Metal From Heaven Book Review

This book captivated me from start to finish. I barely noticed the length of the chapters—17 in total, each around 20 pages (I read it on Kindle). I picked it up on the recommendation of a TikTok friend, diving in without reading the blurb, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I didn’t realize it was a sapphic story, and that revelation made my reading experience all the more enjoyable. I’ve grown tired of predictable heterosexual plotlines, so I’m thrilled to immerse myself in more sapphic narratives like this one.

Metal From Heaven centers on Marney, a girl driven by a singular, fiery purpose: to kill the owner of the factory where her family worked—a man who sanctioned the deaths of her loved ones. Marney is a messy, flawed protagonist, which makes her compelling but also frustrating at times. Her disorganization is partly rooted in her mother’s exposure to toxic fumes during her factory shifts, which left lasting effects on both of them. Marney possesses a unique ability to manipulate metal, a skill she uses to pull off burglaries and, eventually, seek revenge.

I loved the author’s choice of narration, which employed a second-person perspective directed at a specific character. It felt intimate and raw, drawing me into Marney’s headspace without making her feel like she was speaking to me directly. This approach added a layer of depth to the story and made her struggles and emotions feel personal.

That said, while Marney’s recklessness is understandable given her trauma and limitations, I was disappointed that the supporting cast seemed just as chaotic and uncoordinated as she was. Their disarray made the larger resistance effort feel haphazard, lacking the focus or strategic edge needed to create tension or stakes. The lack of an organized coup left me wanting more, even if it made sense within the story's framework.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its commitment to the time period, reflected in the characters’ actions and behaviors. However, Marney’s inability to see beyond her immediate goal—combined with her lack of foresight—led to a story that sometimes felt like it was heading toward a foregone conclusion. She seemed destined to be a martyr, existing solely to die for a cause, which made her arc feel a bit hollow by the end.

The ending left me feeling conflicted and slightly confused. It reminded me of The Icarus Girl in how it concluded abruptly and left loose threads unresolved. While I appreciate an open-ended or ambiguous conclusion, this one felt underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more clarity or resolution.

Overall, Metal From Heaven is a unique and refreshing read, especially for those seeking sapphic stories with complex, imperfect protagonists. While the execution of certain elements—such as the resistance’s strategy and the ending—could have been stronger, the book’s emotional intimacy and bold narrative choices make it a worthwhile read. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy messy, morally ambiguous characters and a story that leans into its imperfections.

Where to buy:

The book is available on major platforms: Walmart, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.