Mage's Blood (Moontide Quartet)

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This is a stunning list and it gives you a flavour of all the fantastic and terrifying things magic-wielders are capable of.

People of color are discriminated against, homophobia is rampant (the word "cocksucker" was used with the subtlety of a toxic gamer), and the one intersex person that appears is treated as a vile, pitiable thing. The first thing you notice will be the obvious parallels in earth geography and naming conventions (shihad=jihad, Hebusalim=Jerusalem, etc) and similarities in religions, races, and cultures. I guess Brandon Sanderson spoiled me for poorly developed magic systems, but it all felt just a bit too hand wavy to me. This isn’t a book that can lie around for a few weeks and then be picked back up again; you might find yourself a bit lost.

However some 500 years before the start of the novel in 927, magic - gnosis - comes to the West when the 1000 followers of a hippie-like prophet, Corineus, are touched by supernatural power in a terrible and unforgettable night. Now deliver all this predictable, unimaginative drivel in writing so flat it would give Stephanie Meyer a run for her money, and you've got Mages Blood in a nutshell. There were some parts I really enjoyed, and there are questions I'd like to keep reading to get the answers too, but it's just not worth it for me.

The bridge was meant to facilitate trade between the two continents, but two Moontides ago the Emperor of Yuros decided to launch the First crusade against Antiopia and imposes his will on the foreign land. Elena is a solid character who is not only ruthless, filled with fury and an excellent assassin and fighter, but also very set in her ways.

Over the years I have heard fantasy fans saying they are looking for a new series with X from this author and Y from that author.

Magi are born of Mage’s Blood and the purer the blood the stronger the mage, Elena is a powerful mage and a skilled fighter in the pay of her former lover, Gurvon Gyle, tasked to protect the Javon monarch and his family. Antonin Meiros and his allies created the bridge in the time of the first crusade and his actions doomed a nation. The corruption and colonization of an empire, the mythical 300 being the birth of mages, a magical bridge spanning what would be Gibraltar, flying carpets and ships all add to this culturally rich story. Hair has done an admirable job in building a complex world populated by a rich and diverse cast of characters .The next Moontide is coming in a year, and The Rondian Emperor wants to use this time to rule both continents, but this time the people of Athiopia will be prepared. I went into this novel thinking it could be the next great “Grimdark” fantasy series, but instead it falls short but it does fit nicely into most epic fantasy. I do not mind if you borrow from cultures in our world, just by the gods, change some things at least!

Kazim Makani, Ramita's fiancee, son of an Amteh warrior who became blood-brother with Ispal in Hebusalim during the terrible 904 - as in our history, Lakh is ruled by an Amteh emperor with the majority locals coexisting uneasily with the Amteh invaders and converts. In another part of the world, Elena Anborn has pledged her life to protect the royal family of Javon, fighting off the assassination attempts and conspiracies masterminded by her former lover Gurvon Gyle, who works for powerful political enemies.The Omali are indians wearing sarees, bathing in holy rivers and praying to gods resembling elephants or multi-armed entities. It lifts entire cultures, countries, and prejudices from our world and pretends it's high fantasy simply because it goes by new names. Sybele is just devoted to destroying Meiros (and so for the most part of the book, you might actually think that the godmother of all evil is the Sainted Mater-Empress Lucia). It’s only as I read further into the story that I began to see that instead of simply telling the story of the historical conflict between the west and middle-east culture in a balanced way, just in a different setting, Hair’s personal commentary largely overpowered the narrative. In summary, if you've never heard of this or read it go and check it out because it was just wonderful and every element is perfect (remember what a mess Dinosaur Lords was - yeah, this is proof of what a GOOD fantasy should be!