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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
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
So you're telling me, that this is like some super, super re-write of the origin of the deities for the Sun, Moon, Storms, Waves, Flames, Earth, and Night? In this moment I think this is kind of impressive. In the long run of the story, I think I feel like this was just unnecessary and pointless. This was a pretty fun conclusion though. Better than the previous books style-wise and story-wise. It's not life-changing, by far, but it's enough to be an entertaining read.
It took nigh on ten years for Mia to exact her revenge on the man who destroyed her family and irrevocably changed her life: Consul Julius Scaeva, and his associate Cardinal Duomo. She's given a chance to build a new family when she extricates her newly-discovered surviving brother Jonnen, who has been raised and groomed by Scaeva to be his heir to the Itreyan Republic. But after escaping the coliseum and meeting up with Ash and Tric, she's horrified to discover that Scaeva no only survived her assassination attempt and is taking advantage of emergency powers to establish himself as a stronger single ruler of the Republic, but he's also her father and he's holding Mercurio captive! The journey to the Quiet Mountain reveals secrets and truths about her darkin heritage, and the forced acceptance that the gods do exist and they're all gunning for her to prevent her from freeing the Dark Mother from her prison.
Niah, goddess of the night and murders, also has dominion over the dead. She resurrects Tric to guide and direct Mia to free her from her prison and resurrect her son, the Moon. Seeing as how Ash murdered Tric and Mia is falling deeper in love with Ash, this could turn out to be a tense and awkward alliance.
One extra book is still not enough time to let me forgive Ash for everything she did in book 1. Justify it all you want, that the Red Church is corrupt and Ash did it for the love of her father and for actual justice, nope I'm still not over her killing Tric! She's smart and fierce, but even still I've been distrusting her since book 1! Is that a sign of great writing, that her betrayal cut so deep I'm suspicious of everything that she's doing?
In book 1, this affection was more like a tease. Mia was starting to get used to physical intimacy and affection, especially with other members of her peer group, so I can only see these physical touches and Aalea's training in seduction and people skills as practice and letting off steam. Book 2, suddenly it's a stroke of "I think I love her because murder and pretty and basically love and hate are passion so it's kinda the same". I feel for Ash, I do, but not enough to justify her relationship with Mia.
Jonnen is a little annoyance because he's young and in denial. But also, being friendly with Mia? Also something that seemed to flipped on a switch.
All of this side-action and stories about the other characters? Love it. It's even better than the gladiators' stories from book 2. We get some Mercurio, we get some from the Ministry!
The best character, however, might be Aelius. The dead ghost, apparently the first Lord of Blades and founder of the Church, and most impressively the son of Cleo, the first recorded darkin and first Chosen of the Mother to rebirth the Moon! He's smart, he talks in contemporary vernacular, and he's not to be fucked with Drusilla! What a great guy.
The fight scenes descriptions were probably better in book 2, because it was all about the physical fights in the gladiatior pits. In this book, there's still gore but it's the combo darkin skills plus physical fighting that dominates everything. Truenight is coming, and the Dark Mother grows.
Now, if we consider the hilarious fact that this book when, then I guess I can allow for some plotholes to fall through because
But I liked how the author does go back and critique himself: the pretentious and liberal use of "O" in book 1, the suddenly weirdly explicit gore and sex, and the "fucking about" that was completely skipped in book 2.
Now to take an overall look at the story line...okay truth, it reads like the teenage confused child of [b:The Broken Earth Trilogy|38496769|The Broken Earth Trilogy (The Broken Earth #1-3)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530531199l/38496769._SX50_.jpg|60137524] and [b:The Inheritance Trilogy|21481566|The Inheritance Trilogy (Inheritance, #1-3.5)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395099350l/21481566._SX50_.jpg|40807844] with the militaristic power structure of [b:An Ember in the Ashes|27774758|An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)|Sabaa Tahir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519425615l/27774758._SY75_.jpg|39113604] and a killer cult like [b:Red Sister|25895524|Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)|Mark Lawrence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627762558l/25895524._SY75_.jpg|45777900]. No one knows what a Moon is, and the gods have a messed up family-dynamic and they're getting humans to fix it for them, and the Itreyan public (like An Ember in the Ashes) is so clearly based on Ancient Rome. Legionnaires, centurions, gladitii, and murder school, and a weird calling from a higher power to do better but in the end love wins.
The core of the gods' conflict is loneliness and abandonment. Superstitious worshippers carrying out the interpreted goals of the conquering villains. The goal of the heroine is to restore balance by resurrecting a deity and taking down those who've wronged her in a trail of blood and stubborn will.
It took nigh on ten years for Mia to exact her revenge on the man who destroyed her family and irrevocably changed her life: Consul Julius Scaeva, and his associate Cardinal Duomo. She's given a chance to build a new family when she extricates her newly-discovered surviving brother Jonnen, who has been raised and groomed by Scaeva to be his heir to the Itreyan Republic. But after escaping the coliseum and meeting up with Ash and Tric, she's horrified to discover that Scaeva no only survived her assassination attempt and is taking advantage of emergency powers to establish himself as a stronger single ruler of the Republic, but he's also her father and he's holding Mercurio captive! The journey to the Quiet Mountain reveals secrets and truths about her darkin heritage, and the forced acceptance that the gods do exist and they're all gunning for her to prevent her from freeing the Dark Mother from her prison.
Niah, goddess of the night and murders, also has dominion over the dead. She resurrects Tric to guide and direct Mia to free her from her prison and resurrect her son, the Moon. Seeing as how Ash murdered Tric and Mia is falling deeper in love with Ash, this could turn out to be a tense and awkward alliance.
One extra book is still not enough time to let me forgive Ash for everything she did in book 1. Justify it all you want, that the Red Church is corrupt and Ash did it for the love of her father and for actual justice, nope I'm still not over her killing Tric! She's smart and fierce, but even still I've been distrusting her since book 1! Is that a sign of great writing, that her betrayal cut so deep I'm suspicious of everything that she's doing?
In book 1, this affection was more like a tease. Mia was starting to get used to physical intimacy and affection, especially with other members of her peer group, so I can only see these physical touches and Aalea's training in seduction and people skills as practice and letting off steam. Book 2, suddenly it's a stroke of "I think I love her because murder and pretty and basically love and hate are passion so it's kinda the same". I feel for Ash, I do, but not enough to justify her relationship with Mia.
Jonnen is a little annoyance because he's young and in denial. But also, being friendly with Mia? Also something that seemed to flipped on a switch.
Spoiler
He basically hates her up until the storm, and then afterwards mention of him is kind of pushed to the background as Mia is focusing on other things. When they have to separate to fulfill several objectives, Jonnen is suddenly just a little bit clingy. So, what does that mean? Does that mean that during the time he was in the background, he suddenly gained empathy? In Jonnen's POV as well, he mentions how he still hated her during the storm, so when exactly did he start realizing he likes and gets along with his sister?All of this side-action and stories about the other characters? Love it. It's even better than the gladiators' stories from book 2. We get some Mercurio, we get some from the Ministry!
Spoiler
I don't know if I feel worse about learning that Solis has been cheating, that even though he's blind he actually has a magical tool that grants him sight that makes him even deadlier than before, or that Mouser likes women's underwear and has multiple wives and an exorbitant amount of children. I always thought Mouser was the friendliest of the Ministry! And now, I concede it's probably been Aalea.The best character, however, might be Aelius. The dead ghost, apparently the first Lord of Blades and founder of the Church, and most impressively the son of Cleo, the first recorded darkin and first Chosen of the Mother to rebirth the Moon! He's smart, he talks in contemporary vernacular, and he's not to be fucked with Drusilla! What a great guy.
The fight scenes descriptions were probably better in book 2, because it was all about the physical fights in the gladiatior pits. In this book, there's still gore but it's the combo darkin skills plus physical fighting that dominates everything. Truenight is coming, and the Dark Mother grows.
Now, if we consider the hilarious fact that this book when
Spoiler
quite metaSpoiler
the story is supposedly written by Mercurio, and so as a biography of course he wouldn't notice when Jonnen starts to like his sister or anything else. In fact, perhaps this is why we get more POVs at the end? Maybe those parts weren't in fact included in the biography?But I liked how the author does go back and critique himself: the pretentious and liberal use of "O" in book 1, the suddenly weirdly explicit gore and sex, and the "fucking about" that was completely skipped in book 2.
Now to take an overall look at the story line...okay truth, it reads like the teenage confused child of [b:The Broken Earth Trilogy|38496769|The Broken Earth Trilogy (The Broken Earth #1-3)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1530531199l/38496769._SX50_.jpg|60137524] and [b:The Inheritance Trilogy|21481566|The Inheritance Trilogy (Inheritance, #1-3.5)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395099350l/21481566._SX50_.jpg|40807844] with the militaristic power structure of [b:An Ember in the Ashes|27774758|An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1)|Sabaa Tahir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519425615l/27774758._SY75_.jpg|39113604] and a killer cult like [b:Red Sister|25895524|Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)|Mark Lawrence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627762558l/25895524._SY75_.jpg|45777900]. No one knows what a Moon is, and the gods have a messed up family-dynamic and they're getting humans to fix it for them, and the Itreyan public (like An Ember in the Ashes) is so clearly based on Ancient Rome. Legionnaires, centurions, gladitii, and murder school, and a weird calling from a higher power to do better but in the end love wins.
The core of the gods' conflict is loneliness and abandonment. Superstitious worshippers carrying out the interpreted goals of the conquering villains. The goal of the heroine is to restore balance by resurrecting a deity and taking down those who've wronged her in a trail of blood and stubborn will.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Difficile mantenere l'altezza delle aspettative createsi con i primi due volumi. Tutti i nodi vengono al pettine e l'arguzia di Kristoff, fatta di ombre e non di luce, è soffocata dalla necessità di questa chiarezza finale.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
An amazing ending to an amazing series. I take a bow, Master Kristoff.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Nothing to say... Just perfect ending for Mia story. When all is blood.... Blood is all.. And never ever forget.
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
So it took me almost a month to gather my wits and write this review. Because I don't know how to describe both the amazing talent of Jay Kristoff and also I couldn't stop crying, wishing for some characters to still be alive as also for more stories from this world.
Darkdawn picks up from where it left; with Mia running for her life while at the same time revelation after revelation catapults her and a gang of other favorite characters in a long, ancient battle. At the same time, Scaeva plots for more power and there are enemies everywhere.
Truedark arrives and no one knows if they'll survive or not.
The book is big! And I loved it because it never let me down, I read/flipped page after page of fighting, smutty scenes that made me...well they were hot scenes! And my heart ached for THAT character that was to my opinion, the bravest of all, second to Mia. Mr. Kindly was amazing as always while the mythology behind this world made me remember of all primordial myths which are evident to every civilization. Mr. Kristoff knows his research. ;)
The ending was bittersweet; I feel like that every time I finish a book by Jay Kristoff, because life is not always filled with HEAs but those that the characters have are the best that could happen after everything they've been through.
Read the damn book! It's f*ing brilliant!
So it took me almost a month to gather my wits and write this review. Because I don't know how to describe both the amazing talent of Jay Kristoff and also I couldn't stop crying, wishing for some characters to still be alive as also for more stories from this world.
Darkdawn picks up from where it left; with Mia running for her life while at the same time revelation after revelation catapults her and a gang of other favorite characters in a long, ancient battle. At the same time, Scaeva plots for more power and there are enemies everywhere.
Truedark arrives and no one knows if they'll survive or not.
The book is big! And I loved it because it never let me down, I read/flipped page after page of fighting, smutty scenes that made me...well they were hot scenes! And my heart ached for THAT character that was to my opinion, the bravest of all, second to Mia. Mr. Kindly was amazing as always while the mythology behind this world made me remember of all primordial myths which are evident to every civilization. Mr. Kristoff knows his research. ;)
The ending was bittersweet; I feel like that every time I finish a book by Jay Kristoff, because life is not always filled with HEAs but those that the characters have are the best that could happen after everything they've been through.
Read the damn book! It's f*ing brilliant!