Author: Alexandra Rowland
Publisher: Tor (Pan Macmillan Australia)
Publication Date: 30 August 2022
Pages: 502
Format: Paperback
Genre: LGBT Fantasy
Source: ARC from Publisher
One false coin could topple an empire.
Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, has no intention of wrestling for imperial control with his sister, the queen. Yet he remains at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court – the father of the queen’s new child. Then a hunting party goes terribly awry, and Kadou finds himself under suspicion of attempted murder.
To prove his loyalty to his sister and salvage his reputation, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds. He enlists the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. But what appears to be a straightforward crime spirals into a complex counterfeiting operation, with a powerful enemy at its heart.
In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy. The conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing – and bring about its ruin.
A Taste of Gold and Iron was a delightful read. I found the world in which the story was set interesting (even if I would have appreciated the touch-tasting being explored a little more fully than it was) and I liked the main characters and the development of their relationship throughout. Both Kadou and Evemer had flaws/difficulties that were realistically and thoughtfully portrayed. There were a few little niggles in that I never felt that fussed by the counterfeit coins issue, as the problems that situation could pose came in very much secondary to the journey of the characters and the romance elements of the plot. But neither that nor the obviousness of the villain bothered me unduly since I was enjoying the prominent romance so much. The book had great LGBT representation that never felt forced, and everything moved along at a good pace which kept me turning the pages. Overall, I am giving A Taste of Gold and Iron 4.5 stars.
I received this book as a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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