A Lie of Desert Red

Death Dreamer Legacy #2

by R.K. Hart

What is the true cost of loyalty?

Lyda has returned to the safety of the Illarum, but nothing is as it should be. The infirmary is full to bursting, food is scarce, and Lorcan is gone. Siva's silver scissors haunt the endless peace of the white place, and their blades bar Lyda from her dreams.

After the devastating attack on Port Royal, war is the word on everyone's lips. When leaders from across the islands gather for the first Four-Land Council in history, Lyda is unwillingly drawn into the machinations of the powerful and the service of her King.

Lyda is torn: the country of her birth is no longer the only one that holds her loyalty, and she must choose where her future lies. The choice will test her resolve, her commitment, and her love - it could even threaten her life.

What will Lyda sacrifice for the country of her heart?

A Lie of Desert Red is the second novel in the Death Dreamer Legacy series.

Praise for To Dream of White & Gold
'... immersive and artfully rendered ... A sparkling first novel' - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Genres: Fantasy

454 pages, Paperback

Published July 8, 2023

About the author

Rebekka Hart writes romantic, mythic fantasy set in future worlds. She lives and works on Ngunnawal land in Canberra, Australia, with her artist husband, two small children, two cats, and three surprisingly long-lived goldfish. She holds a BA (Hons) in Literature, along with a postgraduate teaching degree. She enjoys drinking more coffee than is strictly necessary and reading books with magic and kissing in them.

She is currently working on the third novel in the Death Dreamer Legacy series.

You can find her at rkhart.net.

Reviews

[Anto~mcbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough last year to be amongst the ARC team for the first book in the Death Dreamer Legacy series, To Dream of White & Gold (review here). And since then I've been closely following all new updates on this series through Rebekka's newsletter (can you tell I'm invested in this?). So imagine my happiness and delight when I requested to be on the review team for this second book and was accepted! And I feel terrible because this review was supposed to be up ten days ago. I'm the worst, sometimes 😫



This book picked up a few weeks after the end of the last, and was prefaced by a very useful, much appreciated recap of what'd happened in the first installment (I'd re-read TDoWaG in preparation of this one, but still think it was a marvelous idea to add a quick Ok, so here's where we left off bit to kick things off. I honestly think it'd be amazing if more books did that)



Lyda had been left at The Illarum; Lorcan, Jakob and Mr-Grey-Teacher-Man had left to go who-knows-where; all the other teachers were also either gone or incapacitated for some reason or other and things at the school were just pure chaos since injured people from the Port attack kept arriving and they didn't have the space, man-power nor food to care for that many patients.



Things were bad and Lyda wasn't even sleeping because she was terrified of stepping into The White Place now that her mother had passed along that magical pair of scissors the purpose of which we still haven't figured out. People at The Illarum were plagued with nightmares, Lyda was constantly hungry and exhausted and on top of all of that mess, she was feeling disparaging guilt and inadequacy since her powers, which could help people and give them a modicum of peace, were all but useless when she was too scared to fall asleep.

Those first few chapter were rough, let me tell you!




One thing I though was a great improvement with this book, was how all the different POVs were separated into their own parts. In book one, the perspective kept shifting from one character to another within chapters and even within paragraphs, sometimes. So, this one felt much tidier and easy to follow along with thanks to the POVs being divided and isolated into their own units. It could maybe even be furthered improved by clarifying at the beginning of each switch in perspective whose we're reading from but this is just me being fastidious.



A thought that also kept popping into my head while reading this was how it would make a much more interesting TV adaptation than Shadow and Bone (and the diversity aspect wouldn't even have to be purposely forced into the script). The Death Dreamer Legacy series is like a mix between Shadow and Bone and A Court of Thorns and Roses, except better. There's magical powers, there's bigotry and fear, there are distinctly culturally rich and uniquely lored territories prone to power struggles, there's plotting, betrayal, secrets… There's adventure, there's love, there's family, friendship, honor and duty. Honestly, there's plenty to be captivated and sucked in by. What more could you ask for?



It was a fun contrast how a chunk of book one took place among mountains, snow and freezing temperatures, and this one switched things to the sweltering heat of a desert afflicted by a severe drought.

I could do a thorough recap of all the book's events but that's not only pointless just read the book, but would also result on a monstrously long review and, let's be real, no one wants to read that.



Suffice it to say, I enjoyed the book very much, I really liked two of the new characters introduced in this installment: Cian, Lorcan's childhood BFF and "soul-sworn" and Neri, undefined enemy/ally, golden princess and daughter of the Evil Emperor. And I'm VERY MUCH DISGRUNTLED over the fact it's gonna be another year, to year and a half until the release of the next novel. Waiting sucks! But who am I kidding? I'm too invested at this point.



Once again, thank you so much to author Rebekka Hart for providing me with an early copy to read and review. I appreciate it, and you, so much!

[Kristel Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book for review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Lyda has returned to Illarum expecting peace and safety but finds neither. The hospital is full to bursting with numbers growing daily due to unrest. Food and supplies are low with little hope of replenishing them. Normally she could bear it all but with Lorcan away on assignment and her dreams being haunted by the shadow of her mother Siva and her silver scissors, her mind is disturbed and her body is tired.


When a terrible attack on Port Royal leaves death and mayhem in its wake, the leaders across the four lands gather to decide what should be done. Lyra is reluctantly embroiled in the talks after being volunteered for a secondment in the service of the King. As the journey takes its toll on her, she at least has Lorcan with her and their bond solidifies. No longer just a surface connection, there is deep love between the two.


But the conflicts and double-dealing across the lands have a personal consequence for Lyra. She is faced with the reality that her loyalty to her homeland has shifted and her heart now belongs elsewhere. As her future becomes more dangerous and her allies are compromised, Lyra must decide once and for all who she will commit to and where her allegiance lies. Her choices may end up threatening not only her own life but the lives of those she loves and wishes to protect.


🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. Such a hard review to write because I loved the story so much I couldn’t decide how best to summarise it to explain how amazing it was or how to pick my favourite parts. Everything in this book was beautifully written and vividly visual as Lyra's journey both the scenic descriptions and her personal moments, felt like I was there. Her love and connection to Lorcan (who is becoming a favourite book boyfriend for me) are powerful yet sweet. I also love the mythology surrounding the many lands, the magical skills, the cultures and Lyra's heritage which are fascinating and thrilling. This book developed the story so much from book 1 and I can't wait to see where the series goes next.

[Lisa Venerussi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book in this series from R. K. Hart. A word to the wise however; normally I can pick up a series continuation without any difficulty if I have read the previous book in the past 2-3 years, but I got one chapter into this one and put it down to re-read the first in the series (To Dream of White and Gold) again. It’s truly a continuation, and what makes these books brilliant-underlying deep storylines, a complex world, and a large web of characters and interlacing history/mythology/religion-also means that forgetting even a bit of what’s happened can get you a bit lost. The writing reminds me of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, as I spent a lot of time re-reading there too, but like Jordan’s books, these are worth a re-read, and complex enough that you can often find things you may have missed the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of this second book, and watching the main character Lyda mature and develop. I’m really looking forward to the next book, as we are going to some fascinating places, and I’m not sure how Lyda and Lorcan are going to manage after the events at the end of this one! I only hope we don’t have to wait too long….
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, but as always, the choice to leave a review was my own, as are all my opinions.

[Grendolyn Soleil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to thank R.K. Hart for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of A Lie of Desert Red. The following review is my honest opinion.

Hart’s Death Dreamer Legacy series is a mythic fantasy, set in a futuristic world, laced with adventure, romance, humor, and magic. I'm in awe of Hart's ability to write such a compelling series. The character development, the world-building, and the attention to detail are so well done.

I devoured A Lie of Desert Red in one weekend, and I loved every second of being immersed in this intriguing world. I kept waiting for Lyda and Lorcan to be reunited! Their romance is playful and steamy but also deep and abiding, and it's one of my favorite aspects of the Death Dreamer Legacy series.

Hart is a gifted storyteller with a voice that is both ancient and fresh. She is a magician with words. I fell in love with her nuances, and how could I not with concepts like star skimmers, the white place, and memory mist. Hart’s prose shimmers with veiled mysteries, tough choices, and profound love.

A Lie of Desert Red ends on a cliff-hanger, and I can’t wait for the next tome in this intriguing series! I highly recommend the Death Dreamer Legacy series to fantasy and romance lovers!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second instalment in the Death Dreamer Legacy by R.K Hart and I can honestly say that I am really looking forward to the next instalment. Especially so after being left with such a cliffhanger.

I loved the development of the characters throughout Rebekka’s fantastical storytelling. Lyda’s character matured and developed throughout, and I adored seeing her relationship with Lorcan intensify. I cannot use the word ‘blossom’ as their relationship is far too complex and on such a deeper level.

To Dream of White and Gold ~ Death Dreamer Legacy Part One built of an amazing scene and also introduced us to some wonderfully built characters.

The series, so far, certainly fits several genres. You have fantasy, magic, mythology, folklore, then a deeper level kind of romance.

[Myf Nizette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply stunning follow up to "To Dream of White and Gold" - set in an engrossing world that I think about long after I stop reading, the gorgeous characters relate to each other intimately, respectfully and in ways seldom encountered in young adult fiction. The plot is enthralling and perfectly paced to keep movement but not rush through the world and the experiences. I can't wait til my niece is old enough to read this series - the subtle subversion of gender and sexuality norms is the kind of influence that empowers young women as they grow into themselves in a world that would hold them back.

[Steph Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I turned the first page I had to find out what happened next, ignoring most of my responsibilities to do so. R.K Hart has overwhelmingly exceeded the very high expectations set with To Dream of White and Gold.

[Ilaria Corti · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

I absolutely love it! The author creat an amazing world. I can’t wait for the next instalment!! A great tead

[Emily Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful, delicious, rich story. Built beautifully upon to dream of white and gold, R.K Hart has done a spectacular job of fleshing out the nuance of love and loyalty.

[Jean Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second instalment of this series is a sprawling, thoughtful exploration of this incredibly well-built world. While I enjoyed the first book, I feel that Hart really stepped it up in this one. There is a sense of tension throughout that climaxes very late in the piece, but nevertheless the story holds your attention as you are introduced to new places and people with mysterious agendas. Lyda, our bolshy main protagonist, develops well in this book, as do her relationships. I think my highest praise for Hart is her writing style. It is simply beautiful. She is so adept at evocative description without it ever feeling overly flowery.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lie of Desert Red by R. K. Hart is a tale of devastating secrets & unfathomable magic.

This second book in the Death Dreamer Legacy series picks up nearly seamlessly from where TDoW&G ended. Although more than a month has passed, the people at the Illarum are still dealing with the aftermath of a ship raining fire & brimstone down on an unsuspecting Port Royal. Food is scarce, suffering & death are everywhere, & Lyda is counting down to Lorcan’s return.

Soon browbeaten into service of her King, Lyda must go to Autere to help understand who was behind the deadly attack. Lorcan & a select few accompany her, but their world is about to be turned upside down… The Matriarch is up to something, Lyda’s dreams are starting to harm her, & Princess Neri is like a bird in a gilded cage, fighting for freedom. Will this journey see the end of Lyda & Lorcan’s relationship? Can they trust anyone at all in this red desert? Being a Myrae, Lyda isn’t safe in this new land, & things can turn deadly in the blink of an eye…

Massive happiness boost for me in this book: can we talk about representation? Maybe not in the way many of you might think, but this is a cause *very* close to my heart… Neri severely suffers when she has her periods, & when I read Rebekka’s description of this? I felt seen. I live with endometriosis & adenomyosis, so this storyline was a balm to my weary soul. In the real world, there is no cure for endometriosis. And it seems there isn’t much of one in A Lie of Desert Red, either. A million stars & gentle hugs to Rebekka for this. It really, really made me love Neri, & the author herself for writing this.

Rebekka writes perilous epic YA fantasy so superbly, & with exceptional emotion...

*You can see my full review via my blog: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/a-lie... *

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an amazing world with amazing characters but it felt like everything happened so, so slowly.