Blood Feud

This book was very interesting. It was a book that had so many things going on! Romance, twists, secrets, magic, curses and much more. I loved the cover and that is why I picked that book besides the fact that the book contains paranormal theme. New author for me. It was a good read.

The multiply point of view expands the world of this book nicely. It allows readers the ability to see the effect of our hero's actions. Every action the heroes made had real effects that we saw from another point of view. For example, we got to see what happen with Gurtei after Vian's sister left.

My only main problem with this book is how slow the story is to get moving. It starts with jumping you into the action but then it slows down. The change in pace was a bit jarring.

I haven't read any of the other books that are set in this world, but after finishing this one, I sure wouldn't mind checking them out some day. There was so much going on and so many characters that it never got boring. I'll admit that because of just how many characters there were (and their weird names), that in the beginning it sometimes took me a second to remember who we had just switched POV to. A big part of that is how absolutely terrible I am with names though too. This book has pretty much everything going for it: fighting, fantasy, dry humor, and a subtle romance...and it all worked. Really, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I didn't immediately want to read it again.

Like I said, there was a lot going on here. So much so that I don't even know where to start with my review. But here we go. Jaran is a Northman. Tall, muscular, and built for fighting there is prophecy about his destiny that he doesn't even know about. Raised in a cave by his mother who won't tell him anything of his past or why they have hidden all these years, he sets out one day after a fight to join the armies. While there is when he meets Finvar. Finvar is a criminal with his old gang out for his head. But he is smart and knows many old stories. He's also...different. Finvar can turn into a bird, though he can't control it. And when he hears the stories of Jaran he thinks he might have found a kindred soul. But bad choices have them forced to flee the city.

Savarna is a noble whose lands were attacked and the women taken as slaves. Too bad for her captors, Savarna has a lot of fight in her. She is also like Finvar in that she can shift. Into a tiger. Savarna's actions bring her to the attention of the empress and while she was on her way there her caravan of guards is attacked. She manages to befriend the leader of this group of outlaws and he brings her with them to town. It's here that she meets up with Jaran and Finvar when the town is attacked by enemies of the empire and they flee together. Forever entwining their future.

There's a lot of bad guys here. But the biggest one is a witch that has incredible power and needs Jaran dead before he can kill her and reclaim his birthright. She's fearful enough, but when she gains a faerie lover from the seas, the danger just escalates as he's powerful in his own right. To defeat her, Jaran, Savarna, and Finvar must follow a shaman's instructions on what needs to be done and work together. For only together can they win. Wherever they go, death follows, but they are determined to see it to the end.

I loved the relationship between Savarna and her twin brother Vian. Honestly, he was my favorite character...until he did something stupid like sleep with his target. I still like him, just not as much.

By the end of this, while the three of them have made some headway, they also suffer a terrible blow when one of them is captured by the witch. An obvious trap, but one they're going to willingly walk into.

I really hope that I remember to keep an eye out for the next one because I'd love to find out what happens next.

New to me author J.W. Webb managed to pleasantly surprise me with this well-crafted fantasy novel. The blurb caught my attention immediately and I couldn't pass the opportunity to read this book.

The worldbuilding and magic system are quite unique. Gods, fairies, mages, Norse mythology, mystery, political plots and a bit of romance, we're all wonderfully woven into the story. There was never a dull moment. The story is intricate and told from multiple POV, which most of the time I don't like because it can be confusing, but it works perfectly in this situation, All characters are well developed and have substance. Jaran, Savarna and Finvar make quite a team. Together they set out to defeat the sorceress Sheega, who wants Jaran dead. But there are also other enemies lurking in the shadow, making their journey that more difficult.

The action was fairly paced, it dulled down halfway throughout the book and picked up at the end. But the plot was intriguing enough to keep my interest until the last page. It was an entertaining read and I recommend it!

Wow! This was an intense read. Be prepared for an epic journey. There is a small amount of curse words in the writing and implied sexual relationships, otherwise, this is a clean read.

I struggled with some of the names even though a pronunciation key was provided. I eventually gave up trying to read it the correct way and just went with my own pronunciations.

There is a lot of mystery but the author keeps up a good pace so that you don’t get mired down. I was disappointed that the author did not reveal the answer to some of the mysteries but it definitely makes me want to read the sequel.

If you enjoy coming of age, adventure stories and don’t mind homicidal family members or gory fight scenes, this might be your next favorite book.

“Blood Feud” follows three individuals marked by magic as fate draws them together to fight a shared foe and perhaps save the world as they know it in the process.

Though not overly graphic, “Blood Feud” does include some violence, strong language, and sexual situations. Reader discretion might be advised.

“Blood Feud” is both the first book in a new trilogy and the ninth book in the ongoing “Legends of Ansu” series. As such, it can appeal to a range of readers. Those who have read the entire series might pick up on the most details here, but “Blood Feud” stands on its own well enough to welcome new readers to its world. Readers seeking a relatively short fantasy series can enjoy “Blood Feud” as the first in its own trilogy. Those who prefer to immerse themselves in a more expansive fantasy world can also enjoy “Blood Feud” with the knowledge that (at the time of this review) eight more Ansu books are available.

In the world of “Blood Feud,” powerful families pit their forces against one another while average people caught in the conflicts struggle to survive. The supernatural complicates matters as a multitude of gods, fairies, and magicians manipulate the humans. This world features fighting, journeying, romance, intrigue, spells, curses, shapeshifting, supernatural entities, multiple dimensions, and more. With so much going on, “Blood Feud” has the feel of a classic fantasy story with much to offer fans of the genre.

Author J. W. Webb’s attention to detail does much to bring the complex world of “Blood Feud” to life for readers. Wherever the main characters go, Webb shares plenty of sensory details about their surroundings. He also takes care to mention passersby in the course of the main characters’ adventures. When the main characters visit a town, for instance, readers learn specifics such as what the streets smell like and which townsfolk are about at the time. Maintained throughout the story, this level of detail lends the world of “Blood Feud” the sense of a vast, living place teeming with possibilities rather than just a convenient backdrop for the main characters’ exploits.

Though the character Jaran Saerk is central to the story, Webb does not limit events to Saerk’s point of view. This approach furthers the complex feel of “Blood Feud.” The book’s characters and conflicts might appear familiar to fantasy readers, but Webb seems to guide his story away from genre tropes by exploring the events through numerous different characters’ experiences. In the conflict between the witch Sheega and the warrior Jaran, for example, readers likely will support Jaran over Sheega, but by providing readers with Sheega’s perspective as well as Jaran’s, Webb grants Sheega equal footing with Jaran in the narrative. Sheega is responsible for many bad things in this story, but she is not a simple force of evil. She is a character in her own right who has her own life experiences which have influenced her goals and how she goes about achieving them. She becomes Jaran’s enemy not because these characters are inherently a villain and a hero, but rather because they happen to have committed themselves to mutually exclusive causes. Webb’s world is not one of pure good and evil, but rather factions pursuing goals that place them at odds with one another.

Overall, I would recommend “Blood Feud” to readers interested in getting into a multivolume fantasy story.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing access to a copy of this book for an honest review!

i really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great take on a fantasy novel with interesting characters. I look forward to more from the author.