In the previous book, we were introduced to Siora, a shade speaker, and her employer, Gharek, cat's paw to the evil Empress Dalvila, at least before she was unceremoniously eaten by Malachus, a man who was also a dragon. Here, we find Gharek hot on Siora's heels as she tries to outrun him across the Kraelag Empire, especially since she betrayed him previously by foiling a kidnapping he did to try to heal his armless young daughter, Estred, with dragon's blood. Gharek was not only furious at the betrayal, but Estred loved Siora dearly, since she was the child's nursemaid, and Gharek can't abide someone breaking Estred's heart.
As Siora makes her way across the desert, she earns a bit of food and money by speaking to the dead on behalf of relatives willing to pay, however she comes across Gharek when she draws close to Midrigal, the city of the dead. She intervenes when Gharek is unwittingly pulled towards the city by a strong but unseen force, saving his very life by knocking him unconscious, but he is none too appreciative. Less so when she ties him up, takes his food, money and horse, and leaves him there, able to escape, but with enough lead time for her to escape.
She then fumbles her way into a battle when the little town she has stopped in is attacked by Nunari warriors, and Gharek returns the earlier favor by saving her life. However, he is bound and determined to march her back to Estred so she can apologize, but is that truly all he wants?
As much as Gharek has been hunting Siora, so has half the kingdom been hunting the cat's paw, now that his Empress is dead. When Gharek is spotted by someone, he assumes they are hoping to collect a huge payoff for his head, but instead, he is hauled before General Zaredis, someone hoping to capitalize on the disarray of the empire and take the throne for himself. And the cat's paw, with all of his knowledge of the palatial grounds, is just the man to help him. Zaredis needs to infiltrate the city of Domora, where Dalvila's summer palace is located, and steal the Windcry, a magical device able to knock down the strongest of city walls in a snap. Naturally, the Windcry is heavily protected by walls, locks, wards and a few other surprises along the way, and all Gharek will get in exchange for his help is a quick death rather than a slow one.
Why is Zaredis so salty, you ask? As it so happens, Gharek was responsible for his twin brother's death, in a roundabout way, based on his job as the cat's paw. However, Siora intervenes by allowing Zaredis to communicate with Kalun, his ghostly brother, and when the camp is later attacked by the same force that tried to take Gharek, it becomes clear that there is a much bigger threat at hand. This ghost-eater from Midrigal was previously only consuming the lost souls of the dead city, but it seems to be able to attack living people now, as it did earlier with Gharek, and with each soul consumed, it grows in power.
Zaredis allows Siora to accompany Gharek to Domora, all the while he threatens Estred to ensure Gharek's compliance. The road won't be easy and there will be enemies on all sides, both living and dead, but Gharek will do anything to protect Estred, and so will Siora. Perhaps the two share more common ground than either one is willing to admit.
As they journey to Domora and the Maesor, the marketplace of magic which now lies oddly empty of people, they seek the knowledge needed to break the many protection wards on the Windcry. Gharek and Siora will have to rely on one another more often than not, even as their conflicted feelings for each other began to change to something more. Fortunately, they'll run into old friends (and enemies, in Gharek's case), from the free trader group including Halani, Malachus, and Asil, Gharek's former kidnap victim. Before it is all over, Siora will face the biggest challenge of her life, but she may also find her life changing in the most unexpected of ways.
Once again, Draven doesn't disappoint with Raven Unveiled. It's another wonderful installment to this universe and I will joyfully keep reading every book in this series. The characters are well-rounded and interesting and have lots of secrets for the reader to discover. Highly recommended.
