I would like to thank the author and Elsewhen Press for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for fair and honest review

Publisher – Elsewhen Press

Published – Out now

Price – £12 paperback £2.99 Kindle eBook

Everyone from Jalard knew what a bloodoath was. Legendary characters in the tales people told to their children often made such pacts with the gods. By drawing one’s own blood whilst speaking a vow, people became ‘Bloodsworn’. And in every tale where the oath was broken, the ending was always the same. The Bloodsworn died.

It has been twelve years since The War of Ashes, but animosity still lingers between the nations of Sharma and Gavendara, and only a few souls have dared to cross the border between them.
  The villagers of Jalard live a bucolic existence, nestled within the hills of western Sharma, and far away from the boundary which was once a warzone. To them, tales of bloodshed seem no more than distant fables. They have little contact with the outside world, apart from once a year when they are visited by representatives from the Academy who choose two of them to be taken away to their institute in the capital. To be Chosen is considered a great honour… of which most of Jalard’s children dream.
  But this year the Academy representatives make an announcement which is so shocking it causes friction between the villagers, and some of them begin to suspect that all is not what it seems. Just where are they taking the Chosen, and why? Some of them intend to find out, but what they discover will change their lives forever and set them on a long and bloody path to seek vengeance…

When we talk about traditional epic fantasy we think of that period from Tolkien to the 90s when various gangs of different characters quested to stop a powerful enemy with magic. It was popular era of Belgariads, Wheels and all other sorts of interesting terms. But the 90s were nearly 30 years ago and I think we can now argue the mainstream is very different however much TV and film companies often forget to look at anything new on the bookshelves. But as everything old can become new again you ponder can a traditional epic plot work with a 21st century spin. I’m very pleased to report it can in the hugely enjoyable Bloodsworn by Tej Turner that starts the new The Avatars of Ruin series.

The small village of Jalward is just a typical small harmless place where the kids with the most abilities dream of finally leaving to join the Academy of Sharma developing their mental and physical skills further as Chosen. After a long war with neighbouring Gavendara all seemed calm. That is until the village is shocked to learn that the Chosen for this year are not who they were expecting. Instead, the two less popular teens were picked. Bright but disliked Jaedin is picked alongside capable but not spectacular warrior Sidry are told they are off to the Academy and are soon alongside their tutors kidnapped by an unknown army and experimented on with strange crystals.

Back in Jalward a concern that something strange is going on leads to a group chasing after them led by the more capable fighters Kyra, her long-term rival Rivan and the cheery Dion. Ultimately the two groups though find themselves in a new war with Sharma but this time a dark magic is underway – on e that turns humans into mindless and violent fighting creatures and even the dead won’t stay unchanged. After a huge horrible war crime is discovered this small group try to escape to safety but find themselves facing deceptions, betrayals and ancient gods and magic from the past and these heroes may be the only hope for their land.

Turner has created a story that is once very familiar, very engrossing and has importantly a feeling of freshness. Let me be clear from the off this it is not YA. A book with central younger teens is not on its own YA or else Assassin’s Apprentice and Game of Thrones need moving around in bookshops. What this is a ia classic coming of age tale as these characters from a small backwater find themselves centre-stage in a powerful conflict and have to rise to the challenge and put aside their differences. But the death toll and violence is great; Turner is not afraid to kill characters and we get some darker themes of abuse and cruelty running within the tale. A highlight is the magical army of the Zakaras who look human until they are very much not; and can turn humans into more of them and start to have minds and creepy objectives of their own. Throw in the return of ancient magical stones that give their bearers unique powers and can even transform warriors into more lethal powerful bodies we have a constantly energetic and inventive world that promises more secrets to be revealed as it is explored. It reminds me a lot of Final Fantasy worldbuilding and I am all there for that.

Another highlight for me is the characters. These young people are not noble selfless heroes from the off they are recognisably human with fragilities. We get Jaedin who is gay (which in Sharma is seen as a social sin) suddenly having to find himself centre-stage and also experiencing his first feelings of attraction for someone. With Kyra we have a young woman who is fiercely competitive, doesn’t think anything of an illicit trip to a tavern to drink and also after experiencing her first conflict suffering a form of PTSD affecting her behaviour. I love the less than confident Sidry and Dion who both are trying to do the best for the group and the not entirely honest Dareth a little too focused on saving his own skin than saving the world. There are lots of interplay between the large cats and alliances fall and rise and I am not sure they won’t shift further as the wider story progresses in future volumes. They’re a likeable and engaging bunch and I think it is great to have more realistic human characters that I can invest in and fear when they are in mortal danger.

Turner has a fast-flowing narrative regularly delivering action, revelations and character development and that pace really works for the story. It definitely gives a complete adventure but a big promise of a larger tale to come and more surprises await. I am very impressed seeing Turner switch from very unusual contemporary fantasy to this genre but their grasp of big casts and plotting I can see again work very well here. Turner continues to be a writer I am enjoying discovering and looking forward to finding out what happened next very soon! Highly recommended!