Stormforged

Steamborn #8

by Eric R. Asher

An assassin slain. A fleet prepared. A battle looms.

Jacob fears their time is running out. The full focus of Belldorn and Bollwerk’s tinkers is centered on the construction of the carriers. While Jacob is concentrating on overseeing the work, he worries for Alice who faces a dire challenge of her own. They need to launch an attack on Ballern, but their forces cannot cross the Crystal Sea without the new warships.

To deploy their ground forces they must secure a base, requiring a strengthened alliance with the forest city of Karn. Surrounded by Acidwings and Cannon Bugs, Alice and Furi embark on a journey fraught with danger in hopes of solidifying the Stormborn alliance. Steamborn and Skyborn must stand together in the looming battle … or both will fall.

Even as they prepare for war, an enemy takes advantage of their distracted attention and strikes Midstream. But they are not the only forces moving in the shadows. Owen and the fisherfolk are closing in, intent on giving Mordair, now Steward of Ballern, a farewell he’ll never forget.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Steampunk

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

About the author

Eric R. Asher is the author of over 30 titles, including the Vesik urban fantasy series and the YA steampunk series, Steamborn. Look for his upcoming cozy fantasy, The Theme Park at the End of the World, in 2024. He is currently living in St. Louis, Missouri, where the local folklore often finds its way into his Mason Dixon: Monster Hunter rural fantasy series.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks]

Stormforged by Eric R Asher
Steamborn series #8. Steampunk science fiction. Best read in series order.
War. It’s inevitable. Some fight. Some tinker. Some fly or sabotage. Many just try to live their daily lives fishing, laboring, or doing the only job they can find.
Our heroes are in the midst of the chaos.
Mordair and the Children of Dark Fire must be defeated. If the Steamborn and Skyborn can work together they may have a chance.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who does the full series. A thrilling and compelling performance.
The images become so vivid listening to the audiobook. At one point, as they travel a walkway being attacked, I could feel the jump as munitions hit and bounced those running on it.
I could hear and feel the weariness and the determination to continue.

It’s a steampunk war so expect airships, bombs, bugs, blood and gore. We also get deep friendships, determination, altruism, and desperation. All the characters from the prior books too.
Jacob and Alice are independent and strong proponents on their own and it’s so touching when he worries about her and finds her in the battle.

Cliffhanger unfortunately. 1 more book in the series.
4.5

[Sue]

The fight continues with Jacob Alice and their allies in the fight against Mordair and The Children of the Dark Fire.
Can't wait to read the final book to see how everything plays out.

[Carrie O’Leary]

I would so love to give this book five stars, it is well written, and the events at Ballern felt so real. But a lot of what’s written feels like filler. I’m sure the main events of this triple trilogy could have all gone into one trilogy with impressive impact, but it’s strung out with conversations that don’t really contribute to the story. To be fair, it would make a pretty awesome video game, one that I’m sure I would relish and have to play until I’d 100% it and gained every trophy. But as a book series it just feels interminably long, as though it’s never going to come to an end. But I just have one last book to go, so let’s see where that takes us. The audiobook is well narrated.

[Todd]

I read this book as an ARC for the author.

The sociopathic despot Mordair is still in charge in Ballern and doing despicable things to enemies and Ballern citizens. While the other cities are preparing for an attack our favorite characters are spread across the map.
There are so many great characters and I feel like I know them all. Another great chapter in the Steamborn saga!

[Jodi]

Wow. This was another wild ride. The intensity has ramped up. Jacob and Alice are working on two different fronts, and so many other players are showing up. It's hard to know who the bad guys are as there is so much death and destruction. It sometimes feels as if Eric is taking the headline out of current news.
I highly recommend this series in audio.

[Lisa Guertin]

Jacob, Alice, and all the gang are back to continue the fight against Mordair and the Children of the Dark Fire. Prepare yourself for a wild ride filled with adventures and battles. Only one book left and I can’t wait to see how Eric Asher wraps the series up.

[Nirkatze]

I don't dislike these, they just don't stick. In this entry, there was more social unrest, including banned books, racism and classism, and more steampunky things. One of my fellow buddy readers described these books as celery (tastewise, not with the bonus nutrition).

[Ginelle Blanch]

Tons of action.
Characters that now feel like old friends.
Lots of danger.
All the feels!

So much going on for Jacob, Alice, and crew! Fast paced, page turning read.

[Jackie]

Absolutely fantastic as always. There is danger everywhere, will they be able to fight and save everyone. Full of action and impossible to not love everything about the series.

[Wilson E. Stevens Sr.]

The eighth book in the series is not a bad read. I enjoyed it a lot. It's not a 4 or 5-star read, however, but it's well worth the time once. I'm looking forward to the last book in the series.