Sasha- A Trial of Blood and Steel Book One Review

Sasha (A Trial of Blood and Steel Book One) is the first book in a fantasy series by Joel Shepherd. The book was published in October 2009 by Pyr books. I learned about this book from Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist when Pat posted that the book was currently available for free in a Kindle version. Prior to reading Sasha, I had already read one of the Cassandra Kresnov books by Joel Shepherd, Crossover.

Like his Cassandra Kresnov books, there is plenty of action in Sasha and a female lead character with superior martial skills. Sasha, one of several children of the current King has been trained as a warrior, something unheard of in her lands, and must prove herself to most she meets. Additionally, you are presented with a society where there are two main peoples struggling through religious differences while maintaining a somewhat peaceful existence. The religious differences of the characters are the main source of the conflict in the book and drive many of their actions. To make things even worse for the titular character of the book, Sasha, her home of Lenayin is a typical male run feudal society where women are expected to stay out of the decision-making and business of men. 

As is often the case with the start of a new fantasy series, Sasha starts a little slowly. It took me almost the whole first chapter to really start to become interested in what was going on and begin to see this as a story I might read all the way through. It is possible that this was partially due to reading the book on an iPod Touch using the Kindle app, where it requires more effort to flip to maps and previous information. However, once the story moved past the obligatory introduction of several main characters, you begin to be drawn in by the complex society and interpersonal conflicts between the characters. It should be noted that when you open the Kindle version of the book, it will go to the first page, but there are maps and a list of key characters prior to the start of the book that you should bookmark and use as reference.

All in all, this was a good read, especially if you opt for the free Kindle version. The banter between characters rarely feels forced or an info dump and the action is well written and crisp. After finishing the book, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are three other books in print in the Trial of Blood and Steel series. I will probably be picking up the next, Petrodor, once I finish with A Dance of Dragons. I give this one 3 Mick Happies.