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Malitu #2
No Safe Haven
Anger will not be quenched by blood alone.
The Missing, a rebel army that is little more than a rumor, may be Kaylo’s only path to exact his vengeance against the empire that claimed his home and killed his family. If it means a chance to balance the blood he owes, he will steal spirits and become the Missing’s tool, as long as they aim him in the right direction.
Eighteen years later, a war is raging between factions for control of Ennea. With Tayen, Kaylo, and Nix caught in the middle of a power struggle—Kaylo will have to find a way to fulfill the promise he made to Tayen, Nix must face the consequences of her betrayal, and Tayen will have to choose between vengeance and her spirit. When blood is owed, virtues will be challenged.
The Missing, a rebel army that is little more than a rumor, may be Kaylo’s only path to exact his vengeance against the empire that claimed his home and killed his family. If it means a chance to balance the blood he owes, he will steal spirits and become the Missing’s tool, as long as they aim him in the right direction.
Eighteen years later, a war is raging between factions for control of Ennea. With Tayen, Kaylo, and Nix caught in the middle of a power struggle—Kaylo will have to find a way to fulfill the promise he made to Tayen, Nix must face the consequences of her betrayal, and Tayen will have to choose between vengeance and her spirit. When blood is owed, virtues will be challenged.
- GenresFantasy
494 pages, Hardcover
Published November 14, 2023
14 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
James Lloyd Dulin
5 books88 followersJames is a nerd with a head full of stories and limited time to put them on the page.
He grew up in Grand Rapids, MI, spending an excessive amount of time at a local community theater where he developed his affinity for storytelling. This affinity grew into a deep admiration for language and spoken word poetry while studying mathematics and education at the University of Michigan. A few hundred mediocre poems and lackluster performances later, he decided his dream of writing a novel might not be as ridiculous as he once thought. He firmly believes that art—even silly books about magic, or maybe especially silly books about magic—has the ability to tell stories that sink beneath the surface.
He grew up in Grand Rapids, MI, spending an excessive amount of time at a local community theater where he developed his affinity for storytelling. This affinity grew into a deep admiration for language and spoken word poetry while studying mathematics and education at the University of Michigan. A few hundred mediocre poems and lackluster performances later, he decided his dream of writing a novel might not be as ridiculous as he once thought. He firmly believes that art—even silly books about magic, or maybe especially silly books about magic—has the ability to tell stories that sink beneath the surface.
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November 3, 2023
My complete review of No Safe Haven is published at Grimdark Magazine.
No Safe Haven is the second volume of James Lloyd Dulin’s anti-colonialist dark fantasy series, Malitu. I will keep this review completely spoiler-free for readers who have not yet started the series.
No Safe Haven picks up immediately following the conclusion of Dulin’s debut novel, No Heart for a Thief. As in the first book, there are two main protagonists: Kaylo, an aging thief and spirit dancer, and Tayen, a fourteen-year-old girl on the run from enemy soldiers who murdered her family. While Tayen recognizes Kaylo as a legendary hero, Kaylo is much harsher on himself, feeling personal responsibility for the war between his homeland of Ennea and the colonialist Gousht Empire. Despite his initial reservations, Kaylo becomes an adoptive father of sorts for Tayen, serving as mentor and guardian for the orphaned girl.
As in No Heart for a Thief, No Safe Haven is told on two timelines: a present-day narrative centered on the relationship between Kaylo and Tayen, and a flashback narrative where Kaylo recounts his backstory which may hold some important lessons for his young protégé.
My main criticism of No Heart for a Thief was that the story felt off-balance between the two timelines. As soon as I felt fully invested in the present-day narrative, the action switched to the past, with Kaylo’s backstory taking up most of the remaining page count. I’m happy to report that James Lloyd Dulin achieves a much better balance between the two timelines in this second volume of his series.
However, the dual timeline format still did not work for me as well as I had hoped. The present-day narrative in No Safe Haven mirrors many of the key thematic elements from Kaylo’s backstory. I know this is intentional, as Kaylo’s story is meant to be didactic for the young Tayen. However, the parallels between the two timelines made the present-day narrative feel a bit repetitive and predictable.
There is a strong anti-colonialist and anti-racist message to the Malitu series, which works well whenever it comes to the forefront of the story. Unfortunately, No Safe Haven focuses more on Kaylo and Tayen’s anger management issues rather than the larger external conflict. I would have preferred a better balance between these introspective aspects of the novel and the greater outward conflict with the Gousht Empire.
Although No Safe Haven didn’t work as well for me as No Heart for a Thief, there is still lots to love here for fans of thoughtful character-driven fantasy with a socially conscious message. The series will continue with the third volume, Only a Grave Will Do.
No Safe Haven is the second volume of James Lloyd Dulin’s anti-colonialist dark fantasy series, Malitu. I will keep this review completely spoiler-free for readers who have not yet started the series.
No Safe Haven picks up immediately following the conclusion of Dulin’s debut novel, No Heart for a Thief. As in the first book, there are two main protagonists: Kaylo, an aging thief and spirit dancer, and Tayen, a fourteen-year-old girl on the run from enemy soldiers who murdered her family. While Tayen recognizes Kaylo as a legendary hero, Kaylo is much harsher on himself, feeling personal responsibility for the war between his homeland of Ennea and the colonialist Gousht Empire. Despite his initial reservations, Kaylo becomes an adoptive father of sorts for Tayen, serving as mentor and guardian for the orphaned girl.
As in No Heart for a Thief, No Safe Haven is told on two timelines: a present-day narrative centered on the relationship between Kaylo and Tayen, and a flashback narrative where Kaylo recounts his backstory which may hold some important lessons for his young protégé.
My main criticism of No Heart for a Thief was that the story felt off-balance between the two timelines. As soon as I felt fully invested in the present-day narrative, the action switched to the past, with Kaylo’s backstory taking up most of the remaining page count. I’m happy to report that James Lloyd Dulin achieves a much better balance between the two timelines in this second volume of his series.
However, the dual timeline format still did not work for me as well as I had hoped. The present-day narrative in No Safe Haven mirrors many of the key thematic elements from Kaylo’s backstory. I know this is intentional, as Kaylo’s story is meant to be didactic for the young Tayen. However, the parallels between the two timelines made the present-day narrative feel a bit repetitive and predictable.
There is a strong anti-colonialist and anti-racist message to the Malitu series, which works well whenever it comes to the forefront of the story. Unfortunately, No Safe Haven focuses more on Kaylo and Tayen’s anger management issues rather than the larger external conflict. I would have preferred a better balance between these introspective aspects of the novel and the greater outward conflict with the Gousht Empire.
Although No Safe Haven didn’t work as well for me as No Heart for a Thief, there is still lots to love here for fans of thoughtful character-driven fantasy with a socially conscious message. The series will continue with the third volume, Only a Grave Will Do.
October 24, 2023
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
No Safe Haven is book 2 in the Malitu series and takes this story to a whole new level of brilliance. Seriously, if you thought No Heart for a Thief was a good book, then you better prepare to be totally swept off your feet by this sequel. It’s bold, it’s angry, it’s raw, it’s painful, it’s brutal, it’s emotional, and most importantly of all, it’s a damn masterpiece.
The story picks up only a couple of days after the brutal ending of No Heart for a Thief, and the author does a brilliant job of gracefully easing the reader back into this world and the story.
We are reunited with Kaylo and Tayen as they continue their unrelenting fight for survival, while also diving deeper into Kaylo’s past to explore how he has become known as the legendary Hero of Anilace. Once again, the narrative smoothly switches back and forth between ‘Current Day Ennea’ and ‘Kaylo’s Story’, resulting in another masterfully crafted dual timeline story that keeps you emotionally engaged from start to finish.
“After all the lessons grief had taught him, he made the stupid decision to care again.”
Compared to book 1, I personally felt like the balance between the past and the present timeline was more even here, which really allowed me to establish that deep emotional investment in both storylines that I was so craving.
I already felt for these characters when I was reading No Heart for a Thief, but this time around it would be more accurate to say that I lived and breathed them with every fibre of my being. There were maybe only one or two side characters in Kaylo’s backstory that felt a tiny bit underdeveloped, but aside from that the entire vibrant and diverse cast of characters just leapt off the page with personality.
Dulin truly has an unmatched gift for creating frustratingly flawed yet beautifully human characters who you just can’t help but root for, and I loved every single second of following their messy journeys.
As Kaylo continues to tell his life story as a sort of cautionary tale to Tayen, she stubbornly keeps barreling down a path of vengeance and (self-)destruction. It becomes even more clear that the young Kaylo and young Tayen are on eerily similar paths, which makes the dual timeline narrative even more powerful than in the first book.
I loved seeing the parallels between these young and troubled characters, with them both essentially being rage incarnate, but also really appreciated that their stories never become interchangeable. They have such distinct personalities and both have their own inner demons to fight, which makes them such realistic, relatable, and lovable characters.
“Tayen existed outside of Kaylo’s shadow, and everyone would know it.”
Tayen’s obstinate attitude can be frustrating to read about, though, and it definitely causes some inevitable friction and tension between her and Kaylo. Yet at the same time, it is clear that their love for each other runs deeper than ever before, even if they aren’t willing to admit it to themselves or each other. What started out as a reluctant and tentative mentor/mentee dynamic has now blossomed into a beautiful yet very complicated father/daughter bond, and I absolutely loved watching that natural development.
I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that we have a new POV character, Nix, in the present timeline, and I enjoyed her presence immensely. Not only because she brings a new and exciting perspective to the story, but also because her wicked wit and dry humour provided some much-welcomed levity amidst all the chaos and heartbreak.
And even though she is just as flawed as the two messy main protagonists, I also really appreciated that she was able to act as a voice of reason for both Kaylo and Tayen, pointing out exactly my thoughts about their frustrating thickheadedness.
Now, it would be easy to say that hate, fear and vengeance are the main driving forces behind everyone’s actions here, but I would argue that love might be the strongest motivator for them all. After all, the line between love and hate is dangerously thin, and nothing hurts more than losing loved ones or being betrayed by those you thought you could trust.
““The point is, anger can be selfish, or it can be righteous,” she said. “It cannot be both. You’ll have to choose your path.””
And that notion is only amplified when combined with the prominent themes of (anti-)colonialism, war, occupation, indoctrination, exploitation, and morality, which are once again expertly woven into the narrative and handled with just as much sensitivity as they should.
As we explore a new part of the world and encounter a new faction in this war, it becomes all the more clear just how nuanced this conflict actually is.
Yes, the Gousht Empire is inarguably the main force of evil in this story, but we also discover that there are more factions within Ennea that have committed equally horrible acts under the guise of self-preservation. None of the factions in this conflict are proven to be monoliths and some of the antagonists in this story turn out to hail from much closer to home, which makes the entire situation just all the more complex and painful.
“We walked in a shared silence of understanding, our anger binding us. The history and the blood that fed this soil were done. Those warriors moved on to the Mist. The blood to come mattered far more.”
Though, despite the fact that this is such a harsh and unforgiving world, there are some surprising aspects to the world building that provide a nice counterbalance to all the darkness. The main thing that comes to mind is the fact that this is a delightfully queer-normative world. There is plenty of conflict in this story, but I really appreciate that someone’s gender or sexuality ever becomes a point of contention. Same-sex relationships are fully accepted and kamani/non-binary people (such as Nix) are embraced, which is so wholesome and refreshing to see in a world where all other types of bigotry run rampant.
Another aspect of the world building that lightened up the dark tone for me is the absolutely enthralling magic system. I loved diving deeper into the lore of this world and learning more about the spirit magic, especially after some of the big revelations at the end of book 1. The use of the spirit crystals is a big focus in this plot and there are even more reveals that were equally exiciting and devastating to uncover.
Even though the magic is intricately tied to the characters’ inner conflicts and also the overall war, there is simply no denying that it is undeniably cool and entrancing to see on display. Just the way that this ethereal magic system is described is so unbelievably mesmerising, with spirit dancers reaching into the Mist to dance with the (elemental) spirits. I mean, if that doesn’t capture your imagination and fill you with wonder, then I don’t know what will. There was one particular chapter where Kaylo fully embraced his powers that I truly can’t describe as anything else than just a transcendent reading experience.
““Forgiveness is not compliance. It is the acceptance of change and freedom from the constraints of the past.” His low, rumbling voice faded. “Fight alongside forgiveness.””
And all the brilliant things that I have just been gushing about are only magnified by Dulin’s mesmerising prose, which is honestly just something else. I would not call it purple or flowery, but it nevertheless has an intoxicating quality to it that only makes all the emotional beats of this story hit all the harder. It strikes the perfect balance between being sharp and soulful, including numerous lines and passages that cut sharper than a blade.
This story grabs you by the throat and drags you across the entire spectrum of emotions, both good and bad, leaving you completely breathless by the end. The final chapters were absolutely unputdownable and I am not sure if I am going to recover from that emotional rollercoaster anytime soon, but that is exactly why I love this book so much.
“Life has put us through untold challenges, but we still are who we are at our core, despite what has happened to us.”
After reading No Heart for a Thief, I said that Dulin was going to be an author to watch, and he damn well proved it with No Safe Haven. It’s no easy feat to tackle such heavy real-world issues while also telling an incredibly engaging and entrancing fantasy story, but this series is proof that a skilled author can do so, and with effortless grace at that. I personally can’t wait to see how this story ends in the finale, even though I also really don’t want this series to be over.
Will Kaylo and Tayen ever find their safe haven? I guess we can hope against all hope, though I will happily live on in blissful ignorance for a while longer.
I think it is needless to say that I am deeply impressed by this sequel, and I honestly don’t feel like I can ever do this story justice with my words. So please, just pick up the Malitu series if you haven’t already, because I honestly think that this is one of the most important and impactful fantasy stories that is currently being written. What a masterpiece.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
No Safe Haven is book 2 in the Malitu series and takes this story to a whole new level of brilliance. Seriously, if you thought No Heart for a Thief was a good book, then you better prepare to be totally swept off your feet by this sequel. It’s bold, it’s angry, it’s raw, it’s painful, it’s brutal, it’s emotional, and most importantly of all, it’s a damn masterpiece.
The story picks up only a couple of days after the brutal ending of No Heart for a Thief, and the author does a brilliant job of gracefully easing the reader back into this world and the story.
We are reunited with Kaylo and Tayen as they continue their unrelenting fight for survival, while also diving deeper into Kaylo’s past to explore how he has become known as the legendary Hero of Anilace. Once again, the narrative smoothly switches back and forth between ‘Current Day Ennea’ and ‘Kaylo’s Story’, resulting in another masterfully crafted dual timeline story that keeps you emotionally engaged from start to finish.
“After all the lessons grief had taught him, he made the stupid decision to care again.”
Compared to book 1, I personally felt like the balance between the past and the present timeline was more even here, which really allowed me to establish that deep emotional investment in both storylines that I was so craving.
I already felt for these characters when I was reading No Heart for a Thief, but this time around it would be more accurate to say that I lived and breathed them with every fibre of my being. There were maybe only one or two side characters in Kaylo’s backstory that felt a tiny bit underdeveloped, but aside from that the entire vibrant and diverse cast of characters just leapt off the page with personality.
Dulin truly has an unmatched gift for creating frustratingly flawed yet beautifully human characters who you just can’t help but root for, and I loved every single second of following their messy journeys.
As Kaylo continues to tell his life story as a sort of cautionary tale to Tayen, she stubbornly keeps barreling down a path of vengeance and (self-)destruction. It becomes even more clear that the young Kaylo and young Tayen are on eerily similar paths, which makes the dual timeline narrative even more powerful than in the first book.
I loved seeing the parallels between these young and troubled characters, with them both essentially being rage incarnate, but also really appreciated that their stories never become interchangeable. They have such distinct personalities and both have their own inner demons to fight, which makes them such realistic, relatable, and lovable characters.
“Tayen existed outside of Kaylo’s shadow, and everyone would know it.”
Tayen’s obstinate attitude can be frustrating to read about, though, and it definitely causes some inevitable friction and tension between her and Kaylo. Yet at the same time, it is clear that their love for each other runs deeper than ever before, even if they aren’t willing to admit it to themselves or each other. What started out as a reluctant and tentative mentor/mentee dynamic has now blossomed into a beautiful yet very complicated father/daughter bond, and I absolutely loved watching that natural development.
I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that we have a new POV character, Nix, in the present timeline, and I enjoyed her presence immensely. Not only because she brings a new and exciting perspective to the story, but also because her wicked wit and dry humour provided some much-welcomed levity amidst all the chaos and heartbreak.
And even though she is just as flawed as the two messy main protagonists, I also really appreciated that she was able to act as a voice of reason for both Kaylo and Tayen, pointing out exactly my thoughts about their frustrating thickheadedness.
Now, it would be easy to say that hate, fear and vengeance are the main driving forces behind everyone’s actions here, but I would argue that love might be the strongest motivator for them all. After all, the line between love and hate is dangerously thin, and nothing hurts more than losing loved ones or being betrayed by those you thought you could trust.
““The point is, anger can be selfish, or it can be righteous,” she said. “It cannot be both. You’ll have to choose your path.””
And that notion is only amplified when combined with the prominent themes of (anti-)colonialism, war, occupation, indoctrination, exploitation, and morality, which are once again expertly woven into the narrative and handled with just as much sensitivity as they should.
As we explore a new part of the world and encounter a new faction in this war, it becomes all the more clear just how nuanced this conflict actually is.
Yes, the Gousht Empire is inarguably the main force of evil in this story, but we also discover that there are more factions within Ennea that have committed equally horrible acts under the guise of self-preservation. None of the factions in this conflict are proven to be monoliths and some of the antagonists in this story turn out to hail from much closer to home, which makes the entire situation just all the more complex and painful.
“We walked in a shared silence of understanding, our anger binding us. The history and the blood that fed this soil were done. Those warriors moved on to the Mist. The blood to come mattered far more.”
Though, despite the fact that this is such a harsh and unforgiving world, there are some surprising aspects to the world building that provide a nice counterbalance to all the darkness. The main thing that comes to mind is the fact that this is a delightfully queer-normative world. There is plenty of conflict in this story, but I really appreciate that someone’s gender or sexuality ever becomes a point of contention. Same-sex relationships are fully accepted and kamani/non-binary people (such as Nix) are embraced, which is so wholesome and refreshing to see in a world where all other types of bigotry run rampant.
Another aspect of the world building that lightened up the dark tone for me is the absolutely enthralling magic system. I loved diving deeper into the lore of this world and learning more about the spirit magic, especially after some of the big revelations at the end of book 1. The use of the spirit crystals is a big focus in this plot and there are even more reveals that were equally exiciting and devastating to uncover.
Even though the magic is intricately tied to the characters’ inner conflicts and also the overall war, there is simply no denying that it is undeniably cool and entrancing to see on display. Just the way that this ethereal magic system is described is so unbelievably mesmerising, with spirit dancers reaching into the Mist to dance with the (elemental) spirits. I mean, if that doesn’t capture your imagination and fill you with wonder, then I don’t know what will. There was one particular chapter where Kaylo fully embraced his powers that I truly can’t describe as anything else than just a transcendent reading experience.
““Forgiveness is not compliance. It is the acceptance of change and freedom from the constraints of the past.” His low, rumbling voice faded. “Fight alongside forgiveness.””
And all the brilliant things that I have just been gushing about are only magnified by Dulin’s mesmerising prose, which is honestly just something else. I would not call it purple or flowery, but it nevertheless has an intoxicating quality to it that only makes all the emotional beats of this story hit all the harder. It strikes the perfect balance between being sharp and soulful, including numerous lines and passages that cut sharper than a blade.
This story grabs you by the throat and drags you across the entire spectrum of emotions, both good and bad, leaving you completely breathless by the end. The final chapters were absolutely unputdownable and I am not sure if I am going to recover from that emotional rollercoaster anytime soon, but that is exactly why I love this book so much.
“Life has put us through untold challenges, but we still are who we are at our core, despite what has happened to us.”
After reading No Heart for a Thief, I said that Dulin was going to be an author to watch, and he damn well proved it with No Safe Haven. It’s no easy feat to tackle such heavy real-world issues while also telling an incredibly engaging and entrancing fantasy story, but this series is proof that a skilled author can do so, and with effortless grace at that. I personally can’t wait to see how this story ends in the finale, even though I also really don’t want this series to be over.
Will Kaylo and Tayen ever find their safe haven? I guess we can hope against all hope, though I will happily live on in blissful ignorance for a while longer.
I think it is needless to say that I am deeply impressed by this sequel, and I honestly don’t feel like I can ever do this story justice with my words. So please, just pick up the Malitu series if you haven’t already, because I honestly think that this is one of the most important and impactful fantasy stories that is currently being written. What a masterpiece.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2024
A difficult task for anyone to undertake - a fantasy story rooted in colonialism and invaders. Even harder as a white author who wholeheartedly wants to demonstrate the consequences of these violent ideologies and practices. Yet, Dublin pulls it off well. Even better in this second instalment.
"The truths in our fantasies are often greater than those we are willing to offer in plain language."
The Lost Nation had captured Kaylo, Tayen, and Nix and leverage the two against Kaylo for him to train other spirit theives. Meanwhile, Kaylo and Nix are trained as part of the recruits and are horrified by the firsts that come to life. Surely, their people should stand together against the invaders and not perpetrate inequality and suffering amongst their own?
Sometimes I forget that Tayen is fifteen years old. For all her guile and glib, she acts headstrong, bent on vengeance, mirroring Kaylo in his past.
This definitely demonstrates how easily we can become part of the system. How ignorance, purposeful or not, can exacerbate harm. Whatever disparities our characters see, they automatically want to overlook. It doesn’t affect them, so why should it matter?
Of course, our characters have tender hearts and they cannot abide with this mindset for long.
"Questions only feel like attacks when you don't want to admit the truth.”
"Easy to call them sacrifices when you aren't the one suffering.”
This book explains more about the magic system and offers more truths in multiple narratives that makes both readers and characters question their previous conceptions.
Thank you to the author for sending me the book in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
"The truths in our fantasies are often greater than those we are willing to offer in plain language."
The Lost Nation had captured Kaylo, Tayen, and Nix and leverage the two against Kaylo for him to train other spirit theives. Meanwhile, Kaylo and Nix are trained as part of the recruits and are horrified by the firsts that come to life. Surely, their people should stand together against the invaders and not perpetrate inequality and suffering amongst their own?
Sometimes I forget that Tayen is fifteen years old. For all her guile and glib, she acts headstrong, bent on vengeance, mirroring Kaylo in his past.
This definitely demonstrates how easily we can become part of the system. How ignorance, purposeful or not, can exacerbate harm. Whatever disparities our characters see, they automatically want to overlook. It doesn’t affect them, so why should it matter?
Of course, our characters have tender hearts and they cannot abide with this mindset for long.
"Questions only feel like attacks when you don't want to admit the truth.”
"Easy to call them sacrifices when you aren't the one suffering.”
This book explains more about the magic system and offers more truths in multiple narratives that makes both readers and characters question their previous conceptions.
Thank you to the author for sending me the book in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
October 24, 2023
Review originally on
JamReads
No Safe Haven is the second book in the Malitu series, a direct sequel to No Heart for a Thief, written by James L. Dulin. It continues developing the characters we loved in the first book, changing gears a bit as in this case the present story takes more importance over Kaylo's one, adding a third POV which helps in this labour; but if you liked first book, you are going to love this even more.
After being captured and forced to join the ranks of the Lost Nation, Kaylo and Tayen are separated, having Tayen to deal with the training to join the army; while Kaylo will be tasked with preparing other spirit thiefs against his will. For Kaylo, keeping Tayen safe is his priority, as he really loves her and wants to teach her that anger is not the path; you can't let anger consume you and become the only reason to live.
With this in mind, Kaylo continues telling her story to Tayen, revealing more about his past and the legendary Missing; Dulin uses it as a vehicle to further develop the relationships between Kaylo and his old partners. At the same time, the real reasons of why Kaylo wants to avoid fighting.
Tayen is struggling heavily during the training. She's slowly discovering that even if she's angry with Kaylo, he might be the only real protector she has; and during the training, in many moments, anger will take control of her actions. However, after really traumatic moments, she finally realises that revenge can't take all of you.
Dulin adds the point of view of Nyx as a way to give us a further look into the secrets of the Citadel; becoming one of the few allies Kaylo might have, despite being in a precarius balance of power. While it's not as charismatic as our main characters, the fight done for keeping others safe is laudable.
Personally, I loved how the world on this sequel continues being enhanced and expanded, and especially, how it shows that both sides of the conflict have their own problems and disadvantages, showing how the Lost Nation just wants to become another figure that would practically substitute the colonizers, taking power over the whole Ennea.
No Safe Haven is a enhancement over No Heart For A Thief, a great anticolonialist fantasy that in this instalment becomes much more powerful in the emotional plane. If you liked the narration on The Name of the Wind, and are in the look for a dark fantasy with compelling characters, you should give a try to Malitu.
No Safe Haven is the second book in the Malitu series, a direct sequel to No Heart for a Thief, written by James L. Dulin. It continues developing the characters we loved in the first book, changing gears a bit as in this case the present story takes more importance over Kaylo's one, adding a third POV which helps in this labour; but if you liked first book, you are going to love this even more.
After being captured and forced to join the ranks of the Lost Nation, Kaylo and Tayen are separated, having Tayen to deal with the training to join the army; while Kaylo will be tasked with preparing other spirit thiefs against his will. For Kaylo, keeping Tayen safe is his priority, as he really loves her and wants to teach her that anger is not the path; you can't let anger consume you and become the only reason to live.
With this in mind, Kaylo continues telling her story to Tayen, revealing more about his past and the legendary Missing; Dulin uses it as a vehicle to further develop the relationships between Kaylo and his old partners. At the same time, the real reasons of why Kaylo wants to avoid fighting.
Tayen is struggling heavily during the training. She's slowly discovering that even if she's angry with Kaylo, he might be the only real protector she has; and during the training, in many moments, anger will take control of her actions. However, after really traumatic moments, she finally realises that revenge can't take all of you.
Dulin adds the point of view of Nyx as a way to give us a further look into the secrets of the Citadel; becoming one of the few allies Kaylo might have, despite being in a precarius balance of power. While it's not as charismatic as our main characters, the fight done for keeping others safe is laudable.
Personally, I loved how the world on this sequel continues being enhanced and expanded, and especially, how it shows that both sides of the conflict have their own problems and disadvantages, showing how the Lost Nation just wants to become another figure that would practically substitute the colonizers, taking power over the whole Ennea.
No Safe Haven is a enhancement over No Heart For A Thief, a great anticolonialist fantasy that in this instalment becomes much more powerful in the emotional plane. If you liked the narration on The Name of the Wind, and are in the look for a dark fantasy with compelling characters, you should give a try to Malitu.
July 7, 2025
If you’ve seen my review for No Heart for a Thief, than you know this sequel was up against some strong competition. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The author has yet again managed to set up an incredible ending—where not only are threads being tied, questions being fulfilled, and harrowing escapes taking place, but also we receive another gut-wrenching kick of emotional damage. The author ups the trauma, for Kaylo and Tayen, and especially us readers.
As I did with the first, I’d again liken this to The Last of Us. Tayen is bereaved of all those in her life, she’s jaded, and she wants revenge. So when she finally lets someone in, Kaylo, she has such a hard time accepting his mistakes. Much like older Ellie and Joel. That is where the similarities end of course, as Dulin has offered us a rich world with lore, magic, culture. And of course the darker enthocentlrism, war, colonialism, and racism. I love the deep message of the story, and I really appreciate that you can also just read and enjoy it as a fantasy, too. It’s powerful stuff.
The characters remain the stars for me. Kaylo, Tayen, and even the smorgasbord of side characters. They have dimension, they’re fleshed out, and they read as real with personality that jumps off the page. The action is brutal as if you’re really there, and it makes you see the characters in the moment even more.
Personally a 5/5*, I literally cannot wait for more. Also I think I found an author that says the F word more than me…
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-no-saf...
The author has yet again managed to set up an incredible ending—where not only are threads being tied, questions being fulfilled, and harrowing escapes taking place, but also we receive another gut-wrenching kick of emotional damage. The author ups the trauma, for Kaylo and Tayen, and especially us readers.
As I did with the first, I’d again liken this to The Last of Us. Tayen is bereaved of all those in her life, she’s jaded, and she wants revenge. So when she finally lets someone in, Kaylo, she has such a hard time accepting his mistakes. Much like older Ellie and Joel. That is where the similarities end of course, as Dulin has offered us a rich world with lore, magic, culture. And of course the darker enthocentlrism, war, colonialism, and racism. I love the deep message of the story, and I really appreciate that you can also just read and enjoy it as a fantasy, too. It’s powerful stuff.
The characters remain the stars for me. Kaylo, Tayen, and even the smorgasbord of side characters. They have dimension, they’re fleshed out, and they read as real with personality that jumps off the page. The action is brutal as if you’re really there, and it makes you see the characters in the moment even more.
Personally a 5/5*, I literally cannot wait for more. Also I think I found an author that says the F word more than me…
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-no-saf...
September 18, 2023
Measured, balanced and incredibly expressive, Dunlin's sequel confirms what we saw from its predecessor: No Safe Haven is a masterful piece of deep, expansive, captivating storytelling, with an emotional depth rarely seen in the fantasy genre as a whole. Every main character, from the embittered Tayen to the masterfully-written Kaylo, oozed with depth and embodied their feelings in such a human way, allowing room to explore side characters through their lens without taking away from their stories. The double narrative of Kaylo's past and present are more established here than in the first book, and that allows a good exploration of the Gousht and what he is trying to teach Tayen - even if it never quite reached the highest stakes I was hoping for in the end. The uniqueness of the magic system continued to hold me in an awe-stricken grasp, revealing new elements with a fresh insight that left me demanding to know more.
This book will live long in my memory, as a great piece of fantasy storytelling, and I thank Dunlin for providing an E-ARC to read through before release - top marks all round!
This book will live long in my memory, as a great piece of fantasy storytelling, and I thank Dunlin for providing an E-ARC to read through before release - top marks all round!
September 24, 2023
4.5 rounded up.
First and foremost a huge thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Picking up after the event in book one Kaylo and Tayen have a choice to make, submit or fight in the middle of an epic power struggle. Old friends will surface, new sacrifices will be made and all our war has never been closer.
“When blood is owed, virtues will be challenged”
I love the way this story is told in a dual timeline, we get to unfold Kaylo’s story as a young man and gain an insight as to why he acts the way he does now while watching his beliefs be challenged in the present.
This was an incredible sequel with an important exploration of power and oppression. Dulin lends a supportive voice to stories that should be shouted from the rooftops, and it was an honor to be a part of it.
This is a story about imperfect humans, in an imperfect world, trying their hardest to survive and make a change for the better while doing it.
Check out my full review over on Epicindie.net in the coming weeks!
First and foremost a huge thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Picking up after the event in book one Kaylo and Tayen have a choice to make, submit or fight in the middle of an epic power struggle. Old friends will surface, new sacrifices will be made and all our war has never been closer.
“When blood is owed, virtues will be challenged”
I love the way this story is told in a dual timeline, we get to unfold Kaylo’s story as a young man and gain an insight as to why he acts the way he does now while watching his beliefs be challenged in the present.
This was an incredible sequel with an important exploration of power and oppression. Dulin lends a supportive voice to stories that should be shouted from the rooftops, and it was an honor to be a part of it.
This is a story about imperfect humans, in an imperfect world, trying their hardest to survive and make a change for the better while doing it.
Check out my full review over on Epicindie.net in the coming weeks!
October 23, 2023
After hugely enjoying No Heart For A Thief, my blood was pumping for book 2 in the Malitu series and No Safe Haven didn’t disappoint.
Everything I admired and loved in Dulin’s debut was amplified as we returned to Ennea in the aftermath of the climax and big reveals of book 1.
There was no dropping of pace, no gentle reintroductions. We're straight back into the thick of it and I was again gripped from the start.
I’d been particularly looking forward to my reunion with the engaging main characters - Kaylo and Tayen - and finding out what happens next in their compelling story. Or, I should say, stories.
This series is cleverley framed through a juxtaposition of dual timelines, which may appeal to fans of other great fantasy works such as The Kingkiller Chronicle and Raven’s Shadow. Whereas Patrick Rothfuss and Anthony Ryan focus much more on the past in their chronicle framing devices, James Lloyd Dulin gives similar amounts of coverage to both of his time periods.
That worked perfectly for me, as I found them equally engrossing.
As in book 1, we experience the present through Tayen’s point of view and delve 18 years into the past as Kaylo recounts his story to her.
The backdrop is the colonial oppression they and their people have suffered, and continue to suffer, but this story is all about how that affects people on an individual basis. The people on the receiving end of geopolitical decisions and the whims of unseen rulers.
This strong focus on the characters and how they try to survive physically and mentally means you get maximum emotional impact.
At its heart, this series is a coming-of-age tale of both main characters and I love the duality of how it is portrayed throughout.
It’s not giving too much away to say that Kaylo hopes the young Tayen, in hearing his story, will learn from the mistakes of his youth and not go down a destructive path of vengeance.
The former rebel and his stubborn and spirited protégé have both lost so much – their families and way of life - and you feel every iota of the pain, grief and anger which Tayen and the young Kaylo suffer.
They have so much in common but the years between them, and the events Kaylo has experienced, have dulled the edge of his rage against the invaders of his homeland whereas hers is raw and razor sharp.
Both characters have flaws, weaknesses and admirable qualities, and they’re both entirely relatable and engaging as they struggle with their inner and external conflicts and try to find themselves in a world which has been turned upside down.
Their relationship is far from joyous but it’s a joy to read and is the driving force of this superb novel.
The main antagonist in this story is the conquering Gousht empire but it’s mainly an unknown, faceless enemy, apart from one particular thorn in Kaylo’s side and the soldiers he, Tayen and their comrades encounter. We don’t discover much about those adversaries; they are simply troops following orders, some with relish and prejudice, others seemingly less so.
However, the Gousht aren’t the only antagonists. There are factions within factions among Ennea’s indigenous people, providing new nuances to the plot as the story takes in a new location in the current day timeline.
And we are treated to a new POV. I liked the character of Nix when she was introduced late in book 1 and enjoyed getting more of an insight into her personality in book 2. The warrior has her own regrets and anger but her no-nonsense attitude, pragmatism and dry wit provide a nice counterpoint to Kaylo and Tayen’s angst and misery.
Dulin masterfully gives each character a distinct voice. They are so well-crafted – with all the failings and strengths humans possess - and I hope they’re able to hang on to their humanity despite the often brutal physical and emotional ordeals which they’re put through.
Through them, we experience the consequences of war and colonialism, and violent, cultural oppression. Whether it’s driven by one person’s hunger for more power or a nation’s thirst for conquest, a clash of ideology or religion, economic greed or prejudice, Ennea is a land of suffering and most of its people are the victims.
It’s heartbreaking and affects every aspect of the characters’ lives, even their beliefs and the inter-connectedness of the wonderful magic system. And, most sadly, the human impacts are so relevant to our own world. This continues to be a story with some strong messages.
Malitu is a dark series and No Safe Haven is several shades darker than No Heart For A Thief but there is light, in the form of moments of humour, a hope for tolerance and forgiveness, and the bonds of love between our two main protagonists.
The master-apprentice and found family relationship Kaylo and Tayen share is turbulent and complex, tested many times, but something special and strong is being forged between them and I can’t wait to see where it takes us in book 3. Will they be able to balance their anger and desire for vengeance with love and some kind of peace and will they ever find a safe haven from their troubles?
Overall, this story is hugely impressive and that’s down to the characterisation and also the beautiful prose, which is at times poetic in its lyricism. The author brings the characters and the world to life in ways which make this such an immersive read and the series continues to sing to me through its fine-tuned writing and the story within a story structure.
No Heart For A Thief stole my heart and No Safe Haven has kept it prisoner as I remained captivated by the compelling characters and their emotional story.
If you’re a fan of character-focused stories with lots of heart, you’re in very safe hands with James Lloyd Dulin’s Malitu series.
* I received an eARC and this is a voluntary, honest review.
Everything I admired and loved in Dulin’s debut was amplified as we returned to Ennea in the aftermath of the climax and big reveals of book 1.
There was no dropping of pace, no gentle reintroductions. We're straight back into the thick of it and I was again gripped from the start.
I’d been particularly looking forward to my reunion with the engaging main characters - Kaylo and Tayen - and finding out what happens next in their compelling story. Or, I should say, stories.
This series is cleverley framed through a juxtaposition of dual timelines, which may appeal to fans of other great fantasy works such as The Kingkiller Chronicle and Raven’s Shadow. Whereas Patrick Rothfuss and Anthony Ryan focus much more on the past in their chronicle framing devices, James Lloyd Dulin gives similar amounts of coverage to both of his time periods.
That worked perfectly for me, as I found them equally engrossing.
As in book 1, we experience the present through Tayen’s point of view and delve 18 years into the past as Kaylo recounts his story to her.
The backdrop is the colonial oppression they and their people have suffered, and continue to suffer, but this story is all about how that affects people on an individual basis. The people on the receiving end of geopolitical decisions and the whims of unseen rulers.
This strong focus on the characters and how they try to survive physically and mentally means you get maximum emotional impact.
At its heart, this series is a coming-of-age tale of both main characters and I love the duality of how it is portrayed throughout.
It’s not giving too much away to say that Kaylo hopes the young Tayen, in hearing his story, will learn from the mistakes of his youth and not go down a destructive path of vengeance.
The former rebel and his stubborn and spirited protégé have both lost so much – their families and way of life - and you feel every iota of the pain, grief and anger which Tayen and the young Kaylo suffer.
They have so much in common but the years between them, and the events Kaylo has experienced, have dulled the edge of his rage against the invaders of his homeland whereas hers is raw and razor sharp.
Both characters have flaws, weaknesses and admirable qualities, and they’re both entirely relatable and engaging as they struggle with their inner and external conflicts and try to find themselves in a world which has been turned upside down.
Their relationship is far from joyous but it’s a joy to read and is the driving force of this superb novel.
The main antagonist in this story is the conquering Gousht empire but it’s mainly an unknown, faceless enemy, apart from one particular thorn in Kaylo’s side and the soldiers he, Tayen and their comrades encounter. We don’t discover much about those adversaries; they are simply troops following orders, some with relish and prejudice, others seemingly less so.
However, the Gousht aren’t the only antagonists. There are factions within factions among Ennea’s indigenous people, providing new nuances to the plot as the story takes in a new location in the current day timeline.
And we are treated to a new POV. I liked the character of Nix when she was introduced late in book 1 and enjoyed getting more of an insight into her personality in book 2. The warrior has her own regrets and anger but her no-nonsense attitude, pragmatism and dry wit provide a nice counterpoint to Kaylo and Tayen’s angst and misery.
Dulin masterfully gives each character a distinct voice. They are so well-crafted – with all the failings and strengths humans possess - and I hope they’re able to hang on to their humanity despite the often brutal physical and emotional ordeals which they’re put through.
Through them, we experience the consequences of war and colonialism, and violent, cultural oppression. Whether it’s driven by one person’s hunger for more power or a nation’s thirst for conquest, a clash of ideology or religion, economic greed or prejudice, Ennea is a land of suffering and most of its people are the victims.
It’s heartbreaking and affects every aspect of the characters’ lives, even their beliefs and the inter-connectedness of the wonderful magic system. And, most sadly, the human impacts are so relevant to our own world. This continues to be a story with some strong messages.
Malitu is a dark series and No Safe Haven is several shades darker than No Heart For A Thief but there is light, in the form of moments of humour, a hope for tolerance and forgiveness, and the bonds of love between our two main protagonists.
The master-apprentice and found family relationship Kaylo and Tayen share is turbulent and complex, tested many times, but something special and strong is being forged between them and I can’t wait to see where it takes us in book 3. Will they be able to balance their anger and desire for vengeance with love and some kind of peace and will they ever find a safe haven from their troubles?
Overall, this story is hugely impressive and that’s down to the characterisation and also the beautiful prose, which is at times poetic in its lyricism. The author brings the characters and the world to life in ways which make this such an immersive read and the series continues to sing to me through its fine-tuned writing and the story within a story structure.
No Heart For A Thief stole my heart and No Safe Haven has kept it prisoner as I remained captivated by the compelling characters and their emotional story.
If you’re a fan of character-focused stories with lots of heart, you’re in very safe hands with James Lloyd Dulin’s Malitu series.
* I received an eARC and this is a voluntary, honest review.
October 28, 2023
I was given this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Dulin continues the story of Kaylo and Tayen's journey in this impactful sequel. I was happy to get more of Nix's POV and explore her story more. This story delivered on a lot of emotional moments, dynamic characters, and diving deeper into the war these characters find themselves in. The only critique I had was that the middle slowed a bit too much for me, but the action picks up again in the last portion of the book. Can't wait to see how this story will continue in book 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2024
The story structure worked better for me in the first book, but this was still a solid read with some excellent prose, particularly in the first-person sections.
“Questions only feel like attacks when you don’t want to admit the truth.”
“Questions only feel like attacks when you don’t want to admit the truth.”
December 15, 2023
!!!! By far my favourite series I've read in a while, I love the nonbinary librarian-poet, and the scars and the romance of it all. I especially love a good sword training montage in a forest.
January 9, 2024
Disclaimer.... I wouldn't read this review unless you have read the first book in the series, No Heart for a Thief.
No Safe Haven is the second in the Malitu series and carries directly on from the action in No Heart for a Thief. Because of this, everything that was a success in the first book is taken and built on here. The author is still not shying away from the big topics. Kaylo and Taren still have a frequently strained but secretly tender tutor-pupil relationship. The worldbuilding and the magic system are still outstanding. It's all just as good as book one and even a little bit better.
The action here takes place in Myanack, which is the capital of Astile, the Lost Nation. That was a bit of a thrill to find out. Kaylo, Taren and Nix are now prisoners and are being forced to join the army to fight the Ghoust, with Kaylo separated from the rest and being blackmailed to training new Thieves. The social structure of Myanack is fascinating in an extremely brutal way, which may be seen as what happens to society when fighting an oppressing force, making them (in some cases) just as bad as the enemy. Kaylo and Taren's relationship deteriorates for much of the book, with Taren being extremely angry and Kaylo being extremely protective. It is a very sweet relationship in a way but it does have it's irritating moments! The miscommunication, or no communication at all, trope is strong in this one.
The main aspect I loved about book 2 was the continuation of Kaylo's story. I'm not usually a fan of a story within a story but I think this is done exceptionally well. We have been getting hints and nudges about his story and it is all starting to come out. It is sad, touching and bittersweet as we learn about his trials as a Thief and the continuing revelations of the Thief. Is he a reliable narrator? Not sure but he does tell a good story! I wait with great expectation to find out the end of his story.
No Safe Haven is tense, brutal and full of suspense. Some series suffer from Second Book Syndrome but there is no evidence of that here. It has taken the story of No Heart for a Thief and ran with it. Here's looking forward to the third book.
I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. It really is a beautiful cover and I am sorry it has taken this long to write my review. Apologies!
No Safe Haven is the second in the Malitu series and carries directly on from the action in No Heart for a Thief. Because of this, everything that was a success in the first book is taken and built on here. The author is still not shying away from the big topics. Kaylo and Taren still have a frequently strained but secretly tender tutor-pupil relationship. The worldbuilding and the magic system are still outstanding. It's all just as good as book one and even a little bit better.
The action here takes place in Myanack, which is the capital of Astile, the Lost Nation. That was a bit of a thrill to find out. Kaylo, Taren and Nix are now prisoners and are being forced to join the army to fight the Ghoust, with Kaylo separated from the rest and being blackmailed to training new Thieves. The social structure of Myanack is fascinating in an extremely brutal way, which may be seen as what happens to society when fighting an oppressing force, making them (in some cases) just as bad as the enemy. Kaylo and Taren's relationship deteriorates for much of the book, with Taren being extremely angry and Kaylo being extremely protective. It is a very sweet relationship in a way but it does have it's irritating moments! The miscommunication, or no communication at all, trope is strong in this one.
The main aspect I loved about book 2 was the continuation of Kaylo's story. I'm not usually a fan of a story within a story but I think this is done exceptionally well. We have been getting hints and nudges about his story and it is all starting to come out. It is sad, touching and bittersweet as we learn about his trials as a Thief and the continuing revelations of the Thief. Is he a reliable narrator? Not sure but he does tell a good story! I wait with great expectation to find out the end of his story.
No Safe Haven is tense, brutal and full of suspense. Some series suffer from Second Book Syndrome but there is no evidence of that here. It has taken the story of No Heart for a Thief and ran with it. Here's looking forward to the third book.
I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. It really is a beautiful cover and I am sorry it has taken this long to write my review. Apologies!
November 26, 2023
Book 2 in the Malitu Series
Wow! This book was so good! It kept me engaged and interested the entire time - which is saying a lot lately. I loved seeing the characters develop. Dullin's storytelling is top knotch. Initial rating - 5 stars.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 9.5 - I loved spending time with these characters. They are so rich and full of life and realistic. Tayen made me almost like the sullen angsty teenage trope. I always looked forward to seeing what our characters said or did next.
Atmostphere/Setting: 8 - I loved the way that the setting intereacted with the characters and almost became a character on its own. The atmosphere changed per POV, which was great becuase sometimes the same setting was felt or meant something different to difference characters and their experiences or purposes.
Writing Style: 9.5 - Dullin's storytelling skill is on high display in No Safe Haven. It was engaging the entire time and never boring or confusing. It was evident that Dullin learned from No Heart for a Thief (book 1) and improved.
Plot: 9 - The plot in No Safe Haven was clear and effective - much clearer here than in book 1, in my opinion. I loved the balance of the past and present and wacthing how the two stories played out.
Intrigue: 8.5 - There was so much intrigue here, everywhere in the stories. One way they kept it going was by switching back and forth between the 2 timelines. You had to keep reading to find out what happened to who and when.
Logic/Relationships: 9 - This was one aspect that, for me, improved since book 1. Everything made sense. I never questioned why or what a character's motivation was. It all made sense.
Enjoyment: 9.5 - I enjoyed every chapter in this book and can't wait to see where this series and story goes.
CAWPILE Total: 63/7 = 9 = 5 stars!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for consideration of an honest review.
Wow! This book was so good! It kept me engaged and interested the entire time - which is saying a lot lately. I loved seeing the characters develop. Dullin's storytelling is top knotch. Initial rating - 5 stars.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 9.5 - I loved spending time with these characters. They are so rich and full of life and realistic. Tayen made me almost like the sullen angsty teenage trope. I always looked forward to seeing what our characters said or did next.
Atmostphere/Setting: 8 - I loved the way that the setting intereacted with the characters and almost became a character on its own. The atmosphere changed per POV, which was great becuase sometimes the same setting was felt or meant something different to difference characters and their experiences or purposes.
Writing Style: 9.5 - Dullin's storytelling skill is on high display in No Safe Haven. It was engaging the entire time and never boring or confusing. It was evident that Dullin learned from No Heart for a Thief (book 1) and improved.
Plot: 9 - The plot in No Safe Haven was clear and effective - much clearer here than in book 1, in my opinion. I loved the balance of the past and present and wacthing how the two stories played out.
Intrigue: 8.5 - There was so much intrigue here, everywhere in the stories. One way they kept it going was by switching back and forth between the 2 timelines. You had to keep reading to find out what happened to who and when.
Logic/Relationships: 9 - This was one aspect that, for me, improved since book 1. Everything made sense. I never questioned why or what a character's motivation was. It all made sense.
Enjoyment: 9.5 - I enjoyed every chapter in this book and can't wait to see where this series and story goes.
CAWPILE Total: 63/7 = 9 = 5 stars!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for consideration of an honest review.
February 15, 2024
"Forgiveness is not compliance. It is the acceptance of change and freedom from the constant restraints of the past....Fight alongside forgiveness."
A solid sequel to the No Heart for a Thief, this book has a firm theme of forgiveness and the repercussions of solely focusing on revenge and acting out in anger.
No Safe Haven picks up right where No Heart for a Thief left off, and our little group ends up being captives of King Shonar.
Just like in No Heart for a Thief, we are given present day chapters as well as flashback chapters to when Kaylo was younger, as he continues to tell his story to Tayen. In the present day chapters we also now receive the POVs of not only Tayen and Kaylo, but of Nix and another character as well.
I really enjoyed this book, although just slightly less than I did No Heart for a Thief. The pacing was a bit slow but I did like learning more about what happened in Kaylo's past and how he came to be known as the "Hero of Anilace."
I feel like we got a lot of foreshadowing in Kaylo's chapters that played out in the current day chapters and after a while it did get slightly repetitive. However it didn't deter me from the story.
I loved getting to meet new characters in this story and seeing Tayen come into her own more as she learned to not let her anger have complete control over her actions and motives.
Getting more insight into Kaylo's past was also interesting and heartbreaking. Just loss after loss after loss.
Overall, I really enjoyed No Safe Haven and am really looking forward to the third book, Only a Grave Will Do.
"Can you forgive the unforgivable if you understand the reasons?"
A solid sequel to the No Heart for a Thief, this book has a firm theme of forgiveness and the repercussions of solely focusing on revenge and acting out in anger.
No Safe Haven picks up right where No Heart for a Thief left off, and our little group ends up being captives of King Shonar.
Just like in No Heart for a Thief, we are given present day chapters as well as flashback chapters to when Kaylo was younger, as he continues to tell his story to Tayen. In the present day chapters we also now receive the POVs of not only Tayen and Kaylo, but of Nix and another character as well.
I really enjoyed this book, although just slightly less than I did No Heart for a Thief. The pacing was a bit slow but I did like learning more about what happened in Kaylo's past and how he came to be known as the "Hero of Anilace."
I feel like we got a lot of foreshadowing in Kaylo's chapters that played out in the current day chapters and after a while it did get slightly repetitive. However it didn't deter me from the story.
I loved getting to meet new characters in this story and seeing Tayen come into her own more as she learned to not let her anger have complete control over her actions and motives.
Getting more insight into Kaylo's past was also interesting and heartbreaking. Just loss after loss after loss.
Overall, I really enjoyed No Safe Haven and am really looking forward to the third book, Only a Grave Will Do.
"Can you forgive the unforgivable if you understand the reasons?"
January 17, 2024
“This pain will fade. You will outlast it, and I will be there for all of it. No matter what.”
No Safe Haven is the second book in the Malitu trilogy, following the excellent No Heart for a Thief.
A dark ane gripping tale of colonialism, loss of identity, and revenge.
Expertly continuing to use a dual narrative split between the past and the present, we are reacquainted with Tayen and Kaylo right where they left off in book 1. The duo, now made a trio by the addition of newcomer Nix, are some of my favorite characters in recent memory. When something painful happens to either one of them (which is basically every other chapter), I share that pain, that loss, that grief, and that unfulfilled thirst for vengeance.
The most fascinating aspect of this series is that it chooses to focus on the characters' interpersonal struggles, even while the entire world seems pitted against them; while multiple oppressive regimes threaten to take over the continent; while they are captured, tortured, and lose their friends.
By doing so, these books show that colonialism and genocide are not simply outside factors. They are tools of subjugation that destroy more than just land and culture. They destroy what it means to be a human. Throughout this series, and especially in this entry, Kaylo's story is meant to show Tayen that loss of humanity is a form of death greater than mere loss of life. Will Kaylo heed his warning, or continue down this dark road to perdition? That still remains to be seen.
No Safe Haven is an excellent installment in this series that does not falter or relent. If the final book sticks the landing, we will have on our hands a classic trilogy within both the selfpub world, and fantasy as a whole.
No Safe Haven is the second book in the Malitu trilogy, following the excellent No Heart for a Thief.
A dark ane gripping tale of colonialism, loss of identity, and revenge.
Expertly continuing to use a dual narrative split between the past and the present, we are reacquainted with Tayen and Kaylo right where they left off in book 1. The duo, now made a trio by the addition of newcomer Nix, are some of my favorite characters in recent memory. When something painful happens to either one of them (which is basically every other chapter), I share that pain, that loss, that grief, and that unfulfilled thirst for vengeance.
The most fascinating aspect of this series is that it chooses to focus on the characters' interpersonal struggles, even while the entire world seems pitted against them; while multiple oppressive regimes threaten to take over the continent; while they are captured, tortured, and lose their friends.
By doing so, these books show that colonialism and genocide are not simply outside factors. They are tools of subjugation that destroy more than just land and culture. They destroy what it means to be a human. Throughout this series, and especially in this entry, Kaylo's story is meant to show Tayen that loss of humanity is a form of death greater than mere loss of life. Will Kaylo heed his warning, or continue down this dark road to perdition? That still remains to be seen.
No Safe Haven is an excellent installment in this series that does not falter or relent. If the final book sticks the landing, we will have on our hands a classic trilogy within both the selfpub world, and fantasy as a whole.
December 30, 2023
Very interesting read. I am not usually one for political fantasy but for some reason I really enjoy the Malitu series.
I love the beauty of the myths of the pantheon and the importance place on balance which seems to be a common theme in more than just the mythological stories.
I really enjoyed the parts of the story where Kaylo was able to walk to the spirit realm and talk with the Thief. I also felt this was an origin story for Wal to be a great nemesis in coming books.
Overall, I felt this story was a build-up type of story. It was the pause to build momentum for a coming storm. And I am here for it!
I love the beauty of the myths of the pantheon and the importance place on balance which seems to be a common theme in more than just the mythological stories.
I really enjoyed the parts of the story where Kaylo was able to walk to the spirit realm and talk with the Thief. I also felt this was an origin story for Wal to be a great nemesis in coming books.
Overall, I felt this story was a build-up type of story. It was the pause to build momentum for a coming storm. And I am here for it!
August 29, 2023
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Amazing addition to the series and superb writing!
To Say I had been looking forward to reading this book is an understatement. I had received an ARC copy of "No Heart for A Thief" the first book in this series and was blown away! Again this is the case with "No Safe Haven", and some how James has done an even better job on this novel.
One of the best parts about this book is Mr. Dulin's writing, as with the first book its just smooth as silk. Extremely easy to just keep reading and get lost in the story, and to get attached to the characters especially with the emotional relationships between them. As with the first book, James continues the same pace and writing style as the first book with going from present time then having the main character tell of the past. I wont go into details or have spoilers in this review but its definitely my favorite so far in the series. Along with amazing cover art for both books so far, I'm very excited for the final novel in this trilogy, the only downside is having to wait for the last book.
I highly recommend this book and series to any reader, its a lovely, fresh adventure, with unforgettable characters that are facing unbelievable odds. Keep up the hard work James, I'm sure finale will be insane!
Amazing addition to the series and superb writing!
To Say I had been looking forward to reading this book is an understatement. I had received an ARC copy of "No Heart for A Thief" the first book in this series and was blown away! Again this is the case with "No Safe Haven", and some how James has done an even better job on this novel.
One of the best parts about this book is Mr. Dulin's writing, as with the first book its just smooth as silk. Extremely easy to just keep reading and get lost in the story, and to get attached to the characters especially with the emotional relationships between them. As with the first book, James continues the same pace and writing style as the first book with going from present time then having the main character tell of the past. I wont go into details or have spoilers in this review but its definitely my favorite so far in the series. Along with amazing cover art for both books so far, I'm very excited for the final novel in this trilogy, the only downside is having to wait for the last book.
I highly recommend this book and series to any reader, its a lovely, fresh adventure, with unforgettable characters that are facing unbelievable odds. Keep up the hard work James, I'm sure finale will be insane!
February 8, 2024
What to say about this, other than it was another brilliant read.
I loved following Kaylo and Tayen as they continued their journey.
I'm not sure it was good for the heart, but I loved how we could just be trundling along, and then suddenly there was a burst of action that got the adrenaline going.
Like with the first book, I enjoyed the split between Kaylo's past, and his and Tayen's story in the present.
I do have an issue...WHEN IS POOR KAYLO GOING TO CATCH A BREAK?! Trouble seems to follow him everywhere he goes.
Anyway, can't wait to read Book 3! It can't come soon enough.
I loved following Kaylo and Tayen as they continued their journey.
I'm not sure it was good for the heart, but I loved how we could just be trundling along, and then suddenly there was a burst of action that got the adrenaline going.
Like with the first book, I enjoyed the split between Kaylo's past, and his and Tayen's story in the present.
I do have an issue...WHEN IS POOR KAYLO GOING TO CATCH A BREAK?! Trouble seems to follow him everywhere he goes.
Anyway, can't wait to read Book 3! It can't come soon enough.
October 1, 2023
3.75 (rounded up to 4)
No Safe Haven is a very solid sequel that further develops its characters through its two timelines which worked so well in book 1.
Where I favoured Kaylo's backstory over the present timeline in book 1, the reverse happened on my reading of book 2. With the addition of a third POV and further worldbuikding in the present timeline, I found that I was more interested/invested in these current events than the past storyline this time around.
The author uses both timelines to further develop the characters, particularly Kaylo's - experiences in the past help explain present decisions and motivations.
The dovetailing of timelines did have a tendency to be thematically repetitive, for me, with Tayen's journey almost mirroring Kaylo's in a lot of ways. At times I found the similarities between the stories affected the pacing and my enjoyment.
Despite this minor personal quibble, the story is very well constructed and the character work is superb again. The emotions are raw and conveyed in a believable way, especially those of Tayen.
Overall, No Safe Haven didn't work as well for me as book 1 did. However, the character work, plotting, and foreshadowing on display has the potential to provide a huge pay off in the third and final book.
No Safe Haven is a very solid sequel that further develops its characters through its two timelines which worked so well in book 1.
Where I favoured Kaylo's backstory over the present timeline in book 1, the reverse happened on my reading of book 2. With the addition of a third POV and further worldbuikding in the present timeline, I found that I was more interested/invested in these current events than the past storyline this time around.
The author uses both timelines to further develop the characters, particularly Kaylo's - experiences in the past help explain present decisions and motivations.
The dovetailing of timelines did have a tendency to be thematically repetitive, for me, with Tayen's journey almost mirroring Kaylo's in a lot of ways. At times I found the similarities between the stories affected the pacing and my enjoyment.
Despite this minor personal quibble, the story is very well constructed and the character work is superb again. The emotions are raw and conveyed in a believable way, especially those of Tayen.
Overall, No Safe Haven didn't work as well for me as book 1 did. However, the character work, plotting, and foreshadowing on display has the potential to provide a huge pay off in the third and final book.
May 28, 2024
A very satisfying follow up to No Heart for a Thief.
No Safe Haven picks up pretty much where No Heart left off. Kaylo and Taylen are being packed off to the Missing, a hidden nation of Ennea that has been holding itself apart from the ongoing conflict but has big aims of its own. There is a definite anger to the story that feels even more pronounced in this book compared to the first. The drive for vengeance sits at the core of the motivations of a lot of the characters, and it is the dawning understanding of how to achieve that without compromising their own self that provides a lot of the growth in the tale.
The story is again presented across two timelines, with the present day actions of Kaylo, Taylen and Nix counterpointed with the story of the past told by Kaylo. This allows for some clever juxtaposition and background for Kaylo and how he tries to help Taylen understand her anger and her drive. This was even more apparent in this book compared to the first in the series and I definitely appreciate the way the author has used this device to contextualize the relationship. It is also a clever way of world building, adding depth and history to the present day story as well as providing the threads of where everything is coming from.
The prose is very well constructed, flowing with ease and dripping character off the page. All the themes that made the first book such a compelling read are still here - anti-colonialism, division within repressed communities, genocide, indigenous rights etc. This story adds the way that local warlords have tried to take advantage of colonial powers to further their own aims, and how this is not necessarily good for their own populations. These themes all feel incredibly timely, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine highlighting many of the very actions being presented here. It all adds to the poignancy in the story. I find myself drawn to the comparison with the board game Spirit Island as well with the themes as well. Yes, there is a risk of 'white mans voice' on this difficult and nuanced subject, but it feels to me as if Dulin has done a fantastic job of capturing that challenging topic. I also definitely appreciate and applaud his authors note highlighting other writers from less well represented backgrounds who are also putting their voice on these topics.
This is a fantastic follow up to No Heart for a Thief and I cannot wait to see the series continue onwards. It feels like there is a lot to still resolve here and I am excited to see the denouement of everything that has been set up!
No Safe Haven picks up pretty much where No Heart left off. Kaylo and Taylen are being packed off to the Missing, a hidden nation of Ennea that has been holding itself apart from the ongoing conflict but has big aims of its own. There is a definite anger to the story that feels even more pronounced in this book compared to the first. The drive for vengeance sits at the core of the motivations of a lot of the characters, and it is the dawning understanding of how to achieve that without compromising their own self that provides a lot of the growth in the tale.
The story is again presented across two timelines, with the present day actions of Kaylo, Taylen and Nix counterpointed with the story of the past told by Kaylo. This allows for some clever juxtaposition and background for Kaylo and how he tries to help Taylen understand her anger and her drive. This was even more apparent in this book compared to the first in the series and I definitely appreciate the way the author has used this device to contextualize the relationship. It is also a clever way of world building, adding depth and history to the present day story as well as providing the threads of where everything is coming from.
The prose is very well constructed, flowing with ease and dripping character off the page. All the themes that made the first book such a compelling read are still here - anti-colonialism, division within repressed communities, genocide, indigenous rights etc. This story adds the way that local warlords have tried to take advantage of colonial powers to further their own aims, and how this is not necessarily good for their own populations. These themes all feel incredibly timely, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine highlighting many of the very actions being presented here. It all adds to the poignancy in the story. I find myself drawn to the comparison with the board game Spirit Island as well with the themes as well. Yes, there is a risk of 'white mans voice' on this difficult and nuanced subject, but it feels to me as if Dulin has done a fantastic job of capturing that challenging topic. I also definitely appreciate and applaud his authors note highlighting other writers from less well represented backgrounds who are also putting their voice on these topics.
This is a fantastic follow up to No Heart for a Thief and I cannot wait to see the series continue onwards. It feels like there is a lot to still resolve here and I am excited to see the denouement of everything that has been set up!
October 24, 2023
I got a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. And here are my thoughts:
I want to start off by saying that I was disappointed by No Heart For A Thief. The book was brilliantly written, full of rich cultures and characters with a unique take on Elemental Magic. However, the pacing and plot left a lot to be desired, especially the ending, to the point where I almost made up my mind not to continue with the series.
I’m so glad I decided against that.
James Lloyd Dulin’s second entry in the Malitu trilogy is a significant upgrade to the first book, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s almost as if the author carefully read through every complaint from negative reviews and worked on them to make No Safe Haven a much better-paced, better-plotted, and overall better experience for the reader.
Dulin’s writing really shines in book 1, so I won’t repeat myself to say that he makes the world come alive. The cultures and magic system are explored deeper in book 2, and I found that expansion very intriguing. Everything related to the spirit crystals was absolutely mind-blowing for me.
The characters are another huge strength of Dulin’s books. They’re very real and written with empathy, making their hardships gutwrenching at best, and soul-shattering at worst. And this book was so much more brutal on the characters than the previous one; I was not ready to deal with all that violence, and all that abuse.
Lastly, the plot. The balance between the past and the present was much better this time around, with both stories running parallel themes and settings; gave a much deeper insight into Kaylo’s character and growhth. Even the way it’s structured, the book ends on a brilliant reveal and resolution, as opposed to the cliffhanger in book 1.
I do have some minor complaints, but those can be subjective.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading book 2, and will eagerly wait for book 3 to come out.
4/5
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Characters and world-building
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Some character relationships, some treatments of plot points.
I want to start off by saying that I was disappointed by No Heart For A Thief. The book was brilliantly written, full of rich cultures and characters with a unique take on Elemental Magic. However, the pacing and plot left a lot to be desired, especially the ending, to the point where I almost made up my mind not to continue with the series.
I’m so glad I decided against that.
James Lloyd Dulin’s second entry in the Malitu trilogy is a significant upgrade to the first book, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s almost as if the author carefully read through every complaint from negative reviews and worked on them to make No Safe Haven a much better-paced, better-plotted, and overall better experience for the reader.
Dulin’s writing really shines in book 1, so I won’t repeat myself to say that he makes the world come alive. The cultures and magic system are explored deeper in book 2, and I found that expansion very intriguing. Everything related to the spirit crystals was absolutely mind-blowing for me.
The characters are another huge strength of Dulin’s books. They’re very real and written with empathy, making their hardships gutwrenching at best, and soul-shattering at worst. And this book was so much more brutal on the characters than the previous one; I was not ready to deal with all that violence, and all that abuse.
Lastly, the plot. The balance between the past and the present was much better this time around, with both stories running parallel themes and settings; gave a much deeper insight into Kaylo’s character and growhth. Even the way it’s structured, the book ends on a brilliant reveal and resolution, as opposed to the cliffhanger in book 1.
I do have some minor complaints, but those can be subjective.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading book 2, and will eagerly wait for book 3 to come out.
4/5
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Characters and world-building
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Some character relationships, some treatments of plot points.
August 29, 2023
It really is such a privilege to read superb artistic writing from James. I mentioned it before and will mention it again, not only he is a wonderful gifted storyteller, but he also showed how to write his characters' transformations like no other. The character arcs for both Kaylo and Tayen are something to be admired and I'm awestruck as any fantasy reader out there.
The story picks up immediately from the first book, where Kaylo, Tayen, and Nix were captured by The Lost Army - commandeered by Wal - Kaylo's old friend. While Kaylo was tasked to train three dancers in the service of the King, Tayen and Nix were recruited to be trained warriors like hundreds of stolen children in Astile. We also learned more on why Kaylo became The Hero of Anilace and why he can't call on The Seed anymore.
Dulin once again showed exceptional writing on the difficulties of war, colonialism, and especially grief and loss. No Safe Haven was written profoundly in such a delicate manner and yet still bring the essence of an exceptional lyrical prose. But the most pivotal moment for me was how he showed how anger and forgiveness can be both tools during the war.
The Malitu series is a breath of fresh air and I highly recommend to start reading this series immediately. If you're a fan of any kind of fantasy, I urge you to put this book immediately in your TBR.
Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest review. The quotes used on this review may have change but I have permission from the author to use such quotes.
"The truths in our fantasies are often greater than those we are willing to offer in plain language."
The story picks up immediately from the first book, where Kaylo, Tayen, and Nix were captured by The Lost Army - commandeered by Wal - Kaylo's old friend. While Kaylo was tasked to train three dancers in the service of the King, Tayen and Nix were recruited to be trained warriors like hundreds of stolen children in Astile. We also learned more on why Kaylo became The Hero of Anilace and why he can't call on The Seed anymore.
"When you get older, you want to be known - understood. You want someone to see you, especially when you can't see yourself."
Dulin once again showed exceptional writing on the difficulties of war, colonialism, and especially grief and loss. No Safe Haven was written profoundly in such a delicate manner and yet still bring the essence of an exceptional lyrical prose. But the most pivotal moment for me was how he showed how anger and forgiveness can be both tools during the war.
"Anger can be a tool. Many great things have been done through anger. Many terrible things too."
"Forgiveness is not compliance. It is the acceptance of change and freedom from the constraints of the past."
The Malitu series is a breath of fresh air and I highly recommend to start reading this series immediately. If you're a fan of any kind of fantasy, I urge you to put this book immediately in your TBR.
"Opening the doors to the library felt like opening a book after a long day."
Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest review. The quotes used on this review may have change but I have permission from the author to use such quotes.
November 22, 2023
If I gave 5 stars to the first book and the second book is even better, how many stars am I suppose to give it if 5 just won’t do? No Safe Haven picked up right where No Heart for a Thief ended. I admit I took more breaks while reading this simply due to the fact that I just didn’t want the story to end because now I’m stuck here waiting for book 3. I don’t know when it is scheduled to release, but I do know that I’m going to be thinking about these characters until I get to open Only a Grave Will Do.
Not only does James make you feel the pain that Kaylo, Tayen, and Nix, as well as secondary characters, constantly struggle with, he makes you feel sympathy for certain antagonists in this series as well. But you still also hate those characters for what they did. He does an amazing job at showing the different layers of human emotion through these characters, as well as just how far someone is willing to go on the search for revenge.
This series has quickly become a favorite of mine, and I cannot wait to see what else James has in store for us.
Not only does James make you feel the pain that Kaylo, Tayen, and Nix, as well as secondary characters, constantly struggle with, he makes you feel sympathy for certain antagonists in this series as well. But you still also hate those characters for what they did. He does an amazing job at showing the different layers of human emotion through these characters, as well as just how far someone is willing to go on the search for revenge.
This series has quickly become a favorite of mine, and I cannot wait to see what else James has in store for us.
September 21, 2023
I was fortunate enough to get an ARC for this book – in return I agreed to give my honest thoughts. “No Safe Haven” by James L. Dulin. I am not a reviewer I am a reader; and I enjoyed the heck out of this one. The two main characters Kaylo and Tayen feel so real – there are times you cheer for them and times you just want to slap them – just like real people. The story is tender, brutal, thought provoking and action packed – all in perfect balance and Mr. Dulin’s writing ties it all effortlessly together. I really like the magic system and the world these characters live in feels real. I am looking forward to the next book in the “Malitu” series.
September 20, 2023
I had high expectations after reading No Heart for a Thief and I was not disappointed.
This book was, just like the first one in this series, absolutely fantastic.
The story is again devided into the present day happenings and Kaylo's story. While reading, more and more questions are answered for the reader as well as for the characters in the present day story, due to the tellings of Kaylo's.
There's twists and turns, also intrigues and the story gets darker by the chapter. Rage and revenge are still prominent feelings throughout, understandably so.
Also, Nix is now a character we get to know pretty well and I really enjoyed her backstory/storyline.
Looking forward to book 3 😁
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was, just like the first one in this series, absolutely fantastic.
The story is again devided into the present day happenings and Kaylo's story. While reading, more and more questions are answered for the reader as well as for the characters in the present day story, due to the tellings of Kaylo's.
There's twists and turns, also intrigues and the story gets darker by the chapter. Rage and revenge are still prominent feelings throughout, understandably so.
Also, Nix is now a character we get to know pretty well and I really enjoyed her backstory/storyline.
Looking forward to book 3 😁
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2023
Thank you to James Dulin for sending me an eArc copy of this book to review. As soon as I had finished the first book, I was so excited for the second book. And I can easily say that I am not disappointed. From when I started to read it, I didn’t want to put the book down. Being able to follow the characters again and to see what other challenges they had to go through in this book was so interesting to see how they figured out what they needed to do. The characters is developed even further throughout this book which made them even more interesting. With the way that this book was written, I enjoyed the style which created a nice flow as you was reading it. With the way in which the book ended I would love there to be a third book, as I would love to follow the characters again. This is definitely going to be a book series I will be continuing to recommend this series to people to read.
January 15, 2024
No heart for a thief. No safe haven. Only a grave will do. While these words may not feature in the novel much, their sentiment echoes through the pages of this fantastic novel.
Picking up where we left off in both timelines, Dulin wastes no time throwing our beloved characters into the thick of it. Stuck in unfamiliar territory and surrounded by enemies, tension drips from the pages as Kaylo, Tayen and company find themselves jumping out of the frying pan and right into the fire. No safe haven indeed.
Like No Heart for a Thief, we split our time between present day and “Kaylo’s story” where is tells us his backstory. This time around, we spend a lot more time in the present, meeting some new POV’s along the way. What follows is a triumphant and tragic story of loss and moving on and people change, for better and for worse.
No Safe Haven expands the world Dulin set up beautifully in No Heart for a Thief, while also managing to tell a very personal and character driven story. We meet new characters and are reintroduced to some old, seeing a few in two different timelines. Getting to know them this way makes it impossible not to empathize with them, no matter how villainous they may become.
We also get to explore the lore and magic of the world a lot more that adds context to everything that’s been happening in the two books. Having already met the characters in the previous book, there is a lot more time to expand on ideas hinted at in No Heart for a Thief.
We get to see a lot more from some of the villains, seeing how they live and getting to understand why they do what they do. Dulin handles this perfectly, making them sympathetic at times but never shying away from the wrongs they are committing. This add layers and depth to the story, providing some great twists and revelations.
No Safe Haven takes everything that was great about No Heart for a Thief and builds off of it. Beautiful character moments, intense and bloody action scenes, magic galore and plenty of heart break. Dulin’s prose flies off the pages, painting a vivid picture and telling an incredible story. I cannot wait for Only a Grave Will Do, which is one of the coolest titles I’ve ever heard.
Picking up where we left off in both timelines, Dulin wastes no time throwing our beloved characters into the thick of it. Stuck in unfamiliar territory and surrounded by enemies, tension drips from the pages as Kaylo, Tayen and company find themselves jumping out of the frying pan and right into the fire. No safe haven indeed.
Like No Heart for a Thief, we split our time between present day and “Kaylo’s story” where is tells us his backstory. This time around, we spend a lot more time in the present, meeting some new POV’s along the way. What follows is a triumphant and tragic story of loss and moving on and people change, for better and for worse.
No Safe Haven expands the world Dulin set up beautifully in No Heart for a Thief, while also managing to tell a very personal and character driven story. We meet new characters and are reintroduced to some old, seeing a few in two different timelines. Getting to know them this way makes it impossible not to empathize with them, no matter how villainous they may become.
We also get to explore the lore and magic of the world a lot more that adds context to everything that’s been happening in the two books. Having already met the characters in the previous book, there is a lot more time to expand on ideas hinted at in No Heart for a Thief.
We get to see a lot more from some of the villains, seeing how they live and getting to understand why they do what they do. Dulin handles this perfectly, making them sympathetic at times but never shying away from the wrongs they are committing. This add layers and depth to the story, providing some great twists and revelations.
No Safe Haven takes everything that was great about No Heart for a Thief and builds off of it. Beautiful character moments, intense and bloody action scenes, magic galore and plenty of heart break. Dulin’s prose flies off the pages, painting a vivid picture and telling an incredible story. I cannot wait for Only a Grave Will Do, which is one of the coolest titles I’ve ever heard.
January 10, 2024
James Lloyd Dulin returns to the Malitu with No Safe Haven, giving a deeper and harsher look at the colonial struggle as Kaylo and Tayen encounter new friends, enemies, and everything in between. There is no middle book syndrome here as this sequel only continues to add depth to its characters, world, and themes.
No Safe Haven picks up right where No Heart for a Thief left off, with Kaylo and Tayen taken by the rebel army. At first this seems like a clear benefit to our main characters, but in reality there are many more powerful forces and messy allegiences that they must navigate if they hope to survive and enact their vengeance.
In general, if you were a fan of No Heart for a Thief you’ll instantly fall in love with No Safe Haven. Dulin provides an extensive and detailed recap of that previous book and so readers are ready to be immediately thrust into the action as we continue to follow Kaylo and Tayen’s fraught and dangerous journey. If you are anything like me than you’ll not only fall in love with No Safe Haven, but you will immediately find yourself finding so much more to connect with here than in No Heart. The plotting, characters, and writing are much more assured in this book. No Heart for a Thief was an astonishing debut novel, and yet No Safe Haven finds a way to be better in everywhere. Dulin is clearly more comfortable in this world, and the book rolls along much more smoothly for it.
Most notably Dulin’s use of two different timelines operates much better in this book. I know this was one of the most common critiques of No Heart for a Thief. It worked much better for me than most other readers. In the first book I really liked the juxtaposition we got between Kaylo and Tayen’s stories; as we saw Kaylo’s mistakes in the past, we grew anxious that Tayen was following into all of those same traps. However, I do see how other reviewer’s felt that the flipping between past and present timelines slowed down the pacing of the narrative. There are not even crumbs of those earlier problems present here in No Safe Haven. The plot continues to move, even in its most contemplative moments. I think the multiple timelines of the story work here is because Dulin’s use of POV is much improved here. Not only does he expand the number of POVs (with one new major POV and one new minor POV character), ultimately making the jumping timelines feel a bit less jarring. It also helps that what is happening in Kaylo’s recollection of his past and what is happening in the “present” of the story is much more varied this time around. Again, I personally enjoyed how the two timelines mirrored one another in No Heart for a Thief, but it did make the book feel very “same-y”. Dulin keeps No Safe Haven moving at an insane pace without sacrificing characterization or the development of his prescient and relevant themes.
Dulin’s characters continue to be among the best in all of fantasy, with Kaylo remaining of the most complex and human characters in fantasy. I am continually astonished by the way in which young Kaylo and “old” Kaylo (old is in heavy scare-quotes here because he is around 35) are clearly the same person, but also entirely different. You can still find elements of young Kaylo in the present storyline, and young Kaylo also starts to predict traits he will have when he is older. Few other authors can make someone feel so alive and three-dimensional on the page. It is also not just Kaylo, but all of Dulin’s characters that immediately come alive. Characters who play only bit roles will worm their way into your head and heart, and then tear you apart as those characters often meet terrible ends (and yes, there are a lot of characters who die – harden your heart before you venture in!).
What sets No Safe Haven apart from similar dark fantasy books is Dulin’s empathy towards his characters and his complex interrogation of colonial forces. In doing so he easily invalidates the entire stereotypical arm of the grimdark genre. These books (and I am not talking about all grimdark books here) pride themselves on their realism via direct physical harm to their protagonist’s bodies. These books are full of sexual assault, mutilation, torture, and more. Dulin doesn’t let his individual characters off easily, but his stories illustrate that the horrors of colonialism over the long duree are not about direct violence against individual bodies. Colonizers inflict violence through the elimination of culture, killing traditional languages, and separating culture from land. Colonialism is not about how visually and physically gross it can be; colonialism works because its processes are more subtle and nefarious. Kaylo and Dulin’s other characters are most harmed by losing access to their traditional lands and ways of life, it is their culture that is ultimately destroyed. This is the more visceral “grim” and “dark” elements of empire and cultural imperialism. Dulin’s examination of these forces to me felt grittier and more “real” than many of the more slimy and icky books that are often upheld as the pinnacle of the grimdark genre.
Through all of this, Dulin doesn’t minimize his characters in any way. He allows them to be angry. He allows them to make bad, emotionally charged forces. And he allows them to have hope. Krystle Matar defined grimdark as being about seemingly insurmountable structural inequalities. However, this doesn’t mean that the characters cannot have aspirations for a more just world. What makes No Safe Haven so emotionally charged is not a sense of apathy or social ennui, but its direct condemnation of Western history using a fantasy pastiche. Dulin’s world has a clear ethic; even when characters have to make tough, morally grey choices there is no question to whom the victims and aggressors in this world, or any colonial situation, truly are.
Read No Safe Haven because its a great book and a tour de force in the epic fantasy genre. Read it because it is brimming with amazing characters that feel real, read it because the elemental magic system and worldbuilding only keep getting deeper, and read it because its plot is full of twists, turns, battles, and more. But more importantly read it because it is among a growing body of work that is correcting the harm that the fantasy genre has done. No Safe Haven (along with its Malitu siblings) is a part of a corpus of books that are ending the celebration of empire, are critiquing racist notions of the “Other”, and overly simplistic and harmful depections of historical forces. No Safe Haven deserves to be read, discussed, dissected, and ruminated upon. Don’t deny yourself this journey.
Concluding Thoughts: Dulin triumphantly returns to the Malitu series with one of the best sequels in recent memory. Kaylo, Tayen, and the entire cast of characters are given more depth and texture, and the twists and action come hard and fast. Above all, this book is an emotionally visceral condemnation of the horrors of colonialism; it is a stark and charged examination of how people are denied their culture, land, lives, and humanity in the global quest for power. We need more fantasy with this level of historical and cultural depth and complexity.
No Safe Haven picks up right where No Heart for a Thief left off, with Kaylo and Tayen taken by the rebel army. At first this seems like a clear benefit to our main characters, but in reality there are many more powerful forces and messy allegiences that they must navigate if they hope to survive and enact their vengeance.
In general, if you were a fan of No Heart for a Thief you’ll instantly fall in love with No Safe Haven. Dulin provides an extensive and detailed recap of that previous book and so readers are ready to be immediately thrust into the action as we continue to follow Kaylo and Tayen’s fraught and dangerous journey. If you are anything like me than you’ll not only fall in love with No Safe Haven, but you will immediately find yourself finding so much more to connect with here than in No Heart. The plotting, characters, and writing are much more assured in this book. No Heart for a Thief was an astonishing debut novel, and yet No Safe Haven finds a way to be better in everywhere. Dulin is clearly more comfortable in this world, and the book rolls along much more smoothly for it.
Most notably Dulin’s use of two different timelines operates much better in this book. I know this was one of the most common critiques of No Heart for a Thief. It worked much better for me than most other readers. In the first book I really liked the juxtaposition we got between Kaylo and Tayen’s stories; as we saw Kaylo’s mistakes in the past, we grew anxious that Tayen was following into all of those same traps. However, I do see how other reviewer’s felt that the flipping between past and present timelines slowed down the pacing of the narrative. There are not even crumbs of those earlier problems present here in No Safe Haven. The plot continues to move, even in its most contemplative moments. I think the multiple timelines of the story work here is because Dulin’s use of POV is much improved here. Not only does he expand the number of POVs (with one new major POV and one new minor POV character), ultimately making the jumping timelines feel a bit less jarring. It also helps that what is happening in Kaylo’s recollection of his past and what is happening in the “present” of the story is much more varied this time around. Again, I personally enjoyed how the two timelines mirrored one another in No Heart for a Thief, but it did make the book feel very “same-y”. Dulin keeps No Safe Haven moving at an insane pace without sacrificing characterization or the development of his prescient and relevant themes.
Dulin’s characters continue to be among the best in all of fantasy, with Kaylo remaining of the most complex and human characters in fantasy. I am continually astonished by the way in which young Kaylo and “old” Kaylo (old is in heavy scare-quotes here because he is around 35) are clearly the same person, but also entirely different. You can still find elements of young Kaylo in the present storyline, and young Kaylo also starts to predict traits he will have when he is older. Few other authors can make someone feel so alive and three-dimensional on the page. It is also not just Kaylo, but all of Dulin’s characters that immediately come alive. Characters who play only bit roles will worm their way into your head and heart, and then tear you apart as those characters often meet terrible ends (and yes, there are a lot of characters who die – harden your heart before you venture in!).
What sets No Safe Haven apart from similar dark fantasy books is Dulin’s empathy towards his characters and his complex interrogation of colonial forces. In doing so he easily invalidates the entire stereotypical arm of the grimdark genre. These books (and I am not talking about all grimdark books here) pride themselves on their realism via direct physical harm to their protagonist’s bodies. These books are full of sexual assault, mutilation, torture, and more. Dulin doesn’t let his individual characters off easily, but his stories illustrate that the horrors of colonialism over the long duree are not about direct violence against individual bodies. Colonizers inflict violence through the elimination of culture, killing traditional languages, and separating culture from land. Colonialism is not about how visually and physically gross it can be; colonialism works because its processes are more subtle and nefarious. Kaylo and Dulin’s other characters are most harmed by losing access to their traditional lands and ways of life, it is their culture that is ultimately destroyed. This is the more visceral “grim” and “dark” elements of empire and cultural imperialism. Dulin’s examination of these forces to me felt grittier and more “real” than many of the more slimy and icky books that are often upheld as the pinnacle of the grimdark genre.
Through all of this, Dulin doesn’t minimize his characters in any way. He allows them to be angry. He allows them to make bad, emotionally charged forces. And he allows them to have hope. Krystle Matar defined grimdark as being about seemingly insurmountable structural inequalities. However, this doesn’t mean that the characters cannot have aspirations for a more just world. What makes No Safe Haven so emotionally charged is not a sense of apathy or social ennui, but its direct condemnation of Western history using a fantasy pastiche. Dulin’s world has a clear ethic; even when characters have to make tough, morally grey choices there is no question to whom the victims and aggressors in this world, or any colonial situation, truly are.
Read No Safe Haven because its a great book and a tour de force in the epic fantasy genre. Read it because it is brimming with amazing characters that feel real, read it because the elemental magic system and worldbuilding only keep getting deeper, and read it because its plot is full of twists, turns, battles, and more. But more importantly read it because it is among a growing body of work that is correcting the harm that the fantasy genre has done. No Safe Haven (along with its Malitu siblings) is a part of a corpus of books that are ending the celebration of empire, are critiquing racist notions of the “Other”, and overly simplistic and harmful depections of historical forces. No Safe Haven deserves to be read, discussed, dissected, and ruminated upon. Don’t deny yourself this journey.
Concluding Thoughts: Dulin triumphantly returns to the Malitu series with one of the best sequels in recent memory. Kaylo, Tayen, and the entire cast of characters are given more depth and texture, and the twists and action come hard and fast. Above all, this book is an emotionally visceral condemnation of the horrors of colonialism; it is a stark and charged examination of how people are denied their culture, land, lives, and humanity in the global quest for power. We need more fantasy with this level of historical and cultural depth and complexity.
October 22, 2023
eARC received in exchange for honest review
I did not think James would manage to completely top No Heart for a Thief (no offence James).
But boy was I wrong.
No Heart for a Thief was a fantastic opener to the series, it was very self-contained, we were very much kept within the woods where Kaylo has rescued Tayen and is telling her his story as they travel, No Safe Haven bursts us out of this small bubble and fills in the rest of this world. It’s like staring at a postcard of a painted dog and then looking up and seeing the full size and detail of Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon…”
The book picks up mere days after book 1 ends, with Tayen finally being trained as the warrior and killer she wants, and Kaylo an honoured guest/prisoner of the rebel army, the Missing. Tayen is being driven further and further to a place that she can never return from and Kaylo tries to save her though he is all but shackled. For this, Dulin kept the story telling aspect of the book, with Kaylo explaining his past. And why not? Why get rid of a good thing?
It works. It works really well! The relationship between Kaylo and Tayen strains and grows this book through it and I am completely here for it. Between book 1 and 2 I would say these two go through the whole relationship growth that Joel and Ellie went through in the Last of Us. A grumpy and older reluctant protector and his hotheaded and stubborn (and slightly unwanted) young tag-along, which by the end of book 2 has blossomed into an intense father/daughter relationship that we can begin to see heal old wounds and will hopefully just fully realise in book 3.
The balance between the past and the current training and fighting parallels well, with Kaylo desperately trying to make Tayen make different and better choices than he did. Dulin really brought them to life through this! If I had to give one compliment for this book it’s that Dulin created a cast of real, flawed and fully realised characters. Every major character in both the present and past is fleshed out and we have some real insight into their desires and drives.
The central themes from book 1, of loss and grief due to war and colonialism are still very stark and upfront in this book. Dulin has dealt with these themes delicately, writing with such flow and almost lyrical prose that you are swept up in these heavy and tough issues. They aren’t thrust into your face and you are forced to confront and deal with them, they are presented to you so slowly, and with such emotion from the characters, that you can’t help but to really feel for these people.
If you thought the Gousht Empire was evil in book 1…well get ready for book 2. It seems that on both sides of the war there are atrocities, though which will win out in the end is still yet to be seen…that is if either should with the revelations that lurk within these pages…
A fantastic new addition to our cast of misfit toys though has to be Lanigan. James has introduced an interesting non-binary character very organically and who just fits into the story well and adds a lot to the plot. Plus they have the best job possible: resident poet and library hermit.
Basically, all in all, No Safe Haven pretty much confirms that Dulin knows what he is doing. He is an excellent writer who crafts well rounded and fleshed out stories that will draw you in, hurt you emotionally and than gently tuck you in and leave you wanting more.
I did not think James would manage to completely top No Heart for a Thief (no offence James).
But boy was I wrong.
“When blood is owed, virtues will be challenged.”
No Heart for a Thief was a fantastic opener to the series, it was very self-contained, we were very much kept within the woods where Kaylo has rescued Tayen and is telling her his story as they travel, No Safe Haven bursts us out of this small bubble and fills in the rest of this world. It’s like staring at a postcard of a painted dog and then looking up and seeing the full size and detail of Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon…”
The book picks up mere days after book 1 ends, with Tayen finally being trained as the warrior and killer she wants, and Kaylo an honoured guest/prisoner of the rebel army, the Missing. Tayen is being driven further and further to a place that she can never return from and Kaylo tries to save her though he is all but shackled. For this, Dulin kept the story telling aspect of the book, with Kaylo explaining his past. And why not? Why get rid of a good thing?
It works. It works really well! The relationship between Kaylo and Tayen strains and grows this book through it and I am completely here for it. Between book 1 and 2 I would say these two go through the whole relationship growth that Joel and Ellie went through in the Last of Us. A grumpy and older reluctant protector and his hotheaded and stubborn (and slightly unwanted) young tag-along, which by the end of book 2 has blossomed into an intense father/daughter relationship that we can begin to see heal old wounds and will hopefully just fully realise in book 3.
The balance between the past and the current training and fighting parallels well, with Kaylo desperately trying to make Tayen make different and better choices than he did. Dulin really brought them to life through this! If I had to give one compliment for this book it’s that Dulin created a cast of real, flawed and fully realised characters. Every major character in both the present and past is fleshed out and we have some real insight into their desires and drives.
The central themes from book 1, of loss and grief due to war and colonialism are still very stark and upfront in this book. Dulin has dealt with these themes delicately, writing with such flow and almost lyrical prose that you are swept up in these heavy and tough issues. They aren’t thrust into your face and you are forced to confront and deal with them, they are presented to you so slowly, and with such emotion from the characters, that you can’t help but to really feel for these people.
“Life has put us through untold challenges, but we still are who we are at our core, despite what has happened to us.”
If you thought the Gousht Empire was evil in book 1…well get ready for book 2. It seems that on both sides of the war there are atrocities, though which will win out in the end is still yet to be seen…that is if either should with the revelations that lurk within these pages…
A fantastic new addition to our cast of misfit toys though has to be Lanigan. James has introduced an interesting non-binary character very organically and who just fits into the story well and adds a lot to the plot. Plus they have the best job possible: resident poet and library hermit.
Basically, all in all, No Safe Haven pretty much confirms that Dulin knows what he is doing. He is an excellent writer who crafts well rounded and fleshed out stories that will draw you in, hurt you emotionally and than gently tuck you in and leave you wanting more.
September 13, 2023
*I received an eARC from the author for a fair and honest review*
No Safe Haven is the perfect title for this book. Never, not one time throughout this book did I feel that our characters were safe. Dulin keeps us waiting for the next travesty to unfold as he weaves his tale of Kaylo, Tayen and now Nix, the newest point of view.
No Safe Haven picks up where No Heart for A Thief left off with our characters entering The Lost Nation. The Lost Nation is completely cut off from the rest of Ennea, surrounded by the ocean and a thick forest of trees appropriately named The Lost Forest. With a certain Lost Nation character reveal from book one, there is a really interesting character dynamic between Kaylo and his captors. Kaylo and Tayen are thrown into this new society.
We still get our character flashbacks of Kaylo, my favorite part of the series. I love that this feels almost as if Dulin is giving his readers two books in one. We get the prequal story that would usually be reserved for another novel in the world of Ennea. It works so well as Kaylo is using his life story in hopes of showing Tayen that hate, anger and vengeance are proven recipes for disaster.
Kaylo's story continues right after the events in book one. We see his group of found family searching out the Missing. The character work here is top tier. Kaylo especially has become one of my favorite characters from any fantasy story. He feels so real. The weight and lives of every character in his story are on his shoulders, and he cares so deeply about each and every one. He constantly blames himself for every tragedy. We see him trying to grow and learn from the past, rather than become stuck in it. Letting go is a hard thing to do.
The magic system remains to be a highlight for me in the Malitu series. Spirit Dancing is further explored in book two. A lot of questions I had previously from book one are answered. We see a lot of mist walking where; the characters actually have conversations with the spirits. This is another thing executed so well by Dulin. Kaylo's conversations with the thief, or the balance as "she" prefers, bring so much to the character development, as well as the history and worldbuilding at the same time. I found Kaylo's interactions with the Seed or the Thief to be favorite moments of the book.
There were not many negatives for me in No Safe Haven. I had a couple, sure, but nothing that I felt actually hurt the story or held it back. The pacing can be a bit slow at times, more towards the front quarter, but this is a character focused story and I really enjoy the deep dive into the characters.
No Safe Haven, book 2 in the Malitu series (trilogy, I believe), is another brilliant installment in the Malitu series. James Lloyd Dulin from here on, will be an instant buy/read for me. As I said in my review for No Heart for A Thief, this series is a breath of fresh air, and I am already heavily anticipating book 3.
Another 4.5/5
No Safe Haven is the perfect title for this book. Never, not one time throughout this book did I feel that our characters were safe. Dulin keeps us waiting for the next travesty to unfold as he weaves his tale of Kaylo, Tayen and now Nix, the newest point of view.
No Safe Haven picks up where No Heart for A Thief left off with our characters entering The Lost Nation. The Lost Nation is completely cut off from the rest of Ennea, surrounded by the ocean and a thick forest of trees appropriately named The Lost Forest. With a certain Lost Nation character reveal from book one, there is a really interesting character dynamic between Kaylo and his captors. Kaylo and Tayen are thrown into this new society.
We still get our character flashbacks of Kaylo, my favorite part of the series. I love that this feels almost as if Dulin is giving his readers two books in one. We get the prequal story that would usually be reserved for another novel in the world of Ennea. It works so well as Kaylo is using his life story in hopes of showing Tayen that hate, anger and vengeance are proven recipes for disaster.
Kaylo's story continues right after the events in book one. We see his group of found family searching out the Missing. The character work here is top tier. Kaylo especially has become one of my favorite characters from any fantasy story. He feels so real. The weight and lives of every character in his story are on his shoulders, and he cares so deeply about each and every one. He constantly blames himself for every tragedy. We see him trying to grow and learn from the past, rather than become stuck in it. Letting go is a hard thing to do.
The magic system remains to be a highlight for me in the Malitu series. Spirit Dancing is further explored in book two. A lot of questions I had previously from book one are answered. We see a lot of mist walking where; the characters actually have conversations with the spirits. This is another thing executed so well by Dulin. Kaylo's conversations with the thief, or the balance as "she" prefers, bring so much to the character development, as well as the history and worldbuilding at the same time. I found Kaylo's interactions with the Seed or the Thief to be favorite moments of the book.
There were not many negatives for me in No Safe Haven. I had a couple, sure, but nothing that I felt actually hurt the story or held it back. The pacing can be a bit slow at times, more towards the front quarter, but this is a character focused story and I really enjoy the deep dive into the characters.
No Safe Haven, book 2 in the Malitu series (trilogy, I believe), is another brilliant installment in the Malitu series. James Lloyd Dulin from here on, will be an instant buy/read for me. As I said in my review for No Heart for A Thief, this series is a breath of fresh air, and I am already heavily anticipating book 3.
Another 4.5/5
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