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The Rhythm of Rivalry #2
Bastial Steel
Dragged to an unfamiliar continent transformed by war and monstrous creatures, Cleve's path home has never been less clear. With a place in a king's plot, a princess who wants to marry him, and the companionship of a brash Sartious mage, Cleve learns that--while some battles are won with a sword--others are played out through a more delicate dance.
But Cleve has never been one for delicacy.
Soon he's making tidal waves in every puddle he crosses on his path to return home.
But Cleve has never been one for delicacy.
Soon he's making tidal waves in every puddle he crosses on his path to return home.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2013
125 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 1, 2013
The series just gets better and better.
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December 11, 2021So...this is the 5th B. T. Narro book I'm reading and I'm seeing some patterns.
So if you read one of this author's books it seems you're in for (and it's not all bad Or good):
- main characters that show a modern day equalitarian viewpoint towards women's autonomy and rights to marriage and independence. Despite the medieval (swords and horse drawn carts era) time period.
- in fact the people who don't are quite clearly delineated as the villains.
- Long journeys involving travel in a group. And ensuing mid travel encounters and obstacles.
- moments that seem anachronistic.
- The main characters all seem to have quite similar character viewpoints: independent, yet able to appeal socially; highly advanced skills in a field for their age/race; a viewpoint that is open to the rights of other's perspectives (even people trying to kill them)(frustratingly so at times); an inherent aversion to killing - yet willing to do so as needed; values friends and teamwork and a bit idealistic in how they think everything will turn out.
As you can imagine, this doesn't make for a Bad main characters per se. But it gets predictable when it's the THIRD similar main character in different series. It feels a bit tiring to experience it over again.
On this book:
Slight spoiler.
+ DANG but they made a few of the female characters irredeemably annoying in fundamental personality traits and actions. And the way everyone else handled them just had me SUPER frustrated. That girl child in the village of 'intended kidnappers' - her in particular!! That female soldier/warrior lady who travelled with our two boys on the 'rescue the wife and son' mission - I didn't even bother remembering her name. Just a straight sexual creeper, that although they acknowledged the innappropriateness of.... Still just made me retch a little. Like damn.
+ And even the princesses. Like the authors perspective was Very forgiving on her, despite her willfulness, and not in a more realistic "she has power and arrogance that she abuses due to her position in this time period, so people must succumb to or navigate her whims", but in a softer, cop-out way that felt like "aw and they all made friends and bonded tightly and everything became ok."
I didn't even dislike this book. But it's getting a little similar.
So if you read one of this author's books it seems you're in for (and it's not all bad Or good):
- main characters that show a modern day equalitarian viewpoint towards women's autonomy and rights to marriage and independence. Despite the medieval (swords and horse drawn carts era) time period.
- in fact the people who don't are quite clearly delineated as the villains.
- Long journeys involving travel in a group. And ensuing mid travel encounters and obstacles.
- moments that seem anachronistic.
- The main characters all seem to have quite similar character viewpoints: independent, yet able to appeal socially; highly advanced skills in a field for their age/race; a viewpoint that is open to the rights of other's perspectives (even people trying to kill them)(frustratingly so at times); an inherent aversion to killing - yet willing to do so as needed; values friends and teamwork and a bit idealistic in how they think everything will turn out.
As you can imagine, this doesn't make for a Bad main characters per se. But it gets predictable when it's the THIRD similar main character in different series. It feels a bit tiring to experience it over again.
On this book:
Slight spoiler.
+ DANG but they made a few of the female characters irredeemably annoying in fundamental personality traits and actions. And the way everyone else handled them just had me SUPER frustrated. That girl child in the village of 'intended kidnappers' - her in particular!! That female soldier/warrior lady who travelled with our two boys on the 'rescue the wife and son' mission - I didn't even bother remembering her name. Just a straight sexual creeper, that although they acknowledged the innappropriateness of.... Still just made me retch a little. Like damn.
+ And even the princesses. Like the authors perspective was Very forgiving on her, despite her willfulness, and not in a more realistic "she has power and arrogance that she abuses due to her position in this time period, so people must succumb to or navigate her whims", but in a softer, cop-out way that felt like "aw and they all made friends and bonded tightly and everything became ok."
I didn't even dislike this book. But it's getting a little similar.
May 9, 2020
Too many story lines
Too many story lines couldn’t even finish it. The plot is never going anywhere. I read his latest book which seems to be an improvement from first series. He honestly just needed an impartial editor.
Too many story lines couldn’t even finish it. The plot is never going anywhere. I read his latest book which seems to be an improvement from first series. He honestly just needed an impartial editor.
July 21, 2023
Great!
I can't get enough of these books! Still love them on my second read through. On to the next book!
I can't get enough of these books! Still love them on my second read through. On to the next book!
April 5, 2019
In this epic culmination of the series, Cleve returns to Greenedge in hopes of keeping the war from reaching his homeland. But he never expected what’s happened in his absence. The four kings have been killed by an emerging army, displacing Jek and the Takarys—Cleve’s only trusted allies. Desperate to find them, he turns to the very man responsible for their absence. Meanwhile, Jek faces the toughest challenge of his life when his king is murdered and he’s forced to flee the land he’s sworn to protect. Now with five armies at war, Jek struggles to understand who he should be fighting against, especially when his old friend Cleve is seen marching with known enemies. Whatever Jek decides, it had better be soon. The green fog of desmarls covers more of the continent each day. The man-eating monsters grow hungry, and their muscle far exceeds any of the five armies at war.
Love this series! Jumps around a bit but keeps flowing and holds you til the end. Great reading Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this series! Jumps around a bit but keeps flowing and holds you til the end. Great reading Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 10, 2014
Bastial Steel by B. T. Narro is an excellent continuation of The Rhythm of Rivalry Series and will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is easily a stand-alone book and also an integral part of the series.
The author did a great job of storytelling as he developed his tale of adventure and action. It is easy to follow and hard to put down as the story continues to build. I really liked how every time I thought it was slowing down there would be a new plot twist.
B.T. Narro did a great job of continuing to build his lead characters we were introduced to in Bastial Energy, book one of the series. We continue to see the strength and maturity grow in each as they overcome the various challenges they meet.
I really enjoyed reading Bastial Steel by B.T. Narro and I highly recommend this book to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
The author did a great job of storytelling as he developed his tale of adventure and action. It is easy to follow and hard to put down as the story continues to build. I really liked how every time I thought it was slowing down there would be a new plot twist.
B.T. Narro did a great job of continuing to build his lead characters we were introduced to in Bastial Energy, book one of the series. We continue to see the strength and maturity grow in each as they overcome the various challenges they meet.
I really enjoyed reading Bastial Steel by B.T. Narro and I highly recommend this book to all readers.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
January 7, 2015
I rated ths book a four although some of the plot was confusing at points and seemed to skip some key points. but were introduced later into the story. Im not sure how well girls would like this book but it matched my type of genre. I would probably read this book again if i was bored.
February 5, 2016
again this was a really amazing story, but again i felt it needed more of an adult side to it.
April 14, 2017
Bastial Steel was a step back in the Rhythm of Rivalry. While it was great following Cleve on his adventures in Greenedge, it felt too cliche and jumpy at times. I would have loved to have more perspective from Jek, as I was a fan of him in The Sartious Mage. Many of the impressions we as readers had of certain characters in Sartious Mage changed drastically in Bastial Steel. I'm hoping that these characters will make an appearance again, as throughout the book they spoke knowing they would see each other again. I am still excited for the next book in the series, as this left me wanting to know more about what was happening back in Ovira.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews