🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Rohesia of the Bone Cleaners has managed to survive retrieving the first of the Saddorial Birthstones from the deadly pool in Akoris. She even managed to survive the first of the three challenges; not only the battle, but the betrayal from her life long friend, Orson. Now, she must face further trials on the journey to Csilla, retrieve the second Birthstone and face the second challenge.
But, Roh has several secret weapons. Her Deathsong has finally poured forth from her very soul, and it is much more powerful than anyone could ever have imagined; even with the poison which is still flowing through her bloodstream. She has her companions – the human ‘Prince of Songs’, Odi; her lifelong friend and fellow bone cleaner, Harlyn. There’s Yrsa and Finn, the stubborn Jaktaran’s and the Water Warlock, Deodan. Not to mention the recently hatched Sea Drake, who is never far from Roh’s breast pocket. She has her father’s crystal dagger and her new skill with the sling and stones. But will her companions and new skills be enough to ensure she survives the cunning Cyren Council who are desperate to never see Roh claim her crown of bones?
Helen takes on a journey through the Lower Realm as the sextet travel through dangerous landscapes and endure terrifying trials. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Roh’s birth, her strange power and her link to the Sea Drake Hatchling. It’s not a straightforward journey from Akoris to Csilla; the companions facing tribulations and horrifying decisions as Roh battles for the Birthstone and the right to sit the throne. There’s maddening Cyren’s who exist only to stymie Roh. There’s a battle of epic proportions and choices to be made. But most of all, there’s under currents of loss, grief, chronic pain, suffering and cruelty. There’s a hollowness, which as a reader, you feel acutely. Your heart breaks, it leaps and drops into your stomach in equal measure. It’s a death defying, dizzying, overwhelming read, which had me on the brink of tears in so many places.
But more than that; so much more than that.
I’ve read all of Helen’s books to date – The Oremere Chronicles is honestly one of my absolute favourite series, and at more than a few points in The Fabric of Chaos, I gasped as I realised I recognised a name, character or place. That sprinkling of Easter Eggs is genius, and it bought out the book geek in me. I revelled in it, grinning from ear to ear that I could place them. Helen has said that the realms are linked, and that if you look closely enough in the two separate series, you can catch someone you might recognise. So far, I’ve found more than a few, even if she won’t confirm or deny one of my theories (I’ve begged her, but in my mind’s eye, she just grins in an evil genius kind of way without revealing a damn thing).
If you’ve never read any of Helen Scheuerer’s books, then please, start now. She’s incredible. A fantasy author like no other. Her female leads aren’t just strong. They’re messy, complicated, clumsy and imperfect. They’re relatable, kind, angry and have questionable morals. They’re just like you and I.
The Fabric of Chaos is out now on Amazon, to buy and keep or to read on Kindle Unlimited.
S. A
1 thought on “The Fabric of Chaos – Helen Scheuerer”