Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

To those new to the crew, ye should know that horses were me first love before the sea stole me heart.  So obviously I wanted to read this series about magical horses, known as phoenixes.  Basically these horses were gifts from the gods, are powered by the sun, and last a day before bursting into flames and turning into ashes.  The riders save the ashes and when they are set back out in the rising sun, the phoenix horse is reborn.  Of course there be a catch.  If ye mix certain chemicals into the ashes, the phoenix's properties can change.  They can become faster, grow armor, etc.  Cool.

This is the second book of a duology.  War is at hand and the three classes - ruling Ashlords, middle class Longhorns, and Dividians at the bottom wait to see who is going to get the upper hand.  But it seems like the Gods are also at war and the consequences are interesting and unexpected.

This story continues with the three points of view - one from each of the three classes.  One thing to note about the points of view are that they change tenses: third person, first person, second person present tense.  Ashlord Pippa and Longhorn Adrian are at opposite sides of the conflict.  Imelda continues to be the surprising wildcard.  Like in the first book, I liked the two girls but found Adrian to be rather bland.

Unlike the first book, the phoenix horses do not play much of a real part in the plot.  I missed them.  The tone and focus of this book was completely different to book one.  It sometimes felt like another world altogether.  I did think the pacing was a bit off and the book could have had some restructuring or trimming to strength it.  I did, however, enjoy the better understanding of how the gods worked and did not expect the plot to go in the direction it did.  I would have liked more focus on the specifics of each god.  I was glad that the romance aspects were very lightly done.

Though I wasn't thrilled with the rebellion aspect of this book, I am glad I finished the duology.  I just wish the phoenix horses had played as much of a part in this book as they did in the first.  Arrrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Crown Books for Young Readers!

Every time I pick up a Scott Reintgen book I know I’m going to be reading something unique and exciting, and Bloodsworn, the sequel to the YA dystopian fantasy Ashlords, is no exception. Phoenix horses, god magic, alchemy, rebellion, and war. Sign me up!

(Net Galley did sign me up, so thank you!)

Ok. So this story starts a few months after book one ends and we find our characters at war: Poppy is an Ashlords general, Adrian leads the Longhands, and then there is Imelda fighting with the rebels. What Reintgen does so well is building these characters in such a way that made me root for *all three* to win. But this is war. Surely that isn’t the way.

I must say I looked forward to Poppy’s chapters the most, and perhaps that is because I am a sucker for second person POVs, drawn intimately into the story in a way first person cannot. Alas, my ship from Ashlords did not sail, but I think the romantic pairings made sense and were well written. A few other things that I loved: the pantheon, the magical horses, the pacing that made me unable to stop turning page after page. And the ending! I will say no more to avoid spoilers. Fans of The Scorpio Races and Reintgen’s Nyxia Triad: this is a duology for you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bloodsworn follows a few months after the end of Ashlords. We follow Pippa, now an Ashlords general in the war against the Longhands who are lead by Adrian. Imelda, having escaped the races into the mountains with the rebels, is brewing her own form of revolution to free the Dividians from the Ashlords rule. When new truths come to light showing that the true enemies come from another realm altogether, will these three leaders from different peoples be able to reveal the truth and bring peace to their land, or will it all end the Ashlords way "In Fire and Blood"?

Guyyyys. These books are a true work of art. I'm so upset that this is only a Duology and now it's over! The world the author gifted us with has everything you could ask for. Magic, Gods, Horses!!, Revolution, politics, love, hate, bred heroes, unknowing heroes, ghosts....I could go on and on. Pippa is such a deep character who wears many masks. Even when we think we know her plan she flips the script and leaves us agast in the dust of her plans. Adrian really comes into his own this novel as a leader. He steps out of the role that his Daddy convinced him he was meant to die for. Imelda continues to be the pushing force for the Dividians and their chance to step out from under the Ashlords boots. I don't want to give too much away as I want everyone to be as shocked as I was, but the Gods are much more present in this novel and I ate up every chapter with them. The pantheon is original and refreshing compared to Gods you see so often in fantasy novels. The pacing is at a breakneck speed, and every chapter leaves you salavating for more.

Five stars for both novels in this series, you won't be disappointed in this Duology. Anyone 12+ will delve in and only come up for air when absolutely necessary. I can only hope the author will revisit this realm eventually, even if it's with a new set of characters. Grab your copy and get ready to be rocked in the best ways.

An amazing duology focuses on phoenix horses created by an elemental mixture of powders and some that take your blood as part of that. The big thing about the phoenix horses is that they disappear when the sun goes down. The first book in this series centers around these unique races with the phoenix horses, and book two revolves around a major war that was brewing under the surface in book one. Adrian, Pippa, and Imelia are back home with their families and are on opposite sides of this war. The story is told in alternating points of view between these characters as they fight to reshape this world that has been influenced by the gods for so long. I think this story's complexity and originality will appeal to both young adult and adult readers. The story is complete, but I would love to see more from this world.

I had really high expectations going in to this conclusion and I was not disappointed. We pick up shortly after the end of book one and continue following our three main characters, Imelda, Pippa and Adrian. We watch as they navigate their world and the underworld, all while strategizing and maneuvering through the war they just started. I won't go too heavy in to the plot, but there are phoenix horses, alchemy, blood sacrifice demanding gods and an oppressive political system.

This duology truly has it all. You get all the fun fantasy elements with the gods and the magic but you also get really strong characters leads with complex emotions. I've also read this author's first series, Nyxia, and he continues to write in a way that is so accessible and easy to follow while also being descriptive and creative. It was easy to fall right back in to the story and I really enjoyed my time back in this world.

The other really great element of this story is how surprised I was at the direction it took. With only two books in the series, I was skeptical that everything would be wrapped up in a way that made sense and wasn't rushed. I ended up loving the ending and I feel like everything that needed to be handled was done so. I really loved this series and I think anyone who enjoys the typical tropes of YA fantasy will also love it. The genre has been oversaturated lately with a lot of mediocre work but all of Reintgen's work has really stood out among the crowd. He uses diverse voices and ideas and I think it has once again been done really well in Blood Sworn. Also, another thing I actually really enjoy about his work is how he weaves in romance. Romance is NEVER at the forefront of the story and I can really appreciate that. It's still there, but it isn't the focus for the reader or the characters. If you love magic, messy political systems and strong main characters, I highly recommend picking up this series!

Bloodsworn by Scott Reintgen is the second in the Ashlords Duology.
In the first book, we are introduced to the Ashlords and their beautiful Phoenix horses that were a gift from their gods centuries ago. They have used these magnificent beasts in wars, hunts and now in races. In the first book, we got to know and follow our characters through a race. The adventure, world, and character-building in 'Ashlords' were incredible. Bloodsworn is no different.

We start in the second book about a month after the race finishes. War has broken out between the three rival cultures. We are taken through the action of this progressing war by our three main Point of View characters.
With a twist of fate, all three of them end up in the god's realm and discover what war they should be fighting. This sudden plot twist had me gasping and I could not put the book down after that. All the main characters had their individual qualities that not only made them very fleshed out but made you care about each one of them.

This sequel is perfectly paced and well written. Has relatable characters, action, adventure as well as little romance. Though I am delighted that it was not part of the main story plot.

I was drawn to the first book for its cover as I am a huge horse lover. Scott did not disappoint. I highly suggest pre-ordering the second book if you were a fan of the first book or are a fan of Scott's writing.
I would describe this duology as The Hunger Games meets The Scorpio Races.
Best for audiences of 13 and above.

**I was provided with an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Scott Reintgen returns to the world of Ashlords with the second book in the duology, Bloodsworn. Readers again follow the three point of views of Pippa, Adrian, and Imelda as they navigate their roles in the rebellion.

As always, it is difficult to discuss sequels without spoiling the book(s) that come before. Bloodsworn picks up very shortly after where Ashlords leaves off and the story is told in the same rotating POV fashion. I found it very helpful to have read Bloodsworn directly after finishing Ashlords since I was already in proper mindset for the POV shifts between Imelda and Adrian in first person along with Pippa in second person. I will say in a non-spoiler that I am unsure, even after this book, as to why the choice was made to have Pippa's perspective be second person and would be curious to find out why as well. Second person, for me, takes a bit of getting used to in order to be able to be absorbed into it, and I can see younger readers having it be a very slight challenge at first as well.

Reintgen accomplished something that I can very rarely if ever say for any book; I was rooting for all of his protagonists even as their purposes were not aligned. I also found that his romantic pairings were sensible, believable, and that he gave them just enough page time. To me, this speaks very highly to Reintgen's skill as an author in both character-building and his choices in plot/sub-plot.

I can absolutely see where this duology could easily convert a hesitant reader into a passionate one. The political intrigue and competition combined with the magic and otherworldly gods is an absolutely winning combination. I recommend fans of The Hunger Games or The Scorpio Races to definitely check out Ashlords.

I look forward to reading Reintgen's Nyxia books and his future works soon.

Bloodsworn by Scott Reintgen
Ashlords Book 2
Release - February 16th, 2021


After the events in “Ashlords”, I wasn’t quite sure where we would pick up - but it starts right up with the MC’s now working to defend their existence as it stands.

I’m a big fan of multiple POV’s because in my opinion it keeps things interesting, fresh, and prevents any sort of stale, stagnant storyline - “Bloodsworn” was no let down in this department.

It felt SO relevant, intentional or not, to how much the youth can alter and affect generations and the future of things. I really connected with that, and though overall, it is a bit different of a feel than “Ashlords”, it was not disappointing in the slightest.

Overall the world, the POV’s, the story, the characters were beautiful, magical and wonderfully told. It kept me engaged, excited and the horse girl in me is still happy I found this magical story.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @RandomHouseChildrens for the ARC in exchange for a review!

Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

"Bloodsworn" is a breathtaking story in which our three incredible main characters now work to defend their people, end a war, and defeat meddling gods. If you enjoyed "Ashlords," then you are going to love the awesomeness that is "Bloodsworm."

The reader is dropped right into the ugliness of war a month or so after the events of "Ashlords." Through the alternating POVs of Imelda (a Dividian), Adrian (a Longhand), and Pippa (an Ashlord), we get a feel of where things stand, what the two warring sides (Ashlords and Longhand with Dividians stuck helplessly in the middle), and how the war has been internally affecting the main characters. For me, this part went on a little too long because I was super eager to get the action going and learning what it would take to stop the war.

The story is a thrilling and sometimes emotional escapade. I (and our protagonists) was surprised by how much deeper the situation was. How far the animosity went back. Revelation after revelation, surprise after surprise, further entrenched me into the plot. I loved learning the who-what-when-where-why-how of it all, about the ash horses, and how the Ashlord gods changed everything.

But what I loved most were the three young characters who spearhead this story - their strength, courage and leadership. They and the other young secondary characters close to them are indicative of how youth today have the power to make a difference and change the world for the better. Imelda, Adrian, and Pippa make something out of nothing.

The world-building is so fresh, magical and amazing. Very rich and complex. The author has truly crafted a unique world with unforgettable characters (new and old). The whole idea behind the horses made of ash is so fascinating and works as a great metaphor to the overall story. And I like the physically active role gods play in what’s happening, which I hope to see more of in fantasy in general. It adds an extra layer that can affect the plot and/or characters.

The last third of the story was heart-stopping action and several emotional (for me) moments that all led to a very satisfying conclusion. I wish there was more to read because I want to know what’s next for certain characters! I really enjoyed this duology. The promise of romance - as small as it was - was unexpected but I liked it and it is well deserved. What a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

So it's been a while since I read the first book and I tried reading back through my review to get some idea of what happened before getting into this. Honestly, it's like two different books. The first one is about the race and creating these amazing phoenix horses in order to complete the race, with a bit of rebelling against an oppressive government and godly meddling sprinkled in. You almost don't even need to read the first book in order to follow this one as the tone and plot is completely different.

Once again the gods are probably the most interesting part of this world and I kept thinking how much I would rather read about them than the main three characters. Not that the main characters are dull, I guess, but let's just take The Butcher, for example. When he's introduced, I got excited because everything about him was so intriguing. I immediately wanted to know more about his character. The same could be said about The Dread, the Madness, or any of the other gods. I don't like spoiling things in my reviews but I have to say how disappointing and crushing it is to be teased with so many interesting characters and almost nothing done with any of them.

As for the plot... I can safely say I wasn't expecting any of that. A lot of what was going on I couldn't be invested in because I had no idea what the consequences would be at the end. I still didn't have a clear idea on how the world worked or the stakes involved in winning or losing. I guess we're just meant to assume everything turned out great for everyone once it was over. Also a little nitpick, but it felt like the book was trying to end about three or four times before it finally did. Another nitpick is in the narration. I still have no idea why Pippa's chapters were done in second person. It was so distracting and had no reason for being that way when the other two were in first person.

It was a decent enough book, I guess, but man I wish that the gods were focused on a lot more. Just write a book about them, Scott.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Bloodsworn begins shortly after the ending of Ashlords. Let me just say that Scott Reintgen is amazing at writing a story that builds up and then ends with a bang. To me, it kind of feels like you're riding a rollercoaster, you are riding up and up, hit the top and then hang on for that drop.

I appreciate that we are still following the same main characters from Ashlords; Pippa, Adrian and Imelda and that the switches from each POV does not feel awkward or rushed. The character development was right on for each of the characters and I felt that the author did each of their storylines justice. I went from Pippa being my least favorite character in Ashlords to ending with her being one of my favorites. Imelda, is the dark horse of the trio and you never quite know what to expect from her but I like that her character always kind of leaves you in suspense. Then their is Adrian who I have loved from the first book and still do. He is cutthroat, sure of himself but was also full of pleasant surprises in this book.

I tend to struggle with duologies because I am never quite satisfied with the endings as they tend to feel rushed to wrap up the plot. This duology has proved me wrong and I loved the ending. I higly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys high stakes, plot twists, phoenix horses and a bit of magic mixed in.

I was actually pretty disappointed with Blood Sworn. Overall, I found it to be boring but also it somehow felt rushed to me. It also just had an entirely different vibe from the first book. There were moments I liked, mostly toward the end, but this is the first of Reintgen's books that didn't grab me from the start and hold my attention all the way through.

I have been anxiously awaiting this book!!!! The first installment is this series was incredible and I just could not put it down. This author has quickly become a favorite as i devoured his other works while i waited for this one to be completed. The world building was absolutely fantastic it pulled me in and I cold barely put it down. hands down the Phoenix horses captivated my imagination and I literally just wanted so much more!! This book does not disappoint although I do have to say this book is much more character driven and we don’t really get to see as much of the amassing alchemy and what the horses can do. I can honestly say if i had a criticism that would be the only one because it was the horses that captivated me. However, I quickly found that the characters, plot and story arc more than make up for what I was missing. I just hope to see the series continue and we will see more of the intricate spell work and the power and awe of the phoenixes as well as the new world order that is emerging.

I am incredibly excited to see what the possible future holds for this series. I am now so excited and trying to patiently wait for the another book if the author chooses to continue exploring this fascinating world. I say this knowing it is meant to be a completed duology but I feel there is so much more to explore that several more book could be written.

If you have not tried the series I truly urge you to get Ashlords it was hands down one of the best books I have read in a very long time. It was a solid find for me. Bloodsworn is not a stand-alone so you really miss quite a bit about the characters, what motivates them and the overall storyline without it. Overall this book is excellent and I highly recommend it!!

I received a complimentary this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
#Bloodsworn
#NetGalley
#Scott Reintgen

The first book in this series bowled me over with its inventive world-building, Hunger Games-ish race, and three characters that were so easy to root for, so requesting an ARC of the second book in this duology was a no-brainer.

In Ashlords, war, rebellion, and unrest were stirring, and this sequel is set several months later after the war has started. Where Ashlords primarily focused on the race, Bloodsworn is all about the battle and delves deeply into the seven gods and how they’ve affected society. The three main characters are now back with their own people and on opposite sides of the feud. Pacing was a bit slow at the beginning, but it gave me time to regain my footing in this world and catch up with Adrian, Pippa, and Imelda and learn the new roles they now played in the war. As with the first book, it’s impossible for me to choose a favorite among them. Adrian and Pippa were both used as pawns in different ways, but each was strong enough to forge their own path. Imelda, once considered an underdog, proved it was a mistake to underestimate her. They all showed tremendous growth over the span of the series, and their arcs did justice to these engaging characters.

With the three MCs having separate storylines, I wondered how and when they’d intertwine. A couple of game-changing plot twists soon answered my question, but the author also held back some suprises until nearly the end. Tense, fast-paced battle scenes had me glued to the pages, and the slivers of romance among all the fighting were actually kind of sweet and didn’t overshadow the main plot.

This was such an exciting, complex, original series sure to engage both YA and adult readers. Although the story was complete and the ending satisfying, I’d have loved another book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love Scott’s ability to write a story. Who doesn’t love alchemical horses?! BLOODSWORN didn’t disappoint! More action. Story. Amazing characters. I loved it!!!!!

I originally picked up Ashlords as a BOTM pick, and I was immediately drawn in by the premise and that cover!

Bloodsworn is the follow up to that first novel, and we continue on after the Races with Adrian, Pippa, and Imelda. First, the characters are really enjoyable and unique in their own way. We still have a second person point of view for Pippa’s chapters, so if that was something you didn’t enjoy in the first book, know that it is the same in this one.

Overall, this was just a fun adventure. I loved seeing this world hashed out, and I really enjoyed all the gods and history and lore that was presented. The character development was slow burning but totally worth it! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

The Races are over; the war has begun. The beginning of this book finds Imelda still with the group of rebels and falling for their leader Bastian; Adrian is commanding a group of Longhands and negotiating a deal with the Dread; Pippa is commanding a group of Ashlords and coming to the conclusion that the way things are must end. They all discover that the gods were not always the gods and that they tricked the Dividian, Ashlords, and Longhands in to fighting each other and forgetting their true power. Gods are killed and a new empire is formed.

Great story and loved the slight romance. Really enjoyed the characters and how the plot moved and how the characters changed throughout the book. I would read this author again.

5/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the early e-galley.

I read Ashlords as an ARC and fell in love with the story and the idea of the horses. The rave in the first book was a huge source for action and tension in the book, so I wasn't sure how fast paced Blood Sworn would be. Scott Reintgen definitely managed to deliver another fast paced book. In the first book the idea of rebellion and war is barely on the table, but in this book war is the main force behind everything until our main characters Imelda, Pippa, and Adrian work to change the world. I didn't see the turn this book had coming or the ending. I honestly still haven't read the synopsis but this was an ending I'm 100% happy with.

Oh my goodness. I LOVE this series. I had such a hard time getting going but when this got rolling it was awesome. I don't typically like multiple perspective books but the plot and world-building in this was awesome.