I think I need to buy every book Anthony Ryan has ever written. This is the first I’ve read by him, and I was NOT disappointed. As a huge Mark Lawrence fan, I decided I wanted to read this arc solely based on his endorsement of Ryan being “a master storyteller”. This was incredible, I’m looking forward to the finalized and polished version of it, and the following “Age of Wrath” novels. I absolutely recommend this to any and all fantasy lovers.

Set in the same world as the "Covenant of Steel" and around 20 years after the events of the last book in that trilogy, "The Traitor", we get a new tale set in the isles and the Ascarlia (who featured as adversaries in the original trilogy).

Instead of the single POV we had previously, we now get a full cast of characters and luckily they are all interesting and likable. I also appreciated that the different storylines merge or touch each other fairly soon to a cohesive story line. The setting is Viking-ish, which I usually hate but works fine here. The plot gives us a bit of mystery and political intrigue along with personal stories - complex enough to keep you interested, but not overly so that it's hard to follow. I enjoyed this book a lot.

Typical of this author's work we get good and distinct characters and the worldbuilding is wonderful. There's a consistent theme of melancholy but it doesn't descend into despair like the earlier trilogy. And as usual in his books, this first book keeps most events small and personal. The overall story does lend itself to the eventual mass army battles (and the probably inevitable zombie horde opponent) but this book is still mostly set up - which for me is always the best part in Ryan's books.

If you are a fan of his previous work, definitely pick this up. Even Though it's set in the same world as Convent of Steel, this beginning of a new story is much more enjoyable and has all the pieces that make his other works so enjoyable. For newcomers, knowledge of the previous trilogy is not required and a fine entry into Anthony Ryan's books. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher

An epic start to a very promising sequel to the Covenant of Steel trilogy. Spoilers for that series exist in this one, so beware. Great characters, a complex conflict that's just signature Anthony Ryan at this point and a ripping good tale from start to finish. I can't wait for the sequel!

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 ⭐️

A wonderful new fantasy series from one of the best fantasy authors in the business. Rich in story, characterization, and worldbuilding. If you are looking for deep fantasy that isn't light and fluffy and often involves a good deal of political maneuvering and battles, Anthony Ryan is your guy. I just love his books and this one is just another in a long line of huge successes. It will suck you in to the point where you can't ever put it down. A more thorough review will be forthcoming soon!

“Oh yes. That most feared of things. For it has long been my charge to keep change at bay. That is how I serve the Sister Queens and the people of this vast collection of fjord and isle. But ever have I known it a fool’s task, for in the end, change is as certain as winter frost or summer sun. It cannot be stopped, but if we make the most of our gifts-” He smoothed the parchment out of his lap “-We can at least hope to survive it.”

I had the honor of reading an ARC of A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan. This being my first Ryan book, I was completely blown away by the story.

The book follows the POV’s of four different characters. The first chapter introduces us to Ruhlin. Ruhlin has a secret ability that even he was unaware of until ships of mysterious people come and pillage his town and take him captive. Forced to hone his ability and to fight in a fighting ring, will he be able to escape, or is it all for naught?

Elvine is a young girl who doesn’t believe in her people’s gods. Raised as a scribe under her mother, she reads all sorts of different scrolls and books that shape her belief system. Since her beliefs are outside the law, she soon finds her mother and herself working for one of the Sister Queens and is sent on a perilous journey.

The last two POVs are from a brother and a sister. We have Felnir who lives under the shadow of a bad decision he made as a kind, and his sister Thera, who works directly for one of the Sister Queens as basically her chief law enforcement official.

Felnir, along with Elvine, goes on a quest to find the hidden temple of the Gods. He hopes to bring back treasure to the Sister Queens that can banish his past and make a name for himself.

Thera is on her own mission when she is met with this mysterious band of warriors threatening the nation and the way of life.

With bloodshed, love, jealousy, and conflict, this book is for anyone who loves a great fantasy story. I loved the complexities of the characters. By the end of the book, I felt like I got to know each of the characters personally and felt their joy or their misery.

If you are looking for a book that establishes a wonderful cast of characters in a beautifully rendered world, then A Tide of Black Steel is definitely the book for you.

This book as really made me a fan of Anthony Ryan and I have already started buying his entire catalog of books.

I give this book 5 stars.

I want to thank Anthony Ryan and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced copy. This has truly been an honor, and I am now a fan for life.

Anthony Ryan has once again produced a masterpiece. The battle scenes are superbly crafted, and the world he has created is vivid, gritty, and full of real-life characters. It's also great to watch him delve into another story told from multiple perspectives, and I must admit, the ending has me eagerly anticipating the release of the next book right now.

A Tide of Black Steel is the first book of a new series by Anthony Ryan. Having never read a book of his before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What it is, is a very intricate story with lots of characters, storylines and events that I admit I had a hard time keeping track of.

That is not to say I didn’t enjoy this Norse inspired book. Though I had to stop and think every time I continued another characters story, to remember what occurred previously, I still enjoyed the read very much. There was some very intricate world building, lots of character development, and a lot of backstory that I believe is told in another one of the author’s series, but isn’t required to read before this one, as he goes over it briefly whenever the past is referenced.

Overall, this was a good read, even if I had to stop and think more than usual. I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who likes Norse/Viking books with some great world building.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Overall I really enjoyed A Tide of Black Steel. The build up was slow but the payoff was definitely worth it. I'll continue this series and look forward to the next book in the series. If you love Norse inspired Fantasy, I would highly recommend checking this out. I look forward to reading more of Anthony Ryan's work.

A Tide of Black Steel - a gritty epic fantasy set in a world heavily inspired by Norse mythology. In this novel, the land of Ascarlia is ruled by the Sister Queens, and its long-standing peace is shattered by a terrifying new threat emerging from the Fire Isles. As the tides of war approach, the central characters find themselves caught in a battle for survival and truth. The story follows Thera of the Blackspear, a warrior and favored servant of the Sister Queens, as she is tasked with uncovering the reality behind the gathering storm of war. Meanwhile, her estranged brother, Felnir, embarks on his own dangerous quest to find the Vault of the Altvar, an ancient treasure said to be hidden by the gods. Their journeys intertwine with various factions seeking power, all while the looming threat of a dark army—referred to as the tide of black steel—grows more imminent. Anthony Ryan brings his signature style to this narrative, blending complex characters, detailed worldbuilding, and visceral action scenes. The novel is filled with intrigue, betrayal, and redemption, offering an exploration of moral ambiguity and the cost of vengeance. Fans of epic fantasy will appreciate the intricate plot, fast-paced storytelling, and the looming sense of dread as characters navigate through a world on the brink of collapse​. The book sets up a larger conflict that will unfold across the trilogy, leaving me eager for the next installment in the Age of Wrath series.

Another fantastic novel by Anthony Ryan. Absolutely loved the Nordic inspiration and having it set in the same world as the Covenant of Steel series leads to some interesting crossovers later in the novel. Highly looking forward to the next instalment

This is my first Anthony Ryan book and I wasn’t disappointed. This multi-POV Viking/Norse inspired world is layered and interesting. Apparently if you have read a certain series of Ryan’s previous work(I’m
not sure which) there as fun Easter eggs!

I absolutely loved Thera, Felnir, and Elvine’s POV. Thera is a Velhir, a chosen soldier of one of the three ruling Queens is bitter against her brother and mistrustful a great-great grandfather who knows more than he says. She seeks justice and truth.
Felnir wants honor, and to be remembered for something other than the Redtooth name. He struggles with greed but treats his men fairly and tries to be patient with his younger and much more hot headed brother.

Elvine our scholar seeks knowledge, but with the history of his father hidden from her. Her mother protected her from a certain death after a traitorous religious ceremony and she struggles with the knowledge of her mother’s “forced” work for the Sister Lore.

Ruhlin was my least favorite. His chapters really dragged for me, and that may be partially because he’s still figuring out his power.

What prevented the 4 plus star rating for me was some of this books later were really superficial, token characters, and the secondary characters? I couldn’t tell you more than two. I liked the book, but I don’t know that I ever felt truly immersed.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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.

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.

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.

An electric new fantasy. Really enjoyed the Norse inspiration. Will definitely be ordering for my library.

I liked this better at the start, but it began to drag for me about 1/3 of the way through.

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

This was my first venture into the wonderful worlds created by author Anthony Ryan. It was an immersive adventure from beginning to end and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

#ATideofBlackSteel #NetGalley
Anthony Ryan, has put out another great novel. This novel tells of Vikings and their battles in wonderful detail, to include blood, guts, and gore. Can't wait until the one!!!