Desert Blood by Brian Young - Review and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Brian will be awarding a $25 Rogue Phoenix Press Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Dolus invasion rolled over the unassuming Kingdom of Larista leaving ghost towns in its wake. It brought death and destruction in abundance and left the people of Larista without their king or his heirs. It left the kingdom reeling with the realization that they weren’t alone on their isolated side of the Maker’s Mountain but instead part of a world that desperately wanted and needed the life giving water they took for granted.

One of the king’s sons, the Prisoner Prince Alexander, is still alive but held captive on the unexplored eastern side of the Maker’s Mountain known as the Wasteland. The man that holds him is the Emperor of the Free Cities, Jameson. His quest for vengeance and conquest has stirred up the other nations of the Wasteland and made them aware of the riches of Larista. Alexander’s lifelong friends, Percival and Maximus must set out on individual journeys to find their friend, their king and themselves. But they will face a litany of foes along their paths. A horde of Beleick soldiers led by the Dictact threaten to sweep over the land sending everything into chaos while the Sisters of Gnaritas and the Death Stalker assassins weave their own intricate schemes for control of the Wasteland and the water that might flow from Larista.

Amongst so many people blood thirsty for power can Alexander find his way to the Maker’s Path or will he succumb to his own demons and find the Wraith’s Den in Oblivion…

Read my review:

This book is the second in the series and, while it would probably be good to read the first one, it wasn't too difficult to get into and follow the storyline. There are a lot of people to keep up with, and it was a little confusing to me to sort out who everyone was in the beginning. However, it didn't take long to get everyone sorted in my head. If I had been familiar with them from the first book, I would probably have had no problem at all.

I will be getting the first book and am waiting the release of the third because I really like Mr. Young's world building. He did a wonderful job of putting me in the world of the Maker. It was full of action and adventure and I can easily see this on the big screen. While I was reading, I could see the action in my head.

You aren't going to get any deep philosophical thinking or angst with this book, but if you are in the mood for an action filled SFF... you could go far worse. 4 flowers.

  Enjoy an excerpt:

He looked around as best he could while keeping his head still. The dark cell he was in didn't have much to offer. He racked his brain, trying to figure out where he was and how he had gotten there. He vaguely remembered an attack and some kind of battle, but the details were blurry. Definitely a concussion.

"I wasn't sure you were going to wake up," a small female voice rose from the shadows.

"I almost wish I hadn't," Mason answered.

"From the way the emperor and his tool, Valiance, treat their prisoners, you would have been better off not waking up," the girl offered.

"That doesn't make any sense." Mason shook his head and immediately regretted it.

"What doesn't make any sense," she asked.

"I'm the...a new lord. I was just rewarded my land as a gift from Jameson."

"You don't have to lie to me, assassin. I hear much of what Jameson hides from others. I know exactly who you are."

Mason strained his neck, trying to look in the direction of the voice. "Why would Jameson let one of his prisoners hear things that shouldn't be shared?"

"Because he is arrogant and because he has no intention of letting either of us speak to anyone again."

"Then he is a fool. I guarantee I will not die rotting in this cell." He got no response from that comment, but he didn't want to let the conversation die. The words were helping him clear his thoughts. "So you know who I am and yet you speak to me? Are you not afraid of an assassin from the Death Stalkers?"

The girl stepped forward just into view of the light coming from the cell door. She was very young and pretty. He didn't expect to see anyone so clean in a prison cell. "I'm the emperor's whore against my will. I have no choice but to let him abuse my body at his pleasure. Death, at your hands, would be welcome."

About the Author: Brian was born in Salem, Oregon, and currently resides in Eugene, Oregon, with his wife, daughter and son. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in English. He squeezes in time for writing in the early hours of the morning and during lunch breaks at work. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Brian-Young/209003422499368 Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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