Mage's Blood (Moontide Quartet)

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Main character's switched out with secondary characters. Why do writer's make the main the main characters so dumb and their friend's brave with the best lines. Honestly I don't think even that would help. Why the stereotypes straight from real life. I'm reading fantasy hoping you will make them up. At least mix them up. The slow burn definitely starts to pay off and the characters help. Cliched one of them may be, the author does make him relatable along with the other characters. This author has skill when writing women, especially women in oppressive cultures such the Antiopia. One of the female leads enters into an arranged marriage, and the resulting emotional roller coaster she embarks is very believable and very authentic. Magic systems are one of the big reasons I love reading fantasy. This magic system may seem like it has rules, but mostly grants mages ultimate power. The only limit to what can be done comes down to the mages affinity with certain types of magic (coupled with knowledge); how pure their Mage blood is and how tired they are. These rules may make it seem like the magic has interesting limits, but they are pretty subjective and the author can easily write around any perceived limit to the magic. Not necessarily anything wrong with this I suppose, but I feel that it can at times make it more difficult for me to personally engage with.

We also have many other fabulous side characters such as Cera, Kazim, Gurvon, Cym, Ramon, Huyria, Lori and many more. They were all just as convincing and fleshed out as the main characters and I loved seeing how each of them was manipulated, used, dominated or took control themselves and stood up for things they believed in. They're a collection of devoted, sneaky, loving, friendly and harsh characters and they're all fab!! Come to Urte, where the moon covers half the sky and the tides render the seas impassable. Where windships ply the skies and magi with god-gifted powers rule the earth. Where East and West are divided by colour, creed, language and the sea, but drawn to each other irrevocably in a dance of life and death. The Moontide is coming, to sweep away all in its path. Mage is going to blow your mind, because virtually every other system uses "Power Rank X = You can do this, roll this plus that, the target resists with that." where as Mage is more like "Sphere Rank X = You can now alter any complex life form in any way you see fit". The system tries to encompass the INFINITE number of 'spells' (called effects) you could create, and offers a few time-tested effects (called rotes) to give you some examples of them. The plot and characters capturedmy imagination, carrying me on the waves of action to the hiatus between books. Apart from my reservations listed in the spoilers section, I LOVED Mage’s Blood and highly recommend it.Werewolves: I think it was mentioned somewhere in 1st edition of Requiem that each success on a feeding roll vs a werewolf gives 2 Vitae, but the werewolf might go into Death Rage. Maybe werewolf blood can also grant temporary Spirit vision if consumed in large quantities or from a powerful werewolf.

Sin-Eaters: their blood is fused with lots of Plasm, which might let vampires heal wounds faster at the cost of Ghost vision that can't be turned off for a while. Alternatively, since Plasm is kinda like a conduit for a "Vinculum" between Sin-Eater and Geist, a vampire with Plasm in her blood might get unwanted attention from the Geist which shares that Plasm. I found her to be a fascinating character with a great plotline where I was instantly hooked and constantly on my toes, wondering what would happen next. She's a very strong lady with some excellent skills, but she's up against the best too so she has to bring her A-game. The folks at Jo Fletcher don’t seem to be capable of disappointing. I’ve yet to read a book I wasn’t pleased with from them. And the most infuriating thing of all is that it seems like they never get revenge, either! Isn’t fiction supposed to be away to fulfill those revenge fantasies that everyone has had!?Now the Moontide has come again, the Bridge is rising from beneath the waves, and the Third Crusade is poised for release. The board is set and the pieces are moving. But three lowly pawns, barely regarded, threaten the game: A failed mage, a jaded mercenary and a lowly market-girl are about to be catapulted into the maelstrom. Their choices and their courage are about to change the world. The Moontide is coming. Urte stands on the brink of war. Now three seemingly ordinary people will decide the fate of the world. Werewolves: Drinking the blood of a half-flesh, half-spirit hunter of men is a great way to find yourself unconsciously obeying strange folkloric taboos — much like those followed by the strix. As one can tell, this issue with the book is a pretty serious one and one that Bookworm finds quite irksome.