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Boahim #1
Amaskan's Blood
Her name was Adelei.
She was a master in her field, one of the feared Order of Amaska. Those who were a danger to the Little Dozen Kingdoms wound up dead by her hand. The Order sends her deep into the Kingdom of Alexander, away from her home in Sadai, and into the hands of the Order's enemy.
The job is nothing short of a suicide mission, one serving no king, no god, and certainly not Justice. With no holy order to protect her, she tumbles dagger-first into the Boahim Senate's political schemes and finds that magic is very much alive and well in the Little Dozen Kingdoms.
While fighting to unravel the betrayal surrounding the royal family of Alexander, she finds her entire past is a lie, right down to those she called family. They say the truth depends on which side of the sword one stands. But they never said what to do when all the swords are pointing at you.
Amidst her enemies, in a land from the darkest reaches of her past, she must decide if she is to be more than another brainwashed puppet. No matter her choice, she must fight to do what is just and right to save the people of the Little Dozen.
She was a master in her field, one of the feared Order of Amaska. Those who were a danger to the Little Dozen Kingdoms wound up dead by her hand. The Order sends her deep into the Kingdom of Alexander, away from her home in Sadai, and into the hands of the Order's enemy.
The job is nothing short of a suicide mission, one serving no king, no god, and certainly not Justice. With no holy order to protect her, she tumbles dagger-first into the Boahim Senate's political schemes and finds that magic is very much alive and well in the Little Dozen Kingdoms.
While fighting to unravel the betrayal surrounding the royal family of Alexander, she finds her entire past is a lie, right down to those she called family. They say the truth depends on which side of the sword one stands. But they never said what to do when all the swords are pointing at you.
Amidst her enemies, in a land from the darkest reaches of her past, she must decide if she is to be more than another brainwashed puppet. No matter her choice, she must fight to do what is just and right to save the people of the Little Dozen.
499 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2014
33 people are currently reading
702 people want to read
About the author
Raven Oak
27 books284 followersMulti-international award-winning speculative fiction author and artist Raven Oak (she/they) is best known for Amaskan’s Blood (2016 Ozma Fantasy Award Winner, Epic Awards Finalist, & Reader’s Choice Award Winner), Amaskan’s War (2018 UK Wishing Award YA Finalist), and Class-M Exile. With over a dozen short stories in various anthologies, she's even published on the moon! Raven spent most of her K-12 education doodling and writing 500 page monstrosities that are forever locked away in a filing cabinet.
Besides being a writer and artist, she’s a geeky, disabled ENBY who enjoys getting her game on with tabletop games, indulging in cartography and art, or staring at the ocean. She lives in the Seattle area with her partner, and their three kitties who enjoy lounging across the keyboard when writing deadlines approach. Her hair color changes as often as her bio does, and you can find her at www.ravenoak.net.
Besides being a writer and artist, she’s a geeky, disabled ENBY who enjoys getting her game on with tabletop games, indulging in cartography and art, or staring at the ocean. She lives in the Seattle area with her partner, and their three kitties who enjoy lounging across the keyboard when writing deadlines approach. Her hair color changes as often as her bio does, and you can find her at www.ravenoak.net.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 26, 2017
I enjoyed this wonderful epic fantasy novel so much. The author has a brilliant imagination to create such a rich world with all its rules, different sects, and hierarchy. The characters were great and felt real. They were all flawed and human and likable. Adelei and Warhammer spoke to me the most, definitely my favorites. Warning: **Spoilers ahead.** I even had my doubts about the villain's guilt at times, like maybe he was being framed. I hated him but his particular brand of evil was pretty interesting... and morbid. The more I read the book, the more I got into it and became addicted. It was like a mystery and fantasy rolled into one, as Adelei's past and parts of the plot came out bit by bit. The ending was so hard for me, as was losing two of my favorite characters. When the big injustice happened I almost cried. The villain did suffer but I kind of wanted him to suffer more. Although since the Senator trapped him inside his own mind, I guess he did suffer, considering his mind was such an evil place. As much as this book broke my heart, I HAVE to read the next book to see how Margaret will carry the torch forward.
January 9, 2015
Amaskan’s Blood is an easy book to start reading. The reader begins this way - dropped into the action of a desperate kingdom, one looking for fast answers in a hostile environment. War has entered the castle, and the King has found a way to protect his daughters, so he thinks. The result of this decision haunts the kingdom as well as other kingdoms for many years. One daughter grows up in the castle and is sheltered, the other is given up to an assassin’s life. Years later, an evil prince is bound to a clueless and sheltered princess, and the abandoned princess with an assassin’s heart and skill has to be called in to provide protection. What makes this a great book is what happens after. There are so many contentious areas in such a short and necessary time, that there is no room for error, no room for doubt, when it comes to the evil that befalls the main characters and their kingdom and livelihood. There aren’t any dry moments, such as one may find in a half-completed story with a deadline. There is great precision and mystery with this author and her story here. After wading into this story, do not expect to have too much free time until you’re done with this book. Once you get into it, you’ll be living in this kingdom, hoping for its survival and for justice to be served. Amaskan’s Blood is nothing short of the complete narrative journey, coming-of-age, seeking the meaning of life, and getting to the bottom of great mystery. Make your way to through to the last page, and you will have found a kingdom you wouldn’t mind checking up on from time to time.
August 8, 2015
I was not sure what I would think of this book but wanted to give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised. The plot is interesting and you think you know what is going to happen, but it is something entirely different. It is interesting enough to keep you reading but not overly intense. Iliana, the daughter of King Leon of Alexander, was kidnapped, had her name changed to Adelei and raised as an Amaskan assassin. She then gets hired to protect King Leon's daughter who is her twin from attempted assassination attempts before her wedding day. One thing after another keeps happening to complicate things and intensify the story and you can't put the book down because you want to know what happens next.
December 6, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book so much, that I've read it twice already :D
The characters are so well thought of and I thought the world Raven had built is so wonderful and complex, but still making the book a fun and easy to read.
Perfect <3
The characters are so well thought of and I thought the world Raven had built is so wonderful and complex, but still making the book a fun and easy to read.
Perfect <3
May 15, 2017
Found it a good story
I enjoyed the story and characters, enjoyed how the author developed them as the story progressed. This was a good read.
I enjoyed the story and characters, enjoyed how the author developed them as the story progressed. This was a good read.
July 20, 2021
Great world building with swift story telling
March 14, 2019
"No man knows for sure what Justice may be, only that it must be just. It cannot be served alone to one side, but to both equally: Justice for the rich and the poor, the great and the small. No one is above Justice, which Amaska serves."
The Order of Amaska is a vigilante organization that dispenses justice to clients who were denied justice through the civil way from the Boahim Senate, a diplomatic organization that handles disputes between members of multiple kingdoms, similar to the United Nations. In other words, the Order is a large organized group of assassins with a strict honor code tasked to take out targets who, for one reason or another, managed to escape justice through traditionally legal methods.
Needless to say, people fear them. Only those denied by the Senate and desperate enough will seek them out. The Boahim Senate considers them murderers who need to stand trial for each and every person they assassinated. King Leon of Alexander, in particular, has a nasty bone to pick with them because, years ago, the Order of Amaska assassinated his daughter, the 5-year-old Alexander princess Iliana, after he negotiated for her safety.
Only Princess Iliana isn't dead. Instead, the Order hid her and conditioned her to become their very best assassin, Master Adelei of Sadai. So when Adelei discovers that her next job for the Order requires her to return to Alexander for a nearly impossible mission, she is less than pleased to enter into a kingdom who so furiously despises the Order. But once there, Adelei learns that betrayal comes in many forms and her entire past may have been a lie.
Oh my goodness, what did I just read? When I opened the first pages of this book, I had not expected such a breathtaking story (there might have been a few tears toward the last few pages). Every once in a while, I find a little gem of a book that touches close to my heart and keeps me emotionally invested. This is one of those gems. This is a story about relationships - the relationship between sisters, between father (real & adopted) and daughter, and between respected peers. And what happens when someone loses touch with who they are and need those relationships to remind them of their identity? Even with all the brilliant plot twists, political maneuvering, and intense fight scenes, Adelei's story has always been about finding out who she was and then deciding on who she is.
I really enjoyed the interactive nature of this book. It has a 'who-dun-it and why?' ambiance that keeps readers engaged. I was kept guessing until roughly the last third of the book.
Adelei is a great character, fierce but intelligent. I was emotionally engaged with her journey to discover the 'why' of her past and her struggle to rediscover who she wants to be. Her interactions with her sister and father is lovely written but heartbreaking at the same time.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The author has a way with stringing together words that is just masterful.
Rating
Story: 4* Stars - Enjoyable, Skillful Writing
Writing: 4* Stars - Enjoyable, Skillful Writing
Characters: 5* Stars - Close to My Heart, Emotionally Invested
Enjoyability: 5* Stars - Close to My Heart, Emotionally Invested
Notes: Many thanks to Netgalley and Grey Sun Press for providing a copy of this book.
The Order of Amaska is a vigilante organization that dispenses justice to clients who were denied justice through the civil way from the Boahim Senate, a diplomatic organization that handles disputes between members of multiple kingdoms, similar to the United Nations. In other words, the Order is a large organized group of assassins with a strict honor code tasked to take out targets who, for one reason or another, managed to escape justice through traditionally legal methods.
Needless to say, people fear them. Only those denied by the Senate and desperate enough will seek them out. The Boahim Senate considers them murderers who need to stand trial for each and every person they assassinated. King Leon of Alexander, in particular, has a nasty bone to pick with them because, years ago, the Order of Amaska assassinated his daughter, the 5-year-old Alexander princess Iliana, after he negotiated for her safety.
Only Princess Iliana isn't dead. Instead, the Order hid her and conditioned her to become their very best assassin, Master Adelei of Sadai. So when Adelei discovers that her next job for the Order requires her to return to Alexander for a nearly impossible mission, she is less than pleased to enter into a kingdom who so furiously despises the Order. But once there, Adelei learns that betrayal comes in many forms and her entire past may have been a lie.
Oh my goodness, what did I just read? When I opened the first pages of this book, I had not expected such a breathtaking story (there might have been a few tears toward the last few pages). Every once in a while, I find a little gem of a book that touches close to my heart and keeps me emotionally invested. This is one of those gems. This is a story about relationships - the relationship between sisters, between father (real & adopted) and daughter, and between respected peers. And what happens when someone loses touch with who they are and need those relationships to remind them of their identity? Even with all the brilliant plot twists, political maneuvering, and intense fight scenes, Adelei's story has always been about finding out who she was and then deciding on who she is.
I really enjoyed the interactive nature of this book. It has a 'who-dun-it and why?' ambiance that keeps readers engaged. I was kept guessing until roughly the last third of the book.
Adelei is a great character, fierce but intelligent. I was emotionally engaged with her journey to discover the 'why' of her past and her struggle to rediscover who she wants to be. Her interactions with her sister and father is lovely written but heartbreaking at the same time.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The author has a way with stringing together words that is just masterful.
Rating
Story: 4* Stars - Enjoyable, Skillful Writing
Writing: 4* Stars - Enjoyable, Skillful Writing
Characters: 5* Stars - Close to My Heart, Emotionally Invested
Enjoyability: 5* Stars - Close to My Heart, Emotionally Invested
Notes: Many thanks to Netgalley and Grey Sun Press for providing a copy of this book.
September 7, 2018
Marriage Woes in Fantasyland
Spoiler-ific review
I received this book for free for the purpose of providing an unbiased review.
Let’s get this review started
I can Recommend this book, but with some reservations. If you’re a fan of books like ‘THRONE OF GLASS,’ you might find this enjoyable. I found this to be a very mature, slightly dark Coming-of-Age story.
Plot: The book has a fun assassin vs. assassin plotline, where the protagonist must defend her family from being killed. It had a sisters-learning-to-cooperate plot, which had emotional worth. Finally it had a pretty good combo mystery/marriage plotline.
I think this book’s plotlines were this novel’s strongest feature. The author was able to deftly interweave multiple plots, using them to enhance and embroider one another. The author was able to tell a competent story with a phenomenal ending.
Setting: The worldbuilding was pretty enjoyable. I like the United Nations-like Boahim Senate, the international governing body which holds a lot of political power. I’m a fan of Political Fantasy novels, and this certainly struck my fancy.
Characters: I liked the protagonist Adelei. Adelei was a reasonably deep main character who must come to terms with her professional honor and her familial affiliations when they come in conflict with one another. For Adelei, love and loyalty drive her in separate directions- and this conflict made for a dramatic character.
However I didn’t really feel like any of the other characters were as deep as Adelei or Ida. The book would have been stronger if the author added nuance to the other characters. The villain in particular was a 2D cutout of Snidely Whiplash.
Pacing: And here’s where things kinda went downhill for me. This book has a slow start, and has a few boring places later on. The author relied too much on dialog to propel the narrative instead of action, which bogged things down. The slow pace wasn’t a fatal flaw, I was able to skim through the boring parts, but it did detract from my enjoyment some.
Prose: The prose in this coming-of-age novel was not as sharp as I would have liked. The author’s narrative voice was a bit bland, and at times purple.
Overall, I think this is a perfectly competent gateway novel to get into the Fantasy genre as a whole. I’ll admit it was a bit rough in places, but there’s diamond in that rough.
This is the author’s debut, so I’m inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. I think that one day the author has the potential to become a successful mid-list author, so long as she buckles down and works hard on all aspects of her craft.
Spoiler-ific review
I received this book for free for the purpose of providing an unbiased review.
Let’s get this review started
I can Recommend this book, but with some reservations. If you’re a fan of books like ‘THRONE OF GLASS,’ you might find this enjoyable. I found this to be a very mature, slightly dark Coming-of-Age story.
Plot: The book has a fun assassin vs. assassin plotline, where the protagonist must defend her family from being killed. It had a sisters-learning-to-cooperate plot, which had emotional worth. Finally it had a pretty good combo mystery/marriage plotline.
I think this book’s plotlines were this novel’s strongest feature. The author was able to deftly interweave multiple plots, using them to enhance and embroider one another. The author was able to tell a competent story with a phenomenal ending.
Setting: The worldbuilding was pretty enjoyable. I like the United Nations-like Boahim Senate, the international governing body which holds a lot of political power. I’m a fan of Political Fantasy novels, and this certainly struck my fancy.
Characters: I liked the protagonist Adelei. Adelei was a reasonably deep main character who must come to terms with her professional honor and her familial affiliations when they come in conflict with one another. For Adelei, love and loyalty drive her in separate directions- and this conflict made for a dramatic character.
However I didn’t really feel like any of the other characters were as deep as Adelei or Ida. The book would have been stronger if the author added nuance to the other characters. The villain in particular was a 2D cutout of Snidely Whiplash.
Pacing: And here’s where things kinda went downhill for me. This book has a slow start, and has a few boring places later on. The author relied too much on dialog to propel the narrative instead of action, which bogged things down. The slow pace wasn’t a fatal flaw, I was able to skim through the boring parts, but it did detract from my enjoyment some.
Prose: The prose in this coming-of-age novel was not as sharp as I would have liked. The author’s narrative voice was a bit bland, and at times purple.
Overall, I think this is a perfectly competent gateway novel to get into the Fantasy genre as a whole. I’ll admit it was a bit rough in places, but there’s diamond in that rough.
This is the author’s debut, so I’m inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. I think that one day the author has the potential to become a successful mid-list author, so long as she buckles down and works hard on all aspects of her craft.
November 26, 2018
Amaskan's Blood is an exciting epic fantasy filled with amazing adventures and wonderful characters. Everything is well planned and there're so much happening in this book.
Adelei is the main character and she is y far my favorite character. She is such a strong character but not the perfect type, she is flawed but amazing at the same time.
The author did an amazing job with the world building and even more so with the characters. Each character brings a new complexity and uniqueness to the story, even the villain was written amazingly that you are always having your doubts about him, how amazing is this author?
The work that the author had put into this detailed world is astonishing. The author put so many details to everything that you can easily see yourself in this world, walking alongside Adelei. The first third of the book was a bit slow to read and hard to get into but I am used to this in Fantasy. However, trust me when I say that the rest of the book is worth the waiting, this novel is full of action, politics and memorable characters.
Also check out again the amazing cover, wow <3 I love the cover so much, by itself you can feel the story.
Lastly, I will say that the strong plot combined with the strong characters makes a unique and amazing story to read, and if you like Fantasy you will LOVE this book. I am lucky I already have the next book to read immediately (yay) :D
*** I revied a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
Read more reviews at: Coffee n' Notes
Adelei is the main character and she is y far my favorite character. She is such a strong character but not the perfect type, she is flawed but amazing at the same time.
The author did an amazing job with the world building and even more so with the characters. Each character brings a new complexity and uniqueness to the story, even the villain was written amazingly that you are always having your doubts about him, how amazing is this author?
The work that the author had put into this detailed world is astonishing. The author put so many details to everything that you can easily see yourself in this world, walking alongside Adelei. The first third of the book was a bit slow to read and hard to get into but I am used to this in Fantasy. However, trust me when I say that the rest of the book is worth the waiting, this novel is full of action, politics and memorable characters.
Also check out again the amazing cover, wow <3 I love the cover so much, by itself you can feel the story.
Lastly, I will say that the strong plot combined with the strong characters makes a unique and amazing story to read, and if you like Fantasy you will LOVE this book. I am lucky I already have the next book to read immediately (yay) :D
*** I revied a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
Read more reviews at: Coffee n' Notes
May 23, 2018
I love fantasy, and I started off intrigued by the characters involved. It does follow a familiar trope of sisters who look alike, but with twists and turns I did not expect. The worldbuilding is fantastic because it actually builds up and opens doors (sometimes literally) that I did not expect, adding layers to the story. Looking forward to reading more!
June 29, 2018
I enjoyed this book. A little bit of uncertainty about the villain of the piece that helped with the drama. The ending was a bit unexpected, but the excerpt from the sequel hints that maybe the ending was not what we are lead to believe...
August 1, 2022
Epic.
And not in the way usually meant. I also see similarities to our world, including where the rich and powerful get away with murder, figuratively and otherwise.
Very well thought out world.
And not in the way usually meant. I also see similarities to our world, including where the rich and powerful get away with murder, figuratively and otherwise.
Very well thought out world.
March 18, 2018
It has a country with my name in it! And it has a surprise that I don't want to spoil for you.
October 12, 2018
Review Coming Soon 4 Stars
November 23, 2018
It´s amazing and more interesting when you also see between paragraphs.
October 4, 2023
Wow
This is not my usual read but once I started couldn't put it down loved the family values beliefs and locality it was omg sad funny and more can't wait to read more
This is not my usual read but once I started couldn't put it down loved the family values beliefs and locality it was omg sad funny and more can't wait to read more
dnf
September 3, 2025DNF at 7%. I like the writing and storytelling so far but there’s no romance in this book. It just isn’t quite my genre of fantasy.
February 18, 2015
A long lost princess turned assassin returns to her kingdom to protect her sister.
The Amaskan Order is an ancient and secretive society of assassins, trained from childhood to serve justice to those who are beyond the law. Master Adelei is the Order's best assassin, but she is plagued my memories of a stolen childhood and the ghosts of past victims. Then Adelei is given a job that threatens to shake her training and her sanity to the core. She has been tasked to return to her childhood home, to the father that sold her to the Amaskans for a treaty, to protect her soon to be wed twin sister, Princess Margaret Poncett of Alexander. But Adelei's journey back gives rise to information that threatens to overwhelm her and shake her hard held beliefs to the core. Can she hold it together long enough to uncover the truth behind the rumors about her sister's intended, Prince Gamun of Shad, that he may be the serial killer and defiler of young girls, known as the Monster?
Master Adelei, a.k.a Princess Illiana Poncett, is portrayed as a 20 year old who has spent her entire life suppressing a part of herself so that she can do her job to the best of her ability. Yet she is conflicted, something Raven Oak draws the reader's attention to during the very first assassination that we come across in the book. Adelei is assured in the fact that her target is fully deserving of his punishment, yet she questions the method she has been asked to employ, and even her role as executioner, whilst being annoyed with herself of not having delivered the death as slowly as requested. She is constantly battling her natural feelings for her birth father, whilst trying to justify her love for the man who raised her as an assassin, but kept key truths about how she came to live amongst the Amaskans. Then we have Ida Warhammer, think Briana of Tarth from the Game of Thrones, but slightly less manly looking, who currently works for King Leon of Alexander as his spy master but was formerly an Amaskan and had a hand in the Adelei's kidnapping. Even the King and the antagonist, Prince Gamun have two sides to them, the former slips between being a king and a father, and the latter, being a charming prince and the slimy psychopath. Everyone seems to be struggling to keep in check the various parts of their identity, which comes across as a one of the story's leading themes.
The story is set in a continent known as the Little Dozen Kingdoms of Boahim, which is policed by the Boahim Senate, an all powerful group of elder politicians that even the Kings of the Little Dozen fear. There is an exquisite map of the the Little Dozen in the book drawn by the author herself to help the reader get to grips with the storied land. Alexander and Shad are two of the larger and most powerful nations in the Dozen, and therefore a peace treaty between the two secured the stability of the Boahim states. The Amaskans are a secret order that live under the protection of the King of Sadai. The Tribor, a death cult of killers act as the rivals of the Amaskans, tarnishing the reputation of the Amaskans and terrorizing the kingdoms. Whilst there is no mention of dragons or other folk, there is a system of magic in Raven Oaks fantasy world, with mystics being able to wield different levels of power and based upon which deity they worship.
The writing is handled well with the dialogue functional and the plot focused, despite the various identity crises, political intrigues and general twists and turns one would expect. At times the prose flows beautifully granting the reader strong images of the world Raven Oak has brought together, whilst keeping me rivetted to the storyline. There is a breadth to the story rarely encountered in books published independently or by a small publisher and will leave you no doubt breathless and wanting more. Raven Oak draws on the power of themes found in fairy tales we've all grown up with, and weaves them into a powerful tale full of violence, emotion and anguish, whilst delivering a powerful and well held together story. This is a book I'd happily recommend to my kid sister and to anyone else who's interested in fresh and powerful storytelling.
The Amaskan Order is an ancient and secretive society of assassins, trained from childhood to serve justice to those who are beyond the law. Master Adelei is the Order's best assassin, but she is plagued my memories of a stolen childhood and the ghosts of past victims. Then Adelei is given a job that threatens to shake her training and her sanity to the core. She has been tasked to return to her childhood home, to the father that sold her to the Amaskans for a treaty, to protect her soon to be wed twin sister, Princess Margaret Poncett of Alexander. But Adelei's journey back gives rise to information that threatens to overwhelm her and shake her hard held beliefs to the core. Can she hold it together long enough to uncover the truth behind the rumors about her sister's intended, Prince Gamun of Shad, that he may be the serial killer and defiler of young girls, known as the Monster?
Master Adelei, a.k.a Princess Illiana Poncett, is portrayed as a 20 year old who has spent her entire life suppressing a part of herself so that she can do her job to the best of her ability. Yet she is conflicted, something Raven Oak draws the reader's attention to during the very first assassination that we come across in the book. Adelei is assured in the fact that her target is fully deserving of his punishment, yet she questions the method she has been asked to employ, and even her role as executioner, whilst being annoyed with herself of not having delivered the death as slowly as requested. She is constantly battling her natural feelings for her birth father, whilst trying to justify her love for the man who raised her as an assassin, but kept key truths about how she came to live amongst the Amaskans. Then we have Ida Warhammer, think Briana of Tarth from the Game of Thrones, but slightly less manly looking, who currently works for King Leon of Alexander as his spy master but was formerly an Amaskan and had a hand in the Adelei's kidnapping. Even the King and the antagonist, Prince Gamun have two sides to them, the former slips between being a king and a father, and the latter, being a charming prince and the slimy psychopath. Everyone seems to be struggling to keep in check the various parts of their identity, which comes across as a one of the story's leading themes.
The story is set in a continent known as the Little Dozen Kingdoms of Boahim, which is policed by the Boahim Senate, an all powerful group of elder politicians that even the Kings of the Little Dozen fear. There is an exquisite map of the the Little Dozen in the book drawn by the author herself to help the reader get to grips with the storied land. Alexander and Shad are two of the larger and most powerful nations in the Dozen, and therefore a peace treaty between the two secured the stability of the Boahim states. The Amaskans are a secret order that live under the protection of the King of Sadai. The Tribor, a death cult of killers act as the rivals of the Amaskans, tarnishing the reputation of the Amaskans and terrorizing the kingdoms. Whilst there is no mention of dragons or other folk, there is a system of magic in Raven Oaks fantasy world, with mystics being able to wield different levels of power and based upon which deity they worship.
The writing is handled well with the dialogue functional and the plot focused, despite the various identity crises, political intrigues and general twists and turns one would expect. At times the prose flows beautifully granting the reader strong images of the world Raven Oak has brought together, whilst keeping me rivetted to the storyline. There is a breadth to the story rarely encountered in books published independently or by a small publisher and will leave you no doubt breathless and wanting more. Raven Oak draws on the power of themes found in fairy tales we've all grown up with, and weaves them into a powerful tale full of violence, emotion and anguish, whilst delivering a powerful and well held together story. This is a book I'd happily recommend to my kid sister and to anyone else who's interested in fresh and powerful storytelling.
March 19, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/am...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Scott
As fantasy novels go, there isn’t much unique about Amaskan’s Blood. It follows the trope almost to the letter and there are very few deviations from the norm. The assassin guarding an estranged father’s younger daughter against assassination plots seems to wear thin after a while (insofar as it crosses genres and media). That being said, there is still a fair amount of intrigue and complications that make this a quick, light read.
As befitting a post-Tolkienesque novel, world building is at the forefront of the work. A map is provided, laid out with the kingdoms, territories, and cities of note, which will probably lay the groundwork out for the future novels in this series. A lot of work has obviously been done in order to make this a sensible, functioning world, and it’s from this that we see how the plots, and political intrigue play out.
The characters are definitely memorable, each having their own distinct personalities, and traits. From Adelei, the assassin-protector, to King Leon who requests her aid, each persona, no matter how small, has something to remember them by. It’s this smooth integration of character and character action/reaction into a fantasy world, that really gives this novel it’s gusto.
The pacing is fairly straightforward although, at times, you feel like you’re being railroaded into getting to the next plot point, or crisis leading up to the finale. It is brisk when it needs to be, slow in order to build tension, and explosive during high-fantasy action when required. There is no fault here, and the descriptive prose is partially responsible for this.
The prose itself is probably a cut above the rest as Raven Oak playfully dances with the reader. It’s the addition of just enough detail, and the right amount of it, that makes this read. Oak is loquaciously talented and the writing in the book shines. He crafts his words carefully, in order to pull the reader in, and once he’s hooked, reels him in. The distinctive voices of the characters also enjoys some of the benefits of skillful writing.
All in all, Amaskan’s Blood, will appeal mostly to lovers of high-fantasy, the Lord of the Rings films or a Game of Thrones. It has just enough for everyone, and if you accept the basic premise, you’d get a lot out of it. It has it’s good and bad points but rare is the book that doesn’t. Overall Raven Oak is on the way to a superior series if certain plot elements are carried over to the next book in the series.
*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Scott
As fantasy novels go, there isn’t much unique about Amaskan’s Blood. It follows the trope almost to the letter and there are very few deviations from the norm. The assassin guarding an estranged father’s younger daughter against assassination plots seems to wear thin after a while (insofar as it crosses genres and media). That being said, there is still a fair amount of intrigue and complications that make this a quick, light read.
As befitting a post-Tolkienesque novel, world building is at the forefront of the work. A map is provided, laid out with the kingdoms, territories, and cities of note, which will probably lay the groundwork out for the future novels in this series. A lot of work has obviously been done in order to make this a sensible, functioning world, and it’s from this that we see how the plots, and political intrigue play out.
The characters are definitely memorable, each having their own distinct personalities, and traits. From Adelei, the assassin-protector, to King Leon who requests her aid, each persona, no matter how small, has something to remember them by. It’s this smooth integration of character and character action/reaction into a fantasy world, that really gives this novel it’s gusto.
The pacing is fairly straightforward although, at times, you feel like you’re being railroaded into getting to the next plot point, or crisis leading up to the finale. It is brisk when it needs to be, slow in order to build tension, and explosive during high-fantasy action when required. There is no fault here, and the descriptive prose is partially responsible for this.
The prose itself is probably a cut above the rest as Raven Oak playfully dances with the reader. It’s the addition of just enough detail, and the right amount of it, that makes this read. Oak is loquaciously talented and the writing in the book shines. He crafts his words carefully, in order to pull the reader in, and once he’s hooked, reels him in. The distinctive voices of the characters also enjoys some of the benefits of skillful writing.
All in all, Amaskan’s Blood, will appeal mostly to lovers of high-fantasy, the Lord of the Rings films or a Game of Thrones. It has just enough for everyone, and if you accept the basic premise, you’d get a lot out of it. It has it’s good and bad points but rare is the book that doesn’t. Overall Raven Oak is on the way to a superior series if certain plot elements are carried over to the next book in the series.
*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
April 8, 2016
Overall, the story itself is fine. The world is rich and feels real, detail is enough to form a good picture without being too heavy. The plot moves along at a good pace.
Magic is not an important part of the story. This is a low-magic tale that takes place in a kingdom where its use is hated and feared. When it is introduced toward the end, it’s minimal and unimportant.
I found the main character, Adelei/Iliana somewhat difficult to swallow as the ‘best of the best’ assassin, but she passes muster as someone who’s good at it. Emotions seem to get in the way for everything except killing people, which is, I suppose, reasonable. I just felt like she fell apart at strange times while holding it together in moments that struck me as roughly equivalent. She seemed less capable and competent than everyone declared her to be. Perhaps this was intentional.
The book uses a number of flashbacks, all of which are well done in themselves, but the story doesn’t transition between present and past well. In several places, I had to go back and re-read because the story showed the past without a clear shift. Some flashbacks do have a clear marker. The ones that don’t are confusing.
The other issue which made this book difficult to read was one of style. Throughout the book, there are passages where identifying the speaker is challenging, either because two different people speak in the same paragraph, or because one person speaks and another acts in the same paragraph.
This tale explores what family really is and means, and toys with the matters of trust–its creation, breaking, and re-forging–and justice. The writing is, aside from the points noted above, quite good. I recommend this book for avid readers of fantasy not put off by a lack of magic use.
Magic is not an important part of the story. This is a low-magic tale that takes place in a kingdom where its use is hated and feared. When it is introduced toward the end, it’s minimal and unimportant.
I found the main character, Adelei/Iliana somewhat difficult to swallow as the ‘best of the best’ assassin, but she passes muster as someone who’s good at it. Emotions seem to get in the way for everything except killing people, which is, I suppose, reasonable. I just felt like she fell apart at strange times while holding it together in moments that struck me as roughly equivalent. She seemed less capable and competent than everyone declared her to be. Perhaps this was intentional.
The book uses a number of flashbacks, all of which are well done in themselves, but the story doesn’t transition between present and past well. In several places, I had to go back and re-read because the story showed the past without a clear shift. Some flashbacks do have a clear marker. The ones that don’t are confusing.
The other issue which made this book difficult to read was one of style. Throughout the book, there are passages where identifying the speaker is challenging, either because two different people speak in the same paragraph, or because one person speaks and another acts in the same paragraph.
This tale explores what family really is and means, and toys with the matters of trust–its creation, breaking, and re-forging–and justice. The writing is, aside from the points noted above, quite good. I recommend this book for avid readers of fantasy not put off by a lack of magic use.
January 1, 2015
Adelei has grown up among the Amaskan's, trained to protect and kill, they are known as assassins. Adelei is one of the best. Adelei receives a job in the Kingdom of Alexander playing a body double to Princess Margeret, protecting her up through her wedding day. The man Princess Margeret is contracted to marry, Prince Gamun has many unsavory rumors surrounding him; but the marriage contract serves as a peace contract between two Kingdoms. While the job is inherently dangerous for Adelie, the biggest hurdle will be confronting the many secrets of her past.
An exciting epic fantasy filled with intrigue and layers upon layers of well crafted secrets and lies. Adelei's character is an enigma that constantly drew me into her story. Her upbringing as an Amaskan is contradictory to her birth, yet her training is what her birth Kingdom needs; Adelei is also strong and well trained, but vulnerable due to her confusing past. The added mystery of Prince Gamun's dirty deeds and mysticism generated a strong antagonist against the gentle and flighty Princess Margaret. The conflicts within the story created intensity and suspense, many characters were facing both internal and external struggles that made Amaskan's Blood a thought-provoking read. I would love to know more about the land of the Little Dozen Kingdoms, where the story is set, their past histories and wars and the people of the different lands. I'll be looking forward to the next book.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
An exciting epic fantasy filled with intrigue and layers upon layers of well crafted secrets and lies. Adelei's character is an enigma that constantly drew me into her story. Her upbringing as an Amaskan is contradictory to her birth, yet her training is what her birth Kingdom needs; Adelei is also strong and well trained, but vulnerable due to her confusing past. The added mystery of Prince Gamun's dirty deeds and mysticism generated a strong antagonist against the gentle and flighty Princess Margaret. The conflicts within the story created intensity and suspense, many characters were facing both internal and external struggles that made Amaskan's Blood a thought-provoking read. I would love to know more about the land of the Little Dozen Kingdoms, where the story is set, their past histories and wars and the people of the different lands. I'll be looking forward to the next book.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
December 21, 2014
A very long read and it took me a while to get through it. This is a story of lliana also known as Adelei and her life, her family and her sacrifices. She was young but ordered to be killed then taken in and taught all she would one day need to know. She was a murderer, a lover, a friend amongst so many other things that took her a life time to learn. her struggles sent her to places to do things even she did not always understand but her dedication and allegiance was all she had ever known.
This book though long is very interesting. you generally do not get to learn what becomes of the smaller characters but with read you do. You learn what happens to them all.
Very good read recommended to ages 14 and over mostly due to length
This book though long is very interesting. you generally do not get to learn what becomes of the smaller characters but with read you do. You learn what happens to them all.
Very good read recommended to ages 14 and over mostly due to length
February 19, 2015
Iliana, daughter of King Leon of Alexander, was kidnapped, had her name changed to Adelei and raised as an Amaskan assassin. When she is hired to protect King Leon's daughter, her biological twin, for attempted assassination attempts before the sister's wedding day, things get even more complicated. Will she remember things from her past? Can she keep her sister safe? Can she solve who is attempting the assassination attempts? Will those in her father's castle accept or trust an Amaskan?
This book was much better than I anticipated. With a convoluted plot, it moved rather quickly and was an easy read. I loved it and eagerly await the second book in the series. I would recommend this book to others.
This book was much better than I anticipated. With a convoluted plot, it moved rather quickly and was an easy read. I loved it and eagerly await the second book in the series. I would recommend this book to others.
September 13, 2019
Excellent read! Swift, cunning story telling. Exciting plot line with superb execution to boot. You would do well to read this book. I know I did. Excellent job Raven Oak, I look forward to Amaskan's War!! (and many more!)
August 28, 2018
I was kind of stunned by the end of the book! I just couldn't believe all that had happened. I'm left with so many questions, but at the same time I want to have hope for something that cannot be. This was a very good first book and I can't wait to read the next.
Want to read
August 10, 2018**I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Before Thoughts:
Review:
Read On:
To Be Published on:
Plot:
Characters:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
Before Thoughts:
Review:
Read On:
To Be Published on:
Plot:
Characters:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
November 20, 2018
Amaskan's Blood is an exciting epic fantasy filled with amazing adventures and wonderful characters. Everything is well planned and there're so much happening in this book.
Adelei is the main character and she is y far my favorite character. She is such a strong character but not the perfect type, she is flawed but amazing at the same time.
The author did an amazing job with the world building and even more so with the characters. Each character brings a new complexity and uniqueness to the story, even the villain was written amazingly that you are always having your doubts about him, how amazing is this author?
The work that the author had put into this detailed world is astonishing. The author put so many details to everything that you can easily see yourself in this world, walking alongside Adelei. The first third of the book was a bit slow to read and hard to get into but I am used to this in Fantasy. However, trust me when I say that the rest of the book is worth the waiting, this novel is full of action, politics and memorable characters.
Also check out again the amazing cover, wow <3 I love the cover so much, by itself you can feel the story.
Lastly, I will say that the strong plot combined with the strong characters makes a unique and amazing story to read, and if you like Fantasy you will LOVE this book. I am lucky I already have the next book to read immediately (yay) :D
*** I revied a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
Read more reviews at: Coffee n' Notes
Adelei is the main character and she is y far my favorite character. She is such a strong character but not the perfect type, she is flawed but amazing at the same time.
The author did an amazing job with the world building and even more so with the characters. Each character brings a new complexity and uniqueness to the story, even the villain was written amazingly that you are always having your doubts about him, how amazing is this author?
The work that the author had put into this detailed world is astonishing. The author put so many details to everything that you can easily see yourself in this world, walking alongside Adelei. The first third of the book was a bit slow to read and hard to get into but I am used to this in Fantasy. However, trust me when I say that the rest of the book is worth the waiting, this novel is full of action, politics and memorable characters.
Also check out again the amazing cover, wow <3 I love the cover so much, by itself you can feel the story.
Lastly, I will say that the strong plot combined with the strong characters makes a unique and amazing story to read, and if you like Fantasy you will LOVE this book. I am lucky I already have the next book to read immediately (yay) :D
*** I revied a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
Read more reviews at: Coffee n' Notes
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