Get 50% off Catholic Books & eBooks

Discover the Next Tolkien & O'Connor

Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal

Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors

Genre

fantasy (mythological and Biblical)

Audience

All fans of epic fantasy

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2021

Themes

origins of war, consequences of choices

Reviewed by

Corinna Turner

This epic mythological fantasy is a Biblical-style tale that reads very like a work of tie-in Genesis fan-fiction.

In a pre-human era, giants live peacefully on their world, reverencing their Creator and the sylphs that live in the stars and the planet. Although they have known calamity and battle against monsters and natural threats, war is unknown—until a sylph descends from the stars speaking of coming doom for all giant-kind. But is the meddling sylph’s warning genuine—or will it become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Ironcraft shows how our choices shape our future, and how doing wrong out of fear is likely to bring about the very thing we seek to avoid.

This book has strong Catholic connections on several levels, ranging from the Biblical names that are used for places, to some of the deeper themes. However, there is no overt Catholic content—it is a work of high fantasy. God the Creator is referred to as Aigonz, and the reader is left to speculate that the ‘sylphs’ of the air and earth may equate to Biblical angels. Similarly, by the end of the novel, a great mythological hero (whom I will not name for fear of spoilers) is becoming more and more clearly a likely Christ-equivalent.

Full disclosure: This book is not written in my preferred style, but I think it is a fine achievement in its own right. It may, however, not be to everyone’s taste, since it is written in a close (though not exact) replica of Old Testament or similar ancient text style: a third-person, distant narrative voice that follows multiple characters (most of whom are unpleasant or going from bad to worse). It does not single out good protagonists to follow nor get inside their heads. It is not so much a novel as a mythology. Although written about giants, the story offers a deep commentary on human nature and the origins of war, especially chilling and poignant to read in 2022.

The biblical tie-in aspect of the story is reminiscent of Genesis 6:4:

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

Although the final quarter of the book, and a note from the author at the end, dissociate it from the Biblical narrative, I think it safe to say that the story was probably inspired and heavily influenced by the Nephilim from Genesis.

Ironcraft is the first book in a series, and as such does not provide closure at the end. A significant character who escaped earlier in the book has not returned—no doubt this will follow in a later book—and other immensely significant elements such as the giants’ third eyes and the new means of reproduction have not been fully explored. By the end, most of the characters are dead or corrupted or fallen: so it is not a cheerful book (in this too it resembles the Old Testament).

This book would be a good read for fans of mythological-style or actual historical texts. Anyone who reads the Old Testament for straight-up pleasure (as opposed to prayer/study/edification) would probably devour Ironcraft. Fans of the Silmarillion, Iliad, Odyssey, and other such texts, old and new, would probably also like it. However, if you enjoy modern first person or close third person internalized narrator point of view and prefer to have at least one good character consistently present throughout a book to root for, Ironcraft probably will not suit you.

Although Christian readers, both Catholic and Protestant, will enjoy the Biblical names and themes, this book is equally accessible to secular readers. It contains no more overt Christianity than the Lord of the Rings (which is to say, none!). Readers suffering from low spirits, especially relating to the current world situation, might be best to give it a miss.

Ironcraft takes the reader on a convincingly mythological journey into the birth of mankind, and gives a deep and insightful commentary on human nature through a bleakly convincing look at how war might come into a world.

Get Catholic Books & eBooks for as little as $1 to FREE

Murder Most Picante by Karina Fabian

The government can’t decide whether he is an illegal immigrant or invasive species. God expects a respectable dragon to find justice for others. This Dragon is not having a good time of it!

Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor

A dark fantasy along the lines of Revelation itself.

Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon By Corinna Turner 

A human-sheep hybrid’s friendships with a friendly vampire and a very angsty house-wolf are tested in this story that explores nature versus nurture. 

The Wish Thief by C.D. Verhoff

Glory steals an unusual gem to save her family but winds up threatening an entire world.

If Wishes Were Dragons By Karina Fabian

What happens when LARPing becomes a lot more real than a group of D&D players can handle?

How the Dragon Awards Could Uplift Catholic Fiction

If you don’t like current state of mainstream publishing and wish there were more widely available alternatives, this is your chance to help make that a reality.

Jennifer the Damned By Karen Ullo

A story of a teenage vampire without the glamorous tempting allure, trying to really live in the real world.

Where to begin with J. R. R. Tolkien?

Beyond the adventure, the way to read The Lord of the Rings is not as an allegory but as a meditation on the human Story we are each caught up in, and in which we each have our part to play, our temptations to resist, and our task to accomplish.

Lord of the Rings & the Eucharist by Scott L. Smith

What do trees have to do with Bread & Wine?

The City and The Dungeon by Matthew P. Schmidt

Who knew fighting monsters in a D&D dungeon could convince him that not everything can be attributed to a chance roll of the dice?

Coven (Book 7 of St. Tommy Series): By Declan Finn

St. Tommy fights the CPS and a group of pagans who have taken over a military base.

The Dunes by A.R.K. Watson

“The Dunes” raises questions that are relevant in any marriage: not just for the creepy, otherworldly couple who venture onto a lonely island to set up camp near prehistoric sand dunes for the last time.

Jonah’s Voyage to Atlantis by Voyage Comics

What if Jonah had traveled through the underworld while trapped inside the whale?

Defend the Tabernacle by Deacon Patrick Augustin Jones

Catherine and Bernard get whisked away to do battle on the Soulscape, where the true nature of things is revealed.

War Demons by Russell Newquist

Lots of soldiers have demons, but Michael’s follow him back home. And now a secret order of demon-slayers tell him he has to save the world?!

Leaf by Niggle…by J.R.R. Tolkien

Leaf by Niggle isn’t nearly as well-known as LOTR and The Hobbit, but it is as beautiful and moving in its own way.

Champion of Valdeor by Sandralena Hanley

Fed up with modern 1st person, present tense narratives bursting with ‘hip’ characters? Look no further!

Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman

An intriguing story that will enchant with a sweet romance and take you on a thrill ride through the Gothic version of modern-day New York City.

Elfling by Corinna Turner

Serapia Ravena is on a mission to find and keep her father, but he has transgressed a boundary that no creature has the right to cross. Only the mercy of God can resolve this tension.

City of Shadows by Declan Finn

St. Tommy uncovers a group of elites using an ancient artifact to destroy London.