Bloodrights

This is a surprisingly fun while at the same time keeps a touch of realism. Hero's can have bad things happen to them, and villians can have good things happen to them. This is a play with steriotypes found in lighter fun fantasy type of books. The ending chapter really crowns the book, a fun playful jab at the hero. A hero who is good, but not innocent or unaware of evil, and willing to do what is nessary to combat it. Whatever is necessary....once she sees the need. She can may be the only person who can free the land from her evil 'relative.' So she trys to do so, and if she becomes the ruler in is place...well that the way it goes isn't it?

This is the second N. Lee Wood book I have read, the other being Looking for the Mahdi. Both were excellent. There was good reason for that New Yorks Time Notable review. Bloodrights is a book I found hilarious, especially the last chapter, too bad it wouldn't make sense without the rest of the book. Antonya is a wonderful heroine, even if she gets a bit confused in the middle. Wood likes making her characters grow. This book has excellent characterization and an interesting plot. It is an easy read, so don't be intimidated by the thickness, it only took me 24 hrs on and off. Just a warning, N. Lee Wood likes ruining her characters, but don't worry, everything is always better in the end. She also seems to like happy endings. Thankfully unlike some other authors Wood is nice enough to tell us what happens to the characters after the book. I was hooked by the first chapter. If you like fantasy mixed with liberal doses of action and intrigue this is a book for you.

Bloodrights by N. Lee Wood was enjoyable. It had all the elements for a sucessful fantasy read. This included good action, characterization, and well paced. If you liked N. Lee Wood's first book The Return of the Mahdi, then you will probably find this book enjoyable.

N. Lee Wood's "Bloodrights" begins in the small confines of a feudal wintery forest as we travel through it with Antonya and begin to learn about this curious young woman who may be a thief, a spy, or one of the Wierd. She is remarkably strong, resourceful and self-reliant.Our concept of her universe grows as we watch her deftly track and eventually capture the magnificent Defender Kerrick who, despite himself, is enlisted in her growing plans.The action quickly rises as the two play out a scheme to overturn local kingdoms and consolidate them into a force sufficient to attack the Citadel itself.The plot surges to new heights and then suddenly drops back before plunging upward yet again. Surprises abound and keep us firmly in the relentless grip of this story.Like a snowball that has turned into an avalance, events explode in deadly and unexpected ways until we finally pass beyond the turmoil and suffering to the hard won conclusion of this wonderful tale.The many characters and circumstances are all finely wrought and intensely believable. They are strong people at the limits of their abilities to act or to cope with the powerful twists of the fate that is testing them. Their relationships are as fascinating as their personalities. I was particularly intrigued by Antonya's connection to Kerrick and to Morgan the Assassin.I found Wood's first novel "Looking For The Mahdi" to be an excellent read but was disappointed by "Farraday's Orphans". "Bloodrights" is an exciting and gratifying read and fully redeems my faith in Wood.I highly recommend it!