"In a treaty arrangement Val's daughter Signy is married off to Conor. When Conor later arranges the death of Signy's family, and only Siggy survives, Signy starts on her path to revenge. As Conor is seeking rule over the surrounding lands, he is fighting off the halfmen, his citizens, and even the gods."
Cara Pollock, Resident Melvin Burgess Scholar
"
Tor, Nov 2001, 24.95, 370 pp.
ISBN: 0765300486
By the beginnings of the twenty-third century London is in ruins with warlord like gangs ruling over segments of the city. A wall similar to that built during the Roman period is constructed around the decimated metropolis more for keeping the riffraff inside and isolating the genetically engineered vermin known as halfmen out of the city. This leaves many decent folks trapped in a dangerous environs.
The Volsons and the Conors, two of the strongest gangs, agree to merge through the marriage of their children. However, the groom betrays his future in-laws during the ceremony killing all but two, the bride and her brother. The Halfmen feast on the bodies of the Volsons. Signy, the fourteen-year-old bride, thirsts for vengeance, but has few avenues if any to succeed as she now struggles to survive. However, Odin followed by Loki and his daughter appear. Are they the real Ancient Greek Gods or a hoax and if genuine will they aid Signy in her quest?
Based on the first part of the classic Icelandic Volsunga Saga, BLOODTIDE is an exciting futuristic epic tale that will thrill adult and young readers alike. The plot is loaded with action and turns believers of readers that the “history” and the “current events” occurred. However, the tale belongs to the key cast members who rotate first person narration enabling the audience to understand their motives. Though tagged a children's novel, fans of all ages of epic fantasy will fully enjoy Melvin Burgess' powerful story of a horrific future that makes the world feel as if it has gone full circle.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Melvin Burgess Scholar
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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book
- very upbeat
- depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- surviving a post environmental/nuclear disaster
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- rescue mission/escape from confinement
Political power play
Yes
Repressive society story
Yes
Repressive because:
- strict rationing of freedoms/goods
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Eccentric:
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- killer
- mastermind
Eccentric:
Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
Earth setting:
- medium future 22-24th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- very explicit references to deaths and torture
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
