The Blood Stones by Tori Tecken was everything I could ever want in a fantasy. It’s dark, broody, political, familial and most importantly intentional. This book had me utterly captivated from start to finish. I was so addicted to turning that page while also wanting to savour the incredible world within. The first instalment of Legends of the Bruhai demands your upmost attention, as the passion for a story years in the making comes to life. Oh yeah … you’re in for an absolute gush fest.
Gehrin and his brothers witness the execution of a traitor. His name is not worthy, but it is a name that young Gehrin is drawn to, and a name that will change his entire world. The execution sees a life for a life, one that has the country on the cusp of asuccession war that could destroy everything. An elite force is needed to protect the crown at all costs, therein lies the creation of the Bruhai.
A childhood forgotten for the greater good and a brutal introduction to the inner workings of the throne. New alliances will be forged, and new enemies will rise, with a group of young warriors at the centre of it all.
I really want to focus my praise for The Blood Stones on the intention behind the writing, because it absolutely blew me away. Yes, the sentence structure and pacing were fantastic and well thought out, but it goes so much deeper than that. This story has been meticulously crafted in a way that guides the reader to feel each emotional beat (or not) as the interwoven plots unfold. In this first series entry, we have two main storylines. The first revolves around the creation of the Bruhai. An elite force of children taken at a young age and taught the brutalities of what it means to keep a king safe. These boys are put through incredible trials but essentially taught that death means that you are not strong enough to carry on, or it is a consequence of actions taken against the King. Death means very little if it is to serve a purpose, even their own. During their journey the feeling and impact behind the brutality hits hard, but the reader is conditioned to the mindset of the Bruhai. It was such an incredible and immersive experience. Towards the end of the book, I found myself thinking “They had to go, it’s for the good of the King”. Then I had to take a step back and remember I had soup on the stove and I .. myself, am not a Bruhai.
On the other hand, we have a young tribe warrior incredibly loyal to the blood ties of her people. Syndri wants the best for her family, her leaders and her tribe. I, as the reader could feel the emotional fury behind every choice she made as she struggles to hold on to her core values. Moving on from Syndri to the larger tribe mentality, they are a family both chosen and blooded, they hold each other dear but are used to a life where fighting is the norm. The brutality in these chapters is again intentionally written to feel like a gut punch whenever something happens to any of them. I felt so close to each of them, so in touch with their emotional connections and desires for one another. I felt the hurt, the hunger, and the desperation for acceptance. There was one particular scene where I actually had to put the book down and take a minute. Mad props to the author, because most of the time I have the emotional capacity of a pet rock, but this one got me.
While I have focused on these two sections of the story, Tecken has done an incredible job of also building up the wider world. The political machinations of a family in line for the throne, the softer moments between Gehrin’s brother and a young lass I hope will kick some butt in the next book, right through to the conception of the Bruhai themselves. I am so intrigued and invested in what happens next, while at the same time ready to jump in to a re-read to see what I missed the first time around. It was all fantastic and I cannot praise the art that is this book enough.
If you haven’t picked up The Blood Stones yet, I highly recommend you experience this world for yourself!
Check out an interview with the author here!
