MADreads

Is this the end of the world?

December 14th, 2006 Jane J. - Central Library

In Bloodring by Faith Hunter, it’s a hundred years from now and the remnants of the human population seem to have survived the apocalypse.  After self-proclaimed Seraphs appeared, wars and plague killed much of the earth’s population.  A new ice age is in effect and the Seraphs make rare appearances when they are displeased with human behavior.  One of the things that is sure to draw their wrath is a neomage who has escaped their control.  Neomages were created by the Seraphs to help battle the forces of the dark, but must now live in luxurious prisons known as enclaves.

Thorn St. Croix is a neomage who escaped the enclaves to preserve her own sanity.  When amongst other mages their thoughts overwhelm her and would have eventually led to her death.  Thorn was spirited away from the enclave as a young child and has lived most of her life amongst humans, from whom she must hid her stone mage abilities.

Her hard-won camouflage is put at risk when her ex-husband, Lucas is kidnapped.  Under suspicion from an attractive detective and pressure from her former step-daughter, Thorn puts her life on the line to find Lucas.  She is soon caught up in the larger battle between the Seraphs and the demons.

Though the book bogs down a bit at times, Ms. Hunter has created a fascinating group of characters and a dark fantasy world just possible enough to be scary.

Entry Filed under: Fantasy