Title: The Black Song.
Series: Raven’s Blade #2.
Writer(s): Anthony Ryan.
Publisher: Ace Books.
Format: Hardcover.
Release Date: August 4th, 2020.
Pages: 448.
Genre(s): Fantasy.
ISBN13: 9780451492548.
My Overall Rating: ★★★★☆.
Previously in the Raven’s Blade duology:
The Wolf’s Call by Anthony Ryan.
Upon encountering a devastating loss, how far would you go to exact revenge upon those who have made you suffer? If given the shot or the opportunity to tip the scales in your favour at the cost of your sanity, of resembling the very evil that you endeavoured to take down, would you capture it or would you let it slip? Sometimes the answer to these questions lies not in what we believe but what the journey towards retribution has to offer. Completing his Raven’s Blade duology is writer Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow trilogy, The Draconis Memoria trilogy) who presents fans with an action-packed sequel to the Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches’ legacy as a living legend, an unmatched warrior, and a fearless adversary to combatants and gods.
What is The Black Song about? Continuing the tale where it was left off in The Wolf’s Call, the Unified Realm remains under the threat of the Darkblade as he wages war and pursues his dominion over the realms of the Merchant Kings. With this self-proclaimed god relentlessly conquering lands and seizing opportunities to recruit vicious warriors to his fanatical army, Vaelin Al Sorna suffers a devastating loss that forces his hands to retreat alongside an ally but also with an unexpected surprise, one that can be summarized as a re-acquaintance with lost dark magic that sings within him and requires far more than he dares give. Driven with a conviction to put an end to the Darkblade’s horde, it is now time to rebuild his own forces and march towards the madness before it engulfs the rest of the world.
“Vengeance might win a war, but fear alone won’t.”
— Anthony Ryan
Split into four parts, with each one kicking off with Obvar Nagerik (Kehlbrand’s champion)’s point of view that offers insight in the Darkblade’s horde’s progression, unlike the previous story that gave this additional angle to the adventure through the eyes of Luralyn Reyerik (Kehlbrand’s sister), the story continues to mainly focus on Vaelin Al Sorna’s rise from the aftermath witnessed in The Wolf’s Call. This time around, he seeks allies in unlikely places while gaining the trust and respect of various leaders along the way. From completing challenges to coming out victorious from duels, he mostly relies on his experience, cold-blooded confidence, and his honour to make the most out of his retreat as he helps Heaven’s Chosen see to the rebirth of a brand-new army that would dare interfere with the Darkblade’s plans to conquer lands.
While character development is put to the side, writer Anthony Ryan focuses on world-building and neverending action sequences to wrap up his duology. Although Vaelin Al Sorna does share some of the internal conflicts he has to face as he tries to suppress the dark powers that have surged within him, most of the narrative revolves around exploring different lands, nations, and politics as he sees the army he’s in grow and become the very threat that the Darkblade wishes to obliterate before it’s too late. What ultimately makes this journey so satisfying despite suffering in terms of characterization is the author’s writing style that continues to showcase incredible precision and elegance, allowing readers to fully visualize the world in which evolves the narrative. With this finale focused on action, it was inevitable to especially see those moments brilliantly developed as the series comes to an end, albeit a bit abruptly, but with the proper and satisfying coherence found throughout this duology.
The Black Song is an action-packed finale to this duology focused on honour, glory, and warfare as a false god is confronted once and for all.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for this copy for review!
Roars and Echoes 
Oh! 4 stars! This looks interesting!
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Thanks for reading! 😀
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Gotta love a good revenge story. I definitely love those, that’s for sure😊 The cover for this book is solid, the story sounds very solid, and the characters as well. And with action added into this mix as well, I have to say that once again you have made me very curious for a novel!😀😀 Wonderful review Lashaan!😀😀
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Hourray for another mission accomplished! 😀 It’s a great duology especially when the original trilogy also gave fans plenty of development for this protagonist! Thanks for reading, Michel. 😀
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To answer your question about letting it slip or not…I think to me,personally, it would depend if said devil would harm others still or not. If someone is well on his path to do more evil to others then no, I don’t think I could let it slip. I have always had a tendency to protect the weaks soo.
Look at what you did here Lashaan! Make me think hard early in the morning LOL.
Now excellent review and …I also very much love the cover!
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Hahahah I’m glad that this review has you thinking so early in the morning again! 😛 Soooo, you would do anything to protect the weak, even taking someone else’s life? 😉 Thanks for reading, Sophie! 😀
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This sounds interesting with strong characters and action. Great review!
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Absolutely! Fun stuff for fans of epic fantasy with focus on warfare! 😀 Thanks for reading!
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The first thing that came to mind, reading your intriguing review was “too many good books, too little time!”, but I’m comforted by the notion that a duology is far easier to manage than a long-reaching series… 😉
Thanks for sharing!
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I know that feeling. I get it a lot when I’m reading your reviews too hahahah Well, the original series is a completed trilogy so it sort of makes this a completed quintet? 😀 Thanks for reading, Maddalena!
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I feel like I keep seeing books by Anthony Ryan popping up, but I’ve yet to read any of his work. With a review like this, though, I may have to try setting aside some time for it. You mention this series being a sequel to another series. Where would be a good place for a newcomer to start reading?
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I have been curious of his work for a very long time too, especially that dragon-centric series but I never got around to them. When I got the chance to read and review the ARC to this new duology, I couldn’t pass though. If anything, I think that, if you have the choice, it would be better to start with the original trilogy to get a feel for the main character. Then again, I’ve heard people dislike the 2nd or 3rd book of that trilogy too, making this duology almost superior!
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I don’t think I will ever get tired of a good old revenge story. I love reading about characters existing in some kind of grey area, which revenge necessarily is, really. Like you say, can you destroy the thing that you hate without accidentally becoming it yourself?
Amazing review ❤
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I find them fun when they explore the psychological aspects of it, the torment, especially, but I do find that many revenge tales tend to follow an inevitable and similar plot. It’s always nice to find good ones though! Thanks for reading, Lydia! 🙂
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Great review; a real achievement to break this down so well. Not to much world building to obscure a classic revenge theme, by the sound of it…
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Thank you so much for the kind words but you do an even better job at breaking down movies! And yep, it’s well done without overdoing anything.
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Speaking of gorgeous covers! I need to check this duology out. I like Ryan’s style a lot but so far all I’ve read is one novella that needed more. Do you have to read his other series to start with Wolf’s Call?
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If you have the choice, I think it’s better to start with his Raven’s Shadow trilogy, since that’s where the main character is first introduced and a lot of his development is probably most achieved! Thanks for reading, Sarah! It’s great to see you back and actively blogging! 😀
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Woah! Another terrific review! Haven’t heard of this author until now. The cover’s extremely masculine! Haha A duology is definitely more doable than very long series 🙂
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Yep. So rare, but when done right, duologies are awesome! Thanks for reading, Jee! 😀
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Wow. Great review!
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Thank you so much for dropping by! 😀
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