What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tragic Silence #3
Tragic Silence
Bianka Farkas lost much more than her best friend and mobility the night a dangerous vampire descended on her house. Left partially paralysed and with a mysterious scar on her neck, not even her dreams are safe from the sadistic figure who attacked her. Fleeing her home in Budapest, she takes refuge in London, facing her new terrifying reality with a surprising ally.
But the demon has set his sights on her, tormenting her day and night, no matter how far she tries to run. A dark secret unites the two of them, separated by a century, and time is running out as the vampiric condition spreads through Bianka's broken body. As the shadows descend, it will take all her strength to find the truth.
But the demon has set his sights on her, tormenting her day and night, no matter how far she tries to run. A dark secret unites the two of them, separated by a century, and time is running out as the vampiric condition spreads through Bianka's broken body. As the shadows descend, it will take all her strength to find the truth.
- GenresRomance
402 pages, ebook
First published November 16, 2013
1 person is currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Hibbs
24 books57 followersE. C. Hibbs is an award-winning author and artist, often found lost in the woods or in her own imagination. Her writing has been featured in the British Fantasy Society Journal, and she has provided artworks in various mediums for clients across the world. She is also a calligrapher and live storyteller, with a penchant for fairytales and legends. She adores nature, fantasy, history, and anything to do with winter. She lives with her family in Cheshire, England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 3, 2014
This was such an amazing book. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I loved that the main character wasn't perfect. I loved that she was brave and would do anything for her friend and would keep her word. I loved that she didn't let what was going on get her down, she accepted what is and did something about it. I loved the unique twist of vampires and demon. I really loved the suspense and that this book wasn't predictable at all. I also loved that even if there was a relationship going on through the book it didn't over power it, it was sweet and it wasn't over the top. I loved seeing how everything connected when it came to the present and past. You know what? Just take my word for it, I loved everything about this book. I highly recommend you readers check out this book.
May 9, 2014
Surprise, it’s a book about vampires! It may be just me, but from the description, I had no idea it was a vampire book, so I was absolutely surprised. BUT, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise, because not only is Tragic Silence a vampire book, it’s a good vampire book.
Told through Bianka’s first person perspective, Tragic Silence starts with a teenage Bianka who’s injured, traumatized, and hospitalized. The early chapters jump around a bit as Bianka struggles mentally to accept what has happened, interspersing her memories of events leading up to the horrific night her friend was murdered and her current reality under supervised medical care. We follow Bianka’s story over the next four years as she comes to terms with what happened that night and just what kind of monster it was that killed her friend and left her with long lasting damage – damage that goes even deeper than she realizes as she sees and feels the alarming and unnatural changes that occur to her own body.
This book is really fantastic. I was impressed that it managed to be a gripping paranormal suspense that keeps the reader hooked, while at the same time providing a slow burn when it came to the confrontation with the monster at the heart of events. The romance between Bianka and Frank is the same way as well – both intensely romantic and with an immediate feel once they get together, and yet they take things glacially slow (seriously, they take foreeeever to kiss).
Bianka as a main character was frustrating at times. She liked to keep things close to the vest and I wanted to yell at her just tell him already when it came to clueing Frank in on what had happened in her past. I feel like a lot of the book was just her tiptoeing around telling him the whole truth, but I know people like that, who getting information from is like pulling teeth, so I could totally relate that that’s just how some people are. She was still really strong and really brave and fatally loyal, so I loved her anyway.
Speaking of characters I loved, and don’t throw rotten fruit at me or anything, but I really liked the bad guy. Not like for killing young girls or anything (bad vampire, shame on you), but I liked that he had a motivation. That somehow, despite his extreme evilness, he was a victim somewhere along the line too. He has layers, you know? He loved. He lost. He got cosmically screwed over by fate. As much as Bianka is his victim, he was once someone’s victim once upon a time as well, except he had no one to save him from turning into a monster.
With its compelling characters and a deeply engrossing story, I recommend Tragic Silence to lovers of paranormal books in general and vampire books in particular. It’s a surprisingly good read ;)
*I received a copy of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
Told through Bianka’s first person perspective, Tragic Silence starts with a teenage Bianka who’s injured, traumatized, and hospitalized. The early chapters jump around a bit as Bianka struggles mentally to accept what has happened, interspersing her memories of events leading up to the horrific night her friend was murdered and her current reality under supervised medical care. We follow Bianka’s story over the next four years as she comes to terms with what happened that night and just what kind of monster it was that killed her friend and left her with long lasting damage – damage that goes even deeper than she realizes as she sees and feels the alarming and unnatural changes that occur to her own body.
This book is really fantastic. I was impressed that it managed to be a gripping paranormal suspense that keeps the reader hooked, while at the same time providing a slow burn when it came to the confrontation with the monster at the heart of events. The romance between Bianka and Frank is the same way as well – both intensely romantic and with an immediate feel once they get together, and yet they take things glacially slow (seriously, they take foreeeever to kiss).
Bianka as a main character was frustrating at times. She liked to keep things close to the vest and I wanted to yell at her just tell him already when it came to clueing Frank in on what had happened in her past. I feel like a lot of the book was just her tiptoeing around telling him the whole truth, but I know people like that, who getting information from is like pulling teeth, so I could totally relate that that’s just how some people are. She was still really strong and really brave and fatally loyal, so I loved her anyway.
Speaking of characters I loved, and don’t throw rotten fruit at me or anything, but I really liked the bad guy. Not like for killing young girls or anything (bad vampire, shame on you), but I liked that he had a motivation. That somehow, despite his extreme evilness, he was a victim somewhere along the line too. He has layers, you know? He loved. He lost. He got cosmically screwed over by fate. As much as Bianka is his victim, he was once someone’s victim once upon a time as well, except he had no one to save him from turning into a monster.
With its compelling characters and a deeply engrossing story, I recommend Tragic Silence to lovers of paranormal books in general and vampire books in particular. It’s a surprisingly good read ;)
*I received a copy of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
September 14, 2020
TRAGIC SILENCE TOUR REVIEW:
This book was so different from the rest that it just completely blew me away. I honestly didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did since the summary didn't reveal a lot about what the premise of the book was going to be about. So let me enlighten you. Bianka, known by her friends simply as Bee, has her life completely turned upside down when her best friend Lucy disappears. Only a couple minutes earlier, Lucy had confided to Bee that she was being stalked by a man and after she leaves, she disappears. The friendship and bond that Bee has with Lucy is absolutely heartbreaking. They truly have a friendship that could span forever, the loyalty, love, and connection that they have spurs Bee to find her best friend. What she finds is that Lucy wasn't kidnapped by a creepy psycho, she was kidnapped by a century old Lideric, a vampire demon.
I can already see all those eyes rolling but don't go anywhere yet. There are no sparkling vampires in this book, there are only good ones who live peacefully with society and bloodthirsty demonic, rip people's heads off for fun ones. A name that the Hungarians have given to these bloodthirsty demons is Lideric. (I'm missing an accent, sorry.) What I loved about the bad "vampire" in the story was how brutally cold he was. Okay, that makes me sound a tad bit like a psychopath, but hear me out. Nowadays, vampires are mysterious creatures whom the MC usually falls in love with despite the fact that they can't be together. E.C. Hibbs takes a totally different stand on that matter. The Lideric is woven into Hibbs's take on the legends; the author weaves the story of a dark monster with purges and a revenge that has lasted for centuries. Everything about this monster is not good and the suspense is almost killing.
Another thing I loved was how subtle the romance was in the story. From the summary, I wasn't expecting a romance at all, but I got one and I was really happy with it. I was so happy when Frank and Bee's relationship didn't become the spotlight of the story. Don't get me wrong, I love romance, but with all the tension and suspense in the story, to throw romance into the spotlight would have been wrong on so many levels. Instead, their romance played out in the background. I just thought it was so refreshing compared to other stories.
With that being said, I think it's safe to say my verdict on the story. Definitely recommend it! Tragic Silence is haunting, flat out scary at times, chock full of suspense and tension, but mostly it focuses a lot on Bee's journey to forgiving herself, to accepting what happened in the past, and to let go of it.
Read my reviews at:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
This book was so different from the rest that it just completely blew me away. I honestly didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did since the summary didn't reveal a lot about what the premise of the book was going to be about. So let me enlighten you. Bianka, known by her friends simply as Bee, has her life completely turned upside down when her best friend Lucy disappears. Only a couple minutes earlier, Lucy had confided to Bee that she was being stalked by a man and after she leaves, she disappears. The friendship and bond that Bee has with Lucy is absolutely heartbreaking. They truly have a friendship that could span forever, the loyalty, love, and connection that they have spurs Bee to find her best friend. What she finds is that Lucy wasn't kidnapped by a creepy psycho, she was kidnapped by a century old Lideric, a vampire demon.
I can already see all those eyes rolling but don't go anywhere yet. There are no sparkling vampires in this book, there are only good ones who live peacefully with society and bloodthirsty demonic, rip people's heads off for fun ones. A name that the Hungarians have given to these bloodthirsty demons is Lideric. (I'm missing an accent, sorry.) What I loved about the bad "vampire" in the story was how brutally cold he was. Okay, that makes me sound a tad bit like a psychopath, but hear me out. Nowadays, vampires are mysterious creatures whom the MC usually falls in love with despite the fact that they can't be together. E.C. Hibbs takes a totally different stand on that matter. The Lideric is woven into Hibbs's take on the legends; the author weaves the story of a dark monster with purges and a revenge that has lasted for centuries. Everything about this monster is not good and the suspense is almost killing.
Another thing I loved was how subtle the romance was in the story. From the summary, I wasn't expecting a romance at all, but I got one and I was really happy with it. I was so happy when Frank and Bee's relationship didn't become the spotlight of the story. Don't get me wrong, I love romance, but with all the tension and suspense in the story, to throw romance into the spotlight would have been wrong on so many levels. Instead, their romance played out in the background. I just thought it was so refreshing compared to other stories.
With that being said, I think it's safe to say my verdict on the story. Definitely recommend it! Tragic Silence is haunting, flat out scary at times, chock full of suspense and tension, but mostly it focuses a lot on Bee's journey to forgiving herself, to accepting what happened in the past, and to let go of it.
Read my reviews at:
https://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com
May 8, 2014
A vampire story with a difference
When I realised this was a vampire story, I was expecting something along the lines of biting humans, beautiful and ageless vampires with turning humans thrown in along the way. But ‘Tragic Silence’ is very different to previous vampire stories I have read and it was refreshing to read this alternate take on such a popular genre.
Set in Budapest, readers are presented with Bianka who has suffered seeing her best friend murdered by a vampire. She is hospitalised and deeply traumatised by the experience. Through flashbacks, we understand how Bianka lands in hospital and who the horrifying figure is that is haunting her. The opening chapters really focuses on Bianka and her experiences and this sets up the narrative for the rest of the novel. Whilst it is a first person narrative, Bianka’s telling of the story makes this rather densely descriptive, to the extent that I found it distracted me from the action when it happened. That being said, you get a true insight into her character but because it was so heavy with her thoughts and feelings, I found the narrative became a little tedious in places and prevented me from enjoying the plot development as much.
I really enjoyed the fact that this is primarily set in Budapest. I rarely read stories set so far away from home and though the plot moves to London, Hibbs keeps up the cultural references with different names for vampires and smatterings of Hungarian dialogue. This is another feature that makes ‘Tragic Silence’ a refreshing read because this is so unexpected. It works well with the different vampire angle that Hibbs offers and it helped maintain my interest in the story.
What really makes this a vampire story with a difference is how the whole process of turning into a vampire is presented. Bianka’s boyfriend, Frank, plays a key role in telling her all about the change and his explanations were really intriguing. So unusual, I liked the whole process that was presented and the entire lack of certainty, even for our protagonist, Bianka.
My rating of three stars reflects the dense narrative in this plot from Bianka’s perspective. This is an interesting vampire story but I found her voice too present in the story and this certainly slowed the pace down. There are lots of features in this novel that make it stand out from other vampire stories and this makes the read more enjoyable. Not one in a series, it made a change to read something with a conclusive ending, and this is something I definitely applaud the author for! Definitely give this a go if you like vampire stories because this is so different, but just anticipate the slower narrative.
This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I realised this was a vampire story, I was expecting something along the lines of biting humans, beautiful and ageless vampires with turning humans thrown in along the way. But ‘Tragic Silence’ is very different to previous vampire stories I have read and it was refreshing to read this alternate take on such a popular genre.
Set in Budapest, readers are presented with Bianka who has suffered seeing her best friend murdered by a vampire. She is hospitalised and deeply traumatised by the experience. Through flashbacks, we understand how Bianka lands in hospital and who the horrifying figure is that is haunting her. The opening chapters really focuses on Bianka and her experiences and this sets up the narrative for the rest of the novel. Whilst it is a first person narrative, Bianka’s telling of the story makes this rather densely descriptive, to the extent that I found it distracted me from the action when it happened. That being said, you get a true insight into her character but because it was so heavy with her thoughts and feelings, I found the narrative became a little tedious in places and prevented me from enjoying the plot development as much.
I really enjoyed the fact that this is primarily set in Budapest. I rarely read stories set so far away from home and though the plot moves to London, Hibbs keeps up the cultural references with different names for vampires and smatterings of Hungarian dialogue. This is another feature that makes ‘Tragic Silence’ a refreshing read because this is so unexpected. It works well with the different vampire angle that Hibbs offers and it helped maintain my interest in the story.
What really makes this a vampire story with a difference is how the whole process of turning into a vampire is presented. Bianka’s boyfriend, Frank, plays a key role in telling her all about the change and his explanations were really intriguing. So unusual, I liked the whole process that was presented and the entire lack of certainty, even for our protagonist, Bianka.
My rating of three stars reflects the dense narrative in this plot from Bianka’s perspective. This is an interesting vampire story but I found her voice too present in the story and this certainly slowed the pace down. There are lots of features in this novel that make it stand out from other vampire stories and this makes the read more enjoyable. Not one in a series, it made a change to read something with a conclusive ending, and this is something I definitely applaud the author for! Definitely give this a go if you like vampire stories because this is so different, but just anticipate the slower narrative.
This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2014
I read Tragic Silence within a couple of days ... THAT'S how captivating the story was.
We go on this nail biting adventure with our heroine - Bianka - as she tries to out run the very monster she can't get away from.
This take on Vampires was so incredibly refreshing I actually sighed with relief. We have a real scary vampire here - and not one that kills with a charming smile and sparkly eyes, this vampire isn't afraid to shed some blood to get what he wants. And what he wants now is Bianka ( or known as Bee).
I immediately fell in love with the friendship between Bianka and Lucy. I loved them together so much that I was hoping against hope that Bianka was able to change the future somehow. Even though I knew what was coming, I still gasped and thought - 'omg no way'. All I can say is WHY???
There's just something about E.C Hibbs writing style that has me trapped in her world. She could be writing about her grocery list and I'll still stick in till the end.
During the course of the book - Bianka tries to piece her life back together the best she can after the accident (an accident mind you that took away her ability to walk properly and forces her onto a cane). She leaves her home in Hungary and travels to London instead but no matter how far she runs, even if she flees to the other side of the world she would still be haunted by the mysterious man. It's more than just her nightmares, he's there always... in her very thoughts. I don't want to give away too much but it's clear that Hibbs had thought through each twist and turn carefully, intertwining all of our characters into a giant web of surprises and excitement.
Can't wait to read more - fan for life!
We go on this nail biting adventure with our heroine - Bianka - as she tries to out run the very monster she can't get away from.
This take on Vampires was so incredibly refreshing I actually sighed with relief. We have a real scary vampire here - and not one that kills with a charming smile and sparkly eyes, this vampire isn't afraid to shed some blood to get what he wants. And what he wants now is Bianka ( or known as Bee).
I immediately fell in love with the friendship between Bianka and Lucy. I loved them together so much that I was hoping against hope that Bianka was able to change the future somehow. Even though I knew what was coming, I still gasped and thought - 'omg no way'. All I can say is WHY???
There's just something about E.C Hibbs writing style that has me trapped in her world. She could be writing about her grocery list and I'll still stick in till the end.
During the course of the book - Bianka tries to piece her life back together the best she can after the accident (an accident mind you that took away her ability to walk properly and forces her onto a cane). She leaves her home in Hungary and travels to London instead but no matter how far she runs, even if she flees to the other side of the world she would still be haunted by the mysterious man. It's more than just her nightmares, he's there always... in her very thoughts. I don't want to give away too much but it's clear that Hibbs had thought through each twist and turn carefully, intertwining all of our characters into a giant web of surprises and excitement.
Can't wait to read more - fan for life!
April 27, 2014
Wow... talk about a paranormal thriller with a nice twist! I loved this plot but I have to say, the beginning really got me!
This start out and the ratchets up so much that you almost have to come down for the second half. The plot does take a bit of a slower rate but not in a bad way. As she is finding information out, so do the reader. But I really enjoyed how the information was given for this and how Bianka handled things. I mean this girl is strong!
And speaking of characters, I have to admit I started getting worried about some of them! Maybe I'm just paranoid but when you have a murderer on the loose and people are overly friendly, is it just me or is that a total red flag? I just don't like that! Take two steps back Mr! But, even saying that when Bianka is at her lowest of the low that is when she is rescued and it was either that or get into a LOT of trouble!
This is kind of interesting because there is a bit of back and forth in this. Some memories and then some dreams and then real time. I normally dislike too much of that but E. C. Hibbs handled it very gracefully and made it completely understandable.
And seriously, I devoured this book! I read it during a read a thon where I was cringing at reading 400 pages but that didn't feel like anything. With everything that is going on in this one it really needs those 400 pages for everything to be presented and for everything to come out prior to the end. Fabulous read with some serious bits of horror. Not bloody but psychological which can sometimes be worse! But soooo awesome for horror lovers like myself!
This start out and the ratchets up so much that you almost have to come down for the second half. The plot does take a bit of a slower rate but not in a bad way. As she is finding information out, so do the reader. But I really enjoyed how the information was given for this and how Bianka handled things. I mean this girl is strong!
And speaking of characters, I have to admit I started getting worried about some of them! Maybe I'm just paranoid but when you have a murderer on the loose and people are overly friendly, is it just me or is that a total red flag? I just don't like that! Take two steps back Mr! But, even saying that when Bianka is at her lowest of the low that is when she is rescued and it was either that or get into a LOT of trouble!
This is kind of interesting because there is a bit of back and forth in this. Some memories and then some dreams and then real time. I normally dislike too much of that but E. C. Hibbs handled it very gracefully and made it completely understandable.
And seriously, I devoured this book! I read it during a read a thon where I was cringing at reading 400 pages but that didn't feel like anything. With everything that is going on in this one it really needs those 400 pages for everything to be presented and for everything to come out prior to the end. Fabulous read with some serious bits of horror. Not bloody but psychological which can sometimes be worse! But soooo awesome for horror lovers like myself!
May 15, 2014
Are you in the mood for some Supernatural stories ? Sick of reading New Adult novels and wanting a change ? Check out Tragic Silence by E.C Hibbs. Tragic Silence starts of in Hungary where we meet Bianka Farkas aka White Wolf when she is younger and her best friend Lucy. While out one night, Lucy is acting strange and believes someone is following her. The two of them are cautious until tragedy strikes and Lucy goes missing. Days turn to weeks and then weeks turn to months, until by chance Bianka sees Lucy. Though a lot has changed and this isn't the same girl Bianka last saw, something is terribly wrong. The story then continues and we discover that Lucy was captured by a Blood Demon - half vampire and half demon. Lucy eventually passes away and Bianka wanting to escape heads to London where she meets Frank - a fellow Vampire who helps Bianka discover truly what she has now become. Will Bianka ever be able to outrun her creator or will when the time comes,find her no matter where she is and destroy her till there's nothing left like he did to Lucy ?
Find out in Tragic Silence by E.C Hibbs which makes a nice difference to read as the trend at the moment seems to be New Adult novels.
Find out in Tragic Silence by E.C Hibbs which makes a nice difference to read as the trend at the moment seems to be New Adult novels.
February 23, 2020
Book 15 of my Goodreads Challenge 2020
A Young Adult read of demons and vampires.
Love the Hungarian proverb at the start
‘Mindenki a maga szerencséjének kovécsa’
Everyone is the blacksmith of their own fate
An enjoyable read, a mix of horrific fantasy with a pinch of folklore. This story made me want to seek out information on the folklore of Hungary especially the
'Lidérc – the flying bringer of nightmares.'
Worth checking out.
A Young Adult read of demons and vampires.
Love the Hungarian proverb at the start
‘Mindenki a maga szerencséjének kovécsa’
Everyone is the blacksmith of their own fate
An enjoyable read, a mix of horrific fantasy with a pinch of folklore. This story made me want to seek out information on the folklore of Hungary especially the
'Lidérc – the flying bringer of nightmares.'
Worth checking out.
November 4, 2020
For more reviews visit https://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr
The story
After the mysterious incident that took Bianka's memories and ability to walk properly away, she now struggles to remember the missing pieces of her life. But everywhere she sees the same thing. A dark, mysterious and dangerous man who won't stop until he gets her.
Tragic Silence is not your average vampire story where the vampire after hundreds and hundreds of years wandering the world finally meets a girl that changes his world. No, in this book the vampire is evil and bloodthirsty. A combination that horror stories lovers like myself will fell in love with!
In addition, one of the things that you can't not love about this book is that it combines the present, future, past and the dream world. Someone would think that that maybe confuse readers but E. C. Hibbs did a great job. It's approximately 400 pages but once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down!
Verdict
Everyone thought vampires were over but guess what? They're back and they're out for blood! Hands down, one of the best Suspense/Thriller books I've read!
The story
After the mysterious incident that took Bianka's memories and ability to walk properly away, she now struggles to remember the missing pieces of her life. But everywhere she sees the same thing. A dark, mysterious and dangerous man who won't stop until he gets her.
Tragic Silence is not your average vampire story where the vampire after hundreds and hundreds of years wandering the world finally meets a girl that changes his world. No, in this book the vampire is evil and bloodthirsty. A combination that horror stories lovers like myself will fell in love with!
In addition, one of the things that you can't not love about this book is that it combines the present, future, past and the dream world. Someone would think that that maybe confuse readers but E. C. Hibbs did a great job. It's approximately 400 pages but once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down!
Verdict
Everyone thought vampires were over but guess what? They're back and they're out for blood! Hands down, one of the best Suspense/Thriller books I've read!
September 14, 2014
I thought this was a very different book. I def haven't read anything like it before.
Tragic Silence is about Bee's life changing from human to a vampire.
After watching someone very important to her lose her life, she comes to realize that she must try to run from
the demon who changed her. Not just physically but genetically as well.
She leaves her home town and moves to London, England and ends up with a new comradeship. One that wil help her along the way of dealing with who she is.
Very good YA thriller and not cheezy at all! You know some thrillers can be cheezy lol. This is more of a mind thriller. Really good! I would def recommend this book to all those that love to guess how things turn out! :)
EC Hibbs did a great job being detailed but not overly so.
This is my first one of her books I have read. I will definitely be reading more from her in the future!
Tragic Silence is about Bee's life changing from human to a vampire.
After watching someone very important to her lose her life, she comes to realize that she must try to run from
the demon who changed her. Not just physically but genetically as well.
She leaves her home town and moves to London, England and ends up with a new comradeship. One that wil help her along the way of dealing with who she is.
Very good YA thriller and not cheezy at all! You know some thrillers can be cheezy lol. This is more of a mind thriller. Really good! I would def recommend this book to all those that love to guess how things turn out! :)
EC Hibbs did a great job being detailed but not overly so.
This is my first one of her books I have read. I will definitely be reading more from her in the future!
March 11, 2016
I was so involved with this book. The imagery made it seem like you were the character. Every description of the scenery is like being in the very spot. The pain, the feelings, everything the character felt .....you felt
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews