It’s coming, Ben. The end—for us. You and me.
Well, you, and that will end me.
John Wiltshire
Death’s Ink-Black Shadow
Format:
Audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Learn to love death’s ink-black shadow as much as you love the light of dawn.”
Yeah? Well, Nikolas doesn’t do early mornings.
It takes a certain kind of courage to live as if favoured by the Gods, ignoring the ever-present ghosts of your past–or perhaps not bravery, but arrogance. And maybe not even that. Ben genuinely believes that the past is behind them—that they deserve to enjoy the life they have created. So it’s not hubris that leads him to overlook the signs that Nikolas does not share his faith, it’s love. But Nikolas knows something is coming. He can’t stop it; he can only decide how he will choose to face it. And without Ben’s support, he is entirely alone.
Point of view:
3rd person. Alternating perspectives, not by chapter, but defined.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
Death’s Ink-Black Shadow is the sixth book in Wiltshire’s More Heat Than the Sun series. These books follow the same couple and each book builds off some events from previous ones. In some ways these stand on their own, but this one is an almost immediate continuation of events from The Bruise-Black Sky. I’d definitely recommend listening to them all and in order – starting with Love is a Stranger. This review contains spoilers to earlier books.
This book leans almost more toward a psychological thriller than past books. Focusing mainly on Ben & Nik’s relationship and their adapting to being parents. (I *told* you there was a spoiler from the last book!) Secrets that Nik’s ex-wife kept are revealed and in turn threaten his found/created family.
I love that Wilshire continues to incorporate characters from past books and that, despite his grumbling, it’s obvious Nik has found a way to love more people than just Ben. Tim, Squeezy, Miles, Emmy and more are a gathering of misfits that don’t fit anywhere yet somehow work well incorporated into this unusual brood. Trust and security continue to be elusive and Nik & Ben both struggle with the best way to care and protect themselves and those around them.
This book seemed to cap off several mysteries and it feels like there’s going to be a bit of a pivot in Enduring Night (book 7). I can’t wait!
Narration:
Gary Furlong continues to be magnificent. Despite all the ebooks already being released, there is absolutely NO WAY that I would read these to myself. Because these audios are perfection.
While I borrowed the ebook through Kindle Unlimited, I received a free copy of this audiobook from Decent Fellows Press and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
About the author:
John Wiltshire is the pen name. The author was born in England. She spent twenty-two years in the British Army, perfecting the art of looking busy whilst secretly writing. She retired at the rank of Major, and finally settled in New Zealand.
Although she has no plans to return to the army, she can occasionally be caught polishing her medals.
You can connect with John Wiltshire here:
About the narrator:
Throughout his life he has worn many a hat: He has worked as a teacher in Niigata, Japan; a puppeteer in Prague; an improv artist in Memphis, Tennessee, but made the leap to voiceover in 2015. Gary has narrated over 120 books spanning various genres.
You can connect with Gary Furlong here:
My Favorite Quotes
Long cashmere overcoats on six-foot-four, one hundred and sixty pound frames said something, and it said it loudly. – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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Something was coming. It was coming for him, or for Ben, which was pretty much the same thing these days, and then all of this would be over. – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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Ben had taken twelve years to get to this stunning level of intuitiveness about Nikolas. – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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Pleasure in sex could be faked. Kissing had to be real. Mouths were too close to the soul to be shared without true passion. – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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Kate had stolen from them in a terrible act of betrayal, but in that theft she’d given them this gift. – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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You’re just gay. I thought it was going to be something really good—like you were both sleeper agents or something. – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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even living a lie with Ben was better than being without him entirely – Death’s Ink-Black Shadow by John Wiltshire @DecentFellows #Audiobook narrated by @GaryFurlongVo #MM #Romance #MoreHeatThanTheSun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #PsychologicalThriller
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