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An Inkling of Flame: A Song of the Damned novella
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Layne was a soldier, conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance fueled march. He, and his friends, were due for a fated confrontation, one that has ended in blood and loss. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel against the assassin in grey.
A backwards narrative full of banter and blood Z.B. Steele presents An Inkling of Flame, a Song of the Damned novella.
Layne was a soldier, conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance fueled march. He, and his friends, were due for a fated confrontation, one that has ended in blood and loss. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel against the assassin in grey.
A backwards narrative full of banter and blood Z.B. Steele presents An Inkling of Flame, a Song of the Damned novella.
89 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2025
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859 people want to read
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March 25, 2025
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
An Inkling of Flame by Z.B. Steele does what the title signifies. It shows the burning potential the series has to leave its scorching mark in the genre.
I will never tire of being pleasantly surprised by titles or authors I never heard of. In fact, as I read so many fantasy books and continue to do so, I find moments like this more treasurable. It is the nature of the world. When you read so many books in the same genre, you’ll find it more difficult to feel impressed by new books you read. If you’ve been following my booktube channel for the past year, I think you’ll know I’ve been feeling mixed about the books I read in the fantasy genre. And that is a shock to me. Fantasy and science fiction are my favorite genres of all time. It brings me genuine sadness when I am not enjoying the books I read. I picked up An Inkling of Flame with zero knowledge about the book. I knew nothing. The author sent me a copy of An Inkling of Flame, which is a prequel novella to the main novel of the Song of the Damned series, Whispers of the Storm. I read the first chapter of An Inkling of Flame, and then I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting.
This standalone prequel novella follows the story of Layne, a soldier conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance-fueled march. Layne and his friends were due for a fated confrontation with the Assassin in Grey. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel against the assassin in grey. Do you know what this means? Yes, Steele utilizes a framing narrative to create a short, compelling, grim, and impactful narrative that will leave readers enthusiastic to hear more music and sound from the Song of the Damned. The framing narrative is a storytelling device popularized by The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. To this day, despite the popularity of The Kingkiller Chronicle, it is still shocking to see how few fantasy books try to implement that in their storytelling. Steele should've mentioned this to me when he pitched the book to me, and I would've gobbled it up. Thankfully, I still did that anyway.
It is crystal clear that Abercrombie and Rothfuss are some of Steele’s main inspirations as an author. Not only their influences are reflected in the narrative, but I also loved how Steele managed to tell a fleshed-out standalone story with such effectiveness in this relatively small book. The friendship between Layne and his friends is well-written. The banter felt realistic. The horror and boredom of war are depicted without mercy. Steele also displayed how everyone is the main character of their respective story through this tale, and the world is never fair to everyone.
An Inkling of Flame is one of the strongest fantasy novellas I have ever read. If the purpose of this novella is to push readers into reading the main novel, it has succeeded in spades. By the end of the book, I was craving for more out of this world and the characters, especially the Assassin in Grey. The identity of the Assassin in Grey will not come as a surprise. But his motivation? His actions in An Inkling of Flame? The deal with his hatred toward Tidur, Samira, Odis, Balin, and their supposedly crafted palace of lies? I want to know more. I want to know whether the Assassin in Grey is justifying his actions or telling the truth. To put it simply, I need to find out the full story behind his motivation. And to do that, enters the Whispers of the Storm. I shall do that (most likely) within this year. I highly recommend An Inkling of Flame to fantasy readers who love framing narrative and grimdark fantasy.
(Side note: Steele named almost all the main characters in this novella after people in the fantasy bookish community. For example, Spark from Anna Smith Spark. This is super cool, and it did not decrease my enjoyment of the book and rating, but I did find my immersion distracted because I know most of the people and ended up imagining all of them cosplaying as the characters instead! xD)
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: 406Raider, Andrew. S, Andrew. W, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Bearded Book Beast, Ben, Benjamin, Biskit, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, James, Jason, Jeff, Jenn, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Melinda, Michael. S, Michael. T, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, Rando, RCT, Redmischief, Sally, Samiadji, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.
4.5/5 stars
An Inkling of Flame by Z.B. Steele does what the title signifies. It shows the burning potential the series has to leave its scorching mark in the genre.
“When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are.”― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
I will never tire of being pleasantly surprised by titles or authors I never heard of. In fact, as I read so many fantasy books and continue to do so, I find moments like this more treasurable. It is the nature of the world. When you read so many books in the same genre, you’ll find it more difficult to feel impressed by new books you read. If you’ve been following my booktube channel for the past year, I think you’ll know I’ve been feeling mixed about the books I read in the fantasy genre. And that is a shock to me. Fantasy and science fiction are my favorite genres of all time. It brings me genuine sadness when I am not enjoying the books I read. I picked up An Inkling of Flame with zero knowledge about the book. I knew nothing. The author sent me a copy of An Inkling of Flame, which is a prequel novella to the main novel of the Song of the Damned series, Whispers of the Storm. I read the first chapter of An Inkling of Flame, and then I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting.
“A true hero is someone willing to stand up for those who need it, no matter what. No matter the method. Fancy words and dramatic speeches are for the politicians and the nobles; in shaded alleyways, only your honor and your fists can make you a man. Real honor is something earned in the dark when no one is looking.”
This standalone prequel novella follows the story of Layne, a soldier conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance-fueled march. Layne and his friends were due for a fated confrontation with the Assassin in Grey. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel against the assassin in grey. Do you know what this means? Yes, Steele utilizes a framing narrative to create a short, compelling, grim, and impactful narrative that will leave readers enthusiastic to hear more music and sound from the Song of the Damned. The framing narrative is a storytelling device popularized by The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. To this day, despite the popularity of The Kingkiller Chronicle, it is still shocking to see how few fantasy books try to implement that in their storytelling. Steele should've mentioned this to me when he pitched the book to me, and I would've gobbled it up. Thankfully, I still did that anyway.
“So, like I said, it was a boring year, and it was the best year of my life. They say when you’re a kid, you have energy and time, but no money; when you’re an adult, you have energy and money, but no time; when you’re old, you have time and money, but no energy. They left out that when you’re a kid, you have friends and imagination. The games we made up, the laughs we shared, the unspoken bond felt between us… I’d give anything to go back.”
It is crystal clear that Abercrombie and Rothfuss are some of Steele’s main inspirations as an author. Not only their influences are reflected in the narrative, but I also loved how Steele managed to tell a fleshed-out standalone story with such effectiveness in this relatively small book. The friendship between Layne and his friends is well-written. The banter felt realistic. The horror and boredom of war are depicted without mercy. Steele also displayed how everyone is the main character of their respective story through this tale, and the world is never fair to everyone.
“We always talk good about the dead. The good is elevated, promoted to epic proportions. One quick joke is ballooned into a lifetime as a comedian. One noble deed is evidence of a saintly life. Our flaws are treated similarly, when they can be used for levity. How many tears have been turned into laughter at the phrase “remember that time?” Foolish deeds are retold as good natured, immortalizing acts.”
An Inkling of Flame is one of the strongest fantasy novellas I have ever read. If the purpose of this novella is to push readers into reading the main novel, it has succeeded in spades. By the end of the book, I was craving for more out of this world and the characters, especially the Assassin in Grey. The identity of the Assassin in Grey will not come as a surprise. But his motivation? His actions in An Inkling of Flame? The deal with his hatred toward Tidur, Samira, Odis, Balin, and their supposedly crafted palace of lies? I want to know more. I want to know whether the Assassin in Grey is justifying his actions or telling the truth. To put it simply, I need to find out the full story behind his motivation. And to do that, enters the Whispers of the Storm. I shall do that (most likely) within this year. I highly recommend An Inkling of Flame to fantasy readers who love framing narrative and grimdark fantasy.
“They’ll never say it to your face, but they do. Don’t underestimate the value of one tenacious person. If you give up that fire, they’ll be doused too. This is war, Layne. If we don’t want to live, we won’t.”
(Side note: Steele named almost all the main characters in this novella after people in the fantasy bookish community. For example, Spark from Anna Smith Spark. This is super cool, and it did not decrease my enjoyment of the book and rating, but I did find my immersion distracted because I know most of the people and ended up imagining all of them cosplaying as the characters instead! xD)
You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: 406Raider, Andrew. S, Andrew. W, Arik, Arliss, Barbara, Bearded Book Beast, Ben, Benjamin, Biskit, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Crystal, Cullen, Dan, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Erich, Francesca, Frank, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, James, Jason, Jeff, Jenn, Johnny, Joie, Jonathan, Katrina, Kim, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Melinda, Michael. S, Michael. T, Mike, Mike S, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Radiah, Rando, RCT, Redmischief, Sally, Samiadji, Samuel, Sarah, Scott, Sean, Shawn, Shawna, Stephanie, Trish, Tyler, TS, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zachary, Zammar.
February 19, 2025
My review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
The universe needs more grimdark novellas, and Z.B. Steele delivers in spades with An Inkling of Flame. Although the novella can be read as a standalone volume, it also serves as a gateway to the author’s A Song of the Damned series. An Inkling of Flame tells the story of Layne, a soldier conscripted to fight in service of a deity known as the Fox.
The influence of Anna Smith Spark runs deep throughout An Inkling of Flame, especially in the latter part of the novella. One of the main characters is even named after our beloved Queen of Grimdark. Like much of Anna Smith Spark’s work, An Inkling of Flame takes the perspective of everyday soldiers as they are forced to fight in someone else’s war. A particular highlight of the novella is the camaraderie that forms among Layne and his fellow soldiers, which lends a comforting found family feel to this grimdark world.
An Inkling of Flame is a very well written novella, with carefully polished prose that delivers grimdark grit interspersed with moments of levity coming from the banter among characters. An Inkling of Flame is compulsively readable—I couldn’t put it down and finished the whole novella in a single session.
Z.B. Steele also makes effective use of a framing narrative as Layne recounts his story to an inquisition in the aftermath of battle. Although the framing story appears at first to be superfluous, its importance becomes clear during a few well-placed interludes and the gut-wrenching conclusion of the novella.
An Inkling of Flame establishes Z.B. Steele as a rising star in grimdark as he pays homage to classic grimdark tales while offering a fresh new story with surprising emotional depth. A Song of the Damned continues with Whispers of the Storm, the first full-length novel in the series.
The universe needs more grimdark novellas, and Z.B. Steele delivers in spades with An Inkling of Flame. Although the novella can be read as a standalone volume, it also serves as a gateway to the author’s A Song of the Damned series. An Inkling of Flame tells the story of Layne, a soldier conscripted to fight in service of a deity known as the Fox.
The influence of Anna Smith Spark runs deep throughout An Inkling of Flame, especially in the latter part of the novella. One of the main characters is even named after our beloved Queen of Grimdark. Like much of Anna Smith Spark’s work, An Inkling of Flame takes the perspective of everyday soldiers as they are forced to fight in someone else’s war. A particular highlight of the novella is the camaraderie that forms among Layne and his fellow soldiers, which lends a comforting found family feel to this grimdark world.
An Inkling of Flame is a very well written novella, with carefully polished prose that delivers grimdark grit interspersed with moments of levity coming from the banter among characters. An Inkling of Flame is compulsively readable—I couldn’t put it down and finished the whole novella in a single session.
Z.B. Steele also makes effective use of a framing narrative as Layne recounts his story to an inquisition in the aftermath of battle. Although the framing story appears at first to be superfluous, its importance becomes clear during a few well-placed interludes and the gut-wrenching conclusion of the novella.
An Inkling of Flame establishes Z.B. Steele as a rising star in grimdark as he pays homage to classic grimdark tales while offering a fresh new story with surprising emotional depth. A Song of the Damned continues with Whispers of the Storm, the first full-length novel in the series.
February 26, 2025
From the moment they found him the bond was forged. Leaving hardened streets for camaraderie, faith & a future. Nothing could separate them.
Then war arrived.
Man oh man was that gutting! Life friends to wars horrors. Heart, humour & unflinchingly brutal.
Z.B. Steele made me a believer when I read his For A Few Days More over a year ago. His aptitude for storytelling shined through his humour laced and shockingly violent tale.
What really stood out even more so was the emotional connection he made for the reader to its characters.
In An Inkling of Flame, this attachment becomes even more prevalent. A group of street kids in a found family story. It is filled with this incredible friendship and love they feel for one another. The humour and ribbing they constantly give each other completely humanizes them.
It’s tough seeing them join the war front. One is filled with an ominous dread of what is to come.
And what exactly was to come?…..
ARE YOU 🤬 KIDDING ME!?!
In all seriousness, if you are a fan of Tarantino you are going to love it!
Safe to say I’ll be eagerly counting the days until Whispers of the Storm is released.
On a personal note, the author reached out to me recently and asked if I’d like to read this novella. He expressed gratefulness for a shout out/mini review I had written for the wickedly delightful For A Few Days More.
I excitedly agreed.
Imagine my surprise to find a character named after me in this group of friends. I was absolutely stunned, thrilled and honoured. Definitely something I will treasure.
Much thanks to the author for the ARC.
Amazing. 5⭐️
Then war arrived.
Man oh man was that gutting! Life friends to wars horrors. Heart, humour & unflinchingly brutal.
Z.B. Steele made me a believer when I read his For A Few Days More over a year ago. His aptitude for storytelling shined through his humour laced and shockingly violent tale.
What really stood out even more so was the emotional connection he made for the reader to its characters.
In An Inkling of Flame, this attachment becomes even more prevalent. A group of street kids in a found family story. It is filled with this incredible friendship and love they feel for one another. The humour and ribbing they constantly give each other completely humanizes them.
It’s tough seeing them join the war front. One is filled with an ominous dread of what is to come.
And what exactly was to come?…..
ARE YOU 🤬 KIDDING ME!?!
In all seriousness, if you are a fan of Tarantino you are going to love it!
Safe to say I’ll be eagerly counting the days until Whispers of the Storm is released.
On a personal note, the author reached out to me recently and asked if I’d like to read this novella. He expressed gratefulness for a shout out/mini review I had written for the wickedly delightful For A Few Days More.
I excitedly agreed.
Imagine my surprise to find a character named after me in this group of friends. I was absolutely stunned, thrilled and honoured. Definitely something I will treasure.
Much thanks to the author for the ARC.
Amazing. 5⭐️
February 28, 2025
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Holy smokes, An Inkling of Flame honestly had zero business tearing out my heart and crushing my soul in so few pages, but here we are. Filled with bittersweet reflections, razor-sharp banter, riveting intrigue, and bloody action, this standalone prequel novella to the Song of the Damned series is straight-up fire the entire way through.
Now, I am always a sucker for a good framing narrative, and Z.B. Steele absolutely nails that storytelling structure in An Inkling of Flame. We are sucked into the story of Layne, a soldier conscripted to fight in a vengeance fueled march in service of a fickle deity called the Fox; a march that ended in nothing but blood and loss, and which has now landed him in the hands of the curious inquisitors.
If you hear that premise and think: “No thanks, I don’t care for war-centred military fantasy”, then you better think again; Steele will make you care. I’m not the first and will probably not be the last person to compare Steele’s style to Joe Abercrombie or Anna Smith Spark, but I also found some strong Robin Hobb flavours in An Inkling of Flame that I absolutely loved. It’s not just the shared soul-stirring prose, human storytelling, and complex, emotionally charged interpersonal relationships, but also the fact that both Layne and Fitz are traumatized broken boys who unfortunately ended up being life’s punching bags.
For me, the first 25% of the novella were possibly the ‘weakest’ (and we’re speaking very relatively here) section of the story, yet in hindsight I absolutely loved how that coming-of-age sequence lulled me into a false sense of security and built up the emotional connection that makes the ending hit so hard. And honestly, despite that slightly wobbly start, Layne’s soul-stirring and intimate first person narration just immediately had me in a chokehold, and I loved diving straight back into the trauma with him.
Absolutely zero punches are pulled, and I really appreciated how Steele showcased the absolute horrors and insanity of war in the most painfully realistic ways. Yet for all that An Inkling of Flame is brutally dark and disturbingly gruesome, it also has a surprising amount of heart and hope (foolish as that hope may be). The camaraderie between Layne and his friends/fellow soldiers was the absolute highlight of the story for me, and I got way more invested in them than was probably safe for my emotional wellbeing. I really enjoyed all the dark gallows humour and razor-sharp banter between them all, and especially Spark (who is named after none other than the Queen of Grimdark herself) really stole the show for me.
Moreover, I loved how this little tale played with the concept of ‘everyone is the hero of their own story’, which culminates in a surprisingly bold and refreshingly subversive ending that made this tried-and-true framed narrative stand out from the crowd for me. And even though An Inkling of Flame works perfectly as a satisfying standalone, the ominously enticing epilogue featuring the enigmatic assassin in grey more than sparked my excitement to come back for more in Whispers of the Storm, the first full-length novel in the Song of the Damned series.
Ultimately, An Inkling of Flame is proof that a talented author doesn’t require hundreds of pages to deliver world building, characters, stakes and emotional investment of the highest quality. If you like gritty grimdark fantasy with equal parts heart and hurt, then you have to give this exceptional novella a shot. Just make sure you have nothing else on the schedule when you start, because I guarantee you won’t be able to stop yourself from devouring it in one sitting.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Holy smokes, An Inkling of Flame honestly had zero business tearing out my heart and crushing my soul in so few pages, but here we are. Filled with bittersweet reflections, razor-sharp banter, riveting intrigue, and bloody action, this standalone prequel novella to the Song of the Damned series is straight-up fire the entire way through.
Now, I am always a sucker for a good framing narrative, and Z.B. Steele absolutely nails that storytelling structure in An Inkling of Flame. We are sucked into the story of Layne, a soldier conscripted to fight in a vengeance fueled march in service of a fickle deity called the Fox; a march that ended in nothing but blood and loss, and which has now landed him in the hands of the curious inquisitors.
If you hear that premise and think: “No thanks, I don’t care for war-centred military fantasy”, then you better think again; Steele will make you care. I’m not the first and will probably not be the last person to compare Steele’s style to Joe Abercrombie or Anna Smith Spark, but I also found some strong Robin Hobb flavours in An Inkling of Flame that I absolutely loved. It’s not just the shared soul-stirring prose, human storytelling, and complex, emotionally charged interpersonal relationships, but also the fact that both Layne and Fitz are traumatized broken boys who unfortunately ended up being life’s punching bags.
For me, the first 25% of the novella were possibly the ‘weakest’ (and we’re speaking very relatively here) section of the story, yet in hindsight I absolutely loved how that coming-of-age sequence lulled me into a false sense of security and built up the emotional connection that makes the ending hit so hard. And honestly, despite that slightly wobbly start, Layne’s soul-stirring and intimate first person narration just immediately had me in a chokehold, and I loved diving straight back into the trauma with him.
Absolutely zero punches are pulled, and I really appreciated how Steele showcased the absolute horrors and insanity of war in the most painfully realistic ways. Yet for all that An Inkling of Flame is brutally dark and disturbingly gruesome, it also has a surprising amount of heart and hope (foolish as that hope may be). The camaraderie between Layne and his friends/fellow soldiers was the absolute highlight of the story for me, and I got way more invested in them than was probably safe for my emotional wellbeing. I really enjoyed all the dark gallows humour and razor-sharp banter between them all, and especially Spark (who is named after none other than the Queen of Grimdark herself) really stole the show for me.
Moreover, I loved how this little tale played with the concept of ‘everyone is the hero of their own story’, which culminates in a surprisingly bold and refreshingly subversive ending that made this tried-and-true framed narrative stand out from the crowd for me. And even though An Inkling of Flame works perfectly as a satisfying standalone, the ominously enticing epilogue featuring the enigmatic assassin in grey more than sparked my excitement to come back for more in Whispers of the Storm, the first full-length novel in the Song of the Damned series.
Ultimately, An Inkling of Flame is proof that a talented author doesn’t require hundreds of pages to deliver world building, characters, stakes and emotional investment of the highest quality. If you like gritty grimdark fantasy with equal parts heart and hurt, then you have to give this exceptional novella a shot. Just make sure you have nothing else on the schedule when you start, because I guarantee you won’t be able to stop yourself from devouring it in one sitting.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2025
Ignore the cute stained-glass fox on the fantastic cover of this book — this is definitely no cozy fantasy!
An Inkling of Flame by Z. B. Steele is a novella I really enjoyed. It works well as both an introduction and a teaser for the author’s series, while still being a satisfying, self-contained tale in its own right.
The story is told in a style that’s becoming popular again, as seen in books like The Name of the Wind, Empire of the Vampire, and The Ruin of Kings: a prisoner recounting their story. I enjoy this type of storytelling device, and Z. B. Steele utilises it well here.
Admittedly, I didn’t get straight into the book — it took around 30 pages to properly get going. At the first interlude, our main character, Layne, is told “let’s speed it up a little, shall we” and to “skip the daily interactions” — which is exactly how I felt at that point.
I understand the need to build relationships between characters and establish some background before diving into the action, but I didn’t really connect with them through dialogue alone. That said, I believe many readers will. I’ve often found that we British readers are a bit harder to impress with banter between characters — just one of those cultural things. For whatever reason, the start didn’t feel as strong as the rest of the book — which is absolutely worth sticking around for.
Once the bonds between characters began to develop in action, I started to care about them much more. There were a few name drops from the fantasy community, which I imagine will provoke mixed reactions. Personally, I enjoyed them — especially in a novella — as well as the broader fantasy influences present in the writing.
The influence of Anna Smith Spark’s Empires of Dust permeates the pages — in the best way.
Smith Spark is one of my very favourite authors, and I appreciated the nods to her work. Steele brings plenty of fresh ideas of his own, though, and the book has a distinct personality, never feeling derivative. I really enjoyed the gritty, unglamorous portrayal of soldiering. This boots-on-the-ground view of warfare makes up the majority of the book, and I stormed through the last half without blinking, with a perfect blend of action, reflection, and intriguing questions.
We’re introduced to the mysterious Assassin in Grey — seemingly the main character in Steele’s first full-length novel in this series. As such, I think it’s brilliant how the author has set that book up through this novella, which will definitely leave you wanting more. A great marketing technique for the full series.
Much of the book is actually low fantasy, with just a hint of the fiery magic that may play a bigger role later. However, there are multiple gods in this world — mentioned frequently, though never encountered. Our characters follow Tidur, created in the form of a fox:
He was born in the form of a fox, quick of wit and quick of feet. Reign said to him, ‘You are the Fox, and the steward of my flame. You live in every fire. You keep my people warm. You burn the heretics and purge that which displeases me.’
I really like the way Steele presents the gods in this novella — intriguing snippets of lore are scattered throughout, keeping us hooked. I’m sure we’ll learn more in Whispers of the Storm.
I highly recommend An Inkling of Flame, a book set in an intriguing and gritty world that really captured my interest. Once it got a hold of me, it kept me engrossed right through to the end.
I was offered an ARC of this book by the author, but I had in fact already bought it myself! Thank you to Z. B. Steele for reaching out.
The review request does not impact my opinion of the book.l
An Inkling of Flame by Z. B. Steele is a novella I really enjoyed. It works well as both an introduction and a teaser for the author’s series, while still being a satisfying, self-contained tale in its own right.
The story is told in a style that’s becoming popular again, as seen in books like The Name of the Wind, Empire of the Vampire, and The Ruin of Kings: a prisoner recounting their story. I enjoy this type of storytelling device, and Z. B. Steele utilises it well here.
Admittedly, I didn’t get straight into the book — it took around 30 pages to properly get going. At the first interlude, our main character, Layne, is told “let’s speed it up a little, shall we” and to “skip the daily interactions” — which is exactly how I felt at that point.
I understand the need to build relationships between characters and establish some background before diving into the action, but I didn’t really connect with them through dialogue alone. That said, I believe many readers will. I’ve often found that we British readers are a bit harder to impress with banter between characters — just one of those cultural things. For whatever reason, the start didn’t feel as strong as the rest of the book — which is absolutely worth sticking around for.
Once the bonds between characters began to develop in action, I started to care about them much more. There were a few name drops from the fantasy community, which I imagine will provoke mixed reactions. Personally, I enjoyed them — especially in a novella — as well as the broader fantasy influences present in the writing.
The influence of Anna Smith Spark’s Empires of Dust permeates the pages — in the best way.
Smith Spark is one of my very favourite authors, and I appreciated the nods to her work. Steele brings plenty of fresh ideas of his own, though, and the book has a distinct personality, never feeling derivative. I really enjoyed the gritty, unglamorous portrayal of soldiering. This boots-on-the-ground view of warfare makes up the majority of the book, and I stormed through the last half without blinking, with a perfect blend of action, reflection, and intriguing questions.
We’re introduced to the mysterious Assassin in Grey — seemingly the main character in Steele’s first full-length novel in this series. As such, I think it’s brilliant how the author has set that book up through this novella, which will definitely leave you wanting more. A great marketing technique for the full series.
Much of the book is actually low fantasy, with just a hint of the fiery magic that may play a bigger role later. However, there are multiple gods in this world — mentioned frequently, though never encountered. Our characters follow Tidur, created in the form of a fox:
He was born in the form of a fox, quick of wit and quick of feet. Reign said to him, ‘You are the Fox, and the steward of my flame. You live in every fire. You keep my people warm. You burn the heretics and purge that which displeases me.’
I really like the way Steele presents the gods in this novella — intriguing snippets of lore are scattered throughout, keeping us hooked. I’m sure we’ll learn more in Whispers of the Storm.
I highly recommend An Inkling of Flame, a book set in an intriguing and gritty world that really captured my interest. Once it got a hold of me, it kept me engrossed right through to the end.
I was offered an ARC of this book by the author, but I had in fact already bought it myself! Thank you to Z. B. Steele for reaching out.
The review request does not impact my opinion of the book.l
June 23, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
A novella about the horrors of war with a nice hook into the full length novels. But yeah, Grimdark isn’t my thing.
To begin: the prose is absolutely amazing. Beautiful, witty, lyrical, and some of the best I’ve read in an indie book.
There’s Impressive world building as the book goes on, most of which is done through dialogue and character interaction, which I always like.
Unfortunately the beginning of the story was a bit difficult for me. It was quite heavy on the backstory and felt disjointed compared to the later parts of the story. I realize that there’s supposed to be a backwards frame narrative, but it really did not work for me.
I’m glad I powered through because the middle of the novella was fantastic. I enjoyed the story much more after the characters left home and joined the war effort. We really got to see the narrator and his friends interacting in a tension-filled situation, and there was some fantastic character moments and growth.
Regarding the ending, it was a nice hook into the novels, but it really gave me a “what was the point?” vibe regarding the protagonist of this novella. In a way, all that mattered at the end was the hook into the novel series, not the characters we spent most of the story with.
The middle of the novella was so good, but I do think it was let down a bit by the beginning and end.
However, like I said above, the prose is excellent, and Grimdark isn’t my thing.
For fans of lyrical writing, backwards narratives, and Grimdark worlds.
A novella about the horrors of war with a nice hook into the full length novels. But yeah, Grimdark isn’t my thing.
To begin: the prose is absolutely amazing. Beautiful, witty, lyrical, and some of the best I’ve read in an indie book.
There’s Impressive world building as the book goes on, most of which is done through dialogue and character interaction, which I always like.
Unfortunately the beginning of the story was a bit difficult for me. It was quite heavy on the backstory and felt disjointed compared to the later parts of the story. I realize that there’s supposed to be a backwards frame narrative, but it really did not work for me.
I’m glad I powered through because the middle of the novella was fantastic. I enjoyed the story much more after the characters left home and joined the war effort. We really got to see the narrator and his friends interacting in a tension-filled situation, and there was some fantastic character moments and growth.
Regarding the ending, it was a nice hook into the novels, but it really gave me a “what was the point?” vibe regarding the protagonist of this novella. In a way, all that mattered at the end was the hook into the novel series, not the characters we spent most of the story with.
The middle of the novella was so good, but I do think it was let down a bit by the beginning and end.
However, like I said above, the prose is excellent, and Grimdark isn’t my thing.
For fans of lyrical writing, backwards narratives, and Grimdark worlds.
January 23, 2025
Anna Smith Spark meets Band of the Hawk in this grimdark gut-punch of a novella; it absolutely SLAPS. For fans of Anthony Ryan and Joe Abercrombie, An Inkling of Flame cements Steele as an author to watch out for.
January 30, 2025
“They’ll never say it to your face, but they do. Don’t underestimate the value of one tenacious person. If you give up that fire, they’ll be doused too. This is war, Layne. If we don’t want to live, we won’t.”
I loved this one. I started reading this on Kindle Unlimited but before I reached 50% I knew I would be getting the physical copy for my shelf. It has been a while since I read a book with a found family in it. I absolutely loved the rag tag group of friends coming together and sticking together in this story. In fact, till the reveal at the end my highlight of the book was the banter. Plus I don’t know how the author heard my plea for bringing back songs in epic fantasies but he did and this one has a song - a libelous, friendly, and hilarious one. You will laugh out loud.
I generally love indie fantasy epic novellas and this was no different. It does everything right that a prequel novella should do- introduce characters, make the readers invested in them, be brutal to them to draw emotional pain from the readers (okay maybe not that one, but the authors are the one doing it, not me) and offer a glimpse of the world and magic systems. This novella goes a step further and also sets up events and character motivations that are going to shape the whole world in the future books. I know this is the second time I’m mentioning it but the reveal at the ending sets up the next book masterfully. I am seated, my kindle is scared of me and is asking me to leave because the book is not out yet but I am simply too seated.
The writing also is phenomenal. It uses a dual timeline narrative with the MC telling the story from a prison - WItcher 2 game style. The scenes chosen by the author to show the whole backstory - which scenes to be displayed overtly in the scene and which parts to be displayed covertly in the background is excellent. I read it in a single sitting because I couldn’t get out of the book at all - the pacing, prose, and story were all so good.
Overall this book is just a treat to all epic fantasy and grimdark fans. I cannot wait for book 1 to come out. Z.B. Steele has arrived and I’m so stoked.
I loved this one. I started reading this on Kindle Unlimited but before I reached 50% I knew I would be getting the physical copy for my shelf. It has been a while since I read a book with a found family in it. I absolutely loved the rag tag group of friends coming together and sticking together in this story. In fact, till the reveal at the end my highlight of the book was the banter. Plus I don’t know how the author heard my plea for bringing back songs in epic fantasies but he did and this one has a song - a libelous, friendly, and hilarious one. You will laugh out loud.
I generally love indie fantasy epic novellas and this was no different. It does everything right that a prequel novella should do- introduce characters, make the readers invested in them, be brutal to them to draw emotional pain from the readers (okay maybe not that one, but the authors are the one doing it, not me) and offer a glimpse of the world and magic systems. This novella goes a step further and also sets up events and character motivations that are going to shape the whole world in the future books. I know this is the second time I’m mentioning it but the reveal at the ending sets up the next book masterfully. I am seated, my kindle is scared of me and is asking me to leave because the book is not out yet but I am simply too seated.
The writing also is phenomenal. It uses a dual timeline narrative with the MC telling the story from a prison - WItcher 2 game style. The scenes chosen by the author to show the whole backstory - which scenes to be displayed overtly in the scene and which parts to be displayed covertly in the background is excellent. I read it in a single sitting because I couldn’t get out of the book at all - the pacing, prose, and story were all so good.
Overall this book is just a treat to all epic fantasy and grimdark fans. I cannot wait for book 1 to come out. Z.B. Steele has arrived and I’m so stoked.
February 19, 2025
“We’re supposed to be young forever. Me, you, Spark, and Sharp, running through the trees, chasing the sunshine, drinking from cool streams and laying on warm rocks. That’s what we’re going to do forever. We’ll never grow up, never ever”
Total banger. One of the better novellas I’ve read. Reads like Joe Abercrombie’s The Hero’s in the narrative style of Dragon Age 2. Really enjoyed the tonal shifts. I laughed out loud at the joke section but the battle scenes were perfectly somber. Read For a Few Days More if you haven’t
Total banger. One of the better novellas I’ve read. Reads like Joe Abercrombie’s The Hero’s in the narrative style of Dragon Age 2. Really enjoyed the tonal shifts. I laughed out loud at the joke section but the battle scenes were perfectly somber. Read For a Few Days More if you haven’t
March 6, 2025
Thoughtful, dark, funny, and crass. I very much enjoyed this novella that touches on deep topics surrounding, war, friendship, loyalty and religion with enough humor and action to balance everything out. I will definitely be reading Whispers of the Storm.
March 23, 2025
An Inkling of Flame begins with a prisoner of war being interrogated. He is injured and sorrowful. This opening scene instantly drove me to crave the events that led to Layne’s imprisonment.
Layne begins his story by telling a familiar tale of a troubled youth. One mischievous act turned into another, and before he had any grasp on life, he was the kid to watch out for. The kid not to trust. The kid to punish and glare at and tell the rest of the townspeople about. The kid who probably did the bad thing but who could really say at this point? No one could prove otherwise. But before I could judge and dislike Layne, Steele goes deeper into Layne’s backstory. With a father who passed away, a hollow shell of a mother, and a little sister to care for, Layne has layers.
When a group of friends comes to Layne’s aid, he finds his world changed. He has friends, purpose, and a new devotion to the church. The bonds Steele creates between these four characters reminded me, and probably any other reader, of the friends we had when we were young. The best friends I thought I’d know all my life. The people who knew my darkest secrets and worst traits. My goals and fears. I never would have expected a novella to have the ability to bind four characters together with such power, but there I was. Loving the banter and kinship. But as most young friendships do, an obstacle tested their mettle.
The gods are at war and thus, soldiers must be made. The friends find themselves marching and training and preparing for battle. They feel ready. They lust for blood. And they are so very naive. Steele gives us a grim inside look at youthful, eager bodies ready to kill and die for the gods they’ve blindly pledged their allegiance to. The descriptions and emotions were raw and genuine.
Steele depicts a group of friends willing to die for each other, picking each other up when they’ve fallen, and always quick with a humorous insult when the need for comedy arises. One of my favorite lines, “…if it hadn’t been for my peers moving forward, I’d have lay down and died.” This line called to me, invoking all sorts of emotions as a military spouse. I know, secondhand, the way that soldiers urge each other on, provide strength for each other and move forward even if it is only so that the person to their left carries on with them. This is especially important because the friends find out that war is not the practiced song and dance they thought it would be.
An Inkling of Flame is a beautifully written novella. The witty conversations had me laughing out loud. The strong friendships had me cheering them on with every feat. The dark setting was intriguing giving me a deep curiosity about the world Steele built for the characters. Knowing how Layne ended up caused me to keep pressing on through the pages hours past bedtime. My first dive into a Z.B. Steele tale will certainly not be my last.
A FanFi Addict Review
Layne begins his story by telling a familiar tale of a troubled youth. One mischievous act turned into another, and before he had any grasp on life, he was the kid to watch out for. The kid not to trust. The kid to punish and glare at and tell the rest of the townspeople about. The kid who probably did the bad thing but who could really say at this point? No one could prove otherwise. But before I could judge and dislike Layne, Steele goes deeper into Layne’s backstory. With a father who passed away, a hollow shell of a mother, and a little sister to care for, Layne has layers.
When a group of friends comes to Layne’s aid, he finds his world changed. He has friends, purpose, and a new devotion to the church. The bonds Steele creates between these four characters reminded me, and probably any other reader, of the friends we had when we were young. The best friends I thought I’d know all my life. The people who knew my darkest secrets and worst traits. My goals and fears. I never would have expected a novella to have the ability to bind four characters together with such power, but there I was. Loving the banter and kinship. But as most young friendships do, an obstacle tested their mettle.
The gods are at war and thus, soldiers must be made. The friends find themselves marching and training and preparing for battle. They feel ready. They lust for blood. And they are so very naive. Steele gives us a grim inside look at youthful, eager bodies ready to kill and die for the gods they’ve blindly pledged their allegiance to. The descriptions and emotions were raw and genuine.
Steele depicts a group of friends willing to die for each other, picking each other up when they’ve fallen, and always quick with a humorous insult when the need for comedy arises. One of my favorite lines, “…if it hadn’t been for my peers moving forward, I’d have lay down and died.” This line called to me, invoking all sorts of emotions as a military spouse. I know, secondhand, the way that soldiers urge each other on, provide strength for each other and move forward even if it is only so that the person to their left carries on with them. This is especially important because the friends find out that war is not the practiced song and dance they thought it would be.
An Inkling of Flame is a beautifully written novella. The witty conversations had me laughing out loud. The strong friendships had me cheering them on with every feat. The dark setting was intriguing giving me a deep curiosity about the world Steele built for the characters. Knowing how Layne ended up caused me to keep pressing on through the pages hours past bedtime. My first dive into a Z.B. Steele tale will certainly not be my last.
A FanFi Addict Review
July 21, 2025
English version below
****************
Diese kurze Novelle beschreibt das Leben eines jungen Taugenichts, der als Heranwachsender dann doch Freunde findet, religiös wird und sich zum wertvollen Mitglied seiner Gemeinschaft wandelt. Schließlich wird er zwangsweise Soldat und zieht in den Krieg.
Wir erfahren seine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Mund des Protagonisten Layne, als er von einer Inquisitorin der gegnerischen Kriegspartei verhört wird. Wir erfahren jedoch nicht viel Wesentliches, außer, dass Krieg furchtbar ist und dass Religion immer eine beliebte Begründung ist, einen Krieg zu starten.
Als einzig interessanten Charakter habe ich den grauen Mann empfunden, der aber erst ganz am Ende der Geschichte vorkommt und da auch nur ganz kurz. Um mehr über ihn zu erfahren, müsste man wohl tiefer in die Reihe einsteigen, was ich aber nicht tun werde.
Aus meiner Sicht lesbar, aber nicht wirklich interessant.
------------------------
This short novella describes the life of a young good-for-nothing who makes friends as an adolescent, becomes religious and transforms himself into a valuable member of his community. Eventually, he is forced to become a soldier and goes to war.
We learn his life story from the mouth of the protagonist Layne when he is interrogated by an inquisitor from the opposing war party. However, we don't learn much of substance, except that war is terrible and that religion is always a popular justification for starting a war.
The only interesting character I found was the grey man, but he only appears at the very end of the story and then only very briefly. To find out more about him, you would probably have to delve deeper into the series, but I'm not going to do that.
In my opinion, it's readable, but not really interesting.
****************
Diese kurze Novelle beschreibt das Leben eines jungen Taugenichts, der als Heranwachsender dann doch Freunde findet, religiös wird und sich zum wertvollen Mitglied seiner Gemeinschaft wandelt. Schließlich wird er zwangsweise Soldat und zieht in den Krieg.
Wir erfahren seine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Mund des Protagonisten Layne, als er von einer Inquisitorin der gegnerischen Kriegspartei verhört wird. Wir erfahren jedoch nicht viel Wesentliches, außer, dass Krieg furchtbar ist und dass Religion immer eine beliebte Begründung ist, einen Krieg zu starten.
Als einzig interessanten Charakter habe ich den grauen Mann empfunden, der aber erst ganz am Ende der Geschichte vorkommt und da auch nur ganz kurz. Um mehr über ihn zu erfahren, müsste man wohl tiefer in die Reihe einsteigen, was ich aber nicht tun werde.
Aus meiner Sicht lesbar, aber nicht wirklich interessant.
------------------------
This short novella describes the life of a young good-for-nothing who makes friends as an adolescent, becomes religious and transforms himself into a valuable member of his community. Eventually, he is forced to become a soldier and goes to war.
We learn his life story from the mouth of the protagonist Layne when he is interrogated by an inquisitor from the opposing war party. However, we don't learn much of substance, except that war is terrible and that religion is always a popular justification for starting a war.
The only interesting character I found was the grey man, but he only appears at the very end of the story and then only very briefly. To find out more about him, you would probably have to delve deeper into the series, but I'm not going to do that.
In my opinion, it's readable, but not really interesting.
April 1, 2025
AND THEN THE WAR BEGAN.
First of all, I'd like to give a massive "fuck off" to Z.B. Steele - what in the sacred heart of Jesus did I just read? I'll start by saying I love you for writing this story, but a gigantic part of me wants to beat your ass for that last 20%.
I'm a Noblebright guy, plain and simple. I like my heroes going up against traditional evil. But what do you when there are no heroes? Are the villains really villains? This is truly my kind of story, and it brings forward my favourite trope (one that surrounds war in general) - good and evil are subjective terms.
Not only did the author tell one hell of a story, but it was relatable. Childhood bonds, leaving home, and joining the army. It took me back to my military days - in both a good way, and a damn miserable one. Marching a day away - yep, check, suck it Zach - there's the depression again. But the camaraderie and (my favourite scene as a Vet) was frigging around and telling jokes when you're supposed to be on watch.
Now on to the sappy shit. This was my first foray into Dark Fantasy (yeah, I know, get over yourself), and I'm glad it was. What Zach manages to accomplish in 80 pages is something I dream of doing in 300+. Relatable characters, epic stakes, and he leaves you with enough to feel equal parts satisfied and hateful.
I'll never get these 3 hours of my life back, and frankly I don't want it. This novella was amazing, and I can't tell you how excited I am to get into Whispers and keep this train rolling!
This is a must read, it's not optional. And if there's ever a "I hate Z.B Steele, but his writing is epic" club - I want in. I can't forgive you for what your story did to me these last 3 hours, brother. But I CAN thank you for it!
Hell of a ride!!
Edit (01 Apr 25)
MINOR SPOILERS(ish): With the implementation of my infamous "f*off" scale this book must be rated accordingly. Owing to the personal trauma this book inflicts, it has been judged with 4/5 f*offs.
- For what the Assassin in Grey (f* you Redlin) did to Spark (this is worth 2, I'm sorry, but this even gets a personal f*off to the author)
- For what the Assassin in Grey did to Harwood and Sharp
- For making me remember how shitty forced marches were from my military days
- For that ending...
First of all, I'd like to give a massive "fuck off" to Z.B. Steele - what in the sacred heart of Jesus did I just read? I'll start by saying I love you for writing this story, but a gigantic part of me wants to beat your ass for that last 20%.
I'm a Noblebright guy, plain and simple. I like my heroes going up against traditional evil. But what do you when there are no heroes? Are the villains really villains? This is truly my kind of story, and it brings forward my favourite trope (one that surrounds war in general) - good and evil are subjective terms.
Not only did the author tell one hell of a story, but it was relatable. Childhood bonds, leaving home, and joining the army. It took me back to my military days - in both a good way, and a damn miserable one. Marching a day away - yep, check, suck it Zach - there's the depression again. But the camaraderie and (my favourite scene as a Vet) was frigging around and telling jokes when you're supposed to be on watch.
Now on to the sappy shit. This was my first foray into Dark Fantasy (yeah, I know, get over yourself), and I'm glad it was. What Zach manages to accomplish in 80 pages is something I dream of doing in 300+. Relatable characters, epic stakes, and he leaves you with enough to feel equal parts satisfied and hateful.
I'll never get these 3 hours of my life back, and frankly I don't want it. This novella was amazing, and I can't tell you how excited I am to get into Whispers and keep this train rolling!
This is a must read, it's not optional. And if there's ever a "I hate Z.B Steele, but his writing is epic" club - I want in. I can't forgive you for what your story did to me these last 3 hours, brother. But I CAN thank you for it!
Hell of a ride!!
Edit (01 Apr 25)
MINOR SPOILERS(ish): With the implementation of my infamous "f*off" scale this book must be rated accordingly. Owing to the personal trauma this book inflicts, it has been judged with 4/5 f*offs.
- For what the Assassin in Grey (f* you Redlin) did to Spark (this is worth 2, I'm sorry, but this even gets a personal f*off to the author)
- For what the Assassin in Grey did to Harwood and Sharp
- For making me remember how shitty forced marches were from my military days
- For that ending...
February 13, 2025
Torn between a 4 and a 5 on this one, so we better go with a 5 to be safe. While I didn't love the framing narrative at first, it grew on me once we reached the end and there were plenty of elements in this novella that immediately got me interested in the larger world to come.
The story follows a group of children through their early youth into eventual war and while there were some scenes that flowed better than others, the characters all shone through as people with wants and needs.
Overall ZB has delivered a gut punch of a novella.
(Review based on an ARC from the author in exchange for honest feedback.)
The story follows a group of children through their early youth into eventual war and while there were some scenes that flowed better than others, the characters all shone through as people with wants and needs.
Overall ZB has delivered a gut punch of a novella.
(Review based on an ARC from the author in exchange for honest feedback.)
April 8, 2025
A great novella that pulls no punches regarding the horrors of war; a war fought under the guise of religious propaganda.
Even though it's a novella, it has the full impact of a novel. One is made to feel like part of the group of young men (and woman) and at times it was heartbreaking.
I'll definitely be reading book 1 of the series when it comes out later this month
Even though it's a novella, it has the full impact of a novel. One is made to feel like part of the group of young men (and woman) and at times it was heartbreaking.
I'll definitely be reading book 1 of the series when it comes out later this month
May 10, 2025
Layne was a soldier, conscripted to fight for the Fox. But he has been captured by the enemy and forced to tell his story of growing up in a small village, friendship with Sharp, Harwood, and Spark, joining the army, and eventual defeat.
The story shines best in the middle, where Layne is accepted by the village outcasts, finds faith, and submits to a soldiers life for his country. The prose throughout is solid. My absolute favorite scene is from chapter six where Layne is tired of the life of a soldier but Sharp gives him a kick-in-the-pants by reminding him how much the others look up to him. It was poignant, relatable, and heartfelt.
That being said, this story has some issues. While I liked the framing narrative of Layne being captured, it caused the author to rely heavily on summary instead of scene. I absolutely adored the scenes of Layne and his friends, but I could have done without most of the summary.
The other issue I had was with the ending. The tragic ending was spoiled by Layne far too early in the story. Before I had a chance to truly get invested in the other characters. And beyond that, they were done in by a foe that was neither foreshadowed, nor was it truly a consequence of Layne's actions. I can see that this was partly done as a nod to the cruelty and helplessness of war, and perhaps it helps bring depth to A Song of the Damned series, but as a standalone novella, it made for an unsatisfying read.
I recommend An Inkling of Flame to dark fantasy lovers, people who like military fantasy, and those that seek out tragedies.
The story shines best in the middle, where Layne is accepted by the village outcasts, finds faith, and submits to a soldiers life for his country. The prose throughout is solid. My absolute favorite scene is from chapter six where Layne is tired of the life of a soldier but Sharp gives him a kick-in-the-pants by reminding him how much the others look up to him. It was poignant, relatable, and heartfelt.
That being said, this story has some issues. While I liked the framing narrative of Layne being captured, it caused the author to rely heavily on summary instead of scene. I absolutely adored the scenes of Layne and his friends, but I could have done without most of the summary.
The other issue I had was with the ending. The tragic ending was spoiled by Layne far too early in the story. Before I had a chance to truly get invested in the other characters. And beyond that, they were done in by a foe that was neither foreshadowed, nor was it truly a consequence of Layne's actions. I can see that this was partly done as a nod to the cruelty and helplessness of war, and perhaps it helps bring depth to A Song of the Damned series, but as a standalone novella, it made for an unsatisfying read.
I recommend An Inkling of Flame to dark fantasy lovers, people who like military fantasy, and those that seek out tragedies.
May 12, 2025
Look at that cover. Just look at it!!
It's spectacular. The book is pretty damn good too.
It's about a troublesome boy growing up, finding friends, and then going off to war. It wasn't until the end I figured out
It was in the Acknowledgements that I discovered where some of the characters came from. Now I absolutely love Sparks 🧡
It's spectacular. The book is pretty damn good too.
It's about a troublesome boy growing up, finding friends, and then going off to war. It wasn't until the end I figured out
It was in the Acknowledgements that I discovered where some of the characters came from. Now I absolutely love Sparks 🧡
February 20, 2025
This was such a compelling and emotional story!
Similarly to Dragon Age 2, the framing narrative is told through a series of flashbacks. Layne is forced to recount the events before an inquisitor. Through his recounting, we learn about his life before and after becoming a soldier. I enjoyed the tonal shifts of this story since it felt authentic to the ups and downs of life. It also made the camaraderie between Layne and his friends feel believable.
I should also add this is a dark novella. Steele doesn't hold back on war and the naivety young people have when they become recruits. Everyone sees themselves as the hero of their own story. In reality, war is not glorious. It can also be boring, and brutal. Even worse, they may have no clue what they are fighting for and are simply following orders.
Anyway, at first, you don't see why his recounting matters. Once you get to the end, all the dots connect. It made me want to know about certain characters and their roles. Overall, I highly recommend this grimdark novella. After reading this, I need to get my hands on Whispers of the Storm (Song of the Damned Book 1) once it's released.
Similarly to Dragon Age 2, the framing narrative is told through a series of flashbacks. Layne is forced to recount the events before an inquisitor. Through his recounting, we learn about his life before and after becoming a soldier. I enjoyed the tonal shifts of this story since it felt authentic to the ups and downs of life. It also made the camaraderie between Layne and his friends feel believable.
I should also add this is a dark novella. Steele doesn't hold back on war and the naivety young people have when they become recruits. Everyone sees themselves as the hero of their own story. In reality, war is not glorious. It can also be boring, and brutal. Even worse, they may have no clue what they are fighting for and are simply following orders.
Anyway, at first, you don't see why his recounting matters. Once you get to the end, all the dots connect. It made me want to know about certain characters and their roles. Overall, I highly recommend this grimdark novella. After reading this, I need to get my hands on Whispers of the Storm (Song of the Damned Book 1) once it's released.
July 23, 2025
As real as it can get in a fantasy setting. An Inkling of Flame is a novella about war and friendship. It's gruesome and bloody. It's also filled with hope, kindness, and the witty banter that friends comfortable with each other often have. It never minimizes the horror of battle, yet always comes back to what's important between individuals. There is, in this reader's opinion, an indictment against war in the name of faith, mixed with a reverence for something better in belief and hope. Not all good guys are good, and not all bad guys are bad. Human beings are "complicated." And that pretty much sums this short novel up. A fantastic read and another author to follow and support and no, I'm not mad in the slightest.
June 17, 2025
Dark and Deadly
This is the first of Z.B.Steele's works I've read, and it makes me interested to read the full novel. This is certainly a dark and sad novella, but it had a lot of great lines in it.
This is the first of Z.B.Steele's works I've read, and it makes me interested to read the full novel. This is certainly a dark and sad novella, but it had a lot of great lines in it.
January 24, 2025
A startling emotional experience of friendship between strangers, and how actions can be taken by others.
This exceptionally powerful story is one that can’t be missed, as it is a teaser to the highly anticipated book Whisper of the Storm. This story is expertly crafted, written and executed by Z.B Steele, and it’s definitely one that will forever stay in your mind.
I’m shocked at all the complexities and nuances have been blended into this shocking story, which is worth far more than just 5-stars.
I hope to read more of his stories in the future and explore his books with delight and gratitude.
Thanks Z.B Steele for sharing this story with me.
This exceptionally powerful story is one that can’t be missed, as it is a teaser to the highly anticipated book Whisper of the Storm. This story is expertly crafted, written and executed by Z.B Steele, and it’s definitely one that will forever stay in your mind.
I’m shocked at all the complexities and nuances have been blended into this shocking story, which is worth far more than just 5-stars.
I hope to read more of his stories in the future and explore his books with delight and gratitude.
Thanks Z.B Steele for sharing this story with me.
January 27, 2025
My excitement for Whispers of the Storm has just gone through the roof.
This starts as a found family tale with the characters being thrust into war, but along the way ZB Steele did a hell of a job making me care about each of the group, and more than I expected.
The plot was cool, the pacing was great. The ending, though... What a banger of an intro for the main character of the upcoming series. I. Can’t. Wait.
8.88/10
5/5 ⭐️
This starts as a found family tale with the characters being thrust into war, but along the way ZB Steele did a hell of a job making me care about each of the group, and more than I expected.
The plot was cool, the pacing was great. The ending, though... What a banger of an intro for the main character of the upcoming series. I. Can’t. Wait.
8.88/10
5/5 ⭐️
February 1, 2025
Did I read this in one sitting? Yes I sure did. I could not put it down!
I definitely see the grimdark influence behind the writing of this story but this voice is unique and sharp as a switchblade.
I loved the elements of found family and coming of age. Mix those with brutal losses, war and a little magic and you have a winner.
I'm in for more of this story!
My rating is 4.5 rounded for GR
I definitely see the grimdark influence behind the writing of this story but this voice is unique and sharp as a switchblade.
I loved the elements of found family and coming of age. Mix those with brutal losses, war and a little magic and you have a winner.
I'm in for more of this story!
My rating is 4.5 rounded for GR
April 15, 2025
I decided to read this quick novella before hopping into Whispers of the Storm and I'm so glad I did. While a quick read, it was packed with tons of information, fellowship bonds, death, and just the grimness of war. I'm super excited to jump in now to Whispers of the Storm.
January 26, 2026
An Inkling of Flame, at its core, is a grounded, well-paced fantasy novella that very briefly tells the story of a found family facing imminent danger as they are recruited and sent to war.
Written from Layne's perspective, who is a hell-raiser and is telling the story in the present (frame narrative), there are particular nuggets that are really well done, little snippets of wisdom that one can only have if written in this way. And while this route is not my absolute favorite narrative wise, Steele does a great job of subtly reminding you of the present day without being overbearing.
The main conflict is foretold at the beginning, so that's not a surprise. Although, Steele does manage to hook you at the end with something I didn't expect that sets up the first true entry to the series, Whispers of the Storm.
The story itself is constructed well, being trimmed down to only the necessary, and it does as much in <30k words than I've seen in some entire novels. With the shortened length, I think there was a little less attachment than one could have in a novel to these side characters, however, that is to be expected. Overall, I think Steele did really well of delivering a compact narrative that perfectly sets up a larger story.
"We always talk good about the dead. The good is elevated, promoted to epic proportions. One quick joke is ballooned into a lifetime as a comedian. One noble deed is evidence of a saintly life. Our flaws are treated similarly, when they can be used for levity."
4.5/5⭐
Written from Layne's perspective, who is a hell-raiser and is telling the story in the present (frame narrative), there are particular nuggets that are really well done, little snippets of wisdom that one can only have if written in this way. And while this route is not my absolute favorite narrative wise, Steele does a great job of subtly reminding you of the present day without being overbearing.
The main conflict is foretold at the beginning, so that's not a surprise. Although, Steele does manage to hook you at the end with something I didn't expect that sets up the first true entry to the series, Whispers of the Storm.
The story itself is constructed well, being trimmed down to only the necessary, and it does as much in <30k words than I've seen in some entire novels. With the shortened length, I think there was a little less attachment than one could have in a novel to these side characters, however, that is to be expected. Overall, I think Steele did really well of delivering a compact narrative that perfectly sets up a larger story.
"We always talk good about the dead. The good is elevated, promoted to epic proportions. One quick joke is ballooned into a lifetime as a comedian. One noble deed is evidence of a saintly life. Our flaws are treated similarly, when they can be used for levity."
4.5/5⭐
March 31, 2025
This is a story that is heavily religious based, with one of the gods getting killed by the evil. Layne and his friends follow the church soldiers into war to fight for the fox. Now he's imprisoned and is interrogated by the Inquisitor who wants him to tell her about his story and how he flighted against the assassin in grey
Before joining Instagram, I didn’t read novellas. Because they are so small, and then people like me thinks - smaller means less information, less things happening in a rushed settings. Because it's less pages to write inn. But yeah, I was luckily wrong. And Steele is one of the authors that have been able to prove me wrong. Because this is a fantastic short book that proves that less can be more.
It's a beautiful written story, but not mistake that for being a beautiful book. Because it's not, it's a grimdark with the darkness of war around Layne and his friends. I loved and hatet it, because even how sad and horrible this world is, I can't stop thinking about how nice this story is.
Even if this is a imaginary world, I still can't shake how most people can relate to what's going on here. Taxes going over the roof, the everyday struggle of life and finding meaning of it. Forgiveness for what they have done wrong and a friendship they would die for because they didn't have anyone else that could give them what they needed growing up, and when they finally have something they rather die for them than losing them.
This is a dual timeline where Layne tells his story about how he ended up where he is now. With this being on 80 pages this is the perfect book to get lost in when you are having a day off. Book 1 have just been released and i can't wait to get more deeper into the story.
Before joining Instagram, I didn’t read novellas. Because they are so small, and then people like me thinks - smaller means less information, less things happening in a rushed settings. Because it's less pages to write inn. But yeah, I was luckily wrong. And Steele is one of the authors that have been able to prove me wrong. Because this is a fantastic short book that proves that less can be more.
It's a beautiful written story, but not mistake that for being a beautiful book. Because it's not, it's a grimdark with the darkness of war around Layne and his friends. I loved and hatet it, because even how sad and horrible this world is, I can't stop thinking about how nice this story is.
Even if this is a imaginary world, I still can't shake how most people can relate to what's going on here. Taxes going over the roof, the everyday struggle of life and finding meaning of it. Forgiveness for what they have done wrong and a friendship they would die for because they didn't have anyone else that could give them what they needed growing up, and when they finally have something they rather die for them than losing them.
This is a dual timeline where Layne tells his story about how he ended up where he is now. With this being on 80 pages this is the perfect book to get lost in when you are having a day off. Book 1 have just been released and i can't wait to get more deeper into the story.
August 27, 2025
I’ve been a long-time reader ever since I was young. Around the age of 9-10 years old I began to love books. My father would take me to Barnes and Noble and tell to pick something. I always went with science fiction or a post-apocalyptic book. Something about both genres was just...intriguing to me. The wasteland of the world. Surviving an outbreak/virus that was constructed in a lab by some mad sadistic scientist. An experiment gone wrong that made it to the public and now they must try and contain it. Space exploration and technology and the wonders of what society can do. Time travel, robots etc. You get the point. I fell in love with those genres. As I got older, I started venturing into Mystery/Thriller. Crime fiction and horror. Horror is one of my favorites. The difference between a horror movie and reading horror, movies give you the picture, reading it, your imagination can go anywhere and that is truly scary.
This year I was eager to find a new genre to dive into. I read two romance books my wife recommended to me and to be honest, they weren’t bad. But that didn’t suffice. I enjoyed them but I needed something more. I like The Lord of the Rings movies. Harry Potter. The Clash of Titans and so on. Why not give fantasy a try. If I love the movies, I should love the books, right? Took me a little bit to get the feel for it. Wrote down a lot of fantasy books to get started. Asked a few people for a good starting point into the genre because I knew that fantasy is built around a world that has no limits. The author can create a world so massive and vast, it almost seems endless. So that’s when I picked up my second fantasy read of the year.
An Inkling of Flame
Z.B. Steele.
“His rapid inhales took in a dank air, cold and moist, while one low-burning torch lit on the wall behind the man. Living in his shadow was the inquisitor, the one driving the questions. She was young, and far younger than the average interrogator, with blonde hair, orange eyes, and a calm hunger carved onto her visage. She’d been walking from one side of his shoulder to the other, only rarely able to be seen, but her presence always felt."
Wow! That’s one way to make you cry for your freedom. From the beginning you learn that a war is brewing, and a young man named Layne, and his friends are forced to enter and fight under the Fox in a vengeance-fueled march. Long before Layne became friends with his fellow soldiers, he was one for making trouble around town. Always causing mayhem and making the town folks lose their minds. Layne's mother and little are the only two people he has in his life. His father had died, and his mother was...well she was a wreck. She was there but she wasn’t. Mel (Layne's little sister) needed him more than anything. After finding his new friends, Sharp, Harwood and Spark, Layne turns his life around. Sharp is pretty much a mentor. Layne learns quickly that maybe the life he’s living, is one that is being wasted. He becomes someone who maybe isn’t respected by others yet, but one who is showing that everyone can change. Some people just need guidance.
An inkling of flame is about friendship. The bond between others and what someone will do to protect the ones they love. About how people can change if they apply themselves. The bond you witness in this short novella is one to hold on to. Family...family is so important to the MC in ways you can’t imagine. A boy growing up without a father. A mother who feels like she has no place in this world anymore. A sister who needs her brother. A brother...who needs purpose. "We create our own unhappiness. The purpose of suffering is to help us understand we are the ones who cause it." For the MC, he created his unhappiness and HE, wanted to change it.
Characters: You instantly feel a connection to them. Well maybe not the MC’s friends at first but the deuteragonist, he grows on you quickly. You feel the pain Layne has endured over the years. He might not show it but deep down, he’s hurting. That's where Laynes friends come into play. You have Sharp, who’s levelheaded, Harwood who’s a pain in the ass but can be funny and Spark, who has absolutely no filter. Each character has a small background that you learn about. I love the way the author made the bond between them so powerful and the unconditional acceptance they have for each other is truly remarkable. Phenomenal character development.
Z.B. Steele’s writing is remarkable. The flow and structure make it feel like this is second nature for him. I never felt lost. He pacts so much in this short novella and to be honest, I wish it was longer. I can’t compare this to other fantasy novels because I’m new to the genre but from what I’m seeing with this author, he is one to keep your eye on and one who I feel is going to make a huge impact in the fantasy world.
Overall: This goes without saying that I very much enjoyed this short novella. I was flipping through the pages. Happy at times and angry at times with some of the choices being made. This being my second fantasy read of the year, I truly understand why people love this genre. Z.B. Steele knows how to pull you in and keep you focused. This is one book that I can say I wish I can read it again for the first time. The excitement, the anticipation I was having while reading this was something I love having while getting lost in an author's world they’re creating for us. Highly recommend!!
This year I was eager to find a new genre to dive into. I read two romance books my wife recommended to me and to be honest, they weren’t bad. But that didn’t suffice. I enjoyed them but I needed something more. I like The Lord of the Rings movies. Harry Potter. The Clash of Titans and so on. Why not give fantasy a try. If I love the movies, I should love the books, right? Took me a little bit to get the feel for it. Wrote down a lot of fantasy books to get started. Asked a few people for a good starting point into the genre because I knew that fantasy is built around a world that has no limits. The author can create a world so massive and vast, it almost seems endless. So that’s when I picked up my second fantasy read of the year.
An Inkling of Flame
Z.B. Steele.
“His rapid inhales took in a dank air, cold and moist, while one low-burning torch lit on the wall behind the man. Living in his shadow was the inquisitor, the one driving the questions. She was young, and far younger than the average interrogator, with blonde hair, orange eyes, and a calm hunger carved onto her visage. She’d been walking from one side of his shoulder to the other, only rarely able to be seen, but her presence always felt."
Wow! That’s one way to make you cry for your freedom. From the beginning you learn that a war is brewing, and a young man named Layne, and his friends are forced to enter and fight under the Fox in a vengeance-fueled march. Long before Layne became friends with his fellow soldiers, he was one for making trouble around town. Always causing mayhem and making the town folks lose their minds. Layne's mother and little are the only two people he has in his life. His father had died, and his mother was...well she was a wreck. She was there but she wasn’t. Mel (Layne's little sister) needed him more than anything. After finding his new friends, Sharp, Harwood and Spark, Layne turns his life around. Sharp is pretty much a mentor. Layne learns quickly that maybe the life he’s living, is one that is being wasted. He becomes someone who maybe isn’t respected by others yet, but one who is showing that everyone can change. Some people just need guidance.
An inkling of flame is about friendship. The bond between others and what someone will do to protect the ones they love. About how people can change if they apply themselves. The bond you witness in this short novella is one to hold on to. Family...family is so important to the MC in ways you can’t imagine. A boy growing up without a father. A mother who feels like she has no place in this world anymore. A sister who needs her brother. A brother...who needs purpose. "We create our own unhappiness. The purpose of suffering is to help us understand we are the ones who cause it." For the MC, he created his unhappiness and HE, wanted to change it.
Characters: You instantly feel a connection to them. Well maybe not the MC’s friends at first but the deuteragonist, he grows on you quickly. You feel the pain Layne has endured over the years. He might not show it but deep down, he’s hurting. That's where Laynes friends come into play. You have Sharp, who’s levelheaded, Harwood who’s a pain in the ass but can be funny and Spark, who has absolutely no filter. Each character has a small background that you learn about. I love the way the author made the bond between them so powerful and the unconditional acceptance they have for each other is truly remarkable. Phenomenal character development.
Z.B. Steele’s writing is remarkable. The flow and structure make it feel like this is second nature for him. I never felt lost. He pacts so much in this short novella and to be honest, I wish it was longer. I can’t compare this to other fantasy novels because I’m new to the genre but from what I’m seeing with this author, he is one to keep your eye on and one who I feel is going to make a huge impact in the fantasy world.
Overall: This goes without saying that I very much enjoyed this short novella. I was flipping through the pages. Happy at times and angry at times with some of the choices being made. This being my second fantasy read of the year, I truly understand why people love this genre. Z.B. Steele knows how to pull you in and keep you focused. This is one book that I can say I wish I can read it again for the first time. The excitement, the anticipation I was having while reading this was something I love having while getting lost in an author's world they’re creating for us. Highly recommend!!
May 20, 2025
I was craving something quick and grimdark alongside my current reads, so I picked up An Inkling of Flame by Z.B. Steele. This is my first time reading his work, and as a prequel to his novel Whispers of the Storm, it completely surpassed my expectations.
At just 80 pages, this indie fantasy is bold, gritty, and full of heart. Z.B. Steele crafts an immersive story that feels like a breath of fresh air in the genre. His writing pulls you in from page one with a sharp, character-driven tone that doesn’t let go.
You get to witness the early beginnings of the main players in the series, grow attached to them, and can’t help but root for them. I especially loved the found family dynamics that shine through in an otherwise harsh and bloodstained world.
The story follows Layne, a conscripted soldier who, after a troubled youth, finds camaraderie and purpose among a group of friends. Their journey from misfits to soldiers under the Fox’s command unfolds through Layne’s recounting to inquisitors, revealing a bloody mission and sets the stage for Whispers of the Storm.
It’s grimdark, but with soul and surprising emotional depth. If you’re in the mood for something fierce, fast-paced, and feral—and a damn good indie read—this one’s for you.
At just 80 pages, this indie fantasy is bold, gritty, and full of heart. Z.B. Steele crafts an immersive story that feels like a breath of fresh air in the genre. His writing pulls you in from page one with a sharp, character-driven tone that doesn’t let go.
You get to witness the early beginnings of the main players in the series, grow attached to them, and can’t help but root for them. I especially loved the found family dynamics that shine through in an otherwise harsh and bloodstained world.
The story follows Layne, a conscripted soldier who, after a troubled youth, finds camaraderie and purpose among a group of friends. Their journey from misfits to soldiers under the Fox’s command unfolds through Layne’s recounting to inquisitors, revealing a bloody mission and sets the stage for Whispers of the Storm.
It’s grimdark, but with soul and surprising emotional depth. If you’re in the mood for something fierce, fast-paced, and feral—and a damn good indie read—this one’s for you.
January 1, 2026
An Inkling Of Flame was absolutely fantastic. This novella is short, so it should have taken no time at all to read it, but like a really good meal this book was so rich with relatable characters and story that I found myself savoring it, not wanting it to ever end. It kept building and building and the ending took me by complete surprise. Lived up to the hype. You should read it.
September 7, 2025
What an amazing novella! Z.B. Steele does a great job of packing an intriguing story into such a short read. While you can read this in one sitting, the story will stay with you for weeks! Grab a copy and let me know what you think.
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