This is a novella prequel to Speakman's recently published "The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey."  The events take place a generation before "Tempered Steel..."

The story starts with the battle of Mechs against the Celestials over the city of Solomon Fyre which is referenced in the beginning of "Tempered Steel..." Jak Dreadth is a privileged son of the House Dreadth; used to power and luxury.  He is brave as evidenced by his joining the battle in his own Mech; but his Mech is mysteriously sabotaged and he is left for dead in the middle of a desert.  He is rescued by an arabi, one of the unknown nomads of the desert.  This arabi has no reason to help him but she does; she not only preserves his life but teaches him of her own.  Before he can return to Solomon Fyre and confront those who left him for dead, he has to travel a great distance; learning much of the others who live on his world, things he would never have learned as a Dreadth. But his mentor and guide dies unexpectedly and gifts him with a magical staff.  After attempting to return his guide's personal effects, including the staff, to her people he discovers that he cannot just hand over the staff; it has become linked to him.  The significance of this is that he is expected to become a Will Master, as his mentor was.  This is unprecedented: a city man becoming a Will Master?  No one has ever heard of this.  And Jak isn't sure he's even capable of learning those skills.  But should he be successful, he might have a chance of surviving a return to Solomon Fyre.

He meets a young woman persai who is on a mission to recover a stolen dragon egg; possibly stolen by a Celestial.  Jak is persuaded to assist her, if only to thwart a desire of a Celestial; those who destroyed his beloved city.

Again, Speakman delivers a solid, yet light, science fiction story.  The worldbuilding was good and I enjoyed the characters.  As he probably intended, I kept wondering if Jak was going to turn out to be a character in the "Tempered Steel…" story but he gave no confirmation.  He does, however, promise another novella to continue the prequel story.

Speakman publishes his own work but don't let that deter you; he also publishes some of the brightest names in the business.  Grim Oak Press is no fly-by-night vanity press.  The books are well-edited and the book itself is a delight; with professional eye-candy cover art and sumptuous paper.  Check him out at:  Grim Oak Press ~~  Catherine Book

For more titles by Shawn Speakman click here