Published: Feb. 16, 2010
Words: 63078 (approximate)
Language: English

Short description

Harruq and Qurrah Tun, half-blood exiles of elves and orcs, have sworn their lives to the prophet of a death god, gaining power in return for igniting war between the race of elves and man. Harruq's love of an elf may save him from his dark path, but to protect her means he must turn against his brother and fight the killing nature with which he was born. No matter his decision, someone will die.

Extended description

When half-bloods Harruq and Qurrah Tun pledged their lives to the death prophet Velixar, they sought only escape from their squalid beginnings. Instead, they become his greatest disciples, charged with leading his army of undead.

While they prepare, Harruq trains with an elf named Aurelia, to whom he owes his life. She is a window into a better world, but as war spreads between the races their friendship takes a dire turn.

Velixar orders them to fight alongside the humans, changing Aurelia from friend to foe. To protect her, Harruq must turn against his brother and fight the killing nature of his orcish heritage.... (Read more) When half-bloods Harruq and Qurrah Tun pledged their lives to the death prophet Velixar, they sought only escape from their squalid beginnings. Instead, they become his greatest disciples, charged with leading his army of undead.

While they prepare, Harruq trains with an elf named Aurelia, to whom he owes his life. She is a window into a better world, but as war spreads between the races their friendship takes a dire turn.

Velixar orders them to fight alongside the humans, changing Aurelia from friend to foe. To protect her, Harruq must turn against his brother and fight the killing nature of his orcish heritage.

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD by David Dalglish
To side with one means to turn on another. No matter Harruq’s decision, someone he loves will die.

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About the Author:

David Dalglish currently lives in rural Missouri with his wife Samantha, daughter Morgan, and his bearded dragon. He graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2006 with a degree in Mathematics. He spends his free time watching PBS and Spongebob Squarepants with his daughter.
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Tags

fantasy, magic, fantasy adventure, fantasy battle, orc, fantasy adventure swords sorcery, fantasy magic, halforc

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Reviews

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Review by: R. M. Fraser on Dec. 17, 2011 : (no rating)
I couldn't put the book down once I started! Finished in a day! Wonderful stuff, and it's unique to read a story from the perspective of the black sheep (by that I mean orcs and half-orcs). A great read, can't wait to check out the others!
(review of free book)

Review by: Smokescreen Publishing on March 27, 2011 :
Great book. I downloaded it off B&N for my Nook. I was truly impressed. I can honestly say that this is one of the best books by an indie writer that I have come across. Keep writing, I'll keep reading!
(review of free book)

Review by: Breeze Estes on Feb. 10, 2011 :
Wonderful and exciting dark fantasy..
(review of free book)

Review by: Tom Andry on Feb. 02, 2011 :
I read this on the iPad (not sure if I left a review there) but I didn't think it was all that dark. Sure, the protagonists start off on the wrong side but that's nothing new. If anything, it is refreshing to see just how evil they were. Too often the "bad guy gone good" never really reveals all the torturing and maiming they did when they didn't know any better.

The problem I had was that I didn't quite feel that the characters felt like (especially the necromancer brother) they wanted to change. It was more that they were forced by the situation. Maybe in later books they will become truly good (which would be a nice way to go with the arc) but for now, I wouldn't be surprised if they turned evil if the opportunity presented itself.

Yes, it could do with a once over from a grammar nazi but compared to much of the free fare, it was very nice. I wouldn't recommend it to my mom but I have no problems saying that, for those that don't mind a little blood, it's a very entertaining read. Well done.
(review of free book)

Review by: Michael Crane on Aug. 31, 2010 :
David Dalglish's THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD (the first book in the HALF-ORCS series) is a gripping and dark fantasy about two half-orc brothers, Qurrah and Harruq. The two are despised by humans and elves alike, making them buy into the belief that they deserve to be violent in nature, even though Harruq, as much as he loves to battle and kill, questions his true nature. The two meet an evil figure who serves a god of death, and he has horrible plans for the world that involve the two brothers. Will the two end up being pawns, or will one or both of them figure out that there may be another way to go through life? It's all here in this exciting beginning to a promising series.

Be warned, this is a very dark tale. The brothers do terrible things, but again this is to reveal to you their beginnings. Not all beginnings are pleasant, and theirs is proof of that. What Dalglish gives us are complex characters where there are no clear-cut good guys. And as evil as Velixar is, he too believes that he is doing right, and for that reason he never comes off as being cartoonish or flat. The brothers, as violent as they can be, come from a world where almost everybody who has crossed paths with them have shown them nothing but hatred. This does not excuse their actions, but it does make you believe they are capable of the things they do a lot more.

A great read and a great beginning.
(review of free book)

Review by: Aaron T Lange on Aug. 30, 2010 :
Very fun book.. it is a bit dark but hey its fantasy fiction... I have completed all 3 books and eagerly await the 4th+. Lots of characters to connect with and a very easy read; especially for a complete novice like myself.


I really enjoyed the different aspects and inter relationships of the characters and how they worked together and against each other.

Pick it up, you won’t put it down.
(review of free book)

Review by: Tony Coffman on June 20, 2010 :
This book was a difficult read, it is very dark. I almost quit it three times, but decided that there was some hope of redemption and hung in there. I am glad that I did, I am in the second book and enjoying it. The book is well written and the characters are well developed. I gave this a 2 Star rating simply because it was just too dark.
(review of free book)

Review by: Elizabeth McCoy on April 19, 2010 :
A bloodily-fluffy read, and I bought the second book already. I found the grim-to-goofy shifts a little jarring, but still cared about what was happening to the characters.

My sole complaint is that the editing -- mainly in punctuation -- started breaking down noticeably after the first few chapters. It's not horribly garbled (indeed, many people less editing-obsessed than I might not notice!) but it could use a pedantic punctuator's editing pass. (And horses are guided by reins. Reigns are what kings do.)
(review of free book)

Review by: Rachel D. Thompson on April 03, 2010 :
I really enjoyed this book and will probably pick up the second one. Although the characters were at times goofy and at other times deadly serious, I cared about what happened to them--even when their actions led them down a dark path.
(review of free book)

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