Book Review: Iron-Bound Flames

Tomorrow is pub day for Iron-Bound Flames by Melanie K. Moschella. But, it’s not just the pub day for this first book in the Raek Riders series, but the pub day for all 5 books in the series! I was fortunate enough to be sent the whole series and I just finished the first book over the weekend.

The novel follows Meera Hailship, a kitchenmaid for the King. She is educated and did not come from a poor background, but after her academic father was conscripted into the army to fight in the war, she decided to work for the King so she wouldn’t have to be home alone. Early in the novel, a raek and its rider were captured by soldiers, brought to the king and imprisoned. Raek’s are described sort of like dragons (they can fly and breathe fire) but have feathers. After multiple soldiers are killed by the raek when they try to bring it food, the captain asks for a volunteer and Meera decides to do it. She has secretly read about raeks and even though she’s scared to go near it, she wants to try. She doesn’t know if the raek can understand her, but when she approaches it (while grown men/soldiers look on in fear) she asks the creature to make a deal – she will feed it and tend to its wounds if it promises not to harm her. The raek seems to blink in understanding and thus begins their relationship.

Eventually, the king also gives Meera other tasks – he wants her to spy on a visiting Duke and to tend to the raek rider as all the torture they’ve put him through has not made him talk. The raek can’t speak to her and the prisoner is in such bad shape that for a while she is tending to an unconscious man. But, her time taking care of the two has her beginning to question the king, the war, and what they’ve always been told is right and wrong. Even if the raeks and riders are bad, does that mean they should be treated this poorly? And what if they were only following orders or what if they’re actually good?

I really enjoyed this book! The storyline was really engaging and I wanted to know what would happen. I found Meera to be really likable and I can’t wait to learn more about Cerun (the raek) and Shael.

*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.*