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A Sound of Steel: Volume I
Dragons breathe once more, and pillars of light pierce the tortured sky.
Unification has failed. The High Empire is in chaos, beset with rebellion from all sides, and The Powers stoke the fires of war.
Torran Xandromen, heir to The High Throne, fought for years to return to his father’s side. But at the cusp of ultimate victory, he was betrayed, his forces routed. Defying death, he struck down Flameheir, a monster amongst monsters, saving his troops and turning the tide of battle.
However, war has changed. The swords of the past have returned to the hands of men, punching holes through the clouds, and souls pay for spells that shatter armies.
Chosen by The Divinity to save the world, Torran must embrace the path laid out for him, or rebel against fate.
He is not alone. Six others have been blessed for their
Scarolette, a scribe who risks it all for love.
Ilidar, a guardsman wrestling with responsibility.
Jhett, a galley slave who dreams of freedom.
Leafsong, a noble plagued by mysterious visions.
Flind, a scullion pursuing her own justice.
Absolute—a monk searching for his place in it all.
In the shadows, Viktor Eridion, son of the enemy, swears revenge. Allying with The Adversary and his demonic horde, he orchestrates a plot that pits Nations against each other and turns friends into foes. As confrontation looms, Viktor must choose to rise above his legacy, or succumb to the dark ideals he has inherited.
Beyond it all, Unification, Order, and Division each vie for control, and their conflict threatens to tear reality apart. It is up to the world’s broken champions to muster a defense, for steel strikes steel with a thunderous clash.
And everything hangs in the balance.
Unification has failed. The High Empire is in chaos, beset with rebellion from all sides, and The Powers stoke the fires of war.
Torran Xandromen, heir to The High Throne, fought for years to return to his father’s side. But at the cusp of ultimate victory, he was betrayed, his forces routed. Defying death, he struck down Flameheir, a monster amongst monsters, saving his troops and turning the tide of battle.
However, war has changed. The swords of the past have returned to the hands of men, punching holes through the clouds, and souls pay for spells that shatter armies.
Chosen by The Divinity to save the world, Torran must embrace the path laid out for him, or rebel against fate.
He is not alone. Six others have been blessed for their
Scarolette, a scribe who risks it all for love.
Ilidar, a guardsman wrestling with responsibility.
Jhett, a galley slave who dreams of freedom.
Leafsong, a noble plagued by mysterious visions.
Flind, a scullion pursuing her own justice.
Absolute—a monk searching for his place in it all.
In the shadows, Viktor Eridion, son of the enemy, swears revenge. Allying with The Adversary and his demonic horde, he orchestrates a plot that pits Nations against each other and turns friends into foes. As confrontation looms, Viktor must choose to rise above his legacy, or succumb to the dark ideals he has inherited.
Beyond it all, Unification, Order, and Division each vie for control, and their conflict threatens to tear reality apart. It is up to the world’s broken champions to muster a defense, for steel strikes steel with a thunderous clash.
And everything hangs in the balance.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2025
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 25, 2025
A Sound of Steel by Nicholas Roudes caught my eye with its captivating cover and intriguing premise. I note the cover in Goodreads isn't the same as the one I received in NetGalley.
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the writing style, which left me feeling confused at times.
While the fantasy elements were well done, this book might appeal more to readers who enjoy a more atmospheric or complex narrative.
If you're interested in dark fantasy, you might appreciate this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the writing style, which left me feeling confused at times.
While the fantasy elements were well done, this book might appeal more to readers who enjoy a more atmospheric or complex narrative.
If you're interested in dark fantasy, you might appreciate this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 26, 2025
The writing and story is solid although there is purple prose. The beginning battle scene feels like it should have been placed in a later section. What most authors struggle with is finding product market fit (specific readership) for a book that hits on many niche genres. Mainly when there's technical terms. I'm not used to reading this genre but as someone moving into this as a fellow writer that by chance is moving into these topics, I'm prone to learn what hurdles I will have moving into dark fantasy. What topics? Niche again. I'm someone who's grown up with parents that met training in martial arts and weaponry. In addition to having a friend who was one of the 12 people chosen yearly from around the world to make blades in Japan at one of the oldest places in the world. So if you're not familiar in these genres you're a best fit if you happen to be into looking up sword terminology, fantasy, and etc. terms. In regards to the r**e/pedo stuff it's not over done, in my opinion. Yet, again - as someone working on a dark fantasy with scifi and military dystopia in regards to a few being pedophiles who have acquired power for the purpose of having zones like international waters, and unfortunately perhaps in space... It's either it gets written or does not. These acts exist whether they're talked about and in relation to social / power dynamics.
November 15, 2025
I received an e-book copy of this book as an ARC read. My honest review is that this book has a lot of potential. It has a fantastic premise, and the world created is one that fascinated me.
Unfortunately, I found that from the beginning, I was struggling to understand and connect to what was happening in the book. There was a lot of terminology that was foreign to me, and without that knowledge, it was hard to immerse myself in this read.
I loved the multiple POV’s. That’s always been something I’ve enjoyed with books, but without laying first the foundation of who our characters are, it was hard to establish that connective thread.
Overall I think this book has SO much potential. It was very well written, the author does an amazing job at putting a scene together, but for me, this book specifically was just a struggle.
Unfortunately, I found that from the beginning, I was struggling to understand and connect to what was happening in the book. There was a lot of terminology that was foreign to me, and without that knowledge, it was hard to immerse myself in this read.
I loved the multiple POV’s. That’s always been something I’ve enjoyed with books, but without laying first the foundation of who our characters are, it was hard to establish that connective thread.
Overall I think this book has SO much potential. It was very well written, the author does an amazing job at putting a scene together, but for me, this book specifically was just a struggle.
January 10, 2026
If you enjoy epic fantasy with a deep world and large cast of characters then you'll love A Sound of Steel. Without giving anything away, the story is told through multiple POVs whose storylines interweave with a core conflict involving angels, demons, dragons, and gods. I enjoyed the different viewpoints and the immense lore that was built up around this story.
This is a brutal dark fantasy and as you would expect, characters suffer both physically and emotionally. So expect a great deal of violence and torment. It’s worth adding that the battle scenes are suitably epic and full of fantastical and deadly creatures.
It's the world building, diverse cast of characters and brutal action that really stands out here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy from the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is a brutal dark fantasy and as you would expect, characters suffer both physically and emotionally. So expect a great deal of violence and torment. It’s worth adding that the battle scenes are suitably epic and full of fantastical and deadly creatures.
It's the world building, diverse cast of characters and brutal action that really stands out here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy from the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A Sound of Steel by Nicholas Roudas gives us a dark fantasy world with an intriguing premise that really drew me in. I did notice the cover was different on Goodreads vs. Netgalley though.
Stil lthere was something about the writing stylke that made it difficult for me to stay engaged and I felt I needed to force myself to finish it. I'm sure that theres somebody that this is for, but it was not me. I wanted to love this read but I just didn't. The chapters wer ejust too long.
The overall ambition was there, and I'm sure with some practice the writer can get there. It didn't click for ME.
A Sound of Steel by Nicholas Roudas gives us a dark fantasy world with an intriguing premise that really drew me in. I did notice the cover was different on Goodreads vs. Netgalley though.
Stil lthere was something about the writing stylke that made it difficult for me to stay engaged and I felt I needed to force myself to finish it. I'm sure that theres somebody that this is for, but it was not me. I wanted to love this read but I just didn't. The chapters wer ejust too long.
The overall ambition was there, and I'm sure with some practice the writer can get there. It didn't click for ME.
June 23, 2025
I fear this book just wasn’t for me.
There were too many POV shifts that changed every couple paragraphs/pages which made it very hard to follow. The chapters were also very long and I feel like it would’ve made it easier for the reader if they were broken up by characters.
I can tell there was significant work put into this story and it had a very interesting premise however as an outside reader I was lost the majority of the story.
There were too many POV shifts that changed every couple paragraphs/pages which made it very hard to follow. The chapters were also very long and I feel like it would’ve made it easier for the reader if they were broken up by characters.
I can tell there was significant work put into this story and it had a very interesting premise however as an outside reader I was lost the majority of the story.
July 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book.
Not for me. Simple writing, but some brutal scenes- which tbf this book does warn you about. I should love so many things about this book, but none of it clicked for me. I really wish I had liked it. Others may enjoy it more.
Not for me. Simple writing, but some brutal scenes- which tbf this book does warn you about. I should love so many things about this book, but none of it clicked for me. I really wish I had liked it. Others may enjoy it more.
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September 28, 2025Amateur authors using pedophilia and rape as an unnecessary plot device is an automatic hard-stop for me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews