A Tide of Black Steel
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4.7 • 31 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
'Sprawling in scope, forged with depth of lore and living history, full of betrayals and deaths and twists and epic battles' Grimdark Magazine
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.
A Tide of Black Steel begins a new blockbuster epic fantasy series from international bestseller Anthony Ryan, whose books have sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Praise for Anthony Ryan
'A gritty, heart-pounding tale of betrayal and bloody vengeance' John Gwynne
'The Pariah is Anthony Ryan at his best. A fast-paced, brutal fantasy novel with larger-than-life characters and a plot full of intrigue and suspense' Grimdark Magazine
'This is Anthony Ryan's best book yet' Michael Fletcher
'Fantastic writing, an amazing world, a plot that won't quit, and an unforgettable character . . . Anthony Ryan is one of the best epic fantasy authors out there' Bookworm Blues
'Gritty and well-drawn, this makes a rich treat for George R. R. Martin fans' Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Books by Anthony Ryan
Raven's Shadow
Blood Song
Tower Lord
Queen of Fire
Raven's Blade
The Wolf's Call
The Black Song
Draconis Memoria
The Waking Fire
The Legion of Flame
The Empire of Ashes
The Covenant of Steel
The Pariah
The Martyr
The Traitor
Writing as A. J. Ryan
Red River Seven
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Ryan (the Draconis Memoria series) launches his Age of Wrath series with a gripping epic that pits pseudo-Viking nations in competition for the favor of their gods. Trouble on the edges of Ascarlia, the domain of the three Sister Queens, sends the monarchs' chief agent, Thera of the Blackspear, to investigate rumors of returning demons. Meanwhile, Thera's brother, the notorious exile Felnir Skyrnrak, is tasked by their great-grandfather, a counselor to the queens, with finding the treasury of the gods by assisting a scholar with heretical religious beliefs. A third story line follows a simple fisherman who's captured by red-tattooed invaders and forced into gladiatorial games after they discover his innate power when enraged to morph into a killing machine. Ryan rapidly shifts between plotlines, bounding from one cliffhanger to the next. While much of the action will feel familiar to fans of Norse fantasy, Ryan distinguishes himself with deep dives into his characters' psyches and motivations. This is an exciting start.
