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Warriors of Spirit and Bone #3
A Queen in Blood
Not all heroes carry swords…
As the invasion of Brandshold begins, the realm is haunted by the Infected ‒ devastated and spirit-poisoned townsfolk who hunger for flesh and souls to salve their pain. When the city of Jense falls to a wave of bloody teeth and foul claws, the Constructor's Emperor strikes, shattering city walls with his newly awakened artifice dragon, and the dreaded Kraken soulship.
Forced to turn to the reviled Unspoken, the queen sends her army to rescue the heretic city of Anvil, while the Seven Houses finally reveal their soul-magic to defend the realm.
For a queen bathed in the blood of her own people, hope lies in the alchemy of the meisters, a traitorous mechanical dragon, and loyal but broken soldiers.
Yet Sura retains faith in Laoch, believing he will return with a weapon like no other, as the final battle for the souls of the realm nears its catastrophic end.
For peace can only be forged by the spirits of the fallen.
As the invasion of Brandshold begins, the realm is haunted by the Infected ‒ devastated and spirit-poisoned townsfolk who hunger for flesh and souls to salve their pain. When the city of Jense falls to a wave of bloody teeth and foul claws, the Constructor's Emperor strikes, shattering city walls with his newly awakened artifice dragon, and the dreaded Kraken soulship.
Forced to turn to the reviled Unspoken, the queen sends her army to rescue the heretic city of Anvil, while the Seven Houses finally reveal their soul-magic to defend the realm.
For a queen bathed in the blood of her own people, hope lies in the alchemy of the meisters, a traitorous mechanical dragon, and loyal but broken soldiers.
Yet Sura retains faith in Laoch, believing he will return with a weapon like no other, as the final battle for the souls of the realm nears its catastrophic end.
For peace can only be forged by the spirits of the fallen.
- GenresFantasy
529 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2025
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Nick Snape
23 books80 followersNick Snape has been steeped in Science Fiction and Fantasy since his friends first dragged him from his schoolwork and stuck a book under his nose. Lost to the world of imagination he became a teacher by accident though he thoroughly enjoyed developing the joy of reading and writing in his pupils. Having retired after thirty years he thought it was high time to practise what he preached.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 24, 2025
I have praised the dark aesthetics of this series before, and in the grand finale Nick has somehow managed to surpass my expectations.
True to its epic fantasy classification, this is a story with numerous characters and a multitude of plot tangents. In the first two books, we often see glimpses of the lives of certain individuals or fragments of secondary storylines but it is not as obvious why they are important or how they fit into the story as a whole. But I was glad to discover that as the saga approaches its conclusion, the puzzle pieces come together elegantly. So, trust the process. Pretty much everything is there for a reason.
Full review on SFF Insiders
True to its epic fantasy classification, this is a story with numerous characters and a multitude of plot tangents. In the first two books, we often see glimpses of the lives of certain individuals or fragments of secondary storylines but it is not as obvious why they are important or how they fit into the story as a whole. But I was glad to discover that as the saga approaches its conclusion, the puzzle pieces come together elegantly. So, trust the process. Pretty much everything is there for a reason.
Full review on SFF Insiders
September 11, 2025
I was skeptical of the first book, but could not deny its impressive setup.
I enjoyed the second book, which revealed deeper narrative layers and ramped up the stakes.
I loved the third book... Outstanding finish to the trilogy. Kind of bittersweet about it, but absolutely earned in retrospect. It is one of those rather complex books, where paying attention to what's going on in between the lines as well as what's on the actual page pays dividends and enhances the reading experience as a whole. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I wholeheartedly endorse this trilogy and don't tend to hand out 5-star ratings. Well done, Nick!
I enjoyed the second book, which revealed deeper narrative layers and ramped up the stakes.
I loved the third book... Outstanding finish to the trilogy. Kind of bittersweet about it, but absolutely earned in retrospect. It is one of those rather complex books, where paying attention to what's going on in between the lines as well as what's on the actual page pays dividends and enhances the reading experience as a whole. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I wholeheartedly endorse this trilogy and don't tend to hand out 5-star ratings. Well done, Nick!
January 1, 2026
This is the last book in the 'Warriors of Spirit and Bone' series. It's an amazing fantasy series that I have really enjoyed.
If you are more of a sci-fi reader, I can recommend 'The Scorching' series and 'The wrecking squad' series.
OK, I digress, let us wander over to Brandhold. Or should I say back to.
⚠️Please note that this is the third book in the series. This review might contain spoilers if you have not read the previous books.⚠️
I found myself back in Brandshold, thinking of how we met Laoch in the first book.
We are still grieving our fierce Sura, Laoch, and I. She sacrificed herself, and we respect and love her more for it.
They need to get back. There is an invasion on the horizon, and it will soon be too late to interfere.
Will they be able to save the citizens of Jense? The rest of Brandhold?
Will any wall made by man hold the infected off?
🔹️
"For peace can only be forged by the spirits of the fallen."
🔹️
The souleating constructors are more visible and closer to the action. Once you realise they are near, it is too late.
The dragons of the veil, cogs, metal, and wire, which side are they really on?
A queen of Hope bathes in the blood of her people. Will she witness the very end?
I love the worldbuilding, shuddering when I realised the thing about the veils. We also gave great characters and sprinkles of humour.
This was an unforgettable end to an amazing trilogy, and I can't help but wonder...
What in the seven veils will Nick write next?
If you are more of a sci-fi reader, I can recommend 'The Scorching' series and 'The wrecking squad' series.
OK, I digress, let us wander over to Brandhold. Or should I say back to.
⚠️Please note that this is the third book in the series. This review might contain spoilers if you have not read the previous books.⚠️
I found myself back in Brandshold, thinking of how we met Laoch in the first book.
We are still grieving our fierce Sura, Laoch, and I. She sacrificed herself, and we respect and love her more for it.
They need to get back. There is an invasion on the horizon, and it will soon be too late to interfere.
Will they be able to save the citizens of Jense? The rest of Brandhold?
Will any wall made by man hold the infected off?
🔹️
"For peace can only be forged by the spirits of the fallen."
🔹️
The souleating constructors are more visible and closer to the action. Once you realise they are near, it is too late.
The dragons of the veil, cogs, metal, and wire, which side are they really on?
A queen of Hope bathes in the blood of her people. Will she witness the very end?
I love the worldbuilding, shuddering when I realised the thing about the veils. We also gave great characters and sprinkles of humour.
This was an unforgettable end to an amazing trilogy, and I can't help but wonder...
What in the seven veils will Nick write next?
October 13, 2025
Epic battles, ancient magic, mechanical dragons and scrambles for power on all sides. A Queen in Blood is an epic conclusion to a fantastic series.
A Queen in Blood builds on everything that the first two books did so well, leading to a thrilling, if not slightly bittersweet, climax.
Once again, the book does a really good job of slowly cranking up the dial, building tension across the various different characters and plot points.
The attack from the infected was reminiscent of the white walkers attacking Hardhome in GoT, and had they gone on to attack the main city, then the Queen’s forced wouldn’t have stood a chance I don’t think. Although I did wonder why the Emperor sent them away, I do think it’s a good way of showing the Emperor’s growing hubris and sense of invincibility, which in the end, proved to be his downfall. (or did it…?)
Laoch and the gang really went through the wringer in this one, but I’m glad they finally made their way home, though I did wonder whether they ever would, as they left it quite late. But it was a good thing they did, as without them, the city would surely have fallen (or just been obliterated by the house leaders).
I thought the overall climax was brilliant, but… I would have appreciated maybe another chapter or a short epilogue to show us how things ended up a few years into the future, as it was a little open ended for my own liking.
That said, it did feel like maybe there was room for more in the future, but who knows?
A Queen in Blood builds on everything that the first two books did so well, leading to a thrilling, if not slightly bittersweet, climax.
Once again, the book does a really good job of slowly cranking up the dial, building tension across the various different characters and plot points.
The attack from the infected was reminiscent of the white walkers attacking Hardhome in GoT, and had they gone on to attack the main city, then the Queen’s forced wouldn’t have stood a chance I don’t think. Although I did wonder why the Emperor sent them away, I do think it’s a good way of showing the Emperor’s growing hubris and sense of invincibility, which in the end, proved to be his downfall. (or did it…?)
Laoch and the gang really went through the wringer in this one, but I’m glad they finally made their way home, though I did wonder whether they ever would, as they left it quite late. But it was a good thing they did, as without them, the city would surely have fallen (or just been obliterated by the house leaders).
I thought the overall climax was brilliant, but… I would have appreciated maybe another chapter or a short epilogue to show us how things ended up a few years into the future, as it was a little open ended for my own liking.
That said, it did feel like maybe there was room for more in the future, but who knows?
August 21, 2025
Where to start? At the beginning of this series, I was new to the darker elements of fantasy, with little understanding of the grimdark side of things (which this book delves into) nor had I heard of ‘arcanepunk’ as a genre. And for that matter, had never read a book that blended elements of fantasy and sci-fi beyond the ‘force’ of Star Wars.
So.
Damn, this was good.
I loved A Dragon of the Veil because the world emerged piece by piece, like you were one of the hunted humans who had no clue about why Gods’ scripture was in place and the Seven Houses acted as they did. The reveal can be confusing because we are ‘told not shown’ so often in books, rather than peeling back the layers, which Snape does. All the reviews I have read spoke of hitting the 25-40% mark and then everything not only clicked, but the strength of that understanding was so compelling. Spot on.
A City of Ashes then immersed you in more of the scifi side as the true nature of the Constructors was revealed (soul-vampires, the kind where their spirits have been detached form their bodies so they can move on to the next cadaver…shudder) and used humanity like cattle. We even get an insight into their POV, and let me tell you, it’s cold.
Now, back to A Queen In Blood. It does something amazing. It takes all those elements and then weaves a tale of the eventual invasion in the middle of a (spoiler) mass soul-poisoning the Fleshmaster instigated. You have spiritfire magic, possessed machines and a zombie-like horde in a clash that builds and builds, while cataloguing the strength of a queen to hold her people together, and the fall of others whose steadfastness and certainty erode under the onslaught. What the author does is give you a depth of belief in the characters, new and old, in this maelstrom. What they would die for, and why.
On other realms, Laoch continues to seek a weapon to save his people, the likes of which I am not going to spoil – it’s not what you think. And I won’t mention what happens with Sura, his dead (but not) love only to say she plays a major part. Remember, not all heroes carry a sword. And as far as the ending? Let us say I have never experienced anything like it.
This is one of those series that I fear will go under the radar. Dark and brooding, where magic and artifice (clockwork) meet, with insight into an enemy whose motivations you experience throughout. Perhaps the premise ‘sounds’ too different for some, but I promise you, if you love blood and action, political manipulations and hidden truths, and the thought of dragons possessed by twisted, poisoned souls, this is for you. Damn, it’s good.
Thank you to the author for my ARC copy.
So.
Damn, this was good.
I loved A Dragon of the Veil because the world emerged piece by piece, like you were one of the hunted humans who had no clue about why Gods’ scripture was in place and the Seven Houses acted as they did. The reveal can be confusing because we are ‘told not shown’ so often in books, rather than peeling back the layers, which Snape does. All the reviews I have read spoke of hitting the 25-40% mark and then everything not only clicked, but the strength of that understanding was so compelling. Spot on.
A City of Ashes then immersed you in more of the scifi side as the true nature of the Constructors was revealed (soul-vampires, the kind where their spirits have been detached form their bodies so they can move on to the next cadaver…shudder) and used humanity like cattle. We even get an insight into their POV, and let me tell you, it’s cold.
Now, back to A Queen In Blood. It does something amazing. It takes all those elements and then weaves a tale of the eventual invasion in the middle of a (spoiler) mass soul-poisoning the Fleshmaster instigated. You have spiritfire magic, possessed machines and a zombie-like horde in a clash that builds and builds, while cataloguing the strength of a queen to hold her people together, and the fall of others whose steadfastness and certainty erode under the onslaught. What the author does is give you a depth of belief in the characters, new and old, in this maelstrom. What they would die for, and why.
On other realms, Laoch continues to seek a weapon to save his people, the likes of which I am not going to spoil – it’s not what you think. And I won’t mention what happens with Sura, his dead (but not) love only to say she plays a major part. Remember, not all heroes carry a sword. And as far as the ending? Let us say I have never experienced anything like it.
This is one of those series that I fear will go under the radar. Dark and brooding, where magic and artifice (clockwork) meet, with insight into an enemy whose motivations you experience throughout. Perhaps the premise ‘sounds’ too different for some, but I promise you, if you love blood and action, political manipulations and hidden truths, and the thought of dragons possessed by twisted, poisoned souls, this is for you. Damn, it’s good.
Thank you to the author for my ARC copy.
August 15, 2025
In this third book, the invasion finally begins. The Constructors invade Brandshold, unleashing terror across the realm as they do. The people of Brandshold fight back where they can, but they are hopelessly outmatched, and ill-equipped to fight the horrors being unleashed upon them. The Unspoken honours her agreement with the Houses, and lends her aid to them, but she has her own priorities and is beholden to no-one but herself.
Meanwhile, Laoch's team, having discovered that the Constructors had been defeated once, is racing against time to find out how that happened, to obtain the means to do it, and to get back to Brandshold before it is too late.
We see it from all sides. The invaders, cautious in case the Seven reveal themselves, but pressing their advantage in firepower and their ability to revive in the next fresh corpse if killed. The people of Brandshold, desperately trying to defend themselves from an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, making sacrifices to inflict some casualties amongst the invaders. Laoch and his team, in their search and desperate journey. The Court and Houses, with their internal politicking put aside for the common good. The Unspoken, playing her role in the defence, and of course, the final battle.
The tension rachets up as the story progresses, with the story paced by having switching story threads and points of view every chapter. We get to see the motivations for all sides, even the various Constructors factions (who are as divided as immortal beings squabbling over power and status can get while still trying to work to a common goal).
A well written, enjoyable read, the story is tight, and has been over the three books. Little is wasted in terms of story, characters, or events, and the story comes to a natural and satisfactory conclusion, though leaving a few loose story threads that can be tugged on for a sequel!
An excellent novel, and one that deserves a wider audience that such indie novels typically get.
Thanks to the author for my ARC copy.
Meanwhile, Laoch's team, having discovered that the Constructors had been defeated once, is racing against time to find out how that happened, to obtain the means to do it, and to get back to Brandshold before it is too late.
We see it from all sides. The invaders, cautious in case the Seven reveal themselves, but pressing their advantage in firepower and their ability to revive in the next fresh corpse if killed. The people of Brandshold, desperately trying to defend themselves from an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, making sacrifices to inflict some casualties amongst the invaders. Laoch and his team, in their search and desperate journey. The Court and Houses, with their internal politicking put aside for the common good. The Unspoken, playing her role in the defence, and of course, the final battle.
The tension rachets up as the story progresses, with the story paced by having switching story threads and points of view every chapter. We get to see the motivations for all sides, even the various Constructors factions (who are as divided as immortal beings squabbling over power and status can get while still trying to work to a common goal).
A well written, enjoyable read, the story is tight, and has been over the three books. Little is wasted in terms of story, characters, or events, and the story comes to a natural and satisfactory conclusion, though leaving a few loose story threads that can be tugged on for a sequel!
An excellent novel, and one that deserves a wider audience that such indie novels typically get.
Thanks to the author for my ARC copy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews