Who's Bad?

Long Live Evil - Time of Iron #1

Sarah Rees Brennan

464 pages, Paperback, Expected publication July 30, 2024

Rae in her early 20s has cancer and life is limited. One night, a mysterious woman offers a second chance, to enter the world of ‘Time of Iron, Rae and her sisters Alice’s favourite fantasy series. The woman tells Rae she can only return if she secures a flower that is blooms once a year. Given her current state, Rae figures why not but wonders why she is given this opportunity. The woman says for love. Rae accepts and quickly finds herself thrust into the action. Cast as the evil temptress, the beauty dipped in blood, with mighty big bosoms, who is about to be executed. Saving her life to live another day becomes Rae’s first priority, then form a gang of like-minded evil doers to create havoc, have some wicked fun and get that flower to go home to her sister. However, not everything goes to plan.

The novel begins with you quite simply scratching your head as you are thrown an overlong character introduction. It is fair to be thinking what is actually going on here, and then as you continue, the cleverness and humour of it all becomes apparent. From here on in you are hooked.

Rae as the central character is a complex mess, cancer has denied her so many experiences, her friendship list is dwindling and she is angry about it all. The lynch pin is her relationship with her sister Alice and their enjoyment of ‘Time of Iron’. Alice is the bigger fan, but Rae comes to love the stories as Alice reads them to her. Rae is sassy, is happy to call out bullshit “Being nice was nice. Being nasty got shit done.” It is hard to not like Rae, as she gives a middle finger to societal norms but is also fiercely protective of those she loves. I enjoyed how Rae embraces her situation ‘Let’s embrace the evil aesthetic like it’s a lover I’m about to poison. I want lips as red as blood, eyeliner black as my heart.”

The supporting characters, well there are a few, and they are all well-crafted. The Golden Cobra is an absolute hoot, flamboyant, mysterious and a romantic. Key is the ultimate in psychopath and for me was like the male version of Villanelle from Killing Eve. Even the do-good Princess Lady Lia has a wonderful twist.

Then there is the humour, look out for Victoria Broccoli, some clever little insights ‘Books often described kisses as ‘searing’ which made Rae think of salmon, but characters seemed to enjoy the seared-salmon kisses.’

This is just one fun, insane ride where every element of fantasy is turn inside out. Every character whilst initially cast as the hero or villain becomes a shade of grey and it is ever so refreshing. It has been some time since I have wanted the next instalment of a series to arrive, but I cannot wait. As Brennan is a master at taking every single trope and twisting the bejesus out of it.

Seriously suggest that you check out Sarah Rees Brennan's website and her other books. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.