Silk

The Offered #2

by Claire Vale

After the Tithe: the beasts and the offered.

Within the walls of Ironcross, the Tithed are revered, honored, loved. We will live on forever. That’s what the Alders tell us.

Beyond the walls, we are hunted and imprisoned. If our blood is silk to these monsters, then we are the silkworms, trapped in our gilded cage, crushed beneath their imperial boot, easily replaced. We survive one day at a time, knowing it may be our last.

Love cost Senna everything.
Her heart is stitched together with scars and callouses.
But will that be enough to survive what comes next?
Is merely surviving enough?

Silk is a post-apocalyptic romance and adventure with some disturbing themes set in a dark, dystopian world.

The Offered Series
Tithe
Silk
Rust

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, Young Adult, Audiobook

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2020

About the author

Claire Vale lives in a small town outside London. When she's not thigh-deep in real life, you'll find her head-and-heart-deep in the tangled lives of her characters.

Reviews

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, the second book is much better than the first. I mean we get a much more detailed explanation about those who are Tithed and what happens to them, and answers about the “monsters”. I really like the concept and idea of this story and how the world became post apocalyptic, that I found very interesting and unique(which you truly learn about in the second book).

I’m still not a fan of Senna. She really annoys me 😅 I want to like her, she’s pretty level headed and is focused when she wants to be, but she still lets boys distract her and she can’t seem to decide what she wants when it comes to the boys 🙄

I also really like Kane. He’s so arrogantly charming, I almost hate it 😂 however I can’t figure out what’s going on in his head about Senna. He seems possessive of her and very protective and I can’t figure out if he actually truly likes her or not.

I suppose book three will answer more questions I have.

[Marta Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha sorprendido para bien, muy entretenido

[Susan Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok

Really enjoyed the first one, but I probably wouldn't have read the 2nd if I'd known what the "beasts" were. This was presented as a Hunger Games type scenario. But the "tithed" have no weapons against the beasts, they are completely defenceless. The whole premise is really stupid and I regret getting "sucked" into another series that doesn't deliver. I guess I should've known why these books are so cheap.

[ELB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of errors

The story line is good but the book is full of spelling and grammatical errors. It is annoying and kind of ruins the books for me. It’s hard to take an author seriously when they make this many mistakes.

[Cathy Eades]

Bloody hell what a book! So at then end of book one we basically know nothing. There were so many roads this could have taken but I never thought of this one. So the monsters aren't what they thought, but that's possibly a bad thing, and everything they thought they knew was a lie. Now don't get me wrong, that's not uncommon for a dystopian book, but somehow this book is different. I don't want to give it away, so apologies for being deliberately vague but reading this is like reading the best bits from the dystopian genre all rolled into one. The characters are still strong and the new characters are believable, in a totally unbelievable kind of way. Kane has developed nicely as a character, and although Senna does hark on about what Gabe did a little too often for my liking, I am still rooting for her. There is a bit of a dance running through, but it definitely ends up more lustful than in the first book. I'd compare it too another series but that would totally give it away. A lot more happens in this book, and I could see this being adapted for tv or film.

I am soooo thankful that the author released book 2 along with book one, though I'm not so happy having to wait for September for book 3. Iay be writing to her begging for an ARC soon.

All on all this book has just placed this trilogy right at the top of the list and I definitely recommend you read this series. I really hope the final installment is as exciting and surprising as this one has been, and I'm still waiting to see if Senna ever gets to wear her velvet cloak?

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of The Offered trilogy by Claire Vale, SILK is darker and more intense than Book 1 (Tithe).

An added twist to Vale's characteristic love triangles is the addition of the Prince, another male who has Senna's emotions twisting and turning. In addition to digging deeper into the themes raised in TITHE, there are some further serious themes raised in this book - what is love? what is sexual attraction? can you be attracted to someone you fear, who has power over you? Vale doesn't minimise these harsh themes; however, she deals with them sensitively, suitable for a young adult audience.

There is a slowing down of the fast pace when Senna and her group of friends try to escape the hunters (to avoid a spoiler, I won't say more!), but that doesn't last long and then the pace of the story progresses at supersonic speed, with constant twists and turns building up to a highly suspenseful open ending - there is still one book to come in this series and it's only due out next month. It's going to be a long wait for release date!

[Emily Daniels · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry guys. I honestly thought the first book was OK, but nothing like some of the other books I've read where you finish the book and are like "dang, that was a good book!". I'm not sure what I was really expecting to be outside the wall, but definitely not what Claire Vale had in mind. On a positive note, I really liked the leading up to their encountering the bloodsuckers, like the true, post-apocalyptic-with-a-bit-of-romance novel, but once they were sorted to house silk, buffet silk, and kane as the princess's personal silk, things really just got weird. Like I don't know what I was expecting, but definitely not a vampire romance/dystopian mixup. Overall, I was not a fan of this book simply based on how the first book felt left me completely unprepared for the back 2/3 of this book, though I did like the bonding romance between characters, I was simply unprepared for the true fantasy element to the book.

[Kasey Connors-Beron · Rating 5 out of 5]

SILK was just as captivating as TITHE with so many ups and downs. My heart was racing throughout the story. And holy slow burn! This is definitely one of those that you have to read to fully understand.

While I had described TITHE as MATCHED meets HUNGER GAMES this one keeps to that theme but adds in a splash of VAMPIRE ACADEMY.

I know this review is short, but I want to rant about what happened yet I don’t want to spoil anything! Really you should get the books because 1. They are fantastic and 2. The eBooks are inexpensive (free with Kindle Unlimited!). In other words there are no excuses when I review book 3 at the end of September for you to not know what I’m internally screaming about!

[Starr Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think some people are too hard on books. IMHO, if it's a good story and it's told well, that's enough for five stars from me. If it's part of a series and makes me want to read more, that's enough for a five-star review from me. After all, if I didn't like it enough to give it five stars, why bother continuing?

I'm still so into these characters. The story took a twist I didn't expect (I'm not one for vampire tales) but I love that these characters we are supposed to root for are not vampires and not enamored with them -- that they want to resist and fight back. What a great story with a predictable but still heartbreaking ending.

[Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

The other side of the wall

Well, that was a surprise! There are no deformed monsters on the other side. Oh, but there are monsters. The vampyres are waiting for the Tithed. They are set loose for a hunt. It's A vicious world out there now. Apparently the vampyres run the world now. Everything is gone. A small group finds some houses but it's been so long that everything they touch turns to dust. Will they ever see each other again? Will they survive? I can't wait to read the third book to find out!

[Morwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided much needed context and answers to the nice but bland fist one. I think that if the two were never separated, and treated instead like part 1 and part 2 of a longer book, it would be much better received.

In this book I liked the scifi/fantasy crossover, and the personal touch the author put on these creatures who have been used in many variants already (so it's not easy to add original details to them).

The book has some words missing or wrong and still feels lost/wandering at times, but it is not a bad read.

[cupid. ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this one was SO MUCH better than the first one. This kept me hooked and the lore behind the tithe being explained put the story into so much more perspective. Along witn actual action, I feel like you just need to read the last half of book 1 and you’d still understand the story. Senna’s still a little annoying but she’s alot more tolerable than she was. And yes, I still want Kane so bad it’s unreal.

[Doc Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A work of shadowed perfection

So twisted, wonderful and darkly beautiful. The characters are deep, flawed and profound, I loved it.


“You were not content.”“You raged.”“You were never given a chance to love so hard it would feel like suffering.”“You were never afraid to lift off from the ground.”“You flew into the sun.”“Goodbye, my friend.”

"fear gathering in the pit of my stomach like gritted lead. I don’t shy away from it. I don’t tremble like a leaf. This fear has gravity. Gravitas.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment did not disappoint. This story is such a cool concept I haven't experienced in a book yet. And the author is great at leaving each book on a cliffhanger! I'm going to be so impatient until book three releases in September. I really do hope this series gets the recognition it deserves.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

We play the game of survival and we sacrifice for the greater good. , but is everything the way it seems? The plot thickens with more twists than imaginable.
Book two delivers a powerful punch so brace yourself! This author is definitely full of surprises and book three is now a must! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much Better

Now we're talking! Far better than book one, I read this in under two hours. Fast pace with lots of dialogue. Additionally, it contained the answers the first book failed to address. I will admit that I was slightly disenchanted with what the "beasts" turned out to be but I'm going with it! On to the final book.

[Colleen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy second book

I very much enjoyed the first book. I’ve liked this second book but it ended in a place I am not happy with. So that leads me to the third and final book in this dystopian series.

You never know who to trust. Or who may be switching. It’s a good story and I need to know how it truly ends.

You will too.

[Alberto Sanchez olivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Book two of the series is as intriguing as the first one; however, neither book can stand alone so need to be read as one or it is incomplete. Good storytelling, easy read for teens and young adults who like to dwell on fantasy worlds. Well written, very few typos, good syntax and flow.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that took a turn…

I really had no clue what to expect of the Beasts from the book summary, but the reality was surprising to me! And interesting… 🤔 still struggling with the typos, but I’m enjoying the series.

[evamaria Foltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

great continuation and story development

If you’ve read Tithe, you will not expect where Silk takes you— and I mean that in a GOOD way. I can’t remember the last time I read a book and couldn’t guess what was going to happen. You have got to read Silk!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second book!

I was intrigued with the first book, but this sequel was a lot better. The story line picks up and a whole other world implodes, intensifying the story. I like the love triangle. Although I honestly don’t know who I want Senna to be with.

[Sonya Lidden · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing

The first book I found really interesting. But once the second in the series went with vampires, it really took the shine off for me . I will not be reading book 3 in the series . Just felt like the story was a let down in the end .

[Julie M. DeKoning · Rating 3 out of 5]

not quite what it could be

While I’m going to finish this series so I can find out what happens it is not quite the book I needed it to be. There could be so much more suspense and intrigue but most falls flat with information that doesn’t add much to the story.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has potential

2.5 Interesting concept, which is why I kept reading, but it needs editing and figuring out which way the prince’s name should be spelled. Definitely a pet peeve of mine when main characters’ names are inconsistently spelled.

[Sharee · Rating 4 out of 5]

silk

And it’s not what you seem when you become a silk.

Outside the wall they’ve been threatened by beasts- they just don’t know what they are but when they think they’re free from the hunt and away safely the beasts catch up with them.

[Rebelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the twist at the beginning of the book. It was so unexpected but I loved the shock value and where the story went. I also loved that even though the book crept into the paranormal realm, it was still written in a way that felt primarily dystopian and I thought that flowed really smoothly. That cliffhanger though? Also amazing and I’m so glad I have the next one ready to start immediately!

[Sasha Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series! I almost put it down when I thought it was getting close to The Hunger Games type of plot, but I am glad a read a couple chapters more because it was SO different than that! The characters are well developed and kept me connected throughout all three instalments. I will definitely be looking for more books to read by this author!

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this book has taken very different turns than what I expected! Senna’s character is more pleasant in this book, less self-centered. Many plot twists kept me reading late into the night. I’m excited for the final book!

[Ilya Kristensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was skeptical after the first book, but this sequel redeems it beyond measure and sucked me in! Loved learning about the world outside the wall

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA Dystopian Paranormal Romance
Great, unexpected turn. I thought this series was going to be another dystopian, eat bugs, love triangles and plagues. Good story so far.