A review by speculativeshelves
Last Flight by Liane Merciel

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.75

Without a doubt my favorite of the Dragon Age tie-in novels. I loved how the two timelines came together in the end, both protagonists were engaging and layered (particularly Isseya), and I was completely invested in the plot. The ultimate ending was hopeful but the last few chapters leading up to it destroyed me.

The Grey Wardens will always be one of my favorite parts of this world and so it was fascinating to learn more about them and devastating to see the horrors of the Fourth Blight unfold (the fact that the Fifth Blight in Dragon Age: Origins ended so quickly is quite a feat). I especially loved how the plot engaged with the difficult choices that have to be made to end a Blight - Grey Wardens must do whatever it takes but at what cost? Intertwined with that was some interesting exploration of Blood Magic - what it entails, its effects, its benefits. It was a nuanced perspective that you don't always get in the games.

Another thing that I enjoyed about Last Flight was how it did not have a main romantic subplot (other than one between side characters). The main relationships that got focus were friendships and, in the case of Isseya and Garahel, a sibling relationship. Isseya could've easily been romantically paired up with Calien (and I wouldn't have entirely been opposed) but instead they just maintained a strong and deep friendship throughout the years that was refreshing to see.

The griffons are absolutely the highlight of this book (which is why the ending hit me so hard). Looking forward to seeing more of them in Dragon Age: The Veilguard where I will do everything in my power to ensure history does not repeat itself. I will protect the griffons!