Review: Blood Divided by Kevin James Breaux

Title: Blood Divided
Author: Kevin James Breaux
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Soul Born Saga #2

Trade paperback, 320 pages
Published December 30th 2011 by Dark Quest, LLC

ISBN: 1937051242 (ISBN13: 9781937051242)

http://www.soulborn.net

Where did I get this book?: I won the book through a giveaway by the author.

Summary:

There exists an ancient elven proverb, dating before the time of man. Life and death, like day and night, meet at a point where they blend into one. It is that brief moment when anything is possible.

There was a time when four sparks of life burned brighter than the sun itself. Megan was born with power, Lucien born with station. Autumn was born full of life, while Nathan was entwined with death.

Peace has come and gone... The conflicts of old have returned-rejuvenated and driven. This is the beginning of the end. The children of Karn have come of age, and now they will take part in shaping the fate of Illyia.

Will they join forces, or with blood will they be divided?

Review:

I first heard about this book while browsing Goodreads, and saw that there was a giveaway listed for it. I immediately entered, and to my surprise I won! The cover is gorgeous and it is what initially caught my attention. Blood Divided is the second book in the Soul Born Saga, set 20 years after the first book. I haven’t read the first book, Soul Born but the author provided enough background/history of the characters throughout the book that readers don’t need to start in order.

The book follows the children of Karn, Illyia’s beloved hero, two sets of siblings from the same father but different mother. Megan (depicted on the cover) and Nathan are the children of Karn and Opal the sorceress. Autumn and Lucien are the children of Karn and Tala (the elf). All four will come together in the kingdom of Illyia, as some form alliance and other seek retribution. 

I read a couple of fantasy novels, but this is by far the best fantasy novel I’ve read in a long time. As I mentioned before I haven’t read the first novel, but it feels as if I’ve already known the characters. The characters are well-written and feel so real that they leap off the pages. There was never a real good versus evil, black or white with the characters ….many of the characters walk in the gray area. Even though the book is central around four main characters, all the secondary characters still played a big part in the book and help shaped the central characters and the world itself. 

The world that Breaux created is full of political intrigue, betrayal, love and loss. If you’re looking for a well established world and a cast of amazing characters, then I highly recommend the Soul Born Saga.  The pacing of the book was great; there was never a dull moment. This book will have you glued to the pages from beginning to end, with a conclusion that will have you begging for the next book, Flesh Ended. I definitely plan on reading the next book, in the mean time I’ll probably go back and read the first book in the series, Soul Born.