The Black Song

A Raven's Blade Novel, Book 2

By: Anthony Ryan

Narrated by: Steven Brand

Length: 17 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

A matchless warrior is pitted against a near-God in the second epic installment of the Raven's Blade series.

It has long been our lot in life, brother, to do what others can’t.

Vaelin Al Sorna was known across the realm as the greatest of warriors, but he thought battles were behind him. He was wrong. Prophecy and rumor led him across the sea to find a woman he once loved and drew him into a war waged by the Darkblade, a man who believes himself a god - and one who has gathered a fanatical army that threatens all of the known world.

After a costly defeat by the Darkblade, Vaelin's forces are shattered, while the self-proclaimed immortal and his army continue their terrible march. But during the clash, Vaelin regained some of the dark magic that once gave him unrivaled skill in battle. And though the fight he has been drawn into seems near unwinnable, the song that drives him now desires the blood of his enemy above all else....

©2020 Anthony Ryan (P)2020 Penguin Audio

A bit disappointed

Was really looking forward to the continuation of this series. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it bored me where none of the other book did. Still, a good listen, but the previous books put this one to shame.

Slow

Nothing like the previous book in series. A bit of a boring jumble. why do I have to use 15 words to say I didn't like this book?

It’s just a stream of torture

Blood song is one of my favorite books of all time. This book is not that one. This book is just a string of descriptions of gruesome torture and carnage, broken every so often with a minute of storyline, then back to torture or descriptions of bodies that met terrible ends. If that is your thing, get this book. If you like the cleaver, subtle story line of blood song that keeps you on edge, don’t read this trilogy. This trilogy is about triggering your horror reflex. Ryan knocks it off for long enough to bring the story to an close for maybe two hours at the end, which is why it gets two stars.

Maybe I expected better

This is an Anthony Ryan's book though and through. But maybe my expectations were more than it should have been. If u liked his other book u will like this one as well.

Great story, good finish

I read many reviews before listening to the end of the Valen series.
I loved them all, I don’t know what the criticism was for, in many reviews.
Either you love Anthony Ryan’s writing and stories or you don’t.
I think his writing style and story telling is fascinating . World building was amazing. Light magic, great battles. Great hardships and friendships.
I could do with less of the unnecessary swearing, but , alas, humans have potty mouths and less class.

Wonderful writing in the perfect voice!

i thoroughly enjoyed the all of Mr ryan's blood song series. and steven brand is the perfect voice for the story!

Disappointed

I love the Vaelin stories but this book was short on story line. I found my mind wandering especially during the detailed death - torture sections....and there were a lot of those! More story line and character development, please - not just battles. Hopefully the next book will be better.

A fantastic ending to a wonderful story.

It has everything the reader will want in a conclusion. I won't spoil it any more than that.

Tom Abernatha

Great book. Hated for it to end. I will be looking into more Anthony Ryan books!

Raven's Shadow was better

I didn't care for this series. Raven's shadow ended with me wanting more but a raven's blade made me feel like it should just stayed the way it was.