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buffyb's review
5.0
What a gem! I found this book at the library and picked it up because the cover looked interesting. I had never heard of this series it this author but I read the back of the book and decided to give it a try. Also, I'm trying to read more books by women so why not? I'm so pleased I did! The world building is fantastic and the characters are complex. I got really caught up in the story and felt a little bit sad when I finished it. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
readingtheend's review
3.0
I ended up being interested to know what would come next, but whew it was a long journey to get to the plot in this one. the first like 200 pages are mostly just the main character getting to know her horse. one thing I thought was great is the interstitial chapters telling the stories of minor characters who passed through the previous chapter, or of characters who have just passed OUT of the story. it made the world feel richer, and I love the message it sends that everyone is part of a tapestry of stories. still, this sure was 500 pages of book where none of the main characters met each other, and that sure isn't my vibe. to a reader who's more comfortable with secondary world fantasy, I would definitely recommend this.
gavreads's review
Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman (Orbit)
I’ve been thinking about reading Blood Ties for some time. Pamela Freeman has been popping up on this blog and others for a little while now. Not in a buy-my-book-way but in a I-love-reading-and-thought-I’d-pop-by-way. But that attention by an author can make a reviewer a bit uncomfortable as it makes an emotional connection between the reader, the work and the author that might taint a review. Thankfully I needn’t have worried too much as Blood Ties is a strong addition to the fantasy cannon.
That’s not to say that it isn’t without in its problems. There are a few quirks, which I’ll get to but before I do I have to say that this is one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I’ve read in a while. The reason is that there is a sense that not only does Pamela have a plan, but it’s a good one.
The other thing that makes this a strong story are characters and their connection which is pretty much given away in the title, blood. They’re all Travellers, the original inhabitants of the Eleven Domains before before Acton and his people displaced and killed their ancestors before they were forced to become travel the Road.
We follow Bramble, Ash and Saker. Each has a calling in this story. We get some quite big hints nut I have a feeling that there is much more yet to reveal. We follow their journey and find out more about them and the people that they meet along the way. This isn’t as stiff as it sounds. For the most part who they encounter and what they do moves the story on and is down with a big breath of life.
Though one of the problems is that each character isn’t created equally and they don’t get the same amount of screen time. There is a point where I think that Pamela overindulges herself in Bramble’s story but I suspect that Bramble is Pamela’s favourite character and she probably shares Brambles connection to horses. It’s not a bad thing as such but it does slow the pace a little too much.
But each of the characters stories has its own importance and is a vital piece in the puzzle Each is three dimension and has a life of their own even if they are being guided by the gods.
Yep, I said the g-world and the gods in Blood Ties are tangible. Their presence can be felt and their influence is real as each of the characters is slowly finding out.
I really liked the development of Ash and how he grows and the choices he makes. Not bad for someone we first meet killing someone else in cold blood.
The only enigma is Saker but then he is on a journey of discovery and the reader discovers as he journeys. Each of their stories is entwined more and more as it goes along as comes together a lot more towards the end.
We also get snippets, almost small stories, of the lives of the minor characters, something that could be distracting but somehow it makes everything sharper and enhances the story.
There are wonderful little twists that I’d spoil by saying more but it shows that little seeds are being sown all the time. As with all first books in a trilogy the ending is only the beginning.
Overall, Blood Ties is a slightly flawed but highly readable and enjoyable start to a trilogy. I’m looking forward to Dark Water Deep Water, and that title gives me goose pimples.
I’ve been thinking about reading Blood Ties for some time. Pamela Freeman has been popping up on this blog and others for a little while now. Not in a buy-my-book-way but in a I-love-reading-and-thought-I’d-pop-by-way. But that attention by an author can make a reviewer a bit uncomfortable as it makes an emotional connection between the reader, the work and the author that might taint a review. Thankfully I needn’t have worried too much as Blood Ties is a strong addition to the fantasy cannon.
That’s not to say that it isn’t without in its problems. There are a few quirks, which I’ll get to but before I do I have to say that this is one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I’ve read in a while. The reason is that there is a sense that not only does Pamela have a plan, but it’s a good one.
The other thing that makes this a strong story are characters and their connection which is pretty much given away in the title, blood. They’re all Travellers, the original inhabitants of the Eleven Domains before before Acton and his people displaced and killed their ancestors before they were forced to become travel the Road.
We follow Bramble, Ash and Saker. Each has a calling in this story. We get some quite big hints nut I have a feeling that there is much more yet to reveal. We follow their journey and find out more about them and the people that they meet along the way. This isn’t as stiff as it sounds. For the most part who they encounter and what they do moves the story on and is down with a big breath of life.
Though one of the problems is that each character isn’t created equally and they don’t get the same amount of screen time. There is a point where I think that Pamela overindulges herself in Bramble’s story but I suspect that Bramble is Pamela’s favourite character and she probably shares Brambles connection to horses. It’s not a bad thing as such but it does slow the pace a little too much.
But each of the characters stories has its own importance and is a vital piece in the puzzle Each is three dimension and has a life of their own even if they are being guided by the gods.
Yep, I said the g-world and the gods in Blood Ties are tangible. Their presence can be felt and their influence is real as each of the characters is slowly finding out.
I really liked the development of Ash and how he grows and the choices he makes. Not bad for someone we first meet killing someone else in cold blood.
The only enigma is Saker but then he is on a journey of discovery and the reader discovers as he journeys. Each of their stories is entwined more and more as it goes along as comes together a lot more towards the end.
We also get snippets, almost small stories, of the lives of the minor characters, something that could be distracting but somehow it makes everything sharper and enhances the story.
There are wonderful little twists that I’d spoil by saying more but it shows that little seeds are being sown all the time. As with all first books in a trilogy the ending is only the beginning.
Overall, Blood Ties is a slightly flawed but highly readable and enjoyable start to a trilogy. I’m looking forward to Dark Water Deep Water, and that title gives me goose pimples.
thedearest's review
3.0
Better than being merely escapist, the small details and differing points of view in this novel make it a worthwhile read even if I have issues with the pacing.
msteinhaus's review
4.0
Pretty interesting start to the series. Starts with nice character studies, but is clearly tending towards some much more epic drama/intrigue. Wasn't at all confused by the constant narrator swaps, as other reviews indicate.
lost_between_worlds's review
2.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. The setting and the characters were interesting, but the story itself felt so rushed, and yet very slow at the same time. Days go by in a couple of sentences at times, new characters are introduced just to be around for a couple of pages. I felt that this book needed to be a lot shorter. There's so many things that are so insignificant. And it was a real chore to finish this book. I can understand that it's hard to make travelling interesting on the page, but even when something happens during the travels, it happens so fast, gets so little page time, that I really don't care.
While the book is very atmospheric, has (potentially) interesting relationships between, characters and plot, it feels sloppy. I'm not sure if I want to continue this series, nor am I sure what rating I should give it. 2.5 stars seems appropriate, but no half stars on goodreads.
While the book is very atmospheric, has (potentially) interesting relationships between, characters and plot, it feels sloppy. I'm not sure if I want to continue this series, nor am I sure what rating I should give it. 2.5 stars seems appropriate, but no half stars on goodreads.
beckylej's review
4.0
In a world ruled by warlords, where ghosts walk amongst the living, one man is planning an act of revenge that has been generations in the making. Thousands of years ago, Acton and his troops spread throughout what would become the Eleven Domains, raping, plundering, and murdering the original inhabitants. Those who survived took to the road, becoming known from then on as the Travelers. Bramble and Ash both carry Traveler blood within them and though they lead very different lives, their fates are intertwined and their paths will finally intersect in this first book of the Castings Trilogy. This story is primarily theirs – Freeman weaves their tales together, telling their separate histories and the trials that will lead to their involvement in the events to come. Their stories are interspersed with that of Saker, the enchanter who helps to set events into motion, and others that are met along the way. This is Freeman’s first adult title and marks the beginning of what promises to be a fascinating fantasy trilogy that melds together political intrigue and magic.
aprilsarah's review
5.0
This first book was such a great surprise. I didn't know what I was expecting but I feel in love.
The story reminds me of a mix between 'Daughter of the Forest' by Juliet Marillier
and 'Wild Magic' by Tamora Pierce. It's an old world feel with old world magic and gods.
Freeman kept me on my toes and I loved the way she inter-spliced Bramble's, Ash's, and Saker's perspectives with little shorts of people they met along the way.
Book two, here I come.
The story reminds me of a mix between 'Daughter of the Forest' by Juliet Marillier
and 'Wild Magic' by Tamora Pierce. It's an old world feel with old world magic and gods.
Freeman kept me on my toes and I loved the way she inter-spliced Bramble's, Ash's, and Saker's perspectives with little shorts of people they met along the way.
Book two, here I come.