Hello everyone! I hope you are having a nice week – it’s been an eventful one for me so far and I am excited to be part of yet another event with Storytellers on Tour today! I took some time off blog tours for a bit and, with my Indie Recommends Indie series and things calming down on the personal front, I am starting to feel I finally have the energy to read and promote indie authors again. Today I am part of the book blitz for L. L. MacRae’s novel, The Iron Crown. This is the first of the Dragon Spirits series with book two scheduled to launch later this summer. I have not read an Epic Fantasy in a long time. I have also been reading mostly ~350 page books so when this synopsis attracted me to it and I realized that SK had already loved it, I decided to give this almost 600-pager Epic Fantasy a chance. Take a look at the synopsis first and then read on for my thoughts and reading experience.
Fenn’s first and only memory is finding himself in the middle of a forest, face to face with a dragon spirit mocking him, all knowledge gone apart from his own name.
Lost and confused, his only hope for answers is Calidra—a woman living on the edge of the world with her partner. Forced to return home when her father dies, Calidra has put off facing her estranged mother for seven years, and she begrudgingly helps Fenn, forging papers for him so he can avoid the Queen’s Inquisitors.
But her mother is the least of her worries when they discover an ancient enemy is rising again. It should be impossible with the Iron Crown in power—and Fenn is terrified he might unwittingly be playing a part in the war’s resurgence.
Surrounded by vengeful spirits and powerful magic, Fenn’s desperate attempt to find his way home might well alter the fate of Tassar, and every power in it.
A new high fantasy series bursts into life with the DRAGON SPIRITS who reign supreme in the magic-drenched world of Tassar.
Content Notes: Swearing, Torture, Violence.
Thoughts on The Iron Crown
The Iron Crown is not just the story about the characters – it is also about the world itself. Fenn wakes up without any memories and Calidra begrudgingly decides to help him find his way to the big city where someone could offer him help. But as they journey together and learn about threats looming in the near future, their priorities and motives are questioned. A warrior and priestess decide to help them get answers.
On the lost ones and the Myr
Fenn is one of the many lost ones that have appeared in the kingdom. With only their name in their memory, the people, no matter how young or old, are plagued by headaches that never end. The Iron Crown thus begins with this uncanny phenomenon. Through Fenn’s eyes and his interactions with other lost ones, we learn about a world where the enemy’s name is forbidden to say as it is assumed that one does not have faith in the crown, their protector. The threat of The Myr starts to become real as time progresses and this transition was well written. Fenn’s connection to the Myr is revealed through the book and it was quite intriguing. The fact that he is not the only one makes this an interesting storyline to follow.
On the quest for family
Calidra’s side of the story offers another unique angle. She is the no-nonsense person who does not trust anyone easily and yet with her partner, Josyel’s nudge, she decides to help Fenn and take him with her when she has to journey back to the town. Her struggles with her family shape her as a person and I liked seeing her character evolve with friendship and love. She might not come off as someone who cares but she does. Once she gets to know people, she is always there for them.
I found the dynamic between Calidra’s family and the crown a good addition to the book. It broadened my understanding of the world and gave it more a feudal system arrangement that also set a good stage for a sword and sorcery adventure.
On Dragons and Religion
How can I not talk about dragons in a book that has dragons?
L. L. MaeRae’s world is unique in how dragons exist there. They are worshipped by people in the hope that they would give their blessings, becoming a conduit between the dragon and the human world, letting them tap into the powers of the great creatures. I love that while they might not respond to human prayers, they know what is happening with their followers. I felt that their personalities and ambitions were very well developed in the book and I am not just excited to meet more of them but also see how the ones I met through The Iron Crown affect the storyline.
They have the power and the potential, not to mention a mind of their own.
On The Iron Crown
I pondered the title of this book after I finished it. The Iron Crown has a legacy. The ancestors of the current monarch trapped the spirit of the iron dragon in a sword and they have always ruled together. Whether the hold of the Iron Crown on the continent is fair or not, there are rules to be followed to live here. Through the Inquisitors, it has become a regime that exploits the poor people and with the Myr coming back, I think the common people have an opportunity to rise up.
I look forward to seeing what happens next with Fenn and his friends, dragons and humans.
Reading Experience Summary
I am thrilled to have discovered a new Fantasy series to follow. The Iron Crown was well written and gave the right amount of attention to the plot speed and the development of the characters. The magical world of Tassar is fascinating and I think there is a lot more there than the glimpse we get in this book. The dragons and their worship as gods is a brilliant element of the story as it adds a religious perspective that is beyond normal camaraderie in other dragon novels. I found myself focused on the characters and the situations that they were facing and rooting for all of them. L. L. MacRae’s world is easy to immerse in and I look forward to collecting the full series in hardcopy to add to my collection.
Speaking of which, head to the event page to learn about the International giveaway for a signed copy of the book.
Will you pick up this book?
The Iron Crown is available in stores. Be sure to check your local library and order it through there to help this book reach more readers.
Amazon Kindle
About the Author
Lauren is a fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure. Her books usually contain dragons, rarely feature romance, and are typically fun and hopeful. She lives in a tiny village in the UK, has a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author (it’s just more fun to write about dragons than corporate copy!) She has previously published under the name L.L. McNeil.
Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, her website and Goodreads.
Many thanks to the author and Storytellers on Tour for providing me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll be back in a few days with my interview with L. L. MacRae. Until then, happy reading!
Cover image: Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash
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