Thank you so much for allowing me to read your book. I absolutely loved the multiple narratives, and how you took the time to let each character grow and develop. I normally can tell how the book is going to end, but this book has so many twist that I didn’t know what was going to happen next. By the end of the book I thought everything came together wonderfully. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends!!

Set in the richly imagined world of the Serenade of Smoke series, The Ballad of the Blade captured my imagination from page one. With a sprawling cast of morally gray characters, Meritt crafts a tale told from shifting perspectives and intricately woven plot lines. As the story unfolds, momentum builds and separate threads gradually converge culminating in a finale that’s both rewarding and impactful.
Despite the numerous happenings in the plot, Meritt handles them all with finesse. The pace is fast-paced, yet the story never feels rushed. One of the novels' strengths lies in its characters; they’re bold, layered, and full of personality. Their banter is sharp and their well-timed humor makes the emotional beats hit harder and the action scenes even more exhilarating.
As the pieces fall into place the ending leaves just enough unanswered to spark anticipation for what’s next. There’s something special about a book that surprises you, moves you, and leaves you wanting more. The Ballad of the Blade is one of my favorite reads of 2025.

4.7/5

This is not my usual but, from the beginning it kept pulling me into it further. There have been a few humorous jokes in the dialogue that had me laughing and lingering the entire day that really kept me coming back because of the character. There are multiple characters to follow along with and at some point they come back together. I found it most intriguing about the moons and what more they could do; following along with the story line, it made sense. This storyline is in no way predictable the moment you think you know what is going to happen, it switches up; I love it. The world building is top tier, dialogue never dry, and the descriptive writing is all the way there. I felt as if I was right in front of the scenes that unfolded. I want another book. I feel like I’m no longer a dark fantasy virgin anymore.

Thank you NetGalley and mostly Andrew for this read. Keep going. 🫶🏽

While Ballad of the Blade had an intriguing premise it couldn’t keep my attention due to uneven pacing, characters with not enough depth and a writing style that sadly was not for me.
I just could not connect with this book but other readers might enjoy it!

"Gotta build 'em up before you tear 'em down."

Ballad of the Blade was an addictive read, resplendent with engaging characters, a unique universe, and "dead" magic. I grew attached to the varied and rich characters (despite the warning not to), and flew the pages of their intertwining adventures and obstacles. The plot and world building struck a perfect balance of captivating and intricate without getting esoteric. I can't believe this only Meritt's debut novel, but I plan to follow him through as many installments of A Serenade of Smoke as he's willing to write!

Ballad of the Blade is the kind of grimdark fantasy that makes you want to thank the author for the emotional trauma. This isn't just a book; it's a chiropractor's dream, leaving you gripping the pages so tightly you'll need an emergency back adjustment. 💆‍♀️
On World-Building & Tone 🗺️
Meritt doesn't just build a world; he builds a sandbox full of broken glass and then shoves his characters' faces in it. The tone is less "epic adventure" and more "everyone is probably going to die a terrible, brutal death." 💀 It's a deliciously bleak setting where magic is a source of chaos and the gods are more concerned with their own squabbles than helping anyone. 😠 The political intrigue is as sharp as the blades 🔪, and it makes you feel deeply for every poor soul trying to navigate this mess.
On Characters & Plot 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
This book's cast is a delightful band of misfits, ranging from a professional stab-enthusiast to a guy who apparently forgot to write down his past in his diary. 🤷‍♂️ Their stories intertwine with the kind of reckless abandon that suggests the author had a "How many bad things can I make happen?" checklist. ✅ The plot is a relentless rollercoaster of misery, betrayal, and very sharp objects. It moves at a breakneck pace 🚄, leaving you utterly exhausted but desperate for the next chapter. If you enjoy your fantasy with a healthy dose of suffering and zero happily-ever-afters, this is the book for you. Just make sure you've got a good therapist on speed dial. 🛋️

What. A. Debut!

I haven't read anything like this in a while, dark, gritty and utterly captivating!
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A story told from multiple POV's that drip feeds the reader with tidbits of information and mystery in each chapter, which all comes together in an epic, mind bending, conclusion.
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This is a dark epic fantasy, there's action, gore, and a plethora of rather inventive expletives, with a sprinkling of dark, witty humour mixed in.
All the characters are morally grey, there's no 'good' or 'bad' and I loved the unlikely friendships that were formed from that.
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The ONLY reason, and it hurts, that I couldn't give it full 5 stars was because it took me a minute to get used to the multiple POV's. However, once I had, it flowed seamlessly and I really had so much fun reading this!
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Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this early and rekindling my love for epic fantasy...and somehow also making me love a moose..!




Thank you @netgalley for the eARC.

Ballad of the Blade was a breath of fresh air among the numerous fantasy books that exist today. I loved that the plot was unique, the world-building was first rate, and the characters were detailed and well done. This book grabs you from the start and makes it difficult to go back to reality. I read this book in one sitting and now I am in need of more. I loved the multiple POVs, it let you get into each characters head and build that attachment the author will use against you later on.

3.5⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! You know a fantasy is going to be good when there’s a map at the beginning……


This is a multi-POV, action packed story that’s a bit hard to follow at first, but it definitely gets easier as things progress. The plot lines all come together so well and I didn’t expect the outcome at all. It follows several characters on separate journeys as they slowly intertwine to solve the mystery of what happened to the magic.

The world building is well done, and the author does a great job explaining everything in detail. Trigger warning, it’s very gory in places, but it fits the story well and adds to the intensity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew P. Meritt for the ARC! This is published on 10/14/25!

Wow this book utterly shocked me! I dove into it with no expectations and finished it absolutely hooked with this storyline and the characters. I enjoyed the systems and the world that Andrew built in this book, the reader gets thrown into the world and immediately we're drawn into this adventure.

There wasn't a moment where something wasn't happening in this book, it was perfectly paced without feeling like it was dragging on or slowing down.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

A different kind of fantasy that is very immersive and actioned packed. Following multiple characters on their journeys through all sorts of terrain and encounters. The author has thought about every detail, giving you a very 3D view of his book.

It is hard to follow at first with the multiple character angles but once you get used to changing between them you look forward to the next chapter.
It is also not the sort of book you can read a few pages and then put it down for a while, you need to concentrate and remember who is doing what where. I think we all expect happy endings but aren't tragic ones also enjoyable? In this case the ending was different to what I expected and it wasn't happy but I still loved it.

It is well written and very descriptive, you really do get a sense of the setting and what each character is like/looks like, I loved the details it really kept me wanting to know more. Fantasy books tend to be lengthy, so it didn't surprise me that this book is also on the thick size, I would normally shy away but I think it just means you get a good story that doesn't feel rushed or crammed into fewer pages.

I hope the author has made a start on the next instalment.

First of all… that title and cover? Stunning. I was already intrigued before page one, and once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

If you love:
⚔️ assassins, slaves, justiseers, musicians & men with no memory
✨ multiple POVs that actually work
🌍 immersive world-building
🔥 an epic debut that leaves you begging for more
…then Ballad of the Blade is exactly what you’re looking for!!

This is easily one of the best fantasy books I’ve read this year. It’s intriguing from the very first page, and while the POV shifts threw me off a little at the start, once I found my footing, the story pulled me in completely. Every character feels essential, their journeys distinct but beautifully woven together, each chasing the truth about magic in their own way.

The writing is rich and detailed, with world-building that feels alive and layered. Perfect groundwork for what promises to be an incredible series. And the banter between the characters? Sharp, witty, and the perfect balance to the darker themes. It gave me so much life in between the tension and bloodshed.

My only complaint? Having to wait for the next book after that ending. Cruel. Brilliant. Heartbreaking.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — captivating, addictive, and an incredible debut. I needed the sequel yesterday.

Andrew Meritt’s Ballad of the Blade is a dark fantasy epic that fulfills its promise of being a story of blood and bone. The novel has a wide cast of morally gray characters, including an assassin, a debt-ridden bard, and an enslaved gladiator. The immersive world building is revealed piece by piece. The plot has lots of action, shocking twists, and betrayals. Fans of dark fantasy will enjoy this first installment in the series A Serenade of Smoke.

Ballad of the Blade by Andrew P. Meritt
⭐️⭐️/5

Well, I honestly don’t know what I just read. This book wasn’t about one person, but about way too many, and yes, their paths crossed here and there, but it never felt like there was a red line to follow. Everyone just seemed to be running around without depth, without growth, without a real purpose. It was like being thrown into a world full of names and faces but with nothing to actually hold on to.

And don’t get me started on the magic part. The book should have been about magic not being dead at all… but there wasn’t even a hint of it. I mean, I guess I got the memo after a while: this wasn’t the magical, layered story I expected. It was flat, predictable, and honestly kind of disappointing.

The no-happy-end thing isn’t the problem—I don’t need a happy ending—but if the journey itself doesn’t give me depth, emotions, or something to care about, then the ending just feels empty.

But… if you’re into scattered POVs, bleak storytelling, and don’t mind if magic is promised but basically a no-show, this might still work for you. For me though? Nope. Just not it.

This book gripped me with the first sentence. Magic is dead but this book is full of twists and turns that has me guessing until the very end!
The characters are so captivating and interesting and you are just waiting with bayted breath to see what will happen to them next!
The magic system is unlike anything I have read before and made me excited to dive into this book!
Love that Gothic feel? Love a gripping plot? This book is for you!

The plot was well thought out and engaging, the characters were all unique and interesting, the world-building was great, and the dialogue was witty with good banter between characters. The dark humor really made me enjoy this story, even in its most intense parts.

High fantasy with hints of outstanding moments and intrigue, but didn’t capture my attention at all times like I had hoped. Action and world building was fantastic but felt disconnected from the characters.

3 stars
Ballad of the Blade had a solid premise and some flashes of brilliance, but overall it didn’t quite keep me hooked the whole way through. The world-building is intriguing and there are definitely cool moments of action, but the pacing felt uneven and I found myself drifting in parts. The characters had potential, but I wanted a little more depth to really connect with them. Not a bad read by any means, just not one that totally wowed me. A decent read, but not one I’ll be singing ballads about. 🎶

While I did finish this book, it felt like pulling teeth the entire way through. I hated the characters, the world, the plot, everything was just not for me. I tried though so I'm proud of myself. This book had a not so flushed out magic system and one note characters.

I sadly couldn’t get into this one! But it had a great story but it just didn’t keep my attention. I will definitely try other books by this author later on though.