The 'A Strange Hymn' is the second book in Laura Thalassa's 'Bargainer' series, and wow, does it take you on a wild ride! The story picks up with Callie, a siren with a haunting past, and Des, the enigmatic Bargainer king, diving deeper into the fae world. The lush, dangerous beauty of the Otherworld is intoxicating, but beneath its glamor lies political intrigue and dark secrets. Callie's struggle with her trauma feels raw and real, while her chemistry with Des burns even hotter than in the first book. The way Thalassa blends fantasy, romance, and psychological depth is just chef's kiss. I couldn't put it down, especially when the Night Court’s mysteries started unraveling—those twists!
What really stuck with me was how the book explores power dynamics in relationships. Des isn’t just some swoony love interest; he’s flawed, possessive, and sometimes terrifying, yet you root for them. And Callie? She’s not your typical damsel—she fights back, even when the odds are stacked against her. If you loved the mix of steam and suspense in 'Rhapsodic', this one cranks it up to eleven. That scene with the faerie revel? Chills. Literal chills.
Oh, 'A Strange Hymn' is like stepping into a dream that occasionally turns into a Nightmare—in the best way possible. Laura Thalassa’s writing is so vivid; you can almost smell the Jasmine and iron in the air of the Otherworld. The book dives into Callie and Des’s relationship post-reunion, but it’s not all lovey-dovey. There’s this underlying tension—like, can you really trust someone who bargains in souls? The fae politics are intense, and Callie’s got to navigate it all while dealing with her own Demons (literally, in some cases). The way Thalassa weaves in Greek mythology with fae lore is genius, especially with Callie’s siren heritage. And the side characters? Chef’s kiss. Malaki and Temper are scene-stealers. Honestly, I’d read a whole spin-off about them. The book’s got this addictive quality—you start reading for the romance but stay for the world-building and those jaw-dropping reveals.
If you’re into books that make your heart race one minute and break it the next, 'A Strange Hymn' is your jam. It’s this perfect storm of dark fantasy and slow-burn romance, but with way more emotional baggage than your average fairy tale. Callie’s trauma isn’t just a backstory—it shapes every decision she makes, and seeing her wrestle with that while trying to fit into Des’s world is heartbreaking and empowering. The fae society here isn’t just pretty wings and magic; it’s brutal, hierarchical, and full of traps. And Des? He’s not the knight in shining Armor—more like the shadowy king with a morally gray crown. The pacing is killer, too. Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, bam! Plot twist. That moment when Callie realizes the truth about the King of the Night? I gasped so loud my cat bolted. Thalassa’s got this knack for making the supernatural feel deeply human, and that’s what keeps me coming back.
Thalassa’s 'A Strange Hymn' is a fever dream of Passion and peril. The way Callie and Des’s relationship evolves here is everything—less will-they-won’t-they, more how-the-hell-are-they-going-to-survive-this. The Otherworld is dazzling but deadly, and Callie’s human (well, siren) vulnerability makes her the perfect underdog in this glittering nightmare. The book’s got this hypnotic rhythm, blending lush descriptions with razor-sharp dialogue. And the romance? Steamier than a faerie hot spring, but it’s the emotional stakes that really gut you. That final act had me flipping pages like a maniac.
2025-11-20 23:55:07
24
View All Answers
Scan code to download App
Related Books
The Stranger He Became
Best Writes
10
28.3K
After falling for and marrying one of the most powerful billionaires in New York, Kylian Kincaid, Chloe believed her life was perfect. It truly seemed so until Kylian began to change. The loving man she had married was gone, replaced by a monster she couldn't recognize. Emma, her cousin, became the sole source of love remaining in her life.
Heartbroken, Chloe decided to divorce Kylian with the help and support of her dear cousin, Emma, as she attempted to rebuild her life. Little did she know the betrayal she would soon uncover and the horrific incident that would leave her scarred forever.
Unintentionally, Chloe caught the attention of another billionaire, Max West, who was even more influential than Kylian. He was used to getting whatever he desired. Max and Kylian had been rivals since high school.
What happens when Kylian discovers that his arch-enemy, Max, has fallen madly in love with his ex-wife, Chloe? Kylian swore to get her back from this overly possessive man willing to kill anyone who tried to take Chloe away from him. Chaos ensued as Chloe was torn between these two men while she sought swift revenge on the one woman who had initially ruined her marriage. Who was this mysterious woman?
Elena Moretti has always lived by the rules. Raised in the wealthy, devout heart of Rome, her life is governed by faith, family honor, and the unyielding rhythm of the Angelus bells. But when Rev. Matteo Romano returns from Paris to serve in her Trastevere parish, everything she thought she knew about devotion and desire is thrown into question.
Matteo is calm, refined, and seemingly untouchable — yet he carries a quiet fire, a dangerous intensity that Elena cannot ignore. Their connection begins with fleeting glances, subtle touches, and whispered words that blur the line between spiritual guidance and personal temptation. Each encounter pulls them deeper into a forbidden spiral, challenging Elena’s beliefs, igniting desires she has been taught to suppress, and threatening the lives they’ve carefully built.
As their clandestine bond strengthens, Elena discovers that desire is far more consuming than faith, and Matteo begins to confront the tension between duty and passion. But in a city steeped in tradition and scrutiny, secrecy is fleeting, and the cost of indulgence is devastating.
Sacred Obsession is a story of forbidden longing, dangerous temptation, and the consuming fire of a love that defies rules — a tale where passion and faith collide, leaving hearts exposed and fates uncertain.
Thrust into a world that's not like her own, Myra must navigate through different dimensions to find her place.
With new threats arising and potential betrayal around every corner, her once mundane life may take a turn for the worst.
Friends are made and lost, lies are told and secrets unfold.
What could possibly become of such an unforeseen situation?
"You woke me up," a cold voice echoed from the shadows.
Ivana gasped awake, heart pounding, unsure if it was a dream—or something far more dangerous.
~~~~~~~~~~
Years ago, Ivana should have died in her mother’s womb—until a mysterious seer performed a forbidden ritual to save her.
The price? The unborn child had to be betrothed to a god, bound to him for life without her parents ever knowing the true cost.
On Ivana’s eighteenth birthday, her parents mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a notebook filled with strange symbols and cryptic warnings.
Now, years later, her search for answers leads her to Egypt, where she joins an archaeological team investigating a newly uncovered chamber. Deep inside, they break a seal that should have remained untouched… and awaken the very god she was promised to.
A god who despises humans.
With divine wrath rising, ancient secrets unraveling, and a bond she never asked for tightening around her fate, Ivana must confront the truth:
The answers to her parents’ disappearance begin with the god she was forced to belong to.
When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne receives an anonymous invitation to Wintercroft Hall—a decaying mansion on a fog-shrouded island—he is promised the story of a lifetime. But upon his arrival, Elliot finds himself among six strangers, each with their own shadowy past. Their enigmatic host, the frail and reclusive Vivienne Ashworth, claims she has summoned them to reveal a deadly truth about the Ashworth family legacy.
Before she can confess, Vivienne collapses, and chaos ensues. A violent storm traps the guests on the island, and the discovery of a gruesome murder sets paranoia ablaze. As Elliot uncovers cryptic messages, hidden rooms, and a chilling photograph that ties him to the Ashworth family, he realizes that nothing about this gathering is random.
With the mansion’s dark history unraveling and secrets surfacing at every turn, Elliot must confront the ghosts of his own past to survive. But the deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes—someone inside Wintercroft Hall is playing a deadly game, and not everyone will make it out alive.
When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne is invited to the remote and crumbling Wintercroft Hall, he’s promised the story that could save his career. But the mansion’s sinister halls conceal more than just secrets—they harbor a legacy of betrayal, murder, and lies.
Elliot is joined by six strangers, all summoned by the enigmatic Vivienne Ashworth. Frail and reclusive, she claims to know the truth about their darkest sins. Before she can reveal anything, a violent storm cuts them off from the outside world—and the first body is discovered.
As cryptic messages and chilling clues emerge, Elliot realizes that his connection to the Ashworth family runs deeper than he could have imagined. Someone in Wintercroft Hall knows the truth about his past, and they’ll stop at nothing .
He watched her grow up. Now he can't stop watching her.
Ayana Marcus came home for Christmas expecting family dinners and small-town boredom. What she didn't expect was Nelson Ward looking at her like she was something he'd been starving himself of for twenty years.
He's forty-five. She's twenty-four. He's her father's best friend, the town's moral compass, a man who hasn't touched a woman since his fiancée died and took every good thing in him with her.
She's the pastor's daughter. The good girl. The one who was never supposed to want something this dangerous.
One kiss changes everything.
Now she's sleeping in his bed, her father won't speak to her, the whole town is watching — and Nelson Ward, who spent two decades convincing himself he didn't deserve happiness, is learning what it costs to finally take it.
Some men are worth the scandal.
Some Decembers are worth burning everything down.
UNHOLY DECEMBER — because the most sacred thing she ever did was love a man everyone told her was forbidden.
I picked up 'A Strange Hymn' on a whim after seeing some buzz about it online, and wow, it totally sucked me in! The way the author blends fantasy with these eerie, almost dreamlike elements is so unique. The protagonist’s journey feels deeply personal, and the world-building is lush without being overwhelming. It’s one of those books where you start reading and suddenly it’s 3 AM because you just have to know what happens next.
That said, it’s not for everyone—the pacing is deliberate, almost meandering at times, which might frustrate readers who prefer tight, action-driven plots. But if you’re into atmospheric storytelling with rich symbolism, this is a gem. I still catch myself thinking about certain scenes months later, like they’ve etched themselves into my brain.
I was totally swept away by 'A Strange Hymn' when I first read it—the lush world-building and that intoxicating slow-burn romance had me hooked! The brilliant mind behind this gem is Laura Thalassa, who’s also known for her 'Bargainer' series. Her writing has this dark, dreamy quality that makes the supernatural feel achingly real.
I stumbled onto her work after binge-reading paranormal romances, and now I’ll grab anything she publishes. She blends fantasy and smolder so well, like a modern-day Grimm fairy tale with heart-pounding tension. If you haven’t read her other books, 'Rhapsodic' (the first in this series) is a perfect gateway into her addictive storytelling.
For fans of Laura Thalassa's 'The Bargainer' series, 'A Strange Hymn' is indeed the second book, following 'Rhapsodic.' The story continues with Callie and Desmond’s journey into the fae world, deepening the lore and ramping up the tension. I remember tearing through this book in one sitting—the world-building is lush, and the stakes feel so personal. Thalassa has a way of making even the wildest fantasy elements feel grounded in raw emotion.
As for sequels, the series doesn’t stop there! 'Dark Harmony' picks up right after, and it’s a whirlwind of betrayal, magic, and breathtaking twists. The final book, 'The Fallen World,' wraps everything up with a satisfying yet bittersweet punch. If you’re hooked on the series, you’re in for a treat—each installment adds layers to the characters and their struggles. I still get chills thinking about that finale.