Customer Reviews

Bloodsong

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In this post-apocalyptic world, war and corruption thrive, as the innocent people who occupy it must adapt. England has been torn apart and two families, Niberlin and Portland, are still worrisome toward one another, even though there is a truce intact.

The answer to saving this chaotic world lies with one person, the "chosen one," "the hero," - Sigurd, son of King Sigmund. The only surviving Volson, Sigurd's only chance in reuniting this torn country is by doing one simple thing...slay a dragon. Simple? Not so much.

Throw in three lovely lady distractions, resurrections, technologically-based animals and humans who aren't so human (including a human-turned-dragon) and a protagonist who is part lion, and it's all a little complicated.

On the surface, BLOODSONG looks like the normal adventure based on the heroic cycle, where the main character goes on a journey to accomplish one thing, slay the nemesis. However, in this case it's a technologically advanced dragon.

BLOODSONG begins a generation after BLOODTIDE. But nothing is different from the first time period. There is still blood, war, and love. With those elements, Melvin Burgess creates a complex world that is so imaginative and advanced that it feels like you are in an action-packed video game. And when you finish, you just have to sit back and say WHOA!

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

I couldn't put this book down and ordered Bloodtide, the first book in the series, the instant I was done with Bloodsong. Why start with the second book? I stumbled into Bloodsong, and am I glad. My series of thrillers is called the Bloodsong Series. Wanting to check out the competition, I bought a number of books and other items with "Bloodsong" in their titles. This was the gem of the bunch.

Bloodsong is based on the 13th-century Icelandic Volsunga saga and captures the timeless feel of sagas. I am half Icelandic and am delighted to find anything touching on the country of my ancestors in the literary world, so this book was a multi-faceted win.

Burgess is a very skilled writer, picking up the tempo of the "Icelandic voice" and rendering it for modern readers. I liked his simple, short sentences used to present complex and ageless themes. Love, betrayal, revenge. He writes bloody violence as well as love.

Reading this book will change my own writing. Burgess has shown me that an epic can be spare and disciplined as well as touching on the large, eternal human themes.

I highly recommend this thriller.