But the silent are waking.
Kyra has lived her life in the shadow of a powerful Grigori brother. She’s ignored her own desires for the good of her family. But an unexpected request from Thailand sends her on a mission that could change her life and alter the fate of free Grigori all over the world. Sons of the Fallen hidden in the mountains of Thailand have adapted an ancient human magic for their own purposes. Will this practice bring peace or lead to even greater danger for the Irin race?
A simple diplomatic mission sends Leo to Bangkok, but he didn’t expect to see a familiar face in surveillance photographs. He’s tried everything to drive Kyra from his mind, since he was convinced the gentle kareshta wanted to hide from the world. How did she turn up halfway across the globe, living with Grigori who may or may not be Irin allies?
A simple diplomatic mission sends Leo to Bangkok, but he didn’t expect to see a familiar face in surveillance photographs. He’s tried everything to drive Kyra from his mind, since he was convinced the gentle kareshta wanted to hide from the world. How did she turn up halfway across the globe, living with Grigori who may or may not be Irin allies?
Leo has bided his time. He’s given Kyra her space.
But this scribe is ready to hear a kareshta sing.
Comment: This is the fifth book in the Irin Chronicles series, featuring special humans who descend from angels or are sons and daughters of them and how challenging their lives and relationships with humans can be. After the first three books centered in one couple, the following ones will be focused on secondary characters. Although this can be read as structured novel from start to end, I should say it makes more sense after having read the previous books.
Leo is the well liked, sweet scribe of house Istanbul, a secondary character we have come to like because he is sweet and friendly and always eager to offer a pleasant smile. He has waited centuries for his reshon, soul mate, and he believes he might have found her in Kyra, but she is a daughter of an angel, thus considered the enemy by the Irin, always so persecuted by the grigory, a race seen as mad for human souls who murder those they enslave. However, it wasn't known angels could have daughters too, and those rare ones were hunted too, for they could manipulate humans as well. Now that some truths have come out, it seems neither group knew everything and a shaky truce has been formed. Kyra is devoted to her family, to raise grigori in loving, caring arms, which would help control their instincts but will she be able to let go of her fears to be happy with Leo?
We have met Kyra and Leo in the previous books and they are in opposite areas of the conflict between Grigori and Irin. It can sound confusing but as the books developed, we have come to realize nothing is only black and white an both sides have some acceptance to do, as well as learning of how the other side sees things. It has become obvious the feud/fights have been mostly caused by extreme behaviors and secrets but now a new hope has come for all, because there can be peace if the two sides work together.
Of course Leo and Kyra can be seen as a model couple for this reality and as this book develops, we see them match their skills and emotions to find a way to help a young girl who has been kidnapped, although she remains very dangerous too. Leo and Kyra have a personal history, hers a little more cautious because she has lived in fear and hiding, having only her brothers and immediate family to care for her. Daughters of angels have not been the focus of previous stories so it was nice to learn more about that too.
I's day my favorite part was actually the interactions between the several characters here, who have joined forces to help find the kidnapped girl but also to start creating some connections which can mutually help both races. It was very good to see everyone maintaining their personality but with little scenes here and there, learning everyone can be important, can be worthy of knowing. Perhaps friendships weren't easy to form, but I have hope that it will be the future of these races.
The romance between Kyra and Leo is mostly sweet, considerate, they don't give in to those silly (in my opinion) tactics of "he/she is better off without me" so as soon as they admit they see the other person as more than a friend or an ally, their path quickly goes into one of a couple. I liked how they talked, how they agreed to stay in sync and how they seemed to accept they were a good match (the magic in this world helps with this too, though). I suppose I wish they could have a more...vibrant connection in the sense that we could feel their chemistry even more but I must deal with the fact this is likely just the author's style.
I'd say the author's strength is in the world building, the imagination of some elements, the way I can picture the author outlining the scenes to include, the little magical details to enrich the story... if there is one thing lacking, which I felt was very well done in other PNR series out there is this obviousness some couples were meant to be together, how the writing makes that inevitable. In these books, even if those things are being told to the reader, I, personally, don't see it.
I liked reading this book, knowing things are evolving in the world, the two races are going to join forces, ae going to try to make things easier...it felt like this, a least. I'll read the next two books and hope this trend will continue.
Grade: 7/10
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