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escapismforlife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5
" To be fearless means to have a heart of steel. "
I finished last night on July 29 , 2021. I have some good thoughts others not so much.
Helene is the true most valuable character in this final book of the Ember In The Ashes series. She isn't good but that's because of forced circumstance.The fact she didn't get a happy ending with Harper.
After everything she had to go through with her whole family being murdered almost made me rip this book up.
This is a good place to say this, screw Keris Veturia. I don't care what she went through as a kid with the Scholars. She did much, MUCH worse to the characters I loved.
The Nightbringer and Mauth just creeped me out for the entirety of this final book. So they did their job but not in a big way like Keris. It felt minimal in the middle through ending of this book even though their ancient Jinn who are supposed reckless. They also didn't deserve their closure but I'm just glad they died.
Laia and Elias happy ending was something I needed to hold on to. For a good majority of Part 3, 4 and 5 I couldn't handle the sadness of lost.
But the love between them was that relationship that made me read to the end. I have invested to much emotion into the relationships of this series not to see at least one couple get a happy ending.
Musa I just have no words for him being there. He is that supporting character that deserves closure. I did need more of him but was happy he stayed. Him and Helene deserve the comfort they can provide each other.
" To be fearless means to have a heart of steel. "
I finished last night on July 29 , 2021. I have some good thoughts others not so much.
Helene is the true most valuable character in this final book of the Ember In The Ashes series. She isn't good but that's because of forced circumstance.
After everything she had to go through with her whole family being murdered almost made me rip this book up.
This is a good place to say this, screw Keris Veturia. I don't care what she went through as a kid with the Scholars. She did much, MUCH worse to the characters I loved.
Laia and Elias happy ending was something I needed to hold on to. For a good majority of Part 3, 4 and 5 I couldn't handle the sadness of lost.
But the love between them was that relationship that made me read to the end. I have invested to much emotion into the relationships of this series not to see at least one couple get a happy ending.
Musa I just have no words for him being there. He is that supporting character that deserves closure. I did need more of him but was happy he stayed. Him and Helene deserve the comfort they can provide each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Grief, and Sexism
kbusemeyer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
It definitely took a few books to get into, but I did end up liking this series. Tahir does a really good job of bringing things full circle and giving you a happy ending (Laia, Mirra, Elias) while as always making it all come with a price (Avitas, Darrin) .
I appreciate that the series isn’t all about the bad guys always losing everything and the good guys winning everything without loss.
I think Helene ended up being my favorite character, but she always ends up getting the short end of the stick especially with Harper dying. I guess it’s the fact that she needs to be alone as Empress allegedly, but then the whole thing with Musa is weird to me if it’s meant to be read romantically .
Overall I enjoyed seeing all the pieces come together in unexpected ways and definitely cried at the ending.
I appreciate that the series isn’t all about the bad guys always losing everything and the good guys winning everything without loss.
I think Helene ended up being my favorite character, but
Overall I enjoyed seeing all the pieces come together in unexpected ways and definitely cried at the ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
rachellewiski's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Do not read this series of you value your happiness, this book will destroy you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexism, Misogyny, Slavery, and Genocide
shakira's review against another edition
adventurous
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 was the perfect ending to this series. I loved how everything comes together and the character development in this book was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Cursing
crazyrandom_music's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
theespressoedition's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well well well, this might be my favorite book of the series - and that's saying something, considering I still didn't really enjoy it all that much.
Just like the rest of the books, it was insanely slow with a ton of depressing sequences filled with torture and gore. I also got really confused while reading this one because of all the different kinds of mystical creatures: jinn, ghosts, fey, etc. - they all began to muddle together, especially as Elias went back and forth between "himself" and The Soul Catcher. That was another confusing bit: everyone seeming to have multiple names. Helene was also Blood Shrike, Nighbringer was formerly Keenan and also Meherya and The King-of-No-Name. I couldn't keep up with all of the terms and characters as they changed forms or went back and forth in the storyline.
I think my favorite part (sarcasm) was the fact that after Helene lost her parents and one of her sisters, her other sister is killed before her eyes and then her lover is murdered as well. Can this girl get a break?? It was the last book and while she's definitely not my favorite character, I wanted some kind of happy ending for her.
In addition to that, I did NOT want Keris to have any kind of positive ending. The fact that she was able to go to The Waiting Place and pass on with her mother felt way too generous for someone as horrific as her.
Okay, so let's be honest, I could actually pick apart this book in every way, which kind of breaks my heart. Towards the end, I was actually interested for the first time throughout the entire series - and I even cried once (GASP). I only wish it could have been like that earlier on. All-in-all, this series receives a 2-star rating from me. It just isn't the best.
Just like the rest of the books, it was insanely slow with a ton of depressing sequences filled with torture and gore. I also got really confused while reading this one because of all the different kinds of mystical creatures: jinn, ghosts, fey, etc. - they all began to muddle together, especially as Elias went back and forth between "himself" and The Soul Catcher. That was another confusing bit: everyone seeming to have multiple names. Helene was also Blood Shrike, Nighbringer was formerly Keenan and also Meherya and The King-of-No-Name. I couldn't keep up with all of the terms and characters as they changed forms or went back and forth in the storyline.
I think my favorite part (sarcasm) was the fact that after Helene
In addition to that, I did NOT want Keris to have any kind of positive ending. The fact that
Okay, so let's be honest, I could actually pick apart this book in every way, which kind of breaks my heart. Towards the end, I was actually interested for the first time throughout the entire series - and I even cried once (GASP). I only wish it could have been like that earlier on. All-in-all, this series receives a 2-star rating from me. It just isn't the best.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Grief
cerilouisereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide and Sexual content
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
aw, I cried during the ending! i really liked the ending of the series and this was definitely my favourite one in the whole series (I did have to Google all of the world history because I had forgotten them from the previous books).
i liked the writing and atmosphere, k enjoyed the character banter and dynamics, so much KILLING OF CHARACTERS (she did not hold back, all the consequences), andII loved how it resolved too
i liked the writing and atmosphere, k enjoyed the character banter and dynamics, so much KILLING OF CHARACTERS (she did not hold back, all the consequences), andII loved how it resolved too
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Torture
water_violin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Whew! What a saga! I don’t think I can really review only this book (it was really just a small part of the entire story), but: it was so good. Heart wrenching. Beautiful. There is so much to love and so much to grieve. The story is gritty and real and doesn’t pull punches. It is full of violence and love and horror and hope. Although the resolution is gorgeous and satisfying, do not start reading this series expecting a happy story. You’ll learn to love so many fascinating, diverse characters and... some of them won’t make it to the end. Overall, these books are heavy, but beautifully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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
4.25
Overall, a solid finish for the Ember series and I liked where all of the main characters wound up. This book really goes deeper into the pitfalls of revenge v justice and emphasizes the ideas that if your forbearers did harm to a population, it is your responsibility to make it right as best you can. All of that wrapped up with incredibly fast-paced action, wonderful characters (also, I was about to tear my hair out with Elias and Laia for like 9/10ths of this book and it ruled. The pining was magnificent), and what I considered a pretty solid ending.
However, I did have some problems with the ending I think that my biggest qualm came with the ending on a more philosophical scale (I was fine with all the deaths and the personal ends of the main characters).I don't know how I feel about the fact that the Martials still get to have an empire and that an Empress (even if that empress is Helene) is in charge of this country. I feel like I would have personally felt a more equitable ending would be...I don't know, giving the Tribal people complete independence (or at least a vote on if they wanted to leave) and the Scholars should have gotten either a full on country supported by the Martials or every Scholar should have gotten so much money and land since they just went through another genocide. As I said, the book does reiterate the point that you are responsible for making right the sins of your forbearers, and that even if you didn't personally do something that you need to make it right. Also, I would have loved it if Tahir had kept with the idea that Helene is not going to be forgiven by all she hurt and she would have to be okay with that, rather than implying that she is eventually forgiven by those like Mamie Rilla. As my rating indicates, I didn't find it *that* much of a hinderance in my enjoyment of the series, and I can accept this ending as fair to the extent that the world Tahir will allow it to be.
I honestly can't wait to read whatever Tahir comes out with next, because if I like it half as much as I liked this series, I'm going to love it.
However, I did have some problems with the ending I think that my biggest qualm came with the ending on a more philosophical scale (I was fine with all the deaths and the personal ends of the main characters).
I honestly can't wait to read whatever Tahir comes out with next, because if I like it half as much as I liked this series, I'm going to love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Genocide, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Vomit, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Torture