Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston (review)

After a Metal rebellion in which free-functioning androids massacred the Amorovs, the Ironblood heirs to the throne, all Metals have been required to be HIVEd, reprogrammed to function under the bidding of the Iron Advisor. Being a part of a family of inter-species, intergalactic outlaws and having her rogue android, D09 (Di for short), by her side is the only life seventeen-year-old Ana has ever known—that is, until a glitch in Di’s memory core threatens to end his existence, a fate far worse than being HIVEd. Di has grown up with Ana, serving as her protector, friend and now, the love of her life, so when Ana finds a slim chance to save D09, she’s willing to lay the lives of many on the line for an uncertain shot at reviving the android. Unbeknownst to her, however, her mission turns into an unraveling of the truths on which she’s built her life. Narration that moves between characters works to deepen the intricacies and tensions in tangled relationships and intensify the already heart-stopping plot development, while the distinct voices give insight into spur of the moment decisions fueled by impending doom and death. The world building here definitely takes a chunk of time, but come the second half of the book, every seemingly minute detail outlined in the beginning falls into place, leading up to an ending that leaves a hopeful opening for what will be a widely anticipated sequel. The perfect blend of action, romance, technological futurism, sci-fi, and fantasy, this intergalactic drama demands attention and rewards its readers.