Protector Jerhke has kept Shasessrre peaceful for hundreds of years. After his brutal murder, his son Rider tries to discover his father's murderer. Rider is helped in his search by his companions, as they battle against the agents of the mysterious Kralj Odehnal. But the murderous dwarf turns out to be an introduction to greater terror, as they match wits with Shai Khe, the powerful sorcerer who wants to rule Shaesserre.
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This novella will undoubtedly never procure a sequel, something which this short action-packed fantasy adventure cries out for when the final paragraph has been digested. The ideas here in the book feel half-baked at best and practically scream to be explored in further context. Cook's prose is snappy and thrilling and while his usual care for detailed, fleshed-out characters is put by the wayside, the team of quirky protagonists on display here are fun none-the-less and a couple can certainly be rendered as particularly memorable (Rider, Su-Cha, Shai-Khe). The most noteworthy comment regarding “Sung in Blood” would be to mentioned its obvious tribute to the Doc Savage and Fu Manchu series, both in tone and color. The action hardly lets up yet, like any thrill-a-second roller coaster, yet the book's charm really only lasts while you're in the midst of it. There's little left to ponder or explore once you're done spinning, tossing and tumbling through the ride. Certainly the most unimpressive work the masterful Glen Cook has written but I can still recommend it to fans of the author as an enjoyable, short-lived thrill ride– nothing more.
