Roaring Brook Press Steelstriker

Initial ThoughtsAs we drew closer to September 28th and I still didn’t have an ARC of this book, I found myself more and more eager to read it ON release day. But then, the team at MacMillan Audio and Fierce Reads decided to bestow an ALC upon me and let me tell you, I dropped EVERYTHING to listen.Some Things I LikedDual POVs. I LOVED that we got to hear from Red in this book. The alternating POVs only made the chapters when the main characters are physically separated that much more amazing.Which leads me to my next point, the romance and tension was glorious. This is YA. But the connection between Red and Talin was soulmate level of amazing and I loved their romance story.Duology. Do I want more books in this world because it’s amazing? Duh. Am I completely satisfied with the way this wrapped after two books? You bet I am.Series ValueAs I mentioned, I’d love to read more in this world. But, I loved the way everything tied up.I have already read every Marie Lu book out there, so it should go without saying, I’m a big fan.Audiobook ThoughtsBecause the main characters spend a healthy chunk of time apart, the first person narration only made the connection and romance better. I loved the voice actors and I think this is a story best listened to.Furthermore, I think hearing Talin’s thoughts was that much more impactful than reading them.Final ThoughtsI loved this book. I think I downloaded the ALC 22 hours ago and I already finished and reviewed it. Don’t sleep on this series.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Steelstriker is the second and final book of the Skyhunter duology. That being said, Steelstriker cannot be read as a stand alone novel.The five main characters are a carryover from the first novel and they still retain their gritty charm. Talin underwent an unwanted transformation and is struggling to hold onto her sense of self as the evil Premier attempts to control Talin’s actions. Red has since matured and is now a loyal fighter and comrade to his fellow soldiers. Nothing much has changed with Adena, but Aramin and Jeran have formed a close bond.The plot thickens in Steelstriker. There’s more intrigue and mystery rather than just combat. It is a nice change, especially since the narration occurs in Talin’s and Red’s points of view.The targeted audience for Steelstriker are those readers who are fans of fantasy and those that enjoy the works of author, G. A. Aiken (from The Princess Knight series.)Would I read more from this author? Though I enjoyed both Skyhunter and Steelstriker, I am hesitant to read any other book from this author. Primarily because I didn’t care for her Kingdom of Back novel. I’ll probably have to revisit her offerings before signing off.Overall, Steelstriker is a worthy followup to Skyhunter and both novels are not to be missed. Four enjoyable stars.

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)Steelstriker is not only about the big evils, the murders and colonization, but also about the small ones. The little injustices, the horror at seeing your loved ones twisted in front of you. Not just the destruction of your idea of home. And from then on, I was hooked. One thing I loved in Steelstriker is that way Lu has almost mirrored Talin and Red's journey. The ways their journey's, struggles, and sacrifices almost mirror each other, bringing them back to where they were.Both having grappled with wondering if the life of a loved one is worth the rebellion. Questioning whether one life is worth them all if we have the power to make a stand. It takes courage to have the strength to fight even when the odds and situations are against us. Another element I enjoyed was the relics from the Early Ones (which for some reason I don't remember in the first). It relocated Steelstriker to a futuristic almost post-apocalyptic feel.

This was both an exciting and fulfilling end to a very unusual story. This book is filled with so much anger, pathos, and sheer yearning, it was hard to read for me. But then I have strong empathy and relate to the book on an emotional level. Those who are like me will find it difficult, too, but trust me on this, the conclusion is worth your pain. The main characters share the narration throughout the book. They are very endearing because family means everything to them, and they want to start a family of their own. The plot is easily followed and the story is as old as humanity and it's diversity. I strongly recommend this book and feel it is well worth your time and effort to read.

Skyhunter is one of my favorite books. And so it set the bar fairly high for Steelstriker and, unfortunately, it did not quite meet that standard. It is a solid read and I did, of course, enjoy it for what it was. But the plot and characters didn’t grab me like Skyhunter. I never felt there were high stakes because I knew nothing would actually go detrimentally wrong, even though you would think it would be the opposite, especially compared to Skyhunter. The ending also felt a bit rushed, but all in all, it is a fair conclusion to this duology.