Ballad of the Blade by Andrew P. Merritt
Would I Recommend: Yes
Read: 8/17-8/30/2025
Ballad of the Blade is an epic dark fantasy debut by Andrew P. Merritt. I jumped at the opportunity to work with Andrew regarding the eBook formatting for this novel and I am very grateful he took a chance on me because this was truly a great read.
Ballad of the Blade has several storylines running at the same time. The way they bob and weave around each other takes a moment to acclimate to but keeps the reader engaged throughout the novel. Each narrating character has their own style and it is very easy to determine whose chapter you are in. When the character stories start to intersect, things get even more interesting. While there is a lot going on, this does wrap up nicely in the end, bringing a lot of clarity; something I always need in any book.
There is definitely something for everyone here: magic (or the lack thereof), assassins, witty bards, brute strength, mysterious origins, creatures of the night, really cool moon art that moves with every chapter. I laughed, I cried, I put it down at some points, and couldn’t put it down at others.
My criticisms for this book involve the sheer amount of something for everyone here. There were some single adjacent character POVs that didn’t feel entirely necessary and could have helped pare down an already detail AND plot heavy 550 page novel. It is a lot to follow. I found myself taking notes as I went to make sure I can keep certain stories straight. There were some instances where I thought were written for shock value and not substance (i.e., excessive and unnecessary swearing. And I’m a SAILOR so for me to say this you know its real). I will admit that when I started this, I thought this wouldn’t do it for me but I am glad I stuck with it because it really grew on me.
I would recommend this for folks that like epic, immersive, and gritty fantasy. I read it like one of my Skyrim playthroughs (this is not diminutive, that game means everything to me). This book is like if something of worth actually happened in The Name of the Wind. I truly enjoyed Ballad of the Blade and I am looking forward to the continuation journey from Merritt.
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