Bloodheir

This one stands out as one of the best books I have read this year.

Brian Ruckley has done an even better job with book two of his Godless World series. The writing is more concise and full of tension and all of his characters have individual depths. Some yet to be explored to the fullest. As someone who reads few fantasy novels, I was very taken with the simplicity of style as it allows the story, and the character's lives, to breath and grow on you. Not too much magic or special powers, just enough to make it feel real and keep my interest. With every page turn, I await the next chapter of each characters story. Well done!

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes dark, action intense fantasy. I would say this wasn't as good as the first book and some of the parts seemed to trail on and on, but overall this was a great book that ended well leading up to the third one which I hope comes out soon. There is more infighting in this one among the different factions and the boy Thane Orisian is off doing his own thing while the rest of the Godless World gets smashed into oblivion. Aglyss becomes the main protragonist and uses his powers to further weaken his enemies and allies alike, bending them to his will. Taim is my favorite characters in the second installment. He is the good guy in this story who you really want to root for and see come out on top more than any of the others. I hope in the end of the series he gets to see his wife and daughter, at least one more time.

THIS IS A CAN'T PUT DOWN BOOK BRIAN RUCKLEY HAS DONE HIM SELF JUSTICE. IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO READ THE NAMES BUT ONCE YOU GET INTO THEM IT A MUST READ. MY BROTHER IS PASSING IT AROUND AT HIS WORK SO WE HAVE 5 PEOPLE READING THIS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

Orisian has become the Thane of the Lannis Blood at a critical time with his people reeling from recent events (WINTERBIRTH); he is unsure of what to do to turn things around on their frozen land, but thirsts to save his people. At the same time his friend Haig Prince Aewul leads a tremendous military force, but avarice and the thirst for glory could prove their undoing if not checked by rational thinking. Their adversary Aeglyss seeks magical revenge on his enemies even as his thirst enables him to rise towards the top of the dangerous Black Road; he plans to bring the fight to Haig and Aewul before dispatching Orison. The second Godless World epic fantasy is bloody grim as Brian Ruckley continues to vividly paint an extremely dark realm. The story line is fast-paced and filled with non- stop action that traverses much of the Godless World. Yet the key to this excellent fantasy is the cast as the three leaders play a deadly game of chess in which checkmate does not necessarily mean victory or defeat because cunning can change the rules of engagement. Orisian is especially fascinating as he understands war means death, destruction, and chaos with no true victors yet cannot prevent it from coming. Readers who enjoy a powerful enthralling fantasy thriller will appreciate Brian Ruckley's aptly named BLOODHEIR. Harriet Klausner