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The Mortal Techniques
The Century Blade
Orochi, the king of the dragons, has ordered his brothers and sisters to destroy humanity. It falls to a young hero to assemble a team and stop the dragons' rampage. It falls to the Century Blade.
This is a short story set in the world of the award-winning Mortal Techniques. It is designed to be read as a standalone story, completely independent from the full length novels set in the same world.
This is a short story set in the world of the award-winning Mortal Techniques. It is designed to be read as a standalone story, completely independent from the full length novels set in the same world.
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2021
29 people are currently reading
827 people want to read
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
43 books1,954 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
September 2, 2021
Mini-review
3.5/5 stars
Good appetizer for the Mortal Techniques series.
I’ve read Spirits of Vengeance by Rob J. Hayes, and I can vouch that you don’t have to read any books in Mortal Techniques to enjoy this short story. But if you’ve read any of the books in Mortal Techniques, then you’ll know the legend of the Century Blade. And that is exactly it. Century Blade is a short story in the Mortal Techniques series. It depicted one of the many feats of Century Blade, and how that ‘name’ is earned. I actually think that if you read this first, it might actually improve your experience of Spirits of Vengeance, so that’s something for you to consider about.
As to what I think about the short story? I enjoyed it. Every book—or story—in Mortal Techniques continues to be enjoyable to me, and I don’t see this notion changing anytime soon. The short story is told in a storytelling manner by Guang—you’ll know who he is in Spirits of Vengance—and it’s less than 30 pages long. You can breeze your way through it, and if you haven’t read any of the books in Mortal Techniques, this short story might be a good appetizer for you. The only issue I had with it is that I wish it’s a longer story, but I guess that would defeat the purpose of this short story. I mean, if 600 pages of Spirits of Vengeance left me begging for more, it’s obvious that a 29-pages short story won’t be enough to make me satisfied. Give me more, Rob J. Hayes!
Lastly, I want to say that Hayes made a great decision to use Anato Finnstark’s fan art of Sekiro as the cover art to this short story; it is so apt. Also, don’t forget the goat. That’s all.
You can find the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Element, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Jennifer, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Shaad, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
3.5/5 stars
Good appetizer for the Mortal Techniques series.
I’ve read Spirits of Vengeance by Rob J. Hayes, and I can vouch that you don’t have to read any books in Mortal Techniques to enjoy this short story. But if you’ve read any of the books in Mortal Techniques, then you’ll know the legend of the Century Blade. And that is exactly it. Century Blade is a short story in the Mortal Techniques series. It depicted one of the many feats of Century Blade, and how that ‘name’ is earned. I actually think that if you read this first, it might actually improve your experience of Spirits of Vengeance, so that’s something for you to consider about.
As to what I think about the short story? I enjoyed it. Every book—or story—in Mortal Techniques continues to be enjoyable to me, and I don’t see this notion changing anytime soon. The short story is told in a storytelling manner by Guang—you’ll know who he is in Spirits of Vengance—and it’s less than 30 pages long. You can breeze your way through it, and if you haven’t read any of the books in Mortal Techniques, this short story might be a good appetizer for you. The only issue I had with it is that I wish it’s a longer story, but I guess that would defeat the purpose of this short story. I mean, if 600 pages of Spirits of Vengeance left me begging for more, it’s obvious that a 29-pages short story won’t be enough to make me satisfied. Give me more, Rob J. Hayes!
Lastly, I want to say that Hayes made a great decision to use Anato Finnstark’s fan art of Sekiro as the cover art to this short story; it is so apt. Also, don’t forget the goat. That’s all.
You can find the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Annabeth, Ben, Blaise, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Element, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jimmy Nutts, Jennifer, Joie, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Mike, Miracle, Nicholas, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Shaad, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
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August 31, 2021I have been asked by readers many times for a Century Blade story... so I wrote one. And it's available now!
https://readerlinks.com/l/1959190/cb
https://readerlinks.com/l/1959190/cb
May 10, 2023
All that because of a misunderstanding 💀
November 4, 2021
I read fantasy exclusively. There’s something about the telling of epic and wondrous stories filled with magic and heroes and powers that gives my heart joy.
Fairytales and folktales are definitely among my favourites (it’s probably why I loved Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld books so much) - they’re fantasy stories *within* fantasy stories.
The Century Blade is one such tale.
I hadn’t realised it was so short, and read it over a cup of tea this evening. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and gave me a great insight into this bigger world that Rob J. Hayes has crafted (and one I ashamedly have not delved into until now).
A “standard” quest of the underdog triumphing against the odds, but this fabulous story is more than just that. There are heroes. There are dragons. There is magic and power and captivating prose, and a great climactic battle sequence. For something that’s so short, it packs a punch.
It is the story of "The Century Blade", who becomes a legend (myth?) and the details of how said legend came to be.
Su An doesn’t “want” to be the hero, or the fame, gold, or glory that comes with it. He wants to be forgotten. If he defeats the raging kami, he has been promised his name will be wiped from memory.
And so he gathers a mishmash of allies to help him in his task. Each of them are different, unique, and bring their own powers to the quest.
The ending felt a little rushed (after a pretty intense battle sequence that kept me on the edge of my seat), but overall I was left wanting more from this world - which is exactly what this story is designed to do. I want to know more about stone farmers and enginseers, the Heavenly University, the gold light, other kami and gods, the magic, spells, scrolls, and techniques.
And also I want a goat now for no particular reason.
Very enjoyable read!
Fairytales and folktales are definitely among my favourites (it’s probably why I loved Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld books so much) - they’re fantasy stories *within* fantasy stories.
The Century Blade is one such tale.
I hadn’t realised it was so short, and read it over a cup of tea this evening. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and gave me a great insight into this bigger world that Rob J. Hayes has crafted (and one I ashamedly have not delved into until now).
A “standard” quest of the underdog triumphing against the odds, but this fabulous story is more than just that. There are heroes. There are dragons. There is magic and power and captivating prose, and a great climactic battle sequence. For something that’s so short, it packs a punch.
It is the story of "The Century Blade", who becomes a legend (myth?) and the details of how said legend came to be.
Su An doesn’t “want” to be the hero, or the fame, gold, or glory that comes with it. He wants to be forgotten. If he defeats the raging kami, he has been promised his name will be wiped from memory.
And so he gathers a mishmash of allies to help him in his task. Each of them are different, unique, and bring their own powers to the quest.
The ending felt a little rushed (after a pretty intense battle sequence that kept me on the edge of my seat), but overall I was left wanting more from this world - which is exactly what this story is designed to do. I want to know more about stone farmers and enginseers, the Heavenly University, the gold light, other kami and gods, the magic, spells, scrolls, and techniques.
And also I want a goat now for no particular reason.
Very enjoyable read!
October 23, 2021
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I appreciate the effort put into this story, I mean look at the beautiful cover and the story is only 30 pages long!
I believe it is best read before Spirits of Vengeance and it felt like a chapter discussing a lore out of that world. I liked the fact that it is a short story and kind of worked like a full story where everything happens quickly. It follows the formula of the books in this series where we have a protagonist recruiting other heroes to help him save the nation! (One of those heroes is a goat and he is the GOAT!!)
I would have gone for 4 or maybe 5 stars but the ending felt kind of rushed and unsatisfactory to me. It is like Hayes couldn't contain it in a few pages so he decided to keep a very important detail vague! Still a very enjoyable short story and I want more and more from this world!
I appreciate the effort put into this story, I mean look at the beautiful cover and the story is only 30 pages long!
I believe it is best read before Spirits of Vengeance and it felt like a chapter discussing a lore out of that world. I liked the fact that it is a short story and kind of worked like a full story where everything happens quickly. It follows the formula of the books in this series where we have a protagonist recruiting other heroes to help him save the nation! (One of those heroes is a goat and he is the GOAT!!)
I would have gone for 4 or maybe 5 stars but the ending felt kind of rushed and unsatisfactory to me. It is like Hayes couldn't contain it in a few pages so he decided to keep a very important detail vague! Still a very enjoyable short story and I want more and more from this world!
July 30, 2023
A fun little story set in the Mortal Techniques universe. If you've read any of the standalone books in the series, you likely know The Century Blade. Someone else described this as a campfire story, and I think that rings true!
My only complaint (other than an overuse of commas 😆) is that this story could've easily been a full-length novel. And a novel I would've loved to see play out, honestly! This abridged version reads like many of the expositionary stories told in the other novels. Fun, quick, and illuminating.
My only complaint (other than an overuse of commas 😆) is that this story could've easily been a full-length novel. And a novel I would've loved to see play out, honestly! This abridged version reads like many of the expositionary stories told in the other novels. Fun, quick, and illuminating.
July 23, 2024
Short story from Mortal Techniques series that explains how Century Blade became famous. Short but enjoyable read written as a retelling of his legend.
All I've read from this series so far is Never Die and I had a feeling that his companions have a role in other novels or at least they're mentioned there like Century Blade was in Never Die.
The goat was hilarious.
All I've read from this series so far is Never Die and I had a feeling that his companions have a role in other novels or at least they're mentioned there like Century Blade was in Never Die.
The goat was hilarious.
September 28, 2021
OVERVIEW: The Century Blade is a short story that is set many, many decades (possibly a century or more) before the events of the heroic events seen in Never Die, Pawn’s Gambit & Spirits Of Vengeance. It’s a short story that’s told by an experienced narrator at a fireside regaling their loved ones.
It consists of eight chapters and focuses on a quest wherein a group of warriors combine their powers to fight dragons. If this sounds familiar then you are right, think Avengers meets Final Fantasy and this is what you will find in spades. The story focusses on the Century Blade, Tenzing the Ticking Clock, the Gilded Crone, Konihashi, and a defeated god of the SeaFolk. These five individuals alongside a plucky, obstinate goat form the Abenjazu who are asked by a human named Yamasachi to help defeat the seven dragons of lore.
The story alludes to many other adventures and perhaps we might get to read them one day. This story is a fun little one that has a lot of action and the finale against the dragon Sekiryu will leave the readers wanting more stories of the Abenjazu. Having read Spirits Of Vengeance, I can say with 100% certainty that this short story is very instrumental to the main plot of the story and is even referenced within it.
So give it a shot if you love Final Fantasy and/or Avengers as this short story promises fun on both counts and delivers it as well.
April 4, 2022
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this short story but I wish it was much longer! If you are already familiar with (and enjoy) Hayes’ work, then this will also be to your liking - one man assembles a group of heroes to slay the dragons who wreak havoc on each of the four kingdoms. Cue a lot of blood, camaraderie and great storytelling.
I really enjoyed this short story but I wish it was much longer! If you are already familiar with (and enjoy) Hayes’ work, then this will also be to your liking - one man assembles a group of heroes to slay the dragons who wreak havoc on each of the four kingdoms. Cue a lot of blood, camaraderie and great storytelling.
February 13, 2022
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A fascinating tale following the story of Su An and how he banded with a group of heroes and killed the dragons that ravaged the world.
There was a strong anticipation when I first saw this book in its release—I can say the same, of course, for Spirits of Vengeance. However, I didn’t have the energy to pick them up at the time, and it was a mistake I can only repay by this reading.
Rob J. Hayes did not disappoint in sharing this wonderful short. He executed the beginning paragraph of the story astoundingly with a strong resonance towards tone. It sets the mood of the book, what is to be expected of the story and how the flow would be. And reading the work definitely felt as though you are in front of a bonfire, enjoying yourself a bottle of ale, while Hayes shares his story.
The writing wasn’t anything special. It wasn’t flowery but the quality of authoring put into it is prevalent. The fluidity of reading this work proved not even the slightest complication and that is what made it such a unique read.
I have been fascinated by Rob J. Hayes’ writing ever since I read Never Die and I can now safely say that he is one of those authors that I find true comfort with when reading. He slowly became someone with which I may not always be floored, but I am always going to be in a security of good writing.
See this and other reviews in my blog.
A fascinating tale following the story of Su An and how he banded with a group of heroes and killed the dragons that ravaged the world.
There was a strong anticipation when I first saw this book in its release—I can say the same, of course, for Spirits of Vengeance. However, I didn’t have the energy to pick them up at the time, and it was a mistake I can only repay by this reading.
Rob J. Hayes did not disappoint in sharing this wonderful short. He executed the beginning paragraph of the story astoundingly with a strong resonance towards tone. It sets the mood of the book, what is to be expected of the story and how the flow would be. And reading the work definitely felt as though you are in front of a bonfire, enjoying yourself a bottle of ale, while Hayes shares his story.
The writing wasn’t anything special. It wasn’t flowery but the quality of authoring put into it is prevalent. The fluidity of reading this work proved not even the slightest complication and that is what made it such a unique read.
I have been fascinated by Rob J. Hayes’ writing ever since I read Never Die and I can now safely say that he is one of those authors that I find true comfort with when reading. He slowly became someone with which I may not always be floored, but I am always going to be in a security of good writing.
See this and other reviews in my blog.
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September 8, 2021
Su An was convinced they would need a hero from each of the four great empires in order to challenge the might of the dragons. And the goat, of course. You mustn’t forget about the goat.
This is my first read by Rob J. Hayes and I’m so glad I finally got a chance to read one of his stories. Everyone I know recommends his books so I AM LATE TO THE PARTAAAAAAAAY. But at last, I have read one! And I really liked it. Short stories are often hard for me to sink into, and fantasy is a tricksy one for me because it takes me a while to visualise the new worlds. Thankfully, Rob’s worldbuilding is in-depth, fantastical and engaging! There were also some pretty funny lines (à la Goaty McGoat).
I got Marco Polo vibes from the story (which is a huge compliment, I freaking miss that show). Marco Polo with a touch of dragons, what’s not to love?
This short story was a good teaser for the series and I can't wait to dive into Never Die.
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
This is my first read by Rob J. Hayes and I’m so glad I finally got a chance to read one of his stories. Everyone I know recommends his books so I AM LATE TO THE PARTAAAAAAAAY. But at last, I have read one! And I really liked it. Short stories are often hard for me to sink into, and fantasy is a tricksy one for me because it takes me a while to visualise the new worlds. Thankfully, Rob’s worldbuilding is in-depth, fantastical and engaging! There were also some pretty funny lines (à la Goaty McGoat).
I got Marco Polo vibes from the story (which is a huge compliment, I freaking miss that show). Marco Polo with a touch of dragons, what’s not to love?
This short story was a good teaser for the series and I can't wait to dive into Never Die.
☆ Blog | Twitter ☆
January 4, 2023
A fun interlude story in the Mortal Techniques series. I read this after reading Never Die and Pawn's Gambit, and I have yet to read Spirits of Vengeance.
This short story felt exactly the way I was expecting it to: like it had come straight out of a fantasy world fairytale book. Same world, same feel as the other Mortal Techniques stories, just in a bite size chunk.
While it didn't pack the punch that I felt with the longer novels, I still think it's a great read for anyone enjoying the larger stories.
This short story felt exactly the way I was expecting it to: like it had come straight out of a fantasy world fairytale book. Same world, same feel as the other Mortal Techniques stories, just in a bite size chunk.
While it didn't pack the punch that I felt with the longer novels, I still think it's a great read for anyone enjoying the larger stories.
July 5, 2023
Pretty fun interlude between Pawn's Gambit and the next Mortal Techniques book. It reads like an old legend from a narrator's point of view but also likewise I see a story here worthy of being a full length novel as the other Mortal Techniques books are! But what was here is enjoyable and worth reading for fans of the other books in the series!
April 4, 2023
I don’t think this stood on its own to be fair.
August 29, 2022
3.5 / 5
This was a very short story. The characters were interesting but they didn't have enough time for any growth or to get any attachment to the reader. The special powers were great though! The plot was interesting but the ending was a bit abrupt and underwhelming. Also, as a reader, in my books I love good dialogue and this story had no dialogue at all, so minus point there. Also, the goat mentions were stupid... (unless it was something like an easter egg for readers of his previous novels).
So, at the end, I'd say that it's a fun short story and I did not regret having read it. It did not amaze me but it still made me curious for the rest of his work and I would like to read his full-length novels.
3.5 / 5
This was a very short story. The characters were interesting but they didn't have enough time for any growth or to get any attachment to the reader. The special powers were great though! The plot was interesting but the ending was a bit abrupt and underwhelming. Also, as a reader, in my books I love good dialogue and this story had no dialogue at all, so minus point there. Also, the goat mentions were stupid... (unless it was something like an easter egg for readers of his previous novels).
So, at the end, I'd say that it's a fun short story and I did not regret having read it. It did not amaze me but it still made me curious for the rest of his work and I would like to read his full-length novels.
3.5 / 5
December 30, 2022
Don't let the title fool you...The goat is actually the main character.
July 10, 2024
I started reading this book because dragons were mentioned several times in the Pawn's Gambit. That's why I knew I had to read this because this story tells the story of a dragons and a dragon hunter (+ his companions). In addition it takes place in the same world that I have already grown accustomed to and loved.
This story would have been much better if it was longer than 30 pages. There was a lot of potential in it. Su An's story was very interesting for me, but with this way of telling the story, his story was a bit clashed. But even so, I gave it 3.5 stars because I enjoyed the basic idea and I liked the characters somewhat as well. It was also humorous... especially when there was always a goat as a companion.
I would have seen the battle with the other dragons as well. And what I missed was that it was never revealed why Su An wanted people to forget his name. I hope that one day there will be a full-length novel about Su An and his companions.
↠ Never Die ※ 4 stars ※
↠ Pawn's Gambit ※ 4.5 stars ※
↠ The Century Blade ※ 3.5 stars ※
This story would have been much better if it was longer than 30 pages. There was a lot of potential in it. Su An's story was very interesting for me, but with this way of telling the story, his story was a bit clashed. But even so, I gave it 3.5 stars because I enjoyed the basic idea and I liked the characters somewhat as well. It was also humorous... especially when there was always a goat as a companion.
I would have seen the battle with the other dragons as well. And what I missed was that it was never revealed why Su An wanted people to forget his name. I hope that one day there will be a full-length novel about Su An and his companions.
“These days, we know the man only by the name he earned, and not the name he was given. These days, we know him only by the legend of the Century Blade.”
↠ Never Die ※ 4 stars ※
↠ Pawn's Gambit ※ 4.5 stars ※
↠ The Century Blade ※ 3.5 stars ※
April 15, 2022
“You mustn’t forget about the goat”
The animal companion steals the show in this Asian inspired fantasy. At under 30 pages this is a very quick read, but a satisfying one with plenty of solid world building, interestingly described characters and dragons - with an exciting battle sequence near the end. All of which combine to make for a fantastic introduction to the world of Rob J. Hayes’ Mortal Techniques series which I have been wanting to read. This is a prequel short story and explains the legend of the Century Blade. The hero Su An collects together an unlikely band of companions as he travels through the realms towards his goal of fighting and beating Orochi, the King of the dragons and the dragons who obey him. The dragons have been laying waste to humans and their livelihoods alike and it has become time something is done to stop them. Su An and his band of heroes will take them on in the hopes of ridding the world of their menace once and for all.
The ending of this story was somewhat abrupt but it was a story I would recommend to fans of Asian inspired fantasy.
The animal companion steals the show in this Asian inspired fantasy. At under 30 pages this is a very quick read, but a satisfying one with plenty of solid world building, interestingly described characters and dragons - with an exciting battle sequence near the end. All of which combine to make for a fantastic introduction to the world of Rob J. Hayes’ Mortal Techniques series which I have been wanting to read. This is a prequel short story and explains the legend of the Century Blade. The hero Su An collects together an unlikely band of companions as he travels through the realms towards his goal of fighting and beating Orochi, the King of the dragons and the dragons who obey him. The dragons have been laying waste to humans and their livelihoods alike and it has become time something is done to stop them. Su An and his band of heroes will take them on in the hopes of ridding the world of their menace once and for all.
The ending of this story was somewhat abrupt but it was a story I would recommend to fans of Asian inspired fantasy.
November 4, 2021
For more reviews, go to www.Wolfmantula.com
📖/🎧 with kindle whispersync.
53/50 - 2021 Goodreads Challenge
I was going to just read this short story, but I noticed it had audio with it and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear Kim Bretton do another flawless job in The Mortal Techniques series. As expected, she did just that!
All books in this series are standalones, including this 30 page short story, which is of the man that became The Century Blade, who is a character mentioned in Never Die (Mortal Techniques #1). 30 pages? Yeah! You can knock this out on your lunch break and come back very satisfied! Rob does a great job giving us a nice little story into who this person was and how he came to be while also sprinkling in some foreshadowing teasers from the previous books of this series. Oh yeah, it has dragons! Did I mention that yet? Because it has dragons!
And a GOAT
“You musn’t forget about the goat!”
📖/🎧 with kindle whispersync.
53/50 - 2021 Goodreads Challenge
I was going to just read this short story, but I noticed it had audio with it and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear Kim Bretton do another flawless job in The Mortal Techniques series. As expected, she did just that!
All books in this series are standalones, including this 30 page short story, which is of the man that became The Century Blade, who is a character mentioned in Never Die (Mortal Techniques #1). 30 pages? Yeah! You can knock this out on your lunch break and come back very satisfied! Rob does a great job giving us a nice little story into who this person was and how he came to be while also sprinkling in some foreshadowing teasers from the previous books of this series. Oh yeah, it has dragons! Did I mention that yet? Because it has dragons!
And a GOAT
“You musn’t forget about the goat!”
November 23, 2021
This was a nice little refreshing story. As with every Mortal Techniques story, this can be enjoyed as a standalone but I'd recommend reading it right before Spirits of Vengeance. It was great to hear some back story of Century Blade because he's mentioned so often in these stories. This book has little in terms of depth but it is a lot of fun and a welcome addition to the Mortal Techniques universe. I don't recommend this as an entry point to Mortal Techniques (although chronologically it takes place before the other stories) but I do recommend it if you're a fan of the series.
July 27, 2023
3/5
Decent snippet of Hayes’ style. Good action and good humour, but lacking the epic scale you come to love.
The tone of a campfire tale has been nailed. You can imagine a travelling bard sharing the story for some lien and a drink in a dusty Ipian tavern.
My only real issue is how short of the book is. At only 30 pages it lacks the sweeping epic that the others bring to the table. It’s 30 pages though… it’s understandable as to why.
Would I recommend, sure, it’s a very quick read and sells you on the general style you can expect in the others.
3/5
Decent snippet of Hayes’ style. Good action and good humour, but lacking the epic scale you come to love.
The tone of a campfire tale has been nailed. You can imagine a travelling bard sharing the story for some lien and a drink in a dusty Ipian tavern.
My only real issue is how short of the book is. At only 30 pages it lacks the sweeping epic that the others bring to the table. It’s 30 pages though… it’s understandable as to why.
Would I recommend, sure, it’s a very quick read and sells you on the general style you can expect in the others.
3/5
September 5, 2021
A fun wee companion short story set in the really rather fabulous Mortal Techniques world.
August 13, 2022
3.5 stars—-
December 23, 2023
Not me deciding to read it because it's short, only to be disappointed by how short it was.
October 4, 2021
Update 04/10/2021
Find my reviews on : An Ode to Fiction
Self Pub Release Date : 29th August 2021
Buy the book for FREE :
Amazon
3/5 ⭐️
Century Blade is the short story from the Mortal Techniques series by Rob J. Hayes. In this short story it is set during a time when the dragons are wrecking havoc across the land because of a misunderstanding between the King of Dragons, Orochi, and a human. Our protagonist is a hero that is tasked with the job to slay the dragons with the help of a his four other companions. Just like it's title the story is about this rag tag team of heroes slaying dragons and how they became known as the legendary Century Blade. This is my first Rob J. Hayes book ever as I've never read anything from him before. But I've heard a lot of good things about his books so I wanted to give it a try after seeing this book is available for FREE on Amazon. The story is told in a retelling sort of manner which I found works for this kind of story. It feels like a prologue to an epic adventure that I'm very much looking forward to. I liked all of the characters and the backstories on how each of them got recruited. It is chaotic, witty, and I can't wait to read more.
If you're curious about Rob J. Hayes works and want to try reading some please start with this short story because it serves as a good sampler to his writing and introduction to his world in the Mortal Techniques series. The length is only 30 pages long, it is very easy to breeze through in one sitting. I highly recommend if you love warrior saga stories to read The Century Blade! Btw, there is a goat. I almost forgot about the goat.
Find my reviews on : An Ode to Fiction
Self Pub Release Date : 29th August 2021
Buy the book for FREE :
Amazon
3/5 ⭐️
These days, we know the man only by the name he earned, and not the name he was given. These days, we know him only by the legend of the Century Blade.
Century Blade is the short story from the Mortal Techniques series by Rob J. Hayes. In this short story it is set during a time when the dragons are wrecking havoc across the land because of a misunderstanding between the King of Dragons, Orochi, and a human. Our protagonist is a hero that is tasked with the job to slay the dragons with the help of a his four other companions. Just like it's title the story is about this rag tag team of heroes slaying dragons and how they became known as the legendary Century Blade. This is my first Rob J. Hayes book ever as I've never read anything from him before. But I've heard a lot of good things about his books so I wanted to give it a try after seeing this book is available for FREE on Amazon. The story is told in a retelling sort of manner which I found works for this kind of story. It feels like a prologue to an epic adventure that I'm very much looking forward to. I liked all of the characters and the backstories on how each of them got recruited. It is chaotic, witty, and I can't wait to read more.
If you're curious about Rob J. Hayes works and want to try reading some please start with this short story because it serves as a good sampler to his writing and introduction to his world in the Mortal Techniques series. The length is only 30 pages long, it is very easy to breeze through in one sitting. I highly recommend if you love warrior saga stories to read The Century Blade! Btw, there is a goat. I almost forgot about the goat.
September 4, 2021
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
This is an entertaining introduction to Rob J Hayes' Mortal Techniques series, even if it is frustratingly short. Why frustrating? Well, for me, it just feels like an appetiser to a much bigger story, and I want to read the rest of that story.
For those who aren't familiar with the Mortal Techniques series, they're (currently) a trio of essentially standalone novels, though characters from the earlier books turn up in the later books and provide a tenuous thread through all three. The style is very much wuxia-in-prose, and the characters are always larger than life while remaining firmly grounded. The main character in this short story, Century Blade, is referenced repeatedly in all three of the novels, so it's nice to get a glimpse at the man behind the legend.
I genuinely did enjoy this little addition to the series, but as I've said, I really wish it was longer. It doesn't quite provide the same level of satisfaction that the three novels do, but if you've not read any of those and want to get a feel for what the series is like, this is a good place to start.
This is an entertaining introduction to Rob J Hayes' Mortal Techniques series, even if it is frustratingly short. Why frustrating? Well, for me, it just feels like an appetiser to a much bigger story, and I want to read the rest of that story.
For those who aren't familiar with the Mortal Techniques series, they're (currently) a trio of essentially standalone novels, though characters from the earlier books turn up in the later books and provide a tenuous thread through all three. The style is very much wuxia-in-prose, and the characters are always larger than life while remaining firmly grounded. The main character in this short story, Century Blade, is referenced repeatedly in all three of the novels, so it's nice to get a glimpse at the man behind the legend.
I genuinely did enjoy this little addition to the series, but as I've said, I really wish it was longer. It doesn't quite provide the same level of satisfaction that the three novels do, but if you've not read any of those and want to get a feel for what the series is like, this is a good place to start.
November 21, 2022
4.5 Stars
For a 26 page introduction to Hayes writing I was blown away.
I loved the presentation of The Century Blade's world.
This novella is written almost as ancient spoken history of this world it takes place in. I loved how it felt so reminiscent of Greek & Norse mythologies of our world, especially after my recent read of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.
This story is the tale of Orochi, King of the Dragons, and his brothers and sisters attempts to destory the world. Few exist who could take on a dragon, even fewer have the bravery to.
The story is told at breakneck pace but still manages to contain so much character and mystery to Hayes' world. I found myself loving Hayes' prose, especially the way battle scenes are presented with so much energy and words bursting with astounding visuals. I could already see so many of these battle scenes in my head I'm sold! I loved the strange mix of both ancient feeling Japan (judging from the naming of things) and almost steam-punk vibes especially with the strange mechanical weapon that is created and fueled by blood.
Such facinating tid-bits I can't wait to hear more about in Hayes' future work.
I am 100% going to read more from his author, especially if they're set in this world!
For a 26 page introduction to Hayes writing I was blown away.
I loved the presentation of The Century Blade's world.
This novella is written almost as ancient spoken history of this world it takes place in. I loved how it felt so reminiscent of Greek & Norse mythologies of our world, especially after my recent read of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.
This story is the tale of Orochi, King of the Dragons, and his brothers and sisters attempts to destory the world. Few exist who could take on a dragon, even fewer have the bravery to.
The story is told at breakneck pace but still manages to contain so much character and mystery to Hayes' world. I found myself loving Hayes' prose, especially the way battle scenes are presented with so much energy and words bursting with astounding visuals. I could already see so many of these battle scenes in my head I'm sold! I loved the strange mix of both ancient feeling Japan (judging from the naming of things) and almost steam-punk vibes especially with the strange mechanical weapon that is created and fueled by blood.
Such facinating tid-bits I can't wait to hear more about in Hayes' future work.
I am 100% going to read more from his author, especially if they're set in this world!
January 12, 2022
4.1/5
This was a rather short, quick, and fun story with fast paced action and flashy magic. Compared to Never Die the world feels more detailed and lived in, despite the shortness of the story.
The narrative followed the titular Century Blade or Su An in his quest to slay dragons. With the serpentine gods proven to be too strong, Su An must assemble a crew of legendary martial artists and magicians to take down the dragons. And of course a goat to recruit, don't forget the goat.
I have to agree with other reviews that said that this read like a prologue to a bigger story, because from my understanding, this story is basically a prelude to Spirits of Vengeance.
One other thing that bugged me was the pseudo-Japanese name. There was a fire dragon named Sekiryu. Seki means stone in Japanese so it's basically the equivalent of naming a fire dragon in Western fantasy as Petrodraco, Lithodraco, or Geodraco if you catch my drift.
And yet, despite these small flaws, at the end of the day, I still found the story enjoyable if a bit rushed in the end.
This was a rather short, quick, and fun story with fast paced action and flashy magic. Compared to Never Die the world feels more detailed and lived in, despite the shortness of the story.
The narrative followed the titular Century Blade or Su An in his quest to slay dragons. With the serpentine gods proven to be too strong, Su An must assemble a crew of legendary martial artists and magicians to take down the dragons. And of course a goat to recruit, don't forget the goat.
I have to agree with other reviews that said that this read like a prologue to a bigger story, because from my understanding, this story is basically a prelude to Spirits of Vengeance.
One other thing that bugged me was the pseudo-Japanese name. There was a fire dragon named Sekiryu. Seki means stone in Japanese so it's basically the equivalent of naming a fire dragon in Western fantasy as Petrodraco, Lithodraco, or Geodraco if you catch my drift.
And yet, despite these small flaws, at the end of the day, I still found the story enjoyable if a bit rushed in the end.
September 1, 2021
A smile crept across the dragon's face.
As the author puts it in his own words, Our story starts with Orochi, the Dragon King. And our story starts with a misunderstanding. Yamasachi's has made a terrible mistake and has made Orochi an eight-headed dragon mad! Destruction will ensue. Orochi's will also have seven other dragons that follow him and help with said destruction, one prevalent by the name of Sekiryu. Yamasachi begs Su An a warrior for help and promises to give Su An what he wants. Su An will seek out others to help destroy the dragons.
Wow, from the first line of this story, I was hooked! Rob Hayes has a way of sucking you into his books, you become a part of the story. The characters are awesome and work together for their own goal, using their techniques to help them. Oh, and you mustn't forget the goat. So much action in the battle between the five Heroes and Sekriyu. Awesome read.
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