Take a photo of a barcode or cover
cursedherondale 's review for:
Blood Song
by Anthony Ryan
Vaelin Al Sorna. Brother of the Sixth Order, Sword of the Unified Realm, Lord Marshal of the Thirty Fifth Regiment of Foot has inspired fear instead of Loyalty. Usually, I would admire a hero who inspires his men using the latter, but to command men and order them to bid to your liking, now there's an allure to that kind of influence.
Vaelin is both hated and loved by either of his foes or friends. Loyalty lies with his brothers from the Sixth Order, as much as hatred from his enemies, which he earned from serving King Janus. Vaelin, is honorable in his own way, to the point of stupidity. I was annoyed at him not once, or twice but a couple of times. If he could have been less honorable, he could have walked away, he could've had a life outside the war and bloodshed, he could've had the chance to be with his sister or could've had a long shot with Sherin, but then I won't be reading this book if it would be that lame. The upside part of this book was having his brothers, Caenis, Nortah et.al., and there's Frentis. With his brothers, Vaelin is close to being more human than he usually is (in terms of being at war, at least).
Vaelin is a complex character, torn between his heart's own desire, his honor and his duty to the realm. A perfect example of a hero who could never have what he wants, his life no longer his own. As early as book one, I can sense that this series won't end to a joyful conclusion (based on the reviews of the succeeding books). A kind of hero told in fairy tales is a far cry to the kind of hero Vaelin is. Heroes suffer, often selfless, always tormented. I am betting there is no happy ending in this series, but I have a strong feeling, Vaelin's story is worth being told regardless how it ends and I wish one day to have his story in film.
I love how Anthony Ryan wrote the timeline, jumping from the past to the present, the transition of Vaelin being young and innocent to Vaelin being the feared and hated warrior. Well written and it remained intriguing all throughout Vaelin's journey in book one. The end surprised me and was kinda bittersweet, not really a 'deadly' cliff-hanger but still a cliff-hanger. Rated it one less star for the confusing geography, I'm such a sucker with places, countries and landmarks and Ryan wasn't too kind to the lots like me.
Vaelin is both hated and loved by either of his foes or friends. Loyalty lies with his brothers from the Sixth Order, as much as hatred from his enemies, which he earned from serving King Janus. Vaelin, is honorable in his own way, to the point of stupidity. I was annoyed at him not once, or twice but a couple of times. If he could have been less honorable, he could have walked away, he could've had a life outside the war and bloodshed, he could've had the chance to be with his sister or could've had a long shot with Sherin, but then I won't be reading this book if it would be that lame. The upside part of this book was having his brothers, Caenis, Nortah et.al., and there's Frentis. With his brothers, Vaelin is close to being more human than he usually is (in terms of being at war, at least).
Vaelin is a complex character, torn between his heart's own desire, his honor and his duty to the realm. A perfect example of a hero who could never have what he wants, his life no longer his own. As early as book one, I can sense that this series won't end to a joyful conclusion (based on the reviews of the succeeding books). A kind of hero told in fairy tales is a far cry to the kind of hero Vaelin is. Heroes suffer, often selfless, always tormented. I am betting there is no happy ending in this series, but I have a strong feeling, Vaelin's story is worth being told regardless how it ends and I wish one day to have his story in film.
I love how Anthony Ryan wrote the timeline, jumping from the past to the present, the transition of Vaelin being young and innocent to Vaelin being the feared and hated warrior. Well written and it remained intriguing all throughout Vaelin's journey in book one. The end surprised me and was kinda bittersweet, not really a 'deadly' cliff-hanger but still a cliff-hanger. Rated it one less star for the confusing geography, I'm such a sucker with places, countries and landmarks and Ryan wasn't too kind to the lots like me.