Cloak & Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review
Links to order Cloak & Silence:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
Description:
Setting: Ichidian Universe
SPOILER ALERT If you haven’t read Born of Silence, there are spoilers contained below.
One of the fiercest soldiers the Phrixians have ever produced, Maris Sulle has been an outsider from the moment he was born different from the rest of his family. He grew up with a secret that cost him everything—his birthright, his family, and his military career. In all his life, he’s only had one love, and he has sacrificed his own happiness to see his best friend reunited with the woman he loves. But now that his good deed is done, he feels lost and adrift. Even though they do their best to include him in their new family, Maris is once again on the outside looking in.
Ture has spent his life hiding from everyone around him—his family, the world, you name it—while trying desperately to fit in. Badly hurt by everyone he’s ever known, he trusts no one except his own best friend. And honestly, he can’t understand why he trusts her. Nor can he believe her when she describes a loyalty between friends the likes of which he’s never seen.
But when Ture is in his darkest hour, he’s saved by a hero he thought only existed in novels. A man who is every bit as scarred and mistrusting as he is—one who has no interest in being dragged into another relationship with anyone.
Having spent his life as a living study of doomed relationships, Maris is well aware of the courtship and fiasco that invariably follows. Still, there is something about Ture he can’t resist. Something that won’t let him walk away when he knows he should.
But when old enemies return to threaten them both, they either have to stand together or die alone.
Review;
All I can say is Sherrilyn Kenyon is forever amazing me with her writing and storytelling ability. I absolutely loved Cloak and Silence and how she wrote this particular story. You see, this is the first time I’ve ever read a story where the two main characters are male, and wasn’t sure what to expect from her with this one. I shouldn’t have worried, because true to her nature, she wrote a beautiful story and had me hooked like a fish on a line after the first chapter.
We previously meet Maris and Ture in Born of Silence, and it was from that point I was intrigued by them. Even though Maris and Ture had limited scenes together in that one, you saw something brewing there and by the end of the book it appeared they were together. From that point on I wondered if we’d see more of them in their own book, or just as secondary characters in a future book. I’m really glad Ms. Kenyon decided to listen to her fans and write this one. She did an amazing job as the story just flowed from beginning to end. The emotions between not only Maris and Ture, but also between friends, and the love and romance that takes place is very convincing and believable. It’s no wonder I love this author, you feel and see the love she has for her characters in the way she writes their story.
In Cloak and Silence, Ms. Kenyon does a wonderful job writing both Maris and Ture’s characters. She wrote this story with dignity and class, and made my heart break for the cruelty shown towards both Maris and Ture for their sexual orientation. She never once sugar coated anything, but instead gave us the reality of what their lives were like and will continue to be like. I enjoyed the slow buildup to the romance between Maris and Ture. Both had reservations because of their backgrounds but truly liked the other and knew they wanted each other. Their interactions are funny and sweet at times, while other times are very serious and heartfelt. She created a wonderful balance within their relationship.
Another aspect of the book I liked was seeing the friendships Maris has with past characters and how he brings Ture into that circle of friends. This group of friends has a bond that is unbreakable and we see it in how they come together to help each other out no matter what. They would lay down their lives for one another no questions asked, and now Ture is part of that family. They may not be family by blood, but they are family none the less. Ms. Kenyon has a knack for writing these kinds of friendships and relationships in all of her series. It’s these moments in her stories that either have me howling with laughter, gasping in shock or screaming in outrage over whatever is going on. In Cloak and Silence it wasn’t any different. There were many times she had me near tears over heartbreaking conversations, or in fits of laughter over the shenanigans taking place. Never a dull moment in one of Kenyon’s books.
One final aspect I enjoyed in Cloak and Silence was finally learning more about Maris’ species, the Phrixians. It was interesting to learn that they are amphibious by nature and shift appearances in water. I loved the scene where Ture first sees Maris in his true form. Maris expects revulsion and disgust to show in Ture’s gaze, but instead he’s floored to see wonder and acceptance. The way Maris and Ture accept the other for who and what they are is wonderful to see. Too many times society judges people by their differences. It was a breath of fresh air to see how Maris and Ture are accepted by their friends and ‘true family’ no mater there differences. We get to see just how tight these friends are when Darling has a heart to heart with Maris towards the end of the book, when Darling realizes Maris is afraid of what he has with Ture. The conversation that takes place is touching, real and you feel Darlings words to Maris deep down in your heart. Ms. Kenyon definitely has a way with words and knows just the correct way to phrase them to evoke the most emotion out of her readers.
Cloak and Silence was brilliantly written. If you enjoy a quick read filled with emotion, laughter and tears and of course danger then this one’s for you. Kenyon truly out does her self with this one. She takes two characters who believe they are destined to be alone for the rest of their lives, constantly battling against the world, only to find each other and see that maybe they can have it all. With the help of their friends, against all odds, they are able to survive the battles that come at them and make it out the other end. The emotion, conversations and romance is this book are real and heartfelt and like I said earlier, hook the reader like a fish on a line. You can’t help but cheer on Maris and Ture and want to jump into the battle yourself and dish out a little beat down to the League Assassins who are gunning for Maris. The fight scene in the end is well written and kept me on the edge of my seat every step of the way. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and was sad when I got to the last page. I wanted Maris and Ture’s story to continue. My fingers are crossed that I see more of this amazing couple in the next League book Born of Fury which is Hauk’s book. If the little snippet at the end of Cloak and Silence is any indication about what to expect, all I can say is we will be in for one bumpy and crazy ride with Hauk.
Until next time, happy reading
Reviewed by Marcie
