A Sellsword's Resolve

The Seven Virtues, Book 3

By: Jacob Peppers

Narrated by: Steven Brand

War isn't coming. It's here.

Aaron and his companions prevented the assassination of a queen, but in doing so, they angered an ancient evil. Angered it, wounded it, but did not kill it, for such evil never truly dies.

An army greater than any the world has ever known marches bringing steel and death with it, and somewhere, a 1,000-year-old evil lurks in the darkness, plotting and bending its will toward revenge.

Aaron and his companions have gathered allies to help them in the coming battle, and each day, his bond with the Virtue of Compassion grows stronger, gifting him greater and greater power.

But if life on the street taught Aaron anything, it’s that no one is better able to stab you in the back as those standing behind you. And as his power with the legendary creature grows, so, too, does an uncontrollable rage that threatens to consume him.

His enemies are many, his friends few, but no matter what happens, they will all learn the truth of a sellsword’s strength.

He will show them a sellsword’s resolve.

©2018 Jacob Peppers (P)2019 Podium Publishing

Book 3 is in the books, book 4 here we come!

This is book 3 of the series, and I listened to it on audible, so you know he's doing something right. Wrath makes "their" presence known as Silent and co. find themselves in more shit than even they can handle. Book 4 looks like it will be a nail biter! I'm loving who has the virtue of strength now as well :)

Awesome!

One of the best fantasy books I've made my way through in awhile. Exciting, addictive and can't wait for the next one

Nail Biting Anticipation

I stayed up to binge listen this book & the series!!!

The author has me on the edge of my seat…The plot twist on plot twist… Aaron is giving me serious badassery vibes….I completely enjoyed this book.

The character development and plot has me buying each book in the series with eager anticipation of what delightful storylines are in store. Each book is such a wonderful present to unwrap.

Never a boring moment

Love love love the story so far. It's continually moving forward and told from different characters POV. I have zero complaints about the story.However, the author isn't a strong writer and needs a better editor. He tends to re-use a lot of words, phrases, and imagery which gets old quickly, and really shows a lack of creativity/vocabulary. If you like the word "grunt" then you'll love this. Overall a good read, I just wish the author would branch out his writing a little because it almost reads as lazy.

4 star story cuz it dragged and had me thirsty .

This book was written at a good pace. Pissed me off for being slow at a point. I guess that's the authors point. Intrigue. Made me read ahead on my kindle, and still listen to the audible. Over all. Awesome. I am impatient when it comes to climax. However I think the author did it damn near perfect. best book in the series so for. Oh yeah I'm an action fan not, drama. lol

great author great story great narrator

this is my favorite series hands down. keeps getting better . I cant wait for the next story.

Absolutely fantastic!

I have read the book and decided to get the audio version as well. It did not let down yet again! I loved the build up to the battle and just kept listening waiting for the Ghosts to fight. Steven Brand does a great job and does great with changing his voice for the characters. Well done!

OK

The first book and prequel were pretty good. The second was good enough. The third I put down (several times) and only barely managed to finish it.

It seems like all the pieces are there... but disjointed. Pieces woven together that don't fit and drop-out of importance... pieces added that don't further the story... plot devices that build the story but are applied half-hazardly. I can't imagine that the author was pleased with this one. It we would have been better as two stories do that the separate story lines could have been woven together.

Way Too Frustrating

The stupidity of the main characters is beyond frustrating. Against my better judgment I made it through to the end of book 3 (A pathological need to find out how things finally ended up.) But I’m done with this series. The frustration finally won out.

That’s my secret: I’m always angry

Mild spoilers if you haven’t listened to the prior book:

Oh, how I wish this had the action and humor of The Hulk and The Avengers. Instead, Aaron is just angry. The concept of a duality of virtue was clever, but shouldn’t that mean that Aaron has both Compassion and Wrath? Why wouldn’t a centuries’ old virtue warn Aaron that he would fall under the influence of conflicting feelings? Co does nothing, Aaron does nothing compassionate, except for one time when he tries to sense a woman’s motives… and merely manages to sense she should be watched. How is it that we’re three books in, with now General Aaron training an army, and there’s not a single time when Co and Aaron attempt to train his Compassion/ Wrath powers? And, is it really the virtue of compassion, or is it understanding what your opponent is thinking/ feeling (which would make it the virtue of empathy).

As with the last book, my favorite parts of the story are the parts without Aaron. Commoner Wendell, with his frenemies banter, was my favorite character in this installment. The Grayle storyline was much more entertaining (even if the twists continue to be rather predictable). The POV of the evil King Belgarain was decent (even if it proceeds along an entirely separate path). The Big Bad is wonderfully, grotesquely, insanely written (but sadly also is stuck on a distant path for 99% of this book). I can see the vague outline of how all these paths will eventually come together to a satisfying book 7. It’s just that there isn’t enough great action, humor, dialogue, or personality to have me loving these in-between books.

As a whole, this series ended up in three star pretty good territory, with books 1 and 7 being the standouts. Tighter writing would have bumped it up to four stars great.