Death Like Shadows    

 by Belle Manuel & Angelina J. Steffort

Griffyn had walked away like the time he had spent with Calla meant nothing. Callas was free to return to her family at the Autumn Palace. As she reached the village the smell of fire hit her first. Then the sight of the village burned to the ground, death everywhere she looked. But it was the smell of smoke, and the vision of Autumn Palace engulfed in flames that had her running head long into the burning building. The first sight was of the woman she had called mother, burned beyond hope. She reached out to her father as she heard his chocked voice but quickly realized there was no saving him. As he died in her arms, she let the flames go it was time.  She too would die, joining her family in Narall. No more would she be left behind by those who didn’t love her, the assassin and fae alike.

In the end she hadn’t died. She faced Rafe in chains, burns and cuts marred her body as the guards dropped her at Rafe’s feet. They believed it had been Calla who had set fire to the human village and the Autumn Palace killing everyone. Rafe called for the healer, after ascertaining that it hadn’t been Calla’s fire that had caused the death and destruction. Disheartened, after the death of her family, Griffyn lost to her, Calla gave in to Rafe and offered to sign over her birthright, the city of Breeda, to the fae to stop her brother from causing more pain to all her people. She would only keep Erijnu the Winter Palace and live out her existence there. Rafe and Queen Serei would accept Breeda, but Rafe was certain he would convince Calla to accept him in marriage. Then he would rule, as his right, over all the land. With Griffyn gone there was no one else that would stand in his way of ruling both fae and human alike. 

Griffyn had left with Betsy, the three eyed hyena, returning to Breeda to make sure that the word of Calla’s death would circulate and keep her safe from her brother.  Repeatedly reminding himself of his father’s warning that if Griffyn found his mate, his love, he would end by killing her as he did his mother. He had Rafe’s promise to make Calla happy. He would send Luone and her brothers away out of danger.  Meeting Nayaha in the city meant for a time he wouldn’t be alone, the companionship she offered would warm his bed and help him bury his growing feeling for Calla. Until he was called back to the land of the fae to sign as witness to Calla’s signature. Proving once again that the High Lady of the Court was alive and had indeed signed away her heritage.

Calla learned more of her father and who her birth mother had been, history of the war that had destroyed part of the fae lands, and how her mother had fought and died. However, not all secrets are revealed. Lemai, Griffyn’s father and the God of Death, will surface to torment and involve himself in the land of the living. While once again Griffyn would be drawn into the intrigue and deviltry of the fae and their manipulations. To keep his growing feelings for Calla at bay and distance himself from her presence he used Nayaha and her charms to distract both of them.

In this second book that began with “Flames Like Darkness” the secrets continue to writhe around, hiding in the dark but some will come to light. There is angst, love untold, hatred masked, heartbreak and jealousy, power seeking villains, and we will still not reach the end. Many of the characters I came to care about are back while I still want to literally shake the devil out Griffyn for being so dense. Calla is the strongest, the most compassionate while struggling to seek a solution help those who so long have been forgotten. The writing doesn’t let up and doesn’t always play nice with death lingering around, but this dark tale started to wrap its shadows around me making me want to search out all the answers and in the end hope that the next book will bring more solutions and a brighter happiness to both Calla and Griffyn. If you enjoy dark fantasy, horror and romance this one is not to miss. Belle Manuel and Angelina J. Steffort
have a combined writing styles, imagination and storytelling that definitely lights up even the darkest corners.