Heart of Flesh

The Ronin Saga, Book 5

De: Matthew Wolf

Narrado por: Michael Kramer

5000+ 5 star ratings on Audible
200,000+ copies sold
Top 5 on Audible

Return to the world of Farhaven...

In a city of hedonism and greed, Gray, Ayva & Helix must overcome a world of scheming and politics while fighting for their lives in the arena of flesh. Only a trick lies up the wicked Queen's sleeves, and they are to be restricted by a magical collar.

However, a terrible secret lies in the blood that spills upon the sands. Each winner consumes the the 'spark' of the defeated. Now the chance to grow stronger than ever sits before them, if only they can harness their true nature, and rise to become Grand Primus, the greatest warrior in Farhaven.

Time is running out as they must collect the nine elemental stones, band together the Great Kingdoms on the verge of war, and become the legends they were meant to be — or all will fall to darkness. At the same time, a grand evil rises; a shadow that threatens to consume the world.

©2026 Matthew Wolf (P)2026 Matthew Wolf

One of the best books I’ve read all year

The good, the bad, and the ugly… The Good: The action. Holy jeebus. Not good—freaking epic. I was absolutely blown away by all the colosseum battles. Gray, Ayva, Darius, Zane, Helix… every single one of them. Every time I thought, “Okay, that’s the best fight scene in the book,” the next one somehow topped it. I could see everything: every gust of sand, every punch, every slice, every roar of the crowd. It was just so, so good. The Bad: I need more. My main complaint is the cliffhanger. Book 3’s cliffhanger felt a bit too jarring; this one is actually epic. I had no idea that was coming. Mind freaking blown. That said, it feels a little unfair to not have Book 6 in my hands after ending it on that note. The Ugly (sort of): There was one arc I LOVED (new ronin, anyone?), but… SEMI-SPOILER: There’s another arc with a previous character that felt resolved a little too fast. However, I’m starting to wonder if that “rushed” arc was intentional. If that character hasn’t turned as easily as we think… if he’s not as “reformed” as we’re led to believe… if that’s the case, it’s beautiful writing. If not, I think his transformation is a bit rushed. /Spoiler off. TL;DR: Uh-freaking-mazing. Book 2 was my favorite, then Book 4, and this one blows them both out of the water (sand). If you love Sanderson, Rothfuss, anything in that realm—read. This. Now. You could read it without the previous books, but this one builds on them so deeply and richly that you’d be missing out on some truly epic characters. I’m a long-time reader—backed on Kickstarter 8 years ago for Book 1, took a risk on a new series, and couldn’t be more stoked about where it’s gone. If you like: • found family • lots of humor • intense, cinematic action • vivid, creative magic • grand worldbuilding • heartstring moments • next-level adventure …this is for you. Don’t overthink it. Snag it now.

An Epic Tale

Matthew Wolf has created an immersive and epic world with his Ronin Saga series. Heart of Flesh absolutely takes it to the next level. The characters are more complex and more legendary with each book. I have grown to love them all, but admit Faye is one of my favorites.
While I love a good battle scene, and there are many, I think I enjoy Wolf’s dialogue and the relationship he creates between the characters and there is so much wisdom. Many will be happy to see the romance that he has woven in and it’s so good.
Michael’s Kramer’s narration brings the book and the characters to life. He crushed it. If you love good dragon scenes you’ll love Kramer’s version. So much fun. I highly recommend this epic world.

A must Audiobook for your library

Michael Kramer does a magnificent job bringing some of my favorite characters to life. His interpretation of Queen Imala is a hoot! Matthew Wolf’s Heart of Flesh leaves me wanting more!! Can’t wait for book 6!

The perfect saga continues

First of all, thank you, Matthew Wolf—this is the book five we’ve all been waiting for. Returning to Farhaven feels like coming home, surrounded by the characters we’ve grown to love. The story flows beautifully, and the expansion of the world is handled with care, adding depth without ever feeling overwhelming. The well-placed recaps are seamless and appear exactly when you need them, making it easy to stay immersed. Character development truly shines here; the emotional turmoil each character faces grows naturally alongside their increasing powers, making their journeys feel earned and deeply satisfying.

Epic Title, Better Story

Matt has done it again!
In this, the 5th book in this epic series, we hit the ground running and don’t slow down. I was privileged to be a part of the Kickstarter group and am so pumped for this book to be out to the general public now! 5 Stars!