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beyondevak's review
5.0
Bravo! Bravo!!! Truth of Embers was brilliant. In fact, this entire series has been so wonderfully done that I cannot not find adequate words to express how much I have loved it.
In this final book in the trilogy, all the pieces came together. The prophecies, the war, the heartswearing, the chemistry, the conflict, the mantle...it all made for a spectacular story. I appreciated that the author kept me guessing about the outcome of dragonkind and humans right until the end. I also really liked how she weaved in nuances of light and dark in every character storyline. From the king and queen to the bard and the seer to the twin warrior and his mate, McFarland cast a spell that worked like magic.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
Stand-Alone: +/-
Re-read: Yes
Spin-off: Yes (Kavar, Brendan, Evan and the young female fire dragon)
In this final book in the trilogy, all the pieces came together. The prophecies, the war, the heartswearing, the chemistry, the conflict, the mantle...it all made for a spectacular story. I appreciated that the author kept me guessing about the outcome of dragonkind and humans right until the end. I also really liked how she weaved in nuances of light and dark in every character storyline. From the king and queen to the bard and the seer to the twin warrior and his mate, McFarland cast a spell that worked like magic.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
Stand-Alone: +/-
Re-read: Yes
Spin-off: Yes (Kavar, Brendan, Evan and the young female fire dragon)
theannotatingbabe's review
4.0
So much emotion in the final book of The Dragonsworn. I shed a few tears and finally fell completely in love with the FMC. Kai is a bit complicated but the love she has for others really comes clear in this novel. I felt so much sadness, grief, and happiness for Rhys. Though it was a tough journey, Truth of Embers was incredible.
If you're hungover from Fourth Wing, this is 100000000% the series to dive into!
If you're hungover from Fourth Wing, this is 100000000% the series to dive into!
raven168's review
4.0
This was definitely a good end to the series and I was happy with it. We have a lot going on to be sure, and even some things that I was not expecting. The lives of so many people are about to change forever.
It has been 13 days since Kai was kidnapped and each day she has been tortured and healed over and over again. Her link to Rhys is what's kept her together (mostly) but she still shields him from most of her tortures. The final day has arrived to turn himself in, but Kai refuses to let him so she's trying to figure out how to accept her impending death.
Even with just the amount of torture that Kai allows Rhys to comfort her thru, he is going mad. He blames himself for her situation and is more than willing to sacrifice himself for her. But there are so many reasons that others won't allow that to happen. So plans are made. But things quickly go wrong and they're left with little choice but to trust Kavar. Which also ends up going wrong. But at the same time, Juli expected this. So while Kai has been freed, Juli has to stay behind.
Which works out kind of just as she was hoping. By spying on the minds of those around her, Juli discovers something horrifying. And once Kai finds out, she's determined to put an end to it. Despite having one of the worst things that could happen to them happen, Rhys and Kai want more than anything to stay together. Rhys sees the change that has happened to Kai from her time with Owain, and keeps hoping that the girl he fell in love with is still inside somewhere. And not wanting to push her away, he allows her to come with him on the mission to destroy what Juli found out about.
Things do not get any easier once they make it back to Eryi. The traitor among them takes a life that I was totally not expecting. Owain comes for the final battle just as Ryhs was hoping for. And things are going well enough until the traitor strikes again and the tide of the battle shifts immediately. Not wanting any more loss of dragon life, Owain calls Rhys out for a one on one fight. What happened with the mantle sort of pissed me off because I didn't like where is went, but by the end I was actually kind of happy with it.
Along with all the hell that Rhys is going thru, Cadoc has his own sort of problems. He has finally figured out that Serene is his heartsworn, but he knows he can't have her. He refuses to take her sight away from Rhys and her away from the people. She doesn't make that easy on him though with her innocent attempts to get closer to him. When one of her visions comes to pass, she does what needs to be done to save him regardless of the consequences. And even though he still wants to fight what has happened, neither can actually regret it.
I was happy with the way things ended between Kavar and Juli as well. I think I would have been really ticked if it didn't happen. Kavar might have done a few things right, but he has not changed any of his views.
Even with the war finally over, peace is hard to come by with all the petty fighting still going on between the sides. But Rhys and Kai have got this now and they are going to make things work.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
It has been 13 days since Kai was kidnapped and each day she has been tortured and healed over and over again. Her link to Rhys is what's kept her together (mostly) but she still shields him from most of her tortures. The final day has arrived to turn himself in, but Kai refuses to let him so she's trying to figure out how to accept her impending death.
Even with just the amount of torture that Kai allows Rhys to comfort her thru, he is going mad. He blames himself for her situation and is more than willing to sacrifice himself for her. But there are so many reasons that others won't allow that to happen. So plans are made. But things quickly go wrong and they're left with little choice but to trust Kavar. Which also ends up going wrong. But at the same time, Juli expected this. So while Kai has been freed, Juli has to stay behind.
Which works out kind of just as she was hoping. By spying on the minds of those around her, Juli discovers something horrifying. And once Kai finds out, she's determined to put an end to it. Despite having one of the worst things that could happen to them happen, Rhys and Kai want more than anything to stay together. Rhys sees the change that has happened to Kai from her time with Owain, and keeps hoping that the girl he fell in love with is still inside somewhere. And not wanting to push her away, he allows her to come with him on the mission to destroy what Juli found out about.
Things do not get any easier once they make it back to Eryi. The traitor among them takes a life that I was totally not expecting
Spoiler
I kept waiting to see who would drink that wine because it was obvious that it was going to be the poison. But of all the people, it never crossed my mind that Deryn would be killed by it...Spoiler
As soon as Kai had that necklace in her hand, I just knew that the mantle was going to go to her. I did NOT want her to have it. She's not a real dragon. Thankfully though, when she was able to repair her bond with Rhys it settled between them and they both could use it. So happy. I needed Rhys to have it as king damn it.Along with all the hell that Rhys is going thru, Cadoc has his own sort of problems. He has finally figured out that Serene is his heartsworn, but he knows he can't have her. He refuses to take her sight away from Rhys and her away from the people. She doesn't make that easy on him though with her innocent attempts to get closer to him. When one of her visions comes to pass, she does what needs to be done to save him regardless of the consequences. And even though he still wants to fight what has happened, neither can actually regret it.
I was happy with the way things ended between Kavar and Juli as well. I think I would have been really ticked if it didn't happen. Kavar might have done a few things right, but he has not changed any of his views.
Even with the war finally over, peace is hard to come by with all the petty fighting still going on between the sides. But Rhys and Kai have got this now and they are going to make things work.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
bookwormbunny's review
4.0
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
This is book 3 of Caitlyn McFarland's Dragonsworn series. This is my first time reading any of her work and I am impressed. I will be going back and reading the first books in the series but overall I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to people who love dragons but I'd also recommend that they take the time to read the series from the beginning because otherwise you'll have a lot of questions as to what is going on like I did.
Despite all of that I really enjoyed reading this book and going through the hardships, heartaches, heartbreaks, joyous and tearful moments with all of the characters. I think that the author has done a really good job with this book and I would really like it if she wrote some more on these characters and took us even further along into the future of humans and dragons learning to live together and Kai and Rhys building a family together.
Definitely enjoyed, will recommend and will be reading the first books in the series soon. Two thumbs up for a job well done.
This is book 3 of Caitlyn McFarland's Dragonsworn series. This is my first time reading any of her work and I am impressed. I will be going back and reading the first books in the series but overall I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to people who love dragons but I'd also recommend that they take the time to read the series from the beginning because otherwise you'll have a lot of questions as to what is going on like I did.
Despite all of that I really enjoyed reading this book and going through the hardships, heartaches, heartbreaks, joyous and tearful moments with all of the characters. I think that the author has done a really good job with this book and I would really like it if she wrote some more on these characters and took us even further along into the future of humans and dragons learning to live together and Kai and Rhys building a family together.
Definitely enjoyed, will recommend and will be reading the first books in the series soon. Two thumbs up for a job well done.
cranberrytarts's review
4.0
I had mixed feelings about the first book, Soul of Smoke. I loved the world and basic storyline, but the characters frustrated me. I started book two, Shadow of Flame, but by the second chapter my head was ready to explode so I DNF'd it. I started this one by accident. I opened it on my PC and before I knew it was I was 4 chapters in. The plot really pulled me in. The first few pages where Rhys is connected to Kai as she's being tortured were really intense and set up the story well.
I was pleased to see both Kai and Rhys had done some growing since the previous book. Kai wasn't as selfish or immature. She seemed to have settled into herself more and she seemed more accepting of her future with Kai and the Dragons. Rhys, too, seemed a bit more mature. One of the things I struggled with in the previous book was the lack of maturity he showed for being a thousands-of-years old dragon. He still read more like a twenty-something than an old, wise dragon, but he showed more maturity than in the first book.
We saw more from Owain's point-of-view this time around. He was clearly mad, but his reluctance to see more dragons perish, coupled with his own ideals about the future, gave him added depth. He was much more one-dimensional in the first book. Here he was a flawed but fully formed character.
Though I had some continued frustrations with the lack of maturity shown by many of the characters, I can't deny this was a thrilling read. I was quickly swept up in the race to save Kai, the push to gain the full mantle from both sides and the complexities of the relationship between Kai and Rhys. Overall this was a very satisfying read I won't soon forget.
I was pleased to see both Kai and Rhys had done some growing since the previous book. Kai wasn't as selfish or immature. She seemed to have settled into herself more and she seemed more accepting of her future with Kai and the Dragons. Rhys, too, seemed a bit more mature. One of the things I struggled with in the previous book was the lack of maturity he showed for being a thousands-of-years old dragon. He still read more like a twenty-something than an old, wise dragon, but he showed more maturity than in the first book.
We saw more from Owain's point-of-view this time around. He was clearly mad, but his reluctance to see more dragons perish, coupled with his own ideals about the future, gave him added depth. He was much more one-dimensional in the first book. Here he was a flawed but fully formed character.
Though I had some continued frustrations with the lack of maturity shown by many of the characters, I can't deny this was a thrilling read. I was quickly swept up in the race to save Kai, the push to gain the full mantle from both sides and the complexities of the relationship between Kai and Rhys. Overall this was a very satisfying read I won't soon forget.
cathy_acasefullofbooks's review
5.0
The books in this series got better and better! I could tell that Caitlyn McFarland improved with her writing with each installment. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
sleepyjoe7's review
5.0
This whole series is like coming home to friends and family. Privileged enough to have read some of this series in its early creation I can certainly say I am so proud of Caitlyn and her weaving of love and misery. From the beginning I have felt close and connected to this dragon family and that is down to some masterful writing. It is so easy to be pulled into this story and fear for the characters and shout for joy when the finally get what they deserve in life. Thank you for saving Cadoc.
novelsallnight's review
4.0
Now, Truth of Embers picks off pretty much where book two left off... with Kai still captured and being tortured and Rhys trying to devise a plan to save her. Obviously saving Kai does not go completely according to plan and even though Rhys and Kai are together again things are anything but simple. Kai tries to be a leader to the wingless and Rhys is trying to come up with a way to beat Owain while not alienating the council, dragons, or the wingless. Then there's the gang...I love them all and their story lines are not forgotten. So basically we have the final showdown in the dragon war that's lasted centuries, the strength of love, forbidden love, and family.
The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were several story lines that I was able to guess the outcome to, but even though I saw some things coming I still loved the way this series ended. I appreciate that none of the side characters were forgotten about. Many times in a series a friend is discussed in the first couple of books and then completely forgotten about or glossed over in the ending. Don't worry that is not the case here! And even though I saw some things coming, some were a COMPLETE surprise! A completely satisfying surprise! We finally get to see the final battle in the war between the dragons...I just want to mention that because it's easy to forget that this isn't just a love story. With so many people at war and in love there's bound to be some happy endings and some not so happy endings... I liked that it didn't end with a happy ending for everyone it felt much more realistic.
I think my favorite thing about this book is the character growth we see in Kai and Rhys. There's nothing typical about this leading lady or leading man and I love it. Kai goes from being a spunky college student to Queen of the dragons and we get to experience the transformation with her. And yes, Rhys was King way back in the first book, but we get to see him grow as he learns what love is and as he learns how to really be a great and fair leader to everyone.
I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who likes books because it has something for everyone! Dragons, action, war, every type of love interest you can think of! You like love triangles then it has that, prefer forbidden love..it has that too, or soulmates ya that too. So much to love about this series and I'm sad to see it come to an end but highly satisfied with the ending.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were several story lines that I was able to guess the outcome to, but even though I saw some things coming I still loved the way this series ended. I appreciate that none of the side characters were forgotten about. Many times in a series a friend is discussed in the first couple of books and then completely forgotten about or glossed over in the ending. Don't worry that is not the case here! And even though I saw some things coming, some were a COMPLETE surprise! A completely satisfying surprise! We finally get to see the final battle in the war between the dragons...I just want to mention that because it's easy to forget that this isn't just a love story. With so many people at war and in love there's bound to be some happy endings and some not so happy endings... I liked that it didn't end with a happy ending for everyone it felt much more realistic.
I think my favorite thing about this book is the character growth we see in Kai and Rhys. There's nothing typical about this leading lady or leading man and I love it. Kai goes from being a spunky college student to Queen of the dragons and we get to experience the transformation with her. And yes, Rhys was King way back in the first book, but we get to see him grow as he learns what love is and as he learns how to really be a great and fair leader to everyone.
I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who likes books because it has something for everyone! Dragons, action, war, every type of love interest you can think of! You like love triangles then it has that, prefer forbidden love..it has that too, or soulmates ya that too. So much to love about this series and I'm sad to see it come to an end but highly satisfied with the ending.
** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
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