Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames

Two books into his career and it’s safe to say that Nicholas Eames is one of the most exciting new voices in fantasy. Bloody Rose takes us back to the Wyld where mercenaries are treated like rock bands and fight monsters in arenas as well as take on contracts to kill monsters in the wilderness.

Tam Hashford is bored with life in her sleepy little village and dreams of adventure. When the mercenary band Fable comes through town, led by the infamous Bloody Rose, Tam sees her chance. Fable just happens to need a bard and Tam is the daughter of one of the Wyld’s most famous ones. Rose agrees to take her on, but Fable isn’t headed to fight the new horde which has once again gathered to threaten the country. Instead, they are headed in the opposite direction to take on a mysterious contract that Rose will divulge few details about. Tam will either get the adventure and glory she has been seeking or she won’t live long enough for it to matter.

Eames has a special talent for creating compelling characters with real depth. His world-building is outstanding and his plot is always moving forward. The real skill is balancing an exciting plot with significant character development. The story doesn’t just plunge from battle to battle but includes reflective moments that shine a light both on the characters internal development as well as the morality of the world in which they live. One of the most interesting themes of this book is, what really makes a monster? That these characters have to overcome both external and internal obstacles really elevates this book to another level.

Eames brings a rock music sensibility to these books along with a nice mix of sarcastic humor and real drama. Much like actual rock stars, their stories are often told by those around them. In this case that includes not only Tam but the other bandmates, Cura, Brune and Freecloud. He takes the time to let you get to know all his characters so that even those bent on complete destruction stir up at least a little sympathy. Bloody Rose is a must read for any lover of fantasy and Eames is an author whose every book is one to look forward to.

The audio version is narrated by Katherine Fenton who absolutely nails the wide variety of characters. Mood is an important part of this book and Fenton conveys that with her inflection and pacing. She also captures the humor inherent in the story. Narrating this book is a tall task as it ranges from battle scenes to music to humor to contemplative reflection. Fenton navigates this all unobtrusively, complementing the story but not overpowering it. Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

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