Scan barcode
0100's review against another edition
5.0
review for myself: rereading this series and it has (quite a few) flaws but the nostalgia is overpowering for me so 5 stars
aconkright79's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hey_leen's review against another edition
Nog 300 blz voor het einde, gebeurt veelste weinig in het boek. En de opbouw is ondertussen ook niet meer spannend. Veelste lang uitgerekt. Helaas de eerste boek was het beste!
mercymorns's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I need to put holland in a blender
a nice end to the series, some if it dragged a bit but overall it was enjoyable
a nice end to the series, some if it dragged a bit but overall it was enjoyable
plip08's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the most fast paced book and the best in this trilogy! This was an adventure on every page. This was like an epic quest with lots of side quests and the characters were all amazing and complicated. I loved how she makes them seem so complex by showing their history and experiences - especially throwing in the holland flashbacks was chefs kiss. She makes Lila a morally grey character you love. And kell and rhy and alucards relationships were great. Even the side characters all had their moments to shine. The final battle scene was also just amazing. This is a proper fantasy!!!
sarah_julius's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book and series will forever leave a mark on my heart. Every characters back story just became that much more beautiful. Rhy’s struggle with power, loss, guilt, imposter syndrome, and love was stunning. The way he grew into his own kind of power was perfect. Alucard, I want to give you a hug and tell you everything works out. More than just power and cunning, he had hurt and despair and hate thrown at him, all while putting on a brave face. Smart and loyal and willing to sacrifice everything. Even the short delve into the King and Queen past, and the complicated relationship with Kell and then their ultimate sacrifice showed true family love.
Absolutely blindsided by my love for Holland, I wish I could take away all of his hurt. All he wanted was happiness for his world, he sacrificed himself again and again and again, at the cost of his independence and control and life force. I hope his final sacrifice was the breath White London needed to come back and honor him. Of course, nothing could be possible without fearsome, strong, cunning CAPTAIN Lila Bard. Finding something worthy of her loyalty, some one, some place to finally love her back. Hard headed and stubborn, but brilliant and loving and such a tie pulling everyone together. And finally Kell. Why does this man want to destroy my heart. As much as he fights it, the fierce love he has for the people around him is some of the strongest I’ve ever seen. Willing to fight life and death and even his own compulsion to sacrifice himself in order to save those around him. Finally finally free to explore the world and love life for himself. And hopefully learn a thing or two about freedom from Lila, and he in turn can show her love. Also, shout out to our man Ned Tuttle, holding down the fort in Grey London!
Osaron was an impossible villain, growing dark seeds from the first book. As cliche as it is, he was defeated because of love. Maxim’s love for his kingdom, Kell’s for his family, Holland for his world, Lila for her freedom. As always, the continued world and magic building in this book was fantastical and unique. Mixes of epic battles, cunning games, politics, heists, and love. The pacing was beautiful, just as a lull settled with a handle on one problem, the next big challenge and move was unfolding. The story itself was complex without unnecessary side plots, the story and characters were compelling, just a masterpiece. The ending beautiful tied up the story that felt true to the characters and their journey. Truly I don’t know if I will ever shut up about this book and series. I guess all there is left to say is… Anoshe.
carfitzpa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
Well, OK, it touched all the bases and wrapped up the story, but it just left me unsatisfied.
That probably started around 1/3 of the way in when it started to d-r-a-g. That's when the distractions get in, and my first was the name "Alucard." Fanfic graphic novel? Then I started seeing "Osaron" as an anagram for "Sauron" (which it only almost is), and every time I did I thought that Osaron's more like Donald Trump than Sauron.
I enjoyed the floating market scene, but between what led to it and the importance of what happened there, it was just way too convenient. For all practical purposes, the book was over when they left there, because we knew the - may I call then horcruxes? - that they picked up would get the job done. I expected an exchange like this: Hero - I don't want this! Maris - no, but you NEED it (enigmatic smile). Too big a step forward in the plot, but OTOH I am glad they didn't pick the things up one at a time or we'd be 400 pages into volume 4.
And Lila owes a favor. I'm sort of glad we DIDN'T find out what it was, because I was sure it was going to be the Dread Pirate Roberts ending where she becomes the next Maris. I'm not ruling out a spinoff novel featuring Lila, where this actually happens after three large books.
In the end, too, the other Londons didn't seem very important. There had to be a place for things to come from and go to, but that's easily handled in other ways. I expected more of the multi-London setup.
I was pleased to see very few comments about the same-sex love triangle, even though the sex wasn't even waves crashing on a beach. It was just another set of relationships.
I'm left with mixed feelings about Holland. He seemed to turn nice very quickly, after (understandably) alternating between Eeyore and Nastyman for a long time. But his story arc turned out well.
The Rhy-Kell thing provided an opportunity for some philosophy, which is fine, but the magic behind it's a bit if a stretch. As is the whole story of Lila's eye, which seemed to get an awful lot of attention and very little explanation.
I award marks for the avoidance of wholesale slaughter of armies, which is so common in fantasy.
The sleep spell was good.
It's over, it was reasonably well done. But I won't really remember it. Apparently a lot of you are all "Mom! I don't want it to be O-ver!" but for me this one falls well short of that. For me the I'm-sad-it's-over is Guy Gavriel Kay (something later than the Fionavar trilogy, because that's a bit YA, although it's still very good) or Lois McMaster Bujold's fantasy.
That probably started around 1/3 of the way in when it started to d-r-a-g. That's when the distractions get in, and my first was the name "Alucard." Fanfic graphic novel? Then I started seeing "Osaron" as an anagram for "Sauron" (which it only almost is), and every time I did I thought that Osaron's more like Donald Trump than Sauron.
I enjoyed the floating market scene, but between what led to it and the importance of what happened there, it was just way too convenient. For all practical purposes, the book was over when they left there, because we knew the - may I call then horcruxes? - that they picked up would get the job done. I expected an exchange like this: Hero - I don't want this! Maris - no, but you NEED it (enigmatic smile). Too big a step forward in the plot, but OTOH I am glad they didn't pick the things up one at a time or we'd be 400 pages into volume 4.
And Lila owes a favor. I'm sort of glad we DIDN'T find out what it was, because I was sure it was going to be the Dread Pirate Roberts ending where she becomes the next Maris. I'm not ruling out a spinoff novel featuring Lila, where this actually happens after three large books.
In the end, too, the other Londons didn't seem very important. There had to be a place for things to come from and go to, but that's easily handled in other ways. I expected more of the multi-London setup.
I was pleased to see very few comments about the same-sex love triangle, even though the sex wasn't even waves crashing on a beach. It was just another set of relationships.
I'm left with mixed feelings about Holland. He seemed to turn nice very quickly, after (understandably) alternating between Eeyore and Nastyman for a long time. But his story arc turned out well.
The Rhy-Kell thing provided an opportunity for some philosophy, which is fine, but the magic behind it's a bit if a stretch. As is the whole story of Lila's eye, which seemed to get an awful lot of attention and very little explanation.
I award marks for the avoidance of wholesale slaughter of armies, which is so common in fantasy.
The sleep spell was good.
It's over, it was reasonably well done. But I won't really remember it. Apparently a lot of you are all "Mom! I don't want it to be O-ver!" but for me this one falls well short of that. For me the I'm-sad-it's-over is Guy Gavriel Kay (something later than the Fionavar trilogy, because that's a bit YA, although it's still very good) or Lois McMaster Bujold's fantasy.
pucks_pups's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bamboneo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This killed me. I’ll never be the same