Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Didn’t read it...would like to! It’s been on my TBR for years but I can’t find it anywhere that’s not $60-100 CAD. Did it fall off the face of the earth?, cause it seems no one carries copies that aren’t outrageously priced or unavailable (Amazon, book depository, indigo, etc) Where can I find this book?
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
I actually didn't mind the ending of this novel or the resolution of the main conflict at all, but relationships are such a clusterfuck and involved so many outlandish shifts in character (some of which started in book 2 but I'd hoped they were red herrings.)
I'm not mad... it's just...
The rest of this review was originally posted on The Fandom.
Have you ever read a series that simultaneously thrills you and frustrates the life out of you? Alas, that’s me and Jessica Cluess’ Kingdom on Fire series, particularly with the release of its conclusion, A Sorrow Fierce and Falling.
Henrietta Howel is a magician among sorcerers, a young woman believed to be the prophesied chosen one who will win the great war against malicious beings known as Ancients– even though she knows she’s not the chosen one. The third novel finds Henrietta living at Lord Blackwood’s magically protected estate in the faerie lands, Sorrow-Fell, where the two are about to be married. As she prepares to become a Blackwood bride, Henrietta discovers a secret at Sorrow-Fell that could be a game-changer in the war against the Ancients. But to use it, she’ll have to unite the three branches of magic before the Ancients find a way to unleash their dark ruler upon them, destroying the whole world in the process.
A Sorrow Fierce and Falling is by far the fastest moving of the series, which is a very good thing. Henrietta is no longer in training. She’s done being doubted. She’s in the thick of the action, battling alongside her friends and heading out into the world to get things done. There are plenty of characters, new and old, that she interacts with along the way, but we don’t spend too much time sitting around talking. She has a solid, powerful ally in Maria. There are dramatic encounters, skirmishes, tensions, and a big final battle scene that will stuck you right in. The moments of action and clever bouts of wit are Henrietta and her companions at their best, what I cling to and adore in these novels.
However, I think I’ve also pinpointed my biggest problem with the series: It constantly tries to define Henrietta through her romantic relationships. They’re a huge part of this novel and I wish they just weren’t. It was overwhelming and it hampered Henrietta’s character development rather than helping it. No matter how successful or oh so very wrong she was in any situation, she was always worried about how the latest guy she’s with will react. There are too many love interests in the series to begin with, but as we move toward the endgame, none of them have been truly narrowed down. In the rush to make everyone but the endgame suitor unfavorable, the author just starts assassinating the personalities she’s built for the spare suitors so far.
One of these characters I really enjoyed, but he went from steadfast and very caring, though a little too uptight and stolid for his own good, to a wildly prejudiced slut-shamer who can’t handle anything over a very short time frame. It started at the very end of the last book so I saw it coming, but it still felt cheap. Hell, the other character involved in this mess didn’t interest me and I feel even he was brushed aside with little due diligence, rolling over and giving up at the first available chance. Meanwhile, endgame boy is forgiven of all sins without hesitation and exalted as Henrietta’s true equal because he’s suddenly nothing but strength and compassion while every other love interest loses their damn mind. Yes, you can probably guess who I’m talking about in all of these cases, but I’m not namin’ names. If this all sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is.
It may sound like I don’t like the series, but that’s completely untrue. Overall, I enjoyed Henrietta’s adventures in this wild Victorian war with dark creatures and magical twists around every corner. The resolution of the main conflict was satisfying and it will give readers plenty to cheer and plenty of mourn. I had a lot of emotions coursing through my veins during the final chapters, even though I struggled with how neatly everything wraps up in Henrietta’s favor. If you’re here for the magic, you’re going to get magic. If you’re here for friendships and battles, you’re gonna get friendships and battles. If you’re here for boatloads of Jane Eyre vibes (apparently, I’m kinda not,) you’re gonna get those too.
I'm not mad... it's just...
The rest of this review was originally posted on The Fandom.
Have you ever read a series that simultaneously thrills you and frustrates the life out of you? Alas, that’s me and Jessica Cluess’ Kingdom on Fire series, particularly with the release of its conclusion, A Sorrow Fierce and Falling.
Henrietta Howel is a magician among sorcerers, a young woman believed to be the prophesied chosen one who will win the great war against malicious beings known as Ancients– even though she knows she’s not the chosen one. The third novel finds Henrietta living at Lord Blackwood’s magically protected estate in the faerie lands, Sorrow-Fell, where the two are about to be married. As she prepares to become a Blackwood bride, Henrietta discovers a secret at Sorrow-Fell that could be a game-changer in the war against the Ancients. But to use it, she’ll have to unite the three branches of magic before the Ancients find a way to unleash their dark ruler upon them, destroying the whole world in the process.
A Sorrow Fierce and Falling is by far the fastest moving of the series, which is a very good thing. Henrietta is no longer in training. She’s done being doubted. She’s in the thick of the action, battling alongside her friends and heading out into the world to get things done. There are plenty of characters, new and old, that she interacts with along the way, but we don’t spend too much time sitting around talking. She has a solid, powerful ally in Maria. There are dramatic encounters, skirmishes, tensions, and a big final battle scene that will stuck you right in. The moments of action and clever bouts of wit are Henrietta and her companions at their best, what I cling to and adore in these novels.
However, I think I’ve also pinpointed my biggest problem with the series: It constantly tries to define Henrietta through her romantic relationships. They’re a huge part of this novel and I wish they just weren’t. It was overwhelming and it hampered Henrietta’s character development rather than helping it. No matter how successful or oh so very wrong she was in any situation, she was always worried about how the latest guy she’s with will react. There are too many love interests in the series to begin with, but as we move toward the endgame, none of them have been truly narrowed down. In the rush to make everyone but the endgame suitor unfavorable, the author just starts assassinating the personalities she’s built for the spare suitors so far.
One of these characters I really enjoyed, but he went from steadfast and very caring, though a little too uptight and stolid for his own good, to a wildly prejudiced slut-shamer who can’t handle anything over a very short time frame. It started at the very end of the last book so I saw it coming, but it still felt cheap. Hell, the other character involved in this mess didn’t interest me and I feel even he was brushed aside with little due diligence, rolling over and giving up at the first available chance. Meanwhile, endgame boy is forgiven of all sins without hesitation and exalted as Henrietta’s true equal because he’s suddenly nothing but strength and compassion while every other love interest loses their damn mind. Yes, you can probably guess who I’m talking about in all of these cases, but I’m not namin’ names. If this all sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is.
It may sound like I don’t like the series, but that’s completely untrue. Overall, I enjoyed Henrietta’s adventures in this wild Victorian war with dark creatures and magical twists around every corner. The resolution of the main conflict was satisfying and it will give readers plenty to cheer and plenty of mourn. I had a lot of emotions coursing through my veins during the final chapters, even though I struggled with how neatly everything wraps up in Henrietta’s favor. If you’re here for the magic, you’re going to get magic. If you’re here for friendships and battles, you’re gonna get friendships and battles. If you’re here for boatloads of Jane Eyre vibes (apparently, I’m kinda not,) you’re gonna get those too.
I don’t know how I feel. Is it 4, is it 3.75. Has Kingdom of Ash ruined me for the rest of the year? I hope not.
But I did enjoy this. I’m happy she ended up with Magnus. But I will say I am unhappy she was with with Blackwood for as long as she was. That was the definition of a toxic and unhealthy relationship.
Blackwood is a Tamlin through and through. He saw the light as he was dying and still got what he wanted.
Bleh.
But it did have a fulfilling ending and it was fun to read.
So I gotta give it that. But SJM has ruined me. So I’ll try again when I’m not coming off a book hangover.
But I did enjoy this. I’m happy she ended up with Magnus. But I will say I am unhappy she was with with Blackwood for as long as she was. That was the definition of a toxic and unhealthy relationship.
Blackwood is a Tamlin through and through. He saw the light as he was dying and still got what he wanted.
Bleh.
But it did have a fulfilling ending and it was fun to read.
So I gotta give it that. But SJM has ruined me. So I’ll try again when I’m not coming off a book hangover.
Excuse me while I go sob uncontrollably in the corner. Blackwood deserved so much better and now I hurt.
3.5 stars
I have enjoyed the first 75% of this book but at the end, I was a bit disappointed. Yes I know this book is fast paced but the fight with the Ancients was honestly just a few pages. I was hoping they would defeat all of the Ancients, not throw them back to where they belong. Also not just that but they "missed" being in their own world! Then why did they bother killing thousands and destroying everything instead of trying to find a way back!? Not only that but they hated their own king what the hell? They we're working to get him in through the portal and then when he came, they attacked him! Theyre currently back in their own dimension with their king that they attacked so what was the whole point? I felt like Rhelm was having some kind of redemption in the end as if he didn't murder millions of people and was a good guy doing a bad thing.
Now comes to Henreitta, who has kissed 3 guys over the span of fifty pages. I honestly felt she was so fickle when it came to the 3 guys and threw herself to whoever gave her a bit of affection. Like what was the point of making her her pregnant with Blackwood's child only to kill him over something of no worth? Just for the family name? I still think he didn't deserve to die that way. Also she was transforming to an Ancient so how did she magically stop? Her child even inherited some shadow powers!
What was the point of Maria? Like I love her and all but they paint her as the real saviour but she did nothing! She just caused trouble even until the end which is what I was suspecting but was hoping that it won't happen. She just stood there without fighting anything. Henreitta did all the work!! Like I like Maria but she was honestly useless after the second half of the book.
Honestly I'm glad Magnus is the endgame but I don't like how things happened at the end. Yes, I've just been complaining despite me saying I enjoyed this book but I just had high expectations for this last book. I really love the series but I felt like there were too many plot holes and ideas pasted together without any good coverage. People I thought would survive died and people I thought was gonna die survived instead. Even Gwen's character painted her as someone who could do shit in the first book and she turned to a lap dog in this one. I still don't see the whole purpose of Agrippa surviving. Was it just so Maria could see his face?
I cried when Rook died though. I was hoping they could save him but I didn't mind if he died. But certainly didn't like the way he died. I was hoping for something better when it came to him. Idk what exactly but definitely not what happened where he was mostly ignored and died in a single line.
Overall I felt the ending was rushed especially with Titania's gift to her which was a big deal. It was restoring magic back to the world. Nevertheless I enjoyed this whole series but was hoping for a better ending.
I have enjoyed the first 75% of this book but at the end, I was a bit disappointed. Yes I know this book is fast paced but the fight with the Ancients was honestly just a few pages. I was hoping they would defeat all of the Ancients, not throw them back to where they belong. Also not just that but they "missed" being in their own world! Then why did they bother killing thousands and destroying everything instead of trying to find a way back!? Not only that but they hated their own king what the hell? They we're working to get him in through the portal and then when he came, they attacked him! Theyre currently back in their own dimension with their king that they attacked so what was the whole point? I felt like Rhelm was having some kind of redemption in the end as if he didn't murder millions of people and was a good guy doing a bad thing.
Now comes to Henreitta, who has kissed 3 guys over the span of fifty pages. I honestly felt she was so fickle when it came to the 3 guys and threw herself to whoever gave her a bit of affection. Like what was the point of making her her pregnant with Blackwood's child only to kill him over something of no worth? Just for the family name? I still think he didn't deserve to die that way. Also she was transforming to an Ancient so how did she magically stop? Her child even inherited some shadow powers!
What was the point of Maria? Like I love her and all but they paint her as the real saviour but she did nothing! She just caused trouble even until the end which is what I was suspecting but was hoping that it won't happen. She just stood there without fighting anything. Henreitta did all the work!! Like I like Maria but she was honestly useless after the second half of the book.
Honestly I'm glad Magnus is the endgame but I don't like how things happened at the end. Yes, I've just been complaining despite me saying I enjoyed this book but I just had high expectations for this last book. I really love the series but I felt like there were too many plot holes and ideas pasted together without any good coverage. People I thought would survive died and people I thought was gonna die survived instead. Even Gwen's character painted her as someone who could do shit in the first book and she turned to a lap dog in this one. I still don't see the whole purpose of Agrippa surviving. Was it just so Maria could see his face?
I cried when Rook died though. I was hoping they could save him but I didn't mind if he died. But certainly didn't like the way he died. I was hoping for something better when it came to him. Idk what exactly but definitely not what happened where he was mostly ignored and died in a single line.
Overall I felt the ending was rushed especially with Titania's gift to her which was a big deal. It was restoring magic back to the world. Nevertheless I enjoyed this whole series but was hoping for a better ending.
adventurous
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
Let me just put it out here that I have lost the number of times I’ve cried over this book. Truly, an emotional roller coaster.
