The sequel to the masterpiece folk horror high fantasy A Sword of Bronze and Ashes, a lyrical blend of epic myth and daily life.

Kanda and her family are on a quest to rebuild the glory that was Roven. Mother and daughters stand together as a light against the darkness. But mother and daughters both have hands that are stained red with blood. They walk a path that is stranger and more beautiful than even Kanda dared imagine, bright with joy, bitter with grief. Ghosts and monsters dog their footsteps - but the greatest monsters lie in their hearts.

This was a great story that had lots of classic fantasy tropes that were done with a unique and modern voice. Definitely a step up from book one. Really enjoying this series and i cant wait for it to continue:)

The ruins of the past hold a romantic, almost mystical charm. Ancient battlefields seem to whisper to us while charismatic figures, if they could only rise from the grave, would inspire legions of followers. We’d hastily ignore their monstrous actions by our modern standards and probably ride into battle alongside Alexander, Genghis, Attila, Marith…

It is through this lens that Anna Smith Spark writes her characters and sets her stories. In A Sword of Gold and Ruin, she continues as stated in the blurb, her lyrical blend of epic myth and daily life.

Of course for Kanda, daily life can’t stay mundane for long and we continue to be reminded that her past bears more parallels to Smith Spark’s own Marith than it does to Tolkien’s Aragon or Gemmell’s Druss the Legend.

A character-driven journey

Kanda and family continue their poignant and heartbreaking adventure, though one less focused on the literal and more of a focus on the psychological and emotional journey the characters go on. This is particularly relevant to Kanda, who we see battle with her past and attempt to continue navigating motherhood amongst trauma and devastation and the echoes of a painful and blood splattered past.

This may be the most character driven fantasy I’ve read so far.

Regular Grimdark readers as a result will find something different here, though you do need to read the first book to begin with; A Sword of Bronze and Ashes. Despite the obvious quality within these books, they won’t be easily accessible entry points to the fantasy genre for new readers and there’ll probably be plenty of traditional and contemporary fantasy readers alike who just won’t click with either of them. The author is used to these mixed responses; often adoration will be bestowed on those special things (books) that not everybody can learn to appreciate and I’m so glad Smith Spark continues to be that defiantly unique voice, a voice and literary style that will stand the test of time.

I did find this sequel to be a little slower and more reflective than it’s predecessor, which to me was neither better nor worse. Although I wouldn’t describe it as a page turner where you have to rush home to read one more chapter, it was deeply meaningful, thought provoking and emotional. I don’t believe it was ever intended to be a furious skim-readable page turner in any case.

Lyrical Craft

Regardless of the intended pace, Smith Spark’s prose is not something to fly through at breakneck speed whether you want to or not. Its lyrical beauty must be lived in and savoured. Like lingering beneath a beautiful painting or feeling the magic of an old place. She writes poetry within these pages. Has a smitten lover ever written anything so exquisite as Anna’s description of the Lady of Roven?

In the wind in the trees in summer when the leaves are just beginning to turn toward their autumn colors ; in the music of the stars on a clear winter night when the frost lies thick and the air is like cold wine; in the circling of birds at twilight, a great cloud of birds gathering so that the sky is made dark and they call to each other and the beating of their wings sounds like rain; in the light on the sea on the first day of the year when the sun is returning…

Spending time with the characters becomes more rewarding as the story progresses, becoming deeply personal with themes of legacy and the manifestations of a mother’s love. Of wanting better for our children than the lives we choose for ourselves or the mistakes we make. And perhaps realising we have less control over that than we like to think…

Echoes of Legend

Something rewarding that continues here from Bronze and Ashes are the flashbacks to the six of Roven and the stories Kanda tells of that time. This is where the book reads almost like a fairy story, like old sagas and myths filled with glory, magic and achievements. Part of the main plot is an underlying desire to rebuild Roven and as a reader you sense trying to recreate this mythical hall might eventually become a bittersweet endeavour.

Being fed tidbits and isolated stories really helps paint a picture of these mythical times whilst leaving enough to make you constantly wanting more; more knowledge, more stories, more Roven. In this respect, Smith Spark captures what is so special about the old tales and casts our imagination to the wonder of these legendary figures. Despite the slower pace of the book overall, the epic myths of these warriors were always alluring chapters to devour in contrast to Kanda’s more deliberate chapters that often require more pondering.

Kanda had led the Six Swords of Roven against four huge dragons. Beasts so huge they had filled the sky. One gold, one silver, one black, one white. Six Swords of Roven, tiny, set against them.

There is of course action in the book in places and the meeting with the dragons was a real highlight. I particularly liked the characters’ reactions to the outcome of this battle and the concluding event, which I found really beautiful to read. It was a familiar feeling through so much of this book; you’re not simply reading a story (as fun as that so often is!) but you’re really experiencing something. You’re immersed in the waters of Anna Smith Spark’s wondrous and unique writing style, in her delightful use of language and combination of words and phrases and sentences.

She captures the nuance of human thought with care, love, empathy and at times brutal honesty and transparency. She captures the beauty in the world whilst accepting that it is always very often more tempting and satisfying and natural to destroy rather than create.

Final Thoughts

Once again, Anna Smith Spark has delivered a book distinctly her and invited us to share in the wonders of her imagination.

Read this book when you have the time to appreciate it. Read it slowly and allow it to take hold of you. Remind yourself that books can also be art. And in this changing world of AI, cherish the beauty of human emotion, language and imagination.

I enjoyed A Sword of Bronze and Ashes by Anna Smith Spark, so I was happy to see A Sword of Gold and Ruin and was eager to dive back into the vibrant world that Spark had created in the first novel. I had found the first novel to be captivating although I felt the storytelling did not quite live up to the writing talent. I was hoping to discover a step forward for this upcoming writer and dove in expecting to be enthralled by the story.

Ikandera Thegythen was trying to make amends for the destruction she has wrought on her land. The once fierce and merciless warrior did not want her old life back. She wanted to help heal the land. She had become simply Kanda. She seeks a simple life and a peace that does not seem possible after the atrocities she committed. It is a simple dream but one that seems impossible as she travels across the land with her family.

The past does not give up so easily, however, and Kanda finds herself at odds with the world and some of the very forces she one fought for. While she desires to do good, she is worried that she is destined for evil. The struggle is real even within her family. Kanda's daughter, Callian, is impetuous and quick to anger. Kanda fears that too much of her old self has passed on to her daughter and worries for her future. She is on a quest to save the world, but will she be able to save her family first?

A Sword of Gold and Ruin does a good job of drawing the reader back into the world Spark has created and reintroduces the characters. The characters and the world shine as they did in the first novel and this remains a strength throughout the second installment. As for the narrative, the story moves along a little quicker than the first novel although there are times in which it lags. This is not a book that one can pick up and read in a leisurely manner. It takes a lot of work to get through and it does seem to stall at times. It is an entertaining read and the world-building and character development are amazing.

Much like in the first novel, the main drawback of A Sword of Gold and Ruin lies in the heavy-handed method of storytelling that Spark employs. There are time when I found my mind wandering as it seemed as if she had already lead us through this part of the story. There is a lot of repetition here and the details come almost nonstop. This often leads to the build up to the action in the novel seeming even more important than the action itself and can often make the seminal sequences of the story seem like an afterthought. I found the narrative to be smoother in this novel than in the first, but it still took more work that I would like to make it through the story and I did feel a bit let down at times. Overall, though, this is an interesting and entertaining read overall. I would like to have seen it more streamlined and think that 50 pages could be cut out of the novel. I still think that Spark is a major talent and have high hopes for her future works. This novel is recommended for those who revel in dark fantasy and superb character and world building.

I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this review copy. A Sword of Gold and Ruin is scheduled to be released on September 23, 2025.