I wish it had kept going - I wanted to know more about the two new characters! ( )

In the Brush of Black Wings we again meet the characters from Master of Crows, Martise and Silhara. Martise stumbles across a temple in the forest, which hides a deathly force. Or does it? She’s transported to a place outside regular space and time, where she meets a demon king and the human woman accidentally cursed together with him. Silhara follows and tries to rescue his lover.

I liked this novella better than the previous novel in the series. Brush of Black Wings is smaller in many ways, both good and bad. It’s paced much better, unlike Master of Crows which I thought a bit too long for its own good. But, while we don’t have to spend endless chapters reading about Martise and Silhara getting to know each other, the smaller format also make the plot…well, smaller. The number of characters can pretty much be counted with the fingers on one hand. I didn’t particularly mind this, but Brush of Black Wings doesn’t feel quite as epic as Master of Crows occasionally did. At the same time we get a deeper understanding of the history and lore of the world the story takes place. My main issue with Master of Crows was that the world-building wasn’t explained enough, but Brush of Wings satisfies me a bit more on that note. There’s still more to discover, but after Brush of Black Wings I actually want to discover those things, while after Master of Crows I was just kind of…tired.

The ending seems to indicate that we haven’t met these characters for the last time (and I know Draven’s other series, Wraith Kings, tie in to this book). I’m looking forward to see where things are headed.
( )

An excellent novella to reconnect ourselves with Martise and Silhara. Now, please, give us Master of Crows, #3, pretty please? ( )