Synopsis
Tell me how it happened…
Layne was a soldier, conscripted to fight under the Fox in a vengeance fueled march. He, and his friends, were due for a fated confrontation, one that has ended in blood and loss. Now, the inquisitors want to hear every detail of his conscription, his training, and the duel against the assassin in grey.
A backwards narrative full of banter and blood Z.B. Steele presents An Inkling of Flame, a Song of the Damned novella.
Review
“They’ll never say it to your face, but they do. Don’t underestimate the value of one tenacious person. If you give up that fire, they’ll be doused too. This is war, Layne. If we don’t want to live, we won’t.”
I loved this one. I started reading this on Kindle Unlimited but before I reached 50% I knew I would be getting the physical copy for my shelf. It has been a while since I read a book with a found family in it. I absolutely loved the rag tag group of friends coming together and sticking together in this story. In fact, till the reveal at the end my highlight of the book was the banter. Plus I don’t know how the author heard my plea for bringing back songs in epic fantasies but he did and this one has a song – a libelous, friendly, and hilarious one. You will laugh out loud.
I generally love indie fantasy epic novellas and this was no different. It does everything right that a prequel novella should do- introduce characters, make the readers invested in them, be brutal to them to draw emotional pain from the readers (okay maybe not that one, but the authors are the one doing it, not me) and offer a glimpse of the world and magic systems. This novella goes a step further and also sets up events and character motivations that are going to shape the whole world in the future books. I know this is the second time I’m mentioning it but the reveal at the ending sets up the next book masterfully. I am seated, my kindle is scared of me and is asking me to leave because the book is not out yet but I am simply too seated.
The writing also is phenomenal. It uses a dual timeline narrative with the MC telling the story from a prison – WItcher 2 game style. The scenes chosen by the author to show the whole backstory – which scenes to be displayed overtly in the scene and which parts to be displayed covertly in the background is excellent. I read it in a single sitting because I couldn’t get out of the book at all – the pacing, prose, and story were all so good.
Overall this book is just a treat to all epic fantasy and grimdark fans. I cannot wait for book 1 to come out. Z.B. Steele has arrived and I’m so stoked.
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