The Lost Edge
Andrew Rowe
Lien — named for an ancient word meaning 'blade-edge,' bearing a mysterious mark on his right hand — is raised in a primeval forest by a sage among faeries and spirits. To earn his freedom he undertakes the trials of Anathema, a long-hidden weapon of devastating power, training in swordplay and magic under fractured figments of ancient legends. Now called Edge and bound to a legendary blade recovered from the Sepulcher of Sealed Swords, he delves dungeons and faces a three-fold fae trial to unlock the first of his weapon's sealed secrets — set in Rowe's Arcane Ascension universe and inspired by JRPGs and The Legend of Zelda.
Progression: Staged power-unlock advancement, verified via Goodreads per-volume blurbs: (1) trial-gated growth — Lien must 'master his own burgeoning power' through the trials of Anathema to earn freedom (bk1); (2) sequential sealed-weapon unlocks — Edge must 'unlock the first of his weapon's secrets' to progress (bk2); (3) ranked duel/trial milestones — three-fold fae trial where 'each duel will test not only his power and training but also his cunning' (bk2); (4) dungeon-delving advancement (Sepulcher of Sealed Swords, sealed-sword dungeon, bk2). Set within the Arcane Ascension universe; author markets it as a progression fantasy series (author blog, June 2023).
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