Silent is the Sword

by Evelyn Grimald Stone

Elyria Trevain is shrouded by silence and surrounded by books. She speaks only to those she trusts implicitly, using the signed language with the rest of the world. Her life in the Great Archives is full of quiet and the whisper of paper and ink that her scribe magic controls. It is a quiet life. A good life built upon the ruins of her past.

Until one day her city is attacked and the man she thinks she loves is kidnapped.

Elyria volunteers to go after him, knowing that the path will take her to the childhood home she swore to forget. Accompanied by a mysterious cat who speaks to her of books and magic, she ventures into the world beyond the Archives. Into a world of forgotten sorcery rediscovered. Into a world of dead gods and a tormented angel that fills her dreams. Into a world where her silence is not just a shroud, but a weapon.

Silent is the Sword is an epic fantasy where the forgotten past is rearing its head, where magic takes hold, and where love crosses memory and magic to keep the world from burning.

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Fantasy Romance

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2024

About the author

Evelyn Grimald “E.G.” Stone is an independent author, editor, and linguist who has been writing, creating and causing vast amounts of trouble since a young age. When not writing, she is off musing about the workings of languages—both real and created—or reading and sewing. E.G. reads voraciously, much to the confusion of her two dogs and two cats. Weird, nerdy, perhaps a little crazy, she is having a grand old time writing, reading, editing, musing on language, and, naturally, continuing her endeavours in causing trouble.

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25✨
🪽 A TALKING CAT
🪽 Angels & Gods
🪽 Elemental magic, scribe magic
🪽 Politics
🪽 Schemes, manipulation

A talking cat!!! I’m so blessed.
I got this book for free and it honestly exceeded all of my expectations. It was an Epic Fantasy with a dash of romance - and the romance was absolutely cute. The stakes are high, and bigger things are happening in the background. Schemes that were being planned for a long while that set a lot of things into motion.

What’s going on is bigger than what you think.

I’m looking forward to the second book and I highly recommend this one!

« I’ve been in love with you for lifetimes beyond measure, even when I thought you were nothing more than a dream »

[Answer Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent is the Sword is an enchanting and richly imagined epic fantasy that balances quiet introspection with high-stakes adventure. Evelyn Grimald Stone introduces us to Elyria Trevain, a compelling protagonist whose silence and mastery of scribe magic set her apart in a world brimming with forgotten sorcery, dead gods, and tormented angels.
What makes this story particularly captivating is Elyria’s voice or, rather, her silence. Her reliance on signed language and the careful, deliberate use of magic make her both relatable and formidable. The narrative’s blend of personal stakes, magical intrigue, and rediscovery of the past creates a layered story that rewards attentive readers. The mysterious talking cat adds a whimsical yet wise companion element, enriching Elyria’s journey without undermining the story’s tension or depth.

The world-building in Silent is the Sword is immersive and meticulous. From the quiet, book-lined halls of the Great Archives to the dangerous and magical landscapes beyond, every setting feels alive and purposeful. Themes of memory, love, and power interweave seamlessly with the plot, making Elyria’s journey both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

For readers who appreciate epic fantasy with strong, unique protagonists, intricate magic systems, and a touch of mystical companionship, Silent is the Sword is a satisfying and imaginative beginning to the Song of Ink series. Stone sets the stage beautifully for further adventures, leaving readers eager for the next installment.

[Lara R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky and got an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Elyria is an archivist and has magic. Due to events from her childhood, she doesn't speak but uses sign language to communicate. When the man she loves is kidnapped by raiders, she decides to go after him.

This book has catapulted itself to my Top 10 reads for this year. It has everything I really love in fantasy and a magic system I want to see more of.

Elyria, the main character, was my favorite character and I immediately felt a connection to her. Her Scribe magic is fascinating and her story arc brilliantly written. The way she overcomes her fears and grows over the course of the story resonated well with me.

The first few chapters with Keir were a little confusing at first, but then you come to a point in the book, where it all falls into place and makes sense.

Another favorite was Ink, the animal companion Elyria has. I loved his sassiness and the way he behaves mde me think of my mother's favorite cat (her name is Fleur and she's a free spirit just like Ink).

This book has romantasy elements, but it's not like the typical romantasy books out there, where it dominates the story. Here it was more of a subplot to the main one, which I really enjoyed.

This book will be released tomorrow, August 13th and I urge you to go and buy this book😊

[Kendi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully crafted story that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking, with characters that spark interest and intrigue.

However, the pacing was inconsistent. At times, it feels like the narrative rushes by, trying to summarize the point instead of letting it unfold naturally. That's really my main problem with this one, because that takes away from the story, making the reader crave more, but ultimately leaves you slightly disappointed and with more questions than answers. That, and sometimes it feels a bit predictable. I guessed one of the plot twists about halfway in.

Overall, though, this is a delightful, fun read, and I could recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced fantasy, with a talking cat to boot!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Evelyn Grimald Stone, who I have just discovered, and who writes dark epic fantasy which has captured my heart. I really loved this book and I think I would say it is one of my favourites which I have read this year. The book is about Elyria Trevain of Summerfell who suffers from panic attacks and selective mutism, but who discovers she has magical powers, those related to ink and the written word. She is brutally forced to leave her home and ends up in the city of Vazeri working as a scribe and an archivist. Trying to put her past behind her she happily settles into her peaceful job at the national archives. However an attack on Vazeri sees her friend captured and as she was in love with him she volunteered to return to her past in order to bring him back. Once she crosses into the mountains with her companion cat of the archives, who has bonded with her, she meets all kinds of monsters, dark magic and gods who had long been forgotten but who were ready to return apart from the nightmares from her past which raised their cruel heads once again. In her dreams she also met an angel called Keir, who she could not get out of her mind. This is a very intricate and dark book, with amazing characters and a very lovely cat whom she had named Ink. I am dying to read book 2 as I really did not want this book to end.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the start was promising and I was intrigued by the library. But unfortunately not much happens in the library and the story moves elsewhere. I think a bit too much happened with the magic that meant it felt like there were no limits on it. Like the protagonist could solve any problem with some new function of her magic. Very convenient.

I wish the romance were more developed. It felt rushed.

I think it was well written and the world was cool but by the end I had lost interest unfortunately.

[Jessica Hembree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different in a great way!

This book is different in some great ways. The usage of sign language by the main character is something I've never seen in a fantasy novel. I loved the ties between the main characters and how they stick together and support one another. The twist of who the 'bad guys' really are has me wanting to read more.

[Lavender Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure brilliance, I was hooked from page 1. It is excellently written, impressively original, and totally captivating, with amazing characters. Highly recommended!

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good vs Evil

Strong characters with a fractured story. Maintaining cohesion seemed dificult, like more than one person was writing at different times. To be honest i am not sure i enjoyed this book and not sure book 2 would be more of the same however, time will tell.

[Valery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start, only picking up speed halfway through, with several grammar mistakes. But, despite that, it's a fairly decent and clean read.

For my clean readers: language-some, but no f-bombs. Violence-fighting, attempted murder, murder, sacrifice, and child abuse. Romance-kissing

[Emily Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

I loved the talking cat and scribe magic, and the concept that quiet people are powerful too. The pacing felt off in some places, and I definitely guessed all the twists, but it was an interesting world with some great characters.

[K. Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Might want to read the trigger warnings first. Definitely ends on a cliff hanger. I will definitely be searching out the next book .

[Maisie Finley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a bunch of books from a stuff your Kindle day and this was one of them. I enjoyed it!

[Belen Worsham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book during October’s Stuff with Fantasy event and am so grateful I did. It’s hard to describe how much of a delight this book was to read. Our main character, Elyria, is such a great example of a character whose trauma is not magically healed through a magical power or falling in love. She is still struggling to find her voice by the end of the book.

While the plot twist of “the angel is the cat” was slightly predictable, the story was written with such care and detail that the twist still had tremendous emotional impact. I barely noticed that this was a largely “clean” romance because the romantic tension between the two main characters was so swoon-worthy, proving that you don’t always need to use explicit sexual content to demonstrate that two characters are in love.

I am going to be heartbroken if this book does not get a sequel, both because it ended on a cliffhanger (well done, Evelyn), and there is still so much of this richly-imagined world of ink and magic that I would love to explore.