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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
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.
I liked this conclusion of the Tearling series. I liked that story actually ended. Liked spending so much time with Kelsea's character.
Slight spoilers:
Whaaaat???!! It's not a bad book, actually, it had me on the edge on my seat...but that ending. It's an interesting one for sure, but are you really telling me that after spending three years rooting for these characters, this is the ending? What?! I just can't.
Whaaaat???!! It's not a bad book, actually, it had me on the edge on my seat...but that ending. It's an interesting one for sure, but are you really telling me that after spending three years rooting for these characters, this is the ending? What?! I just can't.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Yes
I don’t know how to process that ending. Like, I wasn’t sure how things were going to end, but it certainly was a twist I never saw coming. I think I’m bouncing between a 3.5 and 4 star rating, so for now we’ll give it a 3.75 stars.
2.5 stars. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. The first 3/4 of this one were also pretty good. The last quarter felt antithetical to what the author had been building to, false, and very disappointing.
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well it certainly was bittersweet. But also a bit of an easy fix. I saw someone say that not a lot about the sapphires were explained and they just fixed everything at the end.
I was super sad about Isha (however it is spelled) but it was one of those stories where the MC looks at the end happening while they are outside of time.
I did appreciate the irony that Kelsea loves books and at the end, in the new timeline, she's left behind the story she was invested in (aka her actual life) and forced to live in the real world (the world that seems like fantasy to her).
It does seem silly that Ro was the only thing that caused evil in William Tear's town, I feel like people would have gotten selfish again in time. But that might be because I don't believe utopias can exist this side of heaven.
I was super sad about Isha (however it is spelled) but it was one of those stories where the MC looks at the end happening while they are outside of time.
I did appreciate the irony that Kelsea loves books and at the end, in the new timeline, she's left behind the story she was invested in (aka her actual life) and forced to live in the real world (the world that seems like fantasy to her).
It does seem silly that Ro was the only thing that caused evil in William Tear's town, I feel like people would have gotten selfish again in time. But that might be because I don't believe utopias can exist this side of heaven.
I had big hopes that this series would end as strong as it began, but I felt like the ending was the easy route to wrap it up.