Bared Blade (A Fallen Blade Novel Book 2)

Set in a coastal city called Tien, the thousand-year-old capital of Zhan. Once he was known as Aral Kingslayer. He was a Blade of Namara, bringing the Unblinking Eye of Justice to those too powerful to find it in the courts. With his goddess dead and most of his order having either been executed or turned traitor, Aral keeps a low profile. Triss is his partner, friend, and familiar. Triss is a Shade, a creature of living darkness who spends most of his time in Aral's shadow - literally. Only over the past year has Aral been able to pull himself out of the deep depression that his loss had placed him. Now Aral is staying more sober and alert. His skills as a Blade are rusty, but he is slowly returning to what he once was.Aral and Triss are sitting in a bar, still keeping a low profile, when two foreign women enter. As trouble walks up to the ladies, Triss insists that Aral aid them. As the dust begins to settle, Aral and Triss learn that the two women are Dyad. A Dyad is a collection of three distinct minds and personalities. Stel and Vala each have their own body and their own brain; however, a master entity has also been formed from their conjoined souls, called their Meld. (For the sake of this synopsis and review, let us refer to the Dyad as VoS.)VoS needs the help of Aral and Triss to locate and retrieve a priceless stolen artifact. VoS had been escorting the item to its rightful place when their group had come under attack. It was only by luck that VoS had been scouting ahead and survived the resulting massacre.Though his goddess might be gone, Aral is still her Blade and it is his duty to help VoS. But VoS is not the only magical being in Tien searching for the Kothmerk. There is also the Durkoth who look to be made of marble. They are able to move through earth as easily as a human can glide through water. The Crown Guard and the Elite (who are the king's pet killers with giant stone dogs) are also on the hunt. By helping VoS, Aral and Triss are thrown into a situation that would forever alter their lives - if they somehow survive, that is. The body count is rising, the enemies are closing in, and time is running out.***** FIVE STARS! The character of Aral is intelligent and audacious. Triss is like his voice of reason. This combination makes for an enthralling adventure and actually caused me to lose an entire night of sleep. By the story's end, I was introduced to a new character or two, who I eagerly look forward to seeing more of in the next installment. (Book three is titled  Crossed Blades (A Fallen Blade Novel)  and due for release at the end of November 2012.) As I was following Aral's footsteps, I learned a little bit more about the training of a Blade and how one is chosen. It is now obvious to me that McCullough put a lot of thought into the infrastructure of Namara's Order. I have a much clearer idea of how the temple operated. In fact, it is so precise and becoming structured enough to me that I cannot help but wonder if McCullough is a "method writer", if there is such a thing. (If so, McCullough owes his family and friends big time for putting up with him.)After reading the first book of this series ( Broken Blade (A Fallen Blade Novel) ), I did not believe that the author could possibly get any better. Never have I been so happy to be proven wrong. This author seems to get better and more original with each book he has published. I know that I probably sound as if I am gushing, so I want to make it clear to you that I do not personally know this author. I gain nothing by singing his praises and I have absolutely no reason to lie or embellish. Therefore, I strongly urge you to read with caution, because Kelly McCullough's writings are highly addictive and there is no known cure. *****Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I read this second volume in the series within a few days.Conditional on enjoying fantasy-world detective stories with supernatural beings popping in (or out) at the most convenient times, this volume is indeed very pleasant with a proper whodunnit, a fairly irrelevant McGuffin, a couple of dryads (that actually turn into…well, no spoiler!), several false trails, a radical variation on the “good cop-bad cop” duo, and the compulsory climactic reversal of fortune at the very end (not a spoiler since it is the same in every novel!).Once again, a very light read, to the point of being almost ethereal, with no pretence at depth or epics or myth, but rather funny and guaranteed 100% free of living-deads, which is a relief. I actually found this volume better than the first one, which is a rarity if you have had enough spare time to read thru my non-scientific book reviews, I am thus looking forward to the next break when I can skip through my following volume of Kelly McCullough, Crossed Blades.

Story is good, but one thing has started to detract from these for me. I get you need to impart information in each book about the character in case the reader is starting in the middle of the series. But several times in the same novel is overkill. I get it he is an addict. I get how much he craves his drug of choice. He does this with other things as well. But 4 months after i read the last book, i still remeber how annoyed i was about another paragraph about how difficult the craving is to overcome. You don't have to repeat it 4 or 5 times each book. That actually is one reason I down graded his writing to OK as well. Sorry, but when you are binge reading a series it is just too much.

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.

Oh my goodness, talk about twists and turns, but everyone more fascinating and pulling me more into the story. What a wonderful imagination the author has and I can totally relate. Aral Kingslayer is a trained assassin, yet only kills if absolutely justified, which gives him a human side that makes you root for him through thick and thin. He has the most amazing accomplices and they all seem to bring out the best in the main character. This is the second book in the Fallen Blade series and I will certainly be reading the next instalment soon. I would highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader, but start at book one – Broken Blade.

A really satisfying book, with a great central character - we rarely see a protagonist who has been psychologically damaged by the destruction of his life and loves, here we follow him as he begins to haul himself up from the depths of despair. Also: Fights! A beautiful and capable woman who is so much more than a damsel in distress! Sorcery! Undead! Secret assassins!I loved this book - and there are more!

received with thanks

Really enjoying the series. I love the 1st person narration of the fallen blade. It's enjoyable. Strong character who is broken but healing. Has a whisky problem which is fun to see him battle with. Writing is fast paced and rarely boring before a great battle scene. I am on book 3 already. Can't go wrong for the price either.

Not much more needs to be said really, as the second book continues Aral's story. You should read them in order so hopefully you looked this book up to order it.

I haven't enjoyed a series of books this much in a LONG time.