Seeker (Riders, #2) by Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: May 16th, 2017 by Tor Teen
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy.
Find: Goodreads | Amazon
Goodreads Summary
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. 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 of 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 instincts, intelligence, and 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 may rest in the answer.
After the intense ending of Riders, the anticipation for Seeker was immense. There were so many threads that had been left hanging, and the need to find out how our characters would face these challenges made the wait all the more agonising. It was easy to reimmerse ourselves back into the world of the four horsemen. Seeker was emotionally charged, thrilling, and full of tension.
Rossi’s strengths lie in her characterisation. In Riders, there was so much going on that some elements felt a bit more like an introduction. Seeker, did an excellent job at developing those foundations, in particular when it came to our characters. Riders succeeded in establishing Gideon and Daryn’s character, but the other horsemen could have benefitted from a bit more development. Thankfully, we get this in Seeker. The Four Horsemen and Daryn each get their chance to shine in this book. Not one character reads as the same and this distinction between them was further highlighted in the connection they share with their horses. They can all stand together as individuals, but they shine as a team.
Gideon and Daryn lead the narrative and, as always, you could see the growth in their characters. Gideon is the leader in the group. You’d think his temperament would make him reckless and impulsive, but his resolve speaks to his core strength. He knows that diving head first into danger will do more harm than good, so he takes the time in assessing the situation and implementing a plan that has as fewer casualties as possible. His strength is admirable and clearly driven by his innate devotion to the people he holds dear to him. Yes, his resolve crumbles from time to time, but he acknowledges his mistakes and learns from them.
Daryn also goes through her own journey in this book. After the events of Rides, she is ridden by guilt and is determined to make amends for her role in Sebastian’s entrapment. Again, Daryn is driven, but she uses that drive to combat her loneliness. In the six months since the events of Riders, Daryn has further isolated herself from the world. With her abilities no longer working, Daryn feels lost and alone. Her guilt leads to her separation from the others, and while she believes it was for the best, she cannot deny that she misses them. Seeing Daryn so vulnerable made her all the more easy to relate to. Like Gideon, she doesn’t deny her mistakes. In many ways Gideon and Daryn are similar, but they also balance each other out. The romance between them was beautifully developed and didn’t overshadow the camaraderie between the characters.
We also get a further insight the construct of the fantasy world. The contrast to the seemingly mundane world with the imaginative fantasy one was incredible. Along with Daryn, the remaining horsemen must enter this alternative reality in order to save Sebastian. Rossi does a great job at consistently building the tension and eerie atmosphere within the world, and the sense of danger lingers every time you step into the world. It heightens that sense of urgency to ensure Sebastian’s safety and that pacing was consistent from beginning to end.
Seeker was a fitting conclusion to this duology. Rossi succeeds in keeping readers hooked from beginning to end. The stakes felt a lot higher in this book, but even with this fast-paced sequence of events, we are also treated to moments of brilliant character development, one that solidifies our connection to the characters.
What did you think of this duology?
What’s your favourite Veronica Rossi book?
Which of the horsemen would you choose to be?
