reviews_and_ramblings | The Slayer's Apprentice by Zathyn Priest

This is the second book I read by Zathyn Priest and while I found some common elements, this one is not at all light and somewhat funny like the previous one. The common elements are: in both there is a very young character who was abused during his childhood; the relationship is between a very young man, barely eighteen, who still hasn't reached a steady adult behavior, and a older men, nearly thirty, with a good job and a reassuring and comforting attitude. There is obviously the push for the older man to take care and protect the younger man, even if all the evidences are against their relationship.

Phoenix is an eighteen years old boy with an abusive past. Since the first page the reader knows that Phoenix's real name is Dylan, and he is a boy kidnapped when he was 13 years old, and probably abused and taken in captivity from a serial killer, The Crucifix Slayer. The Police Department is somewhat guilty to not give so much importance to Dylan's case since he was a kid with attitude problems, and when he disappeared, they though he was a runaway kid. Now that he reappears, they don't know how to treat him: Phoenix is for sure a problematic man, he is a liar and a manipulative, but part of them want to justify his behavior due to all he passed through.

Phoenix is also taking care of Echo, another child the serial killer kidnapped when he was only one years old: when Phoenix manages to escape from his captivity, he took with him the little child, that now is a five years old who clearly is crazy for who he thinks is his older brother. While Phoenix is sharp and unpleasant with whom wants to approach him, he seems to be a perfect parent for the little kid.

Daniel is a cop who Phoenix meets when trying to pickpocket him. The man doesn't file a complaint against Phoenix, and instead begins to take care of him even before knowing that Phoenix is probably the only link they have to trace back a serial killer. Daniel arrives also to go against the book to allow Phoenix to do as he pleases, and more the book goes on more the reader realizes that Daniel is almost a puppet in the hands of Phoenix. Phoenix is not at all a positive character, he is for real a liar and he has not problem in using other people to do what he wants, even when he is using his "brother"... if he is doing so to survive or since he is real guilty as the serial killer, and not another victim... well you have to read the book to know.

The relationship between Daniel and Phoenix is not simply love; I'm not sure that there is love from any side of it: Daniel is clearly smitten from Phoenix, he is obsessed, but he is also a very good man, and so his obsession turns in deeply involvement and in a need to be of help; Phoenix has serious psychological problems and I don't believe that in his mental state he can really love someone. Phoenix needs to feel sure, to have someone around that protect him from the outside world, and Daniel is perfect in this role.

I have no problem to admit that I shed my share of tears reading the book, not a fountain, but in two or three moments it took me so much that I can't help it; it's not an easy read, Phoenix's psychological description is really good and it makes him a character that comes out in full dimension from the book; he is clearly the main and only protagonist of the book, all the other are only supporting him to shine.

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