The Rundown
A history lecturer’s quest for a promotion to assistant professor leads him through the sands of the Sahara, transports him across decades and introduces him to truths about the universe – and beings that inhabit it – he would never previously have believed. Will the discoveries made through his quest be enough to give him the courage to save a magical being from great evil?
The Recommendation
Blood in the Sand is billed as the first in a series, and it lays a very solid foundation, introducing characters in great detail and informing the reader of the djinn and other truths about witches and wiccans. On the surface, it’s a story about a rivalry between two university staff who are vying for the same position. Beneath the surface, it’s a story of a witch who desires immortality, to be worshipped like a god, and an unassuming man who is most comfortable with facts established through documents and research and evidence, who finds his whole life turned upside down when his research introduces him to a djinn.
Blood in the Sand isn’t one thing for one type of reader. There are long passages related to history that inform Dr. Philip Entwhistle’s research, although many scenes only peripherally relate to the djinn and the larger matters at hand. It’s a testament to the author’s willingness to develop each character and part of the book in great detail, and while some of it is necessary to make Philip a believer in the djinn, some readers may be impatient with the amount of time spent in the past. Much of the drama surrounding the contemporary plot line unfolds in the last third of the book. I do find myself wondering what the balance will be in subsequent books in the series, because the reader now has an established understanding of how things work with the djinn and who the main characters are. I imagine the payoff will be subsequent installments that expand that world-building and move at a swift pace.
There’s a lot to like in this story. I really enjoyed the friendship between Philip and James, and it was nice to read a story that was more focused on people becoming friends rather than on characters entering a romance. There is a bit of romance in this story, but it is very much a minor subplot at this stage of the series. This book will be ideal for people who have a love of history, interest in mystical beings, and who are patient readers more focused on spending time with characters to get to know them well.
The Rating
4.5 Stars (out of 5): Highly recommended. This book is a great read. It can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre, and surpasses many.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Believable, Characterization, Dialogue, Emotional, Humor, Plot, Strong World-BuildingCons: Slow in Places
