Wain has become closer to Aeglyss the na’kyrim, who has become even more unstable as he dips into his newfound power. Even in his weakened state, Aegylss has gathered a large group of devoted followers. Kanin is bewildered as his beloved sister slips through his fingers and he can’t seem to hold on to her. Anyara, Orisian’s sister is an “honored guest” for the Bloodheir Aewult, who is next in line to become Thane of Thanes. These petty actions within the True Blood show that the battle is not only between the True Blood and Black Road, but greatly internal as well. Orisian desperately searches for a chink in Aeglyss’ armor, discovering information about his foster mother K’rina. Meanwhile, Aeglyss has sent out his Kyrinin followers to retrieve her, and it becomes a race over who can get to K’rina first.

Ruckley continues to build on excellent, believable characters. Anyara’s fretting over Orisian’s safety and Kanin’s pain as he alternately lashes out and pleads with Wain to abandon Aeglyss is exactly what any brother or sister would do. I would have liked to see Ess’yr and Orisian’s relationship develop (if it’s even meant to), but we see very little of Ess’yr and Varryn in Bloodheir. Ruckley also liberally paints battle scenes (of which there are many) with blood and gore, ruthlessly killing off characters left and right.

We also watch Aegylss coming into his power and the toll it takes on him. However, his meddling in the Shared is stirring an old race, the Anain, to reawaken. The Anain, as we learn, are one of the most powerful races but have been dormant for many years. The last time they rose was to put right a disturbance in the Shared, leaving a forest over what had once been a plain. Yet, for some reason, they don’t seem to be doing too well harnessing Aegylss’ powers.

Ruckley also employs great character contrast in the “godless world”. Torquentine, an informant to the Shadowhand Mordyn Jerain, lives a morbidly obese life in a luxurious abode, complete with all the trappings of wealth. His comparison to a gluttonous spider in the center of its web is remarkably apt as Torquentine consumes lemon tarts and preserved pears, given as gifts competing for his flavor. Er, favor. His daily life is completely different from the men fighting for their Thanes, land, and families out in the snowy battlefields, yet he serves his purposes in other, perhaps more subtle, ways.

The book comes to an amazing cliffhanger ending that made me gasp out loud. Granted, I had an idea it was coming, but it was so well written that I was still taken by surprise.

Ruckley has done an excellent job with Bloodheir and it definitely didn’t disappoint compared to Winterbirth‘s acclaimed debut. The Fall of Thanes, coming in early summer of 2009, is sure to be a great finale to the tale of the godless world. I suppose all my burning questions will have to wait until then.