A fun simple read for those craving for an inspired young adult fantasy. It has the whimsy of a middle grade novel with the heart thumping aspect of a young adult romance novel. It's great for those that want a new fantasy story with fairy politics and reimagining figures from history as part of this magical alternative world.

This romance driven story was Queer LGBT yummy!! I loved it all and can not wait for book two. I loved the black girl power and magic and prose was spot on. This is going to be a hit for the fantasy young adult fan and I would love to see a movie or show made from this one. I need more!!

I really enjoyed the fusion of the African and Anglo magic systems in this book. Joan was a capable character, succeeding in a world that was cruel and unwelcoming to those who looked like her. I appreciated the realistic portrayal of the racist environments she would have had to face, and I also appreciated that the story was not centered solely on this, but that Joan was able to have an adventure in her own right that wasn’t tied to others’ perceptions of her.

This book was so much fun! The lively blend of history and fantasy in THAT SELF-SAME METAL, which was playfully threaded with Shakespearean performances and fast-paced action, left me eager to jump back in every time I put it down. I loved the original magic system and how well-integrated it was into the world and the plot, and I enjoyed following Joan through the novel’s many adventures (and misadventures!). Excited to see where this series takes Joan next!

Thanks to the author and publisher for this advance copy.

This is a fantasy novel was such a refreshing read. It has so much going for it. It takes place in Shakespeare's London, with some secret magic users, and the end of a pact of peace with the Fae. The main characters of the story were twins, Joan and James. Both have been blessed with magical abilities from the Orisha. Joan is an avatar for Ogun, who controls metal and smithing while her brother has control of the winds. It is because of the Orisha and their people that humans are protected from the monstrous Fae. When the pact is suddenly ended and the man to fix it jailed, it becomes up to Joan, her brother, and a quirky cast that includes Shakespeare and others in his Theater Company, to fix things. The story took a minute to get going, but once it does its pretty consistent action to keep readers hooked. While the book is a work of historical fantasy, the author does a great job of weaving in facts. In the author's note, she explains where the Orisha came from and how much of the history mentioned is true. I think students will enjoy this book and plan to recommend it to my Fantasy readers in the library.

I would love to see what Ms. Williams gets up to with a co-writer like Sanderson. This was a really cool concept and a really cool world with a lot of heart and follow through. I look forward to more! Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity with this title.

Overall I really enjoyed this book a lot! The story is so interesting - this is a historical fantasy set in London that follows Joan, a 16 year old girl who has magical powers and gets caught up in a battle against Fae. The plot is super interesting and this book moves quickly - sometimes I think too quickly! I felt like it actually should have been longer. Although this is YA at times it read more like middle grade to me. Even though the content itself was more mature, it reads a little childish. One thing I loved was that the author's love for theatre shines in this book. I enjoyed it, and will definitely pick up the sequel! I'm reading an ARC copy so hopefully some things get smoothed out in the official release :)

Okay, this started a little slow for me so if you’re someone that likes action right from the start I encourage you to be patient. The book did pick up and I found myself pulled into the story king. I like how the author played on Shakespeare while also being in African mythology. It was a different storyline but one that worked. I think this is a strong debut and will be looking forward to book 3.

THAT SELF-SAME METAL is a stunning and immersive historical fantasy that will delight readers, especially (but not limited to) those with an interest in theater. Joan is a wonderful and relatable protagonist who is easy to root for, the dialogue and character interactions are fun and brilliant, and the magic system is wildly cool and unique. A great start to a series and an incredible read!

https://medium.com/@mikaelasjournal/joan-the-metal-bender-an-advance-readers-copy-book-review-on-that-self-same-metal-by-brittany-n-f694e7f9e2e5

This is a fantastically creative world, set during the reign of King James in England (right after the Tudor period and Queen Elizabeth). Joan and her twin brother James are a part of the King's Men, an acting troupe led by William Shakespeare, though Joan serves as a craftswoman and creates the prop swords used in the plays. Joan has a gift for metalworking, one that comes from an ability to control metal gifted to her by her patron Orisha, Ogun. Because of this, Joan and the rest of her Orisha-blessed family can see the fae that live among humans. When the pact between Faerie and the human king breaks down, nothing is stopping more malevolent Fae from coming to Earth and causing havoc. Joan fins herself involved in this mess, having to step in and stop things from escalating before it's too late. I enjoyed the plot of this story, the mix of historical fiction with Fae and Orisha is not something i've ever read before, but it worked so well. The story is engaging and interesting, and I really liked the twist at the very end. My biggest complaint was with the romance, it felt at times forced or unnecessary, and how the author handled Joan having two love interests was wishy washy and unclear, though I think it'll be handled better in the sequel. There was a lot to like in this book, and I look forward to seeing there the story goes next.

Thank you, ABRAMS Kids, Amulet Books, for allowing me to read That Self-Same Metal early!

I will keep it short and simple. I just adored this novel and it was perfect in my eyes.

This truly complex novel was both hard to read and also felt like a breath of fresh air. Go into this one with nuance, and enjoy.