Reviewed by Cheryl

TITLE: Unseen

SERIES: Rath & Rune #2

AUTHOR: Jordan Hawk

PUBLISHER: Self published

LENGTH: 234 Pages

RELEASE DATE: November 12,  2021

BLURB:

Librarian Sebastian Rath and his lover Vesper Rune are tasked with seeking and containing the evil Books of the Bound. But one of the Books has been freed from its prison—and is in the hands of a killer.

As more bodies turn up, Sebastian finds himself tempted to use forbidden magic to locate the Book and stop the murderer. And when an unexpected connection to the necromancers who created the Books is revealed, Sebastian must choose just how far he’ll go to right the wrongs of the past—even if it means endangering his own future.

REVIEW:

I feel there are two separate stories going on in this book. First is the adventure our boys embark on to locate another of the evil Books that are the most current threat to the magical Widdershins.

However, the more important story, as far as I am concerned, is the examination of family and what it means to be part of one. Rune and Noct, who I adore and comes into his own in this story, were brought up in the most disfunctional family imaginable and have since been on the run from ever getting into that situation again. Now, they find themselves welcomed into Sebastian’s family, and also a family of friends.

Throughout the book, both Ves and Noct struggle to come to terms with the fact that their new families have their backs and are with them for the bad times as well as the good. They are constantly surprised that they aren’t on their own anymore and that they’re not going to be rejected as soon as things get heavy.

The theme of families extends further than the two Rune boys and is explored in some way by all of the characters – Seb’s mother, Irene’s extended family and Mortimer’s Great Uncle. The theme reaches a peak with the return of Ves and Noct’s mother. Nothing comes of it in this story but it is a storyline that has clearly been set up for future books and I can’t wait to see where the author takes it.

As usual, there is such a rich cast of supporting characters, it’s hard to pick favourites, although Irene and Bonnie are clearly way up there, as are Bonnie’s children who I find adorable. I suppose Noct is technically a supporting character, and in that case he is absolutely my favourite. For someone who is far from human, his storyline in this book is very human. Although there are aspects that focus on his sheer inhumanity, his emotional journey is touchingly human. I very much hope that he is expanded even further in future books, and that he gets his happy ending as he is, in some respects, a tragic character that could go so wrong.

Another thing I love about the Widdershins books is that it has completely overhauled the idea of the librarian. Gone is the elderly woman who hushes you over half-moon glasses, replaced by Indiana-Jones-type adventurers whose very building is designed to contain dangerous magic and secrets.

I have yet to dislike any book from this author and the current one is in no way an exception. I have very quickly come to love Seb and Ves as well as their families and all their friends. I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes the series and heartily recommend the book to all Jordan L Hawk fans and anyone who likes a great story with plenty to get your teeth into. I would not, however, recommend you read a book as a standalone as there was simply too much set up in book one to make complete sense without it.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

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