After a near-fatal encounter with the killer of her parents, Syreene finds herself mixed in a powerhouse of trouble. With her brother imprisoned, to be scheduled for execution, and a large bounty on her head, Syreene attempts to reclaim her life the only way she knows how—enlisting in the militia.
Disguised, her mission is foolproof, according to her. But the young elf fails to account for the bout of rejection stirring in her bones. Once half-elfin now half demonic—Syreene turns into the very thing she hates most and refuses to make it her weakness. But the lack of control over her newly acquired side makes things all the more complicated and complex.
Now the war-bound elf must shift gears and learn to tame the beast within, save her brother, and seek refuge, all while tackling the intricacies of her taboo love interest. Her true self will be questioned beyond the scope of her understanding, down to the very secrets of her prophetic birth.
Title: Dessa: Silence in Bloodlust
Author: Andreya Lombardi
Pages: 200
Genre: Dark fantasy/thriller
My review
Dessa: Silence in Bloodlust by Andreya Lombardi is the second instalment of the Shadowland saga. Through the first book of this series, Andreya has created an enchanted world of magic and dark fantasy. We were introduced to Syreene and Cabil and their adventures and existence struggles.
The first book ended in a perfect cliffhanger and I was eagerly waiting to read the next one. This one picks up the story from exactly where it was ended, without any glitch.
Although the main theme of the first book was vengeance for the murder of Syreene’s parents, this part is more focused on the evolution of Syreene’s character. Her family history is under close examination and unexpected revelations is derailing her old motives. The main theme for part 2 is the survival of protagonists. They are trapped in the web of conspiracy and power struggle. But all this is linked to a larger than life prophecy too. The mystery of Syreene’s existence is vastly explored in this one.
Her powers and skills are unexplored. This is controlling her. The more she understands her true self, the less it controls her. Her multilayered character is portrayed very beautifully by the author. Empathy and emotional connections are the two recurring themes in this story. Through them, the author is trying to create depth for the characters. They are essential especially if you are presenting a fantasy series to the readers.
I felt that all main characters are multilayered and the author only scratched its surface. This alone adds some unpredictability to the story. I have absolutely no idea where she is heading with this story. Andreya is mounting suspense through her flawless narration. I’m hopelessly thinking that she may reveal something. But again she draws the curtain at the cliffhanger. Many questions left unanswered!
The Ultimate Reviewer 