Book Review: The Iron Maiden

Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it's her duty. She'd rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?

Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer's sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route.

In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn't a decision she can make just once. Instead, it's a decision she must make every day.

The Iron Maiden
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 225 (ebook)
Part of Series: The Dragonslayer Series #2
Purchased: For Review by the author
Rating: 4/5 stars
Buy: Book Depository || Amazon (US) || Amazon (UK)

REVIEW: 
Only yesterday, i review the first book of the series in case you missed so i will try to review this one with as less spoilers as i can. *Just finished writing the review, and there are not spoilers in it! Yay!*

At the second book much have changed not only for Astrid but for the book too. For starters and the author's thoughts seem more in order and better presented. It's a less confusing but still follows the same way as the previous, with you knowing only what Astrid knows too. It's also less around the the blacksmiths and more around Astrid. Also has different POVs as well. Which was a nice change, since we saw how other people thought too.


The reasons why i liked more this one than the previous were: 1) i was already used to the world and it was easier to adapt to it even if big part of the story it's in new places than before, 2)the whole traveling and adventuring around with new people is something i find more interesting, 3)we get to also follow two dragons and see how they think, 4)it had more woman power *yay!*, 5)and lastly the descriptions of the new places were wow! There is a certain scene regarding some frozen ghosts and a forest, which is still in mind. It was so beautiful and sad! I wish i was good at drawing so i could draw it! Simply beautiful!


Of course there were things i missed like some of the oldest characters like Randim, Donel and DiStephan. Randim and DiStephan had such big parts at the first book, that i felt like there was a hole around Astrid just for them. Still, Astrid is awesome as ever. I like how she grows up after each event, how she makes mistakes and how she learns. It's great to see that a characters are not the same after major events in their lives.Even the not so important ones.


The Iron Maiden was lighter and easier to read. It didn't lose Dragonslayer's Sword magic but it made me get into the world even more, in a more calm way. If you had any difficulty or doubts after reading the first book, forget everything and get this one. You will most certainly enjoy it. If you haven't read the 1st....well....you should think about buying it. It's good ;)