I received a copy of the fantasy romance book Of Silver & Sin by Kaytalin Platt from NetGalley. This romantasy book follows Tenele Raider, a Maiden of the Red Court. She is tasked with a mission by her queen to find something for her. Ranemir Stroud, a Shade, has been paired up with her for this quest. Ranemir has been a prisoner for years. These two reluctant companions set on a quest together.
The story of this book begins after the Queen’s war. Tenele Raider like many others has been orphaned after this war that devasted the country. The battle between gods Verin and Thar involved supernatural creatures and magic, leading to many casualties. A maiden of the Red Court has to take oaths and is like a warrior defending the land. Tenele is an accomplished maiden, but she holds a special place for the queen. On a mission, Tenele loses her entire team, but she is left alive with a mark. This attack is part of a series of such events. The Queen tasks Tenele to help her find who is commanding these shades for attacks. Ranemir Stroud is bound by magic and a prisoner to the queen. She forces Tenele and Ranemir on this quest together, passing her tether for Rane to Tenele.
The plot of this book is very difficult to explain. It is not a straightforward adventure fantasy story. Tenele and Ranemir are wary of each other but find common ground. Their draw towards each other is too strong to ignore. They seem to have natural chemistry. The narration shifts from Tenele to Rane and then to Cassius Drowsy throughout. I wasn’t sure who Cassius’s character is or what he means; it’s a little ambiguous on purpose. He feels protective of Tenele, for some reason he doesn’t understand. When she brings Rane with her, Cassius feels a similar familiarity with him too.
In the beginning, it took me a while to understand the dynamics of this fantasy world created in the books. The history of this land with their Gods and the war is revealed slowly throughout the story. I was surprised by the history Tenele, Rane, and Cassius actually shared. It’s a story of pain, loss, and love. It made their inner turmoil about each other more understandable. Tenele is a strong character; she has been trained to protect. She does it every time, even when the odds are against her. Rane doesn’t like being a prisoner; he is a powerful shade who doesn’t remember his life before he was imprisoned. Tenele is the only person who doesn’t seem prejudiced against him. I liked how naturally their feelings and trust were built up between them. Cassius is actually, the god Verin, whose memories have been taken away, and he feels helpless and unsure of himself. He doesn’t have his complete power and is at the mercy of Thar, who is his brother.
I really enjoyed reading this romantasy book Of Silver & Sin by Kaytalin Platt. It was a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, supernatural, and adventure. It takes a while to pick up pace, but once it did; it kept me hooked. I loved the backstories of these three characters Tenele, Rane, and Cassius. The past and present timelines merging, and their history together being revealed was the best part of the story for me. This is supposed to be a duology, so I can’t wait for the next book.
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