Blood Song (Raven's Shadow, #1) in /r/Fantasy Discussion Group

Jul 11, 2012 Mihir rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic [Plus Analysis by Liviu]

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Blood Song is another of those books that I discovered a few months earlier, thanks to Amazon’s cool algorithm for suggesting titles I might like based on my previous “Buying and Search” history. Previously I had stumbled upon Zero Sight by B Justin Shier the same way and the way that book turned out to be, I have learnt to keep an eye out for such Amazon recommendations.

Blood Song begins with a first pers
Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic [Plus Analysis by Liviu]

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Blood Song is another of those books that I discovered a few months earlier, thanks to Amazon’s cool algorithm for suggesting titles I might like based on my previous “Buying and Search” history. Previously I had stumbled upon Zero Sight by B Justin Shier the same way and the way that book turned out to be, I have learnt to keep an eye out for such Amazon recommendations.

Blood Song begins with a first person narrative featuring Lord Verniers Alishe Someren, a chronicler that has been chosen to write about the main character Vaelin Al-Sorna and about the journey that they both will undertake. The story then begins Vaelin’s past as when as a child he’s commanded to join the Sixth Order of the Faith of the Unified Realm. Thus begins Vaelin’s journey wherein he will learn to wield weapons and become a famed warrior of the unified realm that will also earn him many names all across various nations and regions. Friends and foes alike will be drawn to him in differing amounts. But when all is said and done, Vaelin’s journey has only begun as the reader will learn more about his past as well as that of his realm.

One searches for the next best thing in fantasy, often going through many books in search of the book that will enthrall you completely. I almost missed on this beauty by buying it but then never getting around to reading it. I owe thanks to Michael Sullivan for reminding me about this book and what a book it is. Beginning from the events in the past to the current story going on currently, this setup has been explored in various fantasy, historical and other genre novels.

The most recent famous example being The Name Of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. In fact a similarity between those two books can be seen in regards to the protagonist's story and their growth via a university/military school setting. What differentiates these two books is a terrific conclusion to the book as well as themes about war and its follies. Also this was my observation but I found some shades of David Gemmell in Anthony Ryan’s storytelling style and prose. It is heartening to see a Brit take up the mantle of heroic, epic fantasy from one of fantasy’s most distinguished writers as well as a fellow British writer.

This book is more akin to a traditional epic fantasy wherein it’s set in a pseudo-European setting and with a world history that is unveiled slowly and tantalizingly. At the same time, there is a core mystery at the heart of this plotline, why was Vaelin sent to the sixth order? What really happened with his parents? Who is the One Who Waits? These questions and much more abound this volume and will tempt readers into coming back for the later parts of this trilogy. The book focuses in the past as well as the present and the author has tantalizingly kept both time periods shrouded in mystery. This thread is what powers the book throughout and makes the story such a strong one.

Characterization is also a strong point in this opening volume, even though we get a singular narrative voice for the majority of the book. The author has created a fascinating side character cast particularly King Janus, Princess Lyrna just to name a few, these characters make the story even more fascinating and with the increase in POV character cast in "Tower Lord" (book II). I can't wait to see which other characters get their own narrative voices. The book ends on a strong note and with a twist that is hard to anticipate, giving the readers a complete story if they want to read just this book however I’m sure once the readers finish this book they will want to read “Tower Lord” the next in the Raven’s Shadow trilogy.

Anthony Ryan’s Blood Song is a tremendous debut; it has a fast paced, action packed and character driven story. Qualities to admire in any genre story and most of all in an epic fantasy one. Give this book a read, if you have ever felt that Indie books have no quality to them, give this book a read if you are tired of the same morass of stories in the epic fantasy genre, give this book a read if you want a well written story by a newbie author and lastly give this book a read if you want to read a story that’s closest to those written by David Gemmell. ...more

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Jul 08, 2014 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: murder-most-foul, bildungsroman, schools-of-magic, fantasy, espionage, romantical-tragical, audiobooks, self-published-and-indie, religion, not-quite-five-stars-but-sooo-close

Blood Song is a really, really good fantasy book. Nothing it does particularly reinvents the wheel, but everything it does do is just done so WELL. It was very enjoyable to listen to, particularly since the narrator had a wonderful storytelling voice.

Vaelin Al Sorna was a young boy when his mother died, and his father the Battle Lord left him at the steps of the religious Sixth Order, a group of warrior monks who fight for the Faith. Feeling abandoned and angry, Vaelin embraces life as a Brother Blood Song is a really, really good fantasy book. Nothing it does particularly reinvents the wheel, but everything it does do is just done so WELL. It was very enjoyable to listen to, particularly since the narrator had a wonderful storytelling voice.

Vaelin Al Sorna was a young boy when his mother died, and his father the Battle Lord left him at the steps of the religious Sixth Order, a group of warrior monks who fight for the Faith. Feeling abandoned and angry, Vaelin embraces life as a Brother of the Sixth Order, forming a makeshift family out the Brothers in his year. Vaelin also turns out to be exceptionally gifted at fighting, and his personality soon sets him on the path to leadership.

The book is told in the form of flashbacks. The frame story begins with Vaelin giving a full account (or the version he's most comfortable calling full) to a historian from an Empire that currently holds Vaelin captive. Five years before, Vaelin killed the Emperor's heir, earning himself the name "Hope-Killer", but most people have Vaelin's story entirely wrong. He takes the chronicler through his childhood all the way up until his capture, only we readers get the full version, not the edited out one he gives the chronicler. It's episodic in nature, spending time in one era of Vaelin's life before skipping ahead again and again to the next bit of import. It's a fantasy bildungsroman, and we're all caught up to the frame by the time the book ends.

Threaded throughout Vaelin's history are hints of overarching stories that will surely play out in future books: a mysterious order, a hidden enemy, and Vaelin's own magical gift, the Blood Song.

Like I said, most of this has been done before: the young hero receives training and becomes great, a sinister bad guy hidden in the shadows, religious persecution, witch hunts, wars, found families, etc. And it starts out very Rothfussian, with a legendary/infamous figure giving the real story that's hidden among all the mythologizing and villainizing done by people when they talk about him. But the way Ryan puts it all together just works.

Already ordered book two from the library, but a bit upset it will be hard copy. Stupid free library, only having books one and three in audio.

[4.5 stars] ...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Chompa rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, 2015

I really enjoyed this book. It was one of those that gripped me from the start and was awesome, but sadly bogged down a bit about 3/4 of the way through. The author used some flashbacks/forwards(?) that were not clear. I got it eventually, but when you are running full speed it sucks to stumble. That said - he recovered very well and the finish was very strong. 4.3 stars?

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May 01, 2014 Vinay Badri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A very well written book. Shades of Rothfuss in the way the story starts. You have to keep reading that one page more, that one chapter more. For a series, book 1 ends on a very satisfying note.

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