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The Wings of War #4
As Iron Falls
The High Citadel cannot be seen to harbor a killer.
This is a simple truth, and one that Raz i'Syul Arro has little choice but to respect. As the winter storms fall away in favor of the North's pleasant summer months, Raz finds himself having once more to face the cruelties of the world with spear and sword in hand.
For the first time, though, the Monster no longer walks his path alone. Syrah Brahnt, Priestess of Laor and adopted daughter of the former High Priest of Cyurgi ‘Di himself, has joined him on his journey. Leaving all that might have been behind, they set out together in search of new lives, always striving to stay ahead of the ever-looming shadows of old enemies that hound their every step.
Raz's legend, though, has spread too far. After vanquishing the great Kayle of the Northern tribes, his names have begun to echo across the realms: Monster of Karth, Scourge of the South, Dragon of the North. It isn't long before they are forced to draw on magic and steel to save themselves from the blades that seek them in the night, leaving them with little choice but to abandon everything they've ever known in favor of a perilous land neither would have every thought to seek. Meanwhile, waiting for them among the grasslands beyond those strange shores, a man whispers in his sleep, his iron shackles shaking as he trembles and repeats the same prophetic words over and over again.
"By sand, then snow, then sea, the Dragon comes."
This is a simple truth, and one that Raz i'Syul Arro has little choice but to respect. As the winter storms fall away in favor of the North's pleasant summer months, Raz finds himself having once more to face the cruelties of the world with spear and sword in hand.
For the first time, though, the Monster no longer walks his path alone. Syrah Brahnt, Priestess of Laor and adopted daughter of the former High Priest of Cyurgi ‘Di himself, has joined him on his journey. Leaving all that might have been behind, they set out together in search of new lives, always striving to stay ahead of the ever-looming shadows of old enemies that hound their every step.
Raz's legend, though, has spread too far. After vanquishing the great Kayle of the Northern tribes, his names have begun to echo across the realms: Monster of Karth, Scourge of the South, Dragon of the North. It isn't long before they are forced to draw on magic and steel to save themselves from the blades that seek them in the night, leaving them with little choice but to abandon everything they've ever known in favor of a perilous land neither would have every thought to seek. Meanwhile, waiting for them among the grasslands beyond those strange shores, a man whispers in his sleep, his iron shackles shaking as he trembles and repeats the same prophetic words over and over again.
"By sand, then snow, then sea, the Dragon comes."
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2018
756 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Bryce O'Connor
18 books2,008 followers
PURCHASE BOOKS:
Bryce writes high fantasy stories with special twists on character and plot. Child of the Daystar, the first installment in his series, The Wings of War, released in December, 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 11, 2019
As Iron Falls by Bryce O'Connor and narrated by Mikael Naramore is book four in the series. I love the new characters they were introduced and hope some stay as part of the main characters. I love that Syrah had a bigger role in here and hope her role expands also. Like all of these books the world building and characters development is fantastic! Love the action, adventure, plot, subplots, the fight scenes, the kickbutt witch, and powerful but sorry Raz!
The narration was great too!
The narration was great too!
June 4, 2018
This book is, for me, in an odd position. After coming down from the emotional rollercoaster of book 3, As Iron Falls is a bit of a step back. Now, when I say it's a step back I don't mean the writing itself, but it doesn't seem quite as emotionally gripping as Winter's King. In many ways though, I'm kind of glad for it because it means we can catch our collective breaths as readers before I imagine we're going to be in for it with book 5.
Long story short, As Iron Falls does NOT disappoint. I simply couldn't put it down, and now that means I fall, once again, into the trap so many readers before me have fallen into: waiting for the sequel. Unlike many fantasy authors of today, Bryce O'Connor's work is something I can read over and over again. The characters are relatable (excluding morphological impossibilities), their emotions follow a logical trajectory, and Raz as our larger than life hero is very well thought out. The Wings of War series, for me, does a very good job at avoiding clichés and when one is thrown in here and there, it's done well and doesn't seem like a cheap cop out.
Anyone who does not pick up this series is missing one hell of a ride!
Long story short, As Iron Falls does NOT disappoint. I simply couldn't put it down, and now that means I fall, once again, into the trap so many readers before me have fallen into: waiting for the sequel. Unlike many fantasy authors of today, Bryce O'Connor's work is something I can read over and over again. The characters are relatable (excluding morphological impossibilities), their emotions follow a logical trajectory, and Raz as our larger than life hero is very well thought out. The Wings of War series, for me, does a very good job at avoiding clichés and when one is thrown in here and there, it's done well and doesn't seem like a cheap cop out.
Anyone who does not pick up this series is missing one hell of a ride!
April 1, 2018
Having read the previous 3 Wings of War books, it was with some anticipation that I sat down to read "As Iron Falls". From the get go, this book did not disappoint, it was so good to be in the company of Raz and Syrah again, much like reuniting with long lost family. Bryce has so vividly painted the landscapes, that you can actually feel as though you are a part of them. I was so invested in the lives of the characters, that on occasions I had a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. If you haven't read any of Bryce's books until now, give them a go, you won't regret it. Now I just have wait as patiently as I can for the next instalment!!
April 3, 2018
Amazing book
I really struggled over deciding whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars because it really was amazing so in my heart it's 4.5. Overall I'd highly recommend this book it's the best of the series in my opinion. It's a good length with plenty of action and excitement with amazing characters. Syrah and Raz's interactions never fail to make me smile (More banter please!). There were a couple things that just wouldn't quite allow me to bump it up to 5 stars though, second half of the book felt a bit less cleanly contructed the side characters were a bit weaker in this section as well. However those are minor things in the grand scheme, and overall anyone who enjoys an interesting fantasy world with plenty of action and great characters will enjoy this book. (Also I love the art for these books)
I really struggled over deciding whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars because it really was amazing so in my heart it's 4.5. Overall I'd highly recommend this book it's the best of the series in my opinion. It's a good length with plenty of action and excitement with amazing characters. Syrah and Raz's interactions never fail to make me smile (More banter please!). There were a couple things that just wouldn't quite allow me to bump it up to 5 stars though, second half of the book felt a bit less cleanly contructed the side characters were a bit weaker in this section as well. However those are minor things in the grand scheme, and overall anyone who enjoys an interesting fantasy world with plenty of action and great characters will enjoy this book. (Also I love the art for these books)
June 27, 2018
Absolutely incredible!
Riveting characters, and a compelling plot make this series a stand out... Beautifully written, exceptional world building... Cannot bestow enough praise. As a fan of Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin, it's a pleasure to have discovered this series. Anxiously waiting for the next book (s)...
Riveting characters, and a compelling plot make this series a stand out... Beautifully written, exceptional world building... Cannot bestow enough praise. As a fan of Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin, it's a pleasure to have discovered this series. Anxiously waiting for the next book (s)...
May 9, 2020
This book was fine. It recovered a bit from the third book, which I had an extremely hard time finishing. However, it suffers from a number of the same problems that I've had with all of the other books in this series.
First and foremost, the entire first 50% of this book could have been cut. The inciting incident was the pirates attacking the boat. Everything before that felt like irrelevant filler. However, after that point, this book did a much better job keeping focused than the last installment of the series, although it still had far too many chapters of other characters learning about Raz's actions and then commenting on them. Or them doing things that we see from Raz's perspective the very next chapter. In the end, they add nothing to the story and just slow things down.
I also had trouble with a lot of the tactics and decision making. There was a lot of fun, dumb action. But the bad guy plans never made any sense, because if they did Raz would have been dead like 50 times over. Many of his speeches in the climax of the book were pretty cheesy and sometimes even conflicted with one another in messaging. The cycle of bad guy posturing, Raz giving a speech, and then everyone doing exactly what Raz wants them to no questions asked also got a bit repetitive.
I'm not going to comment much on the setting, even though it came into play more here. It's pretty generic fantasy and I'm giving it a ton of leeway. The thing is, this book just brings into focus how much it doesn't make sense. Has there literally never been an escaped aetherian slave that fled north to their homeland? The longer this story goes on, the less sense the isolationism of the aetherian tribes makes, as it's abundantly clear that the aetherian slaves speak both their home language and the common tongue and it's been explicitly stated that the aetherian tribes don't want to be isolationist. Also, there's absurdly little mixing of cultures and understanding of each other given how close these regions are. This series also assumes that there has never been a compassionate southerner who freed slaves before, or actually interacted with the aetherian slaves who speak perfect common.
First and foremost, the entire first 50% of this book could have been cut. The inciting incident was the pirates attacking the boat. Everything before that felt like irrelevant filler. However, after that point, this book did a much better job keeping focused than the last installment of the series, although it still had far too many chapters of other characters learning about Raz's actions and then commenting on them. Or them doing things that we see from Raz's perspective the very next chapter. In the end, they add nothing to the story and just slow things down.
I also had trouble with a lot of the tactics and decision making. There was a lot of fun, dumb action. But the bad guy plans never made any sense, because if they did Raz would have been dead like 50 times over. Many of his speeches in the climax of the book were pretty cheesy and sometimes even conflicted with one another in messaging. The cycle of bad guy posturing, Raz giving a speech, and then everyone doing exactly what Raz wants them to no questions asked also got a bit repetitive.
I'm not going to comment much on the setting, even though it came into play more here. It's pretty generic fantasy and I'm giving it a ton of leeway. The thing is, this book just brings into focus how much it doesn't make sense. Has there literally never been an escaped aetherian slave that fled north to their homeland? The longer this story goes on, the less sense the isolationism of the aetherian tribes makes, as it's abundantly clear that the aetherian slaves speak both their home language and the common tongue and it's been explicitly stated that the aetherian tribes don't want to be isolationist. Also, there's absurdly little mixing of cultures and understanding of each other given how close these regions are. This series also assumes that there has never been a compassionate southerner who freed slaves before, or actually interacted with the aetherian slaves who speak perfect common.
June 5, 2018
Inspiring Fantasy...
Bryce O'Connor is a serious talent and the WoW series is the verifiable proof. The depth of his characters and world building are flawless. Pacing, length and the overall plot are right on point. However, it is his unerring ability to up his game each novel, to take the story up just one more notch with each subsequent book that truly amazes. This is an absolute must read for any fantasy fan. I cannot recommend this series enough.
Bryce O'Connor is a serious talent and the WoW series is the verifiable proof. The depth of his characters and world building are flawless. Pacing, length and the overall plot are right on point. However, it is his unerring ability to up his game each novel, to take the story up just one more notch with each subsequent book that truly amazes. This is an absolute must read for any fantasy fan. I cannot recommend this series enough.
August 1, 2018
UPDATE: Turned out a bad upload, Bryce chimed in and I got an updated version from Amazon. As I said - the book delivers, the series is amazing as always.
OLD whine: Got the ebook from Amazon, and the book delivers more than promised, with one exception - the editing. At some point I became tired of typos, but what was worse - the "lore" text in the beginning of each chapter were replaced with "placeholder text". And there are some notes at the ends of some chapters that I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to be able to read...
OLD whine: Got the ebook from Amazon, and the book delivers more than promised, with one exception - the editing. At some point I became tired of typos, but what was worse - the "lore" text in the beginning of each chapter were replaced with "placeholder text". And there are some notes at the ends of some chapters that I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to be able to read...
May 13, 2018
Perfect pacing, great mix of action and character development
Been following this series for quite a bit and the author is fantastic at building out a realistic world with consequences. Characters undergo horrors and have to face the ensuing demons that continue to haunt them much like in real life.
Loved the fact that the story was left in a good place and doesn’t quite leave you feeling like you were left on a cliffhanger. Merely a promise of more to come. Highly recommend for all fantasy fans looking for solid plot
Been following this series for quite a bit and the author is fantastic at building out a realistic world with consequences. Characters undergo horrors and have to face the ensuing demons that continue to haunt them much like in real life.
Loved the fact that the story was left in a good place and doesn’t quite leave you feeling like you were left on a cliffhanger. Merely a promise of more to come. Highly recommend for all fantasy fans looking for solid plot
April 12, 2018
Another great story
I have been following this series and really enjoyed reading them. If you are looking for something a bit different then this is the one. The fights and friendship that the series pulls you into are very well written. Again I now have to wait for the next book after staying up all night 🌙 reading this one. Loved it and can't wait for the next one
I have been following this series and really enjoyed reading them. If you are looking for something a bit different then this is the one. The fights and friendship that the series pulls you into are very well written. Again I now have to wait for the next book after staying up all night 🌙 reading this one. Loved it and can't wait for the next one
April 12, 2018
Loved it
The story has grown into South an amazing and lively story that I’m glad I could be able to read it from the start
The story has grown into South an amazing and lively story that I’m glad I could be able to read it from the start
May 31, 2018
Another great story!
Bryce O’Connor continues to wow and excite us with the wings of war series. Couldn’t put this one down and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. Keep ‘em coming!
Bryce O’Connor continues to wow and excite us with the wings of war series. Couldn’t put this one down and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. Keep ‘em coming!
November 30, 2019
Fantastic!
Have been loving this series from the start and it continues to live up to expectations. Can't wait for the next one!
Have been loving this series from the start and it continues to live up to expectations. Can't wait for the next one!
February 17, 2020
“Tell them they have a choice: free those they’ve bound in iron, or witness their city crumble to steel and flame.”
I absolutely loved it!
I absolutely loved it!
November 6, 2019
The ending just leaves your wanting more! Great series so far and cannot wait for the finale book!
May 27, 2018
Rating scale broken...
Is there a six star button? Five stars doesn't quite seem to capture it. This one is a must read thrill ride.
Is there a six star button? Five stars doesn't quite seem to capture it. This one is a must read thrill ride.
May 27, 2018
Very evoking
In a story of nonstop, brutal action, the writer paints a very human hero. It would be ironic that the hero is not human if it wasn’t so well written.
In a story of nonstop, brutal action, the writer paints a very human hero. It would be ironic that the hero is not human if it wasn’t so well written.
July 8, 2018
Another great read. The saga continues!
Bryce continues to deliver in this ever more exciting book for the wings of war series. Can’t wait for the next book!
Bryce continues to deliver in this ever more exciting book for the wings of war series. Can’t wait for the next book!
May 7, 2022
The fourth and thus far latest The Wings of War book by Bryce O’Connor occurs the during the in-universe year following its predecessor, 862 v.S. (ver Syul), and opens with news that Adrion’s cousin died at the High Citadel in the battle that occurred at the end of the previous book. The main chapters commence with the albino and cycloptic Syrah Brahnt waking to children screaming in the Citadel, with she and the dragon-like atherian Raz I’Syul Arro taking their leave of the temple, entering a forest where a family talks of the new šef in Miropa, Blaeth, who is more ruthless than his predecessor Ergoin Sass.
Raz and Syrah ultimately make their ways to the end of the Arocklen Woods, en route to Ystréd, with mercenaries tailing them and being dealt with. The two eventually find themselves at the Laorin temple in Ystréd, with some in the city such as Na’zeem Ashur distraught at the presence of the individual they term “the Monster” and “the Dragon.” Raz receives injuries in the skirmish that occurs at the sanctuary, and quickly finds himself in the care of the Carver of Ystréd, Evalyn “Eva” Zall, when it is suggested that he and Syrah go out at sea via the vessel of Gahrt Argoan, the Sylgid.
At the beginning of the second part of the book is a chapter where Uhsula of the Undercaves has a vision of a sailing ship, likely the one Raz and Syrah ride, with storms testing the vessel and its crew; pirates too harass the Sylgid. It is said that Raz will be truly free in the Emperor’s Ocean, although he and Syrah agree to remain in their destination Perce. Some minor characters get the spotlight, such as Karan Brightneck, who toils as a slave in the city of Karesh Syl, where a series of battles occur towards the end of the book.
The slaves in the city yearn for freedom, with Raz supporting their insurrection, and battling one of the Tash’s men, Azzeki Koro, who proves a good match. Overall, the latest entry of the franchise is definitely enjoyable and mature, given some mature language and violence, although there is some minor confusion at some points, for instance the races of certain characters not explicitly specified or given reminders. Given the unresolved nature of the plot, furthermore, it’s clear that this is not the final entry in the series, with this reviewer definitely interested in reading its successor (or successors).
Raz and Syrah ultimately make their ways to the end of the Arocklen Woods, en route to Ystréd, with mercenaries tailing them and being dealt with. The two eventually find themselves at the Laorin temple in Ystréd, with some in the city such as Na’zeem Ashur distraught at the presence of the individual they term “the Monster” and “the Dragon.” Raz receives injuries in the skirmish that occurs at the sanctuary, and quickly finds himself in the care of the Carver of Ystréd, Evalyn “Eva” Zall, when it is suggested that he and Syrah go out at sea via the vessel of Gahrt Argoan, the Sylgid.
At the beginning of the second part of the book is a chapter where Uhsula of the Undercaves has a vision of a sailing ship, likely the one Raz and Syrah ride, with storms testing the vessel and its crew; pirates too harass the Sylgid. It is said that Raz will be truly free in the Emperor’s Ocean, although he and Syrah agree to remain in their destination Perce. Some minor characters get the spotlight, such as Karan Brightneck, who toils as a slave in the city of Karesh Syl, where a series of battles occur towards the end of the book.
The slaves in the city yearn for freedom, with Raz supporting their insurrection, and battling one of the Tash’s men, Azzeki Koro, who proves a good match. Overall, the latest entry of the franchise is definitely enjoyable and mature, given some mature language and violence, although there is some minor confusion at some points, for instance the races of certain characters not explicitly specified or given reminders. Given the unresolved nature of the plot, furthermore, it’s clear that this is not the final entry in the series, with this reviewer definitely interested in reading its successor (or successors).
June 3, 2019
The Iron Falls In Truth
...Both literally and figuratively.
*As Iron Falls* is the fourth installment in the *Wings of War* series by Bryce O'Connor. It represents a turning point in the overall story, since the events that take place amidst the pages of the novel are no longer bound only to the immediate concerns and ordeals of Raz i'Syul Arro, the series main protagonist. In AIF, the narrative arc finally becomes solidly defined, and this shifts the focus of the action and the plot in a different direction.
The story in AIF starts in a familiar setup: Raz - and this time also, Syrah - are on the run, and they spend the first third of the novel searching to escape far away from the reach of mercenaries and hired assassins that are sent after them by their enemies. However, Raz, tired of running, wants to do things differently for a change; and he is given the chance sooner than he expects. Using hooks set in previous books, the majority of the plot of AIF unfolds in Perce, an exotic land situated beyond the Cienbal Desert to the south. There, majestic city-states operate thanks to rampant slavery, the one crime the Monster of Karth will never forgive. Yet, among the slaves the legends about the Dragon of the North circulate constantly, and merely a spark - a symbol - is needed to incite a full-scale rebellion by the oppressed masses. Raz becomes that symbol, making the conscious decision to end slavery on a grander and more permanent scale, and from there things descent in a typical O'Connor fashion - with lots of blood, steel, death, and drama.
The land of Perce is described in less detail than the backdrops of the previous books. Whereas the Cienbal and the Arocklen, and even the Saragrias in the previous installments were painted in meticulous, vivid images, here the vast savannas seem almost empty, like their presence was included as an afterthought. We are given a standard menagerie of "exotic" animals: elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, etc., but in most cases they are presented with just the words I did use now - ie. without any colorful descriptions. It gives the backdrop of the novel a stock atmosphere, which is a stark contrast to the care and effort that was put in this area earlier in the series. The city-state of Karesh Syl, where events take place during the last third of the book, is only marginally better in that regard, and while it offers some interesting sights, it mostly seems like an uninspired Arabian Nights-esque carbon copy of some imaginary place.
Again, what makes the book great in the end, are the characters. Raz and Syrah work great as a team, and as emotional support to each other. Their interpersonal dynamic is caring and snappy at the same time, and Syrah obviously cements her place as a second main protagonist. This has a noticeable effect on Raz' psyche, and he acts very differently than in previous books, applying far more reason and less primal emotion in his actions, mostly at Syrah's prompt. It is a deliberate change, a planned character growth that has been hinted at for a long time, which nevertheless is still endearing to be witnessed when it happens on the page. Despite that, the monster is still very much present in Raz, and he is still capable of unleashing it when a situation provokes him; yet he gradually learns to exhibit restraint and keep his cool. By contrast, Syrah, who has been mainly a wide-eyed idealist, makes a major revision of her worldview during the story, becoming more accepting of the cruelties of the world and the events that transpire around her. Also, she takes a major blow toward the end, one that shows she is yet to descent further into darkness, but whether that will make her less of the person she is - or not - is left for the next books in the series to explore.
The antagonists are again the now-familiar fare of semi-faceless, uncaring overlords and their trained killers. While they are fleshed out as any of the secondary characters - that means quite well - their motivation is still lacking; they are cruel and evil merely because they are uncaring and blind to the world around them. It is a sort of semi-realistic attitude that is believed to be espoused very frequently in our own real world, and this "casual" brutality of the antagonists was one of the main draws of the first book in the series. However, after seeing this type of villains again, and again, and now yet again, it starts to become somewhat trite; it just lacks the punch it had the first time around.
Lastly, there were some parts of the novel I was unhappy with. Some of the scenes felt a bit forced, and the pacing of the plot was shifted too suddenly toward the last third. The climatic battle at the end was full of logical holes, and its setup felt dumb, like it was some idea that hadn't been developed enough, or it had been merely the first thing that the author had thought of when crafting the scene. Generally the whole book has a lingering feel of being rushed; this is a problem I had pointed out in *Winter's King*, and it seems my suggestions had fallen on deaf ears. The rushed writing is again present, which is a shame, as it subtracts from the overall experience of an otherwise really cool dark fantasy.
CONCLUSION
*As Iron Falls* is not without its set of troubles; the book could've clearly used a more rigorous editing, or a longer production time. For this reason I'm giving it 3,5 stars - I always value quality over quantity.
However, despite the problems, the story is still enjoyable, and the narrative quick and gripping. Raz i'Syul Arro continues to be one of my favorite fictional characters, and I'm waiting the conclusion of the series with bated breath. *The Wings of War* is an excellent dark fantasy that poses some pointed questions on the nature of freedom and personal choice, and magnifies them with heavy drama. *As Iron Falls* is a worthy continuation, bringing the series one step closer to its final, and hopefully epic, conclusion.
...Both literally and figuratively.
*As Iron Falls* is the fourth installment in the *Wings of War* series by Bryce O'Connor. It represents a turning point in the overall story, since the events that take place amidst the pages of the novel are no longer bound only to the immediate concerns and ordeals of Raz i'Syul Arro, the series main protagonist. In AIF, the narrative arc finally becomes solidly defined, and this shifts the focus of the action and the plot in a different direction.
The story in AIF starts in a familiar setup: Raz - and this time also, Syrah - are on the run, and they spend the first third of the novel searching to escape far away from the reach of mercenaries and hired assassins that are sent after them by their enemies. However, Raz, tired of running, wants to do things differently for a change; and he is given the chance sooner than he expects. Using hooks set in previous books, the majority of the plot of AIF unfolds in Perce, an exotic land situated beyond the Cienbal Desert to the south. There, majestic city-states operate thanks to rampant slavery, the one crime the Monster of Karth will never forgive. Yet, among the slaves the legends about the Dragon of the North circulate constantly, and merely a spark - a symbol - is needed to incite a full-scale rebellion by the oppressed masses. Raz becomes that symbol, making the conscious decision to end slavery on a grander and more permanent scale, and from there things descent in a typical O'Connor fashion - with lots of blood, steel, death, and drama.
The land of Perce is described in less detail than the backdrops of the previous books. Whereas the Cienbal and the Arocklen, and even the Saragrias in the previous installments were painted in meticulous, vivid images, here the vast savannas seem almost empty, like their presence was included as an afterthought. We are given a standard menagerie of "exotic" animals: elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, etc., but in most cases they are presented with just the words I did use now - ie. without any colorful descriptions. It gives the backdrop of the novel a stock atmosphere, which is a stark contrast to the care and effort that was put in this area earlier in the series. The city-state of Karesh Syl, where events take place during the last third of the book, is only marginally better in that regard, and while it offers some interesting sights, it mostly seems like an uninspired Arabian Nights-esque carbon copy of some imaginary place.
Again, what makes the book great in the end, are the characters. Raz and Syrah work great as a team, and as emotional support to each other. Their interpersonal dynamic is caring and snappy at the same time, and Syrah obviously cements her place as a second main protagonist. This has a noticeable effect on Raz' psyche, and he acts very differently than in previous books, applying far more reason and less primal emotion in his actions, mostly at Syrah's prompt. It is a deliberate change, a planned character growth that has been hinted at for a long time, which nevertheless is still endearing to be witnessed when it happens on the page. Despite that, the monster is still very much present in Raz, and he is still capable of unleashing it when a situation provokes him; yet he gradually learns to exhibit restraint and keep his cool. By contrast, Syrah, who has been mainly a wide-eyed idealist, makes a major revision of her worldview during the story, becoming more accepting of the cruelties of the world and the events that transpire around her. Also, she takes a major blow toward the end, one that shows she is yet to descent further into darkness, but whether that will make her less of the person she is - or not - is left for the next books in the series to explore.
The antagonists are again the now-familiar fare of semi-faceless, uncaring overlords and their trained killers. While they are fleshed out as any of the secondary characters - that means quite well - their motivation is still lacking; they are cruel and evil merely because they are uncaring and blind to the world around them. It is a sort of semi-realistic attitude that is believed to be espoused very frequently in our own real world, and this "casual" brutality of the antagonists was one of the main draws of the first book in the series. However, after seeing this type of villains again, and again, and now yet again, it starts to become somewhat trite; it just lacks the punch it had the first time around.
Lastly, there were some parts of the novel I was unhappy with. Some of the scenes felt a bit forced, and the pacing of the plot was shifted too suddenly toward the last third. The climatic battle at the end was full of logical holes, and its setup felt dumb, like it was some idea that hadn't been developed enough, or it had been merely the first thing that the author had thought of when crafting the scene. Generally the whole book has a lingering feel of being rushed; this is a problem I had pointed out in *Winter's King*, and it seems my suggestions had fallen on deaf ears. The rushed writing is again present, which is a shame, as it subtracts from the overall experience of an otherwise really cool dark fantasy.
CONCLUSION
*As Iron Falls* is not without its set of troubles; the book could've clearly used a more rigorous editing, or a longer production time. For this reason I'm giving it 3,5 stars - I always value quality over quantity.
However, despite the problems, the story is still enjoyable, and the narrative quick and gripping. Raz i'Syul Arro continues to be one of my favorite fictional characters, and I'm waiting the conclusion of the series with bated breath. *The Wings of War* is an excellent dark fantasy that poses some pointed questions on the nature of freedom and personal choice, and magnifies them with heavy drama. *As Iron Falls* is a worthy continuation, bringing the series one step closer to its final, and hopefully epic, conclusion.
December 31, 2019
Bryce you did good.
I am pleasently surprised at the books twists but only a little. Some of the outcomes were obviouse. I liked the over the top violence. I do recommend you up your game with the next book. I found the book not as shocking as the one before it. I sense you have the reasons for such outcomes as a way to harden the major chrachters. I mean to say that no good book worth its salt lets everyone live happy and sane lives after a body count goes past 5. It should be expected that a person who takes life has to pay a toll for doing so if they claim to be the definition of antihero. I find it even stranger how the monster can be more human and the humans more monster. In the end we readers will all see the monster we hide in ourselves after reading this series. I found the book not the best as those before it but necessary to set up the next book but forgivable for that reason. Very much looking for the next one to. Good job Bryce.
I am pleasently surprised at the books twists but only a little. Some of the outcomes were obviouse. I liked the over the top violence. I do recommend you up your game with the next book. I found the book not as shocking as the one before it. I sense you have the reasons for such outcomes as a way to harden the major chrachters. I mean to say that no good book worth its salt lets everyone live happy and sane lives after a body count goes past 5. It should be expected that a person who takes life has to pay a toll for doing so if they claim to be the definition of antihero. I find it even stranger how the monster can be more human and the humans more monster. In the end we readers will all see the monster we hide in ourselves after reading this series. I found the book not the best as those before it but necessary to set up the next book but forgivable for that reason. Very much looking for the next one to. Good job Bryce.
April 2, 2018
Another exciting installment in the Wings of War series. Now Raz moves fully toward his destiny, with Syrah on his arm as foretold. Just how far and how deep will their crusade go? Time will tell. I would've liked the last 1/3 of this one to be fleshed out more, but it's a suitably long tale as it stands, and it gets the characters where they need to be for the "real fun" to start in future books. Raz continues to be a fascinating character, so human in some regards and so animalistic when the situation demands it. We also get some great new characters in this one, and we get to see some more atherians up close. I really hope to see Karan take a somewhat central role going forward, but we'll see how it works out. All around good times, over-the-top action, and a hero who hands out beatings like they're Christmas gifts.
If you've enjoyed the first three, you'll enjoy this one.
If you've enjoyed the first three, you'll enjoy this one.
June 20, 2023
Another well written book Bryce... You BASTA-
*Imagine muffled screams as the reader/reviewer is dragged away, ranting and raving.*
It seems he can't leave a proper review without spoilers and shouts of anguished victory.
*Muffled screaming*
I guess it's to be expected of this series though. I should probably end this here.
*Imagine muffled screams as the reader/reviewer is dragged away, ranting and raving.*
It seems he can't leave a proper review without spoilers and shouts of anguished victory.
*Muffled screaming*
I guess it's to be expected of this series though. I should probably end this here.
April 1, 2018
And he does it again!! I LOVE this installment in the series! Not only do I love to see Raz and Syrah grow together, I love to see them grow individually. Syrah is bad a$$ and I can't wait for book 5!!
May 6, 2018
Fantastic!
Amazing, amazing, amazing! These books have quickly become one of my top 5 series ever! Can’t wait for the next book!
Amazing, amazing, amazing! These books have quickly become one of my top 5 series ever! Can’t wait for the next book!
June 3, 2018
Great read
Couldn’t put it down. Best book Ive read in a long time. Can’t wait for the next installment, soon I hope.
Couldn’t put it down. Best book Ive read in a long time. Can’t wait for the next installment, soon I hope.
March 7, 2020
A decent series with small issues.
First thing first, it's good series, well worth a read, especially if you can get your hands on boxset for 99p bargain, books at this rate have been as good or better than many I bought at full price. Probably because these are old series or old books in current series which have sold well
Raz is a memorable character, though the monster may struggle against the best of fantasies anti heroes from Malazan or even one step down like The First Law series, Karsa, and host of Malazans could give lessons to the beast in fighting, cruelty and nastyness in general,, even Glotka from first law series is a anti hero who tortures people and for some reason, dispute his wicked behaviour one is cheering as some get their due will dread as some good guy ends up in his grip but Raz never gets that nasty.
There are a few very annoying issue, there are many small or pages of info taken from various sources providing historic info, I stopped reading them, they spoilet what came later with a bit of thinking and seriously intrupted the flow of the story but some out there probably fiind them fascinating as they get more information about the world.
A few other authors have this habit and this one took to extreme. It's seems like a current trend to say what will happen, before it happens. This is very bad story telling as it takes the surprise factor in lots of scenes, why not show the blow and it's damage in couple of sentences instead of discrining what the punch which is going to fall will ?
Spoiler
Finally the priestess and Raz have been a couple for a while but because we have never been shown a mixed breed human lizard, a lecture of "How, or possibilities" would have been very much appreciated.
Raz is a cold blodded-ish animal but he should be in his prime matting period, do lizards mate at certain time and the love with the priestess is mostly spiritual? What about the winged factor, what does it mean? Raz is important but why is the lizard queen watching him from afar after sending him away? Most characters fail to ask important questions nor others ask them about important information.
Raz doesn't have a home, slavers have driven him away, but he has conquered various places like the citadel and the mountain men even the city he wipped out slavers leadership but he never things to stay and claim his prize. A city or nation under him would be a great asset against the slavers in his war against the slavers. He doesn't care about money but he should have lots of it especially as he needs food, weapons, shelter etc Evey where he goes but it is hardly ever mentioned and he never takes any from those he defeated, though there are a few instances but Raz seems very naive about women and money. Sure he's not the first nor will he be last to suffer those!
First thing first, it's good series, well worth a read, especially if you can get your hands on boxset for 99p bargain, books at this rate have been as good or better than many I bought at full price. Probably because these are old series or old books in current series which have sold well
Raz is a memorable character, though the monster may struggle against the best of fantasies anti heroes from Malazan or even one step down like The First Law series, Karsa, and host of Malazans could give lessons to the beast in fighting, cruelty and nastyness in general,, even Glotka from first law series is a anti hero who tortures people and for some reason, dispute his wicked behaviour one is cheering as some get their due will dread as some good guy ends up in his grip but Raz never gets that nasty.
There are a few very annoying issue, there are many small or pages of info taken from various sources providing historic info, I stopped reading them, they spoilet what came later with a bit of thinking and seriously intrupted the flow of the story but some out there probably fiind them fascinating as they get more information about the world.
A few other authors have this habit and this one took to extreme. It's seems like a current trend to say what will happen, before it happens. This is very bad story telling as it takes the surprise factor in lots of scenes, why not show the blow and it's damage in couple of sentences instead of discrining what the punch which is going to fall will ?
Spoiler
Finally the priestess and Raz have been a couple for a while but because we have never been shown a mixed breed human lizard, a lecture of "How, or possibilities" would have been very much appreciated.
Raz is a cold blodded-ish animal but he should be in his prime matting period, do lizards mate at certain time and the love with the priestess is mostly spiritual? What about the winged factor, what does it mean? Raz is important but why is the lizard queen watching him from afar after sending him away? Most characters fail to ask important questions nor others ask them about important information.
Raz doesn't have a home, slavers have driven him away, but he has conquered various places like the citadel and the mountain men even the city he wipped out slavers leadership but he never things to stay and claim his prize. A city or nation under him would be a great asset against the slavers in his war against the slavers. He doesn't care about money but he should have lots of it especially as he needs food, weapons, shelter etc Evey where he goes but it is hardly ever mentioned and he never takes any from those he defeated, though there are a few instances but Raz seems very naive about women and money. Sure he's not the first nor will he be last to suffer those!
July 25, 2019
I have said this for the previous three books which I read in this series yet I cannot emphasise it enough, what a great series this is, however this final book was the strongest for me as I feel that Raz has come full circle and as he becomes the symbol of the revolution which he started he meets what he has been destined to do right from the start. Raz I'Syul Arro the monster, now known as the Drahon started his life in the hands of slavers but he fought, even though still a baby, for his freedom and from that day onward he vowed he would see all slaves living freely. With the awesome priestess Syrah by his side they are invincible, a team to be reckoned with as they fight with weapons as well as magic. Both Raz and Syrah had suffered so much both physically and mentally that now they feared nothing and were ready to take up the fight. Raz had become a hero to those in slavery and now he wanted to live up to his name, but he knew that in Perce, he would not be able to do this alone so he got an army together and the more slaves they freed the stronger his army grew. This has been one of the best sword and sorcery, dark epic fantasy series which I have had the pleasure to read and I do not want the series to end as I am going to miss the characters which are even haunting my dreams. The world building which went into the series is out of this world as it describes everything to the smallest detail, first taking us to the sands of the desert, then the Northern Icy mountains and now across the awesome sea which we got to see in all its grandeur. I hope to read a book 5 soon as I really cannot wait to read on into this captivating world of cruelty, balanced with so much courage, the fight of the dark against the light is magnificent!
May 31, 2023
I actually loved this book A LOT MORE than the previous three books in the series. I enjoyed reading all of the fight scenes and the battles. The part when they were sailing down to Perce was probably my favorite section of the book. I especially enjoyed the introduction of some of the newer characters like Aleko and Karan. The development of both Raz and Syrah was amazing to read and I can’t wait to read the continuation of their story.
There was one nagging issue which is that the intro statements that begin each chapter contained some spoilers WHICH WAS A BIT ANNOYING. I know it’s O’Connor’s style to begin each chapter with a statement from a character talking about the current story as if it was a historic event….. BUT it was still very aggravating to read. I get that some of these intro statements are meant to be foretelling (or predictions) of future events but I expected these statements to be as vague as possible so as to not SPOIL what’s going to happen. At one point I actually gave up and had to purposely skip each intro paragraph because it was that irritating. And actually I ended up having to cover each subsequent “intro statement” so I didn’t have to accidentally read it……😞
The beauty part about reading books is that it becomes a natural mystery when you don’t know what’s going to happen from one page to the next. But when the author tears that mystery away by revealing everything that will happen then it kind of takes the whole joy out of it and it makes the book that much more dull. It almost made me want to take a couple stars away from the review out of spite. But I enjoyed the book so much that it ended up just being a minor ANNOYING inconvenience.
With that said, I still highly highly recommend this to anyone wanting to continue the series. 👍
There was one nagging issue which is that the intro statements that begin each chapter contained some spoilers WHICH WAS A BIT ANNOYING. I know it’s O’Connor’s style to begin each chapter with a statement from a character talking about the current story as if it was a historic event….. BUT it was still very aggravating to read. I get that some of these intro statements are meant to be foretelling (or predictions) of future events but I expected these statements to be as vague as possible so as to not SPOIL what’s going to happen. At one point I actually gave up and had to purposely skip each intro paragraph because it was that irritating. And actually I ended up having to cover each subsequent “intro statement” so I didn’t have to accidentally read it……😞
The beauty part about reading books is that it becomes a natural mystery when you don’t know what’s going to happen from one page to the next. But when the author tears that mystery away by revealing everything that will happen then it kind of takes the whole joy out of it and it makes the book that much more dull. It almost made me want to take a couple stars away from the review out of spite. But I enjoyed the book so much that it ended up just being a minor ANNOYING inconvenience.
With that said, I still highly highly recommend this to anyone wanting to continue the series. 👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2021
I gave the last two books in this series 4-star reviews because though I enjoyed reading them, I felt that both books were flawed in ways that left me on the fence about this series. This book, however, had what both of those books were missing... hope.
This is the story that has been teased to us since the start of the series. The dragon now has his white witch by his side and he is finally starting to live up to his promise as they head towards the nation that holds his people in slavery. The rest of the book that follows is probably what the second book should have been, and definitely the third. While I enjoyed those books, this is the book that I was here to read.
Beyond just promises being fulfilled, this book offers us a new emotion in that it gives the characters we have grown attached to a little hope. There are still dark moments and the author continues not to shy away from putting his heroes through a hard time, but in this novel, it is offset against the hope of these characters moving toward a shared goal and finally we can see a glimmer of light on the horizon.
With that in the book, I am now freed up to enjoy all that is good about this series; the well-written characters, the exciting action scenes, and the overarching story that is both intriguing and high stakes. You can never accuse this series of ever really losing my interest, but this was a book that you truly couldn't put down and I enjoyed every moment of it.
I am therefore going to run off now and start the next book in this series because I honestly can not wait to see what comes next.
This is the story that has been teased to us since the start of the series. The dragon now has his white witch by his side and he is finally starting to live up to his promise as they head towards the nation that holds his people in slavery. The rest of the book that follows is probably what the second book should have been, and definitely the third. While I enjoyed those books, this is the book that I was here to read.
Beyond just promises being fulfilled, this book offers us a new emotion in that it gives the characters we have grown attached to a little hope. There are still dark moments and the author continues not to shy away from putting his heroes through a hard time, but in this novel, it is offset against the hope of these characters moving toward a shared goal and finally we can see a glimmer of light on the horizon.
With that in the book, I am now freed up to enjoy all that is good about this series; the well-written characters, the exciting action scenes, and the overarching story that is both intriguing and high stakes. You can never accuse this series of ever really losing my interest, but this was a book that you truly couldn't put down and I enjoyed every moment of it.
I am therefore going to run off now and start the next book in this series because I honestly can not wait to see what comes next.
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