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multiplyoctopi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality
novella42's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
My favorite of the Kingston Cycle! This book picked up momentum and was the most exciting and satisfying of the three for me.
I feel like CL Polk wrote the other books in order to get to the story she really wanted to tell: the revolution. I think that's where Polk's heart has been this whole time, and while they want their characters to be well-rounded, while they want to balance mystery with romance, at the core their story focuses on what it takes for people to transform a nation and reckon with the ghosts of their past. I think the mystery and romance aspects of the story aren't as well-rounded as they could be sometimes, but the elements that she did include felt good and real to me. (I'm taking away a half star for that, partly because I kept coming out of the story when I expected Robin to orient herself towards her love interest and she just... sort of dissociated right back into the work she had to do. It was understandable, and it was addressed in the book with a delightful example of healthy communication, and... I guess I should redirect my frustration at the book cover since it builds expectations for a romance when it's more of a political urban fantasy with some romantic elements.) As I said, the mystery and romance elements were good when they took center stage, it's just that these were eclipsed by the greater love story of revolution—the work we do for people we care about because we want a more just world for them.
This might be a bit of a tangent, but I feel like the progression of this series, particularly the last two books, would be especially satisfying for an Enneagram 1. Or for any person who cares very deeply about what it means to be a good person, and how we all struggle with right and wrong, and the story of convincing others and making an imperfect world a better place for us all.
(Also, hooray, respectful representation for BIPOC, queer, gender non-conforming, and polyamorous characters!)
I feel like CL Polk wrote the other books in order to get to the story she really wanted to tell: the revolution. I think that's where Polk's heart has been this whole time, and while they want their characters to be well-rounded, while they want to balance mystery with romance, at the core their story focuses on what it takes for people to transform a nation and reckon with the ghosts of their past. I think the mystery and romance aspects of the story aren't as well-rounded as they could be sometimes, but the elements that she did include felt good and real to me. (I'm taking away a half star for that, partly because I kept coming out of the story when I expected Robin to orient herself towards her love interest and she just... sort of dissociated right back into the work she had to do. It was understandable, and it was addressed in the book with a delightful example of healthy communication, and... I guess I should redirect my frustration at the book cover since it builds expectations for a romance when it's more of a political urban fantasy with some romantic elements.) As I said, the mystery and romance elements were good when they took center stage, it's just that these were eclipsed by the greater love story of revolution—the work we do for people we care about because we want a more just world for them.
This might be a bit of a tangent, but I feel like the progression of this series, particularly the last two books, would be especially satisfying for an Enneagram 1. Or for any person who cares very deeply about what it means to be a good person, and how we all struggle with right and wrong, and the story of convincing others and making an imperfect world a better place for us all.
(Also, hooray, respectful representation for BIPOC, queer, gender non-conforming, and polyamorous characters!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Classism, and Trafficking
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Chronic illness, Suicide, Genocide, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, War, Blood, and Alcohol
There was no antisemitism or ableism in this book, but if you struggle with themes related to the Holocaust or the forced institutionalization of people with disabilities...bookwyrmknits's review
I love the world this series is set in, but I've enjoyed the narrator of each book progressively less. I loved Miles as a MC, Grace was okay, and Robin is not for me. While book one was fantasy with a little bit of politics, book three has flipped that formula and is politics with a little bit of fantasy. I did enjoy getting to see some of Clan life and more of the world in general, but not enough to read about politics and elections. I know there are readers who enjoy that kind of fiction, and they will likely enjoy this. I prefer to keep politics mostly out of my fantasy novels, so this book was not for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
griffinthief's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, and Blood
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cancer
mar's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
a good ending to an decent series! i do like the Kingston Cycle, like, thematically and conceptually, but i could never get properly into it - mostly because my feelings towards most of the characters are lukewarm at best, which translates to lukewarm feelings towards the romances, too, but character-wise this might be the most best of the trilogy (bc robin is infinitely more interesting and likeable than grace or miles imo fjdkngkjfn ANYWAY). the worldbuilding in this whole series is def my favourite part - the world and its politics are v well fleshed out and fascinating. overall an enjoyable read, if a liiittle slow and boring in the first half
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Police brutality
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Blood
ehmannky's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am of the opinion that each installment of the Kingston Cycle is better than the last, and this is an absolutely beautiful ending for this trilogy.
I deeply admire that this is a book that explicitly makes clear that those who are descended from those who perpetuated generational harm are explicitly responsible for making amends, even if they themselves did not do the harm. So few stories, especially fantasy stories, have this premise (the only other one I can think of is the ending of the Earthsea books?).
I also loved, loved Robin's perspective. I felt that Polk integrates both Miles and Grace from the pervious installments into the story while continuing their character growth while centering Robin. I know that some people don't like that Grace got her own book and a redemption arc, but I think Polk uses it as an example of what a real apology and effort to repair harm that you personally have done looks like. And having her be such an upfront support for Robin and her group's pursuit of justice while expecting nothing in return just furthers that development. Robin is such a fantastic character, I am so, so glad that we end this series with her front and center. Also Robin and Zelind are such a good couple, and I loved that their arc of healing as a couple worked alongside the narrative of healing as a nation. Also, the casual integration of Zelind as a nonbinary character and the use of the pronoun kher was so wonderful. It's never remarked upon as strange or other by any character, it just is. I could gush on forever about these books.
Also, the ending had me in tears, it was so beautiful. Polk is amazing, I will be reading all future books by them.
I deeply admire that this is a book that explicitly makes clear that those who are descended from those who perpetuated generational harm are explicitly responsible for making amends, even if they themselves did not do the harm. So few stories, especially fantasy stories, have this premise (the only other one I can think of is the ending of the Earthsea books?).
I also loved, loved Robin's perspective. I felt that Polk integrates both Miles and Grace from the pervious installments into the story while continuing their character growth while centering Robin. I know that some people don't like that Grace got her own book and a redemption arc, but I think Polk uses it as an example of what a real apology and effort to repair harm that you personally have done looks like. And having her be such an upfront support for Robin and her group's pursuit of justice while expecting nothing in return just furthers that development. Robin is such a fantastic character, I am so, so glad that we end this series with her front and center. Also Robin and Zelind are such a good couple, and I loved that their arc of healing as a couple worked alongside the narrative of healing as a nation. Also, the casual integration of Zelind as a nonbinary character and the use of the pronoun kher was so wonderful. It's never remarked upon as strange or other by any character, it just is. I could gush on forever about these books.
Also, the ending had me in tears, it was so beautiful. Polk is amazing, I will be reading all future books by them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood, Slavery, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, and Forced institutionalization
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