That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams

 

Last night, I finished reading That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Williams. This historical fantasy, taking place in 1605 London, is about Joan Sands, a sixteen-year-old Black girl who can control metal, an ability gifted to her by the Orisha, Ogun. This ability helps her create and upkeep the stage blades for William Shakespeare's acting company, The King's Men. Her twin brother, James, acts in the company and she is attracted to her friend, Nick Tooley, one of the other young actors. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed and can see a faint glow around a Fae's body, they keep track of the Fae presence in London. After her godfather, Baba Ben, is arrested and unable to complete the ritual for the Pact, there is an increase in brutal attacks by the Fae. When Joan saves William, the son of King James's secretary of state, Robert Cecil, by injuring Auberon, a powerful Fae, she is tasked with killing Auberon.

This book was a fantastic read. I loved the world-building and thought Joan was a great heroine because of her bravery and skill with a sword. Her ability with metal was really cool and I enjoyed how close she was with James, her twin brother. I was also intrigued by her budding relationships with Nick and Rose because of how different they are. While Nick is human, Rose is revealed to be a Fae when Joan and James go to a bridge to help her the evening after James introduces the two girls to one another. By the end of the novel I was even wondering if Joan could have both of them, like Rose suggested. Throughout the novel, the Fae were a great threat and the stakes were high. With the random Fae attacks in London, I had no idea who would be next on their radar and was on the edge of my seat hoping that Joan wouldn't lose any of her loved ones. The climax was amazing and I would like to read the sequel. At the end of the book, the author includes information about the real-life people from Shakespearean London that were in the story. Adventurous and thrilling, That Self-Same Metal is a terrific choice for anyone who likes fantasies that take place in historical settings.