The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
thecorioliseffect's review against another edition
5.0
Woooooo. That's really all I have to say. If you some how find yourself reading this, there are going to be a ton of spoilers for this and the rest of the series because I need to write my thoughts for future me to read!!
Definitely one of my favorite series of all time. I genuinely liked almost all the characters: Magnus, Cleo, Jonas, Lysandra, Narissa... Not to mention my children Nic, Ashur, and Felix. There were some who I don't like (Lucia, ahem, and Jonas is too good for you BYE.) But in general, the characters really did a lot for me.
There were definitely aspects that I didn't like. I'm not a huge fan of body possession or mind control, and that was a BIG aspect of Immortal Reign. Also not a fan of the idea of a sped up pregnancy a la Twilight. I thought that was kind of lame but whatever.
Magnus and Cleo had one of my FAVORITE romances ever. I knew from book one that theirs would be the eventual romance (perhaps, in part, because I'd seen the cover for Immortal Reign so in the back of my head figured out what was coming), and it didn't disappoint. I loved the slow burn, and I especially loved that Cleo didn't excuse Magnus' bad behavior because he was hot. Which happens way too much.
I definitely think books two to four were its peak, and I wasn't necessarily as crazy about Crystal Storm and Immortal Reign. Still REALLY liked them (it's like how OOTP isn't my fave Harry Potter book, but it's still Harry Potter so it's amazing), but I definitely didn't like it *quite* as much. I definitely preferred when they were fighting *real* threats as opposed to magical threats. Like I enjoyed the politics of Limeros vs. Auranos, Mytica vs. Kraeshia (tbh I listened to the audiobooks so I had noooo idea how to spell that lol). I realize the magical threat gave all these kingdoms a reason to get together and fight a common enemy but... I still preferred before that time.
I think my favorite was Gathering Darkness. In part because Nic was at is peak and cracking me up in all his chapters. But I think I just liked the general tone of that book. But either way, I love this series. Definitely a new favorite!
I remembering feeling not all that impressed with Falling Kingdoms when I read it, but I physically read that and listened to the rest of these on audio. I'm wondering if maybe I just wasn't in the head space for physical reading and if I would have found *anything* boring. Not 100% convinced because I do remember thinking the last half-ish of the book picked up. But we'll see.
I also remember feeling really disturbed by the whole Magnus being in love with Lucia thing. But Alexius makes a comment about something, I think in Gathering Darkness, about it. He says something about how Magnus is convinced he's in love with Lucia because she's the only person who ever showed him kindness, and when I reflect back on the books, I actually find this storyline quite interesting. Magnus is being actively terrorized by his father since the books start, and his mother isn't the greatest. And he's so starved for attention and affection that, as Alexius says, he convinces himself that he's in love with his sister simply because she's the only one to have ever showed him any kindness. Maybe he even IS actually in love with her, but again, the fact of the matter is that this happens because he's so messed up because of how his father has treated him and idk I just think that makes him and the storyline more interesting.
Might come back and add some future thoughts, but I think that covers most everything!
Definitely one of my favorite series of all time. I genuinely liked almost all the characters: Magnus, Cleo, Jonas, Lysandra, Narissa... Not to mention my children Nic, Ashur, and Felix. There were some who I don't like (Lucia, ahem, and Jonas is too good for you BYE.) But in general, the characters really did a lot for me.
There were definitely aspects that I didn't like. I'm not a huge fan of body possession or mind control, and that was a BIG aspect of Immortal Reign. Also not a fan of the idea of a sped up pregnancy a la Twilight. I thought that was kind of lame but whatever.
Magnus and Cleo had one of my FAVORITE romances ever. I knew from book one that theirs would be the eventual romance (perhaps, in part, because I'd seen the cover for Immortal Reign so in the back of my head figured out what was coming), and it didn't disappoint. I loved the slow burn, and I especially loved that Cleo didn't excuse Magnus' bad behavior because he was hot. Which happens way too much.
I definitely think books two to four were its peak, and I wasn't necessarily as crazy about Crystal Storm and Immortal Reign. Still REALLY liked them (it's like how OOTP isn't my fave Harry Potter book, but it's still Harry Potter so it's amazing), but I definitely didn't like it *quite* as much. I definitely preferred when they were fighting *real* threats as opposed to magical threats. Like I enjoyed the politics of Limeros vs. Auranos, Mytica vs. Kraeshia (tbh I listened to the audiobooks so I had noooo idea how to spell that lol). I realize the magical threat gave all these kingdoms a reason to get together and fight a common enemy but... I still preferred before that time.
I think my favorite was Gathering Darkness. In part because Nic was at is peak and cracking me up in all his chapters. But I think I just liked the general tone of that book. But either way, I love this series. Definitely a new favorite!
I remembering feeling not all that impressed with Falling Kingdoms when I read it, but I physically read that and listened to the rest of these on audio. I'm wondering if maybe I just wasn't in the head space for physical reading and if I would have found *anything* boring. Not 100% convinced because I do remember thinking the last half-ish of the book picked up. But we'll see.
I also remember feeling really disturbed by the whole Magnus being in love with Lucia thing. But Alexius makes a comment about something, I think in Gathering Darkness, about it. He says something about how Magnus is convinced he's in love with Lucia because she's the only person who ever showed him kindness, and when I reflect back on the books, I actually find this storyline quite interesting. Magnus is being actively terrorized by his father since the books start, and his mother isn't the greatest. And he's so starved for attention and affection that, as Alexius says, he convinces himself that he's in love with his sister simply because she's the only one to have ever showed him any kindness. Maybe he even IS actually in love with her, but again, the fact of the matter is that this happens because he's so messed up because of how his father has treated him and idk I just think that makes him and the storyline more interesting.
Might come back and add some future thoughts, but I think that covers most everything!
caszriel's review against another edition
4.0
I am here to inform you that many, many years later, I have finally finished Immortal Reign!! I'm looking forward to taking a few more books off my currently-reading list this year but here's the first of them, and as a bonus, a conclusion to a series that I began reading when it was first released.
As far as endings go, this one was satisfying? My memory of the first five books (and also the one hundred pages that I read at the end of 2018) was questionable but it didn't impact on my reading a whole lot which I think is a win for the author. Everything was tied up nicely and there were some great moments where characters were forced to make decisions that would determine their destiny (or in some cases, defy it).
This is one of those series where I have grown a lot as a person alongside it due to the length of it and one book releasing a year (see: all of CC's books), and though it's been a few years since I've really been obsessed with Falling Kingdoms I appreciate the chance to finish the series and in a way conclude a chapter of my life, and my love for it. I can't say my rating isn't unbiased by nostalgia, but I did really enjoy this book and encourage you to check out this series if you're into fantasy, multiple perspective narratives, or dark princes and golden princesses.
As far as endings go, this one was satisfying? My memory of the first five books (and also the one hundred pages that I read at the end of 2018) was questionable but it didn't impact on my reading a whole lot which I think is a win for the author. Everything was tied up nicely and there were some great moments where characters were forced to make decisions that would determine their destiny (or in some cases, defy it).
This is one of those series where I have grown a lot as a person alongside it due to the length of it and one book releasing a year (see: all of CC's books), and though it's been a few years since I've really been obsessed with Falling Kingdoms I appreciate the chance to finish the series and in a way conclude a chapter of my life, and my love for it. I can't say my rating isn't unbiased by nostalgia, but I did really enjoy this book and encourage you to check out this series if you're into fantasy, multiple perspective narratives, or dark princes and golden princesses.
bookstoashes's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars!
Finally finished this series, omg that end made me tear up 😢 definitely happy I tried it again despite struggling closer to the end of the series.
I’m not a huge fan of audiobooks so it was hard at times to want to listen to it, but the person reading aloud did a very good job and I’m just glad I gave this series a second change.
I love these characters ❤️
Finally finished this series, omg that end made me tear up 😢 definitely happy I tried it again despite struggling closer to the end of the series.
I’m not a huge fan of audiobooks so it was hard at times to want to listen to it, but the person reading aloud did a very good job and I’m just glad I gave this series a second change.
I love these characters ❤️
nurlogy's review against another edition
4.0
***************************
Is this for real ?!
THIS IS DEFINITELY MY FAVOURITE COVER OF THE SERIES.
GIMME ! Gimme ! Gimme !
Is this for real ?!
THIS IS DEFINITELY MY FAVOURITE COVER OF THE SERIES.
GIMME ! Gimme ! Gimme !
booknerd777's review against another edition
5.0
I am in awe at how amazing this book was! I loved it sooo much!! I am so sad that this series is over. It's a new favorite series of mine. This series will stick with me forever, and I can't wait to reread these books in the future. Even though I loved all the books, this one is by far my favorite. It was an amazing, satisfying conclusion :) I can't wait to read her other books now.
raviel's review against another edition
3.0
2.75/5
Well for the positives: I'm happy Cleo and Magnus got their happy ending, but it wasn't satisfying.
Negatives: plot lines left unfinished or rushed to a bland ending that I wasn't happy with, questions unanswered. This book was really disappointing after how amazing Crystal Storm had been.
And frankly, 6 books later I still don't really care about anyone other than Magnus and Cleo, they're all so utterly boring.
21/01/17
The title is about Magnus and Cleo becoming immortal and ruling Mytica right. Like I'm calling it now but that's what the prophecy stuff was about in the other series righttttttt.
15/12/16
How am I meant to wait so long.. I need to see Cleo take down everyone.
Well for the positives: I'm happy Cleo and Magnus got their happy ending, but it wasn't satisfying.
Negatives: plot lines left unfinished or rushed to a bland ending that I wasn't happy with, questions unanswered. This book was really disappointing after how amazing Crystal Storm had been.
And frankly, 6 books later I still don't really care about anyone other than Magnus and Cleo, they're all so utterly boring.
21/01/17
The title is about Magnus and Cleo becoming immortal and ruling Mytica right. Like I'm calling it now but that's what the prophecy stuff was about in the other series righttttttt.
15/12/16
How am I meant to wait so long.. I need to see Cleo take down everyone.
aelynreads's review against another edition
4.0
This final book of the Falling Kingdoms series changed the plot from a Game of Thrones style battle to a Disney movie where all the heroes live happily ever after. Like, I'm glad it all worked out for the best, but everything was just a little too convenient for my tastes.
And GOODNESS ME did people make bad decisions in this book. I had really high hopes for this series, and I did fall in love with the characters, but the last 2 books did go downhill really. I realise that the story line had to change, since the fight was against ethereal Gods rather than a fight for the throne, but I think the last 2 books suffered and lost a lot of impact.
But, it was still enjoyable.
And GOODNESS ME did people make bad decisions in this book. I had really high hopes for this series, and I did fall in love with the characters, but the last 2 books did go downhill really. I realise that the story line had to change, since the fight was against ethereal Gods rather than a fight for the throne, but I think the last 2 books suffered and lost a lot of impact.
But, it was still enjoyable.
jessgumulya's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
inwonderland49's review against another edition
5.0