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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
This series as a whole is phenomenal. I ended up reading the last book on audiobook because I’ve been sick this whole week and couldn’t focus on the book and read. This was such an amazing book and John Gwynne is a master story teller. The battle scenes are especially fantastic and really make you feel like you are in the middle of the battle. Even the antagonists in this story at times made me feel for them when things would go wrong; that’s how good the writing is. Seriously reading this and the faithful and the fallen series are a must if you want an amazing epic fantasy book! I will miss reading stories in the vanished lands but am glad I have the bloodswarn saga to look forward too. If you are looking for a fantasy series that will suck you into the world and make you feel like you never want to leave. THIS IS IT. I loved the reoccurring side characters that came up in this series from the faithful and fallen series and the references to corban, cywen, coralen, and the rest of the bunch for the faithful and fallen series.
I am so glad I ended up moving to the audiobook to finish this series up. This one was…long. While I absolutely LOVED The Faithful and The Fallen, I just didn’t connect to the story or the characters in Of Blood & Bone as much. Drem remained my favorite throughout the whole series, and Riv actually did grow on me during this one. I thought the middle of this book was a bit drawn out, I feel like it could have benefited from being a little bit shorter. However…those battle scenes. PHEW. Nobody does battle scenes like Gwynne. The last battle sequence had me on edge and is the main reason this is a four star instead of a three. While I am so sad to be finished with Gwynne’s backlist, I am so excited for what is to come when it comes to his books.
I really do not want to leave this land behind. What a beautiful finish line this was.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Woooo, an exciting way to end the series!
The third and final book in the Of Blood And Bone trilogy is essentially one enormous battle. It was indeed a thrilling conclusion to the series (and the Banished Lands in general), although for me, neither book two or three were quite as great as A Time Of Dread.
I think depending on what you like and want from your fantasy (and finales) will determine whether this last book really clicks with you or not. It feels very “classical” fantasy with clear cut good guys and bad guys, and that comes with a certain amount of predictability. There is found family, animal friends/familiars, giants, angels/demons (in all but name), ancient magic, enormous forests, fortresses, and a huge world that has a lot of history.
For some, these things are comforting like a blanket, allowing you to enjoy the story no matter how bad things get. For others it can seem less than exciting.
I fall somewhere in the middle? And as incredible and awe-inspiring as the battle sequences are, there are a *lot* of them in this final book, and I did have to break up my reading more than usual to balance it.
Drem remains my favourite character of the series by far, and his growth and coming into himself over the three books was an absolute joy to read. Also Rob (and Craf!) - all the talking crows, really - are wonderful and I love this element of the world-building here.
One of the things that made me uncomfortable in A Time Of Blood was the violent treatment of animals - particularly their deaths. This definitely has been handled more gently in book three, from dogs to bears to horses, which I really appreciated. It is still a difficult life, but here it feels like the people around them do care for them, instead of treating them as more throwaway.
The Faithful And The Fallen is one of my favourite series and the first truly epic fantasies I read in recent years, and the nods to that series are really wonderful. It is super nostalgic and feels like an extended Epilogue to that series, which is a brilliant touch.
All in all a great conclusion to a great series
The third and final book in the Of Blood And Bone trilogy is essentially one enormous battle. It was indeed a thrilling conclusion to the series (and the Banished Lands in general), although for me, neither book two or three were quite as great as A Time Of Dread.
I think depending on what you like and want from your fantasy (and finales) will determine whether this last book really clicks with you or not. It feels very “classical” fantasy with clear cut good guys and bad guys, and that comes with a certain amount of predictability. There is found family, animal friends/familiars, giants, angels/demons (in all but name), ancient magic, enormous forests, fortresses, and a huge world that has a lot of history.
For some, these things are comforting like a blanket, allowing you to enjoy the story no matter how bad things get. For others it can seem less than exciting.
I fall somewhere in the middle? And as incredible and awe-inspiring as the battle sequences are, there are a *lot* of them in this final book, and I did have to break up my reading more than usual to balance it.
Drem remains my favourite character of the series by far, and his growth and coming into himself over the three books was an absolute joy to read. Also Rob (and Craf!) - all the talking crows, really - are wonderful and I love this element of the world-building here.
One of the things that made me uncomfortable in A Time Of Blood was the violent treatment of animals - particularly their deaths. This definitely has been handled more gently in book three, from dogs to bears to horses, which I really appreciated. It is still a difficult life, but here it feels like the people around them do care for them, instead of treating them as more throwaway.
The Faithful And The Fallen is one of my favourite series and the first truly epic fantasies I read in recent years, and the nods to that series are really wonderful. It is super nostalgic and feels like an extended Epilogue to that series, which is a brilliant touch.
All in all a great conclusion to a great series
Loved the faithful and the fallen series. And I LOVED the of blood and bone series. John Gwynne is such a fantastic storyteller it is borderline infuriating as you just want the story to never end. Thank you for leaving some wiggle room at the end.
If this book series went the way of game of Thrones and ended up being made for TV.. I would it them auditions hard!!
These are not sure books but awesome epics that you get sucked into and feel like you are in genuinely in the moment with the characters.
Mr Gwynne. You never fail use.
If this book series went the way of game of Thrones and ended up being made for TV.. I would it them auditions hard!!
These are not sure books but awesome epics that you get sucked into and feel like you are in genuinely in the moment with the characters.
Mr Gwynne. You never fail use.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
No
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No