Aug 19

Aug 19 A Taste of Gold and Iron

Author: Alexandra Rowland
Publisher: Tordotcom
Goodreads | The StoryGraph

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Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the full review.

Cover Description

The Goblin Emperor meets "Magnificent Century" in Alexandra Rowland's A Taste of Gold and Iron, where a queer central romance unfolds in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire.

Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen's new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation.

To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.

TL;DR Review

A Taste of Gold and Iron is a standalone fantasy with a queer central romance, and it hooked me HARD. The characters and their arcs are so exquisitely crafted that I didn’t even mind the slow burn. LOVED.

For you if: You like fantasy novels with mystery and romance.

Full Review

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I LOVED this book. First of all, standalone fantasy? Yes please. Queer central romance? Double yes. Political mystery? YES x3. By about 40% in, I was not only completely hooked, but also genuinely angry that I had to stop reading to sleep and work. When it was over, I was despondent. I can’t remember the last book that made me feel like that.

The story takes place in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire where some people can touch-taste metals, identifying materials by the different tastes and sensations they conjure. Kadou, a prince whose life is ruled by anxiety and panic disorder, has committed an unfortunate political blunder with tragic results. His sister, the sultan, assigns him a new lead bodyguard, the proud and disciplined Evemer. Those tragic results color Evemer’s opinion of Kadou, but as he helps Kadou investigate a counterfeiting conspiracy in order to redeem himself in the court’s eyes, Evemer begins to realize that his initial judgment may have been too hasty.

So much to say, so little space. I loved the way diverse genders and sexualities are so commonplace in this world. I loved the way I felt when the meaning of the book’s title finally snapped into place. I loved Kadou’s commitment to reciprocity and goodness. I loved the way it explored anxiety and mental illness. I loved the way it felt like my chest was imploding and also exploding as I read it.

But mostly, I loved the way Kadou and Evemer’s character arcs and romance developed so fully — technically, I guess, it’s a “slow burn,” but not one that ever made me feel impatient. These characters have to grow in order for the way they see each other to change, and Rowland pulls it off exquisitely.

I just loved it, okay???