I recently finished the fantasy novel “A Sadow in the Ember” written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This novel in the complex “From Blood and Ash” series offers a different perspective from a character in the past. Similar to the protagonist Poppy in “From Blood and Ash”, Seraphena (Sera) Mierel’s future has never been her own, imprisoned behind a veil. She’s raised in a destructive environment, with many not even acknowledging her as a person, simply a failure. Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until her path crosses with the Primal of Death, whom she begins to trust. This relationship chases away Sera’s darkness, until his true intentions become clear, forcing her to reconsider the agony and consequences behind trust.
“It is far easier to be lied to than to acknowledge that you have been lied to.” (pg. 247).
This quote sparked a sense of sympathy and understanding from me, as it is an unknown concept that can be applied in many ordinary people’s lives. The quote reveals how harmless lying is until its consequences begin to configure. Once you begin to actually acknowledge the hurt and despair of lying as an action and the depth someone’s words can go, you begin to recognize the suffering of the victim. Typically lies are masked, mimicking a mental barrier of invisibility between each person. But as the wall breaks, it’s tempting to explore into that world of deception even if the outcome will only bring more hurt.