Path of Blood (Path of Fate)

I'd say that Diana Pharoah Francis's Path Trilogy isn't one of the best fantasies in the entire world, but they were certainly a good read. There aren't many flaws when it comes to characters and settings, though the plot does contain a hell of a lot of cliches. But the story does contain countless adult issues: murder, mythology, bloodshed, war, betrayal, execution, etc. Not very "HBO" material, but it's not a total loss. What makes these three novels are the characters and their distinctive personalities. Reisil, Yohuac, Jurhnus, Metyein, Soka, Aare, Emelovi, Kedisam-Metira, Sodur, and many others are what make the entire story entertaining. Plus, the ahalad-kaaslane are a fascinating bunch; sure, I'm an animal lover, but not that much of an animal lover. Reisil being an anti-hero really works here, and Yohuac's Native American/Aztec culture is something that probably no other fantasy novel has created. I'd say it's a bold move from Francis. Kebonsat, Metyein, and Soka are typically attractive for female readers, but I didn't mind when reading. Speaking of female readers, Francis has given some wild descriptions of human penises. THAT irritated me very much. Oh well, I guess that's what I get for reading female fantasy. Anyway, "Path of Blood" does have its moments. The war kept my interest, and Reisil's journey to an Aztec-like land really is something new. But the end seemed a bit rushed, and it became slightly anti-climactic. But again, the characters and their personalities are what make these three novels. So I'd say that the characters are the strong points for the "Path" Trilogy. B+

What can I say, five stars says it all. I bought this book more than three times then traded it at a used book store. This time I got all three of the series and then started at the beginning and read them from first to last. Then I placed them on the bottom of all my books, I got to quit wasting my money rebuying this series so I'll just keep them this time.

Hoorah! OK, now what... Path of Blood is the conclusion of a trilogy (Path of Faith, Path of Honor). Although Faith is my favorite of the trilogy, Blood is a much smoother read that Honor was. Where Honor was a bit choppy with the plot and characters, Blood reads more like Faith did. We have a bit of everything going on here: plague, feudalism, naughty reagents, at least three love stories, magic, magically transformed creatures and humans, gods, the evil enigma, overwhelming sense of honor, destiny, hostages, rape, pillage, murder, raiders, and an Aztec-based culture that includes Reisil's love interest, Yohuac. Now, that is a bit much for a 452 page book. In fact, things end a little to quickly and conveniently. I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel-trilogy or at least a fourth book pop up with some of these characters or in this world sometimes in the future. If you like these books, try Anne Bishop's Tir Alainn Trilogy (romantic magic) Trilogy or David B Coe's Winds of the Forelands set of 4 books (magical fighting, etc)

This intricate plot is suberbly woven into a book that stands faithfully on its own, while concluding the Path trilogy. Reisil, the main character, has matured into her calling much the way Diana Francis has matured in her writing. Francis has managed to create a world with intricate characters and relationships, much the way the magical rinda weave a spell in Kodu Riik. I worried how the final book would pull together and I think Francis pulled it off. The ending is not a fairy tale "happily ever after" one. Is it a moralisitic, "We must all accept change and make the best of it" ending? I don't think so. It speaks to a deeper element. We all change, grow, mutate if you will, and those changes can warp us, break us or make us stronger. Accept those changes, or not. It is about choices. Reisil, Soka, Juhrnus,Yohuac- each of the characters in Path evolved from a two dimensional figure into a three dimensional "person" for me. It was this evolution of characters and build up of plot into the final chapters that kept me riveted to the pages. Well done. If you haven't already, go buy it.

The realm of Kodu Riik is on the verge of being torn apart both by civil war and a wizard's spell that didn't work the way it was intended. Plague and Nokulas, magical creatures that were once human, roam the land as a result of the spell and the city of Mysane Kosk, surrounded by magic is the home of the rebels including the sister of the power hungry madmen who raised himself up to be Regent who locked away his father when he became a Nokula. Reisil, a mage who is banded to her goshawk Saljane, has proved to the rebels in the city that she has the best interests of her world at heart and she learned to use her considerable magical powers. She is the only hope of avking two worlds. The spell the wizards used is destroying Cemanahautl, a land in another dimension that touches Kodu Riik. To heal both worlds, take care of the Nokulas and deal with evil and dangerous wizards, Reisil must travel to Cemanahautl in the hopes of learning a new kind of magic from female mages who reside there; if she doesn't, two worlds will be destroyed but she needs time to learn and her rebels have come up with a plan to give her that time. There is a romantic sub-plot between Reisil and a man who crossed the dimensional barrier to seek help to stop the magic from leaking out of his world into hers. Theirs is a doomed love for in a year he will be sacrificed to his god after he performs the last deed he was bred for. The love is in direct counterpoint to hatred the various groups that want to destroy the rebels in Mysane Kosk. Excellent characterizations, intriguing political maneuvering and some fascinating battle scenes, both mundane and magical make this sword and sorcery tale a must read for fans of Katherine Kurtz's Deryni Chronicles. Harriet Klausner