Metal Slinger – by Rachel Schneider
Book 1 in the Fire & Metal series

She trained to protect her people — but nothing prepared her for him.

Brynn has always dreamed of proving herself at the Kenta market—a rite of passage for every young Alaha guard. But when a single day sparks a rebellion and ignites tensions between enemies, she returns home to find her world forever changed.

With peace broken and her people on the brink of famine, Brynn is thrust into a storm of secrets, betrayal, and the slow unraveling of everything she believed. When a mysterious visitor appears—one with dark eyes and a dangerous past—her loyalty is tested in ways she never imagined.

Caught between duty and desire, Brynn must decide who to trust as the lines between enemy and ally blur.
Because sometimes the heart is the most dangerous weapon of all.

✨ Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, found family, rebellion, slow-burn
✨ For fans of An Ember in the Ashes, The Remnant Chronicles, and The Bridge Kingdom
✨ Book 1 in the Fire & Metal series — perfect for readers who love fierce heroines, magic-laced politics, and aching tension
✨ Features a warrior girl with a soft heart, a mysterious enemy soldier, political unrest, and a loyalty that will be tested to the breaking point

"She was raised to defend her home. But what if the real battle lies within?"