Iron or The War After

Iron is Redwall if it was set in a bleak spy thriller during post-World War II/early Cold War-era deep winter. Author S. M. Vidaurri tells this tense, contemplative tale with watercolors using a nearly monochrome dark blue-gray palette, creating a frigid, oppressive atmosphere.

This one was another lucky library pickup as a librarian's pick, just like An Invitation from a Crab and The Wrestler. It’s a quick read, but worth sitting with, because it’s best read on a vibes level.

You’re entering a story halfway through, it feels like, and Vidaurri is more interested in setting the scene with his beautifully stark winterscapes than explaining all the details and relationships at play. I liked it. This review nailed it.

A rabbit spy working in the Resistance steals sensitive documents from the Regime, setting off a chain of tragic events that ultimately have their roots deep in the war that "ended" recently with the Resistance's defeat.

Upon looking up some reader reviews, I was surprised by how many people didn’t understand the plot or think there was one to begin with. There is one, it’s just as sparse as the landscape.

Iron is worth the afternoon read under some blankets on a cold, cloudy winter afternoon. Also worth a buy as it looks great on a bookshelf.