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dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Ok first I’m going to talk about the book, then the series, and I’ve tried to avoid any and all spoliers:
This book was SO GOOD! The tension throughout the book was really nice. I don’t know how many times I yelled, “that a**hole” in agreement with Sera, Nyktos, Attes, or Nyktas. The spicy scenes were just as good as they were in the first book and I can’t believe this part is over 🥲.
Plot:
Overarching and ties together very nicely. There were a few times when I got confused with the prophecy, but then again- is it truly a prophecy if not confusing?
Characters:
I felt a deep emotional connection with each of these characters at least once. A book hasn’t made me start balling in a while but Sera’s stages of trauma really got to me.
(My fav characters are Saion, Nyktas, Sera, Nytos, Attes - in that order)
Romance:
I think the main thing I loved about this series and this author is that she doesn’t fully romanticize romance. She gives us the struggles and the hardships that come with it, as well as the fun times.
Rocking the Steamboat Scenes:
Holy- mother of everything- if you want spicy scenes you’ve come to the right place!
The author overall does an amazing job with human emotions and intentions, writing the fine line of when they can get blurred.
I can’t wait to read the next series!! 🤩🤩
This book was SO GOOD! The tension throughout the book was really nice. I don’t know how many times I yelled, “that a**hole” in agreement with Sera, Nyktos, Attes, or Nyktas. The spicy scenes were just as good as they were in the first book and I can’t believe this part is over 🥲.
Plot:
Overarching and ties together very nicely. There were a few times when I got confused with the prophecy, but then again- is it truly a prophecy if not confusing?
Characters:
I felt a deep emotional connection with each of these characters at least once. A book hasn’t made me start balling in a while but Sera’s stages of trauma really got to me.
(My fav characters are Saion, Nyktas, Sera, Nytos, Attes - in that order)
Romance:
I think the main thing I loved about this series and this author is that she doesn’t fully romanticize romance. She gives us the struggles and the hardships that come with it, as well as the fun times.
Rocking the Steamboat Scenes:
Holy- mother of everything- if you want spicy scenes you’ve come to the right place!
The author overall does an amazing job with human emotions and intentions, writing the fine line of when they can get blurred.
I can’t wait to read the next series!! 🤩🤩
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Minor: Genocide, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book felt so very very long. I understand it was the last in this series and had a lot of ground to cover, but it was a slog to get through. Not nearly as much happened as I thought would and there was so much filler. I love the first books in this series, but this one could have been half the length to tell the same story.
Much of the filler in this book was spice. The book is so horny. Don't get me wrong, I love some good spice, but when a book is this long, I don't think we need quite *that* many sex scenes. It felt like filler to make the book longer instead of being meaningful.
The book also tried to touch on so many heavy themes or 'hot button' issues: assault, suicide, general trauma, abortion...there's more I'm sure. At first is was interesting, but then it started to feel a little shoe horned in, a writing challenge to see how many heavy/triggering topics can we fit in here or how can we stretch this book out even longer than it needs to be. It stopped feeling genuine very quickly.
You know Sera ends up pregnant at some point, but I don't love how it was done. Maybe its the place I currently am in life (hi from a childless cat lady), but I did not love the long bits going on about being pregnant and how wonderful & magical it is to be a parent. Had I been reading the physical book and not the audiobook, I would have skimmed/skipped those sections. I was over it very quickly.
The whole plot with the prophecy felt very convoluted to me. What they thought it meant, what other characters thought it meant, what it actually means and how it ties to the Blood & Ash series. I got so lost. I have not currently read the last two B&A books, so maybe that's part of the issue? I know enough to be dangerous, but not helpful? I also got lost in the last chapter that was part of the futureCalum and the diamond, the prophecy being fulfilled . It just felt so confusing.
Last notes - I thought this series had way too many characters I did start to mix them up. However, some of them had fun personalities and were very interesting. In this book, too many people blended together and felt flat. The charm that I found it a large cast was lost.
Much of the filler in this book was spice. The book is so horny. Don't get me wrong, I love some good spice, but when a book is this long, I don't think we need quite *that* many sex scenes. It felt like filler to make the book longer instead of being meaningful.
The book also tried to touch on so many heavy themes or 'hot button' issues: assault, suicide, general trauma, abortion...there's more I'm sure. At first is was interesting, but then it started to feel a little shoe horned in, a writing challenge to see how many heavy/triggering topics can we fit in here or how can we stretch this book out even longer than it needs to be. It stopped feeling genuine very quickly.
You know Sera ends up pregnant at some point, but I don't love how it was done. Maybe its the place I currently am in life (hi from a childless cat lady), but I did not love the long bits going on about being pregnant and how wonderful & magical it is to be a parent. Had I been reading the physical book and not the audiobook, I would have skimmed/skipped those sections. I was over it very quickly.
The whole plot with the prophecy felt very convoluted to me. What they thought it meant, what other characters thought it meant, what it actually means and how it ties to the Blood & Ash series. I got so lost. I have not currently read the last two B&A books, so maybe that's part of the issue? I know enough to be dangerous, but not helpful? I also got lost in the last chapter that was part of the future
Last notes - I thought this series had way too many characters I did start to mix them up. However, some of them had fun personalities and were very interesting. In this book, too many people blended together and felt flat. The charm that I found it a large cast was lost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
Once again, JLA did wonders with her book. Sera and Ash's relationship growing stronger through trauma is beautiful. One could wish for more scenes with Jadis and Reaver that are so loveable, and hopefully there'll be a book that gets into them further as well as a book that shows Ires and Malec grow with the two drake, and would go over details as to why they picked these names for the babies, how did Malec's leaving happen, and the main events in between Sera's and Poppy's times. JLA also took her sweet time to have Sera realise she is pregnant, maybe too much time as it was strongly hinted since the previous book already.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
Sera and Ash’s story comes to an end in their timeline, as this series and FBAA are set to intertwine in the next book. Nyktos remains my favorite, but Attes is a close second.
Sera and Ash are reunited and Sera has a lot of PTSD from her time with Kolis, but she’s in denial and fails to address it for most of the story, which has serious implications. Sera gets reunions with her Lasania family while also building her chosen family with Nyktos and friends in Illesium. I loved both for her.
Nyktos shows care and starts to allow others to see him happy and as Ash, which made me happy as both he and Sera acknowledge the chosen family they built.
Hollander returns and makes a few brief appearances that surprise and inform.
While a lot happens, this book endsjust as Kolis is entombed. Without the birth of the twins. The last chapter is from the POV of the ancients which both excites and scares me as we await the POBAB release. We definitely get more information and what I hope is the final official prophesy, but I have new questions too.
Sera and Ash are reunited and Sera has a lot of PTSD from her time with Kolis, but she’s in denial and fails to address it for most of the story, which has serious implications. Sera gets reunions with her Lasania family while also building her chosen family with Nyktos and friends in Illesium. I loved both for her.
Nyktos shows care and starts to allow others to see him happy and as Ash, which made me happy as both he and Sera acknowledge the chosen family they built.
Hollander returns and makes a few brief appearances that surprise and inform.
While a lot happens, this book ends
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bit slow at times (it’s very long), but I enjoyed it. I love the story of Ash and Sera.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
There was a lot of trauma processing occurring throughout the book, but it all made sense at a pivotal moment. Pieces of the prophecy start falling into place as the timeline that leads to the Blood and Ash era comes together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence