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Book Review of Bloodring (Rogue Mage, Bk 1)

Bloodring (Rogue Mage, Bk 1)
annapi avatar reviewed on + 334 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3


The one overwhelming impression I leave this book with is CONFUSION. Oh, it's intrigued confusion, but confusion nonetheless. In Hunter's post-apocalyptic world, seraphs and demons fight each other, but a new species has arisen - neomages. They appear human but can control energies around them. This story centers around Thorn St. Croix, a stone neomage who cannot survive with other neomages because her strange powers cause her mind to be open to all those of her kind, and all their unfiltered thoughts would drive her insane. So she lives in hiding among humans as a jeweler. But when her ex-husband is captured by Dark Powers, she risks everything to find him, even if revelation of her true self would mean death.

As fascinating as the concepts of this world and its characters are, the story proceeded at an extremely slow, plodding pace, and this despite a great beginning that thoroughly captured my imagination, and occasional bouts of action. I also felt the story lacked focus, as the protagonist did not seem to have a clear direction to go. I understand that first books of a series can sometimes be slow because of all the necessary exposition, but I found myself putting this book down too often for lack of interest in the direction it was taking. There was also a tad too much description of the very similar preparations she takes every time she did a conjuring, although in itself the prose was well done. The battle scenes were also smooth, action-packed and well described. Overall, the book had enough good points that I will read the second of the series, which luckily I have on hand, and from there I can decide whether I will look for the rest of the books.