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Instrument Of Omens #4
Bonds of Truths
Many truths have been shrouded in deceit. But lies can only last so long…
With five of the Orbs of Peace still at large and threatening the world’s survival, Cinder and Anya set forth to acquire them by any means. But their efforts—be it through simple ruses, espionage, or even war—are doomed if they cannot first shatter the falsehoods that warp their very memories.
Are they the Blessed Ones of prophecy or simply broken avatars? It is a question without an easy answer, hindered as it is by deceptions that aren’t so easily overcome.
And while there is hope, even with the aid of faithful allies—the Shokans, redeemed wraiths, and a heretofore unknown daughter—if Cinder and Anya cannot forge a new path together, the heart of who they are will be irrevocably broken… And the world with it.
With five of the Orbs of Peace still at large and threatening the world’s survival, Cinder and Anya set forth to acquire them by any means. But their efforts—be it through simple ruses, espionage, or even war—are doomed if they cannot first shatter the falsehoods that warp their very memories.
Are they the Blessed Ones of prophecy or simply broken avatars? It is a question without an easy answer, hindered as it is by deceptions that aren’t so easily overcome.
And while there is hope, even with the aid of faithful allies—the Shokans, redeemed wraiths, and a heretofore unknown daughter—if Cinder and Anya cannot forge a new path together, the heart of who they are will be irrevocably broken… And the world with it.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
791 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2023
234 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Davis Ashura
22 books517 followersDavis Ashura is an author of such sublime depth and beauty that his works have been known to cause a tear to fall from the eyes of even the hardest of hearts.
Just kidding.
But he does write.
This humble writer, who refers to himself in the third person, resides in North Carolina, sharing a house with his magnificent wife who somehow overlooked Davis’ eccentricities and married him anyway. As proper recompense for her sacrifice, Davis then unwittingly turned his magnificent wife into a nerd-girl. To her sad and utter humiliation, she knows exactly what is meant by ‘Kronos’. Living with them are their two rambunctious boys, both of whom have at various times helped turn Davis’ once lustrous, raven-black hair prematurely white (it sure sounds prettier than the dirty gray it actually is). And of course, there is the obligatory strange, adopted cats (all authors have cats-it's in the by-laws). One eats everything placed before him and the other has the world's stinkiest breath.
When not working – nay laboring – in the creation of works of fiction so grand that hardly anyone has read a single word of them, Davis practices medicine, but only when the insurance companies tell him he can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 10, 2024
Davis Ashura is a creative genius! You know a story has left an impact on you when, a year after the previous book, within a few chapters, all the events played out in the last few books come crashing down on you like a huge tidal wave, drenching you, seeping into every crevice of your memory, reigniting every cell!
There's an entity threatening the entire realm, one that only Cinder and Anya can prevent, which leads them once again into danger. Although they work together to this end,Cinder and Anya are plagued by gaps in their memory, they can't trust which memory is right and which is not, as well as their fits of pure rage, so unnatural for them. These two have really gone through a lot together and even though I know why they are reacting the way they are to each other, it still breaks my heart. They both feel something is not right but don't know what that might be. Neither will you, not until you've read this brilliant series...
The forging of friendships amongst the most bias of people is gorgeous! I particularly love how the author keeps vital characters alive, never letting them languish or leave one thinking what's happened to them. 3 of my favourite awesome characters are Brilliance, a snowtiger, Kela, a dog and Fastness, a horse. Animals, really? Animals, I hear you say but aha, THESE are not just animals, they are sometimes so much more! Plus there's Trolls and Goblins and Dwalves and Elves and Dragons...
There is something so fundamentally appealing about Cinder, as if the goodness in him is leaking out of every pore, enveloping me, enticing me to protect him, to love him. The growth in Cinder throughout this series is staggering. From a perceived halfwit to a man of immense strength, not only physically but of magic, resolve and intelligence. Anya is fearsome, she's strong, she's a warrior and she's also a princess and very much the black sheep of her Elven family. A wonderful character, so complex yet at the same time easy to decipher. Where these two find themselves, what they undertake, how they both triumph and fail, what they have to do, makes my hair stand on end!
The action and plot are simply divine and I love the attention to detail without it overwhelming me in irrelevant descriptions. This book and series is like a chess game between master chess players, just as I think, check mate, the author moves a piece on the board to stump me, to let me know there are still a few moves I didn't predict. How very exciting! For me at any rate. There were so many moments that had me emotional, some were tearful moments, some were moments of distress, some were moments of sheer bliss, like when Anya saves Cinder from what should have been a fatal wound, which is when the fog lifted for her. How do I even begin to capture who Rukh and Jessira are? Who Shokan and Sira are? It's impossible to capture the extent of this involute tale, it just leaves me with the conviction that everyone should read it and get lost in this world, much as I did.
There's an entity threatening the entire realm, one that only Cinder and Anya can prevent, which leads them once again into danger. Although they work together to this end,Cinder and Anya are plagued by gaps in their memory, they can't trust which memory is right and which is not, as well as their fits of pure rage, so unnatural for them. These two have really gone through a lot together and even though I know why they are reacting the way they are to each other, it still breaks my heart. They both feel something is not right but don't know what that might be. Neither will you, not until you've read this brilliant series...
The forging of friendships amongst the most bias of people is gorgeous! I particularly love how the author keeps vital characters alive, never letting them languish or leave one thinking what's happened to them. 3 of my favourite awesome characters are Brilliance, a snowtiger, Kela, a dog and Fastness, a horse. Animals, really? Animals, I hear you say but aha, THESE are not just animals, they are sometimes so much more! Plus there's Trolls and Goblins and Dwalves and Elves and Dragons...
There is something so fundamentally appealing about Cinder, as if the goodness in him is leaking out of every pore, enveloping me, enticing me to protect him, to love him. The growth in Cinder throughout this series is staggering. From a perceived halfwit to a man of immense strength, not only physically but of magic, resolve and intelligence. Anya is fearsome, she's strong, she's a warrior and she's also a princess and very much the black sheep of her Elven family. A wonderful character, so complex yet at the same time easy to decipher. Where these two find themselves, what they undertake, how they both triumph and fail, what they have to do, makes my hair stand on end!
The action and plot are simply divine and I love the attention to detail without it overwhelming me in irrelevant descriptions. This book and series is like a chess game between master chess players, just as I think, check mate, the author moves a piece on the board to stump me, to let me know there are still a few moves I didn't predict. How very exciting! For me at any rate. There were so many moments that had me emotional, some were tearful moments, some were moments of distress, some were moments of sheer bliss, like when Anya saves Cinder from what should have been a fatal wound, which is when the fog lifted for her. How do I even begin to capture who Rukh and Jessira are? Who Shokan and Sira are? It's impossible to capture the extent of this involute tale, it just leaves me with the conviction that everyone should read it and get lost in this world, much as I did.
August 1, 2023
Most of this review will be critique so to make it clear at the beginning, this is a very enjoyable book. The pacing is mostly good, the dialogue fantastic, characters fun, and the action is tense.
However, this series is running the risk of being one or two books too long. First, Cinder's character arc is finished and now he's starting to become a Paul Atreides or Ender Wiggin (that's a bad thing b/c I don't think Ashura is trying to make the same point). Cinder is basically a god now and is completely perfect: every action, every decision, every idea and ideal is perfect and without flaw. He always has the right answer, power, thought, whatever. Worse, he's being treated like a god. While Cinder is "humble" about the whole thing, the adoration others heap on him isn't unwarranted. He's becoming very one-dimensional and boring. In the subsequent books, either Cinder needs to start making real, consequential mistakes, be wrong on things, or be relegated to a side character. It would probably be best if he is no longer a POV character except for the occasionally paragraph.
Related, the gap between Anya and Cinder is hurting their relationship structure. It's just too great and Anya has been reduced to the stock arm candy/damsel-in-distress. Everything for her revolves around Cinder and it's sad to see a once awesome, strong, independent female character nerfed like this. One of the great things about much of Cinder and Anya's relationship in the past, and especially Rukh and Jessira's is that it always felt relatively balanced (although Rukh was a little more favored than necessary). That balance needs to be restored and Ashura did hint at it with Anya's desire to level up the elves. That ought to be the focus of the next book and their relationship needs balance back. She needs to have an agenda of her own that isn't trailing after Cinder and deferring solely to him.
Third, the series is starting to get awfully repetitive. The same handful of ideals are being repeated over and over and over again. Same goes for the descriptors and emotions. Yes, brotherhood is great but it isn't necessary to go into how teary-eyed all the Shokans get when they reunite after a couple of days apart and how they're all "brothers." We got it the first twenty times and the more it's repeated, the less effect it has. Let's add some variety in philosophy and emotion. Also, enough with the "basso roar" and "ulating cries."
Again, very good book and I enjoyed it greatly but the series is on the edge of becoming very stale, very quickly.
However, this series is running the risk of being one or two books too long. First, Cinder's character arc is finished and now he's starting to become a Paul Atreides or Ender Wiggin (that's a bad thing b/c I don't think Ashura is trying to make the same point). Cinder is basically a god now and is completely perfect: every action, every decision, every idea and ideal is perfect and without flaw. He always has the right answer, power, thought, whatever. Worse, he's being treated like a god. While Cinder is "humble" about the whole thing, the adoration others heap on him isn't unwarranted. He's becoming very one-dimensional and boring. In the subsequent books, either Cinder needs to start making real, consequential mistakes, be wrong on things, or be relegated to a side character. It would probably be best if he is no longer a POV character except for the occasionally paragraph.
Related, the gap between Anya and Cinder is hurting their relationship structure. It's just too great and Anya has been reduced to the stock arm candy/damsel-in-distress. Everything for her revolves around Cinder and it's sad to see a once awesome, strong, independent female character nerfed like this. One of the great things about much of Cinder and Anya's relationship in the past, and especially Rukh and Jessira's is that it always felt relatively balanced (although Rukh was a little more favored than necessary). That balance needs to be restored and Ashura did hint at it with Anya's desire to level up the elves. That ought to be the focus of the next book and their relationship needs balance back. She needs to have an agenda of her own that isn't trailing after Cinder and deferring solely to him.
Third, the series is starting to get awfully repetitive. The same handful of ideals are being repeated over and over and over again. Same goes for the descriptors and emotions. Yes, brotherhood is great but it isn't necessary to go into how teary-eyed all the Shokans get when they reunite after a couple of days apart and how they're all "brothers." We got it the first twenty times and the more it's repeated, the less effect it has. Let's add some variety in philosophy and emotion. Also, enough with the "basso roar" and "ulating cries."
Again, very good book and I enjoyed it greatly but the series is on the edge of becoming very stale, very quickly.
July 15, 2023
Overall, I think this book was a marvelous addition to the world built by Ashura! For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I'll say I was slightly disappointed over what happened to the main characters in the previous book, even though it made sense within the story sphere. This book held SOME of that same disappointment, BUT I will say that I was much more pleased with how Ashura handled it this go around. Not that I am saying his writing was poor in the previous book, in any form, but I feel that the direction the story is headed was handled in a more palatable way.
Now that I have likely thoroughly confused you all (just read the book, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to understand which parts I am discussing!), let's move on.
I've said it before and I will say it again: Ashura is a master at character growth. I am continually amazed as I read his works because even the supporting characters are given ample focus and development within the story, which speaks to Ashura's attention to detail.
This book feels very much like its setting the stage for something REALLY big, and I am excited to see how the story plays out from this point forward! The Titans are a group to watch, as I'm feeling though there are some surprises in store from them, as well as from the dwarves.
If you have enjoyed Ashura's works so far, trust me, you will enjoy this one!
I greatly, greatly appreciate Ashura sending me a copy of this book to read (despite my being horribly slow in doing so). Thank you for writing such wonderful stories, keeping me awake for far too late at night for 'just one more chapter', and making me irrationally angry at characters who I've become incredibly fond of through these stories. (When's the next book???)
Now that I have likely thoroughly confused you all (just read the book, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to understand which parts I am discussing!), let's move on.
I've said it before and I will say it again: Ashura is a master at character growth. I am continually amazed as I read his works because even the supporting characters are given ample focus and development within the story, which speaks to Ashura's attention to detail.
This book feels very much like its setting the stage for something REALLY big, and I am excited to see how the story plays out from this point forward! The Titans are a group to watch, as I'm feeling though there are some surprises in store from them, as well as from the dwarves.
If you have enjoyed Ashura's works so far, trust me, you will enjoy this one!
I greatly, greatly appreciate Ashura sending me a copy of this book to read (despite my being horribly slow in doing so). Thank you for writing such wonderful stories, keeping me awake for far too late at night for 'just one more chapter', and making me irrationally angry at characters who I've become incredibly fond of through these stories. (When's the next book???)
May 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this story.
We learn more about the Dwarves, who they are, who they were, and how Shokan created them.
The Shokans rejoin Anya and Cinder and train with Fastness to truly be worthy of the name they chose for their unit.
The book ends with a massive battle scene which is really well done, and once again reveals the dedication Cinder and Anya have for one another, the powers of Shokan and Sira, and the devastation of war.
There are so many aspects of this novel that cry out to be highlighted, but to avoid spoilers I will just say that Mr. Ashura continues to bring together the various threads that he has created into a beautiful tapestry for our enjoyment.
His writing as always is amazing, and his character development is superb.
And I must say, that Brilliance really comes into her own throughout the story and she becomes almost as much fun to read about as Aia has been in the past... almost.
We also learn more about the history of the Rakshasas, the Three Sisters, the Titans, and a number of the nations within Seminal.
I will anxiously await the next installment of this novel, and am excited to see if Blood of a Novice has the same power to it as the Instrument of Omens series, something to tide me over until we get the next novel and can get more of Cinder and Anya's story, and maybe if we're lucky, some exposition AFTER that battle on the anchor line with Shet and Rukh and Jessira and Cinder and Anya.
We learn more about the Dwarves, who they are, who they were, and how Shokan created them.
The Shokans rejoin Anya and Cinder and train with Fastness to truly be worthy of the name they chose for their unit.
The book ends with a massive battle scene which is really well done, and once again reveals the dedication Cinder and Anya have for one another, the powers of Shokan and Sira, and the devastation of war.
There are so many aspects of this novel that cry out to be highlighted, but to avoid spoilers I will just say that Mr. Ashura continues to bring together the various threads that he has created into a beautiful tapestry for our enjoyment.
His writing as always is amazing, and his character development is superb.
And I must say, that Brilliance really comes into her own throughout the story and she becomes almost as much fun to read about as Aia has been in the past... almost.
We also learn more about the history of the Rakshasas, the Three Sisters, the Titans, and a number of the nations within Seminal.
I will anxiously await the next installment of this novel, and am excited to see if Blood of a Novice has the same power to it as the Instrument of Omens series, something to tide me over until we get the next novel and can get more of Cinder and Anya's story, and maybe if we're lucky, some exposition AFTER that battle on the anchor line with Shet and Rukh and Jessira and Cinder and Anya.
April 4, 2023
Great book!
Enjoyed the story and glad to see cinder and Anya like each other again.
My only real complaint was the number of POV shifts, many I didn't find that interesting. They were short tho. It made keeping track of everything harder, a shame since the story started with a heavy focus on cinder, and this book had 40% of it alternate pov's, losing that cinder focus.
I found many of the pov shifts didn't add to the story. They sort of advanced the plot, indirectly but I think we could have achieved the plot without many of them. I think it was enough to be aware of it happening in the background which could have been achieved with a few POV shifts.
But it was good anyways so who am I to complain.
Enjoyed the story and glad to see cinder and Anya like each other again.
My only real complaint was the number of POV shifts, many I didn't find that interesting. They were short tho. It made keeping track of everything harder, a shame since the story started with a heavy focus on cinder, and this book had 40% of it alternate pov's, losing that cinder focus.
I found many of the pov shifts didn't add to the story. They sort of advanced the plot, indirectly but I think we could have achieved the plot without many of them. I think it was enough to be aware of it happening in the background which could have been achieved with a few POV shifts.
But it was good anyways so who am I to complain.
April 3, 2023
Amazing!
I really love all of these books and all the different lives of these characters can't wait for the next book to come out!
I really love all of these books and all the different lives of these characters can't wait for the next book to come out!
April 1, 2023
Brilliant!
Bonds of Truths ( Instruments of Omens Book 4) is exactly what we have come to expect from a Davis Ashura book , Brilliant !
Bonds of Truths ( Instruments of Omens Book 4) is exactly what we have come to expect from a Davis Ashura book , Brilliant !
March 29, 2023
What a Great Book
This book does not disappoint, what a awesome read. I can't wait for the next book in the series, I just hope it isn't a year for the next one. Keep up the great work!!!
This book does not disappoint, what a awesome read. I can't wait for the next book in the series, I just hope it isn't a year for the next one. Keep up the great work!!!
March 30, 2023
Great
Love this story line the most out of all the related series. Highly recommend. Mostly just sad that I need to wait again for the next book. Keep up the great work!
Love this story line the most out of all the related series. Highly recommend. Mostly just sad that I need to wait again for the next book. Keep up the great work!
October 5, 2024
Rating 3.5 stars
The same issues I had with book 3 are still there in this book. One of the questions I have is, how long is this series going to continue? I was expecting this one to be a trilogy just like the last one. Yet here we are on book 4 and it still isn't the end. While I do enjoy the writing at times, it is very long winded. There are parts that are interesting and other parts that I just zone out to. I am tired of the memory issues. I will probably continue the series; I just really wish I knew how many more before the end.
The same issues I had with book 3 are still there in this book. One of the questions I have is, how long is this series going to continue? I was expecting this one to be a trilogy just like the last one. Yet here we are on book 4 and it still isn't the end. While I do enjoy the writing at times, it is very long winded. There are parts that are interesting and other parts that I just zone out to. I am tired of the memory issues. I will probably continue the series; I just really wish I knew how many more before the end.
June 13, 2025
A wonderful ending to the series, however......
(May contain spoilers-be aware)
I have taken a long journey into the world(s). created by our author. I am glad (on one hand) but seemingly sad (on the other). The story line is brought to a close but is not completely closed.
I hope the author brings himself back to the series and gives ball of his readers complete clouser.
I will continue to read the other books he has written as I an enjoying his style.
Read the series for yourself.
The story
(May contain spoilers-be aware)
I have taken a long journey into the world(s). created by our author. I am glad (on one hand) but seemingly sad (on the other). The story line is brought to a close but is not completely closed.
I hope the author brings himself back to the series and gives ball of his readers complete clouser.
I will continue to read the other books he has written as I an enjoying his style.
Read the series for yourself.
The story
February 18, 2024
Much better than book 3 by far
This book was much better than book 3. Even with the author trying to justify the stupidity of some of that writing, thank goodness this book #4 almost makes up for it. However, as good as this book is, it’s still not even close to perfect. The MC’s arrogance is still off the charts. But all the characters around him are almost as arrogant, so it’s all equal.
This book was much better than book 3. Even with the author trying to justify the stupidity of some of that writing, thank goodness this book #4 almost makes up for it. However, as good as this book is, it’s still not even close to perfect. The MC’s arrogance is still off the charts. But all the characters around him are almost as arrogant, so it’s all equal.
June 12, 2023
Another great installment
This was the best one yet. Great story, great descriptions, and a robust world. I can't wait for book 5. I do wish that the x-ray feature was better used as there are many characters to keep track of, but the story itself is my favorite since I read the wheel of time.
This was the best one yet. Great story, great descriptions, and a robust world. I can't wait for book 5. I do wish that the x-ray feature was better used as there are many characters to keep track of, but the story itself is my favorite since I read the wheel of time.
July 7, 2023
The Story Continues and the tensions grow.
This book ended so abruptly that I stood up in my chair. But where is the rest!!! I want to know more asap! It is engaging, and roads are starting to all lead to Rome. Finally starting to get all of the old friends together for what's to come. Thanks for this book! Can't wait for the next one!
This book ended so abruptly that I stood up in my chair. But where is the rest!!! I want to know more asap! It is engaging, and roads are starting to all lead to Rome. Finally starting to get all of the old friends together for what's to come. Thanks for this book! Can't wait for the next one!
July 20, 2023
Oh boy another one get to comd
I've been waiting like forever to read this book and now its gone and I want the next one. What a great addition to an amazing story. I am concerned about Anya being an elf but I'm sure Davis will work that out. Anyway great book can't wait for the next in the series but please Davis don't make us wait so long.
I've been waiting like forever to read this book and now its gone and I want the next one. What a great addition to an amazing story. I am concerned about Anya being an elf but I'm sure Davis will work that out. Anyway great book can't wait for the next in the series but please Davis don't make us wait so long.
July 26, 2023
Great series
Continued excitement of the progression of Cinder and Anya. I particularly like how you incorporate the weave with the interaction with Shet. I can't hardly wait to see how they plan to free the dragon Shon from Shet's control. Get writing my friend the anticipation is killing me.
Continued excitement of the progression of Cinder and Anya. I particularly like how you incorporate the weave with the interaction with Shet. I can't hardly wait to see how they plan to free the dragon Shon from Shet's control. Get writing my friend the anticipation is killing me.
October 11, 2023
I'm in love with this series
Action, intrigue, interesting characters and story line. What more could you ask for in a book! I started with "Testament of Steel" and was hooked. Do yourself a favor and read all of the books in this series and his other books. All available for your kindle, so not trips out needed!
Action, intrigue, interesting characters and story line. What more could you ask for in a book! I started with "Testament of Steel" and was hooked. Do yourself a favor and read all of the books in this series and his other books. All available for your kindle, so not trips out needed!
May 3, 2023
Favorite Fantasy-Adventure Author
Brilliant development of character and plot lines. The depth of emotion leaps out of the pages. Great read for all looking to escape to many different realms.
Brilliant development of character and plot lines. The depth of emotion leaps out of the pages. Great read for all looking to escape to many different realms.
May 14, 2023
Simple but well executed
Overall a quick fun read, I blasted through it in a couple of days. Some of the worn tropes are present throughout but overall it’s great to see how much Davis’s writing has improved!
Overall a quick fun read, I blasted through it in a couple of days. Some of the worn tropes are present throughout but overall it’s great to see how much Davis’s writing has improved!
May 15, 2023
very good
The story continues at a good pace, picking up from book 3. The storylines of multiple characters are now becoming more prevalent and are woven together expertly. A really enjoyable read!
The story continues at a good pace, picking up from book 3. The storylines of multiple characters are now becoming more prevalent and are woven together expertly. A really enjoyable read!
July 17, 2023
A good entry in a solid series
Definitely recommend if you’ve read the other 3 books. Story is fleshed out, character growth is solid, action scenes are great. A solid entry for sure
Definitely recommend if you’ve read the other 3 books. Story is fleshed out, character growth is solid, action scenes are great. A solid entry for sure
March 31, 2023
This was a fantastic continuation of the series. Cinder & Anya cover a lot of ground, but the story never felt rushed.
April 6, 2023
Such an amazing book. Really loved the series and it was such an awesome continuation of the series. Love the story and worldbuilding.
April 6, 2023
love this story
Great read and will continue to follow this series. Just wish all the POVs would be reduced as it’s confusing and I skip over alot of those sections
Great read and will continue to follow this series. Just wish all the POVs would be reduced as it’s confusing and I skip over alot of those sections
April 26, 2023
great
I will say more when I read the last book. If and when it release. If it as good as the rest, hum?
I will say more when I read the last book. If and when it release. If it as good as the rest, hum?
April 27, 2023
Better than book 3. How many books can he string this story along?!
Best Scene:
"Roar,' Brilliance said ....
Kela: "Whoof. I meant growl and growl" ... "Are you afraid?"
Best Scene:
"Roar,' Brilliance said ....
Kela: "Whoof. I meant growl and growl" ... "Are you afraid?"
May 4, 2023
Great Read
I'm not able to write well or even come close to telling how much I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the story immensely and am looking forward to the next nook!
I'm not able to write well or even come close to telling how much I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the story immensely and am looking forward to the next nook!
June 17, 2023
Love it!
Great story! Love the characters! Love the different worlds and the belief that anyone can be redeemed no matter what kind of life they've led.
Great story! Love the characters! Love the different worlds and the belief that anyone can be redeemed no matter what kind of life they've led.
June 30, 2023
This 4th book in the series was a bit less impressive than the previous 3. Too often I felt things were falling into place too smoothly. Especially during the first part of the book.
Still a very solid release!
Still a very solid release!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews