Much Fall of Blood

Written by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer

Narrated by Richard Ferrone

Prince Manfred and his mentor and bodyguard, the deadly warrior Erik, survived dangers and enemies both natural
and supernatural, and if they thought that their new mission was going to be anything but more of the same, they soon
gave up on that hope. Returning from Jerusalem, they and their escort of knights of the Holy Trinity are escorting an
envoy of II Khan Mongol to the lands of the Golden Horde—between the Black Sea and the Carpathians, which happen
to be eastern bastion against their old enemies, the demon Chernobog and his possessed puppet, the Jangellion.

Unfortunately, what began as a diplomatic mission leads to Manfred and his knights being caught up in an inter-clan
civil war, rescuing a fugitive woman and her injured brother, and becoming involved in the problems of Prince Vlad,
Duke of Valahia, who has been held as a hostage by King Emeric of Hungary until freed by Countess Elizabeth Batholdy
to use as bait to capture a group of nonhumans. Instead, the wolflike nonhumans, who masquerade as gypsies, free Prince
Vlad, and help him to return to his homeland to raise revolt against Hungary and to renew age-old magics.

Manfred and Erik are forced into an alliance of convenience between the Golden Horde and the ancient magical
forces of Valahia, as directed by the troubled Vlad. The magic calls for blood and Vlad is deathly afraid of it—and at the
same time, is irresistibly drawn toward it …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980050391

Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music. Also known as Misty Lackey.

Reviews for Much Fall of Blood

[jeremypreacher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've been waiting for this for a while, and I'm relatively pleased with it. Moving the venue from fantasy-history Italy to eastern Europe and central Asia was a nice change, even if I never quite bought into the Mongol culture - it was sort of danced around without ever really being brought to life. The treatment of Vlad Dracul was pretty appealing, though - I'd almost rather read a second book about him than go on with our usual band of heroes.

This was a briefer book than either of the previous ones, and it's stronger for it. We also get some actual closure in the defeat of a couple of villains - although not the big one - from previous books. (The failure of bad guys to ever actually die was beginning to annoy me.) Sadly, I do have to go tally another "the only gay sex is coercive and had by the villain" mark on the scoreboard for this one.

I'll keep reading these as they come out - hopefully the length and complexity of this one is a sign of things to come.

[jvstin_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Back in 2001, Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer teamed up to create a new fantasy alternate history, The Shadow of the Lion. In this Heirs of Alexandria series, the Library of Alexandria never was burned, Christianity split along "Pauline" and "Petrine" lines. Oh, and magic works, and there are entities far older than man...and inimical to humans.The first book had the Slavic demon god Chernobog as its main antagonist,threatening the city state of Venice.A sequel, a few years later, This Rough Magic, introduced a new antagonist, Countess Elizabeth Batholdy, better known in our universe as Countess Bathory, who bathed in the blood of young women in an attempt to stay young. In the Heirs Universe, with magic powers at her command, she is even more villainous and dangerous, most especially because she so carefully hides her villainy and plots within plots, and most dangerous magical connections.I had thought the series dead, but much to my delight, the third novel in the series, Much Fall of Blood, continues the adventures of Prince Manfred of the Holy Roman Empire, Erik of Iceland and new allies and companions. This time, Manfred and Erik need to escort some diplomats across dangerous Balkan territory...Batholdy is back and as treacherous as ever, Chernobog remains working behind the scenes, the Byzantines are feckless, King Emeric of Hungary is ambitious, and the complicated politics of this universe adds the Mongols and their successor states into the mix. And did I mention a certain "Drac" from Transylvania who turns up?It's a delightful stew, in a most interesting and alternate early 16th century. There is always something interesting happening to the cast of characters, and there is character growth and development to suit fans of the series. We get resolution on plotlines going back to the last two novels in a satisfying manner, and there is plenty of room for sequels set in this universe.(There is one giant dangling plot line which is explicitly not resolved that suggests at least one more novel in the offing)As always, though, you shouldn't start here. You should start with The Shadow of the Lion, and find for yourself why this is a rich fantasy alternate history that I am very glad that the three authors have decided to return their talents to exploring.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slow start until you get the characters sorted out, then an excellent continuation of the Heirs of Alexandria series.

[readinggeek451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another alternate-history historical fantasy set in the 1500s. The action soon moves from the Mediterranean, especially Corfu, to Hungary and the plains to the east. Mongols, holy knights, werewolves, not-quite-vampires of various ilk, and other magical and demonic creatures intermingle, as the forces of Light square off against the forces of Darkness, a captive prince fights to reclaim his land, and an ambitious upstart makes a grab for power.Although several immediate storylines wrap up satisfactorily, the larger plot is left hanging. Not just room, but a crying need, for a sequel.