tl;dr thrilling exhilarating heart wrenching amazing
Premise
As a Striker, Talin was taught loyalty is life. Loyalty to the Shield who watches your back, to the Strikers who risk their lives on the battlefield, and most of all, to Mara, which was once the last nation free from the Karensa Federation’s tyranny.
But Mara has fallen. And its destruction has unleashed Talin’s worst nightmare.
With her friends scattered by combat and her mother held captive by the Premier, Talin is forced to betray her fellow Strikers and her adopted homeland. She has no choice but to become the Federation’s most deadly war machine as their newest Skyhunter.
Red is no stranger to the cruelty of the Federation or the torture within its Skyhunter labs, but he knows this isn’t the end for Mara – or Talin. The link between them may be weak, but it could be Talin and Red's only hope to salvage their past and safeguard their future.
Rating
5/5 stars
Review
"May there be future dawns."
Steelstriker was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and in no way did it disappoint. It was a thrilling, exhilarating conclusion to the Skyhunter duology, and I already anticipate going back to my favorite parts to reread them. Marie Lu has outdone herself.
Skyhunter ends at a point of immense tension, and this sequel is able to build off of that. It not only crafts an intricate plot filled with action and plot twists. but it expands on the romantic relationships and friendships from the first book. If you were looking for more romance from the first book, this sequel is where you're going to get it. Talin and Red's relationship goes so much deeper in this book and really solidifies itself. The two of them learn the ins and outs of each other and just seeing the way they fight for their future and for the people they love really gets me. I was so close to crying simply because they love each other so much. I was definitely screaming into my pillow.
Steelstriker, unlike Skyhunter, is told in two points of view: one is Talin's and one is Red's. Given the circumstances of the story, having Red's POV there lends itself so well to the story. Beyond the fact that Red is my favorite (slightly grumpy) boy and the fact that his POV was pretty essential to the plot making sense, seeing the bond between him and Talin from both sides gave a lot of insight into their relationship. Since the majority of the book takes place in the capital of the Karensa Federation aka where Red has such deep-rooted childhood memories, we get a lot more definition to Red's character and his background. I LOVE HIM OKAY
Although there are two points of view, I see Talin at the center of this story. Seeing her prove herself again and again, taking back her agency and holding onto it for dear life. She's a fighter and every moment in this story, she shows everyone how she is so much more than the quiet little girl all of her doubters see her as. She not only has the grit and the strength, but she has the heart. This is a book about rebellion, and Talin establishes herself at the heart of it. My fave <3
The found family in this book is absolutely immaculate. The little family of Strikers makes my heart so happy, and seeing how far they came from the first book and the deep bonds they've formed between each other makes me even more confident that found family is my favorite trope.
I also wanted to mention how well I thought Marie Lu crafted her villain figures in this story, Premier Constantine specifically. She uses his former relationships, his backstory, and his true desires to her advantage, almost giving him mercy but recognizing how cold and brutal of a figure he's grown to be.
Above all, this is a story of family and sacrifice. What are you willing to do for the people you love? How deep do those familial bonds run? At the heart of this story is Talin and her mother, and the two of them has nudged themselves into a special place in my heart.
I don't think anyone thought I would be giving this book a negative review given how often I scream about Marie Lu on the Internet, but this is your reassurance that Steelstriker won't let you down.
Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Other Info
Second book in a duology
Releases September 28, 2021
13+
CW: death, war, violence, slight gore, dismemberment, blood
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Steelstriker-Skyhunter-Duology-Marie-Lu/dp/1250221722
Would I Recommend?
Yes!!
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