A son of a forest dwelling people, Yhalen knows little of the world outside the ancestral forest, until he is captured by a band of ogres on a slave-taking mission. Only grim tales of the barbaric giants had reached the forest, but Yhalen soon learns that even the darkest fireside story only hinted at the brutality of these Northern warriors. He discovers the meaning of true fear at their hands, and only the awakening of ancient magic saves him from destruction. Surviving ogre viciousness, he finds himself given to Bloodraven, the half ogre, half human war leader as a slave. Yhalen, refusing to bend, soon pays the price for offending prickly ogre pride. But Bloodraven is no mindless, violent ogrish beast. Bloodraven has an agenda and Yhalen finds himself drawn in the wake into human and ogre politics, into bloodshed and cruelty and into the forbidden magic that is damnation in the eyes of his own people, but which might mean the difference between death and salvation.
This has to be one of the best fantasy stories I've ever read! Wow! I literally could not put it down unless I was forced to! Bloodraven is a brutal yet engrossing study of survival and strength both of Yhalen, the human, and Bloodraven, the halfling. The world building was exceptional, the characterizations interesting and insightful. For Yhalen I had an immediate affinity - how could I not with that opening chapter - but I was surprised at how quickly I came to like? admire? understand? (I'm not sure which word best describes) Bloodraven.
The very end was a little less than I'd hoped for. Perhaps a future sequel (a hopeful wish) will remedy my slight dissatisfaction.
One serious flaw, which I chose not to deduct stars for just 'coz this book was so damn good, was some really bad formatting and a dire need for a good proofreader. It's a pet peeve of mine.
