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wyllow_tree's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm just so happy for Jaime and Cray! ❤️
oldandnewbooksmell's review
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Trigger Warnings: anxiety, violence (war), death, homophobia (internal), sexism, misogyny, ritualistic self-harm
In the 3rd and final book of the Shadow Skye series, Agatha, Jamie, and Sigrid must do whatever it takes to stop the kings of Norveg and Ingland, who had joined forces to annihilate the people of Scotia. They turn to the Badhbh to help, but instead, he kidnaps Agatha and runs towards the kings. While Jamie and Sigrid try to unite the clans of Scotia and beyond their borders, Agatha receives unexpected support from people in Ingland.
What a way to end this wonderful trilogy! I had a hard time putting it down, I just wanted to revisit the trio and see what happens.
The multiple narrative voices of Agatha, Jamie, and Sigrid were still engaging and well characterized; I laughed, I gasped, I cheered. Agatha has always been my favorite but Sigrid and their moments too where I was laughing so hard. Jamie was and still is one of those characters I want to wrap up in a warm blanket and maybe give some hot cocoa to. These three characters are all teenagers, and they all went through so much. Jamie was always beating himself up over not being good enough and that’s a struggle that teenagers still go through to this day (and adults too to be honest)!
The characters were all together at the beginning, separated around Scotia and Ingland, and then brought back together again. Joseph Elliot did an amazing job at keeping every part of the story fascinating and engaging. I couldn’t read it fast enough to see how they all came back together to defeat the kings.
I can’t recommend this series enough - there’s diverse voices, mythical beasts, magic, LGBTQ+ romance, girls taking action, and so much more! I’ve been constantly trying to get the other two books into people's hands but now that the series is complete, I can really shove it into their hands and onto as many booklist recommendations as I possibly can! Please! Read this series!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, War, and Self harm
omiai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
So I am a big fan of the first 2 books in this series (The Good Hawk & The Broken Raven). the mythical version of Scotland that Elliot has created is just beyond magical. Dark and mysterious, it's a wonderful place to read about.
So I was desperate to read this book, the third and final book in the series.
Boy, I was not disappointed!
I stayed up most of the night reading this, as I could not put it down! It was absolutely brilliant! Obviously, a continuation of the previous book, this is told from the point of view of 3 different characters, Jaime, Agatha and Sigrid. Each has their own unique voice, bringing their vibrant personalities to the story.
Sometimes the characters are interacting, but a lot of the time they are split up around Scotia and sometimes in Ingland. It was fantastic reading each part of the story and seeing it all come together in the end, each tale weaving together, each as important as the other.
there were lots of parts of this book that I had really hoped would happen (especially to do with Jaime and Cray's relationship). It was not a predictable story at all, and the conclusion was incredibly satisfying.
So I highly recommend this book, but obviously, read the first 2 books before you read The Burning Swift, because otherwise it will make zero sense.
my only complaint - and it is minor! - is that, there are a lot of different words used (based on gaelic and norweigan), and honestly, i haven't a clue how to pronounce any of them. one of the main characters in this book is called 'The Badhbh' ... not a clue how to say this one. But honestly, I just made up the pronounciations in my head and read them how i felt like reading them. I just prefer to have a pronounciation guide to help me out with names or words that I'm not clear on.
So I was desperate to read this book, the third and final book in the series.
Boy, I was not disappointed!
I stayed up most of the night reading this, as I could not put it down! It was absolutely brilliant! Obviously, a continuation of the previous book, this is told from the point of view of 3 different characters, Jaime, Agatha and Sigrid. Each has their own unique voice, bringing their vibrant personalities to the story.
Sometimes the characters are interacting, but a lot of the time they are split up around Scotia and sometimes in Ingland. It was fantastic reading each part of the story and seeing it all come together in the end, each tale weaving together, each as important as the other.
there were lots of parts of this book that I had really hoped would happen (especially to do with Jaime and Cray's relationship). It was not a predictable story at all, and the conclusion was incredibly satisfying.
So I highly recommend this book, but obviously, read the first 2 books before you read The Burning Swift, because otherwise it will make zero sense.
my only complaint - and it is minor! - is that, there are a lot of different words used (based on gaelic and norweigan), and honestly, i haven't a clue how to pronounce any of them. one of the main characters in this book is called 'The Badhbh' ... not a clue how to say this one. But honestly, I just made up the pronounciations in my head and read them how i felt like reading them. I just prefer to have a pronounciation guide to help me out with names or words that I'm not clear on.
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