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Age of Wrath #1
A Tide of Black Steel
From the international bestselling author Anthony Ryan comes the spectacular first novel in a new epic new fantasy trilogy inspired by Norse mythology. A new age has dawned. An age of blood and steel. An age of wrath. The land of Ascarlia, a fabled realm of bloodied steel and epic sagas, has been ruled by the Sister Queens for centuries. No one has dared question their rule. Until now.
Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path.
Thera of the Blackspear, favoured servant of the Sister Queens, is ordered to uncover the truth. As Thera sails north, her reviled brother, Felnir, sets out on his own adventure. He hopes to find the Vault of the Altvar – the treasure room of the gods – and win the Sister Queens’ favour at his sister’s expense.
Both siblings – along with a brilliant young scribe and a prisoner with a terrifying, primal power – will play a part in the coming storm.
The Age of Wrath has begun.
Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path.
Thera of the Blackspear, favoured servant of the Sister Queens, is ordered to uncover the truth. As Thera sails north, her reviled brother, Felnir, sets out on his own adventure. He hopes to find the Vault of the Altvar – the treasure room of the gods – and win the Sister Queens’ favour at his sister’s expense.
Both siblings – along with a brilliant young scribe and a prisoner with a terrifying, primal power – will play a part in the coming storm.
The Age of Wrath has begun.
560 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
About the author
Anthony Ryan
67 books9,295 followersAnthony Ryan was born in Scotland in 1970 but spent much of his adult life living and working in London. After a long career in the British Civil Service he took up writing full time after the success of his first novel Blood Song, Book One of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy. He has a degree in history, and his interests include art, science and the unending quest for the perfect pint of real ale.
For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com
For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
July 22, 2024
This is a great introduction to a new series by Anthony Ryan.
I loved The Covenant of Steel trilogy, and this new book, set in the same universe a few decades later, starts just as good. We are introduced to a whole new part of this world and a new set of characters, through different points of view.
The writing and character work is fantastic, the pacing starts a little slow and progressively ramps up to great events and cliffhangers.
I had a wonderful time and will definitely continue with the series.
If you already like Anthony Ryan's work, you should absolutely read this one. If you haven't I would recommend reading The Covenant of Steel first, but you can think you can start with this one.
Thank you Orbit books!
I loved The Covenant of Steel trilogy, and this new book, set in the same universe a few decades later, starts just as good. We are introduced to a whole new part of this world and a new set of characters, through different points of view.
The writing and character work is fantastic, the pacing starts a little slow and progressively ramps up to great events and cliffhangers.
I had a wonderful time and will definitely continue with the series.
If you already like Anthony Ryan's work, you should absolutely read this one. If you haven't I would recommend reading The Covenant of Steel first, but you can think you can start with this one.
Thank you Orbit books!
July 28, 2024
Your next Norse, sea faring fantasy fix!
Thera is the Vellihr of Justice for Ascarlia, sent to investigate rumours of rebellion.
Felnir, lesser brother to Thera’s renown. Disgraced and unhappily forced in his great-grandfather's service.
Elvine, daughter to Ascarlian librarian Berine Jurest (!!!! Covenant of Steel !!!) ends up working for the Sister Queens, rulers of Assarlia. after being arrested at a Covenant rite, a practice not tolerated in Ascarlia.
Ruhlin, a young fisherman, is stolen from his home by raiders where he discovers a rage which makes him near invincible. The name Fire Blood follows him.
Our big baddies are cult of the Volkrath who believe themselves inheritors of the blood of the Ultvar, the first race of men set upon the earth by the Worldsmith.
Their mission is basically our version of Hitler’s perfected, best gene vision.
We sought power, and we found it. But power is like a flame: it warms but it also burns.
There are a lot of characters as you have noticed. However, they are all so distinct with very different quests and journeys that it is easy to distinguish them.
Ryan has always been great at writing deeper and dark characters. For example, both Elvine and Ruhlin, both stolen from their homes, grapple with self-recrimination, fury, hatred warring with fear and self-perseverance.
If you thought you had tumultuous relations with your siblings, wait until you meet Felnir and Thera. One is condemned to ignoble skulking at the other steals all glory. I liked that it was the sister that had the honour in the eyes of the public as this is not normally so!
"What's that Alberic word, Margnus? The one for those who make a living by enmeshing folk in the vast, contradictory web of their customs?"
"I believe the term is 'lawyer', my queen," the Tielwald supplied.
Finally, I would be remiss to not mention his amazing world-building as he stretches his world of the Covenant of Steel in a Scandinavian/Norse-inspired part of the world twenty years on.
You don’t have to have read CoS to understand this series, but you might miss Easter eggs and you might struggle with some information dumps. Also, the revelations will make your jaw drop in shock, excitement, and satisfaction.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed The Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne.
Thank you to Orbit for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Thera is the Vellihr of Justice for Ascarlia, sent to investigate rumours of rebellion.
Felnir, lesser brother to Thera’s renown. Disgraced and unhappily forced in his great-grandfather's service.
Elvine, daughter to Ascarlian librarian Berine Jurest (!!!! Covenant of Steel !!!) ends up working for the Sister Queens, rulers of Assarlia. after being arrested at a Covenant rite, a practice not tolerated in Ascarlia.
Ruhlin, a young fisherman, is stolen from his home by raiders where he discovers a rage which makes him near invincible. The name Fire Blood follows him.
Our big baddies are cult of the Volkrath who believe themselves inheritors of the blood of the Ultvar, the first race of men set upon the earth by the Worldsmith.
Their mission is basically our version of Hitler’s perfected, best gene vision.
We sought power, and we found it. But power is like a flame: it warms but it also burns.
There are a lot of characters as you have noticed. However, they are all so distinct with very different quests and journeys that it is easy to distinguish them.
Ryan has always been great at writing deeper and dark characters. For example, both Elvine and Ruhlin, both stolen from their homes, grapple with self-recrimination, fury, hatred warring with fear and self-perseverance.
If you thought you had tumultuous relations with your siblings, wait until you meet Felnir and Thera. One is condemned to ignoble skulking at the other steals all glory. I liked that it was the sister that had the honour in the eyes of the public as this is not normally so!
"What's that Alberic word, Margnus? The one for those who make a living by enmeshing folk in the vast, contradictory web of their customs?"
"I believe the term is 'lawyer', my queen," the Tielwald supplied.
Finally, I would be remiss to not mention his amazing world-building as he stretches his world of the Covenant of Steel in a Scandinavian/Norse-inspired part of the world twenty years on.
You don’t have to have read CoS to understand this series, but you might miss Easter eggs and you might struggle with some information dumps. Also, the revelations will make your jaw drop in shock, excitement, and satisfaction.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed The Bloodsworn Saga by John Gwynne.
Thank you to Orbit for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
September 22, 2024
Twenty years after the close of the Pretenders War, Elvine Jurrest finds herself all but prisoner to the Sister Queens after being caught worshipping the Martyrs. Forced to go with Felnir Redtooth, a man both disgraced and feared in Ascarlia for one reprehensible act to find the Vaults of Altvar. As Felnir and Elvine set off to find myths and legends, Felnir's sister, Thera, is sent to the Northern Isles to put down what appears to be a rebellion, but she quickly determines that it is not a rebellion but an all out invasion from peoples no one even knew existed. As both parties face attacks from every side, they come to realize that the very heart of Ascarlia is rotten to its core.
Ryan is an auto read author for me, so when I saw this up on Netgalley I requested it, didn't read the synopsis, barely glanced at the cover and then did a little happy dance when I realized it was a continuation of the Covenant of Steel series. If you've read a review by almost anyone who read the series, you'll know that they all ended with a desperate plea to know what happens next in this world. Not only did Ryan deliver, but he knocked it out of the park. I have never been so happy with a continuation of a story, probably in my life.
The first book of Ryan's I read was from his Draconis Memoria series and honestly outside of Barker's Tide Child series it's the first one that made me realize I really loved naval fantasy novels, so to have him go back to that naval side of things was just awesome for me. Especially since the battle scenes in this are just truly amazing, he does such an amazing job of describing every detail that it takes very little to envision one ship ramming another and just the truly deafening noise that would create. And look I don't even like boats, I can't even stand on a dock or I'll get sick so for someone to write not one but two book series where I am actually looking forward to the next big battle is nothing short of genius.
As always, he's got an amazing cast of characters here as well, ones in many cases I never would have imagined being front and center in a continuation of The Covenant of Steel. Felnir especially is an interesting character because I'm not really sure he's a good guy. Thera and Elvine, absolutely 100%, Ruhlin, most definitely. But Felnir? I don't know. Something about him seems just off, especially given everything we learn about the Vaults and Ascarlia's history. I'm not gonna give anything away, I'm just saying I said "Omfg put that thing back where it came from Velnir or so help me gods!" quite a few times towards the end of the book. Some "treasures" just need to be left alone.
The pacing was excellent. The world building meshed extremely well with what I knew of Ascarlia from the first series while introducing a ton of new and interesting lore in terms of Altvar and the gods The bad guys aren't just this group of invaders but people within the Arscalian government, so you've got a battle going from two fronts as well. Basically, this is going to be an amazing end to what we started with Alwyn.
One thing I will say is that I do believe that to get everything out of this book that it has to offer reading The Covenant of Steel series first is a must. I mean, yes, you could read it as a stand-alone if you were so inclined, but I genuinely believe you'd be doing yourself a disservice. This world is vast, and you only really get to see a very small corner of it if you don't read Alwyn's story first.
And seriously, if you've read it Covenant of Steel, you'll know Alwyn's son the minute he's introduced. You don't even need to know his name. He's clearly Alwyn's clone, at least linguistically.
Overall, of course I recommend it. To be fair, I recommend all of Ryan's books, so that shouldn't come as a surprise.
As always, thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the eArc.
You can check out all of my reviews at my Blog! Kelly's Book Nook
Ryan is an auto read author for me, so when I saw this up on Netgalley I requested it, didn't read the synopsis, barely glanced at the cover and then did a little happy dance when I realized it was a continuation of the Covenant of Steel series. If you've read a review by almost anyone who read the series, you'll know that they all ended with a desperate plea to know what happens next in this world. Not only did Ryan deliver, but he knocked it out of the park. I have never been so happy with a continuation of a story, probably in my life.
The first book of Ryan's I read was from his Draconis Memoria series and honestly outside of Barker's Tide Child series it's the first one that made me realize I really loved naval fantasy novels, so to have him go back to that naval side of things was just awesome for me. Especially since the battle scenes in this are just truly amazing, he does such an amazing job of describing every detail that it takes very little to envision one ship ramming another and just the truly deafening noise that would create. And look I don't even like boats, I can't even stand on a dock or I'll get sick so for someone to write not one but two book series where I am actually looking forward to the next big battle is nothing short of genius.
As always, he's got an amazing cast of characters here as well, ones in many cases I never would have imagined being front and center in a continuation of The Covenant of Steel. Felnir especially is an interesting character because I'm not really sure he's a good guy. Thera and Elvine, absolutely 100%, Ruhlin, most definitely. But Felnir? I don't know. Something about him seems just off, especially given everything we learn about the Vaults and Ascarlia's history. I'm not gonna give anything away, I'm just saying I said "Omfg put that thing back where it came from Velnir or so help me gods!" quite a few times towards the end of the book. Some "treasures" just need to be left alone.
The pacing was excellent. The world building meshed extremely well with what I knew of Ascarlia from the first series while introducing a ton of new and interesting lore in terms of Altvar and the gods The bad guys aren't just this group of invaders but people within the Arscalian government, so you've got a battle going from two fronts as well. Basically, this is going to be an amazing end to what we started with Alwyn.
One thing I will say is that I do believe that to get everything out of this book that it has to offer reading The Covenant of Steel series first is a must. I mean, yes, you could read it as a stand-alone if you were so inclined, but I genuinely believe you'd be doing yourself a disservice. This world is vast, and you only really get to see a very small corner of it if you don't read Alwyn's story first.
And seriously, if you've read it Covenant of Steel, you'll know Alwyn's son the minute he's introduced. You don't even need to know his name. He's clearly Alwyn's clone, at least linguistically.
Overall, of course I recommend it. To be fair, I recommend all of Ryan's books, so that shouldn't come as a surprise.
As always, thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the eArc.
You can check out all of my reviews at my Blog! Kelly's Book Nook
Want to read
July 23, 2024LOOK what we have here
Anthony Ryan + North Mythology
Anthony Ryan + North Mythology
September 29, 2024
3.5 Stars
This is a solid start to a new epic fantasy story. It's clear that this author has experience and again offers a solid story.
However my rating reflects the fact that I personally wasn't overly interested in the story this author was telling. I have enjoyed their backlist title but found this one less compelling despite having several benchmarks of a good novel.
I would recommend this novel to fantasy readers looking for a new series, especially if they are already fans of Anthony Ryan.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a solid start to a new epic fantasy story. It's clear that this author has experience and again offers a solid story.
However my rating reflects the fact that I personally wasn't overly interested in the story this author was telling. I have enjoyed their backlist title but found this one less compelling despite having several benchmarks of a good novel.
I would recommend this novel to fantasy readers looking for a new series, especially if they are already fans of Anthony Ryan.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 23, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Tide of Black Steel is the first book in the new Age of Wrath series by Anthony Ryan. Based in Norse mythology with Vikings type seafaring peoples, I enjoyed the start and set up of what is going to be an epic journey. A Tide of Black Steel is set in the same world as the Covenant of Steel series decades later. I have not read the other series and don't think you need to in order to enjoy this one, but I'm now interested in checking it out as well.
I enjoyed one of Anthony Ryan's other series, Raven's Shadow and so I was eager to see what he would come up with in this new series with a background of Norse lore to it. With the multiple PoVs, we travel through a land ruled by the Three Queens as a new foe from beyond the fire Islands has come to rage war and enslave an entire people.
Ruhlin is a prisoner, stolen from one of the Islands after everyone else was slaughtered. He showed during the invasion what a great fighter he was and how his blood was special. We learn about the people in the lands past the fire Island as he learns what is to be expected of him at an upcoming celebration, where he will be pitted against others in gladiator style fights. As he makes some alliances with some of his fellow prisoners, he will try to find a way to escape their fates.
A scribe, Elvine, taught by her mother will find that she will play a role she never intended when she is brought into one of the Queen's service. Her knowledge of languages will send her on a treasure hunt of sorts, starting with a map on a crazy man's back.
The two other PoVs come from a siblings Felnir and Thera. One a captain and outcast with a crew built of former criminals and the other is the saint of the Queen of Justice and her right hand. They have an intense sibling rivalry going as each tries to best the other under the machinations of their grandfather. The one other thing that has pitted them against each other all these years just happens to be a woman who chose a life with Felnir over Thera.
What a great adventure. A treasure hunt, a fight against a new foe, a stuggle for survival against all odds. There were so many thing that set this story up for success in my eyes. Characters with some unusual talents, a history that is unveiled slowly and then don't forget the betrayals that come that will knock your socks off. A Tide of Black Steel was a great set up to what will surely be an epic story. I adored all the characters for different reasons and while some might be a little naive, I think that will change with all the adventures they have seen in this story.
If you have been a fan of Ryan's writing in the past or you just like epic Viking-esk adventures, there should be something in this book for you.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Tide of Black Steel is the first book in the new Age of Wrath series by Anthony Ryan. Based in Norse mythology with Vikings type seafaring peoples, I enjoyed the start and set up of what is going to be an epic journey. A Tide of Black Steel is set in the same world as the Covenant of Steel series decades later. I have not read the other series and don't think you need to in order to enjoy this one, but I'm now interested in checking it out as well.
I enjoyed one of Anthony Ryan's other series, Raven's Shadow and so I was eager to see what he would come up with in this new series with a background of Norse lore to it. With the multiple PoVs, we travel through a land ruled by the Three Queens as a new foe from beyond the fire Islands has come to rage war and enslave an entire people.
Ruhlin is a prisoner, stolen from one of the Islands after everyone else was slaughtered. He showed during the invasion what a great fighter he was and how his blood was special. We learn about the people in the lands past the fire Island as he learns what is to be expected of him at an upcoming celebration, where he will be pitted against others in gladiator style fights. As he makes some alliances with some of his fellow prisoners, he will try to find a way to escape their fates.
A scribe, Elvine, taught by her mother will find that she will play a role she never intended when she is brought into one of the Queen's service. Her knowledge of languages will send her on a treasure hunt of sorts, starting with a map on a crazy man's back.
It was Martyr Sihlda Doisselle herself who said this of truth: ‘It is as malleable as clay for the faithless, but hard and unyielding as stone for the faithful.’
The two other PoVs come from a siblings Felnir and Thera. One a captain and outcast with a crew built of former criminals and the other is the saint of the Queen of Justice and her right hand. They have an intense sibling rivalry going as each tries to best the other under the machinations of their grandfather. The one other thing that has pitted them against each other all these years just happens to be a woman who chose a life with Felnir over Thera.
What a great adventure. A treasure hunt, a fight against a new foe, a stuggle for survival against all odds. There were so many thing that set this story up for success in my eyes. Characters with some unusual talents, a history that is unveiled slowly and then don't forget the betrayals that come that will knock your socks off. A Tide of Black Steel was a great set up to what will surely be an epic story. I adored all the characters for different reasons and while some might be a little naive, I think that will change with all the adventures they have seen in this story.
If you have been a fan of Ryan's writing in the past or you just like epic Viking-esk adventures, there should be something in this book for you.
There are no coincidences. Just threads not yet revealed as part of the same web.
September 24, 2024
An explosive slow burn (Yes its both) start to a new Norse inspired fantasy trilogy set in the same universe as The Covenant of Steel series, Anthony plunges the reader into his bloody brutal world that is both familiar and new all at once, you can read this as a standalone BUT I highly recommend reading the covenant series to get a well rounded grasp (plus it's fantastic duh) of just how vast this universe is, creating a large cast but making sure each character possesses remarkable depth and authenticty is kind of Anthony's thing, character driven we get multiple POV which unsurprisingly (bombastic side eye) leave us on a cliffs edge, a dark fantasy that has elements of supernatural, incredible character arcs and an immersive world makes this first book an epic introduction to this new series which ticks all my boxes, can't wait for the second book!
August 13, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is another amazing story told by Anthony Ryan. Covenant of Steel is one of my favorite series of all time, and I was thrilled to death to learn of another series being written in the same world. Do you need to read Covenant of Steel before reading this series? Not necessarily but I would recommend it. You can still enjoy this story without having read Covenant of Steel, but you would enjoy the story more if you did. There are references to events that happened in Covenant of Steel as well as references and appearances of characters from the series. Having read Covenant of Steel provides more depth and insight into the world but as I mentioned you can still enjoy the story without having read it.
This story does take place in a different location from Covenant of Steel. This is the land of Ascarlia rather than Albermaine. This land is ruled by the Sister Queens but there is a new threat looming against them.
Unlike Covenant of Steel, this story follows four different point-of-views. Thera, Felnir, Ruhlin, and Elvine. I honestly enjoyed all the point-of-views. They are all connected together in the story but they each have different objectives and goals to follow.
Thera is a servant of the Sister Queens and she is given a mission to find out about the new threat that is facing Ascarlia. Islands are being invaded and massacred and it is her job to learn what is happening and why.
Her brother, Felnir is given his own mission to find the Vault of the Altvar during which he uncovers additional secrets.
Elvine is a young scholar who is thrown into the adventure with Felnir, but she has her own objectives to follow.
Ruhlin is a prisoner of the new threat to Ascarlia and he must learn to fight and tame the beast that is inside of him.
Each of these characters are unique and I enjoyed getting to read their point-of-views. While the book had me hooked the whole time, the last 70% really captured my attention. Secrets started to get revealed, plots started to unfold and the lore of the world became fascinating.
The ending of the book felt like an ending and a beginning (almost like this book is just the prologue). Each story line ended in some manner but the person’s journey is just beginning. I cannot wait for the next book, let alone for this series to be complete. There are so many great plots happening in this story and the lore of this world is fascinating. I cannot wait to see what else is revealed.
Do I recommend this?? Of Course!! Now go read Covenant of Steel before this releases and be sure to grab a copy of this book when it comes out!
This is another amazing story told by Anthony Ryan. Covenant of Steel is one of my favorite series of all time, and I was thrilled to death to learn of another series being written in the same world. Do you need to read Covenant of Steel before reading this series? Not necessarily but I would recommend it. You can still enjoy this story without having read Covenant of Steel, but you would enjoy the story more if you did. There are references to events that happened in Covenant of Steel as well as references and appearances of characters from the series. Having read Covenant of Steel provides more depth and insight into the world but as I mentioned you can still enjoy the story without having read it.
This story does take place in a different location from Covenant of Steel. This is the land of Ascarlia rather than Albermaine. This land is ruled by the Sister Queens but there is a new threat looming against them.
Unlike Covenant of Steel, this story follows four different point-of-views. Thera, Felnir, Ruhlin, and Elvine. I honestly enjoyed all the point-of-views. They are all connected together in the story but they each have different objectives and goals to follow.
Thera is a servant of the Sister Queens and she is given a mission to find out about the new threat that is facing Ascarlia. Islands are being invaded and massacred and it is her job to learn what is happening and why.
Her brother, Felnir is given his own mission to find the Vault of the Altvar during which he uncovers additional secrets.
Elvine is a young scholar who is thrown into the adventure with Felnir, but she has her own objectives to follow.
Ruhlin is a prisoner of the new threat to Ascarlia and he must learn to fight and tame the beast that is inside of him.
Each of these characters are unique and I enjoyed getting to read their point-of-views. While the book had me hooked the whole time, the last 70% really captured my attention. Secrets started to get revealed, plots started to unfold and the lore of the world became fascinating.
The ending of the book felt like an ending and a beginning (almost like this book is just the prologue). Each story line ended in some manner but the person’s journey is just beginning. I cannot wait for the next book, let alone for this series to be complete. There are so many great plots happening in this story and the lore of this world is fascinating. I cannot wait to see what else is revealed.
Do I recommend this?? Of Course!! Now go read Covenant of Steel before this releases and be sure to grab a copy of this book when it comes out!
September 14, 2024
Anthony Ryan writes terrific epic fantasy. Yes, his stories have many characters, and it’s sometimes hard at the beginning to remember who’s who, but it’s worth it. This start of a new trilogy is no exception. Ryan draws you right into a Norse-inspired world, and he does not shy away from the bloodiness of war. If you don’t care for violence, I’d steer clear.
I’m bummed I have to wait another year for the next installment to come out.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.
I’m bummed I have to wait another year for the next installment to come out.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2024
Well what do we have here! Anthony Ryan and a Norse Fantasy!
Not the combination I expected but certainly one I could get on board with!
A Tide of Black Steel is the first book of the “Age of Wrath” series. An epic fantasy trilogy!
I cant say it any better than the blurb so as a reminder, this is what you are in for;
“The land of Ascarlia, a fabled realm of bloodied steel and epic sagas, has been ruled by the Sister Queens for centuries. No one has dared question their rule.
Until now.
Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path.”
The first thing you should note on this book, is the cover! Goodness me does that hit all the right spots.
Looks fantastic, feels dramatic and will look beautiful on your book shelf.
But I guess you are reading this review to learn about what is inside!
I like to measure my books on a few different focus points.
Characters
There is a lot! I will confess, the sheer volume of new characters overwhelmed me at the start and made this a real slow burn read.
In a similar vain to Malice by John Gwynne it takes the first 50% of the book to really understand the runners and riders.
I struggled to connect with everyone, especially with so many POV’s. The stars of the story for me are Ruhlin and Thera, but I feel others might enjoy Elvine and Felnir more.
I landed on 3/5 for characters
World building
This is where Anthony Ryan always excels. This is no different. He is phenomenal at pulling you into a series, and making you feel that you are there.
His ability to captivate the scene and everything in the world is brilliant. Norse Fantasy books is a pretty well trodden path in fantasy now and Ryan followed all the rules and gave me everything I expected
4/5
Writing style
I usually really enjoy multiple POV but this felt sticky at times. Sometimes I didn’t need the POV change and I certainly didn’t need such gaps between returning to the character.
Parts of the story were more interesting than others to me, and when I was pulled out of those moments, it kinda sucked.
3/5
Plot and pacing.
This is a tough measure for this book. Book 1 of a new series is often going to be a slow start, as you are introduced to the world and characters.
For me, it was hard to feel fully engaged until about the halfway point. That said the second half is great and is the reason I will pick up the next book when its out
3/5
Entertainment value
I think based on the above you can see this wasn’t plain sailing for me. I enjoyed it enough to want to read book to, but it wasn’t edge of the seat stuff.
I know Ryan delivers so I am eagerly anticipating book 2
3/5
Overall 3 stars
Not the combination I expected but certainly one I could get on board with!
A Tide of Black Steel is the first book of the “Age of Wrath” series. An epic fantasy trilogy!
I cant say it any better than the blurb so as a reminder, this is what you are in for;
“The land of Ascarlia, a fabled realm of bloodied steel and epic sagas, has been ruled by the Sister Queens for centuries. No one has dared question their rule.
Until now.
Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path.”
The first thing you should note on this book, is the cover! Goodness me does that hit all the right spots.
Looks fantastic, feels dramatic and will look beautiful on your book shelf.
But I guess you are reading this review to learn about what is inside!
I like to measure my books on a few different focus points.
Characters
There is a lot! I will confess, the sheer volume of new characters overwhelmed me at the start and made this a real slow burn read.
In a similar vain to Malice by John Gwynne it takes the first 50% of the book to really understand the runners and riders.
I struggled to connect with everyone, especially with so many POV’s. The stars of the story for me are Ruhlin and Thera, but I feel others might enjoy Elvine and Felnir more.
I landed on 3/5 for characters
World building
This is where Anthony Ryan always excels. This is no different. He is phenomenal at pulling you into a series, and making you feel that you are there.
His ability to captivate the scene and everything in the world is brilliant. Norse Fantasy books is a pretty well trodden path in fantasy now and Ryan followed all the rules and gave me everything I expected
4/5
Writing style
I usually really enjoy multiple POV but this felt sticky at times. Sometimes I didn’t need the POV change and I certainly didn’t need such gaps between returning to the character.
Parts of the story were more interesting than others to me, and when I was pulled out of those moments, it kinda sucked.
3/5
Plot and pacing.
This is a tough measure for this book. Book 1 of a new series is often going to be a slow start, as you are introduced to the world and characters.
For me, it was hard to feel fully engaged until about the halfway point. That said the second half is great and is the reason I will pick up the next book when its out
3/5
Entertainment value
I think based on the above you can see this wasn’t plain sailing for me. I enjoyed it enough to want to read book to, but it wasn’t edge of the seat stuff.
I know Ryan delivers so I am eagerly anticipating book 2
3/5
Overall 3 stars
Want to read
February 28, 2024OH MY GOD.
In my review of The Traitor I wrote that I hope Ryan would revisit this world because he mentioned some interesting things like Sisters Queens of Ascarlia and look at this!
Rejoice fellow Covenant of Steel fans! :)
In my review of The Traitor I wrote that I hope Ryan would revisit this world because he mentioned some interesting things like Sisters Queens of Ascarlia and look at this!
Rejoice fellow Covenant of Steel fans! :)
September 25, 2024
4,5*
One thing that kept running through my mind since I finished A Tide of Black Steel is the butterfly effect inside of the ripple effect. Evadine Corlauin's ascension to martyr and her brief rule is mentioned several times in the book as being a disgraceful mark in the recent history of the world, but never more as in the lands of Ascarlia where she is called Spedkryl, The Blackheart. Tensions between kingdoms of Ascarlia and Albermaine was long-standing due to contested land of Fjord Geld, a place of great historical and cultural significance to Ascarlians. And back in The Pariah, Alwyn told us all about the battle for Olversahl, the most significant port city of Fjord Geld, that was attacked and overtaken by Ascarlians in a swift move of underhand politics and brutality. But the butterfly effect in that event was the scene when Alwyn and Swain board across the ship and come across two very young boys, with equally blond-haired braids shivering as Albermainers figured out they were just a decoy for the real threat and let them live.
You see, this scene was really not that important in the great scheme of events and I wouldn't be surprised if you don't exactly recall it, but it's somehow it's the point that firmly put the protagonist of this novel on their own destined path.
Set twenty years after the events of Covenant of Steel trilogy, this book centers on a neighboring kingdom of Ascarlia. The old man, Margnus Gruinskard, principal advisor to Sister Queens is, to use Alwyn's own word, miraculously still kicking and plotting. He deploys several people to do his bidding whether they know it or not, whether they want it or not and his great-grandchildren are definitely in the latter category. One of them is Thera Spelrenda, his pride and joy, who is also the Vellihr of Justice to the Sister Queens. She is the one they send to deal with any problem that reach their ears be it by negotiation or be it by force and deliver judgment in the name of Sister Queens. So, her instructions are to sail to Kast Geld, the only geld in the Outer Islands to fail to deliver the required tally of stockfish in recent months and investigate why.
Her disgraced brother, a smuggler Felnir is used to do dirty business for his great-grandfather without right to question or refuse, is instructed to sail to Albermaine's duchy of Cordwain and extract the valuable prisoner.
Elvine Jurest, the newest unwilling employee of Margnus is forced to exchange her safe life as a scribe at the Archive of Sister Queens and use her great knowledge of Albermaine culture and ancient runic of Ascarlia to sail with Felnir in search of the mythical Altvars's Vaults, great treasure of old King of Ascarlia that would gave them a great advantage.
And in the northernmost parts of Ascarlia, black ships with red sails bring death and carnage to Outer Islands.
This is the basic premise of the story that's actually much greater in scope than Covenant of Steel was. The biggest reason for that is the narrative change because Ryan abandoned the first person recount of events (and in my humble opinion, it's what he excels in) and spread the story to four point of view characters in alternating chapters. This narrative choice actually helps to depict the vastness of the land of Ascarlia where news travel by sea and wind and how hard it is to control every corner of the kingdom even if you have Tielwald Margnus Gruinskard in your service. So, the connection between two series is there, but merely tangential as this is a completely different setting and differently told story. For one, the obvious inspiration for Ascarlia are vikings and Norse mythology as they give the great importance to heroic life and even more to heroic death- to be a hero of the saga. They are in the stark contrast to more modern Albermaine, especially when it comes to religion as they worship the pantheon of old gods who give them their blessing with a clang of strikers made in their likeness at the hull of the ship. They scoff at the Covenant faith and their Martyrs pointing at Evadine as their justification. Magic was a present, but a fleeting thing in Alwyn's recount, something more present in Caerith lands, but the message I think Ryan went for is that the more modern and progressive the kingdom is, people are less willing to see, explain and accept something as magic. So, in Ascarlia, with their old gods, magic is definitely a more prominent thing. I actually welcomed this as it brings the whole different vibe to it, with more stakes, and it made me look back and think how Albermainers were actually willingly blind to some things. I especially liked how this was even more accentuated through the fourth point of view, Ruhlin, the boy who who taken as slave from his village in one of the Outer Islands by the red sail invaders due to power in his blood that was thought to be lost and mentioned only in old sagas. Outer Islands are to Ascarlia kind of how beyond of the Wall is to North in GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire. There are remnants of old magic and times still present there and to them North is South, and thus modern and they know nothin'. Plot at the center of the novel deals with familiar theme Ryan is clearly intrigued by and researched a lot: it's religious fanaticism and doing heinous things in the name of god. He explored this especially with Nihvalrians and how it reflects their society as little as we see it through Ruhlin's eyes, but it poses a question for Ascarlia as well, going all the way to issue of Fjord Geld.
The names and titles are Scandinavian inspired and it can get a bit tricky to follow at the beginning as they are also very similar, but I wanted to read this book so much as I was intrigued by the notion of three Queens of Ascarlia, Sister Queens who, in a way, represent a separation of powers. It's an intriguing notion for a fantasy setting and I really wanted to see this kingdom and how it functions and Ryan made my wish come through. Thoroughly.
When it comes to characters, there were no parts I skipped to rush to other as I was interested in what happens in each of them, but I have to say Felnir's was my favorite. Thera is very straight and narrow, a viking version of paladin. The only blemish of her character is her beef with her brother that's kind of childish and nonsensical, and in contrast to her Felnir is living up to his name, brutal and efficient, a bad guy she is ashamed of. But you know there is more to him in how he evokes loyalty of his crew, in how he cares for his younger brother- the youngest of the siblings, in his admittance of being jealous, in not being dignified about unfair cards life has dealt him. Elvine's story is intertwined with Felnir's and Ruhlin's arc of slave trained for gladiator fights were fun to follow as well, but the relationship between siblings and their great-grandfather is the drive of this story. Each of the pov chapters open up with some interesting and violent event and considering it's a new place, unfamiliar to reader. BUT the story really kicked up for me the moment the old man Margnus appeared on the page and he remained to the end the one character whom I looked forward to see. He infused everything with intrigue, with magic and more risk. He is absolutely badass if losing an eye and his wolves didn't convince you from Olversahl where we first got the glimpse of him. And it's not just him: a lot of side characters who our protagonists picked along on their way are more interesting than them: Lynnea, a non-verbal apprentice to Thera, Colwyn whose proves with sword is almost as good as his way with words. Julette Ahlpert who somehow ended up as Nihlvarian slave alongside Ruhlin. And yes, there is a lot of easter-eggs for fans of previous trilogy if you pay attention. :)
It's a long review, with a lot of thoughts, but Ryan's book often leave that kind of impression on me. When on earth did Ryan start plotting this trilogy? He covered so much ground when it comes to history of Ascarlia it had to be on his mind for a long time. Magic was so much more detailed (it did get info-dumpy in parts) and used in various ways. There is so much that happened already... and it's like we barely scratched the surface. As fragmented as each of the parts of the story elt, you are aware they lead to same place; that all their troubles are only a taste of what's really coming.
And I can't wait to see how big of an effect will Ascarlia in war have for the world.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK / Orbit and Anthony Ryan for an advanced copy of A Tide of Black Steel. All opinions are my own.
----------------
In my review of The Traitor I wrote that I hope Ryan would revisit this world because he mentioned some interesting things like Sisters Queens of Ascarlia and look at this!
Rejoice fellow Covenant of Steel fans! :)
One thing that kept running through my mind since I finished A Tide of Black Steel is the butterfly effect inside of the ripple effect. Evadine Corlauin's ascension to martyr and her brief rule is mentioned several times in the book as being a disgraceful mark in the recent history of the world, but never more as in the lands of Ascarlia where she is called Spedkryl, The Blackheart. Tensions between kingdoms of Ascarlia and Albermaine was long-standing due to contested land of Fjord Geld, a place of great historical and cultural significance to Ascarlians. And back in The Pariah, Alwyn told us all about the battle for Olversahl, the most significant port city of Fjord Geld, that was attacked and overtaken by Ascarlians in a swift move of underhand politics and brutality. But the butterfly effect in that event was the scene when Alwyn and Swain board across the ship and come across two very young boys, with equally blond-haired braids shivering as Albermainers figured out they were just a decoy for the real threat and let them live.
You see, this scene was really not that important in the great scheme of events and I wouldn't be surprised if you don't exactly recall it, but it's somehow it's the point that firmly put the protagonist of this novel on their own destined path.
Set twenty years after the events of Covenant of Steel trilogy, this book centers on a neighboring kingdom of Ascarlia. The old man, Margnus Gruinskard, principal advisor to Sister Queens is, to use Alwyn's own word, miraculously still kicking and plotting. He deploys several people to do his bidding whether they know it or not, whether they want it or not and his great-grandchildren are definitely in the latter category. One of them is Thera Spelrenda, his pride and joy, who is also the Vellihr of Justice to the Sister Queens. She is the one they send to deal with any problem that reach their ears be it by negotiation or be it by force and deliver judgment in the name of Sister Queens. So, her instructions are to sail to Kast Geld, the only geld in the Outer Islands to fail to deliver the required tally of stockfish in recent months and investigate why.
Her disgraced brother, a smuggler Felnir is used to do dirty business for his great-grandfather without right to question or refuse, is instructed to sail to Albermaine's duchy of Cordwain and extract the valuable prisoner.
Elvine Jurest, the newest unwilling employee of Margnus is forced to exchange her safe life as a scribe at the Archive of Sister Queens and use her great knowledge of Albermaine culture and ancient runic of Ascarlia to sail with Felnir in search of the mythical Altvars's Vaults, great treasure of old King of Ascarlia that would gave them a great advantage.
And in the northernmost parts of Ascarlia, black ships with red sails bring death and carnage to Outer Islands.
This is the basic premise of the story that's actually much greater in scope than Covenant of Steel was. The biggest reason for that is the narrative change because Ryan abandoned the first person recount of events (and in my humble opinion, it's what he excels in) and spread the story to four point of view characters in alternating chapters. This narrative choice actually helps to depict the vastness of the land of Ascarlia where news travel by sea and wind and how hard it is to control every corner of the kingdom even if you have Tielwald Margnus Gruinskard in your service. So, the connection between two series is there, but merely tangential as this is a completely different setting and differently told story. For one, the obvious inspiration for Ascarlia are vikings and Norse mythology as they give the great importance to heroic life and even more to heroic death- to be a hero of the saga. They are in the stark contrast to more modern Albermaine, especially when it comes to religion as they worship the pantheon of old gods who give them their blessing with a clang of strikers made in their likeness at the hull of the ship. They scoff at the Covenant faith and their Martyrs pointing at Evadine as their justification. Magic was a present, but a fleeting thing in Alwyn's recount, something more present in Caerith lands, but the message I think Ryan went for is that the more modern and progressive the kingdom is, people are less willing to see, explain and accept something as magic. So, in Ascarlia, with their old gods, magic is definitely a more prominent thing. I actually welcomed this as it brings the whole different vibe to it, with more stakes, and it made me look back and think how Albermainers were actually willingly blind to some things. I especially liked how this was even more accentuated through the fourth point of view, Ruhlin, the boy who who taken as slave from his village in one of the Outer Islands by the red sail invaders due to power in his blood that was thought to be lost and mentioned only in old sagas. Outer Islands are to Ascarlia kind of how beyond of the Wall is to North in GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire. There are remnants of old magic and times still present there and to them North is South, and thus modern and they know nothin'. Plot at the center of the novel deals with familiar theme Ryan is clearly intrigued by and researched a lot: it's religious fanaticism and doing heinous things in the name of god. He explored this especially with Nihvalrians and how it reflects their society as little as we see it through Ruhlin's eyes, but it poses a question for Ascarlia as well, going all the way to issue of Fjord Geld.
The names and titles are Scandinavian inspired and it can get a bit tricky to follow at the beginning as they are also very similar, but I wanted to read this book so much as I was intrigued by the notion of three Queens of Ascarlia, Sister Queens who, in a way, represent a separation of powers. It's an intriguing notion for a fantasy setting and I really wanted to see this kingdom and how it functions and Ryan made my wish come through. Thoroughly.
When it comes to characters, there were no parts I skipped to rush to other as I was interested in what happens in each of them, but I have to say Felnir's was my favorite. Thera is very straight and narrow, a viking version of paladin. The only blemish of her character is her beef with her brother that's kind of childish and nonsensical, and in contrast to her Felnir is living up to his name, brutal and efficient, a bad guy she is ashamed of. But you know there is more to him in how he evokes loyalty of his crew, in how he cares for his younger brother- the youngest of the siblings, in his admittance of being jealous, in not being dignified about unfair cards life has dealt him. Elvine's story is intertwined with Felnir's and Ruhlin's arc of slave trained for gladiator fights were fun to follow as well, but the relationship between siblings and their great-grandfather is the drive of this story. Each of the pov chapters open up with some interesting and violent event and considering it's a new place, unfamiliar to reader. BUT the story really kicked up for me the moment the old man Margnus appeared on the page and he remained to the end the one character whom I looked forward to see. He infused everything with intrigue, with magic and more risk. He is absolutely badass if losing an eye and his wolves didn't convince you from Olversahl where we first got the glimpse of him. And it's not just him: a lot of side characters who our protagonists picked along on their way are more interesting than them: Lynnea, a non-verbal apprentice to Thera, Colwyn whose proves with sword is almost as good as his way with words. Julette Ahlpert who somehow ended up as Nihlvarian slave alongside Ruhlin. And yes, there is a lot of easter-eggs for fans of previous trilogy if you pay attention. :)
It's a long review, with a lot of thoughts, but Ryan's book often leave that kind of impression on me. When on earth did Ryan start plotting this trilogy? He covered so much ground when it comes to history of Ascarlia it had to be on his mind for a long time. Magic was so much more detailed (it did get info-dumpy in parts) and used in various ways. There is so much that happened already... and it's like we barely scratched the surface. As fragmented as each of the parts of the story elt, you are aware they lead to same place; that all their troubles are only a taste of what's really coming.
And I can't wait to see how big of an effect will Ascarlia in war have for the world.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK / Orbit and Anthony Ryan for an advanced copy of A Tide of Black Steel. All opinions are my own.
----------------
In my review of The Traitor I wrote that I hope Ryan would revisit this world because he mentioned some interesting things like Sisters Queens of Ascarlia and look at this!
Rejoice fellow Covenant of Steel fans! :)
September 26, 2024
A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan
**A Tide of Black Steel** by Anthony Ryan is an impressive addition to the world first introduced in *The Pariah*, set a few decades later with a distinct Nordic-inspired atmosphere. The story follows multiple compelling characters, each contributing depth to the world-building and pulling you deeper into the intricate political and mythological landscape of Ascarlia. Ryan’s world-building is exceptional, immersing us in the politics of the region, the pantheon of Norse-inspired gods known as the Altvar, and the looming threat of invaders on the shores.
The narrative is well-paced, shifting between perspectives in a way that keeps each storyline fresh and engaging. We follow a variety of characters: an orphan with uncontrollable rages, a brutal servant of the enigmatic Sister Queens, a young academic uncovering dangerous secrets, and two brothers (with a focus on the elder) driven by their grandfather’s orders. Each storyline is distinct yet gradually converges, creating a satisfying sense of interconnectedness.
Ryan masterfully weaves together politics, plots, and violence, making the political tensions feel grounded and real. The Sister Queens are intriguing, the magic system is well-realized, and the rich history and mythological depth make the world feel fully fleshed out. There’s war, gods, and mystery, all seamlessly coming together in what promises to be an exciting new series.
While the pacing starts off a bit slow, it steadily builds toward thrilling events and cliff-hangers that leave the reader eager for more. The writing and character development are top-notch, making *A Tide of Black Steel* an engaging and satisfying read. I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher orbit for granting me access to an advanced reader copy. I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series.
**A Tide of Black Steel** by Anthony Ryan is an impressive addition to the world first introduced in *The Pariah*, set a few decades later with a distinct Nordic-inspired atmosphere. The story follows multiple compelling characters, each contributing depth to the world-building and pulling you deeper into the intricate political and mythological landscape of Ascarlia. Ryan’s world-building is exceptional, immersing us in the politics of the region, the pantheon of Norse-inspired gods known as the Altvar, and the looming threat of invaders on the shores.
The narrative is well-paced, shifting between perspectives in a way that keeps each storyline fresh and engaging. We follow a variety of characters: an orphan with uncontrollable rages, a brutal servant of the enigmatic Sister Queens, a young academic uncovering dangerous secrets, and two brothers (with a focus on the elder) driven by their grandfather’s orders. Each storyline is distinct yet gradually converges, creating a satisfying sense of interconnectedness.
Ryan masterfully weaves together politics, plots, and violence, making the political tensions feel grounded and real. The Sister Queens are intriguing, the magic system is well-realized, and the rich history and mythological depth make the world feel fully fleshed out. There’s war, gods, and mystery, all seamlessly coming together in what promises to be an exciting new series.
While the pacing starts off a bit slow, it steadily builds toward thrilling events and cliff-hangers that leave the reader eager for more. The writing and character development are top-notch, making *A Tide of Black Steel* an engaging and satisfying read. I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher orbit for granting me access to an advanced reader copy. I am very much looking forward to the second book in the series.
September 27, 2024
Anthony Ryan is one of my favorite writers and his Covenant of Steel series is one of his best. This new series, An Age of Wrath, takes place in the same world but about 20 years later with a mostly new cast - some of whom are connected to the first series. Ryan is an excellent writer and he builds fantastic worlds with unique characters.
This story has four POVs and each chapter follows one of these perspectives. I found all of these interesting and enjoyed each of the storylines tremendously. This is a Viking-esque story with elements of ‘pit-fighting’, long boats and seafaring, another young scribe/scholar, and elements of the various religions of this world.
This is such a fun, dark story that connects well with the previous series and offers great promise for the final two books in the series. This book solidifies my opinion of Anthony Ryan as a writer and as a storyteller. Highly recommended!
#atideofblacksteel #netgalley
This story has four POVs and each chapter follows one of these perspectives. I found all of these interesting and enjoyed each of the storylines tremendously. This is a Viking-esque story with elements of ‘pit-fighting’, long boats and seafaring, another young scribe/scholar, and elements of the various religions of this world.
This is such a fun, dark story that connects well with the previous series and offers great promise for the final two books in the series. This book solidifies my opinion of Anthony Ryan as a writer and as a storyteller. Highly recommended!
#atideofblacksteel #netgalley
July 29, 2024
Pre read!
NORSE MYTHOLOGY??
SISTER QUEENS??
Say no more, I'm so in!
————————
Let’s just start with action! I don’t know a ton about Norse Mythology, but I can pretty confidently say that if you liked any of the below you will find something to enjoy!
✨Pirates
✨Vikings
✨Gladiator sports
✨Troy
✨Dreamwalking
✨Warging (like in GOT?), the Tainted (from Shadow of the Gods) or animal shifters
The world feels like it takes place after the equivalent of the burning of the library of Alexandria! This book is set in the same world as the covenant of steel series, (which I didn’t realize until I got to the end!) but it can be read independently!
I really enjoyed the characters and thought they were all unique and interesting!
✨Thera - is a badass, very Orka and Misaki coded.
✨Elvine - is a scribe with her mother, and works on translating ancient texts, and uncovering secrets.
✨Ruhlin - he has the most dramatic storyline and I cannot say a word about him with out spoiling something 🤫
✨Felnir - travels with brother, and works for his grandfather who sorts reminded me of a Merlin? For good or evil I do not yet know 🤷♀️
The Sister Queens were certainly interesting to learn about! And I wanted to know about the stolen brides!!
Overall, I had a LOT of fun with this! I know several of my friends are gonna enjoy this story!!
Would I reread? Yes!! Pick up on some of those hints earlier! And I need to read the other series in this world!
Would I recommend? Yes, if you liked Shadow of the Gods or Vikings I think you will really enjoy this!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
NORSE MYTHOLOGY??
SISTER QUEENS??
Say no more, I'm so in!
————————
Let’s just start with action! I don’t know a ton about Norse Mythology, but I can pretty confidently say that if you liked any of the below you will find something to enjoy!
✨Pirates
✨Vikings
✨Gladiator sports
✨Troy
✨Dreamwalking
✨Warging (like in GOT?), the Tainted (from Shadow of the Gods) or animal shifters
The world feels like it takes place after the equivalent of the burning of the library of Alexandria! This book is set in the same world as the covenant of steel series, (which I didn’t realize until I got to the end!) but it can be read independently!
I really enjoyed the characters and thought they were all unique and interesting!
✨Thera - is a badass, very Orka and Misaki coded.
✨Elvine - is a scribe with her mother, and works on translating ancient texts, and uncovering secrets.
✨Ruhlin - he has the most dramatic storyline and I cannot say a word about him with out spoiling something 🤫
✨Felnir - travels with brother, and works for his grandfather who sorts reminded me of a Merlin? For good or evil I do not yet know 🤷♀️
The Sister Queens were certainly interesting to learn about! And I wanted to know about the stolen brides!!
Overall, I had a LOT of fun with this! I know several of my friends are gonna enjoy this story!!
Would I reread? Yes!! Pick up on some of those hints earlier! And I need to read the other series in this world!
Would I recommend? Yes, if you liked Shadow of the Gods or Vikings I think you will really enjoy this!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Want to read
September 25, 2024Holly Hearts Books Oct Releases 🌲
September 26, 2024
https://magicandmeteors.wordpress.com...
Review copy was received from NetGalley
A Tide of Black Steel kicks of with groups of seemingly unconnected characters and events taking place. This sets up plot points all over the place that you know somewhere must connect and A Tide of Black Steel delights from the start in dropping little nuggets around that will keep you guessing as to how the plots and characters connect. This adds a aura of great puzzlement from the start as you try to leap ahead and work out how everything slots together! The story picks up plot points from the previous book but at the same time is set in a different area so it will keep you guessing as to to what ties in or not.
As the story progresses you get to be introduced to the various characters from Thera Blackspear who works with the Sister Queens and is their Vellihr of Justice, her brother Felnir who has been declared a exile. Needless to point out they don not get along though both are absolutely convinced they are in the right, Elvine, who happens to be the daughter of the Ascarlian librarian Berine Jurest who gets pushed into helping out the Sister Queens, Ruhlin who get taken from his village but has fire blood in him that transforms him when he loses it into a being that is almost impossible to stop unless you have a tranquillizers and/or handy magic to hand amongst a constant stream of new characters that you always find yourself wondering how they are going to fit into what is going on! As we get to learn their backstories and why they are doing what they are doing the connections that they have to each other and events start to become clearer. This is neatly handled as we as we start to see things coming together. This forms a complex mesh of motivations and alliances that you do not realise straight away exist further adding to the mysteries that are going on. At the same time though the plot has more lots upon plots and as it is revealed and the commonalities between the characters are revealed things are really take in directions that you would not expect making you check for any name drops or information that may shed light on things.
The Sister Queens are cleverly portrayed though you are immediately suspicious of their motivations. Sister Lore and her mysterious origins immediately makes her suspect but the others seem to always be playing a game close to their chests as well so even though you get vibes off them you do not know at the start exactly what they are up to in term of their plans. There are nuggets spread throughout though from the outset that are dropped in that certainly give you clues as to what is initially up though and this seeding of information is cleverly handled and keeps you guessing from the start. There are number of signs that things may not be as stable in their reign as you would expect. At the same time the exiled characters clearly have a part to play and the revelation regarding them are brilliantly handled and come with right turns to their character arks that you will not see coming. A Tide of Black Steel cleverly deals with older plot lines but at the same time neatly sets up news ones that are like a can of worms and you are never sure from the outset which way the plots are going to take. Ryan loves to put his characters through the wringer and this shows on every page. Whenever a characters gets comfortable they are off into a different direction to what they expect. This keeps you on you toes trying to guess where every thing is going to go.
Felnir and Sygna and their encounters with Wohtin while on the questing this one being for the Vault of the Altvar where there may be treasure and this takes things in a completely different direct than what you are expecting. The epic world building drips off the page really surprising you in where the book is taking the characters. Felnir right turn in cleverly handled as is Sygna's reaction to it. This puts Felnir and Sygna on a different footing and in direction opposition to the Sister Queens. How Felnir and Sygna deal with this is neatly handled and at the same time sets their questing on a different level. This makes perfect sense though with the character and keeps the book expanding. The revival of an ancient empire is neatly handled and really deals with old plots and sets up new ones. We also have Wohtin's story expanded on with glimpses as to what he is. At the same time the character of Ruhlin is also getting a band together and you get the distinct impression of things coming together. At the same time it is very apparent that Aleida is going to be a large part in up coming events. The two of them clearly make a great team. The gang that Ruhlin and Aleida have got themselves is clearly the making of an army. Given the invasion coming Nihvalrians, who are a bunch of fanatics from across the ocean, it is clear that the Nihvalrians are on the hop as things are taken n a totally different and whole new direction to what they were expecting. They are most certainly going to be facing something that they were certainly not expecting from the rear of their lines. Really cleverly set up! These are all cleverly handled set up that you spot but you do not know which way things are going to go. Ancient lands and discoveries abound and A Tide of Black Steel keep things coming thick and fast. This is all handled cleverly while still tying into old plots setting up new ones. Whole lands keep getting added which really propels the plot forward and keeps you guessing as anything can happen on every page.
A Tide of Black Steel neatly sets up events as well as introducing us to new characters we are also shown epic world building as more unknown empires are revealed as they come into contact with each other. We have the classic situation of a people who reckon they are superior ostentatiously encountering people they call savages. This though in keeping with the twists sharp turning plot points is set to up nicely to reverse this situation as the book delight is throwing things on their head from the beginning.
A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan Review will keep you up late seeing which way things are going. It is full of creatively luring the reader into guessing what is going to happen to have things thrown up in the air leaving you guess where everything is going to land. A Tide of Black Steel from the start will keep you guessing as to which way things are going to from the three-dimensional characters, who definitely have their own motivations, to the epic world building that brings in new lands and peoples, the constant revelations that put the characters in new contexts hat also plays into the humour that also that permeates the book as different characters have to learn to get along which provides some cleverly insights on all of them! From the outset there is the relentless adventure that flows constantly from the beginning that never lets the A Tide of Black Steel let up keeping you on your toes that neatly works with the visceral action.
A Tide of Black Steel delight in keeping you guessing from the very beginning! The epic event never let up keeping you on your toes from the start. The interconnectivity under everything is cleverly handled as well as you have to work out the connections between everything that need to be worked out but things in a different light indeed. A Tide of Black Steel work brilliantly keeping the mystery and plot revelations coming. It is full of plot twists that you won't see coming plot twists taking thing in unexpected direction, full of unbridled heroics and morally variable characters, epic world building from the start, constant adventure as we explore new place and unrelenting action from the start. Get it when you can!
Review copy was received from NetGalley
A Tide of Black Steel kicks of with groups of seemingly unconnected characters and events taking place. This sets up plot points all over the place that you know somewhere must connect and A Tide of Black Steel delights from the start in dropping little nuggets around that will keep you guessing as to how the plots and characters connect. This adds a aura of great puzzlement from the start as you try to leap ahead and work out how everything slots together! The story picks up plot points from the previous book but at the same time is set in a different area so it will keep you guessing as to to what ties in or not.
As the story progresses you get to be introduced to the various characters from Thera Blackspear who works with the Sister Queens and is their Vellihr of Justice, her brother Felnir who has been declared a exile. Needless to point out they don not get along though both are absolutely convinced they are in the right, Elvine, who happens to be the daughter of the Ascarlian librarian Berine Jurest who gets pushed into helping out the Sister Queens, Ruhlin who get taken from his village but has fire blood in him that transforms him when he loses it into a being that is almost impossible to stop unless you have a tranquillizers and/or handy magic to hand amongst a constant stream of new characters that you always find yourself wondering how they are going to fit into what is going on! As we get to learn their backstories and why they are doing what they are doing the connections that they have to each other and events start to become clearer. This is neatly handled as we as we start to see things coming together. This forms a complex mesh of motivations and alliances that you do not realise straight away exist further adding to the mysteries that are going on. At the same time though the plot has more lots upon plots and as it is revealed and the commonalities between the characters are revealed things are really take in directions that you would not expect making you check for any name drops or information that may shed light on things.
The Sister Queens are cleverly portrayed though you are immediately suspicious of their motivations. Sister Lore and her mysterious origins immediately makes her suspect but the others seem to always be playing a game close to their chests as well so even though you get vibes off them you do not know at the start exactly what they are up to in term of their plans. There are nuggets spread throughout though from the outset that are dropped in that certainly give you clues as to what is initially up though and this seeding of information is cleverly handled and keeps you guessing from the start. There are number of signs that things may not be as stable in their reign as you would expect. At the same time the exiled characters clearly have a part to play and the revelation regarding them are brilliantly handled and come with right turns to their character arks that you will not see coming. A Tide of Black Steel cleverly deals with older plot lines but at the same time neatly sets up news ones that are like a can of worms and you are never sure from the outset which way the plots are going to take. Ryan loves to put his characters through the wringer and this shows on every page. Whenever a characters gets comfortable they are off into a different direction to what they expect. This keeps you on you toes trying to guess where every thing is going to go.
Felnir and Sygna and their encounters with Wohtin while on the questing this one being for the Vault of the Altvar where there may be treasure and this takes things in a completely different direct than what you are expecting. The epic world building drips off the page really surprising you in where the book is taking the characters. Felnir right turn in cleverly handled as is Sygna's reaction to it. This puts Felnir and Sygna on a different footing and in direction opposition to the Sister Queens. How Felnir and Sygna deal with this is neatly handled and at the same time sets their questing on a different level. This makes perfect sense though with the character and keeps the book expanding. The revival of an ancient empire is neatly handled and really deals with old plots and sets up new ones. We also have Wohtin's story expanded on with glimpses as to what he is. At the same time the character of Ruhlin is also getting a band together and you get the distinct impression of things coming together. At the same time it is very apparent that Aleida is going to be a large part in up coming events. The two of them clearly make a great team. The gang that Ruhlin and Aleida have got themselves is clearly the making of an army. Given the invasion coming Nihvalrians, who are a bunch of fanatics from across the ocean, it is clear that the Nihvalrians are on the hop as things are taken n a totally different and whole new direction to what they were expecting. They are most certainly going to be facing something that they were certainly not expecting from the rear of their lines. Really cleverly set up! These are all cleverly handled set up that you spot but you do not know which way things are going to go. Ancient lands and discoveries abound and A Tide of Black Steel keep things coming thick and fast. This is all handled cleverly while still tying into old plots setting up new ones. Whole lands keep getting added which really propels the plot forward and keeps you guessing as anything can happen on every page.
A Tide of Black Steel neatly sets up events as well as introducing us to new characters we are also shown epic world building as more unknown empires are revealed as they come into contact with each other. We have the classic situation of a people who reckon they are superior ostentatiously encountering people they call savages. This though in keeping with the twists sharp turning plot points is set to up nicely to reverse this situation as the book delight is throwing things on their head from the beginning.
A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan Review will keep you up late seeing which way things are going. It is full of creatively luring the reader into guessing what is going to happen to have things thrown up in the air leaving you guess where everything is going to land. A Tide of Black Steel from the start will keep you guessing as to which way things are going to from the three-dimensional characters, who definitely have their own motivations, to the epic world building that brings in new lands and peoples, the constant revelations that put the characters in new contexts hat also plays into the humour that also that permeates the book as different characters have to learn to get along which provides some cleverly insights on all of them! From the outset there is the relentless adventure that flows constantly from the beginning that never lets the A Tide of Black Steel let up keeping you on your toes that neatly works with the visceral action.
A Tide of Black Steel delight in keeping you guessing from the very beginning! The epic event never let up keeping you on your toes from the start. The interconnectivity under everything is cleverly handled as well as you have to work out the connections between everything that need to be worked out but things in a different light indeed. A Tide of Black Steel work brilliantly keeping the mystery and plot revelations coming. It is full of plot twists that you won't see coming plot twists taking thing in unexpected direction, full of unbridled heroics and morally variable characters, epic world building from the start, constant adventure as we explore new place and unrelenting action from the start. Get it when you can!
July 23, 2024
I've liked Anthony Ryan's previous books, but am plagued by the same problems as those books. I love the story, don't like the characters. Everyone is one-dimensional, none of the main characters change much. Everyone is just doing things and moving fast, which makes the story fun. But when the pirate/thug character has the same dialogue style as the linguist/school girl, and they speak the same as everyone else, dialogue and narration seems wooden. That made sense in a previous series where the narrating characters were siblings and had the same upbringing, but here it's glaring and frustrating that each chapter feels the same. A fun story, but not my favorite style.
**I received this book from NetGalley, this is my honest review.
**I received this book from NetGalley, this is my honest review.
September 10, 2024
A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan - First book in the Age of Wrath series
adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
There are four POV characters who we see in their POV chapters. Eventually they converge, but for most of the book...they are far flung in this brutal world.
You first meet Ruhlin (who I immediately enjoyed), then we meet Thera (who again, I took to...with very little struggle), but then we are introduced to Felnir and eventually Elvine. These last two...I just never felt attracted to them. I could care less that they were in the story (and I felt bad about this). Not sure what the fix could be, and I'm not totally sure it is the character's problem, the story's problem, or just a ME problem (probably the latter, sadly). On the other hand, others may have different experiences with these four "protagonists".
The story is interesting, but also really unique. It makes me want to pick up some of his other books/series, so I can chew on this storytelling.
I will most definitely continue on with this series...as they are published. Before picking up the second book, I will reread THIS book again...in preparation. When I do, I will come back to THIS review, and make any additions to my thoughts about the story and how I related to the characters.
I really hope my rating does NOT effect people negatively. When I read stories/books, I need the characters to PULL me into the story. When I feel left out of the narrative, and am just following along on THIER adventure (feeling dislocated from thier perspectives), I don't engage...when I feel I should be engaging in what they are going through...and how they are feeling (for a lot of these characters go through stuff...sheesh).
It also may be a writer thing. I rarely read writer's later books, before reading their back catalog...for reading their stories as they are published, we as the readers, get to know their style and storytelling strengths/weaknesses...making reading their later books, and feeling more comfortable in their prose and are able to connect better with their characters (from what I've experienced reading author's series as they are published.
The opportunity to read this eArc was present to me, and it had been long overdue...in picking up one of his books/series.
Thank you Net Galley for chance of reading a new author, and one that I will continue to read from (in this series, and in his other series).
Thank you.
adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
There are four POV characters who we see in their POV chapters. Eventually they converge, but for most of the book...they are far flung in this brutal world.
You first meet Ruhlin (who I immediately enjoyed), then we meet Thera (who again, I took to...with very little struggle), but then we are introduced to Felnir and eventually Elvine. These last two...I just never felt attracted to them. I could care less that they were in the story (and I felt bad about this). Not sure what the fix could be, and I'm not totally sure it is the character's problem, the story's problem, or just a ME problem (probably the latter, sadly). On the other hand, others may have different experiences with these four "protagonists".
The story is interesting, but also really unique. It makes me want to pick up some of his other books/series, so I can chew on this storytelling.
I will most definitely continue on with this series...as they are published. Before picking up the second book, I will reread THIS book again...in preparation. When I do, I will come back to THIS review, and make any additions to my thoughts about the story and how I related to the characters.
I really hope my rating does NOT effect people negatively. When I read stories/books, I need the characters to PULL me into the story. When I feel left out of the narrative, and am just following along on THIER adventure (feeling dislocated from thier perspectives), I don't engage...when I feel I should be engaging in what they are going through...and how they are feeling (for a lot of these characters go through stuff...sheesh).
It also may be a writer thing. I rarely read writer's later books, before reading their back catalog...for reading their stories as they are published, we as the readers, get to know their style and storytelling strengths/weaknesses...making reading their later books, and feeling more comfortable in their prose and are able to connect better with their characters (from what I've experienced reading author's series as they are published.
The opportunity to read this eArc was present to me, and it had been long overdue...in picking up one of his books/series.
Thank you Net Galley for chance of reading a new author, and one that I will continue to read from (in this series, and in his other series).
Thank you.
September 9, 2024
NetGalley arc, yippee!
Solid 4 star book for me. I didn't know there was a trilogy series that came before it, and I enjoyed this one enough that I'll definitely check out the books that came before it.
The worldbuilding is amazing, but I guess that's to be expected with a fantasy world that's already had three books to establish itself. As someone who didn't read the previous books, it was a bit overwhelming to remember all the different Gods, nations, and languages, but around the halfway point I was pretty proficient with remembering what was absolutely crucial without going back to the index in the beginning. I also really enjoyed the POV characters; with shifting POVs I usually find there are POVs I care for much less, but I didn't get that here. Ruhlin and Elvine were definitely my favorites to read about, but I never felt like I was suffering through Thera and Felnir to get there. There's not much in the way of character development so far, but I imagine that will come in future books.
One thing I will say was a definite negative was the amount of side characters that died in the beginning of the novel. I don't think killing of characters is a bad thing at all, especially if you want to raise the stakes, but it caused an information overload for me. I'm trying to remember the names of major characters, trying to remember lore, trying to remember lore information, and on top of it I'm meeting a bunch of characters who will die or become redundant within the same chapter I meet them.
Solid 4 star book for me. I didn't know there was a trilogy series that came before it, and I enjoyed this one enough that I'll definitely check out the books that came before it.
The worldbuilding is amazing, but I guess that's to be expected with a fantasy world that's already had three books to establish itself. As someone who didn't read the previous books, it was a bit overwhelming to remember all the different Gods, nations, and languages, but around the halfway point I was pretty proficient with remembering what was absolutely crucial without going back to the index in the beginning. I also really enjoyed the POV characters; with shifting POVs I usually find there are POVs I care for much less, but I didn't get that here. Ruhlin and Elvine were definitely my favorites to read about, but I never felt like I was suffering through Thera and Felnir to get there. There's not much in the way of character development so far, but I imagine that will come in future books.
One thing I will say was a definite negative was the amount of side characters that died in the beginning of the novel. I don't think killing of characters is a bad thing at all, especially if you want to raise the stakes, but it caused an information overload for me. I'm trying to remember the names of major characters, trying to remember lore, trying to remember lore information, and on top of it I'm meeting a bunch of characters who will die or become redundant within the same chapter I meet them.
September 10, 2024
I'm giving a soft DNF at 35% as I might pick the up again, however, I find myself unable to get into this story. In many ways, this story will scratch that itch for anyone longing for another fantasy based around Norse Mythology. There are several calls back to the Viking world and while the gods have different names, you can pick up the threads of the Norse mythology and culture. The world itself seemed to be interesting, but a world does not a story make.
I have seen some comments that this story is a spin off to another series, which is why this is a soft DNF for me. If I find myself reading other part of the series and liking it I might come back to it. However, I do feel like the story that is a spin off should be able to stand on it's own without the original story. The main issue I ran into was the pacing of this story. I kept reading that this book starts off slow in the beginning and picks up, but as someone who is more character driven, I was really struggling. I didn't feel like the characters had much going for them, and I didn't exactly found myself caring about them. I think in a way they felt a bit like a paper cut out. The other thing was I kept thinking that I had read better books with Norse mythology adaptations and when that is distracting me from taking in the information, it's a sign that I'm not enjoying the book.
This book just wasn't hitting the spot for me. There are several people who are giving this book a high rating and I can at least see the foundation of a good story, I just don't feel like it is there yet for me at least.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of this book.
I have seen some comments that this story is a spin off to another series, which is why this is a soft DNF for me. If I find myself reading other part of the series and liking it I might come back to it. However, I do feel like the story that is a spin off should be able to stand on it's own without the original story. The main issue I ran into was the pacing of this story. I kept reading that this book starts off slow in the beginning and picks up, but as someone who is more character driven, I was really struggling. I didn't feel like the characters had much going for them, and I didn't exactly found myself caring about them. I think in a way they felt a bit like a paper cut out. The other thing was I kept thinking that I had read better books with Norse mythology adaptations and when that is distracting me from taking in the information, it's a sign that I'm not enjoying the book.
This book just wasn't hitting the spot for me. There are several people who are giving this book a high rating and I can at least see the foundation of a good story, I just don't feel like it is there yet for me at least.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of this book.
September 27, 2024
as someone who loves Norse mythology and Vikings, I just had to read this book and I’m glad I did but I did also have some issues. the world building is large and i don’t think i was properly prepared to read this since i hadn’t read the covenant of steel trilogy beforehand. there’s just so much going on to keep you entertained but on the other end, there’s too many characters and i had a hard time distinguishing who was who as none of them really stood out to me nor did i connect to any of them either. it took me a while to get through this book and i think there’s some pacing issues that were the cause of it feeling extra long at some parts along with the writing style itself. the ending was unexpected, so I’ll probably read the next book but I’m sure I’ll have to reread this one maybe on audio before I continue in the series. I’m sure there’s people who will absolutely love this and I did like it, just not as much as I was hoping to.
➤ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
➤ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
August 21, 2024
I hadn't read the blurb of this book. It's Anthony Ryan, I didn't need to read the blurb as I knew it would be good. I'm happy to say it was fantastic. I hadn't realised that it was set in The Covenant of Steel universe about 20 years after the last book, and that reveal made me very happy.
It's a fast-paced story told in multiple POVs from the main characters and has a Norse feel to it. I especially love stories set on the high seas, and this hits the spot. There's quests, battles, sibling rivalry, and bloody tournaments.
Highly recommend this.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC
It's a fast-paced story told in multiple POVs from the main characters and has a Norse feel to it. I especially love stories set on the high seas, and this hits the spot. There's quests, battles, sibling rivalry, and bloody tournaments.
Highly recommend this.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC
September 18, 2024
Review to come! 🪓
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a wonderful Norse inspired tale that will tickle any fan of seafaring tales. I didn’t realize when going into this that it is technically the sequel to the Covenant of Steel series and so I’ll definitely have to pick that up while I wait for the second book to come out! 🛡️
The story is character driven for sure and is split up into 4 POVs who all have adventures of their own. Two of the POVs are taken up by the siblings of Thera and Felnir. They are mirror images of each other, but while Thera is more cautious of the two, both she and her brother are the kind of seek glory in their own ways. Thera is frustrated that her fame came a battle that haunts continues to haunt her, unlike her brother who is seeking to remove his infamy and rescind his exile. While I enjoyed the siblings’ individual tales, I did find their animosity towards each other quite tiring here and there, especially when it comes to one woman. . . Talk about awkward family reunions. 😬
The third POV is Elvine, a gifted scholar who finds herself in a precarious situation after her secret is revealed and used against her. I found her pretty naive at times but her growth throughout the book was something to applaud. I also really enjoyed her budding friendships with Wohtin and Colvyn. ❤️🩹
The last POV was honestly the most fascinating for me. Ruhlin finds himself the victim of a raid by a group of people who the world was convinced dead. However, as Ruhlin watches his entire village razed to the ground, a secret in his blood is revealed and he ends up being carted across the ocean to an unknown land to fight as a gladiator of sort. I was honestly looking forward to his POV the most because he’s not related to the siblings in any way, and yet his adventures in the strange new land are something that feels like something out of a gladiator nightmare. 🔥
In general, I had a great time with the book and really enjoyed the seafaring adventures three of the four POVs go through. I’m so excited for book two because all four POVs get a cliffhanger like ending and I’m itching to see what comes next for them! I also hope we get more information about the gods in this world as I felt like I didn’t get a good grasp on them while reading. 🤔
Big thank you as always goes out to Orbit Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Ryan, for crafting such an incredible Norse inspired sea tale! 🧡
Publication date: September 24!
Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was a wonderful Norse inspired tale that will tickle any fan of seafaring tales. I didn’t realize when going into this that it is technically the sequel to the Covenant of Steel series and so I’ll definitely have to pick that up while I wait for the second book to come out! 🛡️
The story is character driven for sure and is split up into 4 POVs who all have adventures of their own. Two of the POVs are taken up by the siblings of Thera and Felnir. They are mirror images of each other, but while Thera is more cautious of the two, both she and her brother are the kind of seek glory in their own ways. Thera is frustrated that her fame came a battle that haunts continues to haunt her, unlike her brother who is seeking to remove his infamy and rescind his exile. While I enjoyed the siblings’ individual tales, I did find their animosity towards each other quite tiring here and there, especially when it comes to one woman. . . Talk about awkward family reunions. 😬
The third POV is Elvine, a gifted scholar who finds herself in a precarious situation after her secret is revealed and used against her. I found her pretty naive at times but her growth throughout the book was something to applaud. I also really enjoyed her budding friendships with Wohtin and Colvyn. ❤️🩹
The last POV was honestly the most fascinating for me. Ruhlin finds himself the victim of a raid by a group of people who the world was convinced dead. However, as Ruhlin watches his entire village razed to the ground, a secret in his blood is revealed and he ends up being carted across the ocean to an unknown land to fight as a gladiator of sort. I was honestly looking forward to his POV the most because he’s not related to the siblings in any way, and yet his adventures in the strange new land are something that feels like something out of a gladiator nightmare. 🔥
In general, I had a great time with the book and really enjoyed the seafaring adventures three of the four POVs go through. I’m so excited for book two because all four POVs get a cliffhanger like ending and I’m itching to see what comes next for them! I also hope we get more information about the gods in this world as I felt like I didn’t get a good grasp on them while reading. 🤔
Big thank you as always goes out to Orbit Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Ryan, for crafting such an incredible Norse inspired sea tale! 🧡
Publication date: September 24!
Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️
July 28, 2024
I received an ARC for A Tide of Black Steel from Netgalley and Orbit Books. A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan is the first book in a new series set in the same universe as The Covenant of Steel trilogy. Unfortunately, I never read that series so I was a bit lost on the history, lore, and names used in this book. It didn't make it an impossible read, but I would strongly recommend reading The Covenant of Steel trilogy first before reading this one.
A Tide of Black Steel is a Nordic-themed fantasy series that follows the perspectives of a few notable characters. Each of these characters had a very engaging story and helped flesh out this world. Ryan does an exceptional job with the world-building. We learn a lot about the politics of Ascarlia, the numerous, Norse-inspired gods called the Altvar, and an unknown threat of invaders that have arrived on their shores.
Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read, though it was a bit of a slower burn. If you're planning on checking this book out, I would highly recommend reading The Covenant of Steel series first. I really enjoyed the Norse-inspired theme and the various viewpoints helped build out this world, even for those who have never read the previous trilogy. A Tide of Black Steel will be released on September 24, 2024. Look for it then!
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books!
A Tide of Black Steel is a Nordic-themed fantasy series that follows the perspectives of a few notable characters. Each of these characters had a very engaging story and helped flesh out this world. Ryan does an exceptional job with the world-building. We learn a lot about the politics of Ascarlia, the numerous, Norse-inspired gods called the Altvar, and an unknown threat of invaders that have arrived on their shores.
Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read, though it was a bit of a slower burn. If you're planning on checking this book out, I would highly recommend reading The Covenant of Steel series first. I really enjoyed the Norse-inspired theme and the various viewpoints helped build out this world, even for those who have never read the previous trilogy. A Tide of Black Steel will be released on September 24, 2024. Look for it then!
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books!
September 24, 2024
I should start with the fact that Anthony Ryan is one of the instant buy authors for me, and his latest book just confirmed my love for his work,
In A Tide of Black Steel, we are back in the Covenant of Steel series world, and 20 years have passed after the events of the last book.
Although it can be read without knowledge of the previous series, the depth it gives the story will add a lot to the enjoyment of this new journey.
It is with a Nordic vibe, and we witness everything through four characters—Elvine,Ruhlin and Thera, and Felnir (those two are my favorite with all that is going on between them)
Brother and sister with complicated relationship that is making the plot more intricate with their nuances, a fisherman stolen from his home with unnatural abilities and a scribe, daughter to the Ascarlian librarian Berine Jurest - which is another sweet connection to the Covenant of Steel, working for the Sister Queens.
Impeccable attention to detail, flawless world building, and the balance between action and the character development in their separate storyline are so masterfully made that it keeps you at the edge of your seat.
It goes without saying that I will be following with great interest the rest of the series.
In A Tide of Black Steel, we are back in the Covenant of Steel series world, and 20 years have passed after the events of the last book.
Although it can be read without knowledge of the previous series, the depth it gives the story will add a lot to the enjoyment of this new journey.
It is with a Nordic vibe, and we witness everything through four characters—Elvine,Ruhlin and Thera, and Felnir (those two are my favorite with all that is going on between them)
Brother and sister with complicated relationship that is making the plot more intricate with their nuances, a fisherman stolen from his home with unnatural abilities and a scribe, daughter to the Ascarlian librarian Berine Jurest - which is another sweet connection to the Covenant of Steel, working for the Sister Queens.
Impeccable attention to detail, flawless world building, and the balance between action and the character development in their separate storyline are so masterfully made that it keeps you at the edge of your seat.
It goes without saying that I will be following with great interest the rest of the series.
August 24, 2024
With thanks to netgalley for the arc.
A Tide of Black Steel is the first in a new trilogy by Anthony Ryan. A swashbuckling romp of an adventure, this is set in the same world as the Covenant of Steel trilogy, several years later - though not essential to read prior to this, there are some lovely nods to CoS which give added depth and several smiles (and they are truely an excellent read).
TBS is a multiple pov narrative, with the most intriguing characters that capture your interest right from the very beginning. The plot is well paced, featuring some Gladiator and Black Sails vibes which I loved. The magic and lore are interesting and I found myself reading into the early hours, being unable to put it down - desperate to know what was coming next.
I preordered this within the first 2 chapters, and only regret that I'll have a while to wait for the sequel after a cracker of an ending. This is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year.
A Tide of Black Steel is the first in a new trilogy by Anthony Ryan. A swashbuckling romp of an adventure, this is set in the same world as the Covenant of Steel trilogy, several years later - though not essential to read prior to this, there are some lovely nods to CoS which give added depth and several smiles (and they are truely an excellent read).
TBS is a multiple pov narrative, with the most intriguing characters that capture your interest right from the very beginning. The plot is well paced, featuring some Gladiator and Black Sails vibes which I loved. The magic and lore are interesting and I found myself reading into the early hours, being unable to put it down - desperate to know what was coming next.
I preordered this within the first 2 chapters, and only regret that I'll have a while to wait for the sequel after a cracker of an ending. This is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year.
September 1, 2024
Tendré que esperar a que salga el tercer libro para continuar con la lectura y para releer ATOBS porque pasan tantas cosas que en definitiva olvídare detalles importantes.
Mitología nordica✔️
Magia✔️
Piratas✔️
Vikingos ✔️
El libro está narrado por cuatro personas, Ruhlin, Thera, Felnir y Elvine, lo cual es perfecto porque se tiene una perspectiva más detallada de su mundo, de la problemática, de la personalidad de cada personaje y te permite entender mejor la historia.
Al principio parece que estos cuatro no tienen nada en común, es más ni siquiera pertenecen a los mismos círculos, no son vecinos y no dedican a lo mismo, pero conforme avanzan los capítulos se van viendo esos pequeños hilos del destino.
No diré más porque siento que es una historia que merece la pena leerla sin tener ningún tipo de conocimiento sobre ella.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mitología nordica✔️
Magia✔️
Piratas✔️
Vikingos ✔️
El libro está narrado por cuatro personas, Ruhlin, Thera, Felnir y Elvine, lo cual es perfecto porque se tiene una perspectiva más detallada de su mundo, de la problemática, de la personalidad de cada personaje y te permite entender mejor la historia.
Al principio parece que estos cuatro no tienen nada en común, es más ni siquiera pertenecen a los mismos círculos, no son vecinos y no dedican a lo mismo, pero conforme avanzan los capítulos se van viendo esos pequeños hilos del destino.
No diré más porque siento que es una historia que merece la pena leerla sin tener ningún tipo de conocimiento sobre ella.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2024
I actually liked this even more than the Pariah.
The Sister Queens have ruled the realm of Ascarlia for centuries unchallenged. Now there are rumors of strife. To see if the rumors are true, they send their faithful servant Thera.
At the same time, her brother Felnir is sent on a separate secret mission. He is accompanied by a scribe sent by Sister Lore.
Both missions seem like wild goose chases, but the Sister Queens have spoken.
I loved this book! I love the Norse aspects. I think I liked this more than the Pariah just because I was more invested in these characters. Every POV is so compelling. Of course I also loved the fact that there were so many bad ass female characters. With so much going on and so many unanswered questions, I need the next one!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.
The Sister Queens have ruled the realm of Ascarlia for centuries unchallenged. Now there are rumors of strife. To see if the rumors are true, they send their faithful servant Thera.
At the same time, her brother Felnir is sent on a separate secret mission. He is accompanied by a scribe sent by Sister Lore.
Both missions seem like wild goose chases, but the Sister Queens have spoken.
I loved this book! I love the Norse aspects. I think I liked this more than the Pariah just because I was more invested in these characters. Every POV is so compelling. Of course I also loved the fact that there were so many bad ass female characters. With so much going on and so many unanswered questions, I need the next one!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an e-arc.
September 15, 2024
I could read books by Anthony Ryan set in this story's world for the rest of my life. A Tide of Black Steel is set about twenty years after The Traitor, book three of the Covenant of Steel series. While the main characters are new, they're directly connected to the events of CoS. I loved seeing how Ryan created a new story that perfectly piggybacked off this world's history. If you've read the Covenant of Steel trilogy, then jump on this as soon as you are able. If you've not read CoS and you want a grimdark story filled to the brim with religious strife and political intrigue, I'd highly recommend The Pariah, The Martyr, and The Traitor.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the e-ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the e-ARC!
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