The Blood Trials (The Blood Gift Duology, #1) by N. E. Davenport – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, fantasy, N. E. Davenport, scifi, series

Review of The Blood Trials

Wow, what a story!  Terrible while at the same time, hopeful.  Ikenna Amari, the main character, is about to give up on her training when she learns that her hero grandfather was very likely murdered.  With renewed determination to bring down the killer, she pledges to the most elite branch of service, the Praetorian Guard. 

The training is horrendous.  The trainers are seasoned Praetorians following the long-established tradition of weeding out those they consider to be weak.  It is pretty much every person for themselves even when they are teamed up. 

Those that do not survive will end up dead. 

I can’t help thinking that this was a most despicable way to train loyal soldiers.  The trainers seem to have no regard for the lives of the trainees.  I was appalled at the first death (killing) and my disgust never really quieted.  Still, the book blurb warned me, sort of, so I kept reading.

Ikenna has the blood gift, a fact which must be kept from everyone or she risks everything.   This complicates her training, but while she and the pledges endure the training, the investigation into Verne Amaris’ death proceeds.  Added to the trials and the investigation is the blatant racism against Ikenna and her grandfather from the large majority of the Praetorians, the government and even her fellow trainees. 

With each bit of evidence Ikenna uncovers, the plot widens.  The peace of Mareen and its allies is threatened and Ikenna have a pivotal role when the decision of war or peace, harmony or rebellion, is decided.

Blending science fiction and fantasy, this book is a bit difficult to categorize.  I feel that fantasy comes out on top, but the non-earth setting gives it a scifi feel.  Technology is not highly advanced and I found the lack of communication technology a major missing piece, though it made the trials even more dangerous.  Ikenna’s blood gift and the presence of other supernatural forces is what makes this a fantasy.  The characters are very young, so this book may appeal to young adults, but I would not categorize it as such.

Racism, elitism, war, disregard for life, hope, diversity, heritage, and self are the themes that are woven through the story.  Sadly, friendship, and cooperation do not seem to be important.   The Blood Trials ends just as things are getting interesting.  No, not a cliffhanger, but there is much more to the story.  I have every intention of reading book two when it comes out. 

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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About The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

It’s all about blood.

The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.

The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered. For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her. Who trained her to keep that a secret.

But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.

Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials—a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that—if found out—would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time. Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself—and one’s blood—is more important than anything.

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Rising Fire (Warriors of the Stone Circles, #1) by Terri Brisbin – Review

Tags

4 stars, Book Review, historical, series, Terri Brisbin, urban fantasy

Review of Rising Fire

Rising Fire is a fantasy set in Scotland where the ancient Celtic gods have been forgotten, to be replaced with the Christian god.  Even so, one of the ancient goddesses, Chaela, is determined to return and rule the world, at all costs.  She has groomed one of her descendants to aid in her restoration to the place she believes she deserves.  Lord Hugh is a nasty piece of work.

A secret group of followers of the ancient gods have been waiting for Chaela’s attempt to return and have plans to stop her reappearance.  The descendants of other gods will need to be rounded up to assist.  Those descendants include William de Brus and Brienne of Yester, Warblood and Fireblood.

William de Brus, warrior on a mission for the king to find out what Lord Hugh is up to, finds more than he bargained for.  Brienne of Yester is young and has been kept in the dark about her past, but knows she is something more. 

Rising Fire brings all these players together, introducing an attraction between Brienne and William, as well as setting up a long game that will involve several showdowns before the goddess and Lord Hugh and put in their respective places. 

This fantasy concentrates on story development over character development.  The story, while not complex (bad goddess against everyone who wants to live happily ever after), is well told.  The darkness of the story gives it an edgy feel.  While the story of William and Brienne is complete, to see the bad guys defeated, you will need to read the rest of the series.

Thanks to the publisher who provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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About Rising Fire by Terri Brisbin

Eons ago, six ancient Celtic gods turned on the seventh who promised to destroy humanity. To keep her imprisoned, they passed their powers down through their descendants who could be called on if, when, the time to rise up came. In the dark times of the late 13th century, that time came.

William de Brus, illegitimate son of King Alexander III, is sent to investigate a nobleman thought to have mysterious powers and designs on Alexander’s kingdom. When he discovers the tales are true, and, that he is part of some larger plan, William also finds an enticing young woman who seems to be at the center of it all.

Brienne of Yester knows who her true father is and so do the villagers around her. She knows she is different in other ways and when her powers soar and she can create and control fire, Brienne learns the truth of her father’s nature. And his plan to release their ancestor, the goddess of fire and chaos. The only one who makes her feel safe, the only man she dares trust, may be her soulmate or her destruction.

When passions flare and powers rise, can they trust each other enough to give all of humanity a chance to survive or will the goddess escape to destroy everything in the world?

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Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs – Series Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Darynda Jones, fae, fantasy, Geroge Newbern, goblins, Lorelei King, Patricia Briggs, romance, series, trolls, urban fantasy, vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies

The World of Mercy Thompson

Mercedes is a Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. Her Native American heritage has gifted her with the ability to take the form of a coyote at will. She’s surrounded by far more powerful supernatural beings, including werewolves, vampires and an assortment of fae. 

Series summary from Patricia Briggs’ website.

Review

Before November of 2021, the only Patricia Briggs works I had read were a book called Dragon Bones and the awesome Alpha and Omega series, which is set in the same world as Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series.  With the Alpha and Omega series, there were enough references to Mercy Thompson to make me curious.  So last fall, I finally started the series.

The entire series was available through my library’s digital collection.  I was able to listen to most of the series on audiobook, with just two exceptions.

The audiobooks are read by Lorelei King, who is one of the most talented narrators out there.  I had previously listed to her read Darynda Jones’ Charley Davidson series, which made things a bit confusing at first.  I had so associated the voice of Lorelei King with Charley Davidson, that at first, I experienced some small difficulty getting my mind to realize that Mercy Thompson was the main character. 

By the end of the first book, I had made the shift in my mind and enjoyed the story enough to go for book 2 and 3.  Now, here is where I knew I was hooked on the series. 

I often find that authors adopt a formula to build each story in a series, leading to predictability and, at the very least, a need to take a break between books.  With Mercy Thompson, each book was entirely unique, and the story kept evolving.  I could discern no obvious pattern or formula.  This kept me fully engaged with the developing story.  So, I kept forging onward with the series, pausing only when I had to wait for the book to become available from the library. 

So, between November and last week, I listened to or read the first 12 books of the Mercy Thomson series plus one additional anthology set in the same world. The entire series is quality storytelling.  Let me tell you why.

Note: The summary I shared at the beginning of this post is very simplistic, but contains no spoilers.  What I share with you now may contain spoilers, but will, hopefully, not prevent you from enjoying the books anyway.

1. Mercy, as a coyote shifter, was raised, in part, by Bran Cornick, the Marrock – ruler of all the North American werewolves, who I first met in the Alpha and Omega series.  Bran is scary powerful, but for the good.  That Mercy often got the upper hand with Bran, is delightful, but also shows that their relationship was special and a good thing for both of them.
2. In addition to humans, so many of the typical urban fantasy paranormal types are present throughout the series.  Werewolves, vampires, sorcerers, fae, witches (white, grey and black), trolls, goblins, guayota (volcano god), zombies, ghosts, Coyote Trickster (and other Native American beings), Baba Yaga, the Golem of Prague, and walkers (which is what Mercy is).  Also, possible: combinations of any of the above.
3. The Columbia Basin werewolf pack is one big happy family.  Okay, not always happy.  But big and very much like family.  The Alpha, Adam, rules absolutely and the pack has a hierarchical structure.  Mercy’s role in the pack evolves over the series, but since she becomes the mate of the Alpha, she will be redefining the status quo.
4. The werewolves and other ‘monsters’ must interact with humans.  In a world where the werewolves have come out, Adam has become something of a celebrity.  His daughter Jessie, and Mercy’s employee Gabriel and one or two other humans help the wolves understand what it means to be human.
5. Mercy Thompson is a kind, compassionate woman that can get along with just about everyone she meets, as long as they don’t want to immediately kill her.  This is true whether they are fated to be friends, foes, or something inbetween.  (Okay, there is one exception, but husband’s ex-wives are fair game for a bit of spite.)  Since the stories are from Mercy’s viewpoint, this means the reader is able to connect with just about every character and care about them as much as Mery does.  This trait also puts her (and the pack) smack dab in the middle of trouble because Mercy needs to help.
6. Mercy’s infatuation with VW’s.
7. Mercy sees dead people.
8. Pack bonds/mate bonds.
9. A trip to Europe.
10. A fae artifact that, despite being returned the fae, always ends up near Mercy when she needs it. Called a walking stick, but rarely acts like one.
11. Bran, Charles and Samuel (from the Alpha and Omega series).
12. Zee (Siebold Adelbertsmiter) and Tad – Fae father and half-fae son. Zee is the original owner of Mercy’s garage. Both father and son continue to a) help Mercy in the garage and b) come to Mercy’s aid when she if fighting monsters.
13. Coyote Trickster – who is Mercy’s father, but not Mercy’s father.
14. Stephan – the vampire who loves Mercy.
15. Adam – who gets his own point of view in Silence Fallen – perhaps my favorite of the series. (In the audiobook, George Newbern narrates those chapters.)   Adam is handsome, powerful, protective, and loving. Also, Adam does not like to use foul language, which is adorable refreshing.

I really enjoyed ‘binge’ reading/listening to the first 12 books – plus Shifting Shadows, a collection short stories from the Mercyverse.  Shifting Shadows stories takes place throughout the Mercy Thompson timeline. Read after Night Broken to avoid spoilers. There are also a couple of Mercy-related graphic novels that I will have to track down.  I’ll have to wait for any future books, but I will be watching for them.  If you are an urban fantasy reader who has not been introduced to Mercy Thompson, I recommend you check this series out. 

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