176 reviews for:

From the Grave

Kresley Cole

4.1 AVERAGE

ak_2203's review

5.0
adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

This series was so good. I’m really sad it’s over. I will say the ending felt just a bit rushed but then she did a good wrap up and HEA so I’m not complaining. I do wish the main character has a little more opportunity to let her powers shine but I guess that’s part of the build up too. Even though parts of this story have been done before it felt new and fresh in its own way. I’ve always been a fan of Kresley Cole but now she is cemented as one of my favorite authors. If you’ve never read her check out this series for a not quite YA fantasy story or her Immortals After Dark series for some adult supernatural spice. You won’t be disappointed.

Get ready for an epic ride! Kresley Cole's From
the grave not only delivers a thrilling conclusion
to the Arcana Chronicles but also answers the
lingering questions that have kept readers on
the edge of their seats for five years. Kresley
beautifully wraps up the series as Empress
Evie faces the Emperor and Fortune. This is a
tale filled with so much emotion, twists, and
shocking discoveries. The wait was worth it
brace yourself for a gripping and deeply
satisfying finale.

Worst ending to a series I’ve ever read in my ENTIRE life
moonbebe722's profile picture

moonbebe722's review

4.75
adventurous dark emotional reflective 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: Yes

Finishing this book is something that is very bittersweet, for a lot of reasons. This series, as a whole, is something that has been with me (insomuch as a book series can be with you) for so long and I just never finished it. Going back and rereading it all, ending with the book that I never got a chance to read, was way more impactful that I had expected it to be.

At the same time, this book felt so much like saying goodbye to someone you know you will never see again. The author does a fantastic job imparting the weight and sorrow that someone feels just by living when you never expected to or at the cost of the people you love. I know that the ending of a series can be a very divisive thing because you can't please everyone, but I really appreciated how this book ended. It's far from perfect, but it's lovely and made me cry more than once in the last handful of chapters. I'm so happy I took the time to revisit these books.

briannac1's review

5.0
adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jadey_burge's review

4.0
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

El final más chombi de la historia. Jajaja both jajaja quien pudiera

Worth The Wait

I can’t believe it is over. Ii have read each of the books in this series just waiting for the final book. I cried so much. I absolutely loved it!!!

Copy received from the author. Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.

I am a blubbering mess and my heart hurts but I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to the series.

Without spoilers, I honestly loved everything about this. And maybe, during a reread in a few years, I’d be more critical about things but my head is too wrapped up into the story. Maybe not. Who knows. All I do know is that every worry and concern I had evaporated with this one.

At the end of the last book, Jack chooses to leave Evie with Aric, for their child. It reads like that’ll be it for a while, but the connection isn’t gone, or broken. In fact, it’s fostered through a phone and I love the scenes with both Aric and Jack through this time. And just everything about this. Jack might have physically left her behind, but he didn’t NOT choose her and we see a perfect portrayal of that.

The plot has an interesting timeline in that everything after the previous book consists over a few months, then it’s battle, and then it’s the AFTER, to be talked about later. We see Tee’s birth (no spoilers) and the battle they’ve all been gearing up for. (Intense and sad).

And then it’s everything after and this is where it’s hard to hold all the facts in. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew what I hoped for. What we got was a balance. It was a nice ending, I’ll say. I’m happy for the characters. As the plot continues over the years, I continued to cry at almost every chapter, but nonetheless, it all felt right.

It felt right. If I had to sum my feelings about this book into a single line, it’s that one. Shocking, heartbreaking, emotional, everything but it always felt right.

So the big thing we all waited for? Who did Evie choose? Again, her choice felt right. Always been an Aric fan. After a recent reread, I became more of a Jack fan than Aric. Her love for him always felt more authentic. At the end of the last one, she’s with Aric because Jack left, but we all know then, with the battle coming, it wouldn’t be the final we see of him. Putting the love triangle predicament still present.

Well, I certainly won’t spoil this! But again, it felt right. At one point, I was crying for one guy. At another, crying for the other. All that was sad, but somehow, I know Kresley Cole wouldn’t leave us hanging, since after all, the overarching plot was still in play at this point. As heartbreaking as it was, the last few chapters and major time jumps also had me smiling in a bittersweet way. Her life with “the guy” was perfect. It was also what SHE needed if we think in terms of her Arcana/human sides. It’s also foreshadowed in previous books, looking back, particularly in number 1.

And then the final chapters. The biggest time jump. My heart was in my throat and for a moment, I’m thinking KC is giving us a spin off series but no it’s PERFECTION and what I’ve been calling for, for books! As an ending, it felt right. Happy. Weird when we think about the progression of the entire series.

All I know is that maybe at my next series reread, I’ll be less emotional through each book knowing how the series ends. If I’m honest, not only was it right and perfect, but I ended this series that has been a huge part of my young adult life. Book 1 was released when I was 18. This one, 10 days before I’m 28. Crazy. I just love that my enjoyment and love for the series never diminished and my recent series reread proved to me, I love it more than ever. Back to what I was saying…if I’m honest, not only was it right and perfect, but I ended this series that has been a huge part of my young adult life feeling GOOD about it. So many emotions through this final book, but it all had to happen. How else could this book have honestly gone? This isn’t a series that leaves you hanging or disappointed in any way. And if you’re worried about the game or which guy she’ll choose, trust KC’s process. Future readers: you may not love the choices made as much as I do. You may hate them. But ask yourself this: despite your feelings, doesn’t it feel right?