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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Soooo... this book took me FOREVER to read, and I think if I were to have read it all at once I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more, but unfortunately a reading slump knows no bounds and decided to attack me literally right in the first half of this book. HOWEVER, I still had fun.
*this does kinda mention spoilers so proceed at your own risk*
This one wasn’t as good as the first two, and I actually think this series should’ve had 4 books instead of 3. There was a lot going on and so many plot points that I think we really could have benefited from having more time with everything. More time for detail, more time to relax, more time for explanations, etc.
Henrietta is still a badass. Maria is still a badass, although I think she deserved to be even more of a badass, I mean... chosen one... she should’ve been ELITE badass. Plus, Fiona?! We love to see it. The men however.... what was going on there.
I feel personally victimized by Blackwoods character development. In book one and even book two I was rooting for him. By book three he turned into the biggest asshole ever and it was so confusing. I felt like it was Tamlin all over again. Then we go back to the lovely Magnus, whom I have enjoyed since the start I will admit, and his development was done magnificently so I can’t complain. Rook was... Rook. I always feel bad but I just didn’t care for him much, but I did get emotional over him in this one. I think his character would’ve been much better off as JUST the best friend and not the added love interest.
The ending was a bit of a let down. We had alllll this buildup and it all ended so quickly with minimal detail/description. I wanted, and needed, more. I was also super disappointed with R’hlem. I mean, we spent the entire first two books freaking out over this guy and waiting for the big final battle. He’s supposed to be this insanely powerful villain but he gets put down SO EASILY, not to mention he has a change of heart in the span of 2 minutes for possibly the dumbest reason ever?! It was NOT what I was expecting at all and felt like such a let down.
I also didn’t like the surprise pregnancy. If it’s done well and earlier on I can get behind it, but this was too late in the game. I understand the times were different back then but I truly didn’t see the purpose of it. I feel like it was maybe done to redeem Blackwood in some way, but I didn’t care for it at all, nor did it ‘redeem’ him in my eyes. Truthfully the whole ending seemed a bit rushed and sloppy BUT I did like the flash forward for the last few pages.
I know you’d think I hated this book based off my review but honestly I still really enjoyed it. I cried, I laughed, I got angry, it wasn’t awful by any means. I just think the cons are a little heavier and bigger than the pros. But I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
*this does kinda mention spoilers so proceed at your own risk*
This one wasn’t as good as the first two, and I actually think this series should’ve had 4 books instead of 3. There was a lot going on and so many plot points that I think we really could have benefited from having more time with everything. More time for detail, more time to relax, more time for explanations, etc.
Henrietta is still a badass. Maria is still a badass, although I think she deserved to be even more of a badass, I mean... chosen one... she should’ve been ELITE badass. Plus, Fiona?! We love to see it. The men however.... what was going on there.
I feel personally victimized by Blackwoods character development. In book one and even book two I was rooting for him. By book three he turned into the biggest asshole ever and it was so confusing. I felt like it was Tamlin all over again. Then we go back to the lovely Magnus, whom I have enjoyed since the start I will admit, and his development was done magnificently so I can’t complain. Rook was... Rook. I always feel bad but I just didn’t care for him much, but I did get emotional over him in this one. I think his character would’ve been much better off as JUST the best friend and not the added love interest.
The ending was a bit of a let down. We had alllll this buildup and it all ended so quickly with minimal detail/description. I wanted, and needed, more. I was also super disappointed with R’hlem. I mean, we spent the entire first two books freaking out over this guy and waiting for the big final battle. He’s supposed to be this insanely powerful villain but he gets put down SO EASILY, not to mention he has a change of heart in the span of 2 minutes for possibly the dumbest reason ever?! It was NOT what I was expecting at all and felt like such a let down.
I also didn’t like the surprise pregnancy. If it’s done well and earlier on I can get behind it, but this was too late in the game. I understand the times were different back then but I truly didn’t see the purpose of it. I feel like it was maybe done to redeem Blackwood in some way, but I didn’t care for it at all, nor did it ‘redeem’ him in my eyes. Truthfully the whole ending seemed a bit rushed and sloppy BUT I did like the flash forward for the last few pages.
I know you’d think I hated this book based off my review but honestly I still really enjoyed it. I cried, I laughed, I got angry, it wasn’t awful by any means. I just think the cons are a little heavier and bigger than the pros. But I still enjoyed it nonetheless!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
This was a truly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy by Jesscia Cluess. Cluess has created a terrifying world within the borders of Victorian England where ancient creatures are trying to rip away all semblance of order and destroy all magic. Henrietta Howell and Lord Blackwood are to be married at Sorrow-Fell, but first they must fight to protect everyone and everything dear to them. Magnus, their old classmate, is fighting right alongside them. Henrietta hatches a plan to defeat the Ancients, but must venture into dangerous territory to herself and others in order to begin her battle. Will the sorcerers, magicians, witches and magical creatures find common ground in order to save their world? This stunning and satisfying conclusion to the Kingdom on Fire trilogy will leave you wanting more stories from the incredible imagination of Jessica Cluess. Do not miss this series. For fans of steampunk (looking for another story about Victorian England), fantasy, historical fiction mixed with a ton of action, adventure and magic.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think that this is the best end/ wrap up to a series that I have read in a long time. Written a such a beautiful way and really well excicuted. Love this story, love this series, and would definitely recommend reading.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Yooo I don't know guys I have mixed feelings on this one. Basically, it can all be summed up with this: this trilogy was okay, but honestly had SO much squandered potential.
1. The world was cool, but not fully developed. I loved certain elements, like the hierarchy of magic, but there were no REAL rules. I wish I knew more history than just the couple of sentences thrown in here or there, because then I would get more of a sense of how exactly the magic is different for each type of magical person.
2. The plot was interesting, but there weren't really any plot twists. Things would just *happen* with no prior build up or explanation. I was constantly thinking, "Was that supposed to be a plot twist? Or was it just lazy writing? I dunno."
3. Worst of all for me, the romance had great, poignant moments, but was ruined by trying to juggle THREE love interests. This was what really ruined the trilogy for me. It was almost worse that I saw those brief, amazing moments, because I could see how much better it could have been! Magnus, Blackwood, and Rook were 3 SUPER interesting boys that could have had GREAT relationships with Henrietta, and each showed promise in their chemistry with her. But each was squandered to make space for another boy to take their place. Here's what I mean I bit more clearly: if this trilogy focused only on Henrietta's relationship with Magnus, their falling out, and then falling back in love, it would have made more room for that world-building that constantly seemed forced in. It would have made more room for her and Magnus's relationship to grow. It would have made when they come back together in this last book about 10 billion times more believable, instead of feeling like he was just Henrietta's last option. If the trilogy focused only on the hate-to-love relationship with Blackwood and his redemption (instead of whatever the heck happened with him in this book I was pretty sad he just turned out to be freaking Snape instead of Zuko), it would have been better. If the trilogy focused only on her falling in love with Rook, losing him, and then saving him, it would have been better!! But because these books did ALL THREE, each was done poorly and left me feeling like Henrietta didn't have deep relationships with any of them. Am I making any sense?
Honestly, this has happened more than once for me recently with YA trilogies, where I hope they'll go one direction and they just go in a different, stupid direction. Maybe that's why I put off finishing so many YA series.... For this last book in particular, there were many moments that I enjoyed and compelled me to read on, but almost an equal amount of it had me rolling my eyes and, unfortunately, wanting it to be over.
1. The world was cool, but not fully developed. I loved certain elements, like the hierarchy of magic, but there were no REAL rules. I wish I knew more history than just the couple of sentences thrown in here or there, because then I would get more of a sense of how exactly the magic is different for each type of magical person.
2. The plot was interesting, but there weren't really any plot twists. Things would just *happen* with no prior build up or explanation. I was constantly thinking, "Was that supposed to be a plot twist? Or was it just lazy writing? I dunno."
3. Worst of all for me, the romance had great, poignant moments, but was ruined by trying to juggle THREE love interests. This was what really ruined the trilogy for me. It was almost worse that I saw those brief, amazing moments, because I could see how much better it could have been! Magnus, Blackwood, and Rook were 3 SUPER interesting boys that could have had GREAT relationships with Henrietta, and each showed promise in their chemistry with her. But each was squandered to make space for another boy to take their place. Here's what I mean I bit more clearly: if this trilogy focused only on Henrietta's relationship with Magnus, their falling out, and then falling back in love, it would have made more room for that world-building that constantly seemed forced in. It would have made more room for her and Magnus's relationship to grow. It would have made when they come back together in this last book about 10 billion times more believable, instead of feeling like he was just Henrietta's last option. If the trilogy focused only on the hate-to-love relationship with Blackwood and his redemption (instead of whatever the heck happened with him in this book I was pretty sad he just turned out to be freaking Snape instead of Zuko), it would have been better. If the trilogy focused only on her falling in love with Rook, losing him, and then saving him, it would have been better!! But because these books did ALL THREE, each was done poorly and left me feeling like Henrietta didn't have deep relationships with any of them. Am I making any sense?
Honestly, this has happened more than once for me recently with YA trilogies, where I hope they'll go one direction and they just go in a different, stupid direction. Maybe that's why I put off finishing so many YA series.... For this last book in particular, there were many moments that I enjoyed and compelled me to read on, but almost an equal amount of it had me rolling my eyes and, unfortunately, wanting it to be over.