Name: A Tide of Black Steel
Rating: 3.9 (5 reviews)

From the international bestselling author Anthony Ryan comes the spectacular first novel in a new epic new fantasy trilogy inspired by Norse mythology. A new age has dawned. An age of blood and steel. An age of wrath. The land of Ascarlia, a fabled realm of bloodied steel and epic sagas, has been ruled by the Sister Queens for centuries. No one has dared question their rule. Until now. Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path. Thera of the Blackspear, favoured servant of the Sister Queens, is ordered to uncover the truth. As Thera sails north, her reviled brother, Felnir, sets out on his own adventure. He hopes to find the Vault of the Altvar - the treasure room of the gods - and win the Sister Queens' favour at his sister's expense. Both siblings - along with a brilliant young scribe and a prisoner with a terrifying, primal power - will play a part in the coming storm. The Age of Wrath has begun.

Writer of fantasy, science fiction, and very occasional non-fiction.

After a long career in the British Civil Service Ryan took up writing full time after the success of his first novel Blood Song, Book One of the Raven’s Shadow trilogy which has been purchased by Penguin US, published in July 2013. He also wrote the Draconis Memoria trilogy and the Raven’s Blade duology, the sci-fi noir series Slab City Blues, and The Seven Swords series of fantasy novellas.

Anthony Ryan is the New York Times bestselling author of the Raven’s Shadow novels, including Blood Song, Tower Lord, and Queen of Fire, and the Draconis Memoria series, including The Waking Fire. He lives in London, where he is at work on his next book.