(Originally reviewed at thelibraryladies.com.)

This book needs one subtitle, and one subtitle only: “The Bloodforged: A Lesson in Going from Bad to Worse.” Not in quality, mind you. But the plot…phew! War and politics aren’t fun for anyone it seems!

The story picks up six months after the great battle that ended the previous book, and Alix’s kingdom is still very much at war. And not just any war, a war they are well on their way to losing. As Rig reports back from the front line (being now the General of the King’s armies), they only have a few months left unless they can secure aid from their neighboring countries. And thus Lindsey neatly separates all of our favorite main character off onto dangerous diplomatic missions where we spend a good amount of time wondering who has it worse.

First off, there is a major change in style for this book from the first. While it starts off from Alix’s perspective, it is quickly established that we will be following three other characters, primarily. Liam, who is sent to discover what is delaying the launch of a promised fleet of ships from the neighboring republic. Erik, who along with Alix, begins a treacherous trek through the mountains, home of the fierce mountain tribes, to reach their other neighbors who are also dilly dallying about committing to help. And Rig, back off to the front lines and tasked with holding the enemies at bay while reinforcements are begged for by the others. Alex, really, gets much less page time than the three others, and while at first I was frustrated by this change, I soon found myself equally invested in the tales of these three men.

Even more so than the first book, this second story in the series pushes even further away from any “fantasy” trappings. This book is largely about war tactics and political tactics. Again, it is hard to figure out which would be more painful to have to deal with. Poor Liam, new to his role as crown prince, is completely out of his league trying to navigate the political maneuvering of a republic whose players are all focused more on re-election than in helping him uncover the mystery of the sabotaged fleet, all while fighting off attempts on his life. And poor Rig. Fighting a losing battle on the kingom’s borders, not knowing when or if help will arrive. Even worse, he discovers that there is at traitor in his midst. And then Erik and Alix, their perils are perhaps the most straightforward, but just as dangerous. Cold, hunger, snow, and wild tribesman who don’t turn a friendly eye on trespassers all present hindrances on their attempts to reach their allies across the mountains. All of these three stories were intriguing and I would have a hard time picking one as a favorite. This is a huge win for a second book in a series where our main character is pushed to the side in favor of splitting the narrative between three other characters who had largely been only secondary in the first book.

Another change is the shift in romance. Obviously, our newlyweds, Alix and Liam, are almost immediately separated which marks a rather distinct end to any expectations that this book was going to have much happy romantic fluff in it. Instead, the book shifts to focusing on those left on the outside of this relationship, most notably Erik who had given up his attachment to Alix in favor of supporting her and maintaining a relationship with his newly discovered brother. Turns out feelings don’t just disappear. Further, Liam is blissfully unaware of the admiration (crush) that one of his fellow soldiers has for him. I appreciated that both of these mini arcs were handled respectfully and honestly. Liam’s naivety was endearing and hilarious at times. And I just felt sorry for Erik much of the time as it was always clear that Alix’s heart was forever Liam’s.

One flaw of the book was the lack of resolution to a few key points. Liam’s admirer is never really confronted, and the story line just fades away completely in the end without it ever being addressed. More frustrating, the spy in Rig’s camp is not outed in this book as well. More so with this second point than the first, some of these dropped plotlines may be simply being left for the final book in the trilogy.

As I said, the magical aspects of this book were largely pushed to the background. However, it does come roaring back in the end of the book, though this does result in a big of a cliffhanger. So , be warned of that. This book does need to be read after the first one, and does end in such a way that would be unsatisfying if you’re not on board for a third book. And, like I said at the beginning, things go from bad to worse in many ways, so readers are left on tenterhooks for the fate of the realm and our favorite characters by the end. I have no idea how Lindsey is going to resolve all of these factors, but I’m excited to find out! ( )

I confess, any time I go into a new book by one of my favorite authors, I always do so with some nervousness, especially if it’s a sequel to a book I loved. So when I finished The Bloodforged and it ended up being even better than The Bloodbound, it was definitely cause to rejoice! This series is showing no signs of slowing down; in fact, the author ramps up the intrigue and adventure in this brilliant follow-up, building upon her characters and further expanding the political and historical scope of her world. Moreover, The Bloodforged shows there are even higher stakes and bigger plans in place in this far-reaching game of love and war. Well done, Erin Lindsey!

Like the first book, this second volume focuses on our three protagonists. If you haven’t read The Bloodbound yet, I recommend starting from there to get acquainted with the characters, and you should also be aware that this review will contain spoilers for what has happened for them since the events of book one. Noblewoman and warrior Alix Black, formerly a scout in the Aldenian army, is now the king’s personal bodyguard and wife to the prince. Erik White is the desperate king of Alden, trying to find ways to repel the invading Oridian forces closing in on his kingdom on all sides. While all this is going on, Liam White, newly married and newly recognized as the king’s brother, is also still struggling to adjust to royal life.

What surprised and delighted me though, was this book’s addition of a new point-of-view character in the form of Riggard Black! We first met Rig back in The Bloodbound, where he was introduced as Alix’s older brother, bannerman of his house, and Commander General of the king’s army. His greater role and presence in this book was a real treat, providing an up-close and harrowing view of the war right on the frontlines.

Meanwhile, Erik and Alix attempt a near-impossible journey through the mountains to reach the capital of Harram, Alden’s neighbor to the west. Brutal weather, illness, avalanches, hostile tribesmen, and a host of other dangers plague their mission, but all would be lost if they cannot negotiate an alliance with the Harrami and convince them to aid Alden in the war. And then there’s Liam, way on the other side of the country, tasked to lead a diplomatic convoy east to the Republic of Onnan where he is to investigate the delay on the construction of a great fleet of Aldenian warships. Instead, he finds himself woefully unprepared for the cutthroat nature of the Republic’s politics, a deadly web of complexity and intrigue which quickly swallows him up.

A lot clearly happens in this book, and I also feel that it takes a somewhat different approach than The Bloodbound, which was a fantasy story with adventurous and romantic elements in equal parts. In contrast, the romance gets dialed down a little in The Bloodforged while the adventure gets dialed up, up, up, WAY UP! If that sounds more to your liking, you will not be disappointed.

All the characters resonated with me in a big way in this one, and I particularly enjoyed how the dynamics between them have evolved in the months since the events at the end of the first book. What Alix, Erik, and Liam went through together has made their friendship stronger, but nevertheless there is some of that residual tension left over from Alix’s choice. Those emotions play a big and powerful part in her chapters with Erik, adding layers of meaning to the things they say and do. It also adds a whole new dimension to their already precarious situation, the fact that they can persevere through all their troubles in the mountains and still not know what kind of reception they’ll receive in Harram.

But as much as I enjoyed reading about Alix and Erik’s perilous trek through the snowy wilderness, Liam and Rig’s chapters were even more exciting. Liam was always a favorite of mine. For a new POV character like Rig though, it surprised me how quickly he won me over. Rig is a risk-taker, living up to the saying about his family “As bold as a Black.” His chapters show us just how dire things are for Alden in this war, and there’s never a dull moment. Still, Rig’s fighting and leadership skills aside, what I loved most about his storyline was his relationship with the priestess Vel, reminding us of this series’ romantic roots. With their personalities, it’s no surprise there was so much delicious chemistry!

Then there’s Liam. Unlike the other threads, his story had little outright action and lacked any romance, but nevertheless I could not get enough. I always looked forward to Liam’s chapters and cheered a little bit when his POV came back into play. There’s so much to like about him: he’s down-to-earth, funny, and charming even when he’s being self-deprecating. I love stories involving political intrigue, and the Republic of Onnan was the perfect setting for this. But even with the power struggles and deadly machinations, Liam’s chapters were humorous, simply because he is his lovable self, trying to solve the mystery of the Aldenian fleet while navigating his way around “political speak” hoping not to bumble it up too badly.

I can already tell there is so much more coming. For a sequel, The Bloodforged accomplished a lot, revving up the threat of an Oridian invasion while also opening up the world to show just how much is at stake for the entire continent, and you just know no one will be getting off easy. A solid blend of action, mystery and romance makes The Bloodforged a serious page-turner. World-building and characters in this series are amazing, and Erin Lindsey’s writing has that fun and addictive quality that sucks you right in and won’t let go. I really hope more readers will discover her talent for entertaining and immersive storytelling and see why I enjoy her books so much! Highly recommended, and I can hardly wait for book three, The Bloodsworn! ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: This series is totally engaging and the books are so hard to put down!

Opening Sentence: “Boot heels rang out in under the high ceiling.”

The Review:

Alix, Erik, Liam, and Rig are all back picking up shortly after book 1 ends. The war is still going badly despite the small gains they made in The Bloodbound. Hoping to strengthen alliances Erik sends Liam to Onnani to figure out what is going on with the fleet they are counting on. He makes the decision to travel with Alix through the dangerous pass in order to make an appeal in person in Ost. They desperately need the Harram warriors to come to their aid. Alix also makes a decision to help win the war, however her help may just sink them. Rig is left to continue the battle in their steed. Along the way he meets Vel, a priestess who helps him.

Alix and Erik’s journey is fraught with danger, they almost die several times first in an avalanche and then at the hands of the mountain warriors. Liam finds trouble in Onnani and faces many setbacks including the fleet being burned, but he does survive an assassination attempt. Once Alix and Erik make it to Ost, Alix finds his behavior worrisome, in fact it’s so out of character that Erik actually ruins their own chance at an alliance by angering the King of Ost.

Will they be able to fix things, or will this just spell the ruin of them all?

I think these are set up for a series but in a typical middle book of a trilogy, everything and anything that could possibly go wrong for them does. With some minor exceptions, like them all surviving multiple instances of near death. I am sure you all are dying to know, but yes being that this was the second book, I went out and got book 1 so I could understand everything and I am glad I did, because this is not a series to start anywhere other than the beginning. I really did enjoy the first book, and I felt that Bloodforged definitely amped up the angst. Things got real and ugly, they are still working out the details of understanding how the Priest does the bloodbinding that allows him control the minds of others. One of the interesting facts they figure out is that either they must have the person or if that person has a twin, they can be controlled through the blood of said twin but only identical twins work (you know same DNA).

I am really intrigued by the mess they are in, and seeing that the third book doesn’t come out until next year actually makes me sad. This is a great romantic fantasy, there was just a hint of the love triangle that people disliked in book one. I will say that I am on the other side of the fence, while I liked Liam I really didn’t get that decision, I mean it works and they appear solid in love in this book, but I was shipping Alix and Erik. Although hands down I will say I love me some Rig, Alix’s brother is a total badass book boyfriend, he is funny and efficient on the battlefield.

Ahh ,why is book 3 not out already? If you enjoy fantasy but find high fantasy or some fantasy bogged down in boring details then these books are for you. This series is totally engaging and the books are so hard to put down!

Notable Scene:

“Instead, she saw the flames of war.”

“Witnessing her heart laid bare like this, it’s deepest chambers open and vulnerable, was both painful and irresistible.”

“Having a priestess in the room was like calling down a curse down on them.”

“The way of blood.”

“The battle at the fort had been an unfortunate turn of events, but the fates had more than compensated him with the botched attempt on Varad’s life.”

FTC Advisory: Ace/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Bloodforged. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com

Classic sword and sorcery, but by no means a simple story, BLOODFORGED explores the intricacies of politics, war, and marrying your ex-boyfriend's brother. In this universe "victory" is more nuanced than defeating a single villain or weakness, forcing Alix and company to face heartbreakingly real obstacles as they fight for the alliances and resources that can turn the tide of a losing war. And upon this stage of high adventure and higher stakes, Lindsay's characters sparkle with wit, emotion, and relationships that ring true.

Much like its predecessor, BLOODFORGED is told from multiple points of view, and much like BLOODBOUND, this structure works very well. Liam may feel hapless as an ambassador, but his witty, self-depricating inner monologue makes his chapters a pleasure. Rigard, as well, is a fantastic narrator. Dashing, astute, and capable despite the great odds stacked against him. Erik and Alix, however, not only have a rough start to their journey, their point of view took awhile to get interesting. Lindsey continues to play with traditional romance tropes, showing the awkward aftermath of a resolved love triangle. And while their attempts to reestablish their friendship and working relationship feel real and interesting, they're not interesting enough to compete with what Liam and Rig.

The pacing of these different narratives smooth each other out, however, into a deceptively smooth trajectory that makes twists and turns all the more exhilarating. Lindsey's combination of wit, action, and intrigue brings a modern flavor to a classic genre, making this series one no fantasy fan should miss.

Sexual Content: Kissing, non-explicit sex scenes, references to sex. ( )

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/09/22/review-the-bloodforged-by-erin-lindsey...

The Bloodforged carries the series further into conflict and gives the reader another fun and exciting adventure as this series continues to be a captivating and fun page turner that flies by. There are challenges that are physical, political and strategic. There are moments of romance and heartbreak. The whole book almost seems to be an emotional rollercoaster as the characters are desperate and driven to extremes to try and survive and stop this war.

This book does have a decidedly darker tone to it than the first. It also does not have quite as strong of a romance aspect. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there is still some romance and a couple of heated moments between characters, but it takes more of a side seat in this compared with the strong love triangle that was in the first book. This allows the book to get more into the war, it also makes room for a few new characters. While I really enjoyed the romance in the first book, I will admit I also enjoyed it not being as prominent in this book.

The story in The Bloodforged challenges many characters to step out of their comfort zones and to step up their game for the sake of, well, everyone. Alden is on the verge of collapse and new obstacles and stumbling points seem to appear every day. And in addition to that, each character also has something on the personal front they need to adjust to.

Alix is now in the foreign position of having Liam outrank her. Liam has to adjust from being bastard, with no one even aware that he is a royal bastard, to a recognized prince, and heir to the throne. With that comes way more responsibility and expectation. Erik struggles to see Alix as his sister in law instead of the love that could have been. All of this keeps the reader connected to the characters which is great because as with the first book, this one is also very character driven.

Rig, Alix’s brother, is commander general and facing impossible odds. I really enjoyed Rig’s sections, he is a great character that we didn’t see much of in the first book and quickly jumped right in with my favorites. Every section with him was exciting, full of strategy, intrigue and laced with a bit of humor as well. Like Liam, Rig is just really, really easy to like.

I will mention that this book definitely leaves more conflict open than the first. I just don’t think that it felt quite as neatly closed as the The Bloodbound. That said, this is a series, to me this is to be expected. I actually enjoy when there are story arcs carried over from one book to another, and I felt there was enough closure for me. So, this is not a complaint, more of an observation as I know others are more sensitive and I could tell before finishing the book that there would have to be some points left unresolved. For me these are story points I am happy to come back and read book 3 when it is available! And I feel like there’s still unresolved parts because so much happened! Really, this book is almost relentless in the trials and tribulations it puts its characters through. It’s hard to take a breath that’s not a breath of desperation! But I mean that in the best way, it was an intense read that grips the reader to the very end (and likely beyond).

I find this series to be well written, fun and satisfying. It is just generally an enjoyable read that you makes you feel good. It is very much an escapist style read, so while it may not be pushing new boundaries in the literary world, it gives readers the type of story that probably made them love reading in the first place. I think we all love to read stories like this from time to time. ( )