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Blood of Blood #1
Dark Legion
The Empire made him a slave. They should have killed him when they had the chance. Saul - a former prince - and his allies plot to steal the crown of Ubrain from the Emperor's vault. In the crown he sees the means to unify his enslaved people and bring them to freedom. But their road is not a straight one, and they soon find themselves caught in the middle of an unseen war as older powers work to twist the world to their own design. Saul has never been one to set easy tasks for himself, but he is determined to break the Empire's grip on his people, no matter how much blood must be spilled along the way. It was a mistake to let him live. One they'll pay for with blood.
- GenresFantasy
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2014
6 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Paul Kleynhans
2 books15 followersPaul Kleynhans was born in South Africa, but now lives in New Zealand with the hobbits (his children). When he's not writing, he is a husband, engineer, brewer, gamer, and cat herder.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 27, 2015
*I received a free ecopy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Let me begin by saying that three stars is NOT a bad rating. I really enjoyed this book.
Saul, our main character and first person narrator, is a Prince/surgeon who was made a slave over a decade ago when his kingdom was conquered and his parents killed. In that time Saul has been turned into a torturer/assassin for Emperor Solas (the man who killed his family). But he's been plotting and planning his revenge the entire time. Now he's free and on a mission to restore his kingdom.
There were several things I really liked about this novel and the characters were one of them. Saul, Marcus, and Neysa are the main characters, but there are other memorable ones as well. These three are complex, conflicted, and overall interesting. They also make a great team because they each bring something different to the group.
The magic in this novel was quite fascinating as well. There are several different ways that magic is used within this novel. They are related, but distinct. True Names play a role (which I love because I've always found the concept of true names fascinating), and can be used to control people and elements when spoken correctly by the correct people. There is also more a general use of magic that relates more to witchcraft. It all blends together very well and I found the magic, while not drastically different than that presented in many other fantasy novels, had its own variations that gave it its own feel.
The main reason this novel is only getting a three star rating from me is the flow of the writing. While I think the novel is well written, there was too much detail in many parts. Particularly toward the beginning of the novel it felt like every mundane detail of Saul's life was getting attention when some of that could have easily been condensed. There was also some rushing and abrupt transitions that threw me off at times. Again, most of this was toward the beginning of the novel. The last half of the novel didn't have many of these problems.
There was some slight romance in the novel, but it wasn't overly done which was nice. Saul was a good narrator because he was so conflicted over the things he had done and was doing and had to come to terms with his actions. There is still plenty of development for him, but his progression was very well done.
Overall I thought this was a really fun and interesting story. I am already looking forward to book two which will come out later this year. There are definitely some questions I would like to have answered in that installment of the story. A nice beginning to this new fantasy series.
Let me begin by saying that three stars is NOT a bad rating. I really enjoyed this book.
Saul, our main character and first person narrator, is a Prince/surgeon who was made a slave over a decade ago when his kingdom was conquered and his parents killed. In that time Saul has been turned into a torturer/assassin for Emperor Solas (the man who killed his family). But he's been plotting and planning his revenge the entire time. Now he's free and on a mission to restore his kingdom.
There were several things I really liked about this novel and the characters were one of them. Saul, Marcus, and Neysa are the main characters, but there are other memorable ones as well. These three are complex, conflicted, and overall interesting. They also make a great team because they each bring something different to the group.
The magic in this novel was quite fascinating as well. There are several different ways that magic is used within this novel. They are related, but distinct. True Names play a role (which I love because I've always found the concept of true names fascinating), and can be used to control people and elements when spoken correctly by the correct people. There is also more a general use of magic that relates more to witchcraft. It all blends together very well and I found the magic, while not drastically different than that presented in many other fantasy novels, had its own variations that gave it its own feel.
The main reason this novel is only getting a three star rating from me is the flow of the writing. While I think the novel is well written, there was too much detail in many parts. Particularly toward the beginning of the novel it felt like every mundane detail of Saul's life was getting attention when some of that could have easily been condensed. There was also some rushing and abrupt transitions that threw me off at times. Again, most of this was toward the beginning of the novel. The last half of the novel didn't have many of these problems.
There was some slight romance in the novel, but it wasn't overly done which was nice. Saul was a good narrator because he was so conflicted over the things he had done and was doing and had to come to terms with his actions. There is still plenty of development for him, but his progression was very well done.
Overall I thought this was a really fun and interesting story. I am already looking forward to book two which will come out later this year. There are definitely some questions I would like to have answered in that installment of the story. A nice beginning to this new fantasy series.
April 3, 2016
Review on my blog, The Fictional Reader
I want to start by stating that I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I don’t really know why. When I first started reading, I was surprised to see this book is written in first person. I just had a look around my shelves and noticed that while the YA fantasy books are sometimes/often written in first person, the adult fantasy book are almost all written in third person? That’s really interesting to me, maybe I’ll write a post on that soon. Anyway, this is an adult fantasy I’d say, written in first person.
WORLD
First of all, I want to say that I very much liked the different kingdoms (well, previous kingdoms) and their different climate. For example, the main character Saul comes from Ubrain. From the novel, you can gather that the people are darker-skinned there, there is a lot of sun and a desert-like climate. He frequently mentioned the warmth, the fact that his people are always looking for water sources and so on. So that’s really interesting!
However, I have to admit that this aspect of the novel was lacking a bit, in my opinion. I would’ve really enjoyed a map, for example. And more description of the different places, where they are, their climate and people and so on. But especially a map. Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention, but I can’t really picture how the major cities are placed: Morwynne, Castralava, Sagemont… I don’t know how they relate to each other.
PLOT
This was my favorite aspect I think. I didn’t expect to be so intrigued by the story. So the main line throughout the story is that Saul is looking to free his people, the citizens of Ubrain, from the emperor. His people were enslaved when the empire conquered Ubrain, and he wants to right that wrong. To do so, he must first find two artifacts that the royal house of Ubrain has to wear/use to be considered as the rightful king.
So this story is certainly captivating. I wanted to keep reading, even though I was supposed to be studying. I was intrigued, and wanted to find out how Saul would end up. Would he achieve what he set out to do? If so, how? Those are the kind of questions that kept going through my head. When I put it down, I found myself thinking: “where will this story go from here?”.
I found the story to be interesting, because Saul didn’t really go about freeing his people in the way you think he would? He has very unique methods to get where he wants. I mean: ale? Never would’ve thought of that. I highly enjoyed that part.
I do have to admit that at times, I found certain things to be a bit too convenient? Mostly, everything that has to do with Malakai, the character. I don’t know what purpose he serves really, other than helping the characters get where they need to be… Maybe that’ll be clearer in the second book?
By the way, I loved that some words in this book were (I believe) South-African! The author is from South-Africa, and he mentions an ale called “oud bruin”, which means “old brown” in Dutch (and I assume South-African). And there was Oos (which is very close to Oost, the Dutch word for East). I find it interesting he incorporated his language in these little ways!
Lastly, I found it a bit hard to deduce how much time had passed at certain points? For example, it takes him a year to achieve a certain part of the plan, but when I was reading it felt more like days? I barely realized a year had passed already…
CHARACTERS
So, let’s take a look at Saul. He’s very much a grey character. And no, I don’t mean that he’s dull. During the entire book, it’s hard to figure out whether he’s actually a good person or not. It seems to be a “the end justifies the means” situation. It’s very interesting, and it leads to me not knowing how I feel about him. I’m sympathetic towards him, because of everything he went through. But then he made decisions, which he KNEW were horrible. But he went through with them anyway. It’s a very interesting situation really.
I do have one question. I don’t understand WHY the emperor Solas would choose to train Saul, who he turned into a slave, as a torturer and assassin. In my opinion, he is the LAST PERSON I would train that way. Because of his heritage. I just don’t get it?
Then there are other characters such as Marcus. I can’t really say much, but I feel like I didn’t get a chance to truly know the person. A certain situation prevented me from seeing what was really him, and what wasn’t. I can’t really explain more, because I feel like it’s a spoiler? But just read this! And Neysa, who I liked but feel like I don’t really know.
I highly enjoyed this book. Like I said, the plot really captivated me. I liked the fact that the main character was neither a hero nor a villain. I would recommend this book if you like fantasy, because it’s a fun read. I do have some questions about the timeline of the story, and the world building. I do think I’ll read the second book, to find out how the story ends.
I want to start by stating that I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I don’t really know why. When I first started reading, I was surprised to see this book is written in first person. I just had a look around my shelves and noticed that while the YA fantasy books are sometimes/often written in first person, the adult fantasy book are almost all written in third person? That’s really interesting to me, maybe I’ll write a post on that soon. Anyway, this is an adult fantasy I’d say, written in first person.
WORLD
First of all, I want to say that I very much liked the different kingdoms (well, previous kingdoms) and their different climate. For example, the main character Saul comes from Ubrain. From the novel, you can gather that the people are darker-skinned there, there is a lot of sun and a desert-like climate. He frequently mentioned the warmth, the fact that his people are always looking for water sources and so on. So that’s really interesting!
However, I have to admit that this aspect of the novel was lacking a bit, in my opinion. I would’ve really enjoyed a map, for example. And more description of the different places, where they are, their climate and people and so on. But especially a map. Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention, but I can’t really picture how the major cities are placed: Morwynne, Castralava, Sagemont… I don’t know how they relate to each other.
PLOT
This was my favorite aspect I think. I didn’t expect to be so intrigued by the story. So the main line throughout the story is that Saul is looking to free his people, the citizens of Ubrain, from the emperor. His people were enslaved when the empire conquered Ubrain, and he wants to right that wrong. To do so, he must first find two artifacts that the royal house of Ubrain has to wear/use to be considered as the rightful king.
So this story is certainly captivating. I wanted to keep reading, even though I was supposed to be studying. I was intrigued, and wanted to find out how Saul would end up. Would he achieve what he set out to do? If so, how? Those are the kind of questions that kept going through my head. When I put it down, I found myself thinking: “where will this story go from here?”.
I found the story to be interesting, because Saul didn’t really go about freeing his people in the way you think he would? He has very unique methods to get where he wants. I mean: ale? Never would’ve thought of that. I highly enjoyed that part.
I do have to admit that at times, I found certain things to be a bit too convenient? Mostly, everything that has to do with Malakai, the character. I don’t know what purpose he serves really, other than helping the characters get where they need to be… Maybe that’ll be clearer in the second book?
By the way, I loved that some words in this book were (I believe) South-African! The author is from South-Africa, and he mentions an ale called “oud bruin”, which means “old brown” in Dutch (and I assume South-African). And there was Oos (which is very close to Oost, the Dutch word for East). I find it interesting he incorporated his language in these little ways!
Lastly, I found it a bit hard to deduce how much time had passed at certain points? For example, it takes him a year to achieve a certain part of the plan, but when I was reading it felt more like days? I barely realized a year had passed already…
CHARACTERS
So, let’s take a look at Saul. He’s very much a grey character. And no, I don’t mean that he’s dull. During the entire book, it’s hard to figure out whether he’s actually a good person or not. It seems to be a “the end justifies the means” situation. It’s very interesting, and it leads to me not knowing how I feel about him. I’m sympathetic towards him, because of everything he went through. But then he made decisions, which he KNEW were horrible. But he went through with them anyway. It’s a very interesting situation really.
I do have one question. I don’t understand WHY the emperor Solas would choose to train Saul, who he turned into a slave, as a torturer and assassin. In my opinion, he is the LAST PERSON I would train that way. Because of his heritage. I just don’t get it?
Then there are other characters such as Marcus. I can’t really say much, but I feel like I didn’t get a chance to truly know the person. A certain situation prevented me from seeing what was really him, and what wasn’t. I can’t really explain more, because I feel like it’s a spoiler? But just read this! And Neysa, who I liked but feel like I don’t really know.
I highly enjoyed this book. Like I said, the plot really captivated me. I liked the fact that the main character was neither a hero nor a villain. I would recommend this book if you like fantasy, because it’s a fun read. I do have some questions about the timeline of the story, and the world building. I do think I’ll read the second book, to find out how the story ends.
August 14, 2015
Prince Saul Baz Sharmin, an Ubrain, has been a slave assigned duties as an apprentice executioner for a decade, until he meets Marcus, a Prylean, leader of a group of revolutionaries against the evil empire of King Solas. When Saul kills his master, the chief executioner Angus, and he and Marcus escape, instead of freedom, they find their troubles only beginning.
In the port town of Sagemont, in search of the Crown of Ubrain that will help him restore his brother to the throne and free his people from Solas’ clutches, Saul finds himself alternating between using the healing skills from his former life as a physician and having to apply his executioner’s talents on more than one occasion. To further complicate his life, he gets caught up with an enigmatic and angry young magician and ensnared by the demi-god, Malakai, who has his own agenda.
As complication piles atop complication, Saul finds himself fighting as much just to stay alive as to free his people.
I received a free copy of Dark Legion, book one in the Blood of Blood series by Paul Kleynhans, in exchange for my review.
The author masterfully keeps the action moving at an almost breakneck pace, while interspersing bits of rip-roaring humor. While the use of modern slang and profanity in the book is a bit strange at first, as you get to know the characters, it seems to be . . . well, in character. This left me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
In the port town of Sagemont, in search of the Crown of Ubrain that will help him restore his brother to the throne and free his people from Solas’ clutches, Saul finds himself alternating between using the healing skills from his former life as a physician and having to apply his executioner’s talents on more than one occasion. To further complicate his life, he gets caught up with an enigmatic and angry young magician and ensnared by the demi-god, Malakai, who has his own agenda.
As complication piles atop complication, Saul finds himself fighting as much just to stay alive as to free his people.
I received a free copy of Dark Legion, book one in the Blood of Blood series by Paul Kleynhans, in exchange for my review.
The author masterfully keeps the action moving at an almost breakneck pace, while interspersing bits of rip-roaring humor. While the use of modern slang and profanity in the book is a bit strange at first, as you get to know the characters, it seems to be . . . well, in character. This left me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 5, 2015
3.75. The story of the youngest Ubraian prince, enslaved as a boy and forced to become the plaything of the Emperor's Head Torturer is unlikely to start well. And it doesn't. It starts with an act of bloody revenge as Saul, the prince, who has managed to work his way up to his "Master"'s apprentice, slaughters the torturer and manages to slip out of the Palace and make good his escape. He is working with Marcus, the leader of a rebellion who himself had been captured and sent to the dungeon for torture and execution. The two men's friendship is difficult, but one that Saul treasures. As does Marcus... Sometimes.
Saul has set himself the rather gargantuan tasks of finding the Royal Regalia of his conquered kingdom (by long-standing tradition necessary to legitimize any ruler), freeing his equally enslaved people, and finding his older brother, the rightful King and a great fighter -- which Saul is not. Afterwards, he and his brother will fight to reclaim their land. He has no intention of sitting on Ubraian's throne as he sees himself as blood drenched monster and assassin. Though he is trying not to be one anymore.
Naturally there's a girl, adventure, possible old gods, secrets to be uncovered and strange magic and critters.
An interesting and powerful read, that sometimes wanders into swashbuckling and even a bit of social commentary.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Saul has set himself the rather gargantuan tasks of finding the Royal Regalia of his conquered kingdom (by long-standing tradition necessary to legitimize any ruler), freeing his equally enslaved people, and finding his older brother, the rightful King and a great fighter -- which Saul is not. Afterwards, he and his brother will fight to reclaim their land. He has no intention of sitting on Ubraian's throne as he sees himself as blood drenched monster and assassin. Though he is trying not to be one anymore.
Naturally there's a girl, adventure, possible old gods, secrets to be uncovered and strange magic and critters.
An interesting and powerful read, that sometimes wanders into swashbuckling and even a bit of social commentary.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2014
How to free a nation? When Prince Saul is made a slave and taught to be an assassin he is stripped of his nation, his freedom and even his name. But after years of searching he has finally located an object that can help him restore his lost brother to the throne and nothing and no one will stop him. This was a fun read that was full of adventure and ale-making. The world is different enough from everything else I've read to make it satisfying and the characterization was engaging. It was a world full of people with faults that seem to keep their objectives just out of reach while also spurring them on to greater achievements. If you liked Robin Hobb's Farseer series or the Brent Weeks' Night Angel you'll be thrilled with this series.
August 11, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book from a first-read giveaway.
Though I had to put this book down at the very beginning for work reasons, I finished the bulk of it in one sitting. Paul's writing is immersive and compelling, and you really feel for the characters as the story progresses.
At times, due to the complexity of some scenes, it can be hard to follow what everyone is doing (I had to go back and reread a few passages to make sure I was following it correctly), but overall it was a smooth read.
Though I had to put this book down at the very beginning for work reasons, I finished the bulk of it in one sitting. Paul's writing is immersive and compelling, and you really feel for the characters as the story progresses.
At times, due to the complexity of some scenes, it can be hard to follow what everyone is doing (I had to go back and reread a few passages to make sure I was following it correctly), but overall it was a smooth read.
April 18, 2015
An entertaining and amusing story that draws you in then makes you want to keep on reading. Good characters and plot. On the whole the story gets straight to the point and there is not a whole lot of excess fluff to pad it out. Liked how the authors obvious like of beer and coffee shine through in the story line.
August 4, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and watching the struggles and the fight to overcome slavery and reuniting a kingdom which had been destroyed. I loved the characters and storyline and felt drawn into the story. I can't wait to read book 2.
August 2, 2014
This book was amazing! It drew me right in from the start and kept me there until the last page and then left me wanting for so much more! My favorite kind of book!
July 5, 2015
A cracking novel. Can't wait for the next in the series.
September 30, 2018
Saul makes for an interesting man character because he's often making choices that show him to be someone that I wouldn't want to meet. He's often in situations where he has to make hard choices and sometime those choices sow just how ruthless he can be. But since his choices aren't made out of self interest, but rather they are made so that he can free his people from slavery, and it's hard to know what you wouldn't do if you were having to make those choices. So in the end I'm left with a main character I'm not sure I like but that I find I can respect.
This story contains great world building and characters, both come alive on the page, leaving me almost able to smell, taste, and see everything that is happening.
I loved the creativity of the story, I never knew what was going to happen next.
Excellent narration, the character voices were distinct and recognizable and seemed to match the personalities of the characters. The delivery was well paced and matched the tone of the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
This story contains great world building and characters, both come alive on the page, leaving me almost able to smell, taste, and see everything that is happening.
I loved the creativity of the story, I never knew what was going to happen next.
Excellent narration, the character voices were distinct and recognizable and seemed to match the personalities of the characters. The delivery was well paced and matched the tone of the book.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
February 23, 2018
"A dark gripping story!"
This book is a dark story that drops you in at the deep end and starts expanding and explaining as it goes leaving you scratching your head at times but keeps you reading as you learn more.
The characters develop slowly but it is worth the wait as the story unfolds. The main characters become full bodied and you find yourself torn as to how to feel about them overall.
The performance is fantastic and the narrator gives gravitas to the situation and helps you connect further with the story.
In summation this is a great fantasy book with elements of magic and political intrigue.
I look forward to seeing the next instalment of this series.
This book was given to me free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This book is a dark story that drops you in at the deep end and starts expanding and explaining as it goes leaving you scratching your head at times but keeps you reading as you learn more.
The characters develop slowly but it is worth the wait as the story unfolds. The main characters become full bodied and you find yourself torn as to how to feel about them overall.
The performance is fantastic and the narrator gives gravitas to the situation and helps you connect further with the story.
In summation this is a great fantasy book with elements of magic and political intrigue.
I look forward to seeing the next instalment of this series.
This book was given to me free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
February 21, 2018
This book is set in what seems like medieval times, Saul is a slave who used to be a part of the royalty in his city. He was kidnapped and tortured and made to be a slave. While he suffers, he plots his revenge on those who stand in the way between him and the riches of his city. He wants to unite his people and bring back the glory of his city, but first he has to escape and get back to his city. This story was very fascinating, and I liked that it was told from Saul's point of view, it gave me a better point of view of his pain and how he has suffered. It also gives insight on his feelings of anger and getting revenge on those responsible for the suffering of his people.
October 4, 2017
A good read with a not so good hero
Excellent read well worth the time to set down and read the series word word word word word word word
Excellent read well worth the time to set down and read the series word word word word word word word
March 7, 2015
I REALLY LIKED IT
Saul is a prince who was captured and forced into slavery by an emperor who’d conquered his kingdom. We start Saul’s story on the day he escapes his captors and sets off to regain his kingdom’s freedom. The premise is very simple yet I found the story took some rather nice turns.
For me, I loved the first 15% of this book and the last 15%. I mean, I really really enjoyed it. Matter of fact, if the middle had been faster paced, I would have easily loved this book. And I bet that if things moved quicker, I might have even become obsessed. Unfortunately, the middle of this book felt like one drawn out plan to get into a castle and then was followed by a detailed execution of that plan. Granted, it was a good plan and there was stuff that needed to happen to deepen the plot and set up some things for the series, but for me it was just too slow. It probably goes back to my occasional wandering mind when stuck in one location for too long. For the entire middle of the book, we were in one city set on one task with some side adventures. I tend to like a bit more travel in my stories, and if you’re going to be in one location, the story needs to move super fast for me. This is—obviously—purely personal preference. There are a few stories that I have loved where the characters never move from one location, but it’s rare. This isn’t a short read, but it’s not overly long if you’re a reader who likes a bit more detail in their books, especially involving plots and planning.
The world was interesting enough. I felt satisfied in what I was given, had a good mental image and understanding, and enjoyed the run-ins with the Inquisition that gave this story a nice depth.
What pulled this book completely from my indifferent feeling was Saul. The story is told in first person, which I always enjoy, and we really get a good look at a man who has grown up in slavery. He comes out not exactly whole, and he went through some pretty horrible stuff that explains why. His intentions are good, but his callousness toward human life gets him in some tuff situations. There were some great lines from him that managed to get me to smile. Because of the sure enjoyment I found in Saul’s voice, I would definitely pick up the second book. I would hope it’d move faster since a lot of the building blocks are already set.
The two secondary characters are interesting enough, and Marcus’s carefree attitude is a good play on Saul’s more serious nature. I liked their interaction. The other characters felt very standard with nothing sticking out. Most played a very minor role so it didn’t bother me. I never felt cheated nor did I ever want to explore any other characters. I was satisfied with what I got from them.
So overall, this is a good book with huge potential in the second installment, which I fully plan on reading.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
Saul is a prince who was captured and forced into slavery by an emperor who’d conquered his kingdom. We start Saul’s story on the day he escapes his captors and sets off to regain his kingdom’s freedom. The premise is very simple yet I found the story took some rather nice turns.
For me, I loved the first 15% of this book and the last 15%. I mean, I really really enjoyed it. Matter of fact, if the middle had been faster paced, I would have easily loved this book. And I bet that if things moved quicker, I might have even become obsessed. Unfortunately, the middle of this book felt like one drawn out plan to get into a castle and then was followed by a detailed execution of that plan. Granted, it was a good plan and there was stuff that needed to happen to deepen the plot and set up some things for the series, but for me it was just too slow. It probably goes back to my occasional wandering mind when stuck in one location for too long. For the entire middle of the book, we were in one city set on one task with some side adventures. I tend to like a bit more travel in my stories, and if you’re going to be in one location, the story needs to move super fast for me. This is—obviously—purely personal preference. There are a few stories that I have loved where the characters never move from one location, but it’s rare. This isn’t a short read, but it’s not overly long if you’re a reader who likes a bit more detail in their books, especially involving plots and planning.
The world was interesting enough. I felt satisfied in what I was given, had a good mental image and understanding, and enjoyed the run-ins with the Inquisition that gave this story a nice depth.
What pulled this book completely from my indifferent feeling was Saul. The story is told in first person, which I always enjoy, and we really get a good look at a man who has grown up in slavery. He comes out not exactly whole, and he went through some pretty horrible stuff that explains why. His intentions are good, but his callousness toward human life gets him in some tuff situations. There were some great lines from him that managed to get me to smile. Because of the sure enjoyment I found in Saul’s voice, I would definitely pick up the second book. I would hope it’d move faster since a lot of the building blocks are already set.
The two secondary characters are interesting enough, and Marcus’s carefree attitude is a good play on Saul’s more serious nature. I liked their interaction. The other characters felt very standard with nothing sticking out. Most played a very minor role so it didn’t bother me. I never felt cheated nor did I ever want to explore any other characters. I was satisfied with what I got from them.
So overall, this is a good book with huge potential in the second installment, which I fully plan on reading.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
May 11, 2015
Dark Legion has all the hallmarks of a quality piece of fantasy fiction. The cover is excellent, the editing is solid and the prose for the most part is of publishable quality. This is high praise for a book that's self-published.
The book is told from the first person perspective of assassin/torturer Saul Baz Sharmoun, who displays his vicious streak within the opening pages of the book. Immediate comparisons will spring to mind with the likes of Jorg Ancarth from Mark Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy being the foremost. Saul isn't a clone though, he does have his own personality, and this proves to be both a good and bad thing.
Accompanying Saul is the warrior Marcus, who plays the likeable foil to our protaognist's more serious demeanour. This provides the typical bantering duo that's been so popular down the years in the genre, with an unexpected twist that shall remain unnamed here.
There's a third love interest who provides a feminine foil to all the aforementioned banter and this is where things start to go a little off the rails.
While every character is likeable and interesting enough, there simply isn't enough fleshing out of each person to take it to that next level. Even Saul and Marcus suffer from this issue, despite having the majority of the text devoted toward developing them.
Saul's goal is to break into a large fortified castle and recover the ring and crown to which he is rightful heir. Using these, he will unify his enslaved people and bring them to freedom. It's his method of execution that makes you really start to question the plotting of this book.
Unfortunately I will have to provide slight spoilers here.
Saul, assassin and torturer, decides to... buy a pub. To brew ale. To win a competition to get into said castle.
He doesn't do this for a week, he actually continues doing this for months. This drags the story down to an almost intolerable pace, as Kleynhans expands to some degree about his love of hops and ale through his lead character.
It's actually a compliment to the man's writing that he's able to keep things interesting in spite of this, it's just that plot-wise the mid-section of the book pales in comparison to both the start and the finish.
If Dark Legion had more developed characters and an expanded mid-section that also trimmed the fat of the convoluted pub scene, we'd be on to a winner. As it stands, things are well-presented but slightly lacking.
Paul Kleynhans is a solid writer with a modern parlance that will appeal to his contemporary audience, and there's a lot to enjoy about Dark Legion in spite of its flaws. I don't doubt that this is the first early step of a writer with an excellent book in him further down the line.
The book is told from the first person perspective of assassin/torturer Saul Baz Sharmoun, who displays his vicious streak within the opening pages of the book. Immediate comparisons will spring to mind with the likes of Jorg Ancarth from Mark Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy being the foremost. Saul isn't a clone though, he does have his own personality, and this proves to be both a good and bad thing.
Accompanying Saul is the warrior Marcus, who plays the likeable foil to our protaognist's more serious demeanour. This provides the typical bantering duo that's been so popular down the years in the genre, with an unexpected twist that shall remain unnamed here.
There's a third love interest who provides a feminine foil to all the aforementioned banter and this is where things start to go a little off the rails.
While every character is likeable and interesting enough, there simply isn't enough fleshing out of each person to take it to that next level. Even Saul and Marcus suffer from this issue, despite having the majority of the text devoted toward developing them.
Saul's goal is to break into a large fortified castle and recover the ring and crown to which he is rightful heir. Using these, he will unify his enslaved people and bring them to freedom. It's his method of execution that makes you really start to question the plotting of this book.
Unfortunately I will have to provide slight spoilers here.
Saul, assassin and torturer, decides to... buy a pub. To brew ale. To win a competition to get into said castle.
He doesn't do this for a week, he actually continues doing this for months. This drags the story down to an almost intolerable pace, as Kleynhans expands to some degree about his love of hops and ale through his lead character.
It's actually a compliment to the man's writing that he's able to keep things interesting in spite of this, it's just that plot-wise the mid-section of the book pales in comparison to both the start and the finish.
If Dark Legion had more developed characters and an expanded mid-section that also trimmed the fat of the convoluted pub scene, we'd be on to a winner. As it stands, things are well-presented but slightly lacking.
Paul Kleynhans is a solid writer with a modern parlance that will appeal to his contemporary audience, and there's a lot to enjoy about Dark Legion in spite of its flaws. I don't doubt that this is the first early step of a writer with an excellent book in him further down the line.
June 22, 2015
Dark Legion is a wild adventure that will keep you turning the page desperate to know what happens next. With a murderous assassin for a main character, I knew that this story would have the anti-hero bent that I've come to love. Saul did not disappoint as a true amoral misfit.
The plot is pretty fast-paced and covers a lot of ground. The three main characters are great. The way Kleynhans writes their friendship is Whedon worthy. Who doesn't want a big guy around who can fight like none other but mostly just wants to give out hugs. The characters are all complex, and at the end of the book there is still plenty to learn. The one female character is a feisty mage with a fiery temperament and a vocabulary to match it. Needless to say, I liked her.
The magic system is fantastic. There are varying abilities from fire to teleportation to illusion. The magic takes a physical toll on the user. The tyrannical emperor has some truly disturbing ways of dealing with unwanted threats to his power. All of this combined with a wild card wizard with his own agenda create a world that I can't wait to jump back into in book two.
I will warn you that this book is probably best enjoyed with a nice pale ale. Cheers!
The plot is pretty fast-paced and covers a lot of ground. The three main characters are great. The way Kleynhans writes their friendship is Whedon worthy. Who doesn't want a big guy around who can fight like none other but mostly just wants to give out hugs. The characters are all complex, and at the end of the book there is still plenty to learn. The one female character is a feisty mage with a fiery temperament and a vocabulary to match it. Needless to say, I liked her.
The magic system is fantastic. There are varying abilities from fire to teleportation to illusion. The magic takes a physical toll on the user. The tyrannical emperor has some truly disturbing ways of dealing with unwanted threats to his power. All of this combined with a wild card wizard with his own agenda create a world that I can't wait to jump back into in book two.
I will warn you that this book is probably best enjoyed with a nice pale ale. Cheers!
August 13, 2014
Prince Saul Bal Sharmoun witnessed the murder of his parents at the hands of Emperor Solas. While he and his brother Shakir were made to be slaves without a name. Saul has become apprentice to head torturer. He's killed too many men and women all under the guise of torture but doesn't mean he enjoyed his work. He became an assassin along with his duties as torturer. Saul creates plan of escape for himself and his friend Marcus. Together Saul and Marcus reach Sagemont where their fortunes change upon meeting Malakai and Nesya. Saul is searching for The Crown and Ring of Ubraian as well as his brother. Saul and Marcus meet Hobart owner of The Bleeding Wolf Tavern. They ask to buy Hobart out only to become brewers of pale ale. What are the emperor's plans? Will Saul find what he's searching for? Where do Malakai and Nesya fit in? Your answers await you in Dark Legion.
An interesting fantasy novel with a different take on magic and it's uses. The characters were honest, real, rich, and bold. The story was well written and full of history. The story and characters were creative and intriguing too. I look forward to more of this author's work in the future.
An interesting fantasy novel with a different take on magic and it's uses. The characters were honest, real, rich, and bold. The story was well written and full of history. The story and characters were creative and intriguing too. I look forward to more of this author's work in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2014
I was asked for an honest review of this book. Dark Legion seemed to require a lot of thinking well it did to me, at the start I struggled to get into this book and couldn’t find my pace and was getting distracted. However, the more I read the more I needed to read. I was not sure that I would like the graphic descriptions of violence that the author warned me about, but I found myself not minding as they went hand in hand with the plotline and how the story was unfolding. All I found myself wanting to do was find out if Saul would manage his task. If Marcus was going to stay the long haul with him. I really enjoyed how the author is able to pull you into the story with his descriptive language. I would recommend this book and if at first you struggle to get into the book just carry on I did and I soon was enraptured by the pages. I rate this book a four out of five stars.
June 15, 2015
A promising first book in the Blood of Blood series. I enjoyed the book but it did feel a tad rushed and could have been greatly improved with some editing.
The start was slow with lots of information being dumped on the reader which made it feel hard to get into the book. I gave up after the first 50 pages and then got back into it later and then the story really kicked off.
The use of magic in the book is well done and varies from other fantasy novels. I loved the darker tone of the book and while this book is well written I hope that future books in the series are better edited, so the user does not get turned off with too many extraneous details.
I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a free review copy.
The start was slow with lots of information being dumped on the reader which made it feel hard to get into the book. I gave up after the first 50 pages and then got back into it later and then the story really kicked off.
The use of magic in the book is well done and varies from other fantasy novels. I loved the darker tone of the book and while this book is well written I hope that future books in the series are better edited, so the user does not get turned off with too many extraneous details.
I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a free review copy.
July 4, 2016
I kind of didn't like this book much. Everything seemed a little bit too....convenient maybe? Easy? Weird? It wasn't too bad, but I guess I might be too old for this kind of fantasy.
July 11, 2014
Well written - lots of action
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