Review: Intense and amazing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 17, 2013
Okay, yes, we FINALLY get to see inside Sicarius's head and what he thinks of Amaranthe.  Go ahead, #Squeeeee!!!All better?  Good.What we also get are two AMAZING adventures.  Amaranthe & Co (which has grown to 8) are back in Stumps, determined to keep Forge from forcibly taking over the city, and eventually extending their reach to the world.  They knew that the false reports of Sespian's death would have multiple candidates vying for the throne, but they didn't count on international interference.  Someone has Nuria's support, and with it a few practitioners - one of whom has another soul construct.Sicarius is forced to choose who to protect, and while Amaranthe seeks to sabotage Forge from within, he stays to guard his son.  The two are forced to work together, at first to Sespian's chagrin, but it was nice (and often hilarious) to see them do a little...bonding.  Sicarius's take on daily life, as well as missions, is priceless.  There are also brief glimpses into his memories from past books, his thoughts about certain fan-favorite scenes, and action.  So. Much. Action.  Could we expect anything less?  No way!!!Amaranthe is going through her own PTSD from her time with Pike, and it makes her experiences infiltrating Forge that much more intense.  Her concerns, her love, her absolute determination to face anything that comes in order to make the world a better place.  Her idealism is jaded, her adventures more mis- than adventure, but Amaranthe is NOT going down without a fight.  I confess, she had some brutally honest reactions that shocked me.The ending is.... not the end.  Just keep reminding yourself of that.  Part 2 will be out this Summer.Forged in Blood Part 1 is intense beyond anything we've been given before, and with the way the drama is building it's obvious that we are getting ready for one hell of a finale!