Paperback, 640 pages
Published by HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd.
The first book in this fabulous new trilogy, The Ashuak Chronicles, follows the fortunes of the new Ashuak Imperial General, Sukaal Vekesh, appointed to the southern province, Sekesu. The native Jaru peoples of this province were defeated in battle over 300 years ago, but pockets of resistance to Ashuak rule remain. The leader of the rebels is known as the Death Tiger, a hero who, it is believed, never dies. But, more than the rebels, Sukaal's problems are within his own ranks. The man he is replacing, Hew Jaga, does not intend to vacate the office and is secretly organising to have Sukaal murdered. Jaga has a network in place that brings him great profits ... not only is Sukaal principled and honest, he wants to improve the lot of the Jaru natives! But Jaga's plans go awry when Sukaal is saved by Alwyn, a Jaru raised by high-born Ashua. …
The first book in this fabulous new trilogy, The Ashuak Chronicles, follows the fortunes of the new Ashuak Imperial General, Sukaal Vekesh, appointed to the southern province, Sekesu. The native Jaru peoples of this province were defeated in battle over 300 years ago, but pockets of resistance to Ashuak rule remain. The leader of the rebels is known as the Death Tiger, a hero who, it is believed, never dies. But, more than the rebels, Sukaal's problems are within his own ranks. The man he is replacing, Hew Jaga, does not intend to vacate the office and is secretly organising to have Sukaal murdered. Jaga has a network in place that brings him great profits ... not only is Sukaal principled and honest, he wants to improve the lot of the Jaru natives! But Jaga's plans go awry when Sukaal is saved by Alwyn, a Jaru raised by high-born Ashua. When the Ashua ruler comes to Sekesu for the Imperial Games, the gladiators who create the most attention are a brother and sister, Shana and Kael. Kael has decided to join the rebels, but while saving Jaru slaves he is caught and forced to fight a battle dragon to the death in the arena. Shana goes beserk and in the ensuing melee her owner is killed, for which she is blamed. Shana is sentenced to enslavement in the faraway Ashuak marble mines, but on her journey there the caravan is attacked and she is able to escape. All the tangled threads in this complex web of politics, intrigue and desire lead to a superb finale ... you will want to read the next book in the trilogy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised by quality and complexity coming from a previously unkown (to me) writer. There is a good mix of action (sometimes savagely violent), mysticism, and political intrigue. Blood tells a self contained story that is entertaining in itself, but also sets up an overall narrative for the world that makes me excited to continue.
