Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

Release Date: 1st September, 2011

Publisher: Random House

Pages: 290pgs

The Story

I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I'm coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina's only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side - and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king's advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she's to uncover the truth - but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmare?

The Review

A big thanks to Dorothy from Random House for sending me a review copy of this book!

I've been whining about how there's hardly any Australian authors who write great fantasy books and now the book gods have answered me with this book BLOOD SONG. I've heard all the great reviews on the net and let's just say (without me gushing all way through this review) I was dying to get an early copy in my hands . . . so a big thanks to Random House's publicist, Dorothy, for sending me an ARC copy of this amazing-terrific-bloody-brilliant-and-wicked book!

Okay so, for readers who think it's another cliche vampire story . . . think again. It doesn't matter whether you're tired of the genre or not . . . this book mustn't be missed because clearly you'll be missing out on something special. BLOOD SONG was an incredibly imaginative storyline and it was just so damn creative that I have no words that will do this book justice! For me what made the book come alive was its fiesty Zeraphina - the main heroine of this wonderful tale. She was the perfect person to be inside the mind of: she's strong-minded, can hold a good argument no matter if it's a male challenging her, and she's very determined . . . pretty much everything I love in a main character. Part of her appeal was in the way she set herself apart from the other women in the novel and I just loved her so much! Her relationship with the handsome-but-brooding Rodden was realistically developed and I was glad there wasn't a lot of romance to bring the book down. I love world-building to be set before any real romantic feelings come into the equation.

Written expertly, I would've have noticed otherwise that BLOOD SONG was written by a debut author! It was like she was writing for years! Not kidding here folks! It was amazing! The backdrop of the setting was so vivid and it felt like I was right there in the action and in a world that I didn't want to leave behind. I'm still having withdrawal symptoms since finishing the book. Also, even with the creepy elements weaved in-and-out of the scenes . . . I was just itching to know more and I demand book 2 right now! So when it comes down to it, will you like it? Of course you will! If you love the likes of Maria V. Snyder or you're looking for the next big thing in the fantasy book genre, then BLOOD SONG must be owned by you NOW! Don't judge it on vampiric-likeness or even by its cover . . . the words inside the book will speak for themselves!

The Rating

5/5 stars