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Bloodraven #1
Bloodraven
A son of a forest dwelling people, Yhalen knows little of the world outside the ancestral forest, until he is captured by a band of ogres on a slave-taking mission. Only grim tales of the barbaric giants had reached the forest, but Yhalen soon learns that even the darkest fireside story only hinted at the brutality of these Northern warriors. He discovers the meaning of true fear at their hands, and only the awakening of ancient magic saves him from destruction.
Surviving ogre viciousness, he finds himself given to Bloodraven, the half ogre, half human war leader as a slave. Yhalen, refusing to bend, soon pays the price for offending prickly ogre pride.
But Bloodraven is no mindless, violent ogrish beast. Bloodraven has an agenda and Yhalen finds himself drawn in the wake into human and ogre politics, into bloodshed and cruelty and into the forbidden magic that is damnation in the eyes of his own people, but which might mean the difference between death and salvation.
Note: Lulu's page count of 287 is for the PB (and PDF) versions. But 220,735 words equates to approx 663 pages.
Surviving ogre viciousness, he finds himself given to Bloodraven, the half ogre, half human war leader as a slave. Yhalen, refusing to bend, soon pays the price for offending prickly ogre pride.
But Bloodraven is no mindless, violent ogrish beast. Bloodraven has an agenda and Yhalen finds himself drawn in the wake into human and ogre politics, into bloodshed and cruelty and into the forbidden magic that is damnation in the eyes of his own people, but which might mean the difference between death and salvation.
Note: Lulu's page count of 287 is for the PB (and PDF) versions. But 220,735 words equates to approx 663 pages.
581 pages, ebook
First published March 8, 2010
123 people are currently reading
6053 people want to read
About the author
P.L. Nunn
45 books516 followersaka Pam Nunnally
Main website here, Smashword website here, Lulu website here.
BIO
Obsessive/ compulsive: Very
Artistic: Painfully
Scattered: Very often
Disorganised: Dreadfully
Daydreamer: 90% of the time
Perversion Level: Uncomfortably high
Fuzzy animals: An overabundance of felines
Projects: Too many to name - - even I forget
Main website here, Smashword website here, Lulu website here.
BIO
Obsessive/ compulsive: Very
Artistic: Painfully
Scattered: Very often
Disorganised: Dreadfully
Daydreamer: 90% of the time
Perversion Level: Uncomfortably high
Fuzzy animals: An overabundance of felines
Projects: Too many to name - - even I forget
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 509 reviews
March 20, 2014
Waaay longer than 280 pages.
Waaaaaaaaay more gruesome than I'd thought.
And waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more sexy than I'd like to admit...
And then I got to chapter 2.
Waaaaaaaaay more gruesome than I'd thought.
And waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more sexy than I'd like to admit...
And then I got to chapter 2.
August 10, 2020
MAJOR UPDATE & NEWS for Bloodraven fans: There will be more books after bloodraven: journey home .. Yes, there will be several more books! 💙💚💜
Got contact with the author while purchasing books directly from her website. And yesssss!!! That’s the best news ever for this year!!! 👏👏👏
And yes, I’m shameless and stalker-ish when I talk to authors and try to find out about sequels of my favorite books. 😂😂😂
I have so many things to talk about this book so it’s going to be a long as hell review. First of all, it has been 10 years since this book was first published and I don’t understand why P.L. Nunn’s works are not available on Amazon. I get it, most people think her works are very violent, crude and need an acquired taste to enjoy. However, are you going to accuse me as insensitive or sadistic if I say I don’t find that to be true? Hear me out. I read this novel about a couple years ago in paperback version but I only finished a couple chapters and I lost the book while moving. And this is me reading it again. May be because I became a very seasoned reader in MM romance during these years? I don’t know but I have read way worse and cruel and sadistic works than hers. May be this book was considered to be a very abnormal one 10 years ago but I really don’t have an idea why Amazon doesn’t carry her works since I have found way terrible novels available there. Hell, they even have almost porn erotic graphic novels available. I’m not saying her books don’t contain gore and abuse and horrendous things but they are not SADISTIC. I have huge respect for P.L. Nunn as an artist and a author for her works are one of the most authentic, genuine and artistic works that I’m blessed to witness. And let me say, if you can look past “Non-con, dub-con, gore, abuse, rape and torture” (which in her defense, not a very large portion of the book), this is hands down, one of the best, best works I’ve ever read in my life. Also, I’d like to remind that this book is a very long one and the pages author mentioned in the description of the book is incorrect. I calculated the word count in epub and mobi formats and it’s almost 900 pages (883 pages to be exact). So skip this book if you can’t commit the number of the pages.
Alright, and now back to the story. 😌
Yhalen is a forest-Bred Fae descendant of Ydregi people. On an unfortunate day, he was captured and tortured, raped and left to be dead by Ogres from North who tried to invade the southern lands. However, in despair for his life, he awakened the Magics he never knew himself possessed and healed himself completely. But alas, the misfortune do not come alone. For worse, he found himself as a pleasure slave given to the leader of Ogre war Party.
Bloodraven is on the mission of capturing slaves for his tribe in the southern land. Despite the fact that he’s an ogr’ron (which is half man, half ogre), he was considered clever and capable enough to lead his full blooded ogre brethren. But of course, there are conflicts in his mission team and ogres who despise him for being a halfling and their leader. He was really surprised when his enemy presented him a beautiful, nubile and spirited human as his pleasure slave.
The two third of this novel is non-con, dub-con and abuse. I won’t indulge my fellow readers by hinting what happens between these two and the storyline for it’s worth reading and savoring yourself. But let me say one thing, this is one helluva epic love story between a human and a half-blooded ogre. Yhalen is always in conflict about his emotions toward Bloodraven. On one hand, he resents and hates his captor, master and rapist who branded him with the slavery symbol and put on a slave collar on him. But he slowly realizes that although Bloodraven does prefer to be dominant and him to be obedient and pliant and takes what he wants without any question, he’s never necessarily cruel to Yhalen and always caring, protective and loving to him. For Bloodraven too, he’s dealing with the emotions he never knew existed. He’s so used to seeing humans as weak and obedient beings and his pleasure slave is turning out to be the polar opposite of everything he knew about humans. Worse, no matter how much he’s upset towards Yhalen, he couldn’t find it in him to be cruel or physically abuse to him. And he’s feeling irrational feelings of missing, pining, over-protectiveness and jealousy for Yhalen. You won’t get sweet nothings, heart-swooning, romance worthy moments and sweet, tender lovemaking in this novel. No, this book is not for the faint hearted romance readers. The storyline is gruesome, realistic, vivid and beautiful in a scary way. The tenuous and gradual relationship development between Yhalen and Bloodraven is just breathtakingly alluring. I can’t find any fault with this book. This really is the epic and legendary love story of a lifetime. I love, love and love it. ❤️💚💜 And I’m not sure which version you’ll get when you purchase this book but the book I received contains very sensual, beautiful and enchanting artworks of these two lovers. I know there is another book in the series and a graphic novel series for Bloodraven and I do wish there will be many more for I’ll never get tired to read about these two lovers. I really wish this book is available on Amazon so that I could share so many heartfelt and marvelous notes.
Favorite excerpt from the novel .. 💙❤️💜
“He sat very still when Bloodraven’s big fingers grasped the collar, pulling the metal apart with ease, and removing it from around Yhalen’s neck. He had grown accustomed to the weight of it—the feel of it lying against the ridge of his clavicle, pressing against the back of his neck.
With it gone, he almost felt bare.
Bloodraven compressed it back into a circle, and ran his big fingers around the smooth ring of it.
“Mine,” he murmured softly, looking up from under black lashes at Yhalen. “With or without this.”
10 enchantingly beautiful and magical stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Got contact with the author while purchasing books directly from her website. And yesssss!!! That’s the best news ever for this year!!! 👏👏👏
And yes, I’m shameless and stalker-ish when I talk to authors and try to find out about sequels of my favorite books. 😂😂😂
I have so many things to talk about this book so it’s going to be a long as hell review. First of all, it has been 10 years since this book was first published and I don’t understand why P.L. Nunn’s works are not available on Amazon. I get it, most people think her works are very violent, crude and need an acquired taste to enjoy. However, are you going to accuse me as insensitive or sadistic if I say I don’t find that to be true? Hear me out. I read this novel about a couple years ago in paperback version but I only finished a couple chapters and I lost the book while moving. And this is me reading it again. May be because I became a very seasoned reader in MM romance during these years? I don’t know but I have read way worse and cruel and sadistic works than hers. May be this book was considered to be a very abnormal one 10 years ago but I really don’t have an idea why Amazon doesn’t carry her works since I have found way terrible novels available there. Hell, they even have almost porn erotic graphic novels available. I’m not saying her books don’t contain gore and abuse and horrendous things but they are not SADISTIC. I have huge respect for P.L. Nunn as an artist and a author for her works are one of the most authentic, genuine and artistic works that I’m blessed to witness. And let me say, if you can look past “Non-con, dub-con, gore, abuse, rape and torture” (which in her defense, not a very large portion of the book), this is hands down, one of the best, best works I’ve ever read in my life. Also, I’d like to remind that this book is a very long one and the pages author mentioned in the description of the book is incorrect. I calculated the word count in epub and mobi formats and it’s almost 900 pages (883 pages to be exact). So skip this book if you can’t commit the number of the pages.
Alright, and now back to the story. 😌
Yhalen is a forest-Bred Fae descendant of Ydregi people. On an unfortunate day, he was captured and tortured, raped and left to be dead by Ogres from North who tried to invade the southern lands. However, in despair for his life, he awakened the Magics he never knew himself possessed and healed himself completely. But alas, the misfortune do not come alone. For worse, he found himself as a pleasure slave given to the leader of Ogre war Party.
Bloodraven is on the mission of capturing slaves for his tribe in the southern land. Despite the fact that he’s an ogr’ron (which is half man, half ogre), he was considered clever and capable enough to lead his full blooded ogre brethren. But of course, there are conflicts in his mission team and ogres who despise him for being a halfling and their leader. He was really surprised when his enemy presented him a beautiful, nubile and spirited human as his pleasure slave.
The two third of this novel is non-con, dub-con and abuse. I won’t indulge my fellow readers by hinting what happens between these two and the storyline for it’s worth reading and savoring yourself. But let me say one thing, this is one helluva epic love story between a human and a half-blooded ogre. Yhalen is always in conflict about his emotions toward Bloodraven. On one hand, he resents and hates his captor, master and rapist who branded him with the slavery symbol and put on a slave collar on him. But he slowly realizes that although Bloodraven does prefer to be dominant and him to be obedient and pliant and takes what he wants without any question, he’s never necessarily cruel to Yhalen and always caring, protective and loving to him. For Bloodraven too, he’s dealing with the emotions he never knew existed. He’s so used to seeing humans as weak and obedient beings and his pleasure slave is turning out to be the polar opposite of everything he knew about humans. Worse, no matter how much he’s upset towards Yhalen, he couldn’t find it in him to be cruel or physically abuse to him. And he’s feeling irrational feelings of missing, pining, over-protectiveness and jealousy for Yhalen. You won’t get sweet nothings, heart-swooning, romance worthy moments and sweet, tender lovemaking in this novel. No, this book is not for the faint hearted romance readers. The storyline is gruesome, realistic, vivid and beautiful in a scary way. The tenuous and gradual relationship development between Yhalen and Bloodraven is just breathtakingly alluring. I can’t find any fault with this book. This really is the epic and legendary love story of a lifetime. I love, love and love it. ❤️💚💜 And I’m not sure which version you’ll get when you purchase this book but the book I received contains very sensual, beautiful and enchanting artworks of these two lovers. I know there is another book in the series and a graphic novel series for Bloodraven and I do wish there will be many more for I’ll never get tired to read about these two lovers. I really wish this book is available on Amazon so that I could share so many heartfelt and marvelous notes.
Favorite excerpt from the novel .. 💙❤️💜
“He sat very still when Bloodraven’s big fingers grasped the collar, pulling the metal apart with ease, and removing it from around Yhalen’s neck. He had grown accustomed to the weight of it—the feel of it lying against the ridge of his clavicle, pressing against the back of his neck.
With it gone, he almost felt bare.
Bloodraven compressed it back into a circle, and ran his big fingers around the smooth ring of it.
“Mine,” he murmured softly, looking up from under black lashes at Yhalen. “With or without this.”
10 enchantingly beautiful and magical stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 6, 2016
January 2014: 6 books on my currently-reading shelf and I'm rereading dirty Bloodraven sex scenes. Sigh. So I realized that I actually don't give a damn about this book's flaws and wasted potential. The Yhalen/Bloodraven 'highlights' -- hum hum -- make up for everything. For dreary January days. For reads gone wrong. For bad hair days. I'm adding a 5th star, fuck yeah!
-----------------------------------
November 2012: So what part of "not for the faint of heart" didn't I understand?
At least I now know that Nunn is not the type of author who carefully guides her readers into murky water. Bloodraven pretty much opens with a stomach-churning torture scene, in which the slenderly built Yhalen crosses the path of a pack of bloodthirsty ogre scouts. They butcher his companions and rape Yhalen to death. Only, Yhalen's people practice an old form of wood-magic. And although he never showed any particular talent, now that he is on the verge of death something inside him desperately clings to life and he unconsciously sucks the essence out of his surroundings to heal himself.
Needless to say, the bad guys who tore him apart are not too pleased with this unexpected turn of events. They take him prisoner and, back at their war camp, gift him as a slave to the ogre Bloodraven.
As a terrified Yhalen awaits his fate, bound in Bloodraven's tent, I had to ask myself: did I really just pay to read about ogres raping a human? And, since the poor fellow is captured, apparently numerous more times?
Turns out I did!
However, it’s a great relief that the ogre that has become Yhalen's master is no full-blood specimen, but only half ogre, the other half human. And despite his powerful appearance and ominous name, Bloodraven is not quite as destructive as his clan members. He’s a cruel bastard alright, one who uses his new property thoroughly, but ...mostly gently as well.
Unfortunately, Bloodraven might be the war leader of the giants, most of them don’t take orders from a half-blood very well, and when Yhalen too decides that being a slave is not his life-calling and openly challenges his master, things take a serious turn for the worse...
Although the opening scene is more than just a little hard to swallow, once you manage to get past it, everything perverted that happens afterwards will pretty much feel like a walk in the park, ha!
And really, Bloodraven is mostly an engrossing fantasy adventure. For a big chunk of the book I was simply hooked and dying to find out how the intense dynamics between Bloodraven and Yhalen would play out. Would Yhalen fall prey to Stockholm syndrome? Would he manage to kill the half-ogre with his magic and escape? And what about Bloodraven's feelings towards the little human? Would one of these two ultimately give in?
The characters weren't as fleshed-out as I would have preferred and..err..I do feel like a bit of a creep for calling non-consensual ogre sex dull, but really, Nunn could have been a little more creative to avoid repetition. She should have trimmed the lengthy journey towards the end down a bit and taken full advantage of the friction and power games between Yhalen and Bloodraven instead. But oh well, in the end Bloodraven simply is an exciting fantasy story with a pervy twist!
-----------------------------------
November 2012: So what part of "not for the faint of heart" didn't I understand?
At least I now know that Nunn is not the type of author who carefully guides her readers into murky water. Bloodraven pretty much opens with a stomach-churning torture scene, in which the slenderly built Yhalen crosses the path of a pack of bloodthirsty ogre scouts. They butcher his companions and rape Yhalen to death. Only, Yhalen's people practice an old form of wood-magic. And although he never showed any particular talent, now that he is on the verge of death something inside him desperately clings to life and he unconsciously sucks the essence out of his surroundings to heal himself.
Needless to say, the bad guys who tore him apart are not too pleased with this unexpected turn of events. They take him prisoner and, back at their war camp, gift him as a slave to the ogre Bloodraven.
As a terrified Yhalen awaits his fate, bound in Bloodraven's tent, I had to ask myself: did I really just pay to read about ogres raping a human? And, since the poor fellow is captured, apparently numerous more times?
Turns out I did!
However, it’s a great relief that the ogre that has become Yhalen's master is no full-blood specimen, but only half ogre, the other half human. And despite his powerful appearance and ominous name, Bloodraven is not quite as destructive as his clan members. He’s a cruel bastard alright, one who uses his new property thoroughly, but ...mostly gently as well.
Unfortunately, Bloodraven might be the war leader of the giants, most of them don’t take orders from a half-blood very well, and when Yhalen too decides that being a slave is not his life-calling and openly challenges his master, things take a serious turn for the worse...
Although the opening scene is more than just a little hard to swallow, once you manage to get past it, everything perverted that happens afterwards will pretty much feel like a walk in the park, ha!
And really, Bloodraven is mostly an engrossing fantasy adventure. For a big chunk of the book I was simply hooked and dying to find out how the intense dynamics between Bloodraven and Yhalen would play out. Would Yhalen fall prey to Stockholm syndrome? Would he manage to kill the half-ogre with his magic and escape? And what about Bloodraven's feelings towards the little human? Would one of these two ultimately give in?
The characters weren't as fleshed-out as I would have preferred and..err..I do feel like a bit of a creep for calling non-consensual ogre sex dull, but really, Nunn could have been a little more creative to avoid repetition. She should have trimmed the lengthy journey towards the end down a bit and taken full advantage of the friction and power games between Yhalen and Bloodraven instead. But oh well, in the end Bloodraven simply is an exciting fantasy story with a pervy twist!
August 8, 2013
4 Stars for The Blog Of Sid Love
What an epic adventure this turned out to be!
Was it graphic? … Yes!
Horrifying? … Absolutely!
Engaging? … Totally!
Did I love it? … Yes I did.
Will I read it again? … Hell No!
Did I like the green willies? … Wha?... No! I’ll never be able to watch Shrek ever again!
P.L Nunn ticked all my boxes with this brutal heroic fantasy of Ogre’s, humans, and dark Magick’s. Only 7% into this book I had to stop and marvel about how those poor boxes have mutated and evolved from shameful ankle baring historical fripperies to graphic giant willy male on male sex. Fortunately, my inner turmoil doesn’t suffer fools for long and I was once again stoking the fires of my depravity with this oh so charming tale.
When Yhalen a young fey man of the forest is captured and tortured (horrendously) by a scouting group of migrating Ogre’s his life path is forever altered. Raped, torn, broken, and bleeding the puny human is left to die. But when Yhalen’s shock, pain, desperation and humiliation inexplicably unleash his untapped and untamed magic the Ogre’s find a new purpose for him.
Bound and enslaved Yhalen is then gifted (in malice)to the raiding parties War Lord, Bloodraven - an Ogr’ron (half-man, half-ogre) to serve as a receptacle for his limitless lust.
Bloodraven is more human in looks and intelligence (thank god) and half the size of an Ogre but he’s still, ah-hem … BIG and no less fierce. And so thesex adventure begins.
Bloodraven takes what he wants, without consent or apology but he makes it … easier, for Yahlen to take him. He’s careful with his slave and I’ve never been more appreciative of the 1, 2, 3 scissoring preparations. Honestly, the graphic stretch burn and squeeze through that tight ring of muscles made my eyes water every time; and God strike me for finding an allure in the sexual thrall of this BIG strong half beast who likes to cuddle and cradle his little human afterwards.
And this is just the beginning! It’s not all about fierce big dick slinging sex. The plot line changes direction when Bloodraven and Yahlen find themselves united (of sorts) against the manipulations of Kings and kin. Yahlen is clinging to the pious ethics of his people while his magic (through need) is steering him down a dark forbidden path. All while Bloodraven wars with his Ogr’ron temperament and his softening heart; but he needs to stay focussed on his own agenda to save his people from further cruelties.
There is fighting, plotting, evil villains, betrayals, deviant and dangerous angst filled machinations, cruel killing games and revolting flat faced Ogre children who need to die by fire.
This book feels way longer than it states, but it’s filled with so much of the good stuff and the rough stuff that it’s irrelevant. I enjoyed it that much. I squirmed, I cringed, I raged, I cheered, I whimpered and I fell in love just a little and then I almost threw up.
I have some niggles but not enough to deter you from reading this book. I’ll just say that some parts where a bit too drawn out and slowed the pace and the ending … hmm … good, but not entirely satisfying in my opinion.
Overall I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would and it’s definitely an unforgettable read. I recommend it for those who can handle the warnings and like a cracking good adventure … with lots of sex, consensual or not.
What an epic adventure this turned out to be!
Was it graphic? … Yes!
Horrifying? … Absolutely!
Engaging? … Totally!
Did I love it? … Yes I did.
Will I read it again? … Hell No!
Did I like the green willies? … Wha?... No! I’ll never be able to watch Shrek ever again!
P.L Nunn ticked all my boxes with this brutal heroic fantasy of Ogre’s, humans, and dark Magick’s. Only 7% into this book I had to stop and marvel about how those poor boxes have mutated and evolved from shameful ankle baring historical fripperies to graphic giant willy male on male sex. Fortunately, my inner turmoil doesn’t suffer fools for long and I was once again stoking the fires of my depravity with this oh so charming tale.
When Yhalen a young fey man of the forest is captured and tortured (horrendously) by a scouting group of migrating Ogre’s his life path is forever altered. Raped, torn, broken, and bleeding the puny human is left to die. But when Yhalen’s shock, pain, desperation and humiliation inexplicably unleash his untapped and untamed magic the Ogre’s find a new purpose for him.
Bound and enslaved Yhalen is then gifted (in malice)to the raiding parties War Lord, Bloodraven - an Ogr’ron (half-man, half-ogre) to serve as a receptacle for his limitless lust.
Bloodraven is more human in looks and intelligence (thank god) and half the size of an Ogre but he’s still, ah-hem … BIG and no less fierce. And so the
Bloodraven takes what he wants, without consent or apology but he makes it … easier, for Yahlen to take him. He’s careful with his slave and I’ve never been more appreciative of the 1, 2, 3 scissoring preparations. Honestly, the graphic stretch burn and squeeze through that tight ring of muscles made my eyes water every time; and God strike me for finding an allure in the sexual thrall of this BIG strong half beast who likes to cuddle and cradle his little human afterwards.
And this is just the beginning! It’s not all about fierce big dick slinging sex. The plot line changes direction when Bloodraven and Yahlen find themselves united (of sorts) against the manipulations of Kings and kin. Yahlen is clinging to the pious ethics of his people while his magic (through need) is steering him down a dark forbidden path. All while Bloodraven wars with his Ogr’ron temperament and his softening heart; but he needs to stay focussed on his own agenda to save his people from further cruelties.
There is fighting, plotting, evil villains, betrayals, deviant and dangerous angst filled machinations, cruel killing games and revolting flat faced Ogre children who need to die by fire.
This book feels way longer than it states, but it’s filled with so much of the good stuff and the rough stuff that it’s irrelevant. I enjoyed it that much. I squirmed, I cringed, I raged, I cheered, I whimpered and I fell in love just a little and then I almost threw up.
I have some niggles but not enough to deter you from reading this book. I’ll just say that some parts where a bit too drawn out and slowed the pace and the ending … hmm … good, but not entirely satisfying in my opinion.
Overall I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would and it’s definitely an unforgettable read. I recommend it for those who can handle the warnings and like a cracking good adventure … with lots of sex, consensual or not.
May 22, 2022
✦ well... i finally finished this after struggling with it for months. idk why, but i had a difficult time picking this book back up after i put it down. the fact that this was 600+ pages did not help.
✦ the story itself was pretty good overall. this ended up being way more than just torture porn. still, if you do want to read this, be prepared for a lot of brutality and rape on page.
✦ i have a lot of conflicting thoughts about this book. i don't even know if i liked it overall or not. like i'm not even sure what to rate this, but i'm settling on 3 stars for now. i just think i expected to love it, since i love dark and fucked up books, and the fact that i did not is a little disappointing.
_____________________
2022 - trying this again and loving it.😳
_____________________
2021 - dnf @ 5%. not really in the mood for torture porn right now but i might come back to this.🤣
✦ the story itself was pretty good overall. this ended up being way more than just torture porn. still, if you do want to read this, be prepared for a lot of brutality and rape on page.
✦ i have a lot of conflicting thoughts about this book. i don't even know if i liked it overall or not. like i'm not even sure what to rate this, but i'm settling on 3 stars for now. i just think i expected to love it, since i love dark and fucked up books, and the fact that i did not is a little disappointing.
_____________________
2022 - trying this again and loving it.😳
_____________________
2021 - dnf @ 5%. not really in the mood for torture porn right now but i might come back to this.🤣
September 7, 2015
I simply loved this. Bloodraven and his human. Interracial love at its best.
I'm team Bloodraven now!
It reminded me of Counterpoint and Crescendo, it being a Middle-Earth style (how come they remain several millenniums without discovering the electricity and developing the Human Rights?). One of MC being a leader of some sorts (military or blue-blooded) and the other one a nature creature from a different species who is taken prisoner and becomes his slave. The difference is, Bloodraven has a worthy ending, and every conflict is eventually solved satisfactorily, which I appreciate.
Yes, there is violence, and some scenes are so bloody that I thought I had just traveled through time and had been offered in an Aztec sacrifice in Tenochtitlán (I personally believe you would not have liked to be at their mercy). Once I accepted this, and the dub-non-con relationship, I could really enjoy it. I really loved the plot, the world building is solid and the characters have tons of charisma and personality, even the secondary ones.
There are no roses and promises of eternal love, but that doesn't make their story less powerful or true. Just the opposite, every obstacle they find is sorted out in one way or another and they only make their bond stronger and deeper. Sometimes it was very hard to look what was happening but in the most unexpected moments there was a gesture or an action that spoke volumes and made my heart pound faster. I was really looking forward to those moments. In a world where the law of the jungle rules there is no space for weakness or scruples. Bloodraven, being a mongrel amongst full-blooded ogres, has learnt it the hard way.
Ogres are more brutish with their hands than a Basque playing the Basque handball, and Yhalen experiences it in his own flesh. But Bloodraven is more restrained (in comparison), and by far more patient and intelligent. He calculates the outcomes measuring each mean. That's how he survived, by utter superiority of brains. He is considered less than an ogre but his achievements in war and battlefield have granted him a high status in the ogre hierarchy. And Yhalen is in the lowest of it.
Their relationship is slow in the emotional sphere but they waste no time in the physical one. Bloodraven, that is, because Yhalen is not exactly eager to please his master with his submission. In fact, he is high-spirited, which amuses Bloodraven to no end. Yhalen rebels or obeys reluctantly but somewhere along the way, he longs for Bloodraven's touch. Because his half-breed owner can be utterly careful with his possessions, and, even more, he takes care of him. I just love how Bloodreaven refers to Yhalen as "his human". I'm aware it implies ownership more than comradeship but things are not black and white in this book. In truth, limits were quite blurred and my comfort zone was dismissed more often than not.
In spite of the cruelty and the impotence Yhalen suffers, there is always a hint of hope. Not only the hope of a better future but the hope of him fulfilling some kind of revenge from those ogreish creatures that treat humans like nothing, if only for his own sanity. And indeed Yhalen gets it. Not enough, in my opinion, but close. Yhalen grows from a defenseless abused slave to a fearsome creature nobody would want to anger. Strangely enough, he doesn't harm Bloodraven, even in those occasions he had the chance and no few reasons. Furthermore, Yhalen protects Bloodraven even against his ulterior motives and bodily integrity.
Bloodraven fears magic and Yhalen has it in spades. Bloodraven is ochre and enormous and Yhalen is pale and small. Bloodraven understand war and Yhalen despises it. How come they reach an understanding, each one of them from different backgrounds? Fate seems doomed at first but opposites attract, too. Impossible is only an opinion.
If you want to see more orc pics:
I'm team Bloodraven now!
It reminded me of Counterpoint and Crescendo, it being a Middle-Earth style (how come they remain several millenniums without discovering the electricity and developing the Human Rights?). One of MC being a leader of some sorts (military or blue-blooded) and the other one a nature creature from a different species who is taken prisoner and becomes his slave. The difference is, Bloodraven has a worthy ending, and every conflict is eventually solved satisfactorily, which I appreciate.
Yes, there is violence, and some scenes are so bloody that I thought I had just traveled through time and had been offered in an Aztec sacrifice in Tenochtitlán (I personally believe you would not have liked to be at their mercy). Once I accepted this, and the dub-non-con relationship, I could really enjoy it. I really loved the plot, the world building is solid and the characters have tons of charisma and personality, even the secondary ones.
There are no roses and promises of eternal love, but that doesn't make their story less powerful or true. Just the opposite, every obstacle they find is sorted out in one way or another and they only make their bond stronger and deeper. Sometimes it was very hard to look what was happening but in the most unexpected moments there was a gesture or an action that spoke volumes and made my heart pound faster. I was really looking forward to those moments. In a world where the law of the jungle rules there is no space for weakness or scruples. Bloodraven, being a mongrel amongst full-blooded ogres, has learnt it the hard way.
Ogres are more brutish with their hands than a Basque playing the Basque handball, and Yhalen experiences it in his own flesh. But Bloodraven is more restrained (in comparison), and by far more patient and intelligent. He calculates the outcomes measuring each mean. That's how he survived, by utter superiority of brains. He is considered less than an ogre but his achievements in war and battlefield have granted him a high status in the ogre hierarchy. And Yhalen is in the lowest of it.
Their relationship is slow in the emotional sphere but they waste no time in the physical one. Bloodraven, that is, because Yhalen is not exactly eager to please his master with his submission. In fact, he is high-spirited, which amuses Bloodraven to no end. Yhalen rebels or obeys reluctantly but somewhere along the way, he longs for Bloodraven's touch. Because his half-breed owner can be utterly careful with his possessions, and, even more, he takes care of him. I just love how Bloodreaven refers to Yhalen as "his human". I'm aware it implies ownership more than comradeship but things are not black and white in this book. In truth, limits were quite blurred and my comfort zone was dismissed more often than not.
In spite of the cruelty and the impotence Yhalen suffers, there is always a hint of hope. Not only the hope of a better future but the hope of him fulfilling some kind of revenge from those ogreish creatures that treat humans like nothing, if only for his own sanity. And indeed Yhalen gets it. Not enough, in my opinion, but close. Yhalen grows from a defenseless abused slave to a fearsome creature nobody would want to anger. Strangely enough, he doesn't harm Bloodraven, even in those occasions he had the chance and no few reasons. Furthermore, Yhalen protects Bloodraven even against his ulterior motives and bodily integrity.
Bloodraven fears magic and Yhalen has it in spades. Bloodraven is ochre and enormous and Yhalen is pale and small. Bloodraven understand war and Yhalen despises it. How come they reach an understanding, each one of them from different backgrounds? Fate seems doomed at first but opposites attract, too. Impossible is only an opinion.
If you want to see more orc pics:
September 14, 2011
Oh.My.Goddess!! This book was amazing!! It had incredible world building and complex characters. No details were ever left out. Every scene was detailed and explicit from the torture scenes to the fight scenes to the sex scenes. There were a lot of all three. This is not some light and fluffy read. It was dark and brutal and epic. Something I had to be in the right mood to read.
Okay, I’m sure you’ve already seen many other reviews discussing the brutal rape and torture of Yhalen, the young Ydregi man, by a small group of full-blooded ogres. Furthermore, the dubious and non-consensual sex he has as a slave to his captor Bloodraven, the ogr'ron (human/ogre halfling). I WILL NOT LIE!! The initial rape was horrific and I’m pretty sure my eyes were bugged out and my jaw was on the floor through the entire scene. Hands down, the worst rape scene I have read to date. BUT, that event happens in the very beginning of the first chapter and is key to opening the way for the rest of the story.
ALSO, I was initially put off by the early sex between Bloodraven and Yhalen since it wasn’t consensual in the beginning. But then the more I read and understood Bloodraven and the cruelty of full-blooded ogres, it was easier for me to forgive. Having human slaves is common practice in the life that Bloodraven knows. His own father was a human slave of an ogress and as the leader amongst full-blooded ogres he is expected to enjoy the pleasures of human slaves. All his life he has fought for survival from the bigger, crueler creatures. When Yhalen is gifted to him, it is the expectation that Bloodraven will treat him as a slave. Yes, he does force Yhalen to have sex with him, but he never beats him or truly hurts him physically during the act. Nor is he selfish. Eventually, through all the many, many sex scenes, Yhalen does find pleasure. Actually, this happens very early on in the story. They do have a lot of really hot sex together. A lot! Bloodraven even asks for permission at one point. ”I have great need for your warmth this night. For release in your body,” Bloodraven murmured in his ear. “Will you grant it to me?” There are also many sweet, tender moments between them. One of my favorites is when Bloodraven combs and braids Yhalen’s hair. It is the only scene that made me cry.
There are also scenes where Bloodraven is forced to physically discipline Yhalen in front of other ogres. It’s not pretty but is necessary for Yhalen and Bloodraven’s protection. Bloodraven is bothered by these. The only other scene as bad as the initial rape scene is the mutilation and attempted execution of Yhalen. It was pretty bad and upset me more than the rape. I was glad that Bloodraven was able to witness it though and see what he had brought upon his human.
Yhalen, he was humble and proud and never truly broken by Bloodraven. He was ashamed about using his powers and I liked how Bloodraven was scared of them but still able to accept them and Yhalen. He even encouraged Yhalen to use them at times.
There are never any declarations of “love” between Bloodraven and Yhalen although they definitely feel it for each other. I think Yhalen is still trying to teach Bloodraven what exactly that word means. Ogres do not know love. Bloodraven has never before been loved by any being other than his dogs.
I was glad to finish this book! I will miss Bloodraven and Yhalen, but I think I am more exhausted than them from taking this long, emotional journey.
Okay, I’m sure you’ve already seen many other reviews discussing the brutal rape and torture of Yhalen, the young Ydregi man, by a small group of full-blooded ogres. Furthermore, the dubious and non-consensual sex he has as a slave to his captor Bloodraven, the ogr'ron (human/ogre halfling). I WILL NOT LIE!! The initial rape was horrific and I’m pretty sure my eyes were bugged out and my jaw was on the floor through the entire scene. Hands down, the worst rape scene I have read to date. BUT, that event happens in the very beginning of the first chapter and is key to opening the way for the rest of the story.
ALSO, I was initially put off by the early sex between Bloodraven and Yhalen since it wasn’t consensual in the beginning. But then the more I read and understood Bloodraven and the cruelty of full-blooded ogres, it was easier for me to forgive. Having human slaves is common practice in the life that Bloodraven knows. His own father was a human slave of an ogress and as the leader amongst full-blooded ogres he is expected to enjoy the pleasures of human slaves. All his life he has fought for survival from the bigger, crueler creatures. When Yhalen is gifted to him, it is the expectation that Bloodraven will treat him as a slave. Yes, he does force Yhalen to have sex with him, but he never beats him or truly hurts him physically during the act. Nor is he selfish. Eventually, through all the many, many sex scenes, Yhalen does find pleasure. Actually, this happens very early on in the story. They do have a lot of really hot sex together. A lot! Bloodraven even asks for permission at one point. ”I have great need for your warmth this night. For release in your body,” Bloodraven murmured in his ear. “Will you grant it to me?” There are also many sweet, tender moments between them. One of my favorites is when Bloodraven combs and braids Yhalen’s hair. It is the only scene that made me cry.
There are also scenes where Bloodraven is forced to physically discipline Yhalen in front of other ogres. It’s not pretty but is necessary for Yhalen and Bloodraven’s protection. Bloodraven is bothered by these. The only other scene as bad as the initial rape scene is the mutilation and attempted execution of Yhalen. It was pretty bad and upset me more than the rape. I was glad that Bloodraven was able to witness it though and see what he had brought upon his human.
Yhalen, he was humble and proud and never truly broken by Bloodraven. He was ashamed about using his powers and I liked how Bloodraven was scared of them but still able to accept them and Yhalen. He even encouraged Yhalen to use them at times.
There are never any declarations of “love” between Bloodraven and Yhalen although they definitely feel it for each other. I think Yhalen is still trying to teach Bloodraven what exactly that word means. Ogres do not know love. Bloodraven has never before been loved by any being other than his dogs.
”What did he owe the man—half-man, but wholly male—who’d raped, branded, enslaved and humiliated him? Only, as vivid as those memories were, the irritating, painful, even frightening ones—there were others that came later, which stirred things within him. Bloodraven, biting back hereditary impatience to attempt the teaching of a difficult language. Bloodraven, sharing campfire cooking tips—sharing the secrets of mountain roots that made edible, if not always palatable, meals. Bloodraven, speaking haltingly of dreams that he’d always held close to his heart. Bloodraven, fighting a lifetime of instinct and wanting the opinions, the history, the company of a human. Guilt, protectiveness—a fondness so unpracticed that it might entirely be mistaken for something else.”
I was glad to finish this book! I will miss Bloodraven and Yhalen, but I think I am more exhausted than them from taking this long, emotional journey.
February 16, 2017
That was.... FANTASTIC!!! That story was-in the words of other reviewers-epic!! So much adventure and magic and fear and lust. It was so engaging and addicting it has consumed my thoughts well after I've finished reading it.
I really enjoyed reading Bloodravens and Yhalen's relationship. Yes it's very non-con for the majority of the book (although it doesn't take long for Yhalen to begrudgingly start enjoying the sex) but Bloodraven is never overtly cruel or brutual with him. I enjoyed Bloodravens ownership and protectiveness of Yhalen, which may or may not have made me swoon on occasion *shrugs* just saying.
These characters, all of them even the side characters, were so thoroughly detailed and I loved reading their changes and growth throughout the book,especially Yhalens.
So there were just a few things I didn't like about this book. Obviously as most of you would know the first chapter is an extremely violent rape scene and there is a chapter towards the end which is the brutual torture of a main character. It was really truly gruesome, as in I had to skim over the words at a certain point because I couldn't handle more detail, *shivers* it was terrible. But then it was over *wipes head*. Also there's a... Dalliance between two characters which was... Odd... It was fairly quick and like I said... Odd, but I'm a tad possessive therefore didn't like it much.
But overall this book was amazing and I'll be thinking about it for a while.
Edit: Also lots of sex and it is fucking hot!!! Although my ass clenched a hell of alot :-P
I really enjoyed reading Bloodravens and Yhalen's relationship. Yes it's very non-con for the majority of the book (although it doesn't take long for Yhalen to begrudgingly start enjoying the sex) but Bloodraven is never overtly cruel or brutual with him. I enjoyed Bloodravens ownership and protectiveness of Yhalen, which may or may not have made me swoon on occasion *shrugs* just saying.
These characters, all of them even the side characters, were so thoroughly detailed and I loved reading their changes and growth throughout the book,especially Yhalens.
So there were just a few things I didn't like about this book. Obviously as most of you would know the first chapter is an extremely violent rape scene and there is a chapter towards the end which is the brutual torture of a main character. It was really truly gruesome, as in I had to skim over the words at a certain point because I couldn't handle more detail, *shivers* it was terrible. But then it was over *wipes head*. Also there's a... Dalliance between two characters which was... Odd... It was fairly quick and like I said... Odd, but I'm a tad possessive therefore didn't like it much.
But overall this book was amazing and I'll be thinking about it for a while.
Edit: Also lots of sex and it is fucking hot!!! Although my ass clenched a hell of alot :-P
February 24, 2014
4.5 Stars
After careful consideration I've decided there really is nothing I can say about Bloodraven that hasn't already been said.
It is epic in size and scope.
It is epic in its sagadom. Yes. I'm making up words now. Stop judging me.
It tortured me beautifully.
I felt all the feels. I mean, I ask you who can resist:
No one. That's who. Well, not me at least.
To all future readers of the greatness that is Bloodraven KNOW THIS. When you read the blurb and it say 200 and blah, blah, blah pages, TIS A LIE!!!
Unless... your definition of a page looks something like:
In which case, Welcome to Ogr'ron land and enjoy the ah, berries.
As a wise friend informed me along my journey, it's a marathon, not a sprint. So pack a sack lunch or two and remember to replenish your fluids. Just a lil tip from me to you.
After careful consideration I've decided there really is nothing I can say about Bloodraven that hasn't already been said.
It is epic in size and scope.
It is epic in its sagadom. Yes. I'm making up words now. Stop judging me.
It tortured me beautifully.
I felt all the feels. I mean, I ask you who can resist:
There was no edge of pain to the pleasure to drive him over the verge, no feeling of his guts stretched thin even when the body over his pressed in to the fullest. Nothing to make him lose himself to the utter sensation of being possessed. Of being owned.
No one. That's who. Well, not me at least.
To all future readers of the greatness that is Bloodraven KNOW THIS. When you read the blurb and it say 200 and blah, blah, blah pages, TIS A LIE!!!
Unless... your definition of a page looks something like:
In which case, Welcome to Ogr'ron land and enjoy the ah, berries.
As a wise friend informed me along my journey, it's a marathon, not a sprint. So pack a sack lunch or two and remember to replenish your fluids. Just a lil tip from me to you.
January 16, 2020
4.5 stars. I loved this. I'm not going to write a full review this time, but the only reason it's not getting all my stars is because it needed editing. Especially copyediting and proofreading. But the story is SO good. And I need a fucking sequel, pleaseandthankyou.
June 13, 2018
While I loved the first half, the middle dragged a bit and the end was a bit unsatisfactory. And it wasn’t even all the violence and rape that made me exhausted. It was the witch Elvardo and the separation near the end that made me like this just a little less.
Yhalen is of the Ydregi, a folk who live in the forest and who cherish nature’s gifts. This story starts with him being suddenly taken by ogres one night. His friends were murdered on the spot, but he was somehow spared.
He is then tortured, raped, and left to die in the woods. But Yhalen suddenly taps into the power he didn’t realize he had and heals himself.
He is then taken to the ogres’ camp where he is gifted as a slave to a half blood ogre, Bloodraven.
Bloodraven is happy with his new slave and even though he is not as rough or as violent as the ogres Yhalen encountered before, he is still a slave….
Yes, there was rape, yes Bloodraven raped Yhalen, but definitely not in the way I expected. I’ve always said I could never love a character who rapes another character, but here it was kind of brilliantly done. So yes, I did love Bloodraven.
I understood from the start that he was taught slaves were simply there for his pleasure. He tried to make Yhalen like it, was always careful with him, but when Yhalen first got to him, he did not want to have sex with the big half ogre, so Bloodraven took it anyway (after carefully preparing Yhalen). So even though that was still rape, it didn’t always feel like it. And later on Yhalen most definitely liked what Bloodraven did to him.
What made me like this a little less was the doom and gloom in the second half. While most of the blood, violence and rape happened in the first half, I never felt it was really gloomy. I was intrigued how Yhalen and Bloodraven would eventually find their way to each other.
But the second half was more frustrating. And I was mostly frustrated with the humans and with that witch Elvardo. Elvardo kind of helped them, but he was also evil, and I hated how near the end he used Yhalen’s body for his own pleasure while Yhalen could do nothing about it. It wasn’t that constructive to the story so I wasn’t sure why it was included. I mean, neither Yhalen nor Bloodraven had sex with other people for the entire book (I’m not including the rape of Yhalen by the ogres at the beginning, because that was before Bloodraven). So why suddenly include that at 90%? I also thought it was a bit out of character for Elvardo, but that could have been just me.
And while I liked how it ended, I did want something just a bit more. I wasn’t a fan of the separation and I kind of wanted Bloodraven to just throw Yhalen over his shoulder and to never let him leave his sight, as he did before. The end was a bit too…. civilized? I mean, Bloodraven already proved he could be a caveman with Yhalen and still care for him at the same time. No need for Yhalen to not live where Bloodraven does.
But all in all, I did like it. It was exhausting at times, and I think I’ll never re-read it, but I did enjoy it. It most definitely wasn’t as bad as I expected, violence and rape wise (but that could be because I was expecting the entire book to be like that and it wasn't).
Yhalen is of the Ydregi, a folk who live in the forest and who cherish nature’s gifts. This story starts with him being suddenly taken by ogres one night. His friends were murdered on the spot, but he was somehow spared.
He is then tortured, raped, and left to die in the woods. But Yhalen suddenly taps into the power he didn’t realize he had and heals himself.
He is then taken to the ogres’ camp where he is gifted as a slave to a half blood ogre, Bloodraven.
Bloodraven is happy with his new slave and even though he is not as rough or as violent as the ogres Yhalen encountered before, he is still a slave….
Yes, there was rape, yes Bloodraven raped Yhalen, but definitely not in the way I expected. I’ve always said I could never love a character who rapes another character, but here it was kind of brilliantly done. So yes, I did love Bloodraven.
I understood from the start that he was taught slaves were simply there for his pleasure. He tried to make Yhalen like it, was always careful with him, but when Yhalen first got to him, he did not want to have sex with the big half ogre, so Bloodraven took it anyway (after carefully preparing Yhalen). So even though that was still rape, it didn’t always feel like it. And later on Yhalen most definitely liked what Bloodraven did to him.
What made me like this a little less was the doom and gloom in the second half. While most of the blood, violence and rape happened in the first half, I never felt it was really gloomy. I was intrigued how Yhalen and Bloodraven would eventually find their way to each other.
But the second half was more frustrating. And I was mostly frustrated with the humans and with that witch Elvardo. Elvardo kind of helped them, but he was also evil, and I hated how near the end he used Yhalen’s body for his own pleasure while Yhalen could do nothing about it. It wasn’t that constructive to the story so I wasn’t sure why it was included. I mean, neither Yhalen nor Bloodraven had sex with other people for the entire book (I’m not including the rape of Yhalen by the ogres at the beginning, because that was before Bloodraven). So why suddenly include that at 90%? I also thought it was a bit out of character for Elvardo, but that could have been just me.
And while I liked how it ended, I did want something just a bit more. I wasn’t a fan of the separation and I kind of wanted Bloodraven to just throw Yhalen over his shoulder and to never let him leave his sight, as he did before. The end was a bit too…. civilized? I mean, Bloodraven already proved he could be a caveman with Yhalen and still care for him at the same time. No need for Yhalen to not live where Bloodraven does.
But all in all, I did like it. It was exhausting at times, and I think I’ll never re-read it, but I did enjoy it. It most definitely wasn’t as bad as I expected, violence and rape wise (but that could be because I was expecting the entire book to be like that and it wasn't).
December 9, 2010
I should not have started this book when I did. I had books to read for review (with deadlines looming over my head), several reviews to write and another book halfway finished. But after being drawn to it by a review here from a Goodreads friend, I bought it and started it immediately. Everything else came to a screeching halt until I finished.
This book gripped me in a way that very few books can manage. It starts off with unimaginable sexual brutality but if you’re able to recover from the first few chapters of grue and pain you should be ready to deal with all that happens later. I knew what I was getting into, having read some spoilerific reviews but it was still . . . shocking.
Yhalen is a young, beautiful, carefree forest dwelling human who spends his time flirting and having sex with his closest male friends. He is blissfully ignorant of what lurks beyond the boundaries of the safe haven his people call home. Political machinations mean nothing to him but everything in Yhalen’s world is shattered when he is attacked by a group of violent ogres. REALLY bad things happen to Yhalen. He only manages to survive by tapping into power he hadn’t realized he had. Scary, awful, forest destroying powers that frighten him and shake him to the core. And as if all this weren’t bad enough he’s given to Bloodraven, a half-human/half-ogre warlord who chains him up like a dog and uses him as a sexual toy.
Sounds truly awful, doesn’t it? Well, it is! But I’ll be honest. I could not stop reading. The world is vivid, the writing thoroughly captivating and it never lets up. Yhalen maintains his spirit despite everything and does not make a good submissive slave. He has a strong will to survive and after all he’s been through at the hands of the ogres he has to admit that Bloodraven isn’t as bad as all that. He’s afraid, he’s tormented and he despises Bloodraven’s touch but he submits because he hasn’t a choice. As time goes by he realizes that there is more to Bloodraven than his brutal ogre side and he is shamed to find his body responding to Bloodraven. Though raised by ogres he is much smarter than any full blood ogre, he’s ambitious (some may say insanely ambitious) and has grand plans to save other half-lings from the torment they’re currently exposed to in the ogre camp. Bloodraven’s plans include Yhalen, who he’s growing increasingly fond of. As the story progresses the two forge an uneasy relationship that will be tested time and again.
Their relationship is a slow building and tenuous thing that changes as circumstances change. Both characters have major struggles to overcome and inner issues. This is not a “shove all the bad stuff under the carpet and forget about it while you declare your undying love and live happy ever after” type of story. It’s rough and pain-filled and in the end very believable. There are no unrealistic revelations of undying love on either side but what they have is strong and it worked for me on so many levels. I could have spent another 500 pages with these two and still wanted more. The story was darkly fascinating. 5 stars all the way.
Bought at smashwords.com.
This book gripped me in a way that very few books can manage. It starts off with unimaginable sexual brutality but if you’re able to recover from the first few chapters of grue and pain you should be ready to deal with all that happens later. I knew what I was getting into, having read some spoilerific reviews but it was still . . . shocking.
Yhalen is a young, beautiful, carefree forest dwelling human who spends his time flirting and having sex with his closest male friends. He is blissfully ignorant of what lurks beyond the boundaries of the safe haven his people call home. Political machinations mean nothing to him but everything in Yhalen’s world is shattered when he is attacked by a group of violent ogres. REALLY bad things happen to Yhalen. He only manages to survive by tapping into power he hadn’t realized he had. Scary, awful, forest destroying powers that frighten him and shake him to the core. And as if all this weren’t bad enough he’s given to Bloodraven, a half-human/half-ogre warlord who chains him up like a dog and uses him as a sexual toy.
Sounds truly awful, doesn’t it? Well, it is! But I’ll be honest. I could not stop reading. The world is vivid, the writing thoroughly captivating and it never lets up. Yhalen maintains his spirit despite everything and does not make a good submissive slave. He has a strong will to survive and after all he’s been through at the hands of the ogres he has to admit that Bloodraven isn’t as bad as all that. He’s afraid, he’s tormented and he despises Bloodraven’s touch but he submits because he hasn’t a choice. As time goes by he realizes that there is more to Bloodraven than his brutal ogre side and he is shamed to find his body responding to Bloodraven. Though raised by ogres he is much smarter than any full blood ogre, he’s ambitious (some may say insanely ambitious) and has grand plans to save other half-lings from the torment they’re currently exposed to in the ogre camp. Bloodraven’s plans include Yhalen, who he’s growing increasingly fond of. As the story progresses the two forge an uneasy relationship that will be tested time and again.
Their relationship is a slow building and tenuous thing that changes as circumstances change. Both characters have major struggles to overcome and inner issues. This is not a “shove all the bad stuff under the carpet and forget about it while you declare your undying love and live happy ever after” type of story. It’s rough and pain-filled and in the end very believable. There are no unrealistic revelations of undying love on either side but what they have is strong and it worked for me on so many levels. I could have spent another 500 pages with these two and still wanted more. The story was darkly fascinating. 5 stars all the way.
Bought at smashwords.com.
September 30, 2014
Written October 14, 2013
4 1/2 Stars - A deep dive into the scary fantasy world - and it was a very enjoying challenge
This was a great and spellbinding fantasy tale. There was a lot of very cruel, tough and terribly nasty parts but also enjoyable and captivating. I just couldn't stop to read and in the end I was rewarded.
OMG... it started as a indescribable nasty horror movie! I was shocked and completely taken by surprise by some very violent assaults and I was terrified by these so indescribable green, cruel, very tall and fierce monsters called Ogre's. How would our small human hero Yhalen, from the large peaceful forests, survive in this story at all? A few pages later becomes the abducted Yhalen handed over to the ogre warriors' leader, Bloodraven, half-ogre and half-human, also called; an Ogr'ons.
Bloodraven is certainly not as overwhelmingly large growth (if you're curious, this concerned all his parts...), but a good deal larger (you know...in all parts..) than an average human person. Moreover, he is green with big ogre ears and yellow eyes. Maybe a little more human and actually a good deal more beautiful than the other horrible monster guys, but still scary huge, slightly angry, determined and very domineering for a little human guy like Yhalen.
Bloodraven gratefully receives the pretty beautiful young pet slave he gets. ~ A leash around the neck and chained in Bloodravens tent - Yhalen trembled ... Just so did I!
Luckily, is our little hero in this story, blessed with some supernatural abilities. He can heal. Something he still hardly not have discovered until now... but it is maybe his luck and happiness in this so violent and horrible world he ended up in. And of course, don't forget, we have this half-human/ogre Bloodraven, who as it turns out may not be so horribly and unappetizing as Yhalen think at first. Yeah, I'm not kidding, I mean this green, very demanding, enforced bed companion.
Will it be a true romance? ~ Read all 660 (??) pages in this novel to find out. Maybe you will love it you too. But for God's sake don't forget the warning: “It is not for the faint of heart”.
I'm so glad I dared to take a chance and take this book in hand and read this fantasy tale. Sure, it was disgusting, scary and cruel sometimes but it was also nice, exciting and a wonderful adventure to follow. It's a tale with real heros and brave men and I "enjoyed" it. Okay, not all of it but the biggest part.
Phew, it's still a relief to be on the last page. But... oh so happy I am. This novel should not be missed by those who like fairy tales, fantasies and adventures. And all of it is very well seasoned with two amazing guys (?) who likes guys.... One likes blonde little human guys and the other might actually like a green huge half human, or?
I LIKE - a M/M fantasy just in my quirky taste
4 1/2 Stars - A deep dive into the scary fantasy world - and it was a very enjoying challenge
This was a great and spellbinding fantasy tale. There was a lot of very cruel, tough and terribly nasty parts but also enjoyable and captivating. I just couldn't stop to read and in the end I was rewarded.
OMG... it started as a indescribable nasty horror movie! I was shocked and completely taken by surprise by some very violent assaults and I was terrified by these so indescribable green, cruel, very tall and fierce monsters called Ogre's. How would our small human hero Yhalen, from the large peaceful forests, survive in this story at all? A few pages later becomes the abducted Yhalen handed over to the ogre warriors' leader, Bloodraven, half-ogre and half-human, also called; an Ogr'ons.
Bloodraven is certainly not as overwhelmingly large growth (if you're curious, this concerned all his parts...), but a good deal larger (you know...in all parts..) than an average human person. Moreover, he is green with big ogre ears and yellow eyes. Maybe a little more human and actually a good deal more beautiful than the other horrible monster guys, but still scary huge, slightly angry, determined and very domineering for a little human guy like Yhalen.
‘A face that might have looked human, save for the sharp, protruding points of the canines and the gold eyes and the long pointed ears crowded with dangling gold rings and the greenish ochre cast to his skin. A frightening face all the same, with eyes that were cold and intelligent and assesing.’
Bloodraven gratefully receives the pretty beautiful young pet slave he gets. ~ A leash around the neck and chained in Bloodravens tent - Yhalen trembled ... Just so did I!
Luckily, is our little hero in this story, blessed with some supernatural abilities. He can heal. Something he still hardly not have discovered until now... but it is maybe his luck and happiness in this so violent and horrible world he ended up in. And of course, don't forget, we have this half-human/ogre Bloodraven, who as it turns out may not be so horribly and unappetizing as Yhalen think at first. Yeah, I'm not kidding, I mean this green, very demanding, enforced bed companion.
Will it be a true romance? ~ Read all 660 (??) pages in this novel to find out. Maybe you will love it you too. But for God's sake don't forget the warning: “It is not for the faint of heart”.
I'm so glad I dared to take a chance and take this book in hand and read this fantasy tale. Sure, it was disgusting, scary and cruel sometimes but it was also nice, exciting and a wonderful adventure to follow. It's a tale with real heros and brave men and I "enjoyed" it. Okay, not all of it but the biggest part.
Phew, it's still a relief to be on the last page. But... oh so happy I am. This novel should not be missed by those who like fairy tales, fantasies and adventures. And all of it is very well seasoned with two amazing guys (?) who likes guys.... One likes blonde little human guys and the other might actually like a green huge half human, or?
I LIKE - a M/M fantasy just in my quirky taste
August 8, 2018
No no no. So much fucking no.
Blood is not a lubricant.
Stockholm Syndrome is not romance.
Rape is not sexy.
I'm putting this under the tag 'lgbt' rather than 'lgbt-romance' as is my standard tag because I refuse to call this book a romance or consider it as having romantic themes.
This is a book out of the yaoi tradition and the darker versions of that to boot. The yaoi stuff I gravitated to when I read such, the yaoi I actually enjoyed, was the non-rape variety. I've since gone on to other things as I tired of the same seme/uki dynamics and flat storytelling, and the good stuff was too few and far between to make wading through the bad worth the time.
This had high ratings, and while knowing it was going to be a brutal story, I decided to try it out. However, as goodreads has taught me, ratings are not infallible. Here we have the story of a young man who is raped and tortured, then given as a slave to be raped and tortured. Then this man will be tortured some more, have a mental breakdown, be raped, more torture, another mental breakdown, and more rape. Rinse, repeat.
It's not the subject matter; it's how it's portrayed. I can take a brutal story but not when rape is dismissed because, 'the character actually enjoys it, so it's okay to rape him/her.' We're not talking role-play here or someone who is reluctantly consenting or even dub-con. There's a lot of grey area in sexual relations, and I've seen well-written books that examine those grey areas, but this hits all my 'no, fuck you, how fucking dare you try to romanticize rape' buttons.
So let me say now, ymmv. When I read yaoi, there were some rape-to-love stories I enjoyed though those were rare. If you enjoy that trope, no judgment, to each their own. What we enjoy in fiction or imagination isn't necessarily what we enjoy in real life. For me, the portrayal is the problem.
The great weakness of the novel even if you accept it as a guilty pleasure read is that Yhalen starts to feel like a rubber doll about halfway through. In the first fifty pages, he's torn apart--quite literally by giant troll dicks--left for dead, but through the magical power of author intervention, Yahlen is perfectly good to take another set of hits in the morning. So sets the stage of the eternal chew toy for every twisted imagining the author wants to pour on him.
There are no consequences. Yahlen has the magic reset button.
Even the damage he takes between resets is not even close to real. Having the breath knocked out of you isn't a simple or easy thing to shrug off, get up, and keep going. It's damn painful, and you ache for hours afterwards. That can be damned dangerous if your lung fails to reinflate. Being pulled up by your hair is a fantastic way to have your scalp ripped off. Dislocating an arm makes it super easy for that arm to dislocate again, especially when being dragged around by that arm.
After a while, all this torture doesn't mean anything. Not only will Yahlen deal with it eventually so the author can write more torture porn, what injuries he does get don't have any consequences. To compare to another popular character with mega-super healing abilities, Wolverene at least goes through the pain that's inflicted on him. He's tough, he'll heal, but he's still going to be in agony, and it's the same agony every single time. Yes, Yahlen does go through a lot of pain, but it's author's whim when that pain is consequential or not, and that breaks any consistency she has with her world building.
At the end, given that Yahlen seems back to his senses, other reviewers are disgusted when he gives in to Elvardo. Best example of blame the victim I've ever seen. >.> Anyway, that reader reaction only makes sense because nothing that happens to Yahlen really has long-term consequences for that character. Recovery, PTSD, colon fissures from multiple rips (do I really have to say how profoundly unsexy that is?) have zero impact on the character and therefore have zero meaning for the reader. It's like watching an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon.
There's no growth for this character, just reactions to things that happen to him. It's like kicking a dog until that dog cowers at any human. That's reaction and change, but that isn't the same as growth. The plot is basically Yahlen getting raped and tortured by those who are more powerful than him, then he's raped and tortured by another who is more powerful than him, and again until he just doesn't care as much that he's raped and tortured. There's a lot of missed potential here because Yahlen's character could go a lot of ways and have his own fascinating journey. Instead, he's just fodder for more rape/torture, and it's obvious Nunn has no idea how to finish this story.
Bloodraven (really? That's the name you're going for? Really. Sounds like the SNL skit of emos hangout in their basement.) does have character growth. There's an arc to his character, which would be great if I cared about him. A perfect line from Brooklyn-Nine-Nine to sum this up: "Cool motive. Still murder." Cool character arc. Still raped and tortured. Oh, but he began to fall in love and care for his human toy, you say? No. I don't care. Bloodraven never once regretted all that rape and torture he did let alone do anything to redeem himself.
Is there anything redeemable here? Actually, yes. Nunn, despite the disgust I have with the portrayal of subject matter and the massive amount of grammar errors (typical for self-publishing), has a good sense of pacing and knows how to keep a story moving without getting bogged down in exposition or flowery prose. It's not fantastic or evocative prose, but this story does manage to do what popular authors must: write an engaging story.
The writing meanders when Bloodraven (omg, how can anyone not start busting up each time his name is said?) is off scouting the wilderness. Description isn't Nunn's strong suit, and the plot starts to meander with no end goal in mind.
That one glimmer of decent writing can't make up for all the sins of this novel.
Blood is not a lubricant.
Stockholm Syndrome is not romance.
Rape is not sexy.
I'm putting this under the tag 'lgbt' rather than 'lgbt-romance' as is my standard tag because I refuse to call this book a romance or consider it as having romantic themes.
This is a book out of the yaoi tradition and the darker versions of that to boot. The yaoi stuff I gravitated to when I read such, the yaoi I actually enjoyed, was the non-rape variety. I've since gone on to other things as I tired of the same seme/uki dynamics and flat storytelling, and the good stuff was too few and far between to make wading through the bad worth the time.
This had high ratings, and while knowing it was going to be a brutal story, I decided to try it out. However, as goodreads has taught me, ratings are not infallible. Here we have the story of a young man who is raped and tortured, then given as a slave to be raped and tortured. Then this man will be tortured some more, have a mental breakdown, be raped, more torture, another mental breakdown, and more rape. Rinse, repeat.
It's not the subject matter; it's how it's portrayed. I can take a brutal story but not when rape is dismissed because, 'the character actually enjoys it, so it's okay to rape him/her.' We're not talking role-play here or someone who is reluctantly consenting or even dub-con. There's a lot of grey area in sexual relations, and I've seen well-written books that examine those grey areas, but this hits all my 'no, fuck you, how fucking dare you try to romanticize rape' buttons.
So let me say now, ymmv. When I read yaoi, there were some rape-to-love stories I enjoyed though those were rare. If you enjoy that trope, no judgment, to each their own. What we enjoy in fiction or imagination isn't necessarily what we enjoy in real life. For me, the portrayal is the problem.
The great weakness of the novel even if you accept it as a guilty pleasure read is that Yhalen starts to feel like a rubber doll about halfway through. In the first fifty pages, he's torn apart--quite literally by giant troll dicks--left for dead, but through the magical power of author intervention, Yahlen is perfectly good to take another set of hits in the morning. So sets the stage of the eternal chew toy for every twisted imagining the author wants to pour on him.
There are no consequences. Yahlen has the magic reset button.
Even the damage he takes between resets is not even close to real. Having the breath knocked out of you isn't a simple or easy thing to shrug off, get up, and keep going. It's damn painful, and you ache for hours afterwards. That can be damned dangerous if your lung fails to reinflate. Being pulled up by your hair is a fantastic way to have your scalp ripped off. Dislocating an arm makes it super easy for that arm to dislocate again, especially when being dragged around by that arm.
After a while, all this torture doesn't mean anything. Not only will Yahlen deal with it eventually so the author can write more torture porn, what injuries he does get don't have any consequences. To compare to another popular character with mega-super healing abilities, Wolverene at least goes through the pain that's inflicted on him. He's tough, he'll heal, but he's still going to be in agony, and it's the same agony every single time. Yes, Yahlen does go through a lot of pain, but it's author's whim when that pain is consequential or not, and that breaks any consistency she has with her world building.
At the end, given that Yahlen seems back to his senses, other reviewers are disgusted when he gives in to Elvardo. Best example of blame the victim I've ever seen. >.> Anyway, that reader reaction only makes sense because nothing that happens to Yahlen really has long-term consequences for that character. Recovery, PTSD, colon fissures from multiple rips (do I really have to say how profoundly unsexy that is?) have zero impact on the character and therefore have zero meaning for the reader. It's like watching an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon.
There's no growth for this character, just reactions to things that happen to him. It's like kicking a dog until that dog cowers at any human. That's reaction and change, but that isn't the same as growth. The plot is basically Yahlen getting raped and tortured by those who are more powerful than him, then he's raped and tortured by another who is more powerful than him, and again until he just doesn't care as much that he's raped and tortured. There's a lot of missed potential here because Yahlen's character could go a lot of ways and have his own fascinating journey. Instead, he's just fodder for more rape/torture, and it's obvious Nunn has no idea how to finish this story.
Bloodraven (really? That's the name you're going for? Really. Sounds like the SNL skit of emos hangout in their basement.) does have character growth. There's an arc to his character, which would be great if I cared about him. A perfect line from Brooklyn-Nine-Nine to sum this up: "Cool motive. Still murder." Cool character arc. Still raped and tortured. Oh, but he began to fall in love and care for his human toy, you say? No. I don't care. Bloodraven never once regretted all that rape and torture he did let alone do anything to redeem himself.
Is there anything redeemable here? Actually, yes. Nunn, despite the disgust I have with the portrayal of subject matter and the massive amount of grammar errors (typical for self-publishing), has a good sense of pacing and knows how to keep a story moving without getting bogged down in exposition or flowery prose. It's not fantastic or evocative prose, but this story does manage to do what popular authors must: write an engaging story.
The writing meanders when Bloodraven (omg, how can anyone not start busting up each time his name is said?) is off scouting the wilderness. Description isn't Nunn's strong suit, and the plot starts to meander with no end goal in mind.
That one glimmer of decent writing can't make up for all the sins of this novel.
February 27, 2014
There’s a moment about a third of the way through Bloodraven, when Yhalen, the young forester who was taken prisoner by ogres and then brutalized by them, uses his powers to heal his erstwhile captor, who had also raped him, though not with the same cruelty.
There are many, many things that I admired about this book: it’s a great high fantasy epic, with superlative world-building, compelling characters, action, adventure. But the book goes much deeper, exploring themes that have a resonance far beyond sword-play and magic.
Like the best books, it avoids easy answers for the complex questions it asks. The Ogres are a fascinating species. They are genuinely frightening and horrible, but they are not simply monsters. They are an entire culture--a peculiarly violent and non-adaptive one. There is almost nothing about them that appeals to the reader. They are brutish, violent bullies, with no ability to value anyone weaker. They destroy with wanton violence, but have no gift to nurture or create. They truly see death as more beneficial than life.
It is only through understanding them that Bloodraven’s actions can be seen as forgivable and that he can achieve stature as a genuine hero, which I think he does. There was another passage that struck me.
This is Bloodraven’s analysis. He is the sole product of this culture who seems able to question its basic premise: the only value is in strength. He is the only ogre we meet who understands the contradiction that ogres can see the value in the cloth itself but show contempt for the world of tasks that go into actually creating it. He can do this because he makes the effort to understand another’s perspective, whether it’s the people willing to spend hours upon hours carving useless decorations in a chair or embroidering a piece of cloth just to create beauty, or the slaves who choose not to devote those hours of labor for masters who kill them on a whim and treat them with merciless brutality.
Ultimately, he becomes a stand-in for the nation-building emigrant: those visionary people who were forced to abandon the country of their birth because of its total failure to provide opportunities to grow and develop.
Yhalen too comes from a far more beautiful, but similarly non-adaptive culture, one that can survive only in the protected isolation of its forest. All it takes is coming in contact with a far more violent people to highlight the limits of his people’s most cherished beliefs.
The bond the two of them create is epic--literally: it leads to the creation of a new, mixed people, human and ogre, that will nurture the dreams of all, instead of taking pride only in the ability to kill those that are weaker.
It’s a great story.
Final note: at this writing, the book was not available through Amazon!? I got my copy through Smashwords at this link:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
“Why?" [Bloodraven] asked instead. "Why do such things when my death would have benefited you far more?"
Yhalen bent over his knees, resting forehead on his forearm, perhaps not willing to answer, or not able to, strange creature that he was.
"Is that the way your people think?" he asked finally, as he turned his head to peer up at Bloodraven through the thick fall of the hair around his face. "That death is more beneficial than life?”
There are many, many things that I admired about this book: it’s a great high fantasy epic, with superlative world-building, compelling characters, action, adventure. But the book goes much deeper, exploring themes that have a resonance far beyond sword-play and magic.
Like the best books, it avoids easy answers for the complex questions it asks. The Ogres are a fascinating species. They are genuinely frightening and horrible, but they are not simply monsters. They are an entire culture--a peculiarly violent and non-adaptive one. There is almost nothing about them that appeals to the reader. They are brutish, violent bullies, with no ability to value anyone weaker. They destroy with wanton violence, but have no gift to nurture or create. They truly see death as more beneficial than life.
It is only through understanding them that Bloodraven’s actions can be seen as forgivable and that he can achieve stature as a genuine hero, which I think he does. There was another passage that struck me.
[Bloodraven] fingered the cloth, marveling at the tightness of the weave. The things that the men of the lowlands were capable of never ceased to amaze him. Those few stolen items that trickled up to the northern tribes were bartered at high prices, for even the mountain humans who worked in fear of their lives for the tribes, did not create such clever things. But then again, perhaps they were capable, but chose not to share with the race that had hunted and oppressed them for generations. Understandable. If he were in the same position he’d have offered nothing more than the simplest tasks demanded of him. Not for the first time he considered the tribal chieftains of old fools for choosing to make war with the humans instead of ally with them.
This is Bloodraven’s analysis. He is the sole product of this culture who seems able to question its basic premise: the only value is in strength. He is the only ogre we meet who understands the contradiction that ogres can see the value in the cloth itself but show contempt for the world of tasks that go into actually creating it. He can do this because he makes the effort to understand another’s perspective, whether it’s the people willing to spend hours upon hours carving useless decorations in a chair or embroidering a piece of cloth just to create beauty, or the slaves who choose not to devote those hours of labor for masters who kill them on a whim and treat them with merciless brutality.
Ultimately, he becomes a stand-in for the nation-building emigrant: those visionary people who were forced to abandon the country of their birth because of its total failure to provide opportunities to grow and develop.
Yhalen too comes from a far more beautiful, but similarly non-adaptive culture, one that can survive only in the protected isolation of its forest. All it takes is coming in contact with a far more violent people to highlight the limits of his people’s most cherished beliefs.
The bond the two of them create is epic--literally: it leads to the creation of a new, mixed people, human and ogre, that will nurture the dreams of all, instead of taking pride only in the ability to kill those that are weaker.
It’s a great story.
Final note: at this writing, the book was not available through Amazon!? I got my copy through Smashwords at this link:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
September 17, 2012
I don’t think I’ve had such an engrossing fantasy read in an age. I’ve seen the book sereral times when I’ve been fossicking through PL Nunn's website for goodies, but just not picked it up. Obviously an oversight on my part!
The world building is what initially sucked me in. It was vivid and without an abundance of silly names for coffee and other such folderol, that often spoil good fantasy or sci fi. The story itself is very much a journey tale and the landscapes were rather epic. The history of the place is alluded to, without being overly complex and distracting.
I found the pacing to be particularly good. It was well executed, with a nice balance of action, erotica and character growth. I don’t think I was ever left with any moments of wishing their horses or boots would grow some wings. heh.
Yahlen was complex and certainly needs the whole book for the growth of his character to cycle and feel complete. But, at the end of the story I wondered if there was the possibility of more for him and even though there was an ending that tied it all up for now, his character felt like there was more there to explore, which would be cool. Bloodraven I just loved. His gruff, orgre nature at odds with his human side. Plus, he’s green and you know it’s just not that easy being green. heh. I totally warmed up to him and kinda liked his pet pooch too. The chemistry between Bloodraven and Yahlen was hot, deliciously so, but smex is not always a happy occasion. The roughness and power inequalities between the two is such, that it often left me feeling a little conflicted. This is not to say that I did not enjoy these scenes, just that they were not easy or light.
One part of the novel I did find a bit challenging was the violence. The author pulls no punches and I’d honestly say I’m not a sook, but some of the non con, rape and graphic descriptions had me ready to hide under the covers. eak! I am a brave button though *gulp* so I soldiered on and while it was not always my cup of tea, it was in keeping with the story and it worked.
I enjoyed this book hugely. I brought Bloodraven in ebook form but I’d now love to get the actual paperback and/or graphic novels. I think the big paperback has artwork in it, so that’s a heouge plus for this geek! PL Nunn’s website is totally worth a nosey too, so check out the book here via her site and also via Lulu and Amazon.
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/11/...
The world building is what initially sucked me in. It was vivid and without an abundance of silly names for coffee and other such folderol, that often spoil good fantasy or sci fi. The story itself is very much a journey tale and the landscapes were rather epic. The history of the place is alluded to, without being overly complex and distracting.
I found the pacing to be particularly good. It was well executed, with a nice balance of action, erotica and character growth. I don’t think I was ever left with any moments of wishing their horses or boots would grow some wings. heh.
Yahlen was complex and certainly needs the whole book for the growth of his character to cycle and feel complete. But, at the end of the story I wondered if there was the possibility of more for him and even though there was an ending that tied it all up for now, his character felt like there was more there to explore, which would be cool. Bloodraven I just loved. His gruff, orgre nature at odds with his human side. Plus, he’s green and you know it’s just not that easy being green. heh. I totally warmed up to him and kinda liked his pet pooch too. The chemistry between Bloodraven and Yahlen was hot, deliciously so, but smex is not always a happy occasion. The roughness and power inequalities between the two is such, that it often left me feeling a little conflicted. This is not to say that I did not enjoy these scenes, just that they were not easy or light.
One part of the novel I did find a bit challenging was the violence. The author pulls no punches and I’d honestly say I’m not a sook, but some of the non con, rape and graphic descriptions had me ready to hide under the covers. eak! I am a brave button though *gulp* so I soldiered on and while it was not always my cup of tea, it was in keeping with the story and it worked.
I enjoyed this book hugely. I brought Bloodraven in ebook form but I’d now love to get the actual paperback and/or graphic novels. I think the big paperback has artwork in it, so that’s a heouge plus for this geek! PL Nunn’s website is totally worth a nosey too, so check out the book here via her site and also via Lulu and Amazon.
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/11/...
June 12, 2012
In depth and compelling worldbuilding here. I hit a speed bump reading this, I guess I lost confidence in the author being able to bring the story around to a reasonable conclusion, but eventually I carried on and yes, it ended well. I really enjoyed the questioning of "good" and "bad" as well as the exploration of power hierarchies. There is brutality and this is not for the faint of heart, but there is a pleasing resolution.
dnf
September 4, 2016DNF~45%
I though I could do it. I was challenging myself, but I failed .
I though this could be another Captive Prince, but the inter-species "romance" is just too painful for me to read. The rapes are violent and I can't see how these 2 characters can be together after everything. The book is too long and not interesting anymore (halfway through).
I though I could do it. I was challenging myself, but I failed .
I though this could be another Captive Prince, but the inter-species "romance" is just too painful for me to read. The rapes are violent and I can't see how these 2 characters can be together after everything. The book is too long and not interesting anymore (halfway through).
June 11, 2018
For such a long book as Bloodraven was I don’t have much to say, because everything that needs to be said has already been written in other reviews.
As of this moment Bloodraven is my second favorite MM fantasy, after Captive Prince and before Cethe. Funny enough all these three have the master - slave trope and all the violence that comes with it, so I guess I have a type. Sorry, not sorry :D.
Don’t go into this book blindly without knowing what to expect because you’re going to get a kick in the guts, several times. Many warn about the beginning, I’ll warn you about what lurks near the end. Which is this:
Masterfully written. Epicly dark. Long.
Absolutely. Fucking. Hot.
All hail Bloodraven & Yhalen and the interracial relationship between a half-ogre warrior and a human wielder of powerful forest magic--- something I never knew I ever, ever wanted to read about.
But I guess...
And all hail Elvardo, the Dark Lord, whom I believe is secretly a softie at heart.
I loved it. I’ll want to re-read it. PL Nunn is now an autobuy for me.
I want more of the ogre world.
4.5
(nicking 0.5 off because this book is mainly one big travel log, moving from point A to B to C to D to E to F and back to E again)
July 13, 2011
More like 4.5 stars. This book was brutal, pulling no punches in war, slavery, sex(*spoiler alert* some violent rape scenes between ogres and humans)and eventually an atypical love. This story has amazing world building between humans, dark magic, earth magic, ogres, half-orgres and other assorted beings. It kept me guessing at every turn. I had no idea where Nunn was going and who or what was going to be the victor if any. I could have kept reading and reading about this world and was sad when it ended.
June 16, 2017
3.5 Stars
Warning - this is a very graphic and brutally violent book especially in the beginning and in the end. It entails non-con, dub-con, and extreme torture. However if you like fantasy with different races, magic, and adventure, then this is the book for you.
Yhalen is a sympathetic character who is forced into many horrific things. He's still strong and spirited, trying to remain true to himself despite his growing feelings for Bloodraven and his burgeoning magical powers that can easily turn him to the dark side.
Bloodraven, the half human/half ogre is also trying to overcome his genetic urges to carve out a life where his kind (fellow half breeds) can be free of the oppression of his full blooded ogre kin. He realizes that desired change in others needs to start with himself.
This book slowly unfolds the tenuous relationship of these two MCs and it is fraught with tension, fear, lust, and want - with dashes of tenderness and comfort thrown in. Again this is not for the faint of heart but this is definitely a book one will not easily forget.
Warning - this is a very graphic and brutally violent book especially in the beginning and in the end. It entails non-con, dub-con, and extreme torture. However if you like fantasy with different races, magic, and adventure, then this is the book for you.
Yhalen is a sympathetic character who is forced into many horrific things. He's still strong and spirited, trying to remain true to himself despite his growing feelings for Bloodraven and his burgeoning magical powers that can easily turn him to the dark side.
Bloodraven, the half human/half ogre is also trying to overcome his genetic urges to carve out a life where his kind (fellow half breeds) can be free of the oppression of his full blooded ogre kin. He realizes that desired change in others needs to start with himself.
This book slowly unfolds the tenuous relationship of these two MCs and it is fraught with tension, fear, lust, and want - with dashes of tenderness and comfort thrown in. Again this is not for the faint of heart but this is definitely a book one will not easily forget.
October 19, 2015
I read this a while ago and hadn't realised that I didn't put a review of it up on here. I got f&cked off once on here and deleted my account in a fit of rage *rolling eyes* I am argumentative and a drama Queen. But I regretted it straight after, so here I go a second time.
This is seriously f%cked up, but I loooooved it. Once I got past the rather brutual scene near the beginning with the non-con, I really got into this book. People may fall flat at the non-con scene, I almost did, but the rest of the story is really good and sucked me in, the fantasy world really mapped out well, and the characters captured my attention fully.
Since this review is all from memory, I'll stop now. Damn, I should have saved that 1st review because this one's terrible :)
This is seriously f%cked up, but I loooooved it. Once I got past the rather brutual scene near the beginning with the non-con, I really got into this book. People may fall flat at the non-con scene, I almost did, but the rest of the story is really good and sucked me in, the fantasy world really mapped out well, and the characters captured my attention fully.
Since this review is all from memory, I'll stop now. Damn, I should have saved that 1st review because this one's terrible :)
April 29, 2010
4.5 stars
The only reason this book doesn't get 5+ stars is because it really needs proof reading. Otherwise, this is ALL THAT AND A SUPER SIZE BAG OF CHIPS! :)
The only reason this book doesn't get 5+ stars is because it really needs proof reading. Otherwise, this is ALL THAT AND A SUPER SIZE BAG OF CHIPS! :)
May 2, 2010
What I enjoyed most about this book was how I never quite knew what was going to happen next and how clearly anything could happen. Early on it was made clear that there were few lines the author wouldn't cross and very, very bad things could happen to the main characters. There's a freshness to this book I enjoyed very much. And the hot sex wasn't a problem at all, either.
My only reservation is that while the first half of the book really gripped me, the pacing fell off in the latter half for a while. Nothing serious, but I felt it could have been more tightly written at times. However, fans of non-con/slave fic and fantasy (and green pointy ears) will be very, very happy with this book. Its greatest strength to me is that it explores what it means for a character to be strong in ways we usually don't get to see.
My only reservation is that while the first half of the book really gripped me, the pacing fell off in the latter half for a while. Nothing serious, but I felt it could have been more tightly written at times. However, fans of non-con/slave fic and fantasy (and green pointy ears) will be very, very happy with this book. Its greatest strength to me is that it explores what it means for a character to be strong in ways we usually don't get to see.
September 4, 2020
Sooooo someone should have warned me that this isn't really a romance.
It's a DARK FANTASY with graphic violence and rape. I'm beginning to understand that violence and rape are requisite ingredients in fantasy but not necessarily romance.
AND, it ends kind of abruptly, with a HFN. In my eagerness to get keep reading, (silly me, I thought #1 meant there were other books in the series like #2 and #3. There are books with these titles, but #2 is about diff MCs 10 YEARS earlier. And #3 is a very short graphic novel that ends abruptly with a "to be continued."... I am very bummed)
Anyway, the gist of it is the journey and trials of the 2 MCs, whose paths are inextricably wound together.
Bloodraven is a half-ogre who wants to find a safe home for his people - the other oppressed halflings. And he's willing to betray the ogres and side with humans if he has to.
Yhalen is a naive, sheltered woodland elf-like person (not human) who doesn't know the powers he has and discovers them in the most horrific ways--LOTS OF TORTURE AND ABUSE OF YHALEN. See my status updates below. Including excruciating death by ogre cock. The full-sized ones. Which apparently have the girth of a man's arm.
Hmmm.... I guess it would be somewhat endurable if the man was tiny??
Anywho... that's not even the worst of Yhalen's tortures. His second almost-death toward the end was even more horrific. So brace yourselves.
Yhalen is "gifted" to Bloodraven as a human slave, which the half ogre has no qualms in using, though even in the beginning it was never abusing. Yes, it was rape, but it was what he'd always grown up with --human slaves are objects and the fact that he took care of his object was better than Yhalen could have hoped for. And thankfully, he has a relatively smaller dick, only the size of a child or woman's arm, so at least there's that...
There's lots of journeying and escaping and friendships made and lost and intrigue and finally Elvardo, the sorcerer who was Yhalen's grandfather's lover (who still looks young cuz he can suck life out of anything), who is both a bane and a help in their lives and who teaches Yhalen what he needs to know (after taking advantage of his prone naked body many times while Bloodraven was away gathering the halflings) - this is the "cheating" part I labeled. Granted, Yhalen was weak and couldn't risk angering Elvardo fighting him off, but... he could have. He chose not to. Apparently, whatever he feels for Bloodraven doesn't keep him from enjoying, even, some half-consensual sex with an old dude.
Finally, the 2 are together again. No words of love are even exchanged, but there's feeling and devotion...
But in Book 3, the graphic novel that follows this book, Bloodraven exchanges favors with Elvardo to go after Yhalen when he's in trouble. I am guessing there were sexual favors, and I'm also guessing Elvardo made Bloodraven into a man. So I guess more cheating (for a good cause) ensues.
But the bond between Yhalen and Bloodraven seems to grow stronger and more natural as time goes on.
Sooooo how to review a novel that doesn't quite end? On the one hand I am very curious what happens next and would pay another $$$$ for it if it were available. On the other hand, bc this is not a romance, I wonder if the end of that book would not have been a real end either. There was need of editing, but the writing is good. The plot engaging and the descriptions (while graphic and grotesque at times) were vivid.
That's why I give this 4 stars. But I won't be reading it again.
And I'll be reminded of many disturbing images this book leaves behind...
It's a DARK FANTASY with graphic violence and rape. I'm beginning to understand that violence and rape are requisite ingredients in fantasy but not necessarily romance.
AND, it ends kind of abruptly, with a HFN. In my eagerness to get keep reading, (silly me, I thought #1 meant there were other books in the series like #2 and #3. There are books with these titles, but #2 is about diff MCs 10 YEARS earlier. And #3 is a very short graphic novel that ends abruptly with a "to be continued."... I am very bummed)
Anyway, the gist of it is the journey and trials of the 2 MCs, whose paths are inextricably wound together.
Bloodraven is a half-ogre who wants to find a safe home for his people - the other oppressed halflings. And he's willing to betray the ogres and side with humans if he has to.
Yhalen is a naive, sheltered woodland elf-like person (not human) who doesn't know the powers he has and discovers them in the most horrific ways--LOTS OF TORTURE AND ABUSE OF YHALEN. See my status updates below. Including excruciating death by ogre cock. The full-sized ones. Which apparently have the girth of a man's arm.
Hmmm.... I guess it would be somewhat endurable if the man was tiny??
Anywho... that's not even the worst of Yhalen's tortures. His second almost-death toward the end was even more horrific. So brace yourselves.
Yhalen is "gifted" to Bloodraven as a human slave, which the half ogre has no qualms in using, though even in the beginning it was never abusing. Yes, it was rape, but it was what he'd always grown up with --human slaves are objects and the fact that he took care of his object was better than Yhalen could have hoped for. And thankfully, he has a relatively smaller dick, only the size of a child or woman's arm, so at least there's that...
There's lots of journeying and escaping and friendships made and lost and intrigue and finally Elvardo, the sorcerer who was Yhalen's grandfather's lover (who still looks young cuz he can suck life out of anything), who is both a bane and a help in their lives and who teaches Yhalen what he needs to know (after taking advantage of his prone naked body many times while Bloodraven was away gathering the halflings) - this is the "cheating" part I labeled. Granted, Yhalen was weak and couldn't risk angering Elvardo fighting him off, but... he could have. He chose not to. Apparently, whatever he feels for Bloodraven doesn't keep him from enjoying, even, some half-consensual sex with an old dude.
Finally, the 2 are together again. No words of love are even exchanged, but there's feeling and devotion...
But in Book 3, the graphic novel that follows this book, Bloodraven exchanges favors with Elvardo to go after Yhalen when he's in trouble. I am guessing there were sexual favors, and I'm also guessing Elvardo made Bloodraven into a man. So I guess more cheating (for a good cause) ensues.
But the bond between Yhalen and Bloodraven seems to grow stronger and more natural as time goes on.
Sooooo how to review a novel that doesn't quite end? On the one hand I am very curious what happens next and would pay another $$$$ for it if it were available. On the other hand, bc this is not a romance, I wonder if the end of that book would not have been a real end either. There was need of editing, but the writing is good. The plot engaging and the descriptions (while graphic and grotesque at times) were vivid.
That's why I give this 4 stars. But I won't be reading it again.
And I'll be reminded of many disturbing images this book leaves behind...
April 12, 2018
4.3 Stars
Way better than I expected it to be given the heavy front-loaded dose of extreme non-con. (DO HEED ALL WARNINGS IF YOU CHOOSE TO READ!)
The world-building/fantasy aspects were really well done and by the end I was totally invested in at least a HFN outcome. The settings were extremely detailed, but not to the point of annoyance as some authors elicit. The societies these beings hailed from were also well fleshed-out...and I loved how both Bloodraven and Yhalen had to face & accept that they weren't like others they called family. That characterization was insightful. These aspects are hard to come by unless it's high-fantasy and so rarely done with such skill. #Points for that.
I think I remember my friend Shin saying that the author mentioned more to come? That I am completely down with because I saw the graphic novel tie-ins and would love to read a full story of Yhalen returning home - even if only to be banished for his unapproved use of magics so that he is settled in his new home instead - as well as to know how the King would use this small army of halflings. (Provided Elvardo doesn't just evict the King's human retainers, because part of me wishes he'd toy with them and then kick them all out.) Plus, there are more clans for Bloodraven to visit, more ogr'ron to rescue and a community to build up. That won't be an easy task, given the ogre-nature they all need to overcome somewhat to exist in harmony. And there's so much more magic for Yhalen to explore (even if it's under Elvardo's tutelege; I'm a little skeeved out about some of his actions while Yhalen was healing). Also, what happened to the conniving Lady? I hope Elvardo put a smackdown on that bitch, fo' sho'.
(One note: besides the heavy non-con and violence in the first part of the book, there's a chapter near the end that is horrifically violent. I've never read something so graphically torturous. Honestly, what was done to Yhalen then was more disturbing IMHO than what the ogre's did at the beginning...because those ogres were doing what they always do (as bad as that is), behaving as they do; what the shaman and clan leader do to Yhalen? That was more a concerted effort to injure, to maim, to kill. So, yeah, what happened afterwards - even to those who weren't enjoying the spectacle or participating? Nope. Doesn't bother me one bit. Nor did Yhalen calling down a troll to wreak havoc on that nomad ogre tribe. No sympathy from me. Not even sorry.)
Way better than I expected it to be given the heavy front-loaded dose of extreme non-con. (DO HEED ALL WARNINGS IF YOU CHOOSE TO READ!)
The world-building/fantasy aspects were really well done and by the end I was totally invested in at least a HFN outcome. The settings were extremely detailed, but not to the point of annoyance as some authors elicit. The societies these beings hailed from were also well fleshed-out...and I loved how both Bloodraven and Yhalen had to face & accept that they weren't like others they called family. That characterization was insightful. These aspects are hard to come by unless it's high-fantasy and so rarely done with such skill. #Points for that.
I think I remember my friend Shin saying that the author mentioned more to come? That I am completely down with because I saw the graphic novel tie-ins and would love to read a full story of Yhalen returning home - even if only to be banished for his unapproved use of magics so that he is settled in his new home instead - as well as to know how the King would use this small army of halflings. (Provided Elvardo doesn't just evict the King's human retainers, because part of me wishes he'd toy with them and then kick them all out.) Plus, there are more clans for Bloodraven to visit, more ogr'ron to rescue and a community to build up. That won't be an easy task, given the ogre-nature they all need to overcome somewhat to exist in harmony. And there's so much more magic for Yhalen to explore (even if it's under Elvardo's tutelege; I'm a little skeeved out about some of his actions while Yhalen was healing). Also, what happened to the conniving Lady? I hope Elvardo put a smackdown on that bitch, fo' sho'.
(One note: besides the heavy non-con and violence in the first part of the book, there's a chapter near the end that is horrifically violent. I've never read something so graphically torturous. Honestly, what was done to Yhalen then was more disturbing IMHO than what the ogre's did at the beginning...because those ogres were doing what they always do (as bad as that is), behaving as they do; what the shaman and clan leader do to Yhalen? That was more a concerted effort to injure, to maim, to kill. So, yeah, what happened afterwards - even to those who weren't enjoying the spectacle or participating? Nope. Doesn't bother me one bit. Nor did Yhalen calling down a troll to wreak havoc on that nomad ogre tribe. No sympathy from me. Not even sorry.)
November 8, 2017
I'm blown away...why did I wait so long to read this?
If you are a fan of Yaoi, this is a MUST read.
Epic fantasy with great world building and some really gruesome scenes. Not for the faint of heart, major non-con here but it's done really well.
I'm in love with Bloodraven the half-orgre, half human and sweet Yhalen.
If you are a fan of Yaoi, this is a MUST read.
Epic fantasy with great world building and some really gruesome scenes. Not for the faint of heart, major non-con here but it's done really well.
I'm in love with Bloodraven the half-orgre, half human and sweet Yhalen.
February 16, 2022
What I thought would be simple dark erotica ended up being an epic adventure with political intrigue, thoughts on the morality of power dynamics, and a fascinating magical system.
The beginning of this book is disturbing. It could very well lead you to believe the story to be no more than torture porn, but if you can get past that then you’ll be rewarded with interesting characters and an involved plot. There’s magic, kings, humans, ogres, half ogres, revenge, murder, intrigue, adventure, moral dilemmas, dubious relationships, torture, and a strange doglike creature that grows on you.
It’s hard to like this book and justify that like in the beginning, but it ended up being a lot less dark and bloody than I thought it would be based on the first few chapters. It’s noncon all the way and I still feel uncomfortable about the relationship between the two MCs. There’s real development there, but it’s also hard to come to terms with whether it’s maintained by trauma and a sense of being completely alone otherwise that fuels it. There was a very necessary scene at the end that went a long way towards giving Yhalen a sense of power back (besides literal power), but I definitely want more before I’ll believe this is love.
TW: torture, murder, slavery, rape
The beginning of this book is disturbing. It could very well lead you to believe the story to be no more than torture porn, but if you can get past that then you’ll be rewarded with interesting characters and an involved plot. There’s magic, kings, humans, ogres, half ogres, revenge, murder, intrigue, adventure, moral dilemmas, dubious relationships, torture, and a strange doglike creature that grows on you.
It’s hard to like this book and justify that like in the beginning, but it ended up being a lot less dark and bloody than I thought it would be based on the first few chapters. It’s noncon all the way and I still feel uncomfortable about the relationship between the two MCs. There’s real development there, but it’s also hard to come to terms with whether it’s maintained by trauma and a sense of being completely alone otherwise that fuels it. There was a very necessary scene at the end that went a long way towards giving Yhalen a sense of power back (besides literal power), but I definitely want more before I’ll believe this is love.
TW: torture, murder, slavery, rape
April 16, 2017
Bloodraven (BR) reminds me of Freece’s Captive Prince (calm down you CP lovers!) to the extent that in addition to the great world building and character development, there is sweeping adventure and political intrigue. The dynamic between Yhalen, and Bloodraven, half human/half ogre, is a complex slave/master, slow build/slow burn interaction. Like Freece’s Laurent, BR is an enigma -- it’s a long while before we get to know what’s going on with him, just what he is about. We learn that he is highly intelligent, shrewd, a strategist; and therefore, worlds apart from the full-blood ogres in his tribe. Because of his mixed race, he is also an outsider, holding a position of relative power by sheer force of will and cunning. He also has one major weakness which changes the course of his life -- Yhalen, creature of the forest, captured and enslaved, who carries his own secrets. Over the course of the book, these two endure great hardships and abuses, yet they remain spellbound by each other. They come to respect each other’s strengths and abilities without losing who they are. In this respect, Bloodraven is a moving, romantic adventure.
But be forewarned -- this is PL Nunn after all, and there are the requisite disturbing, dark and gruesome scenes. While not quite as demented as Neko, this is not a tale for the faint-hearted.
I really want to love Bloodraven. The concept is brilliant (giving us another take on racial strife), and the world building is rich and colorful with well-drawn secondary characters. But what keeps me from giving this a five-star rating is that it is in great need of editing especially for story flow. It can be slow reading, the plot tends to lag in parts, and transitions are sometimes a bit clumsy. Also, some questions remain unanswered: it’s not clear how BR came to learn the human language since it’s stated that he never knew his human slave father. BR also seems perfectly comfortable comporting himself amongst humans. We never learn how this is possible. With careful editing Bloodraven could be a stellar winner but even with its shortcomings, it will have a place on my favorites shelf.
This is a story I won’t soon forget. Bloodraven and Yhalen make a compelling and unusual couple. They are strong-willed and rough-edged and grow to care deeply for each other (the sex scenes are amongst some of the steamiest I’ve yet read and don’t seem gratuitous, usually adding to the plot-line). Because of their inherent differences, Yhalen’s and BR’s relationship is not easy and there is no facile HEA in the end, more of an HFN. While I’m not one to always need things wrapped with a neat bow even in romance-land, I do hope there will be a sequel as there is much more story to be told here.
But be forewarned -- this is PL Nunn after all, and there are the requisite disturbing, dark and gruesome scenes. While not quite as demented as Neko, this is not a tale for the faint-hearted.
I really want to love Bloodraven. The concept is brilliant (giving us another take on racial strife), and the world building is rich and colorful with well-drawn secondary characters. But what keeps me from giving this a five-star rating is that it is in great need of editing especially for story flow. It can be slow reading, the plot tends to lag in parts, and transitions are sometimes a bit clumsy. Also, some questions remain unanswered: it’s not clear how BR came to learn the human language since it’s stated that he never knew his human slave father. BR also seems perfectly comfortable comporting himself amongst humans. We never learn how this is possible. With careful editing Bloodraven could be a stellar winner but even with its shortcomings, it will have a place on my favorites shelf.
This is a story I won’t soon forget. Bloodraven and Yhalen make a compelling and unusual couple. They are strong-willed and rough-edged and grow to care deeply for each other (the sex scenes are amongst some of the steamiest I’ve yet read and don’t seem gratuitous, usually adding to the plot-line). Because of their inherent differences, Yhalen’s and BR’s relationship is not easy and there is no facile HEA in the end, more of an HFN. While I’m not one to always need things wrapped with a neat bow even in romance-land, I do hope there will be a sequel as there is much more story to be told here.
January 25, 2011
Yhalen is of the Ydregi, a Fey-like people who dwell in the forest and live in the ways of the Goddess, in harmony with nature and subtle magic. His privileged and sheltered life turns into a nightmare when he's captured by a group of ogres who only have malice in mind. When he miraculously survives this horrible ordeal, Yhalen finds that the nightmare is far from over: he is to be the slave of Bloodraven: a half ogre, half human war leader.
I was warned before reading this book. Goodread friends, reviews, the ever recurring 'not for the faint of heart'.... they all told me to beware of brutality, rape and torture. So safe to say: I was expecting some really dark D/s story, with lots of gore and non-con from beginning to end.
Boy was I mistaken!
Now don't get me wrong. The beginning of the story is very gruesome indeed. There is a horrible scene that turns your stomach. And (as incredible as it sounds) that bit is a walk in the park compared to a scene near the ending of the book which had me cringing and put down the book for a little while.
BUT: in between those horrors, the story read like a ... regular fantasy novel. Albeit: with a m/m relationship.
The story was well written, with good pacing and great characterization. I liked how Nunn stayed true to her characters throughout the story. They didn't become overly sympathetic, emotional or sappy. They kept their insecurities, broodiness and weaknesses. But that didn't prevent me from loving Yhalen and Bloodraven. Mainly because Bloodraven, despite his aloofness and dominance, was tender and caring. And because Yhalen, despite his innocence and naivety, showed spirit and strength.
Unfortunately, there were some shortcomings.
I was bugged by the dichotomy in the world building concerning ogres. It was too black and white and that made that it didn't add up in some parts. (Because where does Icehand fit in with the descriptions of ogres being savages incapable of deep emotions and only ruled by their primal needs? And are we to believe that Bloodraven got his sense of compassion for his people only from his human side?)
Also: the lack of proofreading and/or editing was evident. There were numerous grammar mistakes, wrong use of punctuation marks and the recurring mixing of the words 'that' and 'than'. Which is truly a waste in a book that is so well written.
All in all, Bloodraven was a very enjoyable fantasy that left me wanting more. And, despite all the cringe-worthy parts, it was a sweet story, really.
4 stars
I was warned before reading this book. Goodread friends, reviews, the ever recurring 'not for the faint of heart'.... they all told me to beware of brutality, rape and torture. So safe to say: I was expecting some really dark D/s story, with lots of gore and non-con from beginning to end.
Boy was I mistaken!
Now don't get me wrong. The beginning of the story is very gruesome indeed. There is a horrible scene that turns your stomach. And (as incredible as it sounds) that bit is a walk in the park compared to a scene near the ending of the book which had me cringing and put down the book for a little while.
BUT: in between those horrors, the story read like a ... regular fantasy novel. Albeit: with a m/m relationship.
The story was well written, with good pacing and great characterization. I liked how Nunn stayed true to her characters throughout the story. They didn't become overly sympathetic, emotional or sappy. They kept their insecurities, broodiness and weaknesses. But that didn't prevent me from loving Yhalen and Bloodraven. Mainly because Bloodraven, despite his aloofness and dominance, was tender and caring. And because Yhalen, despite his innocence and naivety, showed spirit and strength.
Unfortunately, there were some shortcomings.
I was bugged by the dichotomy in the world building concerning ogres. It was too black and white and that made that it didn't add up in some parts. (Because where does Icehand fit in with the descriptions of ogres being savages incapable of deep emotions and only ruled by their primal needs? And are we to believe that Bloodraven got his sense of compassion for his people only from his human side?)
Also: the lack of proofreading and/or editing was evident. There were numerous grammar mistakes, wrong use of punctuation marks and the recurring mixing of the words 'that' and 'than'. Which is truly a waste in a book that is so well written.
All in all, Bloodraven was a very enjoyable fantasy that left me wanting more. And, despite all the cringe-worthy parts, it was a sweet story, really.
4 stars
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