Bloodsong - Softcover

Melvin Burgess has produced a body of work that is both
challenging and thrilling, including the seminal teen drug and love
novels Smack and Doing It. His books have been adapted
for film, stage, and television.

*Starred Review* Told from a number of different viewpoints, this stand-alone sequel to Burgess' unforgettable Bloodtide (2001) pushes the boundaries of YA literature with its masterful melding of sf and violent Viking myth. Based on a thirteenth-century Icelandic epic, the story focuses on 15-year-old Sigurd, son of Bloodtide's Sigmund. In a futuristic war-torn England where organic machines with both flesh and circuitry live alongside human-animal hybrids, it's Sigurd's destiny to reclaim his royal lineage and unite the country. To this end, he accomplishes a series of impossible tasks, including slaying the genetically enhanced "dragon" Fafnir, rising from the dead three times, and ending war between the Niberlin and Portland families. But when Sigurd aligns himself with the Niberlin family, his fortunes turn, and his godlike capabilities are crushed beneath the iron wills of three very different women, each of whom wants to possess him. Burgess pulls no punches in his dark dystopian vision; classic themes of heroism, love, and betrayal are illustrated with violent imagery that is as shocking as it is utterly captivating. But readers who can manage the body count will discover that Burgess has breathed new life into an ancient tale, making it relevant and accessible to teens coming of age in a post-9/11 world. Although the first book was originally published for adults, this one is being marketed as YA. Hubert, Jennifer