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amybraunauthor's review
5.0
I’m going to miss this series so much! I love each new entry into the world and the new characters. This one might very well be my favourite of the three!
I really loved how it was a genuine dual POV this time. Not only did I get to enjoy Rhea’s journey, but I got to meet Uriel, who is a complex, mysterious man with a solid heart. Yet Rhea truly shone. Watching her overcome her adversaries, both internal and external, was truly empowering. I adore her!
This book also delved deeper into the lore and the alchemists. They are so much creepier than I could have imagined!
I treasure this series for its uniqueness, the chemistry of its leads, the slow burn romance, and the gargoyles! I am excited for Emma Hamm’s next work!
I really loved how it was a genuine dual POV this time. Not only did I get to enjoy Rhea’s journey, but I got to meet Uriel, who is a complex, mysterious man with a solid heart. Yet Rhea truly shone. Watching her overcome her adversaries, both internal and external, was truly empowering. I adore her!
This book also delved deeper into the lore and the alchemists. They are so much creepier than I could have imagined!
I treasure this series for its uniqueness, the chemistry of its leads, the slow burn romance, and the gargoyles! I am excited for Emma Hamm’s next work!
janeeyre_914716's review
5.0
"You cannot live in the past and allow regrets to pause your movement into the future." ~Rhea
I can't believe this trilogy is over but seeing and reading Emma Hamm's afterword and how this is done for now I can see why even though I'd love to see another book or few of these spot on Beauty and the Beast retellings, I can see why she would mainly end their stories for now after this one. And I have to say, I actually loved this one more than book 2 if I'm going to be honest here. If I had to pick the order of favorites for this trilogy it would be
Gilded Rose (1)
Midnight Rose (3)
Emerald Rose (2)
And I have to also say this was a great finale until Emma Hamm decides to perhaps write more of these but for now, I highly recommend this trilogy and for my first Emma Hamm book(s)/series I loved them and did I mention yet how sad I am these are over? ;)
I can't believe this trilogy is over but seeing and reading Emma Hamm's afterword and how this is done for now I can see why even though I'd love to see another book or few of these spot on Beauty and the Beast retellings, I can see why she would mainly end their stories for now after this one. And I have to say, I actually loved this one more than book 2 if I'm going to be honest here. If I had to pick the order of favorites for this trilogy it would be
Gilded Rose (1)
Midnight Rose (3)
Emerald Rose (2)
And I have to also say this was a great finale until Emma Hamm decides to perhaps write more of these but for now, I highly recommend this trilogy and for my first Emma Hamm book(s)/series I loved them and did I mention yet how sad I am these are over? ;)
holsarmstrong's review
4.0
I want more of this. I really want more of this series because I honestly loved this so much!
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this series but the writing hooked me instantly, I loved every character in each of their own books and I really liked how Emma weaved everything together in the end.
Uriel and Rhea were great. I loved the innocent Rhea portrayed and Uriel wasn't the stereotypical idiot that we are used to. He had his own motivations for things and he was cautious and thoughtful and I really appreciated this about his character. Rhea was equally as nice and I liked how she had this hidden power and the idea of being the underdog.
The plot for this one was original and creative and I really liked how everything played out. I will say, I wanted more from the ending as it all felt a bit abrupt but I did like where it ended.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Celestials series!
At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this series but the writing hooked me instantly, I loved every character in each of their own books and I really liked how Emma weaved everything together in the end.
Uriel and Rhea were great. I loved the innocent Rhea portrayed and Uriel wasn't the stereotypical idiot that we are used to. He had his own motivations for things and he was cautious and thoughtful and I really appreciated this about his character. Rhea was equally as nice and I liked how she had this hidden power and the idea of being the underdog.
The plot for this one was original and creative and I really liked how everything played out. I will say, I wanted more from the ending as it all felt a bit abrupt but I did like where it ended.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Celestials series!
lickableenzymes's review
4.0
Very good
I really enjoyed all the questions that were answered in this book, though the ending for really abrupt. Rhea head spent so much time learning to live and accept herself throughout the story, and then at the end it felt like she regressed, which was really disappointing. She had blossomed into being this powerful symbol of life and feminity to all of a sudden feeling like the power was evil and she never wanted to use it again. I think that's what kept this from being a five star book for me. Also, while there were hints and work building the relationship, it felt like it went straight from starting to realize feelings to 'I love you' in the next sentence.
I also wished they had at least tried to save uriel's son. I was expecting the magic to like, reversed time on him and make him back into a little boy with no memories of what had happened.
Criticisms aside, the magic system in this weekend was really well built and the explanations for why things worked the way they did and went Rhea was able to become so powerful so quickly made sense. If didn't feel forced to fit. Solving the mystery of the alchemists was a delightful journey same a wonderful conclusion to the series.
I really enjoyed all the questions that were answered in this book, though the ending for really abrupt. Rhea head spent so much time learning to live and accept herself throughout the story, and then at the end it felt like she regressed, which was really disappointing. She had blossomed into being this powerful symbol of life and feminity to all of a sudden feeling like the power was evil and she never wanted to use it again. I think that's what kept this from being a five star book for me. Also, while there were hints and work building the relationship, it felt like it went straight from starting to realize feelings to 'I love you' in the next sentence.
I also wished they had at least tried to save uriel's son. I was expecting the magic to like, reversed time on him and make him back into a little boy with no memories of what had happened.
Criticisms aside, the magic system in this weekend was really well built and the explanations for why things worked the way they did and went Rhea was able to become so powerful so quickly made sense. If didn't feel forced to fit. Solving the mystery of the alchemists was a delightful journey same a wonderful conclusion to the series.
booklover03's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kayreadsfast's review
3.0
This is the final book in The Celestials series and unfortunately I was disappointed. This story centered around Rhea, a less than powerful young woman, as per usual for this series. However, Rhea soon realizes that she’s way more powerful than she or anyone else knows. Her power and watching her find her confidence was this story’s saving grace. I really wished for more out of this one, specifically more about the two previous celestials and their lives. The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic. The author said this was the end of the series as she planned, but if there was enough interest from her readers there might be more, so I truly hope she gives us one final book of the Celestials to wrap everything up!
rimsreadingbox's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting and much darker than I anticipated, I liked it. There wasn't that much focus on the romance in this book compared to the first two books, but we got a lot more from the other side of the story which I really enjoyed. I wasn't that satisfied with the ending, I did want more and didn't want to see it as a rushed ending. So I'll be giving it a 4 star as well.
cassberrie's review
4.0
An immensely satisfying conclusion to this series! This is a series that just gets better and better with each book, as Hamm builds upon the lore and reveals secrets to the mysteries woven throughout.
Rhea and Uriel were a lovely pair, and getting to see Rhea emerge into her true potential was a welcome treat. It’s also just so much fun getting to learn more about the alchemists and their ways. Seeing Omra, finally, after it’s been teased in the past two books was exciting, along with how the rules of this particular group of Dread were different compared to Alexandre’s and Raphael’s.
I would love to read more books in this series. The world is just so interesting.
My gripes with the novel came from certain plot threads that didn’t feel necessary, like the Archon part. I was also a little underwhelmed by Holly as a character, since her relationship with Rhea felt underdeveloped since Rhea didn’t even pay her much attention. And in general, I’m not sure how I felt about the general culture of the priestesses, since it sometimes came off as only serving to prove that Rhea is “not like other girls, they’re all hoes”. While I can understand the logical reason for this choice, I’m still not quite a fan.
Rhea and Uriel were a lovely pair, and getting to see Rhea emerge into her true potential was a welcome treat. It’s also just so much fun getting to learn more about the alchemists and their ways. Seeing Omra, finally, after it’s been teased in the past two books was exciting, along with how the rules of this particular group of Dread were different compared to Alexandre’s and Raphael’s.
I would love to read more books in this series. The world is just so interesting.
My gripes with the novel came from certain plot threads that didn’t feel necessary, like the Archon part. I was also a little underwhelmed by Holly as a character, since her relationship with Rhea felt underdeveloped since Rhea didn’t even pay her much attention. And in general, I’m not sure how I felt about the general culture of the priestesses, since it sometimes came off as only serving to prove that Rhea is “not like other girls, they’re all hoes”. While I can understand the logical reason for this choice, I’m still not quite a fan.
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