Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

For me the sign of a great author is when they are able to draw the reader in and evoke emotions in you where you feel as if you’ve run through a gauntlet.  Sherrilyn Kenyon has done just that in Born of Silence, her newest edition to her League series.  My emotions were all over the place reading Darling’s story.  From sadness to joy, to horror and disbelief at what someone else can do to another being.  There were times I wanted to jump into the book and haul ass over all those people who harmed and abused Darling.  Yet at other times I found myself laughing out loud over the classic Kenyon humour that provided many bright spots amid a life of abuse, mocking and downright cruelty all aimed at Darling Cruel.

Speaking of which, I think it very ironic that Kenyon would give her hero the last name of Cruel.  Darling is anything but cruel, instead he’s the exact opposite.  Darling Cruel was born into one of the highest ranking Aristo families in the United Systems.  He was born to be his people’s Emperor and rule his family the way his father had hoped.  Instead, his father was brutally betrayed by the one person he thought would never do him harm, his brother Arturo.  After his father’s death at the hands of his Uncle, Darling and his family were under his Uncle’s so called care and protection.  Knowing Darling would one day take over as Emperor of the Caronese Empire his uncle did every thing in his power to stop this.  Raised among people who only wanted to abuse, torture, mock and cause harm to him, Darling some how endured and came out a better person because of it.   Throughout the book we see Darling’s fierce loyalty, love and protectiveness towards all those he cares about.  His love for his siblings, fellow friends/Sentella members and love of his life Zarya shines through in every scene.  If there were anyone I’d want in my corner it would be Darling. He loves with all his heart, and should anyone wrong you he’s there defending you and dishing out justice Kere style.  Just one world of advice, don’t tick him off or you may find yourself going ‘Boom’. 

Even though Darling has endured a hellish life so far, he has always put the good of everyone else around him first.  That’s why he became one of the founding members of the Sentella.  This is a group of men who fight against all the injustices done by corrupt governments, and other groups of power.  This is where Darling’s alter ego Kere, which stands for the Caronese god of war was born.  It’s through this identity that Darling meets his soul mate Zarya Starska.  Zarya like Darling was born into an Aristo family until one day her father was branded a traitor and her family lost everything.  One guess who did this to her family, yup you guessed it Uncle Arturo.  Together with her father they formed the Resistance, to which she became leader of, who’s soul purpose was to take down the Cruel Empire.  Little did Zarya know that the man she only knew as Kere and love of her life was the heir to that empire.  When Darling needed her most, Zarya was unable to see past his birthright to the man she fell in love with as Kere.  Now believing her beloved Kere gone or worse dead, both Zarya and Darling embark on a journey that will either bring them closer together then they’ve ever been, or worse, killed by the empire and forces against them they’ve been battling against from the beginning.

Besides the romance between Darling and Zarya, which was well written and beautifully done, Kenyon weaves the bonds of sibling love and friendship into that relationship. I really enjoyed watching Darling’s friends and fellow Sentella members rally behind him and Zarya to ensure their happiness, safety and protection.  That’s one group I’d want on my side, and not against me.  Some of the best scenes for me were with Darling and his friends, especially Maris.  Maris and Darling have been friends since forever and never once did Darling look down on Maris for his choice of lifestyle.  Instead Darling helped Maris as best he could and always made sure to be there for him no matter what, and in turn Maris did the same for him.  If it wasn’t for their friendship and love for each other neither would have made it through their hellish lives.  I also enjoyed seeing Darling’s siblings come to terms with everything that had happened to their brother and why, and then rally behind him and the family he’s always needed with him.  No matter what happened to him, his siblings safety and well being always came first, even if it meant putting himself in the line of fire.  Now it was their turn to return the favour and they stepped up to the challenge not once disappointing their brother.  Friendship, family ties and love were three key elements that Kenyon had shining through the darker aspects of the book and I felt they did an excellent job of balancing all the emotions and action throughtout.  

Being a fan of Kenyon and reading both her Dark Hunters and League series I’d say she definitely has the role of tortured hero down to a ‘t’.  After reading Acheron I didn’t think there could be another book to equal it, but Kenyon proved me wrong.  This book is definitely on equal grounds with Acheron as far as I’m concerned.  It had everything from cruelty, misery, abuse and torture, to love, joy, humour, friendship, loyalty, you name it, it was in there. I definitely recommend this book and the League series. I’m already chomping at the bit for the next installment and hope that many of the characters from Darling’s book will eventually have their stories told.  

Reviewed by Marcie