Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Ace (2014), Mass Market Paperback, 640 pages
Description
Raised by the brothers of the Sixth Order, Vaelin Al Sorna, a Warrior of the Faith, must battle the Empire and even his own father in the first book of a new fantasy trilogy.
User reviews
LibraryThing member stefferoo
The story of Blood Song is about a young boy who trains and grows up to become a leader and one of the greatest warriors in the kingdom. It's a tried-and-true formula in epic fantasy which by all rights I should be sick to death of by now, but Anthony Ryan manages to pull it off and still make it
Take how the book starts, for example, opening on an encounter between a scribe and a
prisoner who is being transported across the sea to answer for his crimes. A duel to the death is the only end left for Vaelin al Sorna, also known as "Hope Killer". With such an epithet, you just can't help but wonder what manner of person this must be, but I was also intrigued by the prisoner's soft spokenness and eloquence, as well as the fact everyone seems to treat him with deference despite his chains.
Vaelin's story is recounted by the scribe, a mode of storytelling which is not uncommon even outside of literature, but in this case it is deftly executed, providing a deeply immersive experience for the reader. As a child, the main character is sent to the Sixth Order to train in the martial ways of the Faith. It's a harsh life fraught with peril, while Vaelin and his peers are driven relentless by their instructors to learn everything from doctrine and history to survival methods or ways to wield a sword.
Generally, I'm not a fan of this trope; personally, I find the training and "growing up" part of the hero's story is usually the most tedious, and I'm usually looking forward to getting it over with. So imagine my surprise when these sections of the book turned out to be the most rewarding aspect for me. I loved reading about Vaelin's experiences in the Sixth Order, especially some of the more challenging trials. I very much enjoyed the bonds he shared with his fellow brothers of the Faith, the fact that any conflicts between the boys are negated by the knowledge that they are all in this together.
In fact, I liked this section a lot more than the later parts of the book, in which we see Vaelin go off to fight big battles and become embroiled in political plots and secretive magics. That's the kind of stuff I normally live for in my epic fantasy, so you can imagine just how much I enjoyed the first half of the novel for it to be my favorite part! Not that the second half is a slouch -- I think most people would find it more interesting, actually, but I couldn't help developing a soft spot for Vaelin back when he was just a boy and still retained some of his innocence towards the world.
And yet, I have nothing but good things to say about the portrayal of Vaelin, or any of the characters, in all the stages of his life. The relationships forged early between him and his brothers continue to evolve as they face their hardships together, and when enemies become friends or friends become enemies, the transformations are both a surprise but also believable. Vaelin himself is good and honorable at his core, and his desire to transcend the expectations of his order and be a better person for those around him is an engrossing study into the themes of sacrifice, morals and personal beliefs.
Highly recommended. I can just imagine the reactions of readers who picked this book up before it was bought by a major publisher. A gem like this doesn't come along very often, and I would say it stands out even on a shelf beside some of the major epic fantasy novels these days.
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feel like something new.Take how the book starts, for example, opening on an encounter between a scribe and a
prisoner who is being transported across the sea to answer for his crimes. A duel to the death is the only end left for Vaelin al Sorna, also known as "Hope Killer". With such an epithet, you just can't help but wonder what manner of person this must be, but I was also intrigued by the prisoner's soft spokenness and eloquence, as well as the fact everyone seems to treat him with deference despite his chains.
Vaelin's story is recounted by the scribe, a mode of storytelling which is not uncommon even outside of literature, but in this case it is deftly executed, providing a deeply immersive experience for the reader. As a child, the main character is sent to the Sixth Order to train in the martial ways of the Faith. It's a harsh life fraught with peril, while Vaelin and his peers are driven relentless by their instructors to learn everything from doctrine and history to survival methods or ways to wield a sword.
Generally, I'm not a fan of this trope; personally, I find the training and "growing up" part of the hero's story is usually the most tedious, and I'm usually looking forward to getting it over with. So imagine my surprise when these sections of the book turned out to be the most rewarding aspect for me. I loved reading about Vaelin's experiences in the Sixth Order, especially some of the more challenging trials. I very much enjoyed the bonds he shared with his fellow brothers of the Faith, the fact that any conflicts between the boys are negated by the knowledge that they are all in this together.
In fact, I liked this section a lot more than the later parts of the book, in which we see Vaelin go off to fight big battles and become embroiled in political plots and secretive magics. That's the kind of stuff I normally live for in my epic fantasy, so you can imagine just how much I enjoyed the first half of the novel for it to be my favorite part! Not that the second half is a slouch -- I think most people would find it more interesting, actually, but I couldn't help developing a soft spot for Vaelin back when he was just a boy and still retained some of his innocence towards the world.
And yet, I have nothing but good things to say about the portrayal of Vaelin, or any of the characters, in all the stages of his life. The relationships forged early between him and his brothers continue to evolve as they face their hardships together, and when enemies become friends or friends become enemies, the transformations are both a surprise but also believable. Vaelin himself is good and honorable at his core, and his desire to transcend the expectations of his order and be a better person for those around him is an engrossing study into the themes of sacrifice, morals and personal beliefs.
Highly recommended. I can just imagine the reactions of readers who picked this book up before it was bought by a major publisher. A gem like this doesn't come along very often, and I would say it stands out even on a shelf beside some of the major epic fantasy novels these days.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
A really good start to a modern fantasy trilogy! The beginning isn't all that unusual. A young man (not an orphan!) is sent to a military style academy to learn sword skills and to learn how to serve his Empire. He gradually turns into an exceptional student and things get very interesting as he
Good plot, strong characters and a good setting. There are many of the usual sword-and-sorcery components here, but put together in a fresh way. Good stuff.
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approaches graduation. The empire is ruled with an iron fist by a King who turned a small kingdom into a greater one by conquering and uniting, but will the kingdom stand when he's gone?Good plot, strong characters and a good setting. There are many of the usual sword-and-sorcery components here, but put together in a fresh way. Good stuff.
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LibraryThing member Vinbert
I totally enjoyed this one. Waiting for the rest. Surprisingly enough, I was surprised at the last chapter, and usually, that's hard to do. One complaint, although it didn't really make me enjoy the story any less, is the fight with the champion. This guy is supposed to be the best swordsman in the
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world, and he gets the sword knocked out of his hand before the fight even truly begins because he was holding it wrong? Really? Did I miss something here? Show Less
LibraryThing member RobinLythgoe
I found "Blood Song" to be a gripping coming-of-age tale with better-than-fair character and setting development. I enjoyed the single-point-of-view perspective and the pacing is good — except for a few places when the timeline changed suddenly and without warning, or the actions and attitudes of
I enjoyed Ryan's language skills and he can paint a very nice scene, though I could easily have lived without the crass language. Even so, the few appearances seemed natural rather than used (or over-used) for shock value. The political landscape intrigued me, as did the virtual landscape. With the Orders being numbered rather than named, their purposes (aside from the Sixth, which is "main character" material), were tricky to keep track of. On another note, there were some kind of funny typos (like "three men under your yolk") and very minor puncutation issues.
In the end, it kept me turning the pages and suffering an unwillingness to put it down until I was done. I am glad I read it, it's a very impressive beginning to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more.
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the players didn't seem to match their ages or time spent at the school. Also, while I didn't feel the protagonist, Vaelin Al Sorna, did anything *out* of character, the meat of his motives was sometimes missing. I wanted to know more about how he felt and how he came to be such a devout and moral person. I liked that he often made the hard choices, and that he didn't whine about it. Sometimes didn't even tell others about them!I enjoyed Ryan's language skills and he can paint a very nice scene, though I could easily have lived without the crass language. Even so, the few appearances seemed natural rather than used (or over-used) for shock value. The political landscape intrigued me, as did the virtual landscape. With the Orders being numbered rather than named, their purposes (aside from the Sixth, which is "main character" material), were tricky to keep track of. On another note, there were some kind of funny typos (like "three men under your yolk") and very minor puncutation issues.
In the end, it kept me turning the pages and suffering an unwillingness to put it down until I was done. I am glad I read it, it's a very impressive beginning to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more.
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LibraryThing member ladyoflorien
A great fast-paced, exciting read which I highly recommend. I thought the characters were well developed, the setting interesting, and the story was engaging.
LibraryThing member GSB68
I'm a sucker for a good coming of age fantasy story.
LibraryThing member DWWilkin
This is the first book in Ryan's trilogy and having seen so many reviews on Amazon for it, I thought to give it a try.
I am glad I did. I really enjoy novels that start with a young man's coming of age rituals and training, like Eddings' Belgariad series started. Ryan creates an interesting world
There is plenty of action and excitement, and the political intrigue is there, in the background, but it is clear will play a part in the future of the trilogy. This is a very well crafted story.
I am glad I did. I really enjoy novels that start with a young man's coming of age rituals and training, like Eddings' Belgariad series started. Ryan creates an interesting world
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and places within it some darkness, that expands as we journey on. Our hero having some magical connections we are not sure of, but then too, there is magical within and without the kingdom he inhabits. It is further surrounded by linking the magic and differing religious philosophies along with bigotry against those who are of not ones own religion, as you might expect of a world that has less time for introspection by its members since they are too busy trying to make a living (thank goodness we have grown from a subsistence farming life.)There is plenty of action and excitement, and the political intrigue is there, in the background, but it is clear will play a part in the future of the trilogy. This is a very well crafted story.
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LibraryThing member Chris_El
I found this book thru a contest being advertised here and clicked thru several of the entries people could vote for to check them out. This one had some steller reviews here and on Amazon and I went ahead and ordered a copy. This is the only one on the lists I bought though I already had a couple
I think it mostly lived up to the hype. Some of it is standard fanatasy fare. Some things that sets this apart for me is the somewhat effortless world building. The author is good at telling the story and weaving the world into it rather than telling about the world he has created witha story attached. But mostly the story, the story pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. A likelable main character that you want to succeed. Someone who you feel is the one of the good guys. Even if from the outside other people see him as something different, deadly, and a little scary.
People who enjoy fanasy book with some good action will probably enjoy this one.
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of the entries. I think it mostly lived up to the hype. Some of it is standard fanatasy fare. Some things that sets this apart for me is the somewhat effortless world building. The author is good at telling the story and weaving the world into it rather than telling about the world he has created witha story attached. But mostly the story, the story pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. A likelable main character that you want to succeed. Someone who you feel is the one of the good guys. Even if from the outside other people see him as something different, deadly, and a little scary.
People who enjoy fanasy book with some good action will probably enjoy this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member NineLarks
Vaelin is the son of the Battle Lord, given to the Sixth Order of the Faith where he learns how to fight and kill without remorse for the sake of their Faith. He goes through adventures and mysteries surrounding the kingdom and the hidden Seventh Order and the blood-song.
This book is remarkably
I also didn't like the characters for the most part probably because the author can't seem to figure out if the character is an anti-hero or a hero. Does he get slowly tainted by committing acts against his moral code and become a true anti-hero? Sort of, kind of, some what, not really. It's never really clear as he keeps committing anti-hero acts with a hero mindset and it never gets any clearer despite the lengthiness of the novel. He doesn't learn or change or grow. He stays the same the whole time playing this strange duality of being the "noble" hero in mindset but committing anti-hero acts. That's bothersome to me because it means the author doesn't really know how to portray his character. In the end, it doesn't make the character likable at all.
He doesn't learn from his mistakes (listening to his magic, sharing information, and the list goes on) - it's very frustrating. I don't believe the author did a good job fleshing them out - even Vaelin for all the text devoted to him. I didn't get a clear sense of what kind of person each character is. For example, Vaelin was pushed to be a leader and a commander, but he never truly takes charge except for a few pithy words. That could be the fault of the weak dialogue, but I also believe it's poor characterization.
The author also didn't establish the world and its inhabitants clearly. I'm used a ton of names and races and countries thrown around (via Inda and Game of Thrones), but each race seemed to just blur together with no description to anchor them into memory. Poor world building technique. The world has potential, even though I've seen similar worlds before - nothing that new to rave about.
I also found the magic system interesting and I was disappointed of how little the author expanded on it. Most of the story was hack and slash fighting, which I found myself skimming through to get to understanding more of his magic.... and found myself disappointed.
The love interest was as expected and quite boring, but that's alright. Every book needs its romance.
There were also a lot of loose ends, which is expected because it's only the first book. But some mystery or confusion should be attributed more to clumsy writing than intrigue or build up for the next book.
This book attempts to be an epic fantasy by pulling the reader through a barrack of warrior-priests, kingdoms, and warfare in a different country. I think it's more sloppily done than epic. But there are very nice moments with a plot that does carry you into interesting situations.
Three stars because it's a decent read. Nothing to scream about, but worth perusing if you're not too strapped for time. Recommended for those who prefer longer novels with a host of characters and countries. Don't expect another Game of Thrones though.
This book is remarkably
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similar to Sherwood Smith's Inda series - but I would actually say it compares less favorably. The greatest weakness of this book is the dialogue. Most of the story is told in an limited third person, centered on Vaelin's perspective. So most of the story is actually description and what's going on in his head. But the sparse dialogue is so stilted and unbelievable, I kept wincing every time the characters talked. You can tell what kind of character the author is trying to portray, but it fails miserably in selling it realistically. I also didn't like the characters for the most part probably because the author can't seem to figure out if the character is an anti-hero or a hero. Does he get slowly tainted by committing acts against his moral code and become a true anti-hero? Sort of, kind of, some what, not really. It's never really clear as he keeps committing anti-hero acts with a hero mindset and it never gets any clearer despite the lengthiness of the novel. He doesn't learn or change or grow. He stays the same the whole time playing this strange duality of being the "noble" hero in mindset but committing anti-hero acts. That's bothersome to me because it means the author doesn't really know how to portray his character. In the end, it doesn't make the character likable at all.
He doesn't learn from his mistakes (listening to his magic, sharing information, and the list goes on) - it's very frustrating. I don't believe the author did a good job fleshing them out - even Vaelin for all the text devoted to him. I didn't get a clear sense of what kind of person each character is. For example, Vaelin was pushed to be a leader and a commander, but he never truly takes charge except for a few pithy words. That could be the fault of the weak dialogue, but I also believe it's poor characterization.
The author also didn't establish the world and its inhabitants clearly. I'm used a ton of names and races and countries thrown around (via Inda and Game of Thrones), but each race seemed to just blur together with no description to anchor them into memory. Poor world building technique. The world has potential, even though I've seen similar worlds before - nothing that new to rave about.
I also found the magic system interesting and I was disappointed of how little the author expanded on it. Most of the story was hack and slash fighting, which I found myself skimming through to get to understanding more of his magic.... and found myself disappointed.
The love interest was as expected and quite boring, but that's alright. Every book needs its romance.
There were also a lot of loose ends, which is expected because it's only the first book. But some mystery or confusion should be attributed more to clumsy writing than intrigue or build up for the next book.
This book attempts to be an epic fantasy by pulling the reader through a barrack of warrior-priests, kingdoms, and warfare in a different country. I think it's more sloppily done than epic. But there are very nice moments with a plot that does carry you into interesting situations.
Three stars because it's a decent read. Nothing to scream about, but worth perusing if you're not too strapped for time. Recommended for those who prefer longer novels with a host of characters and countries. Don't expect another Game of Thrones though.
Show Less
LibraryThing member NineLarks
Vaelin is the son of the Battle Lord, given to the Sixth Order of the Faith where he learns how to fight and kill without remorse for the sake of their Faith. He goes through adventures and mysteries surrounding the kingdom and the hidden Seventh Order and the blood-song.
This book is remarkably
I also didn't like the characters for the most part probably because the author can't seem to figure out if the character is an anti-hero or a hero. Does he get slowly tainted by committing acts against his moral code and become a true anti-hero? Sort of, kind of, some what, not really. It's never really clear as he keeps committing anti-hero acts with a hero mindset and it never gets any clearer despite the lengthiness of the novel. He doesn't learn or change or grow. He stays the same the whole time playing this strange duality of being the "noble" hero in mindset but committing anti-hero acts. That's bothersome to me because it means the author doesn't really know how to portray his character. In the end, it doesn't make the character likable at all.
He doesn't learn from his mistakes (listening to his magic, sharing information, and the list goes on) - it's very frustrating. I don't believe the author did a good job fleshing them out - even Vaelin for all the text devoted to him. I didn't get a clear sense of what kind of person each character is. For example, Vaelin was pushed to be a leader and a commander, but he never truly takes charge except for a few pithy words. That could be the fault of the weak dialogue, but I also believe it's poor characterization.
The author also didn't establish the world and its inhabitants clearly. I'm used a ton of names and races and countries thrown around (via Inda and Game of Thrones), but each race seemed to just blur together with no description to anchor them into memory. Poor world building technique. The world has potential, even though I've seen similar worlds before - nothing that new to rave about.
I also found the magic system interesting and I was disappointed of how little the author expanded on it. Most of the story was hack and slash fighting, which I found myself skimming through to get to understanding more of his magic.... and found myself disappointed.
The love interest was as expected and quite boring, but that's alright. Every book needs its romance.
There were also a lot of loose ends, which is expected because it's only the first book. But some mystery or confusion should be attributed more to clumsy writing than intrigue or build up for the next book.
This book attempts to be an epic fantasy by pulling the reader through a barrack of warrior-priests, kingdoms, and warfare in a different country. I think it's more sloppily done than epic. But there are very nice moments with a plot that does carry you into interesting situations.
Three stars because it's a decent read. Nothing to scream about, but worth perusing if you're not too strapped for time. Recommended for those who prefer longer novels with a host of characters and countries. Don't expect another Game of Thrones though.
This book is remarkably
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similar to Sherwood Smith's Inda series - but I would actually say it compares less favorably. The greatest weakness of this book is the dialogue. Most of the story is told in an limited third person, centered on Vaelin's perspective. So most of the story is actually description and what's going on in his head. But the sparse dialogue is so stilted and unbelievable, I kept wincing every time the characters talked. You can tell what kind of character the author is trying to portray, but it fails miserably in selling it realistically. I also didn't like the characters for the most part probably because the author can't seem to figure out if the character is an anti-hero or a hero. Does he get slowly tainted by committing acts against his moral code and become a true anti-hero? Sort of, kind of, some what, not really. It's never really clear as he keeps committing anti-hero acts with a hero mindset and it never gets any clearer despite the lengthiness of the novel. He doesn't learn or change or grow. He stays the same the whole time playing this strange duality of being the "noble" hero in mindset but committing anti-hero acts. That's bothersome to me because it means the author doesn't really know how to portray his character. In the end, it doesn't make the character likable at all.
He doesn't learn from his mistakes (listening to his magic, sharing information, and the list goes on) - it's very frustrating. I don't believe the author did a good job fleshing them out - even Vaelin for all the text devoted to him. I didn't get a clear sense of what kind of person each character is. For example, Vaelin was pushed to be a leader and a commander, but he never truly takes charge except for a few pithy words. That could be the fault of the weak dialogue, but I also believe it's poor characterization.
The author also didn't establish the world and its inhabitants clearly. I'm used a ton of names and races and countries thrown around (via Inda and Game of Thrones), but each race seemed to just blur together with no description to anchor them into memory. Poor world building technique. The world has potential, even though I've seen similar worlds before - nothing that new to rave about.
I also found the magic system interesting and I was disappointed of how little the author expanded on it. Most of the story was hack and slash fighting, which I found myself skimming through to get to understanding more of his magic.... and found myself disappointed.
The love interest was as expected and quite boring, but that's alright. Every book needs its romance.
There were also a lot of loose ends, which is expected because it's only the first book. But some mystery or confusion should be attributed more to clumsy writing than intrigue or build up for the next book.
This book attempts to be an epic fantasy by pulling the reader through a barrack of warrior-priests, kingdoms, and warfare in a different country. I think it's more sloppily done than epic. But there are very nice moments with a plot that does carry you into interesting situations.
Three stars because it's a decent read. Nothing to scream about, but worth perusing if you're not too strapped for time. Recommended for those who prefer longer novels with a host of characters and countries. Don't expect another Game of Thrones though.
Show Less
LibraryThing member areadingmachine
Blood Song
Reading this was like watching the entire Matrix trilogy. At first I was very excited and enjoying the ride, then I started to get a little lost as the main character becomes harder to like, odd powers were introduced and the story seemed to overwhelm itself and then finally I relaxed
The author himself quotes one of his characters when explaining the gist of the book.
“We have fought battles that left more than a hundred corpses on the ground and not a word of it has ever been set down. The Order fights, but often it fights in shadow, without glory or reward. We have no banners.” Master Sollis
Vaelin is our main character and we follow him from his hard introduction as a young lad into The Order and his trials and tribulations as he tries to grow, forms a band of brothers and develops into a man we don’t quite know whether we like or not. At times I wanted to punch Vaelin in the head because he deserved it, and he never quite developed from the child at the start to the man he became. His decisions were at times very much at odds with his character and though some of this is explained during the end game I spent so much time questioning whether this guy was worth caring about that it was hard to win me back to his side, regardless of orders or intentions.
In Blood Song, Ryan has a very solid base for his trilogy but not a spectacular one. To sum it up after reading the first 200 pages I ordered a signed first edition of Tower Lord from Goldsboro, after the next 200, which were a struggle, I wanted to cancel the order, by the end I was 50/50 about getting or not.
Give it a shot yourself!
Reading this was like watching the entire Matrix trilogy. At first I was very excited and enjoying the ride, then I started to get a little lost as the main character becomes harder to like, odd powers were introduced and the story seemed to overwhelm itself and then finally I relaxed
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into the end game and just let it flow over me.The author himself quotes one of his characters when explaining the gist of the book.
“We have fought battles that left more than a hundred corpses on the ground and not a word of it has ever been set down. The Order fights, but often it fights in shadow, without glory or reward. We have no banners.” Master Sollis
Vaelin is our main character and we follow him from his hard introduction as a young lad into The Order and his trials and tribulations as he tries to grow, forms a band of brothers and develops into a man we don’t quite know whether we like or not. At times I wanted to punch Vaelin in the head because he deserved it, and he never quite developed from the child at the start to the man he became. His decisions were at times very much at odds with his character and though some of this is explained during the end game I spent so much time questioning whether this guy was worth caring about that it was hard to win me back to his side, regardless of orders or intentions.
In Blood Song, Ryan has a very solid base for his trilogy but not a spectacular one. To sum it up after reading the first 200 pages I ordered a signed first edition of Tower Lord from Goldsboro, after the next 200, which were a struggle, I wanted to cancel the order, by the end I was 50/50 about getting or not.
Give it a shot yourself!
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LibraryThing member Tom_Wright
Pretty crazy read. I didn't care for the swearing, and I'm glad it wasn't over the top.
I did not understand how the wolf fit into the magic system. Maybe I missed something, or it will be explained in the next book? And what's going on with Frentis there at the end? Also, I hated that Scratch died.
LibraryThing member Jefficus
When empires collide, the man at the focal point gets crushed. Or does he? That's the question around which this saga turns, but to understand that formative moment in history, one first has to understand the formation of the man. Thus, Blood Song is A Hero In Training tale, reminiscent of
Well told and full of the kinds of adventures that make the Hero In Training story so compelling, I read Blood Song in one long day and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were however some stumbling points for me. The story is framed in a secondary tale of an older Vaelin recounting his personal history to a scribe. But I found it maddening that during the framing scenes, the scribe had no knowledge of some of the events we had just been told. This felt to me like a violation of the narrative premise and ripped me out of the story every time it happened. I also felt the organization of the last couple of chapters felt odd - again, violations of the narrative premise. If the scribe is gone, then who is narrating the last chapter? And if the answer is Vaelin, then who is he now talking to? For many, these problems are likely invisible, but to me, they point out the risks of complicating the narrative structure.
Bottom line: a good read, with some minor structural flaws.
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Assassin's Apprentice or The Deed of Pakksenarion. Through it, we watch Vaelin Al Sorna's rise through the ranks of an elite combat training school, from the day his father abandons him at the gates of the Order, through his rise in ability and authority, and finally to his ultimate test, pinned to the pages of history, caught between two empires, and entangled in an ancient mystery. From the very first page, we are given the central question: can one man survive against these seemingly impossible odds?Well told and full of the kinds of adventures that make the Hero In Training story so compelling, I read Blood Song in one long day and thoroughly enjoyed it. There were however some stumbling points for me. The story is framed in a secondary tale of an older Vaelin recounting his personal history to a scribe. But I found it maddening that during the framing scenes, the scribe had no knowledge of some of the events we had just been told. This felt to me like a violation of the narrative premise and ripped me out of the story every time it happened. I also felt the organization of the last couple of chapters felt odd - again, violations of the narrative premise. If the scribe is gone, then who is narrating the last chapter? And if the answer is Vaelin, then who is he now talking to? For many, these problems are likely invisible, but to me, they point out the risks of complicating the narrative structure.
Bottom line: a good read, with some minor structural flaws.
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LibraryThing member Mistress_Bedlam
This book broke my heart. And that's okay. Every once in awhile you come across a story that you really aren't sure will end with a satisfying affirmation that all will be--eventually--right with the world. It's the mark of a great story teller to keep you invested in a tale even though you're not
It's depressing at times, but it's good storytelling. It's compelling narrative. And it's the mark of a ballsy writer. I can respect that.
There were some grammatical and editing issues that were rather jarring and broke up the pace for me, but overall I could easily overlook these because everything else about this book was SO good. The pacing of the plot in particular was brilliant and every intricacy was eventually addressed, every question answered--even small things I didn't expect would be important later. I loved this story. I loved the characters. I loved the ending. This book completely knocked my socks off and I can't wait for the next one.
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certain how it will end; that the hero might not survive. That good people might have died in vain. That sometimes the ends might not justify the means, and it doesn't matter because both just suck.It's depressing at times, but it's good storytelling. It's compelling narrative. And it's the mark of a ballsy writer. I can respect that.
There were some grammatical and editing issues that were rather jarring and broke up the pace for me, but overall I could easily overlook these because everything else about this book was SO good. The pacing of the plot in particular was brilliant and every intricacy was eventually addressed, every question answered--even small things I didn't expect would be important later. I loved this story. I loved the characters. I loved the ending. This book completely knocked my socks off and I can't wait for the next one.
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LibraryThing member thatpirategirl
This book seems universally loved, but I'm feeling exhausted with epic fantasy these days and this one didn't really do anything that piqued my interest. It features a typical fantasy world, a someday-infamous warrior who's currently a frustrated kid, and a story focused on military, political, and
People are comparing it to Name of the Wind, but aside from the "Let me tell you what REALLY happened" structure, I don't see that at all -- I think you'll like this book if you liked the Farseer or Night Angel trilogies, both which are also about guys stuck in rigidly structured lives of killing people and becoming increasingly depressed.
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religious happenings. People are comparing it to Name of the Wind, but aside from the "Let me tell you what REALLY happened" structure, I don't see that at all -- I think you'll like this book if you liked the Farseer or Night Angel trilogies, both which are also about guys stuck in rigidly structured lives of killing people and becoming increasingly depressed.
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LibraryThing member njl145
absolutely one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. couldn't put it down. read this book.
LibraryThing member Kathylill
That was an amazing book
LibraryThing member Vinbert
I totally enjoyed this one. Waiting for the rest. Surprisingly enough, I was surprised at the last chapter, and usually, that's hard to do. One complaint, although it didn't really make me enjoy the story any less, is the fight with the champion. This guy is supposed to be the best swordsman in the
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world, and he gets the sword knocked out of his hand before the fight even truly begins because he was holding it wrong? Really? Did I miss something here? Show Less
LibraryThing member lente
Fantastic. One of the best genre books I have read.
LibraryThing member ladyoflorien
A great fast-paced, exciting read which I highly recommend. I thought the characters were well developed, the setting interesting, and the story was engaging.
LibraryThing member lyrrael
I heard the hype. I heard it a while ago and intended to read the book, but it sat on my to-read list for a really long dang time before I finally got around to it.
I finally read the book. I loved it. It lived up to the hype. Book two is currently sitting on my reader waiting for me to get to it,
I finally read the book. I loved it. It lived up to the hype. Book two is currently sitting on my reader waiting for me to get to it,
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and you know? I'm not in a big dang rush to read it. I think the first book stood alone pretty well without the crazy cliffhangers (The next morning, when she woke, she was blind EFF YOU kind of cliffhanger, ugh), and while I'm looking forward to reading it, I'm okay with letting it sit for a little longer to let the first book stew. Show Less
LibraryThing member MJWebb
Another great fantasy read. Well paced with excellent characterisation, it's one of those novels you feel a little sad to have finished - always a sign of a good read. I'm off to find the sequel.
LibraryThing member iffland
Didn´t like it - was okayish :/
LibraryThing member renbedell
There is a lot of depth to the book. It follows the main character throughout his life from childhood on. You discover the world through his experiences, slowly understanding more and more of the culture and fantasy elements. The entire book is full of excitement and suspense. It never gets slow
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and I found myself wanting to discover more. The author is very good at creating a vast, complex, and realistic environment. The characters are strong and individual, but lack complexity. In one way there were easy to understand, in other they were a bit cookie-cutter. Overall the book is fantastic and I loved every moment of it. Show Less
LibraryThing member dbhart42
So, it was okay. I am glad that [[Anthony Ryan]] did not spend too much time on the whole "training school" thing - that it moved along. I'm honestly kinda tired of the teenage protagonist at some training academy for . However, the plot moved on fairly quickly, for which I was grateful. I liked
The language got coarser as the main character got older, the violence was fairly graphic and pervasive. The sex, which there wasn't that much of, generally took place off screen. That said, I'm not necessarily sure it's a teen friendly book.
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the interludes from the second (future) perspective, and that there was essentially a single narrator.The language got coarser as the main character got older, the violence was fairly graphic and pervasive. The sex, which there wasn't that much of, generally took place off screen. That said, I'm not necessarily sure it's a teen friendly book.
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Awards
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2014)
Language
Original publication date
2012-01-22
Physical description
640 p.; 4.13 inches
ISBN
0425268284 / 9780425268285
Other editions
Blood Song (Raven's Shadow, #1) by Anthony Ryan (Ebook)
Blood song : a raven's shadow novel by Anthony Ryan (Paper Book)