Blood upon the Sand (The Song of the Shattered Sands) - Softcover

Beaulieu, Bradley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1473203058 ISBN 13: 9781473203051

Publisher: Gollancz, 2017

Synopsis

Çeda, an elite warrior in service to the kings of Sharakhai, is learning their secrets even as they send her on covert missions to further their rule. She has already uncovered the dark history of the asirim, but it's only when she bonds with them, chaining them to her will, that she feels their pain as her own. They hunger for release, they demand it, but their chains were forged by the gods themselves and are proving unbreakable.

Çeda could become the champion the enslaved asirim have been waiting for, but the need to tread carefully has never been greater. The kings are hungry for blood, scouring the city in a ruthless quest for revenge, while Çeda's friend Emre and his new allies in the Moonless Host are laying plans to take advantage of the unrest in Sharakhai, and strike a major blow against the kings and their god-given powers.

The shifting tides of power are fickle and dangerous, though. The Kings and the Moonless Host have their own agendas, as does the dangerous blood mage Hamzakiir, whose plotting uncovers a devastating secret that could shatter the power of the hated kings. But it may all be undone if Çeda cannot learn to control the growing anger of the asirim that threatens to overwhelm her...

About this title

About the Author:

Bradley P. Beaulieu is the author of the Lays of Anuskaya Trilogy and Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, the first volume of the Song of Shattered Sands Trilogy. His novels have garnered many accolades, including a Gemmell Morningstar Award nomination. Author Residence: Racine, WI

Review:

Praise for Twelve Kings in Sharakhai:
 
Best Book of 2015 by Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BuzzFeed 
 
“Çeda and Emre share a relationship seldom explored in fantasy, one that will be tried to the utmost as similar ideals provoke them to explore different paths. Wise readers will hop on this train now, as the journey promises to be breathtaking.” —Robin Hobb, bestselling author of Fool’s Assassin
 
“I am impressed.... An exceedingly inventive story in a lushly realized dark setting that is not your uncle’s Medieval Europe. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment.” —Glen Cook, author of The Black Company
 
"Fantasy and horror, catacombs and sarcophagi, resurrections and revelations: the book has them all, and Beaulieu wraps it up in a package that's as graceful and contemplative as it is action-packed and pulse-pounding." —NPR
 
"Beaulieu's intricate world-building and complex characters are quickly becoming the hallmarks of his writing, and if this opening volume is any indication, [this series] will be one of the next great fantasy epics." —B&N SF&F Blog
 
“Beaulieu has crafted a rich, fascinating world, filled it with compelling characters, and blended them into an epic tale that grabbed my attention on the first page and refused to let go. I look forward to more stories of Sharakhai.” —D.B. Jackson, author of the Thieftaker Chronicles
 
“Sumptuous and incredibly entertaining, Beaulieu has created memorable characters in a richly imagined world.” —Michael J. Sullivan, author of The Riyria Chronicles

“Beaulieu’s new fantasy epic is filled with memorable characters, enticing mysteries, and a world so rich in sensory detail that you can feel the desert breeze in your hair as you read.” —C.S. Friedman, author of Dreamwalker
 
“A memorable heroine, a poetically told tale of revenge, and superb worldbuilding make Twelve Kings in Sharakhai a splendid read.” —John Marco, author of The Eyes of God

“Twelve Kings in Sharakhai isn’t the same as the last epic fantasy you read. Like the desert sands of Sharakhai, this first volume of Beaulieu’s new series is a constantly shifting narrative of betrayal and friendship, loyalty and vengeance. Leave the farm boys to their chickens and the scullions to their pots, because Çeda’s bringing a knife to this fight. It’s vivid and diverse, full of complex relationships, eye-opening magic, and world building for this new age of fantasy that’s broken out of its medieval shackles.” —Aidan Moher, A Dribble of Ink

“A lavish epic featuring gods, gangs, gladiators and everything in-between. With its deliciously original magic system, vast new world, reckless heroine and sinister array of ageless villains, this is a must for fans of Brandon Sanderson.” —Jared Shurin, Pornokitsch
 
“An excellent example of what a fantasy author can achieve when he has a talent for storytelling and has courage to add originality to the story.... The story is full of depth, fantastic scenes, and intriguing characters.... Twelve Kings in Sharakhai may well be the best epic fantasy novel of the year.” —Rising Shadow

About this edition

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1473203058
• ISBN 13: 9781473203051
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 688