Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Thrall

SERIES:  Legend of the Fallen Empire #1

AUTHOR: Ravon Silvus

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Publications

LENGTH: 235 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2019

BLURB:

Legend of the Fallen Empire The old Empire has fallen, and humanity is losing the war against powerful vampires. Kaiden, once the pathetic town drunk, is now a thrall, a mindless servant driven only by bloodlust and his master’s orders. But when his master orders Kaiden to kill a vampire hunter, Kaiden disobeys. Hunter Johann has spent years studying old lore and killing thralls, but he’s never seen one like Kaiden, intelligent and capable of free will. If he can convince Kaiden to help him, he might reclaim something thought lost forever: a chance for humankind. But he isn’t sure if Kaiden can be trusted, much less become a tool to kill the vampire who created him.  Kaiden doesn’t know who he is or what he truly wants beyond blood. Most of his memories are shadows, and nothing will bring back the life he lost. Not a vampire, not a mindless thrall, capable of using the old magics, Kaiden is something completely different. And being different means being alone.

REVIEW:

This was a really good book. Another little twist about vampires I so enjoyed. I love to see people’s different interpretations of things. For the most part, some things remain the same, but with each person there can be little twists that put things in a whole new light. And I liked how this one turned out.

Kaiden couldn’t remember anything about his life before. He didn’t even know his own name. All he knew is that his master wanted them to go kill this person traveling the road. They had all set up to do so, but for some reason Kaiden was a bit slower. Maybe because he was only two months turned and the others were older. Whatever the reason, it saved his ‘life’. The person on the wagon was a hunter and had used a solar flare that killed the rest of his fellow thralls. Once he could see and knew he was somewhat safe, he went to go after the hunter. But seeing the hunter pointing the crossbow at his heart, he did one thing no other thrall could do. He fought against the master’s compulsion and ran. And immediately, Johann, the hunter, knew this thrall was different. Kaiden’s master wasn’t happy he was still alive as well as the hunter, but gave him another chance. But Johann got to him first and wanted to try his theories on him. His fellow hunters thought he was nuts and wanted to kill Kaiden immediately, but Johann had encouraged them just to talk to Kaiden. And even though they didn’t trust him, they knew he was different and in control of his mind. For no thrall could speak as a normal. They were mindless. As time went on, Johann taught him to fight and to use weapons, so they could kill his master, even going so far to break the spell on him. But Kaiden’s master wanted him back and he did everything he could to keep him bound to him again. Even tried to torture him with fresh blood of the one woman he remembered, who had cared for him. But Kaiden fought it. He couldn’t save the woman, but he tried. He fought and fought. Things were hard between him and Johann, because Johann almost believed him capable of killing this woman. And in order for them to kill the vamp and move forward, Johann had to learn no matter what form Kaiden was or took, Kaiden could still be trusted. But until then, nothing would ever change. And that may cost them everything. Even their lives.

During the times of Kaiden’s life, life was much harder. Being born to a whore and not knowing who his father was was bad enough. But he was constantly picked on for it and he eventually gave up on life. Especially when his mother died of a sickness. He drank and drank to take away the pain of everyone and everything. But one woman refused to give up on him. Matilda. Even as a thrall, he couldn’t remember everything about her, but he could remember enough. And he remembered warmth and love and so much more that what he had now. He was so lonely. Even with Johann, he was lonely, because no one fully trusted him. Even after he proved himself time and time and time again. It wasn’t fair to him and I hated it for him. Yeah, maybe when his master had made him a thrall he wanted to die. Or part of him did. He felt like nothing but a loser anyway. No one wanted him around. But part of him wanted to live. Even more so now. Everything was so hard. I felt so bad for everything that he had to go through. Constantly. 

Maybe with Johann’s knowledge and his strength, things could change. He hoped they could. He wanted people not to live in fear anymore. Even if it meant he was lonely for the rest of his life.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

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