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ML Spencer
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Chains of Blood (The Chaos Cycle Book 1) Kindle Edition

by ML Spencer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 442 ratings

2020 Readers' Favorite Silver Award


Rylan Marshall is the son of the most despised Battlemage to ever walk the earth. Gil Archer is the son of a dead hero whose legend still haunts him from the grave. In any other war, they would be bitter enemies.

But this is not a war about enemies and allies.

It is a war for the human spirit.

When their homeland is invaded by a society that roams the world preying on others, Rylan and Gil must put aside the ghosts of their past in order to fight them. For their enemy uses chained mages as weapons, and capture means assimilation.

As the trilogy unfolds, the stakes get higher and the enemies more diverse and powerful. The series spans thousands of years, visits civilizations both thriving and fallen, and hurls two different worlds into a collision course. It is a bold chronicle of gods and man, demons and pawns, magic and warfare, and the very nature of humanity.

If you enjoy the dark, sprawling world of Steven Erikson, the awe-inspiring magic of The Wheel of Time, and the compelling antiheroes of C.S. Friedman, then you’ll love The Chaos Cycle.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Chaos Cycle
  2. Print length
    480 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 31, 2019
  5. File size
    5.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A marvelous expansion of Spencer's existing world and one that offers both a continuing pleasure for existing readers and a great starting point for new ones." -BookNest

"Dark plot, great characters...the pace of the book is just relentless." -Bookworm Blues

"Full of pervasive moral ambiguity, deconstruction of high fantasy, and a willingness to show the heroes going to extreme lengths for advantage." -Grimdark Magazine

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZV691JV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stoneguard Publications (October 31, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 31, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 442 ratings

About the author

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ML Spencer

ML Spencer

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ML Spencer lives in Southern California with her three children and two cats. She has been obsessed with fantasy ever since the days of childhood bedtime stories. She grew up reading and writing fantasy fiction, playing MMORPG games, and living, as mom put it, “in her own worlds.” ML now spends each day working to bring those worlds into reality.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
442 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot thickens from cradle to grave and appreciate its riveting characters. Moreover, the writing quality is well-received, with one customer noting it can be read as a standalone. Additionally, the book is heartwarming, with one review mentioning it kept their mind racing throughout.

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17 customers mention "Story twists"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story twists in this book, which features plenty of adventure and thickens from cradle to grave, with one customer describing it as an enthralling fantasy from start to finish.

"...The magic is more powerful and the history goes deeper, all with Spencer's signature heart-wrenching heroics." Read more

"...I loved this one, too. It’s among the best I have read. Lots of adventure, twists, great characters, well built worlds and executed to perfection...." Read more

"...There are plenty of twists. If everything would be made perfect in your life, would you willingly surrender your free will and sense of self?..." Read more

"...Quite a few deaths but this is a book about magical war...." Read more

12 customers mention "Character development"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the riveting and flawed characters, with one customer highlighting the well-built worlds.

"...spoil that series, but there is a welcoming blend of new and familiar characters to root the reader in Spencer's world and facilitate its expanding..." Read more

"...Lots of adventure, twists, great characters, well built worlds and executed to perfection. I look forward to reading more of his books...." Read more

"...Entertaining and flawed characters that make believable mistakes and have understandable character flaws...." Read more

"OMG! Utterly amazing!! Its gripping action and characters draw you in and take you down a dark path of magic, betrayal, and mayhem, through bloody..." Read more

11 customers mention "Readability"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an awesome read, with one mentioning it pulled them in from the beginning.

"...I love fantasy stories. I loved this one, too. It’s among the best I have read...." Read more

"...Quite a few deaths but this is a book about magical war. Entertaining and flawed characters that make believable mistakes and have understandable..." Read more

"OMG! Utterly amazing!!..." Read more

"Good book, it would be nice if the good guys had some success before being handed victory by the attackers, other than that I liked the characters..." Read more

3 customers mention "Heartwarming"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one customer describing it as heart rending and another noting how it kept their mind racing throughout.

"...It was so amazingly intense, I don't know how I haven't read Spencer's books until now!!..." Read more

"...you on a journey that will be both heart rending and feeling great in moments of each other! Just like the previous series...." Read more

"Kept my mind racing throughout. Great book." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting it can be read as a standalone.

"...Her works are original and well thought out." Read more

"The story is a sequel to rhenwars saga but can be read as a standalone...." Read more

"Well written..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rebekah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Skillfully crafted dark fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A strong tale and a great start to this new series from M.L. Spencer. I think my enjoyment was enhanced by having read the author's previous series, but it's not entirely necessary if you haven't read that and want to start here. In this new series, The Chaos Cycle, we move forward in time to follow a generation after The Rhenwars Saga. I don't want to mention anything that would spoil that series, but there is a welcoming blend of new and familiar characters to root the reader in Spencer's world and facilitate its expanding horizons.

    A new war is coming, and those who clashed against each other in the Rhen find themselves becoming allies now. The invading army has inexplicable powers and seemingly unlimited resources. Grown children of sworn enemies must learn to work together and defend their homeland or succumb to this new threat.

    Rylan Marshall has an intense inner struggle. When he finds out his real father is someone he always perceived as a horrible traitor, his desire to know who he is and where he came from is at odds with his sense of honor and his understanding of good and evil. While condemning his father for choices he made, Rylan himself is forced into tough choices he's unsure how to justify.

    The invading army has a hive mind, and it gives them the ability to compound magical potential among their mages. This makes them horrifically powerful, and hungry to take in more mages. Mages are kidnapped, then mysteriously flipped to battle against their former allies. It's the greatest tool the enemies have and our protagonists struggle through the whole book in search of how to combat this capability. All magic wielders are targeted, which is a terrible threat to the growing order of the Lyceum.

    The author expands the world and increases the stakes. Everything is bigger here, the lands, the cities, the size of the armies. The magic is more powerful and the history goes deeper, all with Spencer's signature heart-wrenching heroics.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Veni
    4.0 out of 5 stars A roller coaster
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was one of the most difficult books to rate for me and considering it’s size it took me relatively a lot longer than usual to finish. Various times i paused and let it sit for quite some days before continuing.
    It wasn’t the worst book that i read and it wasn’t the most satisfying but it was one with the most unpredictable. Until the end you couldn’t predict how the plot would evolve and i don’t mean Game of Thrones unpredictability (translating in the death of most protagonist characters).
    There are still various things to be explained, which probably will happen in the next installments without letting the story seem unfinished.
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  • Cathy A. Thibeault
    5.0 out of 5 stars Demons, Magic and Betrayal
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

    I love fantasy stories. I loved this one, too. It’s among the best I have read. Lots of adventure, twists, great characters, well built worlds and executed to perfection. I look forward to reading more of his books.

    In the meantime, let me tell you about this one. A man named Rylan Marshall is on his way home from having a drink in the local pub with his father when he is overtaken by a demon. This demon calls him Gerald. A name he has never heard and disavows it. But the demon ignores his protest, and tells him he must swear allegiance to Chaos or his daughter will meet a worse fate than his son, whose burned body lies on the ground.

    Forced to agree to the demand or lose his daughter, too, Rylan agrees. Rylan’s trials are demanding, dangerous and destructive. He must undergo training to learn how to defeat the same people he fought with in his years as a soldier. Now they are his enemy. Now he must learn how to destroy them and bring them to their knees. Now he must become the very people he killed in his prior life.

    This book has twists and turns, battles, magic and great characters. It is easy to find yourself lost in their land. Grab a copy of this book for a great adventure. You will certainly be glad you did.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Ed
    5.0 out of 5 stars A really good read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The story is at times brutal and compassionate. The bad guys aren’t purely bad, and the good guys do some pretty horrific things. There are plenty of twists. If everything would be made perfect in your life, would you willingly surrender your free will and sense of self? It’s a hard question. I enjoyed the story. I look forward two the second installment.
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  • Dianacross
    3.0 out of 5 stars Confusing
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
    This book was VERY CONFUSING. It was suppose to be 200 yrs in the future from the rewars series. But the time line and the story got me confused. It didn't make any sence. The main character was suppose to be the one that ended it all. But he didnt. And where is the mage quin. He was suppose to be alive. But story doesn't even mention him. It's like the author forgot what he was writing.
    Helpful
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  • Heaven's Gate
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Good read especially if you like grimdark but not so much that you lose all hope. Gritty but the characters persevere. Quite a few deaths but this is a book about magical war. Entertaining and flawed characters that make believable mistakes and have understandable character flaws. If you like Fantasy then I recommend this book and the previous Rhenwar series.
    Helpful
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  • Angel Haze
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!! Just wow!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    OMG! Utterly amazing!! Its gripping action and characters draw you in and take you down a dark path of magic, betrayal, and mayhem, through bloody battles, and on a quest for power. It was so amazingly intense, I don't know how I haven't read Spencer's books until now!!

    An expansive world with an incredible magic system, riveting characters and the battles...wow can she ever craft one helluva battle scene!!!!!!

    I kept hearing people RAVE about ML Spencer's bestselling books and now I see why!! If you like George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, Joe Abercrombie, Peter Brett, Nicholas Eames, and Andy Peloquin, I highly recommend checking this out!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Gut Turner
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book will really take you on a journey that will be both heart rending and feeling great in moments of each other! Just like the previous series. You will not be able to stop reading!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Neil McGregor
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Germany on February 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very good interesting read
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Highly recommend this book it really is a absorbing and excellent story that I found very hard to put down
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  • Pat Tucker
    5.0 out of 5 stars great readability
    Reviewed in Canada on May 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As usual. ML Spenser has captivated me once again. I will continue to read as long as she continues to write like this!!!!!
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Chains of Blood
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A strong story line lots of twists best read after Rhenwar books as characters follow on a good read enjoy.
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  • TEMPERANCE
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very good read.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed your book couldn't put it down. Wonderful fantasy please write some more like this soon. Happy 2020 everyone
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