A Measure of Rhyme

Ages of Malice, Book II

Fiction - Thriller - General
320 Pages
Reviewed on 06/01/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Lloyd Jeffries enjoys dark comedies, philosophy, clever turns of phrase, religious studies and thought experiments involving the esoteric and legendary. A decorated veteran of numerous conflicts, he served in the U.S. military and has practiced Emergency, Trauma and Wilderness medicine for more than twenty years. He hides out in Florida with his family and Buck the Wonder Dog.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite

The second novel in the Ages of Malice series, A Measure of Rhyme does not pick up exactly where the first novel ended; rather, it kicks off a parallel storyline that links seamlessly with book one, A Portion of Malice, to continue a fascinating tale that features Biblical characters in entirely different roles while maintaining an evil versus good world domination theme. I read, and with great pleasure, five-star reviewed A Portion of Malice. In that review, I mentioned Lloyd Jeffries’ writing style as a mixture of Stephen King, Dan Brown, and (without the slightest stretch) Dante’s Divine Comedy not as poetry or in the plot, but prose that alludes well to Dante’s leitmotif presented in the major parts of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Yes, seriously!

What fascinates and simultaneously creates a page-turning, never want to stop to eat or sleep-reading experience is the twisted (story-wise, in a good way) characterizations of ancient Biblical characters by Lloyd Jeffries. From Drake aka Cain (the son of Adam) to Longinus (the Roman centurion who oversaw Jesus’ crucifixion) immortals in league with Satan working to ultimately win the never-ending war of evil versus good. The lead and title character Rhyme is an especially fascinating character. Like Katniss of Hunger Games fame, she’s a woman whose multiple skills provide a serious threat to the secret society and the immortal leader’s plans. A Measure of Rhyme is a fast-paced, ever-twisting tale that at once provides a thrilling read full of the all-important, however illusional, sense of reality, aka verisimilitude. A Measure of Rhyme presents a sensational continuation of the series. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Rabia Tanveer

A Measure of Rhyme is the second book in the Ages of Malice series by Lloyd Jeffries. The struggles of Rhyme Carter never seemed to end. Losing her baby was tough, but marrying Drake was the worst decision of her life. Yet her hands were tied as she had to save Emery from imminent death at the hands of Drake’s goons. As Emery had succumbed to addiction, Rhyme was locked in a battle of wits with Drake. It was up to her to save Emery and defeat Drake before it was too late. The fate of humanity rested on her shoulders, and if she missed once more, she would lose her Emery and everything she held dear. Was it too late for Emery?

The excitement was off-the-charts in A Measure of Rhyme. Lloyd Jeffries ensured that readers had intensity, action, drama, suspense, and bucketfuls of entertainment to keep them hooked on the story. I loved Rhyme, her character, and how resilient she was. She was ready to risk all to save Emery when he was vulnerable, which worked out for her. Drake was as despicable as always, but I truly admired his development. He was aware that Rhyme almost bested him, and he wanted to keep her close to control her. The narrative was fantastic, the feel of the story was exciting, and the dialogue was incredible. I loved Emery’s development and how he fought battles for which he was ill-prepared. The first novel in the series was fantastic, but the sequel tops it by miles. The ending was surprising, and the sneak peek into the third novel in the series was intriguing. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

K.C. Finn

A Measure of Rhyme is a work in the supernatural thriller, action, and romance subgenres and forms the second installment in the Ages of Malice series. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience owing to graphic violence and explicit language. Penned by Lloyd Jeffries, this epic adventure continues where A Portion of Malice left off, plunging us back into the action with the intrepid librarian Rhyme Carter. Still trying to get away from her wicked husband and be with her true love, Rhyme has a new plot to reclaim her freedom, but the continuing machinations of a secret society will throw all her best-laid plans into chaos.

Lloyd Jeffries has crafted a sensational follow-up to this engaging paranormal series's opening novel, which really amps up the action and keeps the hype going throughout. One of the most impressive features of the work for me is its sharp attitude, which is conveyed in many different ways like the wry, slick dialogue of the characters, the wild and cinematic action scenes, and the gritty realism of some of the nasty scenarios that Rhyme has to evade. She made for a fantastic heroine who is instantly likable and easy to root for, and the dynamic between her, her husband, and the new object of her affection is suitably complex and spicy. Overall, A Measure of Rhyme will undoubtedly please fans of the existing series. I’d recommend the series to all supernatural and paranormal readers looking for something new and exciting.

Alex Ndirangu

A Measure of Rhyme is the second book in Lloyd Jeffries' epic series, Ages of Malice. Emery Merrick stands pressed to the wall, sword to his throat. But the sharp sting on his neck is nothing compared to the wave of mayhem ravaging his soul. Rhyme, the woman he loves, is now the wife of a dark angel cursed by the Father to wander the earth for eternity. Feeling betrayed and abandoned, Emery descends into addiction and helplessly watches as an immortal with a murderer's soul and a master manipulator turn his life into a little theater of misery. But things are not always what they seem. Rhyme's heart belongs to Emery, and she has to abandon the life she knows and make a deal with the devil to save both their lives. Meanwhile, she can only hope that her new plans to reclaim her love and life will work.

I was completely absorbed while reading this novel. The book starts with a powerful action scene as Lloyd Jeffries recreates the biblical account of how Lucifer and the dark angels wage war on Heaven. Jeffries skillfully weaves suspense and action together. He then adds life and depth to the story through well-crafted, vivid descriptions that stimulate the reader's mind, holding their attention throughout. There are even some parts of the narrative that are recounted in a poetic style and the extensive use of rhetorical questions is exceptionally well done. I appreciated the author's acknowledgment of a supreme being whose ways and actions remain open to question. The book is well-researched, enjoyable, informative, and resourceful. If you are searching for a solid thriller packed with action, suspense, adventure, and a pinch of romance, A Measure of Rhyme is a perfect read.

Asher Syed

A Measure of Rhyme by Lloyd Jeffries is a paranormal romance and the second book in the Ages of Malice series, preceded by book one, A Portion of Malice. Emery Merrick was on the verge of death when the first book ended, and this installment picks up with a tour of Heaven as he learns that he is alive and about to be given a promotion. Well, maybe that's not the best way to describe it. There's going to be a war for total domination and Emery has a role to play, whether he wants to or not. Thaddeus Drake, now Cain, is not dead, and Emery is so heartbroken that he falls back under the spell of addiction. Why? The love of Emery's life, Rhyme, is married to Cain. She has a goal of her own, which is to keep Emery, who she also deeply loves, safe from her monstrous husband. All she has to do is railroad the Antichrist to get her life back, which is actually quite a lot harder than it sounds. There is also the pressing issue of Emery needing saving from himself.

In Lloyd Jeffries' A Measure of Rhyme, the story propels forward and, hand over heart, I struggled to find a spot to press pause and take a break. The pacing is exceptional and, from a race toward the apocalypse to the tension threading through every page as we witness what is happening with Emery and with Rhyme, we are able to really immerse ourselves in the storyline and landscape. The writing is clean and polished, and the dialogue comes across as authentic. For me, the mark of a skilled writer is when they can make conversations between a woman who is married to a literal demon sound organic. However, the standout to me is the intentionally thoughtful way that Jeffries shines a light on the more realistic traumas the characters face. Setting the Antichrist aside, Rhyme has had to forfeit her agency and surrender herself to a marriage to save the man she loves. As a result of this, Emery relapses into depression and addiction. Jeffries manages to address these issues compassionately and when I take all of these pieces and put them together, A Measure of Rhyme is a wonderful addition to the supernatural genre.