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Blood Monsoon: An Epic Fantasy Series of High Adventure
Gold to the Grave, for the Dragon Season has come!
The Dragon Choir is broken, new prophecies emerge and the rebellion hangs in the balance. Dragons hunt our heroes and crooked villains plot the return of an evil to make even the gods falter. Secrets are revealed and the key to everything spins on a brutal wheel of death.
Rebels and pirates make landfall after an impossible victory at sea. The armada is shattered, but the Council of Jando holds the frontier towns with an iron fist. Calimska raises the magical Golden Shield and an army of dragons begin a war to enslave Oranica under a tyrant King. Are the companions strong enough to survive what immortals fear?
Return to all your favourite heroes and villains in Blood Monsoon!
The Dragon Choir is broken, new prophecies emerge and the rebellion hangs in the balance. Dragons hunt our heroes and crooked villains plot the return of an evil to make even the gods falter. Secrets are revealed and the key to everything spins on a brutal wheel of death.
Rebels and pirates make landfall after an impossible victory at sea. The armada is shattered, but the Council of Jando holds the frontier towns with an iron fist. Calimska raises the magical Golden Shield and an army of dragons begin a war to enslave Oranica under a tyrant King. Are the companions strong enough to survive what immortals fear?
Return to all your favourite heroes and villains in Blood Monsoon!
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2017
10 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Descovich
5 books19 followersBenjamin Descovich is a long name for a fellow better known as Ben. As a boy he rolled dice, adventuring through magic worlds with dragons, wizards and warriors. He feasted upon epic fantasy books by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Anne McCaffrey then devoured the multitude of Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms books among many others.
Ben’s an author who’s passionate about the environment and social justice and holds a degree in Political Science. Born in Australia and well travelled through Europe and Asia, he’s been spoilt with inspiration for his fiction. While the dramatic landscapes, political intrigue and epic battles will captivate your imagination; the dragons and magic will take your breath away.
Ben tried growing up and walked life’s path in many different shoes. Along the way, he discovered the spice of politics, a kaleidoscope of culture and most of all the wonders of language. Burning in his heart are hundreds of fantasy tales, powerful stories of struggle and sacrifice, honour and treachery, love and loss. Every day, Ben works the forge, bringing magic to the world of Oranica, unveiling imperfect heroes and heroines in a clash against evil and injustice. Monsters and mythic beasts abound, so sharpen your sword and open your spell book!
Join the Dragon Choir Newsletter for updates and some sorcery stuffed in an ebook!
www.benjamindescovich.com
Ben’s an author who’s passionate about the environment and social justice and holds a degree in Political Science. Born in Australia and well travelled through Europe and Asia, he’s been spoilt with inspiration for his fiction. While the dramatic landscapes, political intrigue and epic battles will captivate your imagination; the dragons and magic will take your breath away.
Ben tried growing up and walked life’s path in many different shoes. Along the way, he discovered the spice of politics, a kaleidoscope of culture and most of all the wonders of language. Burning in his heart are hundreds of fantasy tales, powerful stories of struggle and sacrifice, honour and treachery, love and loss. Every day, Ben works the forge, bringing magic to the world of Oranica, unveiling imperfect heroes and heroines in a clash against evil and injustice. Monsters and mythic beasts abound, so sharpen your sword and open your spell book!
Join the Dragon Choir Newsletter for updates and some sorcery stuffed in an ebook!
www.benjamindescovich.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 5, 2018
This book has four main story lines, belonging respectively to: the remaining rebels; Elrin; Pelegrin; and Kettna.
At the beginning of this book, both the rebel alliance and the Jandan fleet are severely damaged, following the chaotic dragon-razing slaughter at the end of “Dragon Choir”. Elrin and Tatula are missing, presumed dead. Pelegrin’s reputation is in tatters, and Uighara is not to be found. Still, the surviving rebels and pirate have enough energy left to celebrate their, somewhat pyrrhic, victory with alcohol and revelry.
Minni is not impressed: “The rebellion had not won anything and had lost too much. If the future was a murk of dragon wrath and Jandan misery, Minni was going to make the rest of her days count for something. Vengeance was a good start. Drinking on the beach was a sorry end.”. Unfortunately, one of Kobb’s pirates, an expert at reading women, has other ideas: ““You don’t have to cry anymore,” he continued with his pretty mouth and empty head. “I’m such a man” … Possessing a hard body had stilted the pirate’s wits”. Minni’s response will make every woman, and all right-thinking men cheer, and just underlines how much I love Minni’s character.
Minni’s is not the only superb rebel character in this book. The interplay between father and son, Jaspa and Delik, is excellent. Jaspa is a charismatic, pragmatic and manipulative leader: “A leader who made you think every order was for your own good, every compromise was a victory and every sacrifice was an honour”. Delik is an idealist who never wants to compromise. He loves and admires his father, but is wary of his methods: “There he goes again. Saying the right thing to suit his agenda and please all parties. His father had made more mistakes and lost more men under his command than any other, but everyone listened to his words like they were golden”. Tikis, Amber, Hurn and Kobb are relatively minor characters, but still fully developed, believable and intrinsic to the tale.
Elrin is in some kind of Sisyphean, blood-soaked hell, where every day he is forced to fight demons, he dies horribly, and is resurrected to fight the next day. The blood imagery of these chapters is disturbing and overwhelming, and the painful monotony of Elrin’s existence wears down the reader as well as Elrin.
Pelegrin has returned to the Jandan Empire, hoping that he will be able to bring Uighara to justice, but finds himself branded the traitor.
Kettna has the thankless task of collecting taxes for the premature raising of the Calimska Golden shield. But, the already unsettled inhabitants of Calimska are not prepared for unexpectedly early taxation, and protest voraciously against its collection.
The writing and imagery in this book is, once again, first class. The reader is transported to very vivid scenes, including the Drakkin swamps: “This land was a green confusion soaked in shadow, stirred in muck and steamed to anger”, and the ghastly blood-drenched hell of Ungx Vohun and Raznu.
The Dragon Choir has fallen, but that is not the end of dragon involvement in this story. Each story strand has its own dragon fiend or friend. Each strand has its dangers and fatalities, and nothing is predictable (except perhaps Elrin’s perpetual resurrection and death cycle). The story ends on (at least) four cliff-hangers, and the next book in the series cannot come soon enough.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
At the beginning of this book, both the rebel alliance and the Jandan fleet are severely damaged, following the chaotic dragon-razing slaughter at the end of “Dragon Choir”. Elrin and Tatula are missing, presumed dead. Pelegrin’s reputation is in tatters, and Uighara is not to be found. Still, the surviving rebels and pirate have enough energy left to celebrate their, somewhat pyrrhic, victory with alcohol and revelry.
Minni is not impressed: “The rebellion had not won anything and had lost too much. If the future was a murk of dragon wrath and Jandan misery, Minni was going to make the rest of her days count for something. Vengeance was a good start. Drinking on the beach was a sorry end.”. Unfortunately, one of Kobb’s pirates, an expert at reading women, has other ideas: ““You don’t have to cry anymore,” he continued with his pretty mouth and empty head. “I’m such a man” … Possessing a hard body had stilted the pirate’s wits”. Minni’s response will make every woman, and all right-thinking men cheer, and just underlines how much I love Minni’s character.
Minni’s is not the only superb rebel character in this book. The interplay between father and son, Jaspa and Delik, is excellent. Jaspa is a charismatic, pragmatic and manipulative leader: “A leader who made you think every order was for your own good, every compromise was a victory and every sacrifice was an honour”. Delik is an idealist who never wants to compromise. He loves and admires his father, but is wary of his methods: “There he goes again. Saying the right thing to suit his agenda and please all parties. His father had made more mistakes and lost more men under his command than any other, but everyone listened to his words like they were golden”. Tikis, Amber, Hurn and Kobb are relatively minor characters, but still fully developed, believable and intrinsic to the tale.
Elrin is in some kind of Sisyphean, blood-soaked hell, where every day he is forced to fight demons, he dies horribly, and is resurrected to fight the next day. The blood imagery of these chapters is disturbing and overwhelming, and the painful monotony of Elrin’s existence wears down the reader as well as Elrin.
Pelegrin has returned to the Jandan Empire, hoping that he will be able to bring Uighara to justice, but finds himself branded the traitor.
Kettna has the thankless task of collecting taxes for the premature raising of the Calimska Golden shield. But, the already unsettled inhabitants of Calimska are not prepared for unexpectedly early taxation, and protest voraciously against its collection.
The writing and imagery in this book is, once again, first class. The reader is transported to very vivid scenes, including the Drakkin swamps: “This land was a green confusion soaked in shadow, stirred in muck and steamed to anger”, and the ghastly blood-drenched hell of Ungx Vohun and Raznu.
The Dragon Choir has fallen, but that is not the end of dragon involvement in this story. Each story strand has its own dragon fiend or friend. Each strand has its dangers and fatalities, and nothing is predictable (except perhaps Elrin’s perpetual resurrection and death cycle). The story ends on (at least) four cliff-hangers, and the next book in the series cannot come soon enough.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review
August 22, 2018
Interesting story, but again why I don't care for series unless complete. I didn't like the back & forth from one character to another. It read as disjointed which made it harder to stay engaged in the story. if the last/next book was done I would have been inclined to buy it since I want the WHOLE story at once.
August 6, 2017
This is high fantasy. It is dark, full of blood, death, fighting and magic. It is well written with constant action. If these are your favorite things, then do buy this book. Be sure to read Dragon Choir first. This is not a stand-alone story.
August 3, 2017
Wow.I received a free ARC copy from the author.As with the rest of the series, this book does not disappoint.It is a real page turner.
August 22, 2018
I enjoyed this
It’s a bit different. Can’t wait for the next book! Dragons, magic, intrigue. I like that the pieces are being assembled to come together later.
It’s a bit different. Can’t wait for the next book! Dragons, magic, intrigue. I like that the pieces are being assembled to come together later.
November 11, 2017
What an awesome series this is becoming. Dragons, unicorns, dwarves, giants, pirates, all sorts of adventures are happening. Lots more loose ends to be tied up. Benjamin is an awesome writer who has become one of my new favourite authors. So looking forward to the next book
October 31, 2017
A glorious continuation to this series. Most of the characters in the previous book are present once again and they are joined by Inspector Kettna, who makes a welcome return (and explains why I felt that 'Dragon Choir' lacked something - though I wasn't able to work out what it was and gave it only 4 stars).
We learn a lot more about Oranica and about the dragons - which feature even more than in the earlier book as the migratory season approaches - plus the plot(s) that are driving this sequence of books.
Excellent stuff, highly recommended - tough new readers might be advised to go back to the beginning with 'Dead Letter'.
We learn a lot more about Oranica and about the dragons - which feature even more than in the earlier book as the migratory season approaches - plus the plot(s) that are driving this sequence of books.
Excellent stuff, highly recommended - tough new readers might be advised to go back to the beginning with 'Dead Letter'.
November 13, 2017
This series is getting better all the time.
Continuing on from book 1, this follows the characters with new trials and more mayhem.
Continuing on from book 1, this follows the characters with new trials and more mayhem.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews