Get ready to dive deep into one of the most exciting romantasy books to hit the mainstream recently—Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! This is the first book in the Fire & Metal series originally indie published in May 2024. An author from southern Louisiana, Schneider crafts a world of simmering romance, family drama, and heart-wrenching twists you absolutely will NOT see coming.
With Metal Slinger, we’re dropped into a Waterworldlike setting at the start, with a fresh take on elemental magic and political conflicts. This is a spicy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance that sinks its teeth in you and never lets go—right until the bitter end. Unfortunately, this means there’s an enormous cliffhanger waiting for you. And since Schneider is still working on the first draft of book two, we won’t be getting the sequel anytime soon. All we know is that its anticipated title will be Light Wielder.
Hopefully, this post can serve as a helpful recap of everything that happens in Metal Slinger, along with quick character highlights so you’re ready to dive back in when the next book is released.
Warning: This guide contains a detailed summary with major SPOILERS for Metal Slinger. So if you haven’t read the book, turn away now.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- characters in Metal Slinger
- locations refresher
- plot summary
- Metal Slinger ending
- unanswered questions
- my favorite quotes
Metal Slinger characters
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Brynn/Jovie | Alaha guard trainee who discovers she’s the lost Princess Jovie of Maile, a light wielder, and Acker’s match. |
| Acker | Kenta soldier revealed to be the Prince of Kenta, an elemental who wields metal, Brynn/Jovie’s match. |
| Kai | Brynn’s childhood friend (proposed to her) and Captain Wren’s son and heir, future leader of Alaha, possesses powerful influence/compulsion magic. |
| Messer | Brynn and Kai’s childhood friend who is abused by his father (Commander Johannes), skilled swordsman, shifter who has been an eyun (bird), giant squid, and leopard so far. |
| Aurora | Alaha guard trainee and classmate of Brynn, Kai, and Messer, involved in the Alaha rebellion and blew up part of the Market, destroying the peace treaty. |
| Gramble | Brynn, Kai, Messer, and Aurora’s Alaha guard instructor. |
| Captain Wren | Leader of Alaha and Kai’s father, also possesses strong influence magic, he is why the Alaha were exiled. |
| Faline | Captain Wren’s wife and Kai’s mother. |
| Dupre | Commander of the Alaha guard and Captain Wren’s right hand. |
| Paul | Alaha guard trainee, bullied Brynn. |
| Lawson | Alaha guard trainee, friend/classmate. |
| Grenadine | Brynn’s elderly neighbor on Urchin Row in Alaha who is revealed to be Acker’s mother, the former Kenta Queen. |
| Masie | Scriber in Alaha and Gramble’s daughter, involved with Messer. |
| Commander Johannes | Messer’s father and third in command in Alaha. |
| Danuh | Messer’s mother. |
| Vad | Oracle from Roison, knew Acker during training, antagonist. |
| Fia | Healer in Roison and Jorgen’s wife, Sven’s mother; helps Jovie and Acker. |
| Jorgen | Illusionist in Roison and Fia’s husband, Sven’s father. |
| Sven | Fia & Jorgen’s son, a shifter (panther) from Roison who helps Vad track down Jovie and Acker |
| Blue | Eyun (mythological bird of prey) and Brynn’s companion/pet who turns out to be Messer. |
| Hallis | Acker’s best friend and a childhood friend of Jovie/Brynn, now a Kenta advisor/instructor, missing his left hand, romantically involved with Beau. |
| Beau | Acker’s beautiful half-sister; Kenta third in command, sees auras and can determine truths, romantically involved with Hallis. |
| King Edmond | Acker’s father and King of Kenta, elemental (allegedly fire), highly manipulative. |
| Greta | Kenta librarian and King Edmond’s former consort, Beau’s mother. |
| Rango | Kenta commanding officer. |
| General Samasu | Sentry from Maile and Queen Evelyn’s messenger, related to Wren. |
| Queen Evelyn | Jovie’s mother and Queen of Maile, elemental (air). |
| Irina | The beautiful Princess of Strou who is Acker’s betrothed. |
| Stassia | Maidservant in Kenta palace. |
| Henry | Cook in Kenta palace. |
Places visited
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| Alaha | Brynn’s home at the start of the book—a city built in giant trees over the ocean after being exiled from land. |
| Kenta | The main landmass territory ruled by King Edmond, ancestral home of the Alaha, trades with Alaha at the annual Market. |
| The Market | A large dock built between stone cliffs at sea where Alaha and Kenta conduct annual trade in a tenuous peace. |
| Urchin Row | The highest level of Alaha, known for housing orphans and the unmatched, Brynn/Jovie’s solitary home. |
| The Grove | The network of giant trees interconnected by bridges that form the city of Alaha. |
| The Main (Alaha) | The widest and busiest central bridge in Alaha, connecting different parts of the grove and hosting shops. |
| Roison | Territory east of Kenta, known for rebels and ruled by Chryse, where Jovie and Acker first land after escaping Alaha. |
| Dark Forest | A cursed forest separating Kenta and Roison and described as deadly to all who enter, cleared by Jovie’s power. |
| Maile | Jovie’s true homeland, located north of Kenta beyond mountains, ruled by Queen Evelyn. |
| Strou | Territory allied with Kenta through the betrothal of Princess Irina and Prince Acker. |
| Kenta Capitol/Palace | The main city and royal residence in Kenta, featuring high stone walls and golden spires. Home to Acker, Beau, and Hallis. |
| Oldtide Bay | Location where the Kenta armada was reportedly moored to keep an eye on Alaha’s movements. |
What happens in Metal Slinger (plot summary)
The Market
At the start of Metal Slinger, we meet Brynn who’s trapped in the harsh reality of Alaha, a city built atop the sea after its people were exiled. Daily life is about survival and dominated by the challenges of the sea and her place among the guard trainees. Her only silver lining is the annual trip to the Market on neutral Kenta territory. Her closest friends—the talented fighter, Messer, and the Alaha leader’s son, Kai (plus Aurora)—accompany her to the Market.
After their arrival, Brynn separates from the group when Kai starts talking marriage with her. Alone, she encounters a brooding Kenta soldier named Acker who’s been following her and eventually corners her, falsely accusing her of theft. When he forces her hand against the stone wall, she experiences a shocking surge of power and chaos erupts. Apparently, Aurora was a rebel and detonated a fiery explosion, which forces all Alaha trainees to flee back to their ship, including Brynn who accidentally steals Acker’s dagger. The attack destroys the century-old peace treaty between Kenta and Alaha.
Forced betrothal / match ceremony
Returning to Alaha, Brynn and the others are reprimanded for the Market disaster. Questioned by Captain Wren, Kai’s father, the truth remains unclear. Kai reveals he asked Wren for Brynn’s hand, linking her fate to his to protect her from Kenta’s demands. Wren reveals Aurora’s suspected role in a rebellion and Kenta’s ultimatum to turn over Brynn and Aurora, or face dire consequences. By claiming Brynn as Kai’s betrothed, Wren temporarily shields her but tightens her chains.
Brynn grapples with this unwanted future and Kai’s sudden proposal, her dreams of freedom feeling further away than ever. She navigates the crew’s hostility and Messer’s reckless affair with the scribe Masie, all while hiding the mysterious Kenta dagger she inadvertently stole.
Graduation Day
Graduation day for the guard trainees arrives, but the festive atmosphere is overshadowed by news of disappearing fishing boats and a looming storm. During the ceremony, Messer is named commander but insists on sparring Brynn first, acknowledging her skill. In a tense duel, Brynn holds her own but is ultimately beaten. Kai then publicly claims Brynn as his match, sealing their fate with a defiant kiss that lands them both in the brig overnight (Alaha has strict rules on public displays of affection, even those involving the leader’s son).
Shortly after their stay, a lone Kenta ship appears. The soldier aboard is revealed to be Acker and is thrown into the brig and tortured for information. Acker will only speak to Brynn. She does meet with him but Kai has to be present. Acker reveals fragments about Brynn’s past and power, hinting at magic and manipulation, deepening the mystery surrounding her origins before Kai ends the discussion.
Escaping Alaha
Brynn is disturbed by Acker’s cryptic warnings and knows Wren plans to let him drown in the brig during the impending storm. She sneaks back to confront Acker when the brig starts flooding and he reveals more about her true identity as Jovie and the existence of magic and blood oaths, urging her to trust him. With the storm raging and water flooding the cell, Acker informs Brynn the hearthstone dagger she took was hers and that she can call it to her. She summons it back from the ocean, using it to break the cell door’s seal before Acker drowns. They escape, Acker killing Wren’s men, before commandeering a small fishing boat and escaping into the stormy sea, leaving Alaha and Brynn’s old life behind. Acker confesses the her dagger was forged by her true father.
Brynn/Jovie’s awakening
Adrift at sea, Jovie and Acker face starvation and dehydration. Their unlikely companion, the eyun bird Blue, joins them. During this arduous journey, Jovie begins experiencing painful flashes—her magical awakening. They finally reach land, only to discover its enemy Roison territory. The contact with land triggers the full, agonizing force of Jovie’s awakening. Acker carries her inland, seeking refuge while she endures the magical transformation, aided by hallucinogenic roots he finds. They are tracked by Roison rebels led by Vad, an oracle Acker knows. During a confrontation, Jovie is shot with an arrow. Acker makes a desperate deal with Vad—access to his memories via blood oath in exchange for a healer’s location. They reach the healer Fia, who saves Jovie’s life but reveals the awakening isn’t fully complete.
Metal Slinger ending
King Edmond’s ultimatum, Acker’s confession, the blood bond, discovery of mother/Grenadine connection, preparing for dinner, the confrontation with Acker.
Jovie grapples with the aftermath of her forced awakening. She discovers powerful new abilities, including projecting her consciousness and experiencing uncontrolled bursts of powerful light magic. We’re still in the dark as to the true nature and extent of her gifts as a rare Light Wielder.
The intense connection Jovie feels towards Acker is revealed as a fated matching bond. This bond manifests physically and mentally, causing involuntary mind-melding and a powerful pull between them. They explore this connection, leading to intimacy, but also conflict because Acker continues withholding truths.
Princess Irina of Strou
Jovie learns Acker is currently betrothed to Princess Irina of Strou for a political alliance, further fueling her distrust. At the same time, she discovers her friend Messer is an Alaha shifter—the eyun bird that’s been following her. The political landscape grows more complicated as Jovie learns the truth about Kenta’s history, King Edmond’s manipulations, and the potential for large-scale war involving Alaha, Kenta, Roison, and Maile. Eeeeeeep.
Jovie, Acker, Messer, Beau (Acker’s sister), and Hallis (Acker and Jovie’s childhood friend) trek through dangerous territories, facing off rebels and the infamous Dark Forest, which Jovie accidentally destroys with her power. Basically, she turns into a living SUN in the middle of the forest and burns everything away.
Homecoming in Kenta
Jovie, Acker, and crew arrive at the Kenta palace to a cold reception. The news that the lost princess of Maile still lives causes open hostility throughout the capital and at court. Acker publicly declares Jovie his match (defying his father and the arranged alliance with Strou).
Jovie feels further betrayed by Acker’s unclear motives and manipulations, like the fact that he omits Princess Irina is at court. Jovie eventually sides with Messer and Beau, enacting a plan during a royal dinner. They poison the court, and Jovie confronts Acker, offering him the throne to prevent war but ultimately has to kill King Edmond’s magic using a hearthstone blade when Acker refuses.
To say this coup destroys the trust between Jovie and Acker would be an understatement. Despite his BLOOD OATH to protect her, Acker hard-slaps Jovie in a rage following an angry stolen kiss after her betrayal. He suffers the oath’s punishment (a wallop to his face that gives him a bloody nose). Jovie flees the palace with Messer, leaving a heartbroken, enraged Acker behind. 💔
Unanswered questions
The ending leaves us with Jovie on the run, alliances broken, her powers unstable, and a world on the brink of all out war. And with her relationship with Acker feeling irrevocably destroyed, we’re really not left with any semblance of comfort.
Questions that need answers ASAP:
- What is the full extent of Jovie’s light-wielding power (and her mental powers)?
- Can Messer shift into another person? 👀
- What will Acker do about his betrothal to Irina now that Jovie betrayed him? Technically, he was betrothed to Jovie first when they were children, she’s his true match, and her mother the queen of Maile has a bigger army than Strou.
- How will Jovie and Acker even reconcile after that bombshell ending??
- What are King Edmond’s true motives and plans regarding Jovie, the alliances, and the potential war? He will NOT be happy stripped of his power.
- Will Queen Evelyn of Maile seek Jovie out (or vice versa), and what will that reunion be like?
- WTF happened to Jovie’s father??
- Why was Grenadine (Acker’s mom) in Alaha? Did she and Acker recognize each other when he and Jovie were escaping Alaha?
- What future awaits Kai and the brewing rebellion back in Alaha? Does he truly love Jovie?
- WHO IS THE BAD GUY REEEEEALLY?? Is it just Wren? Could it be Jovie’s mom?? If the last Light Wielder was so bad, Jovie can break the pattern, right?
So many questions!
Metal Slinger quotes
I highlighted the crap out of my book, but here are some of my favorite quotes in Metal Slinger:
She has beautiful eyes. They’re brown and green and amber, like every color of every season. I’ve looked everywhere for eyes like hers, and nothing has ever been able to compare.
Everyone’s always muttering about the good gods, but the bad ones are way more interesting.
I’m going to get us both killed.
You’ve been feeding me with the same dagger you put through a man’s eyeball?
He’s loyal to a fault—a dangerous fault. The kind where he’d risk life and limb to save someone he cares about, to save his people.
You can never get loving someone wrong.
I kiss him, knowing nothing lasts forever.
I am the bad guy.
Final thoughts
With the exception of Onyx Storm, Metal Slinger has one of the roughest cliffhangers I’ve experienced recently. And with Rachel Schneider still working on a first draft of Light Wielder, it’ll probably be 2026–2027 before we get it. It was downright cruel how she revealed Brynn to be an unreliable narrator, and it makes me want to go back and read the whole thing again to see if there was any foreshadowing sprinkled in. (RE: Acker’s mother, I swear there was not, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.)
If you read Metal Slinger, how did you feel about the book and ending? Would love to hear any and all thoughts and theories!
For those interested, we just created a Story Darlings Discord to have an accessible space to talk all-things bookish—feel free to join us there!
Leave a comment