The Second Blind Son (The Chronicles of Saylok #2) by Amy Harmon

  

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Content: Strong language, mild sex scenes that are mostly left to the imagination.

An insidious curse is weakening the Norse kingdom of Saylok, where no daughters have been born in years. Washing up on these plagued shores is Ghisla, an orphaned stowaway nursed back to health by a blind cave dweller. Named for a mysterious god, the boy, Hod, is surrounded by prophecy. To Ghisla, he’s a cherished new friend. To Hod, the girl is even more so. For when Ghisla sings, Hod can see.

Unable to offer safe shelter, Hod urges Ghisla onward to become a daughter of the temple, where all the kingdom’s girl children have been gathered. But because of a magical rune, the two cannot be separated, no matter the time or the distance.

Now, subject to a ruthless king, Ghisla enters a desperate world of warring clan chieftains and catastrophic power struggles. Who among them can be trusted is unknowable. So are the sacrifices Ghisla and Hod must make to defeat the cursed forces that could destroy a kingdom and the fated bond between two souls.

 

Having loved The First Girl Child, I was really excited that Amy Harmon wrote another book in the same world, and this book didn't disappoint! The story takes place concurrent with the events in The First Girl Child, only through the points of view of different characters. I fell in love with these characters just as much as I always do when reading an Amy Harmon book. I especially liked reading Hod's point of view and how he experienced things as a blind person. The bond he and Ghisla formed was special and believable considering the circumstances they were in. 

This is based on Norse mythology and has both historical fantasy and romantic fantasy elements to it. Authors, if you are going to write a fantasy with romance, this is the way to do it! I love that the romance doesn't overshadow the fantasy aspect of the book, and that it's sweet without being overly done. 

I'm not sure if Amy Harmon is going to write another book set in this world, but if she does I will definitely read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for providing me with an ARC of this book.