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A review by jazkc
Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake
5.0
5 + stars ✧
mystery. psychological. slow burn romance. gothic. secret societies.
if twin flame authors were a thing, i’m sure Lake is that for me. she gets it :’)
keri lake has truly mastered the art and skill of integrating intricate mystery plot-lines with slow burn romances for the most seamless balance of the two. there is never a point in the book where i felt that one had taken a backseat for the other, and never any part that i feel was rushed, and to me, that alone suffices for cementing herself as a new all-time favorite author for me. her ways of storytelling are unparalleled, and her characters are all greatly fleshed-out. and that includes side characters as well. you believe they are real people, with their own unique voices, idiosyncrasies, and emotions.
spoiler-y sidenote:
however, i do understand that this case is an exception as the group weren’t really directly after lucian or isa anymore, now that the mayor was handled. so i get if that weren’t the case, immediate retaliation would've been necessary.
idk i just appreciated the lack of an "epic society takedown" just for the sake of making the hero's dick seem bigger when absolute carnage isn't really necessary or just doesn't suit the plot—as i've seen attempted by many dark romance authors.
“Day and night, I think about your taste. Your scent. The softness of your skin against my tongue.”
“You said you love the torture. Now you don’t?”
“I’m beyond torture. I’m on the brink of madness.”
mystery. psychological. slow burn romance. gothic. secret societies.
if twin flame authors were a thing, i’m sure Lake is that for me. she gets it :’)
“You’re the first time I feel safe.”
“And you’re the first time I’ve felt anything in a long time.”
keri lake has truly mastered the art and skill of integrating intricate mystery plot-lines with slow burn romances for the most seamless balance of the two. there is never a point in the book where i felt that one had taken a backseat for the other, and never any part that i feel was rushed, and to me, that alone suffices for cementing herself as a new all-time favorite author for me. her ways of storytelling are unparalleled, and her characters are all greatly fleshed-out. and that includes side characters as well. you believe they are real people, with their own unique voices, idiosyncrasies, and emotions.
“I’d have given up my soul to the devil himself for you. If that isn’t fucking love, then I don’t know what is.”
spoiler-y sidenote:
Spoiler
it sounds weird to say but i really loved that the secret society weren’t taken down yet everything still felt resolved? unless there’s a sequel idk about, i just really appreciated it cause the way it was handled felt very realistic. even after everything, lucian was aware of their power and influence, knowing it wouldn’t be easy or wise to take them down. i really wish more authors would do this tbh when it comes to this trope. i think they think if the hero never took down ALL the “bad guys” in the end, that we would view him as 'less-than' or a pussy. but in lucian’s case, if anything, i found him even more formidable and intelligent.however, i do understand that this case is an exception as the group weren’t really directly after lucian or isa anymore, now that the mayor was handled. so i get if that weren’t the case, immediate retaliation would've been necessary.
idk i just appreciated the lack of an "epic society takedown" just for the sake of making the hero's dick seem bigger when absolute carnage isn't really necessary or just doesn't suit the plot—as i've seen attempted by many dark romance authors.