Book Review: A Heart of Salt & Silver

My rating: 5 dark stars for an unputdownable read


In the land of epic multi-volume fantasy series, the stand-alone is a much rarer beast. It needs to draw the reader in and fully deliver as far as both plot and characters are concerned in a single volume, nicely wrap up all threads, as well as leave you with that sense of satisfaction at the end. This book here manages all of it beautifully.



Gritty and imaginative, riveting and full of feeling, A Heart of Salt & Silver is not only a heartbreaking romance, but also the compelling story of a broken soul.
Ness, a demi-demon with a conscience.

Ness, living secluded and alone, away from the humans who fear her, just wanted a peaceful afternoon in the Forest of Immortals. A little time spent admiring the beauty of the forest and getting lost in the memories of a love that could never be. But Elias, a reckless mortal, went and spoiled it. Not that he wanted to be chased by psychotic vampires, but still.

After saving his life, Ness agrees to help him find his estranged father and his Pack. But that means facing Nolan, the werewolf ex that holds her heart. The one Ness knows she can never have. And the fact that Elias seems to be attracted to her doesn't help at all. Especially since Ness has been alone and lonely for such a long time. After all, who would even like, let alone love a creature like her? A demi-demon?

Now, Ness must decide. Use Elias to forget Nolan at the cost of his soul or crawl back to her ex and hope he still wants her even though she broke his heart.
But when the vampires come calling, broken hearts might be the least of their worries.

The plot in itself may not ne quite as gripping and yet, when you start reading this, you'll find yourself turning pages late into the night. Because of the fully fleshed characters, their inner struggles and the feeling! And especially because of Ness. The half-demon with a conscience who constantly strives to overcome her dark side and be good. Ness is heartbreakingly broken. Not her body, but her soul. And her journey of self-discovery, acceptance and realization that not everything is a black as she believes was the highlight of the novel for me. Well, that and the feeling. I said it before and will say it again. Elexis Bell has a talent at weaving feeling within her tales in such a way that it's bound to affect even the most skeptical reader out there.

From heartbreak

'My damned heart just can't forget him. I see him in my dreams, hear his name whispering through my thoughts. A twinge of pain twists my heart.
Nolan....
Even now, I crave him.'

To longing:

'My hands ache to feel her, to pull her tight against me. My soul yearns for her eyes, gazing into mine.'

I could feel it all with Ness and Nolan.

And then that incredulity a broken soul shows when faced with the possibility that they could be loved and mean something to someone, despite how ugly and undeserving they consider themselves to be... Heartbreaking! This writer manages to make you feel it all.

Through small exchanges like this:
"Why me?"
"Because yeh're stronger than anyone I've ever met....
Because yer heart is more pow'rful than any magic....
Because yer soul is kinder and more passionate than I could've ev'r expected."
Finally she meets my gaze and gold swims behind a sheen of tears. "But I'm ... me...." she gulps.
"Tha's the point" I say inching closer. "I wouldna have yeh any oth'r way."

Or though a friendly hug in the most unexpected moment or a reluctant handshake at another. And these are just a few examples.

Written in the first person POV of 3 different MCs, A Heart of Salt & Silver is a fast paced dark tale that manages to be both gritty and gory as well as heartbreakingly beautiful. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to every single high fantasy romance fan out there.

It's startlingly beautiful!

Check out this book and more of Elexis Bell here