Bloodsong

I couldn't put this book down and ordered Bloodtide, the first book in the series, the instant I was done with Bloodsong. Why start with the second book? I stumbled into Bloodsong, and am I glad. My series of thrillers is called the Bloodsong Series. Wanting to check out the competition, I bought a number of books and other items with "Bloodsong" in their titles. This was the gem of the bunch. Bloodsong is based on the 13th-century Icelandic Volsunga saga and captures the timeless feel of sagas. I am half Icelandic and am delighted to find anything touching on the country of my ancestors in the literary world, so this book was a multi-faceted win. Burgess is a very skilled writer, picking up the tempo of the "Icelandic voice" and rendering it for modern readers. I liked his simple, short sentences used to present complex and ageless themes. Love, betrayal, revenge. He writes bloody violence as well as love. Reading this book will change my own writing. Burgess has shown me that an epic can be spare and disciplined as well as touching on the large, eternal human themes. I highly recommend this thriller.