A Verse for Caelum

by C a Rene

[glowstars]

Deluge has to be the most twisted band I’ve ever heard of – and I grew up to the sounds of Black Sabbath and Marilyn Manson. Personally, I think bats and broken beer bottles would be a bit tame for the likes of Raiden and Hail.

The previous two books – Sing Me A Song and Song Of Tenebrae – focused on the relationship between Raiden and Tempest. A Verse For Caelum moves the perspective over to Hail and Sky. The story begins right where Song of Tenebrae left off, as Sky and Tiny are flown to Las Vegas and Hail, Torrent and Squall leave for New York. Except you know things won’t be as simple as everybody doing as they’re told.

While we read about Hail staying in Las Vegas to watch over Tiny (and, by default, Sky), the other guys get up to god only knows what. Sky is on a mission to break down Hail's walls and get him to open up. Hail is disfigured and traumatised, so used to hiding in the shadows that nobody ever gets to see him. It was painful yet beautiful to see each brick of that wall fall at Sky's hands. Readers are given more of a view of how the four men met and what really happened at Loving Beginnings Orphanage. Quite frankly, that place is beyond scary.

In other parts of the story, we learn how Sky's aunt managed to fall into Deluge's path and what connects them all. Readers also get to see more of Incognitus and what they're doing to cause havoc in Deluge's world. My theories as to who is actually behind the character changed numerous times over the course of the book but don't worry all will be revealed in the final chapters.

Be prepared for a shock because there are multiple "no way!" moments in this book. It's also an amazing set-up for the final story, featuring Torrent, Squall and Tiny. Little hints in the book tell me the next one is going to be the best of the bunch.

My only complaint is that the backstory can become quite confusing at times. When you read about the workings of a whole, secretive organisation and try to recall information you read months ago, I sometimes felt I was missing bits. I could do with a handbook full of all the technical details because my foggy brain just can't cope with it all!