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Lion's Blood #2
Zulu Heart
This book is the sequel to Lion's Blood
Zulu Heart returns to the 19th Century of Steven Barnes's justly acclaimed novel Lion's Blood, a brilliant alternate history in which black Africans have colonized the New World with white Europeans as their slaves.
Zulu Heart returns to the 19th Century of Steven Barnes's justly acclaimed novel Lion's Blood, a brilliant alternate history in which black Africans have colonized the New World with white Europeans as their slaves.
As Zulu Heart opens, New World nobleman Kai ibn Jallaleddin is a senator of New Djibouti, an envied plantation owner, and a loving family man. His ex-slave and friend, the Irishman Aidan O'Dere, is on the Ouachita frontier, helping other ex-slaves build a settlement for themselves. But ex-slaves are always at risk, and an angry mob threatens Aidan, his family, and his entire village with slaughter or re-enslavement. Meanwhile, Kai is entangled in intrigues among not only his fellow senators, but the lords of Egypt and Abyssinia, who have sinister plans for the New World colonies. Pharaoh takes Kai's sister hostage to manipulate Kai, even as Aidan discovers his twin sister, lost since childhood, is the property of a powerful foe of New Djibouti. Aidan has a slight possibility of rescuing his beloved sister, and of helping Kai thwart his enemies, but the only chance of achieving these near-impossible goals requires that Aidan go undercover--a slave once more. --Cynthia Ward
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
19 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Steven Barnes
130 books471 followersSteven Barnes (born March 1, 1952, Los Angeles, California) is an African American science fiction writer, lecturer, creative consultant, and human performance technician. He has written several episodes of The Outer Limits and Baywatch, as well as the Stargate SG-1 episode "Brief Candle" and the Andromeda episode "The Sum of its Parts". Barnes' first published piece of fiction, the novelette The Locusts (1979), written with Larry Niven, and was a Hugo Award nominee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 3, 2011
We return to an alternative history of North America and the lives of Kai ibn Rashid and Aidan O'Dere. It is four years on from the events of Lion's Blood and the dominant world powers, Abyssinia and Egypt are on the brink of war. Their colonies in the New World are about to be drawn into the conflict.
Kai, a member of the privileged ruling class and this friend, Aidan, the freed ex-slave, must work together to establish a future for themselves and their people.
Zulu Heart is a well written novel with some very good character development. Another great work of speculative fiction.
Kai, a member of the privileged ruling class and this friend, Aidan, the freed ex-slave, must work together to establish a future for themselves and their people.
Zulu Heart is a well written novel with some very good character development. Another great work of speculative fiction.
May 23, 2023
Wow!!
I cannot possibly recommend this series more. It is exceptional and eye-opening. The second book in the series picks up right where the first left off and simply flies from beginning to end. Truly outstanding material. The only problem is that there aren’t MORE books!!
I cannot possibly recommend this series more. It is exceptional and eye-opening. The second book in the series picks up right where the first left off and simply flies from beginning to end. Truly outstanding material. The only problem is that there aren’t MORE books!!
May 25, 2010
This is the sequel to LION'S BLOOD, and also an amazing book!
July 5, 2009
Same great character development, a rich and though provoking world, a story to sink into. The plot line did seem a little strained, not altogether convincing, rather it seemed a necessary play-out to allow the character's to achieve their destinies. And the end seemed a bit rushed which is a shame after so much development throughout the two books to just try to wrap everything up in the last couple of very short chapters. Not all was tied in the bow though, with room for another novel. I do hope it comes someday.
June 7, 2021
Good book. Nice series. Accompanying soundtrack songs in (rough) order* from book 1 (Lion's Blood) and book 2 (Zulu Heart)
*Road to Lisdoonvarna*Morrison's Jig*Drowsy Maggie, Wild Seeds, and Green are the Hills aren't mentioned by name/lyrics/highly implied by any scenes, so YMMV on their placements
Book 1
Fire on the Sea
Deirdre's Lament
We Are Bound
The Enneagram
Laddie Are Ya Workin
The Mushroom Song
Battle for Mosque Al'Amu
Inshallah
New Northwest
Book 2
Gruagach!
Road to Lisdoonvarna*Morrison's Jig*Drowsy Maggie
Fresh Hops and Hemp
The Enneagram
Path to Alexandria*Mustaq's Jig*Sleepy Camel
Wild Seeds
Green Are the Hills
Destiny
*Road to Lisdoonvarna*Morrison's Jig*Drowsy Maggie, Wild Seeds, and Green are the Hills aren't mentioned by name/lyrics/highly implied by any scenes, so YMMV on their placements
Book 1
Fire on the Sea
Deirdre's Lament
We Are Bound
The Enneagram
Laddie Are Ya Workin
The Mushroom Song
Battle for Mosque Al'Amu
Inshallah
New Northwest
Book 2
Gruagach!
Road to Lisdoonvarna*Morrison's Jig*Drowsy Maggie
Fresh Hops and Hemp
The Enneagram
Path to Alexandria*Mustaq's Jig*Sleepy Camel
Wild Seeds
Green Are the Hills
Destiny
March 9, 2016
This is just a fine book. It is the sequel, of course, to Lion's Blood, but I have to hand it to Mr. Barnes in that the story and the characters have advanced.
We still have Kai and Aiden, brothers beneath the skin in a nation on the North American continent where things are delightfully awry compared to today--somehow in the distant past it was the African nations, and not the Europeans, who conquered the world with learning and art and culture and military prowess.
Kai is now functioning as the Wakil of his estate-empire, a slaveowner of northern Europeans, and now-freed slave Aiden is living with his wife Sophia, when challenged occur that drive them both in directions they neither expect nor want. Nandi and Laminya are back in the picture as well, and there is betrayal and love and death and the ecstasy of triumph. Familiar faces of wisdom return in Babatunde, and there is the tension of truth as a tension between faith and life.
Aiden will set out on a journey to find his long-lost sister, separated at the moment of enslavement, and Kai must walk an extremely fine line to manage the competing powers of Africa that would seek to divide and conquer the nations of America even further. There are shifts of political power that could result in disaster with a single wrong move, and there are assassins ready to strike a dagger into those he loves and protects. Swordplay and fights and love and betrayal swirl throughout the book.
It is a wonderful sequel, and thankfully not just an extension of the previous story--that is, it isn't just Part B. It is an expansion of the people and the depths of their existence.
I loved Kai in the first book, and now I find that I would like to meet him some day in a world where all the good things of life that I know and imagine come together.
Very well done.
We still have Kai and Aiden, brothers beneath the skin in a nation on the North American continent where things are delightfully awry compared to today--somehow in the distant past it was the African nations, and not the Europeans, who conquered the world with learning and art and culture and military prowess.
Kai is now functioning as the Wakil of his estate-empire, a slaveowner of northern Europeans, and now-freed slave Aiden is living with his wife Sophia, when challenged occur that drive them both in directions they neither expect nor want. Nandi and Laminya are back in the picture as well, and there is betrayal and love and death and the ecstasy of triumph. Familiar faces of wisdom return in Babatunde, and there is the tension of truth as a tension between faith and life.
Aiden will set out on a journey to find his long-lost sister, separated at the moment of enslavement, and Kai must walk an extremely fine line to manage the competing powers of Africa that would seek to divide and conquer the nations of America even further. There are shifts of political power that could result in disaster with a single wrong move, and there are assassins ready to strike a dagger into those he loves and protects. Swordplay and fights and love and betrayal swirl throughout the book.
It is a wonderful sequel, and thankfully not just an extension of the previous story--that is, it isn't just Part B. It is an expansion of the people and the depths of their existence.
I loved Kai in the first book, and now I find that I would like to meet him some day in a world where all the good things of life that I know and imagine come together.
Very well done.
March 5, 2011
I found the first book in this series, Lion's Blood, to be well-written but too heartbreaking to want to re-read. Zulu Heart, on the other hand, I loved unconditionally.
I loved the solidity of Kai and Aidan's friendship, the way that over the course of the two books they grew both individually and together. I loved the nuance of understanding throughout, such as Kai's acknowledgment of the economic practicalities of slavery. I like the balance of exposition and mystery. I like how martial prowess was the result of intense physical and spiritual commitment rather than "a gift" bestowed upon the protagonists. And I loved Nessa's evolution and how Aidan came to recognize the strength that she held on her own.
I loved the solidity of Kai and Aidan's friendship, the way that over the course of the two books they grew both individually and together. I loved the nuance of understanding throughout, such as Kai's acknowledgment of the economic practicalities of slavery. I like the balance of exposition and mystery. I like how martial prowess was the result of intense physical and spiritual commitment rather than "a gift" bestowed upon the protagonists. And I loved Nessa's evolution and how Aidan came to recognize the strength that she held on her own.
November 19, 2009
The second book in the In'shalla series. We follow the freed slave Aiden as he tries to build a settlement of freed slaves, and his former Mastr Kai who is now lord of his lands, and being pulled by different powers as Ethopia and Egypt extend their wars into the colonies. Another look at what the world in the 1800's would look like if the Romans had not been able to build their empire and lands in Africa were the colonizers of the world instead of the Europeans.
May 31, 2019
I enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed Lion's Blood, the first volume in the series. The world-building here is just so good, with the social and political changes resulting from this alternate history rippling through every part of the narrative. I think, though, that this is more Kai's book that Aidan's - the focus has shifted, somewhat, although their friendship is still the heart of the book. And honestly, I don't mind the shift. Aidan's story is interesting, but the political intrigues going on in Bilalistan have always been one of the most interesting parts of this world for me, and that remains the case. I was delighted that part of this intrigue included code-breaking, and the alternate-history version of the Enigma machine, undone by the same sort of user-laziness that allowed Bletchley Park to crack codes during WW2. It appealed to my inner nerd immensely.
The book ends with an afterword by the author, in which he doesn't discount the possibility of future additions to the series. Unfortunately, there don't seem to have been any more since this was published back in 2003, which is a great shame. On the other hand, before Lion's Blood Barnes was entirely new to me, and he does seem to have produced a lot of other books, so I'm happy to have more books of his to explore.
The book ends with an afterword by the author, in which he doesn't discount the possibility of future additions to the series. Unfortunately, there don't seem to have been any more since this was published back in 2003, which is a great shame. On the other hand, before Lion's Blood Barnes was entirely new to me, and he does seem to have produced a lot of other books, so I'm happy to have more books of his to explore.
June 20, 2020
This is a sequel to Lion's Blood. If you haven't read that yet, stop right here and go get it. Read it. Think about it. Then come back to this.
This is set in an alternate history earth with the premise of Africa became the center of culture and civilization and Islam became the predominate religion rather than Christianity. Bilalistan (occupying most of the land that the United States did in the mid 1800s) has been colonized. Europe is the source for slaves to work the plantations, provided mostly by Northmen (Vikings) who also have a colony in the northern part of Bilalistan (eastern Canada).
This is an uncompromising look at slavery and its effects upon both the slaves and the owners. It is also a look at what freedom means if the enforcement of the laws don't really allow for freedom of the people. What does friendship and love mean if the relationship is built on unequal status?
Written in 2003, it has the feel of a far more recently written book. It is not a comfortable read, but it is an important one.
Highly recommended for anyone who has read Lion's Blood. See the first paragraph if you haven't read that book.
This is set in an alternate history earth with the premise of Africa became the center of culture and civilization and Islam became the predominate religion rather than Christianity. Bilalistan (occupying most of the land that the United States did in the mid 1800s) has been colonized. Europe is the source for slaves to work the plantations, provided mostly by Northmen (Vikings) who also have a colony in the northern part of Bilalistan (eastern Canada).
This is an uncompromising look at slavery and its effects upon both the slaves and the owners. It is also a look at what freedom means if the enforcement of the laws don't really allow for freedom of the people. What does friendship and love mean if the relationship is built on unequal status?
Written in 2003, it has the feel of a far more recently written book. It is not a comfortable read, but it is an important one.
Highly recommended for anyone who has read Lion's Blood. See the first paragraph if you haven't read that book.
February 8, 2023
This takes place a few years after The Lion's Blood. There are tensions between the Egyptians and Abyssians in Balalistan (America) and abroad. Kai makes offer to Aidan to find his sister. In exchange Aidan must get a decoding device for Kai. Aidan must also go back to being a slave to accomplish his his goal. At the same time Kai has to deal with a second wife and trying to help his people's political position. Its great to come back to this interesting world where Africa is the dominant continent. The political/military situation is fascinating. Interesting charcters abound. Great to see more Bubante, Kai's teacher and general wise man of the novels. There so much going on here in this world we need more to tell the story.
May 2, 2021
Political intrigue Galore
As you get into this book, you will notice a stark similarity (although a some years later) to our nation's civil war. The races in slavery are flipped; whites being in slavery and blacks are their slave masters. Even though the sad fact of slavery has existed in virtually all countries, on all continents, and in all societies, there are the inevitable and cruel task masters
s well as the just and kind ones. It is true of human nature all over the world. I was delighted to find that our main characters were of the gentler ilk.
As you get into this book, you will notice a stark similarity (although a some years later) to our nation's civil war. The races in slavery are flipped; whites being in slavery and blacks are their slave masters. Even though the sad fact of slavery has existed in virtually all countries, on all continents, and in all societies, there are the inevitable and cruel task masters
s well as the just and kind ones. It is true of human nature all over the world. I was delighted to find that our main characters were of the gentler ilk.
December 13, 2018
Perfection!
This book left of everything Kai and Aiden faced for both of their futures. I feel that both books were beautiful written. And despite race and class both Kai and Aiden shared a loving friendship and bond that could not be broken. I loved the wisdom of Babatunde. I would have like to find out what happened to Kai's sister. I would strongly recommend reading both books. I wish there was a third book.
This book left of everything Kai and Aiden faced for both of their futures. I feel that both books were beautiful written. And despite race and class both Kai and Aiden shared a loving friendship and bond that could not be broken. I loved the wisdom of Babatunde. I would have like to find out what happened to Kai's sister. I would strongly recommend reading both books. I wish there was a third book.
August 7, 2017
This book was different from the first book and really depended on you having read the first book to understand everything that happened in the second book. Also, the motivation in the book seemed more abstract and convoluted, making it hard to root for the characters in the book. The characters in the story were missing the depth that was in the first book. It's almost like this book and the first book should have just been one book. It was a good story, but when comparing it to the first book, it comes up lacking. If someone is going to read this book, make sure to read the first one. The first book is not dependent on the second book in the same manner.
December 11, 2018
The first book in the series was so excellent, I just had to read the sequel. This book could probably be read as a stand-alone, but why not read the series from the start? It is richer and far more interesting. The character development was astounding. And the storyline was surprising and engaging. Really, really excellent read.
March 14, 2019
***3.5 stars***
I`m torn a bit for this one but ultimately i liked Book 1 better. This one had a lot more spiritual introspection which while i understand the background for it seemed to bog the story down a bit. Things pick up more near the end of the book and i like how success or victory always comes at a cost so the protagonists don`t come out unscathed.
I`m torn a bit for this one but ultimately i liked Book 1 better. This one had a lot more spiritual introspection which while i understand the background for it seemed to bog the story down a bit. Things pick up more near the end of the book and i like how success or victory always comes at a cost so the protagonists don`t come out unscathed.
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October 5, 2024Sequel to Lion's Blood.
An alternate earth where the new world was settled by Africans and they had white slaves. I don't want to give away spoilers for the first book (which was complete in itself). But the two major characters are a wealthy, powerful black man and his best friend, who was enslaved as a boy by slavers who captured him in Ireland.
An alternate earth where the new world was settled by Africans and they had white slaves. I don't want to give away spoilers for the first book (which was complete in itself). But the two major characters are a wealthy, powerful black man and his best friend, who was enslaved as a boy by slavers who captured him in Ireland.
August 18, 2024
This sequel to Lion's Blood starts a lot slower than the original and is weighed down with a lot of talking and politics. But it weaves together an impressive story, and the last 100 pages or so are hard to put down.
September 13, 2021
Political skullduggery and romance in a steampunky alternate world where Africa became ascendant. I found it kind of tedious.
September 14, 2023
Very good book.
August 4, 2009
while i liked this book with the same fascination as "lion's blood," in that barns continues his exploration of african colonial superiority in the new american colonies, the characters have aged and their interests include romance. this, i don't find as interesting. although this does allow for some female characters, now teenagers and older, to take more significant roles as heroines in this sequel that is less male centered.
August 30, 2008
3 1/12 stars.
On it's own, this is a really, really good book. However, it follows Lion's Blood, which is a truly exceptional book, and it simply does not stand up to that level. I expected more, and while I was not disappointed per se, I feel that this novel lacks the emotional punch, the heart, that made Lion's Blood such a great book.
On it's own, this is a really, really good book. However, it follows Lion's Blood, which is a truly exceptional book, and it simply does not stand up to that level. I expected more, and while I was not disappointed per se, I feel that this novel lacks the emotional punch, the heart, that made Lion's Blood such a great book.
June 7, 2013
Have to read previous book, there are things I needed to understnd however it did't disrupt the flow of the story for me. I love Steven Barnes writing and in process of collecting as many of his books as I can get my hands on. His writings touch all of the "isms" in life in various ways yet not over done.
May 16, 2011
A story set in an alternate America where Africa colonized the new world.
Aidan has a chance to find his Sister and Kai is involved in the court intrigues of Egypt and Abyssinia
Better than the first one.
Aidan has a chance to find his Sister and Kai is involved in the court intrigues of Egypt and Abyssinia
Better than the first one.
August 23, 2011
A good follow up to Lion's Blood. The characters grow and develop in interesting ways. Steven Barnes shows one of his strengths well in this book, namely, his ability to write great hand to hand combat scenes.
July 31, 2009
Well written but not as in love as I was with some of his other books such as blood brothers and street lethal series WHooh
September 21, 2010
Great series. I loved Zulu heart more than lions blood
September 6, 2011
As alternative history this book was amazing. I do hope Barnes will eventually continue the series.
December 29, 2012
Zulu heart was amazing, reverse rolls in slavery, and a warioirs journey. great read. it took me a few days to get into it, but once i got into it i couldnt stop. Amazing!
July 11, 2014
Great follow-up to Lion's Blood!! A must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews