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A review by kevinscorner
Memories of Blood and Shadow by Aaron S. Jones
4.5
Memories of Blood and Shadow was a delight to read. I really enjoyed this jam-packed book set in a rich and diverse Middle East-inspired world. Tavar Farwan is tired and has left behind his life as a warrior, that is until intruders invade his quiet life looking for retribution for a past ill done. He then sets to tell his story of how he rose from an orphan kidnapped after his parents are murdered to became the legend who killed a god.
Tavar is a protagonist I can endlessly root for. He starts off as a naive and sheltered child who never loses his earnestness and honor despite the many trials life has thrown at him. He becomes a young man who fights for his beliefs and his friends with a steadfastness that can even be detrimental. He doesn’t shirk from his responsibilities and can make hard choices.
Like I said earlier, this book is thick and jam-packed. Told in three parts from different phases of his life’s journey, Tavar leads quite an eventful life with one thing happening after another and meets so many people along the way. There’s certainly 2-3 books of content squished into this single book. There is a surprising amount of depth even with its fast pacing and almost episodic turn of events, but it does feel like he forms attachments and relationships with some characters a bit too easily. The plot is a bit trope-y, but I have no problems with it when as well done as this. The action can be brutal, but never gratuitous, and I liked that it still felt upbeat throughout.
Memories of Blood and Shadow is a fun, almost-traditional fantasy just with a more diverse setting and is well worth the read. A definite recommend from me.
*I received an eARC of this book as part of a book tour.
Tavar is a protagonist I can endlessly root for. He starts off as a naive and sheltered child who never loses his earnestness and honor despite the many trials life has thrown at him. He becomes a young man who fights for his beliefs and his friends with a steadfastness that can even be detrimental. He doesn’t shirk from his responsibilities and can make hard choices.
Like I said earlier, this book is thick and jam-packed. Told in three parts from different phases of his life’s journey, Tavar leads quite an eventful life with one thing happening after another and meets so many people along the way. There’s certainly 2-3 books of content squished into this single book. There is a surprising amount of depth even with its fast pacing and almost episodic turn of events, but it does feel like he forms attachments and relationships with some characters a bit too easily. The plot is a bit trope-y, but I have no problems with it when as well done as this. The action can be brutal, but never gratuitous, and I liked that it still felt upbeat throughout.
Memories of Blood and Shadow is a fun, almost-traditional fantasy just with a more diverse setting and is well worth the read. A definite recommend from me.
*I received an eARC of this book as part of a book tour.