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Warriors of Spirit and Bone #2
A City of Ashes: A Dark Epic Fantasy
Some lies are hidden in plain sight…
With the Veil Dragon, Nathair, seemingly under the Spirit Captain's control, Laoch pushes away the grief of his first encounter with the metal beast and hunts for a weapon his new and distrusted ally insists they can use against the coming Constructor invasion.
While he scours the abandoned city of their soul-eating foe, Brandshold’s Queen prepares for the coming war. Now a major player in the Overseer’s deception of her people, she struggles under the burden of guilt, turning to the last person in her life she wanted to depend on.
And the Unspoken rises on the wings of her artifice dragon, spreading fear and burning all before her. In her wake, the people turn to the Seven Houses for solace, and their grip upon the realm tightens in preparation for the true enemy.
For an Emperor consumed by revenge has a new artifice, one that hungers to enslave and feed upon all that worship the Seven.
For cast in brass and spiritfire … the Kraken soulship rises.
For lovers of Michael Moorcock's Elric, Andy Peloquin’s Darkblade series and the malice of Gwynne and Abercrombie, A City of Ashes is the second book in the dark and epic Warriors of Spirit and Bone series.
With the Veil Dragon, Nathair, seemingly under the Spirit Captain's control, Laoch pushes away the grief of his first encounter with the metal beast and hunts for a weapon his new and distrusted ally insists they can use against the coming Constructor invasion.
While he scours the abandoned city of their soul-eating foe, Brandshold’s Queen prepares for the coming war. Now a major player in the Overseer’s deception of her people, she struggles under the burden of guilt, turning to the last person in her life she wanted to depend on.
And the Unspoken rises on the wings of her artifice dragon, spreading fear and burning all before her. In her wake, the people turn to the Seven Houses for solace, and their grip upon the realm tightens in preparation for the true enemy.
For an Emperor consumed by revenge has a new artifice, one that hungers to enslave and feed upon all that worship the Seven.
For cast in brass and spiritfire … the Kraken soulship rises.
For lovers of Michael Moorcock's Elric, Andy Peloquin’s Darkblade series and the malice of Gwynne and Abercrombie, A City of Ashes is the second book in the dark and epic Warriors of Spirit and Bone series.
- GenresFantasy
428 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2024
About the author
Nick Snape
25 books85 followersNick Snape has been steeped in Science Fiction and Fantasy since his friends first dragged him from his schoolwork and stuck a book under his nose. Lost to the world of imagination he became a teacher by accident though he thoroughly enjoyed developing the joy of reading and writing in his pupils. Having retired after thirty years he thought it was high time to practise what he preached.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 2, 2026
An excellent continuation and deepening of the series. The Constructors get more depraved, the Houses get more convoluted in matters of faith and politics, the heroes get more despondent (and determined)… and the barriers between realms grow very, very thin.
Nick’s arcanepunk aesthetic is such a cool concept, and he really delivers in book two with gripping battles, wrenching losses, and twisty surprises.
Can’t wait to find out how it all wraps up.
Nick’s arcanepunk aesthetic is such a cool concept, and he really delivers in book two with gripping battles, wrenching losses, and twisty surprises.
Can’t wait to find out how it all wraps up.
December 23, 2025
A incredible ongoing story, and it did not disappoint.
What I really liked about book one was the unique world, and the soul infused mechanical constructs. Nick really found a way to push all the amazing things from the last book over to thisone, and just kept pumping all the amazing stuff.
ACoA as a good handfull of great characters, that keeps on delivering different character background and character growth. That will make you invested in their coices and adventure thought the hard world they live in.
And I think I know in this book, why it takes me a while to get into this. Because no matter how amazing the world and the characters is, it's feels also really complex. Like it was meant for a smarter person, than what my brain can comprehend. And I think for most hardcore fantasy lovers, who loves to have their mind tested, this will definitely be right up your alley.
If you love dark fantasy, and are not afraid to see what brutal world this can be. Then this is the one for you!
What I really liked about book one was the unique world, and the soul infused mechanical constructs. Nick really found a way to push all the amazing things from the last book over to thisone, and just kept pumping all the amazing stuff.
ACoA as a good handfull of great characters, that keeps on delivering different character background and character growth. That will make you invested in their coices and adventure thought the hard world they live in.
And I think I know in this book, why it takes me a while to get into this. Because no matter how amazing the world and the characters is, it's feels also really complex. Like it was meant for a smarter person, than what my brain can comprehend. And I think for most hardcore fantasy lovers, who loves to have their mind tested, this will definitely be right up your alley.
If you love dark fantasy, and are not afraid to see what brutal world this can be. Then this is the one for you!
August 27, 2025
Okay, I couldn't stay away for too long. Can you blame me after reading, reviewing, and digesting the first entry?
A City of Ashes picks up where we left off and showcases more of the other-side weirdness that I found so profoundly compelling about the first book. We get the scoop on many seeded mysteries, but also the motivations of the antagonists. As well as more lies, arm-twisting, and false hope. Excellent! What a second entry to bridge the gap, fill in the blanks, and hammer in some of those nails, haha. Is it wrong that I found myself rooting for the bad guys, whose motivation for their actions actually make sense and are multi-layered? How refreshing to find that in an indie.
For some reason, I can't quite explain, the second book jived with me a bit more, thought I'd put it on equal footing with book one, therefore 4/5. I expect the third book to tie everything together in an epic fashion, paying off all those quieter scenes, background noise, and machinations. And yes. The queen's storyline does get a lot more gratifying! While I suspect I know where this story is heading, the final installment, A Queen in Blood, rules proudly over my indie TBR stack in the meantime. Fingers crossed for that earned five-star conclusion.
Well done, Nick, your stories are full of surprises.
In the margins: I really dig the book covers. It's such a great fit for what you're trying to convey while not overdoing it. Getting the first re-done was definitely the right call.
A City of Ashes picks up where we left off and showcases more of the other-side weirdness that I found so profoundly compelling about the first book. We get the scoop on many seeded mysteries, but also the motivations of the antagonists. As well as more lies, arm-twisting, and false hope. Excellent! What a second entry to bridge the gap, fill in the blanks, and hammer in some of those nails, haha. Is it wrong that I found myself rooting for the bad guys, whose motivation for their actions actually make sense and are multi-layered? How refreshing to find that in an indie.
For some reason, I can't quite explain, the second book jived with me a bit more, thought I'd put it on equal footing with book one, therefore 4/5. I expect the third book to tie everything together in an epic fashion, paying off all those quieter scenes, background noise, and machinations. And yes. The queen's storyline does get a lot more gratifying! While I suspect I know where this story is heading, the final installment, A Queen in Blood, rules proudly over my indie TBR stack in the meantime. Fingers crossed for that earned five-star conclusion.
Well done, Nick, your stories are full of surprises.
In the margins: I really dig the book covers. It's such a great fit for what you're trying to convey while not overdoing it. Getting the first re-done was definitely the right call.
January 1, 2025
What can I say, Nick has intrigued me again.
Yes, someone stayed up a little later than usual last night, I thought I could finish in one go, and then it got very late.
Just by the look of the cover, this certainly does not look good. I mean GOOD, just not in a way for anyone in that being’s way. We soon learn who this is, and we get to follow his preparations.
We have good things at the beginning of the book, too, have a list of cast that helped me 😊
Also, you know how I love a good map. This one has Jense in the west of Brandshold.
I figure I should just move there; it looks like a nice place. Given that it still exists when Nick is done.😉
I always wondered what happened after Laoch and the others disappeared through the veil 😉
They are now in the realm of the Constructors.
We reunite with them as they are investigating a city they have stumbled upon, which seems abandoned. At the same time, my heart shatters as I remember what happened in the first book.
I feel more immersed now as I felt I got a better understanding of the Constructors, the mechanics of it of sorts, like where the spirit flames go. And why to a bigger degree. *chills* I wonder what my spirit flame tastes like.
Dropping little hints, well not really, Nick is writing it. What is to come. For Brandshold, for the seven, for the Fleshmaster.
Will any of the group that left get back to their Brandshold? What about the preparations for was and effort to heal the veils? Will it make a difference? Can we rely on help from the gods’ weapons?
Yes, someone stayed up a little later than usual last night, I thought I could finish in one go, and then it got very late.
Just by the look of the cover, this certainly does not look good. I mean GOOD, just not in a way for anyone in that being’s way. We soon learn who this is, and we get to follow his preparations.
We have good things at the beginning of the book, too, have a list of cast that helped me 😊
Also, you know how I love a good map. This one has Jense in the west of Brandshold.
I figure I should just move there; it looks like a nice place. Given that it still exists when Nick is done.😉
I always wondered what happened after Laoch and the others disappeared through the veil 😉
They are now in the realm of the Constructors.
We reunite with them as they are investigating a city they have stumbled upon, which seems abandoned. At the same time, my heart shatters as I remember what happened in the first book.
I feel more immersed now as I felt I got a better understanding of the Constructors, the mechanics of it of sorts, like where the spirit flames go. And why to a bigger degree. *chills* I wonder what my spirit flame tastes like.
Dropping little hints, well not really, Nick is writing it. What is to come. For Brandshold, for the seven, for the Fleshmaster.
Will any of the group that left get back to their Brandshold? What about the preparations for was and effort to heal the veils? Will it make a difference? Can we rely on help from the gods’ weapons?
December 2, 2024
I got this book for a honest review.
August 13, 2025
Loved it. It gets darker, more political, and we get to see both the threat posed by the Constructors and what they did to the humans and the Schenterenta (elves).
The story continues, expanding on the background, the conflict, and the scope of the story. It takes place on Brandshold, and in other realms following both Laoch's mission to find a weapon to defeat the Constructors, and the Constructors in hunting down mages, the Seven, and their long-lost dragons.
The chapters alternate between the various story threads, with most of the action following Laoch and his not-so-merry crew, and most of the politics following the events in Brandshold. War and squabbling follow the Constructors, riven by rivalries but nonetheless conveying a real sense of menace.
The action is well-paced, and the tension arising from the politics on Brandshold racheted by further revelations from the Houses as they prepare a desperate and almost-certainly futile defence. Meanwhile, the Unspoken plays her part, but her agenda is far from obvious.
All in all, an excellent and deep fantasy novel!
The story continues, expanding on the background, the conflict, and the scope of the story. It takes place on Brandshold, and in other realms following both Laoch's mission to find a weapon to defeat the Constructors, and the Constructors in hunting down mages, the Seven, and their long-lost dragons.
The chapters alternate between the various story threads, with most of the action following Laoch and his not-so-merry crew, and most of the politics following the events in Brandshold. War and squabbling follow the Constructors, riven by rivalries but nonetheless conveying a real sense of menace.
The action is well-paced, and the tension arising from the politics on Brandshold racheted by further revelations from the Houses as they prepare a desperate and almost-certainly futile defence. Meanwhile, the Unspoken plays her part, but her agenda is far from obvious.
All in all, an excellent and deep fantasy novel!
October 13, 2025
An Emperor with a penchant for sucking out the souls of magic wielding humans (and elves!). Doesn’t get much weirder than that, does it?
This book was fun, and, of course, pretty weird at times!
Because most of the initial world building has been done in DotV, I think A city of Ashes immediately feels more comfortable in its own skin, (pun intended?) allowing it to crack on with the story at an overall more robust pace, which I think the book really benefits from.
I personally found the political situation between the crown and the houses to be super interesting, and watching all of their secrets slowly unravel might have been my favourite part of the book.
The Emperor proves to be an equal parts creepy and foreboding villain, and the book does a really good job of gradually upping the stakes, building a general sense of sh*t hitting the fan as it approaches book 3, whilst also showing just how massively outmatched the humans in Brandshold will be when the invasion eventually happens.
Overall, I thought this book was excellent, and I was very excited to dive into book 3!
This book was fun, and, of course, pretty weird at times!
Because most of the initial world building has been done in DotV, I think A city of Ashes immediately feels more comfortable in its own skin, (pun intended?) allowing it to crack on with the story at an overall more robust pace, which I think the book really benefits from.
I personally found the political situation between the crown and the houses to be super interesting, and watching all of their secrets slowly unravel might have been my favourite part of the book.
The Emperor proves to be an equal parts creepy and foreboding villain, and the book does a really good job of gradually upping the stakes, building a general sense of sh*t hitting the fan as it approaches book 3, whilst also showing just how massively outmatched the humans in Brandshold will be when the invasion eventually happens.
Overall, I thought this book was excellent, and I was very excited to dive into book 3!
November 15, 2025
I have received a copy of this book, because I will review the third installment. I will not let this cloud my judgement.
A solid continuation from the first book, which sets up the next installment, . The 'hero's party' is on a mission to discover more about their enemy, while the original world prepares for an invasion they know is coming. The religious leaders and queen work together, still keeping the whole truth from the populace and each other. There are also glimpses into the world of the evil Constructors and how their empire had deteriorated over time.
While the first book was fast paced, focussing on only one incident and making it feel like one is on a battlefield with no time to breathe, this book is more about intrigue and careful planning. This gives the relationships more time to be explored, with the trade off that it's less engaging. A good change from the first entry is that there are less direct thoughts that interrupt the flow.
I rated the first book 4 Stars, this one 3 Stars, close to 4. This is in part because it doesn't stand well as a self contained story. Nick Snape makes a good job of building up the conflicts that are to come, but this book does not have a climax it is building towards and overall, not too many things are happening.
Another point of critique for the whole series is that it starts to become quite dense (and confusing at points), and I fear that not all plot points will get a proper resolution or have no impact on the plot (e.g. Laoch having been a drunkard has not been mentioned since early in the first book)
All in all, it is a well written and interesting work, that builds up the continuation perfectly, but could stand more on its own.
A solid continuation from the first book, which sets up the next installment, . The 'hero's party' is on a mission to discover more about their enemy, while the original world prepares for an invasion they know is coming. The religious leaders and queen work together, still keeping the whole truth from the populace and each other. There are also glimpses into the world of the evil Constructors and how their empire had deteriorated over time.
While the first book was fast paced, focussing on only one incident and making it feel like one is on a battlefield with no time to breathe, this book is more about intrigue and careful planning. This gives the relationships more time to be explored, with the trade off that it's less engaging. A good change from the first entry is that there are less direct thoughts that interrupt the flow.
I rated the first book 4 Stars, this one 3 Stars, close to 4. This is in part because it doesn't stand well as a self contained story. Nick Snape makes a good job of building up the conflicts that are to come, but this book does not have a climax it is building towards and overall, not too many things are happening.
Another point of critique for the whole series is that it starts to become quite dense (and confusing at points), and I fear that not all plot points will get a proper resolution or have no impact on the plot (e.g. Laoch having been a drunkard has not been mentioned since early in the first book)
All in all, it is a well written and interesting work, that builds up the continuation perfectly, but could stand more on its own.
March 27, 2026
This book is just all sorts of effed up in all the best ways. Nick has crafted one weird world of realm-destroying soul-sucking metal dragons filled with a people of sucked-dry bodies searching for more souls to suck. It's weird as all get out, but oh so original. There's metal scorpion vehicles, orinthopters, spirit walkers, magical weapons, dragons made of metal and flesh. Just so many cool concepts.
That said, this book does feel a bit of a middle book as it is clearly setting up a major conclusion. There are so many POVs doing a number of different things that I only really got super involved in a handful, mainly the Loach/Sura/Ecne plot, as these were the main POVs from book one who survived (ish). These characters (plus Osisin) are stuck in a different realm and constantly are fighting these new horrors and uncovering awesome things of Nick's world. Then we have the Fleshmaster, Emperor Tarin, who is looking to invade, with his bloodthirsty captain, Popsilin. I loved this plot thread so much.
I will say the political intrigue with the religious leaders wasn't as strong as it was in book 1 for me. Same with Queen Erin and all the other characters gearing up for the defenses. Important, but just didn't feel like things were moving along like the other plot.
But I am in the home stretch now, one book to go and I can't wait to see how this crazy series ends!
That said, this book does feel a bit of a middle book as it is clearly setting up a major conclusion. There are so many POVs doing a number of different things that I only really got super involved in a handful, mainly the Loach/Sura/Ecne plot, as these were the main POVs from book one who survived (ish). These characters (plus Osisin) are stuck in a different realm and constantly are fighting these new horrors and uncovering awesome things of Nick's world. Then we have the Fleshmaster, Emperor Tarin, who is looking to invade, with his bloodthirsty captain, Popsilin. I loved this plot thread so much.
I will say the political intrigue with the religious leaders wasn't as strong as it was in book 1 for me. Same with Queen Erin and all the other characters gearing up for the defenses. Important, but just didn't feel like things were moving along like the other plot.
But I am in the home stretch now, one book to go and I can't wait to see how this crazy series ends!
July 2, 2025
This review was originally posted at
SFF Insiders
I will reiterate (and keep doing so) what I’ve mentioned at the start – dark fantasy doesn’t really get better than this INDIE GEM! You have fast-paced, non-stop action alongside politics and court drama, a really fun magic system, a great cast of characters, a rich world with a deep lore, soul-drinking baddies, and metal dragons… need I say more!? I hadn’t read any “arcanepunk” before, but this has simply blown me away. It’s simply too good, and needless to say that I’m highly impressed by it all! I just can’t recommend this series enough. An absolute MUST READ series whose final chapter in the trilogy is coming out soon… more of a reason why you must pick this up NOW!
I will reiterate (and keep doing so) what I’ve mentioned at the start – dark fantasy doesn’t really get better than this INDIE GEM! You have fast-paced, non-stop action alongside politics and court drama, a really fun magic system, a great cast of characters, a rich world with a deep lore, soul-drinking baddies, and metal dragons… need I say more!? I hadn’t read any “arcanepunk” before, but this has simply blown me away. It’s simply too good, and needless to say that I’m highly impressed by it all! I just can’t recommend this series enough. An absolute MUST READ series whose final chapter in the trilogy is coming out soon… more of a reason why you must pick this up NOW!
December 1, 2024
I think this series has highlighted that I love the point where fantasy (dare I say grimdark as there are elements here) and scifi meet. This book begins exactly where the last one finished and we follow a similar multiple POV approach across three realms. Snape introduces the Constructors and their emperor - including their motivations and macabre mentality brings home why the Bk1 is riddled with lies and deceit by the Seven Houses. We also get to see how the original realm prepares for war while Laoch and Sura (yeah-spoiler) hunt for a weapon in the Constructor’s abandoned city. An out-there but at times brilliant book. Roll on the last. I received this book as an ARC.
May 24, 2025
Between smoking dilapidated cities, soul-infused mechanical constructs, resurrecting necromancers and wyrms wandering through the realms—this book conjures a dark ambiance that is largely unmatched by anything else I have read. Oh, and there are dragons—forged from metal and powered by twisted souls of elves.
Many fantasy trilogies have the so-called middle-book problem where the second book is not as appealing because the initial novelty of the fictional world has worn off, and a closure is not about to come. That was absolutely not the case with this book—fresh new characters and bizarre monsters keep pouring in.
Combined with the vivid prose, memorable characters and some beautiful dialog—this book was quite a surreal experience. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? Yes. Did it feel like it was written for someone a bit smarter than me? Also, yes.
I will be looking forward to the next book, where we finally get to the long-awaited big confrontation. We now know that while formidable, the Constructors are not infallible, and it would be interesting to finally see how a race that has been suppressed by centuries of misguided tradition rises to face a foe that will just not take no for an answer.
Full review on SFF Insiders
Many fantasy trilogies have the so-called middle-book problem where the second book is not as appealing because the initial novelty of the fictional world has worn off, and a closure is not about to come. That was absolutely not the case with this book—fresh new characters and bizarre monsters keep pouring in.
Combined with the vivid prose, memorable characters and some beautiful dialog—this book was quite a surreal experience. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? Yes. Did it feel like it was written for someone a bit smarter than me? Also, yes.
I will be looking forward to the next book, where we finally get to the long-awaited big confrontation. We now know that while formidable, the Constructors are not infallible, and it would be interesting to finally see how a race that has been suppressed by centuries of misguided tradition rises to face a foe that will just not take no for an answer.
Full review on SFF Insiders
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews