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A review by its_justine
Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
5.0
What a wyld ride! (Yep, I said it.) As I began Bloody Rose, I was part excited, part apprehensive, only due to the fact that Kings of the Wyld was one of my top reads of 2017 and it set the bar pretty high for any follow-up. Cue brain matter flying absolutely everywhere because my mind has been completely blown. I didn’t think it possible, but this book is EVEN BETTER than its predecessor.
Tam Hashford lives a sheltered life in her hometown of Ardburg, spending her days working at the local pub. Her wyld heart aches to see what the rest of the world has to offer and she finally gets that chance when Fable, one of the most famous mercenary bands in all of Grandual, led by none other than Bloody Rose, comes to town looking for a bard. Tam hits the road and tags along with the band as they finish up the last leg of their tour and joins them in their final gig that will let their names live on in legend forever. What they don’t know is completing this contract has severe consequences that threaten the lives of every living being, both man and monster. Does the band have what it takes to save the world from eminent destruction?
I don’t even know how to properly put my thoughts into words. Honestly, this was one of the best stories I’ve ever read. While it is technically a standalone, it works as an amazing sequel and a true treat for fans of KotW. The events of book one play a huge role in the plot of book two and we see quite a few familiar faces.
I have to give it to Eames…he’s a master when it comes to character development and progression. Throughout the book, we follow a core group of six characters so distinctly different from one another, yet fit perfectly together like a jigsaw puzzle. The dynamics between Tam, Rose, Freecloud, Brune, Cura and Roderick show us that you need not be related through blood to be family. Each gets their own moment in the spotlight that gives insight into their pasts and answers for their present personalities and drives. Although each are perfectly flawed, these flaws only make you admire them more.
As for the tone, this whole book is a 500-page rollercoaster ride! It made me laugh. It made me cry. And it made me laugh some more. The pages are dripping with a humor I so rarely see in any genre and I can’t tell you how many times I audibly giggled/cackled at the one-liners littered throughout. And yet, two minutes later I’d be holding back tears. Most importantly, there is a profound sense of hope that always lightens the darker moments of the book.
The writing and prose are superb - intelligent, but not always taking things too seriously, making this such an enjoyable read. The jaw-dropping action scenes are insanely intense and I found myself frantically turning the pages just to see what would happen next. And that ending…perfection. I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally affected by a single page’s worth of words.
So, if you couldn’t already tell from my dripping praise above, I absolutely loved Bloody Rose. It completely blew my expectations out of the water. I cannot recommend this enough and I cannot wait for more.
Tam Hashford lives a sheltered life in her hometown of Ardburg, spending her days working at the local pub. Her wyld heart aches to see what the rest of the world has to offer and she finally gets that chance when Fable, one of the most famous mercenary bands in all of Grandual, led by none other than Bloody Rose, comes to town looking for a bard. Tam hits the road and tags along with the band as they finish up the last leg of their tour and joins them in their final gig that will let their names live on in legend forever. What they don’t know is completing this contract has severe consequences that threaten the lives of every living being, both man and monster. Does the band have what it takes to save the world from eminent destruction?
I don’t even know how to properly put my thoughts into words. Honestly, this was one of the best stories I’ve ever read. While it is technically a standalone, it works as an amazing sequel and a true treat for fans of KotW. The events of book one play a huge role in the plot of book two and we see quite a few familiar faces.
I have to give it to Eames…he’s a master when it comes to character development and progression. Throughout the book, we follow a core group of six characters so distinctly different from one another, yet fit perfectly together like a jigsaw puzzle. The dynamics between Tam, Rose, Freecloud, Brune, Cura and Roderick show us that you need not be related through blood to be family. Each gets their own moment in the spotlight that gives insight into their pasts and answers for their present personalities and drives. Although each are perfectly flawed, these flaws only make you admire them more.
As for the tone, this whole book is a 500-page rollercoaster ride! It made me laugh. It made me cry. And it made me laugh some more. The pages are dripping with a humor I so rarely see in any genre and I can’t tell you how many times I audibly giggled/cackled at the one-liners littered throughout. And yet, two minutes later I’d be holding back tears. Most importantly, there is a profound sense of hope that always lightens the darker moments of the book.
The writing and prose are superb - intelligent, but not always taking things too seriously, making this such an enjoyable read. The jaw-dropping action scenes are insanely intense and I found myself frantically turning the pages just to see what would happen next. And that ending…perfection. I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally affected by a single page’s worth of words.
So, if you couldn’t already tell from my dripping praise above, I absolutely loved Bloody Rose. It completely blew my expectations out of the water. I cannot recommend this enough and I cannot wait for more.