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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Arguably the worst ending to a trilogy I think I’ve ever read. The book was so good leading up to it, and then the last chapter or so basically erased the entirety of the other two books, making me frustrated and unsatisfied in immense amounts.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Writing: 0.75/1
Plot: 0.75/1
Characters: 1/1
Misc. (dialogue, pace, setting, conclusion): 0.5/1
Enjoyment: 0.75/1
= 3.75 ⭐️
Others have written good and accurate reviews for this book, I am less forgiving than them it seems. Two stars, this book continues the so far excellent story but starts having pacing problems and frequent hops between the different story arcs, this is not too bad on its own, however, characters seems to dissolve, the story is crammed in portions and then there is a deus ex machina ending that is complete crap.
The last few chapters is where this book really fell apart for me.
I'm not even sure how to explain this, it got so freaking convoluted at the end. The closet Kelsea got to the conclusion of the Katie story, the more the plot fell apart for me. First, I couldn't remember all of the characters and the plot lines (who was Yusuf? probably didn't matter anyway), so for a good chunk of pages I was slightly confused. Next, what was with that whatever it was (Row?) emerging from Katie's mouth? And then, everything was magically fixed and we're suddenly in another version of reality where EVERYTHING WE'VE READ THUS FAR GOT ERASED? WTF? And the ending was just... a whimper.
Johansen built a great world with great characters, and I swear the last hundred pages read like she handed the series off to someone else. Or she couldn't figure out how to wrap things up and used the "and then I woke up" trope.
I'm not even sure how to explain this, it got so freaking convoluted at the end. The closet Kelsea got to the conclusion of the Katie story, the more the plot fell apart for me. First, I couldn't remember all of the characters and the plot lines (who was Yusuf? probably didn't matter anyway), so for a good chunk of pages I was slightly confused. Next, what was with that whatever it was (Row?) emerging from Katie's mouth? And then, everything was magically fixed and we're suddenly in another version of reality where EVERYTHING WE'VE READ THUS FAR GOT ERASED? WTF? And the ending was just... a whimper.
Johansen built a great world with great characters, and I swear the last hundred pages read like she handed the series off to someone else. Or she couldn't figure out how to wrap things up and used the "and then I woke up" trope.
I liked the first book and the second one was decent. This last book was unreadable. I hate the time change. Made it about a third of the way before I just gave up. I really don’t understand how this third book is so bad. It actually made me angry that I wasted my time reading the first two books.
This book was a quicker read than the second one in the trilogy.
I liked the interplay between the past and the present and how they helped you as the reader to understand what had happened and why.
However, I was disappointed in the ending. I felt very sorry for Kelsea as she was the only one who remembered what had been before and therefore couldn't talk to anyone about it.
Would I recommend this trilogy, yes I think so.
I liked the interplay between the past and the present and how they helped you as the reader to understand what had happened and why.
However, I was disappointed in the ending. I felt very sorry for Kelsea as she was the only one who remembered what had been before and therefore couldn't talk to anyone about it.
Would I recommend this trilogy, yes I think so.
Stars: 2.5 - 3
I finally finished this book after months of on/off reading after i was spoiled for the ending. I am so disipointed with this book. I loved most of the book even when it got a little boring; but the ending was just crap for me and i feel like it was a cop-out. It's so disipointing.....
I finally finished this book after months of on/off reading after i was spoiled for the ending. I am so disipointed with this book. I loved most of the book even when it got a little boring; but the ending was just crap for me and i feel like it was a cop-out. It's so disipointing.....
I'm mad.
How you gonna spend three whole ass books building up this massive, unsolvable problem and then solve it by going back in time and killing the villain before they go evil??? EXCUSE ME? That's it? Also, how CONVENIENT that suddenly we're seeing the past from Katie's perspective.
I feel robbed. It feels like the author wrote herself into a hole and was like "welp, this is an awfully sticky situation. Let's just... Ctrl+Z."
Not only that, this book was too long. SO much happened. And the fact that none of it really happened by the end only makes me more angry. What was the point then?! *throws book out the window*
*retrieves book*
It was still well written. 2 stars.
Spoiler
How you gonna spend three whole ass books building up this massive, unsolvable problem and then solve it by going back in time and killing the villain before they go evil??? EXCUSE ME? That's it? Also, how CONVENIENT that suddenly we're seeing the past from Katie's perspective.
I feel robbed. It feels like the author wrote herself into a hole and was like "welp, this is an awfully sticky situation. Let's just... Ctrl+Z."
Not only that, this book was too long. SO much happened. And the fact that none of it really happened by the end only makes me more angry. What was the point then?! *throws book out the window*
*retrieves book*
It was still well written. 2 stars.
I'll admit that while I've liked the series, it has also felt a bit of a drag to read. There are plenty of good points throughout, but sadly it hasn't lead to an overly satisfying conclusion. However it does fit with the slightly kooky tone the author took with the fantasy/dystopian future. It's not exactly unexpected, having been hinted at since the second book, but it's not a plot device often used (perhaps for good reason as everything hinges on the execution). Either way, I didn't mind it but it was a little disappointing.
Kelsea Glynn continues to be the right-on heroine until the end, perfectly Millennial and not taking adversity lying down. Other characters of note had a bit of a transformation, and not for the better. Mace has gone from unknowable and disapproving in book 1, supportive if grudgingly in book 2... and then gone full circle back to where he started. Paramour Pen's time as significant came and went with book 2, as apart from being mentioned repeatedly as being lovesick he only really has one conversation that's memorable. Javel's sections felt unnecessary (and dare I say annoying), even if we probably did want to know what happened to his wife Allie. The Fetch, who always seemed to be full of attitude as the mystery man of the piece suddenly lost his edge even before the big reveal over who he really was. Brenna could have been far more interesting but was underused, as was Tyler despite playing such an important role. The Red Queen proved an interesting foil to Kelsea's idealism briefly, but then the underwhelming supernatural elements intervened.
I think the weakest part of the series as a whole has been the supernatural. A lot of the magic just felt out of place in the world of the Tearling, such as the sudden inclusion of the "vampire" children. I appreciate the bait-n-switch idea with the identity of the true antagonist of the trilogy, but it felt like it hadn't always been part of the plan. The first book felt so tonally different to the first two in this regard, lacking things like the flashbacks that became so pivotal to the plot. If I'm honest, I still don't really understand the "Queen of Spades" episodes.
Don't be deceived; despite my criticisms the books were enjoyable enough. In a way it is refreshing to have a female lead who is reasonable well balanced in terms of good and bad points, who doesn't just fall into the arms of a sweetheart (although going by all the relationships expressed in the Tearling, the future of romance there is pretty bleak). Not all friendships endure. Not all people are who you expect them to be. And not all endings are happy, even for a queen of a fantasy kingdom.
Spoiler
It has felt as if we were building up to some big reveal/battle/other, only to get something more akin to "and it was all a dream".Kelsea Glynn continues to be the right-on heroine until the end, perfectly Millennial and not taking adversity lying down. Other characters of note had a bit of a transformation, and not for the better. Mace has gone from unknowable and disapproving in book 1, supportive if grudgingly in book 2... and then gone full circle back to where he started. Paramour Pen's time as significant came and went with book 2, as apart from being mentioned repeatedly as being lovesick he only really has one conversation that's memorable. Javel's sections felt unnecessary (and dare I say annoying), even if we probably did want to know what happened to his wife Allie. The Fetch, who always seemed to be full of attitude as the mystery man of the piece suddenly lost his edge even before the big reveal over who he really was. Brenna could have been far more interesting but was underused, as was Tyler despite playing such an important role. The Red Queen proved an interesting foil to Kelsea's idealism briefly, but then the underwhelming supernatural elements intervened.
I think the weakest part of the series as a whole has been the supernatural. A lot of the magic just felt out of place in the world of the Tearling, such as the sudden inclusion of the "vampire" children. I appreciate the bait-n-switch idea with the identity of the true antagonist of the trilogy, but it felt like it hadn't always been part of the plan. The first book felt so tonally different to the first two in this regard, lacking things like the flashbacks that became so pivotal to the plot. If I'm honest, I still don't really understand the "Queen of Spades" episodes.
Don't be deceived; despite my criticisms the books were enjoyable enough. In a way it is refreshing to have a female lead who is reasonable well balanced in terms of good and bad points, who doesn't just fall into the arms of a sweetheart (although going by all the relationships expressed in the Tearling, the future of romance there is pretty bleak). Not all friendships endure. Not all people are who you expect them to be. And not all endings are happy, even for a queen of a fantasy kingdom.