Author: Lori M. Lee
Publication Date: 15 June 2021
Publisher: Page Street
Page Count: 384
Reading Method: Physical ARC [ Thank you to the publisher ]
Dates Read: June 11 – 12
Synopsis:
The Soulless is free from his centuries-long imprisonment. Now, he lurks in the Dead Wood recovering his strength, while Sirscha and her allies journey east to the shaman empire of Nuvalyn. Everyone believes she is a soulguide―a savior―but Sirscha knows the truth. She’s a monster, a soulrender like the Soulless, and if anyone discovers the truth, she’ll be executed.
But there’s nothing Sirscha won’t risk to stop the shaman responsible for the rot that’s killing her best friend. While the Soulless is formidable, like all shamans, his magic must be channeled through a familiar. If Sirscha can discover what―or who―that is, she might be able to cut him off from his power.
With Queen Meilyr bent on destroying the magical kingdoms, Sirscha finds herself caught between a war brewing in the east and the Soulless waiting in the west. She should be trying to unite what peoples she can to face their common enemies, but instead, her hunt for clues about the Soulless leads to a grim discovery, forcing Sirscha to question who her enemies really are.
Review:
Does anyone else get nervous with sequels? I absolutely loved Forest of Souls last year and was anxiously awaiting the continuation of Sirscha’s journey. In trilogies, especially, it seems like the second book serves as a bridge to the big finale, and can be a bit of a drag. Did Broken Web fall victim to the second book drag? Let’s find out!
Plot:
Broken Web picks up immediately after the events of Forest of Souls. Sirscha and Saengo are headed to Nuvalyn and their ultimate goal is to find a way to stop the Soulless. There are several twists and hiccups along the way, as well as introducing a completely new empire and its people. There is a lot of back and forth travel, constant splitting up and coming together, and lots of people showing up when you least expect them. While it seemed to be the tiniest bit messy in some parts, and dragged just a little in the middle, this book will keep you on your toes. Yet again, there is a definite lack of romance in these books, and I am okay with it. It doesn’t feel like you’re missing anything – I actually prefer it. There is so much going on in this book. Politics, betrayal, exploration of characters and their backgrounds, battles, wyverns, a new empire to explore, and so much more.
Characters:
So much character development! We get to learn more about Sirscha and her magic, and her undeniable connection to the Soulless. There’s a lot of background information about how the Soulless came to be and we maaaaybe have an idea of how to bring him down. As a villain lover, I am so glad we got a better insight into the Soulless and what makes him tick. Sirscha does a lot of growing as well. She is having a heck of a time dealing with her powers and urges. She learns a bit about her past and we get to see how that changes her perception of her past and her relationships.
There are a few new characters, as well as some returning friends that all play a part. Of course we see Saengo, Prince Meilek, and Theyen (my favorite). As situations change at lightning speed, it’s difficult to know who to trust.
Overall:
Yet again, I am waiting impatiently for the next book in this series. It’s so unfair we have to wait so long! I do think it fell victim just the tiniest bit to the second book curse, but everything that happens is necessary, and important to furthering the plot for an epic conclusion. I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up (assuming it is only a trilogy).
