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A Sea of Cinders
In Cellagor—a land segregated between humans and Elves—fear, manipulation and war are inevitable. Nearly one hundred years have passed since the War of the Fallen, a cataclysmic battle between human and Elf which left both races teetering on the brink of extinction. Now, the Age of Tranquility is finally nearing its end, and the northern King of Havelmir is hungry for power and revenge.
The Elven peace of mind remains unchanged—that is, until the Kingdom of Rhan is threatened by unknown forces. Soon it becomes clear that the tranquil Elven existence is once again at risk of crumbling. However, even with the element of surprise, the road to victory is not as smooth as it may seem. Ulterior motives are afoot, ancient magic is resurfacing, and an unlikely friendship between two young men may just pose the biggest threat of them all.
The Elven peace of mind remains unchanged—that is, until the Kingdom of Rhan is threatened by unknown forces. Soon it becomes clear that the tranquil Elven existence is once again at risk of crumbling. However, even with the element of surprise, the road to victory is not as smooth as it may seem. Ulterior motives are afoot, ancient magic is resurfacing, and an unlikely friendship between two young men may just pose the biggest threat of them all.
327 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2021
16 people are currently reading
1082 people want to read
About the author
Adam R. Bishop
2 books33 followersAdam R. Bishop is an epic fantasy author from Ontario, Canada.
Raised in a small town, before the birth of the internet, imagination was everything. Visual art quickly became his first passion. However, this all changed after reading The Hobbit. The world of J.R.R. Tolkien quickly became the kindling of a lifelong relationship with fantasy.
Other greats from the world of fantasy such as C.S. Lewis and Hayao Miyazaki, offered further insight into said genre. Amidst such immersion, interest in Nordic and Greek mythology led to a brief pursuit of historical academics. With a well-rounded understanding of myth, lore and all things fantasy, the beginnings of his own world began to take shape.
Adam has always thought of books as more than just the telling of a tale. If a picture can paint a thousand words, then a book must be a tour through the museum inside an author’s mind. With art being such an important part of Adam’s life, the idea of merging written words with visual imagery is a lifelong goal he is fully committed to.
Raised in a small town, before the birth of the internet, imagination was everything. Visual art quickly became his first passion. However, this all changed after reading The Hobbit. The world of J.R.R. Tolkien quickly became the kindling of a lifelong relationship with fantasy.
Other greats from the world of fantasy such as C.S. Lewis and Hayao Miyazaki, offered further insight into said genre. Amidst such immersion, interest in Nordic and Greek mythology led to a brief pursuit of historical academics. With a well-rounded understanding of myth, lore and all things fantasy, the beginnings of his own world began to take shape.
Adam has always thought of books as more than just the telling of a tale. If a picture can paint a thousand words, then a book must be a tour through the museum inside an author’s mind. With art being such an important part of Adam’s life, the idea of merging written words with visual imagery is a lifelong goal he is fully committed to.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 19, 2024
The King of Havelmir has burned down the eleven forest of Rand using methods of a pyromancer, bringing ruin and death in a bid for power.
The rest of the Elves are completely unaware of the approaching Braxi army. Nearly two centuries had passed since a war of this magnitude. Yet in that time the human armies had grown and so the age of tranquility was coming to an end.
Two unlikely friends, two mortals, set out on a journey to warn the elves.
This had the feeling of a classic fantasy with a very accessible modern narration which propels you forward.
For this, I would say this is a great book for readers who want to start dipping their toes into the classical style, or high fantasy. Or if you are seeking simple nostalgia.
”I never said you were a bad shot. Your aim is impressive. However, your father asked me to teach you the art of archery, not the art of aiming. A painter uses more than one colour, does he not? You're good at hitting the target. Now it's time we moved on to another colour."
One minor quibble of mine was the lacking inclusion of women, and most interactions involved a quip of sex. There were four named women throughout: one councillor, a wife, a daughter who would rather be a son, a barmaid, and right at the end, a beautiful elf.
There was also a fair amount of telling rather than showing where the omniscient narrator makes an appearance on occasion to offer up a perspective of the character rather than allow this develop naturally through interaction.
Whilst certain character arcs were left hanging in the air, there was a satisfying resolution to the main story with a revelation to keep readers eager for book two!
However, this was such an addicting read and I had to keep reading to see all the storylines meet up! Strong three stars!🌟
Thank you to the author for sending me a physical copy in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
The rest of the Elves are completely unaware of the approaching Braxi army. Nearly two centuries had passed since a war of this magnitude. Yet in that time the human armies had grown and so the age of tranquility was coming to an end.
Two unlikely friends, two mortals, set out on a journey to warn the elves.
This had the feeling of a classic fantasy with a very accessible modern narration which propels you forward.
For this, I would say this is a great book for readers who want to start dipping their toes into the classical style, or high fantasy. Or if you are seeking simple nostalgia.
”I never said you were a bad shot. Your aim is impressive. However, your father asked me to teach you the art of archery, not the art of aiming. A painter uses more than one colour, does he not? You're good at hitting the target. Now it's time we moved on to another colour."
One minor quibble of mine was the lacking inclusion of women, and most interactions involved a quip of sex. There were four named women throughout: one councillor, a wife, a daughter who would rather be a son, a barmaid, and right at the end, a beautiful elf.
There was also a fair amount of telling rather than showing where the omniscient narrator makes an appearance on occasion to offer up a perspective of the character rather than allow this develop naturally through interaction.
Whilst certain character arcs were left hanging in the air, there was a satisfying resolution to the main story with a revelation to keep readers eager for book two!
However, this was such an addicting read and I had to keep reading to see all the storylines meet up! Strong three stars!🌟
Thank you to the author for sending me a physical copy in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
February 2, 2026
A Sea of Cinders is a multi-POV debut fantasy novel, which takes place in the land of Cellagor, a realm where humans and Elves have, until recently, lived in their own separate peace. This long-standing tranquility is violently disrupted when a human king "ignites" (IYKYK) a war against the Elves, unleashing widespread repercussions across the land.
Overall, this was a quite an enjoyable, albeit brief, novel. It embraces some classic fantasy tropes, offering a familiar comfort, yet also has some fresh and unexpected elements, such as a giant human-eating angler fish haha. I initially slightly worried that the narrative was becoming predictable, but Adam was able to sneak in a few nice twists that I quite enjoyed.
While I believe a slightly longer format would have allowed for stronger emotional attachments to some of the secondary characters, the story still resolved very well. It has me intrigued for the continuation of this series.
Edit: originally reviewed this as a 3.5 stars, but bumped it up to a 4 stars because I realised that I've continued to think about this world, even months after reading it! :))
Overall, this was a quite an enjoyable, albeit brief, novel. It embraces some classic fantasy tropes, offering a familiar comfort, yet also has some fresh and unexpected elements, such as a giant human-eating angler fish haha. I initially slightly worried that the narrative was becoming predictable, but Adam was able to sneak in a few nice twists that I quite enjoyed.
While I believe a slightly longer format would have allowed for stronger emotional attachments to some of the secondary characters, the story still resolved very well. It has me intrigued for the continuation of this series.
Edit: originally reviewed this as a 3.5 stars, but bumped it up to a 4 stars because I realised that I've continued to think about this world, even months after reading it! :))
August 28, 2025
What a wonderful epic story!
I love a multiple POV book, getting all the sides of the tale is awesome.
We get the devious King Dadro, power mad and harbouring the deepest hate for elves. We follow William and Baldric as they survive the terrible devastation wrought by Dadro, become friends, and make their way to the elves to try to aid them in the war. Finally we get the POV from the elves.
The characters are excellently crafted. The relationships are the very best part here. Friendship, honour and animal companions, all heart.
Filled with political intrigue, this story is a true epic fantasy, the twists and turns kept the pages turning.
The end sets up book 2 perfectly and I need to dive in!
my rating is 4.5 rounded for GR
I love a multiple POV book, getting all the sides of the tale is awesome.
We get the devious King Dadro, power mad and harbouring the deepest hate for elves. We follow William and Baldric as they survive the terrible devastation wrought by Dadro, become friends, and make their way to the elves to try to aid them in the war. Finally we get the POV from the elves.
The characters are excellently crafted. The relationships are the very best part here. Friendship, honour and animal companions, all heart.
Filled with political intrigue, this story is a true epic fantasy, the twists and turns kept the pages turning.
The end sets up book 2 perfectly and I need to dive in!
my rating is 4.5 rounded for GR
May 8, 2022
Here is my review for A Sea of Cinders, the first book in a brand new indie fantasy series by Adam R. Bishop. I’d like to thank them for providing me with a copy, in exchange for an honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our main character William, begins as a prisoner who is then released to fight for the human king with the chance of earning his freedom. William and another inmate Baldric, escape during a battle and proceed to find themselves thrust in the middle of a war between the humans and elves.
The duo of William and Baldric were a pleasure to follow, and their banter was a highlight. Seeing them traverse this land of Cellagor, while unraveling the geopolitical maneuverings between the two rival factions, made for a fun read! The side characters were well written with King Richard and his children being stand outs. The ‘villains’ on the human side were seedy, but their motivations and desires made them far from just moustache twirling schemers. All of the main cast and characters were a pleasure to read.
The pacing was brisk and well done, and made for a quick and overall enjoyable experience. Bishop manages to pack tons of world building in a little over 300 pages; making the elven and human kingdoms feel distinct, also including subtle details to individualize each of the factions within the two races.
If I could sum up A Sea of Cinders in one word it would be “delightful”. A Sea of Cinders is a novel that encompasses things that I love in classic fantasy:
A character thrust on an epic quest ✅
Epic battles ✅
Magical artifacts and characters ✅
Humans vs Elves! ✅
It takes all of these and mixes it into an action packed adventure novel filled with just enough politics, world building, and character beats to get readers hooked and wanting the sequel!
Excited not only to see what happens in the sequel, but to follow Bishop’s career moving forward!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our main character William, begins as a prisoner who is then released to fight for the human king with the chance of earning his freedom. William and another inmate Baldric, escape during a battle and proceed to find themselves thrust in the middle of a war between the humans and elves.
The duo of William and Baldric were a pleasure to follow, and their banter was a highlight. Seeing them traverse this land of Cellagor, while unraveling the geopolitical maneuverings between the two rival factions, made for a fun read! The side characters were well written with King Richard and his children being stand outs. The ‘villains’ on the human side were seedy, but their motivations and desires made them far from just moustache twirling schemers. All of the main cast and characters were a pleasure to read.
The pacing was brisk and well done, and made for a quick and overall enjoyable experience. Bishop manages to pack tons of world building in a little over 300 pages; making the elven and human kingdoms feel distinct, also including subtle details to individualize each of the factions within the two races.
If I could sum up A Sea of Cinders in one word it would be “delightful”. A Sea of Cinders is a novel that encompasses things that I love in classic fantasy:
A character thrust on an epic quest ✅
Epic battles ✅
Magical artifacts and characters ✅
Humans vs Elves! ✅
It takes all of these and mixes it into an action packed adventure novel filled with just enough politics, world building, and character beats to get readers hooked and wanting the sequel!
Excited not only to see what happens in the sequel, but to follow Bishop’s career moving forward!
October 9, 2022
This read was quite comforting. Cellagor is a land that is segregated and on the bring of war. Set nearly a hundred years after The War of the Fallen (a great battle between humans and elves), we are thrust into a story with ever rising tensions. This story feels familiar while still feeling unique. We have big battles, elves, multiple warring kingdoms, and a quest like path some of our MC's take, but Bishop manages to weave in some great and nuanced social commentary.
While I did enjoy the writing from the get go, it clearly improves as the story goes on. The dialogue is well written which is always impressive from a new author. Each character felt unique, often due to the words that they spoke and how they spoke them. I particularily loved following Will and Baldric due to the witty banter shared between the two of them.
As mentioned before, this book explores what is essentially racial prejudice in a great way. The themes are subtle yet effective, and we are able to see the importance of not judging groups based on what we have been told. Characters have their prejudices challenged and the development of these characters end up feeling natural and realistic.
The loss of stars comes primarily from two things.
- It took me a long time to actually get absorbed into the story. The beginning hundred or so pages were slow going, and I felt we had a ton of characters just thrown at us. Some of these characters may play a more important role in later books, but seemed odd to introduce here since they didn't seem to have much of a roll. It sadly just took me too long to get invested in the story.
- The ending was exciting, but it was done too fast in my opinion. The whole novel seemed to be converging to this epic battle where all the multiple POV's come together, and while it does happen, it is quite short lived. I just wanted more action, as I found it well written.
Overall, a really solid debut and a great start to The Voice of No Quarter.
While I did enjoy the writing from the get go, it clearly improves as the story goes on. The dialogue is well written which is always impressive from a new author. Each character felt unique, often due to the words that they spoke and how they spoke them. I particularily loved following Will and Baldric due to the witty banter shared between the two of them.
As mentioned before, this book explores what is essentially racial prejudice in a great way. The themes are subtle yet effective, and we are able to see the importance of not judging groups based on what we have been told. Characters have their prejudices challenged and the development of these characters end up feeling natural and realistic.
The loss of stars comes primarily from two things.
- It took me a long time to actually get absorbed into the story. The beginning hundred or so pages were slow going, and I felt we had a ton of characters just thrown at us. Some of these characters may play a more important role in later books, but seemed odd to introduce here since they didn't seem to have much of a roll. It sadly just took me too long to get invested in the story.
- The ending was exciting, but it was done too fast in my opinion. The whole novel seemed to be converging to this epic battle where all the multiple POV's come together, and while it does happen, it is quite short lived. I just wanted more action, as I found it well written.
Overall, a really solid debut and a great start to The Voice of No Quarter.
November 2, 2023
This is book one of The Voice of No Quarter, and a book that was on my radar for a while. The author very kindly sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment, and therefore I bumped it up the TBR stack!
The author sets up a world where humans and elves haven’t really ever been able to get along. The humans would much rather eradicate them instead. The elves, who are the more peaceful of the two, are still brutal warriors. I’ve been waiting for a story with elves that are kind of scary powerful, and I feel like this novel did teeter on that line (there are several TRIPLE headshots in this book).
The world the author created is nicely fleshed out. Cellagor is interesting and filled with places that were described in very easily pictured ways. I will admit I’d really like a map for book two though, not because I felt lost while reading, but because I’m actually interested in the world and land he created.
The characters are especially good in my opinion. They read as real and well thought out. Their conversations feel like people talking to me, and that’s not always how a book reads. The elves have some really awesome (very Tolkien-esque) names and are frankly all badass.
I will say that although I did enjoy William and Baldric giving the reader that authentic old school fantasy feel of a traveling journey, their chapters at times seemed to trouble the pacing for me. As a small criticism I would say that I think they should have ended toward the middle, with the other bits following as the climax. It kind of read as two full climaxes in a row the way that it is.
Personally a 4.5/5* for me.
The author sets up a world where humans and elves haven’t really ever been able to get along. The humans would much rather eradicate them instead. The elves, who are the more peaceful of the two, are still brutal warriors. I’ve been waiting for a story with elves that are kind of scary powerful, and I feel like this novel did teeter on that line (there are several TRIPLE headshots in this book).
The world the author created is nicely fleshed out. Cellagor is interesting and filled with places that were described in very easily pictured ways. I will admit I’d really like a map for book two though, not because I felt lost while reading, but because I’m actually interested in the world and land he created.
The characters are especially good in my opinion. They read as real and well thought out. Their conversations feel like people talking to me, and that’s not always how a book reads. The elves have some really awesome (very Tolkien-esque) names and are frankly all badass.
I will say that although I did enjoy William and Baldric giving the reader that authentic old school fantasy feel of a traveling journey, their chapters at times seemed to trouble the pacing for me. As a small criticism I would say that I think they should have ended toward the middle, with the other bits following as the climax. It kind of read as two full climaxes in a row the way that it is.
Personally a 4.5/5* for me.
July 28, 2023
The first thing I will say, this is the type of book my heart loves - a classic fantasy. I loved the details in the characters, the landscapes, the world building and the overall storyline! It was a good paced book and I was able to finish it fairly quickly which is great! I love books that you are able to just be into and keep reading through.
I liked the different character point of views, their developments and growth. While I did like some characters better than others, they all meshed really well.
Overall, this is a really well written, adventurous and fantasy packed first novel in a series!
I liked the different character point of views, their developments and growth. While I did like some characters better than others, they all meshed really well.
Overall, this is a really well written, adventurous and fantasy packed first novel in a series!
February 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was a fantastic debut novel and I was really invested from the start where there was quite an air of mystery to William and the situation he was in. I think the wider politics was well resprensented and it was well paced for the number of pages this book consisted of.
Some characters I loved, and some I hated. I was more invested in Williams chapters and less so in the other point of views but I think it was all based on who I liked most rather than the writing style or story. It was well written, especially for the first in a series!
Some characters I loved, and some I hated. I was more invested in Williams chapters and less so in the other point of views but I think it was all based on who I liked most rather than the writing style or story. It was well written, especially for the first in a series!
May 7, 2024
A Sea of Cinders," the first book in the "Voice of No Quarter" series by Adam R. Bishop, follows William, who has been taken prisoner by the tyrannical King Dadro. Dadro seeks revenge on the Elves for an old vendetta and aims to rule the lands by obtaining the book of No Quarter. With the assistance of Baldric, who is fascinated by Elves and a bit of a historian, William escapes their inevitable fate at the hands of Dadro and ventures to warn the Elves about the impending doom.
I particularly appreciate Adam's character work, especially the relationships built between characters. One of my favorite character moments involves Arnion, an Elven prince, and Thalian, his trusted steed. Their interactions, particularly during the latter stages of the book, evoke strong emotions.
The story is rich with depth and continuously raises intriguing questions that I believe will be answered as the series progresses. The twists within the narrative are mind-blowing and executed masterfully.
If you haven't started the "Voice of No Quarter" series yet, I highly recommend it. It offers excellent world-building, intense action sequences, adventure, and themes of friendship. This series shows great potential, and I eagerly anticipate what will unfold next.
I particularly appreciate Adam's character work, especially the relationships built between characters. One of my favorite character moments involves Arnion, an Elven prince, and Thalian, his trusted steed. Their interactions, particularly during the latter stages of the book, evoke strong emotions.
The story is rich with depth and continuously raises intriguing questions that I believe will be answered as the series progresses. The twists within the narrative are mind-blowing and executed masterfully.
If you haven't started the "Voice of No Quarter" series yet, I highly recommend it. It offers excellent world-building, intense action sequences, adventure, and themes of friendship. This series shows great potential, and I eagerly anticipate what will unfold next.
September 27, 2025
A Sea of Cinders is the first book in The Voice of No Quarter fantasy series, a book telling the story of a land divided between humans and elves, who, until recently, have lived in relative peace. But now, war is upon them and, throughout this first book, we follow several characters from both sides of this war who try to navigate through this uncertain scenario looming ahead.
I will start by saying that I enjoyed this story very much! The plot is very well-paced, with moments of tension and also calmer scenes that help depict the characters' motivations and their relationships. The overall plot feels epic in scope and intimate when it comes to certain characters.
Regarding the characters, I enjoyed following all of them and seeing them evolve, and I especially liked the friendship between Will and Baldric, two of our central characters. Their interactions were sprinkled with humorous moments that eased the tension and made the characters even more endearing to me.
The writing is beautiful and evocative, the author managing to transmit both the epic atmosphere of the story, the imminence of war and the high stakes, as well as the inner feelings, motivations, fears, driving forces and the impact of this war on the characters. Also, there were some moments/character interactions reminiscent of the LOTR, which felt quite nostalgic.
Overall, I loved this book, it's a story filled with adventure and heart, and I cannot wait to see where the second book will take us.
I will start by saying that I enjoyed this story very much! The plot is very well-paced, with moments of tension and also calmer scenes that help depict the characters' motivations and their relationships. The overall plot feels epic in scope and intimate when it comes to certain characters.
Regarding the characters, I enjoyed following all of them and seeing them evolve, and I especially liked the friendship between Will and Baldric, two of our central characters. Their interactions were sprinkled with humorous moments that eased the tension and made the characters even more endearing to me.
The writing is beautiful and evocative, the author managing to transmit both the epic atmosphere of the story, the imminence of war and the high stakes, as well as the inner feelings, motivations, fears, driving forces and the impact of this war on the characters. Also, there were some moments/character interactions reminiscent of the LOTR, which felt quite nostalgic.
Overall, I loved this book, it's a story filled with adventure and heart, and I cannot wait to see where the second book will take us.
July 23, 2024
4.5 stars
Almost one hundred years have passed since The War of the Fallen, a battle that almost decimated both the human and Elven population in Cellagor. Since then, the Age of Tranquility has brought peace to the land.
But the northern King Havelmir craves power. Working with a powerful ally, Havelmir taps into a powerful resource that threatens to destroy the Elven Kingdom of Rhan. But is why is Havelmir seeking the destroy peace with the Elves? What ancient magic is he desperate to acquire?
William, a young man who has spent most of his life at sea, has been captured and sent to the dungeons. When a chance comes for him to secure his freedom, William is wary but relieved to escape his imprisonment.
He soon meets and befriends another prisoner. Baldric, and forms a friendship. The young men come to rely on each other for survival and soon understand that their involvement in the human/Elven conflict may be more entangled than they realized.
I wasn’t sure how much I would like this very traditional epic fantasy…but I really enjoyed it!
The worldbuilding and lore were my favorite parts. We’re already in this first book introduced to several human and elven kingdoms. They all feel distinct and unique. I love the trope of storytelling within a novel, so I was glued to the page whenever characters would tell tales of mythology or lore. Those scenes were exceptional!
I adored the pacing! I consistently wanted to keep reading this book even when I needed to put it down. There never was a lull in the story. If there wasn’t great character development there would be an interesting tidbit about the world or a surprising twist of the plot.
The friendship between William and Baldric warmed my heart. I loved how the two gradually became closer and learned to trust and respect each other. I’m so excited to see their friendship deepens even more in the sequel!
This wasn’t a perfect read for me, which I why I couldn’t give it the full 5 stars. At times I found the dialogue and some of the prose to be clunky or cliched. But the overall writing style was quite nice and flowed effortlessly. In fact, I have already read several reviews of the second book that mentioned the marked improvement in the prose that has me very excited!
If you like traditional epic fantasy, if you enjoy political fantasy, and if you like a great friendship story, go read this book! I highly recommend it.
*Thank you the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Almost one hundred years have passed since The War of the Fallen, a battle that almost decimated both the human and Elven population in Cellagor. Since then, the Age of Tranquility has brought peace to the land.
But the northern King Havelmir craves power. Working with a powerful ally, Havelmir taps into a powerful resource that threatens to destroy the Elven Kingdom of Rhan. But is why is Havelmir seeking the destroy peace with the Elves? What ancient magic is he desperate to acquire?
William, a young man who has spent most of his life at sea, has been captured and sent to the dungeons. When a chance comes for him to secure his freedom, William is wary but relieved to escape his imprisonment.
He soon meets and befriends another prisoner. Baldric, and forms a friendship. The young men come to rely on each other for survival and soon understand that their involvement in the human/Elven conflict may be more entangled than they realized.
I wasn’t sure how much I would like this very traditional epic fantasy…but I really enjoyed it!
The worldbuilding and lore were my favorite parts. We’re already in this first book introduced to several human and elven kingdoms. They all feel distinct and unique. I love the trope of storytelling within a novel, so I was glued to the page whenever characters would tell tales of mythology or lore. Those scenes were exceptional!
I adored the pacing! I consistently wanted to keep reading this book even when I needed to put it down. There never was a lull in the story. If there wasn’t great character development there would be an interesting tidbit about the world or a surprising twist of the plot.
The friendship between William and Baldric warmed my heart. I loved how the two gradually became closer and learned to trust and respect each other. I’m so excited to see their friendship deepens even more in the sequel!
This wasn’t a perfect read for me, which I why I couldn’t give it the full 5 stars. At times I found the dialogue and some of the prose to be clunky or cliched. But the overall writing style was quite nice and flowed effortlessly. In fact, I have already read several reviews of the second book that mentioned the marked improvement in the prose that has me very excited!
If you like traditional epic fantasy, if you enjoy political fantasy, and if you like a great friendship story, go read this book! I highly recommend it.
*Thank you the author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2022
This book is a debut novel in a brand new indie fantasy series. It is set in the world of Cellagor, where the Elves and the Humans have a troubled history together. We follow the story of William; a prisoner who is given a chance for release and freedom if he will help the powers that be in their brewing war against the Elves. Things quickly get more complicated and the story grows into a more epic, sprawling tale.
I really enjoyed so many things about this story. It has a real classic fantasy vibe to it that I just really love. The world has been really well fleshed out with the character backstories, landscapes, histories and lore all adding to the world in such great detail. I particularly liked the way the Elves were written. The author’s love for LOTR can be seen in many areas and every nod or callback made me smile.
The pacing was done well, and I felt there was a great balance between action and slower scenes that help build character relationships. There is a lot going on in this fairly short book, with political scheming, quests, magic and a looming war between multiple kingdoms. All of these elements are balanced and I was surprised at how well everything comes together as the story went on.
We are dropped into the action fairly quickly and get to know our main characters really well throughout the book. We switch between multiple POV’s throughout the book. William and Baldric were a delight to follow and their camaraderie gave the story a real charm. They have an instant friendship which I found really refreshing, as the rest of the story is full of plenty of angst. The side characters were easy to get invested in too, especially the Elves and King Richard and his daughter Krea. I found myself really invested in the outcome of all the characters as the story went on.
At the beginning of the book it did take a little while for me to get into the swing of the story and writing. But as things went along I could really see the author settling into the writing more and more.
Overall, this series is definitely one I feel invested in and excited to continue. This story has heaps of potential to keep getting better. I am also looking forward to seeing Adam Bishop grow and develop as a writer.
I really enjoyed so many things about this story. It has a real classic fantasy vibe to it that I just really love. The world has been really well fleshed out with the character backstories, landscapes, histories and lore all adding to the world in such great detail. I particularly liked the way the Elves were written. The author’s love for LOTR can be seen in many areas and every nod or callback made me smile.
The pacing was done well, and I felt there was a great balance between action and slower scenes that help build character relationships. There is a lot going on in this fairly short book, with political scheming, quests, magic and a looming war between multiple kingdoms. All of these elements are balanced and I was surprised at how well everything comes together as the story went on.
We are dropped into the action fairly quickly and get to know our main characters really well throughout the book. We switch between multiple POV’s throughout the book. William and Baldric were a delight to follow and their camaraderie gave the story a real charm. They have an instant friendship which I found really refreshing, as the rest of the story is full of plenty of angst. The side characters were easy to get invested in too, especially the Elves and King Richard and his daughter Krea. I found myself really invested in the outcome of all the characters as the story went on.
At the beginning of the book it did take a little while for me to get into the swing of the story and writing. But as things went along I could really see the author settling into the writing more and more.
Overall, this series is definitely one I feel invested in and excited to continue. This story has heaps of potential to keep getting better. I am also looking forward to seeing Adam Bishop grow and develop as a writer.
October 17, 2023
Edit to add that the audio is superb!
" Life is short. I'll be damned if I don't make the most of it." - Gus
Written from multiple perspectives, but my favorite parts to read were always about Williams and Baldric. William, once a prisoner, now a soldier to fight for the human king to potentially gain his freedom once and for all, is a kind spirited, "truehearted" man, who was washed up from a shipwreck. He and Baldric, a slave, escape from one battle only to find themselves thrown into a mix of political upheaval and outright war with humans and Elves to gain control over all of Cellagor. William and Baldric's banter and vibe were such a positive light throughout the entire book. I loved their instant friendship and trust. There was a somewhat slow but steady buildup at first and I really felt the pace quicken after about the halfway mark when we were introduced to King Richard and his daughter, Krea. They were so fun to read about as well because Richard's humble love for his family, friends, and people was obvious and Krea is the child I've always wanted to be with her always wanting to be just as good (or better!) at everything as her older brother. Loved her spirit and energy!
Bishop's love for The Lord of the Rings was evident as well. Things such as giant eagles, a dog who was named Viggo, a place called Dale, and my favorite quote from Will: "boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew, as a great man once said." I will always and forever love a good LotR reference.
This book is a fine example of being able to see where the author became more and more comfortable in his writing. Both the plot and the dialogue improved as the story went on. I look forward to book 2!
" Life is short. I'll be damned if I don't make the most of it." - Gus
Written from multiple perspectives, but my favorite parts to read were always about Williams and Baldric. William, once a prisoner, now a soldier to fight for the human king to potentially gain his freedom once and for all, is a kind spirited, "truehearted" man, who was washed up from a shipwreck. He and Baldric, a slave, escape from one battle only to find themselves thrown into a mix of political upheaval and outright war with humans and Elves to gain control over all of Cellagor. William and Baldric's banter and vibe were such a positive light throughout the entire book. I loved their instant friendship and trust. There was a somewhat slow but steady buildup at first and I really felt the pace quicken after about the halfway mark when we were introduced to King Richard and his daughter, Krea. They were so fun to read about as well because Richard's humble love for his family, friends, and people was obvious and Krea is the child I've always wanted to be with her always wanting to be just as good (or better!) at everything as her older brother. Loved her spirit and energy!
Bishop's love for The Lord of the Rings was evident as well. Things such as giant eagles, a dog who was named Viggo, a place called Dale, and my favorite quote from Will: "boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew, as a great man once said." I will always and forever love a good LotR reference.
This book is a fine example of being able to see where the author became more and more comfortable in his writing. Both the plot and the dialogue improved as the story went on. I look forward to book 2!
February 15, 2023
Loved this book! So similar to The Lord of The Rings, but also set apart by its own special themes and twists.
Loved to see some of the puzzle pieces fall together into place.
Definitely a fan, and highly anticipating the second book!
Loved to see some of the puzzle pieces fall together into place.
Definitely a fan, and highly anticipating the second book!
February 3, 2024
What a fun, imaginative, and intense debut novel by Adam Bishop. This is a fantastic, classic fantasy novel with echoes of nostalgia while maintaining a modern feel.
The story hinges around a megalomaniac King with a desire to resurrect a nearly century old vendetta against the Elven kingdoms. He's allied himself with a pyromancer from across the ocean to burn down the Elven forest with the unwitting help of a bunch of prisoners and our main characters, William and Baldric. The story is engaging and complex, with twists and turns, betrayal and brutal murder. Bishop certainly brings some of the brutality of modern fantasy to what is, at its heart, a heroic tale of good vs evil, love over prejudice.
In my opinion, the strongest aspect of Bishop's debut novel is his worldbuilding. Baldric is a lover of history and peppers historical vignettes throughout his conversations, which I loved. It's obvious that Bishop has so much story to tell and such a rich, full world to explore.
This is a debut novel and there is some clunky prose. I actually think the dialogue between the characters is pretty good for a first novel. But for me, I always choose story over prose, and Bishop has story in spades.
In the end, I highly recommend this debut novel from Bishop. I'm 100% keeping the sequel, A Prophecy Unsung on my TBR. I can't wait to read it and am confident this will be a series to follow moving forward!
Also, be on the lookout for some really fun Led Zeppelin and Dark Tower Easter eggs!!
The story hinges around a megalomaniac King with a desire to resurrect a nearly century old vendetta against the Elven kingdoms. He's allied himself with a pyromancer from across the ocean to burn down the Elven forest with the unwitting help of a bunch of prisoners and our main characters, William and Baldric. The story is engaging and complex, with twists and turns, betrayal and brutal murder. Bishop certainly brings some of the brutality of modern fantasy to what is, at its heart, a heroic tale of good vs evil, love over prejudice.
In my opinion, the strongest aspect of Bishop's debut novel is his worldbuilding. Baldric is a lover of history and peppers historical vignettes throughout his conversations, which I loved. It's obvious that Bishop has so much story to tell and such a rich, full world to explore.
This is a debut novel and there is some clunky prose. I actually think the dialogue between the characters is pretty good for a first novel. But for me, I always choose story over prose, and Bishop has story in spades.
In the end, I highly recommend this debut novel from Bishop. I'm 100% keeping the sequel, A Prophecy Unsung on my TBR. I can't wait to read it and am confident this will be a series to follow moving forward!
Also, be on the lookout for some really fun Led Zeppelin and Dark Tower Easter eggs!!
August 9, 2025
In A Sea of Cinders by Adam R. Bishop, kingdoms stand on the edge of war, and the lives of soldiers, thieves, and rulers intertwine in unexpected ways. Through political intrigue, perilous quests, and moments of quiet humanity, the story unfolds across multiple perspectives, each adding depth and scope to the epic.
This book has that classic fantasy vibe I love – richly built kingdoms, dangerous treks, and an ever-expanding world that feels lived in. The characters really shine, especially William, Baldric, and Krea. (And yes, Krea’s one arrow shot? Utterly satisfying – if you’ve read it, you know exactly which moment I mean!) I also really enjoyed the world building, which felt layered and tangible without being overwhelming. The multiple POVs kept the pace engaging and gave a fuller sense of the stakes at play.
A great read for anyone who loves their fantasy sweeping, character-driven, and full of threads that promise even more to come.
This book has that classic fantasy vibe I love – richly built kingdoms, dangerous treks, and an ever-expanding world that feels lived in. The characters really shine, especially William, Baldric, and Krea. (And yes, Krea’s one arrow shot? Utterly satisfying – if you’ve read it, you know exactly which moment I mean!) I also really enjoyed the world building, which felt layered and tangible without being overwhelming. The multiple POVs kept the pace engaging and gave a fuller sense of the stakes at play.
A great read for anyone who loves their fantasy sweeping, character-driven, and full of threads that promise even more to come.
January 25, 2022
This was a good tale with quite a few great characters and villians that are pretty vile. Baldric is the best! He’s so spunky and full of life. If this story only had William and no Baldric, it would have been a boring tale. William is likable but there isn’t anything special or interesting about him in my opinion. The elves never disappoint so of course I love them.
The King of Havelmir and his disgusting lapdog are the big baddies. I hated their POV’s. I hope the die gruesome deaths in the next book. As for the Kings and Lords of other kingdoms, they are good. I mostly like King Richard and his family.
Anyway, I’m giving this 4 stars. It would be five but it did take me a while to get into it.
The King of Havelmir and his disgusting lapdog are the big baddies. I hated their POV’s. I hope the die gruesome deaths in the next book. As for the Kings and Lords of other kingdoms, they are good. I mostly like King Richard and his family.
Anyway, I’m giving this 4 stars. It would be five but it did take me a while to get into it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2021
I enjoyed this tale more than I expected.
It took a couple of pages for me to get comfortable with the story. The beginning is spent with William who has lived his life until shortly before the start of the story at sea. His journey from prisoner to realizing how much is at stake is engaging.
There are other journeys taken by the characters. Some are too trusting. Some are not as loyal as they first appear. There is a feeling a bigger game is being played for very high stakes. With high stakes comes big decisions and sometimes sacrifice.
It took a couple of pages for me to get comfortable with the story. The beginning is spent with William who has lived his life until shortly before the start of the story at sea. His journey from prisoner to realizing how much is at stake is engaging.
There are other journeys taken by the characters. Some are too trusting. Some are not as loyal as they first appear. There is a feeling a bigger game is being played for very high stakes. With high stakes comes big decisions and sometimes sacrifice.
August 27, 2022
A Sea of Cinders, the first book in The Voice of No Quarter, begins an epic fantasy tale that itches with nostalgia and sheer epicness.
Early on it’s quite clear that A Sea of Cinders is influenced by a number of well known fantasy, namely The Lord of the Rings, which while on the nose at times was very well done and did give it a classical fantasy atmosphere. Instead Adam Bishop has re-imagined a fantasy world (Cellagor) in his image and done it extremely well. This book is basically a version of what might have happened if the elves and humans did not get along, leading towards a rather brutal set of events that see humanity, or namely the power hungry and advanced kingdom of the Braxi attempting to rid the world of the elves, despite the many years of relative peace.
The book opens up with the main character William, captured and sent onto the front lines to the dirty work for the violent kingdom of Braxi. Unfortunately for William, betrayal is around every corner and he finds himself alone until by chance he meets a boisterous fellow by the name of Baldric, who has decoded the true plan of the Braxi. The two make it a mission to warn the elves of the Braxi’s plans before the humans deal anymore damage and get their hands on a particularly powerful artefact that could turn the tide of war against the elves. During that time, the more peaceful kingdom of Talfryn also finds itself on the wrong side of the Braxi, making things seem hopeless at best. Things continue to spiral quickly out of control, producing some fantastic and quite visceral action scenes.
Character wise I didn’t manage to get overly attached to any characters, despite them being very likeable. I think I’m more prone to a multifaceted anti hero type character rather than a typical good hero, which there was an abundance of in the book. I do think this is something that could be around the corner, especially in regards to Baldric, who seems to be quite a mysterious character. The ending of the book also presented a quite interesting turn of events with another character – which I won’t spoil the surprise for! I will say despite this, that the banter and friendship between the two main characters, while cheesy at times was very funny. I am hoping to see some of the side characters make even more of an appearance in the sequel.
I enjoyed the writing as it gave the story a nice pace and made the book feel like a high action-one-sitting type read. It’s also the type of writing that can pull anyone in very quickly and get them lost within this world.
If you’re looking for a short, well-paced fantasy read in the same shade as LOTR, with a more violent edge by a newly emerging indie author, then I highly recommend picking up A Sea of Cinders.
Early on it’s quite clear that A Sea of Cinders is influenced by a number of well known fantasy, namely The Lord of the Rings, which while on the nose at times was very well done and did give it a classical fantasy atmosphere. Instead Adam Bishop has re-imagined a fantasy world (Cellagor) in his image and done it extremely well. This book is basically a version of what might have happened if the elves and humans did not get along, leading towards a rather brutal set of events that see humanity, or namely the power hungry and advanced kingdom of the Braxi attempting to rid the world of the elves, despite the many years of relative peace.
The book opens up with the main character William, captured and sent onto the front lines to the dirty work for the violent kingdom of Braxi. Unfortunately for William, betrayal is around every corner and he finds himself alone until by chance he meets a boisterous fellow by the name of Baldric, who has decoded the true plan of the Braxi. The two make it a mission to warn the elves of the Braxi’s plans before the humans deal anymore damage and get their hands on a particularly powerful artefact that could turn the tide of war against the elves. During that time, the more peaceful kingdom of Talfryn also finds itself on the wrong side of the Braxi, making things seem hopeless at best. Things continue to spiral quickly out of control, producing some fantastic and quite visceral action scenes.
Character wise I didn’t manage to get overly attached to any characters, despite them being very likeable. I think I’m more prone to a multifaceted anti hero type character rather than a typical good hero, which there was an abundance of in the book. I do think this is something that could be around the corner, especially in regards to Baldric, who seems to be quite a mysterious character. The ending of the book also presented a quite interesting turn of events with another character – which I won’t spoil the surprise for! I will say despite this, that the banter and friendship between the two main characters, while cheesy at times was very funny. I am hoping to see some of the side characters make even more of an appearance in the sequel.
I enjoyed the writing as it gave the story a nice pace and made the book feel like a high action-one-sitting type read. It’s also the type of writing that can pull anyone in very quickly and get them lost within this world.
If you’re looking for a short, well-paced fantasy read in the same shade as LOTR, with a more violent edge by a newly emerging indie author, then I highly recommend picking up A Sea of Cinders.
April 3, 2024
First, I’d like to thank the author for sending me book 2, “A Prophecy Unsung”. I’m very grateful.
The action in “A Sea of Cinders” takes place in Cellagor, a land on the verge of war. William, one of our characters, is a prisoner and is given the chance for freedom if he does one thing for the king: join him in burning one of the forests in which the Elves reside. So of course, he takes the chance. From there, his life is about to change in ways he never imagined.
“A sea of cinders” is the author’s debut and it’s my first indie read.
The book is influenced by our most loved books, like the classic “The Lord of the Rings” and it has many influences from “The legend of Zelda”, one of my favourite games.
But Adam Bishop creates his own world with its own characters and it felt very nice being in it with William and Baldric and the people we meet on the way.
Speaking about characters, I loved William and Baldric’s friendship. I loved how slowly they started their adventure and it was fun to see how they completed each other. Their friendship is warm, Will being the cautious and more thoughtful, while Baldric is relaxed and optimistic, ready for adventure. I liked how William realised that he must open up more, in order to forgive himself for the past and I liked how Baldric showed to William another face of the world they live in.
Their banter and jokes throughout the story made them wonderful and very relatable and I liked to see the old travelling trope we usually find in the old fantasy books.
We have many POVs in “A sea of cinders”, but they are not hard to follow. We even have the villain’s POV, which i liked a lot and I would love to see more in the other books I read.
I am a lover of Elves and Adam Bishop’s elves didn’t disappoint. They were made really well done and interesting and the similarities between them and Tolkien’s elves made me smile. It was like going home!
I’m hoping and I’m sure we will see more of them in the next books.
Moving on to the writing style, it’s a very easy to read book, which is great when we usually talk about the first book in the series. “A sea of cinders” was like a big intro into this new world, and the writing made the book easy to binge. The writing improves as the story goes on with engaging dialogues and stories.
I’m a sucker for big forests in fantasy books, so I was very pleasantly surprised to see where most of the action takes place! The first book doesn’t have a map, which is a shame, but we can find one in book two or on the author’s instagram.
The book has some twists and turns very unexpected, the author is not afraid to kill some of its characters, which actually surprised me a lot. I even gasped a few times. As I said, I liked to see the villain’s POV, but I have a feeling that the villain isn’t the main villain, which makes me very interested for book two. We have some unexpected betrayals as well, together with different creatures characteristic of the fantasy genre like huge vultures and Elves that are starting to look like trees.
The ending left me wanting more, which is a good thing because I have book two on my shelves.
Overall, it’s a comfortable read, the classic fantasy we all love so much. I’m invested and interested in reading more and it has a lot of potential. I am interested in the author’s career as well and I’m curious where he’s going with the action and the characters of “A sea of cinders”.
The action in “A Sea of Cinders” takes place in Cellagor, a land on the verge of war. William, one of our characters, is a prisoner and is given the chance for freedom if he does one thing for the king: join him in burning one of the forests in which the Elves reside. So of course, he takes the chance. From there, his life is about to change in ways he never imagined.
“A sea of cinders” is the author’s debut and it’s my first indie read.
The book is influenced by our most loved books, like the classic “The Lord of the Rings” and it has many influences from “The legend of Zelda”, one of my favourite games.
But Adam Bishop creates his own world with its own characters and it felt very nice being in it with William and Baldric and the people we meet on the way.
Speaking about characters, I loved William and Baldric’s friendship. I loved how slowly they started their adventure and it was fun to see how they completed each other. Their friendship is warm, Will being the cautious and more thoughtful, while Baldric is relaxed and optimistic, ready for adventure. I liked how William realised that he must open up more, in order to forgive himself for the past and I liked how Baldric showed to William another face of the world they live in.
Their banter and jokes throughout the story made them wonderful and very relatable and I liked to see the old travelling trope we usually find in the old fantasy books.
We have many POVs in “A sea of cinders”, but they are not hard to follow. We even have the villain’s POV, which i liked a lot and I would love to see more in the other books I read.
I am a lover of Elves and Adam Bishop’s elves didn’t disappoint. They were made really well done and interesting and the similarities between them and Tolkien’s elves made me smile. It was like going home!
I’m hoping and I’m sure we will see more of them in the next books.
Moving on to the writing style, it’s a very easy to read book, which is great when we usually talk about the first book in the series. “A sea of cinders” was like a big intro into this new world, and the writing made the book easy to binge. The writing improves as the story goes on with engaging dialogues and stories.
I’m a sucker for big forests in fantasy books, so I was very pleasantly surprised to see where most of the action takes place! The first book doesn’t have a map, which is a shame, but we can find one in book two or on the author’s instagram.
The book has some twists and turns very unexpected, the author is not afraid to kill some of its characters, which actually surprised me a lot. I even gasped a few times. As I said, I liked to see the villain’s POV, but I have a feeling that the villain isn’t the main villain, which makes me very interested for book two. We have some unexpected betrayals as well, together with different creatures characteristic of the fantasy genre like huge vultures and Elves that are starting to look like trees.
The ending left me wanting more, which is a good thing because I have book two on my shelves.
Overall, it’s a comfortable read, the classic fantasy we all love so much. I’m invested and interested in reading more and it has a lot of potential. I am interested in the author’s career as well and I’m curious where he’s going with the action and the characters of “A sea of cinders”.
January 20, 2025
After 96 years after a war between humans and elves that almost ruined them, the human king of Havelmir is hungry for revenge. Blaming the Talfryn for burning down the Elven kingdom Rhan, two humans have to travel to the Elven to warn them against the Northern king plans.
This is the first book in the Voice of No Quarters. You follow a few different points of view's here from the evil king side, elves, and to the blamed kingdom Talfryn. So you will get quite different storytellers here, but not so much that you will feel overwhelmed. What can maybe throw someone off is the sudden feelings or thinking from another person in the middle of one's pov. Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of that, as i can easily be confused. But Adam's writing style is such easy and calming to follow, so it wasn't anything that made the story hard to follow. And I actually found it pretty nice that he chose to write that way. It was almost like watching a movie.
All the characters were great. I didn't find a single one that felt like, "Oh no! Not him again." He did such a good job with each and one of them. And i must say I really loved the bond between one of the elves and his horse. I have read a few animal companions books, but the bond and loyalty between these two is one of the best I have seen so far.
Sadly, I haven't seen this series spoken about so much, and I really hope more people pick this one up. Because it was such an awesome read, and not so long either, only 285 pages as it is a slow introduction to what I think will be a big world. I had a ton of fun reading this one, and I'm super excited to see what book 2 brings.
This is the first book in the Voice of No Quarters. You follow a few different points of view's here from the evil king side, elves, and to the blamed kingdom Talfryn. So you will get quite different storytellers here, but not so much that you will feel overwhelmed. What can maybe throw someone off is the sudden feelings or thinking from another person in the middle of one's pov. Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of that, as i can easily be confused. But Adam's writing style is such easy and calming to follow, so it wasn't anything that made the story hard to follow. And I actually found it pretty nice that he chose to write that way. It was almost like watching a movie.
All the characters were great. I didn't find a single one that felt like, "Oh no! Not him again." He did such a good job with each and one of them. And i must say I really loved the bond between one of the elves and his horse. I have read a few animal companions books, but the bond and loyalty between these two is one of the best I have seen so far.
Sadly, I haven't seen this series spoken about so much, and I really hope more people pick this one up. Because it was such an awesome read, and not so long either, only 285 pages as it is a slow introduction to what I think will be a big world. I had a ton of fun reading this one, and I'm super excited to see what book 2 brings.
January 28, 2022
Krea looked up at him, annoyed by what she viewed as arrogance ... “You told me to aim for the middle and that’s what I did. Just because I can’t shoot three arrows as fast as you, doesn’t mean I’m a bad shot.”
“I never said you were a bad shot. Your aim is impressive. However, your father asked me to teach you the art of archery, not the art of aiming. A painter uses more than one colour, does he not? You’re good at hitting the target. Now it’s time we moved on to another colour.”
I was going to give this book 4 stars, but the last few chapters surprised me. I really enjoyed the different POV’s. William and Baldric are great, but the Arinfray and their giant eagles were my favourite. I loved Krea, her love for animals and strong personality made for some great scenes. The Elves were very interesting as well. I’m curious to see where the author goes with their storyline in book 2.
“I never said you were a bad shot. Your aim is impressive. However, your father asked me to teach you the art of archery, not the art of aiming. A painter uses more than one colour, does he not? You’re good at hitting the target. Now it’s time we moved on to another colour.”
I was going to give this book 4 stars, but the last few chapters surprised me. I really enjoyed the different POV’s. William and Baldric are great, but the Arinfray and their giant eagles were my favourite. I loved Krea, her love for animals and strong personality made for some great scenes. The Elves were very interesting as well. I’m curious to see where the author goes with their storyline in book 2.
April 27, 2024
3.5 stars ☺️
A Sea of Cinders will give you classic fantasy vibes through and through. Elves, pyromancers, battles and dumb luck. Characters that are (refreshingly) level-headed. For the most part. And an unexpected journey that has really just begun.
Random thoughts:
🏹A map would have been helpful (but I just saw that a map will be included in the hardcover edition!)
🎣I’m forever wanting a character guide. When I meet a whole bunch of characters with similar sounding names, I’m always flipping back to make sure I’m not mixing people up! This is not specific only to this book, but in every book I read 😂
But all I can say is Adam R. Bishop certainly found his stride in the conclusion of book one and I can’t wait to see how the story continues in A Prophecy Unsung!
Thank you the author for sending me a copy!
A Sea of Cinders will give you classic fantasy vibes through and through. Elves, pyromancers, battles and dumb luck. Characters that are (refreshingly) level-headed. For the most part. And an unexpected journey that has really just begun.
Random thoughts:
🏹A map would have been helpful (but I just saw that a map will be included in the hardcover edition!)
🎣I’m forever wanting a character guide. When I meet a whole bunch of characters with similar sounding names, I’m always flipping back to make sure I’m not mixing people up! This is not specific only to this book, but in every book I read 😂
But all I can say is Adam R. Bishop certainly found his stride in the conclusion of book one and I can’t wait to see how the story continues in A Prophecy Unsung!
Thank you the author for sending me a copy!
January 27, 2022
I highly recommend a Sea Of Cinders. I enjoyed the story, the characters (William was my favorite) and their journey. It is a very exciting read and the story held my attention throughout. Even when I put the book down, I thought about the characters and their journey, and I looked forward to picking up the book again to discover what happened to them next. I loved how the author ended the book on a positive note with a beautiful song. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 13, 2023
Great fantasy story
This was a great read. My girlfriend got it for me for Christmas.
I gave it 5 stars because it was engaging, has lots of fun characters and different plots, and the overarching plot of the voice of no quarters. I was always excited to read it every time I picked it up.
There isn't anything I'd say I dislike about it. I'm excited to read the next books in the series.
I'd recommend this book to anyone. Probably teenagers and older, 16+ so they'd understand more of what's going on.
Thanks Adam, for writing such a great book. I'm looking forward to what's next. Keep up the great work!
This was a great read. My girlfriend got it for me for Christmas.
I gave it 5 stars because it was engaging, has lots of fun characters and different plots, and the overarching plot of the voice of no quarters. I was always excited to read it every time I picked it up.
There isn't anything I'd say I dislike about it. I'm excited to read the next books in the series.
I'd recommend this book to anyone. Probably teenagers and older, 16+ so they'd understand more of what's going on.
Thanks Adam, for writing such a great book. I'm looking forward to what's next. Keep up the great work!
February 6, 2025
This might be my first encounter with "Hokey Fantasy". I felt like I needed a glass of milk to sip on while reading. Lot of wholesome moments and "gee golly" friendships.
To note, this wasn't a bad thing, just something I am not used to. Lore, world-building, and characters were spot on, love me some Elves. There were a lot of tip-of-the-hat-moments to beloved series scattered throughout. The prose felt like first time author's first time book. I can see his level of skill rising in time. I have book two. I'll get to it in time.
Gee golly.
To note, this wasn't a bad thing, just something I am not used to. Lore, world-building, and characters were spot on, love me some Elves. There were a lot of tip-of-the-hat-moments to beloved series scattered throughout. The prose felt like first time author's first time book. I can see his level of skill rising in time. I have book two. I'll get to it in time.
Gee golly.
January 12, 2022
good read
I thought the book was very well written. The pace was nice as well as the character development. I have my suspicions of some of the characters and will be curious to see if those come true in the following books.
I thought the book was very well written. The pace was nice as well as the character development. I have my suspicions of some of the characters and will be curious to see if those come true in the following books.
April 25, 2024
4.25🌟/5
I was kindly gifted a copy by the author.
✨Old-school-fantasy vibes.
✨Comforting.
✨Beautiful world-building.
✨Friendships.
✨Political.
✨Humans and elves.
So this book was absolutely delightful, and I definitely picked it up at the perfect time. I was suffering from a really bad reading slump at the time. So even though I read this book relatively slowly, I was excited to pick it up and read it. It might have been just a few pages, but it kept me wanting to read it daily.
This book made me smile a lot. Don't get me wrong, there were some gruesome moments, and the story itself is not the happiest, but boy, have I missed old-school-feeling fantasy. The friendship between two of the characters was so pure; the atmosphere, the little homage to LOTR, was just perfection!
The writing and the story at the beginning were a little bit shaky. I personally didn't have any issues with it, but I can see why some people might struggle at first. Luckily, it doesn't take long for you to get into the story, and after a while, you can see how beautiful the author's writing actually is.
This was an awesome debut, and I'm excited to see where we go from here!
Also, Adam...how dare you make me almost cry because of a horse!! The chapter from the horse's point of view was brilliant!
I was kindly gifted a copy by the author.
✨Old-school-fantasy vibes.
✨Comforting.
✨Beautiful world-building.
✨Friendships.
✨Political.
✨Humans and elves.
So this book was absolutely delightful, and I definitely picked it up at the perfect time. I was suffering from a really bad reading slump at the time. So even though I read this book relatively slowly, I was excited to pick it up and read it. It might have been just a few pages, but it kept me wanting to read it daily.
This book made me smile a lot. Don't get me wrong, there were some gruesome moments, and the story itself is not the happiest, but boy, have I missed old-school-feeling fantasy. The friendship between two of the characters was so pure; the atmosphere, the little homage to LOTR, was just perfection!
The writing and the story at the beginning were a little bit shaky. I personally didn't have any issues with it, but I can see why some people might struggle at first. Luckily, it doesn't take long for you to get into the story, and after a while, you can see how beautiful the author's writing actually is.
This was an awesome debut, and I'm excited to see where we go from here!
Also, Adam...how dare you make me almost cry because of a horse!! The chapter from the horse's point of view was brilliant!
October 7, 2021
What a good read so exciding that you never want to put it down. The characters are so well written that you start to feel for them. Weather you like or dis like fantasy books, I think you will love this book, it has everything a reader would want in a book. I CAN"T WAIT FOR THE SECOND ONE, if there is one. I HOPE.
February 5, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. What would you get if you combined the classical troupes we have all seen over the years and combine it with the grit and horrors of a modern day dark fantasy? A Sea of Cinders is born from the chaos and turmoil for what is to come.
The main storyline itself is that of war between the humans and elves. The Northern King of Havelmir desires power and intends to break the 100 year peace between the two races to achieve it. William is trapped in a dark dungeon as a prisoner and constantly haunted by his past. When William, along with hundreds of other prisoners are given the chance for freedom if they march into the Elvin forest with the army. Clearly ulterior motives are at play and the Kingdom of Rhan is at risk. A chain of events will start to unfold that I didn't see coming and a shining example that even in the darkest places there is always hope.
This story is a character driven adventure with political maneuvering in the background on both sides of the conflict. William and his new companion Baldric will have to navigate the land in order to not only save their lives but other innocents as well. If you are in the mood for a classical story with mystery, magic, and grit I would highly recommend this novel. It will surprise you more than once and I can't wait for book 2.
Cheers!
The main storyline itself is that of war between the humans and elves. The Northern King of Havelmir desires power and intends to break the 100 year peace between the two races to achieve it. William is trapped in a dark dungeon as a prisoner and constantly haunted by his past. When William, along with hundreds of other prisoners are given the chance for freedom if they march into the Elvin forest with the army. Clearly ulterior motives are at play and the Kingdom of Rhan is at risk. A chain of events will start to unfold that I didn't see coming and a shining example that even in the darkest places there is always hope.
This story is a character driven adventure with political maneuvering in the background on both sides of the conflict. William and his new companion Baldric will have to navigate the land in order to not only save their lives but other innocents as well. If you are in the mood for a classical story with mystery, magic, and grit I would highly recommend this novel. It will surprise you more than once and I can't wait for book 2.
Cheers!
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