What drives a warrior to fight?

Some take up arms to protect their homeland, while others seek glory and riches. For Charlaine and Ludwig, it's the result of a love that can never be!

Charlaine deShandria has never questioned what her future holds. For years, she's been training to take over her father's smithy, spending her every waking hour toiling at the forge.

Ludwig Altenburg loathes his role as the Baron's son. Always dreaming of fighting battles, he must now surrender himself to the inevitability of his future.

Duty is all they've known, but when they meet, they begin to question if there is more to life. Before they can even make a choice, they find themselves surrounded by those who are determined to tear them apart.

Lives are changed forever when family secrets are revealed in this clash of classes that propels two people towards their destiny!

Travel back to the origins of these soon to be mighty warriors in Tempered Steel, the prequel of Paul J Bennett's epic military fantasy series, Power Ascending.

Books by Paul J Bennett

Heir to the Crown Series:

Battle at the River — Prequel

Servant of the Crown

Sword of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: Stories of the Past

Heart of the Crown

Shadow of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic

Fate of the Crown

Burden of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: The Making of a Man

Defender of the Crown

Fury of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: Honour Thy Ancestors

War of the Crown

Triumph of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: Into the Forge

Guardian of the Crown
Enemy of the Crown

Peril of the Crown

The Frozen Flame Series:

Awakening — Prequels

Ashes

Embers

Flames

Inferno

Maelstrom

Vortex

Torrent

Cataclysm

Power Ascending Series:

Tempered Steel — Prequel

Temple Knight

Warrior Knight
Temple Captain

Warrior Lord

Temple Commander

Warrior Prince

The Chronicles of Cyric:

Into the Maelstrom — Prequel

A Midwinter Murder

The Beast of Brunhausen

A Plague in Zeiderbruch

What readers say about Paul J Bennett’s books:

★★★★★ -"Fantastic Fantasy!"

★★★★★ -"Epic Battle Scenes!

★★★★★ -"I’m hooked on this series!"

★★★★★ -"Exciting Sword and Sorcery."

★★★★★ -"Outstanding work of fantasy."

★★★★★ -"Another excellent book series!!"

★★★★★ -"I just could not stop reading them."

★★★★★ -"This author has a way to tell stories.”

★★★★★ -"Easy to follow, but difficult to put down.”

★★★★★ -"Wow! Best book I’ve read in a LONG time!"

★★★★★ -"Thoroughly absorbing, exciting, and mystical."

★★★★★ -"A real fantasy that springs off the pages.”

★★★★★ -"I love the strong and smart female characters.”

★★★★★ -"Give this a read… you will end up hooked as I did.”

★★★★★ -"If you like fantasy fiction, then this is a must-read!"

★★★★★ -"Each character fits snugly into the wildly, active plot.”

★★★★★ -"This story gripped me and kept me turning the pages."

★★★★★ -"This jaw-dropping continuation is well worth the read.”

★★★★★ -"Action, Intrigue, Adventure, Romance and some twists!"