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ingridelyse's review against another edition
2.0
I am disappointed by the end of this series. I actually loved books 2-4, but this last one left me wanting.
Things with the Order did not get resolved in my opinion. There was so much history involving them and they were completely absent from this whole book. Kitris' storyline doesn't make sense to me at all, and I see that whole thread of the story really confusing. A lot of build up for...nothing.
Same with Emmeline.
I also really hated the way Max learns to use her magic, or doesn't learn I should say. She spends zero time trying things out, practicing or anything. She just suddenly is able to use magic when she needs to with no explanation. She also is always doing the bare minimum with it and in a world of intense magic, the weapons people rely on most are still guns.
Things with the Order did not get resolved in my opinion. There was so much history involving them and they were completely absent from this whole book. Kitris' storyline doesn't make sense to me at all, and I see that whole thread of the story really confusing. A lot of build up for...nothing.
Same with Emmeline.
I also really hated the way Max learns to use her magic, or doesn't learn I should say. She spends zero time trying things out, practicing or anything. She just suddenly is able to use magic when she needs to with no explanation. She also is always doing the bare minimum with it and in a world of intense magic, the weapons people rely on most are still guns.
bookish_caprice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
leasey23's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
3.0
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
morriganlefaye's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed the first few books in the series a lot, but the last one dragged a bit.
I think, the story would have been stronger as a trilogy or maximum 4 books.
I liked the ending, overall, but I would have liked for the relationship between Max and Bryce to be more developed.
I think, the story would have been stronger as a trilogy or maximum 4 books.
I liked the ending, overall, but I would have liked for the relationship between Max and Bryce to be more developed.
andimontgomery's review against another edition
3.0
In this final installment, Max continues her search for the missing demons with the Marshals and warriors from the Order, as well as a few other friends, and of course, her dogs.
Honestly, I was bored at the beginning, and skipped much of the middle. But the ending was really good.
Overall, I’d give the series 3.5 stars. It had pacing issues throughout, but the story was ultimately compelling. The author left an opening for the series to continue, but I hope she doesn’t.
Honestly, I was bored at the beginning, and skipped much of the middle. But the ending was really good.
Overall, I’d give the series 3.5 stars. It had pacing issues throughout, but the story was ultimately compelling. The author left an opening for the series to continue, but I hope she doesn’t.
princessrobotiv's review against another edition
2.0
A nice epilogue, but otherwise a slog to get through. Maybe I just expecting something different or more complex from this series. The tone ended up being so discordant, at times unrelentingly gruesome and hopeless, and then directly after, jarringly unserious. The final argument scene between the Lady and Arkus is a good example of this dissonance.
Still, I wouldn't dissuade people from picking up the series if it sounds interesting.
Still, I wouldn't dissuade people from picking up the series if it sounds interesting.
iamtais's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this and this whole series. Every thread I wanted to see resolved was wrapped up beautifully; I can't think of a single thing that wasn't addressed, it was perfect, no notes.
Reading everything back to back just highlighted how well constructed the story was, with the familiar structure of five-books series, but with a seamless continuity that makes certain I'm gonna be reading The Grey Gates again.
Perfect ending!
Reading everything back to back just highlighted how well constructed the story was, with the familiar structure of five-books series, but with a seamless continuity that makes certain I'm gonna be reading The Grey Gates again.
Perfect ending!
deeangel85's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.0
katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed it, but ... I wanted a bit more from Max. Let me clarify.
Max's backstory is pretty horrifying. She was used horribly by the Order - sent on a suicide mission, and when she succeeded, cast out ... so they could take all the credit. Across the board, the Order is arguably the most corrupt institution in this entire series. They don't do their jobs at all, and in fact send this untrained apprentice in to do their most sacred job, but yet lord it over everyone as if they are practically gods. They are worthless, useless, condescending, entitled dickheads. And this book underscores it, because they contribute absolutely nothing to the resolution of the crisis. And no, they don't get credit for the warriors' actions - the warriors of the Order, the non magic users, are honorable soldiers who allow the Order's magic users to treat them as shit on their shoes. Those asswipe magic users don't get to take credit for Bryce and his team's help in saving the world when those same slack-ass magic users sat the whole fight out.
I appreciated Max's arc in this series, slowly rebuilding her self-esteem as she realized how flawed the Order is, and stopped letting their treatment of her (when she was an apprentice there) define her. But it didn't go far enough. These last two books, her narrative is bursting with defense of them, and in particular, defense of Kitris, the most useless bag of shit ever put in charge of any organization in the history of humanity. And I'm going to be frank, it was so nauseating I had trouble rating this above 3 stars.
Kitris is a monstrous, abusive asshole. Her defense of him, and insistence that he was always working in service of the Lady (fucking WRONG, he was working in service of himself and his own ego) and that he was good at his job as the head of the Order (fucking laughable, given how clueless they were about the demons about to usher the dark god into this realm ... the prevention of which is the entire reason for the Order's existence). This dumbass utterly failed at his job, but never failed to swoop in after the fight was over and take credit for it. And then, adding insult to injury, his successor - the equally useless asshole, Orshiasa -.
I hated all of that. And I hated that Max allowed it. And even more than that, I hated that the Order was allowed to continue on at the end of this series. They are a corrupt organization who should have been ripped down, brick by brick, as punishment for failing to the job they were built to do ... and for acting like they are so far above everyone else. They are useless magical bullies who should be forced to shovel shit for the rest of their natural lives. Period.
I wanted the warriors to all realize that, and break away to leave the dumbass magic users floundering in ineptitude. I mean, why do they deserve the protection of warriors they treat so poorly...when they actually DON'T DO ANYTHING to help the world? When they've completely and utterly failed, in every way, to fulfill their purpose as an organization?
So I liked the story, I did. I liked Max's growth in every other respect. But I am just so fucking tired of doormat FMCs that allow worthless people to walk all over them. So, so tired.
Max's backstory is pretty horrifying. She was used horribly by the Order - sent on a suicide mission, and when she succeeded, cast out ... so they could take all the credit. Across the board, the Order is arguably the most corrupt institution in this entire series. They don't do their jobs at all, and in fact send this untrained apprentice in to do their most sacred job, but yet lord it over everyone as if they are practically gods. They are worthless, useless, condescending, entitled dickheads. And this book underscores it, because they contribute absolutely nothing to the resolution of the crisis. And no, they don't get credit for the warriors' actions - the warriors of the Order, the non magic users, are honorable soldiers who allow the Order's magic users to treat them as shit on their shoes. Those asswipe magic users don't get to take credit for Bryce and his team's help in saving the world when those same slack-ass magic users sat the whole fight out.
I appreciated Max's arc in this series, slowly rebuilding her self-esteem as she realized how flawed the Order is, and stopped letting their treatment of her (when she was an apprentice there) define her. But it didn't go far enough. These last two books, her narrative is bursting with defense of them, and in particular, defense of Kitris, the most useless bag of shit ever put in charge of any organization in the history of humanity. And I'm going to be frank, it was so nauseating I had trouble rating this above 3 stars.
Kitris is a monstrous, abusive asshole. Her defense of him, and insistence that he was always working in service of the Lady (fucking WRONG, he was working in service of himself and his own ego) and that he was good at his job as the head of the Order (fucking laughable, given how clueless they were about the demons about to usher the dark god into this realm ... the prevention of which is the entire reason for the Order's existence). This dumbass utterly failed at his job, but never failed to swoop in after the fight was over and take credit for it. And then, adding insult to injury, his successor - the equally useless asshole, Orshiasa -
Spoiler
does the same thing at the end of this book, hiding Max's saving of the world because action against dark magic and the dark god is the Order's fucking job, and I assume they were fucking embarrassed at how worthless they areI hated all of that. And I hated that Max allowed it. And even more than that, I hated that the Order was allowed to continue on at the end of this series. They are a corrupt organization who should have been ripped down, brick by brick, as punishment for failing to the job they were built to do ... and for acting like they are so far above everyone else. They are useless magical bullies who should be forced to shovel shit for the rest of their natural lives. Period.
I wanted the warriors to all realize that, and break away to leave the dumbass magic users floundering in ineptitude. I mean, why do they deserve the protection of warriors they treat so poorly...when they actually DON'T DO ANYTHING to help the world? When they've completely and utterly failed, in every way, to fulfill their purpose as an organization?
So I liked the story, I did. I liked Max's growth in every other respect. But I am just so fucking tired of doormat FMCs that allow worthless people to walk all over them. So, so tired.