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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
This book is bloody, brilliant, and bloody brilliant!
I finished it (really late) last night, and I think I'll have to hide in a blanket fort with chocolate, some plush toys and plenty of coffee to assemble all the pieces of my soul back into one functioning piece!
It is the absolutely perfect ending to one of my favourite series. I have no idea how Anna Stephens manages to strike this balance between dark, grim and gloomy, but yet always leaves just enough hope to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat wishing for it to turn out fine - or at least not horrible.
The characters have grown on me so much, I feel like i lost good friends on the way - and I can't believe the series is done and I won't get to share their lives anymore. Even the romance is such an utterly normal part of the characters and story that I didn't just "not mind" it, but actually enjoyed it - and if you follow my reviews, that is one of the highest praises one can get from me... Gosh - I'll miss them all so much, both the fallen and the ones building a new life! (And I sure as hell won't tell you which is which...)
The world and plot stayed just as engaging and interesting as it did in the first two books, and so brought this to an end I couldn't have imagined as fitting as it is. It was hard to read, and yet I was expecting even worse, so once again the balance between emotional crushing and whooping for joy just has me in full on emotional turmoil...
I finished it (really late) last night, and I think I'll have to hide in a blanket fort with chocolate, some plush toys and plenty of coffee to assemble all the pieces of my soul back into one functioning piece!
It is the absolutely perfect ending to one of my favourite series. I have no idea how Anna Stephens manages to strike this balance between dark, grim and gloomy, but yet always leaves just enough hope to keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat wishing for it to turn out fine - or at least not horrible.
The characters have grown on me so much, I feel like i lost good friends on the way - and I can't believe the series is done and I won't get to share their lives anymore. Even the romance is such an utterly normal part of the characters and story that I didn't just "not mind" it, but actually enjoyed it - and if you follow my reviews, that is one of the highest praises one can get from me... Gosh - I'll miss them all so much, both the fallen and the ones building a new life! (And I sure as hell won't tell you which is which...)
The world and plot stayed just as engaging and interesting as it did in the first two books, and so brought this to an end I couldn't have imagined as fitting as it is. It was hard to read, and yet I was expecting even worse, so once again the balance between emotional crushing and whooping for joy just has me in full on emotional turmoil...
*I would like to thank Netgalley and the HarperCollins UK for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
*May contain spoilers for previous books in the series*
This is how you end a series and break my heart into tiny little pieces. This book was action packed from the start and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This is also the most anxiety provoking series I've ever read and I love it.
This book starts off not long after Darksoul ended. The Mireces have taken control of Rilpor but in doing so they have lost one of their gods, The Dark Lady. However, they have a plan to get her back and consolidate their rule throughout Gilgoras. Despite their massive losses Mace his the last of his Rankers and the Wolves, with the help of the Fox god, are determined to foil these plans and get rid of the Red gods once and for all.
I think what I love best about this series is that no one is safe and you have no idea what will happen next. You really have no idea what side is going to come out on top at the end and I felt that this really helped to keep you invested and engaged in the story.
And then of course we have our amazing cast of characters. These characters are all so well fleshed out and Anna Stephens did such a good job at ensuring that they all had a distinct voice and I just love the fact that you get povs from characters on both sides of the war which really gives you a better insight in to what each side are fighting for. They also broke my heart continuously throughout this book.
Like the previous books in this series this book is very dark and has many trigger warnings: graphic violence, murder, torture, slavery, attempted rape, rape, death of a loved one and religious sacrifice
.
Overall, this was an amazing ending to an even better series and I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.
*May contain spoilers for previous books in the series*
This is how you end a series and break my heart into tiny little pieces. This book was action packed from the start and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This is also the most anxiety provoking series I've ever read and I love it.
This book starts off not long after Darksoul ended. The Mireces have taken control of Rilpor but in doing so they have lost one of their gods, The Dark Lady. However, they have a plan to get her back and consolidate their rule throughout Gilgoras. Despite their massive losses Mace his the last of his Rankers and the Wolves, with the help of the Fox god, are determined to foil these plans and get rid of the Red gods once and for all.
I think what I love best about this series is that no one is safe and you have no idea what will happen next. You really have no idea what side is going to come out on top at the end and I felt that this really helped to keep you invested and engaged in the story.
And then of course we have our amazing cast of characters. These characters are all so well fleshed out and Anna Stephens did such a good job at ensuring that they all had a distinct voice and I just love the fact that you get povs from characters on both sides of the war which really gives you a better insight in to what each side are fighting for. They also broke my heart continuously throughout this book.
Like the previous books in this series this book is very dark and has many trigger warnings: graphic violence, murder, torture, slavery, attempted rape, rape, death of a loved one and religious sacrifice
.
Overall, this was an amazing ending to an even better series and I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an ending!
Each instalment in this series got better for me. Though the tone, graphic elements, writing and pace remained the same, my investment grew with each book.
By this point I was fully invested in the story and characters, meaning the pain I had inadvertently allowed Anna Stephens to inflict upon me was... monumental?
I think the most important thing I can say about any final book is whether or not it stuck the landing. As is evident by my rating I'm sure you are beyond doubting that, in my personal opinion, it did very much stick the landing.
There are once again elements in here which, even to fans of the series may not be completely to their liking. Some troped that I know can be quite divisive, especially pregnancy related ones. But I think they were all executed so well and with purpose. The book is still the same dark, miserable, horror show the previous ones have been. But now, with more time spent with these characters and coming to care for them, it has a lot more heart.
Each instalment in this series got better for me. Though the tone, graphic elements, writing and pace remained the same, my investment grew with each book.
By this point I was fully invested in the story and characters, meaning the pain I had inadvertently allowed Anna Stephens to inflict upon me was... monumental?
I think the most important thing I can say about any final book is whether or not it stuck the landing. As is evident by my rating I'm sure you are beyond doubting that, in my personal opinion, it did very much stick the landing.
There are once again elements in here which, even to fans of the series may not be completely to their liking. Some troped that I know can be quite divisive, especially pregnancy related ones. But I think they were all executed so well and with purpose. The book is still the same dark, miserable, horror show the previous ones have been. But now, with more time spent with these characters and coming to care for them, it has a lot more heart.
dark
sad
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
2.0 ⭐️
Eh. To be honest I wasn't even sure if I should keep reading after the first one, but somehow I ended up with the entire trilogy and I feel like it just went downhill from the first. The third one was very slow in the beginning and went on a few tangents that I don't think were really necessary. Even though it was predictable the later part was pretty good, but by that point I was just kinda tired of all the gore and slaughter.
We get it, everything's bad and dark and bloody and desperate. I'm starting to think I'm just not made for grimdark fantasy, if the horror isn't used sparingly then it just doesn't have the same effect, it just becomes background noise imo.
I did like how the fight scenes were written and I wish I could say the same about the rest of the prose. It's not bad over all but some expressions just threw me the fuck out of the story. Comparing muscles to "eels in oil" ew no thanks.
It's not a bad book and if you're into some really gross stuff then this might be the right thing for you. Just wasn't for me, I guess.
Eh. To be honest I wasn't even sure if I should keep reading after the first one, but somehow I ended up with the entire trilogy and I feel like it just went downhill from the first. The third one was very slow in the beginning and went on a few tangents that I don't think were really necessary
Spoiler
spirit animals anyone?We get it, everything's bad and dark and bloody and desperate. I'm starting to think I'm just not made for grimdark fantasy, if the horror isn't used sparingly then it just doesn't have the same effect, it just becomes background noise imo.
I did like how the fight scenes were written and I wish I could say the same about the rest of the prose. It's not bad over all but some expressions just threw me the fuck out of the story. Comparing muscles to "eels in oil" ew no thanks.
Spoiler
“The snow fell, silent and serene. Crys Tailorson, major in His Majesty’s Ranks and husband of Ash Bowman, fell with it.”where is he falling to, he's lying on the goddamn ground and he didn't even DIEIt's not a bad book and if you're into some really gross stuff then this might be the right thing for you. Just wasn't for me, I guess.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure how to feel about this book. Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent conclusion to a very good series. But I can't remember the last time I've felt as hopeful and depressed after finishing finishing it that I do after this one.
The story picks up right where Darksoul left off. The Rilporians are trying to regroup and losing their city to the invading Mierces army, including the Fox God who is trying to retaliate before the Blessed One can bring back the Dark Lady. There isn't much more to the story than that, which in most cases seems like a pretty simple story. However, there is so much depth and character development here that the story is extremely engaging even during the very brutal moments.
Because this series is essentially limited to a single city and a few surrounding areas, there has never been much world-building taking black, and that's true in this book as well. Therefore, it really has to rely on characters, and it excels in this. For me, this book has the best character development of the trilogy. There are quite a few POVs, and not a single one is boring to read, whether it's Dom, Mace, Rillirin, Corvus, the Blessed One, etc. However, by far my favorite is Tara. She is such an incredible character, and I went through the whole gamut of emotions with her. She is easily one my favorite female characters ever written, up there with Nona Grey, Gwenna Sharpe, Pyrre Lakatur, and Vin.
The only issue I really have with this book is the final battle. Leading up to this last book, the Red Gods felt like very dangerous, manipulative, and complex villains. In this one, they feel more generic, almost mindless bad guys just going through motions. I didn't like that change.
Overall, this is an excellent series and definitely deserves to be considered one of the darkest series out there. I've read quite a few that claim to be dark but have failed to live up to the hype. This one does not, so be warned going into it. However, the experience is well worth it.
The story picks up right where Darksoul left off. The Rilporians are trying to regroup and losing their city to the invading Mierces army, including the Fox God who is trying to retaliate before the Blessed One can bring back the Dark Lady. There isn't much more to the story than that, which in most cases seems like a pretty simple story. However, there is so much depth and character development here that the story is extremely engaging even during the very brutal moments.
Because this series is essentially limited to a single city and a few surrounding areas, there has never been much world-building taking black, and that's true in this book as well. Therefore, it really has to rely on characters, and it excels in this. For me, this book has the best character development of the trilogy. There are quite a few POVs, and not a single one is boring to read, whether it's Dom, Mace, Rillirin, Corvus, the Blessed One, etc. However, by far my favorite is Tara. She is such an incredible character, and I went through the whole gamut of emotions with her. She is easily one my favorite female characters ever written, up there with Nona Grey, Gwenna Sharpe, Pyrre Lakatur, and Vin.
The only issue I really have with this book is the final battle. Leading up to this last book, the Red Gods felt like very dangerous, manipulative, and complex villains. In this one, they feel more generic, almost mindless bad guys just going through motions. I didn't like that change.
Overall, this is an excellent series and definitely deserves to be considered one of the darkest series out there. I've read quite a few that claim to be dark but have failed to live up to the hype. This one does not, so be warned going into it. However, the experience is well worth it.
Oh hells. Having been wincing and looking pained in public while listening to the audio book of the first 2 I should have learnt my lesson. But I'm a fool. Though this time around there were tears (quite literally) as Anna painstakingly took my heart apart and crushed each piece in turn.
This is a beautiful, heart breaking, painful, and delightful end to what is an astonishing series. Read it.
This is a beautiful, heart breaking, painful, and delightful end to what is an astonishing series. Read it.