A world in peril. A fading faerie king. A lie that could shatter the Trianid.
The Battle of the Second Slayer is won, but peace in Dúramair is short-lived. Ylvain’s darkling elementals still roam the kingdom in a violent storm, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake. Even Faer Dinnán, the faerie king, is fading, and unless the darklings are stopped soon, all of Dúramair will find itself in mortal danger.
It falls to Alyen and the new Trianid to stem this evil and restore balance before all hope of victory is lost. But soon Alyen finds herself facing more than just the storm. Forced to confront her past and tame her own shadow side, Alyen finds that the only path to salvation may come at a steep cost: a betrayal that could rend her heart—and the Trianid—asunder.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Alyen wants to enjoy the peace after Dúramair defeated its enemies in a great battle, but all of her senses are screaming at her that danger is still near. Evil appears in the form of a deadly storm. With the metaphors of storm and shadow, Slayer of Monsters explores what it takes to be victorious. Mollova hits all of her beats, weaving a story that is easy to fall into, and leaving readers ready for the next book.
Prose: Slayer of Monsters maintains a clear narrative style that is appropriate for its audience, while honoring its fantasy traditions.
Originality: Slayer of Monsters is a true high fantasy adventure. A personified storm of “darkling elementals” is a fresh take on magical danger.
Character/Execution: Readers will immediately become invested in Alyen and her friends. Slayer of Monsters displays an understanding of YA sensibilities balanced with well-crafted fantasy characters. Dissimilar character names might make them even more easily distinguishable.
Date Submitted: August 06, 2024
Within Slayer of Monsters, Anne has continued to craft a vibrant world of faerie in a medieval setting. This YA fantasy is not only brimming with magic, but also a fragile hope in the face of utter darkness. I adore how Anne has steadily built up the tension and danger, just waiting for the spark that will set everything alight! Seriously, if you love tales like Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull or even R. A. Salvatore’s The Cleric Quintet series? *Run* to your preferred book retailer and get The Trianid!
Although there’s the end of the world to deal with, I love that in Slayer of Monsters we also get light-hearted moments. This is largely due to Brother Hugh, who has such a high amount of energy and adorable goofiness! Paired with Nah’dar (a former assassin), this unlikely duo help make the second installment of The Trianid what it is: a YA fantasy masterpiece. You think I’m overselling this? I’m not. Because Anne’s writing is *beautiful*.
If a story is very, very good (which this is), it will speak to your heart and make you reassess things. When Alyen has to address her fear, Anne skilfully depicts fear as Alyen’s mirror image. And that fear, which had caused so much grief, only did this to protect Alyen as best it could. Maybe it’s just me, but it honestly felt like a lightbulb moment! I’m not going to give spoilers, so I won’t quote the passage. But I *can* promise I will never stop raving about Slaying of Monsters.
