Scan barcode
unicorn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-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
justagirl22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
whatsbeckyreading's review against another edition
5.0
6 star forever favorite trilogy, this is so freaking good!!!!
rollie's review against another edition
4.0
8/10 ♡
My heart HURTS for the Demon of Disaster, Warden of Gloamingard. She walks the razor's edge of fighting for the world she loves and sparing them from her destructive power, both at constant odds with each other, and 4000 years in the making. The author grappled with the conundrum of her own creation to what I suppose is its best end.
The last hundred pages or so felt rushed. After reading the acknowledgements, it seems the author was strapped by deadlines, creativity's greatest threat. Too many story threads were wrapped up in quick succession, and the sheer weight of the implications that defined these books seemed lighter, but never lost. Ryxander and the Rookery clashing with these loose demons could have easily been expanded into another book, or even two, especially when you consider book two was almost entirely devoted to the demons Nightmare and Madness.
(Madness needs to be protected at all costs, I'm eternally grateful Disaster took a liking to her)
I loved this series, and this final chapter meets expectations, but doesn't surpass them. Book one will forever be my favorite, mostly because all the secrets were still hidden and oh so ominous.
Also, I will forever be debating tattooing the Gloamingard lore somewhere on my body
"Guard the tower, ward the stone. Find your answers writ in bone. Keep your trust through wits or war–nothing must unseal the door."
My heart HURTS for the Demon of Disaster, Warden of Gloamingard. She walks the razor's edge of fighting for the world she loves and sparing them from her destructive power, both at constant odds with each other, and 4000 years in the making. The author grappled with the conundrum of her own creation to what I suppose is its best end.
The last hundred pages or so felt rushed. After reading the acknowledgements, it seems the author was strapped by deadlines, creativity's greatest threat. Too many story threads were wrapped up in quick succession, and the sheer weight of the implications that defined these books seemed lighter, but never lost. Ryxander and the Rookery clashing with these loose demons could have easily been expanded into another book, or even two, especially when you consider book two was almost entirely devoted to the demons Nightmare and Madness.
(Madness needs to be protected at all costs, I'm eternally grateful Disaster took a liking to her)
I loved this series, and this final chapter meets expectations, but doesn't surpass them. Book one will forever be my favorite, mostly because all the secrets were still hidden and oh so ominous.
Also, I will forever be debating tattooing the Gloamingard lore somewhere on my body
"Guard the tower, ward the stone. Find your answers writ in bone. Keep your trust through wits or war–nothing must unseal the door."
lddecker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
themanfromdelmonte's review against another edition
3.0
I dithered between three and four stars for this book. I like Ms Caruso's writing and enjoyed her Swords and Fire trilogy enormously. However, I read the last instalment in the Rooks and Ruin series more than a year ago and I had trouble remembering who everyone was and what was going on at the beginning of this book. I may have to reread the series but I say that with trepidation as they're not short books 500+ pages each as I recall.
I think the main problem I have with this book is that there are too many extremely powerful people running around, demons, warlocks, Witch Lords etc. It's a bit like how I feel watching the Avengers. Alongside Hulk and Thor you have the Black Widow and Hawkeye who are just regular human beings. Take a step back and it's just not plausible that they can long survive conflicts between superhuman entities. Similarly, the Rooks may be very able people but in an all-out fight between a Witch Lord and a demon they're just incidental. Only Ashe lasts any length of time against Carnage and that's only because the latter insists on using a sword.
On the plus side I liked Ryx/Disaster's slow journey to accommodation with her duality and her romance with Severin. The explanation of the true nature of the demons was also well executed.
Two final niggles. Towards the end of the book the protagonists have expended a lot of time and effort to contain Carnage so that she can be shoved back through the rift and then all of a sudden we're talking about Nightmare. I wondered if Ms Caruso did a bit of a rewrite and forgot to make all the necessary corrections. The other niggle is the Graces. They're a convenient mcguffin for the first conflict so where did they go? And what were they?
I think the main problem I have with this book is that there are too many extremely powerful people running around, demons, warlocks, Witch Lords etc. It's a bit like how I feel watching the Avengers. Alongside Hulk and Thor you have the Black Widow and Hawkeye who are just regular human beings. Take a step back and it's just not plausible that they can long survive conflicts between superhuman entities. Similarly, the Rooks may be very able people but in an all-out fight between a Witch Lord and a demon they're just incidental. Only Ashe lasts any length of time against Carnage and that's only because the latter insists on using a sword.
On the plus side I liked Ryx/Disaster's slow journey to accommodation with her duality and her romance with Severin. The explanation of the true nature of the demons was also well executed.
Two final niggles. Towards the end of the book the protagonists have expended a lot of time and effort to contain Carnage so that she can be shoved back through the rift and then all of a sudden we're talking about Nightmare. I wondered if Ms Caruso did a bit of a rewrite and forgot to make all the necessary corrections. The other niggle is the Graces. They're a convenient mcguffin for the first conflict so where did they go? And what were they?
kristinecanwrite's review against another edition
4.0
A good conclusion to an enjoyable series, honestly probably my favorite trilogy of the year. I felt like this book missed some tension from the last, and some of the character work that made the Rookery stand out (mostly I got excited when Ryx and Severin were doing things, and even more excited when Ardith showed up). But what was good was great, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Melissa Caruso in the future.