Blood Trillium

The Saga of the Trillium #2

by Julian May

A powerful malevolence reemerges in a terrifying new guise to threaten a feuding royal family and enslave the realm in the continuation of the acclaimed Saga of the Trillium Twelve years have passed since three princesses joined together to defeat the powerful evil poisoning their kingdom, but over time their relationship has become strained. When impetuous Kadiya, devoted champion of the aboriginal Oddlings, loses the talisman entrusted to her, she and her sisters, Anigel the noble Queen and wise Haramis the Archimage, will need to put their differences aside or see the world they protect obliterated—for the return of a malevolence they believed had been vanquished threatens the fragile security of Ruwenda and the future of the World of Three Moons.   The fugitive wizard Portolanus—originally believed to be merely a lesser magician and an intolerable windbag—has gained the ability to magically unbind the sisters’ tripart Scepter of Power. And woe to the world when the enemy’s true face is finally revealed—for it has turned the petals of the sacred Black Trillium, encased in amulets worn around the necks of three royal siblings, an ominous blood red.    A beloved author of science fiction and fantasy, Julian May created the World of the Three Moons in collaboration with her fellow fantasy fiction luminaries Andre Norton and Marion Zimmer Bradley in the classic novel Black Trillium. She takes the reins alone with Blood Trillium, the breathtaking continuation of the thrilling saga of sisterhood, magic, and a broken family reuniting to save a world.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy, Ebooks, Speculative Fiction

488 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Julian May was an American science fiction, fantasy, horror, science and children's writer who also used several pseudonyms including Ian Thorne, Lee N. Falconer and many others.

Some 1960's and 1970's biographies and children's science books may belong to Julian May (the science fiction & fantasy writer) profile but no reliable source has been found

Per Encyclopedia.com, May wrote juvenile science non-fiction along with the science fiction novels for adults. (https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/edu...)

Reviews

[Arwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second Trillium book. Didn't care too much for the story in and of itself, but it sets up a doozy of a sequel in the 3rd book. The problem with this book is that it centers too much around the royal children, and the character flaws of the 3 main characters. I just didn't enjoy them harping on the characters bad traits all through out the book.

[weaverannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy is een genre, waarvoor je in de stemming moet zijn. Dat ben ik niet altijd en ik lees het dan ook niet vaak. De Rode Trillium was ook een van de afgeschreven boeken van de bibliotheek, die al heel lang op de te lezen boeken stapel lag. Ik nam het mee toen we op vakantie gingen, en ook daar belandde het onder op de stapel.

Thuisgekomen besloot ik het nu toch eindelijk te gaan lezen.

Steeds vaker pakte ik het boek op, na een wat moeilijk begin. Ik had niet begrepen, dat het het tweede boek over deze hoofdpersonen was. Het vorige deel was geschreven door Julian May, net als dit, maar toen werkte ze samen met Marion Zimmer Bradley en Andre Norton. Dit boek was uitsluitend van de hand van Julian May.

Al lezende begon het verhaal over de drie prinsessen, die samen het lot van de wereld in handen hebben, me te boeien. Ze worden geholpen door de mysterieuze krachten van de Zwarte Trillium, waarvan ze ieder een derde deel bezitten. Ieder afzonderlijk is hun macht veel kleiner. De delen van de Trillium zitten in een talisman voor ieder. Dan verliest Kadya, een van de zusters, haar talisman. De man en kinderen van de tweede zuster, Anigel, worden ontvoerd door een tovenaar, die zich Portolanus noemt. Hij eist de talisman van Anigel als losprijs.

Het evenwicht in de wereld komt in gevaar. Er komen aardbevingen, het weer wordt guur en koud, stormen steken op. Oorlogen dreigen. De zussen ruziën over de te nemen maatregelen. Hun Zwarte Trillium wordt bloedrood. Pas als de zwarte kleur terug is, zal het evenwicht hersteld worden.
Spannend!

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in following the adventures of the three sisters that have the power of the black lilium.
They have grown from where one had left them in the first volume of the sage
They have matured although some of their traits are still characterizing them and will be somewhat the core of how the lilium become bloody.

The magical world also around Laboruwenda is known even more in details. What are the magical powers in the world is clarified and new ones are appearing. I find that part not completely clear but also very fascinating. I think the mixture of magic and knowledge as well as some form of myth is explained in good passages, thanks to the events evolution.

I found the story well written, exciting and it is not given for granted at all how it will end up (although, let's say that as a wise reader it is quite predictable anyway).
The first part is a bit slower - possibly to create the atmosphere and the setting. It definitely gets speed later on and become exciting and sharper in the description, in my opinion.
There are some steps in the narrative that are brushed a bit too fast and leave a bit of a question mark and unclarity that creates a bit of confusion.

With everything that happens the different characters do change, show interesting personality traits that were unknown. Some of the characters seem to have a key role at the beginning, but then they are parked later on in the story after they serve their purpose. The focus ends up being definitely the three sisters and their actions.

I like the originality of the world, but some of the episodes are a bit too much of a cliche'. I think the reader engagement can be kept higher without trivializing some of the characters and phrases which ends up feeling a bit of some romantic novel type.

I am looking forward to the next volume of the saga!

[Dark-Draco · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the series starts a whopping 12 years after the end of the first one - and apart from one of the sisters having had kids, nothing hugely seems to have changed, and they really haven't progressed in using their magical talismans. However, that soon changes when another wicked wizard appears from nowhere and starts throwing his weight around - but who is he really? And can the three sisters settle their differences and combine their energies to defeat him?

If found this to be an ok read - nothing ground-breaking and not exactly action packed. I couldn't quite buy into the fact that the sisters just hadn't changed in the 12 years since we last saw them, and found both Anigel's and Kadiya's sudden change of attitude was completely unbelievable - you can't just sit down, think briefly on your faults and change them straight away! It would have been far better to have them slowly come to realise what was wrong over the course of the whole book, instead of it all happening right at the end again.

That said, I enjoyed Haramis' journey to learn to master her powers, and the introduction of the other Archimages was nice. Although the very ending annoyed me a bit - is the whole series going to be about having to redefeat the same person every book?

Liked it enough to read the next in the series though ....

[Scotty Marinara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a teen when it first came out and recently decided a series reread was in orderthe only thing i enjoyed about this book was the worldbuildingthis book and the sequels were very underwhelming and in fact i cant really remember how this one differs from the other sequels if you are looking for something light and not too much yucky stufftry this, you really dont need to read the sequels in order or at all reallyto enjoy it

[Alyssa Grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this continuation of Haramis, Anigel, and Kadiya's story for the varying points of view and its introduction to the larger fantasy world created by May, Bradley, and Norton. While some of the pacing and plot felt jam-packed, trying to keep your attention in seven different directions, the story overall was unique in having the perspectives and adventures of the royal children and the enemies of the sisters as well.

[Virginia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building on the first book.

Peace reigned for a while. But greed for power upset the balance. Our heroes have made little progress understanding or using their talismans. But enemies continue to plot.

A rollicking tale of fierce aliens and false friends. Much fighting and more remorse. But love and goodness wins out after all.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un pó troppi nomi per i miei gusti e troppo strani, alcuni difficili da pronunciare. Rendono la lettura meno spedita. Tutto sommato gradevole e veloce, ma non chissà che. Il libro può anche essere letto da solo, senza gli altri della trilogia.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned at p. 79 which is early for me. Normally I’m very patient. But this is too confusing and I don’t care to figure out what the backstory is. I guess world building by a committee just makes a camel instead of a horse.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julian May dà un suo tocco alla saga e lo fa con mano esperta.
Troviamo le tre sorelle alla prese con degli problemi nella loro relazione in un mondo con un 'equilibro assai delicato...
Un nemico creduto sconfitto torna
I tre gigli si tingono rosso....

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love the world of the Trillium series, and May's writing is both descriptive and entertaining. There were some typos that jarred my reading, but the story was clever and fast-paced.

[E.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager, and fell in love with the characters, the plot, and the entire world.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story, I just wish I had access to a larger print version or audiobook. At my age the fine print makes it hard work.

[Steve Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great development on the story from the first novel and it felt more coherent under one writer as well. It will be interesting to see where the final part of the trilogy goes from here.

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way better than the first! Storyline was more consistent and more depth. More realistic character development.

[Rogerio Lopes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como faz muitos anos, bem mais de vinte que li O Trílio Negro; não tem muito como comparar as duas obras. Entretanto, sendo uma sequência daquele, espera-se que esse possua algumas características e bem o livro se saí bem em algumas coisas e em outras nem tanto. Algo positivo é a construção de toda uma mitologia que vai inclusive explicar o surgimento das diferentes raças. O vilão da história será incluído em algo maior e isso é sim bem vindo. Agora o livro sofre e muito quando se volta para as três predestinadas do volume anterior. Curiosamente é a personagem criada pela própria autora; a rainha Anigel a mais prejudicada aqui. Haramis é de longe a personagem mais crível e equilibrada, mesmo tendo o tedioso dilema do amor envolvido em seu arco. Nada contra o tema, mas é um tanto cansativo que todo livro de fantasia com protagonistas femininas insista em colocar uma boboca apaixonada pondo o mundo em risco. Não contente a autora aqui põe duas; três se considerarmos que Kadiya é apaixonada por si mesma. Além disso o grande problema é que anos se passaram desde a derrota de Orogastus e as protagonistas ao invés de evoluírem basicamente regrediram. Um comentário de um personagem resume bem, o leitor vê as protagonistas fazendo pataquada em cima de pataquada sendo que a solução por vezes é óbvia. Apesar disso o livro tem seus méritos e acaba sendo uma leitura agradável, mesmo com seu final um tanto atropelado e confuso.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with the first novel in the series (Black Trillium), I originally read this back when I was young and loved it. On a visit at an older age, it does not hold up to my memory.

A lot of my complaints are similar to the other novel: the characters are one-dimensional and at times idiotic, there isn't any real tension in the plot, and character "development" happens seemingly at random to meet the needs of the plot and not because of any actual growth. The introduction of children as prominent characters doesn't add any value, as they are mostly bratty and obnoxious.

Redeeming qualities? I'm not really sure. It's not total dreck, for as much as I've complained in that previous paragraph. I've certainly read worse books (although not many). Once upon a time I liked it well enough to buy it. But now? No, I don't think I would. I've come to expect my novels to have more depth and complexity and humor.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three princesses, Anigel, Kadiya and Haramis face a new threat in the form of a marooned sorcerer that has been rescued.
Is he just a minor magician or is he the fabled Orogastus whom they fought twelve years before? Has he been resurrected and returned stronger than ever looking for revenge?
All the princesses know for sure is that Kadiya has lost her talisman and the world is in an uproar with freak storms and weather assaulting the lands.
The sisters need to work together to fully make the talisman magic work but Anigel and Kadiya have a row which causes dissension among the magic meanwhile the new mysterious sorceror hailed as Portolanus is growing stronger and has taken some of the royal family hostage.
Can the sisters put their differences aside and work in concert to save their family and the world?
Exciting and a worthy follow up to Black trillium.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this would be an interesting sequel to Black Trillium, but was disappointed. Anigel has become Queen of Ruwenda with Khadiya and Haramis serving her as advisors, Haramis in magic as the archmage, Khadiya as the liaison to the Oddlings, the original race of this world. Another dastardly sorceror disrupts the peace and kidnaps Anigel's children, and her sisters try to get them back.

Julian May was the author, and parts of it were twee in a British way, especially concerning the children, who came across as precocious brats. Equally repugnant was the way the sisters scolded Anigel for being approriately distraught. Think I stopped reading at that part and had no desire to continue on with the series.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Saga of the Trillium (a collaboration between Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton, and Julian May). This one is by Julian May.

The action picks up 12 years after the three sisters saved their kingdom. Anigel is queen, Kadiya serves as a link between the humans and the folk, and Haramis is the Archmage.

Once again, a threat to the security of the kingdom emerges, and each princess has a unique role to play.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the past, I LOVED world-builders. However, I have changed.

Purportedly, I have the patience of a saint. However, this proved that assertion wrong.

If I had read this ten years ago, it would have pleased me. However, I have changed.



The lesson gleaned from this: people change. Yet not in every aspect. While I LOVE reading, socio-economic factors have rendered full enjoyment of Julian May very difficult.

[Rob Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was better written than Black Trillium the first in the series. It seemed to me from the ending of Black Trillium Orogustus surviving did not really make a lot of sense though which did annoy me even though there was an explanation. On to the third in the series next!

[Collin Reremoana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GREAT READ

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

the second story after the blood trillium, where we follow one of the three sisters in her life after the adventures and how she changes her life and world.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 2 of the series.

[Norman Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sereis was unique in being written by three different authors. It worked"," so others are doing it now.

[Jorge]

Registrei um livro no BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14094471

[Michael Vawser · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 copies

[Morghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as well. I still have yet to fininsh the series.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd in in World of 3 moons