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Blades of Eternity #2
Blades of Eternity and the Curse of the Black Saber
- GenresMiddle Grade
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Zach Fox
4 books16 followersZach Fox is a first-time author and a youth pastor at Gospel Lighthouse Church in Floyd, Iowa, where he lives with his wife and five wonderful children. He aims to inspire the next generation of Christians with excellent, imaginative stories that promote biblical values.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 23, 2026
The second installment in the Blades of Eternity series completely blew me away. After absolutely loving the first book, I went into this sequel with high expectations—and it did not disappoint! I was so engrossed in the story that I lost track of time and stayed up past midnight just to see what would happen next. It was that good!
✨ This story picks up right where the first book left off, following Mel, the Prince of Summer, as he embarks on a dangerous mission into Winter. His goal? To rescue his friend Vashti and uncover the sinister force that has begun to stir in the Realm.
Joined by the brave Princess Adelaide and her friends Yogi and Huk, they venture into icy Winter, only to stumble upon a shocking revelation that propels them into the depths of the Underworld To confront the evil threatening their world.
🌋 This book is filled with action, adventure, and stunning world-building. I loved diving deeper into this imaginative universe! The characters truly shine, I found myself cheering for Mel and his friends every step of the way, and I couldn't stop laughing at the banter and Huk’s antics. The Eternals are just so intriguing to me too, and I loved getting to meet new Governors!
⚔️ I really appreciate how this book tackles the concept of sin in a kid-friendly way, emphasizing that we don't have to give in to our temptations. It also has wonderful themes of forgiveness, humility, and what it truly means to be a hero—one marked by grace and obedience to Jesus.
If you’re a fan of Narnia or The Green Ember, this incredible fantasy adventure is for you! It’s not just entertaining; it’s filled with goodness and truth!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My review reflects my honest opinion.
Random Thoughts and Reactions:
No spoilers, but there was an action sequence involving a narwhal, and I was so there for it. You are going to have to read it to find out what I’m talking about.
There was the scene with Oswin and The Lamb that had me crying. It was so amazing and beautiful. 😭🫶🏻
New character alert. Agent Zero. Ok, I want to know WHO this masked villain is! I have questions.
That last action sequence. 🫢
I need a moment.
The very last paragraph. ✨ I wanted the third book immediately after reading it.
✨ This story picks up right where the first book left off, following Mel, the Prince of Summer, as he embarks on a dangerous mission into Winter. His goal? To rescue his friend Vashti and uncover the sinister force that has begun to stir in the Realm.
Joined by the brave Princess Adelaide and her friends Yogi and Huk, they venture into icy Winter, only to stumble upon a shocking revelation that propels them into the depths of the Underworld To confront the evil threatening their world.
🌋 This book is filled with action, adventure, and stunning world-building. I loved diving deeper into this imaginative universe! The characters truly shine, I found myself cheering for Mel and his friends every step of the way, and I couldn't stop laughing at the banter and Huk’s antics. The Eternals are just so intriguing to me too, and I loved getting to meet new Governors!
⚔️ I really appreciate how this book tackles the concept of sin in a kid-friendly way, emphasizing that we don't have to give in to our temptations. It also has wonderful themes of forgiveness, humility, and what it truly means to be a hero—one marked by grace and obedience to Jesus.
If you’re a fan of Narnia or The Green Ember, this incredible fantasy adventure is for you! It’s not just entertaining; it’s filled with goodness and truth!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My review reflects my honest opinion.
Random Thoughts and Reactions:
No spoilers, but there was an action sequence involving a narwhal, and I was so there for it. You are going to have to read it to find out what I’m talking about.
There was the scene with Oswin and The Lamb that had me crying. It was so amazing and beautiful. 😭🫶🏻
New character alert. Agent Zero. Ok, I want to know WHO this masked villain is! I have questions.
That last action sequence. 🫢
I need a moment.
The very last paragraph. ✨ I wanted the third book immediately after reading it.
July 23, 2026
It’s always tricky to pick up a sequel to a book that you absolutely loved because all the questions buzz through your brain: Will it be as good as the first one? Will it expand what’s been happening so far and up the ante? I am so excited to say that BLADES OF ETERNITY book 2: BLADES OF ETERNITY AND THE CURSE OF THE BLACK SABER definitely lives up to the hype!
This book picks up right where book one left off and hits the ground running! There is so much action and adventure packed into the story. Zach Fox excels at writing action set pieces, and one of the best here is a scene on the ice with a narwhal. It just doesn’t get better than that! There are also some Rick Riordan style reveals later on that are definitely shocking, and will leave you wanting book 3 ASAP!
The characters grow throughout the story, and there are some very poignant moments throughout the book and a couple of lines that as a writer I was jealous I hadn’t written them!
The only thing I wish I had had in the book was a glossary of characters so I could quickly refresh my memory on who was who and where they had last entered the storyline.
If you or your kids love fantasy action adventure you definitely won’t want to miss this one!
I received a complimentary copy for review. This is my own and honest review!
This book picks up right where book one left off and hits the ground running! There is so much action and adventure packed into the story. Zach Fox excels at writing action set pieces, and one of the best here is a scene on the ice with a narwhal. It just doesn’t get better than that! There are also some Rick Riordan style reveals later on that are definitely shocking, and will leave you wanting book 3 ASAP!
The characters grow throughout the story, and there are some very poignant moments throughout the book and a couple of lines that as a writer I was jealous I hadn’t written them!
The only thing I wish I had had in the book was a glossary of characters so I could quickly refresh my memory on who was who and where they had last entered the storyline.
If you or your kids love fantasy action adventure you definitely won’t want to miss this one!
I received a complimentary copy for review. This is my own and honest review!
August 28, 2026
This is book 2 in the Blades of Eternity series, a middle grade adventure series. I loved following Prince Mel of Autumn on his next adventure through the Realm as he seeks to rescue a friend and also confront the new evil that has started to creep over the whole Realm. You’ll love catching up with old friends from book 1 as well as falling in love with new characters! Would recommend for ages 10+.
September 4, 2026
Tears and screams and cheers were heard in our house as we read this aloud together.
August 4, 2026
Already ready for book 3!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Readers of Blades of Eternity will be delighted to find the same high-stakes battle not only between light and darkness, but within the human heart itself in book 2.
Woven throughout the story are clear Christian parallels, most vividly seen in Prince Mel's ongoing struggle with temptation, failure, and the relentless pull toward evil. His journey offers an honest reflection of our own weaknesses while consistently pointing to the grace and forgiveness offered by the Lamb. Rather than celebrating strength or self-sufficiency, the story reminds readers that what the Lamb desires is humility, dependence, repentance, and hearts willing to return to Him after we stray.
Readers will encounter emotional reunions alongside themes of pride and humility, repentance, forgiveness, and the reminder that it is not always the mighty who are called, but often the lowly. The adventure continues across multiple realms—including encounters with Hades and the underworld—as the battle against darkness grows even more intense. Fans of stories like The Lord of the Rings who appreciate the moral weight of power, corruption, and redemption will find similar themes woven throughout this series.
A few notes for parents and readers: this installment contains more battle violence than some middle grade novels, along with light romance and crushes that may make it a better fit for older middle grade readers or even younger YA readers, depending on the child. As an adult reader, some of the dialogue and lighter humorous moments occasionally pulled me out of the story during otherwise intense scenes, though younger readers may find those interactions more natural and engaging than I did. There are also a few instances of insults like "shut up," "shut your trap," "ugly," and "you lazy, stinking..." that weren't my favorite. While I could do without them, I also understand they reflect the imperfect speech and behavior of kids this age. Importantly, true to its larger theme, the story doesn't portray these in a glorified way, but rather again points readers in the direction of repentance, forgiveness, and growth.
Overall, I so appreciate the heart behind this series and its commitment to pointing readers toward biblical themes.
*I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Woven throughout the story are clear Christian parallels, most vividly seen in Prince Mel's ongoing struggle with temptation, failure, and the relentless pull toward evil. His journey offers an honest reflection of our own weaknesses while consistently pointing to the grace and forgiveness offered by the Lamb. Rather than celebrating strength or self-sufficiency, the story reminds readers that what the Lamb desires is humility, dependence, repentance, and hearts willing to return to Him after we stray.
Readers will encounter emotional reunions alongside themes of pride and humility, repentance, forgiveness, and the reminder that it is not always the mighty who are called, but often the lowly. The adventure continues across multiple realms—including encounters with Hades and the underworld—as the battle against darkness grows even more intense. Fans of stories like The Lord of the Rings who appreciate the moral weight of power, corruption, and redemption will find similar themes woven throughout this series.
A few notes for parents and readers: this installment contains more battle violence than some middle grade novels, along with light romance and crushes that may make it a better fit for older middle grade readers or even younger YA readers, depending on the child. As an adult reader, some of the dialogue and lighter humorous moments occasionally pulled me out of the story during otherwise intense scenes, though younger readers may find those interactions more natural and engaging than I did. There are also a few instances of insults like "shut up," "shut your trap," "ugly," and "you lazy, stinking..." that weren't my favorite. While I could do without them, I also understand they reflect the imperfect speech and behavior of kids this age. Importantly, true to its larger theme, the story doesn't portray these in a glorified way, but rather again points readers in the direction of repentance, forgiveness, and growth.
Overall, I so appreciate the heart behind this series and its commitment to pointing readers toward biblical themes.
*I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews