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Saga of the Singings Sword Brigade #1
Inception of a Brigade
The Singing Sword Brigade is the odyssey of Artka, a young man who embarks on a life of crime in the medieval empire of Carnalia, gets captured and is forced into the army.
He is trained to fight against the armies of King Elyon and his son, Logon Xychirion. In one of his skirmishes he is pierced to the heart by one of the kingsmen's strangely glowing swords.
He awakes to find himself in his former enemy's camp and finds his heart's allegiances have drastically changed: he no longer wants to serve Lurcan, the wicked emperor of Carnalia, but feels unworthy to join Logon's warriors in their quest to rescue lives to the king.
The empire makes many attempts to recapture Artka as he sets out on his journey to be healed by Logon. Tophets (huge, invisible, insect-like monsters that devour the unwary) and Cusps (shadows that penetrate the mind with Carnalian thoughts) and even a Dread (one of the emperor's strongest, demonic forces) are sent to reclaim Artka for the empire, but Tren, the warrior who rescued Artka, fights in Artka's defense as he guides him to Logon's Rock where Artka's heart-wound is finally healed.
Logon heals Artka, clothes him with a clean white tunic, and arms him with an Ecclessite sword, then sends him to join a kingsman brigade in Ecclessa to re-learn battle tactics, for the king's armies seek not to harm, but to rescue people from the deceptions and cruelty of the emperor and his minions.
Joined in his quest to find the new brigade by three new friends, Artka discovers that empire agents have infiltrated Ecclessa's brigades to varying degrees, causing dissension among the kingsmen ranks so that they are not a unified body facing the enemy, but a fractured, bickering coalition of independent forces that aren't having much effect against the powers of their enemy.
On the way to his assignment Artka narrowly avoids being kidnapped by one of these renegade kingsmen leaders, fights a band of tophets that has been dogging him and faces the facts of his own heart's deceitfulness when he secretly covets a dagger--a false but clever imitation of the swords the king issues his troops.
He is trained to fight against the armies of King Elyon and his son, Logon Xychirion. In one of his skirmishes he is pierced to the heart by one of the kingsmen's strangely glowing swords.
He awakes to find himself in his former enemy's camp and finds his heart's allegiances have drastically changed: he no longer wants to serve Lurcan, the wicked emperor of Carnalia, but feels unworthy to join Logon's warriors in their quest to rescue lives to the king.
The empire makes many attempts to recapture Artka as he sets out on his journey to be healed by Logon. Tophets (huge, invisible, insect-like monsters that devour the unwary) and Cusps (shadows that penetrate the mind with Carnalian thoughts) and even a Dread (one of the emperor's strongest, demonic forces) are sent to reclaim Artka for the empire, but Tren, the warrior who rescued Artka, fights in Artka's defense as he guides him to Logon's Rock where Artka's heart-wound is finally healed.
Logon heals Artka, clothes him with a clean white tunic, and arms him with an Ecclessite sword, then sends him to join a kingsman brigade in Ecclessa to re-learn battle tactics, for the king's armies seek not to harm, but to rescue people from the deceptions and cruelty of the emperor and his minions.
Joined in his quest to find the new brigade by three new friends, Artka discovers that empire agents have infiltrated Ecclessa's brigades to varying degrees, causing dissension among the kingsmen ranks so that they are not a unified body facing the enemy, but a fractured, bickering coalition of independent forces that aren't having much effect against the powers of their enemy.
On the way to his assignment Artka narrowly avoids being kidnapped by one of these renegade kingsmen leaders, fights a band of tophets that has been dogging him and faces the facts of his own heart's deceitfulness when he secretly covets a dagger--a false but clever imitation of the swords the king issues his troops.
424 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2012
About the author
J.M. MacLeod
8 books5 followersJohn has worked as a stringer photojournalist for The Courier of Littleton, NH, and staff writer/photographer for The Caledonian-Record in St. Johnsbury, VT. He has directed evangelistic Christian coffeehouse ministries, served as deacon and teacher in various denominational churches, pastored house churches, and, with his wife Beverly, been a youth group leader. John and Beverly were raised in evangelical churches and born again at early ages. They met in college, fell in love, and were married. Early in their marriage they were enticed to join "The Move," a group that presented new and fascinating interpretations of Scripture. They soon became indoctrinated into their cultic teachings. Through the faithful prayers of family and friends they were delivered from The Move and its erroneous teachings. As a result, John became devoted to studying and memorizing portions of the Bible so he would know what the Bible said as opposed to basing his beliefs solely on what others taught. The Saga of the Singing Sword Brigade series is the outcome of the couple's spiritual journey including their escape from deception. John wrote Inception to encourage believers to study and apply scriptural truth to their lives, engage in evangelism, and participate in the visible and invisible spiritual warfare around us.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 23, 2019
Inception of a Brigade is a great read, exciting and fast paced while also thought provoking. It's a Christian novel which uses a world of gruesome monsters and valiant heroes to parallel the Christian walk, transforming faith into an adventure. The principles depicted are theologically sound (which I appreciate) and are demonstrated by engaging characters in a unique world. Normally, I'm not a big fan of allegories (too direct for my taste), but I really enjoyed the setting the author created. The characters and scenes, although very obviously meant to point the reader to Biblical ideas, are interesting in and of themselves, and I think they're well-developed. And in terms of the ideas presented, I think the author did a great job of addressing relevant issues of today's church, such as the American church's tendency toward complacency and disunity. I'll definitely be looking for the next books in the series.
March 25, 2022
Awesome Piece
I wouldn’t call this a Biblical fan fiction. This is a really captivating page-turner. Likening the sword to the Word of God, I realized the need for me to continually sharpen my knowledge in the Word. This is a Christian literature that has a lot to teach us about the Lord’s kingdom, army and even the devastating effects of denominations.
I wouldn’t call this a Biblical fan fiction. This is a really captivating page-turner. Likening the sword to the Word of God, I realized the need for me to continually sharpen my knowledge in the Word. This is a Christian literature that has a lot to teach us about the Lord’s kingdom, army and even the devastating effects of denominations.
Did Not Finish
January 3, 2022I really tried to like this book, but I just didn't find it interesting enough to get through.
July 10, 2023
I have always hated choosing favorites. It's so painful and there are always so many choices! But this is easily one of my absolute favorite books of all time. It's classic. It's inspiring and has made such a deep impact on my faith walk. It's adventurous, thrilling, suspenseful, and insightful. This is a story as old as time told from a new point of view.
Artka is our main character, a young boy whose punishment for his thievery is to either be enlisted in the kingdom's army or die...tough choice there. He fights with all his might against the Emperor's enemy, an evil magician and his faithful army that wield dangerous, glowing blue swords. Soon Artka's world turns completely upside down as he learns that he may be fighting on the wrong side after all and that he has to leave everything he's ever known behind, including his beloved twin sister, Jeda.
A poetic story laced with magic, love, intrigue, danger, and a truly worthy message. The Singing Sword (aka Inception of a Brigade) challenges young readers in much the same way as Tolkien and Lewis's books. I can read this one over and over and over!!!
Reread: 6-2-15
07-26-23
Artka is our main character, a young boy whose punishment for his thievery is to either be enlisted in the kingdom's army or die...tough choice there. He fights with all his might against the Emperor's enemy, an evil magician and his faithful army that wield dangerous, glowing blue swords. Soon Artka's world turns completely upside down as he learns that he may be fighting on the wrong side after all and that he has to leave everything he's ever known behind, including his beloved twin sister, Jeda.
A poetic story laced with magic, love, intrigue, danger, and a truly worthy message. The Singing Sword (aka Inception of a Brigade) challenges young readers in much the same way as Tolkien and Lewis's books. I can read this one over and over and over!!!
Reread: 6-2-15
07-26-23
January 21, 2015
I have always hated choosing favorites. It's so painful and there are always so many choices! But this is easily one of my absolute favorite books of all time. It's classic. It's inspiring and has made such a deep impact on my faith walk. It's adventurous, thrilling, suspenseful, and insightful. This is a story as old as time told from a new point of view.
Artka is our main character, a young boy whose punishment for his thievery is to either be enlisted in the kingdom's army or die...tough choice there. He fights with all his might against the Emperor's enemy, an evil magician and his faithful army that wield dangerous, glowing blue swords. Soon Artka's world turns completely upside down as he learns that he may be fighting on the wrong side after all and that he has to leave everything he's ever known behind, including his beloved twin sister, Jeda.
A poetic story laced with magic, love, intrigue, danger, and a truly worthy message. The Singing Sword (aka Inception of a Brigade) challenges young readers in much the same way as Tolkien and Lewis's books. I can read this one over and over and over!!!
Reread: 6-2-15
07-26-23
Artka is our main character, a young boy whose punishment for his thievery is to either be enlisted in the kingdom's army or die...tough choice there. He fights with all his might against the Emperor's enemy, an evil magician and his faithful army that wield dangerous, glowing blue swords. Soon Artka's world turns completely upside down as he learns that he may be fighting on the wrong side after all and that he has to leave everything he's ever known behind, including his beloved twin sister, Jeda.
A poetic story laced with magic, love, intrigue, danger, and a truly worthy message. The Singing Sword (aka Inception of a Brigade) challenges young readers in much the same way as Tolkien and Lewis's books. I can read this one over and over and over!!!
Reread: 6-2-15
07-26-23
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews