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Title: Black Martlet
Subtitle: First Short Story from the Tales of the Black Powder Wars
Author: J P Ashman
Narrator: Julian Casey
Format: Unabridged
Length: 35 mins
Language: English
Release date: 05-05-17
Publisher: J P Ashman
Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publisher's Summary:
In Brisance, you never know when your childhood will end. With unusual raiders on his father's estate, Liem, only son of an Altolnan Baron and Baroness, discovers through a harrowing and violent experience just how quickly his life can change. With the whole of Brisance on the brink of war, it is often recognition of the smallest acts that effect change and create hope where there was little.
Members Reviews:
A great read that manages to capture war and a range of emotions in only 30 pages.
I won't go into the story details here, as you can read that in the synopsis, but I just want to say I really enjoyed this. It's easy to read, digest, and visualize. The only thing I didn't much care for were the illustrations in each chapter; they're not 'bad' but I didn't feel they accurately portrayed the atmosphere of the story, so I could have been even more immersed if they weren't there to distract.
All in all, Ashman is a writer I'll definitely be paying more attention to, and I'm moving right onto the first novel in the Black Powder Wars.
The Weight of a Crucible's Contents
Black Martlet is the first short story set in the world of the Black Cross. Mr. Ashman has given us a short tale but full of imagery, tales and promises of more short stories to come. I do enjoy reading the descriptive prose and visualizing the surroundings, the smells and sounds that are brought forth. Mr. Ashman has a talent for allowing the reader just enough to allow themselves to fill in the finer details and thus tailor it from their own experiences. If you have read The Black Cross, you will find it filled with such imagery. A short story it is but the heart of the story outweighs its page length by far.
The tale follows Liem on a pleasant and peaceful harvest day. Little does Liem know just how far and fast that day will snatch him from where he started. Liem is his fatherâs son. But with all who find themselves in strife and stress, a personâs mettle is yet to be determined until the crucible is heated and the slag rises to the top. Liem finds out his mettle with a baptism fraught with pain, courage and determination. True leaders are born to it and to their own surprise at times it comes forth at the most perilous times and prices too high to pay.
Great Intro to Ashman's world!
A great read - mixes a coming-of-age theme with great action, a hint of interesting world building, and standout-out, compelling characters. Highly recommended, and looking forward to reading the opening novel sometime. :)
Five Stars
excellent
The author once again creates magic in words!
Having already read "Black Cross" book one in the Black Powder Wars series and loved it I was hoping that the author would continue the magic he conjured in that first book. He succeeded impressively! In a short 30 pages the author brings alive this story with such craft that he had me first shedding tears of sorrow for a father, and a son's grief... and then before the end shedding tears of joy for that same son. All I can say is WOW and that I can't wait till the "Black Guild" is released and I get to read more of this incredible author's stories!
