Book Review: The King's Blood

Publication Date: May 2012
by Orbit
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Source: bought it

The sequel to the acclaimed series launch, The Dragon’s Path, is the perfect summer read for fans of George R. R. Martin.
War casts its shadow over the lands that the dragons once ruled. Only the courage of a young woman with the mind of a gambler and loyalty to no one stands between hope and universal darkness.
The high and powerful will fall, the despised and broken shall rise up, and everything will be remade. And quietly, almost beneath the notice of anyone, an old, broken-hearted warrior and an apostate priest will begin a terrible journey with an impossible goal: destroy a Goddess before she eats the world.

This one started off slow, and I was so disappointed because The Dragon's Path (book one of The Dagger and the Coin) is one of my favorite books. I really think when reading this book, it would be helpful to have read The Dragons Path recently, or at the very least, be able to clearly remember the events of the first book.

I couldn't really remember it, and I think that was part of my problem. I could remember a little bit, but not specific details, or my thoughts after reading book one. So I felt, if not exactly lost, not quite on track when reading the first 1/3 or so of The King's Blood. I also think it just took a little bit of time for the book to get going.

But then when it did, I remembered why I loved the first book so much. I got sucked into the world, and had a hard time putting the book down. I was very invested in what happened. Not necessarily because I really cared about the characters, but because the story drew me in. Daniel Abraham has a talent for writing where you forget that you're reading a book. The world unfolds and you're carried away in the story.

The worst part was turning the last page, and realizing the book had ended. I wanted more. I'm not ready to wait for another year or so to find out what happens next. But then, that's the mark of a good author and a good book. I'll be eagerly awaiting book three.

Review: The Dragon's Path

Summer is the season of war in the Free Cities.

Marcus wants to get out before the fighting starts. His hero days are behind him and simple caravan duty is better than getting pressed into service by the local gentry. Even a small war can get you killed. But a captain needs men to lead -- and his have been summarily arrested and recruited for their swords.

Cithrin has a job to do -- move the wealth of a nation across a war zone. An orphan raised by the bank, she is their last hope of keeping the bank's wealth out of the hands of the invaders. But she's just a girl and knows little of caravans, war, and danger. She knows money and she knows secrets, but will that be enough to save her in the coming months?

Geder, the only son of a noble house is more interested in philosophy than swordplay. He is a poor excuse for a soldier and little more than a pawn in these games of war. But not even he knows what he will become in the fires of battle. Hero or villain? Small men have achieved greater things and Geder is no small man.

Falling pebbles can start a landslide. What should have been a small summer spat between gentlemen is spiraling out of control. Dark forces are at work, fanning the flames that will sweep the entire region onto The Dragon's Path -- the path of war.

This is a fantastic start to a new series, and I loved it! This is the first I've read by Daniel Abraham, but you can be sure it's not the last. I'm already plotting on when I can get to the Long Price Quartet. The plot moves along at a good pace, and while there was a tiny bit of faltering near the end, I feel like it was nearly flawless.

The story shifts chapter by chapter between four main characters, all with very different lives and goals. Marcus and Cithrin's stories are intertwined, as are Geder and Dawsons (a noble who resists change and fights for what he feels is the honor of the King). The side characters were also fantastic, and I would love to read some different POV's in future books, but I'm not sure if the plan is to stick with the same characters. Either way, I can't wait to see.

The world isn't very different from a lot of epic fantasy that you'll read. You have court intrigue, wars, and a touch of magic, but it all comes together beautifully. Fans of epic fantasy should really enjoy this.

A Sample of the Writing:

And now he had fallen from grace, and none of it might be true. There might be no such place as the Keshet. He believed there was, so much so that he had risked his life on flight to it. But he had never been there. The marks on the maps could be lies. For that matter, there might have been no dragons, no empire, no great war. He had never seen the ocean; there might be no such thing. He knew only what he himself had seen and heard and felt.
He knew nothing.

Book Details

Title: The Dragon's Path (The Dagger and the Coin)

Author: Daniel Abraham

Genre: fantasy

Page Count: 464

Publishing Info: April 7, 2011 by Orbit

Why I Read It: netgalley review copy

Grade: A+ (favorite)

Cover Thoughts: I like the cover, but it's nothing spectacular.