Review: a Strange Hymn

Title: A Strange Hymn
Series: the Bargainer series
Author: Laura Thalassa

Blurb:

Siren and soulmate to the King of Night, Callypso Lillis survived the clutches of Karnon, the mad king, and his twisted prison. But the nightmare isn’t over. Callie wears the physical reminders of her time as a captive, and mounting evidence suggests the Thief of Souls is still out there.

When a fae celebration thrusts Callie and her mate, Desmond Flynn, into the Kingdom of Flora, they take their investigation with them. But under the bright lights and striking blooms of the realm, they find there are more immediate issues to deal with. No place is more uniquely savage than the great fae halls, and no amount of bargains can save Callie from royal intrigues.

Fairies play dangerous games. Some want love, some want vengeance, some want flesh, and some want things too unspeakable to utter. One thing is for sure: no one is who they appear to be. Not even Des, who only grows more enigmatic with every passing secret.

But the Kingdom of Flora has its own secrets, from bleeding trees to branded slaves and missing guards. Something is stirring in the land of all that grows, and if Callie isn’t careful, it will claim everything and everyone she loves—and her along with it.

Review:
You MUST read book One Rhapsodic first before reading a Strange Hymn. The events of this book take place immediately following the events of book 1.
So admittedly it's been a little bit since I read book one, but I needed a change in genres so I picked up this book.
Callypso, is a human siren and mate to the Fae King of Night Desmond. And after he saved her from Karon another Fae king's evil clutches she is grappling with the changes she has endured. But that's not the only thing. Besides trying to solve the mystery of the sleeping woman, missing soldiers, and creepy mysterious children, she now is also undergoing training against Des, while learning as much as she can, not only about Desmond himself, but the court he rules over- and the rest of the otherworld. Especially since they are invited to the week long Solstice party in the kingdom of of Flora- one of the kingdoms that allow human slaves, which Callie still is. But that's not the only issue- all the courts will be gathered, including those of of Fauna- the same Court's King that Desmond murdered. On top of it all, Flora has bleeding trees, and soldiers from each court in attendance going missing. Something sinister is going on in the land that grows, and if Callie isn't careful, it will claim everything and everyone she loves, including herself.
As with the first book, I LOVED Desmond, King of Night. I loved how protective he was of Callie, but how he didn't coddle her and let her make her own decisions even if he didn't agree with them. Callie was struggling with everything she had been through, and the changes that happened. But instead of shying away from anything, she stood up and fought. She was still strong willed, and didn't let what happened to her define her. Her and Desmond's bond is stronger than ever- but still not perfect. He is still King of secrets, and she is still human. And they still have many unsolved mysteries to solve. It seems when one answer presents itself many more questions appear in it's place. Can Callie and Des bond hold true? Can Des and Callie survive being in the Flora court for a week with so many Fae at odds with one another, and list of missing people growing more the longer they are there? Or will going to the Solstice doom them all? Find out these answers and more in this magical world of Fae that had me spell bound from beginning to end. 5 fantastical ⭐ out of 5⭐.