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The Guardians of Dreamdark #2
Silksinger
Grade Level: 4-6 Age Level: 9-11 Listening Level: 4-6 Whisper Silksinger is no warrior ? she's a weaver of flying carpets. The last surviving member of her clan, relentlessly pursued by devils, she flees with nothing but a copper teakettle and the ember that smolders inside it. That ember ? her secret and her burden ? is none other than the Azazel, one of the seven Djinn who made the world, and it is her sacred duty to keep him safe. But others seek the Azazel as well. Whisper finds herself drawn to Hirik, a mysterious mercenary with an ancient sword and a dangerous secret of his own. And in their wake follows Magpie Windwitch, the Djinn King's champion, intent on finding Whisper before the devils do. It's a desperate quest ? if the Azazel should die, the Tapestry of Creation will fail, and all life with it. Discover Dreamdark; an exotic world of secrets and spice, fortune-tellers, hobgoblins, mercenaries, and devils. A new age of magic is dawning, but great battles have yet to be fought as new foes rise and the devil armies of the Dawn Days are unleashed once more.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Laini Taylor
36 books39.7k followersHi! I write fantasy books. My latest is STRANGE THE DREAMER, about a young librarian, a mythic lost city, and the half-human children of murdered gods. Check it out :-) Before that I wrote the DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE trilogy, which has been translated into 32 languages. It's about a blue-haired art student raised by monsters, a broken angel, and a war that has raged for 1000 years in another world. I also wrote LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES, which was a National Book Award finalist, and the DREAMDARK books. As well as various short stories and novellas.
Thanks for reading!!
www.lainitaylor.com
@lainitaylor
Thanks for reading!!
www.lainitaylor.com
@lainitaylor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
December 25, 2009
There was a boy. He came into my library branch. Couldn't have been more than ten years of age. A good kid. He knew to come up to the reference desk to ask his question, and he wasn't shy about it either. "I want books on fairies." Wow. Without hesitation I virtually dragged the kid over to the middle grade reader section, then got some clarification. "Fairies?" "Fairies." Right then. I looked about. Clearly this was a Spiderwick boy. We get them sometimes. Once Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black made it okay for boys to be into fairies the gender roles dissolved just a little. As a test I tried him out on What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire. No go. Not interested. The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle or Changeling by Delia Sherman? Yes, those he'd take. So it was that my piece de resistance turned out to be Blackbringer (now published merely as Dreamdark: Blackbringer). I owe a lot to this action-packed series by Laini Taylor. In the first book Ms. Taylor took the old tropes, turned them on their heads, gave them a swift paddling, then lit them on fire. So to speak. Now she has come out with a sequel and has shifted the narrative around a bit. Just as gripping as its predecessor Dreamdark: Silksinger continues the story of Maggie Windwitch, introducing new characters, new situations, but the same old excitement.
Defeating the Blackbringer? Check. Continue to fly around with crow brothers? Check. Only now fairy Maggie Windwitch is on a mission. She needs to find the sleeping Djinn and wake `em up. Little does she know that she has allies in this quest. Whisper Silksinger is the last of her clan, sworn to protect the djinn Azazel. Hirik, another fairy, is from a disgraced clan, must in turn protect Whisper. Add in some betrayals, battles, and a villain hiding where you'd least suspect him, and a demon army of an untold scale and Maggie may yet find that the Blackbringer was nothing compared to the new dangers she now faces.
I decided to test the book. If I picked it up without rereading its predecessor, would I be able to follow the action in Silksinger or would lose me right at the start? As it happens, readers who've never even read the first book may be able to jump into the second without any difficulty. You really only have to know that #1: Djinns are all powerful, #2: Fairies are moderately powerful, #3: Someone wants to kill the djinns and that's bad. I didn't get around to rereading the first book, and found that Ms. Taylor catches you up on the second without dragging down the narrative one jot. Fair play to the author then.
It's also a nice thick book, that's for sure. But for as long as it is, you wouldn't really expect the story to fly by as swiftly as it does. It is a fact of nature that the more exciting a book is, the faster it flies by. If Ms. Taylor has any special writing skill superpower, it would have to be something along the lines of Action Ratcheting. That woman just knows how to crank up the tension. This is admirable when you consider how accomplished the characters are. A child reader wants the heroes to be powerful in their own ways, but not so powerful that they don't face dramatic situations. Whisper and Maggie combined would be near undefeatable, so Taylor keeps them separate from one another for quite some time. She also manages to disarm them in various ways, which doesn't seem like it would be particularly easy.
The point of view in this book actually kind of rests behind four different sets of eyeballs. There's Maggie, of course. Then there's the Hirik, Whisper, and even little Batch. Taylor doesn't stop there. These are the main characters so you get inside their heads the most, but even the villains get a bit of time to strut on the stage, thinking their dread thoughts. A consistently shifting and changing point of view is a difficult beast to master. A lot of the time authors will avoid it entirely in favor of nice, simple, quiet, easygoing first person narratives. The fact that Ms. Taylor makes it work as well as she does is to be commended, praised, puzzled over, and commended yet again.
The first book was the first in a series, true, but it felt like a stand alone book. Silksinger doesn't go quite that far. It's definitely ends on more of a To Be Continued note. With its equal boy/girl heroes, disgusting villains, and powerful plot, I consider the Dreamdark series to be one of those slow burn fantasy series. Slowly kids are discovering it. Slowly they are loving it. And those who've fallen in love with the first one will find just as much to enjoy in this next. A worthy sequel to a fantastic fantasy.
Ages 10 and up.
Defeating the Blackbringer? Check. Continue to fly around with crow brothers? Check. Only now fairy Maggie Windwitch is on a mission. She needs to find the sleeping Djinn and wake `em up. Little does she know that she has allies in this quest. Whisper Silksinger is the last of her clan, sworn to protect the djinn Azazel. Hirik, another fairy, is from a disgraced clan, must in turn protect Whisper. Add in some betrayals, battles, and a villain hiding where you'd least suspect him, and a demon army of an untold scale and Maggie may yet find that the Blackbringer was nothing compared to the new dangers she now faces.
I decided to test the book. If I picked it up without rereading its predecessor, would I be able to follow the action in Silksinger or would lose me right at the start? As it happens, readers who've never even read the first book may be able to jump into the second without any difficulty. You really only have to know that #1: Djinns are all powerful, #2: Fairies are moderately powerful, #3: Someone wants to kill the djinns and that's bad. I didn't get around to rereading the first book, and found that Ms. Taylor catches you up on the second without dragging down the narrative one jot. Fair play to the author then.
It's also a nice thick book, that's for sure. But for as long as it is, you wouldn't really expect the story to fly by as swiftly as it does. It is a fact of nature that the more exciting a book is, the faster it flies by. If Ms. Taylor has any special writing skill superpower, it would have to be something along the lines of Action Ratcheting. That woman just knows how to crank up the tension. This is admirable when you consider how accomplished the characters are. A child reader wants the heroes to be powerful in their own ways, but not so powerful that they don't face dramatic situations. Whisper and Maggie combined would be near undefeatable, so Taylor keeps them separate from one another for quite some time. She also manages to disarm them in various ways, which doesn't seem like it would be particularly easy.
The point of view in this book actually kind of rests behind four different sets of eyeballs. There's Maggie, of course. Then there's the Hirik, Whisper, and even little Batch. Taylor doesn't stop there. These are the main characters so you get inside their heads the most, but even the villains get a bit of time to strut on the stage, thinking their dread thoughts. A consistently shifting and changing point of view is a difficult beast to master. A lot of the time authors will avoid it entirely in favor of nice, simple, quiet, easygoing first person narratives. The fact that Ms. Taylor makes it work as well as she does is to be commended, praised, puzzled over, and commended yet again.
The first book was the first in a series, true, but it felt like a stand alone book. Silksinger doesn't go quite that far. It's definitely ends on more of a To Be Continued note. With its equal boy/girl heroes, disgusting villains, and powerful plot, I consider the Dreamdark series to be one of those slow burn fantasy series. Slowly kids are discovering it. Slowly they are loving it. And those who've fallen in love with the first one will find just as much to enjoy in this next. A worthy sequel to a fantastic fantasy.
Ages 10 and up.
November 9, 2021
So... little bit of a cliffhanger there. That's ok. There'll be a third book one day - right? I mean, this was published five years ago, but Laini Taylor's been busy with the fantastic Smoke and Bone series... I'm actually glad I didn't read this series when it first came out, as much as I would have loved it then - even longer to wait!
on-hold
March 22, 2012I've been searching for a copy of this out-of-print book at a reasonable price for months. I finally have it in possession! My precious!
November 22, 2011
Originally posted here.
Silksinger is the second book in the Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor and is the sequel to Blackbringer. Laini Taylor has become an auto-buy author for me because I fell in love with her YA books: Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Lips Touch . I found Blackbringer a little harder to get into that her other books but ended up enjoying it quite a bit once I got used to the writing and the worldbuilding. I picked up Silksinger right after reading the first book because I wanted to see how the story would progress. Okay, I just realized that I posted my Blackbringer review a month ago - I can't believe it's taken me this long to write about the sequel. Sorry about that!
I've heard from other bloggers that Silksinger is a lot better than its predecessor, Blackbringer, and I have to agree. The second installment in Laini Taylor's series about faeries is a lot easier to get into that the first book. Or maybe it's also because I'm more familiar with the details so it wasn't as difficult as experiencing Dreamdark for the first time. I found the action-packed adventure story engaging right from the start. Here's a glimpse of how the first chapter begins:
Doesn't that make you want to know what happens next? The characters in the first book - Magpie, her crow companions and Talon - are back in this novel but new characters are also present. What I liked about Silksinger is that Laini Taylor continued to breathe life to the world that she created in Blackbringer by introducing new characters like Whisper and Hirik, moving the setting to different locations in the same world and adding new kinds of magic. I feel like there are more layers to the story as it moves forward, giving it more depth. I like that each Dreamdark novel focuses on one of the djinn and the fairies that have special connections to them. So even if Magpie, Talon and crows are in this novel, it really is more of Whisper and Hirik's story. At the start, Whisper might seem like such a timid person but she has a backbone of steel when it comes to doing her duty as a guardian of Azazel. She's not as feisty as Magpie but she has her own strengths. And Hirik is the same - he's determined to bring back honor to his clan by serving the Azazel in spite of all the dangers involved.
I've only read a handful of middle grade novels this year but I've really liked all of them, which shouldn't be surprising because I base my reading choices on recommendations from blogging buddies or Goodreads friends. After reading Silksinger, I really felt bad that the publisher has decided not to continue the series. I don't understand why because it's well-written and I would really like to read more of Laini Taylor's writing. Her Dreamdark books are different from her YA novels, which I think is a good thing because it shows her capabilities as a writer. She switches from middle grade epic fantasy to YA urban fantasy and does it successfully. Isn't that amazing? I believe she's working on Daughter of Smoke and Bone's sequel and then she'll probably work on the third novel in the trilogy after that. Which means she won't be able to come back to Dreamdark until after a few years have passed. SAD. There's closure in both Dreamdark books and they don't end in cliffhangers so they can be read on their own but come on, I want to know what happens to the other djinn! I really hope the series finds a new publisher and that we'll eventually see the rest of the books. So if you're a Laini Taylor fan and you love epic fantasy, support her Dreamdark books by reading (and if you can, reviewing) them.
Here's another reason to read the books, they include beautiful illustrations by Jim di Bartolo:
Silksinger is the second book in the Dreamdark series by Laini Taylor and is the sequel to Blackbringer. Laini Taylor has become an auto-buy author for me because I fell in love with her YA books: Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Lips Touch . I found Blackbringer a little harder to get into that her other books but ended up enjoying it quite a bit once I got used to the writing and the worldbuilding. I picked up Silksinger right after reading the first book because I wanted to see how the story would progress. Okay, I just realized that I posted my Blackbringer review a month ago - I can't believe it's taken me this long to write about the sequel. Sorry about that!
I've heard from other bloggers that Silksinger is a lot better than its predecessor, Blackbringer, and I have to agree. The second installment in Laini Taylor's series about faeries is a lot easier to get into that the first book. Or maybe it's also because I'm more familiar with the details so it wasn't as difficult as experiencing Dreamdark for the first time. I found the action-packed adventure story engaging right from the start. Here's a glimpse of how the first chapter begins:
"Whisper Silksinger knew two kinds of death. There was the peaceful kind, quiet as eyelids fluttering shut, and there was the kind with teeth, sudden as a spurt of blood, a devil pounce, a scream. She had seen both. Of her whole clan only three faeries remained, and now death had come for them too.
And it had come with teeth."
Doesn't that make you want to know what happens next? The characters in the first book - Magpie, her crow companions and Talon - are back in this novel but new characters are also present. What I liked about Silksinger is that Laini Taylor continued to breathe life to the world that she created in Blackbringer by introducing new characters like Whisper and Hirik, moving the setting to different locations in the same world and adding new kinds of magic. I feel like there are more layers to the story as it moves forward, giving it more depth. I like that each Dreamdark novel focuses on one of the djinn and the fairies that have special connections to them. So even if Magpie, Talon and crows are in this novel, it really is more of Whisper and Hirik's story. At the start, Whisper might seem like such a timid person but she has a backbone of steel when it comes to doing her duty as a guardian of Azazel. She's not as feisty as Magpie but she has her own strengths. And Hirik is the same - he's determined to bring back honor to his clan by serving the Azazel in spite of all the dangers involved.
I've only read a handful of middle grade novels this year but I've really liked all of them, which shouldn't be surprising because I base my reading choices on recommendations from blogging buddies or Goodreads friends. After reading Silksinger, I really felt bad that the publisher has decided not to continue the series. I don't understand why because it's well-written and I would really like to read more of Laini Taylor's writing. Her Dreamdark books are different from her YA novels, which I think is a good thing because it shows her capabilities as a writer. She switches from middle grade epic fantasy to YA urban fantasy and does it successfully. Isn't that amazing? I believe she's working on Daughter of Smoke and Bone's sequel and then she'll probably work on the third novel in the trilogy after that. Which means she won't be able to come back to Dreamdark until after a few years have passed. SAD. There's closure in both Dreamdark books and they don't end in cliffhangers so they can be read on their own but come on, I want to know what happens to the other djinn! I really hope the series finds a new publisher and that we'll eventually see the rest of the books. So if you're a Laini Taylor fan and you love epic fantasy, support her Dreamdark books by reading (and if you can, reviewing) them.
Here's another reason to read the books, they include beautiful illustrations by Jim di Bartolo:
November 22, 2016
That cannot be the end of this series. I mean, it was a good ending for this installment. But no more published books about Magpie and Talon and Whisper and Hirik?
JE REFUSE.
JE REFUSE.
September 28, 2012
3.5
The second (and, unfortunately, last) book in the Dreamdark series continues the search for the Djinn to strengthen the Tapestry of the world.
Along with Magpie, Talon and the crows, we're also introduced to new characters Whisper, Hirik and Dusk, as well as sundry other minor characters.
As with the first book, there's nothing ground-breaking about these books, as they are essentially magical quest type stories as our heroes search for the maguffins (the Djinn) and have adentures along the way.
But Taylor has a gift with characterization, making them real and likable and its hard not to get carried away and root and hope for them, worry and fear with them, in their adventures.
A couple points off for the slow-pacing in the first half, or so, of the book... and also for the bittersweet ending and the fact the series won't be continued, even though there are so many dangling bits left. This is the fault of the publishers, from what I've read, and not Taylor's, so I can't blame her... but, still...
The second (and, unfortunately, last) book in the Dreamdark series continues the search for the Djinn to strengthen the Tapestry of the world.
Along with Magpie, Talon and the crows, we're also introduced to new characters Whisper, Hirik and Dusk, as well as sundry other minor characters.
As with the first book, there's nothing ground-breaking about these books, as they are essentially magical quest type stories as our heroes search for the maguffins (the Djinn) and have adentures along the way.
But Taylor has a gift with characterization, making them real and likable and its hard not to get carried away and root and hope for them, worry and fear with them, in their adventures.
A couple points off for the slow-pacing in the first half, or so, of the book... and also for the bittersweet ending and the fact the series won't be continued, even though there are so many dangling bits left. This is the fault of the publishers, from what I've read, and not Taylor's, so I can't blame her... but, still...
November 11, 2017
(4.5)
Not quite as good as Blackbringer, but still amazing and now I’m dying because I need the next book but idk if it will ever exist 😭😭😭
Not quite as good as Blackbringer, but still amazing and now I’m dying because I need the next book but idk if it will ever exist 😭😭😭
February 24, 2021
Oh My Holy!! I have a tendency to not be a lover of book 2/3 of a series, however, this series has me utterly hooked!!
June 24, 2022
I am very much hung up on this book. It’s not even available anymore, and buying it is expensive. There is also no paperback version in existence. I find this very frustrating, because there might be readers and fans who want to be able to read this, but don’t have access to it. In the end, I decided to only keep my copy of the first book and not get the second.
At one point, I did not understand the need to introduce new characters when we already have a main protagonist. Introducing new characters would require more backstory and development.
The book to me lacked something that the first book thing, and that was…magic. I felt like the first book was a breath of fresh air. The characters felt authentic, the plot felt captivating. And here…it doesn’t have that same vibe.
It’s just super long and drags out. I didn’t really mind Whisper and Hirik, but I just wished the book followed Magpie and her continuing quest to save the world. Here, we get new subplots.
This just fell long and drawn out. It’s another magical quest, but it wasn’t quite as creative or quirky. In book one, you feel like you belong to the world of Dreamdark, and in book two, we are thrown everywhere all over the place, losing that sense of familiarity.
Another thing, this book ends on a massive cliffhanger, and the series has since then not been picked up. Which is a shame, because it actually is a very interesting world with so many stories that can be told in it.
With the popularity of Fae in YA, I totally see this series being a smash hit. Alas, we are left with more characters the author created that readers will demand to see again, and with the multitude of characters here, I don’t know how that will fit for enough page time.
Respectfully why I just wanted Magpie as the main protagonist, since new main characters would only confuse things. Regardless, the ending was a bit dramatic and one ended, and left on an open note that feels like a farewell but also doesn’t quite make sense, hence open ended.
So with all that said, I did not like the cliffhanger, extended cast, and that this series has been ultimately discontinued. Let’s face it, there won’t be a third book. I find it hard to believe that the author would just pop in and publish it, thirteen years later, in a wide gap of time.
So I will just keep the first book, and admire it, where I will add it to my shelf of YA books I have on the fae. Seeing as this book in the series is basically so hard to get, it might as well not exist.
At one point, I did not understand the need to introduce new characters when we already have a main protagonist. Introducing new characters would require more backstory and development.
The book to me lacked something that the first book thing, and that was…magic. I felt like the first book was a breath of fresh air. The characters felt authentic, the plot felt captivating. And here…it doesn’t have that same vibe.
It’s just super long and drags out. I didn’t really mind Whisper and Hirik, but I just wished the book followed Magpie and her continuing quest to save the world. Here, we get new subplots.
This just fell long and drawn out. It’s another magical quest, but it wasn’t quite as creative or quirky. In book one, you feel like you belong to the world of Dreamdark, and in book two, we are thrown everywhere all over the place, losing that sense of familiarity.
Another thing, this book ends on a massive cliffhanger, and the series has since then not been picked up. Which is a shame, because it actually is a very interesting world with so many stories that can be told in it.
With the popularity of Fae in YA, I totally see this series being a smash hit. Alas, we are left with more characters the author created that readers will demand to see again, and with the multitude of characters here, I don’t know how that will fit for enough page time.
Respectfully why I just wanted Magpie as the main protagonist, since new main characters would only confuse things. Regardless, the ending was a bit dramatic and one ended, and left on an open note that feels like a farewell but also doesn’t quite make sense, hence open ended.
So with all that said, I did not like the cliffhanger, extended cast, and that this series has been ultimately discontinued. Let’s face it, there won’t be a third book. I find it hard to believe that the author would just pop in and publish it, thirteen years later, in a wide gap of time.
So I will just keep the first book, and admire it, where I will add it to my shelf of YA books I have on the fae. Seeing as this book in the series is basically so hard to get, it might as well not exist.
July 26, 2017
This book dragged on a bit long and that's because it probably was going to be a bridging book but Laini won't ever return to this, I guess? I don't really know why another book in this series was never pushed, nor as to why every hardcover copy for purchase is more than $20 online.
I love all the ideas Taylor brings up in Dreamdark but they never go anywhere because of that reason... the series just ends without any resolution. If anyone can provide any information as to what happens/why it happened publishing-wise, I'd love to know.
I love all the ideas Taylor brings up in Dreamdark but they never go anywhere because of that reason... the series just ends without any resolution. If anyone can provide any information as to what happens/why it happened publishing-wise, I'd love to know.
November 15, 2025
Wonderful book, just amazing. I loved the story developing and will keep fingers crossed for a book 3!
August 12, 2011
by Laini Taylor
In this sequel to Blackbringer, Taylor returns to the story of Magpie and Talon, while also weaving in the stories of several new characters.
Yay! I loved this book. Granted, I wasn’t quite as blown away as I was by Blackbringer, but I think this was simply because the world was familiar instead of being completely new. I was happy that we also got significant amounts of Mags and the other characters from the first book. I’ve noticed a slight tendency for sequels to move to completely different characters, offering at most a tantalizing glimpse of the characters from the first book. I think it works for some series and not for others, so I was glad to see that Taylor chose to stick with Magpie.
And once again, the worldbuilding was absolutely amazing. The language and slang, the landscape, the culture. Above all, I felt that it was all done with a purpose. It helped to inform the motivations and actions of the characters. Because Taylor convinced me that her world and history were real (okay, you know what I mean), I believed that Hirik’s secret was a big deal.
I loved Whisper as well. Magpie is great, but I was glad to see someone who appeared to be fragile and delicate, but who actually had a great strength of character, and a pretty neat skill which wasn’t being tough and wielding a sword. We need sword-wielding girls in books, but we also need girls who sing silk into fabric.
One of the other things I really liked was the slow, understated romance. It’s definitely there, but it was so nice to have a break from the “from the first time I saw him/her, we were magically, instantly, passionately in LOVE.” This felt more like Anne and Gilbert than Heathcliff and Cathy, and that I am completely in favor of.
Book source: public library
Book information: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2009
My Laini Taylor reviews:
Dreamdark: Blackbringer
Lips Touch (about halfway down)
-----
I loved this second book in the Dreamdark series. I’m fine with fairies as long as they’re not sparkly and cute, and these ones most certainly are neither of those things. While Magpie is back, we have a new heroine in Whisper, one who adds a nice new note to the story. [2010 in books]
In this sequel to Blackbringer, Taylor returns to the story of Magpie and Talon, while also weaving in the stories of several new characters.
Yay! I loved this book. Granted, I wasn’t quite as blown away as I was by Blackbringer, but I think this was simply because the world was familiar instead of being completely new. I was happy that we also got significant amounts of Mags and the other characters from the first book. I’ve noticed a slight tendency for sequels to move to completely different characters, offering at most a tantalizing glimpse of the characters from the first book. I think it works for some series and not for others, so I was glad to see that Taylor chose to stick with Magpie.
And once again, the worldbuilding was absolutely amazing. The language and slang, the landscape, the culture. Above all, I felt that it was all done with a purpose. It helped to inform the motivations and actions of the characters. Because Taylor convinced me that her world and history were real (okay, you know what I mean), I believed that Hirik’s secret was a big deal.
I loved Whisper as well. Magpie is great, but I was glad to see someone who appeared to be fragile and delicate, but who actually had a great strength of character, and a pretty neat skill which wasn’t being tough and wielding a sword. We need sword-wielding girls in books, but we also need girls who sing silk into fabric.
One of the other things I really liked was the slow, understated romance. It’s definitely there, but it was so nice to have a break from the “from the first time I saw him/her, we were magically, instantly, passionately in LOVE.” This felt more like Anne and Gilbert than Heathcliff and Cathy, and that I am completely in favor of.
Book source: public library
Book information: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2009
My Laini Taylor reviews:
Dreamdark: Blackbringer
Lips Touch (about halfway down)
-----
I loved this second book in the Dreamdark series. I’m fine with fairies as long as they’re not sparkly and cute, and these ones most certainly are neither of those things. While Magpie is back, we have a new heroine in Whisper, one who adds a nice new note to the story. [2010 in books]
September 13, 2013
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Whisper Silksinger is the last of her clan and it is up to her to restore the powerful Djinn Azazel while being chased by devils. Meanwhile Hirik is on a quest to find Azazel to restore his clan’s honour, and also Magpie is searching for Whisper to protect her from a secret enemy. This book is just as good as the first with the introduction of new characters along with characters which I grew to love in the first book. Even though it is advertised as a children’s novel I think anyone over the age of 9 who likes a book with a bit of magic will love both Blackbringer and Silksinger, and I hope she does another book in this series.
Whisper Silksinger is the last of her clan and it is up to her to restore the powerful Djinn Azazel while being chased by devils. Meanwhile Hirik is on a quest to find Azazel to restore his clan’s honour, and also Magpie is searching for Whisper to protect her from a secret enemy. This book is just as good as the first with the introduction of new characters along with characters which I grew to love in the first book. Even though it is advertised as a children’s novel I think anyone over the age of 9 who likes a book with a bit of magic will love both Blackbringer and Silksinger, and I hope she does another book in this series.
February 18, 2020
I started reading this and was really liking it and then my sister told me it had an rather abrupt ending and that there was no third book forthcoming so I never finished it. As soon as the third one is coming out I shall read it but until then......
EDIT 2020.
In an effort to read books that I own and haven't read, and since 10 years has passed and still no third book :(, I figured it was time.
EDIT 2020.
In an effort to read books that I own and haven't read, and since 10 years has passed and still no third book :(, I figured it was time.
June 30, 2015
Another exquisite read from an author who has become one of my favourites. Once again, Laini Taylor takes us into the beautifully detailed world of the fairies, with her usual cast of quirky characters and a plot filled with enough excitement and surprises to keep us turning the pages. My only complaint about this book is that the ending indicates that there should be more to this series, but currently there are only the two - please tell me you're going to write more, Laini!
March 8, 2020
Laini Taylor can write about devils innumerable times, and I’ll never be bored by it. This was soooo goood. What an interesting take on insects, that was.
I loved this way more than the first installment.
I will miss Whisper and Hirik whom I adored to bits. That end , leaves me wanting more. I need a satisfying conclusion to all that evil.
I loved this way more than the first installment.
I will miss Whisper and Hirik whom I adored to bits. That end , leaves me wanting more. I need a satisfying conclusion to all that evil.
January 7, 2012
I am in awe of Laini Laylor's brain. In. Awe.
That is all.
That is all.
July 31, 2022
My dream is that Laini has the rest of the series written and saved on her computer and some day we’ll get to read it.
July 22, 2020
You wouldn't believe the amount of time and patience (not one of my virtues, really,) it took to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. There are no paperback copies made and the only readily available copies are audiobooks in CD form. I don't believe Faeries of Dreamdark: Silksinger even has a digital adaptation, which is very heartbreaking, as I feel like it is a more than worthy sequel to Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer, and I'd love to see more people able to enjoy both books equally.
I'm glad that I had a recent re-read of the first book, because I feel like it really benefited me as a reader. There's a certain sort of mood and setting to these books that I feel is better consumed closer together, to keep the world feeling as alive as possible. And of course, there is the added bonus of having any world-building lore fresh in one's mind while going through the sequel.
While the first one can be read as a stand-alone, this one feels less so, and ends in a way that, while a major part of the plot was resolved by the end of the book, there's still a bit of a cliffhanger we're left with. I know that Laini Taylor has said in the past she wants to return to the world of the Faeries of Dreamdark (and it is in fact, her summary for the third, unwritten book that's listed on here if my memory serves correctly,) but sad to say that it is uncertain when that will happen. Hopefully she didn't lose too much from these books, because I will absolutely be one of the first people to buy a copy of the third book if-and-when she ever gets it published. I would love to see this story keep going, especially because it's such a good way to introduce younger readers to books about faeries and keep that action-adventure plug as well.
I'm glad that I had a recent re-read of the first book, because I feel like it really benefited me as a reader. There's a certain sort of mood and setting to these books that I feel is better consumed closer together, to keep the world feeling as alive as possible. And of course, there is the added bonus of having any world-building lore fresh in one's mind while going through the sequel.
While the first one can be read as a stand-alone, this one feels less so, and ends in a way that, while a major part of the plot was resolved by the end of the book, there's still a bit of a cliffhanger we're left with. I know that Laini Taylor has said in the past she wants to return to the world of the Faeries of Dreamdark (and it is in fact, her summary for the third, unwritten book that's listed on here if my memory serves correctly,) but sad to say that it is uncertain when that will happen. Hopefully she didn't lose too much from these books, because I will absolutely be one of the first people to buy a copy of the third book if-and-when she ever gets it published. I would love to see this story keep going, especially because it's such a good way to introduce younger readers to books about faeries and keep that action-adventure plug as well.
June 21, 2018
I know that it looks like this book took me a month and a half to read, but really, it only took me like 4 days. Promise. The rest of the time, it just sat on my nightstand... and starred at me. Sigh.
You know what? I think what makes a book good, or even great, is the author's willingness to let characters we love... die. I mean it's horrible and sad and we hate them for it, but it ultimately makes the story more real. Events within the story start having actual consequences, and you start freaking out... not really knowing what to expect, while knowing what to expect, and wishing that what you know is going to happen won't happen.
That was this story. It was great. And one day, when I'm an old OLD lady, and Laini Taylor finally finishes this series... I'll be excited to be back in this world to see what happens next!
You know what? I think what makes a book good, or even great, is the author's willingness to let characters we love... die. I mean it's horrible and sad and we hate them for it, but it ultimately makes the story more real. Events within the story start having actual consequences, and you start freaking out... not really knowing what to expect, while knowing what to expect, and wishing that what you know is going to happen won't happen.
That was this story. It was great. And one day, when I'm an old OLD lady, and Laini Taylor finally finishes this series... I'll be excited to be back in this world to see what happens next!
December 30, 2024
Love all of Laini Taylor’s work but this series remains my favorite. Smart and intricate world creation. I usually never reed books but I’ve read this series 3x over the years. It is a comfort to me now. Innocent without being boring. Absolutely love. I slightly favor the first book but love this one too. I wish there were more!
December 31, 2024
No one is writing about fairies like Laini Taylor did. They could make them small and give them bug wings and even antenna! But they're all cowards!
February 22, 2017
More wonderful characters and some delicious twists to keep you entranced. Endearing moments captured within the action make this a magical read.
Oh - and I even bought copies so it's permanently in my library! Can't wait for book 3 Leoni...
Oh - and I even bought copies so it's permanently in my library! Can't wait for book 3 Leoni...
July 9, 2011
Silksinger is the second of the Fairies of Dreamdark books, a planned multi-book series that has unfortunately been put on hold by the publisher, according to the author's website. I read it after reading the first Fairies of Dreamdark book, Blackbringer, and the two books are complete stories in and of themselves, but you can tell that they are intended to be part of a larger story.
So, the story. In Silksinger, a young fairy with an unusual gift (thought to be gone from the world) is given a big task. Whisper Silksinger is the last of her clan, and she must take a sleeping Djinn to his far-off throne. She must find a way to make this difficult journey with no money or friends. And she can't tell anyone what kind of precious cargo she's carrying. Meanwhile, Magpie Windwitch (from the first book) is on a quest of her own--looking for Djinn. She needs to find and wake the Djinn so that they will be able to keep the world from falling apart at the seams. So when Magpie hears about Whisper and her task, she and her friend Talon go off looking for Whisper and the Djinn.
Whisper soon finds a friend, who like herself, is harboring a secret. Hirik is a young fairy who wants to become the Djinn's champion, thereby clearing a stain on his family name that has lasted for thousands of years. But Hirik has to be careful to hide his secret insect-related powers, because if anyone finds out who he really is, he'll be in big trouble. As he and Whisper travel on caravans towards the city where the Djinn is to be installed on his throne, Hirik finds that he has to defend himself and his strange companion from all kinds of threats, from fairies and devils alike. And there are more fairies and creatures with crucial roles to play, some quite surprising.
This book had a couple of great plot twists, which is always fun. Most of the characters were well-drawn and I was glad to see more of Magpie and the crows. However, I had a harder time getting into this book than I did with Blackbringer, maybe because I didn't think Whisper was as vivid or compelling a character. But I pulled for her, and I liked Hirik too. I really enjoyed the interactions between Magpie and Talon in this book--funny and cute. And of course, there are so many cool touches in these books about the various talents of these fairies and the world they live in. I was sad to discover that at this time, the rest of the larger story isn't yet written--I would really look forward to reading more about the Fairies of Dreamdark.
So, the story. In Silksinger, a young fairy with an unusual gift (thought to be gone from the world) is given a big task. Whisper Silksinger is the last of her clan, and she must take a sleeping Djinn to his far-off throne. She must find a way to make this difficult journey with no money or friends. And she can't tell anyone what kind of precious cargo she's carrying. Meanwhile, Magpie Windwitch (from the first book) is on a quest of her own--looking for Djinn. She needs to find and wake the Djinn so that they will be able to keep the world from falling apart at the seams. So when Magpie hears about Whisper and her task, she and her friend Talon go off looking for Whisper and the Djinn.
Whisper soon finds a friend, who like herself, is harboring a secret. Hirik is a young fairy who wants to become the Djinn's champion, thereby clearing a stain on his family name that has lasted for thousands of years. But Hirik has to be careful to hide his secret insect-related powers, because if anyone finds out who he really is, he'll be in big trouble. As he and Whisper travel on caravans towards the city where the Djinn is to be installed on his throne, Hirik finds that he has to defend himself and his strange companion from all kinds of threats, from fairies and devils alike. And there are more fairies and creatures with crucial roles to play, some quite surprising.
This book had a couple of great plot twists, which is always fun. Most of the characters were well-drawn and I was glad to see more of Magpie and the crows. However, I had a harder time getting into this book than I did with Blackbringer, maybe because I didn't think Whisper was as vivid or compelling a character. But I pulled for her, and I liked Hirik too. I really enjoyed the interactions between Magpie and Talon in this book--funny and cute. And of course, there are so many cool touches in these books about the various talents of these fairies and the world they live in. I was sad to discover that at this time, the rest of the larger story isn't yet written--I would really look forward to reading more about the Fairies of Dreamdark.
June 23, 2012
I was looking forward to this sequel, honestly. The first book, Blackbringer, was so surprisingly intriguing and good that I really wanted to read this one. And that’s saying something because I’m not usually into middle-grade fairy novels. I think it’s just Laini Taylor’s writing skills that pull me through--she writes so deftly and her plots are pretty dang good for a kids book.
This book has Magpie and Talon and the crows, like in the first one, but it also introduces Whisper and Hirik as new characters. While Hirik fits right in with the rest of Laini Taylors butt-kicking fairies, Whisper is different. She doesn’t quite jump off the page at you like the others do. I think it’s because she’s a shier, more naïve character and an artist not a warrior. But she does have courage--it’s just a quieter more subtle kind.
The villain in this one I thought was way creepier than the one in Blackbringer. In Blackbringer, the villain is so obviously and blatantly evil, but the bad guy in Silksinger is more devious and two-faced, which makes him worse, in my opinion. And guess what? Batch Hangnail, the lying, cheating scavenger imp is back in this book! I think he may be becoming my favorite character--he just has so much personality. Also he’s hilarious.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Silksinger. It’s a solid book with enough adventure and humor to go around. And the fantasy world that Laini Taylor has built never fails to intrigue me. I really hope she finishes the series so I can find out what happens. There’s absolutely nothing objectionable in this one, so I feel pretty confident in recommending it to anyone who can handle a fairy book.
Book Light Graveyard
This book has Magpie and Talon and the crows, like in the first one, but it also introduces Whisper and Hirik as new characters. While Hirik fits right in with the rest of Laini Taylors butt-kicking fairies, Whisper is different. She doesn’t quite jump off the page at you like the others do. I think it’s because she’s a shier, more naïve character and an artist not a warrior. But she does have courage--it’s just a quieter more subtle kind.
The villain in this one I thought was way creepier than the one in Blackbringer. In Blackbringer, the villain is so obviously and blatantly evil, but the bad guy in Silksinger is more devious and two-faced, which makes him worse, in my opinion. And guess what? Batch Hangnail, the lying, cheating scavenger imp is back in this book! I think he may be becoming my favorite character--he just has so much personality. Also he’s hilarious.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Silksinger. It’s a solid book with enough adventure and humor to go around. And the fantasy world that Laini Taylor has built never fails to intrigue me. I really hope she finishes the series so I can find out what happens. There’s absolutely nothing objectionable in this one, so I feel pretty confident in recommending it to anyone who can handle a fairy book.
Book Light Graveyard
May 7, 2015
One is a lonely number. One=the number of people who have ever heard of this book series when I bring it up and that number is me. What a travesty! I shall have to carry the total fandom on my not-so-broad shoulders, then.
Truly, Laini Taylor is one of my absolute favorite writers of fantasy, for any age. She can take a story and weave magic into those tired old words like nobody's business-making scenes dance and jump on the page, making flat characters come alive in such a way that it's crazy to believe these tiny people couldn't exist. They must! It's too sad to picture a world without heroines like Silksinger and Magpie.
In this second, and sadly, last installment in the Dreamdark series, Magpie continues her search for another of the Djinn would need to be awakened in order to bring about a revolution and set the world to rights. She has one already and hears of another. Before she can get to it, though, the Djinn is on the run, protected by a very unlikely savior, a tiny whispering fairy who doesn't seem to have the strength to make one good yell, let alone help save the world.
I truly love these books. The characters are ones you root for, the world is one you want to see, and the fight is one for goodness. I hope that more people pick these up. While this one is not the perfect 5 score of the first in the series, Blackbringer, it is an amazing read. I hope this review might encourage a few more readers. Perhaps our fandom will grow and we can collectively talk the author into writing the rest of them. After all, there are 5 more Djinn to rescue and who's going to do it if not us?
Truly, Laini Taylor is one of my absolute favorite writers of fantasy, for any age. She can take a story and weave magic into those tired old words like nobody's business-making scenes dance and jump on the page, making flat characters come alive in such a way that it's crazy to believe these tiny people couldn't exist. They must! It's too sad to picture a world without heroines like Silksinger and Magpie.
In this second, and sadly, last installment in the Dreamdark series, Magpie continues her search for another of the Djinn would need to be awakened in order to bring about a revolution and set the world to rights. She has one already and hears of another. Before she can get to it, though, the Djinn is on the run, protected by a very unlikely savior, a tiny whispering fairy who doesn't seem to have the strength to make one good yell, let alone help save the world.
I truly love these books. The characters are ones you root for, the world is one you want to see, and the fight is one for goodness. I hope that more people pick these up. While this one is not the perfect 5 score of the first in the series, Blackbringer, it is an amazing read. I hope this review might encourage a few more readers. Perhaps our fandom will grow and we can collectively talk the author into writing the rest of them. After all, there are 5 more Djinn to rescue and who's going to do it if not us?
September 29, 2009
Blackbringer was one of my favorite YA fantasy books of all time so I was a bit anxious to get my hands on it's follow-up, Silksinger. I was also anxious to see if Taylor could spin her magic again and drag me into the story so deeply I didn't want to get back out. She did indeed.
This was a wonderful follow-up book that introduces new characters while still weaving in the old ones. This time the main story follows Whisper Silksinger, the last of the Silksinger clan and the guardian of one of the ancient Djinn that the devils are trying so hard to acquire. The Devil Wars are threatening to start up again and as they do Magpie and company must once again stop the tapestry from unraveling and the Devils from taking power.
I loved seeing the characters from Blackbringer back and I also really liked the new cast of characters as well. The bad guy was fairly predictable if you're paying attention and it's amazing how many young Fae are turning out to be super-powerful, extra-gifted and talented. It does stretch my credulity a little. On the other hand, perhaps so many of the Sprouts are turning up with odd and powerful abilities because the age needs knew hereos to defend it. It's a tiny quibble and one that did not keep from enjoying this book immensely.
I am certain there is another book in the series coming and now I'll just have to wait (quite impatiently) for it to get here.
This was a wonderful follow-up book that introduces new characters while still weaving in the old ones. This time the main story follows Whisper Silksinger, the last of the Silksinger clan and the guardian of one of the ancient Djinn that the devils are trying so hard to acquire. The Devil Wars are threatening to start up again and as they do Magpie and company must once again stop the tapestry from unraveling and the Devils from taking power.
I loved seeing the characters from Blackbringer back and I also really liked the new cast of characters as well. The bad guy was fairly predictable if you're paying attention and it's amazing how many young Fae are turning out to be super-powerful, extra-gifted and talented. It does stretch my credulity a little. On the other hand, perhaps so many of the Sprouts are turning up with odd and powerful abilities because the age needs knew hereos to defend it. It's a tiny quibble and one that did not keep from enjoying this book immensely.
I am certain there is another book in the series coming and now I'll just have to wait (quite impatiently) for it to get here.
January 4, 2011
I couldn't wait to read this book! It takes off where Blackbringer left us, with Magpie, Talon and the crows searching for more of the Djinn to restore to their former glory to save the world. It also adds in Whisper, the last of the Silksingers, who have long been thought dead, and Hirik, a faery with a secret and a desperate need to redeem his family. Whisper has in her care the smoldering ember of one of the Djinn, and Magpie is seeking her to keep her safe. What follows is their separate but closely linked journeys.
I loved the addition of Whisper and Hirik, they were so sweet and moving at times, that I couldn't wait to get back to their story. Also, the developing relationship between Talon and Magpie is adorable! It's clear that the characters are too young for any serious stuff, but you just know (or at least I hope desperately!) that one day....one day (insert sigh).
There were some really moving moments that actually had me choking up a little, and Magpie's struggle to come to terms with actually killing baddies is an interesting one. After the violence of the Hunger Games it's refreshing to get to know a character that is so strong and capable, but uses her power very carefully, and is hesitant to permanently extinguish even the most evil of life.
March 27, 2010
I can't get over this woman's writing. It's absolutely, stunningly magical. Every time I read another book of hers, I start it thinking, "It's really just a kid's book, and I just happened to be in the right mood last time . . . it's not going to draw me in the same way this time."
And every time, I find myself completely lost in her world and words. I surface a few hours later, when I've read it to the last page, no pausing. And that's a rare for thing for me, anymore. I'm an adult, I don't normally have the time to devour an entire book in one sitting. I'm so used to my reading being interrupted that even when I do have an entire day to myself, I tend to interrupt it myself: go for a walk, grab a coffee, whatever.
But every time I pick up one of her books, I don't surface for hours. Nothing else touches me. She's a rare treat, one of those writers who not only brings alive the world she's created, but rekindles the amazed magic I felt when I read as a child, subsumed in otherworlds.
And every time, I find myself completely lost in her world and words. I surface a few hours later, when I've read it to the last page, no pausing. And that's a rare for thing for me, anymore. I'm an adult, I don't normally have the time to devour an entire book in one sitting. I'm so used to my reading being interrupted that even when I do have an entire day to myself, I tend to interrupt it myself: go for a walk, grab a coffee, whatever.
But every time I pick up one of her books, I don't surface for hours. Nothing else touches me. She's a rare treat, one of those writers who not only brings alive the world she's created, but rekindles the amazed magic I felt when I read as a child, subsumed in otherworlds.
April 25, 2011
Laini Taylor is a magical writer. (I think she found a portal to Faerie) Her fairies of Dreamdark (first in Blackbringer and then in Silksinger) are tiny things that pack a wallop in a world where dragons are gone, clans are dying out and Djinn have retreated to their elemental form.
The stories are filled with great names like Magpie Windwitch and Whisper Silksinger and Talon Rathersting. The names and distinct characteristics of the beings in these tales are just one of the wonders of Ms Taylor's kick-ass writing. Another is page-turning storytelling. So rewarding.
I don't like to give spoilers, but I will give a snippet to show her style and skill:
"They were scamperers all three, as Silksingers had always been. Their wings were small as cherry blossoms and couldn't lift them in flight, so their only hope of escape was the flying carpets. But these were works of beauty, not of battle, and they weren't spelled for speed."
The stories are filled with great names like Magpie Windwitch and Whisper Silksinger and Talon Rathersting. The names and distinct characteristics of the beings in these tales are just one of the wonders of Ms Taylor's kick-ass writing. Another is page-turning storytelling. So rewarding.
I don't like to give spoilers, but I will give a snippet to show her style and skill:
"They were scamperers all three, as Silksingers had always been. Their wings were small as cherry blossoms and couldn't lift them in flight, so their only hope of escape was the flying carpets. But these were works of beauty, not of battle, and they weren't spelled for speed."
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