Blood Song – book review

Until recently I hadn’t thought too much about book reviews. I bought books, I read books, and I enjoyed books. Leaving a review was something enthusiastic readers did – people who I figured had more to say than me.

For me, writing a review was akin to a ‘critique’ or ‘assessment’, making reviewing work rather something considerate that might help someone out.

Add the complication that for a lot of books I know the author, and book reviews become a task fraught with danger.

So I haven’t done a lot of reviewing.

Yet having released my own book I suddenly see the value in reviews – and the difficulty in attaining them. Therefore, I’ve decided I should review the books I read, even if only briefly.

Blood Song (Raven’s Shadow #1) by Anthony Ryan

Blood song is a coming-of-age story about a young boy called Vaelin Al Sorna who, from the age of 10, is raised by a religious order to be a warrior of the Faith.

As he grows in skills, fame and stature on his journey into adulthood, he discovers there’s more to his situation than he understands, but with every unravelling of his past and present another mystery is revealed.

A complex story told across two decades or so, Vaelin Al Sorna becomes a hero to some, a villain to many, and a threat to others, placing him in great danger from almost everyone around him. Manipulated and coerced, he’s yet to discover the truth about his skills, his faith and his part in the world.

Largely reflective of issues we face in today’s society regarding religion, politics and war, it’s delivered in a subtle way that never overpowers the story, letting the reader come to their own conclusions about such thematic concepts.

Overall, a very good read – dark, gritty, and immersive, with many layers that slowly reveal themselves as the story progresses.

It definitely draws you in and holds you to the end.

You can find our more about Anthony Ryan at his blog.

Blood Song is available on Amazon and other retailers.