A son of a forest dwelling people, Yhalen knows little of the world outside the ancestral forest, until he is captured by a band of ogres on a slav...
read full description
reviews
Sep 14, 2011
Heather C
rated it: 
Oh.My.Goddess!! This book was amazing!! It had incredible world building and complex characters. No details were ever left out. Every scene was detailed and explicit from the torture scenes to the fight scenes to the sex scenes. There were a lot of all three. This is not some light and fluffy read. It was dark and brutal and epic. Something I had to be in the right mood to read.
Okay, I’m sure you’ve already seen many other reviews discussing the brutal rape and torture of Yh More...
Okay, I’m sure you’ve already seen many other reviews discussing the brutal rape and torture of Yh More...
23 comments
like
(13 people liked it)
Oct 17, 2011
Mel
rated it: 
Yhalen is of the Ydregi, a Fey-like people who dwell in the forest and live in the ways of the Goddess, in harmony with nature and subtle magic. His privileged and sheltered life turns into a nightmare when he's captured by a group of ogres who only have malice in mind. When he miraculously survives this horrible ordeal, Yhalen finds that the nightmare is far from over: he is to be the slave of Bloodraven: a half ogre, half human war leader.
I was warned before reading this book. Goo More...
I was warned before reading this book. Goo More...
30 comments
like
(8 people liked it)
Jul 12, 2011
MsMiz (Tina)
rated it:
More like 4.5 stars. This book was brutal, pulling no punches in war, slavery, sex(*spoiler alert* some violent rape scenes between ogres and humans)and eventually an atypical love. This story has amazing world building between humans, dark magic, earth magic, ogres, half-orgres and other assorted beings. It kept me guessing at every turn. I had no idea where Nunn was going and who or what was going to be the victor if any. I could have kept reading and reading about this world and was sad wh
More...
6 comments
like
(10 people liked it)
Oct 06, 2011
This is on my brand new shelf of "un-rate-able". While i could rate "That's what Brothers Do" I can't rate this... I hated and kinda liked this book simultaneously - which means, I can't find a way to rate it! I want to rate it a 2 star and a 4 star all at the same time...
4 for the the way the author wove this story and built a paranormal world and embellished it with such detail that it was like i was watching a movie in my head and i truly appreciate such books. More...
4 for the the way the author wove this story and built a paranormal world and embellished it with such detail that it was like i was watching a movie in my head and i truly appreciate such books. More...
30 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Apr 19, 2011
I first began reading P.L. Nunn's 'Bloodraven' on her website Bishonen Works some time ago. However at that time it was unfinished, so I never at the pleasure of completing it.
It is not a story for the faint of heart, looking for a straightforward story about two men who fall in love. In fact, you could hardly call one of our main characters a 'man'. Bloodraven, who's name graces the title of the book, is merely half man... and half ogre. He sports green skin and pointy ears, not More...
It is not a story for the faint of heart, looking for a straightforward story about two men who fall in love. In fact, you could hardly call one of our main characters a 'man'. Bloodraven, who's name graces the title of the book, is merely half man... and half ogre. He sports green skin and pointy ears, not More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jul 25, 2011
Jess
rated it:
I really struggled with how to rate this book. I have issues with the beginning of the book and a few issues with the ending. However the writing 'voice' or style is complex and this always impresses me.
While a part of me wanted to give it 3 stars I feel compelled to give it a higher mark because this book challenged me. This book pushes me out of my comfort zone and keeps me there for 90% of the book.
I will be honest and tell you that I probably would have given up if I More...
While a part of me wanted to give it 3 stars I feel compelled to give it a higher mark because this book challenged me. This book pushes me out of my comfort zone and keeps me there for 90% of the book.
I will be honest and tell you that I probably would have given up if I More...
14 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jun 26, 2011
Eden
rated it:
"Not for the faint of heart." Those words in other readers' reviews usually give me pause. A momentary pause to be sure, but a pause nonetheless. This story came highly recommended, and despite the cautions, it didn't take me long to see why. There is darkness (dang, is there ever darkness!)There's torture, non-con, dub-con, cruelty beyond imagining and a horrifying scene that may yet give me nightmares. (I will forever cast sideways glances at ravens and vultures, let me tell ya!) Thr
More...
2 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Dec 20, 2011
Sandra
rated it: 
3.5 stars I was back and forth a lot with regard to how I felt about this, but in the end I did genuinely care about the characters and I had a hard time putting it down. Be forewarned, it is VERY long, 1500 pages on my Nook. It almost could have been a trilogy, but I am really glad it wasn't because there would have been major cliffhangers. The entire book is pretty dark and gritty, but the first 500 pages the most so because our Hero, Yhalen, has no allies. This part was pretty rough, esp
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 06, 2011
♥Xeni♥
rated it:
Oh my gosh I cannot believe that I finished this book. I want to cry, scream, yell for more!! Bloodraven and Yhalen cannot be done!!
As terrible, horrible and absolutely wretched as so many of the scenes in this book were, I am amazed that I loved it nevertheless. At the first part alone I was willing to give up and trash this book as being WAY too graphic, but after reading a few review I persevered. And boy am I glad I did!
The first 10% of the book deal with the terrib More...
As terrible, horrible and absolutely wretched as so many of the scenes in this book were, I am amazed that I loved it nevertheless. At the first part alone I was willing to give up and trash this book as being WAY too graphic, but after reading a few review I persevered. And boy am I glad I did!
The first 10% of the book deal with the terrib More...
7 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 09, 2010
BarkLessWagMore
rated it:
I should not have started this book when I did. I had books to read for review (with deadlines looming over my head), several reviews to write and another book halfway finished. But after being drawn to it by a review here from a Goodreads friend, I bought it and started it immediately. Everything else came to a screeching halt until I finished.
This book gripped me in a way that very few books can manage. It starts off with unimaginable sexual brutality but if you’re able to reco More...
This book gripped me in a way that very few books can manage. It starts off with unimaginable sexual brutality but if you’re able to reco More...
29 comments
like
(16 people liked it)
Jul 13, 2011
Dee
rated it:
This epic fantasy will transport you to another world, one of ogre warriors who keep human slaves. When I say epic, expect to spend quite some time in this amazing world, as the story is over 220,000 words. I could have happily stayed in Bloodraven's world even longer, so the length of the story was no hardship.
Yahlen is a young man raised in the great forest who is venturing outside it for the first time when he accompanies his grandfather on a diplomatic mission. He is captured by More...
Yahlen is a young man raised in the great forest who is venturing outside it for the first time when he accompanies his grandfather on a diplomatic mission. He is captured by More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 17, 2011
Trix
rated it:
It was an amazing book! I was pulled within the story and unable to put it down before I finished it.
When I first saw the number of pages, I imagined the story couldn't be very well developed but then I realised what a small writing had been used and knew I was in for a incredible ride. There wasn't anythig missing from the story. The descriptions of land, people and customs blended superbly with the adrenaline packed action scenes as well as the erotic explorations of the main chara More...
When I first saw the number of pages, I imagined the story couldn't be very well developed but then I realised what a small writing had been used and knew I was in for a incredible ride. There wasn't anythig missing from the story. The descriptions of land, people and customs blended superbly with the adrenaline packed action scenes as well as the erotic explorations of the main chara More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 22, 2012
Gail
rated it:
It would be a vast understatement to say that slave/master stories are not my thing. In fact, I usually avoid them like the plague. I started reading the sample of this one, though, and found that I wanted to know what happened next, so I took a chance on it.
There are some very uncomfortable things in this book. It sometimes seemed like the point of it was to see how much abuse could be heaped on Yhalen without quite killing him. I have quite a high tolerance for bad things happe More...
There are some very uncomfortable things in this book. It sometimes seemed like the point of it was to see how much abuse could be heaped on Yhalen without quite killing him. I have quite a high tolerance for bad things happe More...
Sep 02, 2011
Sian
rated it:
Frankly, I loved this book, but I skipped through a hell of a lot of the first rape scene - which is violent and not something you really need to read to understand what is going on. I skipped to where the MC blacked out under the ogres care. And there's a scene at the very end, which again I skipped - this one a torture scene which again, you can skim until things start to get better.
Everything else I liked. I couldn't say I was fond of Bloodraven to start off with, but I understood h More...
Everything else I liked. I couldn't say I was fond of Bloodraven to start off with, but I understood h More...
Aug 08, 2011
Jaime
rated it:
A fantastic fantasy novel! Yhalen is one of a peaceful forest dwelling people. His life is shattered when ogres attack his people and take him as a slave. They torture him brutally, and only the sudden awakening of his blood magic saves his life. The ogre leader fears him and gives him to a rival, Bloodravem, as a sex slave. Bloodraven is half-ogre/half-human and has a political agenda unknown to Yhalen. At first he treats Yhalen only as a means of sexual release. But, Yhalen will become i
More...
Jul 02, 2011
Dee
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 11, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
Not for the faint of heart? Absolutely. Heed the collective voice. It's non-con, master/slave and brutal--sometimes downright cringe-worthy in its brutality. I can only imagine Nunn reading up on the frightening efficacy of Medieval torture (or pulling from the darkest reaches of her soul--and we all have them). The first scenes are grim, including violation that defies the possible (ogres do say it's unusual for humans to survive even one such experience, and no kidding!). But that only tur
More...
0 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
May 09, 2010
Ann
rated it:
I was thoroughly impressed with the first half of the book, unable to tear my eyes away from the pages while reading it. By the late second half, however, it started to drag a bit too much for my taste.
Like Ms. Somerville said, Yhalen is a bit of a whiner, wallowing in self-pity for most of the book and then suffering from some stockholm syndrome in the other parts. However, he obviously has some serious justification for that, having to go through all of the agony and torture of be More...
Like Ms. Somerville said, Yhalen is a bit of a whiner, wallowing in self-pity for most of the book and then suffering from some stockholm syndrome in the other parts. However, he obviously has some serious justification for that, having to go through all of the agony and torture of be More...
Jul 15, 2009
Ann
rated it:
What to say about this massive epic story that's eaten my brain for several years now, ever since I discovered Ms Nunn's fantastic fan and original fiction and devoured everything from her site that I could find. Bloodraven is...an utterly overwhelming experience. Take that list of warnings seriously, folks, because this is not for the squeamish (and in fact, if you can get through the first chapter, you will probably not be too horrified by the rest of it, but it's by no means the most brutal o
More...
5 comments
like
(18 people liked it)
Jul 26, 2011
Veronica / V
rated it:
I wish my English was better so I can do this review more Justice.
I'm the kind of person who usually picks a book because it's cute, fun and easy read.
This book is nothing like that, and it is definitely not for everyone, this story is dark, gory, beyond gruesome.
Why did I read it? As a challenge really and to get out of my comfort zone and find out if I was capable of reading this book.
Although saying that the book was a shock to my poor fainted heart, I still don't re More...
I'm the kind of person who usually picks a book because it's cute, fun and easy read.
This book is nothing like that, and it is definitely not for everyone, this story is dark, gory, beyond gruesome.
Why did I read it? As a challenge really and to get out of my comfort zone and find out if I was capable of reading this book.
Although saying that the book was a shock to my poor fainted heart, I still don't re More...
15 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 17, 2010
Ravyn
rated it:
Totally engrossing fantasy read. Honestly, I just couldn't put the book down, and when I was finally finished, I found myself wishing for more. Top quality work. And the gorgeous cover doesn't hurt either.
HOWEVER, this is definitely not for everyone. There are some great reviews written for this book, so be sure to take a look at them, and take note of the warnings. (I particularly enjoy Ann Somerville's review on this page.)
HOWEVER, this is definitely not for everyone. There are some great reviews written for this book, so be sure to take a look at them, and take note of the warnings. (I particularly enjoy Ann Somerville's review on this page.)
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 29, 2011
Angela
rated it:
This is 100% an R18 novel, and for people that like M/M romances with a hard edge. I'm not usually into fantasy novels, but this book blew me away. The world that the author creates here is fantastic, and totally pulls you in. The language used is also spot on, and suits both the fantasy elements and the medieval, sort of yesterday era. The characters that populate these lands are human, faie like creatures, ogres, mountain sized trolls, knights and so forth. All fitting and well described creat
More...
Nov 22, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
I don’t think I’ve had such an engrossing fantasy read in an age. I’ve seen the book sereral times when I’ve been fossicking through PL Nunn's website for goodies, but just not picked it up. Obviously an oversight on my part!
The world building is what initially sucked me in. It was vivid and without an abundance of silly names for coffee and other such folderol, that often spoil good fantasy or sci fi. The story itself is very much a journey tale and the landscapes were rather epic. More...
The world building is what initially sucked me in. It was vivid and without an abundance of silly names for coffee and other such folderol, that often spoil good fantasy or sci fi. The story itself is very much a journey tale and the landscapes were rather epic. More...
4 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
Apr 17, 2011
Shira
rated it:
I went back and forth about what rating to give this book, finally settling on a 4 out of 5 because I did enjoy it, in spite of its flaws. I second what many of the other reviewers have written in that it is not a book for the faint of heart -- it is VERY violent at times, and the sex is, for the most part, non-con/rape. The writing is straightforward and clean, although I'd have liked to seen a bit more of the world-building of Counterpoint or Dark Heart, which were infinitely more satisfying
More...
May 11, 2010
Jimmy
rated it:
** WARNING ** This is NOT a light read, in any way. There is a GREAT DEAL of non-con and dubious-con, all of it GRAPHIC **
That said ... OMG. This has got to be one of the best novels I've read. The only reason I hesitate to mark it as favorite is because there is so much non-con, but even despite that ... wow.
Yhalen is subject to so much abuse and so much pain even at the very beginning and all through, I truly felt for him, and yet he somehow managed to persevere. He wa More...
That said ... OMG. This has got to be one of the best novels I've read. The only reason I hesitate to mark it as favorite is because there is so much non-con, but even despite that ... wow.
Yhalen is subject to so much abuse and so much pain even at the very beginning and all through, I truly felt for him, and yet he somehow managed to persevere. He wa More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Sep 20, 2011
Deja
rated it:
Okay, wow. I'm not going to repeat everything that everybody else has said. Yes, it's very brutal. Yes, the world building is absolutely stellar. I'm feeling about a 3.5, but rounding up just for the author's ability to keep me reading through some of the stuff that happens in this book.
I kept reading through the worst of the beginning because I liked Yhalen and wanted to find out what would happen to him. He had such a strength of spirit to endure all he did and keep fighting. He neve More...
I kept reading through the worst of the beginning because I liked Yhalen and wanted to find out what would happen to him. He had such a strength of spirit to endure all he did and keep fighting. He neve More...
6 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Jul 09, 2011
Liz
rated it:
This is very hard to rate. As fantasy, it really worked for me; I sank into the world, and loved that it was very long. The characterization was terrific, and I really liked getting to know both of the main characters. It is very, very violent in parts. No, I don't think it was gratuitous. However, it was too much for me.
As romance--well, I'm still not sure. I just can't get past that <spoiler>Bloodraven took Yhalen back to the ogre lands, particularly Bloodraven's own tribe. Lik More...
As romance--well, I'm still not sure. I just can't get past that <spoiler>Bloodraven took Yhalen back to the ogre lands, particularly Bloodraven's own tribe. Lik More...
Jan 30, 2012
Marco
rated it:
More like 4.75 stars. The storytelling was good, the gradual lay-outing of the world, and the not-that-so corny medieval-esque choice of words (except in the sex scenes where 'new' or shall I say colloquial words were used like 'fuck' or 'cock' *blushes*, but hey, I'm not complaining.), which is prevalent in fantasy books I've read so far. No parts bored me which I didn't expect from a fantasy book, unlike in Sacred Fate. I really loved the book, even the gruesome torture scenes. I only had a pr
More...
Jun 03, 2011
Mari
rated it:
I'm going out on a limb here saying you've probably heard of this story, or at least of Ms. Nunn. Yes?
She pulled me into her stories via her fanfiction but I didn't stop there. She has a wonderful way of telling stories, a narrative voice that just grips you. However, she does not shy away from dark themes of abuse and horror, and sadly this loses her a reader or five. But if you can stomach - or skim - the horrible parts (especially in Bloodraven) then you are in for a ride.
More...
She pulled me into her stories via her fanfiction but I didn't stop there. She has a wonderful way of telling stories, a narrative voice that just grips you. However, she does not shy away from dark themes of abuse and horror, and sadly this loses her a reader or five. But if you can stomach - or skim - the horrible parts (especially in Bloodraven) then you are in for a ride.
More...
Dec 19, 2010
Ttrucks76
rated it:
I had seen the reviews of this book and was a little curious about it, but I just didnt believe that it would be the book for me. I guess I was judging a book by its cover and was reluctant to read a book that I thought would be hard to follow because of the use of confusing names of the characters and towns, etc...I dont know what made me actually download the book and read it but, I did and boy am I glad! This book was a really great read and I am very happy that I picked it up. Im not very go
More...
