BONE WAR by Steven Harper

The Books of Blood and Iron Book 3

ACE/ROC

August 2^nd, 2016

978-0-451-46848-2

Fantasy, Action-Adventure

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self-Purchase

4 Hearts

 

For the three fates, watching over the world in their sacred garden, they control all life and maintain balance in the world. But that balance is shattered when an evil Fae queen kidnaps one of the fates, placing every being in jeopardy. They ask Danr, the half human/half troll to help rescue their sister and defeat the fae queen before the tree tips fully and the world as they now it, even their lives are gone in a blink.

In order to rescue the missing fate, Danr must find the Bone Sword. But as he and Aisa travel to find the sword, their other companions are forced to stay behind and figure out who is making familiar unknown creatures. With their future on the line, Danr, Aisa and their friends are racing against the clock because if the tree tips, they and their world will cease to exist…forever.

BONE WAR is the final book in the Books of Blood and Iron series and is totally one I couldn’t put down. I am so glad I took a chance on this series and this new to me author. I fell in love with his world building and the characters were so unique and different. This author definitely turns on its head the usual suspects-fae, goblins, trolls, etc- and makes them fresh and unique. I loved how the author portrays Danr as just wanting to be normal yet his destiny isn’t going to be denied. The scenes between Danr, Aisa and their friends are at times light and playful and other times, serious and in depth. The author does an amazing job in capturing the characters vulnerabilities and hidden depths. He does an amazing job in creating characters that grow with each book, showing the reader more of their personality even as they face against adversity. You just can not help but fall in love with them. Add in a few familiar faces we met in the past two books that show up to move the story along well you get a sense that this time the journey is about to get rougher for this merry band of friends.

This is the final book in the trilogy and it definitely amps up the adventure these characters take. We met the fates in the past two books and there is a lot going on in BONE WAR that if you didn’t read book one, The Iron Axe, or book two, Blood Storm, you might be a tad confused over some mentions from the past adventures these characters took. I highly recommend reading the trilogy in order so you can get the full back story on all the characters and their adventures before this final book. I loved how the author takes something old and tired and makes it fresh and new for readers to enjoy. If you enjoy a new take on fae, trolls, goblins and other fantasy creatures, then you will enjoy this highly entertaining trilogy about a half troll/half human boy that finds that the simple life he wants isn’t what is in store for him or his friends. I look forward to seeing where this author goes next after this thrilling conclusion to the Books of Blood and Iron.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

BLOOD STORM by Steven Harper

The Books of Blood and Iron, Book 2

ROC

December 1^st, 2015

978-0-451-46847-5

Epic Fantasy, Action-Adventure, Mystery

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self-Purchase

4 Hearts

 

For Danr, the half-troll, he ended centuries of fighting; he is still not living a quiet life that he longs for. Now rumors are abound of people having the power of shape again and if Danr can learn to wield it, he could be human and spend his life with Aisa. But he is not the only one who wants that power. When two of their friends are held hostage, Danr, Aisa and Talfi must face the fates, Death and a giant wyrm to get that power because if he fails then the enemies that are closing in will destroy all they know and love in one fell swoop.

When I picked up the first book, Iron Axe, it was on a whim and I was looking for something different to read. What I encountered was a story so amazing, edgy and consuming with characters you fell in love with that I immediately grabbed book two after I finished Iron Axe. If you haven’t read book one then don’t worry. The author does a great job in catching up readers in the beginning of BLOOD STORM but I highly recommend reading the trilogy in order to get all the nuances and meet all the characters from the beginning.

 BLOOD STROM picks up months later after the end of Iron Axe and we find Aisa, Danr, Talfi, Kalessa & Ranadar in the port town of Balsia. Things are not easy for them. When they go out in the public, some townspeople want to hear the story of how Danr saved the world; the other half just see him as a half-breed and is evil. But when problems come up between Danr and Aisa, well, let’s just say the enemies of this group of friends decide to use it in ways that will make you scream in agony and wait on the edge of the seat for more.

BLOOD STORM is also about strength…strength of character, of convictions and in oneself and others. Here we see a female character strong not in wielding a weapon and wining battles, but in her convictions and simply being themselves. That goes for all of our four main characters. Strength to do the right thing, to see what others see in themselves and more play a major point in the story. What thrilled me the most was how the author does a great job in showing these characters as they continue to grow and learn about themselves and each other, as they find they are needed in ways they never anticipated or dreamed and that doing the right thing means something totally different to another person?

What I loved the most about this book, heck this series so far, was how the author makes the characters so wildly different yet so enjoyable as well, even the bad guys had a few turns where I sympathized with them even as I rooted for Danr and his friends to defeat them. This is a new to me author and I am finding I can not get enough of this series. I am eager to get back into the story as these characters go on their last leg of the journey and discover more secrets. If you enjoy epic fantasy stories filled with magic, mystery, characters that brim with life and steal your heart then I highly recommend the books of Blood and Iron to you and am eager to see where this author goes next in the final book, Bone War.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement