| by Les Edwards
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Les Edwards is the author of Blood & Iron (3.80 avg rating, 5 ratings, 1 review, published 1989), Scrim; Radio Rebel In Retrospect (0.0 avg rating, 0 rat.
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Not the book you’re looking for?Preview — Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk
(The Book of the Black Earth #1)
Set in a richly-imagined world, this action-heavy fantasy epic and series opener is like a sword-and-sorcery Spartacus.
It starts with a shipwreck following a magical storm at sea. Horace, a soldier from the west, had joined the Great Crusade against the heathens of Akeshia after the deaths of his wife and son from plague. When he washes ashore, he finds himself at the merc...more
It starts with a shipwreck following a magical storm at sea. Horace, a soldier from the west, had joined the Great Crusade against the heathens of Akeshia after the deaths of his wife and son from plague. When he washes ashore, he finds himself at the merc...more
Published March 11th 2014 by Pyr (first published January 1st 2014)
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Can't Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2014 496 books — 2,554 voters
Best Picks: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Novels of 2014 262 books — 1,443 voters
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Jan 30, 2014Nathan rated it liked it Shelves: rated-3-star, read-2014, author-male, high-fantasy, sandalpunk
Fantasy Review Barn
SEE! – The white male expat of DESTINY. Yes ladies and gents Horace is the real deal. Only a simple soldier joining the great crusade against the heathens but we know he is something more. When he is taken as a slave after a ship wreck he holds his head high, resisting just enough to earn the respect of his captors. When he sees a fellow slave being sexually assaulted it is he alone that plunges into the mix, saving the pour soul from her horror. His inspired charge brings ou...more
Mar 05, 2018Bookwraiths rated it liked itSEE! – The white male expat of DESTINY. Yes ladies and gents Horace is the real deal. Only a simple soldier joining the great crusade against the heathens but we know he is something more. When he is taken as a slave after a ship wreck he holds his head high, resisting just enough to earn the respect of his captors. When he sees a fellow slave being sexually assaulted it is he alone that plunges into the mix, saving the pour soul from her horror. His inspired charge brings ou...more
Shelves: extra-special-authors, fantasy, e-books, review-freebie
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
The thought that springs to mind after finishing Blood and Iron is disappointment. It really is a shame that such a well written novel – endowed with all the attributes necessary for it to be an epic sword and sorcery “must read” – allowed a familiar fantasy trope to derail such a promising story. Unfortunately, Jon Sprunk clung too tightly to the familiar “powerless to powerful” story line, and so instead of ascending to the ranks of epic fantasy masterpiece i...more
Jan 27, 2014Kathleen (QueenKatieMae) rated it it was okThe thought that springs to mind after finishing Blood and Iron is disappointment. It really is a shame that such a well written novel – endowed with all the attributes necessary for it to be an epic sword and sorcery “must read” – allowed a familiar fantasy trope to derail such a promising story. Unfortunately, Jon Sprunk clung too tightly to the familiar “powerless to powerful” story line, and so instead of ascending to the ranks of epic fantasy masterpiece i...more
Shelves: disappointed, fantasy, testosterone-infusion, meh, pissed-me-off, wtf, too-many-coincidences, sadistic-bullshit, sloooooow, waste-of-my-time
Despite the predominately male-centric, violent, testosterone-infused themes and stories, I love fantasy fiction. The magical domains of Patrick Rothfuss, George R.R. Martin, Mark Lawrence and Anthony Ryan are great testimonials for leaving the real world behind to travel into Westeros or The Broken Empire. These stories are why I love fantasy fiction, and it’s why I am always looking for new writers to excite and spirit me away to their worlds. When I picked up Jon Sprunk’s novel, Blood and Iro...more
Jan 17, 2015Slick rated it really liked it
Actual rating 3.5
Horace a western crusader washes up ashore on the Arabian like nation of Akeshia after a magical storm where he is made a slave. During his slave bound journey he meets and befriends fellow bromancer Jirom. Only to discover he shares the same magical abilities as the Akeshian ruling class. Separated from Jirom, Horace is then drawn into politics, backstabbing, plotting and slave rebellions where he meets fellow romancer Alyra.
Not bad book in all but I feel just having finishe...more
Mar 11, 2014Milo (BOK) rated it really liked itHorace a western crusader washes up ashore on the Arabian like nation of Akeshia after a magical storm where he is made a slave. During his slave bound journey he meets and befriends fellow bromancer Jirom. Only to discover he shares the same magical abilities as the Akeshian ruling class. Separated from Jirom, Horace is then drawn into politics, backstabbing, plotting and slave rebellions where he meets fellow romancer Alyra.
Not bad book in all but I feel just having finishe...more
Shelves: epic-fantasy, fantasy, notable-2014-releases
The Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2014/04/...
'A fun sword and sorcery romp with an excellently developed world, Blood and Iron is a good read that fans of the genre will enjoy, with some excellent character development that will keep readers entertained even when this book might not be the most original on the market today.' ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
'Set in a richly-imagined world, this action-heavy fantasy epic and series opener is like a sword-and-sorcery Spartacus.
It start...more
'A fun sword and sorcery romp with an excellently developed world, Blood and Iron is a good read that fans of the genre will enjoy, with some excellent character development that will keep readers entertained even when this book might not be the most original on the market today.' ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
'Set in a richly-imagined world, this action-heavy fantasy epic and series opener is like a sword-and-sorcery Spartacus.
It start...more
This is Jon's first book after his debut trilogy. I found it to be an exciting one simply because of the things that the author has tried to accomplish with it. It's a different book than his debut effort as with the Shadow's Son, Jon went for a very tight narrative focus. With this book, we get a much bigger canvas and a much wider POV character cast. I enjoyed the pseudo-Egyptian flavor of the storyline but it's a very faint resemblance. The author's storyline reminds me a lot of James Clavell...more
Sep 05, 2014Ben Babcock rated it it was ok
Blood and Iron, not to be confused with the urban fantasy novel of the same name by Elizabeth Bear, is the first entry in a trilogy by Jon Sprunk about fantasy nations at war. Our hero is Horace, a shipwright and carpenter stranded on the shores of a hostile empire, at their mercy, who suddenly finds out he can do magic. What ensues in the slow self-destruction of the capital city of this kingdom within the empire while Horace stands around making amazed noises at it all.
Horace is essentially an...more
Horace is essentially an...more
May 29, 2015Kelly rated it really liked it
Blood and Iron is an engrossing novel of swords and sorcery. It’s tightly focused and complete, without a sprawling cast and endless appendix of subplots. That’s not to say Jon Sprunk tells a simple tale, he’s just managed to avoid the sinkhole of over-telling that sucks so much epic fantasy into the abyss.
Horace, a shipwright drafted for the Great Crusade, washes up on the shore of the land his company was set to invade, the lone survivor of a shipwreck. He is nursed back to health by the villa...more
Sep 27, 2013Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked itHorace, a shipwright drafted for the Great Crusade, washes up on the shore of the land his company was set to invade, the lone survivor of a shipwreck. He is nursed back to health by the villa...more
Shelves: fantasy, arcs-and-galleys, magic, review-copy, epic
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/03/04/b...
When trying to make a good impression, the saying goes you should put your best foot forward as soon as possible, and that’s definitely true for books as well. The fact that Blood and Iron was a bit slow in doing so may have weakened it a little in my eyes, but it is by no means a bad book. Indeed there are a lot of strengths, ones that I think would have made this book even better if the narrative had seized full advant...more
When trying to make a good impression, the saying goes you should put your best foot forward as soon as possible, and that’s definitely true for books as well. The fact that Blood and Iron was a bit slow in doing so may have weakened it a little in my eyes, but it is by no means a bad book. Indeed there are a lot of strengths, ones that I think would have made this book even better if the narrative had seized full advant...more
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
Blood and Iron is an epic fantasy novel about three enslaved protagonists who overcome hardship only to be entangled in politics and war. The main protagonist, Horace, is shipwrecked and forced into slavery. A chaos storm strikes the caravan, and he discovers his own affinity for lightning. Jirom is an ex-mercenary who was forced to become a gladiator. Inspired by seeing Horace stand up...more
Mar 20, 2014Liviu rated it really liked ithttp://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
Blood and Iron is an epic fantasy novel about three enslaved protagonists who overcome hardship only to be entangled in politics and war. The main protagonist, Horace, is shipwrecked and forced into slavery. A chaos storm strikes the caravan, and he discovers his own affinity for lightning. Jirom is an ex-mercenary who was forced to become a gladiator. Inspired by seeing Horace stand up...more
Shelves: 2014_release_read, read_2014, genre-fantasy
a reasonably well executed version of the 'humble stranger turns out to have great powers in a different world' version of action adventure fantasy, engagingly written and refreshingly modern in attitudes and language but in the same vein not bringing anything new, while the characters and narrative energy on which such stuff depends the most are reasonably interesting to have kept me reading, but not outstandingly so to keep me overtly interested in what comes next
so mostly a B plus level pulp...more
so mostly a B plus level pulp...more
May 26, 2015FictionForesight rated it it was amazing
Review Originally Posted At: FictionForesight
A 'Pull No Punches' 4 1/2 Stars!
Blood and Iron is an action-packed adventure that hones all best pieces of fantasy into whats sure to be an amazing series!
A Quick Summary:
Blood and Iron begins as all epic tales do, with tragedy. In this case, tragedy comes in the form of a ship wreck. Horace, our main character, is a ship builder who was unlucky enough to be aboard a vessel that sank during an extraordinary storm. Washing up on the shore of his enem...more
A 'Pull No Punches' 4 1/2 Stars!
Blood and Iron is an action-packed adventure that hones all best pieces of fantasy into whats sure to be an amazing series!
A Quick Summary:
Blood and Iron begins as all epic tales do, with tragedy. In this case, tragedy comes in the form of a ship wreck. Horace, our main character, is a ship builder who was unlucky enough to be aboard a vessel that sank during an extraordinary storm. Washing up on the shore of his enem...more
Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk is the first in a new high fantasy series that will feel both familiar and fresh. Blood and Iron has many typical elements of high fantasy while also pulling in more diverse characters. While the premise held promise, the writing and characters failed to deliver and I ended up simply frustrated. Many of the initially interesting and heartening elements of Blood and Iron ended up feeling exceedingly superficial as Blood and Iron morphed into a very typical high fantas...more
Mar 14, 2014Eric Means rated it it was ok
I wanted to like the concept of this book -- Crusader type gets shipwrecked in the country of his enemies, is enslaved, has to learn their language and culture to survive etc.
Unfortunately it's not terribly well plotted. Stuff just sort of... happens, as the protagonist(s) stumble through the story. There are multiple protagonists and storylines that intersect... once, about halfway through the book. I think the author was going for a story of mystery, intrigue, and the sense that larger forces/...more
Unfortunately it's not terribly well plotted. Stuff just sort of... happens, as the protagonist(s) stumble through the story. There are multiple protagonists and storylines that intersect... once, about halfway through the book. I think the author was going for a story of mystery, intrigue, and the sense that larger forces/...more
Feb 01, 2014Judy Lesley rated it liked it
My copy of this novel is an ARC received through the Amazon Vine Voices program.
I see from the information on the back cover that this book is the beginning novel in an 'epic' fantasy series. I can certainly see that this can be considered the first adventures in the life of an intriguing character. This novel shows how Horace progressed from being a simple ship's carpenter to being First Sword for Queen Byleth of Erugash. The countries and cities in this novel rely on a slave and master caste c...more
Jan 31, 2014Sarah rated it really liked itI see from the information on the back cover that this book is the beginning novel in an 'epic' fantasy series. I can certainly see that this can be considered the first adventures in the life of an intriguing character. This novel shows how Horace progressed from being a simple ship's carpenter to being First Sword for Queen Byleth of Erugash. The countries and cities in this novel rely on a slave and master caste c...more
Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, epic-fantasy, pyr, read-in-2014
The final verdict? I’m a little torn on this one. I honestly enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I like the direction it is going. I enjoyed about half of the characters a lot more than I thought I would, one character less than I expected, and I can’t quite understand another one. The world is what sold me. Complex and real, vibrant and believable, and all of the magic, religious strife, and politics thrown in were just fantastic. The start is slow, but after that the book itself take...more
Dec 16, 2014Sud666 rated it liked it
Not a bad quick read. If you are a fan of fantasy, then this is a good book. It has shades of The Last Airbender in the way they deal with magic. Also the world in which the West mirrors Crusader Europe of the 11th Century and the East is a mysterious magical land that is being 'liberated' is an amalgam of the Assyrians and Ottoman Empires is an interesting touch. The use to 'normal' language versus the high prose normally associated with fantasy reminds me of the Black Company series.
I have to...more
I have to...more
My favorite part of Blood and Iron is when Mulcibar tells shipwreck-survivor-turned-slave-turned-super-wizard-turned-Queen’s-Protector Horace, in all sincerity, that Queen Byleth is a strict mistress, but not cruel. Sorry, dude, you’re just wrong. Turning the brother who betrayed you over to your crazy mad scientist to be tortured as part of his experiment might qualify as “strict.” Sashaying down to the torture chamber/secret lab in your tissue-thin designer gown and gloating over said brother...more
Feb 06, 2014Whitney rated it really liked it
Blood and Iron is a politically drenched fantasy novel that doesn't pull any punches. Full of the brutality expected in books that discuss slavery and war, this is not a book for everyone. The narrative is told in alternating chapters that revolve around three main characters: Horace, a foreigner who is now the pet sorcerer project to the queen, Jirom, an ex-mercenary and gladiator who is now a slave in the queen's army, and Alyra, a spy working to destabilize the queen's rule.
I really enjoyed t...more
I really enjoyed t...more
I was surprised by BLOOD AND IRON, part one of The Book of the Black Sun. Fantasy, this type anyway, is not my usual forte. But author jon Sprunk's writing style made the thing come alive for me. reading almost as a straight historical despite the magical elements.
Horace is a man marooned in the lands of the enemy, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. He discovers within himself a power, they call it zoana, he'd never known was in him.
he geys caught up in the politics of his new home, rising in sta...more
Horace is a man marooned in the lands of the enemy, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. He discovers within himself a power, they call it zoana, he'd never known was in him.
he geys caught up in the politics of his new home, rising in sta...more
Sep 24, 2014Jennifer rated it it was amazing
It was a really good book, and I hope there will be a second :)
In the beginning I felt it was slow after the shipwreck, but the pace was natural for the events that took place. Overall I liked the characters, Jon Sprunk creates some really interesting and awesome characters :)
It was pretty obviously where the inspiration to the story came from, at least to me. But it made a really great story and conflict.
And the ending, what a ending! It was a really good ending in more than one way.
In the beginning I felt it was slow after the shipwreck, but the pace was natural for the events that took place. Overall I liked the characters, Jon Sprunk creates some really interesting and awesome characters :)
It was pretty obviously where the inspiration to the story came from, at least to me. But it made a really great story and conflict.
And the ending, what a ending! It was a really good ending in more than one way.
Mar 31, 2014Andrew Rose rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Magic and loss
Shipwrecked on a foreign country, embroiled in pol beyond his ken, Horace must come to terms with the power inside him. This was a great start to a new series that incorporates the political gamesmanship of a Game of Thrones with the visceral combat of Joe Abercrombie.
Shipwrecked on a foreign country, embroiled in pol beyond his ken, Horace must come to terms with the power inside him. This was a great start to a new series that incorporates the political gamesmanship of a Game of Thrones with the visceral combat of Joe Abercrombie.
I really loved the characters and the story that evolved around them. Magic, Gladiators and slaves. A great foundation has been laid for the future stories. I can't believe it, but this shows more promise than his last series which was outstanding!
Feb 28, 2014Leontiy Cristea rated it really liked it
I happily received a copy of Jon Sprunk’s latest book, Blood and Iron direct from the publisher—and I ate through it. Despite a relatively slow start and an environment I couldn’t easily envisage, characters I couldn’t quite connect with, and a questionable sense of the wider plot, I soon found myself engrossed in a deep and richly imagined world that was both entirely inclusive and open-minded, and a refreshing change from the usual whitewashed canvas of sword and sorcery.
Fairly often, if I am...more
Fairly often, if I am...more
Originally reviewed at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
It took me five sittings to read this book. Hint: that is four too many. That's how good this book is, friends.
I saw this book sitting on the shelves at Barnes and Noble one day and immediately went to read the back. The cover was just so intriguing to me. And it seemed interesting, yet I couldn't bite the bullet and purchase it, as the price was a bit out of my price range (but, to be honest, all prices are out of my price range; living paycheck-...more
It took me five sittings to read this book. Hint: that is four too many. That's how good this book is, friends.
I saw this book sitting on the shelves at Barnes and Noble one day and immediately went to read the back. The cover was just so intriguing to me. And it seemed interesting, yet I couldn't bite the bullet and purchase it, as the price was a bit out of my price range (but, to be honest, all prices are out of my price range; living paycheck-...more
Jun 06, 2014Mieneke rated it liked it
I completely missed out on Jon Sprunk's previous series, the Shadow Saga, despite hearing lots of good stuff about it and definitely being interested. Sometimes you just don't get around to a series. When I was contacted about reviewing the first in Sprunk's newest series, I said yes with alacrity as it seemed a good point to finally read the author's work and the book sounded quite interesting. And it was interesting, but not just in a positive way. I had very mixed feelings reading Blood and I...more
Blood And Iron is Jon Sprunk’s fourth novel and the first book in his new 4-book series, The Book Of The Black Earth. It tells the tale of three people that are fighting their own war against the corrupt Akeshian Empire. Horace is a crusader who washes up on the shores of his enemies after a shipwreck. Jirom is a slave turned gladiator whose biggest wish is to bring down the empire that enslaved him. And last but not least, there’s Alyra, a beautiful young woman who enters slavery voluntarily to...more
a high fantasy experience with Neo-Arabian overtones and social empowerment. this book explorers a crusader era fictional world where in 1 of 3 protagonists is cast into a completely alien experience.
to describe this book positively, it is different, in terms of traditional fantasy, in that it focuses on a non European inspired, but not blatantly copied, culture. there are several strong female leads in the book, and although this by itself is not enough for me to count it as a positive note - a...more
to describe this book positively, it is different, in terms of traditional fantasy, in that it focuses on a non European inspired, but not blatantly copied, culture. there are several strong female leads in the book, and although this by itself is not enough for me to count it as a positive note - a...more
Aug 07, 2013Melissa Hayden rated it liked it
Jon has produced a story with a strong epic fantasy feel. The story moves along with major event after another with great descriptions of the town, buildings, rooms, and people as we go. The world building of the culture Horace comes into and the magic that is cherished here is powerful.
****FULL REVIEW****
Horace wakes in a home of strangers speaking a language quite different from any he's ever heard after being washed off the deck of the ship he worked on. Horace is in his countries enemy land,...more
****FULL REVIEW****
Horace wakes in a home of strangers speaking a language quite different from any he's ever heard after being washed off the deck of the ship he worked on. Horace is in his countries enemy land,...more
Apr 03, 2014Brannigan rated it really liked it
Posted first on The Qwillery
Blood and Iron is the first book in a gritty fantasy series by Jon Sprunk. The majority of the story takes place in a North African-like setting, with plenty of desert scenery. The Akeshian Empire has hints of Egyptian and Babylonian cultural influences. The back cover states that Horace is a crusader, which is only partially correct, he's a shipwright trying to overcome a tragic past by using his skills as a carpenter for the boat that is transporting crusaders. He's...more
Blood and Iron is the first book in a gritty fantasy series by Jon Sprunk. The majority of the story takes place in a North African-like setting, with plenty of desert scenery. The Akeshian Empire has hints of Egyptian and Babylonian cultural influences. The back cover states that Horace is a crusader, which is only partially correct, he's a shipwright trying to overcome a tragic past by using his skills as a carpenter for the boat that is transporting crusaders. He's...more
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Fantasy author living in central Pennsylvania. I love to travel (especially places with old ruins), watch football (American NFL, not that soccer stuff), drink (rum and coke, preferred), and enjoy life.
The Book of the Black Earth(3 books)