Middle-Grade Book Review: Ironheart by Allan Boroughs
Ironheart by Allan Boroughs
Legend of Ironheart Series, #1
On Sale: Available now
Middle Grade, Dystopian, Fantasty
Published by Macmillan Children's Books
Source: Publisher
My Rating: 4 Stars
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‘First comes the iron and then comes the snow, and then comes the winter when nothing will grow.’ Since her father went missing while prospecting for oil in Siberia, life has been tougher than ever for India Bentley. Little does she know that he was actually searching for Ironheart, a legendary fortress containing the secrets of the old world. A place some say could save humanity . . . or destroy the world. Along with tech-hunter Verity Brown and her android, Calculus, a killer from the old world turned protector in the new, India must make the journey to remote Siberia to try to find her father and finish his work. But there are others fighting to find Ironheart too – and they have very different goals in mind. If India fails, it won’t just be her father who pays the price. It will cost her the Earth.
Ironheart is an exciting action and adventure story for middle-grade readers with a watery-dystopian setting, nefarious villains, and enough danger and thrills to keep young readers pleased.
Ironheart introduces young readers to a post-apocalyptic world where hidden and obscure technologies is a rarer and more precious that treasure. Tech hunters, some nice and others not-so-nice, (think Indiana Jones and his archrivals) are on the hunt for these rare techs. When India Bentley's father goes missing while searching for oil in Siberia, she discovers that he was actually searching for Ironheart, a legendary fortress that is rumored to hold within its walls a treasure trove of ancient technologies that could help to save the world...or within the wrong hands...destroy it. With the help of tech hunterVerity Brown and a rare android names Calculus (a wonderful character, maybe my favorite, who is a sweet mix of the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz and C-3PO of Star Wars) a quest begins to track down the hidden location of Ironheart and rescue India's father before its secrets get into the wrong hands.
First in a series, Ironheart written by Allan Boroughs, will appeal to both boys and girls as it features a smart, brave, and feisty heroine to follow as well the android companion Calculus, while clues, maps, and dodging bad guys keep the pace steady as the mystery unfolds. From a watery London to the unique Siberian setting with touches of tech and mysterious Shamanism, Ironheart feels true, giving the story an old world feel of treasure hunting. Secondary characters, namely the pirate rigger Captain Aggrovius Bulldog added fun flare. One character I would have liked to see more page-time with was Verity Brown who seemed to get pushed back in the story. Hopefully in the next segment we see more from this tech-huntress.
Ironheart is a great choice for middle-grade readers as author Allan Boroughs writes with a great blend of thrills and descriptiveness while keeping readers eagerly engaged. Readers can continue with the next adventure as the sequel Bloodstone continues India Bentley's adventure. This times around there's rumors of Atlantis and a strange energy source, plus, of course, a few dastardly villains are thrown into the mix.
