Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I DNFed the first book, and therefore wont be picking this one up. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!

This has taken me a long while to review PURELY because I wanted to dive into the previous series first, and goodness me am I glad that I did!

THIS is what amazing fantasy looks like, and this is the first author i have found since Robert Jordan who creates an entire world with a huge cast of characters and personalities without making the story difficult to follow.

This instead gives a huge casts that weave together in a gloriously intricate pattern that winds up an astounding tapestry. Absolutely BRILLIANT writing that’s wholly engaging and a complex storyline that surprises and delights from start to very end!

I love the way John Gwynne writes with a completely clear sense of who is good and who is bad. This follows on from the excellent A Time of Dread and is a welcome return to the Banished Lands, although I do feel like it suffers a little from middle book syndrome.

The Positives: As always, we have some great characters to follow here. Drem is making his way to Dun Seren, learning more about his parents and really coming into his own, which is great. Riv is dealing with the ramifications of the last book (no spoilers, but wow!) and what that will mean for her ambitions. We also have the addition of a new point of view character, which gives an insight to the other side - always welcome. The world is such a fascinating place and Gwynne has populated it with some truly horrific creatures in this instalment, which is great.

The Negatives: There seems to be a lot of set up happening in this book to put the pieces in place for the big finale of book 3. Consequently, there are times when the plot is a little bit lacking.

Overall, this is a well paced and enjoyable read that definitely instils a sense of 'Truth and Courage' in the reader and I for one cannot wait for the series conclusion.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A fantastic sequel in the Of Blood and Bone trilogy, A Time of Blood is yet another testament to John Gwynne's extraordinary ability to write incredible stories.

The tone and direction of the narrative stayed true to Gwynne's approach of escalating the stakes, and ratchetting the tension to a penultimate cliffhanger ending that makes one go "Why are you doing this to me?"

One thing I have to note is that I enjoyed A Time of Dread just a bit more and now I realised that it has a lot to do with the nostalgia factor when the heroes from The Faithful and The Fallen were commemorated and spoken of. I felt a bit less attached to the new characters in this series, especially those which were not as connected to Corban and his legacy. With this, and coupled with the amount of heart evident in his story, Drem is definitely my favourite POV character. This is not to say that Riv and Bleda are poor characters, far from it, as Gwynne is very skillful in creating interesting and relatable characters. Their stories were compelling, even if I did not feel as much for them as I did for Drem. And the other thing that Gwynne is wont to do is not pulling his punches in making his characters suffer through grief, loss, regret, hardship, etc. It is excruciating, but this also makes for an incredibly cathartic experience watching these characters pull together in adversity, supporting and watching out for each other's back.

"We live our lives through Truth and Courage. Love and loyalty, friendship and honour are our guiding lights."

Speaking of his skill in writing characters, I applaud him the most in his portrayals of the animal characters. I am a huge animal lover, and Gwynne does them a whole lot of justice. I am not kidding, a lot of my emotional moments belonged to the crows, bears and wolven-hounds. They felt like real characters to me, and scenes of their interaction and connection with the humans are some of the most heartwarming, and heartwrenching, ones I've read in this book. They are not merely animals, or pets. They are friends.

"With friends like this, how could we ever lose?"

The Ben-Elim and the Kadoshim at first glance seemed to mirror the angels and fallen angels of our world. And perhaps they are meant to tell a deeper story than simply good vs evil. While the Kadoshims were indeed malevolent, the faithful and 'honourable angels of Elyon were not as benevolent as they were thought to be. A major part of the narrative in Of Blood and Bone dealt with the outcome of the Ben-Elim taking control over a large portion of The Banished Lands. Safe to say, it was not happily ever after.

The action scenes are classic Gwynne. Superbly written, they are intense, vivid and suspenseful. If you've read any of Gwynne's books before, you would know that no one is safe in The Banished Lands. In fact, Of Blood and Bone felt a lot darker, although not as epic as The Faithful and The Fallen at this stage. It is without a doubt very well-written, and the continuation of the story from the last series felt like a natural extension of the events in Wrath. These books also offer fans of The Faithful and The Fallen, yours truly included, a chance to reminisce about the old beloved characters; times which are often accompanied by a tear or two.

With A Time of Blood, Gwynne paved the road to the end with his first-rate storytelling skills. The conclusion of Of Blood and Bone is going to be tremendously epic. I could feel it in my blood and bones.

What can I say? This author writes with grit and pace and holds no punches. Excellent world building skills, no shortage of battles and skirmish’s and hits the ground running.
No problem being the second book where there can be issues sometimes. The interest is still kept alive and kicking. Once entering his world it is hard to put the book down and stop reading. Hopefully not giving anything away but the ending will have you craving the next instalment.
Word to the wise you should read A Time of Dread first. A very capable writer and a credit to the fantasy genre.

A Time of Blood is my second John Gwynne book, after his last year's opening salvo A Time of Dread in the new series, Of Blood and Bone - set in the same world as his first series, Of Faith and Fallen.

Do you need to read Faith and Fallen before this one? probably not, but be warned that this new series actually is like the tip of a giant ice-berg buried below the sea-level, building up on the histories, back stories, myths and culture that was all set up fairly deep on the foundations of that swashbuckling heroic fantasy quadrilogy. Now when you open a John Gwynne story, you open it with certain expectations. The action is guaranteed to thrill you: Expect cinematic choreographed set-pieces that compete with brutal, intense one-on-one combats,. And the narrative template is fairly straightforward - featuring men and women of extraordinary valor trying to gather around their deep rooted ideals and morals fighting for what they believe is right, against clearly defined antagonists whose crimes are horrific and whose ambitions are usually, clearly etched out in black, colored in blood and splotched with enough violence to make the world shudder.
ATOD, the first book anchored us with a few of these "heroes" left in the Banished Lands as a new terror awakens years after Corban and his friends, saved the day, a few hundred years ago. There's Bleda, heir prince to the Serek clan, a hunting tribe - given as 'tithe' to the current protectors of the realm, the angelic beings known as the Ben-Elim. The Ben-Elim have taken to rooting out the last of their enemies, the Kadoshim; another winged race from the realms beyond, who moved their war into the mortal realm ages ago. Bleda is promised to Jin, a princess of their rival tribe to keep the peace in the lands - both of them having been brought up within the stronghold of the Ben-Elim, the fortress of Drassil where a lot of young men and women, train hard to be inducted into the ranks of White Wings, the fighting force for the Ben-Elim.

We also met Riv - a troubled youngster with anger issues, determined to prove herself as a warrior and join her sister Aphra in her Hundred. Then there is Drem - something about the young man that just gives you joy [ totally loved his character in the first book! and woohoo, his character arc evolution in book two is just fab!] - a trapper's son, raised in the wild who gets swept into the dark melee that unfolds in book-one as he discovers his legacy and new friends. The other view-points serve to propel the frenetic narrative ever forwards.

If you haven't read book-one, A Time of Dread, please stop - go back, pick up that book [now is a good time as any! Trust me, you will be begging for more, having burned through that one and come right back! Because the plot-points of this book picks up the thread directly after the gigantic battle at the end of book one. The title, as they say, is apt. A time of blood! Indeed, the body count keeps going up and the blood never stops getting spilled.

Drem and his new friends, Keld the somber cool-headed huntsman , Cullen the silver-tongued descendant of the great Corban and a pretty impressive swordsman himself - along with Hammer, Sig's war mount and bear are tearing through the wilds, trying to keep ahead of the clutches of the Kadoshim priestess Fritha and her acolytes. They are headed back to the mythical Dun Seren, where the Order of the Bright Star was established by Corban ages ago, needs to know of the second coming of the Kadoshim. This part of the narrative was so much fun - John in characteristic fashion, opens up ripping it up with unflinching violence as the escapees are pursued unfazed by the creatures of the dark, bidden to the power of Fritha. We alternate between Fritha's POV and Drem's. Fritha comes across as a bit rigid, consumed her need for revenge and alternately, a growing ambition to become a central figure in this struggle for power. But Drem's chapters were a breeze - the emotional fall out of book one not withstanding, this guy once again endeared himself to me as a reader. His interactions with his new friends, especially Cullen and then later on, with other important characters are what enlightens the mood of an otherwise, blood-drenched narrative.

The second part of the narrative focuses on Riv and Bleda and the aftermath of the war at the end of book-one - within the Ben-Elim community and their human allies at Drassil. Riv makes some startling discoveries about herself and becomes a pawn for the political ambition for Kal, the now self proclaimed leader for the Ben Elim. Bleda, on the other hand is struggling with some new emotions and also juggling that with his impending marriage to Jin, from his rival clan as both the clan-heads travel to Drassil to cement this relationship. In the meanwhile, out there the new acolytes of the fearsome Gulla, the Kadoshim Captain are now raiding the communities under the Ben Elim protection, forcing them to ride out for a bloody confrontation.

Riv was another of my favorites from last book but sadly, while she did go through a tremendous leap in terms of development in book one, here she is mostly grappling with her coming-of-age troubles and also trying to navigate, and failing to do so, the troubled political mayhem that threatens to unfold within Drassil post the events at the end of book-one. Riv and Bleda's friendship takes an interesting turn and to my immense surprise, Bleda's character kind of redeemed himself for me. There are quite a few twists and turns in this part of the narrative, backstabbing and treachery galore and that kept things on the boil.

While it is indeed the second book in the trilogy, it never gets bogged down as a "bridge" book. Yes, there are quite a few of the rivalries getting coerced into play, set up for bigger show-downs later on I guess but there are quite a few revelations through the book that will take your breath away. It's ultimately a character-driven glorious heroic fantasy, the best kinds since David Gemmell , extolling the good guys and quests are straightforward.

Expect a few heart breaks. A lot of blood. Heightened stakes and worse odds. The narrative is replete with some stunning mind-blowing action sequences as would be expected. But this time, John liberally throws in a few new 'horrors' that stalk Drem and friends as Fritha gets creative with her blood magic and these lent itself to some brilliant confrontations later on. The last one fifth of the book is just soaring with action, switching through multiple POV's as we watch two big battles play out in different fashion. If you loved book one, then this book will take you to darker places with your favorite heroes and wreck havoc on your heart. It's drenched with blood and Gwynne exposes us to more of the vividly painted world of Banished Lands as we journey with our favorite cast to dangerous lands. John's writing is absolutely top notch as we sympathize and feel for our heroes in situations that can quickly go from light scree-fall to rapid landslides without much warning. A wonderful installment in this tale and John Gwynne continues to be one of my favorite go-to-authors for feel good, glorious heroic fantasy tales.

The second in the most excellent Blood & Bone trilogy, A Time of Blood follows on from A Time of Dread and above all else it is most definitely a time of blood, the battle scenes in this are immense and blood and gore abound, as do fantastical creatures.

The story is told from 4 points of view, Riv, Drem, Bleda and Fritha and is a high octane, epic fantasy of good vs evil (although who’s good and who’s evil is not necessarily clear cut) so choose your side, hang on and enjoy! Can’t wait for No. 3.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an uncorrected proof copy of A Time of Blood in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank John Gwynne and Pan Macmillian for the opportunity. This review will contain spoilers for A Time of Dread.

The second entry in the Of Blood and Bone trilogy starts one day after the legendary giant Sig's last stand against the Kadoshim forces. Her heroism granted her comrades enough time to escape and we pick up the action with Drem, Cullen and Keld. In the wake of the destruction and the horrors they have witnessed the group race towards sanctuary at the fortress of Dun Seren. Elsewhere, white-wing Riv and Sirak Prince Bleda are debating their options after the attack of the Ben Elim's stronghold of Drassil, taking into consideration the revelation that Riv is now clearly a winged half-breed. If she is seen in her current, true form the consequences would be drastic and Riv would be executed as an abomination.

Akin to A Time of Dread, this novel also follows four point of view perspectives. Readers will be familiar with the characters and viewpoints of the trapper Drem, the warrior Riv and the archer Bleda. A new perspective is that of Fritha - a priestess and captain of the Kadoshim's covens. This is our first insight into the mind of a player on the 'evil' side. Although she was featured in the first book - mainly as Drem's infatuation and ultimate betrayer - here, Gwynne fleshes her out as a character expertly. Throughout her chapters, she reflects about her upbringing, the loss of her child, her current motives and her overall mission objectives. We witness that she has legitimate reasons for her hatred and is not just a two-dimensional warped, pure evil lady. There is very little in Gwynne's The Banished Lands that is 100% good or 100% evil. The distinction is cloudier and greyer in this series than what came prior, with the Ben-Elim and Kadoshim now residing in the human world. The Ben-Elim are now intune with and tempted by a plethora of human-like emotions that they did not know in the Otherworld.

In my opinion, Gwynne does two things better than the majority of fantasy writers.

Firstly, making me truly, truly care about the characters he's constructed. There were many moments throughout this narrative where events from The Faithful and the Fallen were mentioned and just remembering the characters and the impact they had on me led to my tears actually blurring the words on the page I was reading before I realised it. After spending more time with Of Blood and Bone's ensemble - through battles, betrayals, will they/won't they love dramas, camaraderie and a sense of belonging - I care for the main and side players much more than I did in the first instalment. I've always enjoyed Gwynne's depiction of animals and the parts they play to the overall narrative. Here we have loyal wolven-hounds, talking birds, flirting bears and some crazy warped concoctions of monstrosities too.

Secondly, and I'll keep this one shortish because if you've read any of Gwynne's releases you'll be more than aware that he writes battles, duels, skirmishes and confrontations better than anyone in the business right now.

After epic battles galore, the final few moments are stunning and I have no idea what implications this event will cause for the series' final entry. I cannot wait at all! Hopefully, knowing John's work rate, the conclusion to the trilogy will arrive sometime next year (crosses fingers). Although this isn't my favourite of Gwynne's works, it is still pretty phenomenal. Gwynne is one of the finest modern fantasy writers around. The Order of the Bright Star shout 'Truth and Courage' when they charge into battle. Looking at the consistent, high quality of Gwynne's outings, I imagine when he writes he has a mantra that states 'anything below excellent is not good enough.'

5.5/10

A disappointing follow up to what I thought was a really good first book in the series. This one felt like I really missed a lot of details from not having read the first series even though this is some 150ish years after these events and I never got that feeling in the first book.

The writing style is still good, the action unfolds like a visual explosion in your head so I can take nothing away for that. I did feel at times parts of the story verged a little on YA teen romance a bit too often and some of the villains were caricatures of what you’d expect. There wasn’t much of a refresher here either so I think I would have benefited from reading a good synopsis of the first book to remind me of forgotten details.

I’m still keen to finish this story and assume this one also might have the middle book of a trilogy syndrome which might not have helped anything either. I should probably read the original series first to fully enjoy the finale but whether I’ll get chance or not is another matter.

A Time of Blood by John Gwynne is a great book. Or rather, A GREAT BOOK.
I have not read any of John Gwynne's other books, and yes, this is Book 2 in a series and I HAVE NOT READ BOOK 1. (If you read the book, you'll understand the capitals.) I was interested in it because it's title is so like that of the wonderful Deverry books by Katharine Kerr - at least in the UK - where one of the series is called A Time of Omens, A Time of Justice, A Time of Exile and A Time of War. I was hoping for something as good as Deverry and found it, although it is much bloodier, as the title suggests.
It is a sign of just how well this book is written, that I picked it up, and by 5% through, was fully committed to the characters even though I had no back story, and, to be honest, very little idea of what was actually going on, and it is not that easy to work out what's happening, but I wanted to.
The main characters are all intriguing and well-written, and there is a great deal of action and many battle scenes. The different POV's mean that we don't always know what's happening with some characters, as the scenes taking place are described by someone else, even though the others are there. I believe it's this that allows the story to move so quickly.
While the idea behind the story may not be that original, two sides on opposite sides of an impending war, the way the story unfolds is exhilarating and exquisitely well told.
I'm already a bit forlorn as I need to know what happens next!
Thank you for the EArc.

A Time of Blood is the second book in John Gwynne’s Of Blood and Bone trilogy and the story picks only a few days after A Time of Dread ends. John has built upon the foundations he established in the first book to implement a fast-paced and brutal sequel full of revelations, engaging dialogues, and bloody warfare. While following the standard sequel rules: bigger, bolder, bloodier we get the added bonus of all kinds of monstrous creatures being chucked in.

Being the second book in a trilogy some might question whether A Time of Blood might have second-book syndrome, but John smashes this question with an epic character-driven tale of love, loss, hope and hate. John elegantly used this book as a platform to prepare the story for the concluding third and final book while making sure this book doesn’t feel at all like filler.

In A Time of Blood John has heightened the stakes and worsened the odds, and the peril deepens with every turn of the page while the plot comes at you thick and fast. Once again John showcases his skill as the battle sequences are epic without being bogged down by too much detail and are gripping to read. What you get is chapters ending in a cliff-hanger, scenes being built up, and terrific action scenes written with such brilliant precision.

If you’re familiar with John’s work, you know by now that he’s brutal with his characters and he’s not afraid to torture or kills them off. This is also why I LOVE his books because you know no one is safe and his work isn’t predictable. The characters are extremely well-written which means the atmosphere of danger in the battle scenes is tangible and the characters’ motivations for their actions felt realistic. You can’t help but feel a slight twinge of fear for the fates of the characters as you turn every page.

Overall this was a profound second book in a trilogy, and I cannot wait to see how things develop in the third and final book.

https://lynns-books.com/2019/04/15/a-time-of-blood-of-blood-and-bone-2-by-john-gwynne/
Wow. Again, I start off a review for a John Gwynne book with that very simple and yet I feel highly appropriate word. Wow. This was an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Truth and courage people. You will certainly find plenty of ‘truths’, some of them more unexpected than others, in the pages of this book and you will have to forgive me if I suggest that you might need a good helping of courage to get through this instalment – by which I mean the tension is ramped up, the battles are bloody and everyone seems to be in danger. This is, again, an epic story of battles, bloodshed, treachery, heroes and villains. It makes for thoroughly entertaining reading at the same time as leaving me with a very real dilemma about how to go about reviewing the story without giving away spoilers.

I’m going to veer away from discussing too much detail about the plot because that way leads to the land of spoilers and I really don’t want to give anything away here and ruin the many surprises in store for you all so this will instead be a simple reflection on my thoughts and feelings during the read.

Firstly I must say that this is an excellent second book in series. The pacing is almost relentless and there is not a glimmer of middle book syndrome in sight. In fact I would go as far to say that this is almost perfect in every respect. The story picks up almost immediately where the first book left off and brings us a thrilling game of cat and mouse being played out across the wilds. Meanwhile terrible plans are being put into place, armies moved around like chess pieces on a board just waiting to attack.

We once again follow a number of different character perspectives that allow us a bird’s eye view of what is taking place in different parts of this world. I love this form of story telling and Gwynne seems to be a dab hand at pulling off the different voices, keeping them all unique and allowing them to grow in the most natural way possible. You can’t help but develop genuine attachments to some of these characters and feel real fear when the author writes them into such terrible predicaments. I was holding my breath reading parts of this, my heart in my throat, here is an author who knows how to bring you to the edge of your seat and keep you reading into the early hours of the morning.

On top of this the world building is developing in a fascinating way. It is starting to become apparent that the Ben-Elim have many secrets. Secrets that they’re very anxious to keep that way. I like this, things are not quite as clear cut as they may have at first appeared and what began as a feeling of strong doubt in the first book has developed into these warrior angels falling much further from grace. Then there are the Kadoshim – this is an enemy that has been greatly underestimated and the price is about to be paid in the spilling of blood. Much blood – this book is indeed aptly named.

And, to repeat what I said about A Time of Dread, Gwynne can undoubtedly write action scenes that simply spring off the page in the mind’s eye. I confess that I sometimes become a little tired of battles and fight scenes or, more to the point, find them difficult to envisage. It’s not a feeling I experienced when reading either this or the first book. The fights and battles are just exquisitely wrought, they’re exciting to read with literally never a dull moment.

To be honest I don’t think I can say too much more. This is turning into a captivating series and an author that is fast becoming a favourite.

I have no criticisms at all and can only suggest that if you enjoy sweeping fantasy, epic battles that are much more complex than simply good vs evil then do yourself a favour and pick up this series. Oh, and lest I forget, there are bears and dogs – fantastic, faithful creatures that I just loved reading about.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I really loved the world that was built within this book and the way it grabbed my attention. I thought the characters were well developed and some of my favourites.

** Disclosure - I received a free advance copy of this from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **



A Time of Blood is the second book in John Gwynne's second series and I can happily say this is his best yet in my opinion.

The action carries on from the previous book with the evil Kadoshim minions rising up and trying to get back to power. The forces of good also start to muster, though there are still divisions and suspicions between the various groups which hamper their successes.

Drem, the trapper, really develops into a brilliant hero character without any prophecy nonsense for once, and surrounds himself with a strong cast of enjoyable diverse companions.

The first half of the book sees Drem and his companions travelling to escape the evil horde and warn others of the uprising they have witnessed. This journey is non-stop action and a thrill to read.

Meanwhile we have the recently airborne Riv who is battling with politics and prejudice to retake her place in the army. These chapters are much slower paced but vital.

The balance between chapters and characters in the book allow Gwynne to fit the story in while keeping the action flowing at a good pace.

A very enjoyable and exciting read.

Normally the second book in a trilogy is not as intense as the first and third. It tends to be almost like a filler, bridging the events between where things first kick off and where they dramatically end.

This was not one of those books.

It was jam-packed with action, drama, and intensity and has only left me hungry for more. The battle scenes were deliciously epic and bloody. I was completely rapt, feeling and like I was actually there witnessing it all.

The fantasy genre is pretty overwhelmed at the moment, but John Gwynne has firmly established himself within it. I am seriously amped up now, ready for the next one. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange for a review.

A Time of Blood is the second book in John Gwynne’s “Of Blood & Bone” epic fantasy series. The first, A Time of Dread, was fabulous: character driven, action-packed fantasy. So it’s fair to say that my expectations had set a pretty high bar for this book to clear. And clear it, it did. If you’re looking at this now, having read the first book, trying to decide if this sequel is worth buying, let me say this: Yes. And, in more detail: it has more of the things I loved about its predecessor. Snappy, kinetic, downright bloody fight scenes. Protagonists struggling with their own choices as well as the choices of those around them. Villains who manage to come across as people, even as they descend into monstrousness. And a world where towering citadels mix with tangled forests, and where the magic of blood meets the shield-wall. It is, in summary, wonderfully epic fantasy.

The characters are the heart of this story. I’ve got an especially soft spot for Riv, the half-breed with self-control issues. Her entire world has been ripped asunder, and this book doesn’t really let up on that. Riv is trying, so hard, to build herself up, to hold on to the potential that others see in her. Her struggle to write a new identity for herself is a fraught one, and you can feel the raw emotion bubbling away within her. The conflict between a woman who desperately wants to do the right thing, and the desire to lash out and bring down a system which seems almost designed to keep that from happening – well, it’s felt viscerally on the page. That Riv also kicks serious arse is a plus – watching her learn and fight and fall and win, having got her hands dirty and rather bloody, is inspirational reading. There’s also a well-crafted and somewhat troubled romance rearing its head here – done in such a way that it feels genuine and an organic outgrowth of events, which is a delightful rarity.

Then there's Drem. I rather like our hero-protagonist, as he struggles to articulate who he is, what his feelings are, and tries to find a way to get the rich inner world he experiences out in front of anyone else. That’ s a raw, heartfelt struggle. Drem seems to spend a fair amount of time either on the run, or caught up in blood-soaked skirmishes. Watching his confidence surface through the text is great fun, and I was happy to be cheering him on from the sidelines. He’s still quiet and struggling with parts of himself, but definitely grows over the course of the text.

The character that sticks with me, though, oh that has to be Fritha. Once the woman Drem held a torch for, now the high priestess of the Kadoshim, whose penchant for murder and torture is not at all exaggerated. Fritha’s viewpoint is some interesting emotional geography. She’s holding tight to a savage emotional wound, and that allows us to feel empathetic toward her excision of that pain, even when doing so leads to utter ruin for our heroes. Fritha is smart, driven, and focused. She also is more than capable of doing absolutely terrible things in service to her goals, and the story doesn’t flinch away from showing us that. This delving into the mind of the villain is masterfully done. Even as I recoiled from her, I could see how Fritha had started down her particularly unpleasant road, and what the price of that had been .Every time she showed up on the page was a tense mix of delight and burgeoning horror; as an antagonist, she’s complex, believable and makes compelling reading.

I talked a lot about the world of this series when reviewing the previous book. Suffice to say, there’s more here of what I loved then. The soaring fortresses of the giants are stunningly realised. The forests that our protagonists tramp through are dark, mysterious and teeming with life. The crunch of feet on the deep snows of the Desolation feels crisp, and you can almost feel the icy wind on your face as you turn the page. The environment is rich, detailed, and comes alive in your hands.

There’s politics here, too, the world of people to go alongside the natural. And my, there’s so much scheming going on. I mean, the Kadoshim are fallen servants of the divine. They’re often monstrous, but have surprising moments of vulnerability. Their schemes tend to be a bit more focused, and the monsters that they put into play are both repellent and magnetic. The Ben-Elim, though, the eternal enemies of the Kadoshim; they’re an odd lot. Convinced of their own superiority as guardians of humanity, they have a penchant for heavy-handed arrogance which makes them unsympathetic at best. If humanity are on both sides of this war, it’s worth noting that even the ‘good’ Ben-Elim are not often nice people. They have, it seems, just as much a capacity for treachery, realpolitik and deceit as anyone else, and possibly more, having wrapped themselves up in a tale of their own effortless superiority which…may not exactly be borne out. Though the Kadoshim are definitely the baddies (oh my yes), they come by it honestly. The Ben-Elim claim to be on the side of right, but that doesn’t make them automatically possessed of virtue. Often quite the opposite. You can see in every word they speak the incalculable arrogance which suggests that the war they’ve found themselves in is of their own making.

Anyway. You’ve come this far. You’ve read the excellent A Time of Dread, and you want to know if you should read the sequel.

Yes. Yes you should.

It’s got everything you loved about the first book – be it the bloody, close-quarter, no-holds barred fight scenes, the fast-paced, tense plotting, the detailed world building, or the complex characterisation. But more. Yes. More. This book takes everything from its predecessor and turns it up to eleven.

I can’t wait to see where John Gwynne takes us next.

In the market to begin a new epic fantasy series? Maybe something to help take the edge off once the final season of Game of Thrones airs on HBO? Luckily, there's a new series that will fit the bill which weaves tales of war and custom into a comprehensive tale of magic and political drama.

Blood, lies, betrayal, vengeance, and much more, this story became an instant favorite. The first book A Time of Dread was good though I will admit, just a tad slow for me in the beginning. I'll give you all that. But I know Gwynne. He's hiding in the shadows with a malicious smile and steepled fingers because the pain will come. Oh, he'll bring it. I knew the end of the previous book was just the beginning of what we'll face in the future books and here we are, THIS BLEW ME TO PIECES. He is a genius and I'm rooting for far too many characters within this dark universe. The character development is excellent and the way that Gwynne weaves the different story lines together is impressive and seamless.

The second book in the Of Blood and Bone trilogy, this was a fantastic instalment. The characters are so well written, the plot is compelling throughout and the world is fantastic. I cannot say enough good things about this book, and series. If you enjoyed the first book then you will love this sequel. If you haven't checked out this trilogy yet, you really should. I loved this book.

This is the second book in the series. It lives up to the first one A Time of Dread! It is one of those books you cannot put down, it is bigger than the last one. It is more monstrous too so if you loved the first one, you will love this one. It begins a few days after the last one ends which was great!

The book is written wonderfully. There is a lot of action in this book and it does get bloody. It builds on the first one really well and i can tell that this book is preparing us for the next one but it also doesn't feel like a filler like most second books. The action sequences are tension packed and the magic in the books is awesome. The last part of the book was a great fantasy battle.

But even with all the action, we still get amazing characters. The characters are built and relationships are fleshed out. I won't go into the characters too much but they do go through a lot. I would say I didn't get too attached to the characters as I know the author can be brutal to them, but that was just me not wanting to get attached and then they die but I think if I read it again I would get attached.

This book has everything! Great plot, world building and characters. Fantasy fans should give this book a try. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series and I just hope that it will be just as good.