Warning: some of these contain minor spoilers

Ballad of the Blade instantly pulled me into a world of elusive magic, epic combat, and emotional voyages. There are multiple points of view weaving the story together, with each character feeling fully-developed and unique as they journey through the unnerving land of Darin. The twists and turns kept me guessing and wanting to know more about this place and the people who inhabit it, and the characters’ individual stories evoked every kind of feeling imaginable. This is not a world of good and evil or right and wrong. It is survive or, in the case of many, do not. An excellent read for fans of dark fantasy series like Game of Thrones or The First Law. - Cassidy Hood

5/5 A beautifully written story with love, death, and magic. Multiple storylines intercross in an action-packed adventure to discover the mysteries behind multiple magical occurrences. Unlikely love and friendship and the hauntings of grief left me emotionally wrecked and ready to learn more about this world. An instant hook with no time to rest, Meritt promises and commands an epic fantasy to rule them all. - Katelyn Raney-Plourde

Prepare to get lost in the tale of the Ballad of the Blade, a gritty dark fantasy that will pull you in from the very first chapter. In a world with magic and carnage deeply intertwined, cling to your favorite character and pray to the Trickster Moon they make it out alive. -Brianna B

An epic fantasy adventure, Ballad’s characters range from assassins to bards with a few surprises in between. Meritt has created an extensive but accessible world in which multiple characters are in search of their own destinies, only to have their courses collide–violently. Ruling families, secret sorcery, assassinations, freakish beasts, and a hunt for a powerful sword are all elements you’ll find in book one of what promises to be a sweeping series. - Alissa C. Miles

5 stars. Meritt nailed the genre, it was action-packed, and the pages kept turning themselves. The battle scenes were reminiscent of Salvatore, and I was engrossed while reading along. The story wove a great, complex web of character arcs and plot lines, through surprises and, most importantly, delivered the goods with a unique flair. I write epic and dark fantasy, so I appreciate what it takes to bring this all together. – J.V. Hilliard

This is an excellent novel. The characters are all well-rounded, with strengths and weaknesses that play off of each other beautifully and very satisfying development. The detail in the worldbuilding makes the story immersive and captivating, and the stories are compelling from start to finish. There are all the best fantasy elements - darkness, secrecy, mysteries, and horror, but also strength, beauty, and connection between and to the characters that make reading about their journeys fascinating and wonderful. - Jennifer Thornberg

This was a journey I wish I could read again for the first time! From the loveable idiots, to the people just trying to survive, each character had depth and gave me their very own reason to root for them. I was immediately pulled in and sometimes couldn't put the book down. I wanted to turn every page, and the end of every chapter left me ready and excited to see what trials and tribulations would happen next. Their stories intertwined beautifully from start to finish and left so much room for their next adventures! - Crystal Rothanburg

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. - Charlyn Darling

If you like an edge of horror in your high fantasy adventures and characters too complicated for straight labels of hero or villain, Ballad of the Blade won’t disappoint. Chilling monsters, fell magic, secret organisations, mysterious conspiracies, bloody battles, and the dream of throwing off the yoke of tyranny combine to deliver a high-stakes, fast-paced story you won’t soon forget. - Julian K

Ballad of the Blade skillfully combines fantasy, adventure, romance, and mystery in a story that becomes a whirlwind of emotions. Meritt weaves these threads together like a master, sprinkling details from each character’s life carefully into other characters’ storylines. His page-turning writing compels the reader on and provokes more questions than it provides answers to. But this book is not for anyone unwilling to examine their own mind and contend heavily with the concept of loss. Meritt does not shy away from anything in his writing and will leave you wondering how you fell in love with such morally questionable characters, as well as longing to get your hands on the sequel. - Emily Cummings

In a world of violence and betrayal, a few brave souls have the audacity to persevere in the face of loss, and hold onto hope in the face of heartbreak. - Mary Pierce

This book breaks the rules of traditional hero’s journey structure in a way that sets it apart from others in its genre. The world and characters are magnetic from the get-go and the twists will leave you guessing until the end. - Brooke Allen

Ballad of the Blade is an inventive and entertaining story about perspective, survival, life, and death, with a dash of magic. Part medieval fantasy, part gothic horror, it deftly weaves together initially disparate characters’ stories in a tale connected by death, and by resilience in the face of death. - Gerry S

Lots of very cool stuff going on in this book, and I’m excited to see where everything goes! The worldbuilding has a lot of layers, and the history makes the setting feel lived-in and realistic. The plot is engaging and exciting, which is aided immensely by having lots of likeable characters in the middle. The multi-POV structure kept events moving throughout, and the narrators all had distinct, easy to connect with voices. The entire story is an emotional rollercoaster, but it’s one that kept me wanting to know where the track would lead next. - Bryn Reed

A gripping dark fantasy that weaves together multiple perspectives in a world where survival, revenge, and freedom drive every choice. The author proves no character is safe—even ones you've grown to love—creating tension in every confrontation. While the rich world-building and violent action sequences draws you in, it's the complex relationships between characters like Tanya, David, and Cross that truly shine. The story builds its mysteries carefully, paying them off with satisfying twists while exploring how people hold onto their humanity in the face of impossible choices. Perfect for readers who love character-driven dark fantasy where morality comes in shades of gray. - Mercedes Malcolm

5 stars! A fast-paced, intriguing, and mysterious adventure! It’s got strong female characters, monsters, escaped slaves, magic, humor, and all the action you could want, balanced with engaging dialogue. - Jacqueline Wilson

Ballad for the Blade was an incredible, dark high fantasy read. I was intrigued by the large cast of characters and promise of a dark and not completely happy ending. I was hooked from chapter one, every character had a purpose and a goal that gave the plot momentum, as well as their own distinct voices that gave the story depth. The pacing of this entire book was fantastic, especially during fight scenes. I felt the impact of each dodge and hit, and was immersed into every scene. Full of gritty action, laughter, edge of your seat daring escapes, and a bit of heartbreak, I am eagerly anticipating the second installment of this series and cannot wait to continue following the characters on their journey to new lands. - River Hampton

A fantastic book, full of interesting characters, gripping action, and a compelling story. Several, seemingly disparate plot threads all blend together to create an excellent climax and conclusion, with the perfect setup for a followup work. I would highly recommend it to any grimdark fantasy fan, no question. - Robert DeGraaff

Meritt doesn't write for the meek—or for those craving a gleaming hero. He crafts Fantasy with grit, heart, and a raw human edge. His characters are deeply relatable and instantly memorable, but be warned: they will jar you. If you're ready for a storyline that breaks the mold, shifts the pace, and redefines what Fantasy can be, prepare to binge. The world-building is unique, the magic system original, and the character development nothing short of masterful. Meritt is poised to become a staple in the genre. - Seth Brown

A face-paced, violent story about people on the run from their pasts. It explores identity and life after loss, set in a vaguely medieval world. This is a multiple-POV story, with a host of interesting characters that all got their own character development. I was hooked the whole time! - Megan F

5/5 stars. 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. - Rachel Froelich

Ballad of the Blade has a gripping pace and a multi-perspective narrative as strong points. It’s easy to get into and breeze through while still having a lot of substance. The attention to realistic details stands out and makes you care for the characters in a unique way. When they need to rest or eat or reflect on their dramatic actions, they feel more human, and yet the writing never loses its momentum. If you’re particularly not into gore or swordplay action, it may lose you, but for fans of the genre, it stands out. - Matthew Leon

This book is a science fiction masterpiece told from multiple points of view. The characters are surrounded by violence and surprises. Just when you think everyone is safe, they aren’t. - Patricia Park

See the story from every angle in this multi-POV fantasy epic. A heartbreaking tale of love and loss, pain and power, rage and regret, BB is one of a kind. Fight for freedom, love, and life itself alongside characters that will have you laughing out loud, crying, and throwing the book across the room. - Aspen Gray

This book was a thrilling ride of magic, companionship, violence, and courage. There was never a dull moment; it was consistently entertaining. The characters had so much substance, there was no way to hate any of them. Whether you want to laugh, cry, or be horrified, this is the book for you. - Alyssa Kelly

5 Stars- This book kept me on my toes from start to finish. It took me on a journey where I got to connect with the characters on an emotional level and it was just all together really captivating. - Haley Carbaugh

WOW! This book has it all! It’s got sadness, humor, anger, and all of the other emotions in between. For those of you who enjoy gore, mythical creatures, and more, get ready! This book is so action packed that it can be easy to miss something important if you try to skip ahead. The character development is on point, and the detail in this book makes you feel like you're right there and involved with the story! - Larissa Sattler

This book was phenomenal! The imagery, character building and shocking twists really made for an outstanding read! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book! I may need a breather after that read. - Courtney Holmes

If you are looking for a book that will take you on an adventure, test your tolerance for gore, and rip your heart out all while providing a good helping of comic relief, this is the one for you! Turn off your phone and gather your snacks because when you sit down with this one, you aren’t getting back up until you’ve read it all! - Aneva Holleran

From the very first chapter, Ballad of the Blade pulled me in completely. The writing is sharp, emotional, and full of energy. I was so drawn in that I ended up reading passages aloud just to share the excitement. It is rare to find a fantasy novel that feels both fresh and classic, but this one manages it effortlessly. - Brittnie Smith

A dark fantasy with a blend of dark humor, gut-wrenching heartbreak, and ethical philosophy — it’s a must-read. - Samhita C

I loved the worldbuilding, the characters, and pacing of this story. Each character had a unique voice, and you’ll fall in love with them. There is something for any fantasy lover: action, romance, death, and enough mystery to keep readers turning the page to see what happens next. - Veronica J

Ballad of the Blade is an action-packed fantasy with plot twists that will make you throw the book at the wall, only to immediately get it back and keep reading. 4/5 stars, would recommend. - Alexis Byers.

An intense blend of blood, horses, and vocabulary acquisition. This is a book that will leave you wanting the second one immediately. - Erin Roney

A thoroughly enjoyable and daunting read that had me laughing, screaming, kicking my feet, and sobbing myself into nausea. If you are a fan of novels such as Game of Thrones, this might just be your cup of tea (warning: you know what happens in GoT. No one is safe. Guts are everywhere. I mean it. Proceed with caution). - Keanna-Mae Bartolome