The Chimera Snare: Reflections by S & E Black – Pride is a poison that kills

Suspended in the void of creation, an immortal keeper of existence tends to an unconscious Von, sent adrift into the cosmos by a wielder of magic more knowledgeable than himself.

There is truth to be found within the chaos. Memories distressing enough to fracture minds if released all at once await their turn to be recalled. His identity generates a sense of foreboding. His reason for being is fated, already eclipsing the paradoxical crucible of his conception beyond what was envisioned by the powers that be.

Revelations of the past serve as the first step towards redeeming the fast-fading future from extinction. The darkness emitted by a blackened soul continues its extermination of all that it touches, entire worlds laid to waste in its wake. The key to vanquishing such evil means risking a complete fracture of his mind should he fail to overcome the tidal wave of emotions barricaded behind the protective fog of oblivion.

Spoiler-Free Plot

As the restrictive binding wears thin, nightmarish scenes drenched in fevered intensity seep out of Von’s unconscious mind. He awakens to scenes of their consequence in the tattered mess surrounding him, following hours of dreams marred by shadow-faced figures and the haunting presence of a headless woman.

It is impossible to decipher the meaning behind the frequent visits from these faintly familiar apparitions on his own. Attempting to unearth his memories feels like grasping at vapours of a past unknown to him. His identity slips through his fingers each time he reaches out to grab it. Only Merisek has given him the help he needs to overcome them in exchange for Von’s cooperation and valuable skills to aid him in his elaborate plot of liberation. And yet, it has been a while since a breakthrough has been made in their recovery effort.

Von cannot help but feel suspicious of Merisek’s participation, as if Merisek would rather have him in the dark, than fully armed with the knowledge of his history.

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The strict rules of their training, demanding the separation of practitioners of differing disciplines, are considered to be strongly worded guidelines by the small band of Celestine peers, focused on advancing their ascension to unlock their highest potential.

They gather in uninhabited places, away from the vicinity of any intrusive eyes. Information is shared freely. Guided lessons teaching techniques from their respective educational programmes are rehearsed until proficiency is gained.

Navaryn feigns indifference when a skill challenges her natural affinity for all magical and non-magical practices. In a tantrum of prideful avoidance, she is overcome by something other than herself. Under the red glow of Hirunae, the devastation of her innate abilities is revealed. She must learn how to harness this new side of her or else countless lives and the places she holds dear hang in the balance.

My Take on The Chimera Snare: Reflections

Much like our two protagonists, the duo behind this captivating book series—Shannon and Edward—feed off of each other’s creative energies to produce work as synergized as this one. The first installment The Chimera Snare: Fragments whets the appetite before presenting you with the loaded banquet that is Reflections.

Fantasy elements buried into a real world setting can be, and frequently is quite entertaining. However, the richness of a uniquely fabricated universe, complete with diverse landscapes, ethnicities, customs, and culture, is unrivaled when executed as brilliantly as S&E have managed to do. They have both ascended into a whole new realm when it comes to their craft. You cannot tell where one’s contributions begin and end. Their work melds together beautifully. This is a partnership that has yielded a highly elevated final draft.

In a genre that is notorious for gratuitous scenes of violence, particularly of a sexual nature towards female characters, Reflections handles these dark themes with the responsibility they deserve. Each act is purposeful in advancing the plot. You can feel the pain of the victims as you read along, their subsequent moments of triumph over their traumas, whether idyllic or sombre, which compels a part of you to rejoice on their behalf. Through the brutality, the motivations and characteristics behind what is shaping up to be a Greek tragedy are pulled into sharp focus. The language that is used is quite refined, which also conveys the authors’ intentions in using these scenes as tools for character development rather than including vulgarity for vulgarity’s sake.

It is clear that this book series has surpassed its initial promising status, now mapping out a stellar trajectory with its pledge of further installments. I’m keen to see where all the characters wind up in two years or less—I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed as well as invoking all other superstitions known to me in hopes of influencing the speed of a new release.

Abandon all the certainties you once harboured over the hateful conflict between Celestine and Daeva. This installment in the series, a mangled tale of pride, sorrow, power and love, will dissolve your allegiance to the established moral binary. Embrace the magic as it flows from the palms of the characters, binding your concentration in a spell conjured by a dazzling display of literary finesse and enrapturing storytelling.

Age Rating

18 years and above

Content Warnings

Alcohol Abuse, Body Horror, Death, Domestic Violence, Gore, Nudity, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Themes, Profanity, Violence.

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