Grievar's Blood

De: Alexander Darwin

Narrado por: Donald Chang

The second book in an action-packed science fiction trilogy set on a far future world where the fate of nations is determined by battle-hardened warriors who are trained to compete in brutal single combat.

In a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Grievar fight in the Circles so that the rest can remain at peace. But given the stakes, things are never so simple. The Daimyo govern from the shadows and plot to gain an edge by unnaturally enhancing their Grievar Knights.

Cego and his team return to the world’s most prestigious combat school, The Lyceum. Though he'd like to focus on his martial studies, Cego feels the pull of his mysterious past and two missing brothers.

Solara Halberd, daughter of the fighting legend, embarks on her own quest to bury the past. She must utilize every lesson her father taught her to explore unknown lands where evil lurks in the shadows.

©2023 Alexander Darwin (P)2023 Orbit

Amazing!!!

I read the first two books a few years back, at first I was just going to get the third audible book. But since it's been so long l decided to get the first two, and I'm glad I did. Loved every minute of it from the story, the performance to the characters. Everything came out perfectly, and I can't wait to hear the next one (which I haven't read).

Another engaging work by Alexander Darwin.

An engrossing second installment in the Combat Codes trilogy that leaves me wondering how long until the next piece becomes available.

Not as good as the first

Perspectives outside the main character are not as good and we do not spend near as much time with Ceego as I would’ve liked. Still a good book but some of it feels like a slog

Great build up!

I can’t wait for the third book now ! I am loving this series. A must read

Diversity of Voice

I really want to give props to Donald Chang for his diversity of accents for this series. He didn’t get caught in the trap many series do of having every accent just be from the British Isles. This has grown particularly in this book with a plotline that I believe is populated with Filipino-accented peoples (possible other similar south Asian accent), which I’m not sure I’ve ever heard in a sci-fi/fantasy book before!

Cool fight scenes, bad narrative choices.

I really enjoyed the first book, but this one takes some odd turns. The pacing and flow the story feels disjointed. You don't spend near as much time with Cego in this book, and the many of the other PoV characters stories don't have a huge impact on the arch of the story at all. Events happen around the characters, not the characters influencing the story. The villains are also very one demensional.

I enjoyed many of the fights and some of the world building, but this was overall a disappointing read from a series I really wanted to like. As a student of BJJ and MMA,I liked the direction the writer was going in and admire an author that clearly has a real grasp of martial arts. That being said I honestly dont undersand some of the creative choices. It felt so rushed and not well thought out. I don't know if I'll pick up the next one.

came for Cego, left for Sol.

This will probably be a movie soon. Has all the ingredients that modern Hollyweird likes.

Inconsistent

Volume was all over the place. Character whispers should still be audible. it's the name of the dang app! Story was meh. I'm here for the Jitz, which was replaced with mysticism and "world-building". Disappointed.