Crossed Blades (A Fallen Blade Novel Book 3)

Kelly McCullough just keeps getting better and better.My first experience with his books was this Fallen Blade series. After reading the first few of the Fallen Blade books I went back and read his first series, the Ravirn/Web Mage books. Since I read those books back-to-back, I was treated to watching not only the evolution of a story, but the evolution of a writer. His writing started out as good and during the course of the series just got better and better.McCullough's evolution continues into the Fallen Blade series with each book even better than the last.Crossed Blades shows us what looks like a turning point for Aral Kingslayer. His downward slide during the course of the first two books seems to bottom out, and we start seeing some spark of what he must have been like before the events that left him where we found him in the first book. This book has depth. If all you're looking for is a rollicking adventure ride, McCullough has you covered and you'll love this book. But for anyone looking for something under the covers, this book has started moving us in this direction. Look a bit deeper for a treatise on dealing with loss, self-determination and an analysis of personal responsibility versus absolution via a higher authority.I am very impressed by this book and am keenly awaiting the next chapter in the Fallen Blade series.

A well done story about an assassin who has lost everything, and the struggle he goes through to rebuild his life from the ground up. The protagonists are well drawn, the setting is well done, and the magic system makes the characters work, rather than answering every need. I liked that we got far enough into Aral's head to feel his struggles, but at times it bogged the story down. I think he had a believable and interesting set of problems, although he seemed whiny at times. I didn't like the way he has a new woman in every book.

Aral Kingslayer’s past is catching up with him in the form of old friends; colleagues and lovers. Can he keep it together for long enough to save them? In the end Aral comes through to save most of them and the book ends with a surprising twist that had me cheering from the side lines. I have already started on the next instalment and am truly grateful that I have discovered Kelly McCullough’s books. Loving the whole Fallen Blade series!

This is a well written and enjoyable fantasy series, with a a well paced plot and a unique take on the traditional fantasy magic system. The main character, Aral Kingslayer, is surprisingly well developed and complex, and has continued to evolve throughout the series in a believable and interesting way. Even with the focus on character, however, each of the books (including this one) are relatively fast paced and well plotted.

I read the three books in the series so far, and I enjoyed them. Aral Kingslayer was/is a swordsman assassin for his Goddess, one of the best, but when his Goddess and most of his Blade colleagues were killed, he becomes totally demoralized, lost, an alcoholic, and slid to being a thief/murderer.As a kingslayer, he was constantly sought by the 'authorities' because he no longer had the protection of his goddess or of the Blade brotherhood. The theme running through all three books is how he learns to deal with his loss and his drinking, helped by his shade, Triss, but his past won't leave him alone as others seek him out for help, based on his past reputation, not understanding that he is no longer the man he was. They believe in him but he doesn't. He does help but with severe reservation. Aral struggles to make sense of his life while nursing a hatred for those who betrayed the Goddess, including former teachers, masters and lovers.The characters are well defined and there is lots of action - in general it is well written. I found the different magics very imaginative, particularly in the second of the series with Others, stone dogs, and all kinds of weapons which Aral manages to escape and survive … barely. He gradually evolves a code of conduct for himself, based on pragmatic morality rather than blind obedience, and does good deeds along the way.The description of his city is rather flat and I developed little feel for it, or any of the geography for that matter. He races about fighting and escaping, but I never knew exactly where he was despite the illegible map at the front. In addition, I thought there were just too many characters in the story and I had difficulty in keeping them in place in the story. They came and went, and did not transition from one book to the next. Finally, the introspection was overdone, with constant struggles with his drinking (probably accurate for an alcoholic), under what circumstance should he kill, and who to trust. As he matures, he becomes the elder Blade for the survivors from the massacre, with promise of a brighter future.I recommend it as a good read despite its flaws.

Yet another classic by Kelly McCullough! Following the fall and redemption of the Blade Aral, this book and the subsequent books in the series are all excellent. I highly recommend them for any fan of Epic Fantasy and adventure. The story really flows and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading.

I love this series as it created a world of assasin and shade. It was an interesting pairing of the 2 as well as the background to the shade world. Aral, the assasin, was not the "super-assasin" that everyone expects him to be and that was what made him a great character for me. A very good read. As a side note, do not expect any complicated storyline in this book.

I love this series of books. The story shows the growth in character of the main person,plus the change that he effects in others who come into contact with him.Plus some really great stories.

I really enjoy this series. While the hero is still deadly dangerous, he is also a broken down drunk trying to put himself back together. This gives him an edge over the usual 'chosen one' type of hero by making him more interesting.Its a well written story and if you enjoy Jim Butchers books you should probably take a look.

nice twists. I would recommend reading it not too long after the other parts of the series (or rereading those) as there are some references to them that you won't really get otherwise.

Im gleichen Stil der vorherigen Bücher gehaltene Fortsetzung der Geschichte um Aral - mit passenden Wendungen und etwas besseren Humor als in den vorherigen Büchern.Für Fans ein Muss!

de rij boeken is lang en de vervolgen blijven me minder en minder interesseren. het word tijd voor anderen en beteren.