The Tree That Grew Through Iron

The Panagea Tales

By: McKenzie Austin

Narrated by: Gerard Marquez

Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

The world's end was his beginning.  

Whole chunks of earth are withering away from the mainland and falling into the sea. Natural disasters are claiming thousands of lives. Prayers are no longer answered by gods. Prayers are answered by machines and the Time Fathers of Panagea.  

Nicholai Addihein, one of the eight ruling Time Fathers, struggles to save the lives of his people. After a single moment of misunderstood treason, he must also save his own.  

While running from the wrath of Panagea's other Time Fathers, Nicholai lands in peculiar company. Can a fabled immortal, a crew of societal rejects, and a silver-haired woman with a mysterious past breathe life back into a world on the brink of death?  

With all of existence at stake, Nicholai and the others prepare to fight until their last breath to change the fate of Panagea. Who would ever guess that success might be just as fatal as failure?

©2018 McKenzie Austin (P)2019 McKenzie Austin

By far my new favorite fantasy series!

The Tree That Grew Through Iron is an amazing fantasy tale centered around a handful of heroes trying to save Pangea. A world filled with Time Fathers , Earth Mothers and lots more types of magic involved. A man trying to save hos daughter by stopping time even though he isnt supposed to is what sets this epic adventure in motion. I loved this book and I can't wait to get a hold of the second book! So beautifully written that it will keep anyone intrigued.

I was given this audiobook review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Gritty, dark, and supremely imaginative

This was a pretty fun book. Although it was a bit longer than I usually prefer, the author managed to keep the story interesting throughout, filling the story with the most imaginative characters I've come across in some time. I particularly liked Kazuaki, with his gruff, all business exterior and loyal heart underneath. Not to mention his motley crew, who had no trouble lightening the mood when needed.

Overall, I'd say this is a great choice for anyone into deep stories and steampunk shenanigans.

Also, the narrator has an excellent reading voice. Very enjoyable to listen to.

I LOVE this

Even though it did take me a few tries to get into this, I really did love it. A lot of books like this nowadays are so short, I was so happy to listen to something that actually had some meat to it. And I am so happy that this is a series. I really look forward to listening to the next book! And the narrator fit the story perfectly. I highly recommend this one!

This book was given to me at my request. I am providing a voluntary and honest review.

Starts out slow, but worth it

The split perspectives in the beginning make things start out glacially slow and lacking specific direction when combined with the need to introduce the entire complex steampunk world of Panagea. Despite starting out with such a pitfall, the world was unique enough to keep me curious until the characters start to come together then the story really picks up pace and finds itself a solid direction.
The magic system is an interesting one, tied to their world and the underlying message of the story at the same time. With lesser gods, immortal pirates, sword and gun fighting revolutions, the story is filled with action and a little of something for everyone. I appreciated the depth built for the main characters, especially Captain Hidataka and Nikolai who drive the overall story.
The narration was well done throughout most of the book, and Gerard Marquez does a great job of creating enjoyable and recognizable characters through his voices. However, I feel like the recording could use some post-production work and be perfect, as others have mentioned, there are some moments with awkward pacing or breathing sounds that momentarily pull you out of the moment.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

That's a solid yes!

I loved this story! So much so that I will be spending a carefully hoarded credit on the sequel.

Join Kazawaki Hidataka, his crew, Nikolai Adahein, and Umbrial on a nail biting adventure to restore Panagaea to it's former glory, and try to save the lives of some loved ones. There's a Lesser God, men who think they're Gods, a loyal to a fault crew, and some people with completely misguided loyalties. High sea adventures, and frozen in time divisions.

My favourites were Kazawaki Hidataka and his loyal crew. Nikolai Adahein got frustrating at points, but his unwavering insistence on sticking to his beliefs and trying to save his love endears him to you. He's easily relatable in his efforts to hide a mistake made behind an ideal. By the time I got to the last 2 hours of the book I didn't want to "put it down"

I have one small complaint and it comes in the form of the narrator. While his reading tempo and voice assignments were very good, his mispronunciation of some everyday words and odd (what I'm assuming were breathing breaks) were a little grating. As a narrator overall he was not unlistenable though, and the annoyances were small enough to get over (mostly)

Epic Fantasy + Dystopian + Steampunk

This story really hooked me. And I was surprised that it did. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but I was expecting some YA fantasy because of this lovely young lady on the cover. However, that’s not what’s going on here (yay!). The story is a little dark and definitely epic. The second half pulls the story into environmental fantasy as our heroes battle to save the very Earth.

The characters really held my attention. Kazuaki Hidataka is the captain of a pirate ship. They chase down rumors and stories of the fantastical. Heard of Pandora’s Box? Yep. Their fault. Though, admittedly, the Earth was already pretty messed up before they accidentally popped that lid. So their part of the story opens with them hunting for the well of Mimir. Kazuaki is tired of being immortal. Granted, he doesn’t want to die today, but he’s tired of not aging and passing on with his friends. The rest of the crew have their reasons for hunting down this magical wish-granting well. But things don’t go as expected at all! Lots of great scenes there and I love that our heroes still have to deal with all their old problems plus these new ones they kind of brought on themselves.

Meanwhile, Nicholai Addihein is having his own troubles. He’s a Time Father and that means he has the power to control the flow of time is his sector (there’s a council of of Time Fathers for Panagea). After being approached to stop time and save a child’s life, things go poorly. Nicholai’s beloved Lilac’s life is put in danger and after freezing time, he flees (as he has brought down the wrath of the other Time Fathers). Nicholai eventually meets up with our pirate heroes and through shared experiences, they come to trust and respect each other.

We don’t even meet the lady on the cover until half way through the story. Umbriel Dasyra is an Earth Mother and the Time Fathers of old banished her to a long lost island. I liked her practical nature when it comes to the circle of life (death doesn’t bother her much). The world of Panagea has fallen into pollution. Very few plants still struggle along as well as animals (Granite’s pet dog is an unusual thing). So when the pirates come across this whole island of live flora and fauna, they are amazed. I did find it odd the ship’s cook (Penn) knew how to cook a deer as I don’t think he had ever seen one before. (Most food stuffs are highly processed, factory made).

All together, they launch on a self-imposed quest to rejuvenate Panagea. And that’s when things get epic. A little steampunky, part magic, part guns and sabers, the story has a great balance!

Bermuda, our hard-hearted quartermaster, was sometimes a fascinating character and sometimes a little silly. The story tells us again and again that she’s bold and confident and strong. But I found her to be emotionally fragile (or in complete denial of her feelings). She does get to do a few action scenes, but mostly she spends her time being emotional or emotionally distant. I would have liked to see more done with her character.

Elowyn, the ship’s medic, definitely pulls her own weight. She’s not just a healer but will also stand firm against enemies. She does have a little chip on her shoulder, having had to prove herself again and again in this patriarchal society. Brack… what can I say about him. He was a good comedic relief. Sometimes I wanted to slap him upside the head and sometimes I was laughing with him.

The tale wraps up well with a hint at the end of what’s to come in Book 2. I definitely enjoyed this tale not just for the characters or the dystopian setting; I love that actions have consequences. Not everyone makes it out alive or unscathed. 4.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Gerard Marquez has a pleasant voice to listen to. He does overuse a little half laugh. Sometimes he used it even when a situation wasn’t meant to be funny or awkward. Towards the end of the book, his pacing got a little off as there were several times it sounded like he was reading the sentence for the first time and wasn’t sure where the story was going. He does do a great job with all the character voices and his female voices sound feminine. I loved that everyone had a unique voice. For the most part, he captured the emotions of the situation (except when that odd half laugh crept in where it didn’t belong). 4/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by McKenzie Austin. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Magnificent, captivating fantasy

A rogue timefather. An immortal captain. A mythical earthmother. A dying continent. These are just some of the things you'll experience in The Tree That Grew Through Iron, as Nicholai Addihein joins Captain Kazuaki Hidataka and his grew in a quest to save the world, and hopefully, his love.

Austin has created a magnificent fantasy world, and the world-building stands out instantly. It will pull you in, captivate you, and take you on an amazing journey.

Much of the story, if not most, happens on board Captain Hidataka's ship, and I loved it. It's a kind of environment that makes for a lot of fun adventure, and bonding between the story's cast (of which there are many, considering there's a whole crew).

Austin's writing is beautiful and captivating, and most importantly, never boring. I found the pace to be a bit slow a times, this is a long book, and I have a tendency to feel like it's just a little bit drawn out at times.

I had the audiobook version, and as usual, I find it a bit difficult to keep track of names, and some of the things that are going on, especially when it's a story I don't know from before. I didn't for example realize until the end of the book how much time had spanned during the events of the book, even though I'm sure it was mentioned several times.

Also, I didn't feel like the narrator was a good fit for me. I say it that way, because he didn't do anything wrong, he was an excellent reader and did great work with all the characters, but I felt like something was missing. Something didn't quite click with me, and I noticed I sometimes lost interested a little bit. I don't know quite how to describe it, which is why I want to emphasize that it's probably me, not him. Also, perhaps particularly toward the end, there was often a noticeable drop and increase in volume, which made me have to turn it up and down occasionally. Not a big issue however, by all means.

Austin has created a wonderful fantasy universe, with unique settings, adventures and characters. A pleasure to have read, and I'm sure the next installment will be just as captivating. Recommended!

Adult Dystopian Fantasy

As a parent reviewer I feel the need to start out with a morality rating - Just in the first 30 minutes of listening alone there is a pretty descriptive near sex scene, 3 f-bombs along with other bad language, and violence - I would rate it in the "R" range and say it is definitely geared to an adult crowd. It is a beautifully descriptive story that does draw in the reader into a very complex dystopian world of fantasy and mythology. It was a bit out of my comfort realm since I prefer a cleaner read. The narrator did a wonderful job and was an asset to the story with his skill.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A great blend of dystopian and fantasy

This novel was a wonderful blend of dystopian and fantasy. The author did a very nice job describing the setting, plot, and characters. There were a lot of nice details that helped to paint a picture. The book has a little bit of everything, including spells, monsters, myths and love. I also loved how some of the perils we are seeing in today's world were shown and pondered. I think a lot of the themes are seen today and were thus very impactful for the reader. *I received this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Good Read

I received a copy of this book from the author. I really liked the story and it did hold my interest. I am glad that it did have an ending to it.

“Sorrys make no sense in death”

I enjoyed this book and would definitely like to know what happens next!
It was a great story but I found myself asking a lot of World questions that aren’t answered in the book... maybe they will be in the next ones.
Gerard tells the story well, but I didn’t gel with his pacing/annunciation as much as I’d have liked.

This is my honest opinion of a free review copy.

A unique and intriguing world

I requested a copy of this book to review because of the world hinted at in the summary. This is not a traditional fantasy world, it is a distopian capitalistic technocracy led by the time fathers, and that is not an honorary title, without them time physically stops.

Nature has had to make way for industry and the continent suffers for it, with people having to take injections to protect themselves from pollution and oxygen deprivation. Magic and gods still exist in this world, although there is little room for them on the continent.

The book is well narrated and my only criticism would be that the source of the time fathers power is never really explained (in this book) leaving you wondering why people who purport to shun magic aparently use it habitually to keep time running.

Review

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic book. The story showcases a world that although imagined, mirrors our own in how truly great it can be and how utterly horrible. Its filled with greed and generosity, cruelty and mercy; fanatisism and selflessness; love and hate; all woven into characters that grip your heart and doesnt let go, characters that are wonderfully human, good , bad and everything in-between. I enjoyed every minute often dreading what would come next ( in a good way).
Appreciation to the narrator for bringing the characters to life with his voice changes and use of speeding up / slowing down the text to create effect.
I cant wait for the next instalment in the Panagea story.