Charlene Reviews - Blue Fall, The Tournament: Volume One by B. B. Griffith

ISBN #: 978-0982481745

Page Count: 514

Copyright: September 1, 2011

Publisher: Griffith Publishing

Description:

"There was a time ... long ago, when whole nations, entire races of people, pinned their hopes and futures on individual warriors. Whole wars were won and lost on the outcome of a single battle between heroes. Entire countries were moved. Empires rose and fell ..."

In Blue Fall, that time has come again. A routine investigation throws a hapless insurance agent down the rabbit hole, into a world where the rich and powerful place wagers on the greatest game on earth. They call it the Tournament. It offers competition without limits. It is beholden to no man, and constrained by no law, and it is extremely dangerous. But where does the true power lie in this World Cup of warfare? With those who place the bets, or with the deadly players themselves? And can one man expose the secret before they find him?

Charlene's Review:

Blue Fall is the type of novel that pulls you in, and breathlessly drags you along. Loaded with suspense, this tale of competitive war is reminiscent of the days of gladiators, with the exception being the warriors in Blue Fall can be brought back to life. Interspersed with the suspense is a mix of mystery and many subplots that blend into one action-packed story. What began as a competition to settle disputes between warring nations, has now become a war of its own. Frank Youngsmith, an insurance investigator, unknowingly stumbles upon The Tournaments' darker side. He may be the only one able to stop the violence. Unfortunately, powerful forces are behind these games, and they may get to him first.

Admittedly, I sighed upon seeing all 503 pages. I was barely into the first hundred when I knew I was hooked. I read it straight through, afraid if I stopped I might miss something. There is no shortage of excitement in this book. Quite a bit of violence, and yet knowing the opponents could be saved, made it easier to handle. The premise of The Tournament is quite believable in our current state of world affairs, and the greediness of the wagers equally possible. All of the tournament players were firmly established in my mind as separate personalities, and were very well developed. I found myself fully invested in some of the teams. By the end, I couldn't get enough and was sad to see this volume end. I'll be awaiting the next book to see what happens next!