By Anthony Ryan
3 Stars
When Vaelin Al Sorna was ten, he was given over to serve as a servant of the Faith. His father, the famous Battle Lord, took him to the House where Aspect Arlyn of the Sixth Order was waiting. Over the years, Vaelin and his brothers were trained to become soldiers worthy of defending the Realm and, more importantly, the Faith, taught by only the best of brothers of the Order, and having to go through multiple tests before becoming a confirmed brother ready to fight where he is needed. When he is finally confirmed by the Order, Vaelin quickly catches the eye of the owlish King, who makes him his Sword, forcing him to do his dirty business for him. 
Blood Song by Anthony Ryan was a great read, and throughout the first two-thirds, I was hanging onto each and every word, my attention locked on the book. Vaelin and his brothers’ characters were engaging, and I enjoyed watching them grow and change throughout the book. The writing style was impeccable, allowing me to easily picture the great fortresses and the scenery of the Realm. Vaelin’s inner struggles and his search for somewhere to belong enraptured me as he tried to find peace in the bloody life he had lived. The last third, however, was a let-down, abruptly ending the story without solving most of those struggles. The writing began lacking and became rushed, with more time skips and more telling rather than showing. One of the major characters even died in a single page or two. By the time I was done skimming through those last pages, I realized that it was the first time I’d ever been sick of reading. It really upset me that such a talented story was rushed, and I was disappointed fiercely. I think that Blood Song really could have become a classic if not for the rushed finish - another great book destroyed by the ending. In short, I would say that it is the best and the worst a book can be wrapped into one. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book to people who like dark fantasy because reading the first two-thirds is worth braving the last one.
Reviewed by Ayesha
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