The Drowning Sea (Talmont book 2) by David Hair (book review)

‘The Drowning Sea’ is the second volume in ‘The Talmont Trilogy’, which began with ‘The Burning Land’. This review will contain inevitable spoilers for ‘The Burning Land’, so read that first. It’s very good. If you read it a while ago and can’t remember the details, ‘The Drowning Sea’ opens with a concise, detailed summary of the first book. More authors are providing this useful service now.

Some of our heroes are soldiers who once belonged to the Order of the Knights of the Vestments of Elysia Divina, fought loyally for the Triple Empire of Talmont, Zynoch and Abutha, for the God-Emperor Eindil Pandramion III, Heirophant of Talmont and believed in the Akkanite religion founded by Jovan Lux, ancestor to the God-Emperor. Those happy days are gone. After being defeated by the Vyr, a band of rebels setting fire to farms and forests across the world, they dared to interrogate a prisoner and heard unwelcome truths. Questioning their superiors landed them in jail. They escaped and went in search of a seer called Nillis Evandriel, hotly pursued by the forces of the empire.

The Order Knights are born with a talent called the glyma, which gives them powers beyond ordinary mortals but requires strict self-discipline to control, including chastity. They recharge their glyma power from elobyne shards, which are scattered throughout the empire. Elobyne is a mysterious substance discovered or created by Jovan Lux. The Vyr claim that the elobyne shards destroy the land, sucking all life out of it. Only extreme heat can destroy the shards, which is why they are setting fires everywhere. The land will recover from fire damage once the shards are gone.

The heroes are as follows: Romara Challys, daughter of an ancient, wealthy family. Jaydn Kaen, a farm boy who discovered he had the glyma. The mage Elindhu Morspeth, who turned out to be an Erling shape-changer. Soren var’Dael, an initiate in the order who has the glyma and is also a skilled swordsman, trained by his warrior father. The captured vyr prisoner, Gram, who joined them in their quest for truth. Auranuschka Perafi, a beautiful thief they rescued along the way. Sly, clever and with hidden talents, Aura becomes an important element in the quest.

At the end of book one, they were split up. Jaydn and Aura crossed a magic bridge and portal to a coastal region. They continue their journey in search of Nilis Evandriel by ship, pursued by Vazi Virago, female Exemplar of the Vestal Order and Yoryn Boghart, a Lictor. All four have some gift for the aegis, a kind of magic that preceded elobyne and was used by the legendary Sanctor Wardens in bygone days. Jaydn and Aura discover a hidden order of fighting monks who guard a secret library. Meanwhile, Romara has been captured by the empire and is due to be tortured and put on trial to publicly discredit her heretic views. Her old comrades Gram, Elindhu and Soren are desperate to rescue her. Brave Romara cracks and babbles under torture as everyone does. This is realistic. Scenes of torture are not detailed, but we’re told what is done. Elites will go to any lengths to maintain their power and wealth.

‘The Drowning Land’ features a complex plot with a rich historical and magical background. Author David Hair maintains suspense and interest by switching the point of view so you get inside the heads of the main characters, even the villains. You might feel sorry for ruthless Vazi Virago when she suffers at the hands of the Seraphim, creatures who look like angels but really aren’t. You might even understand, a little, vile torturer Yoryn Boghart. Readers will certainly pity Romara Challys. The adventures of Jaydn and Aura and their burgeoning love provide much excitement. Soren and Elindhu also have a deep relationship. I read that romantasy is the top-selling genre at the moment and, while I wouldn’t classify ‘The Drowning Sea’ as that, it has strong romantic elements. There’s even sex!

As the author admits in an afterword, book two of a trilogy can be difficult to get right because it ‘starts in motion and ends with not a lot resolved.’ I’m happy to report that ‘The Drowning Sea’ does not suffer at all from middle-book sag and is perhaps even more gripping than the first volume. The characters are developed further and we learn more about the historical background of the Sanctor Wardens, the Akkanite religion and the Seraphim. There’s plenty of tension, suspense and adventure as well as some heartwarming love. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the gripping conclusion in ‘The Falling Sky,’ out in February 2026.

Eamonn Murphy

January 2026

(pub: Jo Fletcher Books/Quercus, 2025. 497 page hardback. Price: £30.00 (UK), $28.00 (US), $36.00 (CAN). ISBN: 978-1-52943-314-2. Ebook: £ 6.99 (UK))

check out websites: www.jofletcherbooks.com, www.quercusbooks.co.uk and www.davidhairauthor.com