Mantles of Oak and Iron
A Book Review
Detail Blurb
Grayden thought he had four years to decide his future… he was wrong.
War is imminent. The Igyeum has already begun incursions across Telmondir’s borders. The headmaster of the military academy issues a new directive: all students will be fast-tracked through the program. They will be full-fledged defenders by the end of the year. But when a training exercise turns deadly, Grayden must keep his head and become the leader his friends need.
Captain Marik has witnessed evil beyond imagining. Enough to make him sign on to the wizard Dalmir’s cause. But will the council of the west accept a pirate among their ranks? And will Marik’s crew join this mission, or will they consider him a traitor to all they once stood for?
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains lurks a hidden danger that threatens them all.
My Review
I enjoyed book 2 of this series as much as I did the first one. It makes me want to see what happens in the third one.
Just like book one there were some fun twists and interesting developments that kept me wondering what would happen next. Watching the changes of Grayden and Marik as they delve to learn how to fit in to new roles proved fulfilling. There’s still room to see what really comes of it all in book 3. And to that point there are some things that come out of that hidden danger in the mountains that has changed more than just the direction of the war, but impacted at least one defender directly.
I stated I found book one, The Orb and the Airship, could stand alone. However, I feel much of book 2 may not read as well if taken out of sequence. There are great reminders dropped into the text to help with where the story is now. This series, I believe it will be 5 books, is best read in order for the full story to weave its way to the series’ end.
A great book and series for those who love fantasy and adventure with a gaslamp flavor.