Sons of Sorrow by Nazri Noor

Caz has a Mini Review of Nazri Noor’s Sons of Sorrow for us today!

Narrated by Greg Boudreaux

The tears of the ocean. The heart of the flame.

Lochlann Wilde is preparing for his final challenge: entering the Oriel of Fire, the most dangerous of the elemental dimensions. Acquiring the essence of fire will score him another powerful guardian, as well as complete Aphrodite’s amulet.

But the world outside the oriel has its own challenges. Sylvain has discovered something difficult about his heritage. Aphrodite also keeps dropping unsettling hints about Locke’s true nature.

Most pressing of all is the mystery of the parchment that cursed Queen Aurelia to begin with, the only clue that may lead to the truth about the Withering. Who is behind it? Why did they engineer the plague?

And how can Locke and Sylvain stop them from infecting the cosmos?

Sons of Sorrow is the penultimate instalment in Nazri Noor’s Wild Hearts series, and we re-join Locke and Sylvain as they’re preparing for their most dangerous assignment yet – to enter the Oriel of Fire to find a fourth guardian and secure the Heart of the Flame to complete the magical amulet given to Locke by the goddess Aphrodite. Locke hopes he and Sylvain will be able to find the source of the Withering and stop it, once all four stones are securely set. In the meantime, they pay a slightly uncomfortable visit to the Verdance – their first since the Withering attacked – where Sylvain is confronted by some shocking information about his origins. He doesn’t have much time to process this, however, as the visit to the Oriel looms, and he and Locke are joined unexpectedly by their friend Bruna’s sister – Luna – who needs some Heart of the Flame for a school project, and the perennial thorn in Locke’s side, Evander Skink (the Evil Twink).

As always with this author, the story is fast-paced, fun and inventive, with some vividly written set-pieces, snarky banter and a great ensemble cast. Revelations come thick and fast – Locke discovers something completely unexpected about his parentage, too – although that poses just as many questions as it delivers answers.

Greg Boudreaux’s narration is, as always, a joy to listen to. His vocal characterisations for the recurring characters are consistent with earlier books, and the additions to the cast are also distinctly and appropriately portrayed. Campy Evander Skink is a hoot, and at the other end of the spectrum is Headmaster Shivers, who speaks in a kind of hoarse whisper that is definitely unsettling. Everything about the performance works perfectly; the emotions are expertly realised, the banter sparkles, and the strength of the love and affection between Locke and Sylvain is palpable.

Nazri Noor’s imagination seems to know no bounds! Sons of Sorrow is a thoroughly entertaining fantasy adventure story – with a dash of romance, a found family and some excellent character development. I’m really looking forward to the series grand finale later this year.

Caz