What humankind feared the most has come to pass: the Awakening of the Aesir, an ancient race who rose with an implacable vengeance to wage war on the mortals through bombardments and plagues. Two people gifted with magic and ingenuity strive to stop them.
Professor Robinson Hawksley, an elocutionist in the Invisible College, prepares to exhibit his invention to the world. Using sound to defeat the enemy could change the course of the war. It’s invaluable to the military. Even more so to a conniving rivel who’ll do anything to prove its patent as her own. An extraordinary obstacle could stand in the way: Robinson’s new wife, McKenna, robbed of her hearing by an Aesir scourge, is otherwise blessed by mysterious powers she’s only beginning to comprehend. She’s also harboring a secret that could get her killed.
As a very human war escalates inside the Invisible College, a supernatural one width the Aesir rages outside. But are love and sorcery enough for Robinson and McKenna to conquer both?
–From the back cover of The Violence of Sound.
What Is The Violence of Sound?
The Violence of Sound is the latest novel by Jeff Wheeler, the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 40 novels set in several different worlds including Muirwood, Kingsfountain, and even our modern world. Many of these worlds are similar to our own throughout different historical periods. However, there is always an element of magic within them. The Violence of Sound is the second novel in the Invisible College series. This time the story is set in an 1800’s European like world with the large city of Auvinen having some similarities to London of the time. There is a steampunk type feel to the setting. However, the mechanical and industrial creations are not powered by steam, but by sorcerers wielding magic. Unlike magic in many other stories, the magic in The Violence of Sound is based on music and incantations are sung with specific notes and pitches. While the magic originally came from the mysterious, ancient Aesir, humans have learned to harness it not only for their benefit, but also for protection against the powerful enemy.
The story follows the three main characters. Robinson Foster Hawksley is a sorcerer, professor, and inventor who was left sickly after surviving one of the Aesir created plagues. However, while teaching at the University, he has also been inventing a device on his own that will allow the human armies to detect the enemy Aesir on the battlefield despite their magical cloaks that render them invisible. McKenna Aurora Hawksley, who was rendered deaf from one such illness, was a former student of Hawksley’s lessons on elocution so she can learn to speak properly despite not being able to hear. She is now married to Robinson and supports him in his experiments while also worried she may be harboring an Aesir intelligence within her known as a Semblance. Finally, General Colsterworth, the commander of the military, wants Robinson’s invention for the army to use but is not afraid to begin production before a patent and contract has been obtained. He also believes McKenna be a Semblance but does not want to act against her for fear it may affect Robinson’s inventions.
Why Should You Read The Violence of Sound ?
Over the past eight years, I have read every novel by Jeff Wheeler. Last year I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the first novel of a new series. I became hooked with the novel while just reading the seven page Prologue. From that point on, I had a hard time putting it down until I reached the final page. I thoroughly enjoyed The Invisible College and reviewed it back in November of 2024. Unlike some of settings of Wheeler’s other series, many of which are set during a medieval time period, The Violence of Sound is set in a world with a feel of Victorian England where magic is the source of power for all their technology. Wheeler does a wonderful job of not only creating a unique setting, but also immersing the reader into that setting.
In addition to the settings of the story, Wheeler continues his mastery of character development. In each of his novels, including The Violence of Sound, his characters not only have strengths but also imperfections and challenges which they must overcome. Along the way, the reader not only gets to know the characters, but develops their own relationships with them so by the end of the novel, it feels like a farewell–until the next novel. Finally and most importantly, The Violence of Sound is a wonderful story of magic, intrigue, and romance that will keep you engaged right up to the thrilling final pages that will leave you wanting more. Luckily for us, Wheeler is already writing the sequel, The Alchemy of Fate, which is scheduled to release on September 16, 2025. I really enjoyed reading The Violence of Sound and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story which includes a bit of fantasy and magic. If you have not yet read The Invisible College, then be sure to read it first. For those who have read novels by Jeff Wheeler before, you don’t want to miss this one. If you have never read his works, this is a great series to start.
The Violence of Sound is published by 47North and releases on April 15. It is now available for sale directly from Amazon. The hardcover edition sells for around $29, the paperback edition for $17, and the Kindle version for only $5.99. Also, if you subscribe to Jeff Wheeler’s newsletter, he will send you bonus chapters from The Invisible College series in both epub and audio formats. These are chapters that provide some additional background on the main characters and help prepare readers for The Alchemy of Fate.
Disclosure: GeekDad received a copy of The Violence of Sound for review purposes. Jeff Wheeler is an acquaintance of mine from the past. However, this has not influenced my review of this novel.
