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A review by raven168
Truth of Embers by Caitlyn McFarland
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.