A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa Series: The Bargainer #2
Published by Lavabrook Publishing Group on May 27, 2017
Pages: 385
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal
Amazon
Siren and soulmate to the King of Night, Callypso Lillis survived the clutches of Karnon, the mad king, and his twisted prison. But the nightmare isn’t over. Callie wears the physical reminders of her time as a captive, and mounting evidence suggests the Thief of Souls is still out there.
When a fae celebration thrusts Callie and her mate, Desmond Flynn, into the Kingdom of Flora, they take their investigation with them. But under the bright lights and striking blooms of the realm, they find there are more immediate issues to deal with. No place is more uniquely savage than the great fae halls, and no amount of bargains can save Callie from royal intrigues.
Fairies play dangerous games. Some want love, some want vengeance, some want flesh, and some want things too unspeakable to utter. One thing is for sure: no one is who they appear to be. Not even Des, who only grows more enigmatic with every passing secret.
But the Kingdom of Flora has its own secrets, from bleeding trees to branded slaves and missing guards. Something is stirring in the land of all that grows, and if Callie isn’t careful, it will claim everything and everyone she loves—and her along with it.
I love the snark of the heroine and I’m still enchanted by the universe Thalassa has created with The Bargainer series. I wish I felt more invested in the characters, though.
The pacing of the story is off at times, particularly when it speeds through moments that could develop more in-depth relationships between characters. Callie and her best friend, Temper, come to mind. Speaking of, I’m not at all a fan of the way Temper is depicted in the stereotypical black girl light. She could be written as much more than a neck-rolling, foul-mouthed, sex-obsessed, angry black woman.
The ending of A Strange Hymn is super duper rushed and messy. Despite that, it leaves the reader needing to know what happens next with Des and Callie, which is what a good cliffhanger is meant to do.
About Laura Thalassa
Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.
… or something like that anyway.
When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.
Snark is always fun! It’s too bad the pacing was so off at times.