[vexed2002]

Just a quick little rant, but is anyone else a little dissapointed / disturbed by the sheer amount of books these days that HAVE to have some sort of blood magic in?.. I know to some extent its the nature of the beast but I particularly dislike anything along those lines.

Not sure why I dislike it.. its like an itch I can't scratch.. I just think its distasteful. (Which is odd, as I can handle people being eaten by Demons.. go figure.)

The only reason this has REALLY got to me is that I adored The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and I'm about 100 pages in the 2nd Series which thus far has been dominated by Blood Magic.

I know its played a role in some GRRM and J.V Jones books as well. (won't go into details as some may consider it a spoiler)

Any thoughts? (and sorry if this is a bit disjointed.. not enough sleep!)

[Qin]

Blood magic? Huh?

[vexed2002]

Suppose I could have been a little more specific.

My perception of blood magic being = Magic that REQUIRES the blood of another person (or sometimes themselves) in order to be potent.

Tis usually involved in Rites for summoning demons etc. Always associated with evil.

[Qin]

Oh! The blood of seven virgins and a bottle of Chardonay! Bring it on!

[Holbrook]

Personally I prefer seven bottles of Chardonay and someone a little less innocent :D

But seriously the "use of Blood magic" as you call it, tends to be used by writers as an indicator of evil doings. Blood is life and the twisting of the powers contained in the "life force" have been a favourite of fantasy writers for a long time.

[Thoringil]

All religions stem from blood sacrifice if you go back enough, its supposedly essential in most real voodoo, and at church the wine is transformed into the blood of christ... blood is life, one of the most powerful images... plus, it seems really, really evil, and that's how the bad guys are supposed to act... if they could gain power by a urine sample, they'd be a little less ominous.

[Miriamele]

lol Yeah, can't you just see the bad guy holding up the ancient jem-encrusted ceremonial chalice filled with...pee? And what if he has to drink it? Yuck! :eek:

[Qin]

I think I'll go have a glass of water now...

[Loque]

yes, but who's water? ;)

[Qin]

As long as it's not spooge...