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Blood of the Four
In the great kingdom of Quandis, everyone is a slave. Some are slaves to the gods. Most are slaves to everyone else.
Blessed by the gods with lives of comfort and splendor, the royal elite routinely perform their duties, yet some chafe at their role. A young woman of stunning ambition, Princess Phela refuses to allow a few obstacles—including her mother the queen and her brother, the heir apparent—stand in the way of claiming ultimate power and glory for herself.
Far below the royals are the Bajuman. Poor and oppressed, members of this wretched caste have but two paths out of servitude: the priesthood . . . or death.
Because magic has been kept at bay in Quandis, royals and Bajuman have lived together in an uneasy peace for centuries. But Princess Phela’s desire for power will disrupt the realm’s order, setting into motion a series of events that will end with her becoming a goddess in her own right . . . or ultimately destroying Quandis and all its inhabitants.
Blessed by the gods with lives of comfort and splendor, the royal elite routinely perform their duties, yet some chafe at their role. A young woman of stunning ambition, Princess Phela refuses to allow a few obstacles—including her mother the queen and her brother, the heir apparent—stand in the way of claiming ultimate power and glory for herself.
Far below the royals are the Bajuman. Poor and oppressed, members of this wretched caste have but two paths out of servitude: the priesthood . . . or death.
Because magic has been kept at bay in Quandis, royals and Bajuman have lived together in an uneasy peace for centuries. But Princess Phela’s desire for power will disrupt the realm’s order, setting into motion a series of events that will end with her becoming a goddess in her own right . . . or ultimately destroying Quandis and all its inhabitants.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
83 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Golden
798 books2,959 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, Of Saints and Shadows, and Red Hands. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Lady Baltimore. As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies Seize the Night, Dark Cities, and The New Dead, among others, and he has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, and a network television pilot. Golden co-hosts the podcast Defenders Dialogue with horror author Brian Keene. In 2015 he founded the popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His work has been nominated for the British Fantasy Award, the Eisner Award, and multiple Shirley Jackson Awards. For the Bram Stoker Awards, Golden has been nominated ten times in eight different categories. His original novels have been published in more than fifteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com
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dnf
March 19, 2018DNF for this new stand-alone fantasy; it's a matter of taste. Final review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Magic is an elusive and dangerous thing in the kingdom of Quandis, forbidden to all except a few select priests who spend their lives preparing to handle the ancient magic, and even then inhale only a few smoky tendrils of the powerful magic. Princess Phela thrives on sneaking through hidden passages of the castle, seeking to overhear others’ information and secrets. When Phela hears her mother, the queen, confessing (in a drug-induced haze) to her lover Linos Kallistrate that she, the queen, has been exploring the far depths of the castle seeking out the magic of the Four, who are the gods of Quandis, she’s appalled at the heresy, but eager to find a way to use this secret to further her own ambitions.
Meanwhile, among the Bajumen ― the hereditary slaves of Quandis marked by their deep blue eyes and serpentine brands ― Blane is seeking the only way out of slavery by becoming a novice in the priesthood of the Four … where he promptly begins seeking out the forbidden magic for his own purpose of freeing the Bajumen people from their oppression. His sister Daria, long thought murdered by her master, actually survived the attempt and, her telltale blue eyes somehow fortuitously changed to grey by her near-drowning and her brand hidden by coral scars, is now a powerful naval admiral. And Demos Kallistrate, a young nobleman engaged to Phela’s younger sister, experiences his family’s horrendous downfall. Is it due to his father’s illicit relationship with the queen?
Blood of the Four (2018), an epic stand-alone fantasy novel by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, focuses on the highest and lowest inhabitants of the realm of Quandis, telling the tale of the turbulence that hits this kingdom from multiple points of view. The story has several interesting elements, including power struggles in the royal family, slaves fighting for freedom, and conspiracies galore. It’s distinctly reminiscent of A Game of Thrones in some ways.
Unfortunately this fantasy novel is a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me, though I did do some skimming through the rest of the book to satisfy my curiosity about the plot. Blood of the Four is, if not grimdark, then standing within spitting distance of it. With near-unrelenting brutality, detailed violence, explicit sex (including group sex), multiple gruesome murders and assassinations, plenty of F-bombs, and magic with a seriously nasty edge to it, it’s aggressively not my thing. To be fair, there are some threads of hope, and some sympathetic characters to offset the many unpleasant ones. And the violence arguably isn’t as gratuitous as it is in A Game of Thrones, but there was certainly more than enough of it for my taste.
Judging from that amount I read, my sense is that if I hadn’t found the storytelling too off-putting for my taste, I would have rated it 3.5 to 4 stars, but I don’t feel like I read enough of it to give it an official rating. Epic fantasy fans who aren’t put off by hard R-rated novels may enjoy Blood of the Four.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Harper Voyager, for review.
Magic is an elusive and dangerous thing in the kingdom of Quandis, forbidden to all except a few select priests who spend their lives preparing to handle the ancient magic, and even then inhale only a few smoky tendrils of the powerful magic. Princess Phela thrives on sneaking through hidden passages of the castle, seeking to overhear others’ information and secrets. When Phela hears her mother, the queen, confessing (in a drug-induced haze) to her lover Linos Kallistrate that she, the queen, has been exploring the far depths of the castle seeking out the magic of the Four, who are the gods of Quandis, she’s appalled at the heresy, but eager to find a way to use this secret to further her own ambitions.
Meanwhile, among the Bajumen ― the hereditary slaves of Quandis marked by their deep blue eyes and serpentine brands ― Blane is seeking the only way out of slavery by becoming a novice in the priesthood of the Four … where he promptly begins seeking out the forbidden magic for his own purpose of freeing the Bajumen people from their oppression. His sister Daria, long thought murdered by her master, actually survived the attempt and, her telltale blue eyes somehow fortuitously changed to grey by her near-drowning and her brand hidden by coral scars, is now a powerful naval admiral. And Demos Kallistrate, a young nobleman engaged to Phela’s younger sister, experiences his family’s horrendous downfall. Is it due to his father’s illicit relationship with the queen?
Blood of the Four (2018), an epic stand-alone fantasy novel by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon, focuses on the highest and lowest inhabitants of the realm of Quandis, telling the tale of the turbulence that hits this kingdom from multiple points of view. The story has several interesting elements, including power struggles in the royal family, slaves fighting for freedom, and conspiracies galore. It’s distinctly reminiscent of A Game of Thrones in some ways.
Unfortunately this fantasy novel is a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me, though I did do some skimming through the rest of the book to satisfy my curiosity about the plot. Blood of the Four is, if not grimdark, then standing within spitting distance of it. With near-unrelenting brutality, detailed violence, explicit sex (including group sex), multiple gruesome murders and assassinations, plenty of F-bombs, and magic with a seriously nasty edge to it, it’s aggressively not my thing. To be fair, there are some threads of hope, and some sympathetic characters to offset the many unpleasant ones. And the violence arguably isn’t as gratuitous as it is in A Game of Thrones, but there was certainly more than enough of it for my taste.
Judging from that amount I read, my sense is that if I hadn’t found the storytelling too off-putting for my taste, I would have rated it 3.5 to 4 stars, but I don’t feel like I read enough of it to give it an official rating. Epic fantasy fans who aren’t put off by hard R-rated novels may enjoy Blood of the Four.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Harper Voyager, for review.
March 10, 2018
A solid read that perhaps does too much in order to fulfil it's desire to be an epic fantasy contained in a single volume
April 8, 2018
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/04/08/...
As much as I enjoy standalone fantasy epics, a part of me feels Blood of the Four would have been better served had the authors not tried to cram everything in this ambitious endeavor into one single volume. I had very mixed feelings about this one, due in part to the wild swings between the highs and the lows. At times, the story would have me gripped in moments of frenzied action and intensity, while at others I would find myself almost lulled to sleep by some of the slower and more tedious sections.
At the heart of this novel is a kingdom torn apart by power struggles and slavery. Once peaceful and prosperous, Quandis has become a nation divided, ruled by a queen whose drug addiction has left her mind addled and unable to control the dangerous magic she dabbles in. One night, while in a state of drug-induced stupor, she accidentally lets it slip to her paramour that she has been attempting to seize the magical power of the Four for herself, drawing upon the forces said to belong to the four ancient sorcerers who founded the kingdom. The queen’s lover, however, was not the only one to hear this confession; Princess Phela, who likes to wander the castle’s hidden passages listening to whispered secrets, was able to overhear her mother’s heresy and decides to use this nugget of information to her own advantage.
After seizing the throne for herself though, Phela is lured by the same power that doomed her mother. Unfortunately for Quandis, the new queen also has a cruel streak, and her lofty ambitions are proving far more disastrous. With a plan to install herself as the kingdom’s divine ruler, Phela sets about murdering, banishing, or enslaving anyone who gets in her way. Demos Kallistrate, son of a disgraced nobleman whose entire family was sold into slavery, now seeks to put a stop to her tyranny, seeking out other allies to his cause. Among them is Princess Myrinne, the younger sister of Phela herself, who despairs at what is happening to Quandis. Then there’s Blane, a member of the Bajuman slave caste who joined the priesthood to gain access to the magic with which he hopes to one day free his people. His sister Daria, whom Blane long thought was dead, also ends up being part of this effort, having escaped slavery and is currently living in disguise as an admiral in the navy.
As I said, there were moments where this book worked spectacularly well for me, but also others that just fell disappointingly flat. The structure of having multiple points-of-view is in keeping with the tradition of an epic fantasy, but in spite of that, the experience felt rather shallow. It’s not easy to balance so many perspectives in the first place, and having only one book to tell an elaborate story meant trying to fit in all your plot development while simultaneously needing to explore character motivations and relationships. Things wound up a little messy, and ultimately I didn’t even get to form much of a connection with any of the protagonists. In the end my favorite POV was probably Daria because she had the most fascinating backstory, not to mention my soft spot for female ship captains (though Daria’s an admiral to boot) and her chapters also featured some top-notch maritime action.
As Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon are both known for their work in dark fantasy, horror, and thriller genres, you can expect Blood of the Four to harbor some pretty grim tones as well. Certainly, there’s plenty here that will make the grimdark fan feel right at home. Occasionally, however, the darkness and brutality have a gratuitous feel to them, possibly because of the shaky emotional connection I have towards the story and characters, making some of the scenes of sex and violence feel forced or like they were employed for the sole purpose of shock value.
Despite some of its more dubious moments though, there’s a lot to like. Golden and Lebbon have created a rich world and a complex society, serving as the perfect backdrop to the epic narrative they set out to tell. While none of the world-building ideas are all admittedly that original, the authors have nonetheless transformed some of the elements with their own take on things, lending the setting more depth than I’d anticipated. And then there’s the action I’d mentioned, which, when it really gets going, can blow your mind and I daresay these scenes almost make up for some of the novel’s slower parts. A good example is the ending, with the final few chapters bringing on a powerful and exhilarating finale.
Bottom line for me, Blood of the Four had the feel of a book trying to capture the sweeping sense of scope and narrative richness of a multi-volume series in a single 500-page novel. It would be a good choice for fans of the authors’ books from other genres who might be curious to try some epic fantasy, or even for seasoned epic fantasy readers who are looking to kick back with something a little lighter. At the end of the day though, I felt that the goal of a standalone was perhaps too restrictive for this story to reach its full potential.
As much as I enjoy standalone fantasy epics, a part of me feels Blood of the Four would have been better served had the authors not tried to cram everything in this ambitious endeavor into one single volume. I had very mixed feelings about this one, due in part to the wild swings between the highs and the lows. At times, the story would have me gripped in moments of frenzied action and intensity, while at others I would find myself almost lulled to sleep by some of the slower and more tedious sections.
At the heart of this novel is a kingdom torn apart by power struggles and slavery. Once peaceful and prosperous, Quandis has become a nation divided, ruled by a queen whose drug addiction has left her mind addled and unable to control the dangerous magic she dabbles in. One night, while in a state of drug-induced stupor, she accidentally lets it slip to her paramour that she has been attempting to seize the magical power of the Four for herself, drawing upon the forces said to belong to the four ancient sorcerers who founded the kingdom. The queen’s lover, however, was not the only one to hear this confession; Princess Phela, who likes to wander the castle’s hidden passages listening to whispered secrets, was able to overhear her mother’s heresy and decides to use this nugget of information to her own advantage.
After seizing the throne for herself though, Phela is lured by the same power that doomed her mother. Unfortunately for Quandis, the new queen also has a cruel streak, and her lofty ambitions are proving far more disastrous. With a plan to install herself as the kingdom’s divine ruler, Phela sets about murdering, banishing, or enslaving anyone who gets in her way. Demos Kallistrate, son of a disgraced nobleman whose entire family was sold into slavery, now seeks to put a stop to her tyranny, seeking out other allies to his cause. Among them is Princess Myrinne, the younger sister of Phela herself, who despairs at what is happening to Quandis. Then there’s Blane, a member of the Bajuman slave caste who joined the priesthood to gain access to the magic with which he hopes to one day free his people. His sister Daria, whom Blane long thought was dead, also ends up being part of this effort, having escaped slavery and is currently living in disguise as an admiral in the navy.
As I said, there were moments where this book worked spectacularly well for me, but also others that just fell disappointingly flat. The structure of having multiple points-of-view is in keeping with the tradition of an epic fantasy, but in spite of that, the experience felt rather shallow. It’s not easy to balance so many perspectives in the first place, and having only one book to tell an elaborate story meant trying to fit in all your plot development while simultaneously needing to explore character motivations and relationships. Things wound up a little messy, and ultimately I didn’t even get to form much of a connection with any of the protagonists. In the end my favorite POV was probably Daria because she had the most fascinating backstory, not to mention my soft spot for female ship captains (though Daria’s an admiral to boot) and her chapters also featured some top-notch maritime action.
As Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon are both known for their work in dark fantasy, horror, and thriller genres, you can expect Blood of the Four to harbor some pretty grim tones as well. Certainly, there’s plenty here that will make the grimdark fan feel right at home. Occasionally, however, the darkness and brutality have a gratuitous feel to them, possibly because of the shaky emotional connection I have towards the story and characters, making some of the scenes of sex and violence feel forced or like they were employed for the sole purpose of shock value.
Despite some of its more dubious moments though, there’s a lot to like. Golden and Lebbon have created a rich world and a complex society, serving as the perfect backdrop to the epic narrative they set out to tell. While none of the world-building ideas are all admittedly that original, the authors have nonetheless transformed some of the elements with their own take on things, lending the setting more depth than I’d anticipated. And then there’s the action I’d mentioned, which, when it really gets going, can blow your mind and I daresay these scenes almost make up for some of the novel’s slower parts. A good example is the ending, with the final few chapters bringing on a powerful and exhilarating finale.
Bottom line for me, Blood of the Four had the feel of a book trying to capture the sweeping sense of scope and narrative richness of a multi-volume series in a single 500-page novel. It would be a good choice for fans of the authors’ books from other genres who might be curious to try some epic fantasy, or even for seasoned epic fantasy readers who are looking to kick back with something a little lighter. At the end of the day though, I felt that the goal of a standalone was perhaps too restrictive for this story to reach its full potential.
March 28, 2018
Full spoiler-free review now on my blog
I'm always curious when it comes to stand-alone epic fantasy novels, be it adult or YA. Therefore, I was very excited to get an ARC of Blood of the Four. I've never read a book by either of these authors before, but I will definitely check out their other individual books now.
In the island kingdom of Quandis, the royal bloodline has the blood of the Four, who were the most powerful magicians and are long dead. To wield their old magic is forbidden and only a few priests of the High Order are allowed to touch some small fragments of it. But Queen Lysandra, who rules over Quandis, thirsts for this magic and sets off a chain of events that will change the entire kingdom.
As often seen in epic fantasy, we follow multiple perspectives throughout the story. First, we get to know Phela, who is the second-born daughter of Queen Lysandra. Phela is very ambitious and wants to inherit the throne instead of her older brother who seemingly doesn't care for power or the responsibility that comes with being the heir to the throne. In the beginning, I liked how Phela seeks out information by accessing old tunnels and passages that enable her to spy on important meetings between her mother and her council. She knows exactly what is going on in her mother's kingdom and collects this information for her own agenda. However, we already get some hints early on that she might not be the most suitable character for the throne as she is also very tempted by the power of magic and shows some cruel dispositions.
Another character we get so know is Blane who is a member of the Bajuman, a people used as slaves with icy blue eyes and a serpentine slave mark on their left arm. He wants to escape his life as a slave by joining the priesthood and finding a way to learn magic to save his people. Through his eyes, we get to see how badly the Bajuman are treated by other inhabitants of Quandis and we learn that his sister was supposedly killed on a whim by her master.
Then there is Demos Kallistrate, admiral of the royal navy, son of a powerful house in Quandis and betrothed to princess Myrinne, the youngest child of Queen Lysandra. Early on, we learn that he and his family are accused of treason and worshipping false gods by the Queen herself and Demos is sold into slavery.
The last character we meet is Admiral Daria Hallarte who is in charge of the Royal Quandian Navy. We know from the beginning that she was once Bajuman, but her appearance has changed and due to lucky circumstances she got a new identity and life. Daria is very ambitious and excellent at was she is doing. She is respected by her crew and even has a relationship close to friendship with Demos Kallistrate.
What I loved about the various POV's we have in this book is that we get to know all kinds of perspectives on the treatment and role of the Bajuman in Quandis, which gave the society some depth. We follow Blane, who is Bajuman and still treated as one by some of his fellow novices. We see Demos becoming a slave and being treated even worse than some of the Bajuman and his coming to terms with his downfall and thus character growth. And lastly, we see how a born Bajuman with changed features can be very successful and respected due to her skills rather than her heritage.
As mentioned before, there is some world building in regard to societal status and role. It's definitely not easy to flesh out the world of an epic fantasy story in one book without boring everybody with pages after pages of info-dumping. However, I didn't think that this story needed much explanation apart from what we are given. There is some information about the past regarding the Four and the magical power and we have a vague notion how the island-kingdom Quandis might look with the ring of islands surrounding it.
The point that made it difficult for me to love this book where definitely the characters and the slow moving plot. When we first see Phela, she seems so interesting and different in her way of thinking. But instead of developing into a character you root for, she turns into a complete anti-hero (and I don't mean the typical bad-ass anti-hero you can't help but like despite all his faults). And the other characters just weren't enough to keep me very intrigued.
Even though I liked the concept of magic and its origin, I couldn't completely follow who is able to receive it and how exactly someone can master it. This might be totally my person preference, but I like it when the magic system has some set of rules to define it.
Another thing that surprised me was the author's ability to suck me right back into the story during the final climax. When everything comes together and the connections between our main characters are revealed, the story steps up a notch.
If you like epic fantasy but you don't want to commit to a massive series, you will surely enjoy Blood of the Four.
A huge thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC copy of this book. However, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I'm always curious when it comes to stand-alone epic fantasy novels, be it adult or YA. Therefore, I was very excited to get an ARC of Blood of the Four. I've never read a book by either of these authors before, but I will definitely check out their other individual books now.
In the island kingdom of Quandis, the royal bloodline has the blood of the Four, who were the most powerful magicians and are long dead. To wield their old magic is forbidden and only a few priests of the High Order are allowed to touch some small fragments of it. But Queen Lysandra, who rules over Quandis, thirsts for this magic and sets off a chain of events that will change the entire kingdom.
As often seen in epic fantasy, we follow multiple perspectives throughout the story. First, we get to know Phela, who is the second-born daughter of Queen Lysandra. Phela is very ambitious and wants to inherit the throne instead of her older brother who seemingly doesn't care for power or the responsibility that comes with being the heir to the throne. In the beginning, I liked how Phela seeks out information by accessing old tunnels and passages that enable her to spy on important meetings between her mother and her council. She knows exactly what is going on in her mother's kingdom and collects this information for her own agenda. However, we already get some hints early on that she might not be the most suitable character for the throne as she is also very tempted by the power of magic and shows some cruel dispositions.
Another character we get so know is Blane who is a member of the Bajuman, a people used as slaves with icy blue eyes and a serpentine slave mark on their left arm. He wants to escape his life as a slave by joining the priesthood and finding a way to learn magic to save his people. Through his eyes, we get to see how badly the Bajuman are treated by other inhabitants of Quandis and we learn that his sister was supposedly killed on a whim by her master.
Then there is Demos Kallistrate, admiral of the royal navy, son of a powerful house in Quandis and betrothed to princess Myrinne, the youngest child of Queen Lysandra. Early on, we learn that he and his family are accused of treason and worshipping false gods by the Queen herself and Demos is sold into slavery.
The last character we meet is Admiral Daria Hallarte who is in charge of the Royal Quandian Navy. We know from the beginning that she was once Bajuman, but her appearance has changed and due to lucky circumstances she got a new identity and life. Daria is very ambitious and excellent at was she is doing. She is respected by her crew and even has a relationship close to friendship with Demos Kallistrate.
What I loved about the various POV's we have in this book is that we get to know all kinds of perspectives on the treatment and role of the Bajuman in Quandis, which gave the society some depth. We follow Blane, who is Bajuman and still treated as one by some of his fellow novices. We see Demos becoming a slave and being treated even worse than some of the Bajuman and his coming to terms with his downfall and thus character growth. And lastly, we see how a born Bajuman with changed features can be very successful and respected due to her skills rather than her heritage.
As mentioned before, there is some world building in regard to societal status and role. It's definitely not easy to flesh out the world of an epic fantasy story in one book without boring everybody with pages after pages of info-dumping. However, I didn't think that this story needed much explanation apart from what we are given. There is some information about the past regarding the Four and the magical power and we have a vague notion how the island-kingdom Quandis might look with the ring of islands surrounding it.
The point that made it difficult for me to love this book where definitely the characters and the slow moving plot. When we first see Phela, she seems so interesting and different in her way of thinking. But instead of developing into a character you root for, she turns into a complete anti-hero (and I don't mean the typical bad-ass anti-hero you can't help but like despite all his faults). And the other characters just weren't enough to keep me very intrigued.
Even though I liked the concept of magic and its origin, I couldn't completely follow who is able to receive it and how exactly someone can master it. This might be totally my person preference, but I like it when the magic system has some set of rules to define it.
Another thing that surprised me was the author's ability to suck me right back into the story during the final climax. When everything comes together and the connections between our main characters are revealed, the story steps up a notch.
If you like epic fantasy but you don't want to commit to a massive series, you will surely enjoy Blood of the Four.
A huge thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC copy of this book. However, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 9, 2017
Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review, This doesn't in any way influence my opinion on it.
Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is one of the best epic fantasy books I've read. This is the first book I'm reading from both authors though they're apparently prolific. Princess Phela is a fascinating character that grew up with the benefits of a princess but the sneakiness of a street kid. She has learned a lot about people in the castle through forgotten secret passages she found when she was little and this gave her an advantage. On one of her journeys, She overhears her mother discussing using ancient forbidden magic. Magic in Quandis(the kingdom) has been forbidden for people except by the priests of High Order and as it's turning out to be, the priests lay this law for important reasons. Phela saw the magic slowly killing her mother because her body could not handle it, She had rushed things too soon. Phela began to scheme on how to take the throne without making her mother suspicious, but Phela knew that wouldn't be enough.
To truly ascend to the greater heights she wants to achieve, Phela knew she had to master magic and unlike her mother wield it without it destroying her. Her schemes become successful as she assassinates her brother and leads her mother to her downfall.
There are many main characters in this book with different important storylines, One of such characters is Blane. He is a novice priest in training at the Temple of the Four(the High Order's dwelling) where magic is rumoured to be buried beneath. Blane is special because he is Bajuman, a race of people who are regarded as the worst of the worst. They are slaves but are treated like they're worthless than dirt, this tradition has led the Bajuman to become rather submissive. Blane wanted freedom for his people so he joined the High Order(which accepts anyone as long as their past in left behind as they come in), in other to learn magic and free his people from obsession. He quickly comes to find that the rumors are true and magic does indeed exist in the depths of the Temple of the Four along with many other dark secrets.
The next important character is Demos Kallistrate who is the heir to the Baron of Kallistrate and the unofficial yet widely know betrothed to the Princess Myrinne, Phela's younger sister who is kind and just. Demos life is thrown into an uproar as his father is wrongfully executed for hearing something he shouldn't have and his family members get awfully humiliated. To make it worse, Demos is made into a slave and branded on his skin. After losing everything he had in his life and becoming a slave that nobles had been taught amounted to nothing, Demos became a different person as he sees life through new eyes.
Yet again another main character is Daria, Blane's sister thought to be dead but alive and reborn (figuratively of course) as Daria Hallarte. She is the Admiral of the Royal Navy Guard, She spends her days at sea protecting Quandis from pirates and urchins. But she gets pulled into the inevitable palms of fate when she learns that big things are happening at home and she just might be the hope for a brighter future. All these different characters all form a fascinating dark read that took me to really dark places I didn't see coming, This book is not for the faintest of hearts. It is Game of Thrones without Dragons and white haired Royals.
Phela gets her wish and obtains magic even becomes a goddess but she fatally realises that it came with a nasty price. Blane also got magic and the chance to free his people, He was able to help but he ultimately also found out the fatal price of magic. From the dregs of society, Demos wrought changes that changed the land but it turns out he might just lose everything before the ending. Daria stops fighting fate and embraces her destiny and becomes a beacon of hope but she might just have to give up what mattered to her most for the sake of her people. These different characters captivated me and immersed me in their world and I devoured all the pages swiftly. Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon are two master storytellers that have woven a fantastic world that all readers will like to get lost in. The ending was devastating and gut wrenching but it had to happen for the greater good. Blood of the Four is the perfect example of an epic fantasy book, It's absolutely perfect. It blends action, adventure, danger, magic, gore, character developments, battles and even a little romance quite well. I happily recommend this book to any reader who would like the be horrified, shattered, disgusted yet squealing gleefully in your mind as you witness every dark unimaginable deed done. You will LOVE it.
P.S: That cover is just....WOW. Absolutely love it.
P.P.S: My review doesn't really give this book justice to how good it is, You should pick it out yourself to see.
Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is one of the best epic fantasy books I've read. This is the first book I'm reading from both authors though they're apparently prolific. Princess Phela is a fascinating character that grew up with the benefits of a princess but the sneakiness of a street kid. She has learned a lot about people in the castle through forgotten secret passages she found when she was little and this gave her an advantage. On one of her journeys, She overhears her mother discussing using ancient forbidden magic. Magic in Quandis(the kingdom) has been forbidden for people except by the priests of High Order and as it's turning out to be, the priests lay this law for important reasons. Phela saw the magic slowly killing her mother because her body could not handle it, She had rushed things too soon. Phela began to scheme on how to take the throne without making her mother suspicious, but Phela knew that wouldn't be enough.
To truly ascend to the greater heights she wants to achieve, Phela knew she had to master magic and unlike her mother wield it without it destroying her. Her schemes become successful as she assassinates her brother and leads her mother to her downfall.
There are many main characters in this book with different important storylines, One of such characters is Blane. He is a novice priest in training at the Temple of the Four(the High Order's dwelling) where magic is rumoured to be buried beneath. Blane is special because he is Bajuman, a race of people who are regarded as the worst of the worst. They are slaves but are treated like they're worthless than dirt, this tradition has led the Bajuman to become rather submissive. Blane wanted freedom for his people so he joined the High Order(which accepts anyone as long as their past in left behind as they come in), in other to learn magic and free his people from obsession. He quickly comes to find that the rumors are true and magic does indeed exist in the depths of the Temple of the Four along with many other dark secrets.
The next important character is Demos Kallistrate who is the heir to the Baron of Kallistrate and the unofficial yet widely know betrothed to the Princess Myrinne, Phela's younger sister who is kind and just. Demos life is thrown into an uproar as his father is wrongfully executed for hearing something he shouldn't have and his family members get awfully humiliated. To make it worse, Demos is made into a slave and branded on his skin. After losing everything he had in his life and becoming a slave that nobles had been taught amounted to nothing, Demos became a different person as he sees life through new eyes.
Yet again another main character is Daria, Blane's sister thought to be dead but alive and reborn (figuratively of course) as Daria Hallarte. She is the Admiral of the Royal Navy Guard, She spends her days at sea protecting Quandis from pirates and urchins. But she gets pulled into the inevitable palms of fate when she learns that big things are happening at home and she just might be the hope for a brighter future. All these different characters all form a fascinating dark read that took me to really dark places I didn't see coming, This book is not for the faintest of hearts. It is Game of Thrones without Dragons and white haired Royals.
Phela gets her wish and obtains magic even becomes a goddess but she fatally realises that it came with a nasty price. Blane also got magic and the chance to free his people, He was able to help but he ultimately also found out the fatal price of magic. From the dregs of society, Demos wrought changes that changed the land but it turns out he might just lose everything before the ending. Daria stops fighting fate and embraces her destiny and becomes a beacon of hope but she might just have to give up what mattered to her most for the sake of her people. These different characters captivated me and immersed me in their world and I devoured all the pages swiftly. Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon are two master storytellers that have woven a fantastic world that all readers will like to get lost in. The ending was devastating and gut wrenching but it had to happen for the greater good. Blood of the Four is the perfect example of an epic fantasy book, It's absolutely perfect. It blends action, adventure, danger, magic, gore, character developments, battles and even a little romance quite well. I happily recommend this book to any reader who would like the be horrified, shattered, disgusted yet squealing gleefully in your mind as you witness every dark unimaginable deed done. You will LOVE it.
P.S: That cover is just....WOW. Absolutely love it.
P.P.S: My review doesn't really give this book justice to how good it is, You should pick it out yourself to see.
March 9, 2018
This book was FANTASTIC. Full review to come.
April 23, 2018
The kingdom of Quandis is built on tradition. A single religion, worshipping a group of deities known as the Four, is all that is tolerated. Atheists are viewed with suspicion and other religions are considered out and out blasphemy. The other tradition in Quandis is slavery. The Bajuman are all but invisible. They are treated like beasts of burden and expected to blindly obey every command. There is change in the air however. While the royal family squabble over the crown, slaves dream of freedom, and seeds of revolution are sown.
Initially, Princess Phela appears quite a positive force. She is inquisitive and keen to learn. Since birth, she has been constantly reminded that the blood of the Four runs in her veins and this mantra has left a mark. As her character evolves, it becomes evident that she is being consumed by the lure of power, both political and magical. Her reasoning is that if she is of the Four, then she has the inalienable right to rule; the right of succession is just a technicality. Nothing else matters to Phela but the crown and her quest to unlock the secrets of magic.
Elsewhere, Blane is a lowly Bajuman. Though he is now training to be a priest, he is still looked down upon by many. Blane’s strangely coloured eyes, a Bajuman trait, and his slave brand single him out. He will always be ostracised based on an accident of birth. Blane appears to wholeheartedly embrace his faith, but deep inside he has different ideas. The Four are an anathema to him. They symbolise everything that is wrong with society. How can they be a divine force, but allow slavery to continue? Like Phela, he is driven by purpose, but he yearns for freedom for his people rather than control of a kingdom.
There is a duality between these two main characters, their experiences almost mirror one another. I like how Phela and Blane can be viewed as differing sides of the same coin. They are both possessed by that sheer force of will that pushes them ever onwards. Both characters have a goal and are entirely focussed upon it. A meeting between the two is inevitable.
Religion, politics and familial relationships blend together to create an adventure that manages to be both huge in scope but also intimate in nature. Blane’s journey from slave to novice and onwards is particularly personal. It’s another perfectly executed counterpoint in the narrative. Events aren’t just shaping a nation, they are reshaping individual’s lives. Blane experiences these changes at a most fundamental level. The fact we get to witness both levels of this story set it far above traditional fantasy fare.
I’m a fan of both Christopher Golden (Ararat and Snowblind are both excellent) and Tim Lebbon (Check out The Silence, Relics and Coldbrook are all brilliant). Whenever I read a collaboration between two authors I find myself insanely curious about the process. How does it work? How long does it take? What happens if there are arguments? Two authors using a single voice to tell a story sounds like a tricky task, but Golden and Lebbon make it look easy. The kingdom of Quandis is well realised, the characters are engaging, and the plot contains more than enough unexpected moments to keep any reader entertained. So, what do you get when you bring two skilled authors together and they write a book? The answer is simple, something rather wonderful.
Initially, Princess Phela appears quite a positive force. She is inquisitive and keen to learn. Since birth, she has been constantly reminded that the blood of the Four runs in her veins and this mantra has left a mark. As her character evolves, it becomes evident that she is being consumed by the lure of power, both political and magical. Her reasoning is that if she is of the Four, then she has the inalienable right to rule; the right of succession is just a technicality. Nothing else matters to Phela but the crown and her quest to unlock the secrets of magic.
Elsewhere, Blane is a lowly Bajuman. Though he is now training to be a priest, he is still looked down upon by many. Blane’s strangely coloured eyes, a Bajuman trait, and his slave brand single him out. He will always be ostracised based on an accident of birth. Blane appears to wholeheartedly embrace his faith, but deep inside he has different ideas. The Four are an anathema to him. They symbolise everything that is wrong with society. How can they be a divine force, but allow slavery to continue? Like Phela, he is driven by purpose, but he yearns for freedom for his people rather than control of a kingdom.
There is a duality between these two main characters, their experiences almost mirror one another. I like how Phela and Blane can be viewed as differing sides of the same coin. They are both possessed by that sheer force of will that pushes them ever onwards. Both characters have a goal and are entirely focussed upon it. A meeting between the two is inevitable.
Religion, politics and familial relationships blend together to create an adventure that manages to be both huge in scope but also intimate in nature. Blane’s journey from slave to novice and onwards is particularly personal. It’s another perfectly executed counterpoint in the narrative. Events aren’t just shaping a nation, they are reshaping individual’s lives. Blane experiences these changes at a most fundamental level. The fact we get to witness both levels of this story set it far above traditional fantasy fare.
I’m a fan of both Christopher Golden (Ararat and Snowblind are both excellent) and Tim Lebbon (Check out The Silence, Relics and Coldbrook are all brilliant). Whenever I read a collaboration between two authors I find myself insanely curious about the process. How does it work? How long does it take? What happens if there are arguments? Two authors using a single voice to tell a story sounds like a tricky task, but Golden and Lebbon make it look easy. The kingdom of Quandis is well realised, the characters are engaging, and the plot contains more than enough unexpected moments to keep any reader entertained. So, what do you get when you bring two skilled authors together and they write a book? The answer is simple, something rather wonderful.
March 26, 2018
|3 stars|
Full Review @https://ecstaticyetchaotic.wordpress....
This book announces the creation of a new fantasy world, where magic is forbidden. When I got my hands on this e-ARC, I was excited beyond belief. This book has its own share of pros and cons.
Princess Phela is an ambitious young princess, she loves to collect information and is sneaky. She knows most of the palace secrets and she only uses them and people to raise herself to the ultimate position of power- the ruler of Quandis. However, the only way to succeed is to bring back magic to the world where magic is forbidden.
This novel contains all the essential elements of a fantasy novel. A kingdom where both rich and the poor exist, oppressed people who are tormented by the rich and the royal family, full of hidden agendas and family politics.
The story starts with a fierce intensity, something that announces the beginning of the worst scenario. There are a lot of characters in this story and it is a huge book, which simply means that the plot gets slow and boring sometimes. But it gains back it’s momentum and does the unexpected.
I have mixed emotions about this book and I am not entirely sure whether I liked it very much or not. It’s a great plot but the size of the book was definitely an anchor.
Full Review @https://ecstaticyetchaotic.wordpress....
This book announces the creation of a new fantasy world, where magic is forbidden. When I got my hands on this e-ARC, I was excited beyond belief. This book has its own share of pros and cons.
Princess Phela is an ambitious young princess, she loves to collect information and is sneaky. She knows most of the palace secrets and she only uses them and people to raise herself to the ultimate position of power- the ruler of Quandis. However, the only way to succeed is to bring back magic to the world where magic is forbidden.
This novel contains all the essential elements of a fantasy novel. A kingdom where both rich and the poor exist, oppressed people who are tormented by the rich and the royal family, full of hidden agendas and family politics.
The story starts with a fierce intensity, something that announces the beginning of the worst scenario. There are a lot of characters in this story and it is a huge book, which simply means that the plot gets slow and boring sometimes. But it gains back it’s momentum and does the unexpected.
I have mixed emotions about this book and I am not entirely sure whether I liked it very much or not. It’s a great plot but the size of the book was definitely an anchor.
March 19, 2018
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing this arc.
I really liked how this started out. It was brutal, dark, and with lots of ruthless female characters but then we get to the end. It just lagged and I was very unsatisfied with the ending for most of the main characters. I didn't quite get it which is too bad because from the beginning I thought I would rate this a 5 star read. If this had been spread out into more books, with more character development, maybe the ending would have made more sense to me.
I really liked how this started out. It was brutal, dark, and with lots of ruthless female characters but then we get to the end. It just lagged and I was very unsatisfied with the ending for most of the main characters. I didn't quite get it which is too bad because from the beginning I thought I would rate this a 5 star read. If this had been spread out into more books, with more character development, maybe the ending would have made more sense to me.
April 18, 2018
"Blood of the Four" is not your father's fantasy novel. This tale of a land and a monarch under the sway of four gods and their magic is one to savor. There are heroes and villains, those who strive to do what's right, and those who seek to master the magic. However, magic in the kingdom of Quandis can corrupt, and the results ain't pretty. I found "Blood of the Four" to be an entertaining read, and I recommend it to those looking for something a little different in the fantasy section.
April 5, 2018
This book started with a lot of promise and grabbed my attention immediately. However, it trying to bring the story to its conclusion within this one book, the narrative lost depth. I felt unsatisfied with the ending, which left a lot unexplained about the characters.
March 16, 2024
Art and Literature have examined Hubris since Ancient Greece, and probably even earlier. [Tower of Babel? Sodom and Gomorrah?] Humanity's greatest failing may be the urgent, overweening, drive to achieve surpassing greatness, to be more than human, to be all. BLOOD OF THE FOUR, Epic Grimdark Fantasy, examines Hubris, particularly in two completely disparate individuals. No matter how many times the reader may cry out: "NO! Give it up! You can't achieve what you insist is all yours!" it's a hopeless cause. Hubris will not be denied, and pride precedes destruction.
This novel is not only Epic Fantasy, it is Epic. I could cheerfully read it day after day after day, ad infinitum.
This novel is not only Epic Fantasy, it is Epic. I could cheerfully read it day after day after day, ad infinitum.
March 16, 2018
Originally published at Reading Reality
If you have ever searched for a single-volume epic fantasy that had everything you want in an epic fantasy, look no more. Instead, settle in for a trip to Quandis, amidst the utterly absorbing pages of Blood of the Four.
It has always seemed as if, in order for epic fantasy to be truly epic in scope, the author (or in this case, authors) needed to at least commit trilogy, if not tetralogy or even more. That is not the case with Blood of the Four, which may weigh in at a solid 480 pages, but is blessedly complete in and of itself, with no breathless waiting for book 2 and book 3 to appear and for he story to reach its epic conclusion. It’s all right here, and it’s marvelous.
The story begins with a secret. And a betrayal. And ends after a night of fire and bloodshed with a new beginning and a new queen, just as it should. The monsters are vanquished, evil is defeated, and good begins a new chapter in the history of a storied kingdom.
But those monsters are not mythic creatures out of legend. Nor should they be. The monsters begin as all too human, and they carry those human faults and frailties more than just a bit too far.
This is a story of hubris, and of reaching not just well beyond one’s grasp, but well beyond what any human should grasp.
And it’s awesome.
Escape Rating A+: Blood of the Four is my first A+ review of 2018. I loved it so much, it’s difficult to write about – but I’ll certainly try to do it justice.
First of all, it’s just damn amazing that this huge story is complete in one (admittedly big) volume. And that it doesn’t feel as if the authors left anything out that should be here. If this had been the usual epic trilogy, there would probably be more backstory on the characters, or the story would have started a bit earlier in their lives, or both.
But the authors did a great job at presenting the backstory that we really need to know to understand the characters, so we’re able to jump into the middle of the action and once we’re there, the pace never lets up.
There are a lot of threads to this story. From certain angles, this is a story about sisterhood, because there are two sides of this equation, and in the end both are saved by the characters’ sisters.
It is also the classic story of power corrupting, and absolute power corrupting absolutely. The queen of Quandis seemingly has everything including the love and loyalty of her adoring people. But it is not enough – because it never is – and her search into dark places and even darker magics leads to death and destruction, and not just her own.
The story also happens fast. From the very first betrayal until the dawn of the new age, an awful lot happens in a very short time period, and it feels as if we’re there for all of it. We don’t just follow those at the top of the rotting social order, the queens and princesses, but we also have characters who give us perspectives among the religious caste, the warriors and most important for this particular story and its result, the slaves and the underclasses. We see it all and we feel for everyone, every step of the way.
Something about this story, and I’m not exactly sure exactly what, reminded me a bit of The Queen of the Tearling as well as Jeffe Kennedy’s Twelve Kingdoms series, particularly The Mark of the Tala and The Talon of the Hawk. Probably the awesomeness of its heroines and its absolutely sweeping passing of the Bechdel Test. Women not only talk to each other, but they also respect each other – and it glows.
If you love epic fantasy, especially if you are looking for one where you can read it all without endless waiting for a next volume or spending a year of your life wading through a dozen or more doorstops, grab a copy of Blood of the Four. You will not be disappointed, not for a single page.
If you have ever searched for a single-volume epic fantasy that had everything you want in an epic fantasy, look no more. Instead, settle in for a trip to Quandis, amidst the utterly absorbing pages of Blood of the Four.
It has always seemed as if, in order for epic fantasy to be truly epic in scope, the author (or in this case, authors) needed to at least commit trilogy, if not tetralogy or even more. That is not the case with Blood of the Four, which may weigh in at a solid 480 pages, but is blessedly complete in and of itself, with no breathless waiting for book 2 and book 3 to appear and for he story to reach its epic conclusion. It’s all right here, and it’s marvelous.
The story begins with a secret. And a betrayal. And ends after a night of fire and bloodshed with a new beginning and a new queen, just as it should. The monsters are vanquished, evil is defeated, and good begins a new chapter in the history of a storied kingdom.
But those monsters are not mythic creatures out of legend. Nor should they be. The monsters begin as all too human, and they carry those human faults and frailties more than just a bit too far.
This is a story of hubris, and of reaching not just well beyond one’s grasp, but well beyond what any human should grasp.
And it’s awesome.
Escape Rating A+: Blood of the Four is my first A+ review of 2018. I loved it so much, it’s difficult to write about – but I’ll certainly try to do it justice.
First of all, it’s just damn amazing that this huge story is complete in one (admittedly big) volume. And that it doesn’t feel as if the authors left anything out that should be here. If this had been the usual epic trilogy, there would probably be more backstory on the characters, or the story would have started a bit earlier in their lives, or both.
But the authors did a great job at presenting the backstory that we really need to know to understand the characters, so we’re able to jump into the middle of the action and once we’re there, the pace never lets up.
There are a lot of threads to this story. From certain angles, this is a story about sisterhood, because there are two sides of this equation, and in the end both are saved by the characters’ sisters.
It is also the classic story of power corrupting, and absolute power corrupting absolutely. The queen of Quandis seemingly has everything including the love and loyalty of her adoring people. But it is not enough – because it never is – and her search into dark places and even darker magics leads to death and destruction, and not just her own.
The story also happens fast. From the very first betrayal until the dawn of the new age, an awful lot happens in a very short time period, and it feels as if we’re there for all of it. We don’t just follow those at the top of the rotting social order, the queens and princesses, but we also have characters who give us perspectives among the religious caste, the warriors and most important for this particular story and its result, the slaves and the underclasses. We see it all and we feel for everyone, every step of the way.
Something about this story, and I’m not exactly sure exactly what, reminded me a bit of The Queen of the Tearling as well as Jeffe Kennedy’s Twelve Kingdoms series, particularly The Mark of the Tala and The Talon of the Hawk. Probably the awesomeness of its heroines and its absolutely sweeping passing of the Bechdel Test. Women not only talk to each other, but they also respect each other – and it glows.
If you love epic fantasy, especially if you are looking for one where you can read it all without endless waiting for a next volume or spending a year of your life wading through a dozen or more doorstops, grab a copy of Blood of the Four. You will not be disappointed, not for a single page.
August 21, 2021
literally took me so long to finish and while the idea was neat, it was almost painful to finish because how everything got drawn out. i finally had to force myself to sit down and finish it just so i could be done with it.
April 12, 2018
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book.
The first few chapters are full of detailed sexual scenes, the horrible way slaves are treated and murder/execution scenes. I felt very uncomfortable reading these scenes.
We are given a lot of characters all at once and it was hard for me to remember who was who and which character went with which plot line (there were at least 4). At first, I liked Phela the best. She didn’t like how her mother (the queen) was ruling and wanted to change things for the better and I was totally on her side. As things progressed, I got a little nervous that her version of the right thing was as messed up as her mothers. As the story went on, I found myself more drawn to Daria, an admiral and Myrinne, Phela’s younger sister. They were both strong ladies who I felt had the best storylines.
At first, I felt like there was more description of how slaves were treated and things like that than character development and I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. I’m glad that as the story went on, the characters became more likeable.
At times there were very long gaps between some of the characters storylines, like it would go back and forth between 2 for several chapters and the others were on the back burner. Once we went to the back burner characters, it was sometimes hard to remember what was going on. Then it would go back and forth between these characters and I would forget about the first ones. I also wondered throughout the whole story how all of the characters were going to connect because their storylines were so different. They came together in a wonderful and well thought out way.
I think this book may have been a solid 4 star rating if it didn’t have all of the gruesome details at the beginning. After the first few chapters, treatment of slaves etc weren’t as detailed, or really all that detailed at all, and each characters storylines because much more interesting. There were parts where I had a hard time keeping myself engaged, but I really enjoyed the ending.
The first few chapters are full of detailed sexual scenes, the horrible way slaves are treated and murder/execution scenes. I felt very uncomfortable reading these scenes.
We are given a lot of characters all at once and it was hard for me to remember who was who and which character went with which plot line (there were at least 4). At first, I liked Phela the best. She didn’t like how her mother (the queen) was ruling and wanted to change things for the better and I was totally on her side. As things progressed, I got a little nervous that her version of the right thing was as messed up as her mothers. As the story went on, I found myself more drawn to Daria, an admiral and Myrinne, Phela’s younger sister. They were both strong ladies who I felt had the best storylines.
At first, I felt like there was more description of how slaves were treated and things like that than character development and I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. I’m glad that as the story went on, the characters became more likeable.
At times there were very long gaps between some of the characters storylines, like it would go back and forth between 2 for several chapters and the others were on the back burner. Once we went to the back burner characters, it was sometimes hard to remember what was going on. Then it would go back and forth between these characters and I would forget about the first ones. I also wondered throughout the whole story how all of the characters were going to connect because their storylines were so different. They came together in a wonderful and well thought out way.
I think this book may have been a solid 4 star rating if it didn’t have all of the gruesome details at the beginning. After the first few chapters, treatment of slaves etc weren’t as detailed, or really all that detailed at all, and each characters storylines because much more interesting. There were parts where I had a hard time keeping myself engaged, but I really enjoyed the ending.
February 13, 2018
2 1/2 stars
I need to preface this by saying that I'm currently in a really bad reading slump and struggling to get into anything. This may have impacted my enjoyment of this book, but I don't think it made a huge difference in the rating. It took me like 3+ weeks to read, and I'm usually reading 2-3 books a week, so it was pretty rough.
Unlikable, uncompelling characters kept me from ever getting very invested here. Even during the big finale, when everything should have been tense and had me on the edge of my seat, I just didn't care; I had only 20 pages left to read for several days. There was also something off about the pacing. It didn't lack action and conflict, but I found it to be incredibly slow. I think there was too little interaction between characters here. There were a lot of internal monologues, and characters off on their own, thinking, watching and waiting.
This felt a little Game of Thrones-lite. I feel like the authors were perhaps trying to capitalize on the popularity of that series, and used it as inspiration for some of there plot elements, but they just didn't work as well here. The political intrigue, and main characters on opposite sides of the conflict just lacked the complexity of Martin's work. However, I think this came down mostly to a lack of engaging characters. Antiheros/POV villains can be very sympathetic and compelling if done well, but here, I never got drawn in. I'm always looking for new fantasy books to recommend, but this definitely won't be something I reco.
*I received and Advnaced Reader Copy of this book from Indigo Books and Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review*
I need to preface this by saying that I'm currently in a really bad reading slump and struggling to get into anything. This may have impacted my enjoyment of this book, but I don't think it made a huge difference in the rating. It took me like 3+ weeks to read, and I'm usually reading 2-3 books a week, so it was pretty rough.
Unlikable, uncompelling characters kept me from ever getting very invested here. Even during the big finale, when everything should have been tense and had me on the edge of my seat, I just didn't care; I had only 20 pages left to read for several days. There was also something off about the pacing. It didn't lack action and conflict, but I found it to be incredibly slow. I think there was too little interaction between characters here. There were a lot of internal monologues, and characters off on their own, thinking, watching and waiting.
This felt a little Game of Thrones-lite. I feel like the authors were perhaps trying to capitalize on the popularity of that series, and used it as inspiration for some of there plot elements, but they just didn't work as well here. The political intrigue, and main characters on opposite sides of the conflict just lacked the complexity of Martin's work. However, I think this came down mostly to a lack of engaging characters. Antiheros/POV villains can be very sympathetic and compelling if done well, but here, I never got drawn in. I'm always looking for new fantasy books to recommend, but this definitely won't be something I reco.
*I received and Advnaced Reader Copy of this book from Indigo Books and Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review*
October 21, 2018
Such a disappointment. Honestly, it wasn't bad, but from the raving reviews I expected something on the level of Lord of the Rings or... something inspiring, good, and beyond just a story. Oh, well. It was definitely just a bland story filled with all the modern cliches and, despite some good grasp of realistic details, was completely annoying to read. I should've given up on page 2 like I was tempted to.
What attracted me, other than the promise of an awesome fantasy story, was that it's a standalone.
I'd read reviews that gushed over its "rich world" and "epic" scale... but nope, none of that here in my opinion. Just because there's a map in the beginning of the book and a few paragraphs thrown in here & there describing how the economy and slave system work doesn't mean it's on the scale of a sweeping fantasy - it wasn't a whole world, it was simply a small set of islands that didn't seem connected with anything else.
I did like the themes throughout and how each character had real, driving conflicts. There were a lot of strong female characters as well as males who weren't just stereotypes either. But as for the writing style & chapter structuring & overall worldbuilding ...meh.
What attracted me, other than the promise of an awesome fantasy story, was that it's a standalone.
I'd read reviews that gushed over its "rich world" and "epic" scale... but nope, none of that here in my opinion. Just because there's a map in the beginning of the book and a few paragraphs thrown in here & there describing how the economy and slave system work doesn't mean it's on the scale of a sweeping fantasy - it wasn't a whole world, it was simply a small set of islands that didn't seem connected with anything else.
I did like the themes throughout and how each character had real, driving conflicts. There were a lot of strong female characters as well as males who weren't just stereotypes either. But as for the writing style & chapter structuring & overall worldbuilding ...meh.
March 18, 2018
I have been a reader of fantasy novels all my life. As a teen Feist, Eddings, Brooks, Weis and Hickman (to name a few) provided me an escape from reality into the realms of the fantastic. They shaped me as a reader.
Chris Golden and Tim Lebbon, both of which I consider heavyweights in the literary world, have hit a home run with Blood of the Four (Harper Voyager). This is not a light easy read, and is a step away from and above the traditional swords and sorcery fantasy I initially expected. It contains all the anticipated themes - magic, grand battles, well conceived characters that make an epic fiction. However, I felt that it was more a reflection on society - the haves (that presume their position to be righteous), the have-nots (knowing nothing but servitude and abuse) and those struggling somewhere in between.
My only disappointment in this novel was that it had to end. I am certain Chris and Tim could've made a trilogy of this story if they'd wanted to...and I would have lapped up every page of intrigue, corruption resulting from absolute power, and shadowy gods.
Chris Golden and Tim Lebbon, both of which I consider heavyweights in the literary world, have hit a home run with Blood of the Four (Harper Voyager). This is not a light easy read, and is a step away from and above the traditional swords and sorcery fantasy I initially expected. It contains all the anticipated themes - magic, grand battles, well conceived characters that make an epic fiction. However, I felt that it was more a reflection on society - the haves (that presume their position to be righteous), the have-nots (knowing nothing but servitude and abuse) and those struggling somewhere in between.
My only disappointment in this novel was that it had to end. I am certain Chris and Tim could've made a trilogy of this story if they'd wanted to...and I would have lapped up every page of intrigue, corruption resulting from absolute power, and shadowy gods.
April 19, 2018
I received this book in a Pagehabit subscription box with annotations from the author, and at first I was a bit skeptical. Someone else choosing a book for me? Weird, right?
WELL LET ME TELL YOU HOW AMAZING THIS BOOK WAS. First off, I am a sucker for any fantasy novel with super awesome women. I will take anything with at least one woman who isn't a typical "save me, I'm a princess." This book had so many great characters. I'm literally trying to count them off in my head right now and I can't. Daria, Myrinne, Shome, Mouse, all of the Silent, COUNTLESS City Guards. They were all severely awesome. Not one dimensional either.
The general plot was very exciting too. I am a slow reader, and often I get bored or lost in a book so I end up just giving up. However, I finished this rather quickly. It was never boring, never slowed down, and I did lose my breath a couple of times. I would highly recommend this book.
WELL LET ME TELL YOU HOW AMAZING THIS BOOK WAS. First off, I am a sucker for any fantasy novel with super awesome women. I will take anything with at least one woman who isn't a typical "save me, I'm a princess." This book had so many great characters. I'm literally trying to count them off in my head right now and I can't. Daria, Myrinne, Shome, Mouse, all of the Silent, COUNTLESS City Guards. They were all severely awesome. Not one dimensional either.
The general plot was very exciting too. I am a slow reader, and often I get bored or lost in a book so I end up just giving up. However, I finished this rather quickly. It was never boring, never slowed down, and I did lose my breath a couple of times. I would highly recommend this book.
May 7, 2018
If your are looking for an epic fantasy read whose tale is in one solid book, look no further. Blood of the Four builds a rich world filled with a cast of fascinating characters. Oddly, I found that this novel satiated my need for a good rich fantasy as I wait for the next book in the Ice and Fire series (looking at you George). The two sagas are similar where different sides are fighting for the right of the throne, but this one doesn't include any mythical beasts. Instead, it builds up the use of magic in this world. A magic that over time unfortunately corrupts its user, even if the user's intentions are for good. One thing that I wish the authors expanded more was the lore of the Gods in this book. They gave you bits and pieces, but I still have a lot of questions at the end. Either way, I did enjoy this book.
April 17, 2020
This book was just downright awful. I don't know if it was me or the mood. But I did not enjoy one aspect of the book. I absolutely love fantasy. And stand alone fantasy, if done right, are my favorite. The characters could have been so much better developed. Everything felt rushed. Nothing was making sense because everything was going at warp speed. I think, with all that was happening, that this book had more than enough stuff to be a trilogy. Or at least a duology. I'm really disappointed. I rarely give books 1 stars. But I didnt enjoy one part of this book. I think the storyline should have been extended. There was so much potential. I didnt even connect with any of the characters because it was just jumping around from character to character without any development.
June 1, 2018
The heart of this story is the evolution of an megalomaniacal, magic-using Queen. The story starts with her constant spying, gathering secrets behind hidden nooks and crannies and progresses through an act of fratricide and matricide to become Queen. Once Queen she only gets worst when she demands access to the magic of the gods controlled by the priesthood. Then it's a Henry VIII move to combining crown and faith, mass slaughter of the opposition, civil war and maybe worse.
The story telling is smooth, fast paced and the many supporting characters always on the brink of death. You fear the mad monarch can't be defeated. How bad will it get?
The story telling is smooth, fast paced and the many supporting characters always on the brink of death. You fear the mad monarch can't be defeated. How bad will it get?
December 24, 2017
Golden and Lebbon meld their talents again in an all new fantasy of madness and war with a battle for the soul of a city brewing, sewn by generations of bigotry and intolerance.
April 12, 2018
Goes a little too hard on the grim dark but it doesn't really land.
April 16, 2018
Not bad. Just an OK Fantasy read.
July 1, 2020
I’m a bit surprised that this book only has a 3.3 rating 🤷♀️ I enjoyed it! I read a lot of bigger epic fantasy series and I think it was pretty well done for a stand alone. It kept my attention, there was creep factor, social structure, power-hungry royals, executions, priests, pirates, and uncontrollable magic. If there was a sequel, I’d pick it up.
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March 5, 2018I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins Publishers. Thank you!
May 3, 2019
3.5 stars
*I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher at NYCC*
I know some people didn't like that this was a stand alone story rather than a series, but I think that was one of it's greatest strengths. There was maybe enough story for 2 books, but it definitely couldn't have been a trilogy. The only time it dragged was over the last 50 pages or so - in their attempt to wrap up storylines in a dramatic and epic fashion they actually ended up with somewhat slow and boring finales for characters. Phela is a great villain - selfish, vindictive, and determined. Phela's and Blane's pursuits of magic also serve as a reminder that the most dangerous people are those who are so sure they're right (and in this case righteous). I had a hard time 100% liking Demos and Myrinne - in the end they're good people, but for most of their lives they treated the Bajuman terribly and didn't really care about the plight of slaves in the city until it directly impacted them.
*I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher at NYCC*
I know some people didn't like that this was a stand alone story rather than a series, but I think that was one of it's greatest strengths. There was maybe enough story for 2 books, but it definitely couldn't have been a trilogy. The only time it dragged was over the last 50 pages or so - in their attempt to wrap up storylines in a dramatic and epic fashion they actually ended up with somewhat slow and boring finales for characters. Phela is a great villain - selfish, vindictive, and determined. Phela's and Blane's pursuits of magic also serve as a reminder that the most dangerous people are those who are so sure they're right (and in this case righteous). I had a hard time 100% liking Demos and Myrinne - in the end they're good people, but for most of their lives they treated the Bajuman terribly and didn't really care about the plight of slaves in the city until it directly impacted them.
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