Blood of the Four audiobook

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review, This doesn't in any way influence my opinion on it. Blood of the Four by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon is one of the best epic fantasy books I've read. This is the first book I'm reading from both authors though they're apparently prolific. Princess Phela is a fascinating character that grew up with the benefits of a princess but the sneakiness of a street kid. She has learned a lot about people in the castle through forgotten secret passages she found when she was little and this gave her an advantage. On one of her journeys, She overhears her mother discussing using ancient forbidden magic. Magic in Quandis(the kingdom) has been forbidden for people except by the priests of High Order and as it's turning out to be, the priests lay this law for important reasons. Phela saw the magic slowly killing her mother because her body could not handle it, She had rushed things too soon. Phela began to scheme on how to take the throne without making her mother suspicious, but Phela knew that wouldn't be enough.To truly ascend to the greater heights she wants to achieve, Phela knew she had to master magic and unlike her mother wield it without it destroying her. Her schemes become successful as she assassinates her brother and leads her mother to her downfall. There are many main characters in this book with different important storylines, One of such characters is Blane. He is a novice priest in training at the Temple of the Four(the High Order's dwelling) where magic is rumoured to be buried beneath. Blane is special because he is Bajuman, a race of people who are regarded as the worst of the worst. They are slaves but are treated like they're worthless than dirt, this tradition has led the Bajuman to become rather submissive. Blane wanted freedom for his people so he joined the High Order(which accepts anyone as long as their past in left behind as they come in), in other to learn magic and free his people from obsession. He quickly comes to find that the rumors are true and magic does indeed exist in the depths of the Temple of the Four along with many other dark secrets. The next important character is Demos Kallistrate who is the heir to the Baron of Kallistrate and the unofficial yet widely know betrothed to the Princess Myrinne, Phela's younger sister who is kind and just. Demos life is thrown into an uproar as his father is wrongfully executed for hearing something he shouldn't have and his family members get awfully humiliated. To make it worse, Demos is made into a slave and branded on his skin. After losing everything he had in his life and becoming a slave that nobles had been taught amounted to nothing, Demos became a different person as he sees life through new eyes. Yet again another main character is Daria, Blane's sister thought to be dead but alive and reborn (figuratively of course) as Daria Hallarte. She is the Admiral of the Royal Navy Guard, She spends her days at sea protecting Quandis from pirates and urchins. But she gets pulled into the inevitable palms of fate when she learns that big things are happening at home and she just might be the hope for a brighter future. All these different characters all form a fascinating dark read that took me to really dark places I didn't see coming, This book is not for the faintest of hearts. It is Game of Thrones without Dragons and white haired Royals.Phela gets her wish and obtains magic even becomes a goddess but she fatally realises that it came with a nasty price. Blane also got magic and the chance to free his people, He was able to help but he ultimately also found out the fatal price of magic. From the dregs of society, Demos wrought changes that changed the land but it turns out he might just lose everything before the ending. Daria stops fighting fate and embraces her destiny and becomes a beacon of hope but she might just have to give up what mattered to her most for the sake of her people. These different characters captivated me and immersed me in their world and I devoured all the pages swiftly. Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon are two master storytellers that have woven a fantastic world that all readers will like to get lost in. The ending was devastating and gut wrenching but it had to happen for the greater good. Blood of the Four is the perfect example of an epic fantasy book, It's absolutely perfect. It blends action, adventure, danger, magic, gore, character developments, battles and even a little romance quite well. I happily recommend this book to any reader who would like the be horrified, shattered, disgusted yet squealing gleefully in your mind as you witness every dark unimaginable deed done. You will LOVE it.P.S: That cover is just....WOW. Absolutely love it.P.P.S: My review doesn't really give this book justice to how good it is, You should pick it out yourself to see.

This book was FANTASTIC. Full review to come.

"Blood of the Four" is not your father's fantasy novel. This tale of a land and a monarch under the sway of four gods and their magic is one to savor. There are heroes and villains, those who strive to do what's right, and those who seek to master the magic. However, magic in the kingdom of Quandis can corrupt, and the results ain't pretty. I found "Blood of the Four" to be an entertaining read, and I recommend it to those looking for something a little different in the fantasy section.

I have been a reader of fantasy novels all my life. As a teen Feist, Eddings, Brooks, Weis and Hickman (to name a few) provided me an escape from reality into the realms of the fantastic. They shaped me as a reader. Chris Golden and Tim Lebbon, both of which I consider heavyweights in the literary world, have hit a home run with Blood of the Four (Harper Voyager). This is not a light easy read, and is a step away from and above the traditional swords and sorcery fantasy I initially expected. It contains all the anticipated themes - magic, grand battles, well conceived characters that make an epic fiction. However, I felt that it was more a reflection on society - the haves (that presume their position to be righteous), the have-nots (knowing nothing but servitude and abuse) and those struggling somewhere in between. My only disappointment in this novel was that it had to end. I am certain Chris and Tim could've made a trilogy of this story if they'd wanted to...and I would have lapped up every page of intrigue, corruption resulting from absolute power, and shadowy gods.

Normally I would do a longer - in depth review - like I usually do, but honestly, so much happens within this book, I'd absolutely misspell someone or mess up something and I don't want to do the book a disservice.Tim and Christopher have delivered a stunning piece of dark fiction/fantasy that rivals Martin and Rothfuss and the other massive names. We get rival families, distrust, death and fantastical elements.The biggest pro to deciding if you want to pick this up - it is a single stand alone piece. They could easily add to it and do additional books, but for fans who want to read fantasy but don't want to invest in a massive series - this is a perfect option.Really enjoyed this one.

I’m a bit surprised that this book only has a 3.3 rating 🤷‍♀️ I enjoyed it! I read a lot of bigger epic fantasy series and I think it was pretty well done for a stand alone. It kept my attention, there was creep factor, social structure, power-hungry royals, executions, priests, pirates, and uncontrollable magic. If there was a sequel, I’d pick it up.

The tagline for this book is "blood is thicker than magic," so the reader will know that they're in for some epic fantasy right from the outset. Quandis is a nation founded on a religion worshipping 4 dual-aspected gods ( Water and Beasts, Fire and Secrets, and so on). The reigning queen's oldest daughter discovers secret intrigue and determines that the country needs her on the throne, pursuing the study of magic for the good of all. Things do not go well. The oppressed Bajumen people become even more oppressed. Her family is torn apart, and her sister's fiance is enslaved. The new queen's ardent pursuit of heresy splits the church, long a bulwark of the nation, and magic moves from discussed-in-whispers to being seen in public. At the end, will the Queen become a new god, or will the country survive? If this were being written by many of fantasy's better known names, this would be a series of no less than 3 books. You might hope there'd be deep, multilayered perspectives. But for those who are tired of series, this book manages to tell the entire story in less than 500 pages. You get less developed characters; you get somewhat simplified politics and a limited set of action sequences. But you do get an ending before 500 pages are up, and a pretty good (but not great story).I rounded up from 3 stars because the book's audacity in racing through the storyline.

I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the pace of the story. Found it a little weird that that after taking great pains to include physical descriptions of the Bajuman slave race as overtly white, there would be relatively little description of the races of other characters. It’s clear that racism/slavery is an important theme, but only half of the story is depicted. Certainly there is ample description of characters themselves, but no mention of broad descriptions of the other races aside from the Bajuman. Also, I’m not sure of the motivation behind making the slave race mirror white people in physical characteristics. I couldn’t tell if it was intended to simply tick a box of political correctness, or if the authors genuinely wanted to present a piece of literature where POC had power and white people experienced slavery. It felt a little disingenuous. Like maybe it should actually be offensive because it’s biting off authentic lived experiences of POC. Weird liberal white guilt, or a heartfelt effort at flipping the script? I’m not sure - decide for yourself!That being said, I did genuinely love the strong female leads, both good and bad. I thought the world-building was adequate, and the plot gripping enough to make me want to read more. I’d choose a book by these authors again.

This was excellent world building and action packed. POVs were well fleshed out and there were not an overwhelming amount of them to keep track of. The book can stand alone but I could definitely see the authors returning to this world. There was a surprise near the end of the book and a lot of history in this world I’d like to learn more about.

It’s great to read a self contained fantasy novel that resolves in one volume after the long series that we have all become accustomed to. Good characters, surprising twists and a satisfactory conclusion.