My review for Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon.

Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review, This doesn't in any way influence my opinion on it.



Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is one of the best epic fantasy books I've read. This is the first book I'm reading from both authors though they're apparently prolific. Princess Phela is a fascinating character that grew up with the benefits of a princess but the sneakiness of a street kid. She has learned a lot about people in the castle through forgotten secret passages she found when she was little and this gave her an advantage. On one of her journeys, She overhears her mother discussing using ancient forbidden magic. Magic in Quandis(the kingdom) has been forbidden for people except by the priests of High Order and as it's turning out to be, the priests lay this law for important reasons. Phela saw the magic slowly killing her mother because her body could not handle it, She had rushed things too soon. Phela began to scheme on how to take the throne without making her mother suspicious, but Phela knew that wouldn't be enough.
To truly ascend to the greater heights she wants to achieve, Phela knew she had to master magic and unlike her mother wield it without it destroying her. Her schemes become successful as she assassinates her brother and leads her mother to her downfall.
There are many main characters in this book with different important storylines, One of such characters is Blane. He is a novice priest in training at the Temple of the Four(the High Order's dwelling) where magic is rumoured to be buried beneath. Blane is special because he is Bajuman, a race of people who are regarded as the worst of the worst. They are slaves but are treated like they're worthless than dirt, this tradition has led the Bajuman to become rather submissive. Blane wanted freedom for his people so he joined the High Order(which accepts anyone as long as their past in left behind as they come in), in other to learn magic and free his people from obsession. He quickly comes to find that the rumors are true and magic does indeed exist in the depths of the Temple of the Four along with many other dark secrets.
The next important character is Demos Kallistrate who is the heir to the Baron of Kallistrate and the unofficial yet widely know betrothed to the Princess Myrinne, Phela's younger sister who is kind and just. Demos life is thrown into an uproar as his father is wrongfully executed for hearing something he shouldn't have and his family members get awfully humiliated. To make it worse, Demos is made into a slave and branded on his skin. After losing everything he had in his life and becoming a slave that nobles had been taught amounted to nothing, Demos became a different person as he sees life through new eyes.
Yet again another main character is Daria, Blane's sister thought to be dead but alive and reborn (figuratively of course) as Daria Hallarte. She is the Admiral of the Royal Navy Guard, She spends her days at sea protecting Quandis from pirates and urchins. But she gets pulled into the inevitable palms of fate when she learns that big things are happening at home and she just might be the hope for a brighter future. All these different characters all form a fascinating dark read that took me to really dark places I didn't see coming, This book is not for the faintest of hearts. It is Game of Thrones without Dragons and white haired Royals.
Phela gets her wish and obtains magic even becomes a goddess but she fatally realises that it came with a nasty price. Blane also got magic and the chance to free his people, He was able to help but he ultimately also found out the fatal price of magic. From the dregs of society, Demos wrought changes that changed the land but it turns out he might just lose everything before the ending. Daria stops fighting fate and embraces her destiny and becomes a beacon of hope but she might just have to give up what mattered to her most for the sake of her people. These different characters captivated me and immersed me in their world and I devoured all the pages swiftly. Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon are two master storytellers that have woven a fantastic world that all readers will like to get lost in. The ending was devastating and gut wrenching but it had to happen for the greater good. Blood of the Four is the perfect example of an epic fantasy book, It's absolutely perfect. It blends action, adventure, danger, magic, gore, character developments, battles and even a little romance quite well. I happily recommend this book to any reader who would like the be horrified, shattered, disgusted yet squealing gleefully in your mind as you witness every dark unimaginable deed done. You will LOVE it.

P.S: That cover is just....WOW. Absolutely love it.
P.P.S: My review doesn't really give this book justice to how good it is, You should pick it out yourself to see.



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