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kathydavie's review against another edition
2.0
Fifth in The League science fiction-romance series revolving around a group of friends and assassins trying to claw their way past horrible pasts. The couple focus is on Darling Cruel and Zarya.
If you must read this, borrow it from the library. It's not worth owning.
My Take
Why does Kenyon come up with these names? Is it all part of the space opera mindset?
I usually enjoy the over-the-top action and the whole love-of-a-good-woman romance, but this latest is more about the disgustingly cruel, horrific childhood Darling has experienced than anything else. And it has so damned many holes, that I'm surprised I can find any page left to turn. At one point, Kenyon states that his mother must hold herself chaste for the rest of her life and later she says that the succeeding governor traditionally releases her from this vow.
The laws the CDS pass or allow to pass including that lame ass one if someone should assassinate Arturo, the license they give Darling's uncle, his mother...oh, man...his mother is such a piece of work, the obliviousness of everyone around Darling as he grew up, no, I'm sorry. I'm just not buying that an empire that has survived this long can be this obtuse.
After everything said about his mother, Kenyon has her show up for the wedding and telling Zarya that she loves her son but that her son has always been cold from the moment he was born. Oh, well, in that case, it makes perfect sense to allow her son to be tortured, beaten, and raped on a nightly basis so she can continue to have affairs. To constantly push him away and never provide any inkling of love or support. Tossing in his siblings every once in awhile as they range from expressing utter hatred to love.
Arghhh, the whole reason for this story is so contrived. Puh-lease. Once Darling had founded the Sentella, he could have hidden his family safely and fought back against Arturo. Kenyon continually uses Darling's supposed homosexuality and his apparent weakness as the reason why the CDS doesn't want him as the Governor. Neither of these reasons would have even existed if he'd stood up for himself after his family was safe.
Kenyon has Syn repairing Darling's face and we're left believing that nothing has changed. Nothing that is until Zarya sees him. And we get no explanation for why Kenyon has led us on. On the one hand, Kenyon has Darling taking down League assassins left, right, and center and then she turns around and says that with his damaged eyesight and lack of depth perception that he's helpless. Kenyon. Pick one or the other.
If Zarya is so concerned that the Resistance is continuing to attack because they think she's being held against her will, why doesn't she recruit some person known for their ability to detect truth or falsehoods and broadcast an interview about her love for Darling?
Normally, Kenyon has everyone confessing in the end as to how they were held to the awful roles they had to play, thinking they were protecting the others. Naw, there's just Drake whining his heart out and hurting Darling even more in the process this time.
This is a tragedy of a space opera. It has two redeeming values: the love and consideration Darling has for his best friend and most loyal supporter, the gay Maris, and the twenty basic rules laid down by Darling's murdered father Drux.
The Story
Darling plans to overthrow his uncle, but in protecting his sister from potential fallout, Darling is captured and his sister injured. It will be months before he is found in his torture chamber and healed. A torture chamber in which his own allies are slowly killing him in the most disgusting and perverted ways. A chamber from which he can hear his beloved fiancée laughing and talking while he hangs in the most unimaginable pain.
The Characters
Darling Cruel is the heir to the Caronese Empire which his family has ruthlessly ruled for more than 3,000 years. It's got the weirdest laws and Kenyon never does explain about this supposed dual nature of his. Nor do we ever learn why he can't drink liquor in public. The Gerents seem to be a cross between a House of Lords and a ruling council. [And, just for the record,
Maris Sulle is Darling's oldest and dearest friend. He's had Dar's back since they met at the age of five. As an adult, he's only safe on Caron because he is the Andarion ambassador to Caron as arranged by Nykyrian. Tamara is the woman Maris almost married. Chief Agent Safir Jari is a League assassin and the only brother who will still speak to Maris. Kyr Zemen is the prime commander of the League and, in spite of being his oldest brother, hates Maris and Darling.
Zarya Starska is one of two remaining members of her noble family and she no longer trusts anyone. Arturo is to blame in some form for the deaths of the rest---her father Zalan was murdered by his best friend. Her mother and oldest sibling had gone to plead with their old family friend, Arturo, to rescind his judgment against Zalan. The friend who had them both murdered. Her sister Sorche is all that remains to her since her brother Gerrit's death in battle. And she's in love with Kere even as she leads the Resistance against the Cruel dynasty. [Resistant members? Really?] Ture is one of her best friends and the cook at a restaurant.
Fellow Sentellans include Caillen, an Exeterian prince; Desideria Denarii de Orczy is a former Qillaq princess married to Caillen and they have a daughter Lillya; Chayden Aniwaya is Desideria's older brother; the Andarion Hauk brothers---Fain is the oldest brother; the half-human, half-Andarion Nykyrian Quiakides is an Andarion crown prince, a former League assassin, and the leader of the Sentella; Kiara is Nyk's pregnant wife; Syn is assassin, doctor, and the son of a serial killer; Shahara is Syn's wife, Caillen's oldest sister, and the most lethal tracer in the Nine Systems and she and Syn have a baby boy---Devyn; Nero Scalera is Trisani and Darling's cousin; and, Jayne.
One of the most brutal rulers Caron has ever known, Arturo is the Grand Counsel, Darling's regent until he is old enough---30---to take over as ruler. Darling highly doubts Uncle Arturo intends for him to live long enough.
The allies who capture Darling include Clarion Lubomir, Pip, Davon, and Timmon.
The Cover
The cover is a top and bottom gradient of black bleeding into an off-center middle of towering red clouds in a red sky with the author's name, title, and graphic image in holographic colors. The focus is on the hilt of a sword around which a dragon-like creature is twisting.
The title certainly reflects Darling's childhood for he evolved and the adult that he is was Born in Silence.
If you must read this, borrow it from the library. It's not worth owning.
My Take
Why does Kenyon come up with these names? Is it all part of the space opera mindset?
I usually enjoy the over-the-top action and the whole love-of-a-good-woman romance, but this latest is more about the disgustingly cruel, horrific childhood Darling has experienced than anything else. And it has so damned many holes, that I'm surprised I can find any page left to turn. At one point, Kenyon states that his mother must hold herself chaste for the rest of her life and later she says that the succeeding governor traditionally releases her from this vow.
The laws the CDS pass or allow to pass including that lame ass one if someone should assassinate Arturo, the license they give Darling's uncle, his mother...oh, man...his mother is such a piece of work, the obliviousness of everyone around Darling as he grew up, no, I'm sorry. I'm just not buying that an empire that has survived this long can be this obtuse.
After everything said about his mother, Kenyon has her show up for the wedding and telling Zarya that she loves her son but that her son has always been cold from the moment he was born. Oh, well, in that case, it makes perfect sense to allow her son to be tortured, beaten, and raped on a nightly basis so she can continue to have affairs. To constantly push him away and never provide any inkling of love or support. Tossing in his siblings every once in awhile as they range from expressing utter hatred to love.
Arghhh, the whole reason for this story is so contrived. Puh-lease. Once Darling had founded the Sentella, he could have hidden his family safely and fought back against Arturo. Kenyon continually uses Darling's supposed homosexuality and his apparent weakness as the reason why the CDS doesn't want him as the Governor. Neither of these reasons would have even existed if he'd stood up for himself after his family was safe.
Kenyon has Syn repairing Darling's face and we're left believing that nothing has changed. Nothing that is until Zarya sees him. And we get no explanation for why Kenyon has led us on. On the one hand, Kenyon has Darling taking down League assassins left, right, and center and then she turns around and says that with his damaged eyesight and lack of depth perception that he's helpless. Kenyon. Pick one or the other.
If Zarya is so concerned that the Resistance is continuing to attack because they think she's being held against her will, why doesn't she recruit some person known for their ability to detect truth or falsehoods and broadcast an interview about her love for Darling?
Normally, Kenyon has everyone confessing in the end as to how they were held to the awful roles they had to play, thinking they were protecting the others. Naw, there's just Drake whining his heart out and hurting Darling even more in the process this time.
This is a tragedy of a space opera. It has two redeeming values: the love and consideration Darling has for his best friend and most loyal supporter, the gay Maris, and the twenty basic rules laid down by Darling's murdered father Drux.
The Story
Darling plans to overthrow his uncle, but in protecting his sister from potential fallout, Darling is captured and his sister injured. It will be months before he is found in his torture chamber and healed. A torture chamber in which his own allies are slowly killing him in the most disgusting and perverted ways. A chamber from which he can hear his beloved fiancée laughing and talking while he hangs in the most unimaginable pain.
The Characters
Darling Cruel is the heir to the Caronese Empire which his family has ruthlessly ruled for more than 3,000 years. It's got the weirdest laws and Kenyon never does explain about this supposed dual nature of his. Nor do we ever learn why he can't drink liquor in public. The Gerents seem to be a cross between a House of Lords and a ruling council. [And, just for the record,
degredationis actually spelled with two as.] Darling is one of the founders of the Sentella where he is known as Kere. His siblings include Ryn, a bastard son by Drux's mistress Kirren, Drakari, and Annalise. His mother is Lady Natale.
Maris Sulle is Darling's oldest and dearest friend. He's had Dar's back since they met at the age of five. As an adult, he's only safe on Caron because he is the Andarion ambassador to Caron as arranged by Nykyrian. Tamara is the woman Maris almost married. Chief Agent Safir Jari is a League assassin and the only brother who will still speak to Maris. Kyr Zemen is the prime commander of the League and, in spite of being his oldest brother, hates Maris and Darling.
Zarya Starska is one of two remaining members of her noble family and she no longer trusts anyone. Arturo is to blame in some form for the deaths of the rest---her father Zalan was murdered by his best friend. Her mother and oldest sibling had gone to plead with their old family friend, Arturo, to rescind his judgment against Zalan. The friend who had them both murdered. Her sister Sorche is all that remains to her since her brother Gerrit's death in battle. And she's in love with Kere even as she leads the Resistance against the Cruel dynasty. [Resistant members? Really?] Ture is one of her best friends and the cook at a restaurant.
Fellow Sentellans include Caillen, an Exeterian prince; Desideria Denarii de Orczy is a former Qillaq princess married to Caillen and they have a daughter Lillya; Chayden Aniwaya is Desideria's older brother; the Andarion Hauk brothers---Fain is the oldest brother; the half-human, half-Andarion Nykyrian Quiakides is an Andarion crown prince, a former League assassin, and the leader of the Sentella; Kiara is Nyk's pregnant wife; Syn is assassin, doctor, and the son of a serial killer; Shahara is Syn's wife, Caillen's oldest sister, and the most lethal tracer in the Nine Systems and she and Syn have a baby boy---Devyn; Nero Scalera is Trisani and Darling's cousin; and, Jayne.
One of the most brutal rulers Caron has ever known, Arturo is the Grand Counsel, Darling's regent until he is old enough---30---to take over as ruler. Darling highly doubts Uncle Arturo intends for him to live long enough.
The allies who capture Darling include Clarion Lubomir, Pip, Davon, and Timmon.
The Cover
The cover is a top and bottom gradient of black bleeding into an off-center middle of towering red clouds in a red sky with the author's name, title, and graphic image in holographic colors. The focus is on the hilt of a sword around which a dragon-like creature is twisting.
The title certainly reflects Darling's childhood for he evolved and the adult that he is was Born in Silence.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Darling is the most tortured, most gentle assassins out there, also the most laughed at and a most disrespected man. Thanks to an awful life with a terribly cruel nasty guardian and family. Really things are beyond bad for this man, it is very hard to read in parts. Get the tissue box out and hold it ready. His friends are some of the most powerful and dangerous out there, they have been his only base to sanity for so long. Unfortunately, things are going to get worse than ever and they may not be enough to keep him sane anymore. Even the woman he thinks he loves may not be the one she thinks she is.
Dark, gritty and filled with torture, lies, and anger. This is not a light read, nor a pretty one. There is a very sweet romantic hope in it. If you have read The League books you have to read this one.
Dark, gritty and filled with torture, lies, and anger. This is not a light read, nor a pretty one. There is a very sweet romantic hope in it. If you have read The League books you have to read this one.
clairedrinkstea's review against another edition
5.0
WOW!! I've really enjoyed The League series and the interplay between the core group/generation if characters and this has made me a very happy fan (of the series and Sherrilyn Kenyon's books).
Born of Silence fits well in the series, every character has had an extremely hard life and dealt with a lot of abuse but Darling Cruel has taken so many mental and physical beatings how is still functioning I can't understand!
Its great to see a different into lay between the lead characters of Darling and Zarya and I absolutely love Maris.
This book is akin to Acheron from The Dark-Hunter Series in that it looks at the extreme level and lifetime as well as ongoing abuse one person is subjected to but please don't make the mistake of thinking they are the same; or indeed The League Series and The Dark-Hunter Series are the same.
Really give this book a going you're a fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon, but if suggest reading the series on order it'll make the multiple characters a lot easier to understand.
Also, anyone else think Nero was doing some special healing mojo like in The League short story 'Ice and Fire' (Nyks son Aldon's story)?? ;)
Born of Silence fits well in the series, every character has had an extremely hard life and dealt with a lot of abuse but Darling Cruel has taken so many mental and physical beatings how is still functioning I can't understand!
Its great to see a different into lay between the lead characters of Darling and Zarya and I absolutely love Maris.
This book is akin to Acheron from The Dark-Hunter Series in that it looks at the extreme level and lifetime as well as ongoing abuse one person is subjected to but please don't make the mistake of thinking they are the same; or indeed The League Series and The Dark-Hunter Series are the same.
Really give this book a going you're a fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon, but if suggest reading the series on order it'll make the multiple characters a lot easier to understand.
Also, anyone else think Nero was doing some special healing mojo like in The League short story 'Ice and Fire' (Nyks son Aldon's story)?? ;)
jazzrizz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kissa301_91's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book had me tense for about 80% of the book. I spent the whole time waiting for something else to go wrong and then the stress continued when I could see the mental traps the main characters were falling into. The story was well fleshed out, and I do not regret reading it, but my naturally anxious self found it a bit like slogging through mud. Still a great book.
deidrar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
romancejunkie1025's review against another edition
5.0
6...nooo 10 stars!!! Review to come when my brains come back online & I can stop crying
jetenold's review against another edition
5.0
Tragically awesome is how i would sum this up in two words. There were definite times where i was in tears just from what had been done to him, but loved it!!! Now i have to re-read all of them again:)