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beastcoastmac's review against another edition
5.0
i absolutely love how aside from being introduced to another few characters, most who you will like. you also get to see characters who youve seen and am glad to see and other characters who is a surprise to see. you see the universe and world grow even more so with this one and augh
also can i say i really love the fact that its taken in for the characters to feel trauma and to feel fear for things that have happened in the past
also can i say i really love the fact that its taken in for the characters to feel trauma and to feel fear for things that have happened in the past
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
5.0
Seven years have passed since our favourite characters from books one and two saved Ghadid from the nightmarish events that are spoilers for book two.
This book focuses on Illi, who lost her family in the siege and now lives under Thana's care. She was too young for the family business in a professional sense but did receive many years of training, only to be one of the first denied official status when it was decided that the assassins wouldn't be needed in their former capacity. Now she and the cousins keep Ghadid safe in other ways. Primarily against the Guul.
Heru is still there, and about as popular as he's ever been. When it turns out he's been harbouring a terrible spoiler from a previous book Ghadid throw him out. Frustrated they can't see his brilliance, and at how dismissive they are at the fact Heru helped save Ghadid, and for... other reasons... Illi follows him. And it doesn't hurt that a certain someone is part of the caravan, someone Illi hadn't planned on seeing again, but certainly isn't disappointed to be spending more time with them at all.
Like the first and second book we focus on different characters in the third. Amastan and Thana are certainly important characters but the focus is on Illi, and the grief that's still haunting her from the siege and everything they experienced with Thana and the rest were saving Ghadid from a different part of the land. Illi was right in the middle of it, fighting the re-risen dead, seeing the fires gut their homes, and all the rest of it.
Characters still drive this book, although the plot is still engaging and fast paced, thanks to be large amount of travelling that takes up this book. Representation is throughout. The fight scenes are engaging and believable, as is the healing, religion, and world building in general. If I could have anything I'd have liked to see more mention of the food, but that's always been a quirk of mine.
This is easily a series that could keep going indefinite really - focusing on more and more cousins, then more generations and so forth. So if you could just get on that, please, that would be awesome.
This book focuses on Illi, who lost her family in the siege and now lives under Thana's care. She was too young for the family business in a professional sense but did receive many years of training, only to be one of the first denied official status when it was decided that the assassins wouldn't be needed in their former capacity. Now she and the cousins keep Ghadid safe in other ways. Primarily against the Guul.
Heru is still there, and about as popular as he's ever been. When it turns out he's been harbouring a terrible spoiler from a previous book Ghadid throw him out. Frustrated they can't see his brilliance, and at how dismissive they are at the fact Heru helped save Ghadid, and for... other reasons... Illi follows him. And it doesn't hurt that a certain someone is part of the caravan, someone Illi hadn't planned on seeing again, but certainly isn't disappointed to be spending more time with them at all.
Like the first and second book we focus on different characters in the third. Amastan and Thana are certainly important characters but the focus is on Illi, and the grief that's still haunting her from the siege and everything they experienced with Thana and the rest were saving Ghadid from a different part of the land. Illi was right in the middle of it, fighting the re-risen dead, seeing the fires gut their homes, and all the rest of it.
Characters still drive this book, although the plot is still engaging and fast paced, thanks to be large amount of travelling that takes up this book. Representation is throughout. The fight scenes are engaging and believable, as is the healing, religion, and world building in general. If I could have anything I'd have liked to see more mention of the food, but that's always been a quirk of mine.
This is easily a series that could keep going indefinite really - focusing on more and more cousins, then more generations and so forth. So if you could just get on that, please, that would be awesome.
cheyannelepka's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this book. THIS SERIES! Wow, probably one of my favourite series that I’ve read in recent years. I will say for this book, I know it’s supposed to be standalone, and I definitely think it would be alright to come in at this book, but I also think that those certain emotional moments just won’t hit as well if you haven’t read the previous books. So, I’d recommend reading the other two first (and also, they’re very good and you should read them anyway!)
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic (if a little bit heart-rending) way to end the series. I loved seeing the way the world was at the beginning of the series and then coming to the end and seeing how much it’s changed since then. And of course, seeing all my favourite characters grow and change throughout the series was amazing.
I really loved Illi, it was so easy to root for her, and I love how human she is. Doore really has a knack for writing relatable and very human characters. Those little mistakes and missteps they take really make them easy to root for and connect with.
It’s always a little tricky to review a third book in a series, cause if it’s done right all those wonderful things kind of border on spoilers, but I will say that I think it does a great job of creating a self-contained story, introducing a new and wonderful character, while also providing a satisfying end to the series and tying up some of those unanswered questions from previous books.
Like this review? More like it can be found on my blog: https://www.cheyannealepka.com/chey-s-reviews
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic (if a little bit heart-rending) way to end the series. I loved seeing the way the world was at the beginning of the series and then coming to the end and seeing how much it’s changed since then. And of course, seeing all my favourite characters grow and change throughout the series was amazing.
I really loved Illi, it was so easy to root for her, and I love how human she is. Doore really has a knack for writing relatable and very human characters. Those little mistakes and missteps they take really make them easy to root for and connect with.
It’s always a little tricky to review a third book in a series, cause if it’s done right all those wonderful things kind of border on spoilers, but I will say that I think it does a great job of creating a self-contained story, introducing a new and wonderful character, while also providing a satisfying end to the series and tying up some of those unanswered questions from previous books.
Like this review? More like it can be found on my blog: https://www.cheyannealepka.com/chey-s-reviews
seamyst's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
4.25
mslanna's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is not for me.
I can't connect to the characters much, Illi feels alive only in interaction with Heru. The romacne doesn't click with me. Very das about it ebcasue non-binary love intetrest (and protags) are my thing.
To me the end of act two relied too much on being the end of act two and thus working than on being developed before hand and an inevitable solution to be implemented in act three.
I can't connect to the characters much, Illi feels alive only in interaction with Heru. The romacne doesn't click with me. Very das about it ebcasue non-binary love intetrest (and protags) are my thing.
To me the end of act two relied too much on being the end of act two and thus working than on being developed before hand and an inevitable solution to be implemented in act three.
Content Warnings
major character death
qace90's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy from Tor via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
Content notes:
jamesflint's review against another edition
4.0
rtc
Rep: Black mcs, bi mc with PTSD(?), nonbinary li, lesbian & gay side characters
CWs: magic involving self harm, murder/death
Rep: Black mcs, bi mc with PTSD(?), nonbinary li, lesbian & gay side characters
CWs: magic involving self harm, murder/death
joreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Read an ARC granted through NetGalley
The Chronicles of Ghadid comes to a close with an epic story of community mourning, healing, and recovery as Illi is tasked with going away to Hathage get rid of the sajaami which is preventing all other restless spirits from passing on. There's an f/enby romance, the lesbians are back, and all that assassination goodness we've come to love.
The guul continue to be the absolutely scariest things, but I really loved how Doore gave everyone--from cousin to captain to guard to marab--the agency and ability to face them. The fear was still there but it wasn't insurmountable, especially as the threat takes over all those living in the Wastes.
Though this book introduces a third narrator, there are so many call-backs to the first book and dealing with the consequences of The Impossible Contract that make those necessary reads. The reader leans about the terrifying creatures at the same pace the characters do. Such a slow burn of conveying information is hard to pull off, and yet Doore has mastered it.
The romance between Illi and Canthem was such a delight. There was only one caravan! Their flirtations were so on point (who doesn't love throwing knives and training sequences as a vehicle for chemistry). More over, I really liked how that relationship and others (namely between Illi and Heru) played a major role in the finale and the emotional arc of the Chronicles of Ghadid as a whole. No person is an island and the theme of community coming together for mutually assured survival was so good throughout.
A fabulous end to a wonderful queernorm trilogy about found family and community coming together to solve a major undead problem.
The Chronicles of Ghadid comes to a close with an epic story of community mourning, healing, and recovery as Illi is tasked with going away to Hathage get rid of the sajaami which is preventing all other restless spirits from passing on. There's an f/enby romance, the lesbians are back, and all that assassination goodness we've come to love.
The guul continue to be the absolutely scariest things, but I really loved how Doore gave everyone--from cousin to captain to guard to marab--the agency and ability to face them. The fear was still there but it wasn't insurmountable, especially as the threat takes over all those living in the Wastes.
Though this book introduces a third narrator, there are so many call-backs to the first book and dealing with the consequences of The Impossible Contract that make those necessary reads. The reader leans about the terrifying creatures at the same pace the characters do. Such a slow burn of conveying information is hard to pull off, and yet Doore has mastered it.
The romance between Illi and Canthem was such a delight. There was only one caravan! Their flirtations were so on point (who doesn't love throwing knives and training sequences as a vehicle for chemistry). More over, I really liked how that relationship and others (namely between Illi and Heru) played a major role in the finale and the emotional arc of the Chronicles of Ghadid as a whole. No person is an island and the theme of community coming together for mutually assured survival was so good throughout.
A fabulous end to a wonderful queernorm trilogy about found family and community coming together to solve a major undead problem.
silviasilviareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.5
I was sent this book as an advance copy for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
That was a really funeral conclusion to one of the best fantasy surprises I've had in 2019!
The book takes place seven years after The Impossible Contract and explores the consequences of individual and collective trauma through the eyes of Illi Basbowen.
What started as a family of assassins is now what protects Ghadid from the guul that in increasing numbers threaten the city they all love. I loved seeing the relationship among the cousins, both the younger generation and the generation of Amastan and Thana, the previous two books' protagonists.
While the previous two books can be read as standalones, this last one greatly relies on book two's knowledge, and partly on knowing Amastan's story from book one (if you, like me, like to read books for that sweet character development), so make sure to read those first (and honestly, why wouldn't you?? they're great).
I can't say a lot about the plot without spoiling pretty much everything from this book and the previous ones so you'll have to read the book for yourself for that, but I thought the high stakes were well-balanced with both humorous and tender moments.
And speaking of tender moments! Although I should say both tender and hot. I loved the f/enby romance in this so much! Canthem is so swoony and smooth, I honestly got a crush on them myself a little. The dynamic between Canthem and Illi is of the "one night stand turned crush, with a side of forced proximity" kind (oh my god there's only one caravan) and it was so much fun.
A lot of my favorite moments also involved characters we've already met in the previous two books, I've already mentioned Thana and Amastan, among others I can't spoil, but I can't not mention Heru with his undead camel
That was a really funeral conclusion to one of the best fantasy surprises I've had in 2019!
The book takes place seven years after The Impossible Contract and explores the consequences of individual and collective trauma through the eyes of Illi Basbowen.
What started as a family of assassins is now what protects Ghadid from the guul that in increasing numbers threaten the city they all love. I loved seeing the relationship among the cousins, both the younger generation and the generation of Amastan and Thana, the previous two books' protagonists.
While the previous two books can be read as standalones, this last one greatly relies on book two's knowledge, and partly on knowing Amastan's story from book one (if you, like me, like to read books for that sweet character development), so make sure to read those first (and honestly, why wouldn't you?? they're great).
I can't say a lot about the plot without spoiling pretty much everything from this book and the previous ones so you'll have to read the book for yourself for that, but I thought the high stakes were well-balanced with both humorous and tender moments.
And speaking of tender moments! Although I should say both tender and hot. I loved the f/enby romance in this so much! Canthem is so swoony and smooth, I honestly got a crush on them myself a little. The dynamic between Canthem and Illi is of the "one night stand turned crush, with a side of forced proximity" kind (oh my god there's only one caravan) and it was so much fun.
A lot of my favorite moments also involved characters we've already met in the previous two books, I've already mentioned Thana and Amastan, among others I can't spoil, but I can't not mention Heru with his undead camel
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