ladyknightmeg's review against another edition
4.0
E-galley provided courtesy of Penguin Group USA and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Political intrigue, a vast array of characters, battle scenes, and romance: If you are a fan of any or all of these things, then The Bloodforged is probably your kind of book.
I stumbled upon this series completely by accident, and I'm so glad that I did. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that it's not more popular. I thoroughly enjoyed book 1: The Bloodbound, and was lucky enough to be approved for this ebook ARC of book 2.
The Bloodforged picks up where The Bloodbound left off, with Alix Black, body guard to King Erik of Alden and the rest of Erik's court
There are quite a few additional POVs in The Bloodforged, and at first this made me hesitant - I am not always a fan of POV switching, and often find myself having the urge to swtich ahead to my preferred characters POV. (cough cough, A Song of Ice and Fire. I rarely encountered this with The Bloodforged, and for that I am grateful.
I was especially happy with Riggard "Rig" Black's POV. Over all I just love his character, and the battle scenes that ensued in his chapters, as well as some pretty good romance.
There is a lot going on in this book - Alix and Erik are attempting a near-fatal mission through the mountains to reach out to one Kingdom for support in this time of war, while Liam is elsewhere in a tangle of political intrigue. Alix's brother Rig, and commander general to the Aldenian Kingswords is busy using unconventional military tactics in an attempt to outsmart the Oridian Warlord. Not once did I find myself bored, or ready to put this book down.
The battle scenes are extremely well done, as well as all of the politics and much of the world building. I fell for Riggard Black, and found Liam White's character growing on me significantly since meeting him in The Bloodbound. Clearly a lot of research and planning was put into this book.
The only thing that has knocked this down to four stars from me was the Romance. While it had certainly improved from Book 1, where I felt that much of the Romance was abrupt and in need of some development, I still found myself lacking feeling when reading the more intimate sections of this book. That being said, romance does not make or break a book for me and the battles, adventure and twists and turns of the plot were much more important to me.
And the end, my goodness the ending was fantastic. I am so on edge, and so ready to find out what happens next.
Over all four out of five stars awarded to The Bloodforged. If you are a historical fantasy lover like myself, you'll likely enjoy this book as much as I did.
Political intrigue, a vast array of characters, battle scenes, and romance: If you are a fan of any or all of these things, then The Bloodforged is probably your kind of book.
I stumbled upon this series completely by accident, and I'm so glad that I did. Quite frankly, I'm surprised that it's not more popular. I thoroughly enjoyed book 1: The Bloodbound, and was lucky enough to be approved for this ebook ARC of book 2.
The Bloodforged picks up where The Bloodbound left off, with Alix Black, body guard to King Erik of Alden and the rest of Erik's court
Spoiler
after the Aldenians have taken out the puppeteer who is creating and controlling the Thralls (zombie like humans who are under a mind control magic)There are quite a few additional POVs in The Bloodforged, and at first this made me hesitant - I am not always a fan of POV switching, and often find myself having the urge to swtich ahead to my preferred characters POV. (cough cough, A Song of Ice and Fire. I rarely encountered this with The Bloodforged, and for that I am grateful.
I was especially happy with Riggard "Rig" Black's POV. Over all I just love his character, and the battle scenes that ensued in his chapters, as well as some pretty good romance.
There is a lot going on in this book - Alix and Erik are attempting a near-fatal mission through the mountains to reach out to one Kingdom for support in this time of war, while Liam is elsewhere in a tangle of political intrigue. Alix's brother Rig, and commander general to the Aldenian Kingswords is busy using unconventional military tactics in an attempt to outsmart the Oridian Warlord. Not once did I find myself bored, or ready to put this book down.
The battle scenes are extremely well done, as well as all of the politics and much of the world building. I fell for Riggard Black, and found Liam White's character growing on me significantly since meeting him in The Bloodbound. Clearly a lot of research and planning was put into this book.
The only thing that has knocked this down to four stars from me was the Romance. While it had certainly improved from Book 1, where I felt that much of the Romance was abrupt and in need of some development, I still found myself lacking feeling when reading the more intimate sections of this book. That being said, romance does not make or break a book for me and the battles, adventure and twists and turns of the plot were much more important to me.
And the end, my goodness the ending was fantastic. I am so on edge, and so ready to find out what happens next.
Over all four out of five stars awarded to The Bloodforged. If you are a historical fantasy lover like myself, you'll likely enjoy this book as much as I did.
shadowmaster13's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookfessional's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
3.5 stars
The first thing I want to say is that--overall--THE BLOODFORGED by Erin Lindsey was a great book.
It grabbed and held my attention, I loved learning more about about the newly introduced cultures, I bloody loved Rig's chapters, and I can't wait to see what develops with Wraith and the rebels.
BUT. I have two issues.
I hate cheating. HATE. One of the main reasons I shy away from contemporary romance is b/c you're much more likely to come across it there than you are in a book not completely focused true love, blah, whatever.
Still . . . It creeps up sometimes, mostly in the form of a home-wrecker, and even if no actual cheating occurs, I loathe the tension created by the fear and doubt and insecurity.
In the end, nothing significant happens here. A woman has a crush on her married commanding officer (who is appallingly and hilariously oblivious).
My real issue is the lack of resolution. Lindsey made us watch as the newlyweds were separated. Made us watch as not-his-wife started braiding her hair in imitation of Wife. Made us suffer through ambiguous dialogue . . .
Then nothing. There's no confrontation, it's never addressed, it's just left hanging there like a storm cloud threatening to unleash on our heads.
Then there's the bigger issue . . . It doesn't happen until the last 5%, but suffice it to say that a situation arises that I found to be both generic and convoluted. No, I can't tell you what it is, but it's entirely possible that I'm a minority here--I gave Plot Twist to my sister and bff (both avid readers) as a hypothetical, and Sister didn't see what the big deal was, and BFF wasn't crazy about it, but didn't hate it either.
It's unfortunate that THE BLOODFORGED ended with what was my only real problem, b/c fair or not it casts a pall over the rest of the book that I ultimately enjoyed.
And I really did enjoy it. Mid-book I consciously recognized how impressive it was to increase the number of POVs in a book this short and still keep it flowing so well, and Liam's personal growth was especially compelling in a sea of excellent character development.
There was the witty banter I loved from the first book. The sense of urgency brought on by war had me dashing through the pages. Oh, oh! And there's an index/glossary in the back so I was no longer banging my head against a wall trying to figure out the Nine Virtues. ALSO, did I mention Rig? B/c Rig was friggin' amazing.
If it wasn't for end-of-book Plot Twist, THE BLOODFORGED by Erin Lindsey would have easily been a 4.0 - 4.5 star read, and I'll definitely read the next book. SO. Recommended with the slightest of qualifications.
3.5 stars
The first thing I want to say is that--overall--THE BLOODFORGED by Erin Lindsey was a great book.
It grabbed and held my attention, I loved learning more about about the newly introduced cultures, I bloody loved Rig's chapters, and I can't wait to see what develops with Wraith and the rebels.
BUT. I have two issues.
I hate cheating. HATE. One of the main reasons I shy away from contemporary romance is b/c you're much more likely to come across it there than you are in a book not completely focused true love, blah, whatever.
Still . . . It creeps up sometimes, mostly in the form of a home-wrecker, and even if no actual cheating occurs, I loathe the tension created by the fear and doubt and insecurity.
In the end, nothing significant happens here. A woman has a crush on her married commanding officer (who is appallingly and hilariously oblivious).
My real issue is the lack of resolution. Lindsey made us watch as the newlyweds were separated. Made us watch as not-his-wife started braiding her hair in imitation of Wife. Made us suffer through ambiguous dialogue . . .
Then nothing. There's no confrontation, it's never addressed, it's just left hanging there like a storm cloud threatening to unleash on our heads.
Then there's the bigger issue . . . It doesn't happen until the last 5%, but suffice it to say that a situation arises that I found to be both generic and convoluted. No, I can't tell you what it is, but it's entirely possible that I'm a minority here--I gave Plot Twist to my sister and bff (both avid readers) as a hypothetical, and Sister didn't see what the big deal was, and BFF wasn't crazy about it, but didn't hate it either.
It's unfortunate that THE BLOODFORGED ended with what was my only real problem, b/c fair or not it casts a pall over the rest of the book that I ultimately enjoyed.
And I really did enjoy it. Mid-book I consciously recognized how impressive it was to increase the number of POVs in a book this short and still keep it flowing so well, and Liam's personal growth was especially compelling in a sea of excellent character development.
There was the witty banter I loved from the first book. The sense of urgency brought on by war had me dashing through the pages. Oh, oh! And there's an index/glossary in the back so I was no longer banging my head against a wall trying to figure out the Nine Virtues. ALSO, did I mention Rig? B/c Rig was friggin' amazing.
If it wasn't for end-of-book Plot Twist, THE BLOODFORGED by Erin Lindsey would have easily been a 4.0 - 4.5 star read, and I'll definitely read the next book. SO. Recommended with the slightest of qualifications.
casualhermit's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who enjoyed the first book, this sequel was a delightful improvement compared to its prequel. It seamlessly switched between three arcs and because each chapter always ended on a cliffhanger, I had great difficulty putting it down. The theme of the story was shortcomings, which was a change from the first entry. My personal favourite characteristic of this series is its straight forward nature. It is easy to get into as an enjoyable read, to take a break from fantasy epics filled with complex webs of characters and their agendas. I am excited to start the final novel of this horrendously underrated series. Also, bonus points for my man Rig finally finding someone nice. I thoroughly enjoyed every scene between Rig and Vel.
brittsbookblurbs's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed parts of this book, I did struggle with it more than [b:Bloodbound|36393506|Bloodbound|Erin Lindsey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507742648l/36393506._SY75_.jpg|40320983], and it took me significantly longer to read.
Liam’s whiny ‘why me’ attitude through the first half of the book wore on me, but by the end, he was by far my favourite. He grew into himself, his responsibilities, and his role. What’s more impressive is that [a:Erin Lindsey|7915669|Erin Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394519366p2/7915669.jpg] allowed him to have all of this development without losing his unique, innate voice. At the end of the book, he is the same Liam as always, just more.
I understand that Alix and Erik were supposed to be strained and have a problematic relationship throughout this story for very significant reasons; however, this did not make it any easier to read. I think this is a testament to the author’s skill: their relationship should be complicated, and it should be hard to read. If I was rating based solely on the author’s skill: five stars all day. I have nothing but good things to say about Linsey and her ability to interweave character growth and plot development - subtle and surprising through and through.
I still love and appreciate Alix as a heroine because of her ability to remain a strong female role model while still having flaws. She is refreshing and unique as always.
While I enjoyed getting to see more of Rig in this book, I find him a bit more two dimensional than the others. His choices are more obvious, his plot more predictable. From time to time, his dialogue with Vel or Morris or Wright seemed monotonous and repetitive. To be fair, he is in a monotonous, repetitive position. I like Rig, and I just wish he was as real to me as the others in this story. I feel bad that he seems to be the only one really left fighting the war.
Overall this second book in the trilogy was less predictable than the first, for the most part, but a more challenging read for me. I’m looking forward to my reread of [b:Bloodsworn|34811617|Bloodsworn (Bloodbound Book 3)|Erin Lindsey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491487521l/34811617._SY75_.jpg|48558896] as this has been a nostalgic adventure for me. And, to be honest, I can’t remember what happens next! Fingers crossed, I’ve forgotten because it’s been a few years (and a few hundred books) since my first read, and not because it’s a disappointing finale!
Other books in the Bloodbound Trilogy:
#1: Bloodbound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#3: Bloodsworn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Liam’s whiny ‘why me’ attitude through the first half of the book wore on me, but by the end, he was by far my favourite. He grew into himself, his responsibilities, and his role. What’s more impressive is that [a:Erin Lindsey|7915669|Erin Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394519366p2/7915669.jpg] allowed him to have all of this development without losing his unique, innate voice. At the end of the book, he is the same Liam as always, just more.
I understand that Alix and Erik were supposed to be strained and have a problematic relationship throughout this story for very significant reasons; however, this did not make it any easier to read. I think this is a testament to the author’s skill: their relationship should be complicated, and it should be hard to read. If I was rating based solely on the author’s skill: five stars all day. I have nothing but good things to say about Linsey and her ability to interweave character growth and plot development - subtle and surprising through and through.
I still love and appreciate Alix as a heroine because of her ability to remain a strong female role model while still having flaws. She is refreshing and unique as always.
While I enjoyed getting to see more of Rig in this book, I find him a bit more two dimensional than the others. His choices are more obvious, his plot more predictable. From time to time, his dialogue with Vel or Morris or Wright seemed monotonous and repetitive. To be fair, he is in a monotonous, repetitive position. I like Rig, and I just wish he was as real to me as the others in this story. I feel bad that he seems to be the only one really left fighting the war.
Overall this second book in the trilogy was less predictable than the first, for the most part, but a more challenging read for me.
Spoiler
Erik’s descent into madness/paranoia is so subtle that it’s almost completed before you realise that it’s unnatural.Other books in the Bloodbound Trilogy:
#1: Bloodbound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#3: Bloodsworn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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jaclynder's review against another edition
4.0
The Bloodforged is Lindsey’s follow-up to The Bloodbound, which I reviewed last week. After cracking open The Bloodforged it is immediately clear that this is a much, much stronger book. The addition of new character perspectives goes a long way in making The Bloodforged a more complex and compelling fantasy story, and leaves the reader wanting more.
The Bloodforged picks up a few months after the events in The Bloodbound. The war continues to rage on; however, Alden’s forces are flagging and without reinforcements it is likely that the kingdom will fall. Erik White, king of Alden, proposes a risky, diplomatic plan. To gain the much-needed reinforcements Alden will have to seek out allies and convince them to join their fight. Erik and his bodyguard, Alix, will cross the border to win over the King of the Harrami, and Erik’s brother, Liam, will venture to Onnan city to see why their allies are delaying in providing help. If these diplomatic missions fail, Alden may fall. It's also risky to, you know, send the king and his heir off on this missions during a war. Should they fall, the leadership of Alden will be in flux.
Readers of the previous book will recall that Alix and Liam have recently wed, so neither are thrilled to be separated. The complicate love-triangle of The Bloodbound is mostly resolved (thank goodness!) and plays little part in The Bloodforged. However, that’s not to say that the author has not fleshed out the relationship between Alix and Liam. Creating a lot of dimension to Alix and Liam’s relationship is the addition of Liam’s narrative. Readers are finally treated to what’s going through Liam’s mind and his struggle in being a prince of the realm. A diplomacy mission’s not exactly his preferred task, soldiering it what he wants to do and he's not at all convinced that he's right man for the job he's given. How refreshing to have a guy character feel vulnerable and ineffective. Yes please, let's have some more.
What I also liked about the relationship element in The Bloodforged is the fact that Alix is also struggling with the changing dynamics in her relationship with her husband. In the previous book, Liam was an anonymous, illegitimate young man. Alix cared for him, but a relationship seemed impossible. Now that they have married and Liam is a prince, Alix has to deal with the fact that Liam no longer lives in her shadow; her wants are not always going to come first. I think this adds some great tension to their relationship and I would have liked there to have been more time spent exploring this. However, Alix and Liam spend the bulk of the book apart on their respective missions. Here's hoping that the next book plays with this conflict a bit more.
Another fabulous addition to the book is the heightened presence of Alix’s brother, Rig Black. Like Liam’s perspective, Rig allows the story to focus on another part of the war effort, specifically the front lines of the battle. This plot thread provides readers with the bulk of the action in the story, as well as a small romance plot. Rig is a great character and a nice counterpoint to both Liam and Erik.
Ultimately, there is a lot going on in The Bloodforged but instead of creating an unnecessarily complicated plot, readers are giving a more considered story than its predecessor. Characters are further developed, the world is more fully explored, and plot is moved in an unanticipated direction. Given the ending of the book, I can’t wait to return to this world and see how Alix and Liam are going to resolve the latest problem. And, if I’m honest, I hoping for more of a focus on Alix and Liam’s relationship; there’s a lot of meat there and I’d like to see the author take advantage of the potential for conflict. The first installment may not have impressed, but The Bloodforged succeeds in giving readers a story to be invested in.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The Bloodforged picks up a few months after the events in The Bloodbound. The war continues to rage on; however, Alden’s forces are flagging and without reinforcements it is likely that the kingdom will fall. Erik White, king of Alden, proposes a risky, diplomatic plan. To gain the much-needed reinforcements Alden will have to seek out allies and convince them to join their fight. Erik and his bodyguard, Alix, will cross the border to win over the King of the Harrami, and Erik’s brother, Liam, will venture to Onnan city to see why their allies are delaying in providing help. If these diplomatic missions fail, Alden may fall. It's also risky to, you know, send the king and his heir off on this missions during a war. Should they fall, the leadership of Alden will be in flux.
Readers of the previous book will recall that Alix and Liam have recently wed, so neither are thrilled to be separated. The complicate love-triangle of The Bloodbound is mostly resolved (thank goodness!) and plays little part in The Bloodforged. However, that’s not to say that the author has not fleshed out the relationship between Alix and Liam. Creating a lot of dimension to Alix and Liam’s relationship is the addition of Liam’s narrative. Readers are finally treated to what’s going through Liam’s mind and his struggle in being a prince of the realm. A diplomacy mission’s not exactly his preferred task, soldiering it what he wants to do and he's not at all convinced that he's right man for the job he's given. How refreshing to have a guy character feel vulnerable and ineffective. Yes please, let's have some more.
What I also liked about the relationship element in The Bloodforged is the fact that Alix is also struggling with the changing dynamics in her relationship with her husband. In the previous book, Liam was an anonymous, illegitimate young man. Alix cared for him, but a relationship seemed impossible. Now that they have married and Liam is a prince, Alix has to deal with the fact that Liam no longer lives in her shadow; her wants are not always going to come first. I think this adds some great tension to their relationship and I would have liked there to have been more time spent exploring this. However, Alix and Liam spend the bulk of the book apart on their respective missions. Here's hoping that the next book plays with this conflict a bit more.
Another fabulous addition to the book is the heightened presence of Alix’s brother, Rig Black. Like Liam’s perspective, Rig allows the story to focus on another part of the war effort, specifically the front lines of the battle. This plot thread provides readers with the bulk of the action in the story, as well as a small romance plot. Rig is a great character and a nice counterpoint to both Liam and Erik.
Ultimately, there is a lot going on in The Bloodforged but instead of creating an unnecessarily complicated plot, readers are giving a more considered story than its predecessor. Characters are further developed, the world is more fully explored, and plot is moved in an unanticipated direction. Given the ending of the book, I can’t wait to return to this world and see how Alix and Liam are going to resolve the latest problem. And, if I’m honest, I hoping for more of a focus on Alix and Liam’s relationship; there’s a lot of meat there and I’d like to see the author take advantage of the potential for conflict. The first installment may not have impressed, but The Bloodforged succeeds in giving readers a story to be invested in.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
guenhwyvar's review against another edition
4.0
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
To be clear I read this book without having read the first book in the series, which means I read it as a standalone and was missing a lot of the backstory.
That said, the fact that I truly enjoyed Bloodforged despite having not read the first book in the series speaks highly of the author, her writing, and the continuity of the plot.
Plot: The plot was interesting, it was not 100% predictable. This book seems to be the "The Empire Strikes Back" of this particular series, so just when you thought everything would turn out fine, it didn't. I like that. Nothing was so original or twisty that it blew me away, but I couldn't predict the outcome of the book from the first chapter and that's always nice. The only thing that truly bothered me about the book was the epilogue. After everything is wrapped up there is a scene in which one bit of mystery is explained from the antagonist's POV but the exposition involved is WAY over the top. It was the only time in the entire book I felt the author wasn't respecting the readers' intelligence, but it was grievous. If we're lucky maybe it won't make it into the final draft.
Pacing: I enjoyed the pacing of Bloodforged. The switching between POV characters throughout kept me entertained, though there were times when it seemed to be a forced cliffhanger. Mostly though, it was a well deployed tactic to build the story up evenly and keep an intriguing pace throughout.
Characters: My favorite thing was the characters and the dialogue between them. What can I say, I like sass, and I'm a sucker for characters that don't fit society's molds. I felt they were well developed. I identified with them even though I'd skipped the entire first book, so I think that speaks well.
Writing: The writing is smooth, polished, and doesn't beat you over the head too much.
World building: I found the world building intriguing and the various cultures distinct enough to lend credence to the political issues at hand. If there were parts I found lacking in background I chalked it up to not having read the first book. It will be interesting to see if I am right about that.
Formatting: This was an ARC from the publisher and it had NOT been properly formatted. I understand that ARCs aren't the final product but lack of formatting can be exceedingly distracting to a reader and this was incredibly frustrating at times. It is not that difficult to format an ebook (I know, because it's part of my job) and it was a bit insulting to have to read an unformatted copy of the book. This has nothing to do with the author or the writing and everything to do with the publisher, but I thought I'd register it here anyway.
Overall I enjoyed Bloodforged, look forward to going back and reading Bloodbound and then will eagerly await the next book in the series. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging epic fantasy filled with, decent action, saucy characters, and political intrigue.
To be clear I read this book without having read the first book in the series, which means I read it as a standalone and was missing a lot of the backstory.
That said, the fact that I truly enjoyed Bloodforged despite having not read the first book in the series speaks highly of the author, her writing, and the continuity of the plot.
Plot: The plot was interesting, it was not 100% predictable. This book seems to be the "The Empire Strikes Back" of this particular series, so just when you thought everything would turn out fine, it didn't. I like that. Nothing was so original or twisty that it blew me away, but I couldn't predict the outcome of the book from the first chapter and that's always nice. The only thing that truly bothered me about the book was the epilogue. After everything is wrapped up there is a scene in which one bit of mystery is explained from the antagonist's POV but the exposition involved is WAY over the top. It was the only time in the entire book I felt the author wasn't respecting the readers' intelligence, but it was grievous. If we're lucky maybe it won't make it into the final draft.
Pacing: I enjoyed the pacing of Bloodforged. The switching between POV characters throughout kept me entertained, though there were times when it seemed to be a forced cliffhanger. Mostly though, it was a well deployed tactic to build the story up evenly and keep an intriguing pace throughout.
Characters: My favorite thing was the characters and the dialogue between them. What can I say, I like sass, and I'm a sucker for characters that don't fit society's molds. I felt they were well developed. I identified with them even though I'd skipped the entire first book, so I think that speaks well.
Writing: The writing is smooth, polished, and doesn't beat you over the head too much.
World building: I found the world building intriguing and the various cultures distinct enough to lend credence to the political issues at hand. If there were parts I found lacking in background I chalked it up to not having read the first book. It will be interesting to see if I am right about that.
Formatting: This was an ARC from the publisher and it had NOT been properly formatted. I understand that ARCs aren't the final product but lack of formatting can be exceedingly distracting to a reader and this was incredibly frustrating at times. It is not that difficult to format an ebook (I know, because it's part of my job) and it was a bit insulting to have to read an unformatted copy of the book. This has nothing to do with the author or the writing and everything to do with the publisher, but I thought I'd register it here anyway.
Overall I enjoyed Bloodforged, look forward to going back and reading Bloodbound and then will eagerly await the next book in the series. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging epic fantasy filled with, decent action, saucy characters, and political intrigue.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
This book suffered from second book syndrome. Still good, but lacking that which made book 1 so good. This book felt mostly like, well they walked around a lot, not much happened, and then they walked some more.
Alix was changed in this one. She who was a kick-ass scout was now lovesick and not so kick-ass.
I still think she and the king should have married. Liam, eh, I am not a fan, and in this one he was like a lost puppy trying to find his way.
Team Eric!
Right Liam, well he was sent to this kingdom for support. And Eric to another. Why it was not vice versa I do not know. You do not send the king to the dangerous one.
I still liked it cos it was easy to read, but at the same time....barely a 3. So barely good then.
Alix was changed in this one. She who was a kick-ass scout was now lovesick and not so kick-ass.
I still think she and the king should have married. Liam, eh, I am not a fan, and in this one he was like a lost puppy trying to find his way.
Team Eric!
Right Liam, well he was sent to this kingdom for support. And Eric to another. Why it was not vice versa I do not know. You do not send the king to the dangerous one.
I still liked it cos it was easy to read, but at the same time....barely a 3. So barely good then.
thoughtsstained's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
**Copy of The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey graciously given by Literary Agent Lisa Rodgers in exchange for an honest review**
Last night, I was sitting in the living room while my friend was building a project for work. I had a little more than 100 pages of The Bloodforged left to devour and boy, did I devour them, to the amused concern of my friend. More than once, I made a frustrated grunt or whispered, "What the shit?" as page by page, my mind was blown, repaired and then blown again.
Yeah, this book puts you through some shit.
I won't exactly describe what that shit is, because you need to read this book--and this series--for yourself. It seriously is fantastic. This series draws you in with the wonderful, inspiring and realistic characters in the first book, The Bloodbound, and then leaves you utterly speechless by the time you finish the second, leaving you desperate for the third (which, luckily for me, I already have and will be reading as soon as I get off work. Oh Lisa, do I owe you some chocolate).
Actually, the events in The Bloodbound were so gut-punchingly wowing that I literally threw the book to the ground, I was so pissed and awed. My friend, bless him, just snorted, not understanding the turmoil I just went through at the hands of a paperback. Oh boy, was I pissed.
Pissed, but also super impressed.
This book made me feel a lot of things. Frustration and anger at some of the choices characters made, which in turn made me question how I felt about some of those characters (Alix, in particular, had me questioning, which was difficult, considering how much I admired her in the first book; difficult, but also great, because it just made her that much more real to me, that much more human and made me connect with her that much more). I experienced suppressed giggling (thanks, Liam). Empathy. Sorrow. And most of all, after taking a day to reflect on what just bloody happened, being completely, totally and utterly impressed.
With The Bloodforged, I think we got a wider view into the world Alix navigates. We got a few more perspectives we didn't get previously, which made my liking for Rig turn into a fierce, protective love. We were introduced to new cultures and government structures that reflected just how complicated the war they are fighting truly is. I found myself having conflicting emotions about the characters involved, which adds a layer of depth I love to find in books.
But what impressed me the most was how this entire book continued to baffle me on how difficult every decision was; how felt the consequences were of every action, choice or hell, even inaction. Just when I was lured into a false comfort that aid for the war was coming or that Eric, Alix or Liam had made the right call, I'm thrown back into the fray of despair and questioning as something else gets thrown at them, making their already dark and hopeless situation even worse.
And then you introduce the twists in the last 100 pages...
I wasn't kidding. This book makes you feel some shit.
Now, I'm left as a really weird middle ground. I need to know what happens next. You can't just drop Bombs A, B and f-ing C and not be aching for closure. Yet at the same time, if I thought shit was going down in this book, I feel like I'm not even remotely prepared for what I'll have to go through in The Bloodsworn. And there is only one way to find out...
*stares at the clock on the wall waiting for the weekend to start and the epic conclusion to begin*
Read on!
**Copy of The Bloodforged by Erin Lindsey graciously given by Literary Agent Lisa Rodgers in exchange for an honest review**
Last night, I was sitting in the living room while my friend was building a project for work. I had a little more than 100 pages of The Bloodforged left to devour and boy, did I devour them, to the amused concern of my friend. More than once, I made a frustrated grunt or whispered, "What the shit?" as page by page, my mind was blown, repaired and then blown again.
Yeah, this book puts you through some shit.
I won't exactly describe what that shit is, because you need to read this book--and this series--for yourself. It seriously is fantastic. This series draws you in with the wonderful, inspiring and realistic characters in the first book, The Bloodbound, and then leaves you utterly speechless by the time you finish the second, leaving you desperate for the third (which, luckily for me, I already have and will be reading as soon as I get off work. Oh Lisa, do I owe you some chocolate).
Actually, the events in The Bloodbound were so gut-punchingly wowing that I literally threw the book to the ground, I was so pissed and awed. My friend, bless him, just snorted, not understanding the turmoil I just went through at the hands of a paperback. Oh boy, was I pissed.
Pissed, but also super impressed.
This book made me feel a lot of things. Frustration and anger at some of the choices characters made, which in turn made me question how I felt about some of those characters (Alix, in particular, had me questioning, which was difficult, considering how much I admired her in the first book; difficult, but also great, because it just made her that much more real to me, that much more human and made me connect with her that much more). I experienced suppressed giggling (thanks, Liam). Empathy. Sorrow. And most of all, after taking a day to reflect on what just bloody happened, being completely, totally and utterly impressed.
With The Bloodforged, I think we got a wider view into the world Alix navigates. We got a few more perspectives we didn't get previously, which made my liking for Rig turn into a fierce, protective love. We were introduced to new cultures and government structures that reflected just how complicated the war they are fighting truly is. I found myself having conflicting emotions about the characters involved, which adds a layer of depth I love to find in books.
But what impressed me the most was how this entire book continued to baffle me on how difficult every decision was; how felt the consequences were of every action, choice or hell, even inaction. Just when I was lured into a false comfort that aid for the war was coming or that Eric, Alix or Liam had made the right call, I'm thrown back into the fray of despair and questioning as something else gets thrown at them, making their already dark and hopeless situation even worse.
And then you introduce the twists in the last 100 pages...
I wasn't kidding. This book makes you feel some shit.
Now, I'm left as a really weird middle ground. I need to know what happens next. You can't just drop Bombs A, B and f-ing C and not be aching for closure. Yet at the same time, if I thought shit was going down in this book, I feel like I'm not even remotely prepared for what I'll have to go through in The Bloodsworn. And there is only one way to find out...
*stares at the clock on the wall waiting for the weekend to start and the epic conclusion to begin*
Read on!
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