Review #176

Title- A Psalm of Storms and Silence

Author- Roseanne A. Brown

Series- This is the sequel to A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Rating– 4.1/5 (the first was better)

Genre- YA fantasy

POV- two POV, also the hyena has random narration inserts

Trope- forbidden love

Cover– I didn’t really understand the titles’ name

Plot/Blurb-

Karina lost everything after a violent coup left her without her kingdom or her throne. Now the most wanted person in Sonande, her only hope of reclaiming what is rightfully hers lies in a divine power hidden in the long-lost city of her ancestors.

Meanwhile, the resurrection of Karina’s sister has spiraled the world into chaos, with disaster after disaster threatening the hard-won peace Malik has found as Farid’s apprentice. When they discover that Karina herself is the key to restoring balance, Malik must use his magic to lure her back to their side. But how do you regain the trust of someone you once tried to kill?

As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires. And when the fate of everything hangs on a single, horrifying choice, they each must decide what they value most—a power that could transform the world, or a love that could transform their lives.

First chapter-

We are still in the moments of reminders from the author of what happened in the first book. Hopefully the characters don’t regress in their character arc but form new issues around address

Best part- how much the author made me hate the antagonist. But that hatred faded away a bit by the last 100 pages

What I would change- the two characters were leading two separate stories, yes they overlapped but they didn’t have many scenes interacting in the same place

Quote-

“If you ever find someone who feels as natural to you as breathing, don’t leave them. Because if you do, you’ll feel as if you’re gasping for air every moment after.”

“If our present can’t be sorted neatly into heroes and villains, then neither can our past. It’s good that you’re doubting the ancestors, it is good that you’re wrestling with what you’ve been taught. All that means is whatever path you choose, it’ll be because it’s what you truly believe, not just because someone else wants it for you.”

 “There are choices you make in life that cannot be undone and that cannot be buried. They can only be carried, and you either buckle beneath the weight of them or grow strong enough not to. And growing is always worth it if it helps you get to that next thing that makes life worth living.”

Setting- all over the place. Lots of traveling

Prose- above average

Pacing- slower

Thoughts while reading-

Page 23- the comparison between her sister and Malik as an ally seems contradictory
Chapter 3- I hope their scenes overlap more soon. I’m a little hesitant about their separate story lines going back and forth for too long. 
Page 62- well he broke his promise like one paragraph later … lol. Anywho, the characters need some goals. They’re both aimlessly wandering through their current situations and following others without a plan or desire other than basic survival.
Chapter 6- the vivid description of her storm was spectacular.
Page 115- a little bored about the Right of Renewal info but it’s explained well so that helps.
Page 128- random narration point of view switch
Page 134- I’m a bit bored of all these dreams
Page 200- I feel like there’s too many side characters. Who is Morowa again? I don’t remember. We’ve also got Caracal and Ife and Elinam. There’s too much.
 Chapter 17- I’m feeling tired of waiting for the 2 main characters to be in the same place.
Page 234- okay is Nadia a spirit without us knowing?
Halfway- I like that she finally accepted her feelings for Malik. Game changer. 
Page 320- ugh!!! I’m growling at the antagonist
Page 358- too much bloodshed
Page 373- I’m feeling worn down like a never ending “defeat”… something has to go good eventually 
Page 387- I had to put the book down to give myself a break. At this point I’m wanting things wrapped up but still 160 pages left. I’m tired of their constant struggle and the two main characters having no interaction on the same page
Page 402- smart scene
Page 415- I’m not liking Malik’s character as much in the sequel compared to the first.
Page 429- frustrated that so many chapters end in the character blacking out
Page 437- oh rough promise
Page 520- so Im having a hard time staying focused for a few different reasons, one being the giant epic scene seemed to be about her sister instead of her.
Page 530- I feel like there’s loose ends that were simply forgotten about…

Ending-

Page 547- epilogue made it slightly better but I was disappointed with the ending. That makes this officially fantasy instead of fantasy romance as it is falsely disguised as by the action beats.