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This awkward middle volume, the second installment of Ruckley's Godless World trilogy (after 2007's acclaimed Winterbirth), lacks the thematic impact and emotional intensity of its predecessor. As the armies of the Black Road, a fatalistic religious movement revolving around a creed of predestination, descend from their northern exile, the quarrelsome leaders of the True Blood clans must join forces or die, but supernatural forces beyond their understanding are playing with their destiny. Multiple plot threads featuring dozens of integral characters bog down the pacing considerably, creating a narrative that, like the unwieldy and poorly led True Blood army, becomes a "lethargic thing" emanating "resentment and reluctance." New readers will be utterly lost and fans left impatient for book three. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Following his fantasy debut, Winterbirth, this middle book of the "Godless World" trilogy reimmerses readers in the Clans-and-Indians atmosphere of Ruckley's heroic fantasy world. The titular "bloodheir" could refer to any of three candidates. Orisian, newly minted as thane of the Lannis Blood, searches for a positive direction in which to lead his staggered people. Aewult, the Haig prince and Orisian's ally, commands a huge army, but his arrogance and greed for glory may doom them all. And Orisian and Aewult's mutual foe, Aeglyss, channels the rejections of his youth into a horrible magical vengeance as his strange powers mutate, raising him ever higher in the fatalistic ranks of the Black Road as they bring war deep into Haig lands. Or it could be that the bloodheir is actually the reader, who will learn that no secondary character is safe in Ruckley's cruel, icy world. This grim, sometimes gripping martial epic will leave those who have come this far anxious for the final chapter. A solid fantasy choice, especially for libraries where Winterbirth found an audience.
—Neil Hollands
With the monumental defeats at the hands of the more powerful Black Road armies, the True Bloods are in trouble. Adding to their seemingly inevitable annihilation is the alliance collapsed as each Blood Line chooses to save itself. At the same time Aeglyss' mental state seems increasingly deranged.
Blood Thane Orisian realistically understands what he and his people face as he has few shieldmen warriors left with his line nearing extinction. While his sister Anyara remains with Aewult the Bloodheir of the Haig Blood who are also in trouble, Orisian travels with Ess'yr the Fox Kyrinin and her brother. He knows he is falling in love with Ess'yr, but must defeat Aeglyss. At the same time, Kanin the Horin-Gyre Thane raises a heretical force of half-breed soldiers to fight Aeglyss.
The third and final Godless World epic fantasy is a great ending to an overall terrific saga. The story line is fast-paced along several well written fault lines that ultimately converge in an anticipated epic center confrontation. However, the key to this entire trilogy is the cast. No one is a John Wayne like hero as everyone has prejudice and a willingness to sacrifice those they consider lesser. The battles are graphic and the other scenes vivid as history on this world seem destined to repeat itself with the flow of the True Bloods almost defiantly heading to extinction. With the exception of needing a glossary handy, Brian Ruckley completes his chronicle with a wonderful winner.
Harriet Klausner
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I'll admitt at first i was a little timid to read the last book in this trilogy. The first 2 books started off slow (though at times my pulse raced)..I just didnt want to struggle toward the end. Needless to say, I was very surprized with "The Fall of Thanes" It had everything i was craving and everything that was missing from the first 2 books. This was by far the best book in the trilogy. Aeglyss will have you yelling for the hangmans noose..Orissian will have you stand up and cheering...Even Anyara's life becomes interesting...All the characters come out and into play in a dramatic ending....If you can get past the slowness of the first 2 books and make your way to this one...You will not be dissapointed and will say "It was well worth it"
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AvidReader79
Posted October 17, 2009
Even though this book has different races each with their own characteristics, it does not delve into a world filled with magic. For the most part it keeps things very human and realistic.
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Posted September 21, 2009
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Long and drawn out... but not boring! Lots of death, destruction, misfortune, deception, betrayal, fighting, manhunting, and war. You'll come to respect certain characters and love others. I can't even (honestly) disrespect the bad guys in this book, because their cause seems so righteous! I'm glad I stumbled into this series, can't wait to read "Fall of Thanes" which is book number three.
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Posted September 5, 2009
this entire series f***** rocks!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was a good second addition to the Godless World Trilogy. Brian Ruckley kept the story strong and the characters true to themselves throughout the adventure. However, there were a few (and only a few) times I felt some frustration, or maybe in was my own impatience, and wanted the story to hurry along. BUT.I wanted more and needed more. I couldn't put it down and in the end, the third book Fall of Thanes made it all worth it. There's no doubt that I'm keeping this one in my library.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.At the end of the third book I cried...I actually cried! Never in my life has a book brought forth tears to my eyes before. This was a heartbreaking, gut wrenching story. I thought I new what was happening, I always know what's happening, but Brian Ruckley kept me in the dark the whole time. And don't berate me, I know the title of this book speaks a thousand words, but for me you see...books are an easy read, not merely to be able to sit down and read words, but to guess the outcome before it happens. In some respect, books can be very predictable. However, The Godless World Trilogy changed that for me. There were many, many times that I thought I knew what waited ahead for me in the pages to come only to have that rug pulled right out from underneath me. It was wonderful! The Godless World Trilogy is a fantastic read. This is a keeper for my bookshelf and it begs to be read again.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Good 3D characters. Complex plot. A good solic read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Orisian has become the Thane of the Lannis Blood at a critical time with his people reeling from recent events (WINTERBIRTH) he is unsure of what to do to turn things around on their frozen land, but thirsts to save his people.---------------- At the same time his friend Haig Prince Aewul leads a tremendous military force, but avarice and the thirst for glory could prove their undoing if not checked by rational thinking.------------------ Their adversary Aeglyss seeks magical revenge on his enemies even as his thirst enables him to rise towards the top of the dangerous Black Road he plans to bring the fight to Haig and Aewul before dispatching Orison.------------------------ The second Godless World epic fantasy is bloody grim as Brian Ruckley continues to vividly paint an extremely dark realm. The story line is fast-paced and filled with non- stop action that traverses much of the Godless World. Yet the key to this excellent fantasy is the cast as the three leaders play a deadly game of chess in which checkmate does not necessarily mean victory or defeat because cunning can change the rules of engagement. Orisian is especially fascinating as he understands war means death, destruction, and chaos with no true victors yet cannot prevent it from coming. Readers who enjoy a powerful enthralling fantasy thriller will appreciate Brian Ruckley's aptly named BLOODHEIR.-------------- Harriet Klausner
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Overview
The world has fallen from its former state. The war between the clans of the Black Road and the True Bloods has spread.For Orisian, thane of the ruined Lannis Blood, there is no time to grieve the loss of his family, brutally slain by the invading armies. The Black Road must be stopped. However, as more blood is spilled on the battlefields, so each side in the conflict becomes more riven by internal dissent and disunity.
Amidst the mounting ...