Book Review - Too Cold to Bleed (Red Season #2) by D.M. Murray

This review should be free of major spoilers but as it is the review of a sequel it will contain some very minor spoilers akin to the blurb on the back of each book - but nothing major - Enjoy!

A review of

Too Cold to Bleed

By

D.M. Murray

Too Cold to Bleed is the second novel in the Red Season series by D.M. Murray and I dove straight into this sequel after finishing the first book, Red Season Rising. The author told me he thought the writing in this book was better than the first, and I have to agree with him (not that the first was bad, the writing was fantastic, but this is even better). The prose is indeed more fluid and striking, and there is some beautifully written passages in this one.

Anyway, we pick up the story where it left off and re-join Kalfinar as he and his cousin Broden mount a daring expedition to rescue Evelyne from the clutches of King Grunnxe of Solansia. After the epic battles and sieges of the first book Grunnxe strangely retreats, but why? Well he has Evelyne, and with her he has Dajda, he has everything he needs now to bring about the dominion of his master, Balzath. They must save her to stop the usurper god Balzath from taking dominion and beginning a reign of blood and terror over the entire world.

Kalfinar and Broden lead a small team of rangers to the far north to reclaim Evelyne from Hagra Iolach, the icy home of the Ravenmayne, where Grunnxe is hastily travelling to imprison her. Their mission is fraught with danger as they traverse freezing seas and uncharted territory belonging to the indigenous Maracost, a people of similar heritage to the Ravenmayne.

We also see things from the enemy camp as we get chapters from Evelyne in her captivity as she is forced to dine with the mad king while plotting any possible escape.

In the south trouble stirs between the Free Provinces and the realm of Cannan, after the events of book one tensions are frayed and forces are at work to turn the two realms against eachother. The capital of Carte, still in disarray and weakened by Grunnxe, is facing the prospect of yet another siege. It is left to Thaskil and Subath (who is amazing and hilarious) to lead the forlorn and probably hopeless defence against an army of much greater numbers.

We are also introduced to another set of characters, this time in a remote part of Solansia. We meet Ruah, a crippled peasant girl living on the frontier who’s home and everyone she knows destroyed by the retreating Solansian army, everyone except one, a boy who often antagonised her, Halpern. Together they set off in the wake of the army to exact revenge and try to rescue their surviving fellow villagers. Along the way they meet the mysterious Culver, who joins and aids them in their struggle and they are also joined by an abandoned dog—who becomes quite a loveable character. Together they make their own perilous journey, also to Hagra Iolach and hope to find their vengeance on those that took everything from them.

This is a fantastic sequel, every storyline is packed with cool and interesting events and characters. The new settings are suitably fierce and well portrayed. The north is a cold terrible place and you really feel the chill bite of every gust through Murray’s prose. There are battles and fight scenes aplenty in this book also, the siege of Carte is hopelessly epic, and Subath has become one of my favourite characters – he’s just a crazy, hard bastard who gives no fucks, and he’s ace. The jeopardy and peril is quite gripping throughout, it really keeps the pages turning. D.M. Murray has done a stunning job and I look forward to reading more from him in the future. Check these books out!

Thanks for reading

Lee

Book Review - Red Season Rising (Red Season #1) by D.M. Murray

A review of

Red Season Rising

By

D.M. Murray

I read the debut novel and first in book in the Red Season series by D.M. Murray. It proved a gritty and exciting read. Opening with a mysterious coordinated assassination in a frozen outpost in the mountains, it’s pretty much action from the beginning. We follow the exploits of Kalfinar, a soldier of the Free Provinces who is haunted by his past, and his cousin Broden as they seek to discover the origins of the strange grey skinned assassins with burning eyes. We are sucked into the intrigue and military action of the Red Season series, as the King Grunnxe of Solansia, a man thought to have died on the end of Kalfinar’s sword and the enemy of the Free Provinces is perhaps not quite as dead as once thought. The ensuing war is not simply between nations but between the very gods themselves as they vie for power through the manipulation of their chosen peoples.

There is a very religious overtone in these books, as the Free Provinces worship their god Dajda, Kalfinar and Broden’s old mentor and scholar Olmat directs them to others in the service of Dadja and the ‘church’ (for lack of a better word), which takes on quite a Christian vibe. The other god and its servants take on the demonic evil blood thirsty types as good and evil do battle. I enjoyed the character of Evelyne and her ‘holy quest’ that takes Kalfinar and Broden to far flung places in their search as they are pursued by demonic forces.

The strongest theme I noticed was the military theme, we follow the exploits of military officers and the fight scenes and battle sequences are very well done. The writing was great, in the opening chapters you almost felt the cold as they make their journey through the snow, the descriptions are vivid and the world is well rendered. The plot is fast paced and we get enough point of view characters and enough plot threads to keep us engaged throughout.

I particularly liked the whole living dead plot line, the monsters themselves were well done and the premise was well executed. It made for quite an unexpected and exciting additional foe. The battle scenes were particularly well done; we have a pair of brutal sieges both quite different and pivotal to the plot.

He has managed to cram a lot of themes, ideas and plot threads into the book and done an excellent job of pulling it off; at no point does it feel too crowded. I really enjoyed this opening novel to D.M. Murray’s Red Season series, Red Season Rising is definitely worth a read, especially if you are a fan of military fantasy. It’s not simply just a military fantasy book though it’s so much more and has a little bit of everything to cater to most fantasy reader’s tastes making it perhaps epic military fantasy? I don’t like to pigeon-hole things, so I will say instead It’s simply just a great read which I recommend you check out.

Thanks for reading,

Lee C. Conley

Book Review - Wrath (The Faithful and the Fallen #4) by John Gwynne

This review should be free of major spoilers but as it is the review of a sequel it will contain some very minor spoilers akin to the blurb on the back of each book - but nothing major - Enjoy

The final instalment of John Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen is Wrath, an incomparable conclusion to a stunning series.

Corban has been captured. Veradis and Nathair have made their choices. The last book as the name suggests left everything in ruin so I was intrigued to discover how our heroes could possibly pull victory from the jaws of oblivion and defeat. Gar does some super cool stuff in this book, as does Coralen. Maquin and Fidele have a heart-breaking storyline. Maquin is truly epic in his own right. The giants play a huge role in this final chapter and the various clans hold some final surprises. Alcyon has been one of my favourite characters throughout the series and he is great in Wrath. Lykos is possibly my favourite villain. This final book pulls no punches, even more of our favourite characters are going to die. There are some great twists. We finally get the huge Godwar payoff we have been building up to the entire series, but at a heavy cost. The battles are huge, in particular Drasil. The smaller fights are pivotal and full of jeopardy for the characters involved. It was such a fast paced page turner, I devoured it in superfast time, one of those books you don’t want to put down but you know will leave a hole in your book-soul when it’s finished.

As this is the final book in the series, the series highlights for me have been the characters, Veradis, Maquin, Alcyon, Camlin, Coralen, Gar and of course Storm. As villains, Lykos and Rhin I think I liked enjoyed most. The Kadoshim were awesome and the changing perception of the Giants over the series was really well done. The battles and fight scenes were excellently written and also gave an insight into the author’s impressive knowledge of combat and swordplay. There were so many great characters and plot arcs woven into the overall story it’s hard to choose my one favourite part. The other thing that stood out about the series is Gwynne’s prose, his writing and narrative voice is fantastic, I always felt the setting was beautifully described and found my self immersed and attached to each of the characters.

The Faithful and the Fallen has secured itself on my shortlist of favourite fantasy books of all time. If you haven’t read it I recommend you do. Go and start your journey into The Banished Lands, I wish I could forget it all and do it again.

Thanks for reading

Lee