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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
A fantastic conclusion to the trilogy, packed full with all of the politics, worldbuilding and vivid characterisation that first drew me into the series.
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The disappointment I feel from this book is strong. I had such high expectations after the prior two books that were both five stars, but this was a complete let down.
It was so so so slow for the first 65%, and when it started picking up everything felt so rushed and easy! And the teleporting to different locations was too much as I could not understand why we weren’t shown at least some of the travelling to different places.
Part of me wishes I re-read the prior two books to remember some points, but I still don’t think it would have saved this book. The plot was slow, there were too many POV’s to follow and the main characters were secondary to the story and did not even deserve the romance that was built up, they did not feel like characters who love each other.
It was so so so slow for the first 65%, and when it started picking up everything felt so rushed and easy! And the teleporting to different locations was too much as I could not understand why we weren’t shown at least some of the travelling to different places.
Part of me wishes I re-read the prior two books to remember some points, but I still don’t think it would have saved this book. The plot was slow, there were too many POV’s to follow and the main characters were secondary to the story and did not even deserve the romance that was built up, they did not feel like characters who love each other.
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For readers who: want to continue the series, enjoy morally gray main characters, enjoy political intrigue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
adventurous
emotional
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did not like The Oleander Sword and I was very nervous heading into the finale, but Suri sticks the landing!
One of my big problems with TOS was that there were PoVs where the characters didn't accomplish a whole lot, and PoVs for characters that I didn't think needed them. This is still an issue in this book, where two characters get a handful of PoV chapters that were not needed for the narrative and involved in plotlines that didn't go anywhere... but at least the main characters are (mostly) doing useful things and are pursuing clear goals, making this book feel snappier and more impactful than TOS. I have some other quibbles with this book (particularly some actions taken by Malini and some things that are under-explained), but this was a solid book and a return to form of the first one.
I am very satisfied with the trilogy and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for epic fantasy in non-western settings, focused on morally complex female characters, and featuring queer characters where being queer is an important aspect of their person.
One of my big problems with TOS was that there were PoVs where the characters didn't accomplish a whole lot, and PoVs for characters that I didn't think needed them. This is still an issue in this book, where two characters get a handful of PoV chapters that were not needed for the narrative and involved in plotlines that didn't go anywhere... but at least the main characters are (mostly) doing useful things and are pursuing clear goals, making this book feel snappier and more impactful than TOS. I have some other quibbles with this book (particularly some actions taken by Malini and some things that are under-explained), but this was a solid book and a return to form of the first one.
I am very satisfied with the trilogy and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for epic fantasy in non-western settings, focused on morally complex female characters, and featuring queer characters where being queer is an important aspect of their person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Torture, Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced