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Aria of Steel #3
A Canticle of War
When the world is threatened with total destruction, can warchildren unite to save it?
A grimdark story of trauma and power with a Sanderson-esque magic system.
In this epic conclusion, all bets are off as Raziel and his rag-tag crew must finally come together against the rising dark power. If death doesn’t find them first.
The city of Archehan lies in ruins, banshees circle the crumbling towers. Famine and violence spread across the fallen kingdom. An empire marches its armies to war. Ancient magics are stirring, woken by Raziel’s choices.
With the fate of the world in their hands, will Raziel and his companions find the way forward through the darkness, or will they be the architects of their own doom?
The ‘Aria of Steel Trilogy’ is a heavy-metal power ballad of clashing blades, blood-soaked betrayal, and sweet revenge. Join the fight today!
A grimdark story of trauma and power with a Sanderson-esque magic system.
In this epic conclusion, all bets are off as Raziel and his rag-tag crew must finally come together against the rising dark power. If death doesn’t find them first.
The city of Archehan lies in ruins, banshees circle the crumbling towers. Famine and violence spread across the fallen kingdom. An empire marches its armies to war. Ancient magics are stirring, woken by Raziel’s choices.
With the fate of the world in their hands, will Raziel and his companions find the way forward through the darkness, or will they be the architects of their own doom?
The ‘Aria of Steel Trilogy’ is a heavy-metal power ballad of clashing blades, blood-soaked betrayal, and sweet revenge. Join the fight today!
350 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2022
4 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Steven Raaymakers
5 books35 followersSteven Raaymakers is an award-winning fantasy author from New Zealand. He writes character-driven stories with dark themes and unique magic systems.
Steven reads and writes all day. In his spare time he plays Soulsborne and post-apocalyptic games, reads a ton of fiction from every genre, cooks spicy food, and spends time with his truly awesome wife.
www.stevenraaymakers.com
Steven reads and writes all day. In his spare time he plays Soulsborne and post-apocalyptic games, reads a ton of fiction from every genre, cooks spicy food, and spends time with his truly awesome wife.
www.stevenraaymakers.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 20, 2022
5 Star Series
The survival of the world at stake. Banshees follow their demon lord. But they will not be unopposed. In a desperate time, one group will bring these vile creatures to battle. An epic conclusion to an amazing series!
The survival of the world at stake. Banshees follow their demon lord. But they will not be unopposed. In a desperate time, one group will bring these vile creatures to battle. An epic conclusion to an amazing series!
April 19, 2022
I was waiting to finish this last book before I made a review. I have read all three books and thoroughly enjoyed each book! Character development was great and felt really connected to each character. So much so, I could not wait to see how the story ended....and all i can say is "YOU SKRET!"
The only real issues I had was the switching of a character's POV suddenly in the middle of a chapter without any notice and the third book seemed a bit rushed BUT this point also adds to the end also.
I look forward to reading more fantasy from Steven Raaymakers...and maybe even more into this world that he has already created! ^_^
The only real issues I had was the switching of a character's POV suddenly in the middle of a chapter without any notice and the third book seemed a bit rushed BUT this point also adds to the end also.
I look forward to reading more fantasy from Steven Raaymakers...and maybe even more into this world that he has already created! ^_^
April 6, 2022
Prose: 4.5/5.
The author still has his own style, with solid improvement from book 1 to 3.
Characters: 4/5
We have four POVs in this book. I think it was necessary, but it can feel a bit like head-hopping.
The character arcs are, again, very well done. Raziel's chronic turmoil hints at some unresolved trauma and that brings the emotions to the fore at the end. Velran 'grows up' and takes on a lot of responsibility he wanted to avoid. Khall becomes a main character and a good one at that. And the fourth character would be a spoiler, but they develop very well too.
Overall plot: 3/5
It's a book about war, and while it does have some unique takes on the topic I think it is a little generic. Monsters, swords, spears and magic.
Magic system: 4.5/5.
The magic takes a bit of a back seat in this story, but for good reason. I think the action more than makes up for it, and the magic is there when needed.
Final score: 4/5
The author still has his own style, with solid improvement from book 1 to 3.
Characters: 4/5
We have four POVs in this book. I think it was necessary, but it can feel a bit like head-hopping.
The character arcs are, again, very well done. Raziel's chronic turmoil hints at some unresolved trauma and that brings the emotions to the fore at the end. Velran 'grows up' and takes on a lot of responsibility he wanted to avoid. Khall becomes a main character and a good one at that. And the fourth character would be a spoiler, but they develop very well too.
Overall plot: 3/5
It's a book about war, and while it does have some unique takes on the topic I think it is a little generic. Monsters, swords, spears and magic.
Magic system: 4.5/5.
The magic takes a bit of a back seat in this story, but for good reason. I think the action more than makes up for it, and the magic is there when needed.
Final score: 4/5
April 18, 2022
'A Canticle of War' is a powerful ending to this unique trilogy. The choices of the past books come to their conclusion. Characters develop in unexpected ways, adding further dimensions to their personalities. Raziel takes a back seat for a large portion of the book, with Velran and Khall growing more important. Khall fights against his selfishness, and Velran has to choose leadership or obscurity.
The finale is an epic battle spanning a third of the book, and I loved it!
The finale is an epic battle spanning a third of the book, and I loved it!
June 24, 2022
Emotional and dark, with a hard-hitting ending that I did NOT see coming.
This is possibly the lightest book in the trilogy, as the author focuses on four characters rather than one or two, so we see less of their inner struggles. However, each character is developed nicely. Raziel is his usual messed-up, confused and relentless self. Velran is full of doubt as to his future and what he should do. Alicia is feeling hopeless and lost, but trying to put on a brave face. And Khall... a man who has an old-fashioned sense of loyalty and huge ego is learning to be humble. His wife kicks ass as well.
The combat and tying up of loose ends is the core of this book, with the magic taking a back seat. I feel that The start was a little slow, but the third act was insane.
This is possibly the lightest book in the trilogy, as the author focuses on four characters rather than one or two, so we see less of their inner struggles. However, each character is developed nicely. Raziel is his usual messed-up, confused and relentless self. Velran is full of doubt as to his future and what he should do. Alicia is feeling hopeless and lost, but trying to put on a brave face. And Khall... a man who has an old-fashioned sense of loyalty and huge ego is learning to be humble. His wife kicks ass as well.
The combat and tying up of loose ends is the core of this book, with the magic taking a back seat. I feel that The start was a little slow, but the third act was insane.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2022
A wild end to a fast-paced trilogy, 'A Canticle of War' manages to tie up all the loose ends into a very satisfying conclusion. What a crescendo! The entire novel is bittersweet, with high stakes often tainting even the peaceful moments between characters. As always, the author focuses on the people in the story and how they deal with stress, trauma, and loss.
One scene which I found particularly touching was a short discussion of consent. The couple had gone through so much, but that little moment to show their mutual respect and love was so nice to see.
This is a book about war, battles, loss and sacrifice. It hits hard.
One scene which I found particularly touching was a short discussion of consent. The couple had gone through so much, but that little moment to show their mutual respect and love was so nice to see.
This is a book about war, battles, loss and sacrifice. It hits hard.
April 27, 2022
Surprisingly hopeful, with a ton of magic and character-building.
The finale is strong and draws all the threads together into a wild battle. Some side-characters take the spotlight and develop their own story, while Raziel and his friends manage to bring their own tales to a satisfying end.
The finale is strong and draws all the threads together into a wild battle. Some side-characters take the spotlight and develop their own story, while Raziel and his friends manage to bring their own tales to a satisfying end.
January 11, 2023
The story was truly beautiful and heartbreaking, with many gripping characters who are perfectly imperfect. Though the last few chapters of all three books had me in tears, reading it had been pure joy. Each and every character was very well crafted, including the ones who joined the journey later on. Raziel’s character especially kept growing since the beginning. You’ll see his struggle to fight for friendship and love, both emotionally and physically.
The series grabbed my attention since I read the very first sentence of A Canticle of Two Souls, and of all the endings I imagined, I could not have thought of a better ending to the series than this. I’ll be forever wishing I could read the Aria of Steel Trilogy for the first time again, and I will miss the characters that I have come to know so well!
All in all, the Aria of Steel Trilogy is by far is one of the very best Fantasy series I’ve ever read, and I eagerly look forward to reading more of the author’s work :)
The series grabbed my attention since I read the very first sentence of A Canticle of Two Souls, and of all the endings I imagined, I could not have thought of a better ending to the series than this. I’ll be forever wishing I could read the Aria of Steel Trilogy for the first time again, and I will miss the characters that I have come to know so well!
All in all, the Aria of Steel Trilogy is by far is one of the very best Fantasy series I’ve ever read, and I eagerly look forward to reading more of the author’s work :)
November 28, 2023
Emotional and dark, with a hard-hitting ending that I did NOT see coming.
This is possibly the lightest book in the trilogy, as the author focuses on four characters rather than one or two, so we see less of their inner struggles. However, each character is developed nicely. Raziel is his usual messed-up, confused and relentless self. Velran is full of doubt as to his future and what he should do. Alicia is feeling hopeless and lost, but trying to put on a brave face. And Khall... a man who has an old-fashioned sense of loyalty and huge ego is learning to be humble. His wife kicks ass as well.
The combat and tying up of loose ends is the core of this book, with the magic taking a back seat. I feel that The start was a little slow, but the third act was insane.
This is possibly the lightest book in the trilogy, as the author focuses on four characters rather than one or two, so we see less of their inner struggles. However, each character is developed nicely. Raziel is his usual messed-up, confused and relentless self. Velran is full of doubt as to his future and what he should do. Alicia is feeling hopeless and lost, but trying to put on a brave face. And Khall... a man who has an old-fashioned sense of loyalty and huge ego is learning to be humble. His wife kicks ass as well.
The combat and tying up of loose ends is the core of this book, with the magic taking a back seat. I feel that The start was a little slow, but the third act was insane.
June 17, 2022
A stirring end to a great story. What began in humble beginnings is now a high-stakes fight to the death against one of the scariest villains I have ever read in a fantasy story. Character arcs were on point.
4.5/5, love it.
4.5/5, love it.
March 2, 2023
A powerful, bittersweet end to a fantastic dark-fantasy trilogy. The characters are all developed and play off eachother realistically. Absolutely stunning end.
November 7, 2023
A great end to a strong trilogy. The climactic ending brought tears to my eyes. So much emotion.
June 16, 2025
A solid ending to the trilogy, I liked it.
May 31, 2024
So I finally read through the indie trilogy by Steven Raaymakers, the Aria of Steel. This review will be very much spoiler-free as this is one of those rare series which benefit from going in without any idea of what to expect.
I predominantly read things like grimdark, dark fantasy, and more 'serious' (read: not comedy) fantasy like Titus Groan, The Lord of the Rings, stuff like that.
The Aria of Steel is very much in this kind of area, with only very light moments of humor, and lots of violence, tragedy, and poignant emotions.
Speaking of emotions, they are the core of this trilogy, the very heart of the thing. They are the entire basis for the characters, the plot, and even the magic system. The characters have all experienced some form of trauma. Raziel is an orphan with a chip on his shoulder. Alicia lost her father in the war, and suffers from amnesia. Velran was once part of a powerful empire which underwent a civil war. Khall was part of a violent group which he left to help one of their victims. The list goes on.
The magic-users, called "warchildren", are empath-based people who have undergone particularly significant personal trauma. They unlock certain powers. Chief among these is the ability to 'hear' their own emotions and the emotions of others by making eye contact. They can then manipulate their own or others' emotions by giving and taking.
Now this magic might sound rather mechanical, but the way it is written, and the clever use of music, emotions, and the combination with actual physical combat makes it one of the coolest magic systems I have ever read.
For example, at one point two warchildren are fighting. One takes the other's anger entirely and adds it to his own, and then gives his fear and trepidation to the enemy. The enemy is immediately on the backfoot, because they are suddenly very unsure of themselves and quite afraid of the opponent. The character then pushes the physical attack to beat the character into actual submission, all the while sparring emotionally between the two of them, trading courage for hope, despair for camaraderie, etc.
Each fight is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and relevant to character development and growth (or added trauma). Wounds are dealt on both the physical and mental planes. Each character's motivations give rise to various plot points, actions, and consequences in a nuanced and clever way.
Raziel is the main character throughout the trilogy, and starts off as an almost ridiculous walking trope. He is an edgy, angsty orphan with a few chips on his shoulder. He annoyed me thoroughly at various points. But then the twists begin, and we begin to understand why he is the way he is, and how mistaken his worldview might be, and maybe he is more than the trauma which has harmed him so much.
These layers of complexity run throughout the story and throughout the characters, and yet the author keeps the pace up, sometimes refusing us any chance to catch our breath. I would argue that, while this works in some parts, I do wish we had some quieter, calmer moments to just slow down and breathe.
Another issue (primarily with book 1, A Canticle of Two Souls) is the headhopping POV changes. There are too many in that first book. However, this is much less of an issue in books 2 and 3.
Coming back to the good stuff, this author knows how to write cool themes. A Canticle of Two Souls is a study of mental health issues, trope-twists, and childhood innocence. Book 2, A Canticle for the Fallen, is all about wartime refugees, dissent, authoritarianism, and the dangers of unmitigated vengeance. Book 3, A Canticle of War is all about responsibility, stepping up to the plate, and healing. All of these are interwoven into the core story so carefully that it really is rather impressive, and something I enjoyed retrospectively when I considered the books after reading.
Overall, this new indie author is someone to keep an eye on. Judging by their social media, they are gearing up to release a new series soon and I know I'll be grabbing a copy because I love shorter, fast-paced fantasy that doesn't hold punches and makes me feel something. These are cool books, and I recommend them heartily.
I predominantly read things like grimdark, dark fantasy, and more 'serious' (read: not comedy) fantasy like Titus Groan, The Lord of the Rings, stuff like that.
The Aria of Steel is very much in this kind of area, with only very light moments of humor, and lots of violence, tragedy, and poignant emotions.
Speaking of emotions, they are the core of this trilogy, the very heart of the thing. They are the entire basis for the characters, the plot, and even the magic system. The characters have all experienced some form of trauma. Raziel is an orphan with a chip on his shoulder. Alicia lost her father in the war, and suffers from amnesia. Velran was once part of a powerful empire which underwent a civil war. Khall was part of a violent group which he left to help one of their victims. The list goes on.
The magic-users, called "warchildren", are empath-based people who have undergone particularly significant personal trauma. They unlock certain powers. Chief among these is the ability to 'hear' their own emotions and the emotions of others by making eye contact. They can then manipulate their own or others' emotions by giving and taking.
Now this magic might sound rather mechanical, but the way it is written, and the clever use of music, emotions, and the combination with actual physical combat makes it one of the coolest magic systems I have ever read.
For example, at one point two warchildren are fighting. One takes the other's anger entirely and adds it to his own, and then gives his fear and trepidation to the enemy. The enemy is immediately on the backfoot, because they are suddenly very unsure of themselves and quite afraid of the opponent. The character then pushes the physical attack to beat the character into actual submission, all the while sparring emotionally between the two of them, trading courage for hope, despair for camaraderie, etc.
Each fight is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and relevant to character development and growth (or added trauma). Wounds are dealt on both the physical and mental planes. Each character's motivations give rise to various plot points, actions, and consequences in a nuanced and clever way.
Raziel is the main character throughout the trilogy, and starts off as an almost ridiculous walking trope. He is an edgy, angsty orphan with a few chips on his shoulder. He annoyed me thoroughly at various points. But then the twists begin, and we begin to understand why he is the way he is, and how mistaken his worldview might be, and maybe he is more than the trauma which has harmed him so much.
These layers of complexity run throughout the story and throughout the characters, and yet the author keeps the pace up, sometimes refusing us any chance to catch our breath. I would argue that, while this works in some parts, I do wish we had some quieter, calmer moments to just slow down and breathe.
Another issue (primarily with book 1, A Canticle of Two Souls) is the headhopping POV changes. There are too many in that first book. However, this is much less of an issue in books 2 and 3.
Coming back to the good stuff, this author knows how to write cool themes. A Canticle of Two Souls is a study of mental health issues, trope-twists, and childhood innocence. Book 2, A Canticle for the Fallen, is all about wartime refugees, dissent, authoritarianism, and the dangers of unmitigated vengeance. Book 3, A Canticle of War is all about responsibility, stepping up to the plate, and healing. All of these are interwoven into the core story so carefully that it really is rather impressive, and something I enjoyed retrospectively when I considered the books after reading.
Overall, this new indie author is someone to keep an eye on. Judging by their social media, they are gearing up to release a new series soon and I know I'll be grabbing a copy because I love shorter, fast-paced fantasy that doesn't hold punches and makes me feel something. These are cool books, and I recommend them heartily.
November 4, 2023
Dark, hopeful, full of quiet beauty and gripping action.
This is a powerful debut trilogy by author Steven Raaymakers. The characters are bloody and emotional, living their lives as well as they can, but with some bad choices and violent outcomes. It's a harsh time in this world, with the collapse of an empire and the emergence of magic users leading to even more instability. Between the fast-paced action and plot twists, we glimpse the suffering of every day people. This is reflected in the characters too. The world and characters are fleshed out very well.
The magic system is incredible! I loved how it tied into the character's respective arcs. They truly felt real to me.
This is a great trilogy, and I cannot wait to see what else Steven Raaymakers has in store for us.
This is a powerful debut trilogy by author Steven Raaymakers. The characters are bloody and emotional, living their lives as well as they can, but with some bad choices and violent outcomes. It's a harsh time in this world, with the collapse of an empire and the emergence of magic users leading to even more instability. Between the fast-paced action and plot twists, we glimpse the suffering of every day people. This is reflected in the characters too. The world and characters are fleshed out very well.
The magic system is incredible! I loved how it tied into the character's respective arcs. They truly felt real to me.
This is a great trilogy, and I cannot wait to see what else Steven Raaymakers has in store for us.
March 15, 2023
After two books following the tragic life of Raziel, this book really packs a punch. Tying up loose ends and ending the tale, I found myself tearing up as the last pages came to a close.
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