I can't be sure if the author of Soul of Searing Steel is serious because I can't directly understand the author's writing style and attitude.
The author's writing attitude is usually influenced by many factors, such as personal writing style, writing purpose, writing experience, and so on. Some novelists would spend a lot of time and energy to conceive the plot, shape the characters, and construct a worldview to create an excellent work. Some novelists might pay more attention to the entertainment and drama of the novel and ignore the seriousness of the writing.
Therefore, it was impossible to determine whether the author of Soul of Searing Steel was serious or not because it depended on the author's specific situation and writing style.