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The Edge of the Sword #4
The Throne of Cerecia: The Edge of the Sword Series
After the secret of his magic fire potion was stolen and his closest ally killed, King Chysh is out for revenge. Unfortunately for him, his ruthless tactics and poor leadership have created many enemies. The Chief and his band of smugglers are set to foment rebellion, Chysh's own sister is considering turning against him, and unknown entities are plotting behind the scenes.
The normally docile Bashalis is turning into a rebellious teenager. In spite of her sheltered life and limited eyesight, she attempts to get out from under her brother’s thumb and become her own person. Will she find the confidence and courage to defy her brother and find her own path, or will Chysh’s opposition use her as a pawn? How will the king respond when his younger sister becomes a threat?
Stelan and Talia are experiencing tension in their marriage and are unable to pinpoint the source of their communication problems. Is it their language and background differences, fallout from their battle injuries and traumatic experiences, or something deeper? How can two people who love each other so much still be unhappy? Will a new threat endangering their lives bring them back together?
To what lengths will our heroes go to keep their loved ones safe and protect their fellow citizens? Assassins, explosions, battles, and intrigue abound in this quest to determine who sits on the querulous throne of Cerecia.
The normally docile Bashalis is turning into a rebellious teenager. In spite of her sheltered life and limited eyesight, she attempts to get out from under her brother’s thumb and become her own person. Will she find the confidence and courage to defy her brother and find her own path, or will Chysh’s opposition use her as a pawn? How will the king respond when his younger sister becomes a threat?
Stelan and Talia are experiencing tension in their marriage and are unable to pinpoint the source of their communication problems. Is it their language and background differences, fallout from their battle injuries and traumatic experiences, or something deeper? How can two people who love each other so much still be unhappy? Will a new threat endangering their lives bring them back together?
To what lengths will our heroes go to keep their loved ones safe and protect their fellow citizens? Assassins, explosions, battles, and intrigue abound in this quest to determine who sits on the querulous throne of Cerecia.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2019
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Amber Gabriel
20 books79 followersEver since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. One of the first books I remember reading was a Wonder Book version of Cinderella. It was in the reading station in my kindergarten class, and I loved the illustrations. I would pick that book out every time, so my teacher finally removed it from the shelf to force me to expand my horizons. Now I have my own copy.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 15, 2025
Oh my goodnesssss, this was probably my favorite of the series. Gabriel has definitely found her stride, and I love that characters keep reappearing! Shoutouts to my favorites, Eemya and Darius, and of course my girl Sashia 😭 glad to see she's still alive and well.
I loved that Talia and Stelan's marriage problems weren't overly dramatic. They were having communication problems and false expectations, but that understatedness was more real and didn't create unnecessary drama that took away from the plot.
I honestly didn't care much about Bashalis when she first appeared in In Search of Magic Fire. Her character was so passive she seemed to melt into the background. That allowed for so much growth that made me so happy to see.
This is such a good series.
I loved that Talia and Stelan's marriage problems weren't overly dramatic. They were having communication problems and false expectations, but that understatedness was more real and didn't create unnecessary drama that took away from the plot.
I honestly didn't care much about Bashalis when she first appeared in In Search of Magic Fire. Her character was so passive she seemed to melt into the background. That allowed for so much growth that made me so happy to see.
This is such a good series.
March 3, 2023
The Throne of Cerecia is book four of the Edge of the Sword series by Amber Gabriel. And this one is the most complex yet! The storyline effectively splits in four, following Stelan, Talia, Bashalis, and Eemya.
I won’t go too much into the plot (there be spoilers), but let me share some more general comments on the story before I get into arguably the best parts – the characters.
The Throne of Cerecia is Gabriel’s most complicated book in terms of viewpoint and plotlines thus far. However, the story seems to switch between plotlines and perspectives seamlessly – crossing back and forth across Lyliana, Berush, and Cerecia to keep each element of the story moving forward. I was never bored by a storyline, and the pacing felt smooth and steady the whole way through – while slowly but surely building up the anticipation and drama!
Having Cerecia built up across the past few books, it truly was fascinating to get a closer look at Bashalis and Chysh. I know their story continues in the next book, but being able to glimpse their relationship at this crucial moment is so interesting.
As is what I consider standard for Gabriel, her worldbuilding is solid and real, her writing style seamless and compelling, and the plot both well-constructed and page turning!
But now, I’m keen to share my thoughts on the characters!
Bashalis.
Bashalis is a character I swiftly grew to love in this book. I already admired her from what we learned from In Search of Magic Fire, but this story truly kicked it up a notch. Bashalis comes from a life of forcing herself to pretend, to not react at the most dramatic of stunts – all just to survive. Dealing with a *slightly* insane brother who seems to attempt to threaten and bully her at every opportunity (to say the least), Bashalis has learned exactly how to counter, how to ease, how to provoke him. I love her understated intelligence and wisdom. Meanwhile, her love of music is incredibly humanising, and an important part of her character.
As Bashalis begins to take a stand against her brother, I couldn’t help but just swell is pride as this awesome young woman took matters into her own hands. The people she meets along the way (without spoilers) are a true highlight of the book.
Talia and Stelan
I remember reading the ‘deleted scene’ at the end of In Search of Magic Fire, when Gabriel considered killing off Talia. In that scene, she ‘told’ Stelan he would be better off without Talia, and heartache would come of it, but Stelan didn’t care.
Here is where I think we see Gabriel get her say on the matter, as a romance forged in drama and near-death experiences is forced to deal with the day-to-day – and becomes strained as a result. I really love this for the couple, and it shows an important glimpse into continuing to learn and grow with your spouse even after marriage – regardless of how good or bad the match might be considered. As Talia sets off for Berush at Stelan’s urging, Stelan himself is ‘called out’ by a Cerecian spy. The situation provides some truly excellent suspense - we know Chysh means business, and we see his influence extending far beyond his own borders. It makes for an extra sense of fear and foreboding, not knowing if one of our beloved characters will be the next one to fall. Meanwhile, for Talia, she faces not only the same predicament as her husband, but more complications than she anticipated erupt in her homeland.
While a smaller role, it’s also wonderful to get a look in on Eemya as she deals with the threat in Lyliana, and what it means for her family.
I also wanted to mention Halem. We’ve seen him before in A Crack in the Rock, and while her only has a small role in this book, we get a few instances of his perspective. I know the latest book in the series delves deep into Halem, and what we see here is an excellent set up for what is to follow!
Overall The Throne of Cerecia is another excellent dive into the world of The Edge of the Sword. Themes of relational strain – both marital and familial, are woven through the narrative, along with the struggle of dealing with PTSD after incredible trauma. One thing I love about Gabriel’s writing is that there’s always layers of theme and story which create a far more complex and deep tale than what one might just see at the surface.
I won’t go too much into the plot (there be spoilers), but let me share some more general comments on the story before I get into arguably the best parts – the characters.
The Throne of Cerecia is Gabriel’s most complicated book in terms of viewpoint and plotlines thus far. However, the story seems to switch between plotlines and perspectives seamlessly – crossing back and forth across Lyliana, Berush, and Cerecia to keep each element of the story moving forward. I was never bored by a storyline, and the pacing felt smooth and steady the whole way through – while slowly but surely building up the anticipation and drama!
Having Cerecia built up across the past few books, it truly was fascinating to get a closer look at Bashalis and Chysh. I know their story continues in the next book, but being able to glimpse their relationship at this crucial moment is so interesting.
As is what I consider standard for Gabriel, her worldbuilding is solid and real, her writing style seamless and compelling, and the plot both well-constructed and page turning!
But now, I’m keen to share my thoughts on the characters!
Bashalis.
Bashalis is a character I swiftly grew to love in this book. I already admired her from what we learned from In Search of Magic Fire, but this story truly kicked it up a notch. Bashalis comes from a life of forcing herself to pretend, to not react at the most dramatic of stunts – all just to survive. Dealing with a *slightly* insane brother who seems to attempt to threaten and bully her at every opportunity (to say the least), Bashalis has learned exactly how to counter, how to ease, how to provoke him. I love her understated intelligence and wisdom. Meanwhile, her love of music is incredibly humanising, and an important part of her character.
As Bashalis begins to take a stand against her brother, I couldn’t help but just swell is pride as this awesome young woman took matters into her own hands. The people she meets along the way (without spoilers) are a true highlight of the book.
Talia and Stelan
I remember reading the ‘deleted scene’ at the end of In Search of Magic Fire, when Gabriel considered killing off Talia. In that scene, she ‘told’ Stelan he would be better off without Talia, and heartache would come of it, but Stelan didn’t care.
Here is where I think we see Gabriel get her say on the matter, as a romance forged in drama and near-death experiences is forced to deal with the day-to-day – and becomes strained as a result. I really love this for the couple, and it shows an important glimpse into continuing to learn and grow with your spouse even after marriage – regardless of how good or bad the match might be considered. As Talia sets off for Berush at Stelan’s urging, Stelan himself is ‘called out’ by a Cerecian spy. The situation provides some truly excellent suspense - we know Chysh means business, and we see his influence extending far beyond his own borders. It makes for an extra sense of fear and foreboding, not knowing if one of our beloved characters will be the next one to fall. Meanwhile, for Talia, she faces not only the same predicament as her husband, but more complications than she anticipated erupt in her homeland.
While a smaller role, it’s also wonderful to get a look in on Eemya as she deals with the threat in Lyliana, and what it means for her family.
I also wanted to mention Halem. We’ve seen him before in A Crack in the Rock, and while her only has a small role in this book, we get a few instances of his perspective. I know the latest book in the series delves deep into Halem, and what we see here is an excellent set up for what is to follow!
Overall The Throne of Cerecia is another excellent dive into the world of The Edge of the Sword. Themes of relational strain – both marital and familial, are woven through the narrative, along with the struggle of dealing with PTSD after incredible trauma. One thing I love about Gabriel’s writing is that there’s always layers of theme and story which create a far more complex and deep tale than what one might just see at the surface.
September 21, 2021
The 4th book in "The Edge of the Sword Series". I can picture all the scene's as if they were a movie! There's adventure, interpersonal conflict and the power of good and evil. Each book in the series gives a short recap of the previous book and sets the mood for a story that builds. I enjoy the character's that develop from book to book. There is something to learn from all of them. The line of character building gets complicated throughout the series. The map, genealogy charts, plus- the cast of characters helped me put people and places in order in my minds eye. I am ready to read the 5th book now! "Binge Reading"- so much fun!
August 30, 2022
I listened to the audio version of this book and I absolutely love it! My favorite characters are Stelan, Talia, and Bashalis. I really appreciate the Author's note at the end of each story. She talkes about issues that occur during the story and offers help and encouragement in these situations..PTSD, marriage, relationships, domestic violence, etc.
January 15, 2024
Another great book in the Edge of the Sword series! This one deals with marital struggles among other topics, and can be a good book for couples to read together to strengthen their relationship. I also recommend it for parents to read together with their older children to discuss the life issues depicted. But it is also an amazing action-packed story with a lot of action, drama, and endearing scenes and characters! The entire series will entertain, inspire, and strengthen you in your daily walk.
Disclaimer: Amber Gabriel is my cousin.
Disclaimer: Amber Gabriel is my cousin.
October 13, 2025
I love how this story expanded Princess Bashalis and King Chysh's stories. It was intriguing to watch Bashalis who feels some familial loyalty to her brother even though he is really mean to her. She says things like "At least, he doesn't allow others to be mean to me." She also doesn't like what he is doing to his country. She reaches out to the underground rebel group to see if there is anyway that she can help without out right betraying her brother.
He becomes suspicious of her actions and throws her into the prison tower to freeze. The underground rebel group helps her to escape. He becomes outraged and is threatening to kill people if she isn't returned. She insist on going back so that people will not be killed. This is an interesting turn of events because before she didn't really seem to be all that interested in others welfare, but she can't stand the thought of people being killed because of her.
Before she is about to go back though, King Chysh comes back to his senses and stops the killings. She decides she is tired of living in fear with her brother and asks the rebel group if they can help her sneak out of the country. She is on the run with a leper lady.
While on the run Bashalis gets very sick. Though she didn't really want to take Bashalis to the leper colony for fear of Bashalis contracting leprosy, the leper lady feels there is no choice with as sick as Bashalis is. Here the lady's husband gives Bashalis the lady's old harp. Bashalis is overjoyed because she misses her harp. She plays for the people in the colony, and they love it. This is a pivotal moment for Bashalis as she is serving people who are in worse straits then her.
As she is recovering in the leper colony, there is rumblings that her brother might be tracking her down to kill her. In the end the lady gets her as close to the Cerecia/Berush border as she can and then Bashalis is on her own. Bashalis surrenders to the Berushese army and agrees to help them overthrow her brother.
Along the way through the story she grows more and more concerned for other people and more confident in her own abilities even though she has albinism. Her character arc is beautifully portrayed. For King Chysh, though he is a selfish, power-hungry, tyrannical leader, there are hints that he still holds brotherly affection for his sister. Their reunion towards the end is beautiful!
He becomes suspicious of her actions and throws her into the prison tower to freeze. The underground rebel group helps her to escape. He becomes outraged and is threatening to kill people if she isn't returned. She insist on going back so that people will not be killed. This is an interesting turn of events because before she didn't really seem to be all that interested in others welfare, but she can't stand the thought of people being killed because of her.
Before she is about to go back though, King Chysh comes back to his senses and stops the killings. She decides she is tired of living in fear with her brother and asks the rebel group if they can help her sneak out of the country. She is on the run with a leper lady.
While on the run Bashalis gets very sick. Though she didn't really want to take Bashalis to the leper colony for fear of Bashalis contracting leprosy, the leper lady feels there is no choice with as sick as Bashalis is. Here the lady's husband gives Bashalis the lady's old harp. Bashalis is overjoyed because she misses her harp. She plays for the people in the colony, and they love it. This is a pivotal moment for Bashalis as she is serving people who are in worse straits then her.
As she is recovering in the leper colony, there is rumblings that her brother might be tracking her down to kill her. In the end the lady gets her as close to the Cerecia/Berush border as she can and then Bashalis is on her own. Bashalis surrenders to the Berushese army and agrees to help them overthrow her brother.
Along the way through the story she grows more and more concerned for other people and more confident in her own abilities even though she has albinism. Her character arc is beautifully portrayed. For King Chysh, though he is a selfish, power-hungry, tyrannical leader, there are hints that he still holds brotherly affection for his sister. Their reunion towards the end is beautiful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 24, 2022Though all the books in this series have self-contained plots with clear conflict and resolution and can be read independently, this one has four separate storylines with multiple POV that would be hard to follow if this is your first introduction to the world and its characters. For that very reason, it is one of my favorites. I love it when everything falls into place! Several threads from the first half of the series end in knots, but others dangle, ready to weave themselves into fresh stories. This will be the central novel in a seven-book series. Knowing what's in store makes me even more excited! Stay tuned for the audiobook and new releases!
June 5, 2024
The saga of The Edge of the Sword series continues in this epic novel focused on the third country, also featured in the previous book in the series. Cerecia is in dire straits, with a mad and power hungry ruler laying waste to everything around him. Although this particular book does not include a romatic sub-plot with a new couple as each of the previous books has done, the focus on interpersonal relationships is still there and as good as ever. In this case, the main focus is on the need for communication in marriage. It is so rare to see such depth in already existing relationships, and I really appreciate what the author has done here.
Additionally, I was truly gratified by the secondary focus, with one of the other characters, on not allowing others to choose for us. Bashalis was already a great character in the previous novel, but she really came into her own in this one, and the way she came into herself and shifted away from who she didn't want to be, embracing what was important to her, really resonated. It's a very empowering additional element and I enjoyed her story, even though it didn't quite end how I'd imaigned it might.
Lastly, this author always adds additional notes at the end about the emotional and psychological elements in the story. In this case, the end note was particularly enlightening and I really appreciate the author going to the effort to get that information and include it in the book's backmatter.
Entertaining read. I can definitely recommend this series, even if, as a whole, it doesn't quite fit into any specific genre. It's an excellent exploration of relationships in all their facets, and has a fun background of epic proportions with battles, subterfuge, and secret weapons.
Additionally, I was truly gratified by the secondary focus, with one of the other characters, on not allowing others to choose for us. Bashalis was already a great character in the previous novel, but she really came into her own in this one, and the way she came into herself and shifted away from who she didn't want to be, embracing what was important to her, really resonated. It's a very empowering additional element and I enjoyed her story, even though it didn't quite end how I'd imaigned it might.
Lastly, this author always adds additional notes at the end about the emotional and psychological elements in the story. In this case, the end note was particularly enlightening and I really appreciate the author going to the effort to get that information and include it in the book's backmatter.
Entertaining read. I can definitely recommend this series, even if, as a whole, it doesn't quite fit into any specific genre. It's an excellent exploration of relationships in all their facets, and has a fun background of epic proportions with battles, subterfuge, and secret weapons.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews