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Bloodchild: Book 3 (The Godblind Trilogy) Hardcover – 5 Sept. 2019
’If you’re a fan of the likes of Joe Abercrombie or George R.R. Martin, then you’ll be pleased to learn that Anna Stephens has joined this august pantheon of lovingly horrible and deliciously dark writers’
STARBURST
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.
In the south, Mace gathers the survivors of Rilpor’s armies. Among the fierce tribes of Krike, Crys and Dom search for allies and for the truth of what binds them to the Gods of Light. And in the royal palace itself, Tara – once a soldier, now a slave – hopes to ignite a rebellion.
But time is against them. A child will soon be born with the power to return the Dark Lady from death, and the long-prophesied final battle for the future of Rilpor and Mireces, of humans and gods, is near.
- Print length512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperVoyager
- Publication date5 Sept. 2019
- Dimensions15.9 x 4.5 x 24 cm
- ISBN-100008215995
- ISBN-13978-0008215996
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Product description
Review
‘Builds to an epic crescendo that gives way to a deeply emotional and unexpectedly hopeful ending. This satisfying finale is sure to fulfil the series’ fans’ highest expectations’
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
PRAISE FOR THE GODBLIND TRILOGY:
‘No one does sword fights like Anna Stephens. We salute her with a bloody gauntlet’
DAILY MAIL
‘Brilliantly brutal’
Michael R. Fletcher, author of BEYOND REDEMPTION
‘Intriguing, fast-paced, and grimly fiendish’
Edward Cox, author of THE RELIC GUILD
‘If you’re a fan of the likes of Joe Abercrombie or George R. R. Martin, then you’ll be pleased to learn that Anna Stephens has joined this august pantheon of lovingly horrible and deliciously dark writers’
STARBURST
‘Has all the signs of being a sensational series’
SFX
About the Author
Anna Stephens is the author of the Godblind trilogy (Godblind, Darksoul, Bloodchild) and the Songs of the Drowned trilogy, which begins with The Stone Knife. All are available worldwide.
Anna also writes for Black Library in their Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror worlds, and for Marvel Comics through their tie-in publisher Aconyte Books.
As a black belt in Shotokan Karate and a practitioner of 14th century Italian longsword, Anna is no stranger to the feeling of being hit in the face, which is more help than you would expect when writing fight scenes.
You can follow Anna on Twitter @AnnaSmithWrites or https://anna-stephens.com
Product details
- Publisher : HarperVoyager (5 Sept. 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0008215995
- ISBN-13 : 978-0008215996
- Dimensions : 15.9 x 4.5 x 24 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 937,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 2,250 in Gaslamp Fantasy
- 3,817 in Humorous Fantasy (Books)
- 7,668 in Military Fantasy (Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author
Anna Stephens is the UK-based author of big, expansive, epic fantasy. The Godblind trilogy - Godblind, Darksoul, Bloodchild - are now published and available worldwide. The Songs of the Drowned trilogy - The Stone Knife, The Jaguar Path, The Dark Feather - are likewise available worldwide.
Anna also writes for Black Library in their Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror genres, and for Marvel Comics through their tie-in prose publisher, Aconyte Books.
Anna has a BA (Hons) in Literature and a Diploma in Creative Writing, and is also a qualified editor and one third of The Write Advice - a collection of authors and editors offering mentoring and editorial services to writers everywhere.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing style easy to read and enjoyable. They describe the trilogy as well-written and unputdownable. The narrative quality is described as vivid, with emotion-filled scenes and an engaging storyline.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it easy to read and enjoyable, keeping the narrative flowing smoothly. The trilogy is described as well-written, grim, and dark.
"...nihilistic undertones we’re presented with, Stephens’ writing keeps the narrative flowing and makes you want to keep turning pages until the story’s..." Read more
"...which doesn't always happen..... all in all a great read, a great trilogy and a modern fantasy work of art." Read more
"...I genuinely found this book difficult to put down - Stephens' style of writing is easy and enjoyable to read, whilst not losing anything from the..." Read more
"...frighteningly vivid scenes I would look away if I could ,please carry on writing ,I can’t wait to read more of your tales even if they will haunt..." Read more
Customers find the book a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
"...All in all this is an amazing end to what’s been an amazing trilogy and I genuinely hope to see more from the author in the years to come...." Read more
"I really enjoyed the end to this series. Plenty of action and a nice storyline." Read more
"...which doesn't always happen..... all in all a great read, a great trilogy and a modern fantasy work of art." Read more
"What a great trilogy,frighteningly vivid scenes I would look away if I could ,please carry on writing ,I can’t wait to read more of your tales even..." Read more
Customers find the narrative engaging with vivid scenes and an interesting storyline. They appreciate the emotional depth and detail in each scene, as well as the expert handling of fights and battles. The book offers hope and positivity, with frighteningly vivid scenes that the readers cannot look away from.
"...Each scene resonates with emotion and detail that draws the reader in and makes you feel like you’re there in the thick of the action, living and..." Read more
"I really enjoyed the end to this series. Plenty of action and a nice storyline." Read more
"...book the trilogy has been finished off not only neatly, but in a heartfelt way that is most satisfying to the reader (or at least this reader) which..." Read more
"What a great trilogy,frighteningly vivid scenes I would look away if I could ,please carry on writing ,I can’t wait to read more of your tales even..." Read more
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Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 September 2019++ SPOILER WARNING – This review contains potential spoilers for the first two books in the trilogy, Godblind and Darksoul. If you haven’t already read those you may want to skip this review until you have. ++
This is the final volume in Anna Stephens’ Godblind trilogy, and boy, what a finale it is. Following on almost directly from the end of last year’s Darksoul, it opens with the army of Rilpor in hiding and the Mireces invaders firmly entrenched in the city of Rilporin, their chieftain Corvus having proclaimed himself the new king of Rilpor.
To say that things look bad for the good guys at the start of this book would be an understatement of the highest order, and yet despite their losses and the setback of losing their King, General and capital city all at once, the remaining Rilporians, led by Mace Koridan, are determined to take the fight back to their enemies and take back their land.
Meanwhile, back in the city Major Tara Carter finds herself the slave of Corvus’ second, Valan, and is determined to enact the orders given to her by the Crys Tailorson, the Fox God, before he abandoned her to her fate; find a way to kill Corvus and the Mireces’ Blessed Lady, Lanta, in order to stop them from resurrecting their dead goddess.
Thus is set the scene for one hell of a roller-coaster of a novel. As well as the usual fantasy melange of warfare, blood, death and despair, there’s also a fair amount of hope and positivity hidden in this narrative. There’s also more than a little humour, though in many cases it’s tinged with a hint of pathos. Characters we’ve followed for the entire trilogy are fated to die, and Stephens doesn’t pull her punches in this regard. Indeed, throughout the novel we’re repeatedly told outright that certain characters are going to die, whether we like it or not. And yet despite the nihilistic undertones we’re presented with, Stephens’ writing keeps the narrative flowing and makes you want to keep turning pages until the story’s done.
It is the writing that makes this such a wonderful novel to read. Whether she’s describing the visceral horror of a massed infantry battle or the touching moments between lovers during quieter moments, the author’s skill with words never comes into doubt. Each scene resonates with emotion and detail that draws the reader in and makes you feel like you’re there in the thick of the action, living and breathing and fighting with the characters on the page. Even though this is only her third novel, I have a sneaking suspicion that Anna Stephens is going to be an important player in the fantasy arena for the foreseeable future.
All in all this is an amazing end to what’s been an amazing trilogy and I genuinely hope to see more from the author in the years to come. Definitely worthy of all five stars I’m giving it, and definitely another one to add to my favourite books of 2019.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2019I really enjoyed the end to this series. Plenty of action and a nice storyline.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 September 2019. This is the conclusion to Anna Stephens The Godblind Trilogy and like the other two books Bloodchild pulls no punches, goes straight for the throat from the start and doesn't let up until your feelings are a steaming mess laying at your feet. Corvus king of the Mireces has won a great victory in taking the city of Rilporin and reigns over the surrounding land, after a vicious siege that saw one of their two dark gods die and the survivors of the city scattering to the winds. Commander Mace, the Rankers and what is left of the wolves take stock, mourn their losses but ultimately know that they must try and rest control of Rilporin back, freeing those that have been left behind! There is a plan to bring the dark lady back to life a plan born in blood sacrifice and suffering and they cannot let that happen even with new allies and the trickster Fox-God on their side success and peace in the light seem so far away.
Those that survived the first two books make a return and all have their parts to play in the bloody tapestry to come.... a genuine sense of threat hangs in the air like a pall, as readers know from experience nobody is safe and any moment beloved characters can be ripped away.
This is very much a story of how much a people can endure and yet continue on, doing the right thing and as in real life the sacrifices when they come can be big and bold or so intensely personal they make the reader slam the book shut and weep! Wonderful characters that the reader comes to love or hate are at the heart of the story, non so more than Dom..... probably one of the most complexed and divisive characters of modern fantasy, let alone this story. Light relief such as it is comes with the interaction of the Fox God, Crys and Ash and seems genuine and not forced. I have to say though it is the story arch of Tara a willing captive with a mission that will stay with me for a long time to come.
This is as grim dark a story as you will ever find, with scenes of rape, slavery and mass deaths, but by now the reader should know what they are in for ..... fight scenes and battle scenes are expertly handled and intractable in their gore. The last thing I will say is that with this book the trilogy has been finished off not only neatly, but in a heartfelt way that is most satisfying to the reader (or at least this reader) which doesn't always happen..... all in all a great read, a great trilogy and a modern fantasy work of art.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2020After reading the first two books (Godblind and Darksoul), I was very excited for the final installment and was not disappointed in the least. I genuinely found this book difficult to put down - Stephens' style of writing is easy and enjoyable to read, whilst not losing anything from the visceral power of her descriptions and dialogue. Stephens notes in her acknowledgements at the end of the book that she hopes she 'broke your hearts and made you cry at least once' - she was successful! The development of relationships in this volume felt even more natural and organic and forged in the pressure-cooker of the novel's events than the previous books. And the climax of the novel (without spoilers) will probably haunt the corners of my imagination for a while to come - disturbing, desperate and harrowing at many points, whilst still seeded with intimacy, tenderness and feeling.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 October 2019What a great trilogy,frighteningly vivid scenes I would look away if I could ,please carry on writing ,I can’t wait to read more of your tales even if they will haunt me for years after,
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2020Loved it. I read the first book last year and binged the last 2. Good end to an excellent series.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2019almost sad that the adventure is over.definite must read with characters brought to life.cant wait for more books from this author
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 September 2019Brought tears to my eyes and I'm not a crier . Well written grim dark trilogy unput down able highly recommended
Top reviews from other countries
- Diamond BackReviewed in the United States on 10 June 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
Perfect
-
MRCEReviewed in France on 31 January 2021
1.0 out of 5 stars A éviter, si ce n'est pour pratiquer la lecture de l'anglais !!
Quand on lit les évaluations des lecteurs de langue anglaise, on pet se demander si on a lu les mêmes livres. Pour être très cru sur la qualité de cette trilogie, elle n'apporte aucune émotion, peu de plaisir de lecture.
Pour ne pas trop en dévoiler, l'ennemi est, pendant 2 tomes et 7/8 du dernier, le plus fort, le plus intelligent, le plus planificateur et celui qui gagne tout !! Et en une dizaine de pages, à la fin, l'affaire est réglée et dans le sac !!
Un peu trop simpliste à mon goût !!
- Peter BuckmasterReviewed in Japan on 1 November 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars A bloody and gruesome but satisfying end to the trilogy.
Anna Stephens has written a fast-paced, at times gory, at times body-tensing, exciting tale. This is gods and their worshippers pitted against each other. On one side you have the mostly decent folk and on the other, we have the gods who want blood, lots of blood, and thus their worshippers are pretty awful.
It may be too brutal for some, but I found this was a nice dip into the brutality of war and dark gods. Crack open a beer and get mucky!
One thing I would advise is to read the whole trilogy in one go. I left too much time between books, and it does take away some of the punch when you're trying to remember who did what. Since they're very readable, you could easily binge the trilogy in a week.
I read Anna Stephen's Gothghul Hollow not that long agon, and I'm hoping in the future she will write something that brings the Grimdark nature of this trilogy and nestles it within the spooky atmosphere she created so well in GH. I see she has anot
- gamingpoet1Reviewed in the United States on 15 January 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply awesome
Another epic. I simply love the world, characters and story. You can NOT go wrong here.