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The Gods of Night and Day #2
The Silent Paths of Night
From David R. Slayton, bestselling author of White Trash Warlock and Rogue Community College, comes the epic sequel to the award-winning Dark Moon, Shallow Sea.
For Raef, priest of the moon goddess Phoebe and one-time thief, it was too much to hope that resurrection of the moon and his mistress might set the world aright. The Grief still chokes the docks and streets of Versinae with vampiric ghosts, while the nations of Aegea prepare to war against each other.
Even worse, Phoebe did not return alone. Something evil came with her. Rerek, a demon who once waged war with the gods themselves, Corpse-Taker and sower of chaos, is back to make sure there is no peace in Aegea, now or ever again. And it has a plan.
Raef and his beloved Seth, knight of the sun god Hyperion, are all that stand between Rerek and utter destruction. But the ghosts of their respective pasts, the dangers they must face, and the truths that await them will test them as nothing they’ve yet endured. One way or another Rerek will get what it wants … and it will use Raef and Seth to achieve it.
For Raef, priest of the moon goddess Phoebe and one-time thief, it was too much to hope that resurrection of the moon and his mistress might set the world aright. The Grief still chokes the docks and streets of Versinae with vampiric ghosts, while the nations of Aegea prepare to war against each other.
Even worse, Phoebe did not return alone. Something evil came with her. Rerek, a demon who once waged war with the gods themselves, Corpse-Taker and sower of chaos, is back to make sure there is no peace in Aegea, now or ever again. And it has a plan.
Raef and his beloved Seth, knight of the sun god Hyperion, are all that stand between Rerek and utter destruction. But the ghosts of their respective pasts, the dangers they must face, and the truths that await them will test them as nothing they’ve yet endured. One way or another Rerek will get what it wants … and it will use Raef and Seth to achieve it.
338 pages, Hardcover
Published June 9, 2026
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June 10, 2026
The Silent Paths of Nights by David R Slayton
The Gods of Night and Day series #2. High Fantasy. LGBTQ+. Cliffhanger. Best read in series order.
With the resurrection of the moon and the moon goddess Phoebe, evil has tagged along as the demon Rerek. He will make sure there is no peace in Aegea.
Raef and Seth want the best for their home. They are still recovering from the chaos when Seth is taken into custody and beaten. They must defeat the evil or the loss of their world would be catastrophic.
Complex world building. Sacrifice. Determining the lesser of the evils if there is such a thing. New people to protect. Why are the gods so unfeeling? And mysterious. Save one, lose one. Sad.
I liked the continuation of the strong relationship between Raef and Seth though it’s often under pressure. With a tiny bit of whimsy of a wish for a cat.
Twists and Cliffhanger.
I received this from NetGalley.
The Gods of Night and Day series #2. High Fantasy. LGBTQ+. Cliffhanger. Best read in series order.
With the resurrection of the moon and the moon goddess Phoebe, evil has tagged along as the demon Rerek. He will make sure there is no peace in Aegea.
Raef and Seth want the best for their home. They are still recovering from the chaos when Seth is taken into custody and beaten. They must defeat the evil or the loss of their world would be catastrophic.
Complex world building. Sacrifice. Determining the lesser of the evils if there is such a thing. New people to protect. Why are the gods so unfeeling? And mysterious. Save one, lose one. Sad.
I liked the continuation of the strong relationship between Raef and Seth though it’s often under pressure. With a tiny bit of whimsy of a wish for a cat.
Twists and Cliffhanger.
I received this from NetGalley.
May 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book.
I was so excited to get this sequel to Dark Moon Shallow Sea, & it did not disappoint. The Silent Paths of Night wastes no time getting started, & I was very happy to see Seth & Raef back together again.
While the first book focused a lot on Raef’s backstory, The Silent Paths of Night lent more toward where Seth came from. Seth really goes through it in this book, & is faced with questioning his faith, his purpose, his future, all while even questioning in the first place goes against his Knights code.
We see Raef taking his rightful place as a priest of Phoebe & finding where he belongs amongst the church & politics. Being a leader makes him have to take pause a bit with his usual instinct & I loved watching him try to fit where his faith & his purpose extended to.
There’s a lot of great returning characters, maybe one I could’ve done without returning (lol), & some great new characters, including a little boy that I immediately loved.
David R Slayton’s world building is so great & his characters are so fun to read. Even as a high fantasy, the story is relatable to the reader, because who hasn’t had doubts or fears or questions? Who hasn’t wondered what their purpose was or if they can overcome? This is such a great addition to the series, & Slayton’s catalogue in general, & I am already clamoring for a book 3. 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, loved it.
I was so excited to get this sequel to Dark Moon Shallow Sea, & it did not disappoint. The Silent Paths of Night wastes no time getting started, & I was very happy to see Seth & Raef back together again.
While the first book focused a lot on Raef’s backstory, The Silent Paths of Night lent more toward where Seth came from. Seth really goes through it in this book, & is faced with questioning his faith, his purpose, his future, all while even questioning in the first place goes against his Knights code.
We see Raef taking his rightful place as a priest of Phoebe & finding where he belongs amongst the church & politics. Being a leader makes him have to take pause a bit with his usual instinct & I loved watching him try to fit where his faith & his purpose extended to.
There’s a lot of great returning characters, maybe one I could’ve done without returning (lol), & some great new characters, including a little boy that I immediately loved.
David R Slayton’s world building is so great & his characters are so fun to read. Even as a high fantasy, the story is relatable to the reader, because who hasn’t had doubts or fears or questions? Who hasn’t wondered what their purpose was or if they can overcome? This is such a great addition to the series, & Slayton’s catalogue in general, & I am already clamoring for a book 3. 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, loved it.
March 9, 2026
We rejoin Raef and Seth after they were successful resurrecting goddess of the moon, Phoebe, to the night sky. Unfortunately it seems as though an evil demon, Rerek came back with her and the nations of Aegea are preparing for war. Well, things could be going better.
As with the first book, the world building is wonderful. The different peoples and religions are fleshed-out and feel believable. Along with the corruption that often accompanies religion. The story is full of interesting, grey characters. For a story steeped in religion there sure are a lot of selfish people in this world.
I cannot say enough how much I adore Raef and Seth's relationship! They love each other so much and are so careful with each other. For two big, strong men who've been though so much they've just so gentle under it all and have so much love to give.
"There was some comfort in knowing that Argos had tasted Raef's blood, he could track Raef across the world if it came to that." Like COME ON! So romantic.
I really appreciate the story overall trusting your intelligence and the sprinkling of foreshadowing to things that happen later. You feel somethings coming but it's still a gut-punch. Overall the story does a great job mixing action, big stakes and softer moments.
Two other things I'll say. Vran better get his cat! And Argos, just all the Argos from the start to end.
And David, that cliffhanger...
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As with the first book, the world building is wonderful. The different peoples and religions are fleshed-out and feel believable. Along with the corruption that often accompanies religion. The story is full of interesting, grey characters. For a story steeped in religion there sure are a lot of selfish people in this world.
I cannot say enough how much I adore Raef and Seth's relationship! They love each other so much and are so careful with each other. For two big, strong men who've been though so much they've just so gentle under it all and have so much love to give.
"There was some comfort in knowing that Argos had tasted Raef's blood, he could track Raef across the world if it came to that." Like COME ON! So romantic.
I really appreciate the story overall trusting your intelligence and the sprinkling of foreshadowing to things that happen later. You feel somethings coming but it's still a gut-punch. Overall the story does a great job mixing action, big stakes and softer moments.
Two other things I'll say. Vran better get his cat! And Argos, just all the Argos from the start to end.
And David, that cliffhanger...
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The sequel follows just shortly after Pheobe is brought back from the underworld, and the souls of the dead are finally allowed to move on. All would be well during the rebuilding efforts if not for a seemingly unkillable greater demon by the name of Rerek, who returned with the Moon. Of course, it is up to the story's heroes Raef and Seth to find a way to destroy this demon before he destroys Aegea. Meanwhile, they'll also have to contend with the politics of Pheobe's return and the aftermath of the Hierarch's actions.
This was a super strong sequel, and interestingly almost felt like one very long exposition to Rerek's plot. He was very much a relevant thought, but politics between the nations and also the connection of the church and state take a priority for much of the story.
Just like in the first, this book has some excellent world building with a really well thought out religious system and a believable continent and politics. Each city that was shown was equally interesting and really helped sell the stories and characters that came from them. I can also appreciate that the writing did not handfeed you information and offered foreshadowing and small details throughout that eventually come together at the end, and boy does it come together. That cliffhanger!! Im really excited to see how the next installment is going to handle it.
Besides the world building, the characters were incredibly strong as well. Both the main and supporting cast were intriguing and, at times, rather morally gray (which perfectly matched the setting itself). Even the more unlikable characters were intriguing as the likable ones. Naturally, the strongest characters of the cast were the leads themselves. Both Raef and Seth are incredibly well developed characters, and Seth's struggle to find his personal identity and path in life amidst the mystery of his past was one of my favorite parts of the book. The relationship between them was incredibly lovely, and those tender moments they had with each other were bits of much needed respite between the nonstop stress that made up the rest of the plot.
This book very much did not suffer from middle book syndrome, and it looks like the third will be even better with how good this one was.
The sequel follows just shortly after Pheobe is brought back from the underworld, and the souls of the dead are finally allowed to move on. All would be well during the rebuilding efforts if not for a seemingly unkillable greater demon by the name of Rerek, who returned with the Moon. Of course, it is up to the story's heroes Raef and Seth to find a way to destroy this demon before he destroys Aegea. Meanwhile, they'll also have to contend with the politics of Pheobe's return and the aftermath of the Hierarch's actions.
This was a super strong sequel, and interestingly almost felt like one very long exposition to Rerek's plot. He was very much a relevant thought, but politics between the nations and also the connection of the church and state take a priority for much of the story.
Just like in the first, this book has some excellent world building with a really well thought out religious system and a believable continent and politics. Each city that was shown was equally interesting and really helped sell the stories and characters that came from them. I can also appreciate that the writing did not handfeed you information and offered foreshadowing and small details throughout that eventually come together at the end, and boy does it come together. That cliffhanger!! Im really excited to see how the next installment is going to handle it.
Besides the world building, the characters were incredibly strong as well. Both the main and supporting cast were intriguing and, at times, rather morally gray (which perfectly matched the setting itself). Even the more unlikable characters were intriguing as the likable ones. Naturally, the strongest characters of the cast were the leads themselves. Both Raef and Seth are incredibly well developed characters, and Seth's struggle to find his personal identity and path in life amidst the mystery of his past was one of my favorite parts of the book. The relationship between them was incredibly lovely, and those tender moments they had with each other were bits of much needed respite between the nonstop stress that made up the rest of the plot.
This book very much did not suffer from middle book syndrome, and it looks like the third will be even better with how good this one was.
June 25, 2026
***Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***
The Silent Paths of Night was a great sequel that took the story in some interesting directions. So much depth was added to the characters and world-building. I really loved being back with Raef and Seth, and the latter had a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth over the course of the novel. The plot didn’t always hold my interest, though, but the ending more than made up for it and left me completely gobsmacked.
My issue with the plot of The Silent Paths of Night really comes down to just one thing. It felt like it couldn’t really decide what book it wanted to be. Sometimes it wanted to be a novel about the political maneuverings of this world. Other times it wanted to be a story about fighting demons. Then at times it also wanted to explore BIG character background revelations and provide resolutions to some relationship threads from the previous book. There were moments where the different threads all wove together well, but mostly it felt like the story was ticking off one box and then moving on to the next just because it needed to. The different pieces all felt a little too discrete, and it created some moments of weird pacing. Some big and exciting things seemed glossed over because the book was trying to do too much and moved from thing to thing too quickly.
That being said, there was so much cool world-building in The Silent Paths of Night. I liked learning more about the history between the gods and the demons. The demon Rerek was such an interesting addition to the story, and his corpse-taking powers led to some truly epic scenes. The characters also traveled to all sorts of new and established locales. I enjoyed getting to see the impacts of the previous book’s events on different places, and each of the different islands/cities felt unique with distinct cultures and lore. I had a really great time exploring the ins and outs of the world alongside the characters.
As for the characters, I appreciated how Raef grew into his role as the head of Phoebe’s sect. He became embroiled in the politics of the different cities and had to learn to balance his personal desires against what would be best for his city and the whole world. While he did struggle with his anger at times, he clearly possessed a good heart that cared deeply for others, especially the less fortunate. The real star of The Silent Paths of Night, though, was Seth. He had such a great story of self-acceptance and growth, and his journey with his faith was a compelling one that had me misty-eyed at times. I liked how his story went from him struggling to believe he was worthy of his god’s love to finally believing in himself and trusting his own judgement and abilities. His deep desire to know his history and roots was also very compelling, and his anguish at not knowing where he came from really leapt off the page. I was pleased, but not surprised, with where his search for answers led him, and I’m curious to see how the knowledge of his origins impacts the larger story. What a cliffhanger!
My favorite thing about The Silent Paths of Night was the relationship between Raef and Seth. Their love was quiet but deep, and it just felt cozy and endearing. They were clearly each other’s safe space, and they each intentionally went out of their way to create that space for each other. I just really loved all of their interactions and how they looked out for each other in the sweetest ways. They were definitely couple goals.
All in all, The Silent Paths of Night was a solid continuation of the story set up in Dark Moon, Shallow Sea. The world-building and character work were fantastic, and there were some really cool action sequences and standout moments that had me in awe of Slayton’s storytelling. I just wish the disparate story threads had been integrated a little more seamlessly instead of feeling like a constant string of side quests. Therefore, I rate the book 4.25 out of 5 stars.
The Silent Paths of Night was a great sequel that took the story in some interesting directions. So much depth was added to the characters and world-building. I really loved being back with Raef and Seth, and the latter had a remarkable journey of self-discovery and growth over the course of the novel. The plot didn’t always hold my interest, though, but the ending more than made up for it and left me completely gobsmacked.
My issue with the plot of The Silent Paths of Night really comes down to just one thing. It felt like it couldn’t really decide what book it wanted to be. Sometimes it wanted to be a novel about the political maneuverings of this world. Other times it wanted to be a story about fighting demons. Then at times it also wanted to explore BIG character background revelations and provide resolutions to some relationship threads from the previous book. There were moments where the different threads all wove together well, but mostly it felt like the story was ticking off one box and then moving on to the next just because it needed to. The different pieces all felt a little too discrete, and it created some moments of weird pacing. Some big and exciting things seemed glossed over because the book was trying to do too much and moved from thing to thing too quickly.
That being said, there was so much cool world-building in The Silent Paths of Night. I liked learning more about the history between the gods and the demons. The demon Rerek was such an interesting addition to the story, and his corpse-taking powers led to some truly epic scenes. The characters also traveled to all sorts of new and established locales. I enjoyed getting to see the impacts of the previous book’s events on different places, and each of the different islands/cities felt unique with distinct cultures and lore. I had a really great time exploring the ins and outs of the world alongside the characters.
As for the characters, I appreciated how Raef grew into his role as the head of Phoebe’s sect. He became embroiled in the politics of the different cities and had to learn to balance his personal desires against what would be best for his city and the whole world. While he did struggle with his anger at times, he clearly possessed a good heart that cared deeply for others, especially the less fortunate. The real star of The Silent Paths of Night, though, was Seth. He had such a great story of self-acceptance and growth, and his journey with his faith was a compelling one that had me misty-eyed at times. I liked how his story went from him struggling to believe he was worthy of his god’s love to finally believing in himself and trusting his own judgement and abilities. His deep desire to know his history and roots was also very compelling, and his anguish at not knowing where he came from really leapt off the page. I was pleased, but not surprised, with where his search for answers led him, and I’m curious to see how the knowledge of his origins impacts the larger story. What a cliffhanger!
My favorite thing about The Silent Paths of Night was the relationship between Raef and Seth. Their love was quiet but deep, and it just felt cozy and endearing. They were clearly each other’s safe space, and they each intentionally went out of their way to create that space for each other. I just really loved all of their interactions and how they looked out for each other in the sweetest ways. They were definitely couple goals.
All in all, The Silent Paths of Night was a solid continuation of the story set up in Dark Moon, Shallow Sea. The world-building and character work were fantastic, and there were some really cool action sequences and standout moments that had me in awe of Slayton’s storytelling. I just wish the disparate story threads had been integrated a little more seamlessly instead of feeling like a constant string of side quests. Therefore, I rate the book 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley for an honest review.
This second book in the series was just as good as the first. The fantastic world building continues as we learn more about the Twelve Gods and the characters show just as much growth as in the first book.
Both Raef and Seth have been through so much, but their relationship continues to grow stronger everyday. The love they have for each other gives them the strength to cope with the many difficulties they go through in the months following the events in the first book. Raef is the only surviving priest of his religion and he struggles with his new role within it. He also struggles with why he is who he is and what purpose Phoebe has for him. But he is beginning to find his place as a leader in both his religion and in the politics that his uncle, the Prince, keeps bringing him into. Seth is also struggling with his faith and with discovering some new things about who he is. His purpose and his future are things that he also struggles with. His character arc in this story was well laid out, and the truth we find out about him at the end of this book was a really good twist.
As strong as the characters in this story are, it is the world building that really sells it. The world is rich in the many religions and mythologies that surround it. I really like the pseudo greco roman feel to the world. We learn a bit more about the lesser gods and demons in this book, and they are just as well thought out as the two major gods, Phoebe and Hyperion. The Grief is not as prevalent in this story, but is still an important part especially in the political side of the story. The politics of what is happening in this world is just as well thought out and important as the religious aspects. There are cruel and manipulative characters on both sides that Seth and Raef must deal with.
The story is well paced, but did slow a bit in the middle. There are lots of tender moments between Raef and Seth that were beautiful and much needed between all of the action and more tense moments in the story. The addition of the demon Rereck, is great. What a terrifying monster the author has created here, and one that is almost impossible to kill. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but that wasn’t a total surprise.
If you haven’t yet picked up a book by this author, you really should. He is a master of world building and his characters are relatable and realistic. If you love high fantasy with an immersive world being an important part of the story, then this is a series you should give a chance to.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
This second book in the series was just as good as the first. The fantastic world building continues as we learn more about the Twelve Gods and the characters show just as much growth as in the first book.
Both Raef and Seth have been through so much, but their relationship continues to grow stronger everyday. The love they have for each other gives them the strength to cope with the many difficulties they go through in the months following the events in the first book. Raef is the only surviving priest of his religion and he struggles with his new role within it. He also struggles with why he is who he is and what purpose Phoebe has for him. But he is beginning to find his place as a leader in both his religion and in the politics that his uncle, the Prince, keeps bringing him into. Seth is also struggling with his faith and with discovering some new things about who he is. His purpose and his future are things that he also struggles with. His character arc in this story was well laid out, and the truth we find out about him at the end of this book was a really good twist.
As strong as the characters in this story are, it is the world building that really sells it. The world is rich in the many religions and mythologies that surround it. I really like the pseudo greco roman feel to the world. We learn a bit more about the lesser gods and demons in this book, and they are just as well thought out as the two major gods, Phoebe and Hyperion. The Grief is not as prevalent in this story, but is still an important part especially in the political side of the story. The politics of what is happening in this world is just as well thought out and important as the religious aspects. There are cruel and manipulative characters on both sides that Seth and Raef must deal with.
The story is well paced, but did slow a bit in the middle. There are lots of tender moments between Raef and Seth that were beautiful and much needed between all of the action and more tense moments in the story. The addition of the demon Rereck, is great. What a terrifying monster the author has created here, and one that is almost impossible to kill. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but that wasn’t a total surprise.
If you haven’t yet picked up a book by this author, you really should. He is a master of world building and his characters are relatable and realistic. If you love high fantasy with an immersive world being an important part of the story, then this is a series you should give a chance to.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The sequel to Dark Moon Shallow Sea not only did not disappoint, but surpassed the bar set by the first book of the series!
With Phoebe released from the Underworld and the Grief retreating from (most of) the world, Raef and Seth are moving on to the other problems: the demon Rerek escaped alongside Phoebe, the Hierarch is still holding tremendous power, and the city-states of Aegea remain perpetually on the brink of war.
Raef is more at ease at this book: his sense of purpose is ironclad, he is rebuilding the Garden (the Moon Temple) and has grown into a lethal and formidable force. Seth is the one looking inwards this time: his faith in Hyperion is steadily wavering (which is welcome for me, I struggled with the scenes where his reaction to every problem was praying in the first book), his origins start unravelling, and Raef is his only pillar remaining - everything else changes all around him.
David R. Slayton is winking at the readers of the Adam Binder series, especially Rogue Community College with a new character - without needing to have read them, you understand what I mean if you have though.
Like the first book, the world's religion (which is based on the idea that the Titans of the Ancient Greek pantheon fled to a different world when their kids, the Gods of Ancient Greece, deposed them - if I connect the pieces correctly since Phoebe, Hyperion, Rhea, Helios etc. are the names of Titans) is explored in depth, its entanglement with politics, what it means for the people, the protagonists, how they shape, ruin and rebuild the world.
The relationship of Raef and Seth is adorable - it's the opposite of cliche. It's based on trust, they're both emotionally mature and I'm willing to bet that the cliffhanger will not go the way of cliches about duty vs love and self-sacrificial idiotic choices at the start of the final book - the author has never fallen in this trap yet.
The series grows into itself and keeps you longing for its final installment!
Thank you Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!
With Phoebe released from the Underworld and the Grief retreating from (most of) the world, Raef and Seth are moving on to the other problems: the demon Rerek escaped alongside Phoebe, the Hierarch is still holding tremendous power, and the city-states of Aegea remain perpetually on the brink of war.
Raef is more at ease at this book: his sense of purpose is ironclad, he is rebuilding the Garden (the Moon Temple) and has grown into a lethal and formidable force. Seth is the one looking inwards this time: his faith in Hyperion is steadily wavering (which is welcome for me, I struggled with the scenes where his reaction to every problem was praying in the first book), his origins start unravelling, and Raef is his only pillar remaining - everything else changes all around him.
David R. Slayton is winking at the readers of the Adam Binder series, especially Rogue Community College with a new character - without needing to have read them, you understand what I mean if you have though.
Like the first book, the world's religion (which is based on the idea that the Titans of the Ancient Greek pantheon fled to a different world when their kids, the Gods of Ancient Greece, deposed them - if I connect the pieces correctly since Phoebe, Hyperion, Rhea, Helios etc. are the names of Titans) is explored in depth, its entanglement with politics, what it means for the people, the protagonists, how they shape, ruin and rebuild the world.
The relationship of Raef and Seth is adorable - it's the opposite of cliche. It's based on trust, they're both emotionally mature and I'm willing to bet that the cliffhanger will not go the way of cliches about duty vs love and self-sacrificial idiotic choices at the start of the final book - the author has never fallen in this trap yet.
The series grows into itself and keeps you longing for its final installment!
Thank you Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!
June 10, 2026
happy publishing day to our favorite sunshine + grumpy duo <33
the silent paths of night follows raef and seth as the world navigates the return of the moon + her uninvited and extremely messy passenger. raef just wants to rebuild his temple and love his knight through his existential crisis but politicians (and demons) aren’t having it.
i think my favorite part of book 2, aside from raef’s sassy attitude, is how steady him and seth’s relationship is and how they are able to grow both together and seperately. we really get to see seth’s struggle with his identity and his spirituality without the common relationship divide caused by plot factors that a lot of fantasy’s have. the understanding that they have for each other’s personalities and quirks doesn’t feel forced and they compliment each other well. seth is the star(sun) of the show in silent paths of night without overshadowing(lol) raef and it’s *chefs kiss*
there is a lot of travel across the ocean/continent/world(s) that gives a bit of back and forth but understandable when uncovering centuries of lore about gods and demons
overall, an excellent addition to the gods of night and day series and i’m already eagerly awaiting to meet a feral street cat in the next one!!!
thank you to blackstone publishing and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
the silent paths of night follows raef and seth as the world navigates the return of the moon + her uninvited and extremely messy passenger. raef just wants to rebuild his temple and love his knight through his existential crisis but politicians (and demons) aren’t having it.
i think my favorite part of book 2, aside from raef’s sassy attitude, is how steady him and seth’s relationship is and how they are able to grow both together and seperately. we really get to see seth’s struggle with his identity and his spirituality without the common relationship divide caused by plot factors that a lot of fantasy’s have. the understanding that they have for each other’s personalities and quirks doesn’t feel forced and they compliment each other well. seth is the star(sun) of the show in silent paths of night without overshadowing(lol) raef and it’s *chefs kiss*
there is a lot of travel across the ocean/continent/world(s) that gives a bit of back and forth but understandable when uncovering centuries of lore about gods and demons
overall, an excellent addition to the gods of night and day series and i’m already eagerly awaiting to meet a feral street cat in the next one!!!
thank you to blackstone publishing and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
June 13, 2026
I have to laugh in that I had talked about wanting a redemption arc for a specific character, and here book 2 definitely feels like it is at least setting that up. I also felt a lot better about the romance, because in the first one it didn't fit for me (felt more like a friendship than a romantic relationship) but this one completely sold me on this. I like both the characters (One more than the other lol) and I felt that they fit together well and brought out the best in one another.
Onto the story, I loved how this one jumped in right off the bat and delved both through the demonic threat but also fraught politics. It was a really nice thing to see as it juggled both of those aspects equally well in my opinion. There were elements within the magic that felt more fully fleshed out in this one, and began to give me a bigger view on this world. The appearance of a certain chaos monkey definitely set my mind spinning and I am now left wondering where and how this connects to that other world. I suspect book 3 will clue that aspect in!
I also really liked how this focused on the thought of faith. How it can be lost or strengthened and how it adds or detracts from our actions or confidence. Overall I really loved this one too and I am so ready for the completion of this trilogy (though *sigh*... thats a year away or more!!!)
Onto the story, I loved how this one jumped in right off the bat and delved both through the demonic threat but also fraught politics. It was a really nice thing to see as it juggled both of those aspects equally well in my opinion. There were elements within the magic that felt more fully fleshed out in this one, and began to give me a bigger view on this world. The appearance of a certain chaos monkey definitely set my mind spinning and I am now left wondering where and how this connects to that other world. I suspect book 3 will clue that aspect in!
I also really liked how this focused on the thought of faith. How it can be lost or strengthened and how it adds or detracts from our actions or confidence. Overall I really loved this one too and I am so ready for the completion of this trilogy (though *sigh*... thats a year away or more!!!)
June 4, 2026
The Silent Paths of Night
David R. Slayton
Continuing where book one of The Gods of Night and Day left off The Silent Paths of Night follows Raef and Seth as they track down a demon that came back with the return of the moon goddess.
A queer fantasy novel that spends time deepening the relationships of the characters and world building. Although there are stakes in the demon being present more time is spent fleshing out the political world of Aegea that Raef has found himself thrust into, that’s not to say that it’s boring. Parallel to the politics is a thrilling epic fantasy. Slayton always manages to write interesting and human characters and there’s no exception to be found here. Much like his urban-fantasy Adam Binder series he takes time to help the reader connect with the characters and understand the stakes and events through their eyes instead of glazing over things.
Well paced and interesting the whole way through, The Silent Paths of Night is a welcome addition to Slayton’s prolific work and definitely worth a place on the bookshelf of those looking to find a queer fantasy series. Be warned though it ends in a cliffhanger that will make you sad the next book isn’t out yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an eARC for review purposes.
David R. Slayton
Continuing where book one of The Gods of Night and Day left off The Silent Paths of Night follows Raef and Seth as they track down a demon that came back with the return of the moon goddess.
A queer fantasy novel that spends time deepening the relationships of the characters and world building. Although there are stakes in the demon being present more time is spent fleshing out the political world of Aegea that Raef has found himself thrust into, that’s not to say that it’s boring. Parallel to the politics is a thrilling epic fantasy. Slayton always manages to write interesting and human characters and there’s no exception to be found here. Much like his urban-fantasy Adam Binder series he takes time to help the reader connect with the characters and understand the stakes and events through their eyes instead of glazing over things.
Well paced and interesting the whole way through, The Silent Paths of Night is a welcome addition to Slayton’s prolific work and definitely worth a place on the bookshelf of those looking to find a queer fantasy series. Be warned though it ends in a cliffhanger that will make you sad the next book isn’t out yet.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an eARC for review purposes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to cry! I need book three now! I can’t possibly wait. I might actually perish of longing in the intervening months. This book was beautiful. I loved having Seth and Raef adventuring together for a whole book. Their relationship is so beautiful. I am obsessed.
Seth, Knight of the Sun, continues to battle with his devotion: to the god he prays to, to the coterie he has longed to be part of, and to the community he feels saved him from a life of darkness. He has suffered a great deal and is still adrift in the world. Grounded by his bond with Raef, he begins to parse out where he truly belongs.
Raef, the last priest of the Goddess of the Moon, is hanging on by a thread. He is trying to build from the ashes of the ruin he inherited, but there is an insurmountable gulf between what he has now and the Temple he once grew up in.
Amidst all of this the boys have to track down and defeat the demon they released when they freed the moon goddess.
This review is based on an e-ARC generously provided to me through NetGalley.
Seth, Knight of the Sun, continues to battle with his devotion: to the god he prays to, to the coterie he has longed to be part of, and to the community he feels saved him from a life of darkness. He has suffered a great deal and is still adrift in the world. Grounded by his bond with Raef, he begins to parse out where he truly belongs.
Raef, the last priest of the Goddess of the Moon, is hanging on by a thread. He is trying to build from the ashes of the ruin he inherited, but there is an insurmountable gulf between what he has now and the Temple he once grew up in.
Amidst all of this the boys have to track down and defeat the demon they released when they freed the moon goddess.
This review is based on an e-ARC generously provided to me through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received a copy of this from Netgalley. Here is my review.
David Slayton is one of my faves. I love his imagination and world-building skills. The SIlent Paths of Night continues the story of Raef and Seth. They've brought the moon back, but now the world is on the brink of chaos and there are pirates and politics and secrets and all sorts of secrets to deal with.
The writing is quick and the story moves along well. There's a slow burn as Raef and Seth discover that maybe there's more going on than they originally thought. There were times reading this where I found myself thinking of Robert Silverberg's Majipoor books. I also found myself thinking about Empire Strikes Back towards the end of the book.
Another good book from Slayton. I look forward to the next book in the series!
David Slayton is one of my faves. I love his imagination and world-building skills. The SIlent Paths of Night continues the story of Raef and Seth. They've brought the moon back, but now the world is on the brink of chaos and there are pirates and politics and secrets and all sorts of secrets to deal with.
The writing is quick and the story moves along well. There's a slow burn as Raef and Seth discover that maybe there's more going on than they originally thought. There were times reading this where I found myself thinking of Robert Silverberg's Majipoor books. I also found myself thinking about Empire Strikes Back towards the end of the book.
Another good book from Slayton. I look forward to the next book in the series!
June 16, 2026
Phoebe has returned, the tides are back, and the Grief is slowly disappearing. Things are looking better for Versinae with new trade and less death. Seth continues training (and doubting) while Raef learns how to act at court, now that he has recognized as Cormac's son as well as Phoebe's hierophant. Whatever free time they can find, they spend together.
Of course something goes very, very wrong. A demon, which came through when Raef resurrected Phoebe, makes its presence known. And then Hyperion's hierophant calls all of the princes to Ilium. Raef and Seth must once again travel the seas on a quest.
Again, the chapters switch between the two narrators. I love the soft relationship between Raef and Seth so much. And the expanded workbuilding! I look forward to reading the next book.
***Read an eARC from NetGalley***
Of course something goes very, very wrong. A demon, which came through when Raef resurrected Phoebe, makes its presence known. And then Hyperion's hierophant calls all of the princes to Ilium. Raef and Seth must once again travel the seas on a quest.
Again, the chapters switch between the two narrators. I love the soft relationship between Raef and Seth so much. And the expanded workbuilding! I look forward to reading the next book.
***Read an eARC from NetGalley***
June 14, 2026
I’m trying to not compare this series to the Adam Binder books but it’s hard. Where those books have a lightness and humor to them, this book was so earnest to the point that I occasionally felt annoyed much like one does with Superman’s Boy Scout-y goodness.
I thought this was a duology so the cliff hanger caught me by surprise but that was my mistake.
Excellent writing and character development.
Anything David R. Stanton writes is an auto buy for me. This continues his streak of terrific books.
I thought this was a duology so the cliff hanger caught me by surprise but that was my mistake.
Excellent writing and character development.
Anything David R. Stanton writes is an auto buy for me. This continues his streak of terrific books.
June 14, 2026
This as a great continuation of David R. Slayton's epic fantasy series the Gods of Night and Day. Slayton is great at continuing the story line he started in volume one Dark Moon Shallow Sea. He provides surprises throughout the series, with totally satisfying resolutions. He provides clusters of mysteries that contributes to keeping the story-arch interesting. The mysteries require our likable heroes to put themselves at risk and each others trust to resolve them. I recommend this book and the all around satisfying and lovely series it is a part of.
Did Not Finish
May 20, 2026I’m still a little embittered by the love triangle in the first book. I just felt like nothing interesting was being done in this one, it was serviceable but nothing really upped the ante for me. The returning characters were great, it was nice to see them, but I just felt less inclined to finish this one. I think that’s just personal for me though, nothing to fault the author on.
thank you netgalley and the publishers for the arc!!
thank you netgalley and the publishers for the arc!!
June 15, 2026
The second installment that continues to follow Raef and Seth in their journey. This book is so rich in complex world building (kudos to the author for this amazing work) that the reader simply falls into a complex, beautiful albeit sometimes terrifying world! The characters are multi-dimensional with great arcs and development.
I loved the continuation of this story and can't wait for more of this richly imagined world.
I loved the continuation of this story and can't wait for more of this richly imagined world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a good follow up to Dark Moon Shallow Sea, with the characters continuing to develop and grow. While the plot is serviceable, it doesn't do anything unexpected. While this is a good book and will probably continue on to be a good series, I don't see myself counting it among my favorite reads.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fantastic read! 10/10. The author managed to create a wonderfully built book packed with action, well built and rich characters and an incredible and convincing lore. I was immersed from start to finish and can’t wait to read the next installement of this serie.
Highly recommend all books by this author, he never deceive and you are always in for a great experience.
Highly recommend all books by this author, he never deceive and you are always in for a great experience.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fun and inventive read, but one that felt a bit underdeveloped next to its predecessor -- which worked wonderfully as a standalone fantasy novel. The characters felt more solid this time around, but their relationship was frustratingly frictionless, and the pacing was a bit rapid for my taste. All in all though, it was an enjoyable page-turner that will keep you occupied for an evening.
June 13, 2026
Best book
I love Raef and Seth but i can hope at it is HEA in the last book, at Raef dont die as Seth need him and i dont like sad story with sad end (i come still buy the book as i have another two and i love them)
I love Raef and Seth but i can hope at it is HEA in the last book, at Raef dont die as Seth need him and i dont like sad story with sad end (i come still buy the book as i have another two and i love them)
June 21, 2026
So much mystery, and danger when a demon starts trouble and a war threatens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tightly packed with adventure, intrigue, love, broken hearts and a hint of doom; THE SILENT PATHS OF NIGHT is beautifully written and just as haunting as DARK MOON SHALLOW SEA (which is to say, very).
I recommend reading (or rereading) DARK MOON prior to SILENT PATHS, as it (happily) does not take pains to repeat itself for the benefit of newcomers. While some has changed between books, not all—we’ve absolutely not run out of mysteries for Raef and Seth toponder thoughtfully together spend sleepless nights quietly worrying over. I became a huge fan of this series about 20% into DARK MOON and felt rewarded by a close reading of the series. Mythology (& theology) are made not just manifest but quite material in Raef and Seth's world, and SILENT PATHS does a wonderful job keeping readers glued to the page, hoping survival and peace—together—are in Raef and Seth's futures.
(Readers of DARK MOON hoping for a comeback for a certain character should be happy—I was—though keep in mind the series is fantasy first, and low-to-no spice)
eta: I was very happy to get an early e-ARC of this book! I still preordered a hardcover and the audiobook
I recommend reading (or rereading) DARK MOON prior to SILENT PATHS, as it (happily) does not take pains to repeat itself for the benefit of newcomers. While some has changed between books, not all—we’ve absolutely not run out of mysteries for Raef and Seth to
(Readers of DARK MOON hoping for a comeback for a certain character should be happy—I was—though keep in mind the series is fantasy first, and low-to-no spice)
eta: I was very happy to get an early e-ARC of this book! I still preordered a hardcover and the audiobook
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Damn, it felt good to be back in Aegea. I love the world Slayton has created, and I was genuinely thrilled to spend time with these characters again. I’m always up for Greek myth, and this blends political intrigue, crises of faith, and high-seas adventure seamlessly with the supernatural chaos I was hoping for. I missed this cast, and it was satisfying to see how they’ve grown since the last book. Seth’s personal journey in particular stood out. He’s come a long way from being a militant, faithful boy scout.
I’m really looking forward to what comes next in this series, and while I’m not usually one for rereads, I can absolutely see myself picking this one up again, along with Dark Moon, Shallow Sea.
David… you really have a thing for the name Vran, huh? 😅
Damn, it felt good to be back in Aegea. I love the world Slayton has created, and I was genuinely thrilled to spend time with these characters again. I’m always up for Greek myth, and this blends political intrigue, crises of faith, and high-seas adventure seamlessly with the supernatural chaos I was hoping for. I missed this cast, and it was satisfying to see how they’ve grown since the last book. Seth’s personal journey in particular stood out. He’s come a long way from being a militant, faithful boy scout.
I’m really looking forward to what comes next in this series, and while I’m not usually one for rereads, I can absolutely see myself picking this one up again, along with Dark Moon, Shallow Sea.
David… you really have a thing for the name Vran, huh? 😅
Review of advance copy received from Author
I already thought the first book in the series was fantastic and this one was even better. The exploration into both Raef and Seth's psyches, what makes them tick (and untick) was told through a beautiful mythological lens. I especially liked Seth's story in this book as I have a thing for "fallen paladin" type characters, but that's not to dismiss Raef's story as it was the core of the book. I can't wait for the next one.
I received an ARC copy from the author.
I received an ARC copy from the author.
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