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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
It is going to be a long time before I love a series as much as I have loved this one. Bravo Kelley Armstrong.
It was about time I dived back into the Age of Legends universe! Forest of Ruin was the third and final instalment in this fantasy series and it did not disappoint. I wasn't the biggest fan of Sea of Shadow, but book 2 had been so much better and I found this novel to be just as great! Each character arc was beautifully finished and the problem nicely solved. My favorite thing about this series is probably how Armstrong managed to keep a complex and interesting plot in a relatively small world. The problem doesn't leave in empire and I found somewhat refreshing considering I tend to read high fantasy novels with huge worlds and intricate wars. I do enjoy those huge universes but once in a while it's nice to have a sweet fantasy story without the constant world building.
The one thing that kind of bugged me was how much more interesting Moria's plot was compared to Ashyn's! I love Ashyn, and her pov was my favorite for book 1 and 2 but in this book... she barely did anything. Moria was there with Gavril and Tyrus and her lines were impossibly funny. That trio honestly have banter that could get Celeana, Chaol and Dorian and run for their money. I also loved how Gavril and Moria are truly friend and that their wasn't that unnecessary love triangle in this book like I thought there was gonna be. (also i love ronan so much that sneaky and impossibly soft thief oml he's so pure thank you goodnight)
If anyone wants to read a light and different fantasy series i really recommend trying out Age of Legend! It will not disappoint.
The one thing that kind of bugged me was how much more interesting Moria's plot was compared to Ashyn's! I love Ashyn, and her pov was my favorite for book 1 and 2 but in this book... she barely did anything. Moria was there with Gavril and Tyrus and her lines were impossibly funny. That trio honestly have banter that could get Celeana, Chaol and Dorian and run for their money. I also loved how Gavril and Moria are truly friend and that their wasn't that unnecessary love triangle in this book like I thought there was gonna be. (also i love ronan so much that sneaky and impossibly soft thief oml he's so pure thank you goodnight)
If anyone wants to read a light and different fantasy series i really recommend trying out Age of Legend! It will not disappoint.
Great ending to another Kelley Armstrong series. I think this trilogy would make a great movie trilogy too.
Hm... After the second book, I really had high hopes for this one, and while this was a mostly satisfying ending, I could've done with a whole lot less of the romance and a whole lot more of magic, politics, and action!
In this third and final installment in the Age of Legends trilogy, Moria and Ashyn are desperate to defeat Alvar Kitsune and rescue the empire and their village’s children. While Moria must force a tentative alliance with Gavril in effort to take Alvar down, Ashyn is reunited with a grandfather she never knew who believes she is the key to a special ritual. With deception and danger all around them, the twins will have to watch their backs if they want to stay alive.
What I Loved:
Ever since I read the first book in this series, I’ve both dreaded and anticipated the last book. I wanted so badly to find out what happens to the characters I love so much, but I also never wanted their story to end. This final book delivers all the action expected from the previous two books and more. Moria and Ashyn still face some of the dangers of previous books, such as the shadow stalkers, but a few new creatures are introduced, adding to the rich world building. The dragons are hands down my favorite addition.
The plot twists seem somewhat less than previous books, but their impacts are just as big. The plot twist during the climax is one of my favorites, showing real emotional sacrifice from one character. The ending answers all major questions for the most part, though it does wrap up a little quickly.
What Left Me Wanting More:
As powerful and intense as the action is, it wasn’t well balanced with the emotional side of the story. Most of the characters’ reactions feel a bit rushed over, and I had a harder time connecting with the characters this time because of that. However, readers who are primarily in for the action will definitely not be disappointed.
Alongside that, specifically Ashyn’s side of the story comes across as neglected. Her character does grow, but her chapters are so spread out between Moria’s that it doesn’t feel as strong. The plot almost seems to leave her behind as Moria, Gavril, and Tyrus are focused on. The sister bond between Moria and Ashyn that was so well established in the first book is significantly missing from this one, and one sister isn’t even present during the big climatic scene.
Final Verdict:
Though the lack of developed emotion and imbalance of the sisters’ sides are disappointing, FOREST OF RUIN captures the intense action, rich world building, and fiery romance that Kelley Armstrong fans expect and adore.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19535-forest-of-ruin
What I Loved:
Ever since I read the first book in this series, I’ve both dreaded and anticipated the last book. I wanted so badly to find out what happens to the characters I love so much, but I also never wanted their story to end. This final book delivers all the action expected from the previous two books and more. Moria and Ashyn still face some of the dangers of previous books, such as the shadow stalkers, but a few new creatures are introduced, adding to the rich world building. The dragons are hands down my favorite addition.
The plot twists seem somewhat less than previous books, but their impacts are just as big. The plot twist during the climax is one of my favorites, showing real emotional sacrifice from one character. The ending answers all major questions for the most part, though it does wrap up a little quickly.
What Left Me Wanting More:
As powerful and intense as the action is, it wasn’t well balanced with the emotional side of the story. Most of the characters’ reactions feel a bit rushed over, and I had a harder time connecting with the characters this time because of that. However, readers who are primarily in for the action will definitely not be disappointed.
Alongside that, specifically Ashyn’s side of the story comes across as neglected. Her character does grow, but her chapters are so spread out between Moria’s that it doesn’t feel as strong. The plot almost seems to leave her behind as Moria, Gavril, and Tyrus are focused on. The sister bond between Moria and Ashyn that was so well established in the first book is significantly missing from this one, and one sister isn’t even present during the big climatic scene.
Final Verdict:
Though the lack of developed emotion and imbalance of the sisters’ sides are disappointing, FOREST OF RUIN captures the intense action, rich world building, and fiery romance that Kelley Armstrong fans expect and adore.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19535-forest-of-ruin
Probably would have given this one 5 stars but the ending left me questioning the point of the whole series. Why after everything he’d done would Alvar bring his son back and die willingly. That was a bit too easy. Like loosing Gavril was hard but they defeated him too easy. I love Gavril he’s who belongs with Moria and I think they end up together basing it off of Moria’s vision. She could not see her place in Tyrus’ future but I think she could in Gavril’s. I feel they connected more than her and Tyrus. They talked about more personal things and both helped each other with dealing with the death of a parent. They seemed to talk about the future more. Also Gavril showed and kinda told her all the time what his feelings were she just didn’t pay attention. As much as I love Gavril it would have been a more satisfying ending if he stayed dead and Moria killed Alvar after fighting some. It was just too easy and made all the other events completely pointless.
I feel like Ashyn has so much potential but no one let her reach it. I don’t get why they constantly tried to shelter her when her freaking job that she’s been raised to do was to find the dead bodies of the exiled in the Forrest of the damned. That’s what she was doing at the start no one shielded her there. I loved her and Ronan they were great together and I think helped each other grow. Though I wondered why Moria needed to give her dagger to him at the beginning like was it cause the spirits knew he’d be great at protecting Ashyn? I think they should have gotten together sooner but both were trying so hard not to love the other for whatever reason. I never got why Ronan thought she wouldn’t want him if he was castless. She can’t marry being the seeker but she can have lovers. I would assume since they are only allowed lovers they probably also can’t be obvious about them being loved so cast wouldn’t matter since it’d all have to be in secret. I’m hoping that they removed the ban on the seeker and keeper being married.
I thought Ashyn would have more to do with the final battle after her getting rid of some shadow stalkers and seemed to be fighting for once and not having people keep her to the side. When she went in and was taking charge with the court seeker and keeper who seem to dislike them for whatever reason I thought she was going to have more to do with the final battle. Then she sees Ellen the Seeker get killed and her sister who I can’t remember the name of kill herself and it goes to Moria. The whole battle gets done and you learn Ashyn was locked out like WTF.
I feel like Ashyn has so much potential but no one let her reach it. I don’t get why they constantly tried to shelter her when her freaking job that she’s been raised to do was to find the dead bodies of the exiled in the Forrest of the damned. That’s what she was doing at the start no one shielded her there. I loved her and Ronan they were great together and I think helped each other grow. Though I wondered why Moria needed to give her dagger to him at the beginning like was it cause the spirits knew he’d be great at protecting Ashyn? I think they should have gotten together sooner but both were trying so hard not to love the other for whatever reason. I never got why Ronan thought she wouldn’t want him if he was castless. She can’t marry being the seeker but she can have lovers. I would assume since they are only allowed lovers they probably also can’t be obvious about them being loved so cast wouldn’t matter since it’d all have to be in secret. I’m hoping that they removed the ban on the seeker and keeper being married.
I thought Ashyn would have more to do with the final battle after her getting rid of some shadow stalkers and seemed to be fighting for once and not having people keep her to the side. When she went in and was taking charge with the court seeker and keeper who seem to dislike them for whatever reason I thought she was going to have more to do with the final battle. Then she sees Ellen the Seeker get killed and her sister who I can’t remember the name of kill herself and it goes to Moria. The whole battle gets done and you learn Ashyn was locked out like WTF.
fast-paced
I devoured this series in less than a week. Some what like a ya game of thrones.
This one was my favorite book in the series, but overall this series gets a 3-star from me. It was interesting enough for me to want to finish the series, but I felt like there was too much telling instead of showing, our male characters took over the plot and constantly saved the females, and honestly, the only thing that happens in this series is they walk from place to place. I did really like the ending in this final book, but it was cheapened when they brought someone back to life.