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  • A Testament of Steel

  • Instrument of Omens, Book 1
  • Written by: Davis Ashura
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 19 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (79 ratings)

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A Testament of Steel cover art

A Testament of Steel

Written by: Davis Ashura
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Publisher's Summary

A young man with no past must progress into a warrior out of legend.

Cinder Shade’s life begins on a fateful afternoon at the bottom of a well where he awakens, bruised, battered, and bereft of all memory. His only understanding is a driving imperative to protect those who can’t defend themselves and become a warrior worthy of the name. 

He discovers within himself a peculiar gift, one in which the codes of combat are made evident and the language of steel is made clear.

When he earns a place at a prestigious elven warrior academy, Cinder fights to enhance his knowledge and perhaps even humble the proud elves who believe no human is their equal. His hard-earned skills are put to the test when strange rumblings emanate from deep in the Dagger Mountains. Monsters out of myth emerge. And so does something far worse... An ancient god. The world believes this deity long dead, but he is very much alive. And he remembers his enemies all too well. Even if they don’t remember themselves.

©2020 Davis Ashura (P)2020 Podium Audio

What listeners say about A Testament of Steel

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Every Enjoyable

This is a good solid story and coverted well to an audiobook. I love Nicks voice for these style of stories and the tone he brings to the narration.

This story goes deep into the system, but from a literary view. Like the chakra angle so far.

Cinder is a solid character and gets developed as the story moves forward. Well worth the listen.

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Enjoyed this One

The performance was amazing as always. Nick Poedel is one of the best in the industry for a reason.

The story I enjoyed quite a bit and the MC is likable. However, the supporting characters imo are even better. Definitely recommend this.

Not sure what the other comment is talking about. I think they misunderstand intentionally avoiding certain events in order to build suspense, for loose ends.

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this is another good one...

.... if you like Brandon Sanderson or Patrick rothfuss. and as always Nick peodehl does a great job

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Bring on Book 2!!

This was a great first book for this series. It didn't rush the excellent story and it built the world and characters nicely. I loved that it did not rush the main character and the author spent the time to evolve him and his skills slowly. I cannot wait for the second book to continue Cinders journey. Highly recommend this book!!!

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excellent

great audio book. highly recommend. one of the better fantasy/scifi I've listened to in the last 6 months.

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great book!!!

This was great story, I really enjoyed the character development and the way that all the novels ate tied together. obviously, the reader Nick was amazing as always. thanks for a great story.

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great story

I find anything narrated by nick podehl means it's going to be a great book!

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before you buy!

this book is incredibly stretched out i didn't think that it was possible to have so little happen in 20hrs.
the writer seems to shy away from the most basic aspects that make a novel worth reading and exciting.
an example.
the mc has lost his memory and it is heavily implied that him and an elf woman he meets were once lovers in another life, the elf woman mentions things like she remembers how her previous lover played the mandolin. our mc plays it on multiple occasions but the writer refuses to capitalize on making the elf woman see the connection.there are loose ends everywhere that he just fails to explain. why is the horse suddenly capable of speech? why are the dwarves so terrified of this mc when they learn who he is? the combat is lack luster and quite frankly BORING you won't even get a true battle till the very end of the book most of the fights are just the mc getting his ass kicked in a very boring point based duel sort of battle...literally everywhere he goes the exact same duel mechanics are used. then vowing to not have it happen again then he practices and gets better over comes one opponent only to have the exact sequence happen again and again and again it is extremely lazy writing
frankly I am annoyed.this book had potential to be good and all these reviewers dumping 5 stars are insane.
the staggering amount of loose ends and unexplained lore and the fact that this writer seemed to enjoy dragging out a story that could have been put in 12hours has ripped every shred of faith I have in the next book being better.
if you enjoy watered down fight scenes and tones on loose ends stacked together in 20hrs this book may be for you.
it is not for me.

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5 people found this helpful