This was a satisfying and brutal sequel to The Pariah, although I will say that I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. This is just down to personal preference however, and not the plot or writing. This second book is very battle heavy, with a vast portion given over to the fighting of a war. Whilst this is very visceral, I preferred the sections that dealt with the political aftermath. I also really appreciated the expansion of the world of the Caerith and continue to find their people utterly intriguing. The character development of Alwyn was fascinating and the introduction of some new characters was well received too. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and definitely has me hankering for the third installment.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Martyr is the 2nd book from Covenant of Steel series. I love the summary of the event from previous book and list of characters, it helps alot expecially when you read previous book several months ago.

The plot take straight after last event at book one. Alwyn Scribe still become faithful righthand of Lady Evadine and her prophetic mission. This story have massive characters but I love how author make all of them grey, standout and easy to remember. The plot isnt easy to reader who stranger to author's work. It is tight packed plot. The story also have equal dosages between political intrigues and epic wars. The soft magic system not really become focus on the storyline and I personally love character journey and enjoyed to saw Alwyn grew strong as main character.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit from Little Brown Book Group UK for provided me with this copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is another great example of what I want from epic fantasy books on the darker side with focus on the military. Very excited to read the next book in this series, if it’s anything like the first two it’s going to be great.

This is the second instalment in The Covenant of Steel series.

Alwyn Scribe was an outlaw at the opening of the series. Fate has seen him both rise and fall in power, notoriety, and status since then. Now he is now a spymaster and sworn protector of Lady Evadine Courlain. This position sees him face many new enemies and blood soaks these pages as he attempts to right the scales between Covenant and Crown, and return the lands to peace and prosperity.

This book had a battle-heavy focus and Ryan really excelled in making his scenes of action understandable and readable. I was never lost in what was occurring and this was, in part, due to the vivid depictions and, also, how both sides of any skirmish were portrayed.

The author did a spectacular job of making us understand the perspectives of both sides fighting. This felt real due to how neither was never wholly good or bad. Each individual had their own demands, their own reasons to fight how and for who they did, and as much to lose and gain as those they opposed. It felt like a fair portrayal was always granted and the reader was allowed unrestricted access to all that was occurring because of this.

I also adored how this book dually focused on current action scenes but also potential futures. This aspect became increasingly heightened due to the style of storytelling, with the future individual writing about past events. Sometimes this perspective was allowed to intrude upon the past and to indicate the differences that hindsight can make or to make something more apparent to the reader with their gained knowledge.

9.5/10

"To win peace, you must first spill blood... only ever leads to more blood."

What would it be like if David Gemmell wrote Crime and Punishment on a dark realism theme?! I may have an Idea!

"I am Captain Alwyn Scribe of the Covenant Company, I have fought the worst battles, faced the worst foes. Still, it took some effort to take that first step into the dark, and only marginally less to take the second."

Alwyn Scribe was never meant to be a soldier. A thief? Yes. A scribe? Certainly. But a soldier, well, this becomes his nightmare!
"Guilt is a strange toxin, for it can fortify as well as weaken."

The good news is the second part of Alwyn’s journey is better than the first, not that I have any complaints from The Pariah, only I have nothing to say.
If you read the first book before, so you know well that it is hard to express what's going on in the book, of course without 10 pages summary that spoils many things;
Alwyn was there, blood, then here, then death, then over there, betrayal, more death, no they alive, caged, wait, they are not, more betrayals, more blood, and on and on...

"Sometimes we do wrong to protect those we love."

I really enjoyed the story, it was too touchable, felt alive. I liked most characters, sorry but not Evadine.
I will not say the story is fast, the world-building is perfect, or the fantasy elements are unique, no, this is the testimony of Captain Alwyn Scribe of the Covenant Company, written by himself, he may have gaps, misjudged or mistaken but he was honest with us.

"My worst crime has always been my most long-lived lie, revealed only unto you, cherished reader, for I know your judgement will be fair."

Where is book 3, The Traitor?
"Every land has its traitors, a truth all outlaws learn eventually."

My huge thanks to Orbit via NetGalley for giving me a chance to read The Martyr, Book Two of the Covenant of Steel by Anthony Ryan. I have given my honest review.

With the second installment of his Steel Covenant Series, Anthony Ryan continues to write a good fantasy series where magic does not need to take center stage.
As always, characters are far more important and with his descriptive way of writing you can't help but fall in love.
The book helps you with a nice summary of events of the first book as well as a character list, which I was really thankful for.
I really like this series and am interested in where it continues to go. I'd recommend this to anyone, who likes historical fantasy and gritty, bloody action.

I'm afraid that I didn't enjoy this book as much as book 1, I'm not a lover of battles and there is a lot of battles.
I liked the character of Alwyn, but in the end the book losed my interest.