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Shaman's Sword #1
Swords of Empire
They killed him. They stole his power. They split his empire into chiefdoms. But he foretold a day when his descendant would rise against their sorcery…
Shar was no ordinary girl. Her clan was the Fen Wolves, a poor tribe that dwelt in the marshes. Yet she meant to bring them glory.
She was a young warrior, but few men could stand against her. If they were strong, she was fast. If they were skilled, she was more adept. If they sought to intimidate her, she defied them. But now her chance of a new life had come.
The shamans announced the Quest of Swords where fortune seekers searched for the fabled blades of the long-dead emperor. None had ever found them. She vowed to change that.
Yet the shamans kept a secret. The swords were not meant to be found, and the quest was a trap. Dark sorcery guarded the blades, for any who could wield them were of the emperor’s blood. And they must be killed…
Shar was no ordinary girl. Her clan was the Fen Wolves, a poor tribe that dwelt in the marshes. Yet she meant to bring them glory.
She was a young warrior, but few men could stand against her. If they were strong, she was fast. If they were skilled, she was more adept. If they sought to intimidate her, she defied them. But now her chance of a new life had come.
The shamans announced the Quest of Swords where fortune seekers searched for the fabled blades of the long-dead emperor. None had ever found them. She vowed to change that.
Yet the shamans kept a secret. The swords were not meant to be found, and the quest was a trap. Dark sorcery guarded the blades, for any who could wield them were of the emperor’s blood. And they must be killed…
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
211 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2022
1089 people are currently reading
911 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ryan
38 books121 followersI am a man born in the wrong era. My heart yearns for faraway places and even further afield times. Tolkien had me at the beginning of The Hobbit when he said, ". . . one morning long ago in the quiet of the world . . ."
I love to read high fantasy and epic fantasy novels, and I have a passion to write, to weave a story with words that draws the reader into another world.
I love to read high fantasy and epic fantasy novels, and I have a passion to write, to weave a story with words that draws the reader into another world.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 29, 2022
Hell yeah, Shar! This is going to be such an epic series. I love when authors write such great and strong FEMALE main characters.
April 7, 2023
3 stars is rounded up from a 2.5 that I would like to give it.
TL;DR Liked the setting, would work well for a D&D campaign. The prologue showed good promise, but the narrative was too shallow and the rest of the book didn't deliver.
In a word, I would describe this book as 'rushed'. None of the characters were given any space or time to develop, or give us any further understanding of who they were. The events were also really rushed, and the stakes never felt high. At no point did it seem like the characters were in any particular danger, partly because they won every fight pretty abruptly after it being described as a 'tough fight', including the final confrontation, but also because the characters were all essentially Mary/Gary Sues with immaculate fighting skills etc. that never gave the reader any reason to think that they could possibly lose a fight. For example, one of the characters is described as a 'legendary swordsman' and other than his name, that's all we really know about him. And it's a point that is repeated often, despite him barely more than drawing his sword in the book.
But Shar is even worse in that regard. Every skill that she demonstrates is one that she has perfected, including foreign cultures even though she has never left her home swamp. All explained by 'training from her Grandmother'.
TL;DR Liked the setting, would work well for a D&D campaign. The prologue showed good promise, but the narrative was too shallow and the rest of the book didn't deliver.
In a word, I would describe this book as 'rushed'. None of the characters were given any space or time to develop, or give us any further understanding of who they were. The events were also really rushed, and the stakes never felt high. At no point did it seem like the characters were in any particular danger, partly because they won every fight pretty abruptly after it being described as a 'tough fight', including the final confrontation, but also because the characters were all essentially Mary/Gary Sues with immaculate fighting skills etc. that never gave the reader any reason to think that they could possibly lose a fight. For example, one of the characters is described as a 'legendary swordsman' and other than his name, that's all we really know about him. And it's a point that is repeated often, despite him barely more than drawing his sword in the book.
But Shar is even worse in that regard. Every skill that she demonstrates is one that she has perfected, including foreign cultures even though she has never left her home swamp. All explained by 'training from her Grandmother'.
March 22, 2023
I enjoyed this shorter read and it's my first time reading Robert Ryan. The language and sentence structure is clever. I found the story compelling. It doesn't take long to realise this is book one of a longer series and perhaps it will suit people who find large novels daunting.
I gave it four stars and I'm intrigued enough to add the next book to my TBR list.
If you like strong female leads, sword fights, a quest and magic, this might be for you.
I gave it four stars and I'm intrigued enough to add the next book to my TBR list.
If you like strong female leads, sword fights, a quest and magic, this might be for you.
July 1, 2022
A gripping epic fantasy!
Author Robert Ryan once again sets forth a quest to re-forge a nation on the narrow anvil of one person's indomitable will and personal sacrifice. He empowers the servant- leader with extraordinary gifts not for personal gain but for the benefit of the many. This is a must read!
Author Robert Ryan once again sets forth a quest to re-forge a nation on the narrow anvil of one person's indomitable will and personal sacrifice. He empowers the servant- leader with extraordinary gifts not for personal gain but for the benefit of the many. This is a must read!
July 23, 2022
I give this 3.5*. It had some intriguing characters and had a definite far east vibe, I kept thinking of ancient China as I read the style and the names etc. Shar is a Chosen One, although for a while she isn't certain of this - but we as readers know it. But she is deserving of that title being a very talented warrior and also noble of spirit. She meets a couple of allies on the way and faces some battles, but it is her courage and spirit that helps her win out. I kept reading because I wanted to know if she succeeded in the Quest of Swords. The descriptions of places she visits are not overly wordy but let you imagine the settings all the same. It is not an overly long book but wraps up nicely. I will be buying book 2. It just occurred to me that I am reminded of Mulan as I think about this book!
August 18, 2022
It has the dressing and beats of a high fantasy, but it lacks the development. Everything moves too fast and the characters never really cement themselves.
August 20, 2025
Score: 4.5;
Thinking about my experience with Swords of the Empire, I can generally sum it up as fairly unmemorable and nothing too outstanding. It felt pretty stock, and nothing in its presentation really elevated a particular element for me to create a story that felt remarkable in any way.
The most impressive thing about the Swords of Empire is that the writing takes on an antiquated flair at times, giving the story a heightened sense of verisimilitude. The feeling that this story takes place in another world with their own register feels present in how the story is conveyed. Albeit, this is mostly prevalent in the prologue compared to much else; however, that timeless feel to the writing is still present throughout. Therefore, the words that are conveyed feel polished and timeless as is.
The narrative and characters, which is the bulk of any work of fiction, truly suffers in setting itself apart and imparting a sense of emotional weight onto the reader. The only character that is given any attention is Shar, the main protagonist. Nevertheless, only sparks of characterization are given to her in sparse amounts, especially in how distant the writing appears to be from the characters. Thus, while antiquated, the writing lacks any personal attachment to the characters, thereby making any plausible connection nigh impossible. Shar as a character is difficult to parse when nothing is given about her character other than the demands of the story.
The narrative itself is one that invokes the feeling of pulp stories of old, and not necessarily in the most positive light. Quick tangent in plot points and a constant shifting of gears are in play nearly all the time, meaning it is hard for the story to have proper footing. The length of the story necessarily means the pacing is skewed, especially during the latter half, where events happen in rapid succession, therefore feeling much too jarring. Swords of Empire, as a result, feels much to akin to those pulp stories without much of their charm (notwithstanding my general dislike of most of the pulp stories I have read). Ultimately, there was no true satisfaction or memorability within the narrative or characters to make the payoffs seem actually worth it.
At the end of the day, Swords of Empire was a very quick read, resulting in much of the narrative leaving as quickly as it entered my mind. It did not give a sense that any true weight would be carried within its pages. Thus, it did not inspire me to pick up the next book in the series.
Thinking about my experience with Swords of the Empire, I can generally sum it up as fairly unmemorable and nothing too outstanding. It felt pretty stock, and nothing in its presentation really elevated a particular element for me to create a story that felt remarkable in any way.
The most impressive thing about the Swords of Empire is that the writing takes on an antiquated flair at times, giving the story a heightened sense of verisimilitude. The feeling that this story takes place in another world with their own register feels present in how the story is conveyed. Albeit, this is mostly prevalent in the prologue compared to much else; however, that timeless feel to the writing is still present throughout. Therefore, the words that are conveyed feel polished and timeless as is.
The narrative and characters, which is the bulk of any work of fiction, truly suffers in setting itself apart and imparting a sense of emotional weight onto the reader. The only character that is given any attention is Shar, the main protagonist. Nevertheless, only sparks of characterization are given to her in sparse amounts, especially in how distant the writing appears to be from the characters. Thus, while antiquated, the writing lacks any personal attachment to the characters, thereby making any plausible connection nigh impossible. Shar as a character is difficult to parse when nothing is given about her character other than the demands of the story.
The narrative itself is one that invokes the feeling of pulp stories of old, and not necessarily in the most positive light. Quick tangent in plot points and a constant shifting of gears are in play nearly all the time, meaning it is hard for the story to have proper footing. The length of the story necessarily means the pacing is skewed, especially during the latter half, where events happen in rapid succession, therefore feeling much too jarring. Swords of Empire, as a result, feels much to akin to those pulp stories without much of their charm (notwithstanding my general dislike of most of the pulp stories I have read). Ultimately, there was no true satisfaction or memorability within the narrative or characters to make the payoffs seem actually worth it.
At the end of the day, Swords of Empire was a very quick read, resulting in much of the narrative leaving as quickly as it entered my mind. It did not give a sense that any true weight would be carried within its pages. Thus, it did not inspire me to pick up the next book in the series.
January 14, 2025
Swords of Empire by Robert Ryan delivers a classic epic fantasy adventure with remarkable finesse. The prologue sets the stage beautifully, introducing the quest and Shar, the young protagonist, as she embarks on her journey. Skilled with weapons and well-educated in tribal and political matters, Shar stands out among her peers. However, her limited experience in the wider world adds a compelling layer of vulnerability as she is thrust from the safety of her mentor's guidance into the uncertainties of her destiny.
What sets Ryan’s work apart is his ability to paint a vivid picture of the world, its cultures, and its inhabitants without lengthy expository chapters. Through Shar’s encounters and observations, the world unfolds naturally, immersing the reader in its depth and richness. Shar herself is a well-rounded character, and her introspection—particularly about her leadership abilities and the motives of those she meets—adds depth to her development and makes her journey feel authentic.
Each instalment in this eight-part series is concise but satisfying, delivering a distinct sense of purpose while contributing to the overarching story. The narrative hints early on that the full arc will take the entire series to resolve, with each book tackling a specific goal in the broader campaign. While the structure offers a comforting sense of predictability, Ryan’s exceptional storytelling suggests there are plenty of surprises yet to come.
What sets Ryan’s work apart is his ability to paint a vivid picture of the world, its cultures, and its inhabitants without lengthy expository chapters. Through Shar’s encounters and observations, the world unfolds naturally, immersing the reader in its depth and richness. Shar herself is a well-rounded character, and her introspection—particularly about her leadership abilities and the motives of those she meets—adds depth to her development and makes her journey feel authentic.
Each instalment in this eight-part series is concise but satisfying, delivering a distinct sense of purpose while contributing to the overarching story. The narrative hints early on that the full arc will take the entire series to resolve, with each book tackling a specific goal in the broader campaign. While the structure offers a comforting sense of predictability, Ryan’s exceptional storytelling suggests there are plenty of surprises yet to come.
January 19, 2025
Zzzzzz
This was disappointing for me. It felt like everything in her "quest" (including her companions) were just kind of handed to her without doing anything to actually earn any of it. Which makes it hard to care or root for her. There's no revelations, no personal growth, no development of relationships, and just a lot of summerized traveling in between. She almost comes across as arrogantly entitled with faked humbleness because she's been told it's all her destiny and how great her ancestor was, so it should just happen for her and fall into place and if not then she's fine with dying.
It might get better and just be a really slow build, but I was too bored & annoyed to continue.
This was disappointing for me. It felt like everything in her "quest" (including her companions) were just kind of handed to her without doing anything to actually earn any of it. Which makes it hard to care or root for her. There's no revelations, no personal growth, no development of relationships, and just a lot of summerized traveling in between. She almost comes across as arrogantly entitled with faked humbleness because she's been told it's all her destiny and how great her ancestor was, so it should just happen for her and fall into place and if not then she's fine with dying.
It might get better and just be a really slow build, but I was too bored & annoyed to continue.
January 3, 2023
A Great First Read… Onward To The Next!
I enjoyed this the first book in the series!
But I have found that it is often the second book that defines the series.
So far things are looking good!
This book was a great start to the saga.
Good character building and good characters.
Good description of the world.
Very involving.
A good starting tenant.
Not a rehash of the same old same old.
Looks like this is going to be good.
Recommend so far.
Onward to book two!
Bruce
I enjoyed this the first book in the series!
But I have found that it is often the second book that defines the series.
So far things are looking good!
This book was a great start to the saga.
Good character building and good characters.
Good description of the world.
Very involving.
A good starting tenant.
Not a rehash of the same old same old.
Looks like this is going to be good.
Recommend so far.
Onward to book two!
Bruce
December 6, 2022
I was drawn to Shar the lead character in a fantasty version of "Cheng" empire but it lacks development. I found the backstory of the legendary hero from thousand years ago, the Shamans who controll everything with dark magic somewhat interesting but you didnt learn much about the world, the characters in it except the heroine.
Everything moves too fast and i was surprised how it ended like everything was a prologue.
Everything moves too fast and i was surprised how it ended like everything was a prologue.
April 11, 2023
I don’t like writing negative reviews as simply to write a book is a great achievement.
But this is really poor, the few chapters are OK, but from then on it’s rushed, the dialogue is incredibly poor and they all sound exactly the same. There is no depth to the characters and even the descriptive elements are limited.
Ah, so poor, such a shame. Would highly recommend not buying it, I regret the money spent.
But this is really poor, the few chapters are OK, but from then on it’s rushed, the dialogue is incredibly poor and they all sound exactly the same. There is no depth to the characters and even the descriptive elements are limited.
Ah, so poor, such a shame. Would highly recommend not buying it, I regret the money spent.
January 5, 2025
Good, but needs editing.
The story idea is good. There were a few errors such as misspelling and usage, but only slightly took away from the story itself. However, I gave it only three stars, because I feel this author is developing skill, but the arc is shallow. It was much too easy for the main character to achieve her goal, especially for a treasure that was hidden for centuries. Very little strife along the way of the quest and characters need more development.
The story idea is good. There were a few errors such as misspelling and usage, but only slightly took away from the story itself. However, I gave it only three stars, because I feel this author is developing skill, but the arc is shallow. It was much too easy for the main character to achieve her goal, especially for a treasure that was hidden for centuries. Very little strife along the way of the quest and characters need more development.
May 7, 2023
Interesting world, fast-paced story and a courageous female MC.
Highly recommended to all who like something short (212 pages) and easy that grips you from the start. It also gets plus points for not using the typical European setting, but involves shamans and tribes and thus gives it a foreign flair.
Highly recommended to all who like something short (212 pages) and easy that grips you from the start. It also gets plus points for not using the typical European setting, but involves shamans and tribes and thus gives it a foreign flair.
June 7, 2023
Swords of Empire Book 1
Magic,witches,swords,a skilled heroine and two sidekicks that I cant wait to learn more about! I liked all the characters. The storytelling is done very well!
I received this book free with Kindle Unlimited. Glad I did. I'm looking forward to Book 2 in the series
Magic,witches,swords,a skilled heroine and two sidekicks that I cant wait to learn more about! I liked all the characters. The storytelling is done very well!
I received this book free with Kindle Unlimited. Glad I did. I'm looking forward to Book 2 in the series
November 29, 2025
Swords of Empire, book one of the Shaman's Sword series, is an ebook I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). While the story line is often predictable, the characters and relationships make this an above-average read. Really imaginative worldbuilding and character development. It could use another proofread, but any errors were easy to overlook.
September 29, 2022
Excellent start to your series!
You have the beginnings to a great story arc! I have read numerous books and find that when many places are referenced in the reading that usually a map is included so that the reader can have some context. Just a suggestion.
You have the beginnings to a great story arc! I have read numerous books and find that when many places are referenced in the reading that usually a map is included so that the reader can have some context. Just a suggestion.
October 16, 2022
very good sword and sorcery book.
If you like the strong female MC you’ll enjoy this book. MC is very likable, action is fast paced and the book is not slow. Likable side characters getting to know them. Very enjoyable glad I discovered this book going on to read the next one.
If you like the strong female MC you’ll enjoy this book. MC is very likable, action is fast paced and the book is not slow. Likable side characters getting to know them. Very enjoyable glad I discovered this book going on to read the next one.
February 1, 2023
The start of a great story.
The characters are well-defined for the first book in a series. I liked them enough to care, even knowing they would survive the first entry. Kinda hard coming back from the death of your protagonist. But, still, it was engaging and entertaining.
The characters are well-defined for the first book in a series. I liked them enough to care, even knowing they would survive the first entry. Kinda hard coming back from the death of your protagonist. But, still, it was engaging and entertaining.
March 6, 2023
This book didn't feel rushed at all. We get to know Shar and what motivates her, as well as seeing her introduction to her two companions. Also, the descriptions of the scenery in this book evoked wonderful images in my mind. A well written book.
June 8, 2024
2.5 stars. Very shallow storyline and little to no character development. At the end of the book, I had nothing invested in the overall story or the characters and therefore no incentive to read the next in the series.
June 10, 2024
Probably a 2.5 star book. When I read fantasy I look for ‘beauty’ in the writing, a writing style that draws the reader effortlessly into the story, and the world being built. I find that this story lacks this. Just my opinion. Not for me this one.
January 2, 2025
I just completed Swords of Empire by Robert Ryan! This story has the right amount of gore and violence without being really off putting. I really liked the main character. Strong and brave! 4 stars.
April 22, 2025
Noblebright, A good word...
I personally prefer to focus on positivity. Consuming negativity gives the inner self bad karma and ugly dreams. "What the world needs now is love sweet love, not just for some but for everyone." :-)
I personally prefer to focus on positivity. Consuming negativity gives the inner self bad karma and ugly dreams. "What the world needs now is love sweet love, not just for some but for everyone." :-)
June 19, 2025
This was a different type of read for me. I loved how it started with action from the start. The main character is a bad a** female with a goal! Love that!
And I also love that the ending will lead me straight to the next book!
And I also love that the ending will lead me straight to the next book!
July 9, 2022
Swords of Empire
The story has magic and plenty of action. The characters are developed and interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.
The story has magic and plenty of action. The characters are developed and interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.
July 26, 2022
Worthy
This book was a fast pace neck of a good ride, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next ones.
This book was a fast pace neck of a good ride, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next ones.
December 20, 2022
Just wow!
I am really glad that I stumbled across this book. Shar is such an amazing character and I am eagerly looking forward to what happens in the next book.
I am really glad that I stumbled across this book. Shar is such an amazing character and I am eagerly looking forward to what happens in the next book.
January 20, 2023
I loved absolutely everything about this book. Shar is a character to be reckoned with and I'm excited to see more of her story unfold.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews