Tuesday 6 August 2013

FANTASY REVIEW: Raven's Shadow 1: Blood Song - Anthony Ryan

Release Date: 25/07/13
Publisher:  Orbit

SYNOPSIS:

We have fought battles that left more than a hundred corpses on the ground, and not a word of it has ever been set down. The Order fights, but often it fights in shadow, without glory or reward. We have no banners. Vaelin Al Sorna's life changes for ever the day his father abandons him at the gates of the Sixth Order, a secretive military arm of the Faith. Together with his fellow initiates, Vaelin undertakes a brutal training regime - where the price of failure is often death. Under the tutelage of the Order's masters, he learns how to forge a blade, survive the wilds and kill a man quickly and quietly. Now his new skills will be put to the test. War is coming. Vaelin is the Sixth Order's deadliest weapon and the Realm's only hope. He must draw upon the very essence of his strength and cunning if he is to survive the coming conflict. Yet as the world teeters on the edge of chaos, Vaelin will learn that the truth can cut deeper than any sword.


REVIEW:

This title is a book that whilst recently released by Orbit was originally published as an independent book last year. Whilst I hadn’t read it at that time, I was more than happy to have it land so that I could sit down with a traditional style fantasy to see where it would take me. What unfurled within was a story that entertained me.

The pace worked wonderfully, the characters within, whilst a little stereotypical, brought their own flavours to the overall plot and when added to a plotline that will expand over a few books really did a great job. It was also worth noting that the author thanked David Gemmell in the dedication. All round a solid book and one I’ll look forward to seeing what will happen in the next outing.



No comments: