The Chronosceptre
Nexus of Arcanus Series
Conflicts abound in the fantasy novel The Chronosceptre, which closes a quest trilogy with aplomb.
In Steven W. Truelove’s grounded fantasy novel The Chronosceptre, the battle between light and shadow comes to a dramatic climax as a fabled artifact threatens to fall into the wrong hands.
In this series volume, Elrith and his companions continue to move through territories marked by conflict and ancient designs. They hope to secure four artifacts and protect the weakened Nexus. Their progress brings them into the path of ambitious Soleena, whose pursuit of the Chronosceptre (which “does not destroy” but “throws its victims backward in time, feeding on the temporal displacement”) threatens to unmake the balance they hope to restore.
Along the way, the group faces corrupted guardians, volatile landscapes, and rituals that shape the structure of their world. The plot holds to a quest framework, using shifting terrain, competing priorities, and the rising shadow of the Chronosceptre to keep its tension steady. Indeed, even when the group interacts with centaurs and dragons, widening the story’s scope, they do so without diverting energy from their central mission.
Progressing through a series of blockbuster-style set pieces that move the party from a floating castle to abandoned grounds and a volcanic stronghold, the book is flush with distinctive obstacles and defined objectives. Its chapters open on moments of movement, conflict, and discovery, and its transitions are swift. With so much focus on forward motion, the story does not often linger on single moments, though. Still, some concrete details appear, such as that the floating castle rests on a springy cloud deck, the volcano burns with a molten sheen, and the abandoned town carries the metallic scent of a recent struggle. Once Soleena regains her strength, the story shifts, focusing more on the ultimate power struggle between her and the group.
The heroic group operates as a unit, with each member having a distinct role. Their traits are shown in action rather than explained. Elrith’s restraint shapes the leadership dynamic; Drutle’s quick problem-solving has a steadying effect; and Lyrana’s command of elemental knowledge guides the party through ancient structures. Kinaru brings force and stability, while Miriel offers emotional support.
As the battles and mechanical puzzles that the group faces merge, they reach the final stretch of their adventure. The immediate conflict is resolved without closing the cast’s larger arcs, making room for the possibility of future tales.
In the taut, trilogy-concluding fantasy novel The Chronosceptre, a dynamic group continues their adventure-filled quest to stop a villain’s plot.
Reviewed by
John M. Murray
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
