Bloodwoven

The Binding Tenets Trilogy, Book 1

By: G.J. Terral

Narrated by: Simon Alison

He was trained to kill, not to question.

Lin has dedicated his life to the faction’s cause—loyal, unwavering, and bound by honor. He followed orders. Protected the innocent. But when a companion he swore to protect is found slain under his watch, duty turns to disaster. Ambushed by monstrous abominations, Lin is left broken, bleeding, and betrayed by the sole comrade who remained.

Left for dead, Lin wakes to find the wound that should have killed him stitched shut by outlawed sorcery. He should be grateful. Instead, he’s hunted. Marked. A traitor and monster in the eyes of the regime he once bled for.

Hunted by his own, Lin finds an unlikely savior in the woman who defied every law to save him. As war shadows the land and more monsters stir, Lin must choose between vengeance and redemption, justice and survival. Can he find redemption for a crime he never meant to commit, or will he betray the one ally he has left?

Loyalty nearly killed him. Vengeance might be the only thing that can save him. Lies woven in blood are lines waiting to be crossed.

©2024 G.J. Terral (P)2025 G.J. Terral

Story

High quality fantasy adventure story! Loved the ending and looking forward to additional stories from the author.

Intriguing World-Building

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review. I enjoyed that the world-building happened slowly and often by debate between two of the characters, especially early on. It was a refreshing way to dump exposition without the usual monologue. The characters were likable (or hate-able). The MC did come off as surprisingly strong in some ways that were not fully explained, in my opinion. I did get a bit lost with all the different groups and politicking. There were twists and turns in the story as things were not always as they first appeared. And it set a good hook for things to come. The narrator was excellent throughout. Overall, it’s an enjoyable ride, and a world I’d like to learn more about!

Exceptional!

This is a reread for me, but this time by audiobook and it was incredible to hear this story come to life with Simon Alison narrating. What a perfect choice!
The author weaves such an emotional tale and Simon captured every nuance.
If you haven't read Lin's story, you're missing out on a descriptive tale, a super cool world and magic system, characters that will both surprise and incense you, and an ending that will make you immediately want to start book 2.

Unexpectedly calm portrayals of vicious combat

Trigger warning: This audiobook has the best and most unexpected goat bray in the history of narration; and I'm a huge fan of Prepontente (from DCC). Actual review continues: The story of a dedicated soldier who holds honor dear and upholds it at every altercation is not new. But what if that soldier learns almost everything he was told is a lie. This internal conflict is just one aspect of genuinely deep and detailed character building and growth that elevates this story above many other sword and sorcery tales. Each chapter presents a paced and deliberate study of our main characters, their struggles, and often uncomfortable outcomes. Narration by Simon Alison is as smooth as satin in a breeze-free evening, even during intense battles. But this assists in linking our perceptions and core beliefs to the mindset of the main character. The magick system described is easy and vibrant to visualize, as is the pain that its users must endure. I'm looking forward to the continuation of this leg of the journey in future books. [Disclosure: I received this title for free and listened at 2.0x.]