Synopsis
Darkness never works alone…Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who–and what–he’s become.As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. They’re pieces on a board, being orchestrated by someone… or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer.
Review
Well …heck!
I don’t know how to rate this book.
Did I love it? No.
Did I loathe it? Certainly not!
Did it leave me puzzled? Absolutely!
I think it’s a prime example of a gothic read. Dark, somber, gore and with some parts you experience like you’d hallucinate because you’re on a bad mushroom trip!
Does the storyline make sense? Not always. I was lost at what these “gods” wanted, at what the end game was.
Nadya, Serefin and Malachiasz are all pawns but to whom? This is still not certain by the end of the book.
Is it interesting and unique? Certainly!
To help you out here, Serefin will go his own way nearly all the book. He’ll follow his own path and he has certainly paid a price for his life. When you have moths flying around you all the time, hear a voice in your head and decay at some point, I’m not certain that’s a future I’d want!
Nadya is deeply troubled and torn. She does not hear her gods any longer and feels something has changed inside of her. She is afraid of that dark power lurking beneath her skin.
Even if Malachiasz betrayed her, she can’t reconcile her head with her heart and can’t help but feel deeply for that boy.
These two have a very unhealthy relationship! That’s just my opinion. I love you but I’ll betray you the first chance I get. Oh I just stabbed you and I feel guilty but I know you are powerful and you’ll heal. And let’s face it, we ‘ll just kiss and make up. Right……
This is a crude description of their interaction but honestly, how can you still love someone who has betrayed you time and again? There must be something else here.
This is a tug of war, a push and pull followed by a stab in the back. Fascinating, frustrating and painful to read.
Malachiasz still remain my favorite character and he is much more than a morally grey character. He craves power and will plunge willingly into darkness to reach that level of power. Yet the price he has to pay is so high he is torn.
He has feelings for Nadya and that complicates everything!
Extra point for the dramatic ending and the big cliffy!
Betrayal, love, loss, more betrayal and dramatic open ending.
Have you read that book? What did you think of it?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Love your review! I’m currently reading this book and so far I’m really enjoying it, but yeah it was a bit confusing.
I have seen that you gave it 4 stars Raven!
Hmmm….not sure I’d enjoy this type of book, I love my HEAs!! Fair review, Sophie!
Thank you Trisy!
Now I’m curious about this one. LOL I wonder how I’ll feel about it.
oooh Laura as you love a little (a lot) horror LOL
Interesting review, Sophie. To be this confused by your experience does indeed say a lot of the book. Thanks for sharing! 😀
You are most welcome!
I don’t always need everything tied up neatly with a bow, but I do need some answers here and there. I hate feeling like I don’t understand what’s going on or why.
Malachiasz is still my favorite also, Sophie. I enjoyed the book, but am I confused? Absolutely. Will I read the next in the series? Definitely. We’re kind of in the same boat, lol.
I felt the same way about the first one, which is probably why I won’t continue – but I’m glad you found some things to enjoy despite it not working as well as you’d hoped!
Thank you Mogsy! I won’t continue either …
I liked the first book, so this is on my tbr, but now I’m nervous!
I am curious to read your thoughts about it Kim!
Great review! I have both of these books, but haven’t read them yet. {Dark, somber, gore and with some parts you experience like you’d hallucinate because you’re on a bad mushroom trip!} <– I love your description here.
Bwahaha yes! I hope you’ll love them!
I hope this is a series, if it left you with that big of a cliffy.
Well it’s a trilogy Sam!!!
This book definitely sounds disorganised, and, if I dare say, Serefin sounds like a rip off from THE MAGICIANS, by Lev Grossman, where the antagonist has moths continually flying about his face too. Anyway, not something I would read or be remotely interested in.
Ooo I need to get this!
Great review, Sophie! I’ve been going back and forth about picking this up.
If you do, I’ll be curious about your review Kayla!
Don’t think it’s my sort of book but i very much liked your review . Ecery now and then i come across books i don’t like, but also don’t hate and the whole feeling puzzled sensation is quite familiar.
That sums it up Norrie!
Great review! I loved this one, but I’ve seen some mixed reviews on it. I totally agree on not always understanding what’s going on or remembering/knowing what the end game is. Luckily this style seems to work for me.
And I am so happy you loved it!
Thanks!