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The Dark Descendants #5
Light of the Stygian Orb
As an archer who is deafblind, sixteen-year-old Molly Harris has always lived an exceptional life, but since rescuing the angel-demon hybrid Zachariel and being introduced to the otherworld, she's craved a different kind of extraordinary. On her mission for answers, however, Molly realizes the road to the truth is more treacherous than she expected.
Zachariel is a freak of nature who has never fit in anywhere, and he's grown comfortable with his solitary existence. Now, not only does he have a nosy teenager invading his personal space, he's also dealing with a shady demon who wants to recruit him for a secret project — and who won't take no for an answer.
As Zach delves into the demon's scheme, he discovers he's an unwilling pawn in a life-or-death game. Zach and Molly may be an unlikely team, but it rests on them to hold back the threat that could shake the foundations of the world.
Zachariel is a freak of nature who has never fit in anywhere, and he's grown comfortable with his solitary existence. Now, not only does he have a nosy teenager invading his personal space, he's also dealing with a shady demon who wants to recruit him for a secret project — and who won't take no for an answer.
As Zach delves into the demon's scheme, he discovers he's an unwilling pawn in a life-or-death game. Zach and Molly may be an unlikely team, but it rests on them to hold back the threat that could shake the foundations of the world.
- GenresMystery
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2017
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Krista Walsh
43 books196 followersKnown for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out.
When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story.
She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario
When not writing, she can be found walking, reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story.
She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 7, 2017
Light of the Stygian Orb by Krista Walsh is the fifth book in her Invisible Entente series. It is written in third-person and is from both Molly, a human teenager's and Zachariel, a daemelus's points-of-view. This is an urban fantasy with elements of the supernatural and a bit of mystery thrown in.
This is Molly and Zach's book. Molly is a deafblind teenage archer who is able to sense the presence of others and the things around her. Zach is a daemelus, a half angel half demon living alone in an abandoned college. I love these two! Molly is a strong and independent young woman who does not let any hardship stand in her way and Zachariel's treatment of Dusty says everything I needed to know about him to love him.
The characters are intriguing and the plot interesting with quite a bit of action. I really liked this one and felt it was an excellent addition to the series. I can't wait for the next one!
This is Molly and Zach's book. Molly is a deafblind teenage archer who is able to sense the presence of others and the things around her. Zach is a daemelus, a half angel half demon living alone in an abandoned college. I love these two! Molly is a strong and independent young woman who does not let any hardship stand in her way and Zachariel's treatment of Dusty says everything I needed to know about him to love him.
The characters are intriguing and the plot interesting with quite a bit of action. I really liked this one and felt it was an excellent addition to the series. I can't wait for the next one!
October 23, 2017
Oh, to be 16 again...
This series continues to impress me and draw me in. It's been 30 years (?!?!?) since I was 16, but I was taken right back there through Molly's chapters. Worrying about worrying parents, having schoolwork when you don't want to be bothered by it because OTHER STUFF is going on, and having a crush on a friend is way in the past for me, but I felt all the same things Molly did as she was going through them.
The other thing that impressed me about Molly's chapters was how everything was described. Molly is deafblind but has cochlear devices so she can hear everything pretty well, but she can't see at all. There was nothing in her chapters about how things LOOKED. Molly's mother sitting down beside her was described in terms of what Molly heard and what she felt, giving us a glimpse into what it is like to be blind. When I'm on the couch in the living room and my husband is bustling around in the kitchen, I sometimes play the game "What is he doing now?" Molly has to do that all the time, and I gained a new appreciation for my vision through reading about her.
Zach's chapters were strikingly different, describing events as he was seeing them, just like all of the other characters in this series and most books written by everyone else. I can tell that the author spent a lot of time making sure all of the details in Molly's chapters were right. I wonder if the author spent long stretches of time blindfolded to gain a blind person's perspective.
I wrote in another review in this series that I didn't think I could relate to Allegra (the succubus who feeds by having sex with and killing humans) but was drawn in and learned to love Allegra in the end. I wasn't sure if I could relate to Zach, either, since he's half angel and half demon, but again I was drawn in! His internal struggle at all times was described perfectly. He's this enormous, muscular, dangerous "angel-demon hybrid" (as it says in the book's description), but he still watches out for Molly and takes care of a tiny black kitten named Dusty. She reminded me of a kitten I once had (Frisco, a tiny black kitten we found in our bushes who always seemed to be covered in dust and cobwebs until he got comfortable with us), and I relived his kittenhood a bit through Dusty. Even the kitten drew me in!
I can't get into any more about the book without giving away any spoilers. Suffice it to say that I loved it and am super excited for the finale of this incredible series.
Oh - one last thing. If you're about two-thirds of the way through the book and want to just read a chapter or two before going to sleep, don't. You'll lose sleep and be bleary-eyed in the morning. Learn from my mistakes. :)
This series continues to impress me and draw me in. It's been 30 years (?!?!?) since I was 16, but I was taken right back there through Molly's chapters. Worrying about worrying parents, having schoolwork when you don't want to be bothered by it because OTHER STUFF is going on, and having a crush on a friend is way in the past for me, but I felt all the same things Molly did as she was going through them.
The other thing that impressed me about Molly's chapters was how everything was described. Molly is deafblind but has cochlear devices so she can hear everything pretty well, but she can't see at all. There was nothing in her chapters about how things LOOKED. Molly's mother sitting down beside her was described in terms of what Molly heard and what she felt, giving us a glimpse into what it is like to be blind. When I'm on the couch in the living room and my husband is bustling around in the kitchen, I sometimes play the game "What is he doing now?" Molly has to do that all the time, and I gained a new appreciation for my vision through reading about her.
Zach's chapters were strikingly different, describing events as he was seeing them, just like all of the other characters in this series and most books written by everyone else. I can tell that the author spent a lot of time making sure all of the details in Molly's chapters were right. I wonder if the author spent long stretches of time blindfolded to gain a blind person's perspective.
I wrote in another review in this series that I didn't think I could relate to Allegra (the succubus who feeds by having sex with and killing humans) but was drawn in and learned to love Allegra in the end. I wasn't sure if I could relate to Zach, either, since he's half angel and half demon, but again I was drawn in! His internal struggle at all times was described perfectly. He's this enormous, muscular, dangerous "angel-demon hybrid" (as it says in the book's description), but he still watches out for Molly and takes care of a tiny black kitten named Dusty. She reminded me of a kitten I once had (Frisco, a tiny black kitten we found in our bushes who always seemed to be covered in dust and cobwebs until he got comfortable with us), and I relived his kittenhood a bit through Dusty. Even the kitten drew me in!
I can't get into any more about the book without giving away any spoilers. Suffice it to say that I loved it and am super excited for the finale of this incredible series.
Oh - one last thing. If you're about two-thirds of the way through the book and want to just read a chapter or two before going to sleep, don't. You'll lose sleep and be bleary-eyed in the morning. Learn from my mistakes. :)
October 23, 2017
I received an early copy of this book for review consideration.
This is a really good supernatural fantasy story. The characters are complex and the description is fantastic - the images Walsh creates of Zach's grappling with the effects of his demon and angel blood are both beautiful and impressive. There's also a good touch of humour, something Walsh always does without making the whole book seem silly, and there are one or two really spooky moments as well. I've read the rest of the series, and I think this is my favourite.
As the only non-supernatural character appearing in the first book, which set the stage for the series, I was really interested to see how Molly's place in the story would develop. I confess that when I read the first book, hers was the only back story I found a bit unsatisfying, but reading Light of the Stygian Orb has helped. It puts Molly into context, and some of the things we learn about both her and Zach are fascinating. I also really liked the way Molly remained a teenager throughout - a remarkable one, but still prone to the same irrationality and uncontrolled emotion as any other kid her age. You really can't help liking her.
I don't know what Walsh has got planned for the final book of the series, but I can't wait.
This is a really good supernatural fantasy story. The characters are complex and the description is fantastic - the images Walsh creates of Zach's grappling with the effects of his demon and angel blood are both beautiful and impressive. There's also a good touch of humour, something Walsh always does without making the whole book seem silly, and there are one or two really spooky moments as well. I've read the rest of the series, and I think this is my favourite.
As the only non-supernatural character appearing in the first book, which set the stage for the series, I was really interested to see how Molly's place in the story would develop. I confess that when I read the first book, hers was the only back story I found a bit unsatisfying, but reading Light of the Stygian Orb has helped. It puts Molly into context, and some of the things we learn about both her and Zach are fascinating. I also really liked the way Molly remained a teenager throughout - a remarkable one, but still prone to the same irrationality and uncontrolled emotion as any other kid her age. You really can't help liking her.
I don't know what Walsh has got planned for the final book of the series, but I can't wait.
October 24, 2017
Wow. Not only does this tell the story of one of my favorite Invisible Entente characters, Molly, but it also tells about the fascinating Zachariel. The book draws us tantalizingly close to the truth behind the bizarre happenings in New Haven. Not sure how I am going to wait for the next book!!!
August 27, 2025
A good interaction between two mismatched characters works well, creating unity.
October 25, 2017
Another exciting addition to the paranormal mystery, series, The Invisible Entente. In the initial story, 7 individuals were magically transported to a locked, sealed room as a powerful warlock drew his last breath. Their task - to identify his murderer.
Each subsequent book has further developed the various characters and provided more information while creating questions at the time. There is something big and bad brewing in New Haven. It is otherworldly and seems somehow linked to the individuals from the locked room.
The Light of the Stygian Orb focuses on Molly, the only human from the Warlock’s game. Molly is a deaf blind teenager who has remarkable other senses. Not only the remaining basic senses of touch, taste and smell, but spatial guidance and sensory perception. She is also a phenomenally accurate archer! The other character highlighted in this book is Nate.. a demon / angel hybrid some call a Daemelus. Molly cannot stop thinking about the discovery of the “otherworld”, the supernatural beings that DO exist. Her curiousity leads her to explore and find herself meeting some of the more nasty creatures. Nate comes to her rescue and returns the favour she bestowed on him 8 or 9 months earlier. Through there discussions and interactions, They discover something wicked is on its way.
The Light of the Stygian Orb is the last installment prior to the finale, I believe. The puzzle pieces are closing in. Soon we will discover what is so special about New Haven and the individuals from the Locked Room. If you have missed any of the stories, go back and read them. I plan on doing just that before the finale comes available. I’ve known Krista Walsh as a fantastic Fantasy writer; now she has proven that she has the same exceptional talent in the Paranormal Mystery genre as well. Enjoy
Each subsequent book has further developed the various characters and provided more information while creating questions at the time. There is something big and bad brewing in New Haven. It is otherworldly and seems somehow linked to the individuals from the locked room.
The Light of the Stygian Orb focuses on Molly, the only human from the Warlock’s game. Molly is a deaf blind teenager who has remarkable other senses. Not only the remaining basic senses of touch, taste and smell, but spatial guidance and sensory perception. She is also a phenomenally accurate archer! The other character highlighted in this book is Nate.. a demon / angel hybrid some call a Daemelus. Molly cannot stop thinking about the discovery of the “otherworld”, the supernatural beings that DO exist. Her curiousity leads her to explore and find herself meeting some of the more nasty creatures. Nate comes to her rescue and returns the favour she bestowed on him 8 or 9 months earlier. Through there discussions and interactions, They discover something wicked is on its way.
The Light of the Stygian Orb is the last installment prior to the finale, I believe. The puzzle pieces are closing in. Soon we will discover what is so special about New Haven and the individuals from the Locked Room. If you have missed any of the stories, go back and read them. I plan on doing just that before the finale comes available. I’ve known Krista Walsh as a fantastic Fantasy writer; now she has proven that she has the same exceptional talent in the Paranormal Mystery genre as well. Enjoy
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews