Book Review: Nightingale’s Sword by Huw Steer

One of the first indie fantasy books that I ever reviewed, early in my own writing career, was The Blackbird And The Ghost by Huw Steer.

And after nearly three years of reviewing indie authors (and hopefully improving my own craft), I have to conclude that this author is one of the best hidden gems in the indie fantasy community.

Obviously, one of the reasons that I loved Blackbird is that this main character is similar to Sparrow, not just in name, but possibly also in personality and attitude. This aside, I enjoyed the first book in the Boiling Seas series on many more levels as well. And I have been relentlessly pestering the author for a sequel.

At the end of 2021, he finally delivered. And a few months after release, I’m publishing my review of Nightingale’s Sword!

Short Synopsis

In the first book of the Boiling Seas series, Tal Wenlock (The Blackbird) was searching for an ancient scroll with the magical secrets that could heal his sister, Lily (The Nightingale). He teamed up with a scholar, Max Odyn (The Owl) from the premier academic institution in this world, The Lantern.

Now, this trio of treasure hunters is searching for the next secret scroll, hidden deep within a jungle-filled archipelago. And they are racing against another team of tomb raiders, also commissioned from The Lantern.

Our heroes must travel by sea, air, and land and explore the dense jungle and ancient temple ruins to be the first to discover the forgotten secrets of these long-lost scrolls.

Background & Exposition

World-building is where the Boiling Seas books really shine. The steaming oceans, heated by geothermal activity, create a fascinating backdrop to a world spread over diverse continents, a hierarchy of academic researchers, and a creative mix of magic and technology.

As an engineer, I rolled my eyes a little during the book’s explanation of rigid airship engines. The author displays his technology in a similar fashion to any of the Chief Engineers aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, with fast-paced descriptions packed with pseudo-scientific lingo. It’s fun—but it doesn’t necessarily stand up to inspection.

His magic continues to be a little under-explained. It generally appears to be elemental-based, with an additional school for healing. I would be shocked if these five aspects of magic are unrelated to the five missing scrolls.

The characters continue to find innovative ways to use magic, however, and I certainly appreciate that. And the forgotten history of the ancient peoples of this world, and their magical/technological prowess, is utterly fascinating.

Given the diverse ecology and geography of this world, I feel that these books would benefit greatly from a front map. After all, the characters love their maps—why not share with the readers?

Characters

I was sucked into the Boiling Seas series because of the first novel’s protagonist, Tal Wenlock (The Blackbird). So, shifting the focus in the second novel away from him, and onto his sister Lily (The Nightingale), was a minor disappointment.

But the other characters have just as much charm and intrigue, that’s for sure. Lily is a sexy con artist, rogue, and expert fencer. And of course, we have Max, the bookish yet adventurous scholar.

The character interaction is playful, yet somewhat underdeveloped. All of the characters remain in this awkward not-quite-flirtatious relational area with each other, competing and contrasting with one another but never committing to more than platonic friendship.

Tal’s relationship with his sister seems particularly competitive, but we aren’t given much background or resolution to that competition. They spar, they race, but these scenes (although action-packed) are just interruptions in the greater narrative that don’t really give us any insight into their personalities and deeper motivations.

Lily and Max have a different dynamic, one born from shared experiences and differing phobias. Lily is claustrophobic, Max is acrophobic, and they help each other conquer their fears. But they both deal with the psychological aftermath of killing the pirates that had threatened their lives.

At times, I wondered if Lily and Max would find romance. Other times, I wished that Tal and Max would find romance; then, at least, Lily and Max would be able to gossip about Tal on a deeper level. But by holding the characters back from developing more intimate connections with each other, the author denies them their full potential.

The Plot

Ever since I learned Three Act Structure and plot pacing, I find myself severely critical of most indie fiction. I highly encourage other indie authors to check out many of the online resources that explain how to connect plot points, and keep the story moving and the characters growing.

The story is fun and the plot points are exciting, I’m sure any reader will agree. Spoiler alert: airship pirates! But the pirates have nothing to do with the larger story, so it turns out to be something of a distraction from the main plot—albeit a thrilling distraction.

And whenever the plot takes the characters into underground temples, it’s hard to put the book down. The search for clues in ancient documents and journals, on a jungle island, and in abandoned ruins definitely put the reader into an Indiana Jones atmosphere, and the various traps and antagonists keep us engrossed.

Writing Style

Steer has a clear and obvious talent for writing and organizing his thoughts. Any reader will be able to pick up his books and dive into them, without struggling through difficult passages or getting lost in conflicting descriptions.

In fact, most of the scenes are eloquently depicted, creating a visual picture for the reader. The action sequences are described just as clearly, with no room for confusion despite the fast-paced fighting or racing.

Steer’s books are remarkably suitable for a wide range of reading levels, and his subject matter is also suitable for younger readers without losing any of the nuance that would appeal to more mature readers.

Nightingale’s Sword is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable indie fantasy books that I’ve read in a long while—so much that I binge-read the book in less than 72 hours. It met all of the expectations that were set when I read the first book in the series, and I have equally high expectations for the next book as well.

It’s not without a few faults. I would like to see some better character development in the next book, and more cohesive plot structure. But even without these things, the books of The Boiling Seas are immersive, exciting, and fun to read.

If you haven’t started reading The Boiling Seas, pick up The Blackbird And The Ghost today—and I promise you will be picking up Nightingale's Sword tomorrow!