Reviews

Black Night Falling is the finale of the Circle Trilogy and thus concludes the story around Tabby and her friends. I probably like this book more than the first one but less than the second one; there’s more happening than in the first book, but the plot is in some parts too confusing, and some characters feel a bit too flat.

It’s especially the story around Tabby and Denzi that is a bit weird and confusing. Tabby is now with the Circle who live in a large underwater base where she tries to figure out their plans and her role in them. I didn’t trust the Circle from the beginning and was a bit disappointed when Tabby started to trust them after such a short period of time when they basically destroyed her whole life. I furthermore had the feeling that the author tried to mix up too many different ideas here, leading to them not really being worked out and my suspension of disbelief disappearing towards the end. In my opinion, this series should’ve focussed on the Circle as people connected to the water and trying to save the world with questionable methods and not this whole thing around the ancestors and looking into the past and the future.

In comparison, I liked the story around Hayden, a climate protestor we met in the last book before – though I couldn’t remember her lmao. This storyline is just more political and more realistic; hence I probably liked it more. The topics this plotline deals with are quite up to date: the question how far climate protests should and can go and the topic of violence against protestors. But I have to say that Hayden was sometimes quite the cliché activist and hence felt almost a bit comical, even though this was not the intention.

What I especially like about Terry’s books are the endings, and this ending was again so dramatic and kinda creepy. Sadly, the solution to the conflict itself was a bit too simple for my taste. Yes, the message is nice, but still a bit unrealistic that the solution would be so easy and happen so fast. We also get this epilogue where

Denzi and Ariel visit Tabby for the first time in five years and it’s revealed that they got a child. I found this just a bit weird as well

I don’t want to talk too extensively about Terry’s writing style since I already did so in previous reviews. But again, it bothered me that sometimes, there were dialogues across a whole page with nothing in-between. Often, the dialogues feel a bit too constructed for my taste as well. Compared to this, I really liked the new underwater setting we’re introduced to.

Likewise, I don’t have too much to say about the characters. In general, I liked the main cast. It was also nice that the characters had more introspection this time and reflected on all the things that happened to them and how it changed them. Like I’ve mentioned, I liked Hayden more than Tabby and Denzi. The problem with Denzi was that we only got his POV after the first half of the book, leading to him feeling more distanced than the other characters.

The whole Circle Trilogy was for sure an interesting read. It has an intriguing, in some parts quite weird story about a girl trying to find a place in this world where she belongs. Some parts of the story felt a bit drawn out, while others kept me on the edge of my seat and made me interested in figuring out the mystery. The strengths of the author are neither romance nor an interesting writing style, and it shows in this series sadly again.

Content Warnings

theravenbookgeek's review

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adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

charlottesomewhere's review

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challenging emotional tense

I absolutely did not see things ending the way they have for Tabby and Denzi. I've loved this series since the first book. Each one has been a rollercoaster and this finale was no different. Kept me on edge the whole book. Brilliant end to a brilliant trilogy.

lybrarie's review

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adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I continue to be a huge fan of Teri Terry's work with the finale to this latest series. Although I don't think The Circle Trilogy has been my favourite of Terry's, I have definitely still enjoyed it and I do think Black Night Falling is the best of the three.

As always, I really enjoy Terry's writing style and the characters. I love the world and I love the message behind the book, interwoven with the scifi and fantasy elements. I will certainly be continuing to read everything this author puts out.

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