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3.66 AVERAGE


I'm not rating this because I honestly have no clue what to rate it.

I feel very conflicted by the ending

I'm not sure yet how I feel about this series. I am fascinated by the premise, and the blending of past, present, and future. I am not sure that some of the characters' behavior always makes sense. I am left with many unanswered questions, but that isn't unusual for this kind of series.
adventurous dark mysterious

Overall a good final book, but the last chapter is ROUGH.
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This series was not at all what I expected. I enjoyed the sci-fi elements with the connection to our world and the dystopian feel of the books. I knew from the start that people had mixed feelings on the ending, personally I kind of expected it given the events in the last 2 books. Going in with this knowledge probably helped a bit though. Overall a great series.

This was my favorite from this series. But i didn’t love the ending. 

The ending to this trilogy took me completely by surprise - I think I was just as confused and devastated as Kelsea to realize that nothing would be the same. I'm sure that was what the author intended, especially with all the "false leads" throughout the series with so many chapter intros that talked about Kelsea's reign in the past and how she had changed the Tear. I particularly remember the one written by Glee's granddaughter in "Queen of the Tearling". I'm sad that many of the characters may not exist anymore due to Kelsea's changing the past. However, I did like the important message that we need to learn from the past instead of glossing over it if we are to create a better world. Overall, a great series.

*This review includes spoilers for the previous two books.* I totally did not see that coming! Wow, what a way to wrap up this series. The ending is probably pretty divisive; you're either going to love it or be completely disappointed. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder if this is really the end....

Kelsea is a prisoner of the Mort Red Queen; her regent, the Mace, has abandoned his post to rescue her, the religious leader of the Tearling is making a power grab; and Row Finn is out for blood. With all that going on, there's actually not that much action. We hear about all the things going on but a good portion of the book is given to Kelsea's visions and discovering more about the past. And the past becomes not just a way to understand her present, but helps us understand what the sapphires do (not necessarily why). Everything culminates in a bloody denouement that had me turning the pages as quickly as I could.

Maybe it's that I recently finished the Remnant Chronicles, a trilogy with a similar backstory, but with less than satisfying characters, so this shines in comparison, but I really felt like it asked all the right questions. Johansen is obviously talking politics and religion (politics of religion) in this book and it may turn off some fans, but she wasn't heavy-handed. I'd recommend the series if only to get to this book.

​The origins of the Tearling... we learn it all.
For me that was the best part of this book. It's almost like we had to learn Kelseas story to learn about Lilys, to learn about the Tearling. How these people got there.

I don't like to give spoilers in my reviews... and its really hard not to with this one.


The ending


THE ENDING....


I could use one more book, just one, it could even be a novella.
I can't be the only person who needs a little bit more.