Review: Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion Series Book 3) by Elizabeth Moon

Oath of Gold by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d give this book 4.5 stars if I could.

This third book in the trilogy is a fantastic way to end it. We ended the last book with the downward spiral of Paks and her disappearance from her friends. In this book she finds herself back in Brewersbridge and to avoid seeing people she knows ends up hiding in The Grove. She is in a bad way both mentally and physically and Master Oakhollow takes her in and helps her.

When she is healed physically and as mentally as she’s going to get, she finds herself back on a similar path to that which she always dreamed of, but with a very different understanding of that path. Her experiences have changed the way she views herself and the world and it has made her a better character for it. She has been through hell and back and come out a stronger and more compassionate person.

Most of this book is taken up with Paks’ quest, set by the gods. Her strength of character and depth of belief is challenged on an ongoing basis and her previous alliances and friendships help her achieve her goals. I love that the ended of this book, isn’t really an ending. It’s more of a ‘this is how this story ends, but Paks carries on living her best life’.

The book is well written and the world in which Paks dwells is convincingly created. The only reason this whole series didn’t get 5 stars across the board is because Paks always stands a little apart from the world and doesn’t fully engage with people who become friends. There is always a distance. I know this is a decision the author made because Paks’ full purpose is to do the work of the gods, but I don’t think she needed to be quite as self-sufficient as she was. Her friendships were always transitory and she was always a bit of an island. However, if her friendships had meant more than her duty, this would have been a very different series of books, I just felt that there could have been a little bit more of a balance in experiencing human connections. Apart from that one quibble, I loved this book and the rest of the series as much as I remembered. Maybe I’ll dig out some more old paperbacks!

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Review: Divided Allegiance (The Deed of Paksenarrion Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Moon

Divided Allegiance by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d give this book 4.5 stars if I could.

This book has Paks travelling on her own for the first time since she left home to join the Duke’s Company. She leaves The Duke because he has got into a poor alliance and the actions of their ally goes against everything that Paks is. She is given leave to find another path and joins a caravan to head back home to the north.

She has many adventures on her path, both good and bad, meeting new friends and defeating new foes. She is given the opportunity of a lifetime and her childhood dreams seem to be coming true, until they come to an abrupt end.

This book will rip your heart out as you watch all that was golden and good in Paks become broken and tarnished. It’s a really challenging book and as one reviewer commented a timely reminder that even if we stretch out a hand to someone who is suffering mentally, sometimes they can’t see the hand in the dark and will walk away believing no one cares. This is especially true of members of the armed forces who suffer from PTSD.

In this book we see the author’s life experience shine through, from her experiences training to be an officer to seeing how fellow combatants are treated. It’s a hard book to read, but a worthwhile one.

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Review: Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion Series Book 1) by Elizabeth Moon

Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d give this book 4.5 ⭐ if I could.

I first read this book in 1997 and when I had a craving for a fantasy novel I pulled it off my bookshelf (my actual physical bookshelf which has only 4 shelves these days).

Paksenarrion Dorthansdottor is the daughter of a sheepfarmer. She has been promised as a bride and a dowry paid, despite her telling her father she didn’t want to marry. To escape the marriage, she runs away, age 18 and goes to find the recruitment fair for a mercenary company. She signs up with Duke Phelan’s company, one recommended by her cousin, and becomes a recruit.

One of the best parts of this book is that is follows our hero through her first few years as a soldier. She is no mighty warrior. She is 6ft tall with strong limbs and long blonde hair, but she doesn’t have men swooning at her feet wherever she goes. She works hard, has dreams of glory, makes friends and messes up by being too eager and too inexperienced. This book follows a campaign where Paks starts to show her leadership qualities and her strength of character. It also shows someone might have plans for her in the future, even if Paks just wants to live her life with her friends in her Duke’s company.

The world that Elizabeth Moon builds is beautifully constructed. We can imagine everything from the cities to the forests. There are races of beings that Paks sees for the first time and we can share in her amazement. She came from a tiny village far in the north and has no experience outside farm life when she joins up, which allows us to experience all the wonders of the world, created by the author, through her eyes.

I also enjoyed the fact that Paks is inexperienced. We see the battles and parts of the campaign that she is involved in, but we don’t see the full picture. We see the world through her eyes and she is only a lowly private. She’s trusted with a couple of important missions after she proves herself, so we see those parts of the campaign, but we get to understand that most soldiers don’t really know what’s going on a lot of the time.

I’ve got so sucked into this world that I know I’m going to race through the series again, in the way I remember doing the first time round, over 20 years ago. It really is an excellent read.

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Review: Aryana's Journey (Excalibur's Decision Series Book 1) by Aspen Black

Aryana's Journey by Aspen Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Merlin is Fae!

This was an enjoyable fantasy where Merlin and the knights of the round table are fae, though King Arthur was human. It’s now the 23rd Century and the human race has largely fallen back to the dark ages. Merlin is on the hunt for the next king of the fae, using Excalibur to see if anyone can pull the sword from the stone.

Aryana is a normal human girl who was orphaned young and raised by the cook and stable master of the richest man in town. Despite being orphaned young, she seems pretty happy with her lot. Her adopted family are really lovely people and they treat her well. Her job in the kennels is something she loves doing and everything is good except for her recurring nightmares.

When Aryana pulls Excalibur from the stone on a dare she is stunned to be proclaimed the new monarch.

This book is a fairly straight forward slow burn reverse harem fantasy book. I felt there wasn’t a lot of character development sadly, as I really believed that would have been very interesting. The plot was pretty straight forward until the last chapter when everything took a bit of unexpected turn. It made me want to read the next book, I just wish the rest of the book could have had as many twists.

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Review: Crown of Desire: A Fantasy Romance Novel (The Peacequeen Series Book 1) by Eve Bradley

Crown of Desire: A Fantasy Romance Novel by Eve Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantasy Reverse Harem

I'd probably give this book 3.5 stars, If I could.

Catryn is a whore. She’s been one her whole life as her father started selling her young. She’s currently working in a brothel as the city in which she lives is crumbling through corruption and lack of leadership. Then the brothel is filled with soldiers come to steal women away for their camp as they wait to take the city by force.

Catryn is claimed by Darrian, the son of someone powerful. He takes her to his camp and treats her well and even offers to pay her for her time and take her to somewhere safe after the war is settled. Having no real choice Catryn agrees and even enjoys their time together.

Then two men arrive, Valryn and Glend, a warrior and a scholar who have travelled from the Vault Citadel with a crown created by the gods and goddesses. A crown to sit on top of the head of new Peacequeen, Catryn. There hasn’t been a Peaceking or Peacequeen in 300 years. They are anointed by the gods and goddesses to rule over the the kings and queens of the continent, to guide them, especially in dark times of war. They are given Guardians to protect them and mystical powers of invulnerability and magic. Valryn was born to be a Guardian, and Glend and Darrian choose to become one. They each bound to Catryn and through her to each other and have to learn quickly how to work together effectively. They have to hit the ground running because war is coming to the continent and they have few resources with which to stop it.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. It’s well written and there is plenty of plot but I felt like I didn’t connect properly with the characters. I feel like I *should* have connected with them, but I just felt there was something missing. I think it’s because though there was some discussion about their pasts, they weren’t really talked about with emotion, with the exception of Catlyn. There was no real backstory for most them, with only a few hints. What I don’t know is if this was deliberate or not, and whether more information will come out in the next book. This is the problem with reading a new to me author, I just have what I’m reading to go on, I can’t make assumptions about the way in which they generally reveal information.

I feel there is lots of potential in the book. The plot is intriguing and want to follow the story but there are gaps in the world building as well as the characters backstory. For some people these may not be huge issues, but they are reason for me to not give 5 stars to a story that might merit it if the rest of the book lived up to the same standard.

At the Time of Writing This Post, This Book Was Not Available on Amazon.

Review: Shadow Weaver (The Nightwatch Academy Series Book 2) by Debbie Cassidy

Shadow Weaver by Debbie Cassidy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This Enthralling Story Continues

This series just got better with the second book. I loved the first book, but this one moves the story on in leaps and bounds. It also shows us much more about the world in which the Shadow Knights exist and the people who live there.

Indigo is getting closer to Brady. She still feels torn between Brady and Hyde though and it’s making things so much harder for her emotionally.

It has also been discovered that Indigo is able to Weave, so she must take classes. Her ability to Shadow Phase is actually a very rare Weave ability, which is what clued everyone in to her skill set. Because she can Weave, Indigo must take classes to ensure she her magical ability is stable. During this new training she finds more friends, and of course makes an enemy. It’s interesting learning a bit more about Weavers and how their magic works, because it’s mentioned so much in the first book.

Indigo’s Year One Troop is all set to be fast tracked towards graduating to becoming a fully fledged Shadow Knight. On top of that she has to take the classes. There isn’t much down time for Indigo, but whilst she works with her Troop and some of the Year Two Troop that they have mentoring them, they all become closer and more like a proper team, or even family.

This subtle movement from acquaintances to team mates to friends is done very deftly and naturally. There is no need for jarring ‘moments’ to move things along, they just have to rely on each other, day after day.

The story of the Academy’s role in protecting the human realm from the Fomorians is gripping and learning, bit by bit, about the conflict is intriguing, to say the least. I can’t wait to read what happens next!

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Review: Shadow Caster (The Nightwatch Academy Series Book 1) by Debbie Cassidy

Shadow Caster by Debbie Cassidy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent Academy Book

There are a lot of Academy books around at the moment. Some good, some not so good, but this one is excellent.

Indigo Justice is a nightblood (vampire) woman on a mission. She’s trying to escape the expectations of parents who do not love her. So she’s fighting in the supernatural pits and working in a bar and generally avoiding coming home.

Her father decides enough is enough and arranges for her to join the Nightwatch Academy, where supernaturals learn how to police themselves and where the Shadow Knights train to fight against the Fomorians, to protect the supernatural world and humanity.

Indigo hates being forced into the Nightwatch Academy and doesn’t really apply herself. Her classmates resent her, and her attitude, and she isn’t particularly popular. Then it is discovered that she has the gene that makes her into a Shadow Knight, and she becomes the first woman to ever receive the training.

This book is exceptionally plot heavy. Everything moves at a mile a minute and it is wonderful. As well as the plot there is a good deal of focus on the relationships between Indigo and the other members of her team as she trains to become a Shadow Knight. There’s a slow change of attitude towards her as the team works together, which I really like.

There is a love interest but it’s very low key and filled with sexy “but we can’t!” conversations. The romance is a very small part of this book, which is more about team work and friendships.

There is lots more to come with this series, and I can’t wait to get stuck into the next book.

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Review: The Warrior's Assault (Age of Andinna Series Book 3) by Kristen Banet

The Warrior's Assault by Kristen Banet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stunning Fantasy

This series is one that I fell in love with from the first book, but this book is utterly enthralling. Kristen Banet is an incredibly gifted writer, she creates captivating characters that you can relate to and admire, and she crafts worlds that you can almost see. Her plot creation is brilliant and keeps you turning page after page, long after you are supposed to be asleep.

In this book we see Mave settled into her new place in the village and she has relaxed into life with her men. She is truly happy. She even starts to come to terms with the other women in the village as she learns to open up a little more. The complex relationships within the Company are explored further and at the end of the book, I still have no idea how they are all going to pan out.

The plot in this book grows quickly and soon starts to move at great pace, with events unfolding in unexpected ways. Each decision made by the king pulling the rest of his people onwards, taking Mave and the company with him, as they stand behind him.

This is a beautifully crafted book and I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next, I just know it will be excellent.

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Review: The Mercenary's Bounty (Age of Andinna Series Book 2) by Kristen Banet

The Mercenary's Bounty by Kristen Banet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVE This Series

This is the second book in the Age of Andinna Series and I loved the first book a lot. This book is even better, because now I’m invested in the characters.

After escaping from the Empress, Mave and the Ivory Shadow Mercenary Company are travelling by ship to a new country, where Andinna treated as free citizens. The travel by ship takes over a month and we learn a lot about Mave, and the men she is now going to be working with, as they are forced to spend time together in close quarters. Mave is finding it hard being trapped with a large group of strange men after spending 1000 years trapped in the pits with gladiators who hated her and wanted to either rape her or kill her. Her new reality is very different and she’s trying to deal with the changes.

I love how this book starts to peel back the layers of Mave’s personality and how she is handling being free. A 1000 years of slavery, violence and abuse have taken their toll on the way she interacts with others but the group luckily has experience with dealing with escaped slaves.

We also get to see how a dominant female joining a group with some quite dominant males can shake things up. I love how Mat takes care of her and tries to make sure she’s happy, but is scared he’ll be replaced.

We get to see how the Company all interact with each other. We learn about their friendships and history and the love and respect they have for each other. The friendships are just as beautiful as the romances, surviving for 100s and 1000s of years.

This is a gripping story, with amazingly captivating characters and I loved every page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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Review: The Gladiator's Downfall (The Age of Andinna Series Book 1 ) by Kristen Banet

The Gladiator's Downfall by Kristen Banet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic start to a new fantasy series

Sooooo good!! This book merges the best of two genres. It has the best of an epic fantasy series with a large cast of characters in a sweeping story-line in a brand new universe. It also has the best things about the reverse harem genre, that is the exploration about romantic and emotional feelings between multiple partners, not just between the males and female in the relationship but also between the males as well. Despite there only being one romantic tie explored in this book, there are potential ties dangled towards the end of the book and there are also the familial ties of both blood and choice explored too.

In this book the world we explore is small. It is the world of the Pits. The underground prison where the gladiators of the empress dwell, and the Champion, Mave, the only female gladiator who has reigned unchallenged for centuries. She is a 1000 years old and has been a slave since she was 5. She is Andinna and hated by her own people as she was the reason the war that cost them their freedom was lost.

Mave has spent her life in slavery, being abused, tortured and fighting for her life. Her own people could choose to support and educate her, but they instead hurl insults and seek to harm her physically at every turn. She has been alone for a 1000 years until the day when two new slaves arrive. They are Rainev and Matesh and they are the empress’ new slaves. Before them, Mave was her only personal gladiator. This tenuous link allows Mave to form her first bonds.

This book has so much pain and suffering in it, but it also has hope and warmth and joy. The author states that there will be 7 books in the series, so we know it’s going to be an epic storyline. I can’t wait to read the next one!

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Review: The Dark Orchid Omnibus Edition

The Dark Orchid Omnibus Edition by Auryn Hadley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Superb Polyamorous/Reverse Harem Fantasy Series

I’ve reviewed all three books in this trilogy individually before and as can be read, if you choose, I really enjoyed all the books. It’s definitely one of my favourite Reverse Harem series and it’s really more of a Polyamorous series than a Reverse Harem one.

This box set has recently come out and as a subscriber to Auryn Hadley’s newsletter was able to get my hands on the box set at a severe discount on it’s launch day. Of course I got the box set as I’d only read the books on Kindle Unlimited and knew I’d want to re-read them in the future.

I decided to re-read the box set almost straight away and I’m so glad I did. This series is wonderfully written. I love the idea of the gods dying and the magic being passed onto mages over recent years. The system of magic is very clever and well thought out. The magic system sits along side the world building that is Auryn Hadley’s true strength. Her imagination knows no bounds and she is always consistent within her created social, political and magical creations.

The book is about a prostitute, Jaeda. She lived in a town that is being attacked by a mage, to conquer it for his Sultan. She doesn’t know which mage it is but after living through two other such events before landing in this town she’s not keen to go through it again. She is captured and brought before the mage, Lord Jackal, the Lord of Lust. In order to protect a young girl she captures the Lord’s attention and volunteers to be part of a spell that binds the town to the mage. As you can imagine the spell requires her to incite the lust of members of the town.

This spell is the start of Jaeda’s adventures. Her whole life is transformed by that one act of trying to protect a young teen. After meeting the mage she realises that the mage’s are not as all powerful as they would have normal people believe and their lives are dangerous and difficult. Jaeda finds herself befriending the mage and his assistant and they form a tight bond based on acceptance and understanding. They help Jaeda grow into her strength as a woman who owns her own sexuality and uses it.

If you want to know more about the individual books, then you can read the reviews for those books, but I do recommend you buy the box set because these books really shine as a trilogy read back to back. It’s more a story in three parts than three books.

As you can tell from the subject matter, this is a very sexual series, however it is also about love, friendship and community. It’s also about society and the power of the individual. It’s quite a deep set of books so if you are just interested in a smutty read you may feel a little overwhelmed and alternatively if you are interested in a straight fantasy you may find all the sex a bit in your face. If you can accept both sides of the coin you will relish this series as much as I did. It’s a fabulous read that I know I will read again and again.

Reviews of the individual books can be found here:

Power of Lies
Magic of Lust
Spell of Love

Review: The Complete Lion Mistress Collection

The Complete Lion Mistress Collection by R.A. Steffan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent Follow Up To The Horse Mistress

This trilogy is a continuation of the first four books in the Eburosi Series. The trilogy is self contained but the first four books give a great deal of background and world building, plus we are introduced to many of the main characters in this book when they were younger.

The story focuses on three individuals Favian, a young novice priest, Ithric, a lion shifter and Kathrael, an ex-slave/prostitute. Favian and Ithric have known each other for years and have a very difficult relationship. They have feelings for each other but Favian ran away from it because it scared him and felt it took him away from his need to serve the gods. Favian is a Seer and has true dreams, one of the main reasons he wants to be a priest.

We first met Kathrael in The Horse Mistress books when Carivel, Andoc and Senovo travelled to Rythe. Senovo stopped Kathrael getting a severe beating and allowed her to escape her slave master. Ending up alone she became a prostitute to stay alive. She hates Senovo who was prophesied to rescue Rythe and lead a slave uprising. He never returned to save her and her loved ones and believes that he turned away from his fate. Her hatred leads her to travel far North, to confront and kill Senovo, who she believed destroyed her life.

These three very different people end up working together towards helping the North, by helping the South free themselves.

It’s a really good story and the three main characters are well written and believable. The sex scenes are steamy and this is a true polyamorous relationship, with equality between the people involved, both in the relationship and in bed.

I enjoyed the world building in The Horse Mistress and my enjoyment continues in this trilogy as we get to know more about the various gods that are worshiped in Eburosa and how the societies of the various parts of the country have altered the way those gods are worshipped.

Some parts of the story are not easy to read because they are about slavery and the reckless disregard for life shown by those in power in Rythe. These horrors add to the story and show the strength that those fighting against their oppressors have.

As this is a trilogy there is space for the story to grow and we are shown really interesting supporting characters that enrich the story. Showing the environment in which the three lead characters exist gives their relationship depth.

A very enjoyable read. I’m sure I’ll read more in this series.

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Review: The Wolf's Call (Raven's Blade Book 1) by Anthony Ryan

The Wolf's Call by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided with a copy of this book as an Advance Reader Copy, by the publisher, through NetGalley. All opinions included in this review are my own.

This book brilliantly captures the reader in the same way the first book in the Raven's Shadow series did. If you are like most readers, the first two books in the Raven's Shadow series were the perfect blend of world building, character construction and plot and the third book depressed you beyond measure. (See my review of Queen of Fire). Reading The Wolf's Call will make you forget all about the sadness you felt at the end of Queen of Fire. It will fire you up with excitement that Vaelin is once again charging into action accompanied by a fantastic group of associates.

This book is set 10 years after the end of Queen of Fire. Vaelin has spent that time in the Northern Reaches, serving as the Lord of the Northern Tower for Lyrna, alone and not very happy. Word reaches Vaelin that his first love, Sherin, is in danger on the other side of the world. He immediately tears off to save her, taking with him a group made up of old friends and new associates. This starts a new adventure in a new environment, against a new deadly enemy.

I love that this book is a blend of all the best things about things about the first series and new characters and environment. This new location of the Lands of the Merchant Kings is a chance for Ryan to show his masterful skills as a world builder. He creates a wonderfully rich culture filled with it's own history and geography. This new culture brings the sense that Vaelin is a fish out of water once more and his missing Blood Song doesn't help him. He's relying on experience accrued with age and the bitter battles fought throughout his life to assist him in making decisions, the way the un-Gifted always have to. This brings a freshness to the story because though we know and love Vaelin his circumstances have changed. We also have a few characters from Raven's Shadow but mainly Vaelin relies on finding new allies, again refreshing the story.

One thing that hasn't changed with this book is the inclusion of the Gifted. Vaelin has to battle against a new foe who is Gifted, in a way Vaelin doesn't understand, who has captured the love and devotion of thousands. This new foe might not be the same one as before but his rise to power owes much to 'The Dark'.

I am so happy that Anthony Ryan has revived this series and given it new life. I loved Raven's Shadow, even when Queen of Fire induced depression, and reading the new book lifted my spirits significantly. I can't wait to find out what happens next because whilst this book ends at a convenient point, there is everything to be resolved.

I highly recommend this book if you read Raven's Shadow, even if you didn't enjoy Queen of Fire, because this books shows Anthony Ryan at his storytelling best. If you haven't read Raven's Shadow I don't think you will enjoy this book as much because there is a wealth of history and backstory you won't understand. The history of Raven's Shadow enriches this book significantly.

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Review: Queen of Fire (Raven's Shadow Book 3) by Anthony Ryan

Queen of Fire by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Very Depressing Conclusion to the Trilogy

If you look on Amazon or Goodreads, you will see a surprisingly low star rating for this last book in the Raven’s Shadow Trilogy. The other two books got high ratings, but the ones for this are lower. If you are wondering why, I think it’s because it’s just a really depressing book. The book is filled with war, bloodshed and trauma.

The book follows the Queen’s campaign to destroy The Ally and the Volarian Empire. There are three main strands to the story with Lyrna taking ships to Volar, Vaelin going across the ice to find the Eternal Man and Frentis and a small band of fighters working their way across the Empire towards the capital city, changing the Empire as they pass.

There are so few happy moments in this book, but that does not mean it is not well written. It contains the same well structured plot and well rounded characters, it’s just that the plot and those characters explore the darker side of humanity during the course of a war. Writing about how war changes, not only the individual, but the face of a nation is not an easy or pleasant task and Anthony Ryan does not shy away from this difficult subject. This ability of his to reveal the depths of human emotion is probably what makes this book so depressing. All the characters we have come to love, all lose so much. The loss often includes compassion and empathy in the face of anger and the desire for vengeance.

As I say, it really is a very good book, I just wouldn’t recommend it if you are in a depressed state of mind, or conversely a really happy one.

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Review: The Tower Lord (Raven's Shadow Book 2) by Anthony Ryan

The Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So Much Plot!!!!

Wow, where to start with reviewing this book?

This book is structured in a different way from the first. The POV is separated into several sections in order to convey all the action, because there is a lot.

Vaelin is back in the Realm and is slowly making his way back to Varinshold. He is attacked by a young woman, Reva, who has been brainwashed to hate Vaelin as someone reviled by her faith. However, she’s not very well trained and Vaelin is. This action starts the first step along a very long road, that takes them in different directions, both of which we follow in this book.

We also follow Lyrna, a Princess of the Realm, as she starts a journey to negotiate peace with Lornak, something not achieved in centuries. Her journey in the lands of Lornak begin to change her into someone better than she has been before. She becomes warmer and she earns true friendship for the first time in her life. This is the first step on her own epic journey of magic, fire and blood.

Lastly, we follow Frentis, the former thief, turned Brother of the 6th Order and honorary little brother to Vaelin. He was stolen away at the end of the battle for Untesh. Taken to Volar to fight in the pits, his tenure there ends with being bought by a strange woman. His slavery is absolute and his hatred of her all encompassing. Their journey together is filled with murder and hatred and through his story we learn of the enemy to the Realm.

This multiple stranded approach can be overwhelming in a shorter book, but in a book this length it gives the reader a break from one view point. It also gives a more complete view of the plot that drives the whole series. Without each story line we would have little understanding of why each character acts the way they do. However, it is easy to forget how each character relates to the others as there is a huge cast of characters!

The world building in this series is on the epic scale and the magic system is captivating. Within all this grand building of plot and place are the characters. This book fleshes out the people we are introduced to in the first book of the series. It tests those characters and they are often changed by the events described. Each change is believable and is a natural progression, as life often changes our personality as we journey through it. I also like how the relationships evolve. People who have nothing in common are bonded by their situation. Affection is found in the midst of blood and death and is made sweeter for the circumstances.

There is so much still unlearned by the end of this book, but that draws the reader on to the next book, to find out what happens next, and more importantly - why.

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Review: Blood Song (Raven's Shadow Book 1) by Anthony Ryan

Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enthralling start to a series

This book captivated me from the moment I started it. This is actually my second reading of the book. I decided to re-read the series in advance of Anthony Ryan’s new book coming out next month, which follows on from the end of this series. I can say that the second read of the book reassures me that my impression of the first read in 2014 was accurate and this is a very good book.

Anthony Ryan has carefully created an interesting world of empires and realms, of kings and warriors, of religion and faith. He lays out the social aspects of this world carefully alongside a magical system that intrigues.

The book is told, in a series of very lengthy flashbacks, from the perspective of Vaelin, a great warrior guilty of killing ‘The Hope’ the heir to an Empire. He is on a ship on the way to take part in a ritual combat that is intended to kill him after his 5 years of imprisonment. He is accompanied by an historian who draws his story from him.

The flashbacks start from his entry into the 6th Order, the armed branch of "The Faith" as a boy, taken by his father 2 months after the death of his beloved mother. He becomes a brother and starts to learn to become a warrior. During his time in training he comes friends with several boys who become his family. During the brutal training which, over the course of the years, cost this group half of their number’s lives, the remaining brothers become tightly bound together. Facing death together binds them closer than they imagined at the start of their journey and this binding is tested over the course of the coming years.

As the son of the former Battle Lord the King has an interest in Vaelin and during their encounters he comes into contact with Princess Lyrna, a remarkably beautiful and intelligent young woman, who is as manipulative as her father the King. Vaelin finds himself bound by the King’s will as he is sent around the Realm, even into the neighbouring Empire. Accompanying him throughout all his trials is the Blood Song, the magical ability that is considered "The Dark" and evil by the people of the Realm. He keeps it secret, never revealing it, but it steers his hand in battle and in life, trying to keep him true to a path that he never truly understands, but knows to be right.

This complex world of Kings, Warriors and Faith is Vaelin’s entire world, and he navigates it with the help of his fierce intellect, skill of sword and his Blood Song.

I love the characters that Anthony Ryan writes. Vaelin is a complex and clever character. The author is a master at never revealing his hand until he last minute and he employs these techniques not only in his plot, but also in his character building. We often do not understand a characters actions until much later in the book and we are blind in the same way that Vaelin is to the motives of others.

The characters that surround Vaelin, from his brothers to the men he encounters in battle, are fully realised and not purely background noise. For me, as a reader, if I believe the characters are real I will always read to the end because they drag me into their story so deeply I cannot escape until the last page. This author achieves that in spades.

I know I will enjoy re-reading the next book in the series and can’t wait to get stuck in.

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