Lace and Iron: The Quiet Forge of Power invites readers into a provocative reexamination of how women have historically navigated systems of control, influence, and survival within patriarchal societies. With a sharp and insightful lens, author Phillip A.D. Lyles reframes terms like "greed," "shade," and "quiet power" to uncover the strategic brilliance often dismissed or misunderstood in women's roles throughout history.

More than a critique, this book is a tribute-to the women who wove resilience into lace and found strength in silence, subtlety, and survival. Drawing on themes from gender studies, sociology, and cultural history, Lyles explores how emotional labor, social manipulation, and strategic compliance were not signs of weakness, but coded tools of resistance and mastery.

This is not just a book about power. It's a blueprint for seeing the unseen, naming the unnamed, and honoring the iron beneath the lace.

Perfect for readers of: bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Roxane Gay, or those exploring the intersections of gender, culture, and covert strength.