What do you think?
Rate this book
The Heretic Gods
Sweetblade
A Stand-Alone Heretic Gods Novel Every decision she had thought was right had led her astray. Perhaps it was time to make the wrong decision. LIVES ARE SHAPED BY DECISIONS, and Ivana's decisions have destroyed her life. She finds herself on the streets of Carradon, broken, destitute, and utterly alone. But perhaps not entirely without hope. A man named Elidor comes to her rescue and welcomes her into his home. But Elidor holds secrets of his own. Lives may turn upon a single moment, and Ivana's decision to accept the hospitality of this stranger will transform her in ways she never imagined...or feared. Content This book contains references to/depictions of self-harm.
- GenresFantasy
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2018
7 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 1, 2019
Ivanna can’t seem to escape the mistakes of the past. The guilt, present circumstances, and especially her memories won’t let her. Living on the streets now, a turn of luck has her apprenticing with Elidor, as an assassin in training. Ivanna hopes she can bury her past shame and guilt further down in her soul, and become as cold and unfeeling as her mentor.
The is a standalone and technically prequel to Banebringer where we get the backstory on Ivanna, how she chose to become an assassin and yes, even where the nickname comes from.
Part one of this story is told in a dual timeline- the past where we see Ivanna’s teen years and where it all went wrong, and the current, with the fallout of that and her involvement with her new mentor Elidor.
This was very readable- even though I know where she ends up, and even some of her past from Banebringer, this was well-paced and kept my interest up to see how everything came together.
This is a fast read but not a light read, as some of the content involves things like depression, self-harm and of course murder. The mc is in a dark spot and stays there for most of the book, and though she may not be in a dark place the whole book, as she is an assassin- she definitely isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done when the time comes.
This is such a hard line for a main character too, especially an assassin, balancing hints of softness and humanity, making them a person we can relate to but also believe they are able to kill without hesitation. I thought this line was walked exceptionally well. The visit to the grave was a nice touch to show us that she is still capable of emotions but in contrast, the moment where she met a certain someone (who can’t be named due to spoilers) proves she is capable of the hard choices.
Part two- which hits around the last quarter of the book, jumps ahead a few years and we get to see how Ivanna has maybe not forgotten, but has definitely moved on from her past and become quite capable of her job. This part also turns into a bit of a mystery/crime story.
I liked the crime investigating mystery plot, there was a little of the csi type theme in Banebringer as well, and I’m kind of a sucker for that kind of thing but it also gave this a feeling of two separate stories.
The cast is small and limited to who can be the culprit, we know with one sentence who it most likely is, and Ivanna suspects just as quickly.
The foreshadowing is there through the book and I like that the author didn’t waste time pretending it was someone else or throwing around red herrings. Time was spent on proof, but not wasted on misleading us, or pulling a suspect out of a hat to give us a last-minute twist. But the assuredness of the identity, also removed some of the tension from the end so it is a double-edged sword that way.
There was a distinct lack of the magic that I loved so much in Banebinger and this is a hard complaint because I understand why it is missing. The parameters this story fits in, to stay in the timeline of information flow for the next, severely hampered it from having any of the magic or information on the conclave or even the Banebringers (though we do get one showing). I did understand but I also really missed it because it was one of the things that made Banebringer stand out for me.
The good- tighter, cleaner writing, there was a lot packed in to Banebringer and this one definitely cleans up and cuts the fat.
Very compelling read, even knowing some of the story and who the culprit most likely was; I kept turning the pages.
The somewhat bad- missed the magic, this felt like two stories in one, and unrelated but... Cries for forgetting this was going to be prequel, and having to wait to find out about Vaughn and Ivanna.
If you enjoyed Ivanna in Banebringer and want to know more about her past, this is going to be right up your alley. If you liked the world and magic and are looking for more of that then you’ll need to wait for Banebringer’s sequel. If none of that matters then this is just a good solid read and has me even more excited for the sequel to Banebringer.
4.5
A special thank you to Carol Park for generously supplying a copy through the TBRinder program which can be found at it's new home.
http://www.kreativejoose.com/2019/03/...
Also posted over at RockStarLit BookAsylum
https://starlitbook.com/2019/04/25/sw...
The is a standalone and technically prequel to Banebringer where we get the backstory on Ivanna, how she chose to become an assassin and yes, even where the nickname comes from.
Part one of this story is told in a dual timeline- the past where we see Ivanna’s teen years and where it all went wrong, and the current, with the fallout of that and her involvement with her new mentor Elidor.
This was very readable- even though I know where she ends up, and even some of her past from Banebringer, this was well-paced and kept my interest up to see how everything came together.
This is a fast read but not a light read, as some of the content involves things like depression, self-harm and of course murder. The mc is in a dark spot and stays there for most of the book, and though she may not be in a dark place the whole book, as she is an assassin- she definitely isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done when the time comes.
This is such a hard line for a main character too, especially an assassin, balancing hints of softness and humanity, making them a person we can relate to but also believe they are able to kill without hesitation. I thought this line was walked exceptionally well. The visit to the grave was a nice touch to show us that she is still capable of emotions but in contrast, the moment where she met a certain someone (who can’t be named due to spoilers) proves she is capable of the hard choices.
Part two- which hits around the last quarter of the book, jumps ahead a few years and we get to see how Ivanna has maybe not forgotten, but has definitely moved on from her past and become quite capable of her job. This part also turns into a bit of a mystery/crime story.
I liked the crime investigating mystery plot, there was a little of the csi type theme in Banebringer as well, and I’m kind of a sucker for that kind of thing but it also gave this a feeling of two separate stories.
The cast is small and limited to who can be the culprit, we know with one sentence who it most likely is, and Ivanna suspects just as quickly.
The foreshadowing is there through the book and I like that the author didn’t waste time pretending it was someone else or throwing around red herrings. Time was spent on proof, but not wasted on misleading us, or pulling a suspect out of a hat to give us a last-minute twist. But the assuredness of the identity, also removed some of the tension from the end so it is a double-edged sword that way.
There was a distinct lack of the magic that I loved so much in Banebinger and this is a hard complaint because I understand why it is missing. The parameters this story fits in, to stay in the timeline of information flow for the next, severely hampered it from having any of the magic or information on the conclave or even the Banebringers (though we do get one showing). I did understand but I also really missed it because it was one of the things that made Banebringer stand out for me.
The good- tighter, cleaner writing, there was a lot packed in to Banebringer and this one definitely cleans up and cuts the fat.
Very compelling read, even knowing some of the story and who the culprit most likely was; I kept turning the pages.
The somewhat bad- missed the magic, this felt like two stories in one, and unrelated but... Cries for forgetting this was going to be prequel, and having to wait to find out about Vaughn and Ivanna.
If you enjoyed Ivanna in Banebringer and want to know more about her past, this is going to be right up your alley. If you liked the world and magic and are looking for more of that then you’ll need to wait for Banebringer’s sequel. If none of that matters then this is just a good solid read and has me even more excited for the sequel to Banebringer.
4.5
A special thank you to Carol Park for generously supplying a copy through the TBRinder program which can be found at it's new home.
http://www.kreativejoose.com/2019/03/...
Also posted over at RockStarLit BookAsylum
https://starlitbook.com/2019/04/25/sw...
November 10, 2019
I haven’t read any other work by Carol A. Park, so this is my introduction. We start off seeing Ivana as a street urchin beggar, though we do see glimpses of her past through flashback chapters. I never really clicked with Ivana as a character, and I’m not certain that it’s because I have never seen her from ‘the other side’ so to speak. She ends up as a badass assassin, but here we see… a teenage girl from a middle-class working family who makes some of the most ridiculously poor decisions and it ultimately ends up kickstarting her education in the stabbing.
The book was well written and well edited. It read quite easily and was never boring. I read half of it in one sitting, to put that in perspective. I liked this world that it takes place in, and hope one day to read into more of it. I did enjoy some of the other characters, just not Ivana. C’est la vie, I guess. However, even despite not 100% jiving with this one, the writing and the world has definitely put Banebringer on my TBR.
The book was well written and well edited. It read quite easily and was never boring. I read half of it in one sitting, to put that in perspective. I liked this world that it takes place in, and hope one day to read into more of it. I did enjoy some of the other characters, just not Ivana. C’est la vie, I guess. However, even despite not 100% jiving with this one, the writing and the world has definitely put Banebringer on my TBR.
November 6, 2019
Sweetblade is another great look into the world of Carol A. Park's Heretic Gods series.
Much like others who have reviewed this, I was also missing the magic and more fantastical elements that can be found in Banebringer, though it's perfectly understandable why Park doesn't delve into those here (aside from one scene). But despite this, I still found myself engaged, and that's due to Park's grasp on this world and her characters.
Ivana takes center stage here, telling a story from her past before we meet her in Banebringer, and it's interesting getting to see the events that shaped her into the person we meet in that book. She has gone through a lot of trauma, and Park certainly does not shy away from those darker elements of her story. Despite how grim some of the situations and Ivana's mindsets are, though, I appreciated that Park did not make this feel exploitative; the subjects of depression, self-harm, and other delicate matters were handled with care and helped you to empathize with Ivana's continually bleaker narrative.
The narrative is divided into two parts, the second of which jumps ahead a few years and is essentially a murder mystery. This is where I did find the book to stumble a bit, though not too much. I just found it to be a somewhat simplistic mystery, and one that kind of came out of nowhere in my mind, so I found the resolution of it to be a little unsatisfying. Some of the thematic elements brought up by it at the end were definitely interesting, but the execution of it left a bit to be desired as far as intrigue and tension go. But like I said, it was nothing that especially detracted from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, a solid entry into the Heretic Gods world and a great read for someone looking for a dark tale about an assassin-in-training.
Much like others who have reviewed this, I was also missing the magic and more fantastical elements that can be found in Banebringer, though it's perfectly understandable why Park doesn't delve into those here (aside from one scene). But despite this, I still found myself engaged, and that's due to Park's grasp on this world and her characters.
Ivana takes center stage here, telling a story from her past before we meet her in Banebringer, and it's interesting getting to see the events that shaped her into the person we meet in that book. She has gone through a lot of trauma, and Park certainly does not shy away from those darker elements of her story. Despite how grim some of the situations and Ivana's mindsets are, though, I appreciated that Park did not make this feel exploitative; the subjects of depression, self-harm, and other delicate matters were handled with care and helped you to empathize with Ivana's continually bleaker narrative.
The narrative is divided into two parts, the second of which jumps ahead a few years and is essentially a murder mystery. This is where I did find the book to stumble a bit, though not too much. I just found it to be a somewhat simplistic mystery, and one that kind of came out of nowhere in my mind, so I found the resolution of it to be a little unsatisfying. Some of the thematic elements brought up by it at the end were definitely interesting, but the execution of it left a bit to be desired as far as intrigue and tension go. But like I said, it was nothing that especially detracted from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, a solid entry into the Heretic Gods world and a great read for someone looking for a dark tale about an assassin-in-training.
October 15, 2024
I haven't read the main series, but I am curious now because this world seems fascinating. And it is forbidden to study foreign languages?! Why?! And okay, this was what picked my interest the most, but there are other things that are interesting and that I'd love to see more.
That said, this was an origin story for a character, and it was interesting, up to a point. Ivana seems a good character, but all in all, the spark was missing here. It was interesting, sure, but I wasn't so invested or so captivated, and my interest had some highs and lows. The last part of the story was the most intriguing, at least for me, I was almost hooked here. But all in all, it lacks something. I mean, we get the whys and hows, but one big why is left unaddressed. I mean, why Elidor picked Ivana? The author constantly remarks on this, is not that it goes unnoticed, but we don't get an answer. And this was quite maddening.
All in all it was not a bad read, and I am curious toward the main series, but I didn't fall in love with it.
That said, this was an origin story for a character, and it was interesting, up to a point. Ivana seems a good character, but all in all, the spark was missing here. It was interesting, sure, but I wasn't so invested or so captivated, and my interest had some highs and lows. The last part of the story was the most intriguing, at least for me, I was almost hooked here. But all in all, it lacks something. I mean, we get the whys and hows, but one big why is left unaddressed. I mean, why Elidor picked Ivana? The author constantly remarks on this, is not that it goes unnoticed, but we don't get an answer. And this was quite maddening.
All in all it was not a bad read, and I am curious toward the main series, but I didn't fall in love with it.
April 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. I read Banebringer, Carol Park's other book, and also thought it was good. Sweetblade delves deeper into the backstory of one of the main characters from that book. It's very dark, but never quite manages to be entirely hopeless, and I appreciate that about it. I actually wish I would have read this one before Banebringer, since it probably would have given me extra insight into Ivana's character in that novel.
Where I think Park knocks it out of the ballpark is with her characters in this story. You ache with Ivana. You get weirded out be Elidor. You love Boden. I don't want to call what Park does manipulating your emotions, but it is, in a sense. She crafts these connections with these characters and then she uses those connections to make you feel deeply. The character arc for Ivana in this book is really second to none.
As in Banebringer, Park isn't willing to shy away from some difficult topics like depression, self harm, the loss of family, even sociopathy. I'm sort of wowed that she touches on all these in a way that never quite strays into the complete despair and hopelessness of grimdark. It's well done and well worth reading.
Where I think Park knocks it out of the ballpark is with her characters in this story. You ache with Ivana. You get weirded out be Elidor. You love Boden. I don't want to call what Park does manipulating your emotions, but it is, in a sense. She crafts these connections with these characters and then she uses those connections to make you feel deeply. The character arc for Ivana in this book is really second to none.
As in Banebringer, Park isn't willing to shy away from some difficult topics like depression, self harm, the loss of family, even sociopathy. I'm sort of wowed that she touches on all these in a way that never quite strays into the complete despair and hopelessness of grimdark. It's well done and well worth reading.
January 6, 2019
This book is incredibly hard to rate. I would give it 4.5 stars, but since Goodreads doesn't do half stars, I think it definitely deserves to be rounded up.
I picked up Sweetblade on its release date because I really enjoyed Banebringer, the first book in the Heretic Gods series. Banebringer has a strong romance element, although it's very much a fantasy first. It's not exactly a light book, but it's definitely lighter than Sweetblade. Although Sweetblade is a standalone and *technically* you could read it without having read Banebringer, I would REALLY recommend reading Banebringer first. Here's why.
Ivana, one of the main characters of Banebringer, begins that novel as a cold-hearted assassin called Sweetblade. She's thrown into a "frenemies" situation with a man named Vaughn and over the course of that book, her cold facade cracks.
Sweetblade is about how she became that cold killer in the first place. And trust me, there is *no* romance in this book.
That's why I thought it was helpful to know where Ivana was going to land eventually. Having that glimmer of hope to hold onto (and I am very eagerly awaiting Book 2 in that series!) was something I really needed as I watched the story drive Ivana relentlessly on, ever further over the edge. There were several moments (well, two VERY BIG moments) when I really, really, REALLY hoped that things would be different... but, to be honest, if Carol Park had flinched and tried to make the story less bleak, it would have felt like cheating. Like she had taken the easy way out.
Carol Park didn't cheat in this book. She deals with some really dark, difficult issues, including self-harm, and she goes all the way there. This book isn't grimdark the way I think most people think of it, but it is grim and dark; it deals with many of the things fantasy writers like to sweep under the rug, like what happens to the women and the children when the nobles who father the bastards leave? How are they supposed to cope? To survive, in a world where they've been cast off?
You have to be prepared for that when you go into the book, I think, and that's why I was happy to have read Banebringer first.
As far as the writing goes, it's smooth and fast. It draws you into the story and then doesn't let go. The only quibble I had was that the last part felt just a little disconnected from the rest of the book. Not that it wasn't foreshadowed, because it was, but it seemed almost as if it had begun life as its own novella that was then attached to the end of the book. But that's a teeny-tiny little quibble, and hardly anything to notice.
If you like character-driven stories, assassins, and stories that don't shy away from difficult issues -- particularly women's issues -- then I highly recommend giving Sweetblade a try.
I picked up Sweetblade on its release date because I really enjoyed Banebringer, the first book in the Heretic Gods series. Banebringer has a strong romance element, although it's very much a fantasy first. It's not exactly a light book, but it's definitely lighter than Sweetblade. Although Sweetblade is a standalone and *technically* you could read it without having read Banebringer, I would REALLY recommend reading Banebringer first. Here's why.
Ivana, one of the main characters of Banebringer, begins that novel as a cold-hearted assassin called Sweetblade. She's thrown into a "frenemies" situation with a man named Vaughn and over the course of that book, her cold facade cracks.
Sweetblade is about how she became that cold killer in the first place. And trust me, there is *no* romance in this book.
That's why I thought it was helpful to know where Ivana was going to land eventually. Having that glimmer of hope to hold onto (and I am very eagerly awaiting Book 2 in that series!) was something I really needed as I watched the story drive Ivana relentlessly on, ever further over the edge. There were several moments (well, two VERY BIG moments) when I really, really, REALLY hoped that things would be different... but, to be honest, if Carol Park had flinched and tried to make the story less bleak, it would have felt like cheating. Like she had taken the easy way out.
Carol Park didn't cheat in this book. She deals with some really dark, difficult issues, including self-harm, and she goes all the way there. This book isn't grimdark the way I think most people think of it, but it is grim and dark; it deals with many of the things fantasy writers like to sweep under the rug, like what happens to the women and the children when the nobles who father the bastards leave? How are they supposed to cope? To survive, in a world where they've been cast off?
You have to be prepared for that when you go into the book, I think, and that's why I was happy to have read Banebringer first.
As far as the writing goes, it's smooth and fast. It draws you into the story and then doesn't let go. The only quibble I had was that the last part felt just a little disconnected from the rest of the book. Not that it wasn't foreshadowed, because it was, but it seemed almost as if it had begun life as its own novella that was then attached to the end of the book. But that's a teeny-tiny little quibble, and hardly anything to notice.
If you like character-driven stories, assassins, and stories that don't shy away from difficult issues -- particularly women's issues -- then I highly recommend giving Sweetblade a try.
January 6, 2019
I read Carol A. Park's other novel, Banebringer, last summer and it was amazing. Sweetblade is also every bit as awesome, but in entirely different ways. I'm amazed at the sensitivity and authenticity she has been able to cram into this novel. It deals with mental health, with self-harm, with the loss of family and identity all wrapped in a story that is heartrending like you might expect with these issues. If you love character, and don't mind difficult, tragic stories this would be a great introduction to Carol A Park's work.
January 10, 2019
I am related to the author and so this review should be read from that perspective. I have endeavored to provide a fair and unbiased review even so.
I thoroughly enjoyed Carol A. Park’s Sweetblade. I tend to love details in books, and so getting an entire book devoted to the backstory of a character is very much something I love. This book is quite a bit different from Banebringer, Park’s debut novel. It’s more personal, and also quite a bit darker. It deals with the loss of self and identity, how one reacts to pain and despair, and ultimately how one processes life and emotions.
Park’s characterization continues to be top notch. Ivana is a tragic character in this story. We receive several flashbacks that fill in how she got to where she is. The main timeline, however, is spent showing us her descent into despair and her attempts to find ways to stop feeling. There are some hard hitting, emotional scenes throughout the book. Park keeps the focus firmly on Ivana, and while the side characters are believable, the story never veers into being a story about them. This is Ivana’s story. In addition to the characterization, Park excels at crafting a believable fall from grace for Ivana. Even after having beta read the novel, I found myself having trouble setting down the finished product. The pacing is excellent. The pages keep turning and you’re easily drawn into not only the character of Ivana but her emotions as well. Park does an excellent job of making us feel what the character is feeling, sticking to a strong third person limited perspective. This is a character story that is at times depressing and bleak but that has the payoff of showing us a characters struggles with self and identity in a way that few novels achieve.
While I loved the pacing and characterization, I did feel that the second part of the story could have used a little more tension. While there were a number of character moments in this second part, I didn’t feel like there was quite enough tension to move the plot along. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why I felt this way. I didn’t get bored, put the book down, and walk away. Actually, I found the pages continued to turn quickly. Maybe the issue was that while character tension existed—and this did a fine job of seeing me through—there needed to be more plot tension. I’ll also admit to missing the magic that we saw so much of in Banebringer.
Sweetblade is a dark, at times provocative, fast-paced character story. There were moments when I simply ached for Ivana and other moments where I celebrated with her. The plot could perhaps have used more tension toward the end, but make no mistake, this is a character story about a hurting young woman who has to find her way in a world that simply doesn’t value who she is. 4.25/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
I thoroughly enjoyed Carol A. Park’s Sweetblade. I tend to love details in books, and so getting an entire book devoted to the backstory of a character is very much something I love. This book is quite a bit different from Banebringer, Park’s debut novel. It’s more personal, and also quite a bit darker. It deals with the loss of self and identity, how one reacts to pain and despair, and ultimately how one processes life and emotions.
Park’s characterization continues to be top notch. Ivana is a tragic character in this story. We receive several flashbacks that fill in how she got to where she is. The main timeline, however, is spent showing us her descent into despair and her attempts to find ways to stop feeling. There are some hard hitting, emotional scenes throughout the book. Park keeps the focus firmly on Ivana, and while the side characters are believable, the story never veers into being a story about them. This is Ivana’s story. In addition to the characterization, Park excels at crafting a believable fall from grace for Ivana. Even after having beta read the novel, I found myself having trouble setting down the finished product. The pacing is excellent. The pages keep turning and you’re easily drawn into not only the character of Ivana but her emotions as well. Park does an excellent job of making us feel what the character is feeling, sticking to a strong third person limited perspective. This is a character story that is at times depressing and bleak but that has the payoff of showing us a characters struggles with self and identity in a way that few novels achieve.
While I loved the pacing and characterization, I did feel that the second part of the story could have used a little more tension. While there were a number of character moments in this second part, I didn’t feel like there was quite enough tension to move the plot along. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why I felt this way. I didn’t get bored, put the book down, and walk away. Actually, I found the pages continued to turn quickly. Maybe the issue was that while character tension existed—and this did a fine job of seeing me through—there needed to be more plot tension. I’ll also admit to missing the magic that we saw so much of in Banebringer.
Sweetblade is a dark, at times provocative, fast-paced character story. There were moments when I simply ached for Ivana and other moments where I celebrated with her. The plot could perhaps have used more tension toward the end, but make no mistake, this is a character story about a hurting young woman who has to find her way in a world that simply doesn’t value who she is. 4.25/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
December 3, 2020
Hold the phone, we have here a teenager becomes an assassin origin story that is new and dark and different in all the good ways. Bye bye pretty girl who'd previously been a crack shot with her daddy's hunting bow; sayonara suddenly uber-skilled, best in the business by 18 beauty who secretly lusts after dresses and romance novels. Meet Ivana, your standard "fantasy girl has a hard life"... Until she becomes so much more than that. Not to mention that the deadly fantasy world it's set in is sure to whisk you away (though maybe you might prefer to stay away).
Ivana's story starts similar to those we've heard before: a teenager from a comfortable family life falls on hard times and ends up alone and on the streets. Details are sketchy, but she believes it to be her fault. Begging on the streets, she's taken in by the mysterious older man Elidor, but she can't fathom why. He's not shown any interest in her in that way, nor does he treat her poorly despite his emotional iciness. But he has a secret, one he will kill for. Broken by the misery of her former life and desperate for release, Ivana asks him to help her be more like him. Cold. Numb. A killer.
At first I thought this story would just follow the same old cliches of poor girl gets taken in by a kindly or handsome man, they'd go father/daughter or fall in forbidden love, she'd learn his secrets and fall from innocence... But it's not that tale. There is the expected dual timeline of present day struggles and the past showing how her life went downhill, and again it seemed to be that story you've probably heard before. Teen angst, misplaced passion, the unfairness of feudal society... But while it sort of is that particular tale, it's where it goes with it that matters and draws you in.
Ivana is made of pain, and the depiction of self-harm and depression, while shocking, is not gratuitous. It may upset some, but it seemed so true to life you could feel her numbness. How does a girl go from that to assassin, I hear you ask? It doesn't sound like it should make sense, yet her character development and the way in which assassins are portrayed makes it plausible (if maybe a tiny bit quickly decided by her internal reasoning monologue).
Mentor Elidor (if you can call him a mentor) is neither attractive nor fatherly, and that distance makes him all the more creepy and incalculable. He could be Artemis Entreri's long-lost cousin (hey there fantasy assassin fans), only his dark side is... unusual. He's downright unsettling as you just don't know which way he'll go. There are other side characters who each had their own distinct flavour, and their roles were important in shaping Ivana's destiny. Friendship,love, pain... Did I mention pain? Their relationships are so hauntingly well-written.
The setting belongs to the author's Banebringer series, but to begin with you wouldn't know. The only misstep I could find with this gorgeously realised fantasy world was that a few world specific terms were bandied about early on which didn't get explained early enough to really appreciate what was being said (what a "Banebringer" was when Ivana and Elidor had their little study discussion, or why characters mentioned "sky-fire" so often). I did worry that the book would be so rooted in the existing universe that I would feel lost, but those two things aside I found it a very immersive realm. Once you do understand those terms and witness what they mean, that adds a whole load of originality to the setting. You can read this as a stand alone, but having read part of the Banebringer series wouldn't hurt either.
The writing otherwise is flawless. I mean published book sort of great. I did balk at a medieval fantasy world having a convenient "dumpster", but that's a language nitpicker for you.
Starting the book I assumed this would be just another assassin girl fantasy tale. By the second act, where the action takes a more twisted turn, I was hooked. It just kept you on the edge of your seat guessing at the who and why, and the ending was oh-so satisfying.
In short, the girl assassin origins story I needed to convince me that this theme isn't a dead end. This will certainly not be the last story I pick up from this author.
-I received a free copy of this e-book in a giveaway. This does not influence my review-
Ivana's story starts similar to those we've heard before: a teenager from a comfortable family life falls on hard times and ends up alone and on the streets. Details are sketchy, but she believes it to be her fault. Begging on the streets, she's taken in by the mysterious older man Elidor, but she can't fathom why. He's not shown any interest in her in that way, nor does he treat her poorly despite his emotional iciness. But he has a secret, one he will kill for. Broken by the misery of her former life and desperate for release, Ivana asks him to help her be more like him. Cold. Numb. A killer.
At first I thought this story would just follow the same old cliches of poor girl gets taken in by a kindly or handsome man, they'd go father/daughter or fall in forbidden love, she'd learn his secrets and fall from innocence... But it's not that tale. There is the expected dual timeline of present day struggles and the past showing how her life went downhill, and again it seemed to be that story you've probably heard before. Teen angst, misplaced passion, the unfairness of feudal society... But while it sort of is that particular tale, it's where it goes with it that matters and draws you in.
Ivana is made of pain, and the depiction of self-harm and depression, while shocking, is not gratuitous. It may upset some, but it seemed so true to life you could feel her numbness. How does a girl go from that to assassin, I hear you ask? It doesn't sound like it should make sense, yet her character development and the way in which assassins are portrayed makes it plausible (if maybe a tiny bit quickly decided by her internal reasoning monologue).
Mentor Elidor (if you can call him a mentor) is neither attractive nor fatherly, and that distance makes him all the more creepy and incalculable. He could be Artemis Entreri's long-lost cousin (hey there fantasy assassin fans), only his dark side is... unusual. He's downright unsettling as you just don't know which way he'll go. There are other side characters who each had their own distinct flavour, and their roles were important in shaping Ivana's destiny. Friendship,love, pain... Did I mention pain? Their relationships are so hauntingly well-written.
The setting belongs to the author's Banebringer series, but to begin with you wouldn't know. The only misstep I could find with this gorgeously realised fantasy world was that a few world specific terms were bandied about early on which didn't get explained early enough to really appreciate what was being said (what a "Banebringer" was when Ivana and Elidor had their little study discussion, or why characters mentioned "sky-fire" so often). I did worry that the book would be so rooted in the existing universe that I would feel lost, but those two things aside I found it a very immersive realm. Once you do understand those terms and witness what they mean, that adds a whole load of originality to the setting. You can read this as a stand alone, but having read part of the Banebringer series wouldn't hurt either.
The writing otherwise is flawless. I mean published book sort of great. I did balk at a medieval fantasy world having a convenient "dumpster", but that's a language nitpicker for you.
Starting the book I assumed this would be just another assassin girl fantasy tale. By the second act, where the action takes a more twisted turn, I was hooked. It just kept you on the edge of your seat guessing at the who and why, and the ending was oh-so satisfying.
In short, the girl assassin origins story I needed to convince me that this theme isn't a dead end. This will certainly not be the last story I pick up from this author.
-I received a free copy of this e-book in a giveaway. This does not influence my review-
October 23, 2019
This review was originally published over at Booknest.eu
Carol A. Park’s Sweetblade is the dark origins story of Heretic Gods heroine Ivana, chronicling her loss of innocence and fall from grace as the weight of the guilt this young woman carries proves too much to bear, setting her down a path of blood and death.
I read Park’s debut, Banebringer, the first book in The Heretic Gods series and thought it was a story based in a well-constructed world, with a unique system of blood magic in place and memorable characters, both in terms of likable protagonists and dastardly villains. Ivana was one of the two protagonists, her past shrouded in mystery – and now, in this prequel novel, the shroud is finally lifted.
Sweetblade barely touches on the magic, nor does it give the reader too much insight into the politics of the wider world of The Heretic Gods; what it does is tell a personal story and tell it well. Ivana’s transformation into the skilled assassin and spy I knew from Banebringer isn’t sudden – the young girl we meet freezing in an alley in the first chapter of this novel takes years to harden her heart to the point she begins to resemble the Ivana I’m familiar with in Carol’s debut.
It’s difficult to speak of growth in a character whose want in the majority of this novel is to forsake much of what makes her human – inuring yourself to most emotions isn’t my personal idea of personal growth-- but it makes for one hell of a compelling character arc. A portion of the book is told through flashbacks that reveal how Ivana, one of two children of educated middle-class parents, ended up alone on the streets of a city far from the one she was born in. Some of these chapters were painful to read not because they were written badly or anything of the sort but because seeing Ivana so young and naïve about the ways of the world, seeing her make all the wrong choices and get trampled in the ground by the cruelties of the world, it’s all damn near heart-breaking.
Whether fate smiles on her or not is questionable but close to freezing, Ivana crosses paths with a mysterious benefactor by the name of Elidor. Little does she know when she takes his offer of food and warmth, Elidor is an assassin of unrivalled skill, interested in Ivana for reasons of his own. During her stay at Elidor’s, Ivana builds a bond with an apprentice pharmacist by the name of Boden, whose relationship with Ivana fluctuates from cute to deeply tragic.
This isn’t a doorstopper of a book. At a modest ninety thousand words, reading through it in one or two sittings is no great challenge. Especially when the prose is this good, when it flows with such ease, you’ll find yourself reluctant to put it down. I know I did, having read it in three hours over two sittings. Sweetblade deserves commendation for that alone!
My score for Sweetblade is a resounding 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads – buy it, read it, enjoy it. If you like tragic backstories of assassins that delve into the darker side of humanity, you’ll love it. Even if you don’t, odds are you’ll have a grand old time.
You should read Sweetblade if:
• You enjoy novels focused on a single character’s development;
• You like assassins as much as the next fantasy nerd;
• You’re looking for a fun, enjoyable read with a memorable lead or want to dig into Banebringers with gusto;
• Sociopaths. Loads and loads of sociopaths. Okay, at least two of them;
• And More! Prob’ly.
Carol A. Park’s Sweetblade is the dark origins story of Heretic Gods heroine Ivana, chronicling her loss of innocence and fall from grace as the weight of the guilt this young woman carries proves too much to bear, setting her down a path of blood and death.
I read Park’s debut, Banebringer, the first book in The Heretic Gods series and thought it was a story based in a well-constructed world, with a unique system of blood magic in place and memorable characters, both in terms of likable protagonists and dastardly villains. Ivana was one of the two protagonists, her past shrouded in mystery – and now, in this prequel novel, the shroud is finally lifted.
Sweetblade barely touches on the magic, nor does it give the reader too much insight into the politics of the wider world of The Heretic Gods; what it does is tell a personal story and tell it well. Ivana’s transformation into the skilled assassin and spy I knew from Banebringer isn’t sudden – the young girl we meet freezing in an alley in the first chapter of this novel takes years to harden her heart to the point she begins to resemble the Ivana I’m familiar with in Carol’s debut.
It’s difficult to speak of growth in a character whose want in the majority of this novel is to forsake much of what makes her human – inuring yourself to most emotions isn’t my personal idea of personal growth-- but it makes for one hell of a compelling character arc. A portion of the book is told through flashbacks that reveal how Ivana, one of two children of educated middle-class parents, ended up alone on the streets of a city far from the one she was born in. Some of these chapters were painful to read not because they were written badly or anything of the sort but because seeing Ivana so young and naïve about the ways of the world, seeing her make all the wrong choices and get trampled in the ground by the cruelties of the world, it’s all damn near heart-breaking.
Whether fate smiles on her or not is questionable but close to freezing, Ivana crosses paths with a mysterious benefactor by the name of Elidor. Little does she know when she takes his offer of food and warmth, Elidor is an assassin of unrivalled skill, interested in Ivana for reasons of his own. During her stay at Elidor’s, Ivana builds a bond with an apprentice pharmacist by the name of Boden, whose relationship with Ivana fluctuates from cute to deeply tragic.
This isn’t a doorstopper of a book. At a modest ninety thousand words, reading through it in one or two sittings is no great challenge. Especially when the prose is this good, when it flows with such ease, you’ll find yourself reluctant to put it down. I know I did, having read it in three hours over two sittings. Sweetblade deserves commendation for that alone!
My score for Sweetblade is a resounding 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads – buy it, read it, enjoy it. If you like tragic backstories of assassins that delve into the darker side of humanity, you’ll love it. Even if you don’t, odds are you’ll have a grand old time.
You should read Sweetblade if:
• You enjoy novels focused on a single character’s development;
• You like assassins as much as the next fantasy nerd;
• You’re looking for a fun, enjoyable read with a memorable lead or want to dig into Banebringers with gusto;
• Sociopaths. Loads and loads of sociopaths. Okay, at least two of them;
• And More! Prob’ly.
January 9, 2021
Just a warning for anyone who suffers from mental illness, there are mentions of self harm throughout this book, so if this is a trigger then I strongly suggest do not read this book. If you are expecting a warm and rosy novel then this isn't for you either. This novel is about Ivana and the decisions she makes and their repercussions on her and her family. Her decisions ultimately cause her to be a beggar and she ends up being discovered by a man who seems at first to be her salvation, he turns out being anything but that. This book is dark and not usually the type of literature I go for, but the way it is written, it drew me in until I found myself devouring its pages. I plan to read Banebringer as soon as I can because I am curious to see how the rest of this story unfolds.
February 18, 2019
Another compelling story by Carol A. Park featuring the woman who would become the assassin, Sweetblade. Well worth the read. I do recommend reading Banebringer first, even though this would technically stand on its own. I feel like the appreciation for Sweetblade is enriched by knowing the events in Banebringer (and vice versa).
May 18, 2021
i loved Ivana in Banebringer - a woman who is VERY, VERY handy with a knife & protecting herself (& others under her protection) to the death if need be. A very complex character & so when i saw this standalone that tells Ivana's story i knew it was a tale needing to be told & to be read. Once again Carole Park brings us a heroine that is not 2 dimensional, a woman one whose issues are real, & in some cases too destructive. Sweetblade uses those experiences & makes the most of them to become a survivor.
It also helps knowing Ivana's back story before reading Banebringer and Curse Breaker (the first two books in The Heretic Gods trilogy)
It also helps knowing Ivana's back story before reading Banebringer and Curse Breaker (the first two books in The Heretic Gods trilogy)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews