Book: Behind the Iron Gate by Allison Carr Waechter
Reviewed by Romi is Reading
Rating: 4/5
Taddaaaaa what do we say for this option?
Behind the Iron Gate is the fourth book in the Immortal Orders world, and honestly? If you haven't read the previous books, you're going to feel a little lost. The world is rich and layered, and a lot of that depth comes from context built across earlier books. You can probably survive as a standalone read, but you will miss things, and that would be a shame.
Let's talk characters because this is where it gets complicated in the best way. There are SO many side characters. I loved it. I also kind of wanted to make a spreadsheet to track who was who. Both things are true at the same time, and I have made peace with that.
Vivi as an FMC really won me over. Her arc throughout the book is so well done, and the way her being different is written... okay, this is rare, but the author actually knows how to write the "she is not like other girls" arc without making it weird or cringey. Vivi's difference feels like a genuine part of who she is, and watching her grow into that over the course of the book was really satisfying.
The romance hit harder than I expected, and I think it comes down to Cas. Specifically how he understands Vivi. That kind of quiet, genuine understanding from an MMC is something I will always fall for, and this book delivered it completely.
Plot-wise, there is a really solid mystery running through everything, and I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists. The whole thing is this intricate web, and some of those knots? Did not see them coming. Respect.
Overall: read the previous books first, embrace the chaos of the side character roster, and then let this one wreck you a little. Worth it.