In Blood Song an Imperial scribe travels with the most reviled enemy of his people on his journey to meet his fate. To the Empire he is the enemy soldier called Hopekiller, but Vaelin Al Sorna is far from the hateful enemy the scribe expects. Although he finds some elements of Vaelin's life to fantastic to be believed, the scribe is still absorbed in the tale. At age ten Vaelin was given to the Sixth Order, the brutal warrior arm of the Church, by his father without any explanation. Under the harsh conditions of the Order the boys of his year are first rivals, then friends, and eventually Brothers in more than just name. Some of them have secrets, and by the time they are full Brothers leading missions against the Dark Vaelin begins to suspect that one of them may have gone over to the Dark themselves.

What starts as a harsh coming of age story in a medieval world touched by both the wondrous and terrible naturally progresses into even grittier experiences as Vaelin rises as one of the Order's best commanders. Somehow Vaelin manages to hold to his Oath as a Brother of the Sixth despite seeing how they are often his faith is tested. First he discovers that those who deny the Church are not actually followers of the Dark as the King says, in fact they aid Vaelin more than once in his life. Then as a young man he falls in love with a Sister of the Second Order, the healers. But discovering that the King himself is working with the Dark is second only to the betrayal of one of his own Brothers who has not only attempted to kill Vaelin more than once but has apparently succeeded in killing others and weakening the Order from within. In the end Vaelin must risk capture by the Empire to expose and confront the traitor.

Blood Song was Anthony Ryan's first published book, and is the start of the Raven's Shadow trilogy although I don't think the other two books are as great as Blood Song. His degree in medieval history clearly shows in the detail of the world. The magical elements include some nature magics, the evil abominations of the Dark, and of course the Blood Song of the weapons wielded by the Brothers. Vaelin is a believable multi-layered character that is somehow the rejected son, monastic brother of faith, man in love, hardened soldier, and hero all at the same time as his loyalties are pulled in different directions. One of my favorite entries in the Grim Dark genre.

Blood Song (2013) is available in every format. Steven Brand earned 4.5 stars on Audible for his narration although I see some dislike his style because he doesn't individualize the voices of different characters. 90% of the book is from Vaelin's POV so it might have made more sense to do it that way. (The only other POV is from the scribe at the beginning of each section)