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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
A disappointing conclusion to the series. Everything wrapped up beautifully and it was an interesting story, just not a favorite
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just amazing! This trilogy has been so different yet still clearly Nora Roberts and while I'm happy to see how it all has ended, I'm sad it has. A great ending that tied up many loose ends. This story made me laugh and cry and kept me at the end of my seat. Well done, Nora Roberts. Well done.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This review is about the series, not just book 3.
All in all, I enjoyed reading it. The pace was fast, the plot required no concentration or really much thinking. Basically, it was a tasty fastfood series.
And just like tasty fastfood, the quality was a bit lacking. I have two main problems with this book.
1. The way the characters were written. There was so much focus on appearance, and so many of the characters were exceptionally good-looking. And their actions mirror this: there were so many people who were consistently, unfailingly heroic and goodhearted, without any existential doubts. And others who were wholeheartedly evil and sadistic. There was not much depth to any of them, especially after book 1. That was the best book in my opinion, because it still gave the impression that anything could happen, that everything and everyone could be lost. Two weeks after reading I've forgotten the name of the main girl. There are some internal struggles but they never truly compromise the ultimate outcome.
2. There is a weird contrast going on. On the one hand, there is the mention of gore and violence (murder, torture, rape (so much)) that happens to individuals (mainly the extras in the background, who's role is singular: victim). On the other hand, despite the stakes being enormous and the battles highly dangerous, everyone is wearing the thickest of plot armour. There are minimal consequences, no set-backs, every mission is a success and brings the main group closer to victory. And then they win. The end. So there is the gritty reality of war and of civilisation torn apart, but it never becomes real for the reader.
Both these problems relate to another one: the lack of neutrality, apathy, people being well-meaning but wrong, conspiracies, treason, miscommunication, boredom... In short the things that make day-to-day life difficult, the things that compromise peace and collective actions not because of some dark, intentional force but because humans being humans. Now and then it is there, in the background, easily fixed or ignored.
I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys easily digestible post-apocalyptic supernatural action. But if you're in the mood for something that gives insight in how real people and communities respond to these situations, better pick something else (Cormac McCarthy's [b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600241424l/6288._SY75_.jpg|3355573], if you don't mind feeling suicidal for a week; or Margaret Atwood's [b:The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake / The Year of the Flood / MaddAddam|18594761|The MaddAddam Trilogy Oryx and Crake / The Year of the Flood / MaddAddam|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395435093l/18594761._SY75_.jpg|26341230]).
All in all, I enjoyed reading it. The pace was fast, the plot required no concentration or really much thinking. Basically, it was a tasty fastfood series.
And just like tasty fastfood, the quality was a bit lacking. I have two main problems with this book.
1. The way the characters were written. There was so much focus on appearance, and so many of the characters were exceptionally good-looking. And their actions mirror this: there were so many people who were consistently, unfailingly heroic and goodhearted, without any existential doubts. And others who were wholeheartedly evil and sadistic. There was not much depth to any of them, especially after book 1. That was the best book in my opinion, because it still gave the impression that anything could happen, that everything and everyone could be lost. Two weeks after reading I've forgotten the name of the main girl. There are some internal struggles but they never truly compromise the ultimate outcome.
2. There is a weird contrast going on. On the one hand, there is the mention of gore and violence (murder, torture, rape (so much)) that happens to individuals (mainly the extras in the background, who's role is singular: victim). On the other hand, despite the stakes being enormous and the battles highly dangerous, everyone is wearing the thickest of plot armour. There are minimal consequences, no set-backs, every mission is a success and brings the main group closer to victory. And then they win. The end. So there is the gritty reality of war and of civilisation torn apart, but it never becomes real for the reader.
Both these problems relate to another one: the lack of neutrality, apathy, people being well-meaning but wrong, conspiracies, treason, miscommunication, boredom... In short the things that make day-to-day life difficult, the things that compromise peace and collective actions not because of some dark, intentional force but because humans being humans. Now and then it is there, in the background, easily fixed or ignored.
I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys easily digestible post-apocalyptic supernatural action. But if you're in the mood for something that gives insight in how real people and communities respond to these situations, better pick something else (Cormac McCarthy's [b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600241424l/6288._SY75_.jpg|3355573], if you don't mind feeling suicidal for a week; or Margaret Atwood's [b:The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake / The Year of the Flood / MaddAddam|18594761|The MaddAddam Trilogy Oryx and Crake / The Year of the Flood / MaddAddam|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395435093l/18594761._SY75_.jpg|26341230]).
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
Loved this book and series and as a Nora Robert’s fan, very refreshing read compared with her other trilogies
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No