Review: The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Arian, First Oralist and Companion of Hira, has been tasked with an immense responsibility. In a land on the brink of war, with the very existence of the written word being threatened by the warring Talisman, Arian and her fellow Companion Sinnia are tasked with retrieving the Bloodprint; the last vestige of The Claim.

Risking a journey fraught with danger, death and deception, Arian must retrieve the Bloodprint and return it to the Citadel of Hira, to the High Commander, before it falls to the hands of the Talisman. Thus tasked, and fueled by the loss of her sister to Talisman marauders years ago, Arian seeks to return successful, whatever the personal cost.

The Bloodprint is an epic adventure akin to The Lord of the Rings. It is filled with numerous details and intricacies which slow down the action, but are of vital importance to understanding the vast world created by Khan. While it crossed my mind many times that this book could have in fact been broken up into two shorter novels, as the pages remaining to be read decreased, the activity increased, holding me spellbound. It was with despair that I reached the conclusion, “HERE ENDS BOOK ONE OF THE KHORASAN ARCHIVES.” I feel cheated by that single line. I followed Arian through death, loss, discovery and magic only to be forced to have to wait who knows how long to learn of her fate. You are a cruel author, Ausma Zehanat Khan.

The Bloodprint is much more than an easy read – it requires time and dedication. It is a feast to be savoured, and requires the patience to do so. However, the prose is beautiful, the characters arresting, and the world contained within the book’s covers is rich and full of marvelous adventure.

The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of Hachette Books, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.