From page 1, Blood’s Pride sweeps you into a current of intrigue and action. Between the siblings’ rivalry for dominion, a kingdom of slaves on the verge of an uprising, and a strange pair who seemed to blow in from the desert, the actions are driven by motives of revenge as much as a desire to overcome.

Family secrets and ancient histories slowly bubble to the surface, and allegiances are tried, tested, and either proven true or shattered to ruin. Love and the bounds of those sentimental promises are challenged, but being forced to choose sides, it is impossible to know who might persevere.

All in all, this was quite a page-turner, but it felt like I had a treat dangling on a string just out of reach for a little bit too long. The suspense kept you hooked, but the dramatic “Ahas!” came as sidenotes later, instead of when you were wishing and hoping and so certain it would be. Likewise, although one of those ” aha! moments“ might seem obvious, you could never be too sure until it came up later as an insignificant aside. Releasing that minor restraint could have made the turning points of the story so much more monumental; I would have screamed praises from the rooftops, but the reins were held just a little too tight.

As a result, I think I got a crease between my eyebrows.

But… and this is a very big but:

Kudos to the author for wrapping this up in fine packaging with a beautiful bow on top. There was so much going on in those final chapters that although it was a little overwhelming, she had a knack for keeping you focused on what mattered, and totally gripped throughout it, giving you enough to see you through it. On top of it all, she was able to braid it into a very satisfying and-dare-I-say-“touching” denouement.