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The Living Blade #2
On the Wheel
A magic sword. A fated quest. When the whole world is broken, one woman dares to defy destiny…
Nora can’t help but be skeptical of prophecy. She wouldn't mind that the Living Blade is fated to upset the old-world order, but that doesn’t mean she thinks a sword or its wielder could pull that off…
Her twin brother, Owen, has the faith his sister lacks. But when he risks everything to keep the prophecy in line, the secrets he’s kept from his twin bubble to the surface. Secrets that could plunge them all into madness and ruin…
Prophecy has been nothing but pain for Master Telen Diaz. Still haunted by the Prophetess, and bound by his word, he seeks emancipation while at the same time he can't help but wonder if a future with Nora is not only possible, but also desirable. But does his traveling companion feel the same way?
To save her brother and free the world from the cruel machinations of the Prophetess, Nora must trust Owen knows what he's doing, and find the courage to accept the part he intends her to play in fixing the world. Even if doing so could get her killed…
On the Wheel is the suspense-filled second installment of The Living Blade series of dark fantasy novels. If you like Angela Carter's sensual and visceral storytelling coupled with Joe Abercrombie's gritty characters making hard decisions, then you’ll love Timandra Whitecastle’s captivating story.
Nora can’t help but be skeptical of prophecy. She wouldn't mind that the Living Blade is fated to upset the old-world order, but that doesn’t mean she thinks a sword or its wielder could pull that off…
Her twin brother, Owen, has the faith his sister lacks. But when he risks everything to keep the prophecy in line, the secrets he’s kept from his twin bubble to the surface. Secrets that could plunge them all into madness and ruin…
Prophecy has been nothing but pain for Master Telen Diaz. Still haunted by the Prophetess, and bound by his word, he seeks emancipation while at the same time he can't help but wonder if a future with Nora is not only possible, but also desirable. But does his traveling companion feel the same way?
To save her brother and free the world from the cruel machinations of the Prophetess, Nora must trust Owen knows what he's doing, and find the courage to accept the part he intends her to play in fixing the world. Even if doing so could get her killed…
On the Wheel is the suspense-filled second installment of The Living Blade series of dark fantasy novels. If you like Angela Carter's sensual and visceral storytelling coupled with Joe Abercrombie's gritty characters making hard decisions, then you’ll love Timandra Whitecastle’s captivating story.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2017
90 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 24, 2019
The quest continues, but now Nora firmly believes the Blade must be destroyed and Bashan must be thwarted in his attempt. A huge twist for her character creates tremendous tension.
The world building comes to the fore when other races of creatures become targets for destruction. Wights, Mermaids, and all of mankind.
Now comes the power of The Living Blade and our protagonists may not survive its devastation.
Another cliffhanger, but thankfully book three is right here waiting.
The world building comes to the fore when other races of creatures become targets for destruction. Wights, Mermaids, and all of mankind.
Now comes the power of The Living Blade and our protagonists may not survive its devastation.
Another cliffhanger, but thankfully book three is right here waiting.
March 3, 2017
(A bigger, prettier version of this review is also here, on my blog.)
Oh boy, this is going to be a doozy. Staying calm and not just melting down about this book is going to be difficult. I'll try to articulate. Promise. I also tried to make this as spoiler free for both books as I could, but this review talks a *lot* about the relationship between two major characters. Like, a lot. So, heads up there. This is also based on an ARC, which the author gave me in the hopes that I would review it. Pfft. You just try to shut me up about this one. Just try. :D
So, if I rewind my brain about a month, I'll remember that the end of Touch of Iron broke my feels. Well, On the Wheel re-broke those feels, because now we're in the aftermath of those events, into some new bonkers-ass events, and more of this story is from Diaz's point of view than in the previous book. Knowing where he stands on some things where we didn't really know before.... hrrrng.
There are a few good reasons that I don't read romance novels much anymore, despite once reading many, many romances. I won't go into all of those reasons, but a fairly big one is that I very easily get very emotionally invested in fictional characters' relationships, and in books where those relationships don't always go smoothly, well... it gets legitimately anxiety-inducing for me sometimes. I wish I didn't feel so hard for things like this, but there it is. So, of course a romantic subplot (which I'm going to admit is a fairly major part of the overall plot of this one) in a book that is definitely more fantasy than romance, and a fairly fucking grim fantasy at that... faaaack. I was in tears by chapter 4 goddamn it, but I could not look away, because it was too goddamn good! Let us just say that it got a teeeeensy bit worse from there.
Nora... oh Nora. Still one of my favorite characters in any book I've ever read, because she is so easy for me to relate to. She's not a proper lady. She swears and she's snarky. She will fight some bitches, if necessary. She is totally realistically DTF sometimes- aren't we all though? :D - She's no waif, and doesn't need any help, thank you very much (except when she does). She's cold as ice sometimes, but not completely without any feeling, though she does try and make it appear so. She's just trying to survive in this crazy world, and this world has done nothing but shit all over her. I want all the good things for Nora, because I feel like Nora and I would be best friends. Alas... the world is going to shit on Nora because that's what this world does.
As I said, we see things from Diaz's POV more and I loved it. It broke my feels sometimes, yes, but it gave the story more depth. I want all the good things for Diaz too, because I can't be mad at him. I just can't. The world certainly shits all over him too, and I feel for him.
Just like Touch of Iron, this one grabbed me right from the first word and would not let go until I was finished. I read this book in more or less a day. I read all through work. I read through dinner. I read until my eyes hurt, because I could not end my day without knowing how this ended. This book is fucking frustrating as all hells in some ways, but, and I am not going to articulate this in a way that makes sense, it was SO FUCKING GLORIOUS. So few books truly make me react so strongly. I can't even fucking remember any other characters that I felt so strongly about as I do about Nora and Diaz. I am angry at this book. I am in love with this book. I want to fucking stab this book for hurting my feels so badly. It's one of those.
Touch of Iron resonated with me and easily became a favorite. I'm pretty sure I can safely say at this point that On the Wheel topped it. Topped it like a fucking boss.
Oh boy, this is going to be a doozy. Staying calm and not just melting down about this book is going to be difficult. I'll try to articulate. Promise. I also tried to make this as spoiler free for both books as I could, but this review talks a *lot* about the relationship between two major characters. Like, a lot. So, heads up there. This is also based on an ARC, which the author gave me in the hopes that I would review it. Pfft. You just try to shut me up about this one. Just try. :D
So, if I rewind my brain about a month, I'll remember that the end of Touch of Iron broke my feels. Well, On the Wheel re-broke those feels, because now we're in the aftermath of those events, into some new bonkers-ass events, and more of this story is from Diaz's point of view than in the previous book. Knowing where he stands on some things where we didn't really know before.... hrrrng.
There are a few good reasons that I don't read romance novels much anymore, despite once reading many, many romances. I won't go into all of those reasons, but a fairly big one is that I very easily get very emotionally invested in fictional characters' relationships, and in books where those relationships don't always go smoothly, well... it gets legitimately anxiety-inducing for me sometimes. I wish I didn't feel so hard for things like this, but there it is. So, of course a romantic subplot (which I'm going to admit is a fairly major part of the overall plot of this one) in a book that is definitely more fantasy than romance, and a fairly fucking grim fantasy at that... faaaack. I was in tears by chapter 4 goddamn it, but I could not look away, because it was too goddamn good! Let us just say that it got a teeeeensy bit worse from there.
Nora... oh Nora. Still one of my favorite characters in any book I've ever read, because she is so easy for me to relate to. She's not a proper lady. She swears and she's snarky. She will fight some bitches, if necessary. She is totally realistically DTF sometimes- aren't we all though? :D - She's no waif, and doesn't need any help, thank you very much (except when she does). She's cold as ice sometimes, but not completely without any feeling, though she does try and make it appear so. She's just trying to survive in this crazy world, and this world has done nothing but shit all over her. I want all the good things for Nora, because I feel like Nora and I would be best friends. Alas... the world is going to shit on Nora because that's what this world does.
As I said, we see things from Diaz's POV more and I loved it. It broke my feels sometimes, yes, but it gave the story more depth. I want all the good things for Diaz too, because I can't be mad at him. I just can't. The world certainly shits all over him too, and I feel for him.
Just like Touch of Iron, this one grabbed me right from the first word and would not let go until I was finished. I read this book in more or less a day. I read all through work. I read through dinner. I read until my eyes hurt, because I could not end my day without knowing how this ended. This book is fucking frustrating as all hells in some ways, but, and I am not going to articulate this in a way that makes sense, it was SO FUCKING GLORIOUS. So few books truly make me react so strongly. I can't even fucking remember any other characters that I felt so strongly about as I do about Nora and Diaz. I am angry at this book. I am in love with this book. I want to fucking stab this book for hurting my feels so badly. It's one of those.
Touch of Iron resonated with me and easily became a favorite. I'm pretty sure I can safely say at this point that On the Wheel topped it. Topped it like a fucking boss.
September 27, 2018
Whoa, cliffhanger much? Where's the next one?
September 1, 2024
This book has all the elements to be a great story but somehow it isn't.
This whole book felt really chaotic to me. In the first book I felt a bit connected to Nora but in this book I didn't really care about any of the characters.
Altough there's only 1 book left in the series I will not be continuing this series.
This whole book felt really chaotic to me. In the first book I felt a bit connected to Nora but in this book I didn't really care about any of the characters.
Altough there's only 1 book left in the series I will not be continuing this series.
October 6, 2017
Nora + co continue to hold my interest. learning more about the Wrights was a treat.
March 31, 2017
This series is becoming a classic
The first book was great at character development. This book makes the first pale. It has twists and turns that are difficult to see coming. This is a brilliant book will worth the time.
The first book was great at character development. This book makes the first pale. It has twists and turns that are difficult to see coming. This is a brilliant book will worth the time.
April 19, 2021
4 stars★★★★
The Living Blade series:
✿ Touch of Iron ★★★★★
✿ On the Wheel★★★★
✿ Mother of Slag currently reading
Well, well, well.
What fascinates me about this series and grim/dark fantasy in general is that I can never predict how the story will take shape as easily as other genres. I am always surprised and shocked by events even if I predict it as there is less certainty and safety for the characters and the plot than other genres like YA fantasy. Main characters die, empires and monarchies fall and the hero can lose. Nothing is safe and that excites and frightens me.
It starts off with a fractured gang who are traumatised. They is a sense of anger and hopelessness with many of them (except the prince who doesn't care about anyone but himself). Nora especially is 'broken' with a body that is not healed and an anger that sits inside her that is as hot and patient as the sun. Owen has made a choice to save his sister at the expense of himself and Telen gains is autonomy back slowly but is traumatised from losing his freedom and being trapped within his own body. Everyone is hurt, sad and scared that what the future holds and what they lost in joining this quest.
I am kind of mad at Telen for all the secret keeping but feel bad for all the loss of personal autonomy. I do love it when Nora is mad at him and fights him. It is charged atmosphere that makes the reader empathetic to both sides. Telen can never say the right thing and that truly aggravates me in this book. He can be so blind for an all-seeing wiseman.
So the two things I thought were going to happen happened, i.e. :.
I immediately downloaded the next book Mother of Slag and I have zero theories on on how Telen and Nora will get out of the situations they got themselves into. Reading the synopsis, Telen going off on an adventure to learn about his mum was no where close to what I would think it would be about.
**Side note in regards to disability rep..
TW: death, gore, blood, disregard for personal autonomy, mental illness.
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August 21, 2018
UGHHH
This tried so hard to be something that it was not. I had the same issues with On the Wheel as i did with Touch of Iron and that there wasn't really a sound point to anything that happened.
Nora was still the same angry character and I still greatly disliked her.
I am also completely confused with the ending. Or not ending because there is obviously going to be a third book.
This tried so hard to be something that it was not. I had the same issues with On the Wheel as i did with Touch of Iron and that there wasn't really a sound point to anything that happened.
Nora was still the same angry character and I still greatly disliked her.
I am also completely confused with the ending. Or not ending because there is obviously going to be a third book.
April 3, 2019
Good plot.. crap ending
Once again, skipped a lot of descriptive parts... the plot was good and kept me guessing. That is one thing I can most def. say, the author did not disappoint. I had no clue what was going to happen.
The ending though.... crap. I hated the ending :/ Maybe the net will be better?? Idk.... if it’s not though, I can say I won’t read another book by this author. That is how much i hated this ending.
Once again, skipped a lot of descriptive parts... the plot was good and kept me guessing. That is one thing I can most def. say, the author did not disappoint. I had no clue what was going to happen.
The ending though.... crap. I hated the ending :/ Maybe the net will be better?? Idk.... if it’s not though, I can say I won’t read another book by this author. That is how much i hated this ending.
June 10, 2021
Huh??
What’s up with that ending?? I enjoyed both of these books. The second got a little long winded with some descriptions but still a very grim fantasy. But the ending WTH! with no explanation of what was going on? Is there going to be a third book to explain everything??
OK, so I just saw that there IS a 3rd book and I'm sure it will explain the ending of the 2nd book. Starting book 3 tonight :)
What’s up with that ending?? I enjoyed both of these books. The second got a little long winded with some descriptions but still a very grim fantasy. But the ending WTH! with no explanation of what was going on? Is there going to be a third book to explain everything??
OK, so I just saw that there IS a 3rd book and I'm sure it will explain the ending of the 2nd book. Starting book 3 tonight :)
May 9, 2019
Amazing again and not only that. The story is evolving and I must say there were many moments which I didn't expected. Second book was also much darker than first one, lets check what will happen in the last one.
August 23, 2019
Tough!
Hard read. Much death and destruction. The author does bring out the emotional trauma the characters are feeling. A good read but tough to get through. Yes. I going to read the next book.
Hard read. Much death and destruction. The author does bring out the emotional trauma the characters are feeling. A good read but tough to get through. Yes. I going to read the next book.
September 23, 2023
A fun, swashbuckling tale through a grimdark setting with a dusting of romance. It managed to progress the story enough to leave me interested in the next installment, despite finishing it relatively quickly.
March 4, 2019
Wrenching
What a brutal book. I cannot believe all the brutality, loss, complex plot, slow burn and then the ultimate cliffhanger. When's the next.book out.!
What a brutal book. I cannot believe all the brutality, loss, complex plot, slow burn and then the ultimate cliffhanger. When's the next.book out.!
June 3, 2019
Fast paced with lots more action than the first. Plot moves on very nicely, as does the world-building and our characters get more complex. Satisfying read.
June 28, 2019
Im in complete shock with the cliffhanger in this book. Im also just a complete and total emotional wreck with half of this book. Cant wait to start the next book.
June 28, 2019
Just as dark and heavy as the first one, and just as good.
August 20, 2021
Nicely written and different. Too dark to continue the next book in the series right away.
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February 10, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Blood & gore depiction
Disregard for personal autonomy
Blood & gore depiction
Disregard for personal autonomy
March 6, 2025
I looooooved this series. Great storytelling, vivid character and a really compelling romance.
August 23, 2025
Diaz nnoyed me. I didn't complete it cause I read somewhere that Nora will be the blade and I'm not ready for that
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews