This second installment in the Coin of Rulve series is dark and lovely. The world V. Dale creates is wholly believable and goosebump scary. Teller is the hero of this story, twin to Sheft from book one. They were parted as babies and grew up in different worlds. At the end of book one, Sheft is on his way to Teller's world, the place of his birth. Book two picks up Teller's story, and it is grim. Despite this, there are points of light that save the book from devolving into a depressing read. I was always cheering for Teller to overcome the many obstacles set for him. Despite all efforts to turn him evil, there is a goodness in Teller that cannot be denied, even though, as Teller-of-Lies, he himself does not believe it. While the world and the characters are convincing, it's in her writing that this author really shines. She's fearless and lyrical, confronting evil in gritty detail with exquisite prose.
Dark Twin is the second book of the Coin of Rulve series written by Veronica Dale. Separated from his twin at birth, Teller is a young child when he is kidnapped from the safety of his village by the spider-king, but not before he begins to piece together how special he really is. The spider-king demands payment from his subjects of one twin out of each set. Those twins are no more than poorly treated slaves. What Teller is willing to do to relieve their suffering points to him as possibly a savior, if only Teller believed in his own goodness.
While Dark Twin by Veronica Dale is classified as an epic fantasy, in essence it is the horror story of a small child living and growing up with his enemies. This small child, Teller, battles not only with loss of faith, but with maintaining his own sanity while surrounded by evil. Veronica Dale does a professional job of weaving Teller's story with fantastic world building to create an amazing story that transports the reader through an array of emotions. Her pacing is spot on, and her balance between backstory and present action could not be better.
I found Dark Twin disturbing, but I did not want to put it down. Teller is a complex character who can never totally escape his upbringing, even after years of living with the enemy. As a the parent of twins, I am always in the market for a good twin story. This one surpassed my expectations by a mile.
Twins of an extraordinary nature, “niyalahn-rista” according to the Seani elders, possess powers yet unseen, destined to bring mercy and justice to the oppressed who live in fear of the Spider King. A healer detects extraordinary potential as well as an aura of violent upheaval in the dark-haired twin named Teller. But, despite this portent, the healer believes Teller has a deep sense of empathy, and so the elders hope his mission is to bear the pain of their land and lead them to freedom.
At the tender age of six, however, Teller is swept away into the dark, subversive chambers of the Spider King's foreboding underworld. Here, the teachers discover his power, and twist it to serve their needs and thirst for power. He is renamed “teller-of-lies.” He is told his family abandoned him. Through physical and psychological torture, his memory of cloudless skies, bluebirds, love, and faith are nearly snuffed out, but his ability to feel the pain of others is never quite extinguished. He senses his destiny is greatness, but the question for the reader becomes has his potential been subverted?
The Seani believe when the twins are reunited, they will discover their true gifts and use them for good. Those from the underworld hope that, together, the twins, who possess “the blood that makes the earth dance,” will further the Spider King’s evil rule. So much depends on Teller as the time to meet his long-lost twin draws near, and it puts the reader in a deliciously uncomfortable spot.
I was swept away by the inventiveness of author Veronica Dale. Dark Twin is a science fiction fantasy suspense with enough supernatural horror to satisfy any appetite. The exciting narrative presents an ethical dilemma at every turn in the ominous crypts of an imaginary world. A powerful force cannot remain submerged for long.
Dark Twin is Book Two of the Coin of Rulve series, and begins with the promised birth of twin grandsons who are called to save their land from the despotic Spider-king. Shortly thereafter, their mother is forced to flee with one of the twins in order to protect them both. The double portents of her absence and the boys’ as yet unknown powers conclude an introduction that leads to the young Teller's evolution in the next chapter. There, his encounter with a snake is just one of the dangerous Spider-king threats he faces.
Teller is closely watched by the adults around him, who are well aware of his heritage and its dangers. But the boy himself has only vague intimations of this ("At times he felt like a disturbed seed in the ground, as if people were constantly brushing away the dirt above him to see if anything was sprouting yet."). Teller evolves into a compassionate young man who faces his world with curiosity, courage, and determination. But will these qualities be enough to defeat the evil force that has controlled his world long before his birth?
Veronica Dale 's Dark Twin excels in its portrait of how a cruel overseer becomes an intrinsic part of a boy's evolutionary development after he is snatched into the Spider-king's lair. In an intense process that changes and challenges his very memories of everything that was good in his life, Teller becomes a young adult torn between his commitment to a despot and a deep inner call. Only gradually does he begin to understand what he must give, what it would cost, and what he would get in return.
The juxtapositions between darkness and light, lies and truth, and choices that hold the power to change many lives are deftly woven into a story line that holds as much spiritual and political insights as it does the struggle of an oppressed people desperately in need of hope.
Familiarity with Book One, Blood Seed, is recommended for a smooth transition to the settings and powerful influences on Teller's world. Even though Blood Seed held different protagonists, its dark metaphysical background and depth provide a firm foundation for this continuation of the theme, which offers the same solid approach to spiritual and psychological insights as its predecessor.
Firmly rooted in the fantasy genre yet laced with elements of intrigue, political purpose, and moral and ethical issues, Dark Twin is especially recommended for readers who like their fantasies complex and thought-provoking.
Dark Twin: Coin of Rulve Book Two by Veronica Dale is the story of twin brothers who were separated as infants, but who share a single destiny that is key to saving many lives. Teller was once close to the Creator Rulve, but since the Spider-king snatched him away from his home when he was just a boy, he has no idea that he is anyone special. He grew up to be bitter and dark. Now he is living with the four Vols who are corrupting him. But when he gets a parchment with his name on it, and which hints at his old life, he is shocked. Can he really be someone greater than the person he’s been told he is? Can his destiny really be changed? He is offered two very different lives. Which will he choose; the light or the dark?
Although I have not read the previous novel in the series, I had no problem connecting with the characters and understanding what was happening. The story is intense and dark; it is emotional, and you will get a feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach. I congratulate the author in making that happen because at times I felt like I was there with Teller; I could feel his pain, his conflict, and his every single emotion. This is one of the best novels I have read so far this year! This is simply a great read.
