Curse of the Divine

Ink in the Blood, book one in this duology, saw Celia Sand and her best friend Anya flee their home in Asura. The two girls had discovered that the Profeta religion they were raised in was no more than the corrupted creation of evil deity Diavala. Curse of the Divine begins two weeks after the two ripped apart the religion. Celia is grieving the loss of her best friend and is now teamed up with fellow Rabble Mob member Griffin. The stakes are high as Diavala is still very much alive and threatening Griffin. Celia is desperate not to lose another person she loves. They are searching for Halcyon Ronnea, the only person who has ever survived being possessed by Diavala.

When they arrive at the town of Wisteria, they are taken aback by how unusual everything seems. Streets shift, and flowers seem carefully perfect but not quite… real. Conversing with villagers at the town pub, Celia learns that, although Halcyon is the town’s mayor, no one can remember what he looks like. Somehow Halcyon is using illusions to control the town.

Curiosity soon gets the better of Halcyon who eventually reveals himself to Celia. By showing how her inkling skills can work with his to extend the borders of Wisteria, she soon gains his trust. As apprentice, Celia is free to roam Halcyon’s sprawling and every-changing home while he is away searching for his lost love. The many halls have many doors, and Celia soon discovers a door that opens into the afterlife. Is this where Halcyon has been looking for Martina?

Smejkal has extended the dark, engaging world-building of Ink in the Blood by creating the illusion-town of Wisteria and through a cast of strong characters. Celia stands out as the hero in this novel, strong-minded and confident. It is her determination to seek revenge for her best-friend’s death that drives all else. Diavala, the soul-possessing entity that shares the body of Griffin, is a truly disturbing character. No spoiler-alert here, but what the author accomplishes with this character is extremely skillful and unexpected.

As in the previous novel, orientation and identity are naturally understood as continuums, with multiple characters using the pronoun they or its derivative forms. Themes including religion, magic, friendship, and freedom of choice are effectively woven throughout the novel. Fans of dark fantasy and magical atmospheres will enjoy this series.

Kim Smejkal writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Though she grew up on the Canadian prairies, she now lives with her family on Vancouver Island which means she’s often lost in the woods or wandering a beach.