The Silent Paths of Night by David R Slayton is the wonderful sequel to the equally wonderful Dark Moon Shallow Sea. I’m loving this Gods of Night and Day epic fantasy series — and there’s more to come. Yay!
These books have just the right blend of character, adventure and lore/worldbuilding. They are intimate, exciting, hopeful (even when things get dark), and laced with all kinds of love. They are going straight into my favourites list, and I’ll be re-reading (listening) to them for years to come.
Being book 2, The Silent Paths of Night picks up several months after Dark Moon Shallow Sea. The latter ended in a good place and could be read as a standalone, but this second book feels more like a “part 1” of the next phase of Seth and Raef’s adventure and ends with a revelation that feels like a cliffhanger. (That said, you absolutely must read Dark Moon first.)
In the time between the books, Seth and Raef have completed a bunch of errands (tied up loose ends) leftover from the first book and progressed their relationship. I love how their lives have generally improved as a result of events in Dark Moon, even if nothing stays the same for long. This story gets going when they are both separately called to the city of Ilyium, where the Hierarch of Hyperion may or may not be required to answer for his past actions…
The main antagonist in this book is the demon, Rerak, who returned to the world when Phoebe (the goddess of the moon) was restored. There is also a quest to find Kinos, a key figure in the first book, in the hope his presence can help restore political stability to the continent of Aegea. It’s all beautifully plotted, with events interconnecting, plenty of cause and effect, with everything hurtling towards the end-of-book revelations deep in the desert.
Both the main characters continue to grow and evolve during this book. I love how Raef grows into his role as Phoebe’s chosen one, his shadow-based abilities developing and expanding until he becomes someone you definitely don’t mess with. He also develops his relationships with his newly found father and uncle; he’s blessed with family, resources and position for the first time in his life, yet never loses sight of who he is.
Then there’s Seth; beautiful, sunshiny Seth. His personal journey is especially profound, as he wrestles with his role in Hyperion’s order, his burgeoning power, his faith and, ultimately, his identity. If Dark Moon was a little more about Raef, then Silent Paths is a little more about Seth. I can’t wait to discover what the next book has in store for him.
Overall, The Silent Paths of Night is a fabulous, beautifully written book, and the series encompasses everything I adore about fantasy — immersive world, layered characters with good hearts, revelations, plenty of adventure (including quests, rescues and escapes), light romance, and an emotional journey that keeps you riveted — all flavoured with hope. Now I’m waiting impatiently for the next book to arrive.
I listened to the excellent audiobook, narrated by Michael David Axtell.
Ellen Gregory 