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Aria of Steel #1
A Canticle of Two Souls
A magic sword forged of a demon. A broken boy seeking revenge. A mysterious girl with terrible powers.
A metal coming-of-age tale with an empath magic system.
Raziel watched the Rhotian Empire slaughter his family. When a sentient sword promises him the head of the emperor, Raziel carves a bloody path in an epic journey across a land filled with banshees and mercenaries in pursuit of his revenge.
But forced to travel with a strange young woman with a dark past, will Raziel even reach his destination?
Alicia has plans of her own. Gifted with a terrible magic that can bend others to her will, she also has revenge on her mind and Raziel in her sights.
Can two enemies put aside their differences to seek a higher goal, or will mistrust and inner-demons condemn their fates? Magic is a dangerous thing. So is hope.
The Aria of Steel Trilogy is a heavy-metal power ballad of clashing blades, blood-soaked betrayal, and sweet revenge. Will you walk away or join the fight?
---
"Moving, intensely emotional, darkly violent" - Goodreads review
"I genuinely can’t recommend it enough" - Amazon review
"A quick and fast-paced read that is very character-focused with just enough world-building" - Goodreads review
A metal coming-of-age tale with an empath magic system.
Raziel watched the Rhotian Empire slaughter his family. When a sentient sword promises him the head of the emperor, Raziel carves a bloody path in an epic journey across a land filled with banshees and mercenaries in pursuit of his revenge.
But forced to travel with a strange young woman with a dark past, will Raziel even reach his destination?
Alicia has plans of her own. Gifted with a terrible magic that can bend others to her will, she also has revenge on her mind and Raziel in her sights.
Can two enemies put aside their differences to seek a higher goal, or will mistrust and inner-demons condemn their fates? Magic is a dangerous thing. So is hope.
The Aria of Steel Trilogy is a heavy-metal power ballad of clashing blades, blood-soaked betrayal, and sweet revenge. Will you walk away or join the fight?
---
"Moving, intensely emotional, darkly violent" - Goodreads review
"I genuinely can’t recommend it enough" - Amazon review
"A quick and fast-paced read that is very character-focused with just enough world-building" - Goodreads review
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2018
22 people are currently reading
677 people want to read
About the author
Steven Raaymakers
5 books36 followersSteven Raaymakers is an award-winning fantasy author from New Zealand. He writes character-driven stories with dark themes and unique magic systems.
Steven reads and writes all day. In his spare time he plays Soulsborne and post-apocalyptic games, reads a ton of fiction from every genre, cooks spicy food, and spends time with his truly awesome wife.
www.stevenraaymakers.com
Steven reads and writes all day. In his spare time he plays Soulsborne and post-apocalyptic games, reads a ton of fiction from every genre, cooks spicy food, and spends time with his truly awesome wife.
www.stevenraaymakers.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 1, 2020
I’m always funny about picking up self-published novels. (My worst streak was 11 duds in a row!) But A Canticle of Two Souls jumped out at me. Its ‘mountain of faces’ style cover harked back to Star Wars and convinced me to buy it. And I’m glad it did!
My short review is that it’s an inventive and accomplished fantasy novel. It felt like a breath of fresh air.
Now for a longer take. Raaymakers explores innate good and evil very well and delicately. There aren’t any pantomime characters. This is a world of greys. Evil people can find redemption. Good people can fall prey to evil instincts. Is Raziel a hero? No. Is he a villain? Also, no. He’s a kid with a flaw fumbling his way through life.
Another particularly strong point is ACoTS’s world. It feels real, established, and believable. In my experience, creating a believable world is something debut authors struggle with. That’s partly through lack of experience and partly through lack of pages/canon to draw on. But the mythology, tradition, and cultures all felt as old as stone.
Now for the beating heart of any novel: character. I was slow to warm to Raziel and Alicia -- but I often am, particularly with first-in-series novels. But page by page, I warmed to them and they warmed to each other. Their relationship, as it progressed from distrust to friendship, felt real. It wasn’t like we were watching two literary characters, rather we were spying on two people.
I’m always hesitant to talk about plot in reviews. Partly for spoilers but also because I don’t think plot is that important. As readers, do we really care about the story beats? No, we care about how that affects the characters we care about. So while ACoTS isn’t the most original revenge tale in the world, I don’t think it matters.
Onto book two, A Canticle for the Fallen!
My short review is that it’s an inventive and accomplished fantasy novel. It felt like a breath of fresh air.
Now for a longer take. Raaymakers explores innate good and evil very well and delicately. There aren’t any pantomime characters. This is a world of greys. Evil people can find redemption. Good people can fall prey to evil instincts. Is Raziel a hero? No. Is he a villain? Also, no. He’s a kid with a flaw fumbling his way through life.
Another particularly strong point is ACoTS’s world. It feels real, established, and believable. In my experience, creating a believable world is something debut authors struggle with. That’s partly through lack of experience and partly through lack of pages/canon to draw on. But the mythology, tradition, and cultures all felt as old as stone.
Now for the beating heart of any novel: character. I was slow to warm to Raziel and Alicia -- but I often am, particularly with first-in-series novels. But page by page, I warmed to them and they warmed to each other. Their relationship, as it progressed from distrust to friendship, felt real. It wasn’t like we were watching two literary characters, rather we were spying on two people.
I’m always hesitant to talk about plot in reviews. Partly for spoilers but also because I don’t think plot is that important. As readers, do we really care about the story beats? No, we care about how that affects the characters we care about. So while ACoTS isn’t the most original revenge tale in the world, I don’t think it matters.
Onto book two, A Canticle for the Fallen!
March 2, 2023
The Rhotian empire’s brutality & slaughter knows no bounds. However word soon spreads of a Warchild straight out of myth. Of a boy carrying a sentient demon blade. Their quest…retribution.
A side note to this…I had the author send me a copy of this. I knew nothing of this book but I had posted a tweet about “six great reasons to read indie”. This had a picture of six of the best I have ever read. The author asked me if I’d like a seventh reason.
And HE DELIVERED.
So great. So great in fact I’ve purchased the whole trilogy in paperback. Kudos Steven Raaymakers!
A side note to this…I had the author send me a copy of this. I knew nothing of this book but I had posted a tweet about “six great reasons to read indie”. This had a picture of six of the best I have ever read. The author asked me if I’d like a seventh reason.
And HE DELIVERED.
So great. So great in fact I’ve purchased the whole trilogy in paperback. Kudos Steven Raaymakers!
September 21, 2022
Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Full review link: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
A Canticle of Two Souls is the first book in the Aria of Steel trilogy, by the kiwi writer Steven Raaymakers. It's a coming-of-age epic fantasy style of novel, and it has a really interesting use of some uncommon tropes in the genre which I really appreciated as a reader.
The story opens with a high-action scene, showing us how Raziel, a mysterious orphan who solely beats and kills himself a group of soldiers while wielding a black sword. This scene serves a double purpose in my opinion: first of all tells us, the readers, that we are on the verge of a grim world, that this book is going to be dark at some points, and also serves as an excellent introduction for Ultio and her influence on Raziel. Because effectively, the sword is sentient, actually really powerful, and a central piece of the novel. And let me stop here for a moment because I think this is one of the most unusual tropes in fantasy, as usual weapons, if anything, tend to have magical properties; but the concept of sentient weapons is kinda unusual, and this is one of the points where Raaymakers' writing shines.
In some pages, we are also introduced to our second main character, Alicia, a warchild who after all the trauma has developed some sort of mind control powers, and who will form a really weird company with Raziel, keeping him under her control and trying to keep his mind clean of the Ultio influence. All of this at the same time they are traveling in the search of revenge, despite not knowing fully the secrets of Raziel.
The plot advances at a really fast pace, as this is a rather short book in comparison with the standard of the genre, but letting some great intimate scenes between Alicia and Raziel, making them grow into the readers and cultivating the relationship between them, making this sort of union less forced and more something they want to maintain. And partly, this is also a part of why you start caring for the characters and empathizing with them. I'm not prone to include spoilers in the reviews, as I prefer them to be possible to read carelessly, but all this building makes the end more impactful than it could be if we didn't have any emotional attachment to them.
Worldbuilding is solid, being used the trope of the journey as a way to show different places and foundations of the universe we are going to experiment for a full trilogy, introducing certain elements of grim and dark that are rather unusual in the classic epic fantasy. There are also some unconventional choices, such as the power of Alicia, which allows her to perceive emotions in the form of melodies; and the fact that actually Raziel has relatives that will have an important role in the story's development.
In summary, reading A Canticle of Two Souls left me with a really good taste after finishing. It's a perfect mix between epic fantasy and some dark elements; using also some uncommon tropes and subverting the most classic ones. We will return to this world next month with the read of A Canticle for the Fallen.
Full review link: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
A Canticle of Two Souls is the first book in the Aria of Steel trilogy, by the kiwi writer Steven Raaymakers. It's a coming-of-age epic fantasy style of novel, and it has a really interesting use of some uncommon tropes in the genre which I really appreciated as a reader.
The story opens with a high-action scene, showing us how Raziel, a mysterious orphan who solely beats and kills himself a group of soldiers while wielding a black sword. This scene serves a double purpose in my opinion: first of all tells us, the readers, that we are on the verge of a grim world, that this book is going to be dark at some points, and also serves as an excellent introduction for Ultio and her influence on Raziel. Because effectively, the sword is sentient, actually really powerful, and a central piece of the novel. And let me stop here for a moment because I think this is one of the most unusual tropes in fantasy, as usual weapons, if anything, tend to have magical properties; but the concept of sentient weapons is kinda unusual, and this is one of the points where Raaymakers' writing shines.
In some pages, we are also introduced to our second main character, Alicia, a warchild who after all the trauma has developed some sort of mind control powers, and who will form a really weird company with Raziel, keeping him under her control and trying to keep his mind clean of the Ultio influence. All of this at the same time they are traveling in the search of revenge, despite not knowing fully the secrets of Raziel.
The plot advances at a really fast pace, as this is a rather short book in comparison with the standard of the genre, but letting some great intimate scenes between Alicia and Raziel, making them grow into the readers and cultivating the relationship between them, making this sort of union less forced and more something they want to maintain. And partly, this is also a part of why you start caring for the characters and empathizing with them. I'm not prone to include spoilers in the reviews, as I prefer them to be possible to read carelessly, but all this building makes the end more impactful than it could be if we didn't have any emotional attachment to them.
Worldbuilding is solid, being used the trope of the journey as a way to show different places and foundations of the universe we are going to experiment for a full trilogy, introducing certain elements of grim and dark that are rather unusual in the classic epic fantasy. There are also some unconventional choices, such as the power of Alicia, which allows her to perceive emotions in the form of melodies; and the fact that actually Raziel has relatives that will have an important role in the story's development.
In summary, reading A Canticle of Two Souls left me with a really good taste after finishing. It's a perfect mix between epic fantasy and some dark elements; using also some uncommon tropes and subverting the most classic ones. We will return to this world next month with the read of A Canticle for the Fallen.
December 2, 2021
“Raziel relished the violence, thrived in it, gripping it and gripped by it like lovers in a passionate embrace. This wasn’t love he felt, though, but lust. Lust for death, for hatred, for revenge.”
This is precisely the kind of fantasy novel I adore. From the very first page I was HOOKED.
I loved every part of it but most of all I loved the unique and engrossing writing style, the greyest of morally grey and the most enthralling characters, and the elaborate and distinctive world building. I don’t think I’ve read anything that quite matches or is similar to what this book does but I genuinely can’t recommend it enough.
This is precisely the kind of fantasy novel I adore. From the very first page I was HOOKED.
I loved every part of it but most of all I loved the unique and engrossing writing style, the greyest of morally grey and the most enthralling characters, and the elaborate and distinctive world building. I don’t think I’ve read anything that quite matches or is similar to what this book does but I genuinely can’t recommend it enough.
June 27, 2018
This was a good read. Had some interesting fantasy elements I haven't seen in any other work, particularly regarding the warchild and her abilities. The author touched on some really deep elements very well, from the evil in all of us, to forgiveness, to friendship. I would recommend for those who are looking for something a little different than your usual run of the mill fantasy story. All in all, good story and different characters and themes. Take a chance on this one. Only one complaint from me: the head-hopping. But it didn't stop this book from being immersive.
September 6, 2024
And done! A grim story about revenge, the power of emotions, and the desire to find sanctuary in a land of great pain. Empires conquering territories thinking it is for the greater good but the people see it as anything but. Not a perfect story but one worth the journey
September 16, 2021
Thank you to the author, Steven Raaymakers, for gifting me a copy of his book, “A Canticle of Two Souls” to read and honestly review!✨
The thing that managed to capture my attention first in “A Canticle of Two Souls” was the grim setting and the dark land it took place in. It is no secret that I adore reading about morally grey characters, about the moments where the line between right and wrong blurs and we get to see the real natures of them and their inner world slowly unfold. It was absolutely intriguing and delightfully exciting to see what Steven Raaymakers did with his characters and how he portrayed their not-always-bright natures! Raziel, our main character is neither a hero, nor a villain—and that is precisely what makes him such a fascinating person to read about!
Though I did not warm up to Raziel and Alicia immediately, I really appreciated how each page made me understand them more. Them and their complicated past. And most importantly, how they started to understand each other as well! I realized how attached to them I’d gotten at the very end! Seeing how far they’d come and how much they changed despite their trials, was what made the adventure for me.
The story has a very solid world building—it feels realistic and unique, despite the threatening darkness it is plunged in! My favorite part was undoubtedly the magic system. “A Canticle of Two Souls” played with some entirely novel concepts and ideas never seen before in fantasy books; Alicia heard people’s emotions like music, like melodies. Many parts of the book are like observing a painting. Hearing music.
“A Canticle of Two Souls” is a concrete foundation and introduction to the world of the Aria of Steel Trilogy! The author is a wonderful storyteller and it is clear that this series has a lot to give, all the way up to its resolution! Really enjoyed it!⭐️
The thing that managed to capture my attention first in “A Canticle of Two Souls” was the grim setting and the dark land it took place in. It is no secret that I adore reading about morally grey characters, about the moments where the line between right and wrong blurs and we get to see the real natures of them and their inner world slowly unfold. It was absolutely intriguing and delightfully exciting to see what Steven Raaymakers did with his characters and how he portrayed their not-always-bright natures! Raziel, our main character is neither a hero, nor a villain—and that is precisely what makes him such a fascinating person to read about!
Though I did not warm up to Raziel and Alicia immediately, I really appreciated how each page made me understand them more. Them and their complicated past. And most importantly, how they started to understand each other as well! I realized how attached to them I’d gotten at the very end! Seeing how far they’d come and how much they changed despite their trials, was what made the adventure for me.
The story has a very solid world building—it feels realistic and unique, despite the threatening darkness it is plunged in! My favorite part was undoubtedly the magic system. “A Canticle of Two Souls” played with some entirely novel concepts and ideas never seen before in fantasy books; Alicia heard people’s emotions like music, like melodies. Many parts of the book are like observing a painting. Hearing music.
“A Canticle of Two Souls” is a concrete foundation and introduction to the world of the Aria of Steel Trilogy! The author is a wonderful storyteller and it is clear that this series has a lot to give, all the way up to its resolution! Really enjoyed it!⭐️
March 29, 2022
Amazing book.
A Canticle of Two Souls is the first book in the Aria of Steel Series. It is a great YA fantasy novel, that is unlike any other fantasy novels, because it is dark and thrilling to read. The cover shows the two main characters of the book - Raziel and Alicia.
Raziel and Alicia both possess power, albiet of different kinds. Raziel is the owner of a powerful and dangerous sword that grants him the strength and skill of twenty men, and Alicia, can bend others to her will through her magic. Both of them have revenge on their mind, these two start as enemies, can they achieve what they are after?
I have only good things to say about this book. Right from the first page, I was thoroughly engrossed. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, it is graphic which makes you visualize the story and it runs in your mind like a movie. The characters are complex and grey characters which you not necessarily fall in love with as soon as they are introduced but slowly you get familiar and at least understand them and then soon you are in awe of them.
The world building is great in this book. It is very well developed and the story is amazing too. I loved reading this book, it was different from other fantasy novels and I didn't find a single shortcoming. It was just great. It was captivating and unputdownable. Reading the second book!
A Canticle of Two Souls is the first book in the Aria of Steel Series. It is a great YA fantasy novel, that is unlike any other fantasy novels, because it is dark and thrilling to read. The cover shows the two main characters of the book - Raziel and Alicia.
Raziel and Alicia both possess power, albiet of different kinds. Raziel is the owner of a powerful and dangerous sword that grants him the strength and skill of twenty men, and Alicia, can bend others to her will through her magic. Both of them have revenge on their mind, these two start as enemies, can they achieve what they are after?
I have only good things to say about this book. Right from the first page, I was thoroughly engrossed. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, it is graphic which makes you visualize the story and it runs in your mind like a movie. The characters are complex and grey characters which you not necessarily fall in love with as soon as they are introduced but slowly you get familiar and at least understand them and then soon you are in awe of them.
The world building is great in this book. It is very well developed and the story is amazing too. I loved reading this book, it was different from other fantasy novels and I didn't find a single shortcoming. It was just great. It was captivating and unputdownable. Reading the second book!
April 21, 2018
I had the pleasure of reading this novel over the course of roughly two months. The rating of 3/5 is something I'd like to explain because some aspects of the novel are great while others suffer.
1) Steven Raaymakers is a good story-teller. I never felt lost and for the most part the story remains intact & easy to follow. There are, however, some areas where the story bogs down and feels repetitive.
2) It's a fairly innovative work, a few interesting ideas that are executed decently well. I won't give too much away, but from the end of chapter 1 you are given a rare dynamic that lends itself to the rest of the novel.
3) The one issue I had with A Canticle of Two Souls was the 'technicality' in that it suffers from choppy sentence structure & over-use of words. What would be an otherwise binge-worthy novel is hindered by poor word choice at times.
Over-all, A Canticle of Two Souls is worth a read for the story it attempts to tell & I'm looking forward to what Steven Raaymakers has in store. :)
1) Steven Raaymakers is a good story-teller. I never felt lost and for the most part the story remains intact & easy to follow. There are, however, some areas where the story bogs down and feels repetitive.
2) It's a fairly innovative work, a few interesting ideas that are executed decently well. I won't give too much away, but from the end of chapter 1 you are given a rare dynamic that lends itself to the rest of the novel.
3) The one issue I had with A Canticle of Two Souls was the 'technicality' in that it suffers from choppy sentence structure & over-use of words. What would be an otherwise binge-worthy novel is hindered by poor word choice at times.
Over-all, A Canticle of Two Souls is worth a read for the story it attempts to tell & I'm looking forward to what Steven Raaymakers has in store. :)
August 26, 2018
This story was really good; it kept me turning the pages and before I knew it I had already finished the book. There were times when I was literally holding my breath, waiting for the last chapter to see how it all ends; it was unpredictable. Now that I've finished reading the book, I am eagerly waiting for the second.
I found it difficult to care about the two main characters; my favorite characters is the Emperor and Azrael.
I would recommend this book to Assassin Creed fans; I don't necessarily know why, but this book sometimes remind me of Assassin Creed.
Steven Raaymakers has truly written a great story.
Thank you, brother!
I found it difficult to care about the two main characters; my favorite characters is the Emperor and Azrael.
I would recommend this book to Assassin Creed fans; I don't necessarily know why, but this book sometimes remind me of Assassin Creed.
Steven Raaymakers has truly written a great story.
Thank you, brother!
May 15, 2020
Wonderfully written! A Canticle of Two Souls gripped my attention right from the start to the very end. Battle scenes were so well described and I found myself sinking deep into the scenes with Raziel and Alicia (the two main characters), where the author has beautifully built the chemistry between them. Thank You Steven Raaymakers for such a terrific read. I’ve just started to read the second book of Aria of Steel Trilogy; A Canticle for the Fallen. It’s been amazing so far! A Canticle of Two Souls will most certainly be a big seller and THIS is the kind of book you hope will be made into a movie one day!
I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers. Happy reading :)
I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers. Happy reading :)
July 2, 2020
Took me a while to get into the book, but before long I was following the characters, enjoying how their story was being told. For any age, not just for young adults.
Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work.
December 11, 2021
3.5 stars!
A Canticle of Two Souls is not your typical story of good vs. evil. There are no real ‘heroes’ in this grim world, and it feels like everything and anything can be corrupted and fall prey to the dark. Although not a happy book, it does have its quiet and hopeful moments.
We get thrown right into the story, following a boy named Raziel who is out for blood. With him: Ultio, a cursed sword that is stoking his rage and filling his head with promises of revenge and power. Then there’s Alicia who can sense other people’s emotions, hear them as music in her head, and manipulate them. Their paths inevitably cross and, despite initial distrust and animosity, they set out together to reach a common goal.
A Canticle of Two Souls is a quick and fast-paced read that is very character-focused with just enough world-building. The setting is dark and a bit violent at times (without going too much into detail, though), but at its core the story is just as much about healing and forgiveness as it is about revenge. Both main characters have traumatic pasts to deal with while navigating the path they are on.
It took me a while to warm up to the characters, but I liked watching their relationship develop and their understanding of each other grow. I was also instantly intrigued by the magic based on emotions. I don’t think that’s something I’ve seen before and Steven Raaymakers did a great job of utilizing this power in certain scenes.
What I didn’t expect and wasn’t used to was the different narration style: third person omniscient. I’m sure that’s why I had trouble getting into the story at first. There’s a few more perspectives apart from the main two, so we bounce around a lot between the characters, sometimes from paragraph to paragraph. It’s not something I’ve come across before and it threw me a bit. But by the second half of the book my brain had finally switched and I was able to enjoy the story more.
Overall, a very solid debut with an interesting take on good and evil, and an adventure worth exploring, especially if you’re looking for something different. I will definitely be picking up the sequel which will hopefully expand the world a bit more.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!
A Canticle of Two Souls is not your typical story of good vs. evil. There are no real ‘heroes’ in this grim world, and it feels like everything and anything can be corrupted and fall prey to the dark. Although not a happy book, it does have its quiet and hopeful moments.
We get thrown right into the story, following a boy named Raziel who is out for blood. With him: Ultio, a cursed sword that is stoking his rage and filling his head with promises of revenge and power. Then there’s Alicia who can sense other people’s emotions, hear them as music in her head, and manipulate them. Their paths inevitably cross and, despite initial distrust and animosity, they set out together to reach a common goal.
A Canticle of Two Souls is a quick and fast-paced read that is very character-focused with just enough world-building. The setting is dark and a bit violent at times (without going too much into detail, though), but at its core the story is just as much about healing and forgiveness as it is about revenge. Both main characters have traumatic pasts to deal with while navigating the path they are on.
It took me a while to warm up to the characters, but I liked watching their relationship develop and their understanding of each other grow. I was also instantly intrigued by the magic based on emotions. I don’t think that’s something I’ve seen before and Steven Raaymakers did a great job of utilizing this power in certain scenes.
What I didn’t expect and wasn’t used to was the different narration style: third person omniscient. I’m sure that’s why I had trouble getting into the story at first. There’s a few more perspectives apart from the main two, so we bounce around a lot between the characters, sometimes from paragraph to paragraph. It’s not something I’ve come across before and it threw me a bit. But by the second half of the book my brain had finally switched and I was able to enjoy the story more.
Overall, a very solid debut with an interesting take on good and evil, and an adventure worth exploring, especially if you’re looking for something different. I will definitely be picking up the sequel which will hopefully expand the world a bit more.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 4, 2023
You have to admire an author who leaves their blood on the page. Brutal and unflinching. I strongly suspect the word “cosy” will never be applied to this work. As for the prose, check out the excerpt below. It moved me enough to re-read it a couple of times.
*
All Renar flags, which had once been allowed under the war’s treaty, were now gathered and burnt in piles in Archehan’s squares. Elderly citizens wept as the red-and-gold embroidered cloth flapped in the heat of the flames, a sick parody of the wind that had made the flags flutter in the years before. The red turned to black, and in the younger men’s hearts, a similar change began, but one of grim anger.
As the charred cloth collapsed and dark ashes rose between the flickering embers into the night sky, the youngest citizens of Renas also lost something, though they weren’t aware that they were witnessing their country disappearing into the past under the empire’s heel. They only saw a bonfire and wondered why there was no music, no feast, and why their grandparents wept so brokenly.
Imperial heralds rode through the streets of the capital, all pronouncing the same news. “Emperor Adran A Rhotia has disbanded the Council of Rhotia and hereby takes full authority once more into his own hands. He commends the good and upright people of Renas and will punish all criminal acts which have gone unchecked in recent times. Curfew and martial law will remain in effect until order is restored.”
And all the while, the clouds gathered, hiding the rising sun behind them. The dawn was pale and grey.
*
All Renar flags, which had once been allowed under the war’s treaty, were now gathered and burnt in piles in Archehan’s squares. Elderly citizens wept as the red-and-gold embroidered cloth flapped in the heat of the flames, a sick parody of the wind that had made the flags flutter in the years before. The red turned to black, and in the younger men’s hearts, a similar change began, but one of grim anger.
As the charred cloth collapsed and dark ashes rose between the flickering embers into the night sky, the youngest citizens of Renas also lost something, though they weren’t aware that they were witnessing their country disappearing into the past under the empire’s heel. They only saw a bonfire and wondered why there was no music, no feast, and why their grandparents wept so brokenly.
Imperial heralds rode through the streets of the capital, all pronouncing the same news. “Emperor Adran A Rhotia has disbanded the Council of Rhotia and hereby takes full authority once more into his own hands. He commends the good and upright people of Renas and will punish all criminal acts which have gone unchecked in recent times. Curfew and martial law will remain in effect until order is restored.”
And all the while, the clouds gathered, hiding the rising sun behind them. The dawn was pale and grey.
April 27, 2022
Moving, intensely emotional, darkly violent.
A Canticle of Two Souls is a dark novel that is ever brimming with hope. It is short, but there is a lot packed into the book. The POV switches were a little jarring, but this improved in the later books in the trilogy.
A Canticle of Two Souls is a dark novel that is ever brimming with hope. It is short, but there is a lot packed into the book. The POV switches were a little jarring, but this improved in the later books in the trilogy.
July 9, 2021
An excellent novel and a strong opening to a rather unique trilogy. 'A Canticle of Two Souls' is a powerful story about childhood trauma, perseverance and hope. It isn't the happiest story in the world, but the final book is yet to come and I have hope.
The characters are written with a real sense of intimacy. While the multiple POVs (I think I counted five) were a little jarring at times, they each felt unique and useful.
The sentient blade was a brutally cold piece of work. Without going into spoilers, the sword is really the villain of the story (it's pretty clear from the outset I would say), and thia ties in directly to the main character, Raziel.
Raziel is only 14, but he is already broken and destroyed when we meet him. His grey morality and his relationship with the messed-up sword really lay the foundation for each relationship in thia book. The toxicity between him and the other protagonist, Alicia, is terrible at first. This is where the magic of the character writing comes in.
Alicia is the only magician in this book. She is also traumatised by her past. While the magic system is really, REALLY cool, I found the relationship between her and Raziel to be even better. The way they grow together is so wonderful, so innocent and so heartwarming. This book is pretty hard-hitting in parts, but this central relationship is what gives me hope.
So, the amazing magic system. It is based on emotion, which can be heard as music. This was a creative part of the novel, turning each encounter into something unique and unexpected.
The action is great, lots of fun, a bit violent for my tastes, though the author avoids most of the gory details.
8/10. I have also read the sequel, but that is a review for another day.
The characters are written with a real sense of intimacy. While the multiple POVs (I think I counted five) were a little jarring at times, they each felt unique and useful.
The sentient blade was a brutally cold piece of work. Without going into spoilers, the sword is really the villain of the story (it's pretty clear from the outset I would say), and thia ties in directly to the main character, Raziel.
Raziel is only 14, but he is already broken and destroyed when we meet him. His grey morality and his relationship with the messed-up sword really lay the foundation for each relationship in thia book. The toxicity between him and the other protagonist, Alicia, is terrible at first. This is where the magic of the character writing comes in.
Alicia is the only magician in this book. She is also traumatised by her past. While the magic system is really, REALLY cool, I found the relationship between her and Raziel to be even better. The way they grow together is so wonderful, so innocent and so heartwarming. This book is pretty hard-hitting in parts, but this central relationship is what gives me hope.
So, the amazing magic system. It is based on emotion, which can be heard as music. This was a creative part of the novel, turning each encounter into something unique and unexpected.
The action is great, lots of fun, a bit violent for my tastes, though the author avoids most of the gory details.
8/10. I have also read the sequel, but that is a review for another day.
October 25, 2020
This book is an amazing debut. The main character is a 14-yo boy called Raziel who has a sentient sword called Ultio. They feed off eachother in a parasitic way. The relationship is toxic. This all changes with the entrance of Alicia, a girl who has magical abilities. This leads to a really mixed up, emotional story of forgiveness and hope, with lots of fighting and travel along the way.
The book's major strengths are:
* Magic system
* Combat
* Character arcs
The magic system is a wild ride. One od the characters can hear emotions. They sound like music. She can strip emotions from one person and put them into another person, leading to awesome fight sequences and tense situations.
Combat is fast-paced and so clear. It doesn't get bogged down in detail or gore, so that is good. Just loved it.
The characters go through a lot of shit. It was nice to see them heal from their past and learn in their journey. It's not often that a book makes me want to cry, but damn, this one did. Also, Ultio is one of the coolest villains ever.
Highly recommend. Despite some choppy structure and some bits that felt a bit repetitive, the book tells a good story with an awesome magic system and characters I cared about. The worldbuilding is pretty solid too.
The book's major strengths are:
* Magic system
* Combat
* Character arcs
The magic system is a wild ride. One od the characters can hear emotions. They sound like music. She can strip emotions from one person and put them into another person, leading to awesome fight sequences and tense situations.
Combat is fast-paced and so clear. It doesn't get bogged down in detail or gore, so that is good. Just loved it.
The characters go through a lot of shit. It was nice to see them heal from their past and learn in their journey. It's not often that a book makes me want to cry, but damn, this one did. Also, Ultio is one of the coolest villains ever.
Highly recommend. Despite some choppy structure and some bits that felt a bit repetitive, the book tells a good story with an awesome magic system and characters I cared about. The worldbuilding is pretty solid too.
June 1, 2022
This book was absolutely amazing, a real breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. The magic system was very unique. The female lead can hear people’s emotions as music, and manipulate the emotions in cool ways. The male lead is a damaged teen boy who is learning to deal with the loss of his family while fighting the influence of an evil sentient sword. Above all this, in a lofty palace, paranoia consumes the stoic emperor. His scribe has ulterior motives, his advisors are disgruntled, and the kingdoms around the empire grow stronger.
The battle scenes were so well-written. The last few chapters were especially intense and very emotional. This is a story about revenge, friendship and forgiveness.
With many satisfying twists and fresh elements set against a solid fantasy backdrop, ‘A Canticle of Two Souls’ is an excellent debut by this new author, and well worth a read. I’ve already ordered the 2nd book, and I can’t wait to read it.
Happy Reading! :)
The battle scenes were so well-written. The last few chapters were especially intense and very emotional. This is a story about revenge, friendship and forgiveness.
With many satisfying twists and fresh elements set against a solid fantasy backdrop, ‘A Canticle of Two Souls’ is an excellent debut by this new author, and well worth a read. I’ve already ordered the 2nd book, and I can’t wait to read it.
Happy Reading! :)
October 10, 2022
I have never read a coming-of-age tale like this.
The magic and characters truly carry the story. There is an innocence to it which contrasts with the terrible violence which plagues the country in which the story takes place. Raziel is not a hero. He is damaged, broken, very angry, and needs a damn hug! Alicia is also fighting with her emotions, and having the pair of them try to sort through their individual messes together was initially painful but soon so beautiful to see.
The action of the novel is also strong. The swordplay and magic interplay was great to read, and I felt it is worth noting.
This is the author's first book, so the language and pacing can be a bit rough at times, but overall I enjoyed it. I actually wrote this review after a second read, because it is short enough to reread. No bloat, thankfully.
The magic and characters truly carry the story. There is an innocence to it which contrasts with the terrible violence which plagues the country in which the story takes place. Raziel is not a hero. He is damaged, broken, very angry, and needs a damn hug! Alicia is also fighting with her emotions, and having the pair of them try to sort through their individual messes together was initially painful but soon so beautiful to see.
The action of the novel is also strong. The swordplay and magic interplay was great to read, and I felt it is worth noting.
This is the author's first book, so the language and pacing can be a bit rough at times, but overall I enjoyed it. I actually wrote this review after a second read, because it is short enough to reread. No bloat, thankfully.
March 8, 2020
A fun read for a debut book. The story starts right in the middle of the action. I loved the combat, the author really knows how to describe a wild swordfight. The twists and turns were good too, and the imagery was like a painting sometimes.
4.5/5, love it.
4.5/5, love it.
April 8, 2020
A solid debut by this new fantasy author. I enjoyed the unique magic and the fighting was very well-written. Definitely try this one out.
April 11, 2020
A strong debut for a new author. The book has a strong style, great action, and very good themes that run throughout. The character arcs are believable and powerful.
January 28, 2022
The fast pace of this novel and the grey morality of the characters both blend to create a really fun read. The magic is so unique. I like the sword too, it is so snarky and such a great antagonist.
April 3, 2020
A unique magic system lies at the core of this coming-to-age novel. The main characters are complex, as are the villains and other characters. The morality isn't black and white, just many shades between.
Definitely worth a read, with some awesome fighting scenes and good settings. I enjoyed it a lot, 4.5/5.
Definitely worth a read, with some awesome fighting scenes and good settings. I enjoyed it a lot, 4.5/5.
April 2, 2020
A page turner with an interesting concept introduced in this story. A journey tale of loss, revenge, influences and forgiveness.
The theme of influences are unique. There are a lot of suprising elements that keep the story engaging, all leading to the climax. After reading, I would love to know more about the backstory and explore the world it is introduced, perhaps in the sequel.
The theme of influences are unique. There are a lot of suprising elements that keep the story engaging, all leading to the climax. After reading, I would love to know more about the backstory and explore the world it is introduced, perhaps in the sequel.
July 26, 2018
I love this book! The story itself is amazing!
Definitely a good read for those who wants something dark. I personally know Steven and he is just as amazing as the book her wrote :) can't wait to read more from him ^^
Definitely a good read for those who wants something dark. I personally know Steven and he is just as amazing as the book her wrote :) can't wait to read more from him ^^
August 23, 2020
Prose: 4/5.
Some beautiful imagery, with unique turns of phrase. Other parts are a little bland. Overall, very readable with no grammatical or spelling errors.
Characters: 4/5
The main character is not a hero. He struggles with basic emotions, has an unnatural bloodlust and general temper issues. He is an antihero, but before that he is a child. A scared kid carrying a cursed blade. I enjoyed his arc. The second protagonist is a strong female, and one of the deeper characters in the book. She is the only magic-wielding character in the book, and she struggles with this power. Introspective, tough, believable, and ultimately heroic, she is the centre of the story in many ways. Brilliantly written.
The villains are genuinely complex, with the emperor being particularly 'human'. The scribe was a tad generic, though not boring. Loved the banshee monsters.
Overall plot: 4/5
While not incredibly unique, this revenge tale morphs out of its trope into something more as the story progresses. Two kids are mad at the empire. One carries a sentient sword, the other has magical abilities to manipulate people. They distrust one another but share a common goal.
The empire and its internal politics is a distant backdrop to the character development of the main characters as they progress toward their goal. Subtle humour and clever twists make the read more enjoyable than some other low-fantasy books with similar plots. The ending is particularly well-crafted, tying up lots of loose ends while opening new ones leading to the sequel.
Magic system: 5/5.
Absolutely brilliant magic system. The girl can hear emotions as music. This grants her the ability to draw emotions from people and manipulate them, taking anger from one character and putting it in another to make them super angry. I haven't seen a magic system quite like this.
Final score: 4/5
This is a solid debut for this fantasy author. The second book builds on the first in many good ways and that is a review for another day.
Some beautiful imagery, with unique turns of phrase. Other parts are a little bland. Overall, very readable with no grammatical or spelling errors.
Characters: 4/5
The main character is not a hero. He struggles with basic emotions, has an unnatural bloodlust and general temper issues. He is an antihero, but before that he is a child. A scared kid carrying a cursed blade. I enjoyed his arc. The second protagonist is a strong female, and one of the deeper characters in the book. She is the only magic-wielding character in the book, and she struggles with this power. Introspective, tough, believable, and ultimately heroic, she is the centre of the story in many ways. Brilliantly written.
The villains are genuinely complex, with the emperor being particularly 'human'. The scribe was a tad generic, though not boring. Loved the banshee monsters.
Overall plot: 4/5
While not incredibly unique, this revenge tale morphs out of its trope into something more as the story progresses. Two kids are mad at the empire. One carries a sentient sword, the other has magical abilities to manipulate people. They distrust one another but share a common goal.
The empire and its internal politics is a distant backdrop to the character development of the main characters as they progress toward their goal. Subtle humour and clever twists make the read more enjoyable than some other low-fantasy books with similar plots. The ending is particularly well-crafted, tying up lots of loose ends while opening new ones leading to the sequel.
Magic system: 5/5.
Absolutely brilliant magic system. The girl can hear emotions as music. This grants her the ability to draw emotions from people and manipulate them, taking anger from one character and putting it in another to make them super angry. I haven't seen a magic system quite like this.
Final score: 4/5
This is a solid debut for this fantasy author. The second book builds on the first in many good ways and that is a review for another day.
July 3, 2021
*** Dark, great magic system, amazing story ***
This book is full of action, deep introspection and amazing magic. The magic is central to the characters and the sotry, which was a pleasure to see. The story was incredibly intimate and really drew deep on my emotional reserves. It addresses childhood trauma quite well.
The characters are so toxic at the beginning, but their growth is so beautiful and in the end I was crying for them. This book is quite hard-hitting, but thankfully the author avoids going too much into the detail of the violence, usually leaving it implied and focusing more on the actual characters.
Very good book, 5/5 in my eyes.
This book is full of action, deep introspection and amazing magic. The magic is central to the characters and the sotry, which was a pleasure to see. The story was incredibly intimate and really drew deep on my emotional reserves. It addresses childhood trauma quite well.
The characters are so toxic at the beginning, but their growth is so beautiful and in the end I was crying for them. This book is quite hard-hitting, but thankfully the author avoids going too much into the detail of the violence, usually leaving it implied and focusing more on the actual characters.
Very good book, 5/5 in my eyes.
April 30, 2024
When I read this I was intrigued with the trio of Raziel, the sword and Alicia. I like how their mind is explored and how they somehow depend on each other to survive. Alicia for now is my favorite character, probably because of her insight and the mysterious powers she has. The way she perceives Raziel and his twisted relationship with the sword is fenomenal. English isn't my mother tongue, and I felt easy to read the story, there was no complicated word that I felt obligated to go through the dictionary.
I love how the author explore the world building, not losing focus on the protagonists and how it was centered on them. I can't wait to read the second.
I love how the author explore the world building, not losing focus on the protagonists and how it was centered on them. I can't wait to read the second.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2022
A Canticle of Two Souls' is an intimate fantasy. It is intensely character driven, very focused on their development and agency. They face challenge after challenge, even the villains. There are so many shades of grey in their individual stories particularly in their morality and general actions.
I enjoyed this book very much.
I enjoyed this book very much.
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