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The Blood of Titans

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Excellent Book

292 pages, Paperback

Published June 14, 2013

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About the author

C. Michael Forsyth

7 books79 followers
C. Michael Forsyth's 2011 first novel Hour of the Beast was hailed by Horror Fiction Review as a “fast-paced, rip-snorting, action-packed, sexy college romp.” He is also the author of The Blood of Titans and The Identity Thief.

Forsyth is a Yale graduate with an MFA from NYU. For 10 year he was senior writer for Weekly World News, the outrageous satirical tabloid. Those stories can be found in a collection titled Batboy Lives, from Sterling Publishing. His first children’s book Brothers was published by the Greenville Family Partnership in August.

Forsyth taught film and journalism at Coker College in Hartsville, SC. He currently resides in Greenville, SC. His blog, featuring movie reviews and weird news, http://freedomshammer.wordpress.com, is visited by 300 to 500 fans daily.

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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
45 reviews4 followers
September 29, 2013
I won a review copy from Goodreads. Here is the letter from the author that accompanied the book.

"I hope you enjoy the novel. If you do, please take the time to post an Amazon Review and paste it on Goodreads as well - but only if you rank it 4 or 5 stars. And let your friends know about it on Facebook and Twitter.

If you don't like it, well please be courteous and don't post a review -- simply pass it on to a friend!

Best wishes,

Mike

I respect Goodreads because of the site's integrity. Reviewers are honest and candid. This allows the readers to have a balanced set of opinions. No smug, passive-aggressive entitled bullying by authors will change that. Mr. Forsyth may have thought this was clever South Carolinian humor but I'm not laughing.

The book was OK, nothing special. I followed the author's suggestion and passed this along to the Public Library - I did not add a note with instructions.
Profile Image for Darrell Grizzle.
Author 10 books58 followers
January 28, 2020
C. Michael Forsyth deftly blends adventure, romance, and intrigue in this tale of a young African princess who loses everything, then rises through adversity to become a woman of strength and passion. The story, which reads like a legend at time, is set in a world of kingdoms and warriors, of treachery and bravery. The Audible version is read by the author himself, and his deep, rich voice adds warmth and depth to the story.
Profile Image for Jordan.
329 reviews8 followers
January 12, 2015
Meh. I've commented before that sometimes these Goodreads giveaways sneak up on you--there have been quite a few where I have to scratch my head and wonder why I ever entered the giveaway for that particular title. There's even been a couple where I've been notified that I won, but have no memory of signing up! Clearly I need to be more careful, and have been putting an effort into doing so. At least in this case I do remember clicking that fateful link, though I can't recall why. This isn't my usual fare. As such, my opinion of it was perhaps lower than many others would be. It wasn't that it was bad, per se, and in fact when I would pick it up the pages flew by fairly quickly. The problem was simply that I had no motivation to pick it up. It would lay there by my bed, untouched for a week or longer before I picked it up once more. It wasn't bad, it just didn't really engage my interest. I'll also admit to having a "bad taste in my mouth" (if you'll pardon the expression) towards the book from the get-go. You see, when I received the book in the mail, it came with the following letter:

I hope you enjoy the novel. If you do, please take the time to post an Amazon Review and paste it on Goodreads as well - but only if you rank it 4 or 5 stars. And let your friends know about it on Facebook and Twitter.
If you don't like it, well please be courteous and don't post a review--simply pass it on to a friend!
Best wishes,
Mike


I'm sorry, but that's not the deal. The whole point of the FirstReads program is to generate honest reviews for the books being publicized. To ask me to refrain from reviewing if I didn't like the book? That's just manipulative, and subverts the whole program. Not to mention that you only seem to "win" more giveaways after finishing and reviewing the ones you've already got, so....yeah, not going to be following those instructions. Not an option.

Our tale is set in ancient Africa, in a time of glorious kingdoms and stunning betrayals. The coastal kingdom of Kali has long thrived under the rule of it's king, Babatunde The Good, but now their ancient enemy, the Zimbai people of the plains, stand ready to finally destroy them. Each of the king's seven sons have fallen in battle, and now he is left with only is daughter Halima. With little choice in the matter, Babatunde has betrothed Halima to Olugbodi, the young king of the Snake People, formidable warriors in their own right, to cement an alliance against the Zimbai. But all is not as it seems....what follows is an adventure full of intrigue, romance, peril and betrayal.

Like I said, the book wasn't bad. It flowed easily, was remarkably well constructed for what I believe is a self-published work, and (when I got around to picking it up) was an enjoyable tale. Others would probably rate it higher. It just wasn't for me. Not being an expert on ancient Africa, I can't speak to the accuracy of Mr. Forsyth's research, but I will say that it certainly seemed plausible. By and large the characters were well-rounded, or at least showed hints of being even if the plot didn't always allow them to display their different facets. Even the villain(s) were more subtle than the simple black hats that so many of us want to write, and for that I give Mr. Forsyth credit.

I did have a couple issues, of course, which I shall discuss below. Minor spoilers may occur, read at your own risk. Longtime readers know that I routinely do this even when I've otherwise given nothing but praise to a book, so please understand that there's no ill will here. Had I gone hunting, I might have come up with more, but these are the ones that are still bugging me.
-The character of Rashida seemed....inconsistent. Maybe even bipolar. When the plot demands that she hate Halima, she does. When it requires she defend Halima, she does. There is some justification for her behavior (jealousy, grief, or gratitude, depending on the scene), but on the whole I had trouble buying into the extremes of her behavior.
-The alliance between Kali and the Snake People is explained and makes sense. The inclusion of Zimbai in their attack on the Abaka is not--it is randomly mentioned in passing, then never becomes relevant again and is never explained. Were Zimbai and the Snake People in cahoots the entire time? Did Olugbodi conquer the Zimbai completely in the short time Halima is away? We don't know. And it doesn't really matter, I suppose, but little things like that bug me.

CONTENT: No profanity that I can recall. Some violence, occasionally a bit gruesome. Some unexpectedly explicit sexual content.
Profile Image for Arlena.
3,162 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2016
Title: The Blood of Titans
Author: C. Michael Forsyth
Publisher: Freedom's Hammer Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"The Blood of Titans" by C. Michael Forsyth

Book Description...

"The Blood of Titans is a unique love story set in the Golden Age of Africa. It is the tale of Halima, a teenage princess who falls in love with a warrior king. Enormous obstacles lie in the way of their happiness. In the course of their adventures, Princess Halima learns about loss, duty, and the high price of romantic love -- and must make a choice that determines the future of kingdoms."

What I liked about the novel....

I found this novel a good romance fiction novel mostly written in third person and I wasn't able to put down until I had entirely finished it. There would be a important decision for this princess Halima who was only fifteen at this time to make. Would she marry the neighboring King (The People of the Snake and Baka Kingdoms)to prevent wars between the nations or her true love that she has found along this journey? What has happened? It seems like during the travel there will be a encounter of the giants of Baka Kingdom and this will be where Halima will offer herself a slave and a potential wife in exchange for her servants go free to get help...and this is when this novel takes off. This author really works this well written storyline as Halima makes it to this chosen kingdom to marry or will there be some obstacles that will cause her to change her mind? This is where I say you must pick up this action packed good read with some twist to see how this author will bring it all out to the reader. Believe me, it will be captivating story. Be ready for some 'proverbs, songs, stories and culture' that will be presented in the read with some interesting descriptions of Africa.


"The Blood of Titans" will have several different kinds of characters...one kind from her family/kingdom and then the others from The People of the Snake and Baka Kingdoms both being somewhat interesting people who seem for the some were for the most part well develop, defined, lovable, loyal and believable.

What I especially loved about this novel...

Not only did I like the good read but I also loved this book cover. At first when I looked at the cover I thought that this novel was of fantasy but it really was a romantic read with a historic detailed touches where you will find yourself wanting to help Halima with some of her choices. Would I recommend "The Blood of Titans as a good read?" YES!
January 3, 2018
**OBTAINED: Goodreads Giveaway**

The Blood of Titans, written by C. Michael Forsyth, was a very interesting read. The novel combined many elements of the historical romance genre with fantasy, though the fantasy aspect of it offers perhaps less magic and more realism, giving it a pseudo-historical vibe. Overall, this book offers a very atmospherical read, the vivid imagery and lyrical writing perfectly captures the surrounding world, immersing the reader in the story. This is what the book blurb says...

"A tale of love and adventure. The Blood of Titans is a historical romance like none you’ve ever read before. Set in ancient Africa, it’s the tale of Halima, a princess who falls in love with a warrior king. Enormous obstacles lie in the way of their happiness. In the course of their adventures, Princess Halima learns about loss, duty, and the bonds of live-and makes a decision that affects the future of kingdoms." -Book Blurb

I tend to agree. The Blood of Titans is a rare breed, like none I’ve read before. The only minor issue I had with this one, was the depth of the characters. They were all vividly real and interesting but at times it felt hard to connect with them on any deeper level. I suspect it had something to with the third person perspective, though I’m not normally against it in literature. Although this made the story only a bit less intense, it could not disrupt the overall narrative itself and I enjoyed it very much by the end.

This book was very eloquently written, and the world so finely crafted that it vibrantly teemed with a life of its own. It is a romantic adventure story which ventures to take readers back to an ancient African civilization, set before the era of ancient Egypt, and journey along with the young princess Halima, as she navigates her new life, marriage and kingdom. This was most certainly a good read. I would recommend this to readers of adventure and romance alike. It is worth a read. Also, the artwork was pretty smashing.

[OFFICIAL RATING: 4.8 STARS]

[NOTE: The Author was kind enough to sign my edition. Many thanks!]

Profile Image for Samantha Julmisse.
Author 2 books15 followers
July 23, 2013
I don't think I have ever a read a book quite like this one. It captivated me from the very beginning and I found myself many times unwilling to place it down until it was completed. It took me less than a day to finish this, and I have to say in honesty that I wish it had not ended, or that there would at least be a part two of some sort. Blood of Titans tells of a young princess forced to marry a king to help form an alliance in an upcoming war, but when ambushed on the way to her wedding her to be husband flees from battle.
I don't want to tell you anymore and spoil anything for anyone so I'm now gonna go into all the things i really enjoyed about this book and I have to tell you there are quite a few things.
One thing I really liked were the proverbs that can be found placed around the book in appropriate situations relating to them. I believe that they gave it a more believable feel. The maxims just helped in drilling into the readers mind the situation. The characters were lovable, with their strength in themselves and wisdom beyond their years. They have great loyalty in those they love. In this story love still prevails even if it's not in the way everyone expects it. This story teaches you many proverbs, lesson of strength and love, and that no matter what happens you have to continue on. No matter how many times you are knocked down, stand up and remember who you are, no matter how many times you are shackled you must break free. For no one can weigh you down for you hold in you the blood of Titans.
Profile Image for Nicola Smith.
68 reviews8 followers
August 7, 2013
A young princess called Halima is in line to be married to a neighboring King, the marriage will prevent wars from breaking out between the different nations. Her adventures begin with the journey to meet her future husband, with servants and an army to guard her, but along the way there are many encounters that try to thwart their efforts to keep the peace between kingdoms. Halima finds her true love along her journey but she has to decide what choice is the right one for the sake of the Kingdoms. With Romance, loss and a harrowing ordeal will Halima make it to the chosen Kingdom to marry or will obstacles change her mind for her?

I could not put this book down, it was an absolutely gripping read! Its set in the 'Golden Age' of Africa and that made the book all the more special. I love how the story focuses on the one main character most of the time and it is so well written that i fell in love with the characters myself. I highly recommend this book to those who like a Romantic read with a slightly historic feel. It truly is such a lovely story and so detailed that you can picture it all perfectly as you read. The characters are believable and the romantic plot will have you gripped and trying to sway Halima's choices. I do hope there is another story in the pipeline because it was such an amazing read - Thank you!
215 reviews15 followers
February 4, 2020
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Most of the book is predictable, nearly every of the plot twist can be seen a chapter or two ahead. The characters are very basic - beautiful princess in trouble, handsome warrior king, greedy/disgusting bad guy. I would have given it one star, but I added the second star for the cover artwork - the detailing is amazing! Actually, the artwork deserves three or four stars, but only one for the story. The way the story ended was supposed to be hopeful - but it just felt empty or leading to a second book in a series.
December 11, 2016
very good...well written ....detail oriented ......he tells a good story as some would call it a romance but not your typical love story as warring african tribes change the landscape of Africa
Profile Image for Maria.
106 reviews25 followers
September 18, 2013
The Blood of Titans is a historical fiction book that takes place in Africa. Princess Halima’s kingdom is under attack from a nearby kingdom. As a result, her aged father arranges her betrothal with The People of the Snake Kingdom. From their alliance, they should be able to withstand and defeat their enemies, Zimbai. On her way to her wedding, Halima and those accompanying her are attacked. Most die, but Halima with two servants escape. Through their travels to safety, they encounter the giants of the Baka Kingdom – who live on the mountains. Halima offers herself as a slave and potential wife in exchange for her servants to go free to get help. This is only a start of what Halima faces in the book.

The Blood of Titans is not a book that I would normally read, but I found myself enjoying it. The book is written in third person following Halima. Halima is a strong character. While reading, I had to keep reminding myself that she was fifteen when the book started. She seemed older to me. Halima is the type of character that is proud of who she is and stands up to protect her people and those she loves. She believes in loyalty and bides her time when faced with difficult tasks. The book provides different characters from her family/kingdom, as well as, those from The People of the Snake and the Baka kingdoms. Despite being an enemy force, individual characters from the Zimbai Kingdom are not focused on in this story. The characters are well written. However, I would have liked to see a little more background history (or stories) about some of the main characters.

The story moves well with action throughout the book. There are some twists along the way and predicaments that make the reader wonder how Halima (or whichever character) will get out of it. Proverbs, songs, and stories are used throughout the book, which imparts Halima’s culture to the reader. Along with the descriptions, this story will make you feel like you are in Africa.

Overall I enjoyed the book. If you like historical fiction and the golden age of Africa, then you should try this book.
91 reviews7 followers
September 24, 2016
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

Set in Africa, The Blood of Titans tells the story of a young princess who is to marry the king of a neighboring kingdom. On the way to meet her future husband, her group is attacked and only herself, her best friend, and a young warrior are able to escape. On the way back to her kingdom, they are found by the 'Giants' that legends say live on the mountain. To save her companions, the princess agreess to go with the Giants so the other two may go free. The rest is a thrilling adventure that includes love, betrayal, sacrifice and loyalty as the princess tries to avenge her father save her people. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are few novels set in this time and place. I am glad that I won this book and look forward to reading the author's other work.
Profile Image for Linda.
3,028 reviews2 followers
October 9, 2016
Blood of the Titans is set in Africa's Golden Age. Halima is a teenage princess of an advanced civilization and falls in love with king Shormari, of the mountain who is a great king a warrior. When three of his enemey clans attack his followers that live at the base of the mountain and kill them all, wages war, but his first wife is jealous of the time he spends with Halima and dissension spreads through his people. Halima must choose between her people or the the man she loves. Blood of the Titans who is the beautiful written and it is a page turner.
Profile Image for Raven.
40 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2016
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I had hoped. It was very well written on a technical level, but the third person format bothered me for some reason that I can't quite put my finger on. It forced me to keep the characters "at arm's length", thus rendering them bland and preventing me from getting attached.
Profile Image for Cerece Murphy.
Author 14 books356 followers
November 14, 2014
Read this book last week because I was in the mood for some adventure and some romance. Got both in spades. The world Forsyth creates is lush and captivating with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages in anticipation.
Profile Image for Kelly Wright.
5 reviews
January 27, 2016
I enjoyed this very much. And the cover is definitely doing it's job. It's what first drew my attention to the book.
Profile Image for Rachel Hernandez.
1 review3 followers
June 28, 2016
This was an amazing book to read, I enjoyed reading it. I couldn't put it down...... :)
Profile Image for Lora.
281 reviews2 followers
Want to read
May 26, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and will review once I've read it.
Profile Image for John.
143 reviews
June 23, 2016
The 3 stars are for the first half of the book and the minus 2 stars are for the last half.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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