BOOK REVIEW: The Blood Dimmed Tide by Stephen Aryan

A huge thank you to @angryrobotbooks for providing me with a E-ARC through @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the sequel to Stephen’s incredible first book ‘The Judas Blossom’ which was praised to the high heavens by the lads over at @the_brothers_gwynne.

The Nightingale and the Falcon series is an imaginative and ambitious epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia in which we follow four characters through the heart of war.

Stephen has somehow managed to perfectly balance the fantasy element wonderfully with the historical element in that one doesn’t overpower the other. His research is so impressive and captivating that I’ve began researching into this historical event myself.

Battle scenes are hit and a miss for me but, much like book one, I found myself gripped and practically begging for more, those descriptions were just *chefs kiss*.

There are quite a few POV characters and with each chapter the perspective tends to be different which can seem rather off putting to some people but it was handled with grace. Each POV serves a purpose and I truly admire the ability to make me want to revisit every character.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

A historical fiction about cardinals and caliphs who were ruling .
I am a big fan of historical fiction but it was a good one.

Stephen Aryan’s writing, to me, is something like a bag of chips. It’s straightforward, tasty without being spicy or over complicated, and it’s really easy to just keep going, but the weight of it doesn’t really sit in your stomach until the bag is finished.

The fantasy elements in this sequel are stronger, as Temujin learns more about his mysterious fellow Kozan and the powers and influence that wield. Kokochin is similarly on a dangerous quest, destabilising the Ilkhanate on behalf of the House of Grace, whilst Kaivon is playing a perilous and treacherous game at the heart of military power.

This is a really solid historical fantasy - well paced, and probably focused more on action and drama than in depth character study, but the individuals also come across really clearly. A very enjoyable read.

The second installment of The nightingale and the falcon trilogy was even better than the firstbook, and i am impressed.

On the first book we follow the Mongol expansion wars led by Hulagu Khan, and how his hunger for power leads to such destruction that calls the attention of powerful magic entities, the Kozan.
Now , in book 2, Hulagu armies are struggling, and his ruthlessness is becoming a liability among allies. His opponents are getting stronger, and the Kozan, an ancient force of magic, are meddling on both sides of history. Hulagu son, Temujin, is now a Kozan, but is he going to help further his father ambitions or curb them? Are the rebels ready to help the lesser evil of the two, when the time comes?

I gotta say I like this book even more than the fisrt one. In this new installment, we can see the stakes are getting higher at each turn, and some of the caracters are just showing their true colors. I enjoyed seeing some of the old protagonists back on track, and how some secondary ones suddenly shifted sides, leaving all much more interesting. The political intrigue and the war preparation, which was a plus for me on the first book, are still here, and going strong. The fantasy elements are still minimal, but well placed, and i got used to it after the first book.
The final scene was unexpected but set the tone for what comes next on the final book, and i am looking forward to it !

I was very much anticipating this book after having read the first one, so I was incredibly excited to get to it, and am so pleased it was just as good as the first!

What impresses me first and foremost about this series, is the amount of research and dedication Stephen Aryan puts into his work. The amount of detail we’re given in regards to the culture, the history, this time period is astounding and so rich.
Again, we had many perspectives but I didn’t find myself favoring one over any others and was equally invested in all, which is hard to achieve I feel.
The new characters really added to the complexity of the situation, especially politically. There’s so much tension and risk throughout, it was incredibly gripping.
There’s also a massive surprise at the end that I think was really shocking and enjoyable.

The Blood Dimmed Tide was just as much of a masterpiece as The Judas Blossom and I can’t wait to see where the third book goes!

Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, and the author for this ARC.

You need to read the first book first. You will be lost otherwise.

Focusing on the conflict between Mongolia and Persia, for world domination purposes. Unfortunately there are many insider threats making success difficult and encouraging civil war. Hard to win when your fighting internally. A house decided will fall.

Loved the historic accuracy. You can follow events with historical timelines. Gives a personal perspective to the whole thing.

If you loved book one, you'll enjoy book two! We are well into the middle of war now, with more battles and fighting! (note some of the battle scenes are quite brutal if that is something you generally avoid).
You can see the levels of research that have gone into this, and the historical element blends in well and feels really detailed. it mixes very well with the fantasy/magic element and is seamless.
I enjoy the multiple POVS in this, and they are well utilised as they are in book one, and really add to the story and cut away at the right time to build a complex picture that leaves you drawn in and needing to know what happens next.
The pacing is excellent as its just enough to keep you reading, and manages to balance out the heaviness of the story, while still going slow enough to give lots of detail.
Definitely recommend this series

Thank you to @netgalley and @stephenaryan_writer for the ARC of this book. This is the second book in The Nightgale and the Falcon series. I read The Judas Blossom first and was so excited to get to read this one. I really enjoyed this book. The storylines were expanded and they got more in depth which made for a really awesome read. I loved the characters and I am impatiently waiting for the third book to come out! Can’t wait to finish this series. The ending had me on the edge of my seat!

Wow. I’m not sure where to start with this, but I will say I was not prepared for that ending! It left me in shock, jaw hanging open.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this through NetGalley (thank you!). I loved the continuation of the multiple POV from the first book into this one, we met a few new characters that I really enjoyed, and I was very surprised by the actions of some of the existing characters. There was a twist that I had kind of figured out was coming, but I wasn’t disappointed by it. Overall, I enjoyed this more than the first, now that the world had been set up and characters established it was nice to be able to go along for the ride and watch each character’s growth or downfall. I’m wildly curios where we’ll be led with the final book.
I still have a hard time with a lot of the descriptors of the battles, but that’s because I’m squeamish, so if you’re like me then you’ll want to skim those parts.

Well that escalated. Considering the Mongolian force marching west in the first book, but this is the escalation is saying something. Stephen Aryan stepped things up with "The Blood Dimmed Tide."

There are a few moving parts in this one. Hulagu is dealing with a civil war perpetuated by Kaivon and the infighting with the descendants of Genghis. Kokochin is being forced to find The House of Grace otherwise the person she cares about most in the world will suffer. Temujin is learning about what it means to be a Kozan as they work to raise a new power in the east. And the different leaders of the House of Grace are making bolder moves to keep Persia alive. History and Fantasy collided and the rivers will run red.

Reasons to read:
-Integration of historical figures that really haven't gotten a ton of play
-A further escalation of conflict, had a bit of whiplash coming into this one after a reset book
-Consequences for ruthless actions
-Some explanation of what the Kozan are
-That ending was insane

Cons:
-Maybe don't eat during the battle parts...

This book was everything I wanted and more! Engaging characters immersive world and a beautiful magic system!

First off I loved where the author is taking this story. To have me guessing on intentions on something that happened in a certain characters POV (and I was right!) to seeing another character delve down into madness. But what I loved the most if the female POVs. How one character is striving to do go at no matter the cost, unwilling to see that she is becoming the villain. I love that so much.

But I have to mention the camels. The CAMELS MAN. Apparently it actually happened which makes it all the more sad. (If you know you know)

The ending really brought this story together. I would have liked an extra scene from a character POV to understand the motivations about the choices said character made in the ending of the book but I am here for it!


This sequel really stepped up the story. I loved how dark it got and the journey of each of the characters. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

Amazing. I love how the stories developed for each character and as I named Judas Blossom a favorite read of this year, I think I'll be adding this lovely addition and calling it a favorite series read of 2024. Full reviews on goodreads and my IG page linked in my profile.
Character building ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story telling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for this ARC!

The recap for this book was super helpful! The world is so rich and full of so much adventure. I had a great time reading it and felt the story was very vivid.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for allowing me to read a copy of The Blood Dimmed Tide in exchange for an honest review. This review will be as spoiler free as I can make it for a sequel book.

Book 2 of The Nightingale and the Falcon from Stephen Aryan picks up nicely from the end of book 1, The Judas Blossom. I loved the fact that there was a "Story So Far" at the beginning. More authors should do this!

The book itself was a brilliant mix of our real history, fiction, and fantasy. The fantasy elements were more present in this book than in Judas Blossom. All of the same character and group POVs are still present. I still found each POV to be interesting. While none of them were slow or uninteresting, I did find that I had a few favorites this time around. Stephen Aryan continued to develop these characters. I especially enjoyed Kokochin and Temujin's POVS. I felt like these two characters had an exception amount of change from where they were in book Judas Blossom. The story is fast paced with lots of action mixed in with progression and conflict. The last third or so of this book is incredible; I read it in a single sitting.

I will also say that a historical fiction (or fantasy) that makes me want to learn more about the events and time period of the book is a big win. I have been reading more from articles and watching documentary videos about the Mongolian Empire to see how The Nightingale and the Falcon measure up to history. And this is where Stephen Aryan has particularly done an excellent job. He brought history to life in this book. Especially the darker parts of history.

I highly recommend giving this book a read. I am eagerly looking forward to book three in this trilogy!

I need Goodreads to add more stars to their rating system because this book deserves more than 5. I expected this one to be just as good as the first book in the series, but Stephen Aryan far exceeded those expectations. The crazy thing is that so much happened, yes, but also a lot of setup for a Michael Bay-esque climax in the next installment of the series. I have no idea what's going to happen, I just know it's going to be amazing.

“𝙉𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.”


⌛The book - 2nd in The Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy - is a historical fantasy, based on the Mongol Empire's invasion of Persia in 1261 and follows the lives and treacherous journeys of four key figures as a new threat rises within the empire.

In the aftermath of the Mongol Civil War, Hulagu Khan possessed a powerful ally with whom he was ready to strike back at the Golden Horde, weakening the Mongol Empire even further.

His youngest son Temujin, vowed to destroy his father, knowing that his magical power couldn't fall into his hands, join others like him to learn more about what he has become.

Kokochin, Hulagu's wife, now the newest member of a secret society that protects Persia must find a way to escape the clutches of the Empress, who wants to use her to kill Temujin.

Persian General Kaivon had to navigate discreetly within the Mongol army to successfully lead the resistance against the Mongol empire while escaping wrongful prosecutions in his camp.

⌛The book was just as incredible and fascinating as the last one. It starts with a recap of the previous one. Many new players and challenges were introduced to an already complex political situation, which hooked my curiosity from the start. Between the switching multiple POVs, the story unfolds, tension rises, the stakes are amped up and risks get multiplied throughout the book that keep me turning on the pages.

⌛Stephen meticulously blended historical events and magical elements to create this sprawling historical fantasy that spread over 3 continents. I was completely blown away seeing the amount of research he had done to craft this gripping story... it was awe-astounding! such as the references to Jesus's birth and the Wise men to explain Kozan's background story and their role in shaping world history was brilliant.

⌛There are a lot of characters and all the them are well fleshed out. The characters from book 1 continue to develop, sometimes in such an unpredictable and unexpected way that you can't imagine; while the introduction of new character POVs brings a wonderful and fresh perspective to the story, imparting a broader understanding of the workings of this fantasy world. The characters' list given at the end was quite helpful.

⌛The climax was satisfactory. I hate to give any spoilers but there is a surprise for the reader at the end of the book that I hadn't seen coming and it will completely change everything, raising my curiosity to see how this is going to finish.

Overall The Blood Dimmed Tide was a masterpiece that kept me at the edge of the seat till the last. It doesn't suffer from the middle book syndrome. If you like history, fantasy, and character-driven stories then it was a must-read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

𝙈𝙮 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5/5)

Another home run for Aryan! I absolutely loved Judas Blossom, and even re-read it in anticipation for this sequel. Yet again, Aryan's research is second to none, and he does an outstanding job with the historical aspects of the story. Such a great addition to the series and I can't wait for more. Highly recommend for historical fiction readers, especially those that critique harshly- because Aryan delivers.

A very intriguing sequel to the series' opener, The Blood-Dimmed Tide raises the stakes in this multi-layered story of bloody conquest and planned resistance, building on the characters' personalities and taking them on new and sometimes dangerous paths. I very much look forward to the conclusion of the series, knowing that it will hold as many surprising twists as the two previous books have. Highly recommended.

First off I was so thankful to the author for having a recap for this sequel, this helped immensely. After that we dive back in deeper into the mist of war. The story continues to be epic, it has everything, character development, battle scenes (that may cause some distress) full of blood and brutality. Again this is mixed in well with historical elements, magic and world-building to create a truly gripping read. The author has clearly well researched everything and the multiple point of views add complexity to the narrative. The story though heavy flows so well and sucks you in. An immersive and engaging historical fantasy. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

First, thank you to Ryan for writing a stunning novel in The Judas Blossom (Book #1) which I was just finishing when the opportunity for this eARC came up.

The Blood Dimmed Tide flows seamlessly from The Judas Blossom and this sequel swept me away again! We are treated to a recap of the Judas Blossom at the start of this book, which catches us up and ensures that the story is fresh in the readers mind. Excellent!
The readers are given deeper character development, more battles! and just an epic adventure that hits every note for me. I enjoyed the different POV's of the chapters which kept me turning pages to get to each chapter. While I wasn't thrilled with every decision made about what happens to the characters, it's still a beautiful novel.
The history is the highlight here, Ryan has done an amazing deep dive and it shows. I've learned so much about a time period I knew nothing about. I love that.

I will definitely pick up the next book in the series.