Blood and Steel or Sangre Y Acero novel series volume. 14 provides us breathtaking battle scenes, life-and-death questions, vividly written human dramas and struggle and a, well, heartbreaking ending.
In this volume, the focus is still mostly on the warlike, prideful and rebellious Wudong clan (one of the strongest if not the strongest school/clan of martial art in this fictional Ming Dynasty era) and the clan's battle with the Emperor's finest army. The army was sent to fight the Wudong clan after the clan's leaders refused the Emperor's summon. It is a bloody, brutal battle and the lesson about life and death, warfare, survival and the heavy price of victory, is still remarkably highlighted throughout the story telling.
Meanwhile, the main rivalry of Wudong, the equally prideful, rebellious but a lot less warlike Exiled Swords of Six, are engaging in a battle of their own: they are facing the challenge from a crazy martial art master (who killed his followers and destroyed his own school/clan due to weird reasons), and despite of his injuries, our main character will meet the master's challenge, gladly.
Favorite quote:
"This is my way of life, if I were to die for it, then die."
That pretty much sums up the spirit of the fighters/warriors in the story. When looking for comparison, I would suggest the older version of Point Break, for the same spirit.