Review: Iron Legacy by Gavin Oxley
Blurb:
A new adventure for fans of RED RISING, DIVERGENT, and THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE.
“All Cato has ever known is the Euclid, a colony on the Gravidian moon Logos and a last bastion for humanity — or so the history spun by those in power has led him to believe. But when the Euclidian Affinity Examination known as “the Lottery” reaches its culmination, secrets begin to unravel that leave Cato longing for justice. The first of those secrets being anyone found without future societal utility is executed. Immediately. And Cato is supposed to be among them.
Finding an almost impossible ally in Helena, daughter of the woman who had ordered his execution, Cato is finally given the chance to break free from the trial and injustice that hold him bound to the Euclid — bound to the lie the Iron War had come to an end. A chance he is willing to die for.”
Review:
Y’all! I might be slightly obsessed with this book at the moment. If you were hungover after Red Rising and wanted more space opera in your life or have been desperate for something that feels like Divergent with a more adult feel: This book is for you. Does it have some flaws? Sure. But dive in with me as I take you on a whirlwind of a review that will hopefully convince you to put this book on your TBR and shelves.
Characters
I want to first express that this is a multi-POV, first person sci fi. The main characters, Cato and Helena, at first represent somewhat opposite ends of the spectrum in society: one an outcast and the other the daughter of a high-up politician. What seems like an unlikely pair are thrust together in an uprising of universal proportions.
“It’s a chance to become more than the names we carry. On the other side of the Lottery, we are what we make of our Discipline.”
We are first introduced to Cato as he prepares for a ceremony that will determine his place in society. There are several factions (called Disciplines) he can go to, and he’s hoping to be of importance. However, what was advertised as a selection turns into a reaping, and sets him on a course of rebellion. He was not meant to be there, but alas, he defies many odds throughout the book and ends up joining the War Discipline, training with what I think is a really badass weapon called an Auron channeling rod. They are reminiscent of a light-saber in the sense that they use light energy to form BUT what sets them apart and makes them super unique is that their manifestation is determined by the energy given out by the user, and it’s a massively dangerous weapon to have.
“The channeling rod is not unique to its yielder, but the color of the Auron energy channeled through the rod will be, telling an entire story about the wielder of the blade.”
Helena is reluctant to accept Cato in the beginning, but something blossoms between them during training that transcends just rescuing their society from an all-encompassing tyrant government. She realizes Cato is someone worth putting her trust and hope into. But don’t get it twisted – she is a force to be reckoned with one her own. But together with Cato and their band of rebels, she becomes so much more. I really like her as a character and her growth is leaps and bounds from the beginning, no matter how much strife they both go through. And she certainly goes through a ringer.
I am also fully connected to the “side characters” and find them to be a great addition to the group. Sometimes there are some side characters I can’t stand, but in this case, even the unenjoyable ones add a certain flavor to the story that wouldn’t be there without them. I laughed and I cried alongside them.
Atmosphere
I love a good space opera mixed with a dystopian edge. This one met all the things I was craving after going through a major book slump. Advertised as a mix of Red Rising and Divergent, I can say the world-building follows through with this promise. I enjoyed all the aspects this first-of-a-series has to offer and will absolutely keep reading this series, because the setting, while maybe a typical sci-fi space-theme, brings so many more elements together than can easily be enjoyed by many.
Writing Style
Oxley writes from the heart of someone who loves science fiction and fantasy alike, as weaves them together in a way that hooked me from the start.
Plot/Logic
The core of this story is a rebellion against a tyrant government called the Euclid. For too long they have gotten away with pushing people to their own will, until a major mistake brings Cato to the forefront, and he goes to battle against them and his own ghosts from the past.
“Though the Iron War had become cold for a time, it was clear the firestorm of emotions were never extinguished.”
The Euclid thought they had everything under control, but alas, everything is being unraveled by an unlikely band of warriors. I turned pages faster than I thought I could. Does it have some plot holes? Yeah, admittedly it does. But as the first in a series, I’m eager to see where this story goes in the next books. Some passages I had to reread as I thought I might have missed something, but overall it doesn’t take away from the main story in such a way that it’s misunderstood.
Intrigue/Excitement
This was an absolutely intriguing read, combining some of my favorite tropes from science fiction. I would definitely recommend this to readers, but would caution a younger crowd. It’s definitely an adult book and is advertised as such, but I wholeheartedly believe it would appeal to the YA crowd from the elder end of that spectrum (there are some graphic scenes and swearing that might not be totally suitable for the younger end of the spectrum.)
