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Turrim Archive #2
Mantles of Oak and Iron
Grayden thought he had four years to decide his future… he was wrong.
War is imminent. The Igyeum has already begun incursions across Telmondir’s borders. The headmaster of the military academy issues a new directive: all students will be fast-tracked through the program. They will be full-fledged defenders by the end of the year. But when a training exercise turns deadly, Grayden must keep his head and become the leader his friends need.
Captain Marik has witnessed evil beyond imagining. Enough to make him sign on to the wizard Dalmir’s cause. But will the council of the west accept a pirate among their ranks? And will Marik’s crew join this mission, or will they consider him a traitor to all they once stood for?
And deep in the mountains lurks a hidden danger that threatens them all.
War is imminent. The Igyeum has already begun incursions across Telmondir’s borders. The headmaster of the military academy issues a new directive: all students will be fast-tracked through the program. They will be full-fledged defenders by the end of the year. But when a training exercise turns deadly, Grayden must keep his head and become the leader his friends need.
Captain Marik has witnessed evil beyond imagining. Enough to make him sign on to the wizard Dalmir’s cause. But will the council of the west accept a pirate among their ranks? And will Marik’s crew join this mission, or will they consider him a traitor to all they once stood for?
And deep in the mountains lurks a hidden danger that threatens them all.
432 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2024
About the author
Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
22 books272 followersCome along with me on an epic adventure. We will face dragons (we might even ride them), we will pilot airships. We will fight villains. We will join a pirate crew. We will wield magical swords. We will fight the forces of evil.
And we will be home in time for dinner.
But we will not go home unchanged.
Fantastical adventures ahead! But be warned:
Safe Return Doubtful!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
During the days, I wrangle four small hobbits and help them along on their adventures.
Basically, I'm Gandalf.
But come evenings, when the hobbits are sleeping... I become my alter-ego: PLOT WIZARD (still a wizard, just a different kind)... and adventures await in the pages I scribble upon.
I'm a dreamer, a relentless opener of doors in the hope of someday finding passage to Narnia, and story girl.
I love hanging out on Goodreads, but it's not the best for actual conversation. If you want to chat books with me, come find me on instagram: @JenelleLSchmidt or at my blog: https://jenelleschmidt.com/blog
And we will be home in time for dinner.
But we will not go home unchanged.
Fantastical adventures ahead! But be warned:
Safe Return Doubtful!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
During the days, I wrangle four small hobbits and help them along on their adventures.
Basically, I'm Gandalf.
But come evenings, when the hobbits are sleeping... I become my alter-ego: PLOT WIZARD (still a wizard, just a different kind)... and adventures await in the pages I scribble upon.
I'm a dreamer, a relentless opener of doors in the hope of someday finding passage to Narnia, and story girl.
I love hanging out on Goodreads, but it's not the best for actual conversation. If you want to chat books with me, come find me on instagram: @JenelleLSchmidt or at my blog: https://jenelleschmidt.com/blog
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 2, 2025
I loved The Orb and the Airship, so naturally I was excited to read the second book in the series and discover the continuing adventures of Grayden, Wynn, Beren, Dalmir, and especially Captain Marik in this crew. And I'm happy to say that Mantles of Oak and Iron does not disappoint!
Unsurprisingly, Captain Marik remains my favorite character. The day the airship pirate captain with rough edges and a heart of gold isn’t my favorite character (or at least in my top five) is the same day y’all should hustle me off to a doctor and make sure I haven’t hit my head and spontaneously developed a new personality (or been taken over by an alien parasite). Is he perfect? No. He’ll be the first to tell you he’s no hero. But he wants to do good, more than he’s been doing, and it’s wonderful to see him continuing down the hero’s path here and seeking to work with Dalmir and the rest of our friends in the fight against evil. And I also liked seeing how the relationships between him and his crew continue to develop as secrets are revealed and trust is tested.
Another aspect of this book I appreciated was seeing more of the broad scope of the story and world. We get this in multiple ways, actually. We see new areas of the conflict and new parts of the world as the boys undergo training at the academy, Dalmir seeks to aid and be aided by the leaders of the free part of the world, and Marik and his crew travel and do their thing. Additionally, we get some new POVs, both heroic and villainous, that reveal additional facets of what’s going on.
On that note, I do recommend rereading The Orb and the Airship before you pick up Mantles of Oak and Iron. This is not a criticism in any sense, to be clear. But the Turrim Archive is an epic gaslamp fantasy world, and the first few chapters open with (I think) some of those new POVs. As a result, I found myself in a loop of “Wait, who’s this? Is this person new, or should I recognize that name?” It does not help at all that I read The Orb and the Airship almost a year ago, and I’ve read a lot of other books since. I caught up after a few chapters, but it still made for a little bit of a rough entry. (Of course, some of you probably reread previous books in the series before picking up the new installment anyway, and I normally would’ve done that, but . . . time. I do not get along with it right now.)
That said, I did enjoy the new POVs, and I liked meeting some new characters and getting to know some minor characters better. My favorite of the new characters is Ioan — by midway through his second appearance on page, I'd decided I wanted to be friends with him. (In his first appearance, I was still stuck trying to figure out which names I should and shouldn’t already know.) I mean, he’s a friend of Beren (my favorite character after Marik), so that already won him some points . . . but I also just like him in general, and he’d probably still have snuck onto my favorites list even without Beren’s boost. Besides Ioan, I enjoyed meeting the Regeont. There’s also an antagonistic POV character who I was initially meh on but am now kind of invested in, and I'm very excited to see where his storyline goes in book three. If you want to know who it is, well, you'll have to read the book for yourself.
Character-wise, one last thing I appreciated was that Mantles, like its predecessor, is pretty much a nomance. While I noticed a seed or two being planted that I expect will sprout in the future, for the most part, this book is focused on friendships, alliances, and familial relationships, and I really appreciated that. I love a good romance as much as the next girl, but sometimes you want to focus on other things!
As far as the plot goes, Mantles starts a little slow (especially due to the new POVs), but it picks up fairly quickly. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the adventure, and I think the different subplots were balanced well. Everything has just the right amount of space to breathe without being drawn out too much. And I have to say, it's refreshing to read an epic fantasy that's not ridiculously long! It's a very comfortable 400-some pages, long enough to sink your teeth into but also short enough to finish in an afternoon (if reading in one sitting) or under a week (if you're reading a bit every night, as I do).
All in all, an excellent book, and I'm excited to get my hands on book 3!
Unsurprisingly, Captain Marik remains my favorite character. The day the airship pirate captain with rough edges and a heart of gold isn’t my favorite character (or at least in my top five) is the same day y’all should hustle me off to a doctor and make sure I haven’t hit my head and spontaneously developed a new personality (or been taken over by an alien parasite). Is he perfect? No. He’ll be the first to tell you he’s no hero. But he wants to do good, more than he’s been doing, and it’s wonderful to see him continuing down the hero’s path here and seeking to work with Dalmir and the rest of our friends in the fight against evil. And I also liked seeing how the relationships between him and his crew continue to develop as secrets are revealed and trust is tested.
Another aspect of this book I appreciated was seeing more of the broad scope of the story and world. We get this in multiple ways, actually. We see new areas of the conflict and new parts of the world as the boys undergo training at the academy, Dalmir seeks to aid and be aided by the leaders of the free part of the world, and Marik and his crew travel and do their thing. Additionally, we get some new POVs, both heroic and villainous, that reveal additional facets of what’s going on.
On that note, I do recommend rereading The Orb and the Airship before you pick up Mantles of Oak and Iron. This is not a criticism in any sense, to be clear. But the Turrim Archive is an epic gaslamp fantasy world, and the first few chapters open with (I think) some of those new POVs. As a result, I found myself in a loop of “Wait, who’s this? Is this person new, or should I recognize that name?” It does not help at all that I read The Orb and the Airship almost a year ago, and I’ve read a lot of other books since. I caught up after a few chapters, but it still made for a little bit of a rough entry. (Of course, some of you probably reread previous books in the series before picking up the new installment anyway, and I normally would’ve done that, but . . . time. I do not get along with it right now.)
That said, I did enjoy the new POVs, and I liked meeting some new characters and getting to know some minor characters better. My favorite of the new characters is Ioan — by midway through his second appearance on page, I'd decided I wanted to be friends with him. (In his first appearance, I was still stuck trying to figure out which names I should and shouldn’t already know.) I mean, he’s a friend of Beren (my favorite character after Marik), so that already won him some points . . . but I also just like him in general, and he’d probably still have snuck onto my favorites list even without Beren’s boost. Besides Ioan, I enjoyed meeting the Regeont. There’s also an antagonistic POV character who I was initially meh on but am now kind of invested in, and I'm very excited to see where his storyline goes in book three. If you want to know who it is, well, you'll have to read the book for yourself.
Character-wise, one last thing I appreciated was that Mantles, like its predecessor, is pretty much a nomance. While I noticed a seed or two being planted that I expect will sprout in the future, for the most part, this book is focused on friendships, alliances, and familial relationships, and I really appreciated that. I love a good romance as much as the next girl, but sometimes you want to focus on other things!
As far as the plot goes, Mantles starts a little slow (especially due to the new POVs), but it picks up fairly quickly. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the adventure, and I think the different subplots were balanced well. Everything has just the right amount of space to breathe without being drawn out too much. And I have to say, it's refreshing to read an epic fantasy that's not ridiculously long! It's a very comfortable 400-some pages, long enough to sink your teeth into but also short enough to finish in an afternoon (if reading in one sitting) or under a week (if you're reading a bit every night, as I do).
All in all, an excellent book, and I'm excited to get my hands on book 3!
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January 17, 202413 Reasons Not to Read Mantles of Oak and Iron
1. You don’t like pirates.
If you don’t like pirates, you definitely should not read the Turrim Archive books. Pirates feature rather heavily in this series. Airship pirates, to be precise. Swashbuckling, devil-may-care pirates who are angry at the world at large and really have a problem with the tyrannical government and evil warlord dictator who holds sway over their homeland. They might have hearts of gold, but they do steal for a living, and they’re not sorry about it.
2. You don’t like stories about bonds of brotherhood forged in times of hardship.
The friendships that were begun in book 1 grow and expand as Beren, Grayden, and Wynn attend their Military Academy classes and meet other students. Before the book is done, they will have to rely on each other quite a bit to survive the story.
“When you stand beside someone and face the enemy together, you become brothers. When you train together to defend our nations, you become brothers. The second you stepped across the Academy threshold, you became a part of this family.” ~Mantles of Oak and Iron
But I get that not everyone likes stories about brotherhood. So if that’s not your cup of tea, consider yourself warned!
3. You don’t like stories about wilderness survival.
There is quite a bit of “braving the elements” in this particular book. The characters brave frozen rivers, are attacked by grymstalkers, battle nightvines, endure an avalanche, and fight for their lives against every element I could think of. There’s a lot of wilderness and a lot of intense moments in which the characters have to struggle against that same wilderness in order to survive.
4. You don’t like mysterious mentor figures.
This should be one of those “how you know I wrote it” jokes, honestly. But seriously, if there’s a mysterious character who is waaaaaay older than is even possible, it’s probably something I wrote. Dalmir does reveal a bit more about his past in this story, but he still has enough mysterious backstory left to unfold when this one is over.
5. You don’t like airships.
I mean, sailing ships that fly through the air? Who doesn’t think that’s a cool concept? But if airships are not your jam… then you probably aren’t going to be interested in this series. Particularly if you don’t like airships that kinda don’t work without magic… because these ones were definitely inspired by the airships from Treasure Planet. (great movie, by the way!)
6. You don’t want to be immersed in a story with epic world building.
While my natural inclination is to be a little bit more C.S. Lewis with my world-building than J.R.R. Tolkien… “Look! And then Father Christmas showed up! Because… I like it!”
But I have a very attention-to-detail-oriented husband who reins me in when I want to just go crazy with the imaginative hand-wavium stuff. You can thank Derek if you like solid world-building. You can blame him if you’d prefer things to just happen “because: magic.”
7. You don’t enjoy political intrigue.
There’s rather a lot of it in this series. There are big political machinations. There are two sides of the world about to go to war. There are maneuvers and kidnappings and assassination attempts!
8. You prefer to read books with a lot of romance in them.
I’m not going to say this series has zero romance, but there’s not much of it. Especially in these first two books. This is not a romantasy story. It’s not a love story. Well… it is a love story, but it’s a love story from me to my brothers and my dad and my husband… it’s a story that I wanted the men in my life to be able to read and enjoy. It’s a story featuring brave men and good men doing manly things… and they’re far too busy protecting the world to be thinking about kissing.
9. You don’t like books with themes of hope and redemption.
This is not a grimdark series. You won’t find gritty realism or edgy dark fantasy here. This is noblebright fiction with threads of hope and light woven throughout. Yes, there is danger. Yes, there are morally gray areas and characters. Yes, there is darkness. To be honest, my villains in this story kind of scare me. But those things do not crowd out the themes of hope and courage and nobility.
10. You only like fantasy if it’s also an allegory.
This is not an allegory. Yes, I am a Christian, and yes, my worldview is apparent in the story, but preaching the Gospel is not the point of this series. One of the main characters in this series begins the story at a point in his life where he’s basically tried to turn his back on God and has been shirking his duty, which means that there’s not much in the way of mention of a Creator-figure or faith in book 1. I promise, it doesn’t stay that way… I’m a big fan of redemption stories myself… but there are some mountains to climb and valleys to sink into along the way. And though I hope that some people do manage to connect the dots if they are struggling with some of the same questions that the characters struggle with…. I also know that those aspects of the story are on the more subtle side. And they are that way on purpose.
11. You are hoping for an Academy story.
I’m sorry, but this is not a school story. This is not Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. It’s not a saga in which we spend several books following a set of characters through their years at school. If you were hoping that the next 4 books follow the boys through their 4 years at the Academy…. I’m sorry to disappoint you. Yes, you will get to go to the Academy with Grayden and Wynn and Beren in this book… but the world is accelerating toward war faster than anyone would like and Telmondir needs soldiers now more than ever.
12. You don’t like series.
I can’t help you here. I don’t have a lot of stand-alone recommendations because you see… I love series. They are my favorite. They always have been. Anything to spend a few more pages with my fictional best friends exploring their extremely epic worlds. Give me all the series. Turrim Archive is a series. It will have 5 books when it’s done, and I’m already low-key planning a sequel series set in the same world some hundreds of years after book 5 ends. Turrim is too fascinating to just stop writing about.
13. You haven’t read The Orb and the Airship yet.
I’d definitely recommend starting with book 1 in this series. Each book has a definite major story arc that begins and ends within the confines of its covers, but there is a vast, overarching story running across this series and it’s best to read the books in order as they were meant to be read. I have done my best to make sure the order of the books is clearly visible on the books themselves, but in case you missed it… Mantles of Oak and Iron is book 2 of this series!
1. You don’t like pirates.
If you don’t like pirates, you definitely should not read the Turrim Archive books. Pirates feature rather heavily in this series. Airship pirates, to be precise. Swashbuckling, devil-may-care pirates who are angry at the world at large and really have a problem with the tyrannical government and evil warlord dictator who holds sway over their homeland. They might have hearts of gold, but they do steal for a living, and they’re not sorry about it.
2. You don’t like stories about bonds of brotherhood forged in times of hardship.
The friendships that were begun in book 1 grow and expand as Beren, Grayden, and Wynn attend their Military Academy classes and meet other students. Before the book is done, they will have to rely on each other quite a bit to survive the story.
“When you stand beside someone and face the enemy together, you become brothers. When you train together to defend our nations, you become brothers. The second you stepped across the Academy threshold, you became a part of this family.” ~Mantles of Oak and Iron
But I get that not everyone likes stories about brotherhood. So if that’s not your cup of tea, consider yourself warned!
3. You don’t like stories about wilderness survival.
There is quite a bit of “braving the elements” in this particular book. The characters brave frozen rivers, are attacked by grymstalkers, battle nightvines, endure an avalanche, and fight for their lives against every element I could think of. There’s a lot of wilderness and a lot of intense moments in which the characters have to struggle against that same wilderness in order to survive.
4. You don’t like mysterious mentor figures.
This should be one of those “how you know I wrote it” jokes, honestly. But seriously, if there’s a mysterious character who is waaaaaay older than is even possible, it’s probably something I wrote. Dalmir does reveal a bit more about his past in this story, but he still has enough mysterious backstory left to unfold when this one is over.
5. You don’t like airships.
I mean, sailing ships that fly through the air? Who doesn’t think that’s a cool concept? But if airships are not your jam… then you probably aren’t going to be interested in this series. Particularly if you don’t like airships that kinda don’t work without magic… because these ones were definitely inspired by the airships from Treasure Planet. (great movie, by the way!)
6. You don’t want to be immersed in a story with epic world building.
While my natural inclination is to be a little bit more C.S. Lewis with my world-building than J.R.R. Tolkien… “Look! And then Father Christmas showed up! Because… I like it!”
But I have a very attention-to-detail-oriented husband who reins me in when I want to just go crazy with the imaginative hand-wavium stuff. You can thank Derek if you like solid world-building. You can blame him if you’d prefer things to just happen “because: magic.”
7. You don’t enjoy political intrigue.
There’s rather a lot of it in this series. There are big political machinations. There are two sides of the world about to go to war. There are maneuvers and kidnappings and assassination attempts!
8. You prefer to read books with a lot of romance in them.
I’m not going to say this series has zero romance, but there’s not much of it. Especially in these first two books. This is not a romantasy story. It’s not a love story. Well… it is a love story, but it’s a love story from me to my brothers and my dad and my husband… it’s a story that I wanted the men in my life to be able to read and enjoy. It’s a story featuring brave men and good men doing manly things… and they’re far too busy protecting the world to be thinking about kissing.
9. You don’t like books with themes of hope and redemption.
This is not a grimdark series. You won’t find gritty realism or edgy dark fantasy here. This is noblebright fiction with threads of hope and light woven throughout. Yes, there is danger. Yes, there are morally gray areas and characters. Yes, there is darkness. To be honest, my villains in this story kind of scare me. But those things do not crowd out the themes of hope and courage and nobility.
10. You only like fantasy if it’s also an allegory.
This is not an allegory. Yes, I am a Christian, and yes, my worldview is apparent in the story, but preaching the Gospel is not the point of this series. One of the main characters in this series begins the story at a point in his life where he’s basically tried to turn his back on God and has been shirking his duty, which means that there’s not much in the way of mention of a Creator-figure or faith in book 1. I promise, it doesn’t stay that way… I’m a big fan of redemption stories myself… but there are some mountains to climb and valleys to sink into along the way. And though I hope that some people do manage to connect the dots if they are struggling with some of the same questions that the characters struggle with…. I also know that those aspects of the story are on the more subtle side. And they are that way on purpose.
11. You are hoping for an Academy story.
I’m sorry, but this is not a school story. This is not Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. It’s not a saga in which we spend several books following a set of characters through their years at school. If you were hoping that the next 4 books follow the boys through their 4 years at the Academy…. I’m sorry to disappoint you. Yes, you will get to go to the Academy with Grayden and Wynn and Beren in this book… but the world is accelerating toward war faster than anyone would like and Telmondir needs soldiers now more than ever.
12. You don’t like series.
I can’t help you here. I don’t have a lot of stand-alone recommendations because you see… I love series. They are my favorite. They always have been. Anything to spend a few more pages with my fictional best friends exploring their extremely epic worlds. Give me all the series. Turrim Archive is a series. It will have 5 books when it’s done, and I’m already low-key planning a sequel series set in the same world some hundreds of years after book 5 ends. Turrim is too fascinating to just stop writing about.
13. You haven’t read The Orb and the Airship yet.
I’d definitely recommend starting with book 1 in this series. Each book has a definite major story arc that begins and ends within the confines of its covers, but there is a vast, overarching story running across this series and it’s best to read the books in order as they were meant to be read. I have done my best to make sure the order of the books is clearly visible on the books themselves, but in case you missed it… Mantles of Oak and Iron is book 2 of this series!
January 5, 2024
A compelling sequel to the first book...
If I had one word to describe this, it would be "rising tension." The author introduces several more key players, plot points, and details that contribute to the series overall. At first, I didn't understand why these characters were being introduced and longed to return to Dalmir, Marik, or Grayden's POV-the characters I had grown to love in the previous book. However, the author kept the chapters with the new characters blessedly short, and later on, it became apparent why those characters were integrated into the story.
Speaking of, Dalmir, Marik, and Grayden are as great as they were in the first book, and I loved learning more about Dalmir and Marik's background. In the previous novel, Wynn was my favorite. Even though I still love Wynn, I think Grayden is slowly taking his place. I look forward to seeing how the characters fare in the next installment.
As for the plot, it intensified as I read, slowly building in suspense like the previous novel. There were moments in this book where I was genuinely worried about my favorite characters and wondered who would make it out alive. Even after some of the plot points were resolved, there were more threads left open than the previous book, making me eagerly desire the next.
The first book read like a seafaring adventure, but this second one is more like a rising airship. The winds are blowing, carrying the airship away into a dark and ominous sky that foretells more to come.
If I had one word to describe this, it would be "rising tension." The author introduces several more key players, plot points, and details that contribute to the series overall. At first, I didn't understand why these characters were being introduced and longed to return to Dalmir, Marik, or Grayden's POV-the characters I had grown to love in the previous book. However, the author kept the chapters with the new characters blessedly short, and later on, it became apparent why those characters were integrated into the story.
Speaking of, Dalmir, Marik, and Grayden are as great as they were in the first book, and I loved learning more about Dalmir and Marik's background. In the previous novel, Wynn was my favorite. Even though I still love Wynn, I think Grayden is slowly taking his place. I look forward to seeing how the characters fare in the next installment.
As for the plot, it intensified as I read, slowly building in suspense like the previous novel. There were moments in this book where I was genuinely worried about my favorite characters and wondered who would make it out alive. Even after some of the plot points were resolved, there were more threads left open than the previous book, making me eagerly desire the next.
The first book read like a seafaring adventure, but this second one is more like a rising airship. The winds are blowing, carrying the airship away into a dark and ominous sky that foretells more to come.
July 31, 2026
After the events of The Orb and the Airship, the Igyeum and the Telmondir are on the brink of war, evil is rising, and the friends must all do their parts from those headed to military training, a mysterious mystic mentor, and to a dashing pirate captain.
Jenelle L Schmidt harkens listeners/readers back into a swashbuckling adventuresome brotherhood of friends classic-style fantasy. The Turrim world has grown as Grayden and his training friends, Wynn and Beren, ventured out in it and expands yet more as the storms of war draw everyone in. Old world evil and good, mysterious Dalmir is in the middle of this political plotting and intrigue among the leaders- hoping to redeem himself after dropping the ball on his watch- as opposing sides are slowly maneuvering like pieces on a giant chess board to clash once again. Of course, the underdog free part of the world is holding strong. Just.
My delight continues to be our daring, swashbuckling pirate, Captain Marik, whose conscience has worked on him and is leading him to an important choice. Will he join the fray and act for the good of others or continue along his own path with his intrepid airship and crew? He has seen what happens when he stood and watched evil go unopposed.
More characters, plot, and world building are added. And, adventure for the new cadets- out there in the sticks surviving on cany wilderness lore and luck. Grayden emerges forged and growing as a leader.
I confess to have been a little lost at first (apparently, my memory needs help) as I recalled who was who and who was doing what at the end of The Orb and the Airship, but this didn’t last long, fortunately as the story engulfed me once again.
The story itself is cleverly built and plotted taking its time, not complicated, but full of thoughtful depth as the battle is not just of a physical nature, but mental and spiritual. There are multiple points of views as the main character groups are spreading out now and this, too, gives the world of Turrim a larger feel.
And, bless Benjamin Fife, the narrator who takes this growing cast of mostly male and mostly young characters to give them unique voices and livens the tale enhancing the wit, the situation, and the flavor of the characters. I am glad he continues to narrate the series and has a really strong connection to the style of storytelling needed.
While I loved the first book, Mantles of Oak and Iron solidified my satisfaction for this treasure of a fantasy series. One cannot help, but need more by the point this one comes to its suspenseful, ominous end.
I rec'd an Audible code from the narrator to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 7.23.26.
Jenelle L Schmidt harkens listeners/readers back into a swashbuckling adventuresome brotherhood of friends classic-style fantasy. The Turrim world has grown as Grayden and his training friends, Wynn and Beren, ventured out in it and expands yet more as the storms of war draw everyone in. Old world evil and good, mysterious Dalmir is in the middle of this political plotting and intrigue among the leaders- hoping to redeem himself after dropping the ball on his watch- as opposing sides are slowly maneuvering like pieces on a giant chess board to clash once again. Of course, the underdog free part of the world is holding strong. Just.
My delight continues to be our daring, swashbuckling pirate, Captain Marik, whose conscience has worked on him and is leading him to an important choice. Will he join the fray and act for the good of others or continue along his own path with his intrepid airship and crew? He has seen what happens when he stood and watched evil go unopposed.
More characters, plot, and world building are added. And, adventure for the new cadets- out there in the sticks surviving on cany wilderness lore and luck. Grayden emerges forged and growing as a leader.
I confess to have been a little lost at first (apparently, my memory needs help) as I recalled who was who and who was doing what at the end of The Orb and the Airship, but this didn’t last long, fortunately as the story engulfed me once again.
The story itself is cleverly built and plotted taking its time, not complicated, but full of thoughtful depth as the battle is not just of a physical nature, but mental and spiritual. There are multiple points of views as the main character groups are spreading out now and this, too, gives the world of Turrim a larger feel.
And, bless Benjamin Fife, the narrator who takes this growing cast of mostly male and mostly young characters to give them unique voices and livens the tale enhancing the wit, the situation, and the flavor of the characters. I am glad he continues to narrate the series and has a really strong connection to the style of storytelling needed.
While I loved the first book, Mantles of Oak and Iron solidified my satisfaction for this treasure of a fantasy series. One cannot help, but need more by the point this one comes to its suspenseful, ominous end.
I rec'd an Audible code from the narrator to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 7.23.26.
January 12, 2024
How could one possibly relate the sheer fun of reading this swashbuckling gaslamp adventure without spoiling all of the many surprises that kept me turning pages like a madman? Schmidt has crafted a delectably paced story that unfurls the pre-war events scattered across the nations of Turrim with vivid worldbuilding balanced by great characters that keep the reader grounded in a personal experience.
Filled with the bonds of brotherhood as young cadets undertake a mission that turns far more perilous than anyone expected and the waggish antics of almost-reformed pirates double dealing their own monarch, there’s hardly a moment to sit still! I loved all the lore that came out in this installment, plus the trek through the mountains and that, ahem, event in the valley, plus the political maneuvering and mysterious assassins, but what really tied it all together were the themes of mutual trust–the faithfulness between friends who have been through fire and floods together–and courage. I am so excited about Grayden’s journey of leadership, Dalmir’s arc for redemption, and Marik’s yearning for hope. Book 1 was a wild ride, but for this one you’ll need to secure your lifeline to the mainmast and hold on tight!
Filled with the bonds of brotherhood as young cadets undertake a mission that turns far more perilous than anyone expected and the waggish antics of almost-reformed pirates double dealing their own monarch, there’s hardly a moment to sit still! I loved all the lore that came out in this installment, plus the trek through the mountains and that, ahem, event in the valley, plus the political maneuvering and mysterious assassins, but what really tied it all together were the themes of mutual trust–the faithfulness between friends who have been through fire and floods together–and courage. I am so excited about Grayden’s journey of leadership, Dalmir’s arc for redemption, and Marik’s yearning for hope. Book 1 was a wild ride, but for this one you’ll need to secure your lifeline to the mainmast and hold on tight!
January 13, 2024
This epic follow-up to The Orb and the Airship weaves in new threads and deepens the existing intrigue. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship between Grayden, Wynn, and Beren, and I loved all the developments with Wynn in particular. Mysteries surrounding Dalmir are both revealed and increased, and I can’t wait to find out more! (Especially regarding the orbs.) Overall this series feels like a well-crafted tapestry, and it’s fantastic seeing it all come together.
February 6, 2024
Mantles of Oak and Iron provides an immersive experience in an epic fantasy world with a large cast of intriguing characters. While the pirate captain Marik was probably my favorite, I also loved the adventure scenes with the young cadets who faced some huge challenges. I can't wait to see where the author takes the various plot lines in the next book.
June 8, 2024
Epic!
The epic adventure continues in the second installment of The Turin Archives. Schmidt weaves a tale so deftly as she switches between the various point of views, building the tension, and raising the stakes. Just when I think I knew something, she turns that something on its head. I can’t wait to dive into book 3!
The epic adventure continues in the second installment of The Turin Archives. Schmidt weaves a tale so deftly as she switches between the various point of views, building the tension, and raising the stakes. Just when I think I knew something, she turns that something on its head. I can’t wait to dive into book 3!
January 13, 2024
4.5/5 stars, rounded up!
This book is wonderfully written. I admit I liked the first book more than this one, but I do think this one will appeal to audiences in ways that didn’t quite land with me. Because they're GOOD things, and done well... just not what I would typically read. I would recommend it for folks who seek books like Lord of the Rings or Stormlight Archive. This book gives me vibes like those books.
The writing is as exceptional as the last book. I really love Schmidt’s writing style SO MUCH. It’s not flowery or heavy, but it’s not blunt or harsh, either. It’s pretty much perfect for this type of story, and I absolutely give the author 5/5 stars here. Hands down.
The worldbuilding remains excellent, and it will definitely appeal to readers who love fantasy novels that throw lots of worldbuilding details at you. There’s an interesting history in this world that connects not only to the main antagonist but also to the very things that run the world and the airships. The world gets more and more fleshed out with each book, and that will definitely grab the attention of high-fantasy readers.
Another fantastic perk of this book is that it’s CLEAN! No shady content, and I absolutely appreciate Schmidt for this SO MUCH. The world definitely needs more fantasy books that are epic and awesome without filling your brain with sludge.
Marik remains my favorite character, but I was a little sad to see that his POV chapters were pretty scarce in this book. For me, his POV chapters had the highest level of conflict/tension, and I did end up skimming chapters to get back to his sections faster. His story alone was 5/5 stars for me, and I loved having something to worry about and a plot-relevant enemy to contend with.
But that's partly why this story wasn't quite perfection for me. I typically prefer one juicy plotline that has a solid punch, whereas this story is definitely geared more toward the high-fantasy spectrum, with multiple plotlines running, multiple POV characters, and all that epic business. I do think this book did all of those things well, for readers who love that stuff~ I still very much love Marik, and I'm interested to see where this story goes! He's an awesome character!
This book will be PERFECT for readers who love multiple POV characters/plotlines and thorough worldbuilding, who love the slightly heavier fantasy adventures~
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.
This book is wonderfully written. I admit I liked the first book more than this one, but I do think this one will appeal to audiences in ways that didn’t quite land with me. Because they're GOOD things, and done well... just not what I would typically read. I would recommend it for folks who seek books like Lord of the Rings or Stormlight Archive. This book gives me vibes like those books.
The writing is as exceptional as the last book. I really love Schmidt’s writing style SO MUCH. It’s not flowery or heavy, but it’s not blunt or harsh, either. It’s pretty much perfect for this type of story, and I absolutely give the author 5/5 stars here. Hands down.
The worldbuilding remains excellent, and it will definitely appeal to readers who love fantasy novels that throw lots of worldbuilding details at you. There’s an interesting history in this world that connects not only to the main antagonist but also to the very things that run the world and the airships. The world gets more and more fleshed out with each book, and that will definitely grab the attention of high-fantasy readers.
Another fantastic perk of this book is that it’s CLEAN! No shady content, and I absolutely appreciate Schmidt for this SO MUCH. The world definitely needs more fantasy books that are epic and awesome without filling your brain with sludge.
Marik remains my favorite character, but I was a little sad to see that his POV chapters were pretty scarce in this book. For me, his POV chapters had the highest level of conflict/tension, and I did end up skimming chapters to get back to his sections faster. His story alone was 5/5 stars for me, and I loved having something to worry about and a plot-relevant enemy to contend with.
But that's partly why this story wasn't quite perfection for me. I typically prefer one juicy plotline that has a solid punch, whereas this story is definitely geared more toward the high-fantasy spectrum, with multiple plotlines running, multiple POV characters, and all that epic business. I do think this book did all of those things well, for readers who love that stuff~ I still very much love Marik, and I'm interested to see where this story goes! He's an awesome character!
This book will be PERFECT for readers who love multiple POV characters/plotlines and thorough worldbuilding, who love the slightly heavier fantasy adventures~
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.
February 24, 2025
Our second journey with our military academy students, pirates, and the mysterious old man turned out to be as action-packed as the first trek, and we grow fonder of them the longer we spend with them.
Grayden endears himself to us further as he finds himself pulled beyond what any first-year student should expect to face. However, he does it without even thinking because it’s his protective nature, to do whatever necessary to defend those around him. And once again we see several particularly attractive attributes of Grayden resurface, including the ability to create comradery in the midst of discord, to take charge of a team in crisis, and see the strengths that each person brings to the table even in the most difficult of situations. And it’s not just Grayden. We get to meet other students from the academy in this second trek and the fight they’re now plunged into is nothing short of terrifying.
Captain Marik remains a favorite, and we see more of his heart as the journey continues. He treats his crew like family, and there’s a mutual fondness between the group. The horrifying scene he witnesses with Dalmir reminds him of the importance of keeping that family safe and a world beyond those he calls family. He knows what it’s like to helplessly stand aside and do nothing when everything screams to intervene. He has felt the regret that came later and remained long after the moment passed. He vows he won’t be that person again. If unchecked, he knows this evil he has glimpsed can destroy everything and everyone dear to him.
But he’s not the only one. The mysterious wizard Dalmir has his own burden of guilt. That the enemy could have done so much under his nose is unforgiveable. Dalmir was supposed to be the guardian, the watcher to make sure the enemy’s power remained shackled, and he had failed miserably in that sacred duty. He had watched, but he had locked in on the wrong thing. He hadn’t seen the deadly forest created for focusing on the single tree. So now determined to redeem himself, he promises himself he’ll do whatever is necessary to stop what’s been put into motion. And he’ll need to as the enemy’s horrific world comes closer to fruition and threatens to swallow up everyone in his path.
Grayden endears himself to us further as he finds himself pulled beyond what any first-year student should expect to face. However, he does it without even thinking because it’s his protective nature, to do whatever necessary to defend those around him. And once again we see several particularly attractive attributes of Grayden resurface, including the ability to create comradery in the midst of discord, to take charge of a team in crisis, and see the strengths that each person brings to the table even in the most difficult of situations. And it’s not just Grayden. We get to meet other students from the academy in this second trek and the fight they’re now plunged into is nothing short of terrifying.
Captain Marik remains a favorite, and we see more of his heart as the journey continues. He treats his crew like family, and there’s a mutual fondness between the group. The horrifying scene he witnesses with Dalmir reminds him of the importance of keeping that family safe and a world beyond those he calls family. He knows what it’s like to helplessly stand aside and do nothing when everything screams to intervene. He has felt the regret that came later and remained long after the moment passed. He vows he won’t be that person again. If unchecked, he knows this evil he has glimpsed can destroy everything and everyone dear to him.
But he’s not the only one. The mysterious wizard Dalmir has his own burden of guilt. That the enemy could have done so much under his nose is unforgiveable. Dalmir was supposed to be the guardian, the watcher to make sure the enemy’s power remained shackled, and he had failed miserably in that sacred duty. He had watched, but he had locked in on the wrong thing. He hadn’t seen the deadly forest created for focusing on the single tree. So now determined to redeem himself, he promises himself he’ll do whatever is necessary to stop what’s been put into motion. And he’ll need to as the enemy’s horrific world comes closer to fruition and threatens to swallow up everyone in his path.
January 31, 2024
I enjoyed book 2 of this series as much as I did the first one. It makes me want to see what happens in the third one.
Just like book one there were some fun twists and interesting developments that kept me wondering what would happen next. Watching the changes of Grayden and Marik as they delve to learn how to fit in to new roles proved fulfilling. There’s still room to see what really comes of it all in book 3. And to that point there are some things that come out of that hidden danger in the mountains that has changed more than just the direction of the war, but impacted at least one defender directly.
I stated I found book one, The Orb and the Airship, could standalone. However, I feel much of book 2 may not read as well if taken out of sequence. There are great reminders dropped into the text to help with where the story is now. This series, I believe it will be 5 books, is best read in order for the full story to weave its way to the series’ end.
A great book and series for those who love fantasy and adventure with a gaslamp flavor.
Just like book one there were some fun twists and interesting developments that kept me wondering what would happen next. Watching the changes of Grayden and Marik as they delve to learn how to fit in to new roles proved fulfilling. There’s still room to see what really comes of it all in book 3. And to that point there are some things that come out of that hidden danger in the mountains that has changed more than just the direction of the war, but impacted at least one defender directly.
I stated I found book one, The Orb and the Airship, could standalone. However, I feel much of book 2 may not read as well if taken out of sequence. There are great reminders dropped into the text to help with where the story is now. This series, I believe it will be 5 books, is best read in order for the full story to weave its way to the series’ end.
A great book and series for those who love fantasy and adventure with a gaslamp flavor.
April 29, 2025
I’m well and truly sucked into the story now. Book 2 of the Turrim Archive is captivating in a wholesome way. Even though there are villany villains, most of the characters act decently toward each other, the friendships between the young men are sturdy and surprisingly un-angsty and, all in all, the story is a happy, wholesome place for my mind to be (despite the creepy tree-men). Secrets have been spilled between the pirates, and I’m wondering how those friendships are going to shake out. Reading the next book is essential, because the pirates are flying under fire and war is rippling towards our brave new defenders. Book 3, here I come!
February 6, 2024
The excitement continues! My kids and I loved getting to explore more of this cool world in the second installment, not to mention spending time with these delightful characters! We did find the number of new points of view a little overwhelming - my sons cheered every time we got to see what was happening with Grayden and Wynn :) But the stakes and action are definitely getting more intense, and we're looking forward to the next installment!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
May 1, 2025
*Audiobook review*
Mantles of Oak and Iron is the second book in the five part Turrim Archives.
While the first book did have a large cast it did eventually bring everyone together.
This book splits the party.
Personally I was more invested in Grayden and the other academy students than the more political plotline of the other characters. Though, I enjoyed all of Delmar's lore drops.
The narrator is one I keep coming back to. Benjamin Fife has an excellent talent for voices. No two Characters sound quite the same.
Mantles of Oak and Iron is the second book in the five part Turrim Archives.
While the first book did have a large cast it did eventually bring everyone together.
This book splits the party.
Personally I was more invested in Grayden and the other academy students than the more political plotline of the other characters. Though, I enjoyed all of Delmar's lore drops.
The narrator is one I keep coming back to. Benjamin Fife has an excellent talent for voices. No two Characters sound quite the same.
January 22, 2024
"Together, they took their first steps toward the future."
This is a wonderful continuation of Jenelle L Schmidt's series. With excellent quality of writing, delightful surprises, and detailed characters, Mantels of Oak and Iron pulled me deeper into a world that should exist beyond the imagination, a place where friends bond like brothers. Perfect for all ages and readers who enjoy an epic fantasy and good coming of age, survival story.
This is a wonderful continuation of Jenelle L Schmidt's series. With excellent quality of writing, delightful surprises, and detailed characters, Mantels of Oak and Iron pulled me deeper into a world that should exist beyond the imagination, a place where friends bond like brothers. Perfect for all ages and readers who enjoy an epic fantasy and good coming of age, survival story.
November 27, 2024
Even better
How have I not known this is a series?
Well done. Living characters that I'm invested in, escalating plot, and a fun world enough like ours and yet enough different that I'd love to visit it and ride an airship.
How have I not known this is a series?
Well done. Living characters that I'm invested in, escalating plot, and a fun world enough like ours and yet enough different that I'd love to visit it and ride an airship.
August 11, 2024
*more like 4.5 stars, rounded up
The young adventurers, the ancient wizard, the pirate, and his crew are back in action! The stakes are higher, the magic more intense, and the bad guys more wicked than before! I can hardly wait to see what happens next!!
The young adventurers, the ancient wizard, the pirate, and his crew are back in action! The stakes are higher, the magic more intense, and the bad guys more wicked than before! I can hardly wait to see what happens next!!
January 12, 2024
I read this book last year (perks of being a copyeditor for this delightful series!) and let me tell you, all the amazingness in book one (The Orb and the Airship) only gets BETTER in this nailbiting sequel!
I loved following the further adventures of Grayden and his friends, Marik and his crew, and meeting new people as the scope of this world slowly spreads out and deepens. (Ioan, though! I love him so much! *sobs*)
If you’re looking for an adventure-packed swashbuckling adventure series with airships, pirates, and a rich fantasy world, look no further! This was one of my top-favorite reads this last year for good reason!
I adore this world, these characters, and Jenelle Leanne Schmidt’s wonderful writing, and I’m SO glad that book two of this Kickstarter-begun series is out in the world today!
I loved following the further adventures of Grayden and his friends, Marik and his crew, and meeting new people as the scope of this world slowly spreads out and deepens. (Ioan, though! I love him so much! *sobs*)
If you’re looking for an adventure-packed swashbuckling adventure series with airships, pirates, and a rich fantasy world, look no further! This was one of my top-favorite reads this last year for good reason!
I adore this world, these characters, and Jenelle Leanne Schmidt’s wonderful writing, and I’m SO glad that book two of this Kickstarter-begun series is out in the world today!
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