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ellelainey's review against another edition
5.0
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Blood for the Spilling
Studies in Demonology, Book 3
★★★★★
280 Pages
POV: 3rd person, triple character POV
Would I read it again?: YES!
Genre: LGBT, MM, Romance, Fantasy, Demon, Supernatural, Magic
Pairings: MM, MMM
Heat Level: ★★★☆☆
Content Warning: pain play, cutting for blood sacrifice and pleasure, instances of violence, Aztec/Mayan inspired sacrifice, and menage scenes.
Holy Cow! This was incredible!
Somehow, T.J. Nichols manages to put a whole heap of world building, characterisation, emotion, and talent into a single <300 page book, that some authors can't even manage in 800 pages. Each book in this series has blown me away, time and again warning me not to underestimate the author's skill in wielding the weapon they've made of storytelling. Each book has somehow both met and exceeded my expectations, every single time.
Blood for the Spilling is a thrilling, engaging, unsettling novel about what a single human is willing to endure, sacrifice, and commit to, for love and because it's the right thing. Angus takes on the entire war-torn world in this novel, and manages to still be real, relatable, logical and break the bonds of the Angus Donohue the world has tried to make him.
The story picks up almost exactly where we left off in book 2. And, yes, I binge-read books 1 and 2 again, before delving into this book, because I wanted to be fully submerged in the world when I picked it up, knowing that all the little nuances were important. And while it wasn't strictly necessary – because there's a great, natural recap throughout the first chapter – this is definitely a series that should be read over and over again, in order, so that you really feel encased inside the world.
A few days/weeks after the events of book 2, we find Angus in the Mayan Empire, trying to fix the world that broke itself. Though we continue to have both Angus and Saka's POV's, we are also treated to Terrance's for the first time. This is totally appropriate, since he's more a part of their lives than he ever was before, and he sees events that we need to be aware of, to understand the entire story.
Yet, while getting to see Terrance's POV, I love that we're also still a little unsure about his commitment, still harbouring the same deep-seated doubts and hesitations that Saka and Angus have, despite knowing that they can trust him. Like Jim before him, Terrance has proven himself to be less about the cause and more about Angus; meaning he's easily bought and has no set loyalty. Something that is really well covered throughout the story, and is challenged by the Mayan's.
I love that the Mayan Empire is so closely based on the real Aztec/Mayan culture that we know, and that it maintains that authentic flavour throughout its culture. From the sacrificial games, to the way they work with demons and use magic, it all felt real to me. Especially since I've studied the Aztec and Mayan empires, so know what to look out for. It made it really easy for me to sink into the culture and see both their acceptance of their own practices and the resistance that Angus and Terrance show towards then.
There was a slow but steady stream of information about what was happening to the outside world, what was happening to the other tribes in Demonside, and about the clean sweep weapon, and how it had made Vinland the enemy of the world. I love that the explanation of what it was and what it could do came long after Angus and his small tribe were already mistrusted by the Mayan's – it only showed just what the world had been dealing with, while they trekked through Demonside and just why no one would trust them, no matter who they turned to for refuge.
I also appreciated the way that Angus slowly proved himself to the Mayan's, and they, in turn, proved themselves reliable allies in return. It's the genius of Nichol's writing that the smallest incidents or words can have a bigger impact when looked at with a new POV. Over time, just as Angus and Saka slowly built a relationship with each other, they too built a relationship with the Mayan Empire and were able to garner the trust, and offer their own in return, to make their plan viable.
Honestly, I can't say too much about the plot without giving it away. And I don't want to do that. But I will say that I cried for basically 50% of the book, or was close to it. I cried when Saka used the telestones and found death; at 64% when I worried that the story might not finish in this book and I'd have to wait for another installment; and for most of the last 30% of the book, as it all came together to the stunning conclusion that was reached. And, in the last 10% I cried mostly because it was over; the end was in sight, and I knew there wouldn't be another book; and because the ending that had been reached was just so friggin' perfect that I couldn't have asked for more.
Overall, Blood for the Spilling is the epitome of a perfect conclusion to a pretty perfect series. Every book in the trilogy, and each page in each book, offered a new adventure, a new insight, a new emotional tug that refused to let me put it down. I hungered, I thirsted, I reached bladder-bursting ache, and I went numb, sitting reading each book until there were no more pages left. Because once you start a journey like this, you become Angus. You can't stop until you've rebalanced the two worlds. Until Demonside is safe. Until Saka is back with his tribe. Now I have to ground myself with sustenance, after giving everything I have to Demonside. Then I'll come back again in a month or two and start the journey all over again from page 1 of book 1, until the final page of book 3.
Let me just end by saying, I've already pre-ordered my paperback. And this is - without a doubt - one of the best MM series I've read in a long time. One of my all time favourites, from book 1 to book 3, there was never a moment of disappointment or boredom.
Congrats, T.J. Nichols, on an EPIC series. And thank you, for an incredible adventure in a brilliant, beautiful new world that I can come back to revisit any time I like.
~
Favourite Quotes
“The magic had brought him home.”
“If he'd known what summoning a demon would mean that first day, he liked to think he'd have still done it, but no one was that brave.”
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Blood for the Spilling
Studies in Demonology, Book 3
★★★★★
280 Pages
POV: 3rd person, triple character POV
Would I read it again?: YES!
Genre: LGBT, MM, Romance, Fantasy, Demon, Supernatural, Magic
Pairings: MM, MMM
Heat Level: ★★★☆☆
Content Warning: pain play, cutting for blood sacrifice and pleasure, instances of violence, Aztec/Mayan inspired sacrifice, and menage scenes.
Holy Cow! This was incredible!
Somehow, T.J. Nichols manages to put a whole heap of world building, characterisation, emotion, and talent into a single <300 page book, that some authors can't even manage in 800 pages. Each book in this series has blown me away, time and again warning me not to underestimate the author's skill in wielding the weapon they've made of storytelling. Each book has somehow both met and exceeded my expectations, every single time.
Blood for the Spilling is a thrilling, engaging, unsettling novel about what a single human is willing to endure, sacrifice, and commit to, for love and because it's the right thing. Angus takes on the entire war-torn world in this novel, and manages to still be real, relatable, logical and break the bonds of the Angus Donohue the world has tried to make him.
The story picks up almost exactly where we left off in book 2. And, yes, I binge-read books 1 and 2 again, before delving into this book, because I wanted to be fully submerged in the world when I picked it up, knowing that all the little nuances were important. And while it wasn't strictly necessary – because there's a great, natural recap throughout the first chapter – this is definitely a series that should be read over and over again, in order, so that you really feel encased inside the world.
A few days/weeks after the events of book 2, we find Angus in the Mayan Empire, trying to fix the world that broke itself. Though we continue to have both Angus and Saka's POV's, we are also treated to Terrance's for the first time. This is totally appropriate, since he's more a part of their lives than he ever was before, and he sees events that we need to be aware of, to understand the entire story.
Yet, while getting to see Terrance's POV, I love that we're also still a little unsure about his commitment, still harbouring the same deep-seated doubts and hesitations that Saka and Angus have, despite knowing that they can trust him. Like Jim before him, Terrance has proven himself to be less about the cause and more about Angus; meaning he's easily bought and has no set loyalty. Something that is really well covered throughout the story, and is challenged by the Mayan's.
I love that the Mayan Empire is so closely based on the real Aztec/Mayan culture that we know, and that it maintains that authentic flavour throughout its culture. From the sacrificial games, to the way they work with demons and use magic, it all felt real to me. Especially since I've studied the Aztec and Mayan empires, so know what to look out for. It made it really easy for me to sink into the culture and see both their acceptance of their own practices and the resistance that Angus and Terrance show towards then.
There was a slow but steady stream of information about what was happening to the outside world, what was happening to the other tribes in Demonside, and about the clean sweep weapon, and how it had made Vinland the enemy of the world. I love that the explanation of what it was and what it could do came long after Angus and his small tribe were already mistrusted by the Mayan's – it only showed just what the world had been dealing with, while they trekked through Demonside and just why no one would trust them, no matter who they turned to for refuge.
I also appreciated the way that Angus slowly proved himself to the Mayan's, and they, in turn, proved themselves reliable allies in return. It's the genius of Nichol's writing that the smallest incidents or words can have a bigger impact when looked at with a new POV. Over time, just as Angus and Saka slowly built a relationship with each other, they too built a relationship with the Mayan Empire and were able to garner the trust, and offer their own in return, to make their plan viable.
Honestly, I can't say too much about the plot without giving it away. And I don't want to do that. But I will say that I cried for basically 50% of the book, or was close to it. I cried when Saka used the telestones and found death; at 64% when I worried that the story might not finish in this book and I'd have to wait for another installment; and for most of the last 30% of the book, as it all came together to the stunning conclusion that was reached. And, in the last 10% I cried mostly because it was over; the end was in sight, and I knew there wouldn't be another book; and because the ending that had been reached was just so friggin' perfect that I couldn't have asked for more.
Overall, Blood for the Spilling is the epitome of a perfect conclusion to a pretty perfect series. Every book in the trilogy, and each page in each book, offered a new adventure, a new insight, a new emotional tug that refused to let me put it down. I hungered, I thirsted, I reached bladder-bursting ache, and I went numb, sitting reading each book until there were no more pages left. Because once you start a journey like this, you become Angus. You can't stop until you've rebalanced the two worlds. Until Demonside is safe. Until Saka is back with his tribe. Now I have to ground myself with sustenance, after giving everything I have to Demonside. Then I'll come back again in a month or two and start the journey all over again from page 1 of book 1, until the final page of book 3.
Let me just end by saying, I've already pre-ordered my paperback. And this is - without a doubt - one of the best MM series I've read in a long time. One of my all time favourites, from book 1 to book 3, there was never a moment of disappointment or boredom.
Congrats, T.J. Nichols, on an EPIC series. And thank you, for an incredible adventure in a brilliant, beautiful new world that I can come back to revisit any time I like.
~
Favourite Quotes
“The magic had brought him home.”
“If he'd known what summoning a demon would mean that first day, he liked to think he'd have still done it, but no one was that brave.”
mischlama's review against another edition
3.0
Ich muss sagen die Trilogie war nicht das was ich erwartet habe, aber es hat mich gefesselt und ich hätte gerne noch mehr. Nur vielleicht nicht jetzt gleich.
aligroen's review against another edition
5.0
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
I have been waiting for this book ever since I finished the last one, it ended with such a cliff hanger. Angus, Saka and Terrance are trying to navigate their new normal while dealing with the suspicions of the Mayans.
The story continues to focus on rebalancing the magic in Demonside and how to fight Vinland. Angus accidently finds out that he can survive a “clean sweep” which no one with any magical powers has been able to do. He finds a way to end the problems in Vinland but it’s going to take the support of Saka and Terrance along with many other mages and priests.
We get to see all three of the main characters’ points of view which doesn’t leave me guessing as to how they feel. Terrance does a lot to redeem his actions from the previous books and it actually gives us a chance to get to know him. I loved watching Angus and Saka continue to push against the status quo for what others think magic should be. I could feel for them as they pushed back and tried to find the right solution. Angus’s sacrifice was huge and changed him forever, I would love to see how this will change things in the world.
Cover art by Catt Ford is great and I love how it connects with the story.
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
I have been waiting for this book ever since I finished the last one, it ended with such a cliff hanger. Angus, Saka and Terrance are trying to navigate their new normal while dealing with the suspicions of the Mayans.
The story continues to focus on rebalancing the magic in Demonside and how to fight Vinland. Angus accidently finds out that he can survive a “clean sweep” which no one with any magical powers has been able to do. He finds a way to end the problems in Vinland but it’s going to take the support of Saka and Terrance along with many other mages and priests.
We get to see all three of the main characters’ points of view which doesn’t leave me guessing as to how they feel. Terrance does a lot to redeem his actions from the previous books and it actually gives us a chance to get to know him. I loved watching Angus and Saka continue to push against the status quo for what others think magic should be. I could feel for them as they pushed back and tried to find the right solution. Angus’s sacrifice was huge and changed him forever, I would love to see how this will change things in the world.
Cover art by Catt Ford is great and I love how it connects with the story.
ktracey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It was great to see these characters grow and fight and learn. And yet, the end felt very rushed and anticlimactic. There really wasn’t any big confrontation or final show down.
pam_h's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This book is so hard to rate. The world-building continues to be top-notch, we get a whole new culture here that's just as detailed and fascinating as the others and the magical war storyline gets a well-earned, satisfying conclusion. So that's why I'm rounding this up even though, ultimately, I found it disappointing :(
The biggest cause of the disappointment is the romantic relationship sub-plot just ... fades away. The relationships don't fade away. Just at some point we stop being told what's happening there. There's some sort of arrangement reached between the three of them, but I really can't say for sure what that is, and that's after re-reading the epilogue several times trying to figure it out. Specifically, what's the relationship between Terrance and Saka????? No freaking idea, and it's driving me crazy even several days later!!!
There's a pacing problem at the beginning that took me actual *months* to get through that is not helped by having the three MCs mostly separated, but we get a lot of internal dialog from all three of them on their relationships. Then by the time they're able to be together again, we're full on in the action plot, so it makes sense that no one is focusing on romance, but I absolutely expected that to be the focus of the final few chapters.
The unusual situation Angus found himself in with Saka and Terrance was the thing that set this series apart for me. It combined excellent world-building, magic and action with a non-traditional poly relationship that really made me think and had me fully on board with a relationship I never would have expected to feel comfortable with.
S and T live in two different worlds, literally, and can never change that, but Angus straddles both worlds. He and Saka unintentionally develop a serious bond that seems to be unique among demons-humans, but Saka's ultimate commitment is to his people and his world. But the more Angus learns about this world, the more entrenched he becomes in it, to a degree no human has before, and the more Saka falls for Angus, the harder he finds it to put his people first no matter what. It opens up all kinds of questions and makes Angus' need for Terrance to keep him grounded in the human world more and more important.
Then, after the final battle, ... nothing. We just get no more details on that. WTF?!? This is what the whole series has been building towards. It feels like we ran a whole marathon just to give up a couple hundred yards from the finish line.
No idea how this changes Angus' connection to Demonside or his need to return to Humanside. Terrance's decision to never, ever, ever return to Demonside isn't fully explained and is all the more confusing since it comes right on the heels of his "why did we wait so long?" reaction to the three of them finally being together... IN Demonside. We know there's a sexual relationship between the three of them (I think), and Angus is still romantically involved with both of them (I think), but you kind of have to read between the lines there, and I just don't understand.
This series was never shy about spelling out Angus' non-traditional relationship status. Yes, it was always a sub-plot to the magic war, but it was the secret ingredient that made this series so special.
Angus never even tells Terrance he loves him, after full-on panicking about missing his opportunity to do this in an earlier scene, and he has many, many, many chances after that. Terrance says it to Angus, but Angus continues not to say it back -- and I don't even think this is intentional. And yet Terrance and Angus are the only clear relationship in the epilogue, even though Angus and Saka have an intense ILY scene before the action climax.
Why on earth didn't we get a chapter or two to resolve the relationships?? It makes no sense and will keep me eternally dissatisfied with what should be an all-time favorite series.
This book is so hard to rate. The world-building continues to be top-notch, we get a whole new culture here that's just as detailed and fascinating as the others and the magical war storyline gets a well-earned, satisfying conclusion. So that's why I'm rounding this up even though, ultimately, I found it disappointing :(
The biggest cause of the disappointment is the romantic relationship sub-plot just ... fades away. The relationships don't fade away. Just at some point we stop being told what's happening there. There's some sort of arrangement reached between the three of them, but I really can't say for sure what that is, and that's after re-reading the epilogue several times trying to figure it out. Specifically, what's the relationship between Terrance and Saka????? No freaking idea, and it's driving me crazy even several days later!!!
There's a pacing problem at the beginning that took me actual *months* to get through that is not helped by having the three MCs mostly separated, but we get a lot of internal dialog from all three of them on their relationships. Then by the time they're able to be together again, we're full on in the action plot, so it makes sense that no one is focusing on romance, but I absolutely expected that to be the focus of the final few chapters.
The unusual situation Angus found himself in with Saka and Terrance was the thing that set this series apart for me. It combined excellent world-building, magic and action with a non-traditional poly relationship that really made me think and had me fully on board with a relationship I never would have expected to feel comfortable with.
S and T live in two different worlds, literally, and can never change that, but Angus straddles both worlds. He and Saka unintentionally develop a serious bond that seems to be unique among demons-humans, but Saka's ultimate commitment is to his people and his world. But the more Angus learns about this world, the more entrenched he becomes in it, to a degree no human has before, and the more Saka falls for Angus, the harder he finds it to put his people first no matter what. It opens up all kinds of questions and makes Angus' need for Terrance to keep him grounded in the human world more and more important.
Then, after the final battle
Spoiler
changes Angus fundamentally, making him part demonNo idea how this changes Angus' connection to Demonside or his need to return to Humanside. Terrance's decision to never, ever, ever return to Demonside isn't fully explained and is all the more confusing since it comes right on the heels of his "why did we wait so long?" reaction to the three of them finally being together... IN Demonside. We know there's a sexual relationship between the three of them (I think), and Angus is still romantically involved with both of them (I think), but you kind of have to read between the lines there, and I just don't understand.
This series was never shy about spelling out Angus' non-traditional relationship status. Yes, it was always a sub-plot to the magic war, but it was the secret ingredient that made this series so special.
Angus never even tells Terrance he loves him, after full-on panicking about missing his opportunity to do this in an earlier scene, and he has many, many, many chances after that. Terrance says it to Angus, but Angus continues not to say it back -- and I don't even think this is intentional. And yet Terrance and Angus are the only clear relationship in the epilogue, even though Angus and Saka have an intense ILY scene before the action climax.
Why on earth didn't we get a chapter or two to resolve the relationships?? It makes no sense and will keep me eternally dissatisfied with what should be an all-time favorite series.
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