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obr 's review for:
A Vow So Bold And Deadly
by Brigid Kemmerer
I have so many feelings towards this "conclusion". Mostly feelings that it isn't really a conclusion at all. I once compared this series to ACOTAR, and I think it does that same sort of thing here by ending one character cycle while leaving so much open and vague that, while you do want more, it doesn't feel like a satisfying ending. It's another To Be Continued.
As ever, I was grabbed right away by the writing. This book is shared by all the usual POVs from the series, but it is very much more about Grey and Rhen than it is about the ladies. Harper's back on form after appearing all meek and mild, and Lia Mara... Well, I wasn't the biggest fan of her but she's there, doing her thing (I do wish she wouldn't bring the gushy YA romance though - Grey is "too male" for her at times!) Characters did genuinely surprise me with their actions and their reasoning, which was very refreshing.
That said, I do appreciate that while romance is still a big plot point, we don't go too much into those raging hormonal waters that YA romance usually wades through. There are some scenes that will no doubt please long term shippers () and there's never any guarantee of how things will turn out for the couples. I actually started to have hunches about so many things that could have happened - again, it's so nice to be surprised by anything in YA. Rhen and Harper aren't even close to your usual swoony-swoony romance couple. They're difficult and complicated and while I'm still not sold on their chemistry together I appreciate that their relationship isn't clear cut because of how headstrong they both are.
There's plenty of action and political manoeuvring on both sides of the fantasy war to enjoy, as well as plenty of heart-in-mouth moments when characters you forgot about really come to the fore. But it was the climax and conclusion that took the wind out of my sails unfortunately. It just felt to me as if everything culminated in a rush of action, and then... A little cool-down time before TBC. Argh! I loved the book, but also just felt... A little let down because it was billed as the ending of the series. And it's most definitely not. So. Many. Questions.
Are we waiting for a Christmas shopping with the remaining residents of Ironrose novella?
So worth the read, just don't expect to go away feeling like the series is over.
...It isn't. Right?
As ever, I was grabbed right away by the writing. This book is shared by all the usual POVs from the series, but it is very much more about Grey and Rhen than it is about the ladies. Harper's back on form after appearing all meek and mild, and Lia Mara... Well, I wasn't the biggest fan of her but she's there, doing her thing (I do wish she wouldn't bring the gushy YA romance though - Grey is "too male" for her at times!) Characters did genuinely surprise me with their actions and their reasoning, which was very refreshing.
That said, I do appreciate that while romance is still a big plot point, we don't go too much into those raging hormonal waters that YA romance usually wades through. There are some scenes that will no doubt please long term shippers (
Spoiler
Yes, even those of us who loved that Harper/Grey two ships passing in the night vibe that's been going all the way throughThere's plenty of action and political manoeuvring on both sides of the fantasy war to enjoy, as well as plenty of heart-in-mouth moments when characters you forgot about really come to the fore. But it was the climax and conclusion that took the wind out of my sails unfortunately. It just felt to me as if everything culminated in a rush of action, and then... A little cool-down time before TBC. Argh! I loved the book, but also just felt... A little let down because it was billed as the ending of the series. And it's most definitely not.
Spoiler
Iisak's son, Nolla Verin maybe being less than trustworthy, Jake/Noah's future positions (no, really, what happened to the whole portal fantasy aspect? And Noah's family might be... missing him?), the magesmiths, even Harper/Rhen and their prolematic-ness...So worth the read, just don't expect to go away feeling like the series is over.
...It isn't. Right?