Reviews with content warning for Grief - A Vicious Game

I am really enjoying the books in this series. I was under the impression that this was trilogy and that I was getting ready to say goodbye to this world, but with this ending – it can’t be a trilogy, there must be a fourth book. Otherwise, I'll cry.

This book still follows Keera, who we have met in the first book. There is a new king is on the throne and the rebellion lies in ruins. Keera spends her days drinking and her nights avoiding sleep, so she doesn’t have the strange dreams that have haunted her since she returned from the capital. Keera’s family in Myrelinth won’t her go without a fight. With new intelligence about the magical seals left behind by Keera’s ancient kin, the Light Fae, she rallies to face her demons and unleash her formidable powers that she inherited from her people. But a shocking truth is hiding in plain sight, one with the power to unravel the entire rebellion.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Each book is so thrilling, and the action is keeping you hooked from beginning to the end. I still adore Keera and I’m still scared of her, and I still want her to hit me, and I'd thank her. Keera went on a journey in this book, and I was waiting for her to kick ass and besides her gaining her power, she didn’t really kick much ass in this book. The found family aspect in this book got so much better and I love her gang growing even if we did lose a few members during the war in this book. The storyline was strong, and I am still rooting for this gang to finally defeat Damian because he really drove me nuts in this book (I am still hoping he gets a slow and painful death).

As with the last book, I was waiting for the shock plot twist. I was wanting more. I felt like because it had been a year since the last book, there was a lot of repeated information about what had happened previously. I knew who the mole was going to be and what journey Keera was going to go on and that they weren’t going to kill Riven.

I enjoyed this book and there has to be a fourth book with how this book ended. I am hoping that book will wrap things up very nicely. As i felt it was a bit slow at time with the pace and the repeated information.

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lettuce_read's review against another edition

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5.0

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lilhappyhermit's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

This book had me reeling with all the twists and turns of the events that unfolded. With how book 2 ended, Keera is back to old habits attempting to cope with all that has happened. Not only is she doing her best to try to help with the cause where ever she can, her allies and friends are doing their best to support her through all of the turmoil she has experienced. On that note, more secrets are unfolded that cause a rift in people she see’s as loved ones and it causes some difficulties in the trials to come. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious sad tense 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

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thecaffeinatedlibrary's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

5.0

Where do I even begin with this book? THIS BOOK.

After book 1 (A Broken Blade), I didn't know how it could get any better, but book 2 (A Shadow Crown) was a whole extra level of amazing. I naively thought this again, "how could it get better?" And holy damn, did Melissa Blair deliver with A Vicious Game. Blair takes everything that makes ABB and ASC so incredible, and someone weaves that into the magic that is book 3.

Balancing the light and the dark, AVG discusses the darker sides of addiction and grief while still giving us SO much love. Honestly, the love these characters have for each other makes me cry happy tears while I'm reading it.

Plotwise, so so so much happens in this one. Each book picks up the pace just a little bit, and the tension is palpable in this one. The threat of war is breathing down your neck, weighing down every moment. The absolute gut-wrenching sadness I feel for Keera, Riven, Nik and Syrrha is a genuine physical reaction – I have not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it.

The prose is getting darker, more heavy-handed too. The strings Blair has been pulling throughout the series are finally being revealed with some absolutely mind-blowing plot twists. The kind of plot twist that made me physically put the book down and think back on every single clue Blair left us. And that ENDING gahhhh!

In summary: I need book 4 asap.

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