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moorebeyondthepages 's review for:
Goldfinch
by Raven Kennedy
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Warning - This review contains Spoilers - I think I got them all covered but I apologise in advance if I didn't catch them all.
I finished Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy - Here's a review you didnt ask for.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Having read books 1-5, I found Goldfinch to be a mixed bag. Compared to book 5, it was way better. But when I compare it to books 1-4, it felt rushed and thrown together. I enjoyed it for the most part, the story struggled with too many characters and plotlines, all crammed into a single 600+ page book.
Pacing and Perspective
One of the biggest bleghs for me was the sheer number of perspectives. Kennedy introduced so many characters, each with their own arcs AND PERSPECTIVES, (Auren, Slade, Ossrik, Rissa, Ryatt, Emonie, Malina) just overwhelming. I wanted to see how Auren would recoverfrom the memory-eating WORMS in her brain , but the story focused so much more on Orea, Annewyn, and the war, which made it feel like it wasn’t Auren’s story anymore. Which I guess it wasnt - it was all of their stories. But coming from the start to here....there wasnt enough time in this series to really give homage to Auren and Slade the way they deserved.
The pacing felt rushed, and by 75%, it sped up even more, which made it hard to process anything. And then there were the WTF moments—some good, some not.
The Romance (and Spice)
I’m all for a good romance, but the repetitive spicy scenes in this book wore me out. Auren and Slade, Rissa and Ossirk, Malina and Dommik—it felt like the same thing over and over. I skimmed every scene because they didn’t add much. Honestly, the romance felt like it overshadowed the actual plot at times.
Auren’s Arc
Auren’s arc is where the story completely lost me.Her death should have been the emotional high point of the book—it was heartbreaking and powerful when she sacrificed herself to save Slade. But then Kennedy brought her back to life, complete with god-blessed wings that could turn back into ribbons. It felt like too much. Her return undermined the impact of her sacrifice, and the whole thing came off as a rushed fantasy trope.
Slade’s Arc
Slade’s resolution was the best part of the book for me. His journey—rescuing his mother, avenging his past by killing his abusive father, summoning a dragon (though that was another WTF moment), and reuniting with his brother and the Wrath —was compelling. His heartbreak when Auren died in his arms was beautifully written, and I would have loved to see him move forward without her. Watching him dedicate himself to making Annewyn a better place felt like the perfect conclusion for his character. Instead, Auren’s miraculous return tied everything up too neatly. I get that fantasy isn’t supposed to be realistic, but this felt a little too convenient.
Ryatt’s Perspective
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Ryatt’s perspective as much as I did. With so many characters already in the mix, I thought his story would get lost, but it added a lot to the book. His scenes with Emonie, especially her snide comments, brought much-needed humor. The chemistry between them was fun to watch and felt like a nod to how Slade and Auren’s relationship started. I wouldn’t mind a spin-off novella about them—just not another six-book series.
Malina’s Perspective
Malina’s redemption arc didn’t work for me. Book 5 had already ruined her as a character, and nothing in *Goldfinch* could change that. Her ending—sacrificing herself to destroy the bridge between Orea and Annewyn —was fitting, and I appreciated that it was definitive. She’s dead dead, and I’m okay with that.
Ossirk and Rissa
I loved Ossirk and Rissa as a couple and was happy their resolution came early in the book. Once their story was wrapped up, I didn’t need more from them—they got the happy ending they deserved, and Kennedy did them justice.
Final Thoughts
Goldfinch had its strengths: emotional highs, heartbreaking moments, and some solid character resolutions. But it also had too many characters, rushed pacing, and repetitive romance that took away from the story. I think Kennedy missed an opportunity to split this into two books, which would have made for a much stronger ending to the series.
I finished Goldfinch by Raven Kennedy - Here's a review you didnt ask for.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Having read books 1-5, I found Goldfinch to be a mixed bag. Compared to book 5, it was way better. But when I compare it to books 1-4, it felt rushed and thrown together. I enjoyed it for the most part, the story struggled with too many characters and plotlines, all crammed into a single 600+ page book.
Pacing and Perspective
One of the biggest bleghs for me was the sheer number of perspectives. Kennedy introduced so many characters, each with their own arcs AND PERSPECTIVES, (Auren, Slade, Ossrik, Rissa, Ryatt, Emonie, Malina) just overwhelming. I wanted to see how Auren would recover
The pacing felt rushed, and by 75%, it sped up even more, which made it hard to process anything. And then there were the WTF moments—some good, some not.
The Romance (and Spice)
I’m all for a good romance, but the repetitive spicy scenes in this book wore me out. Auren and Slade, Rissa and Ossirk, Malina and Dommik—it felt like the same thing over and over. I skimmed every scene because they didn’t add much. Honestly, the romance felt like it overshadowed the actual plot at times.
Auren’s Arc
Auren’s arc is where the story completely lost me.
Slade’s Arc
Slade’s resolution was the best part of the book for me. His journey—
Ryatt’s Perspective
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Ryatt’s perspective as much as I did. With so many characters already in the mix, I thought his story would get lost, but it added a lot to the book. His scenes with Emonie, especially her snide comments, brought much-needed humor. The chemistry between them was fun to watch and felt like a nod to how Slade and Auren’s relationship started. I wouldn’t mind a spin-off novella about them—just not another six-book series.
Malina’s Perspective
Malina’s redemption arc didn’t work for me. Book 5 had already ruined her as a character, and nothing in *Goldfinch* could change that. Her ending—
Ossirk and Rissa
I loved Ossirk and Rissa as a couple and was happy their resolution came early in the book. Once their story was wrapped up, I didn’t need more from them—they got the happy ending they deserved, and Kennedy did them justice.
Final Thoughts
Goldfinch had its strengths: emotional highs, heartbreaking moments, and some solid character resolutions. But it also had too many characters, rushed pacing, and repetitive romance that took away from the story. I think Kennedy missed an opportunity to split this into two books, which would have made for a much stronger ending to the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content