Blood Sworn
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Three cultures clash in all out war--against each other and against the gods--in the second book of this fantasy duology that's sure to capture fans of The Hunger Games and An Ember in the Ashes. The Races are over. War has begun. Ashlord and Longhand armies battle for control of the Empire as Dividian rebels do their best to survive the crossfire. This is no longer a game. It's life or death. Adrian, Pippa, and Imelda each came out of the Races with questions about their role in the ongoing feud. The deeper they dig, the clearer it is that the hatred between their peoples has an origin point: the gods. Their secrets are long-buried, but one disgruntled deity is ready to unveil the truth. Every whisper leads back to the underworld. What are the gods hiding there? As the sands of the Empire shift, these heroes will do everything they can to aim their people at the true enemy. But is it already too late? "A page-turning inferno of a book." -- Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series
Series
Featured Series
2 primary booksAshlords
Ashlords is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2019 with contributions by Scott Reintgen.
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When I reviewed the first book, Ashlords, I mentioned that the worldbuilding wasn't as tight as I wished it were. Turns out the lack of explanation I needed (something with the blood sacrifices to the gods) is basically the main theme of the sequel. I'll forgive Reintgen, then :)
What I love about YA fantasy is that you get your epic war battles, but all the political intrigue etc. is kept at minimum as to focus on these young protagonists as they grow into their future selfs. What I don't like is how the ending always fall a little flat because it's not as nuanced, and perhaps a little too rose-tinted (...for me). Alas, you can't have one without the other. There's a time for everything, yeah?
Reintgen has a straight-to-the-point writing which is coloured with beautiful prose. I really love that, and for that alone, I may have to dive into some of his other writing.
I finished this last night, and I'm still struck by the mastermind trick he pulled on me with the choice of Pippa's POV (2nd POV). As to not give spoilers let me just say I fell for the goddamn trick. I'm really excited about that, actually. It means Reintgen did a splendid job.
I won't be surprised if I find myself rereading this duology someday.
