I have to admit, when I first started reading Metal Slinger, I couldn’t help but wonder why it had such a high rating. The writing felt a bit unpolished and I don’t think descriptions were the author’s strong suit either. Still, I flew through the almost 500 pages faster than I expected — but that might be a testament to the simplicity of the writing.

I think the biggest reason behind Metal Slinger’s popularity is the twist. Without giving anything away, it’s easy to see how the unexpected plot twist could leave people shocked. However, for me, the twist slightly took away from the overall character development and the emotional journey of the story. It almost felt like the plot sacrificed the depth for shock value.

The bones of the story are good, the concept is interesting and the characters are intriguing. There are definitely strong underlying elements and hints of an interesting world, but the world-building itself felt underdeveloped and not fully fleshed out. At times, I found myself wanting more detail and atmosphere.

Interestingly enough, Metal Slinger gave me Lightlark vibes in terms of the writing and how the characters also seem to be up to something the reader isn’t privy to. Despite the flaws, I’m curious enough about the direction the series might take that I’ll likely pick up the sequel.