A Time of Blood Book Review

​​Title: A Time of Blood
Author: John Gwynne
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2019
Pages: 463
Goodreads Rating: 4.35
Rating: 9/10

“Come on, then, death … but I’ll give you a scar or two to remember me by.” 

Beasts of old have returned. Words of earth power have been spoken. And ancient enemies are face-to-face once again. The day of reckoning is close at hand. Which side will you choose?

Pros
Shocking moments
A Time of Blood contains truly jaw-dropping surprises and shocking moments. Some have a huge impact on the plot and others are fun little additions. I can’t mention most of them because of spoilers. But I can safely say that one of my favorites was the bear romantic interest. 

Fellowship
I love a friendly group of adventurers and Drem’s storyline delivers. His POV is easily my favorite once we meet the Order of the Bright Star. The camaraderie is an absolute joy to experience. 

Balance of intensity and humor
Gwynne incorporates one of my favorite tropes… the grumpy sunshine friendship. One friend is cranky and serious while the other is a personable, ray of sunshine. The lighthearted, humorous moments brought on by this friendship provided the perfect balance for the intense, gruesome battles throughout the book.

Battle scenes
Speaking of battle scenes, Gwynne is a re-enactor and it shows. His battles are some of the best I’ve ever read because they are written in such a vivid, realistic way. You feel the fear, anxiety, and battle joy alongside the character. 

Epic final line
What a way to end a book… The last sentence is a phenomenal ending filled with shock and awe. It makes you want to immediately pick up the last book of the series. 

Cons
Repetitive
Gwynne frequently repeats a few of the same things throughout the book. It’s usually to highlight a character’s anxiety and doubts and it feels overdone. 

Love triangle 
This is one of my least favorite tropes… we experience an involuntary betrothal that turns into a love triangle and it comes down to duty versus attraction. 

Overall… 
A Time of Blood was a great addition to the series! It masterfully builds on the foundation from the first book while increasing the suspense and drama that will feed the final book of the series.