Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This took a while to get into, but I eventually found my footing.
What stood out to me was the lack of Ryan’s usual beautiful prose. This had moments, but most of the book felt like getting from point A to B. The characters didn’t develop and the plot was bloated with repetitive battles.
This is definitely signs of a middle book - filler syndrome.
There are four main characters and it can take a while to settle into their POVs following their individual ambitions as they all felt similar.
I usually wax on about Ryan’s incredible political intrigue and character work, however this felt rudimentary.
<b>”History, you see, is a weapon. But one that must be used with expert care if it is to be effective.
</b>
I did enjoy the first few battle scenes - brilliant and vicious and immersive enough you can hear the flashing of shields. But then it happens again and again….
As you can tell, I am not an action-focused reader.
I enjoy the Easter Eggs nods to his previous series (which I do recommend reading first), but I wish he leaned further into now that it seems apparent this plays a larger role.
I am hoping the finale will bring everything together as there were some parts I really enjoyed and felt gripped by.
I can’t wait for the siblings to meet.
This reminded me of The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
What stood out to me was the lack of Ryan’s usual beautiful prose. This had moments, but most of the book felt like getting from point A to B. The characters didn’t develop and the plot was bloated with repetitive battles.
This is definitely signs of a middle book - filler syndrome.
There are four main characters and it can take a while to settle into their POVs following their individual ambitions as they all felt similar.
I usually wax on about Ryan’s incredible political intrigue and character work, however this felt rudimentary.
<b>”History, you see, is a weapon. But one that must be used with expert care if it is to be effective.
</b>
I did enjoy the first few battle scenes - brilliant and vicious and immersive enough you can hear the flashing of shields. But then it happens again and again….
As you can tell, I am not an action-focused reader.
I enjoy the Easter Eggs nods to his previous series (which I do recommend reading first), but I wish he leaned further into now that it seems apparent this plays a larger role.
I am hoping the finale will bring everything together as there were some parts I really enjoyed and felt gripped by.
I can’t wait for the siblings to meet.
This reminded me of The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Born of an Iron Storm
by Anthony Ryan
Age of Wrath #2
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Aug 26, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 17+
Elvine is held prisoner, but not in a cell; instead, her mother's life is threatened, and now Elvine is at the beck and call of the only living Sister Queen.
Thera and others are gathering forces to fight the Nihlvarian before they take all the lands and kill or enslave the people.
This book/series has so many characters that it is hard to keep track of who is who and what they are doing. Sure, they each have their own chapters, and after a few pages, I knew who it was about and what they were doing, but there was also the fact that many months go by, and that also got confusing because when the next chapter started, they had to catch up with the previous chapter. I still don't know if it has only been months or years that have passed since the end of the first book.
Worse is the lack of depth in the characters, which is something hard to develop when there are so many. Also, most of the story is told, not shown. But it's hard to show when the story has to be hurried along, and telling makes time go by faster.
Yes, the plot and the characters are interesting, and some of them I do like and wonder what will happen in the next book, but at the same time, this one dragged on and on as the characters traipsed around the world, talked to this person and that one, made swords, a battle here and there, etc, to the point that I had to force myself to read it. I couldn't skim because of the number of characters and the extended time frame that all this happens in, so it was a tedious read that got boring.
As to the next book, I do want to find out what happens (this one was a cliffhanger), but it's not high on my want-to-read list, plus I can already guess, so I hope that's good enough.
This is violent, so it's not suitable for readers under 17.
2 Stars
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Anthony Ryan, Orbit, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Born of an Iron Storm in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this book so much more than the first book. I still have not read the initial trilogy, and now that I know how much I loved this book, I am determined to start with The Pariah, read that entire trilogy, then reread these first two books in this series. While I could very much follow what was going on in this book despite not having read the initial trilogy, I think, given the introduction of certain characters/plotlines, it will be more beneficial for me to have a better understanding of what happened in that trilogy. But let it be known, you can still very much enjoy this book even if you have not read Covenant of Steel.
This book starts off with a recap of what happened in the first book, which I very much appreciated because I had not done the read-through I had planned on doing after the first book was released. There is so much more going on in this book. The character development is OUTSTANDING. We really get to see these characters grow into their newfound roles as they adapt to the events of the previous book. I also liked that we do not fully know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy in this story. They might all be good or they might all be bad. There is a certain degree of entertainment that comes from following the four central plot lines, and not knowing who, if any, are on the right side of things. Speaking of the four POVs, I stand by what I said in my review of book one: we need the four POVs to fully grasp what is going on in the story, and I am glad that more POVs were not added on in this story. The plot itself does start off a bit slower as characters have to take certain steps first; however, when it picks up, you will not want to put it down until the very end. And let it be known, even the slower parts are enjoyable, which is not always the case in fantasy books. For me, this book is a 4-star read; however, like I said in my review of the first book, once I read the Covenant of Steel trilogy and reread this series, there is a chance that rating will go up. I will stick to this plan to read through all the books this time, and will update my review(s) if those ratings go up at all. Highly recommend this series to all epic fantasy lovers; this will not disappoint.
I loved this book so much more than the first book. I still have not read the initial trilogy, and now that I know how much I loved this book, I am determined to start with The Pariah, read that entire trilogy, then reread these first two books in this series. While I could very much follow what was going on in this book despite not having read the initial trilogy, I think, given the introduction of certain characters/plotlines, it will be more beneficial for me to have a better understanding of what happened in that trilogy. But let it be known, you can still very much enjoy this book even if you have not read Covenant of Steel.
This book starts off with a recap of what happened in the first book, which I very much appreciated because I had not done the read-through I had planned on doing after the first book was released. There is so much more going on in this book. The character development is OUTSTANDING. We really get to see these characters grow into their newfound roles as they adapt to the events of the previous book. I also liked that we do not fully know who is the good guy and who is the bad guy in this story. They might all be good or they might all be bad. There is a certain degree of entertainment that comes from following the four central plot lines, and not knowing who, if any, are on the right side of things. Speaking of the four POVs, I stand by what I said in my review of book one: we need the four POVs to fully grasp what is going on in the story, and I am glad that more POVs were not added on in this story. The plot itself does start off a bit slower as characters have to take certain steps first; however, when it picks up, you will not want to put it down until the very end. And let it be known, even the slower parts are enjoyable, which is not always the case in fantasy books. For me, this book is a 4-star read; however, like I said in my review of the first book, once I read the Covenant of Steel trilogy and reread this series, there is a chance that rating will go up. I will stick to this plan to read through all the books this time, and will update my review(s) if those ratings go up at all. Highly recommend this series to all epic fantasy lovers; this will not disappoint.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bloody hell, that was good!
Bloody hell, that was good!
A breathtakingly gripping sequel to A Tide of Black Steel, Born of an Iron Storm had me hooked from the very first page, just like book one. The characters are exceptionally well crafted, and I loved following the different threads of the story to see how they ultimately weave together into the bigger picture.
This series is shaping up to be something truly special. The first two instalments are easily in contention for my top reads of the year. My only complaint? The agonising wait for the next book!
Ryan smashes back into the fray like an iron storm [lolz] with battles that hit like a sledgehammer to the ribs and action that never let's up
Multiple POVs and they all seemed better balanced this time around. With Thera being my favourite. I adore a gritty, no nonsense character.
I think Ryan did a good job at pulling the story in thrilling directions.
The book is pacey and I am enjoying the series more as we go on. Excited for book 3
Multiple POVs and they all seemed better balanced this time around. With Thera being my favourite. I adore a gritty, no nonsense character.
I think Ryan did a good job at pulling the story in thrilling directions.
The book is pacey and I am enjoying the series more as we go on. Excited for book 3
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, War
Moderate: Child death
Anthony Ryan returns to the brutal, war torn world of A Tide of Black Steel in Born of an Iron Storm, the gripping sequel that wastes no time raising the stakes. Picking up right where the first book left off, this second installment continues the story through the same set of POV characters, ensuring a strong sense of continuity and character development throughout.
That said, it pays to reread A Tide of Black Steel before diving into Born of an Iron Storm. Ryan doesn’t spend much time rehashing earlier plot points, so readers who want to stay grounded in the story’s intricate web of politics, military maneuvers, and personal vendettas will benefit from a refresher.
Stylistically, the novel stays true to its roots. The gritty realism, tactical combat, and grounded world building that defined the first book remain intact.. only now, the battles are bloodier, the consequences more dire, and the characters increasingly shaped by the brutal choices they’re forced to make. Ryan’s talent for writing large scale action scenes and emotionally charged character moments continues to shine, especially as the stakes grow ever higher.
If you enjoyed the first book, Born of an Iron Storm is an absolute must read. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it reinforces everything that made A Tide of Black Steel such an ensnaring and epic start of the series!
Thank you to Anthony Ryan for giving us more of our friends! Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for making it happen!
That said, it pays to reread A Tide of Black Steel before diving into Born of an Iron Storm. Ryan doesn’t spend much time rehashing earlier plot points, so readers who want to stay grounded in the story’s intricate web of politics, military maneuvers, and personal vendettas will benefit from a refresher.
Stylistically, the novel stays true to its roots. The gritty realism, tactical combat, and grounded world building that defined the first book remain intact.. only now, the battles are bloodier, the consequences more dire, and the characters increasingly shaped by the brutal choices they’re forced to make. Ryan’s talent for writing large scale action scenes and emotionally charged character moments continues to shine, especially as the stakes grow ever higher.
If you enjoyed the first book, Born of an Iron Storm is an absolute must read. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it reinforces everything that made A Tide of Black Steel such an ensnaring and epic start of the series!
Thank you to Anthony Ryan for giving us more of our friends! Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for making it happen!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Anthony Ryan delivers another masterclass in epic fantasy with Born of an Iron Storm, the second installment of the Age of Wrath trilogy. Picking up after the devastating fall of the Sister Queens, Ryan throws readers into a world teetering on the brink, where betrayal and courage collide at every turn.
The stakes are monumental: Ascarlia’s capital has fallen to the Nihlvarian invaders, and hope seems all but lost. Yet Ryan crafts a tale where resilience shines through darkness. Elvine’s desperate dance within enemy ranks—balancing loyalty, deception, and the ever-present threat of death—is riveting. Thera’s struggle to unite fractured forces and overcome her own doubts is both inspiring and heartbreakingly real.
Ryan’s world-building is as immersive as ever, weaving Norse-inspired myth with political intrigue and bloody retribution. The pacing is relentless, the action sequences pulse with intensity, and the characters’ internal battles are as gripping as the external ones. Every chapter brims with tension, sacrifice, and moral complexity.
Born of an Iron Storm cements Anthony Ryan’s status as a master storyteller. This is epic fantasy at its finest—unpredictable, emotionally charged, and utterly unforgettable. Highly recommended for anyone who craves a saga that lingers long after the final page
Anthony Ryan delivers another masterclass in epic fantasy with Born of an Iron Storm, the second installment of the Age of Wrath trilogy. Picking up after the devastating fall of the Sister Queens, Ryan throws readers into a world teetering on the brink, where betrayal and courage collide at every turn.
The stakes are monumental: Ascarlia’s capital has fallen to the Nihlvarian invaders, and hope seems all but lost. Yet Ryan crafts a tale where resilience shines through darkness. Elvine’s desperate dance within enemy ranks—balancing loyalty, deception, and the ever-present threat of death—is riveting. Thera’s struggle to unite fractured forces and overcome her own doubts is both inspiring and heartbreakingly real.
Ryan’s world-building is as immersive as ever, weaving Norse-inspired myth with political intrigue and bloody retribution. The pacing is relentless, the action sequences pulse with intensity, and the characters’ internal battles are as gripping as the external ones. Every chapter brims with tension, sacrifice, and moral complexity.
Born of an Iron Storm cements Anthony Ryan’s status as a master storyteller. This is epic fantasy at its finest—unpredictable, emotionally charged, and utterly unforgettable. Highly recommended for anyone who craves a saga that lingers long after the final page