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catherine10134u38's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely amazing. I honestly don't know how people don't like this book. This was amazing. such a perfect and satisfying ending. I absolutely loved the way everything turned out. I predicted what happen at some point but I still loved it. UGH. This entire series made sense now that I thought about it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Kidnapping
boba_n_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️
Stephanie Garber's writing is some of the best I've encountered in a long time. Written in the same vein as Rebecca Ross, Garber's trilogies will be ones I will return to time and time again.
Evangeline seems to have the perfect happily ever after. She's married to the prince of the Magnificent North and lives in a legendary castle. But something about this ending doesn't feel right to her. Evangeline searches to figure out what exactly it is that she's missing, even though her husband is determined to keep Evangeline's past a secret. The only way for him to secure his happily ever after is to kill Jacks, and he will do anything to go down in history.
As I reflected on this book, I realized that I came away from it with a lot of unanswered questions. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and it kept me on my toes, quickly flipping page after page. Some of the characters disappeared without a trace, and others whom you thought would play a larger role didn't get much time on the page. I think this book could've been 200, or even just 100, pages longer, and that would've solved for some of the things I was wondering about.
However, I completely enjoyed this trilogy. It and the Caraval trilogy are definitely some of the best series I've read in a while, and I'm so glad I gave them a chance. I can't wait to see what else Stephanie Garber has in store for our friends in the Magnificent North.
Stephanie Garber's writing is some of the best I've encountered in a long time. Written in the same vein as Rebecca Ross, Garber's trilogies will be ones I will return to time and time again.
Evangeline seems to have the perfect happily ever after. She's married to the prince of the Magnificent North and lives in a legendary castle. But something about this ending doesn't feel right to her. Evangeline searches to figure out what exactly it is that she's missing, even though her husband is determined to keep Evangeline's past a secret. The only way for him to secure his happily ever after is to kill Jacks, and he will do anything to go down in history.
As I reflected on this book, I realized that I came away from it with a lot of unanswered questions. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and it kept me on my toes, quickly flipping page after page. Some of the characters disappeared without a trace, and others whom you thought would play a larger role didn't get much time on the page. I think this book could've been 200, or even just 100, pages longer, and that would've solved for some of the things I was wondering about.
However, I completely enjoyed this trilogy. It and the Caraval trilogy are definitely some of the best series I've read in a while, and I'm so glad I gave them a chance. I can't wait to see what else Stephanie Garber has in store for our friends in the Magnificent North.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent, Cursing, Torture, and Sexual content
roseleebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
I'll try to make this a spoiler free review!
What I liked: the multiple POV moves the story along really well. I enjoyed the direction the plot went in and thought that the wrap-up made sense. I read this in one day because I could not put it down!
What I didn't like: the events felt a bit rushed to me at the end, however I wonder if that was partly because it seemed like less happened overall in this book.
I do think if I were to reread the whole series all at once this book as a finale would be closer to perfect for me. All that to say I really liked this series and am glad to have read this!
What I liked: the multiple POV moves the story along really well. I enjoyed the direction the plot went in and thought that the wrap-up made sense. I read this in one day because I could not put it down!
What I didn't like: the events felt a bit rushed to me at the end, however I wonder if that was partly because it seemed like less happened overall in this book.
I do think if I were to reread the whole series all at once this book as a finale would be closer to perfect for me. All that to say I really liked this series and am glad to have read this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Cursing, Blood, Murder, Stalking, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Infidelity
chelbelle122's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Beginning dragged for me. But the story got the ending it deserved. And that last sentence. Chefs kiss.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
klsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Blood, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Animal death, and Child death
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
ksilvio's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Animal death
overlookingcovers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
tourmaline1703's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite my confusion at the start, I did enjoy this book. It was a good ending to a great series and I cannot wait for Spectacular later this year!
In this book, we get to see more of the Magnificent North and get to delve deeper into its history. It felt like we really built off what we learnt in the other books and added to its magic. I'm still a bit confused on how the curses work and why some were lifted and some weren't but, I loved the way the magic system was added to in this novel.
As always, Stephanie Garber's writing is wonderful. It's so easy to get into and the descriptions are beautiful. I love the way she brings the characters' emotions to life, especially their anger, and I think the multi-POV really showed this contrast off.
I did find the plot a bit awkwardly paced and hard to follow at times. I don't know if I was just being a bit vague at times but it felt like I had no clue what was going on at all for the first half of the book. However, as the novel progressed, things started clearing up and the twists towards the end were brilliant. Despite not quite understanding what was going on, I still enjoyed it.
It's very safe to say I misjudged one of our protagonists massively and it led to a lot of confusion at the start. I was very confused by their actions but turns out, I just overestimated them. I loved the multi-POV and I think it really added to the characters, and helped understand their motives much better. This book has made me actually like Jacks now, I still don't fully trust him but I do really like him as a character now.
Therefore, despite all my confusion, I really enjoyed this book and it was a great end to the series!
In this book, we get to see more of the Magnificent North and get to delve deeper into its history. It felt like we really built off what we learnt in the other books and added to its magic. I'm still a bit confused on how the curses work and why some were lifted and some weren't but, I loved the way the magic system was added to in this novel.
As always, Stephanie Garber's writing is wonderful. It's so easy to get into and the descriptions are beautiful. I love the way she brings the characters' emotions to life, especially their anger, and I think the multi-POV really showed this contrast off.
I did find the plot a bit awkwardly paced and hard to follow at times. I don't know if I was just being a bit vague at times but it felt like I had no clue what was going on at all for the first half of the book. However, as the novel progressed, things started clearing up and the twists towards the end were brilliant. Despite not quite understanding what was going on, I still enjoyed it.
It's very safe to say I misjudged one of our protagonists massively and it led to a lot of confusion at the start. I was very confused by their actions but turns out, I just overestimated them. I loved the multi-POV and I think it really added to the characters, and helped understand their motives much better. This book has made me actually like Jacks now, I still don't fully trust him but I do really like him as a character now.
Therefore, despite all my confusion, I really enjoyed this book and it was a great end to the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Blood
esterslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Torture