The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond

Book Review

Sarah Deeming

High Mage Saralene is struggling with nightmares in which her predecessor, whose body she has taken and made her own, steals his body back, and she is dead once more. Realising these dreams are coming true, Saralene and her champion, Sir Maddileh, search for answers, but when their research comes up with nothing helpful, they are forced to travel to the Underworld and ask its rules, the Bloodless Princes, for help. But nothing in the Underworld is as it seems, and the pair might need more than magic and wits to escape.

The Bloodless Princes carries on a few years after the events of The Firebourne Blade, the first in the series. Saralene has taken High Mage Hosh’s place, and Maddileh is her champion. The story is told from their respective points of view as they both struggle with night terrors, which they realise are connected. Through these POVs, the reader can see how their relationship has developed and the burgeoning romance if only they plucked up the courage to tell the other. It’s very cute.

As with The Firebourne Blade, The Bloodless Princes narrative is interspersed with the history and lore of the world Bond has created, specifically the relationship between humans and dragons, which hasn’t always been so bloodthirsty, and the realm of the Underworld. I love these sections as they add a new dimension to the story, as the main characters discover which are real and which are made-up stories and the kernels of truth that run through them all. They play an integral part in the plot development and create the twists and turns of the book where the reader’s expectations are turned on their heads.

The Underworld itself is an amazing location, and the princes are fascinating characters. Legend has it that the Allmother and Allfather wanted a ruler for the Underworld to manage the evergrowing number of residents. Without going into detail so I don’t ruin the story or you, twin princes are given the position, Prahvan is just and righteous and rules the day, and C’Sava is more ruthless in achieving his goals, and he governs the night. There is some amazing imagery of the Underworld and its residents, vivid and gruesome, as you might expect an underworld to be, but also full of surprises. The Bloodless Princes is worth a reread just for the section in the Underworld.

The Bloodless Princes is a strong story about the bonds of love and respect with amazing locations, detailed lore, and powerful characters, all within 150 pages. The writing is tight, as it needs to be in a novella. Every story told, every conversation held, and every character introduced serves a purpose and paves the way for the plot. The ending is poignant and full of hope. I devoured the whole thing in one go and loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.