You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
It’s bittersweet to finish this series. Ronan and the Lynch brothers have been with me for 10 years at this point in some variation. To learn about the origin of their family, to not have everything quite make sense, to watch Maggie unfold the tale of the Lynch family… it’s beautiful.
I almost cried at the end of this novel, not from the content of the book, but because it was beautiful- and I love these characters.
Do I have to suspend some of my disbelief because I’m a haggard old crone the world has shaped into a cynic? Yes. Is that ok? Yes.
I love this world, and it always felt more like a quest than a story. When the hero’s lose their way in the middle and have to readjust (like Ulysses). This story didn’t follow a straight line, up and down plot. It’s not for everyone- but it felt truer to the first book, it felt real, and I can’t wait to see what Maggie comes up with next.
I almost cried at the end of this novel, not from the content of the book, but because it was beautiful- and I love these characters.
Do I have to suspend some of my disbelief because I’m a haggard old crone the world has shaped into a cynic? Yes. Is that ok? Yes.
I love this world, and it always felt more like a quest than a story. When the hero’s lose their way in the middle and have to readjust (like Ulysses). This story didn’t follow a straight line, up and down plot. It’s not for everyone- but it felt truer to the first book, it felt real, and I can’t wait to see what Maggie comes up with next.
Once more into the fever dream. Once more I rock up with nothing useful to say about a Raven Cycle-verse book.
So. Call Down the Hawk? I LOVED it.
Mister Impossible. Sort of an unpleasant ramble through a disturbed dreamscape.
This book, the finale, is better than Mister Impossible. It is more concrete than a lot of TRC-verse books. I think I will actually remember parts of it weeks from now, instead of each plot point fading from my mind until I can't recall anything but the vibes.
We learn about the Lynch parents' past. We learn about the brothers' childhoods. About the secret at the heart of who Ronan is. Declan gets a finished arc, and I still ADORE what this series did to Declan's characterization. Declan is, in fact, for the majority of the story the only Lynch brother with any agency.
Did I like the book? Hard to say. I binged it in one day, because I knew from prior experience that if I didn't finish it quickly it would probably take me weeks to finish. It took until past the halfway point until the genuine investment and desire to keep reading kicked in.
It did feel a bit odd, just HOW MANY answers we got in such a short time. Especially given book 2, where so much faffing about was done to so little apparent purpose. Several of these revelations were things I hadn't even thought to wonder about, much less begin to suspect or expect. I do think this book's important plot points could have been spread out a little better, to add more logical suspense to the story and dilute the vagueness of Mister Impossible more.
There are a lot of things I don't enjoy. Hennessy. Farooq-Lane and their whole... situation. Bryde. Jordan. The vague nature of the """Lace""" and how I still don't understand WHY any of this is happening.
Frankly, I think it's odd this trilogy splurged on SO much content about the Hennessys, Bryde, so many other POVs, and all of this extraneous stuff and then barely touched on things I actually WANT to see, such as: Matthew discovering himself and his agency, Adam and Ronan resolving their conflict, the Lynch brothers interacting, Ronan actually doing something constructive and with purpose, etc.
Overall, if I had to restart the entire series from the beginning, I'm not sure I would do it. I'm glad this is the end of the TRC-verse journey.
So. Call Down the Hawk? I LOVED it.
Mister Impossible. Sort of an unpleasant ramble through a disturbed dreamscape.
This book, the finale, is better than Mister Impossible. It is more concrete than a lot of TRC-verse books. I think I will actually remember parts of it weeks from now, instead of each plot point fading from my mind until I can't recall anything but the vibes.
We learn about the Lynch parents' past. We learn about the brothers' childhoods. About the secret at the heart of who Ronan is. Declan gets a finished arc, and I still ADORE what this series did to Declan's characterization. Declan is, in fact, for the majority of the story the only Lynch brother with any agency.
Did I like the book? Hard to say. I binged it in one day, because I knew from prior experience that if I didn't finish it quickly it would probably take me weeks to finish. It took until past the halfway point until the genuine investment and desire to keep reading kicked in.
It did feel a bit odd, just HOW MANY answers we got in such a short time. Especially given book 2, where so much faffing about was done to so little apparent purpose. Several of these revelations were things I hadn't even thought to wonder about, much less begin to suspect or expect. I do think this book's important plot points could have been spread out a little better, to add more logical suspense to the story and dilute the vagueness of Mister Impossible more.
There are a lot of things I don't enjoy. Hennessy. Farooq-Lane and their whole... situation. Bryde. Jordan. The vague nature of the """Lace""" and how I still don't understand WHY any of this is happening.
Frankly, I think it's odd this trilogy splurged on SO much content about the Hennessys, Bryde, so many other POVs, and all of this extraneous stuff and then barely touched on things I actually WANT to see, such as: Matthew discovering himself and his agency, Adam and Ronan resolving their conflict, the Lynch brothers interacting, Ronan actually doing something constructive and with purpose, etc.
Overall, if I had to restart the entire series from the beginning, I'm not sure I would do it. I'm glad this is the end of the TRC-verse journey.
Not quite the ending I was hoping for, but there were some great bits. And now what am I going to do? I've spent 7 books with these characters and they're all moving on without me, and what am I supposed to do now?
emotional
Fight against the apocalypse
What a conclusion. Definitely the best book of the trilogy, but only because of the end. Before that, my critique is the same as before, so I won't repeat myself. The last around 70 pages were really good though. I even cried a little 🥹
I'd say everything came to a good end and made sense. The only question I had that wasn't answered (as far as I can remember) is what exactly the Lace is 🤔 But I guess it's not that important. Everything else was explained (though vague at times), and oh boy, the whole backstory about Greywaren... absolutely great!
This was also the first book that made me care about Ronan and Adam's relationship 😅 I'm sorry, but before they barely interacted, and when they did, it was mostly negative. Here, they had some great moments (well, after one scene where I wanted to strangle Adam, but apparently he lied? There still should have been more talking). Adam just isn't a main character here, aka not really essential to the story. This is the story of the Lynch brothers.
Speaking of which, Matthew became one of my favorites. I love his arc in this one (though there should have been more at the end) and was really angry at Declan for how he treated him. Jordan and Hennessey had a similar kind of relationship, and I was glad Matthew and Jordan stood up for themselves. Didn't like how this was concluded with a non-apology in the end, but oh well. I did also love Declans arc (about him and Jordan, and finding out more about his parents), and I know he loves Matthew, but I was still angry (as I said, where is the apology?). Also Bryde felt really "underused" (Ronan a bit as well, but it made sense for me).
The end in general, I did like a lot. It was also nice seeing characters from The Raven Cycle again in the epilogue (though a bit weird since they didn't talk to them in the whole trilogy lol). So now this whole universe is finished, and although it wasn't a highlight for me, and I could never love it the way I wanted to, I am glad I read it. I love the worldbuilding, the dreaming, and Ronan became one of my favorite characters 🤍
What a conclusion. Definitely the best book of the trilogy, but only because of the end. Before that, my critique is the same as before, so I won't repeat myself. The last around 70 pages were really good though. I even cried a little 🥹
I'd say everything came to a good end and made sense. The only question I had that wasn't answered (as far as I can remember) is what exactly the Lace is 🤔 But I guess it's not that important. Everything else was explained (though vague at times), and oh boy, the whole backstory about Greywaren... absolutely great!
This was also the first book that made me care about Ronan and Adam's relationship 😅 I'm sorry, but before they barely interacted, and when they did, it was mostly negative. Here, they had some great moments (well, after one scene where I wanted to strangle Adam, but apparently he lied? There still should have been more talking). Adam just isn't a main character here, aka not really essential to the story. This is the story of the Lynch brothers.
Speaking of which, Matthew became one of my favorites. I love his arc in this one (though there should have been more at the end) and was really angry at Declan for how he treated him. Jordan and Hennessey had a similar kind of relationship, and I was glad Matthew and Jordan stood up for themselves. Didn't like how this was concluded with a non-apology in the end, but oh well. I did also love Declans arc (about him and Jordan, and finding out more about his parents), and I know he loves Matthew, but I was still angry (as I said, where is the apology?). Also Bryde felt really "underused" (Ronan a bit as well, but it made sense for me).
The end in general, I did like a lot. It was also nice seeing characters from The Raven Cycle again in the epilogue (though a bit weird since they didn't talk to them in the whole trilogy lol). So now this whole universe is finished, and although it wasn't a highlight for me, and I could never love it the way I wanted to, I am glad I read it. I love the worldbuilding, the dreaming, and Ronan became one of my favorite characters 🤍
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Such an amazing conclusion to an amazing series. Maggie Steifvater has outdone herself with this work of pure magic that had me on the edge of my seat at almost all times. The epilogue was such a perfect conclusion, even if I do want more. I’m so sad that it’s over now.
3.5
Maggie's prose is always magnificent and it is always the greatest pleasure to read, but the book has so little Ronan, the whole trilogy does. I liked it, but unfortunately It didn't turned out to be what I was wishing for.
I loved the last page!
Maggie's prose is always magnificent and it is always the greatest pleasure to read, but the book has so little Ronan, the whole trilogy does. I liked it, but unfortunately It didn't turned out to be what I was wishing for.
I loved the last page!
A momentus yet somehow disappointing end for a world of characters I loved very much? I'm conflicted.
Simply put: this was an impeccable conclusion. Maggie’s mind. Ugh. This goodbye was a hard one for me; it’s a finale for both series. I can’t wait to re-read!
I literally can't tell what I'm feeling
the highlight was FERAL DECLAN tho THAT BIT WAS SO GOOD AAAAAH
worst bit was when I thought Adam Parrish had died multiple times because that was completely soul destroying
the highlight was FERAL DECLAN tho THAT BIT WAS SO GOOD AAAAAH
worst bit was when I thought Adam Parrish had died multiple times because that was completely soul destroying