Cloak & Silence

The League; Book 6 of First Generation

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

One of the fiercest soldiers the Phrixians have ever produced, Maris Sulle has been an outsider his whole life. He grew up with a secret that cost him everything - his birthright, his family, his military career. He's only ever had one love, and Maris has sacrificed that to see his best friend reunited with the woman he loves. His good deed done, he now feels lost and adrift. Even though his new family does its best to include him, he's once again on the outside looking in.

Ture has spent his life hiding from everyone around him while trying desperately to fit in. Badly hurt by everyone he's ever known, he trusts no one except his best friend - and honestly, he can't understand why he trusts her. Nor can he believe her when she describes a loyalty between friends the likes of which he’s never seen.

But in his darkest hour, Ture is saved by a hero he thought only existed in novels, a man every bit as scarred and mistrusting as he is and who has no interest in being dragged into another relationship with anyone.

Having spent his life as a living study of doomed relationships, Maris is well aware of the fiasco that must inevitably follow courtship. Still, there is something about Ture he can't resist - something that won't let him walk away even when he knows he should.

And when old enemies return to threaten them both, these two must either stand together or die alone.

©2013 Sherrilyn Kenyon (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Sherrilyn and Holter are back!

Where does Cloak & Silence rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in the top ten. I love Maris, always have, but I think Sherrilyn was pushed to hurry up and get this one out before Hauk's book. That being said, I love love love the league books. Maris is the best ever, Safir rocked it and I can't wait to see more of him. Ture is just a doll and so sweet. Terek is going to be a handful, but I think Maris and Ture can handle him.

What other book might you compare Cloak & Silence to and why?

Any of the League books. I also think it's like the Marie Sexton books, although not as explicit.

What does Holter Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Holter's always been my favorite narrator and he sounds great after his cancer treatment. Not everyone knows that he's been sick for a few months and he wasn't supposed to do any books, but he got this one out for listeners like me who adore him. You can tell he's pushing himself and in some spots it shows, but he's back and hopefully will be well enough to do Hauk's book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Every hero had a past and a future if they're brave enough to take it.

Any additional comments?

I understand why some people aren't happy with this one, but as a writer myself, you have to trust what the author is doing and know that they know where the series is going. Sherrilyn has gotten a lot of backlash from her decisions on not putting Darling and Maris together, but I get it. It keeps the conflict part of the series going. I say, go with it. Trust her. She knows what she's doing. Look at all her #1's on the Best Seller lists.

And for everyone who's going to knock Holter's performance, remember, he's had cancer treatments recently. Check his blog, if you don't believe me. The guy's on the road to recovery and I feel lucky to have this one so soon after his treatments. Yeah, you can tell he's hurting, but he's a trooper and he pushed through it. It also lends support to the story line and helps add a depth to the characters that they've been hurt so much in the past that you can hear it when he's speaking for them.

Just listen to one chapter with your eyes closed in your favorite chair and see what you think.

Renewed my interest in the series

I'll start by saying this is probably a totally bias review, as I have been waiting for this book since Marius was introduced to the series. I am a huge MM romance fan and this didn't disappoint. Marius has been one of my favorite characters in this series, and quite frankly I was losing interest in the series until this book. I did not like Darling's book at all because the violence was over the top in my opinion. And Caillien's book was just OK. Marius and Ture's story has renewed my interest in the series because it reintroduced the family bonds btwn all the characters of series, as well as a nicely told romance. Many of the other characters at least make cameos in the book to support Marius getting his HEA. My only complaint is I think it was too short. And I don't think the death of a minor character was handled very well. I don't think they "mourned" them like I think they should have. The narrator was great, great emotion and humor in his delivery.

Could not get through it.

Would you try another book from Sherrilyn Kenyon and/or Holter Graham?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This book is the story of Maris. He is one of the gay characters in the story. It was too graphic for me.

Loved the narrator, hated the story

I'm pissed about this book. Thoroughly pissed.

I have a weakness for Sherrilyn Kenyon's book. They are kind of angsty, melodramatic guilty pleasures of mine, and I had yet to find a story of hers that didn't win me over in the end. It figures that her M/M story is the one to fail for me. Oh the irony.

I have to say, I am thrilled beyond belief that Kenyon wrote a M/M romance. It just goes to show you that M/M is going mainstream in a big way. I also have loved the character of Maris ever since he made his first appearance in The League series and I was beyond excited for his story. This, however, was a total let down.

Even a stellar narration from Holter Graham couldn't save this book. The main problem with this story is the way Kenyon writes her gay characters. These guys constantly "giggle" and swoosh, and every time they do something that is "manly", like fight or pick up something heavy, another character has to exclaim, "Are you sure he is gay??" Yes, gay men can be both manly and homosexual. They aren't mutually exclusive! They call themselves "goddess" and "sweetie" and are oddly feminized. Now, I know there are gay men all over the spectrum, and I have read amazing books with guys that toe the line between masculine and feminine, but in this book it read as "I have to make these guys stereotypically gay seeming so everyone knows they are gay". It just rubbed me the wrong way.

And the sex... jeez. Admittedly, that middle ground between no-sex-on-page and full-on-sex that Kenyon likes, doesn't translate well to gay romance. But things like this would happen in this book, "He kissed his way up his neck and then he entered him." Mind you, this would be like when they were cooking and or sitting on the couch. I was so confused as to the logistics of everything. It was literally like the author took a scene from one of her M/F romances and changed "he" to "she". It felt really odd.

What did I like about this book? Well, I still loved the bromance between Maris and Darling and I was really happy that Maris got his HEA, but most of the book was problematic for me. The angst was also off-the-charts and I had a difficult time buying all of the drama at times. I also thought that the passion, the sexual tension was missing from this story. Maybe because it was more insta-love than a hard fought romance like in all of the other stories? And it was a touch boring...

I'm going to continue on to Hauk's book because I happen to love her M/F stuff. Go figure.

The League book stands strong!

What did you love best about Cloak & Silence?

That two secondary charters, shine thru in great class. Sherrilynn Kenyon does a great job with this book!

What other book might you compare Cloak & Silence to and why?

This follows great behind The league 5 - Darling's story

Good Book

It was great to hear Maris's story of true love and the continuing saga of the League. I want more! If you have read the books in this series you will love it. SK did a great job with a difficult dilemma of writing a "gay" romance with tasteful grace and do not worry, LOL, it is not porn but written well using great emotion.

I could not enjoy the book

I just could not enjoy this book, either the story or the narration… A sexy male warrior with a very feminine behavior just doesn’t sit right with me. I enjoy gay relationships just as much as straight relationships in the book as long as they behave as they are presented. I like male warrior behave as a male regardless of his sexual preferences. Obviously, this is just my personal preference. I regret spending my credit on this book.

The best duo!

Sherrylin Kenyon McQueen is my favorite storyteller and Holter Graham is amazing at narration.

Disappointed

Normally I love her books but this one was a bit generic. The Narrator didn't really change his voice to change with the characters.

Action packed gay romance

One of my favorites even though I'm a hetero female. So much emotional growth mixed with action and family drama.