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A review by mweis
The Helm of Midnight by Marina J. Lostetter
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
*I received an audio review copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I had preordered this book and read it when it came out in 2021, but when I got an audio review copy of the sequel, I grabbed an audio review copy of this to reread in preparation.
I’m very glad I did too because this audio production was incredible. The narrative follows 3 people in different timelines, narrated by Nicholas Khan, Shaka Nyx, and Vera Chok. Krona is arguably the main character in this installment and she is an investigator searching for the stolen mask of an infamous serial killer, Louis Charbon. In another POV we follow Melanie 2 years previously as she tries to use a mask to save her dying mother, and in the last we follow Charbon 11 years previously as he is at the height of his murder spree.
The way the three timelines/perspectives weave together is really fascinating and I love what we see of the magic and general society here. It’s a queer normative society where their creation myth involves gods of 5 different genders and there seems to be several types of magic, but the one we see the most of has to do with funeral masks that allow the wearer the ability to access a particular talent of the deceased. For example, Louis Charbon had incredible detailed knowledge of human anatomy that he used in his murders, and if someone wears his mask they will have that knowledge while they wear it. We also see hints of a larger macro plot where the people in this society have been isolated and are going to realize that everything they’ve been told is true, is in fact a lie.
As a whole, I found this to be dark and immersive and I really found myself rooting for the characters. I’m also begging for more Thibaut in the sequel, please, I love him.
I had preordered this book and read it when it came out in 2021, but when I got an audio review copy of the sequel, I grabbed an audio review copy of this to reread in preparation.
I’m very glad I did too because this audio production was incredible. The narrative follows 3 people in different timelines, narrated by Nicholas Khan, Shaka Nyx, and Vera Chok. Krona is arguably the main character in this installment and she is an investigator searching for the stolen mask of an infamous serial killer, Louis Charbon. In another POV we follow Melanie 2 years previously as she tries to use a mask to save her dying mother, and in the last we follow Charbon 11 years previously as he is at the height of his murder spree.
The way the three timelines/perspectives weave together is really fascinating and I love what we see of the magic and general society here. It’s a queer normative society where their creation myth involves gods of 5 different genders and there seems to be several types of magic, but the one we see the most of has to do with funeral masks that allow the wearer the ability to access a particular talent of the deceased. For example, Louis Charbon had incredible detailed knowledge of human anatomy that he used in his murders, and if someone wears his mask they will have that knowledge while they wear it. We also see hints of a larger macro plot where the people in this society have been isolated and are going to realize that everything they’ve been told is true, is in fact a lie.
As a whole, I found this to be dark and immersive and I really found myself rooting for the characters. I’m also begging for more Thibaut in the sequel, please, I love him.