Book: Iron Cast
Author: Destiny Soria
Published: 11th October 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 384
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Rating: 4/5 stars
When I first heard about this book, I was very intrigued - individuals with a blood disorder that allowed them to create beautiful visions and illusions, or conjure up vivid memories or emotions - I mean, I was sold. I am so happy to report that this book really lived up to my expectations and I enjoyed it immensely.
The novel follows Corinne and Ada, two unlikely best friends, who are diversely different but share the same condition - they are both hemopaths. Hemopaths are those with a blood affliction that gives them the ability to do some truly bizarre things, as previously mentioned, like create illusions, make themselves appear as another person, or trigger memories or emotions. Corinne comes from a wealthy family with a great level of influence, however she does not care for her family's political views and hides her affliction from them, choosing to seek refuge at a hemopaths club in Boston, called The Cast Iron. Corinne is funny, sarcastic, brave, headstrong, and her plans tend to go a little awry. She protests she is not a nice person, but I'd disagree.
Ada does not come from privilege and is shunned by society for her race; she is forced to cover her hair with a scarf to avoid confrontation, and is often looked down upon and segregated. However, she never feels unequal to Corinne and she is most definitely not relegated to a secondary character, this is very much a story about the two girls, together. Despite her hardships, Ada is caring, resourceful, creative, supportive, and a truly great friend.
One of my favourite elements of this book was the friendship between Ada and Corinne. It was beautiful, and touching, and often it is so rare to find a strong relationship between female characters in literature that does not solely center around men, or result in rivalry. Corinne and Ada always had each other's backs and it was fun to watch their adventures together.
Other notable character mentions include Saint, who is another employee of the Cast Iron. His character development throughout the novel excels at a rapid rate and everything I thought about him at the beginning of the story was brought into question by the end. I loved that you couldn't necessarily guess where things were heading, and in the end, he became one of my favourite characters. Another special mention goes to James and Madeleine, who are actors at a nearby theatre; I loved their relationship dynamic (which is not one you might originally think of), and the parts of the book in which they featured were a real highlight.
There are elements of romance in this book, but they are definitely not central to the plot - they act more as an accompaniment, which is much preferred. The pace is good, with an intriguing opening and solid finish, with plenty of didn't-see-it-coming moments, which are sure to keep you turning the pages.
Another strength of this book is the setting - it's very immersive, and quite unique. Boston comes alive with the excellent writing, and the descriptions of the club, it's patrons, and the asylum in particular are very vivid. It's also set in the 1920's (one of my favourite eras in terms of aesthetics), and the atmosphere feels very in keeping with that time period, particularly with the behaviour of the characters, their motivations, and of course, their clothing (Corinne's wardrobe is especially impressive).
Overall, the setting, characters, and the unique premise of this book ties together nicely, and the author delivers a solid and enjoyable read that is suitably engaging and impressive. The illusions and emotions that the hemopaths are able to conjure and create are described with colourful detail and thought, which makes for a truly immersive read that I'm sure most would enjoy.
The novel follows Corinne and Ada, two unlikely best friends, who are diversely different but share the same condition - they are both hemopaths. Hemopaths are those with a blood affliction that gives them the ability to do some truly bizarre things, as previously mentioned, like create illusions, make themselves appear as another person, or trigger memories or emotions. Corinne comes from a wealthy family with a great level of influence, however she does not care for her family's political views and hides her affliction from them, choosing to seek refuge at a hemopaths club in Boston, called The Cast Iron. Corinne is funny, sarcastic, brave, headstrong, and her plans tend to go a little awry. She protests she is not a nice person, but I'd disagree.
Ada does not come from privilege and is shunned by society for her race; she is forced to cover her hair with a scarf to avoid confrontation, and is often looked down upon and segregated. However, she never feels unequal to Corinne and she is most definitely not relegated to a secondary character, this is very much a story about the two girls, together. Despite her hardships, Ada is caring, resourceful, creative, supportive, and a truly great friend.
One of my favourite elements of this book was the friendship between Ada and Corinne. It was beautiful, and touching, and often it is so rare to find a strong relationship between female characters in literature that does not solely center around men, or result in rivalry. Corinne and Ada always had each other's backs and it was fun to watch their adventures together.
Other notable character mentions include Saint, who is another employee of the Cast Iron. His character development throughout the novel excels at a rapid rate and everything I thought about him at the beginning of the story was brought into question by the end. I loved that you couldn't necessarily guess where things were heading, and in the end, he became one of my favourite characters. Another special mention goes to James and Madeleine, who are actors at a nearby theatre; I loved their relationship dynamic (which is not one you might originally think of), and the parts of the book in which they featured were a real highlight.
There are elements of romance in this book, but they are definitely not central to the plot - they act more as an accompaniment, which is much preferred. The pace is good, with an intriguing opening and solid finish, with plenty of didn't-see-it-coming moments, which are sure to keep you turning the pages.
Another strength of this book is the setting - it's very immersive, and quite unique. Boston comes alive with the excellent writing, and the descriptions of the club, it's patrons, and the asylum in particular are very vivid. It's also set in the 1920's (one of my favourite eras in terms of aesthetics), and the atmosphere feels very in keeping with that time period, particularly with the behaviour of the characters, their motivations, and of course, their clothing (Corinne's wardrobe is especially impressive).
Overall, the setting, characters, and the unique premise of this book ties together nicely, and the author delivers a solid and enjoyable read that is suitably engaging and impressive. The illusions and emotions that the hemopaths are able to conjure and create are described with colourful detail and thought, which makes for a truly immersive read that I'm sure most would enjoy.
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