rosie_b3 's review for:

Restless Stars by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful sad tense 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: No

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I've aged approximately 84 years reading this series… but omg was it worth it 🥹 I feel like I've just said goodbye to my best friends. How am I supposed to function in society now that I don't have daily Heirs drama to live for?!

Countless tears. Screaming into pillows at 2AM. Writing my review notes in ALL CAPS. Fucking up my sleeping schedule because "just one more chapter". This series has been a full-body, soul-crushing, heart-exploding journey that I'm not emotionally equipped to say goodbye to. My heart feels simultaneously full and completely shattered. The only reason I'm not completely catatonic is because these characters deserved their rest. Like, my babies have been TORMENTED enough 😭

This series has rocketed to my top 10 favorite series. The BROMANCE in this final book? GIVE ME STRENGTH. I'm literally weeping watching these bonds. This is the character development I LIVE FOR.

Darius still forgetting everyone's names in the midst of apocalyptic chaos was hilarious btw 😂 This man has TWO brain cells and they're both dedicated to Tory. I CANNOT WITH HIM BUT I ALSO LOVE HIM DESPERATELY.

AHAHAHAHA and Gabe's Big Bird nickname making a comeback?! I was HOWLING. These little callbacks and inside jokes are what make this series so special (and also worth reading Ruthless Boys after ZA3!!) 

I'm trying to form coherent thoughts but my brain is just a slideshow of emotional moments from this book on repeat. I'm also in the process of not falling into a reading slump. That post-series emptiness is real, people.

Spoilers ahead‼️

But...I do need to address some unfinished business that's making my eye twitch:

Vard (that absolute WASTE OF OXYGEN) is still breathing?! EXCUSE ME? I needed to see this man get Phoenix-flamed into oblivion. The fact that he's still out there somewhere has me seething.

And what about Tharix? Am I the only one who feels like his story is begging for its own duology or trilogy? Just keep it under 500 pages per book PLEASE… But this broken man needs some happiness and I NEED to read about it!

The Nymph "witches" and their mysterious cauldron brew with Tory and Darcy's blood? HELLO? What was THAT about?! That plot thread is just dangling there like a loose tooth and I want to yank it!

And Lyra? What was her whole deal? She seemed SO important and then just...wasn't? Make it make sense?

Also, the guild stones? Such a cool concept that we barely got to see in action! I was ready for some epic guild stone power moments! 🤺

Despite these loose ends that have me questioning my sanity, I'm devastated that it's over. This world has been my escape, my obsession, and my emotional support system for 46 days. How am I supposed to just...move on? What am I supposed to do with all these FEELINGS?