized.
3. The unique magic system: Hemopaths can be divided into four groups. There are songsmiths like our first POV character, Ada, who can conjure up powerful emotions by playing music. There are wordsmiths like our other POV character, Corrine, who can create visual illusions by reciting poetry. There are also painters who can use their art to play with reality and thespians with the talent to impersonate anyone. It’s a simple foundation that leads to fun, complicated situations where characters have to rely more on clever, deceptive and cooperative magical solutions rather than violent or destructive ones.
2. Trust: When you really think about it, the principles of an elaborate con aren’t too different from the principles of art or magic. Art gains the trust of the observer and exploits their emotions. Magic exploits the observer’s trust in the rules of the physical world. In this world of illusions, corrupt politicians and criminals, money isn’t the most precious commodity. It’s all about trust. And by finding this strong thematic link, Destiny Soria brilliantly ties everything in the book together.
1. #Friendshipgoals: And because trust is hard to come by, the central friendship in Iron Cast shines all the brighter. Yes, there are cute romances and strong family ties, but the relationship between these two girls from disparate backgrounds is one of the best friendships I’ve read. They are both strong in distinct ways and they’ll fight with each other and for each other out of love. And just wait until you get to that beautiful moment in the second half. It basically puts it up there in the Sam/Frodo and Lyra/Pantalaimon friendship pantheon.
5. The pitch: Iron Cast mashes up con artists, magic, art and the jazz era and they fit together so well you wonder why no one has done this before. If you’re a fan of the setting of The Great Gatsby and The Diviners, along with the deception and trickery in things like Ocean’s Eleven, The Sting, The Prestige, Inception and the first Mistborn book (but have also wondered why each of those has like fifty dudes and the one girl) then this is the book for you.
4. The world: Set in an alternate 1919 Boston, Iron Cast vividly depicts a mistrustful world. Prohibition is just around the corner, but hemopaths have already been banned from using their powers to create illusions out of their art. The tension is palpable everywhere– the high society parties, the underground gangster hideouts, the mysterious government institutions. Between the complicated political climate and the little bits of personal history each character carries with them, this world feels smart, lived-in and fully realized.
3. The unique magic system: Hemopaths can be divided into four groups. There are songsmiths like our first POV character, Ada, who can conjure up powerful emotions by playing music. There are wordsmiths like our other POV character, Corrine, who can create visual illusions by reciting poetry. There are also painters who can use their art to play with reality and thespians with the talent to impersonate anyone. It’s a simple foundation that leads to fun, complicated situations where characters have to rely more on clever, deceptive and cooperative magical solutions rather than violent or destructive ones.
2. Trust: When you really think about it, the principles of an elaborate con aren’t too different from the principles of art or magic. Art gains the trust of the observer and exploits their emotions. Magic exploits the observer’s trust in the rules of the physical world. In this world of illusions, corrupt politicians and criminals, money isn’t the most precious commodity. It’s all about trust. And by finding this strong thematic link, Destiny Soria brilliantly ties everything in the book together.
1. #Friendshipgoals: And because trust is hard to come by, the central friendship in Iron Cast shines all the brighter. Yes, there are cute romances and strong family ties, but the relationship between these two girls from disparate backgrounds is one of the best friendships I’ve read. They are both strong in distinct ways and they’ll fight with each other and for each other out of love. And just wait until you get to that beautiful moment in the second half. It basically puts it up there in the Sam/Frodo and Lyra/Pantalaimon friendship pantheon.
February 6, 2017
I received an eArc of this book from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
Full review on my blog: Word Wonders
3.5 stars.
I thouroughly enjoyed the concept and reading about the issues this books deals with, and can we talk about that cover for a second, HOW GORGEOUS IS IT? I must admit that this was a cover pick above all for me #Shallowlikethat and then the synopsis pulled me in even more.
The writing is something very settle, it is not something that would strike you or sweep you off of your feet but it is still beautiful in its own way and quite easy to keep up with. The story is written in Dual POV from both our two MCs perspectives, two girls who happen to be best friends. One of the problems that I had is that even though they have distinct personnalities, their voices were quite similar.
The idea behind the story is unique and I really loved it. What it is, is that some people called “hemopaths” have a blood sickness that makes them “allergic” to iron, but on the flip side that also gives them certain powers, ART RELATED POWERS! How cool is that? There are wordsmiths, songsmiths, thespian (shapeshifters) and artists, and each one is details and has specific things that they can do which means that the magic side of things was well studied, but what I would’ve liked is for the sickness side to be that detailed too. What activates it for the first time? or at least, what are the exact symptoms? Because all it kept saying is “When the symptoms first appeared”, WHAT ARE THE DAMN SYMPTOMS? Okay, moving on.
As I said before I loved the premise and it started with a bang. A cool evasion from an Asylum. When you give me that from the start, you set the bar really high for yourself because I expect everything that follows to be head spinning and intense, and don’t get me wrong I got some intense scenes, twists and turns and betrayal that took me off guard more than once and OH MY GOD!! THIS is why I have trust issues! You don’t do that to my heart, please!! But then again, that didn’t happen until the last 100 pages of the book. Before that, there wasn’t much happening. It wasn’t boring per say, but it did catch my attention enough to keep me coming back for more
Another thing that I really appreciated is how “Iron Cast” deals with the racism that was such a normalized thing back then. But it did so in a subtle way, it wasn’t thrown at my face and it didn’t take centre stage. It was there, and I was aware of it.
Moving on to the characters. I didn’t particularly love them but I didn’t despise them either. They were alright and served their purpose. Corinne is not a nice person, as she likes to put it. She is blunt and can be rude at times -most of the time- but she is caring and passionate about her community, she has a leader kind of profile even though she can make reckless decision. On the other hand Ada is the voice of reason, she counterbalances Corinne’s temper, calling her out when she’s crossing a line. What I loved most about these girls is their relationship. I admired their blind faith in each other and how they always had each other’s backs. This is what female friendships should be represented as, take notes, people!
Full review on my blog: Word Wonders
3.5 stars.
I thouroughly enjoyed the concept and reading about the issues this books deals with, and can we talk about that cover for a second, HOW GORGEOUS IS IT? I must admit that this was a cover pick above all for me #Shallowlikethat and then the synopsis pulled me in even more.
The writing is something very settle, it is not something that would strike you or sweep you off of your feet but it is still beautiful in its own way and quite easy to keep up with. The story is written in Dual POV from both our two MCs perspectives, two girls who happen to be best friends. One of the problems that I had is that even though they have distinct personnalities, their voices were quite similar.
The idea behind the story is unique and I really loved it. What it is, is that some people called “hemopaths” have a blood sickness that makes them “allergic” to iron, but on the flip side that also gives them certain powers, ART RELATED POWERS! How cool is that? There are wordsmiths, songsmiths, thespian (shapeshifters) and artists, and each one is details and has specific things that they can do which means that the magic side of things was well studied, but what I would’ve liked is for the sickness side to be that detailed too. What activates it for the first time? or at least, what are the exact symptoms? Because all it kept saying is “When the symptoms first appeared”, WHAT ARE THE DAMN SYMPTOMS? Okay, moving on.
As I said before I loved the premise and it started with a bang. A cool evasion from an Asylum. When you give me that from the start, you set the bar really high for yourself because I expect everything that follows to be head spinning and intense, and don’t get me wrong I got some intense scenes, twists and turns and betrayal that took me off guard more than once and OH MY GOD!! THIS is why I have trust issues! You don’t do that to my heart, please!! But then again, that didn’t happen until the last 100 pages of the book. Before that, there wasn’t much happening. It wasn’t boring per say, but it did catch my attention enough to keep me coming back for more
Another thing that I really appreciated is how “Iron Cast” deals with the racism that was such a normalized thing back then. But it did so in a subtle way, it wasn’t thrown at my face and it didn’t take centre stage. It was there, and I was aware of it.
Moving on to the characters. I didn’t particularly love them but I didn’t despise them either. They were alright and served their purpose. Corinne is not a nice person, as she likes to put it. She is blunt and can be rude at times -most of the time- but she is caring and passionate about her community, she has a leader kind of profile even though she can make reckless decision. On the other hand Ada is the voice of reason, she counterbalances Corinne’s temper, calling her out when she’s crossing a line. What I loved most about these girls is their relationship. I admired their blind faith in each other and how they always had each other’s backs. This is what female friendships should be represented as, take notes, people!
Want to read
December 21, 2016This cover is everything. I can't even.
September 8, 2016
4.5 Stars
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
Ada and Corianne are living in Boston in 1919 and are extremely skilled hemopaths. Hemopathy is a form of magic where the people with the power of hemopathy can create illusions through art whether it be a wordsmith, a songsmith or an artist. The Hemopathy Protection Agency (HPA) is closing in on Ada and Corianne’s tails and they are at risk at being thrown into an asylum and losing everything and everyone they love.
I loved this - the setting, the AMAZING female friendships, the magic system. It was great. At the start of the book, I felt like as a reader i had been thrown into the quick of it and it took me a while to really gather the details of the story around me and get into it but soon it wasn’t long before I was devouring each chapter.
Ada and Corinne are amazing characters - strong in themselves, their powers, their opinions. They’ve been allowed blossom into amazing women by their protector Johnny Dervish who looks after them by running a club where hemopaths perform. The brief romances the girls have are very much in the background and the main relationship focused on in the book is the girl’s friendship which I loved.This book contains characters of colour and different sexuality and no fuss is made of either (except some of the racism Ada experiences as a black woman in 1919 America).
The story was engaging and really kept me on my toes as the girls showed more of their powers (I really loved their way of practising their illusions against each other as a game) and then as they tried to solve the mystery of the asylum’s basement. There were twists and turns, especially in the second half and it left me gasping and not knowing what would come next.
I really loved the end, and I hope this isn’t the last of Ada and Corinne cause I'd love more.
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
Ada and Corianne are living in Boston in 1919 and are extremely skilled hemopaths. Hemopathy is a form of magic where the people with the power of hemopathy can create illusions through art whether it be a wordsmith, a songsmith or an artist. The Hemopathy Protection Agency (HPA) is closing in on Ada and Corianne’s tails and they are at risk at being thrown into an asylum and losing everything and everyone they love.
I loved this - the setting, the AMAZING female friendships, the magic system. It was great. At the start of the book, I felt like as a reader i had been thrown into the quick of it and it took me a while to really gather the details of the story around me and get into it but soon it wasn’t long before I was devouring each chapter.
Ada and Corinne are amazing characters - strong in themselves, their powers, their opinions. They’ve been allowed blossom into amazing women by their protector Johnny Dervish who looks after them by running a club where hemopaths perform. The brief romances the girls have are very much in the background and the main relationship focused on in the book is the girl’s friendship which I loved.This book contains characters of colour and different sexuality and no fuss is made of either (except some of the racism Ada experiences as a black woman in 1919 America).
The story was engaging and really kept me on my toes as the girls showed more of their powers (I really loved their way of practising their illusions against each other as a game) and then as they tried to solve the mystery of the asylum’s basement. There were twists and turns, especially in the second half and it left me gasping and not knowing what would come next.
I really loved the end, and I hope this isn’t the last of Ada and Corinne cause I'd love more.
September 11, 2016
Man, but Destiny Soria can write. Most of the time, her skills are quiet: they're 'only' evident in her clever, careful world-building, and in the characters who are so effortlessly nuanced and flawed and three-dimensional. There are moments, though, that just take your breath away, and that happens in Iron Cast when Soria's describing the manifestation of some of the book's magic. The way she articulates, for example, what it looks like when one character take the appearance of another is so vivid and perfect that it feels like she's writing something no one else has ever put down on the page.
So, yeah, she's good. And here she uses those skills to craft a magical (literally) pre-Prohibition Boston, populated by a diverse group (in terms of race, sexuality, and gender -- powerful women are pleasingly foregrounded) of winning, complicated characters. At the book's center are Ada and Corinne, two girls simply trying to figure their lives out, like so many of us did as teens. Their task, however, is complicated by racism, sexism, poverty and, oh yeah -- the fact that they're persecuted because of their magical abilities. It's to Soria's great credit that, despite a compelling world and story, the focus is always on Ada and Corinne, and their desperate efforts to keep their world(s) together as they grow and try to survive. Iron Cast has its slow moments, but they're worth it for the way the characters grow and develop, and the way those changes shape the book's ending.
Thanks to Amulet Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
So, yeah, she's good. And here she uses those skills to craft a magical (literally) pre-Prohibition Boston, populated by a diverse group (in terms of race, sexuality, and gender -- powerful women are pleasingly foregrounded) of winning, complicated characters. At the book's center are Ada and Corinne, two girls simply trying to figure their lives out, like so many of us did as teens. Their task, however, is complicated by racism, sexism, poverty and, oh yeah -- the fact that they're persecuted because of their magical abilities. It's to Soria's great credit that, despite a compelling world and story, the focus is always on Ada and Corinne, and their desperate efforts to keep their world(s) together as they grow and try to survive. Iron Cast has its slow moments, but they're worth it for the way the characters grow and develop, and the way those changes shape the book's ending.
Thanks to Amulet Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 9, 2016
Fascinating fantasy elements! Magic and art, together? Love! However, and this is a breaker, it...
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
October 19, 2016
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I really enjoyed this one. And I can actually get the only problem I had with it out of the way right up front: It started off slowly. The first 50 pages or so, I struggled with getting to know the characters and developing any connection to them. But, as the book wore on, I definitely got into it! Let's discuss why, shall we?
The friendship was awesome! A duo of headstrong females in the early twentieth century? Yes PLEASE! Ada and Corinne were such fabulous friends. They had squabbles, no doubt. But that made it so realistic. They were truly and fully there for each other, and their loyalty and love was so heartwarming! Especially since their lives were tough, it was incredibly sweet that they had each other's backs.
The historical setting was on point. Granted, it was an alternate history, since as far as I can tell we didn't have hemopaths roaming the streets of Boston, well, ever. But since prohibition was definitely a topic of the times, it fit perfectly in the night club setting, in an era where women and minorities had very few rights, it worked completely. It also made for the perfect atmosphere, which the author totally delivers!
The diversity (and the commentary) is fabulous! The characters are all quite diverse, which is a win in itself. But the author also uses hemopathy brilliantly. It is a huge part of who they are, but they are treated horribly because of something they have no control over. They're persecuted for just their general existence- even if they didn't work in the bar, just the state of being a hemopath was enough to have them locked in an asylum. The mistreatment of hemopaths serves as an incredible allegory for the mistreatment of all minority groups, which is certainly a powerful and important topic.
I enjoyed that their families played roles in their lives even though they lived away from home. Their familial relationships were often strained, but they also seemed to be incredibly realistic, as well as an important factor in both girls' lives. The role of their other friends was also great. I enjoyed reading about all the side relationships.
The hemopathy thing was really intriguing! I was so pleasantly surprised at how fascinated I was with it. The ability to change people's emotions (through art, no less!), and all the ramifications that come with it? Definitely needed to know all about that! Obviously, I will let you read about it all yourselves, but just the whole concept was quite unique and thought provoking!
Bottom Line: Definitely glad to have read this one! The historical atmosphere was phenomenal, the diversity was great, and the friendships were so heartwarming! A must-read if you like any of the genres this book falls under!
I really enjoyed this one. And I can actually get the only problem I had with it out of the way right up front: It started off slowly. The first 50 pages or so, I struggled with getting to know the characters and developing any connection to them. But, as the book wore on, I definitely got into it! Let's discuss why, shall we?
The friendship was awesome! A duo of headstrong females in the early twentieth century? Yes PLEASE! Ada and Corinne were such fabulous friends. They had squabbles, no doubt. But that made it so realistic. They were truly and fully there for each other, and their loyalty and love was so heartwarming! Especially since their lives were tough, it was incredibly sweet that they had each other's backs.
The historical setting was on point. Granted, it was an alternate history, since as far as I can tell we didn't have hemopaths roaming the streets of Boston, well, ever. But since prohibition was definitely a topic of the times, it fit perfectly in the night club setting, in an era where women and minorities had very few rights, it worked completely. It also made for the perfect atmosphere, which the author totally delivers!
The diversity (and the commentary) is fabulous! The characters are all quite diverse, which is a win in itself. But the author also uses hemopathy brilliantly. It is a huge part of who they are, but they are treated horribly because of something they have no control over. They're persecuted for just their general existence- even if they didn't work in the bar, just the state of being a hemopath was enough to have them locked in an asylum. The mistreatment of hemopaths serves as an incredible allegory for the mistreatment of all minority groups, which is certainly a powerful and important topic.
I enjoyed that their families played roles in their lives even though they lived away from home. Their familial relationships were often strained, but they also seemed to be incredibly realistic, as well as an important factor in both girls' lives. The role of their other friends was also great. I enjoyed reading about all the side relationships.
The hemopathy thing was really intriguing! I was so pleasantly surprised at how fascinated I was with it. The ability to change people's emotions (through art, no less!), and all the ramifications that come with it? Definitely needed to know all about that! Obviously, I will let you read about it all yourselves, but just the whole concept was quite unique and thought provoking!
Bottom Line: Definitely glad to have read this one! The historical atmosphere was phenomenal, the diversity was great, and the friendships were so heartwarming! A must-read if you like any of the genres this book falls under!
November 23, 2016
Iron Cast is a fantastic escape read. It’s also woke as hell, which is a magical combination that warmed my heart and filled me with hope and determination in a season in which I am sorely lacking both. Historical fantasy to the rescue!
In an alternate version of pre-Prohibition Boston, Ada and Corinne work and live at the Cast Iron Club, a nightclub/cabaret hybrid where hemopaths like them perform nightly shows using their special set of skills. Hemopaths have a blood abnormality that gives them the ability to create illusions and control other people with their art. For example, Ada is a violinist and can influence people’s emotions with her music, while Corinne exerts similar power by reciting poetry (how delightfully nerdy is that?!). Along with their power comes the inevitable Achilles heel—they are sensitive to metals, particularly iron. Even the proximity of metal—say, a gun in someone else’s pocket—is enough to cause burning and discomfort, which when you think about it is a heck of a liability considering how widely prevalent metal objects are.
As you might guess, hemopaths are viewed by the general public with anything from suspicion to fear to outright violence. The book opens with a breathless scene in which Ada is incarcerated in a hospital for hemopaths and Corinne comes to break her out. Even after the successful escape, however, things are only going to get worse for them as the tide of public opinion turns ugly and the few safe havens hemopaths rely on are eliminated. You can feel the relevance and timeliness wafting off the pages.
I was totally enthralled by this story. It’s a killer premise paired with brilliant execution. I’m always excited to find something I haven’t seen before, and I’ve never seen anything like the world of Iron Cast.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
In an alternate version of pre-Prohibition Boston, Ada and Corinne work and live at the Cast Iron Club, a nightclub/cabaret hybrid where hemopaths like them perform nightly shows using their special set of skills. Hemopaths have a blood abnormality that gives them the ability to create illusions and control other people with their art. For example, Ada is a violinist and can influence people’s emotions with her music, while Corinne exerts similar power by reciting poetry (how delightfully nerdy is that?!). Along with their power comes the inevitable Achilles heel—they are sensitive to metals, particularly iron. Even the proximity of metal—say, a gun in someone else’s pocket—is enough to cause burning and discomfort, which when you think about it is a heck of a liability considering how widely prevalent metal objects are.
As you might guess, hemopaths are viewed by the general public with anything from suspicion to fear to outright violence. The book opens with a breathless scene in which Ada is incarcerated in a hospital for hemopaths and Corinne comes to break her out. Even after the successful escape, however, things are only going to get worse for them as the tide of public opinion turns ugly and the few safe havens hemopaths rely on are eliminated. You can feel the relevance and timeliness wafting off the pages.
I was totally enthralled by this story. It’s a killer premise paired with brilliant execution. I’m always excited to find something I haven’t seen before, and I’ve never seen anything like the world of Iron Cast.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
November 16, 2016
Overall just disappointed with this read. I fell in love with the book and the premise (alternate version of Boston in 1919 with a class of human beings called hemopaths being outlawed). However, the author chose to dump us right in the middle of the story instead of developing the characters we were supposed to care about. It also didn't help the world building didn't make a lot of sense. She threw in real life events such as Prohibition, but I honestly didn't feel like the author did a lot of research on Boston or Prohibition, let alone race relations back in the 1919s.
I honestly don't know how to explain this because the book starts off at a weird place with no explanation to things.
"Iron Cast" deals with two roommates and best friends Corinne and Ada who live at the Cast Iron club (no I don't know why the book title just didn't call it the name of the club) who pull jobs to keep the club afloat when they are not also singing/rhyming and playing music at the club for people who want to sit and be dazzled by the illusions the hemopaths can project onto regs (regular people). Hemopaths have a sensitivity to iron and the Cast Iron is iron free so Corinne and Ada can live there with no pain unlike elsewhere in Boston.
Ada is still recovering from being locked away for two weeks at an asylum for hemopaths and Corinne is pretty insensitive with wanting her to get over it already and make up with their friend Saint who turned Ada over. Pretty much the whole book can be summarized that Corinne says or does something insensitive, barely apologizes, and then gets in even more trouble ten minutes ago.
I liked Ada's backstory the most. Frankly I was more interested in her parents. One is African and the other is Portuguese. What doesn't make a lot of sense though is that Ada chooses to live at the club. She can still pull jobs and work there, but she can live with her mother. There is honestly a lot of nonsense with Ada and a guy she's seeing and her being afraid to tell him that she loves him because of reasons (seriously it was stupid and I refuse to dwell on it). We get some sloppy side story about why Ada and Corinne are friends, but it really doesn't work. Corinne moved into Ada's room when she started to manifest her hemopathy and acted like a stuck up jerk and was nasty to her. And then someone said a racial slur to Ada and Corinne demands an apology and they are just friends from that moment on.
Corinne is the daughter of a rich family in Boston. She's a jerk. Seriously. She has contempt toward her older brother for marrying a family of means and she thinks he is using that as a stepping stone to get into office where he will be prosecuting hemopaths. Once again it doesn't make a lot of sense that Corinne is at the club working and avoiding private school.
Frankly I have a hard time with two teenagers doing what they did throughout this book without getting smacked by an adult here and there. It just felt so unrealistic. If they had aged them both up to new adult age maybe this would have worked better. Both at one point they are running around and threatening and questioning people who are older, have money, etc. and I just laughed.
There are side characters in this book who don't fare well either with regards to development. I know the character Saint feels bad about rolling over on Ada, paints, and is gay.
Ada's love interest Charlie plays the horn and loves Ada.
Corinne's brother and mother are in more scenes with her, but her father is faceless throughout this book. A love interest of Corinne was annoying to the point that I wanted to smack the guy, he's 18 and running around with a gun.
And the club owner, Johnny Dervish, I think was supposed to be some type of Professor X person, but doesn't seem to be there besides to give a look or say something I think is supposed to be profound.
The writing was not good throughout the book. I think the bigger issue is that the author spent too much time on Corinne and Ada solo. I still don't get why they are best friends. Besides the weird finger tapping thing they did (and there's no explanation for that either by the way) I didn't get best friends forever. We kept having complete stand alone plots both of them were doing and nothing really works. Most of the story is supposed to be them figuring out who is out to get them and other hemopaths in the story after someone they love is killed. However, we have Ada forcing Corinne to return home for family events in order to not have her family get suspicious about what she is doing. Ada goes to see her mother and gets into arguments, goes to see Charlie, gets into arguments, etc.
Also for a book taking place in the 1900s, the dialogue seemed way too modern at times. I don't need it to be "The Great Gatsby" or anything, but there should have been some reference to things besides just Prohibition about to happen.
The flow was pretty terrible because the book jumps back and forth between the girls doing random things, investigating, and then doing random things again. When the not dynamic duo is eventually taken to the asylum something occurs that makes me roll my eyes so hard I couldn't get over it. This whole book was a lot of show with no tell happening.
The world building was poorly done. Something could have worked here if maybe the author chose to build up the backstory to the characters first. Or heck, she could have started the first scene with the girls pulling a scam in order to see how Ada ended up incarcerated in the first place. Instead we had a lot of things referred or alluded to. I also have to say I wonder if the author has done any research on Boston during the 1900s. Cause really besides her describing clothes and hair bands here and there, nothing else worked at all.
We do have a throwaway line here and there about racism in Boston when the story drifts back to Ada. However, for the most part, her race seemed to be ignored unless a scene called for it (when the two girls escape into a shop and the store owner threatens to call the police if Ada doesn't leave).
The ending was nonsensical. I can only hope that because of the way the book ended there is not a sequel happening here. I know the rule seems to be all YA books are a trilogy, but this one really doesn't need to be one.
I honestly don't know how to explain this because the book starts off at a weird place with no explanation to things.
"Iron Cast" deals with two roommates and best friends Corinne and Ada who live at the Cast Iron club (no I don't know why the book title just didn't call it the name of the club) who pull jobs to keep the club afloat when they are not also singing/rhyming and playing music at the club for people who want to sit and be dazzled by the illusions the hemopaths can project onto regs (regular people). Hemopaths have a sensitivity to iron and the Cast Iron is iron free so Corinne and Ada can live there with no pain unlike elsewhere in Boston.
Ada is still recovering from being locked away for two weeks at an asylum for hemopaths and Corinne is pretty insensitive with wanting her to get over it already and make up with their friend Saint who turned Ada over. Pretty much the whole book can be summarized that Corinne says or does something insensitive, barely apologizes, and then gets in even more trouble ten minutes ago.
I liked Ada's backstory the most. Frankly I was more interested in her parents. One is African and the other is Portuguese. What doesn't make a lot of sense though is that Ada chooses to live at the club. She can still pull jobs and work there, but she can live with her mother. There is honestly a lot of nonsense with Ada and a guy she's seeing and her being afraid to tell him that she loves him because of reasons (seriously it was stupid and I refuse to dwell on it). We get some sloppy side story about why Ada and Corinne are friends, but it really doesn't work. Corinne moved into Ada's room when she started to manifest her hemopathy and acted like a stuck up jerk and was nasty to her. And then someone said a racial slur to Ada and Corinne demands an apology and they are just friends from that moment on.
Corinne is the daughter of a rich family in Boston. She's a jerk. Seriously. She has contempt toward her older brother for marrying a family of means and she thinks he is using that as a stepping stone to get into office where he will be prosecuting hemopaths. Once again it doesn't make a lot of sense that Corinne is at the club working and avoiding private school.
Frankly I have a hard time with two teenagers doing what they did throughout this book without getting smacked by an adult here and there. It just felt so unrealistic. If they had aged them both up to new adult age maybe this would have worked better. Both at one point they are running around and threatening and questioning people who are older, have money, etc. and I just laughed.
There are side characters in this book who don't fare well either with regards to development. I know the character Saint feels bad about rolling over on Ada, paints, and is gay.
Ada's love interest Charlie plays the horn and loves Ada.
Corinne's brother and mother are in more scenes with her, but her father is faceless throughout this book. A love interest of Corinne was annoying to the point that I wanted to smack the guy, he's 18 and running around with a gun.
And the club owner, Johnny Dervish, I think was supposed to be some type of Professor X person, but doesn't seem to be there besides to give a look or say something I think is supposed to be profound.
The writing was not good throughout the book. I think the bigger issue is that the author spent too much time on Corinne and Ada solo. I still don't get why they are best friends. Besides the weird finger tapping thing they did (and there's no explanation for that either by the way) I didn't get best friends forever. We kept having complete stand alone plots both of them were doing and nothing really works. Most of the story is supposed to be them figuring out who is out to get them and other hemopaths in the story after someone they love is killed. However, we have Ada forcing Corinne to return home for family events in order to not have her family get suspicious about what she is doing. Ada goes to see her mother and gets into arguments, goes to see Charlie, gets into arguments, etc.
Also for a book taking place in the 1900s, the dialogue seemed way too modern at times. I don't need it to be "The Great Gatsby" or anything, but there should have been some reference to things besides just Prohibition about to happen.
The flow was pretty terrible because the book jumps back and forth between the girls doing random things, investigating, and then doing random things again. When the not dynamic duo is eventually taken to the asylum something occurs that makes me roll my eyes so hard I couldn't get over it. This whole book was a lot of show with no tell happening.
The world building was poorly done. Something could have worked here if maybe the author chose to build up the backstory to the characters first. Or heck, she could have started the first scene with the girls pulling a scam in order to see how Ada ended up incarcerated in the first place. Instead we had a lot of things referred or alluded to. I also have to say I wonder if the author has done any research on Boston during the 1900s. Cause really besides her describing clothes and hair bands here and there, nothing else worked at all.
We do have a throwaway line here and there about racism in Boston when the story drifts back to Ada. However, for the most part, her race seemed to be ignored unless a scene called for it (when the two girls escape into a shop and the store owner threatens to call the police if Ada doesn't leave).
The ending was nonsensical. I can only hope that because of the way the book ended there is not a sequel happening here. I know the rule seems to be all YA books are a trilogy, but this one really doesn't need to be one.
February 10, 2017
Iron Cast first came to my attention thanks to the lovely Kaja and Becky‘s lovely reviews. Everything about it sounded perfect and these ladies made a terrific case for it. So I immediately put in a request at the library. I picked up the book with high expectations and I’m happy to say that Iron Cast delivered.
Here are some reasons why this book just worked for me:
-The Pre-Prohibition era setting, together with the magical elements to the story were luscious and rich and completely swept me away. Oddly, even though I don’t have much of an interest in history IRL, I’m all for historical fiction in books. Destiny Soria does a fantastic job at making the era come to life, and she’s without a doubt, very talented with historical settings.
-The friendship between Ada and Corrine was quite possibly the best part of Iron Cast. I love a good romance as much as anyone else, but what I love even more in YA is girl friendships. And these two, with their fierce loyalty to each other, epitomized everything that I love about positive relationships between girls. They loved each other deeply and even when they fought, there was never a doubt in my mind that they would always be there for each other. Both these characters were witty and whip-smart, so any scene of the two of them together was a blast. More girl friendships like Ada and Corrine’s please!
-Family also plays an important role in Iron Cast, and I loved that. We get to see the complicated bond that Ada shares with her mother, as well as the even more complex bond that Corrine shares with her brother. I thought both were explored beautifully, and truly added an extra element to the book.
-While very subtle at first glance, I enjoyed Ada and Corrine’s romances with their beaus. I actually liked that the romances weren’t the focus. There was just enough for the romantic in me to be satisfied.
-I loved the ideas of hemopathy, the genetic ability to create illusions through songs and poems. It was unique and entirely refreshing, and truly made the book an engaging read. I also loved the criminal elements to the book as well as the exploration of unethical experiments and the mystery. There’s a lot going on in Iron Cast, but they are also executed very well.
All in all, I was mesmerized by Iron Cast. I will admit that it was a little slow at the beginning, but I definitely recommend pushing through those slower moments, because this is a terrific book that deserves more attention. I, for one, will be eagerly looking forward to Destiny Soria’s future stories.
December 27, 2016
lovedlovedloved this one! Full review to come, but you can count on it it'll just be me gushing about this book.
September 11, 2016
DNF
actual rating: 1.75/5
I tried my best to like this book (I really did) especially after reading all the rave reviews. This book had been compared to The Diviners, and that was enough of an incentive for me to read this book. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me.
The blurb is basically the summary of this book. The problem is the less exciting series of events leading up to another set of less exciting events. I was hoping for an interesting way to introduce the hemopaths (or whatever that is-read the blurb!), but it didn't exactly work out that way. Were just left to assume that we do know what those people are, which is the purpose of the blurb.
One of the things that I liked in this book is the supernatural element and the friendship of our main characters. A friendship like this is rare in young adult novels these days, especially in the paranormal romance genre. This book may or may not be unique, but at least the friendship is strong in this one.
actual rating: 1.75/5
I tried my best to like this book (I really did) especially after reading all the rave reviews. This book had been compared to The Diviners, and that was enough of an incentive for me to read this book. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me.
The blurb is basically the summary of this book. The problem is the less exciting series of events leading up to another set of less exciting events. I was hoping for an interesting way to introduce the hemopaths (or whatever that is-read the blurb!), but it didn't exactly work out that way. Were just left to assume that we do know what those people are, which is the purpose of the blurb.
One of the things that I liked in this book is the supernatural element and the friendship of our main characters. A friendship like this is rare in young adult novels these days, especially in the paranormal romance genre. This book may or may not be unique, but at least the friendship is strong in this one.
October 25, 2016
What an engaging book! The setting, the elements, the characters - all of that was real solid. But it's the plot that truly won me over in the end.
March 7, 2017
I expected to love this book! The cover looked so good, but my eyes were closing as kept reading and I realised after page 24 that I couldn't keep going.
Not my style. 1.5 stars.
Not my style. 1.5 stars.
February 23, 2017
~*Full review here on The Bent Bookworm!*~
Feels :
This book feels like a gangster movie with a few twists. Also not everyone dies, like in most gangster movies I’ve seen. I felt like I was sucker-punched in the gut a few times. Also I love how the author has chosen a relatively unexplored (in YA, at least) period of time (the weeks right before Prohibition took effect in 1919) for her setting. It was an awesome experience!
Characters :
Ada and Corinne are amazing. Their chemistry just leaps off the page and it's beautiful. It made me miss my best friend so much. The back-and-forth banter had me laughing out loud, but their fierce loyalty to each other was what really made this story. The romantic interests - sure, they're there, but they are a background to the girls' friendship.
Plot :
Destiny Soria has taken the year 1919 and turned it on its head with one change of facts: there is a small percentage of the population that are born as hemopaths, who have the ability to manipulate other people and sometimes time itself through some form of art. When I first started reading I thought that the hemopath ability was inspired by sickle cell anemia due to the influence put on the hemopaths' aversion to iron (an iron deficiency being one of the side effects or symptoms of sickle cell anemia), but after I finished I wasn't sure. It's an interesting thought, though. If it WAS so inspired, the author definitely gave it a new look by making it a strength and also making it just as widespread in people of every race.
At this time in history, hemopaths are feared and even hunted in Boston. Once considered artists, they are now looked at as freaks that are sub-human. Ada and Corinne find the noose of the law closing on them as they struggle to survive in their underground nightclub home, seemingly able to trust almost no one. Hemopaths start disappearing - people they know. Unsure where to turn, they spend a lot of time wandering from place to place. At times this was kind of a drag...it created atmosphere but left me wondering what was the point of a particular scene or chapter. However, the characters and a lot of the places they visited were interesting enough to keep me reading. I really wanted to find out WHO was behind all the horrible things that kept happening!
Worldbuilding/Description :
Reading this was like walking down a dark, foggy street. Or sitting in the darkened, smoky club surrounded by toughs and exquisitely dressed women. OR being kidnapped and dragged to a sterotypical "insane" asylum! There is a definite 1920s vibe to it that I loved. It's so different and feels so glamorous compared to most places and even books (maybe I haven't read the right ones?) today.
Final Rating :
4/5 stars. As I mentioned, the plot did drag a bit sometimes. Also I wish that Charlie and even Gabriel had been a little more fleshed out, but maybe that would have taken away from the strong thread of female friendship that holds the story together. I also really enjoyed the diversity aspect, as Ada's family was not white but neither were her parents from the same country, and there is a LGBT couple as well. I loved that Destiny Soria didn't gloss over how any of these characters would have been treated at this point in history but manages to (to me, at least) portray them without the slightest hint of bias. I'm not marginalized myself, so I can't authoritatively speak to how accurate the characters are, but they felt very real and relate-able.
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Feels :
“America is the land of liberty, Danny dearest,” Corinne said. “She won’t stand for Prohibition, mark my words.”
This book feels like a gangster movie with a few twists. Also not everyone dies, like in most gangster movies I’ve seen. I felt like I was sucker-punched in the gut a few times. Also I love how the author has chosen a relatively unexplored (in YA, at least) period of time (the weeks right before Prohibition took effect in 1919) for her setting. It was an awesome experience!
Characters :
"No one likes a know-it-all, Ada."
"Yes, I've been trying to tell you that for years."
Ada and Corinne are amazing. Their chemistry just leaps off the page and it's beautiful. It made me miss my best friend so much. The back-and-forth banter had me laughing out loud, but their fierce loyalty to each other was what really made this story. The romantic interests - sure, they're there, but they are a background to the girls' friendship.
Plot :
Destiny Soria has taken the year 1919 and turned it on its head with one change of facts: there is a small percentage of the population that are born as hemopaths, who have the ability to manipulate other people and sometimes time itself through some form of art. When I first started reading I thought that the hemopath ability was inspired by sickle cell anemia due to the influence put on the hemopaths' aversion to iron (an iron deficiency being one of the side effects or symptoms of sickle cell anemia), but after I finished I wasn't sure. It's an interesting thought, though. If it WAS so inspired, the author definitely gave it a new look by making it a strength and also making it just as widespread in people of every race.
At this time in history, hemopaths are feared and even hunted in Boston. Once considered artists, they are now looked at as freaks that are sub-human. Ada and Corinne find the noose of the law closing on them as they struggle to survive in their underground nightclub home, seemingly able to trust almost no one. Hemopaths start disappearing - people they know. Unsure where to turn, they spend a lot of time wandering from place to place. At times this was kind of a drag...it created atmosphere but left me wondering what was the point of a particular scene or chapter. However, the characters and a lot of the places they visited were interesting enough to keep me reading. I really wanted to find out WHO was behind all the horrible things that kept happening!
Worldbuilding/Description :
Reading this was like walking down a dark, foggy street. Or sitting in the darkened, smoky club surrounded by toughs and exquisitely dressed women. OR being kidnapped and dragged to a sterotypical "insane" asylum! There is a definite 1920s vibe to it that I loved. It's so different and feels so glamorous compared to most places and even books (maybe I haven't read the right ones?) today.
Final Rating :
4/5 stars. As I mentioned, the plot did drag a bit sometimes. Also I wish that Charlie and even Gabriel had been a little more fleshed out, but maybe that would have taken away from the strong thread of female friendship that holds the story together. I also really enjoyed the diversity aspect, as Ada's family was not white but neither were her parents from the same country, and there is a LGBT couple as well. I loved that Destiny Soria didn't gloss over how any of these characters would have been treated at this point in history but manages to (to me, at least) portray them without the slightest hint of bias. I'm not marginalized myself, so I can't authoritatively speak to how accurate the characters are, but they felt very real and relate-able.
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July 22, 2017
Imagine a world where some people have a certain "affliction of the blood", so called hemopaths. Iron and its alloys are like kryptonite to Superman or silver to vampires. But hemopaths also have a rare gift: they can create illusions through songs and poems, and some of them can pull objects from paintings they made.
Ada and Corinne are teenaged hemopaths in Boston just months before Prohibition goes into effect. They work in an underground hemopath bar, the Cast Iron, where they preform illusions - Ada plays the violin while Corinne recites poems.
But there's an organisation - Hemopath Protection Agency - which hunts hemopaths and locks them up in Haversham Asylum. Rumor has it, there are even worse things going on there.
This is a story of the two girls' struggle to keep the bar going while escaping from the clutches of the Agency - and experiencing illusions, love and betrayal.
-------------------------------------
I really enjoyed this book, although I feel like I have to point out a few details that kept me from giving 5*.
But first, let's see the positive side:
- diversity (Ada's mixed-race, Swahili mom and Portuguese dad; James and Sebastian are in love, although it's never explicitly mentioned)
- a unique magical world where art is a way to create illusions, but this, of course, can be used to manipulate non-hemopaths as well
- easy to follow plot, pretty straightforward (some might say boring, but for me it was interesting)
And now the downsides:
- it may be a personal preference but I have a hard time believing that two 14-year-olds can muster enough authority to intimidate and blackmail people. Especially not a biracial girl in 1919.
- it must be my "old age" but the only time I realised these characters were supposed to be teens was when their age was mentioned. Otherwise they sounded older, more mature.
- this book is set in 1919, in Boston specifically, but honestly, I wouldn't have been able to tell.
I guess what I mentioned as an advantage can be mentioned as a disadvantage as well: the plot. If you're looking for a shocker, this one is not for you. It's a bit like in Sense8, the sensates trying to shake off BPO. Here our hemopaths try to do the same with the Hemopath Protection Agency chasing them.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, it was perfect for a holiday read. But what I adored most was the atmosphere of illegal clubs, music, magic and illusions. I kind of wish someone made a movie based on this because it would be visually stunning!
Ada and Corinne are teenaged hemopaths in Boston just months before Prohibition goes into effect. They work in an underground hemopath bar, the Cast Iron, where they preform illusions - Ada plays the violin while Corinne recites poems.
But there's an organisation - Hemopath Protection Agency - which hunts hemopaths and locks them up in Haversham Asylum. Rumor has it, there are even worse things going on there.
This is a story of the two girls' struggle to keep the bar going while escaping from the clutches of the Agency - and experiencing illusions, love and betrayal.
-------------------------------------
I really enjoyed this book, although I feel like I have to point out a few details that kept me from giving 5*.
But first, let's see the positive side:
- diversity (Ada's mixed-race, Swahili mom and Portuguese dad; James and Sebastian are in love, although it's never explicitly mentioned)
- a unique magical world where art is a way to create illusions, but this, of course, can be used to manipulate non-hemopaths as well
- easy to follow plot, pretty straightforward (some might say boring, but for me it was interesting)
And now the downsides:
- it may be a personal preference but I have a hard time believing that two 14-year-olds can muster enough authority to intimidate and blackmail people. Especially not a biracial girl in 1919.
- it must be my "old age" but the only time I realised these characters were supposed to be teens was when their age was mentioned. Otherwise they sounded older, more mature.
- this book is set in 1919, in Boston specifically, but honestly, I wouldn't have been able to tell.
I guess what I mentioned as an advantage can be mentioned as a disadvantage as well: the plot. If you're looking for a shocker, this one is not for you. It's a bit like in Sense8, the sensates trying to shake off BPO. Here our hemopaths try to do the same with the Hemopath Protection Agency chasing them.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book, it was perfect for a holiday read. But what I adored most was the atmosphere of illegal clubs, music, magic and illusions. I kind of wish someone made a movie based on this because it would be visually stunning!
January 1, 2017
*eARC kindly provided by ABRAMS Kids via NetGalley*
This is really a love story between two friends, two girls from different worlds but who form a strong bond that won’t ever break. It’s about THEM, first and foremost. And oh, how I loved these girls. The bold and reckless and confident Corinne. The quiet, serious, and talented Ada. It was told in both of their POVs, which I was glad of, because they’re so different and they really just balance each other out. Corinne is a quick-thinker but she also rushes into situations without taking a breath. Ada is more contemplative, logical. And she feels a lot more for other people, where Corinne does not generally care about anyone but Ada and their friend, Saint. And Johnny, the owner of the Iron Cast and the person who gave her a home when she needed it, and a place to belong. She’s so hell-bent on saving the club that she nearly gets herself killed a few times, as well as Ada. But the two are a force, determined to not only figure out what’s going but save themselves. They’re hunted, forced to endure intense and dangerous situations, and they stick together throughout everything. Their beautiful friendship was my favorite.
I also had a ship that I could not stop shipping even when truths are revealed and Things happen. But I was infinitely more invested in the girls’ relationship than anything. However, there were some sweet and adorable moments between the ships in this story. Ada and Charlie, James and Saint, Corinne and Gabe. And I ended up loving basically all of the characters too, especially the ones who were part of Johnny’s Iron Cast club. The atmosphere and setting were believable. The book did have a slower pace to it, even when you get into the grit of the story. But it was so INTRIGUING, even the political components involved. The way that the Hemopaths are treated seemed to reflect society, and the book tackled this discrimination through Corinne and Ada's lives. These people are special and have powers that can influence people’s emotions, so others fear them. That fear nearly cost Corinne and Ada’s lives a few times throughout the story. But they kicked ass and never backed down from the fight. I loved Iron Cast so much, guys, I’m dying for a sequel. I’M NOT FINISHED WITH THESE CHARACTERS.
Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!
This is really a love story between two friends, two girls from different worlds but who form a strong bond that won’t ever break. It’s about THEM, first and foremost. And oh, how I loved these girls. The bold and reckless and confident Corinne. The quiet, serious, and talented Ada. It was told in both of their POVs, which I was glad of, because they’re so different and they really just balance each other out. Corinne is a quick-thinker but she also rushes into situations without taking a breath. Ada is more contemplative, logical. And she feels a lot more for other people, where Corinne does not generally care about anyone but Ada and their friend, Saint. And Johnny, the owner of the Iron Cast and the person who gave her a home when she needed it, and a place to belong. She’s so hell-bent on saving the club that she nearly gets herself killed a few times, as well as Ada. But the two are a force, determined to not only figure out what’s going but save themselves. They’re hunted, forced to endure intense and dangerous situations, and they stick together throughout everything. Their beautiful friendship was my favorite.
I also had a ship that I could not stop shipping even when truths are revealed and Things happen. But I was infinitely more invested in the girls’ relationship than anything. However, there were some sweet and adorable moments between the ships in this story. Ada and Charlie, James and Saint, Corinne and Gabe. And I ended up loving basically all of the characters too, especially the ones who were part of Johnny’s Iron Cast club. The atmosphere and setting were believable. The book did have a slower pace to it, even when you get into the grit of the story. But it was so INTRIGUING, even the political components involved. The way that the Hemopaths are treated seemed to reflect society, and the book tackled this discrimination through Corinne and Ada's lives. These people are special and have powers that can influence people’s emotions, so others fear them. That fear nearly cost Corinne and Ada’s lives a few times throughout the story. But they kicked ass and never backed down from the fight. I loved Iron Cast so much, guys, I’m dying for a sequel. I’M NOT FINISHED WITH THESE CHARACTERS.
Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!
October 3, 2016
2.5 - 3 / 5 Fangs
Iron Cast was a book I was really looking forward to, but sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I couldn't connect to the characters and I felt like the book dragged. I just had a hard time pushing through this book. However, there were some things that I did enjoyed about this book. I thought the diversity of the characters was fantastic. I was really happy to see some more diversity in YA literature! I also liked the fact that the author addressed racism in this book because I think that is an important issue that should be addressed. I thought the author handled both diversity and racism perfectly.
The hemopathy aspect was very interesting. I thought it was unique concept and it was very detailed, but the explanation of it kind of bogged down the book. Some of it felt very info-dumpy. I think that it was part of the reason why the book felt slow. A lot of the book focused on illusions and politics which was interesting at first, but it quickly became repetitive and tiresome.
I liked the characters, but I never thought they were stand out characters. Ada and Corinne were fine, but they were a bit bland. I would have liked them to have a bit more dimension to their characters. One thing I did like about the characters was the focus on friendship. I really appreciate it when authors focus on strong friendships, and I think the author did a great job at executing that.
Overall, this book was okay. I thought the paranormal aspect was unique and I applaud the author for being so creative. I am also so grateful that the author wrote a book with such a diverse cast. Sadly, the slow moving plot and the unmemorable characters made it hard for me to connect to this novel as much as I was hoping to. I would still recommend that people give this book a try because I think a lot of people would still like this book even though it wasn't the perfect book for me.
2.5 - 3 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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Iron Cast was a book I was really looking forward to, but sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I couldn't connect to the characters and I felt like the book dragged. I just had a hard time pushing through this book. However, there were some things that I did enjoyed about this book. I thought the diversity of the characters was fantastic. I was really happy to see some more diversity in YA literature! I also liked the fact that the author addressed racism in this book because I think that is an important issue that should be addressed. I thought the author handled both diversity and racism perfectly.
The hemopathy aspect was very interesting. I thought it was unique concept and it was very detailed, but the explanation of it kind of bogged down the book. Some of it felt very info-dumpy. I think that it was part of the reason why the book felt slow. A lot of the book focused on illusions and politics which was interesting at first, but it quickly became repetitive and tiresome.
I liked the characters, but I never thought they were stand out characters. Ada and Corinne were fine, but they were a bit bland. I would have liked them to have a bit more dimension to their characters. One thing I did like about the characters was the focus on friendship. I really appreciate it when authors focus on strong friendships, and I think the author did a great job at executing that.
Overall, this book was okay. I thought the paranormal aspect was unique and I applaud the author for being so creative. I am also so grateful that the author wrote a book with such a diverse cast. Sadly, the slow moving plot and the unmemorable characters made it hard for me to connect to this novel as much as I was hoping to. I would still recommend that people give this book a try because I think a lot of people would still like this book even though it wasn't the perfect book for me.
2.5 - 3 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
September 25, 2016
Although I really enjoyed the strong emphasis on friendship, the types of magical powers Ada and Corinne had, and the historical vibe, there wasn't enough going on to keep me super interested. It was slow paced, slightly repetitive and the main body of the story felt, sadly, completely different to the opening, which started with an escape from an asylum!
July 25, 2016
Absolute treat of a story - it's got everything magic, historical fiction (Boston 1919) but at it's heart is the story of a friendship. This is a phenomenal debut by Destiny Soria and one that should not be missed!!
Want to read
November 16, 2016Read a couple of chapters from OverDrive and decided to return the book so I can buy a finished copy. I just know I'm going to like it..
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars
July 17, 2019
I loved this urban fantasy novel set in Boston on the eve of Prohibition. Ada is a black violinist (mother from Madagascar, father from Portugal), who can evoke emotions in her listeners. Corinne is a white runaway from a wealthy family who can induce visions when she recites poetry. Together, they are a sensational act at the Cast Iron nightclub. But Boston has just passed a law prohibiting hemopaths like Ada and Corinne from performing. Soon, secret police are coming for hemopaths, and locking them away in a special prison. The plot is twisty and full of betrayals. The magical system is imaginative. The 1919 setting abounds with gangsters, corrupt politicians, wealthy socialites, socialists, crooked cops, mad scientists, and jazz musicians. There are sympathetic gay characters. Practical Ada and reckless Corinne are attracted to men in their circle, but it is the strong friendship between Ada and Corinne that drives the story. I really enjoyed this novel.
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