A Promise Wrought in Steel by Ben Collins
The Legions of the Tunulman Republic have won many victories. But Tunulm, the city, its Assembly of laws made by wealthy Patricians, and the growing Empire it draws on the map, win yet more enemies with each campaign. A united force of Veltoi tribes seeks to raid south into Tunulman lands, led by a charismatic chief too young to remember the devastating reprisals the legion enacted on their people forty years ago.
Acco, a gifted young warrior, seeks his own glory on that frontline, even as the war draws more lines from poems and prophecies he does not understand. In Tunulm, the daughter of a broken house and an ambitious man of middling equite rank find opportunity for advancement in the chaos war brings. To the East, a legionnaire of the Republic finds himself embroiled in a plot not of his choosing, and is sent to the Empire of Xerxia. In that land, Yatossa, a servant of the Archmagus yearns for lessons of ancient Alchemy, and learns that her new master possesses the greatest secret in the entire world.
For he has that which can make a man a living god.
A Promise Wrought Review
I was compensated with a small amount for my time and effort in reading the book and writing this review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and are based on my honest personal experience reading the book. Nor did the publisher in any way shape or form ever pressure me to give a positive review.
A Promise Wrought in Steel explores a universe in which the Legions of the Tunulman Republic have won many battles but are still confronted with growing threats from adversaries and internal strife. As Tunulm’s empire grows, it attracts more enemies, such as a unified group of Veltoi tribes under the leadership of a young chief who wants to raid Tunulman territory.
Amidst the tumult of war, Acco, a young warrior with skill, seeks glory on the front lines, while Tunulm’s daughter, who comes from a broken home, sees a chance for growth. A legionnaire becomes caught in unanticipated schemes in the meantime, and he is sent to the Empire of Xerxia, where Yatossa, a servant, longs to learn the mysteries of ancient Alchemy from her mysterious master. As we continue through the chaos, a potent secret that has the potential to bestow upon its bearer godlike abilities comes to light, ushering in an epic story of ambition, struggle, and the pursuit of ultimate power.
The worldbuilding of this novel is obviously influenced by a wide range of real-world locations and civilizations, including but not limited to the Celtic Nations, Greece, Rome, and maybe even some aspects of Russian or Ukrainian culture. Even while the Greek and Roman models play a larger part in the story, there are subliminal references to other cultural influences throughout the book. If you enjoy fantasy with a mythological theme, you could find this book to be rather captivating.
But occasionally, I noticed, the blending of these many ethnic components may get a little convoluted. One group seems clearly inspired by a specific real-world ethnic and cultural group, but then there are features from other cultures mixed in, making it a bit hard to untangle. It’s challenging for me to critique this properly because I can’t quite pinpoint if it’s my own biases (from predisposing knowledge of these cultures) influencing me or if it’s a legitimate concern. Plus, I wonder if it’s even fair for me to feel this way since fantasy worldbuilding should only take inspiration from the real world, not replicate it entirely. Therefore I would just be transparent for this observation and leave the judgement to the individual reader for this case.
Another thing I noticed—I’m not sure if this is a copy-specific technological glitch—is that a good chunk of the text is completely italicized starting in Chapter 11 and continuing all the way to the end of the book. I was really confused by this unexpected formatting decision, and I feel obligated to draw attention to it, even though I’m not sure if it was done on purpose or not.
If the author accidentally put this italicization in there, they should remove it so that the formatting is consistent across the content. If it’s done on purpose, though, I would advise reevaluating how it was implemented because it caused a lot of uncertainty for me as a reader. If readers run into similar formatting issues in future versions, correction on this issue would be recommended.
Despite these issues, A Promise Wrought in Steel is still a compelling book with a lot of potential, even with the few problems I’ve pointed out. The richness of its worldbuilding, extensive character development, and intricate plotlines make a gripping narrative that keeps readers captivated from start to finish, even when the rare technical glitch or formatting discrepancy may momentarily distract.
The novel is made richer and more complicated by the author’s skill at fusing diverse cultural inspirations into a seamless whole, enticing readers to delve deeper and discover more about its secrets. In spite of the difficulties involved in combining several inspirations, the outcome is a universe that seems alive, energetic, and ready for more investigation.
It being able to offer readers an exciting voyage full of adventure, intrigue, and the possibility of even bigger discoveries, can, in my opinion, be considered a tribute to the author’s talent for writing captivating fantasy literature. This book definitely has the ability to make a lasting effect on readers who enjoy the genre because of its many qualities, which greatly exceed its few minor weaknesses.
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