Bloodchild is the third and final instalment in Anna Stephens’ dark and brutal Godblind trilogy. Picking up straight after the events of Darksoul, the story follows our group of protagonists as they fight for supremacy. But Rilpor’s army is severely depleted, the Dark Lady is gone and Rilirin is soon to have her child that is integral to the Mireces plans – who will survive?

Godblind and Darksoul both made it to my favourite books of the year lists so going into this I was pretty prepared for it to be epic and unputdownable. The stakes in Bloodchild are even higher – the story is dark, brutal and addictive. Stephens has such an incredible writing style that I didn’t want to look away from this book for a second. Bloodchild follows the same characters as the previous books and we are treated to multiple POVs as we see each character attempt to survive and win the war. There are so many characters I’ve grown to love over the three books – Crys, Tara and Rilirin to name but a few and I loved seeing them in the last part of this epic tale.

Rounding up such a massive story is pretty difficult but Stephens does an incredible job. The ending was spectacular, not only was it fast paced and gripping but it was heart breaking too. One of the things I love most about this series is the way you get to know and love characters from both sides of the war – those fighting for the Red Gods and those for the Light. It’s a fascinating and compelling tale and if you love Grimdark fantasy this is a series to get reading immediately – you won’t be disappointed.

Unfortunately, I didn't finish this book. I got myself a copy of the first two books and by the second book I'm just skimming thru the chapters. The premise of the trilogy is epic... but I felt disconnected the whole time, tho I feel like this is purely a me-problem with the characters and everything not matching with me.

Rilporin has fallen and Corvus, King of the Mireces, reigns over an occupied land. The raiders and their dark religion have conquered, but victory came at a terrible price – the death of a god – and sparks of resistance glimmer on all sides.

A wonderful end to this series!

I have really enjoyed this trilogy, but unfortunately for me, this final instalment was the weakest of the three. It deals with the aftermath of the siege of Rillporin and we finally learn the fate of Crys, Dom, Rill, Mace, Tara and the other characters we have come to know and love.

The Positives: Once again, the action pulls no punches - it is bloody and brutal, drenched in viscera and gore and definitely not for the faint at heart. I liked the final third of the book far more than the opening, as this was where the end game really played out and I thought the conclusion, while a little anti-climactic, was pretty fitting. I thought a lot of the character interactions in the narrative were really well done, and I liked the agency of so many of the female characters, saving their own skins and not waiting for someone to come and rescue them.

The Negatives: The pacing felt very strange to me. Rather than a compelling page turning, heart bursting narrative, the first two thirds of the book were taken up with what felt like a lot of unnecessary set up. I thought that the plot overall for this final instalment was a little bit weak and the tension that was so high throughout book 2 and the siege, just wasn't there for me in this one.

Overall, this has been a really solid and enjoyably dark trilogy and I would definitely recommend it to those who like their Grimdark particularly bloody.

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

My expectations for Bloodchild were somewhere between terror and excitement. After the emotional rollercoaster of the first two books, I knew this wouldn’t be an easy ride. My hopes were high and I (foolishly) thought I was ready for the final instalment in the dark fantasy trilogy by Anna Stephens.

If you think you are prepared for this book, I can promise this: you’re not. This was one of those occasions where I sat there in stunned silence once I finished it, uncertain if I was about to laugh, cry or some hysterical mixture of the two.

The intricacies of the plot do not diminish at all in this final book. There are twists and turns along the way, but the reader is carried along easily. Despite being told through multiple narrations, there is never any confusion about who you’re with and what their situation is.

There are several layers to the plot: war, Gods, love, betrayal, pain, hope and overwhelming odds that seem impossible to overcome even with a God on your side helping win over new allies. With the country in the grip of the Mierces, Mace and his band of survivors must face their worst nightmares if they don’t want to lose their Gods for good.

I don’t know where to start with characters – there are so many epic ones that I could spend the entire thing gushing. Tara is my favourite this time: never giving up, no matter what it costs her, even if that means finding love only to lose it again.

Crys and Ash once again broke my heart into thousands of little pieces. Those two take the firm spot of favourite couple in any literature: their love leaves me grinning like a fool; their pain is heart-shattering.

Talking of couples: Mace and Dalli are now established and they too are adorable together. Rillirin and Dom might have a fleeting chance at a future – or, at least, the chance to be on the same side of the war.

There is still no messing with Gilda – if she faced the Dark Lady herself, I’m not sure who would come off worse.

Lanta and Corvus have problems of their own this time around. Lanta is the character you love to hate and while there is a touch more humanity to Corvus, he never does anything to redeem himself.

The loss of characters in the first two books means you really connect with those who are left. You feel their emotions; their pain; their hope; their determination. You want them to come through unscathed, but the previous books are a strong enough indication that just because they’re the good guys doesn’t mean everything is going to go their way. There is loss in this book as well, and it’s just as heart-breaking as previously.

The switching narration makes this a fast paced and tense book. Knowing not everyone will survive keeps your heart in your mouth throughout.

Couldn’t put it down – perfect end to a powerful trilogy.

Bloodchild is the last book in The Godblind Trilogy and what a rollercoaster this trilogy is. Dark to extreme levels, emotional and tense, it brings an epic conclusion to the ongoing and bloody war between the Mireces and the Rilporians, and the war between their gods. Going in, I had no idea how this series would end in a way that was satisfying but also fit in with the tone of the series, but it worked. There are so many characters in this series, but this book highlighted how much I connected with them over the course of the trilogy, as if I had fought at their side. We get to see perspectives from both sides, and there are such a mix in personalities and motivations that keep it interesting, across both the large battle scenes and smaller personal moments. This is a twisted series, and Bloodchild is a worthwhile ending to it. I look forward to reading more from Anna Stephens.

I came to review this book without having read it's two predecessors but was able to pick up the story and jump straight into the action. There's a lot of action. It's what I'd describe as grimdark which is not my favourite - although I should have know what to expect where the book features a God of Blood and much gruesome warring, torture, slavery and barbarism!

I loved the Fox God character and the idea of spirit animals in a bright scene within the very dark story - I enjoyed the world and I especially appreciated the strong female protagonists who were at the forefront of the action.

Overall this is not a book for the faint hearted or little ones but if you like your fantasy gritty and epic it might be for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the review copy of this book

Bloodchild is the final part of the Godblind trilogy from Anna Stephens. We’ve reviewed the previous instalment here , and found both the first and second books to be fantastic works of fantasy.

So, if you’re here to read the final part of the trilogy, you’re probably wondering…does it measure up? Does it have brutally visceral action? Sudden reverses, betrayals, lives hanging on the turn of a word? Gods striding the lands of men? Relationships which are artfully drawn to feel immediate, personal, heartbreakingly human? Wonderfully crafted villains, who can be empathised with as people, even as they’re busy being awful people doing awful things?

Yes. Yes to all of that.

I could probably write a paean to the sheer mastery of craft on display in this narrative. The way the text is a crescendo of tension, each page turning the screw just that little bit more tightly. The way each of the characters, from your favourite (and I know we all have a favourite) hero to the most reviled villain get the closure both we and they deserve. The world, from ruined forts to occupied cities, from liminal spaces populated by the divine, to muddy, blood-soaked fields. There’s a diversity of environment, but not just that – each has the detail, the depth, the solidity that makes it feel real.

I think this is, if it wasn’t clear already, a very good book.

Well, some of you may be saying, tell me about the characters. Tell me that the one I like, lives, the one I don’t, dies. Tell me that the feels are still there, that these words on a page still make a wonderfully realised person.

Well, the second of those things is certainly true. I’ve said before how much I enjoy the villains of this piece. The way they do all sorts of terrible, terrible things (often lovingly, viciously described), but manage to make sense as more than two-bit caricatures. They’re lovingly spun from the stuff of nightmares – family men who commit atrocities, thoughtful, ambitious women who order those atrocities. They’re people, is the point. People like us, albeit at the horrific end of the spectrum. There are weird creatures here, true enough, gods and prophets, but the most terrible thing is the people, the way they’re shaped, the way they shape themselves; the viewpoint chapters for the villainous Mireces are fabulously horrifying. On the other hand, our protagonists are equally compelling. In many ways, each is paying the price from previous books. Be that in imprisonment, in slavery, in fear, in responsibility, in truth. But they also show off the best of people – in their courage, in their grit, in a determination to hold fast, to keep each other safe, to do the right thing, not the easy thing. To pay the price, if it needs paying.

Yes, these characters, in a world of gods and monsters, are the work of writing that scintillates darkly across the page, giving us heroes and villains, and sometimes both in the same person. This is top-notch writing, characterisation that makes you want to laugh and weep along with the people on the page.

I’m not going to tell you who lives and who dies though, that would be spoiling things. That said, it’s worth remembering that this is a lethal world, where no-one is entirely safe.

The story – well, you can see my emotional reaction above. I don’t want to get into detail But just to round things off. Yes, there is an end that meets the outstanding quality of the story so far. No, it did not disappoint. Yes, your h will be in your mouth at points. Yes, it’s something of an emotional rollercoaster. Yes, the payoff is absolutely worth it, in each line, in each page, in a book which grabs hold and won’t let you go until it’s done.

Yes, this is a good book, a bloody book, and a bloody good book. It’s a fantastic conclusion to a brilliant trilogy, and I advise you to pick up a copy straight away.

The Godblind trilogy is a lesson in why it’s worth persevering with a series sometimes. The first book irritated me slightly. The second book was so much better that it made me re-evaluate the first book despite the things that annoyed me. And this book is the finale the series deserves – the payoff for everything that’s come before. Stephenson does not pull her punches. Characters die. Events spiral into despair and darkness. It’s one hell of a wild ride. Do not expect to come out of this unscathed. An awesome end to what turned out to be a very accomplished dark fantasy series.

This is how you end a series and break my heart into tiny little pieces. This book was action packed from the start and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This is also the most anxiety provoking series I’ve ever read and I love it.

This book starts off not long after Darksoul ended. The Mireces have taken control of Rilpor but in doing so they have lost one of their gods, The Dark Lady. However, they have a plan to get her back and consolidate their rule throughout Gilgoras. Despite their massive losses Mace his the last of his Rankers and the Wolves, with the help of the Fox god, are determined to foil these plans and get rid of the Red gods once and for all.
I think what I love best about this series is that no one is safe and you have no idea what will happen next. You really have no idea what side is going to come out on top at the end and I felt that this really helped to keep you invested and engaged in the story.

And then of course we have our amazing cast of characters. These characters are all so well fleshed out and Anna Stephens did such a good job at ensuring that they all had a distinct voice and I just love the fact that you get povs from characters on both sides of the war which really gives you a better insight in to what each side are fighting for. They also broke my heart continuously throughout this book.

Like the previous books in this series this book is very dark and has many trigger warnings: graphic violence, murder, torture, slavery, attempted rape, rape, death of a loved one and religious sacrifice.

Overall, this was an amazing ending to an even better series and I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

If you'd told me 2 years ago that by the end of the Godblind trilogy I would be sobbing thanks to ALL THE FEELINGS, I would likely have given you A Look and gone back to my cup of tea. But Anna Stephens has delivered with interest over this rollercoaster trilogy.

Bloodchild takes a step back from the remorseless slaughter of Darksoul to regroup, building the tension slowly before diving back into full-frontal, no-holds-barred conflict. Stephens ratchets up the stakes notch by notch until it is almost unbearable. Can Tara maintain her subterfuge in Rilpor and assassinate King and Blessed One? Can Rillirin evade the Mireces and bear her child in the Light? Can Crys bring Krike to Mace's aid - and is his death the price of a change at victory? Will Dom turn back to the Dark Lady and betray his loved ones once again?

Whilst this is certainly the darkest of bloody fantasy, at the end I can no longer call it grimdark. This is a fantasy that chooses its tropes carefully and subverts them with glee; a story deeply interested in compassion and redemption whilst remaining ruthless in its depiction of horrors that left me reeling. Never an easy read, it has turned out to be an enormously emotionally rewarding one. Hats off to Anna Stephens - she'll make me consider reading more grimdark in future. At least if it's written by her.

I have enjoyed reading the Godblind trilogy immensely. It has been a wild ride full of misery, violence, gore and some genuinely uncomfortable moments that make you wince. It is also full of interesting characters who I both love and hate, depending on what side they are on.
At the end of the last book, things weren’t looking too good. Yes, the Blessed One’s plans had been disrupted but the city had been lost to Corvus. Fast forward to Bloodchild and now Lanta wants to use Rillirin’s unborn child to be the new vessel for the Dark Lady, and the rest of the characters are trying to stop her and Corvus. It goes about as violently as you would expect.

I loved reading these characters stories. After three books it’s hard not to be invested in their journeys and you want to see them succeed in utterly destroying the enemy. The story is brutal and violent and not everyone survives which is hard to read but works really well in making you invested in the story. I didn’t cry whilst reading it but my lip was wobbling at one point which just goes to show how much I cared about the characters. The novel ends on a hopeful note which was really nice after three books of unrelenting grimdark misery (not that I don’t love a nice bit of grimdark misery but I’m a sucker for a nice ending).

Bloodchild managed to hit all the sweet spots that I love to read about. It is action packed with lots of violence and a compelling story that I wanted to both finish and not want to end. There’s some sweet romance to appeal to my softer side and it manages to be heart breaking and hopeful amongst all of the violence. I loved the characters and I loved the story. It was an almost perfect book for me.

Bloodchild certainly shows you how to end a trilogy! In the thrilling conclusion to one of my favourite fantasy series, Anna Stephens ties all the plot threads together and presents a gripping story that ensures you keep turning the pages until the bitter end. Whilst she does that, she also manages to rip out the reader's heart and leave them an emotional wreck. I don't know how many times I cried reading this but I was emotionally drained by the end.

These carefully-crafted characters have become some of my very favourites and I won't be forgetting them anytime soon. In fact, I already plan to re-read the trilogy in the coming months. I'd highly recommend this grimdark trilogy to all fantasy fans.

Bloodchild is the third and final book in the debut series by Anna Stephens. Back in 2017 when Anna's debut came out, I actually gave it the skip. I was inundated with other "good" books - in particular, two other debut authors (Anna Smith Spark (Empires of Dust) and Ed McDonald's Ravencry caught my attention.

I was late to this series, starting on Godblind only last year but that was a boon in disguise. I read Godblind and DarkSoul back to back. While Godblind was good, Darksoul wasn't just great, it was brilliant. A heart-rending emotional upheaval of a journey. A long fuckin' siege that went on and on, presenting drama of the darkest kinds - desperate, terrified humans fighting ugly for their very lives against forces much larger than life. And after finishing both books, I couldn't wait for Bloodchild!

Bloodchild released in the UK yesterday (Sept 5) and trust me, this year-long wait has been more than worth it. To jump back once again to the dark corridors and blood-slick floors inside the walls of Palace of Rilporin where gory backstabbing is the norm. To wander the dark swathes of forests and rain-hit mountain ranges beyond that Palace in search of treacherous allies to shift the tides of a losing hopeless war. To plunge back into the shrewd mind of a General destined to be King shoring up his last reserves for one more fight. To feel the pain and hollow emptiness of a ravaged mind of a seer, left to suffer the consequences of perhaps the greatest feat in that last war. To feel the love and warmth of a Trickster God whose last reserves of energy and blessings might not be enough to bring solace to his loved ones. Once more to feel that scathing madness and the knife of red hot vengeance craved for by the enraged followers of the Red Gods. One more time, into the minds of an escaped slave, now a pregnant mother whose child may change the destiny of this world.

Be fairly warned: Now that this series is completed, anyone coming new to the world of Red Gods, be prepared to drop everything else and be sucked body, mind and soul into this stunning world. It will wrench your heart out. That much, I can guarantee.

Bloodchild reunites us with all of our favourite characters in this series ( Well, of all that actually made past that mad, harrowing desperate siege in the DarkSoul and survived all the treachery!) As with the previous books, the story is grim-dark, splattered with gore. It's the last battle for survival for the Rilporians, now slaves to the rule of King Corvus and the ruthless Mireceans. Having ousted and utterly decimated the Palace Rank and the West Rank, Corvus now is not just a warlord but ruler of the state, preparing Rilpor to welcome back the Dark Lady. But this victory is hollow, having lost their Goddess. Even the God of War Gosfath seems directionless and hapless. Lanta no longer trusts Corvus to keep things in order and their mutual animosity leads to frequent clashes. There is a growing sense of unrest among the slaves. Major Tara Carter, formerly of the Palace rank, is now the property of Valan, the second in command to Corvus but her spirit remains unbroken and she has just one aim in life. A mission entrusted to her by the Fox God and she is determined to see it through, riding on the back of a slave rebellion.

Outside the Palace, General Mace has safely led the survivors to where the South Rank is camped out and is planning on doubling back, licking his wounds and shoring up his reserves for one all out attack. He is also hoping that he gets some help from allies. And Crys Tailorson, former captain and now a God with the soul of Trickster inside him, along with his love, Ash Bowman, the archer from the Wolf Lands, is out on this mission. To the neighboring land of Krike to enlist their help to oust the usurpers from the throne. Dom, the Calestar is now a broken shell of a man, wallowing in self-pity and bearing the guilt of having banished the Dark Lady into the Afterworld, cannot think straight. The only thing that keeps him going is Rillirin, who is now pregnant with their child. Rill however, is having her own adventures. Being the target of all Mireceans, who believe that her child is going to be vessel that the Dark Lady will occupy on her second coming.

All the different threads come crashing together by the last quarter of the book in a terrifying conclusion of all the events leading up to the birth of the Bloodchild. Prophecies ring true in the most horrific manner. Forces clash with each other. Gods rip the veil emerging onto this world, once again with cataclysmic consequences for humans. Anna ties up the various threads, sticky with the blood of heroes and some of our favorite characters. But this.... is how a series should end. A soul satisfying but heart rending conclusion to the various character arcs. Darksoul featured deaths of some major POV's and we knew, Bloodchild was going to be the end of the road for some of our beloved characters but Dancer have mercy on her soul, Anna Stephens guts you bone deep and then twists the bloody knife in, for good measure.

There are some big set-pieces of savage show down between the Rilporians and the Mirecean army. And Anna is now a past master in setting up these huge conflicts, with army drills, cavalry charges, mad But what stood out for me were the more intimate personal fights with Tara. Her dauntless courage in the face of overwhelming odds to still continue her mission is the stuff of legends. In a normal epic fantasy novel, the pregnant woman is possible sidelined after giving birth but in Stephens' world, Rill despite being heavily pregnant kicks ass and travels across places. A true mother bear who will take on the tigers for her cub. A crippled seer who cannot seem to get out of his own deep well of guilt and self pity for most parts of the book, Dom the Calestar still remains one of the anchor points of change in this whole series. Will he betray the Dancer yet again was something that kept me glued to the books, despite his character being that highly annoying whine-star. Mace, sadly typecast in the "hero" mold sticks to his guns - nobility, honor and bravery being the defining characteristics about him. possibly one of the cleaner guys, bathed in the Dancer's Light who couldn't lift a finger wrong. While the wolves don't really get a POV, all the featured ones still alive by book-3 get my full vote for being the lovable rascals they are. Ash and Dalli chiefly.

With Crys-Foxy-Tailorson, Anna clearly expands her world beyond just the streets of Rilporin. As he is tasked with bringing in new allies that Mace's rag-tag ranker army can expect, help from. Crys remains a charmer and his relationship with Ash remains the high point of this whole series. His emotional journey comes a full circle as Crys realizes that as Fox God, his role in the prophecies and in thwarting the Dark Lady, is one of the most important ones. Can't deny, my eyes were moist as I read his chapters.

Anna retains her evocative prose, immersing us into the blood-spattered narrative as the fight between the two faiths continues. The intense action never lets up, except to show us the uglier side of that religious frenzy - a fanaticism that reaches a desperate harrowing peak by the end of the series. The mind-numbing twists and backstabbing continues. And yet all of that builds up to a logical end-game with the Bloodchild. Anna buoyed on by the thrust of an immense momentum coming off the first two books, signs off this incredible series on a deserving high with this third book. It might just be my favorite book of the whole series, emotionally for me.

Dancer's grace, my dear heroes! You will always stay in the light. Such a wonderful journey and I am glad I was able to make it with you guys. Stay blessed. I cannot wait for Anna's new adventure, to explore the new worlds that she might be drumming up.