Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Unknown

SERIES:  Rath & Rune

AUTHOR:  Jordan L. Hawk

NARRATOR:  Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER:  Widdershins Press LLC

LENGTH:  6 hours and 27 minutes

RELEASE DATE:  July 17, 2023

BLURB:

Librarian Sebastian Rath and his lover Vesper Rune continue their search for the evil Books of the Bound. But in the meantime, the young men in Sebastian’s social circle start dying.

Though the deaths look like self-administered poisonings, Sebastian soon comes to realize a killer is at work. And not just any murderer, but one wielding the dark power of the Book of Bone.

To stop a madman, Sebastian must choose whether or not to embrace the unsettling powers gifted to him by the previous books. Because if he fails to stop the killer, Ves could be the next target.

REVIEW:

Note:  This is the third in a series, and as such, should be read in order.  Major spoilers for the previous books in this installment.

Sebastian and Vesper are back at work at the library while still continuing to see for the other two Books of the Bound.  Noct and Irene are happily together – although there are other considerations for them 😉  Mr. Quinn’s twin nieces arrive from Boston for a visit and they very interested in the work the librarians are doing.  Then a young man of Sebastian’s acquaintance is found dead.  It appears to be suicide – but Seb is suspicious.  When he and Ves go to investigate, they find a strange contingent of bones – from different animals still in the mans rooms.  They attend the visitation and soon another young man is dead under the similar circumstances.

Sebastian and Vesper decide to follow the lead to the common haunt of these two men, the local Bath house that Sebastian attended before Vesper came to town and into his life.  While there, the meet a friend, Bruce.  As strange events continue to mount,  Bruce reaches out the Ves and Seb.  He has suspicions about who might be behind these deaths but is unwilling to elaborate.

There is some family stuff going on as well with Sebastian’s sister and her family.  Things become even more unclear as to who is behind the deaths and is looking for the Book of the Bone.  Sebastian’s power seems to be growing and he’s not afraid to use it – sometimes without considering all the consequences.  Vesper is afraid for him while knowing that these powers are also necessary if they are to win the larger battle.  Finding the book and person behind the death and destruction is a scary and dangerous prospect.

As with each book in this series, the stakes get higher and higher for Sebastian and Ves.  This time, they are threatened by bone constructs in a number of horrific battles.  Sebastian’s powers are growing as well as each book is bound to him.  Vesper is worried about him and what he’s becoming, even though he knows that the powers have helped them escape and survive the multitude of attacks they face.  While Noct and Irene and Mr. Quinn and the rest of the librarians are trying to make sense of things and guard the library and the books they already have in their possession, it’s not just those who wish to reunite the books that they have to worry about.  There are still others who have different axes to grind.  Between Sebastian’s mother and grandfather, the School of Night, some of the old families, including the Endicotts, there are a lot of players here. I thought the mystery was well done and the horror aspects of this series spooky and scary but not stomach turning.

Once again, Joel Leslie does a fabulous job of performing this story.  The continuity between these books is amazing.  There are so many characters.  They go through so much.  Mr. Leslie is a pro at imbuing these characters with the right emotional tone – no matter if they are running from some crazed supernatural creature, having a heart to heart with a sibling or sweeting loving their partners.  It’s a perfect marriage of story and performer.

Highly recommended!  Cannot wait for book 4!!

RATING: 

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