Where the Silence Sings

This was a strong start to the Symphonic Masquerade series, it had everything that I was looking for based on the description. The characters were what I was hoping for and thought it was a great futuristic fantasy element to it. Emery Blaine has a great writing style and I can't wait to read the next book and from the author.

A huge thank you to Wild Door Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of Where the Silence Sings.

Aeyun’s latest heist is interrupted by the devastating news of Raenaru’s leading family befalling a grim fate at the hands of one of their own.
Aeyun and his crew – including mercenary Sakaeri – have to navigate the fallout of Aeyun’s choices from his time before the ore-smuggling.
With any luck, they’ll figure out what happened to Raeyu, get a hold of seemingly untouchable ore, and decode the mystery behind Seraeyu’s brutal rise to power.

Emery Blaine is a master of words with lyrical prose and painterly depictions. Lush worldscapes come to life throughout Where the Silence Sings, and it’s a joy to be immersed.

The camaraderie between Aeyun and his crew resonates found family. Especially Davah. His entire journey hinges on the support he receives from those who he has placed around him. Blaine has truly succeeded with the relationships the characters have with one another, as well as the characters’ own qualities that make them tangible to the reader.

While I enjoyed the characters, the prose, and the lore peppered throughout the novel, I did find it difficult to be fully engaged with the plot. There was a sense that I had stepped into the second book of a series and had missed the establishing world-building that comes with it.

With such complex political aspects paired with wholly unique magical physics, there needed to be more cushioning for me as the reader entering the narrative. We’re dropped right in the centre of action. It can work, don’t get me wrong. But the entire time I was craving more context.

The abrupt introduction to the narrative also meant that the pacing felt slow the second the perspective left Seraeyu. The insight into his character was perhaps the wrong place to begin the story. I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the information provided until much much later. It gave me the sense that I would need to read the story a second time to really appreciate all the details.

Where the Silence Sings is a whopping big tale in a futuristic and fantastical realm. I think Emery Blaine is an artful writer and has promise: Blaine has the hallmarks of an author who could produce an auspicious classic.

Aeyun’s journey has just begun – it’ll be an epic tale yet, I’m sure.

Where Silence Sings
By Emery Blaine

This one was 4 stars by the end.

The beginning was a bit rough. Mainly because I was just so confused. As a fantasy reader I’m used to a level of confusing when learning a new world/magic system, but this was a step beyond that. By about halfway (?) it all started to really come together for me. The main confusion in the beginning were all the flashback tidbits at the beginnings of each chapter. I feel like now that I understand the characters/world better I need to go back and reread those.

Part of the confusion is because the magic system is complicated and our MC is trying to figure things out about it himself. I liked the magic system, especially some of the musical comparisons, I’m just still a bit confused.

The world building and characters, though, I thought were top notch! We have different Realms (worlds) interconnected by giant, ancient sea gates that transport between them all. Our MC is flawed. Has a very different reputation depending on who you ask, but not in a contradictory way, one that makes sense with his character. His main three companions are all interesting and mysterious in their own rights.

If you decide to pick it up, be prepared to be floating at sea for a bit, but I thought it was worth it in the end.

Thanks to @netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.