I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Conclusion
Highly recommend for any readers of alternate history, science-fiction, paranormal romance, LGBTQIA+, supernatural, dark fantasy and climate fiction. Well worth reading a novel or exploring The Steel Empires series!

Gribble provides a fantastic combination of post-apocalyptic science fiction with alternate history. The inclusion of paranormal characters with strong heroines, gender fluid identities and LGBTQI representation creates a ‘found family’. Alongside this character diversity, Gribble masterfully blends genres of dark fantasy, flintlock, cyberpunk, climate fiction and magic in a fresh and unique series that transcends continents, time, and warps reality. Gribble delivers it all in action-packed books which socially relevant for current issues and enjoyable stand-alone or as the complete series.

** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **

I enjoyed this book by J L Gribble. This series has great characters, great stories, and great pacing. Will definitely look for new stories in this series. Also, thanks for including the first six books in series, as each was great, and reading in order, while not necessary, was enjoyable. #SteelLegacy #NetGalley

In "Steel Justice," you'll meet characters you can truly root for. Kane, Toria, Rob, Zhinu, Archer, and Liam are the kind of people you'd want by your side on any adventure—strong, dependable, and good-hearted. This time, they're stepping into detective roles, which adds a fun twist to their already engaging personalities. Zhinu isn't the culprit, but her part in the story takes our heroes through new and familiar challenges, helping them heal from their past struggles. Finding such genuine characters in a book is as rare as in real life. Spending time with them in this story is well worth it—you won't be disappointed!

J.L. Gribble (https://jlgribble.com) is the author of nearly 10 novels. Steel Victory was published in 2015 and is the first book in her Steel Empires series. It is the 38th book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

This series of novels is set in an alternative universe. The dominant societies in North America are colonies of the British in the North and the Roman Empire in the South. Between them lies Limani, an independent city-state that acts as a buffer to the two world powers.

The other significant difference in this universe is the presence of real vampires and other supernormal beings. Victory is a city councilwoman, the Master of the City of Limani. Her leadership has gone a long way to bring a balance between the human and supernatural citizens of Limani. Before retiring and becoming a statesman, she was a skilled mercenary. That, along with her life experiences, has enabled Victory to be a very effective leader for Limani. Fortunately, her vampire heritage has given her over 700 years of life experiences to draw upon.

Twenty years earlier, Victory had adopted a baby human girl. This girl, Toria, has grown into a young woman and is becoming a powerful Mage. Toria has her sights set on following her mother as a mercenary in the role of a warrior-mage. For now, she is just battling college-level chemistry.

Most vampires have taken on Daywalkers - humans that watch over and protect them while they sleep. For Victory, this role falls to Mikelos. He is a formidable fighter and her current love interest.

The tranquility of Limani is being threatened from within by the humanist movement. They want the supernatural citizens out of Limani and the city to come under human rule. From the South comes an increasing threat of invasion by the Roman Empire. This situation is complicated by traitors within the city.

I enjoyed the 6.5 hours I spent reading this 216-page fantasy. Vampires play a significant role in this novel. I am not normally a fan of books with vampires, but the author subtly wove them into this story. The chosen cover art is ok, but it could have been better. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

"Steel Legacy" by J.L. Gribble is a thrilling and action-packed addition to the urban fantasy genre, offering readers a captivating blend of magic, technology, and intrigue. Gribble's expert world-building immerses readers in a richly detailed universe where supernatural creatures coexist with advanced technology. The protagonist, a strong and resilient heroine named Victory, leads readers on a pulse-pounding adventure filled with danger and discovery. Gribble's dynamic writing style and well-paced plot keep the tension high and the stakes even higher, making it impossible to put the book down. "Steel Legacy" is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy, offering a fresh take on the genre that is both exhilarating and immersive. With its compelling characters and gripping storyline, this novel is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

Loved this book! Didn’t want it to end! Didn’t like all the characters but still loved the book. World building and descriptiveness was fantastic