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A review by rubeusbeaky
Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff
5.0
An epic conclusion - on a scale I never could have predicted - for a tale of bloody revenge, the family we forge, and self-discovery. The breath-taking poetry I so missed in Godsgrave was back in force for the finale! I love the use of echoes and line breaks which mirror Mia's own actions and reflections throughout her odyssey. Every character is flawed, but their motivations are sharp and relatable/understandable; I was thankful that the book took true-to-character risks, and had tragic consequences, while also praying that the author would be nice and offer a glimmer of hope/a happy ending.
I have to say, the meta-commentary was a /little/ pretentious. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it there. But I forgave the whole self-aware book thing, because there has been a narrator all along, and I /was/ anticipating that the storyteller would be revealed before the end.
But compliment sandwich: This book has great messages about relationships, something I do /not/ often say about YA fiction. Sometimes, you love more than one person. Sometimes, you have to choose to take a risk on someone; true love doesn't just /appear/. Sometimes, you love someone, and they don't choose you back romantically, and you have to accept and respect, but also you can show love for them in another way: by helping them achieve their goals.
Honest Feelings is the theme at the core of this conclusion: Who we become when we let rage, love, fear, greed, jealousy, anguish, empathy, rule us. The Many Are One.
I have to say, the meta-commentary was a /little/ pretentious. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it there. But I forgave the whole self-aware book thing, because there has been a narrator all along, and I /was/ anticipating that the storyteller would be revealed before the end.
But compliment sandwich: This book has great messages about relationships, something I do /not/ often say about YA fiction. Sometimes, you love more than one person. Sometimes, you have to choose to take a risk on someone; true love doesn't just /appear/. Sometimes, you love someone, and they don't choose you back romantically, and you have to accept and respect, but also you can show love for them in another way: by helping them achieve their goals.
Honest Feelings is the theme at the core of this conclusion: Who we become when we let rage, love, fear, greed, jealousy, anguish, empathy, rule us. The Many Are One.