Review: Halfblood

Hello! I know I have not posted in a while. I took an impromptu break because of all the busyness going on. There was work, a family reunion, prep for college, and trying to spend as much time as I could with friends and family before one of us left. In any case, I should be back to posting regularly. First off, is my review of Halfblood.

Description

Half Blood

Jaye L. Knight

The gasps and murmuring grew. Though some were hardly more than whispers, clear words reached Jace’s ears—dangerous, monster, animal, soulless. He tried to back away from their accusing eyes, but the collar pulled hard against his throat and held him in place. 

For all his years as a slave, Jace has known nothing but the hatred people hold for his mixed blood—one half human, the other half the blood of a race considered monsters. Always, he is the outsider and quickly learns it is better to keep to himself. But, when his volatile ryrik blood leads him to do the unthinkable, he is thrown into a world of violence and bloodshed.

Forced to become a gladiator, Jace finds more and more of his heart dying as his master works to break down his will not to become the monster everyone believes he is. When a stranger interferes with his master’s harsh punishment, Jace’s world is upended yet again. But with it comes the possibility of hope that has long since died. Could the man possibly hold the key to escaping the hopeless darkness that is Jace’s life? Is there such a thing as life beyond the cruelty of slavery? 

See where Jace’s story all began . . . 

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Review

Halfblood by Jaye L Knight is the story of Jace. Because he was born half ryrick and half human, Jace’s life is filled with abuse. People think he is a soulless monster because of his ryrick heritage and treat him accordingly. Only the hope and grace of God can convince him otherwise.

Halfblood was wonderful. After reading Resistance and The King’s Scrolls, both of which feature Jace as a main character, I found Halfblood enlightening. It opened my eyes a little more as to Jace’s history—his time as a slave, as a gladiator, and a free man.

Jace had morals. I am not sure where he learned them from, but he kept them as much as he could as a slave, even going as far as to disobey his masters. I admire him for that. Others, even in the book, gave in more quickly than he did. They were not under as much pressure to be evil, either.

Jace had a horrible childhood, filled with much abuse. I am very glad I am not him and feel sorry for those who have to suffer as much as he did. But the suffering made it all the sweeter when Jace was finally freed and convinced of God’s grace. It reminds me of some of the true stories I have heard about those freed from human trafficking.

I recommend this novella especially to those who have read or are planning to read the Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L Knight. It provides great insight into Jace’s life in order to help them understand him better. I do not know what a person who has not read the other two books in the series would think of this novella, but I hope it would convince them to read the other books in the series, which I found entirely fantastic.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.