Brushstrokes of Defiance

The Runic Artist, Book 4

By: Ellake

Narrated by: Adam Stubbs, Mia Fothergill

After an epic battle in Helmfirth, Nate helped defeat the Adventurer's Guild traitors, free the slaves and save Kiri's life—but will it cost him his own?

Still navigating his way in this new world, Nate's goal is to learn everything he can and rise up through the levels of the System. To educate himself, he needs to gain access to the Etrua Royal University which will be no easy task, having to compete in a tournament against the most skilled Silver-Ranked Adventurers the Guild has to offer. But the system has other ideas.

Will he succeed, or will he be hunted down before he can prove his worth?

©2025 Ellake (P)2025 Royal Guard Publishing LLC

fun story following Nate through art and battles

a fun continuation of the runic artist stories. I always enjoy the puzzle aspects of figuring out how the battles and designs will go.

Too many stats

The story was ok. There were too many stats. It felt like a third of the book was stats or reading the choices with related stats. There were over five minutes of stats at the end of the book. About ten minutes earlier they had listed the stats as part of an upgrade.

This was the end of the first story arc and the start of the next. It wasn’t bad, but these types of books always feel a bit forced or lacking to me.

I’m so ready for the next book

The series has become one of my four favorite series that I’ve listen to so far this year and I’ve listen to over 100 . Amazing it’s all I can say get this series.

Good continuation of the story

Story was good and I'll continue to purchase the next in the series. A bit too many stats and lengthy descriptions of abilities in my opinion. I skipped over all of it and didn't feel like I missed anything important.

glorious story!

what a thrill. I could suggest this to enough people. the reader is so perfect. story is amazing! I gasped! I yelled! sooooo good!
truly mythic!