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Bathed in the Blood of Ravens
In Raven’s blood will destiny bathe, to bring forth what must come…
Laurence had a happy childhood. He often dreamed of becoming a hero, just like his father. Just as his dreams were about to become reality… tragedy struck. He soon learns that the attack on his family was only the beginning.
The Kingdom of Arkhania is being torn apart through the machinations of an ancient being, and he is caught in their sinister plot. Ancient magic breathes life to forgotten evils, and with it… death follows. As the kingdom crumbles around him, and threats appear at every turn, he must fight to save all he holds dear.
Will he rise up and defeat his family’s greatest foe? Will he save the kingdom from malevolent forces? Is he simply a pawn in a grander scheme which he cannot understand?
Laurence had a happy childhood. He often dreamed of becoming a hero, just like his father. Just as his dreams were about to become reality… tragedy struck. He soon learns that the attack on his family was only the beginning.
The Kingdom of Arkhania is being torn apart through the machinations of an ancient being, and he is caught in their sinister plot. Ancient magic breathes life to forgotten evils, and with it… death follows. As the kingdom crumbles around him, and threats appear at every turn, he must fight to save all he holds dear.
Will he rise up and defeat his family’s greatest foe? Will he save the kingdom from malevolent forces? Is he simply a pawn in a grander scheme which he cannot understand?
670 pages, ebook
Published June 25, 2021
11 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Parker
3 books18 followersR.L. Parker is a passionate storyteller who is happiest when others are experiencing his creations. He believes in expansive stories with living, breathing characters that his readers and players can invest in.
One of his greatest passions is Ayrelon; a world he created for the purposes of pen & paper roleplaying in systems such as Dungeons & Dragons, Rolemaster and Palladium Megagames back in 1993. Much of the worldbuilding present in his writing was accomplished over the next decade through extremely long game sessions in epic campaigns lasting for months on end.
Not known for his pre-planning, he ran complex encounters and deep storylines for his players by the ‘seat of his pants’, often assuming personas in an instant to drive the story forward or interact with player characters. The skills he honed in those days of constant roleplaying are evident in his writing, as he now assumes the role of Discovery writer and lets his characters guide his scenes.
In addition to writing, he enjoys helping authors, storytellers, and dungeon masters craft their story and expand their own writing and roleplaying skillsets.
When not writing, R.L. enjoys video games, playing guitar, and heavy metal music. When he finds time to watch tv or movies, his favorite genres are fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and super-heroes. His favorite authors include Isaac Asimov, J.R.R. Tolkein, R.A. Salvatore, C.S. Friedman, Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman, Steven Brust, Ed Greenwood and Dean Koontz. When it comes to video games, he is partial to RPG or open-world and ‘sandbox’ games. In years past, he was an avid player of MMORPGs such as EverQuest 1 & 2, World of Warcraft, Rift, and Elder Scrolls Online. Some may remember him from Rift and E.S.O. as Wykkyd Gaming; a popular addon developer.
R.L. is an accomplished software developer and architect with nearly thirty years of experience in the craft. His skillset includes C#, Salesforce, Lua, Java, Python, JavaScript, and other languages. His career was the primary factor that caused delays for his writing, which did not begin in earnest until June of 2020. Having finally reached a point where long hours are no longer the norm, he now has room for his true passion, as is evident by the forthcoming novel: Bathed in the Blood of Ravens.
His success and creativity are in large part due to the support of his loving wife, Kristina, and his two sons, Corwyn and Zakuri.
One of his greatest passions is Ayrelon; a world he created for the purposes of pen & paper roleplaying in systems such as Dungeons & Dragons, Rolemaster and Palladium Megagames back in 1993. Much of the worldbuilding present in his writing was accomplished over the next decade through extremely long game sessions in epic campaigns lasting for months on end.
Not known for his pre-planning, he ran complex encounters and deep storylines for his players by the ‘seat of his pants’, often assuming personas in an instant to drive the story forward or interact with player characters. The skills he honed in those days of constant roleplaying are evident in his writing, as he now assumes the role of Discovery writer and lets his characters guide his scenes.
In addition to writing, he enjoys helping authors, storytellers, and dungeon masters craft their story and expand their own writing and roleplaying skillsets.
When not writing, R.L. enjoys video games, playing guitar, and heavy metal music. When he finds time to watch tv or movies, his favorite genres are fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and super-heroes. His favorite authors include Isaac Asimov, J.R.R. Tolkein, R.A. Salvatore, C.S. Friedman, Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman, Steven Brust, Ed Greenwood and Dean Koontz. When it comes to video games, he is partial to RPG or open-world and ‘sandbox’ games. In years past, he was an avid player of MMORPGs such as EverQuest 1 & 2, World of Warcraft, Rift, and Elder Scrolls Online. Some may remember him from Rift and E.S.O. as Wykkyd Gaming; a popular addon developer.
R.L. is an accomplished software developer and architect with nearly thirty years of experience in the craft. His skillset includes C#, Salesforce, Lua, Java, Python, JavaScript, and other languages. His career was the primary factor that caused delays for his writing, which did not begin in earnest until June of 2020. Having finally reached a point where long hours are no longer the norm, he now has room for his true passion, as is evident by the forthcoming novel: Bathed in the Blood of Ravens.
His success and creativity are in large part due to the support of his loving wife, Kristina, and his two sons, Corwyn and Zakuri.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 31, 2022
I receive this book signed from the author on Tiktok. After watching a few videos describing it it sounded like a book i would like. This book does change POV throughout which some people dont like, however if done well and all POV characters add to the story and pull me in I rather enjoy it. The only thing that occasionally threw me was at times you would be in the POV of one character then suddenly mid paragraph get random thoughts/feelings of a different character present in the scene. Now to the story, I absolutely loved the book every character that came into the story pulled me in more and more. From the start i was hooked. The world built by the author is vast and imaginative. There is a vast number of species and animals throughout. Everything frome elves and dwarves and orcs, giants dragons, you name it its there. But there are also groups and species this author came up with that made it even better. It isnt just all action theres alot of good humor that i rather enjoyed too (I mean come on scouts named Wehrenel and Ahrwie made me laugh, simple humor) every chapter left me wanting to go straight to the next. I cant wait for the next book in the series and would recommend this book and author to anyone who likes epic fantasy and world building. I hope this review does it justice because this book was amazing.
June 16, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bathed in the Blood of Ravens: A Destiny of Blood & Magic: Book 1 is a big, long, dense epic fantasy. If you prefer light reads, this is not the book for you. If you like heavier fantasy tales, it could very well be the book for you.
After an intense prologue and a first chapter that kicks the story into high gear, the pace slows through the book, carefully taking its time to cover the plot and its many characters, then building to a wonderful crescendo.
Not only is this a strong epic fantasy, it is also a coming of age tale about the lead character, Laurence, coming of age in the midst of an epic war. It also features some great action pieces, covering the story blow-by-blow.
The book's many characters are rich and well-developed, to the point where I would read spin-off stories about many of them.
The book is largely written and edited well, but does fall into the trap of telling and not showing fairly often, with monologues providing exposition instead of the story naturally providing this through events. While it is R.L. Parker's debut novel, he shows great talent in balancing everything required from the book. Highly recommended.
My full review will be posted on my website on 23 June 2021, two days before release.
July 14, 2021
If you are looking for a fantasy adventure that will put you through the emotional wringer, this is the book for you.
The book is well-written and you easily become invested in the characters. While this is superb in terms of the writing and how it absorbs you into the story, it will also mean that there are times when you hate the author (you will need to read the book to find out why).
R L Parker's world-building is fantastic and the story takes you across fast swathes of his world. His background in DnD as a DM shines through and adds to his unique story telling. The ending leaves a tantalising hook that will have you chewing at the bit for the next book in the series.
The multiple POV did take some getting used to, but it is essential to the story and each character is so unique that their voice is clearly defined.
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of fantasy.
The book is well-written and you easily become invested in the characters. While this is superb in terms of the writing and how it absorbs you into the story, it will also mean that there are times when you hate the author (you will need to read the book to find out why).
R L Parker's world-building is fantastic and the story takes you across fast swathes of his world. His background in DnD as a DM shines through and adds to his unique story telling. The ending leaves a tantalising hook that will have you chewing at the bit for the next book in the series.
The multiple POV did take some getting used to, but it is essential to the story and each character is so unique that their voice is clearly defined.
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of fantasy.
March 6, 2021
Let me start by clarifying, this isn't a "good read". This is a FANTASTIC read from start to finish, and you feel like you're along for the ride. Even as a DM myself, I was skeptical when I first received this book in its beta form. "A book set in a 90's D&D homebrew world with NPCs as characters? Whose going to want to read that?" As it turns out, me! With each passing page my skepticism melted away and within 10 pages I wasn't just hooked, I was fully immersed. This book isn't something you just read, it's something you feel. Any potential reader would be remiss to write this book off based on it's inspiration. Regardless of where it comes from, this isn't just a book, it's an amazing adventure for both the reader and characters. One that I didn't want to end, and that I can't wait to see where it transports me to next.
L.A. Cousins (Artist, Dungeon Master, Host, Book Nerd)
L.A. Cousins (Artist, Dungeon Master, Host, Book Nerd)
June 24, 2022
Holy Ravens Blood!!!
This book is a solid fantasy book. It is not as much quest based as it is a revenge fantasy book. The main character, Laurence is originally set to embark on his journey to train as a knight/warrior and to earn a spot in employment for the king. While this does end up happening, tragedy strikes in the opening chapters of this book and our main character begins his path to seek revenge on the individual that took great pleasure in taking all from our hero.
There are quests, team building, magic, magical creatures, and romance. Mr. Parker has taken the time to create language, references of time, lore, magical systems, and a very much appreciated cameo.
My heart swooned as well as wept over characters. There is a great deal of effort crafting characters and developing their personalities. You will grow to love some and hate others. Characters grow from their experiences and it is much appreciated.
I enjoyed this read and I am waiting patiently for Book 2 when we can follow the further experience of Laurence.
This book is a solid fantasy book. It is not as much quest based as it is a revenge fantasy book. The main character, Laurence is originally set to embark on his journey to train as a knight/warrior and to earn a spot in employment for the king. While this does end up happening, tragedy strikes in the opening chapters of this book and our main character begins his path to seek revenge on the individual that took great pleasure in taking all from our hero.
There are quests, team building, magic, magical creatures, and romance. Mr. Parker has taken the time to create language, references of time, lore, magical systems, and a very much appreciated cameo.
My heart swooned as well as wept over characters. There is a great deal of effort crafting characters and developing their personalities. You will grow to love some and hate others. Characters grow from their experiences and it is much appreciated.
I enjoyed this read and I am waiting patiently for Book 2 when we can follow the further experience of Laurence.
March 4, 2021
Received this as an arc
This is an Epic fantasy no doubt about it. His young characters must learn to grow up fast with the responsibility that is placed in their hands. R.L Parker took me on a journey that is fast-paced and his writing took me to the world of Ayrelon. As I read the book I felt I was in the story. A detail read with friendship, adventure, intensity, peril, blood, evil, unexpected allies and magic. A book that reminds me of the writing style of Terry Brooks or David Eddings. A solid story that did not disappoint.
This is an Epic fantasy no doubt about it. His young characters must learn to grow up fast with the responsibility that is placed in their hands. R.L Parker took me on a journey that is fast-paced and his writing took me to the world of Ayrelon. As I read the book I felt I was in the story. A detail read with friendship, adventure, intensity, peril, blood, evil, unexpected allies and magic. A book that reminds me of the writing style of Terry Brooks or David Eddings. A solid story that did not disappoint.
March 5, 2021
This is an Epic fantasy no doubt about it. His young characters must learn to grow up fast with the responsibility that is placed in their hands. R.L. Parker took me on a journey that is fast-paced and his writing took me to the world of Ayrelon. As I read the book I felt I was in the story. A detailed read with friendship, adventure, intensity, peril, blood, evil, unexpected allies and magic. A book that reminds me of the writing style of Terry Brooks or David Edding. A solid read.
July 8, 2021
Amazing!
Great story, solid well developed characters and a story telling style that draws you in and gives your emotions a workout. I absolutely enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the second in the hopefully long series. Rick did an amazing job painting a world that brings tons of twists and excitement with his practiced storytelling style. Don’t hesitate and give this author a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Great story, solid well developed characters and a story telling style that draws you in and gives your emotions a workout. I absolutely enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the second in the hopefully long series. Rick did an amazing job painting a world that brings tons of twists and excitement with his practiced storytelling style. Don’t hesitate and give this author a try, you won’t be disappointed.
March 20, 2021
Bathed in the Blood of Ravens was a very enjoyable coming of age epic fantasy read. The pacing was good, the characters well-developed, and the story itself kept me engage the whole way through. It has the feel of a more traditional epic fantasy with a writing style similar to Jim Butcher. If you are looking for a nice beefy epic fantasy to sink your teeth into I would recommend giving this one a try.
March 10, 2021
D&D comes to life in this page turning non stop action read. The characters are well written, forming an attachment to each one is hard not to do. This book has it all! Magic, fantasy, a bit of naughty, war, love, suspense, passion, life, death .... You will fall into this book and not want to leave.
May 17, 2023
Beautifully written and gives me all the D&D feels. Fantasy, TTRPG, Adventure, and slight Romance fans will love this. I am sharing it with all my friends and family. Can't wait for the 2nd one!
November 22, 2022
Loved this book. It was thrilling and so detailed I could see the scenes being played out vividly. You get emotionally caught up with the characters but not stressed out. It was definitely fun, even playful at times, while also intense, dark, and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed it and talking to others about it who had read it. I cannot wait to start reading the next book that just came out as part of this series and go on the next adventure!
October 4, 2023
After reading Siscci and Dusk I thought I was prepared to dive into another of R.L. Parker’s books but wow he surpassed all of my expectations with this book! I was again instantly sucked into the world he created and hooked on all the characters. I enjoyed the adventure, the fight scenes, and the mystery of the overall plot of what is going on. Can’t wait to get more answers to what Nightweaver is setting up. This is definitely another must read fantasy.
December 26, 2021
i read the free chapter, the book more than lived up to the expectation
I enjoyed every minute of it. The story keeps a fast pace, has nicely detailed out action scenes, while throughout the story characters unfold, making you curious to know more.
Definitely going for book 2 in the series
I enjoyed every minute of it. The story keeps a fast pace, has nicely detailed out action scenes, while throughout the story characters unfold, making you curious to know more.
Definitely going for book 2 in the series
February 20, 2023
Its a rollercoaster of a ride
Love D&D? Love Skyrim?. Epic fights? Magic? Mystery? Then you will enjoy this book. This is some of the best story telling i have read in some time. And it's part of a bigger universe these starting. Krull, Conan,sword of truth fans.. Read it...
Love D&D? Love Skyrim?. Epic fights? Magic? Mystery? Then you will enjoy this book. This is some of the best story telling i have read in some time. And it's part of a bigger universe these starting. Krull, Conan,sword of truth fans.. Read it...
March 16, 2024
I enjoyed this fantasy. A great adventure. Excited for more.
February 16, 2025
I GOT A TASTE OF IT IN STARFIELD THANKS TO THE DARKSTAR MOD AND I WANT TO READ MORE
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews