I picked this up from QBD bookshop in Broadmeadows and knocked it off quick time.It's a long read - 744 pages before you get to the appendices - but does generally keep your interest. The synopsis reads as follows:
Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten 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.
Yes, it sounds a bit like Harry Potter on Steroids but it is definitely not in the same league. While it's a rollicking good yarn, the main character is just too good to be true. As one reviewer explained: Al Sorna can't do anything wrong. He excels at everything he does and comes out on top in every situation. He's smart, strong, resilient, brave, self-sacrificing, a hit with the ladies and he never fails. This guy sweats faultlessness from the age of 12.
Goodreads reviews average out at 4.4 and I am very surprised at this. I would rate it a 4 star at most.
It is the first book of the Raven's Shadow series, so I checked out reviews of the second and third books that complete the story. I found that the sequels had received a mixed reception so I decided not to delve any further into the series. Blood Song worked perfectly as a standalone and had a satisfactory ending. Sure it hinted of a lot more to come but it is perhaps better to leave the story here, if the reviews are to be believed.
