Book Review - A TRADE OF BLOOD by Robert Jackson Bennett

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Description:

Brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with The Tainted Cup, named an Edgar, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award Finalist and one of the best books of the year (New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle)—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.

In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilt, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos.

To de-escalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him.

It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene.

As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal.

But even Ana's uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead--with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton's wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.


My Review:
Robert Jackson Bennett is simply incapable of writing a less than stellar book and specifically ones that end a series. I honestly don't know how he does it, his writing chops are just that amazing. A TRADE OF BLOOD is no exception as I was riveted the entire time and left blown away by the final climax. For those who haven't yet read this series, let me tell you all the reasons you should.

First and foremost, the worldbuilding is spectacular in every single way. The idea of giant leviathans that need to be protected against using various levels of walls is such a cool concept. We get such vivid descriptions throughout the series, and especially in this final book as all hell breaks loose in glorious fashion. Also, the tier system of government ranking and the politics that is involved in it all definitely contribute to this fully rich and realized world.

Next is the pacing. It is quite simply perfect. The lulls are brief but always well-placed to build up the anticipation of the explosive action scenes. Bennett really has a brilliant touch when it comes to knowing when to push the gas pedal to the floor and when to pump the brakes. In this concluding volume he leads us brilliantly to the precipice and then dazzles us with one hell of a finish in the final chapters.

Then there are the characters. Ana is such a wonderfully complex and also a bit rough around the edges persona. And yet it's also what makes her character so compelling. You never know what she is going to do at any given moment as her unpredictability keeps the reader on edge. Her relationship with Din is also a fascinating one as at times she berates and belittles him and yet there are moments when it seems as if they are the very best of old dear friends. Deep down you know that the latter is most likely true, yet she still incorporates plenty of tough love in their interactions.

Lastly, each one of these books is steeped in mystery even though they are fantasy books. There's always a murder to solve, there are always deceptions to be uncovered, and they are never the ones you expect. That's also the sign of an excellent writer. And make no mistake, Robert Jackson Bennett is one of the best around.

In closing, this was just another major triumph of a book and series. I can't recommend it enough for those who are looking for fantasy that doesn't follow the traditional patterns or tropes. Be sure to pick up all three books and dive in immediately. You won't be sorry!

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