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A Testament of Steel

Book 1 in the series:Instrument Of Omens

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"A Testament of Steel" by Davis Ashura follows the journey of Cinder Shade, an amnesiac protagonist who embarks on a quest for self-discovery in a world filled with elves, dwarves, and Hindy mythology. The story intertwines elements of fantasy, adventure, and coming-of-age as Cinder navigates a society plagued by xenophobia and strives to become the best version of himself through hard work and determination. With intricate world-building, well-developed characters, and a mix of humor, intrigue, and sword fights, the narrative unfolds at a fast pace, captivating readers with its rich vocabulary and engaging storytelling style.

The book seamlessly weaves together a complex narrative that introduces readers to a larger branching storyline within Davis Ashura's series. As the plot progresses, various characters and puzzle pieces connect across different series, offering a sense of closure while leaving readers eager for the continuation of the story in the subsequent books. Through compelling character arcs, intertwining threads of storylines, and nods to previous works, "A Testament of Steel" not only stands as an enjoyable standalone read but also contributes to a broader interconnected universe crafted by the author.

Characters:

The characters are relatable and well-developed, showing significant growth and emotional depth, making them engaging to readers.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is rich and engaging, balancing beautiful prose and fast pacing while effectively evoking emotions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is engaging and intricately woven, with an exciting start and a mix of interconnected stories that provide closure while inviting further exploration.

Setting:

The setting is a richly constructed fantasy world that uniquely blends cultural influences with elaborate magic systems.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow but quickly builds, maintaining a fast and engaging rhythm that keeps readers hooked.

Notes:

A Testament of Steel is part of a larger narrative with interconnected characters and plotlines.
The main character, Cinder, has a unique introduction and is relatable and lovable.
The book evokes strong emotions, making readers laugh and cry throughout the story.
Davis Ashura offers a mix of humor, adventure, intrigue, and a hint of romance in his writing.
The world-building is rich and includes elements from Indian mythology, elves, and dwarves.
Readers appreciate the lack of info dumps, as the protagonist is amnesiac, providing a fresh perspective.
The writing style is fast-paced and beautifully crafted, which keeps readers engaged.
It’s possible to enjoy A Testament of Steel independently from Ashura's other works, although they connect.
The book has been compared to works by Brandon Sanderson and Anthony Ryan for its quality and storytelling.
The series is classified as progression fantasy, where the main character grows stronger over time.

From The Publisher:

A young man with no past must progress into a warrior out of legend.

Cinder Shade's life begins on a fateful afternoon at the bottom of a well where he awakens, bruised, battered, and bereft of all memory. His only understanding is a driving imperative-to protect those who can't defend themselves and become a warrior worthy of the name.

He discovers within himself a peculiar gift, one in which the codes of combat are made evident and the language of steel is made clear. When he earns a place at a prestigious elven warrior academy, Cinder fights to enhance his knowledge and perhaps even humble the proud elves who believe no human is their equal.

His hard-earned skills are put to the test when strange rumblings emanate from deep in the Dagger Mountains. Monsters out of myth emerge. And so does something far worse . . .

An ancient god. The world believes this deity long dead, but he is very much alive. And he remembers his enemies all too well. Even if they don't remember themselves.

Ratings (4)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (12):

Read It (4)
Want To Read (6)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

It Was OK
5 months

DNF at 43%

A Testament of Steel was my first experience with Ashura, and while I hope it won't be my last, it certainly wasn't the auspicious beginning I would've preferred.

The synopsis of this story (coming of age with a dash of amnesia) was immediately interesting to me, and I ran to Kindle Unlimited to download a copy. It started typically enough, with an orphaned farm boy going to the city for a new future and developed as you'd assume from there. However, there was one unique point in this beginning portion: the personality shift our main character underwent. After losing his memories, Cinder became more even-tempered and mature, showing moments of surprising inner wisdom (I have theories as to why he went through this change—not very subtly hinted at by the author further in the book). His new personality is what kept me going over the next chunk.

Past the first portion, however, the story started to drag. I don't think it was a plot issue but more of a character issue. Cinder wasn't showing as much personal and emotional growth as I would've liked, and I found myself picking the book up less and less. Considering how long it took me to get as far as I did, I knew that forcing myself to go any further would be a waste of precious reading time, and I'd be better off cutting my losses.

A different issue I had was the portrayal of women in this world. I remember one scene in particular, where Cinder is on an outing with his orphanage friend's sister, and they go to listen to a storyteller together. During the telling, Cinder is mentally considering the flow of the story when a section comes that describes the main female character in the telling as a seductress, intent on bringing down honorable men with her wiles. Cinder remarked that while everyone else in the audience was shocked at this twist, he was not. He is a very well-read character, and knew that in every story he'd read, the beautiful woman betrayed the main character, so he expected it to happen here. He didn't remark how that was wrong or sexist or antiquated, which made me realize that it doesn't seem that way to him—a theme which most likely will continue to the end of this book, if not the series. I'm not really in the mood to invest time in a series that will make women into fodder for the main character, and I felt that from this book.

Although this review has been mainly negative, I'm still rating this book three stars. It had its strong moments and a lot of potential for growth! I enjoyed myself through the majority of my journey, and although I won't continue, I also wouldn't deter anyone from picking this book up.

 
 
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