The Lies That Summon the Night
Songs for the Sinless, Book 1
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The Lies That Summon the Night
Narrated by:
Christian Leatherman, Samantha Brentmore
Buy Now for £15.18
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Narrated by:
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Christian Leatherman
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Samantha Brentmore
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By:
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Tessonja Odette
About this listen
But the immortal royals destined to be humanity's salvation have their own monstrous affliction: the need to consume human blood.
Inana's illegal storytelling has turned her fugitive. She has evaded capture so far, continuing to weave tales for the most desperate.
Until a Shadowbane catches one of her performances . . .
Dominic is filled with as much bloodlust as the shadow monsters he hunts, and he needs an artist to summon them. He gives Inana an ultimatum: serve him or he'll claim her bounty.
As their tense alliance leads them into the heart of danger, the greatest risk is the desire growing between them. There's something more sinful than lust at play, and it could bring the world to its knees.©2026 Tessonja Odette (P)2026 Bonnier Books UK
Oh. My. God.
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That moral framework creates an atmosphere of constant surveillance. The night itself feels like an antagonist.
What makes the world-building compelling isn’t just its brutality, but its ideological weight. The longer the story unfolds, the more the supposed “godly truths” begin to fracture. By the 70% mark, the narrative pivots from high fantasy to political conspiracy, reframing everything we thought we understood about sin, shades, and those sworn to hunt them.
When we finally enter Dominic’s POV, the story gains emotional dimension. What initially appears as cold restraint reveals itself to be repression, guilt, and reluctant intrigue. The slow erosion of his certainty is one of the novel’s strongest arcs.
The latter half of the novel shifts in scale and urgency. What begins as character-driven tension escalates into high-stakes chaos, moral ambiguity, and visceral confrontation.
A particularly haunting moment arrives when Dominic enters Inana’s nightmare — not simply as observer, but as witness. Trauma is not exploited here; it is contextualised. The emotional intimacy of that sequence feels earned rather than gratuitous.
Favourite Characters:
Inana: refreshingly unconventional for the genre! She isn’t a chosen one or a trained warrior — she’s a fugitive storyteller surviving in the city’s underbelly under the alias “The Seamstress.” In a world where art literally summons monsters, her creativity is rebellion.
Dominic: defined by duality. A Shadowbane tasked with judgment, yet secretly capturing shades instead of destroying them, he exists between doctrine and doubt. His internal “shades” — manifestations of the seven sins — provide a fascinating narrative device, especially as Inana is the only one who can see and hear them.
That choice heightens the psychological tension beautifully. Inana isn’t just wary of a powerful man — she is uniquely exposed to the full spectrum of his internal conflict.
Favourite Quotes:
“I could tell my story without it, but if I’m going to risk my life for art, I might as well do it in style.”
“The things I’ve done in the name of my mission, in the name of being a Shadowbane, have forever stained my hands with blood. I don’t deserve your admiration or respect.”
Favourite Part:
One of the most impressive aspects of this book is its handling of romance. Despite the “dark romance” label, the relationship itself is not built on toxicity. The danger exists in the world, not in their dynamic. The attraction between Inana and Dominic grows out of ideological tension, moral conflict, and reluctant vulnerability.
Their connection feels rebellious rather than reckless.
Moments like the shared dream sequence and the blood-sharing scene lean into intimacy without stripping away agency. Even the more sensual elements — including the unique constraints of Shadowbane law — serve the narrative rather than existing purely for shock.
This is not a romance about red flags being seductive. It’s about two people questioning the systems that shaped them.
The romance isn’t the threat.
The romance is the rebellion.
How It Ends:
By the time the finale arrives, the political and personal arcs collide. The result is a climactic convergence that is both intimate and explosive — setting the stage for the next installment without feeling incomplete.
⭐ Final Ratings
Performance: 5/5
The dual narration adds depth and clarity to an already complex narrative. Both narrators embody their characters fully, enhancing emotional impact.
Story: 4/5
Rich world-building, intelligent pacing, and meaningful thematic exploration. The lore-heavy middle requires attention, but the payoff justifies the investment.
Overall: 5/5
A morally complex romantasy that reads more like a thriller. Brutal in atmosphere, tender in romance, and unafraid to interrogate its own mythology.
Re-listenability
Knowing the political and emotional twists would make a second listen even more layered — particularly Dominic’s POV chapters and the dream sequences.
Stitched in Shadow
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