This is the second book in the Sea and Stars trilogy, following The Fate of Stars, and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend giving it a read with your feet in the sand if possible. Seriously, I love how this trilogy is being rapid-released over the summer. When’s a better time to read about mermaids?
Here’s the plot –
Tallora has spent the last six months nursing a broken heart after Empress Dauriel returned her to the sea. What’s a lonely mermaid to do? Rumors have run wild that carry little truth and King Merl of the Tortalgan Sea is looking to side with Moratham in an impending war against the Solvira Empire. His son, Prince Kalvin (Kal), believes Tallora’s story – that Empress Dauriel is a reasonable woman of honor – despite his father’s doubts. The two take a journey to Solvira via a witch’s spell and Tallora is reunited with the woman she thought she lost (while Kal experiences life above sea for the first time, in a human body no less). After informing Empress Dauriel and her council, of their kingdoms alliance with Solvira’s enemy due to a misunderstanding, a summit is called between the kingdoms where things don’t go as planned.
I enjoyed meeting a new character. We were briefly introduced to Kal in the end of The Fate of Stars, and he makes a healthy appearance here as Tallora’s new good friend and possible love interest, or at least that’s what she tells herself, despite not being able to keep Dauriel out of her mind. Kal is a genuine guy – er, mermaid. He’s kind, easy-going, and thoughtful despite the royal title. I loved his friendship with Tallora and was happy they could retain the relationship after she turned him down. To my (unreliable) recollection, I believe this is the first book I’ve read so far for the blog that features a bisexual character. At the very least, it’s the first instance where I’ve seen a character actively being bisexual (though an inactive bi in no way invalidates one’s bisexuality) in lesbian fiction. Major props for that.
I would also like to note before moving on, mermaid sex. It happens. The whole ongoing conversation regarding the difference between mermaid bodies and humans is creative and allows an interesting commentary on our own perversions .
Unlike past reviews, I am going to discuss some spoilers here. So, if you enjoyed The Fate of Stars or are just looking for a good summer fantasy read, this series won’t disappoint. Full of romance and adventure, Heart of Silver Flame was just as good as its predecessor.
The following discussion includes spoilers. You have been warned.
I’m not sure about everyone else, but I was both surprised, yet expecting something, during the summit. Just to be clear, Kal and Tallora travel to Solvira behind the king’s back to inform them of what is happening under the sea. If I was King Merl I would have been pissed and imprisoned both of them once they returned, but merfolk culture seems to be little more on the understanding side, which lends itself to Kal and Tallora’s naivety. They go to the Solvira Empire and offload that their enemy is working at getting a weapon from the sea to use against them. Empress Dauriel hears all of this in front of her entire council, not that that alone fueled her decision, but Kay and Tallora definitely put her in a hard spot. Add the knowledge that Dauriel has all of these dreams and aspirations to be remembered in the history books as someone “great” I can understand her decision in using the information to her advantage and starting a war, completely contradictory to the described “summit for peace). Simper is great at creating characters who aren’t just looking to do what’s “good” and “right.” They have real personalities and ambitions that direct their choices.
I can also understand Tallora’s heartbreak. She spent the entire book defending Dauriel only to have to eat her words by the end of it. It’s going to be hard to forgive that, but these two have already made it through a lot. I like that they’re kind of back at square one, but arguably worse, by the end of this book in relation to the enemies-to-lovers trope, we have that but now with the added betrayal. I can’t wait to see how they resolve their relationship as well as the giant monster just released. Oh yeah, it ends on a cliffhanger. Luckily, the next book drops in less than a month.
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