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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
BLOG || INSTA
OH HOW I LOVED THIS SERIES.
I question why it took me so long to get to this. I had heard mixed things, but should have trusted my gut. After I picked it up I never looked back. Perk of waiting so long? I barely had to wait to have all three books in my hands. A top series of 2019.
Sage went on an amazing character journey. I love that she realized her faults and choices had caused harm to her friends. She was able to apologize and actually become a better person for it.
The only tiny issue I had was how much Clare annoyed me. I could not handle her woe is me style and thought she was going to be a downfall to the plot. LUCKILY, things highly improved on this front and I loved how her story came to an end and thought it made sense for her and Sage’s relationship.
ALEX AND SAGE. One of my new OTPs. UGH HOW I LOVE THEM. They infuriated me a lot less in this book, but I distinctly had a moment of being reallllll angry with Alex, WHY DUDE. But, hot dang, did he recover with fireworks. Their quiet moments WERE MY EVERYTHING. Typing this review makes me want to reread this book purely for their interactions. Oh, how I love them so.
A lot more drama and actual plot progression here too. It was easy to flip pages, and slowly read, savoring all of the moments this book had to give. I loved how much more intrigue this book had. There was less battle and more focus on the politics (and this change was done well). It kept me on my toes, when even I was pretty sure I knew who was behind everything there was still so much more to explain! I was interested in this as much as I was making sure Sage & Alex got the happy ending THEY DESERVED DANG IT.
Lots of female power in this too. Sage and her friends, Lani, Clare, and Queen Zoraya are a force to be reckoned with and I like that their subplot allowed a lot more insight into all of their lives. I learned more about them and their journey which had me really invested in them getting happy endings too (OHEMGEE the very end *shrieks with joy at how cute that scene was*).
Overall audience notes:
- Young adult fantasy + romance
- Language: a little light language
- Romance: kisses, a few tasteful little detailed FTB scenes
- Violence: arrows, murder, swords, fire
- Trigger warnings: PTSD (from an extreme burn), mentions of past drug dependence
This book was so hard for me to finish, not because it was bad or DNF in any way, but because I love the universe and the main characters so much. When I first started this series last year, I couldn't believe that I had never heard of it before. Looking at the series from the beginning to the end, it's unbelievable that it could be so cohesive yet simultaneously, such divergence from the original content. The character growth is also insane, Sage from the first book to now is almost completely different and yet she maintained the strength and integrity which made me originally love her so much. Also, props to Beaty for going so hard on the whole Sage-thing, her name matching so many color and prop elements.
A lot of books use conflicts with foreign nations and wars and treachery to define their plots. This book defines the politics of the situation a lot more than any other book that I've ever read in Young Adult. Like they attend peace debates, but it's not all boring peace talks, it's intrigue and secrecy and combat, exciting yet realistic. I hate it when books get straight to the fighting without even considering the implications. Not to say that there is a lack of action in this series, we all remember the battle which ended the second book, and Sage and Alex continue to deal with the implications of that battle throughout this novel. Character death exists in this series, but it means something to the characters and it continues to be central to the plot.
pThe romance in this universe is some of my favorite of all time. The original premise of the series is the whole concept of matchmakers, but not like ok this person will be with that person because it'll strengthen everyone politically, there's an intense network of matchmakers who watch the girls and boys from every point in their lives and then decides who makes the best political and emotional match. Horrible people get horrible matches if the matchmakers are involved, or no matches at all, and there's a justice in that which perpetuates through the series. Though there is inequality with the treatment of women in this system, and that continues to be a subtopic which is addressed through each book. I do appreciate the strength which women are given that you don't often see in fantasy novels with regency elements like this one. And ultimately with the main romance, Alex and Sage matched themselves together, they grew together, they come together when they both felt that it was the right thing to do.
The ending was perfect! I loved every part of it and I'm so happy that everyone got what they deserved in the end. Though, I will say that I didn't really like Lani and Clare in this book that much. I feel like they were pettier than they could have been, I understand their perspectives but I also believe that in times of such high stress, they could have been a little more accommodating. I don't like the ending for Clare, I don't think I would want that in my country, I'll accept it though.
Would I Recommend?
100 percent! In my opinion, this is one of the best YA series out there. It's not built on two characters alone, yet it still has that individualized element that makes you fall in love with them. I'm sad that this is the ending, but I am so beyond satisfied with everything that has happened. Sage and Alex will always hold a special place in my heart. Also, all the covers are so aesthetic that you could honestly just read it for that.
Review posted on: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot.com/
The best part of this book is too see how much the characters have grown and learn from their mistakes since book 1. To see how they planned to make their world a better place
This book is more about diplomacy than action but it was so good. It changes really from the 2 first but for a conclusion it’s for the best.
If in book 1 the twist was a total surprise to me, the 1st I read this book I’ve guessed long before the revelation. While rereading I realised how less obvious (than book’s 1) it was and I don’t understand how my brain works XD
I still love all the characters and I can’t tell you how many times Lani made me laugh or how many times Sage and Alex made me dream. I’m so sad to say good bye to them once again
