Seeker by Veronica Rossi YA fantasy book reviewsSeeker by Veronica Rossi YA fantasy book reviewsSeeker by Veronica Rossi

Warning: Will contain some spoilers for the previous book, Riders.

Readers of the explosive finale to Veronica Rossi‘s Riders will remember the fate the four horsemen of the apocalypse came to: Daryn sealed War (our hero Gideon) in a dark dimension with Samrael, the last surviving demon of the Kindred. Now, plagued with guilt, it’s up to her to rescue him in Seeker (2017).

Whilst Daryn’s role in Riders was shady at best — she was unable to adequately explain why she was forcing Gideon to round up the other horsemen of the apocalypse — we find out that she is a Seeker: she gained Sight and the ability to see the future. But she has made a fatal mistake: Gideon. Plagued with guilt at banishing him to a dark dimension, she will do anything to try and get him back. But just as she needs her Sight the most it fails her. She is no longer able to see the future and must rely on instinct alone.

Gideon returns and is satisfyingly fleshed out. Our tempestuous hero has a maturity in Seeker he did not possess before and new resolution in his goals. He also falters, but acknowledges his mistakes, marking the satisfying coming-of-age arc.

Readers are also offered a much more intimate look into the character of Daryn. Plagued by guilt for what she’s done, her vulnerabilities and dogged resolve to rescue Gideon will have YA readers rooting for her in their masses. Furthermore, the camaraderie between the horsemen also marks a satisfying development. They bring a lightness to an otherwise very dark story, as all good ensemble casts should.

Rossi is a dab hand at plotting and once more proves that in Seeker. The story is propelled forwards at a satisfying pace and, though familiar with the voice and character tropes, YA readers will be compelled to race through the novel. No doubt they’ll be clamouring for the next instalment in the RIDERS series.

Published May 16, 2017. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi’s new fantasy adventure in the Rider series — Seeker. When Daryn claimed she was seeing “visions” during her sophomore year of high school, no one believed the truth. She wasn’t losing her mind, she was gaining the Sight — the ability to see the future. If she just paid attention to the visions, they’d provide her with clues and show her how she could help people. Really help them. Daryn embraced her role as a Seeker. The work she did was important. She saved lives. Until Sebastian. Sebastian was her first — and worst — mistake. Since the moment she inadvertently sealed him in a dark dimension with Samrael — the last surviving demon in the Kindred — guilt has plagued her. Daryn knows Sebastian is alive and waiting for help. It’s up to her to rescue him. But now that she needs the Sight more than ever to guide her, the visions have stopped. Daryn must rely on her instincts, her intelligence, and on blind faith to lead the riders who are counting on her in search of Sebastian. As they delve into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems and where Samrael is steadily amassing power, Daryn faces the ultimate test. Will she have to become evil to destroy evil? The very fate of humankind rests in the answer. At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Author

  • Ray McKenzie

    RACHAEL "RAY" MCKENZIE, with us since December 2014, was weaned onto fantasy from a young age. She grew up watching Studio Ghibli movies and devoured C.S. Lewis’ CHRONICLES OF NARNIA not long after that (it was a great edition as well -- a humongous picture-filled volume). She then moved on to the likes of Pullman’s HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy and adored The Hobbit (this one she had on cassette -- those were the days). A couple of decades on, she is still a firm believer that YA and fantasy for children can be just as relevant and didactic as adult fantasy. Her firm favourites are the British greats: Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman, and she’s recently discovered Ben Aaronovitch too. Her tastes generally lean towards Urban Fantasy but basically anything with compelling characters has her vote.

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