Steelborn is a book that took me by storm. I ended up enjoying it so much I told a friend about it immediately. Magical blacksmithing will always get me and this unconventional hero journey got me! Keep reading this book review of Steelborn for my full thoughts.
Summary
Never run. Never bow. Never die.
Reya Connery became the Crimson Dagger, the most notorious thief in Rhiterra, by following a strict set of rules. There is no honor among thieves. A good blade is key to any negotiation. Only the dead keep secrets. And Reya has a secret that must be kept at all costs. But when a heist goes wrong on the eve of paying off her debt to a ruthless crime lord, Reya may need a new set of rules. And a lot of coin. Fast.
Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic makes him a valuable target – if the curse inching closer to his heart doesn’t kill him first. There’s just one person who might be desperate enough to try and get their hands on the fabled cure in time to save his life, someone whose legend claims they can steal the Crimson Dagger. A male of honor, Caelan loathes everything the beautiful, cocky thief represents, yet knows that Reya is his last hope for survival.
Their search takes them to the edge of the known world, where Reya discovers that there is far more at stake than her and Caelan’s own lives. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, her growing attraction to the immortal who is as lethal as his jawline is perfect, and the rage she’s spent a lifetime trying to bury. This time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all magic-born hangs in the balance.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Steelborn promises a slow burn, enemies to lovers, and legendary thieves and immortal warriors. With steady pacing, Steelborn starts with Reya and her quest to free herself from debt and the shackles of a will that isn’t her own. But when she makes a decision of mercy, her life is thrown into upheaval and put on a path which will change her life forever. She’s been a tool for violence, for ambition, and for power. But what will happen if she embraces her own power? I love an aspiring blacksmith, there’s a niche interest if you ever saw one. I also love a scrappy thief who has power and isn’t sure if she should use it.
Will Reya get dragged into a conflict that will attract attention, showcase her power, and also might cause her to lose everything? Steelborn is action packed and full of adventure as LaRue forces Reya to examine her choices. We often think we have no choice, but we do. Steelborn forces both Reya and Caelan to reckon with their past, with what they will be asked to do and sacrifice for something bigger than themselves. While it explores the universal theme of wondering if love makes us stronger or weaker, Steelborn has my favorite reluctant possible heroism and has some super swoony romance to boot!
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Find Steelborn on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.