Haven

A Trial of Blood and Steel, Book 4

By: Joel Shepherd

Narrated by: Kate Reading

The heart-stopping conclusion to the Trial of Blood & Steel quartet.

The Army of Regent Arrosh advances on the forces loyal to Saalshen, homeland of the serrin people, as the serrins' friends are in full retreat. Their only hope is to reach the city of Jahnd - the serrin word for haven - across the Ipshal River.

The Army of Lenayin marches with the Regent, but Sasha, sister of newly crowned King Koenyg, can no longer stomach the awful cause for which her people fight. As tensions build between Sasha and her brothers, her sister Sofy - wedded to the Regent - travels to the city of Tracato to attempt to negotiate a peaceful transition of its rich heritage to her husband's rule. But there are forces beneath the Regent's banner that wish to see all serrin and serrin-influenced civilization destroyed for good.

While the serrin people fight for survival, families must be betrayed, enemies reconciled, nations persuaded, and great armies fought, as Sasha's tale reaches its dramatic conclusion.

©2017 Joel Shepherd (P)2017 Podium Audio

ACTION AND WISDOM, POLITICS AND HUMAN NATURE

great book and masterfully performed. There is lots of action, told by enthusiastic persona with sufficient attention to detail to draw in the listener and illuminate the mind of a person that much in love with war. This is enhanced by a very fine reader who read sensitively, not overdoing her role, but adding just enough angst and exuberance to remain not only believable, but to somehow add more to the story than words alone could not.

great ending to the series

I appreciated the full conclusive battle, swaying to both sides, and I do appreciate that the last chapter gave closure to most things. I've read or listened to too many books that leave so much open at the end.
of course this could have more sequels, but it'd be a whole new set of stories

heroic story

a great story and the reading of it was superb if you like medieval stories with a twist of si-fi this is a great book for you

Flow is easy

a very good series of books they flow well together, hitting the highs and the lows

Perfectly Put Together

I knew that the series needed to end and I was ready to see how it did. But, that did not stop me from craving more once I did arrive at the end of this epic tale. I loved the well defined characters, the cities and landscapes that were painted clearly in my mind's eye and a story so well developed that I felt like a character moving through each chapter. I truly appreciated the lack of predictability, the obvious effort to put forth an awesome story and the perfect narration of my favorite narrator, Kate Reading. Thank you, Joel Shepard.