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 by Anthony Ryan Series: Age of Wrath #1
Published by Orbit on September 24, 2024
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 549
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
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.
About Anthony Ryan
Anthony 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.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
 |
| Writing |
|
| Characters |
|
| Dialogue |
|
| Overall: | |
Friend me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Hell Bent by Devon Monk @devonmonk.com @PaulJBellantoni @tantoraudio.bsky.social @RobinBridgeFour #LoveAudiobooks @TantorAudio - April 18, 2025
- Last Chance to Save the World by Beth Revis @bethrevis.bsky.social @dawbooks.bsky.social @berkleypub.bsky.social @RobinBridgeFour @bethrevis @dawbooks @BerkleyPub - April 14, 2025
- 🎧 Firebird by Juliette Cross @Juliette__Cross #BlairDade #KaleWilliams @macmillanaudio.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks #KindleUnlimited @RobinBridgeFour - April 7, 2025
Sounds awesome.
I really enjoyed the story and it went by so fast.
I’m really curious. Adding it to my TBR
Have you read Ryan before? I read both of the Raven series and while I didn’t like the end to Raven’s Shadow but I thought that Raven’s Blade the sequel sort of made up for it.
Love the cover! Sounds like a great new series to get started on. Great review!