Travels in The Dark by Jordan Loyal Short

Another book to talk to you about today. Recently Jordan Loyal Short released the final book in the Dreadbound Ode series, Travels in the Dark. So, let's take a look at what the book is about.

About The Book

Lyssa is going to the Dead Place and everyone she killed will be waiting.

As the Hidden One’s twisted plan to resurrect the Deep Gods unfolds, the only way to stop him is a secret buried in the land of death.

But Lyssa has not given up. If the Deep Gods can return, so can she.

Can Lyssa find a way back? Can she delve into hell’s darkest corners and emerge with the lore to stop the Deep Gods’ rise? Or will she become a lost soul, like so many of those she loved in life?

Ancient horrors will wake. Skalds will sing. And a blind seer will see the shadows gather.

Lyssa Pedersten has tasted poison, and hell had best beware.

Travels in the Dark is the final chapter in The Dreadbound Ode, I have to say that this series has got better and better as it has reached its final conclusion.

Travels in the Dark picks up where The weeping Sigil left off and we follow Brohr, Henrick and Lyssa to the final battle between the Hidden God Moriigo and the Shining one, Tyrus.

At the end of The Weeping Sigil, Lyssa had taken drastic action that has led her to enter the realm of the dead. Brohr had reached his potential and had unleashed the end of the worlds and Henric has become a prophet of the shining one Tyriel

I have enjoyed this series no end. There are no two ways about it, the story is an extremely dark tale of blood and revenge and reminds me of Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword in many ways, but I think that this is mainly due to the dark tones and the inclusion of Norse mythology.

I love the way that Jordan Loyal Short has mixed both science fiction and fantasy and the interplay between the two works perfectly, giving the story a slightly more epic feel than if it had just played out on the planet Skloja.

In Travels in the Dark, there is more of the epic fantasy feel to it, but there is also the added dimension of cosmic horror to give it that extra dimension that works well. You get more of the feel of this when we see the concept of the deep gods being introduced and query are these extra dimensional beings that have wandered the cosmos spreading pain and suffering in their wake. And when we see the behemoth that it the Candle Maker introduced, the vastness of these Deep Gods is shown to its full capacity.

As usual, the story centres around the three main characters. Brohr is intent upon saving Lyssa from the clutches of the Dead place at whatever cost. Lyssa is undertaking her Dantean journey to through the boughs of hell to reclaim her life and Henrick is trying to defeat the god Morrigo whilst trying to stay alive.

Travels in the Dark successfully brings the story to a close and is such a satisfying close to the story.

If you like your fantasy dark and soaked in blood then the Dreadbound Ode is definitely one to read.