Ren is a farm boy in a world where magic has been forbidden, the threads of power tightly controlled by the gods who shape the destinies of mortals. When Ren begins sensing strange threads around him, his life changes forever. He discovers that these threads represent aspects of reality—fate, emotion, time, and potential—and that he can bind them to influence the world around him. This ancient art of threadbinding, once gifted to mortals, has been hidden for centuries, but the god of magic, Asteron, has chosen Ren to revive it, defying the other gods.
Ren’s power begins to stir unrest in his village of Ardenmoor, as his abilities challenge the gods’ long-standing control. With the help of Eirik, a former knight who questions the righteousness of the gods, Ren learns to control the threads and starts teaching others to responsibly wield this power. Together, they form the Ascendant Path, a movement that promotes magic as a force for healing, harmony, and change. Ren’s teachings attract followers from across the realm, but also powerful enemies, as the gods launch an inquisition to silence him, and Lira, a former ally, seizes the opportunity to wield threadbinding for her own ambitions.
The story intensifies as Ren defies the god of storms to protect his village and later faces the god of war on the battlefield. In these encounters, Ren’s belief in the responsible use of magic is tested, and he learns that even the gods’ power depends on the faith of their followers. As his struggle with Lira and the gods escalates, Ren must balance his ideals with the harsh reality of war, knowing that his choices will shape the future of magic for all.
Hearts of Magic and Steel is an epic tale of resilience, friendship, and the cost of defiance, where a young man must decide if he is willing to risk everything to give his people the freedom to shape their own destinies.
Genre: Fantasy
Ren’s power begins to stir unrest in his village of Ardenmoor, as his abilities challenge the gods’ long-standing control. With the help of Eirik, a former knight who questions the righteousness of the gods, Ren learns to control the threads and starts teaching others to responsibly wield this power. Together, they form the Ascendant Path, a movement that promotes magic as a force for healing, harmony, and change. Ren’s teachings attract followers from across the realm, but also powerful enemies, as the gods launch an inquisition to silence him, and Lira, a former ally, seizes the opportunity to wield threadbinding for her own ambitions.
The story intensifies as Ren defies the god of storms to protect his village and later faces the god of war on the battlefield. In these encounters, Ren’s belief in the responsible use of magic is tested, and he learns that even the gods’ power depends on the faith of their followers. As his struggle with Lira and the gods escalates, Ren must balance his ideals with the harsh reality of war, knowing that his choices will shape the future of magic for all.
Hearts of Magic and Steel is an epic tale of resilience, friendship, and the cost of defiance, where a young man must decide if he is willing to risk everything to give his people the freedom to shape their own destinies.
Genre: Fantasy
Used availability for Keith Robertson's Hearts of Magic and Steel