Blood Song

Raven's Shadow, Book 1

By: Anthony Ryan

Narrated by: Steven Brand

Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

From "a new master storyteller" comes the beginning of an epic fantasy saga of blood, honor, and destiny....

The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm. Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of 10 when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order. The Brothers of the Sixth Order are devoted to battle, and Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a Warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order.

Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the unified realm. Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright and dropped at the doorstep of the Sixth Order like a foundling knows no bounds. He cherishes the memory of his mother, and what he will come to learn of her at the Order will confound him. His father, too, has motives that Vaelin will come to understand. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the realm, but the world.

©2013 Anthony Ryan (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Ryan is a new fantasy author destined to make his mark on the genre. His debut novel, Blood Song, certainly has it all: great coming-of-age tale, compelling character and a fast-paced plot. If his first book is any indication of things to come, then all fantasy readers should rejoice.” (Michael J. Sullivan, author of the Riyria Revelations series)

“Fans of broadscale epic fantasy along the lines of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire novels should find this debut much to their liking.” (Library Journal)

“Ryan hits all the high notes of epic fantasy - a gritty setting, ancient magics, ruthless intrigue, divided loyalties and bloody action.... [A] promising debut." (Publishers Weekly)

download it . do it. just do it. amazing

loved it. what a way to end it. easy to follow. well written . narrator was good but not the best I've heard. Michael Kramer from the wheel of time books have set the bar high for me. still. awesome. starting book 2 after this review.

change your inflection

great story, but the dudes voice is like warm milk. change it up a bit! I'm driving here!

Loved the story!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Great universe and building of characters. Excellent battle descriptions. The detaiMakes you feel there and it's technically accurate. Good alternative to the GoT universe.

What about Steven Brand’s performance did you like?

I like his narration, but would like a little more change in character voices. I found myself rewinding a few times in important dialog sequences to make sure I followed who said what.

Fabulous. Hypnotic. Addictive!

Would you consider the audio edition of Blood Song to be better than the print version?

I cannot answer this as I have not read the print edition; however, the audio version is gripping and I had great difficulty stopping the story in order to get on with other important tasks in my life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blood Song?

Valin's sacrifice of his person happiness in order to protect and preserve Sherin's life and continue in his ultimate and crucial mission.

What about Steven Brand’s performance did you like?

I like Steven Brand's voice very much. He is a good reader, with one exception: sometimes it is difficult to assertain which character is speaking as he does not change voices at all.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh, YES!!! I chose to listen to it every moment I reasonably could, and when it was done, I immediately began listening to the Tower Lord.

Any additional comments?

I hope there are no serious time gaps between the availability of each novel in the series. PLEASE, don't let it become like Game of Thrones where I'm not sure if George Martin will ever finish the series.

Good Story/Narrator needs improvement

Would you try another book from Anthony Ryan and/or Steven Brand?

Yes, I will enjoy this story in it's entirety.

What did you like best about this story?

The flow of this story is nice. I enjoyed the main character and his conflicting ideas. The setting is well done and the formula is well done.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Steven Brand has a very unique voice, it brings character to the book. However, his voice is so distinct that it can be difficult to ascertain which character is which (especially in the beginning). His inflection or characters need work. I had trouble in the beginning with understanding which characters were speaking. He does have accents that you experience later in the book that are well done, however with so many characters it can be hard to find accents and inflections for this book- so for him I would ask for more inflection and accents to discern characters to the audience. Hope to see improvement!

Did Blood Song inspire you to do anything?

Try new books.

Any additional comments?

A bit more character development could be made but it was still an entertaining book. Thanks.

Amazing Book - Can't Wait for the Second Book

What made the experience of listening to Blood Song the most enjoyable?

A great fantasy novel with deep characters, a vivid and imaginative world. to go along with a fantastic plot. A book to be stored and listened over and over again.

OUTSTANDING

What did you love best about Blood Song?

The plot was fantastic, the reader did supurb

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main, because of his depth

Have you listened to any of Steven Brand’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but I sincerely hope to listen to more

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did both. As a matter of fact, for the first time in my reading or listening history, I replayed the novel immediately after completion for another go.

Any additional comments?

It was just fantastic. I want this author to expand upon this world. I will buy and listen or read every single novel.

Excellent.

Any additional comments?

A little bloody but an excellent listen. Narrator is very good. Already purchased the other 2 books in this series.

Surprisingly good.

Great entrainment. Not so good narration. Eager to listen the next book. Hope the narration is improved.

Absolutely amazing

This is an amazing story. I simply could not stop. I will definitely be following the series. This is worth your time!