The next instalment of Alexander Darwin's excellent 'Combat Codes' saga continues with 'Grievar's Blood', picking up where book 1 left off, with Cego and his team now studying at Level 2 at the Lyceum combat training school. More lessons, more deadly rivalry, more techniques and philosophies to learn that will aid them in the combat arena.
Where book one mostly followed Cego's journey from zero to hero, 'Grievar's Blood' builds upon the lore established in the first book as well as expanding on the world building, and adding new character POVs away from the Lyceum, at the Isles of Besayd and in the northern frozen wilds of Myrkos. It was great to see more of the world and the different cultures outside of just the main combat academy complex through these two character arcs. Both of these new expanded POVs, characters established in book one but not fully fleshed out, didn't feel like filler at all, but broke up and freshened the story, giving us a break from Cego's exploits at the Academy. They actually pushed the narrative as well as adding a lot of welcome depth to their character development. I really liked Sol's character arc in this book, starting out on what was a personal quest to claim and return home with the body of her father - a legendary fighter that was killed in the ring and his body now on show as part of a Daiymo collector's grisly collection - but by the end of her quest, you could see that her narrative, as well as the other POVs we follow; of Cego and of his 'brother' Silas, are all threads in a bigger story that are slowly weaving together where we'll likely see the conclusion of in book 3. A revolution is coming!
The combat is written really well and sounding detailed and authentic, which it should do considering that author, Alexander Darwin, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt! It is one of the many positives; fast paced and action-packed, as well as deeper character development and expanded world building, that kept me immersed and turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next!
Where book one mostly followed Cego's journey from zero to hero, 'Grievar's Blood' builds upon the lore established in the first book as well as expanding on the world building, and adding new character POVs away from the Lyceum, at the Isles of Besayd and in the northern frozen wilds of Myrkos. It was great to see more of the world and the different cultures outside of just the main combat academy complex through these two character arcs. Both of these new expanded POVs, characters established in book one but not fully fleshed out, didn't feel like filler at all, but broke up and freshened the story, giving us a break from Cego's exploits at the Academy. They actually pushed the narrative as well as adding a lot of welcome depth to their character development. I really liked Sol's character arc in this book, starting out on what was a personal quest to claim and return home with the body of her father - a legendary fighter that was killed in the ring and his body now on show as part of a Daiymo collector's grisly collection - but by the end of her quest, you could see that her narrative, as well as the other POVs we follow; of Cego and of his 'brother' Silas, are all threads in a bigger story that are slowly weaving together where we'll likely see the conclusion of in book 3. A revolution is coming!
The combat is written really well and sounding detailed and authentic, which it should do considering that author, Alexander Darwin, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt! It is one of the many positives; fast paced and action-packed, as well as deeper character development and expanded world building, that kept me immersed and turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next!
Note: I did receive an ARC edition of the book from the author, but I really enjoyed the book, even moreso than the first, and will be looking forward to next instalment in the 'Combat Codes' saga.
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