The Melody and the Master (The Book of All Things #4) by Sarah M. Cradit
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Author)
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Format: eARC (Courtesy of the Author)
Sarah M. Cradit keeps raising the bar with each new addition to The Book of All Things series, and I am all here for it. The latest release, The Melody and The Master, has taken over The Altruist and the Assassin’s previous place as my favorite book in the series and Desemir and Siofra have wormed their way into my heart.
Twins Siofra and Stiofen Thornheart are members of the Medvedev race, whose people were hunted to near extinction for their powers. After their parents died, they found a shelter of sorts with the stewards of Newcarrow (who both feared and prized them for their gifts). An accidental use of magic gets the twins in trouble, and their unlikely savior comes in the form of Baron Desemir Trevanion. Will the offer of freedom be the miracle they’ve been hoping for, or will the secrets hidden in the dark of Shadowfen Hall prove too much to overcome?
Siofra and Desemir are both very tortured souls, and carry a lot of emotional scars around with them. Their early upbringing was rough, to say the least, and it’s shaped who they are when readers meet them in the book. As a result of their past as well as their marriage of convenience, the relationship between Siofra and Desemir is different than the other couples in the series (but no less impactful). It was interesting to see how their relationships with each of their siblings are almost parallel - both Fen and Pesha have spent their life as their sibling’s rocks, and the struggle of allowing anyone else to join their inner circle or possibly take over that role plays heavily into the story.
Each book in the series is designed to be standalone (and exist within individual cycles), but it’s been fascinating to see how each book builds on the larger world building of the series. You won’t miss anything of the worldbuilding if you don’t read the other books (or if you read them out of order) - it’s more like the author is painting individual pictures that connect into one larger one. Please be aware that the heat level for The Melody and the Master is higher than that of previous books. For comparison purposes, I would rate The Raven and the Rush at a 1 out of 5 with The Melody and the Master being at a 3.5.
The Melody and the Master is a fantastic addition to The Book of All Things series, and the larger Kingdom of the White Sea universe. I would recommend the book (and the series as a whole) to readers at the new adult or adult levels, especially if they enjoy fantasy romance. I’m so excited to see the other books in the Darkwood Cycle (especially the one covering Pesha and Fen’s relationship), and to read the opening book of the Sceptre Cycle, The Claw and the Crowned when it comes out later this year. Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Melody and the Master immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Abduction/Confinement, female main character (FMC) was abused as a child, FMC has been used her whole life for her magic, deception, physical abuse/torture, self-loathing, death, murder. None of the abuse occurs between the main characters, but their romance is not traditional.
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