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Heirs of War #2
A Crucible of Fire and Steel
The sequel to An Inheritance of Ash and Blood
Sent to unknown lands on a mission to save Dalriya, Sanc must find his feet fast if he is to survive. As he discovers others who share his powers, he becomes embroiled in the conflicts of this new world. What is Sanc prepared to do, to defeat Ezenachi?
Back in Essenberg, Liesel is still at the mercy of her brother and the witch, Inge. As the Empire slides towards civil war, she must find a way to change the course of events. Before it's too late.
Peyre, now Duke of Morbaine, will do anything to rescue Liesel from her predicament. But what price will he pay to save the woman he secretly loves?
Belwynn Godslayer. A legend thought long dead. More dead than alive, in truth. But once destiny has its claws so deep, it rarely lets go.
The futures of kingdoms, empires, and the peoples of two worlds hang in the balance in book two of Heirs of War. Featuring new adult character journeys, bloody medieval battles, warring states, and dark sorcery.
Sent to unknown lands on a mission to save Dalriya, Sanc must find his feet fast if he is to survive. As he discovers others who share his powers, he becomes embroiled in the conflicts of this new world. What is Sanc prepared to do, to defeat Ezenachi?
Back in Essenberg, Liesel is still at the mercy of her brother and the witch, Inge. As the Empire slides towards civil war, she must find a way to change the course of events. Before it's too late.
Peyre, now Duke of Morbaine, will do anything to rescue Liesel from her predicament. But what price will he pay to save the woman he secretly loves?
Belwynn Godslayer. A legend thought long dead. More dead than alive, in truth. But once destiny has its claws so deep, it rarely lets go.
The futures of kingdoms, empires, and the peoples of two worlds hang in the balance in book two of Heirs of War. Featuring new adult character journeys, bloody medieval battles, warring states, and dark sorcery.
- GenresFantasy
510 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2023
About the author
Jamie Edmundson
24 books236 followersJamie has always loved a good story, whether real or imagined. He grew up in the south of England before moving to the north, where he worked as a history teacher. He still lives there with his wonderful family, but now spends his time writing, mainly about people hitting each other with swords.
You can connect with him at his website, jamieedmundson.com
Join his newsletter and download the short story collection, Mercs & Magi, for free: https://subscribe.jamieedmundson.com
You can connect with him at his website, jamieedmundson.com
Join his newsletter and download the short story collection, Mercs & Magi, for free: https://subscribe.jamieedmundson.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 12, 2022
A brilliant high epic fantasy series, full of sword and sorcery, battles galore, and characters who are striving to defeat yet another God. In this the 2nd book set in the same world as the previous series The Weapon Takers Saga, we once again meet up with some of the old characters, the ones who had wielded the weapons which had killed two gods, as well as our current characters. Sanc has been sent through a portal to another world to find help to defeat the new threat coming from Ezenachi, the new God. He feels lost and just has Rab, his dog for company. He did his best to learn the language and ended up joining Prince Lenzo and acting as his spy. He was useful, as he had magical powers. Liesel in the meantime is at her brother's court surrounded by cruelty and evil, her friend Idris is in the dungeon and his father the King has been killed by the hand of Leopald, her brother under the guidance of Inge the witch, and Servinius. Peyre her dear friend comes with a proposal of marriage from his brother King Esterel to get her out of their clutches, even though he loved her himself. Whilst Belwynn, the woman who had defeated the God Madria, and now inhabited the body of another, and lived as a recluse, is being urged to get all seven weapons together once again. Many thought this was the only way to defeat Ezenachi. Whilst all this is going on, wars are being fought all over the realm with Esterel wanting to replace Leopold at all costs. Phew what a magnificent book, quite breath taking, as the action is relentless and so detailed, and the ending after all that happened is sheer torture! Cannot, just cannot wait for book 3.
February 25, 2023
Part I is full of court drama and I loved every moment of it. It was interesting seeing familiar characters in more powerful positions.
In Part II we follow an old hero, hunted from their loss, but I found myself dreading their chapters. It felt more targeted to readers of the first saga.
Part III brings a new POV from one of my favourite characters and I’m very intrigued with their future in the series.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.com/2023/02/2...
In Part II we follow an old hero, hunted from their loss, but I found myself dreading their chapters. It felt more targeted to readers of the first saga.
Part III brings a new POV from one of my favourite characters and I’m very intrigued with their future in the series.
Read my full review: https://tinyelfarcanist.com/2023/02/2...
May 30, 2026
It's so strange when you love a first book and then the second book just completely loses you.
Book 1 was an instant favourite, had everything I love. No stupid conflict, main characters/brothers that get along. Conflict is external and beyond their control. Deal with events in a realistic way. Dogs <3. Discovery of magic and learn to use magic with a mentor. Epic moments.
In Book 2 however the author made some very strange choices.
We'll jump right into the Cons list as there aren't really very many pros.
Cons:
1. All the characters are suddenly unlikable.
2. Sanc makes unfathomable choices. This entire plot-line makes no sense.
3. Too many people to keep track of. Instead of just keeping track of the political situation in their own world, we now need to know the politics of a second world! This will only appeal to people who love the political side of world-building.
4. We're introduced to a new character halfway through that appears to now be a main character. The history around her makes it feel like I missed a book or prequel somewhere. We're vaguely told about this or that event in her past and I'm sorry, but I. Just. Don't. Care.
This part really felt like the author had his iceberg and wanted to get it in there.
5. Telling, little showing.
6. The characters are constantly talking. I can see through you, sir, you're trying to sneak information in through dialogue. I'm onto you. :P
7. Pierre lets darkness grow in his heart, which would be fine if he did not have his father's example and so he should know better. Complete lack of intelligence there.
8. Everything I loved about book 1 is gone, the relationship between brothers, the relationship with Jesper, the relationship with Idris.
9. Oh my gosh, don't get me started on Idris!!!
10. Dog has no purpose in this book. It's just there I guess to convince the people Sanc is from a different world.
11. A new race appears and you find out about it by a random observation about it's bark-like chest, just randomly mentioned along the way after the character has been onscreen for some time.
Pros:
1. There IS a dog.
2. The tournament was fun.
Strange choices by the author in this one. It's 90% talking which makes for an uninteresting read unfortunately. I tried to finish it, I really did, but about three quarters of the way through I kept having to reread paragraphs because I'd just zone out and start thinking about other things. That's when I gave up.
Book 1 showed a lot of potential. Clearly the author has an interest in history, war, strategy, armour, castles, etc. All things that are very useful in a series like this. I think this book would have benefited from a developmental editor.
Book 1 was an instant favourite, had everything I love. No stupid conflict, main characters/brothers that get along. Conflict is external and beyond their control. Deal with events in a realistic way. Dogs <3. Discovery of magic and learn to use magic with a mentor. Epic moments.
In Book 2 however the author made some very strange choices.
We'll jump right into the Cons list as there aren't really very many pros.
Cons:
1. All the characters are suddenly unlikable.
2. Sanc makes unfathomable choices. This entire plot-line makes no sense.
3. Too many people to keep track of. Instead of just keeping track of the political situation in their own world, we now need to know the politics of a second world! This will only appeal to people who love the political side of world-building.
4. We're introduced to a new character halfway through that appears to now be a main character. The history around her makes it feel like I missed a book or prequel somewhere. We're vaguely told about this or that event in her past and I'm sorry, but I. Just. Don't. Care.
This part really felt like the author had his iceberg and wanted to get it in there.
5. Telling, little showing.
6. The characters are constantly talking. I can see through you, sir, you're trying to sneak information in through dialogue. I'm onto you. :P
7. Pierre lets darkness grow in his heart, which would be fine if he did not have his father's example and so he should know better. Complete lack of intelligence there.
8. Everything I loved about book 1 is gone, the relationship between brothers, the relationship with Jesper, the relationship with Idris.
9. Oh my gosh, don't get me started on Idris!!!
10. Dog has no purpose in this book. It's just there I guess to convince the people Sanc is from a different world.
11. A new race appears and you find out about it by a random observation about it's bark-like chest, just randomly mentioned along the way after the character has been onscreen for some time.
Pros:
1. There IS a dog.
2. The tournament was fun.
Strange choices by the author in this one. It's 90% talking which makes for an uninteresting read unfortunately. I tried to finish it, I really did, but about three quarters of the way through I kept having to reread paragraphs because I'd just zone out and start thinking about other things. That's when I gave up.
Book 1 showed a lot of potential. Clearly the author has an interest in history, war, strategy, armour, castles, etc. All things that are very useful in a series like this. I think this book would have benefited from a developmental editor.
December 29, 2022
Jamie's done it again! Grabbed my attention from the very beginning and only releasing me at the very end. What a magnificent read! What a magnificent complex tale! Lots of characters, sure, but goodness do these characters come alive! All of them! Wrapping me up in a cocoon, holding me fast until the cocoon gave way and the beauty of the story emerged fully into a magnificent butterfly with wings spread wide as I soared with the book!
Starting off immediately where book I left off, Sanc finds himself in another world, tasked with finding help to defeat Ezenachi but this world is just as riddled with strife and war as his is. He's seen the brutally of war first hand but what he sees in this new world he's in, is almost beyond his comprehension, he's even had to resort to doing the unthinkable, for him at least. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters in this new world, especially Mildrith and Lenzo.
I was particularly chuffed that Liesel got to escape from her brother's whims and cruelty which were ignited by Inge, who's just ugghhhhgh! Thanks to Peyre outwitting them both, Liesel is now married to Esterel, a good, kind, surprisingly strong king from what we first encountered. He's really grown up! Although, my heart couldn't deny the twinge of sympathy for Peyre, the love of his life is now the wife of his brother and what makes it worse, he advocated for it! Still, it IS a good marriage, both politically and emotionally.
Belwynn returns, or some semblance of her at least. Another incredibly complex character, she's tasked with finding the ancient relics, relics they need to stop Ezenachi, who one can only describe as a god gone rogue. That's the beauty of the storytelling, no mundane characters, no idea what to expect next, keeping me riveted, holding my breath at times as the drama unfolds. What I do enjoy is how, amidst all the war, greed and gore, there is an underlying goodness and strength in the characters, a trait that makes them likeable, to the point it's impossible to "choose" a favourite character.
Once again, a rich world, 2 different realms, and a multitude of awesome characters. We get to follow each of them through their various challenges, in an easy to follow way, as each scenario changes. The political jostling in both, the lies and positioning, the greed and the power come full force as each side tries to outdo the other. So many forces at work, so many different characters at play, such an intriguing, intricate tale. And goodness me, can an ending be more astonishing! Talk about having the tables turned! I'm greatly anticipating the next book, greatly!
Starting off immediately where book I left off, Sanc finds himself in another world, tasked with finding help to defeat Ezenachi but this world is just as riddled with strife and war as his is. He's seen the brutally of war first hand but what he sees in this new world he's in, is almost beyond his comprehension, he's even had to resort to doing the unthinkable, for him at least. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters in this new world, especially Mildrith and Lenzo.
I was particularly chuffed that Liesel got to escape from her brother's whims and cruelty which were ignited by Inge, who's just ugghhhhgh! Thanks to Peyre outwitting them both, Liesel is now married to Esterel, a good, kind, surprisingly strong king from what we first encountered. He's really grown up! Although, my heart couldn't deny the twinge of sympathy for Peyre, the love of his life is now the wife of his brother and what makes it worse, he advocated for it! Still, it IS a good marriage, both politically and emotionally.
Belwynn returns, or some semblance of her at least. Another incredibly complex character, she's tasked with finding the ancient relics, relics they need to stop Ezenachi, who one can only describe as a god gone rogue. That's the beauty of the storytelling, no mundane characters, no idea what to expect next, keeping me riveted, holding my breath at times as the drama unfolds. What I do enjoy is how, amidst all the war, greed and gore, there is an underlying goodness and strength in the characters, a trait that makes them likeable, to the point it's impossible to "choose" a favourite character.
Once again, a rich world, 2 different realms, and a multitude of awesome characters. We get to follow each of them through their various challenges, in an easy to follow way, as each scenario changes. The political jostling in both, the lies and positioning, the greed and the power come full force as each side tries to outdo the other. So many forces at work, so many different characters at play, such an intriguing, intricate tale. And goodness me, can an ending be more astonishing! Talk about having the tables turned! I'm greatly anticipating the next book, greatly!
June 8, 2025
When a book has to have a recap chapter to refresh the reader on the story because there was too much crammed into the one book, you know there is a problem. And again, with this book, this author crams so much information and multiple plot threads and characters into it, the pacing is rushed, jumping around at the expense of the story.
There is a huge disconnect from the first book to this one. This picks up right at the end from its predecessor when Sanc and his mentor teleporting to a different land to find aide. Somehow the mentor doesn't portal through with Sanc, who is on his own in this new land. And somehow in him portaling, it seems he went from acting like a teen to someone in their early twenties who is a complete douche. Sanc's whole story arc in this book involves him acting like an ass whose focus is on having sex and being a jerk; his arc was the weakest.
His brothers fare no better; their actions and motivations in regard to their love lives also change at the drop of a hat from the first book with no rhyme or reason. It seems after laying the foundation for certain lover interests with multiple couples, the author has changed course on the drop of hat, and change things up: A certain character that was barely mentioned in a casual conversation, is now a major character--I had no idea who this person was and had to go back to the first book to even see who she was.
The worldbuilding and narrative suffer from a story that rushes through the paces and the "quasi" villains in this book are killed off so quickly, they never really seemed like true villains, just plot devices to move the story in whatever direction the author now wanted to go.
There is a huge disconnect from the first book to this one. This picks up right at the end from its predecessor when Sanc and his mentor teleporting to a different land to find aide. Somehow the mentor doesn't portal through with Sanc, who is on his own in this new land. And somehow in him portaling, it seems he went from acting like a teen to someone in their early twenties who is a complete douche. Sanc's whole story arc in this book involves him acting like an ass whose focus is on having sex and being a jerk; his arc was the weakest.
His brothers fare no better; their actions and motivations in regard to their love lives also change at the drop of a hat from the first book with no rhyme or reason. It seems after laying the foundation for certain lover interests with multiple couples, the author has changed course on the drop of hat, and change things up: A certain character that was barely mentioned in a casual conversation, is now a major character--I had no idea who this person was and had to go back to the first book to even see who she was.
The worldbuilding and narrative suffer from a story that rushes through the paces and the "quasi" villains in this book are killed off so quickly, they never really seemed like true villains, just plot devices to move the story in whatever direction the author now wanted to go.
January 31, 2023
A fantastic follow to the first book, An Inheritance Of Ash And Blood, A Crucible Of Fire and Steel moves at an incredible pace with it's bloody battles, political maneuvering and dark sorcery. Jamie Edmundson has created a very dark world for us fans of fantasy to get lost in, where a new God is on the Brink enslaving all Dalriya. Old players from The Weapon Takers Saga series have come back into play and its like revisiting with old freinds. The new and old characters are brilliant, and the author is up to his old tricks with his ruthlessness, where no character is safe from the chop. In the second book, war has come to Dalriya and the new world of Silb on all fronts, whether from civil war, Empire vs Kingdom or from the biggest threat to all races the God Ezenachi. Sanc has travelled to a new world to find help and an old favourite Belwynn God slayer has returned to form a party to collect the seven godly weapons in hope that they can put an end to the God once and for all. Excellent twist and turns to keep glued from start to finish. If you're a fan of epic fantasy and just some good old storytelling, check out Jamie Edmundson's series of books. Very highly recommended...😁💙💥⚔️🗡
February 12, 2026
This epic fantasy story with a focus on the politics between warring nations and the individual egos driving the political drama is well thought out and clearly presented. While this is not a style of fantasy I'm very fond of, Edmundson does a great job of providing the different characters' perspectives and creating a plot that spans not one but two immense worlds. I'm definitely curious to see how things come together in the final book of this series.
That said, this volume definitely has a marked "middle book" feel to it and seems to be all about putting the pieces into place for an epic finale. 3,5 stars.
That said, this volume definitely has a marked "middle book" feel to it and seems to be all about putting the pieces into place for an epic finale. 3,5 stars.
February 5, 2023
Sanc has found himself in a new world with only his young dog for a companion, and this world is also at war so he wonders if he will be able to find what he has come looking for after all. He has no way of knowing if his intended companion, Herin, is in this world or was sent to a different world entirely.
Exciting action, war bloody battles, magic, a dark and cruel deity, and many unexpected twists in the plot make this a must read. I think this is a fantastic book and series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Exciting action, war bloody battles, magic, a dark and cruel deity, and many unexpected twists in the plot make this a must read. I think this is a fantastic book and series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
January 8, 2024
Still unfolding a bigger world with complex relationships among its kingdoms.
Without exhausting explanations about combats, the chess-like campaing continues and hope becomes even thinner.
Great descriptions on the feelings, landscapes and cultures.
It'll be a great story if it gets a final worth of it.
Hiperactive readers could find it very similar to the first book, but it's very realistic in how politics work.
So far it reach a high level. I just keep the fifth star until checking the end.
Without exhausting explanations about combats, the chess-like campaing continues and hope becomes even thinner.
Great descriptions on the feelings, landscapes and cultures.
It'll be a great story if it gets a final worth of it.
Hiperactive readers could find it very similar to the first book, but it's very realistic in how politics work.
So far it reach a high level. I just keep the fifth star until checking the end.
February 28, 2025
Wow, Belwynn and the six other champions are going after Ezenachi. Sanc is on another world joined by Mildrith and now Heren, all helping another world to help them before they will go to Sanc world to over throw Ezenachi. I can not wait for the next book to see what happens.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews