isaxbella's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
4.0
In general I enjoyed this book, you really should read it if you've made it this far to get a conclusion! It is worth the time, even though it drags a lot and is slow paced. Honestly the first 50% of the book were pretty much unnecessary, boring and wayyy to dragged out. I have to really think about it if I want to remember what happened in that half. The important bits could've summed up to 100 pages instead of 300. I really think that kings cage and war storm should've been one book instead of two, since they both had unnecessary boring parts.
!!!Spoilers!!!
The plot
After winning Corvium, Cal, Mare, Evangeline, Julian, Kilorn and Annabell travel to Montford to ask the government for more soldiers for the war against Maven. I really liked the aesthetic of the mountains and the example of equality in their country. I didn't expect the attack of the silver Lords on the city, which I at first thought would be minor, but many people dies in that fight. It makes me question the stability of the nation, especially because Davidson said that this happens often. However it was a distraction, so that Iris could free prince brakon's children who were being held captive at Montford to blackmail the piedmont leader. Maven conspired with iris that they could win Brackon to their side if they freed his children. Anyways, they managed to fight the silvers off and also got the Armee they wanted from the government. It was interesting to realise that the decision had been made before, which Evangeline suggested in her pov, which hadn't crossed my mind before but made a lot of sense. While they were gone, the piedmont Base had been stormed by Brackon and the scarlet Guard members were imprisoned or on the run. Mare made a connection to Maven who was visiting the prison, through one of the triplets, that are connected. I really liked this scene, because it was their first interaction in months. Mare negotiated the release of the prisoners and even Cal spoke to Maven. In the Rift Kingdom they decided it would be best to win Harbor Bay and use it as the flag city for Cal's reign. They succeeded but only barely, since Iris was forced by Maven to fight on the front lines. Cal almost drowned fighting her, but was thankfully healed. Surprisingly after the battle, The lakelander Queens and prince Brackon handed over Maven in exchange for the Iral silver who had killed the lakelander King. They also made the exchange for Volo Samos who was handed over later. That were like the first 50% of the book. Iris' Pov's almost 100% unnecessary and boring, still no other Pov's than Mare's which really disappointed me.
Anyways they had won and Maven was their prisoner. Davidson, Farley and Mare wanted for Cal to step down and make room for democracy, which he didn't obviously.
What happened afterwards was pretty weird. So Cal didn't want to abdicate, so he lost the scarlet Guard, Mare and Montford, which left him alone in a divided country, which was really stupid. But I think setting the ultimatum for Cal was also unnecessary, since he was right that if he abdicated now, with the war still going on, everything would've fallen apart. I think that Mare and the others should've waited until they had won against the lakelands and then try for democracy. In the end it exactly went like this. Why steal Maven, abandon Cal just to come back two weeks later to fight with him again?😠Make it make sense. Felt like this was only done for dramatic and to tear Mare and Cal apart again.
The end
The last battle wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. Winning was way too easy and the "surprise" of the uboats was very rushed and the defeat of the lakelands quite fast. At least Volo was finally dead and Evangeline could run with her brother, Wren and Elaine. I really think the book should've ended with hers and Elaine marriage, but well... Maven's escape was painful, because even though he had hope, we all know his death was inevitable. Mare and him were trapped in silent stone and fought each other with a letter opener and bare hands. It was EXTREMELY BRUTAL. I was sitting there in shock as I read that chapter. Even though I think that scene was really good, I would've wanted a different death for Maven, one where he had saved Mare or Cal and died in the progress. I really think he deserved some kind of redemption or proof that he would've wanted things to go differently. When he said to Mare "We could still run. Together." my heart broke🥲💔 Honestly I think that at some point his mother made him take the wrong turn and all he could to was keep going, because if you already are a bad person, the only direction to go, is deeper into the darkness.
I liked Mare's ending and that she finally had peace with her family in Montford.
The characters
Mare was great as always, in contrast to many other I really liked her throughout the whole series. She is soo young but extremely strong in the way she makes her decisions and is able to maintain a poker face in various situations. The way she manages to keep away from Cal even though she loves him, proves this even further. Also even though she tried, she couldn't deny that she still loved Maven, or at least his good side and even regretted not searching for a cure after his death. One thing that didn't make sense as I've said, was leaving Cal alone and then just return, but this was more a plot, rather than a character problem. Don't know what else to say, I love her.
Cal was kind of annoying, but more like "what the he'll are you doing". Cal is not a good king. There, I said it. He SOLELY driven by emotions, which would've gotten him killed in book one if he didn't have constantly people who helped him. He only accepted and kept the crown because he loved his parents and wanted to lead in honor and duty to them, even though he is not a good ruler. Without Annabell and Julian he NEVER would've made it. As in Kings Cage he just stood by the whole time, waiting for other people to organize his life for him. I get that he felt the responsibility to keep the country together since he had the opportunity to, but he just failed. Some of his "decisions" were really dumb. But we'll, all in all he was a sweet boy, just not fit as King 💀 I liked how he respected Mare and always supported her or at least understood her decisions.
Maven was just a roller coaster. Throughout the series I really went from love to hate to pity and hope. It really is horrible what had happened to him and I really don't think that he could've escaped his mind prison and made different decisions. After his mother dies he couldn't simply just turn and be a good person. For one because he was extremely corrupted, but more importantly he already had done extremely terrible things, especially to Mare, things you can't come back from. I think he had hope that someopwpuld take a chance on him and believe in him to change, but no one but Cal did and Maven didn't realise it until minutes before his death. I really think that he could've been saved, his mind wasn't the worst problem in the end. From his Pov's (even though there were far too few) we saw that he truly loves Mare and WANTS to love Cal, but can't becoof his mother. Proof that he wanted to change, really were the words "We could still run. Together.". If in the end someone would've taken a chance on him he could've been saved. BUT the huge problem are just the things he has done, things that neither Mare or Cal can forgive or more importantly he couldn't forgive himself. It's much easier to just stay evil instead of trying to turn better but facing all the horrible things you've done,take responsibility and live in shame among the people you've hurt. There was just no coming back from the dark things he had done. I still think he should've died with some kind of redemption and not while trying to kill Mare🥲.
Evangeline was one of my favourites and she didn't disappoint. I actually already kind of liked her or at least admired her in book one. I LOVED her realationship with her brother and it gave me some flashbacks from Mare and Shade, whom I extremely missed. I especially enjoyed the scene where Ptolemeus saved her from their parents and they ran together. Evangeline abandoning a battle for peace? Who would've thought. I am still sad that we didn't get any love story insight with Elaine at all, I would've loved that. And I'm still waiting or their wedding🥲. Other than that, her character development was extremely good, she even started to accept the reds and seeing them as equals, as well as developing some kind of friendship with Mare and even Cal.
Kilorn was straight up boring. Victoria completely muss put on developing a good sibling like realationship between him and Mare. He wasn't as annoying as in the previous books, but he just didn't do anything, except almost die that one time.💀 Cameron and him did not fit together at all, I honestly thought he'd get together with Aida, which I would've liked much better! I am so not excited for his novella in Broken Throne, since I don't care about him at all.
Julian did play an important role in this books and we got to see more of his cunning side rather than him being the nice old teacher. He was surely pushed by Annabell, who I didn't like at all, and still was the loving person he was introduced as in book one. He just was very loyal to Cal and the crown, which is why him and Mare didn't see eye to eye on many things, which kind of broke their friendship and cut the scenes between them. The scene in Piedmont in the rain was very sad and made me feel like I've lost a friend to. Luckily after the war they were close as ever which I really enjoyed.
Farley who I almost forgot lol, did not have any more character development. She pretty much stayed the same. The warrior for her cause. After becoming the commander of the Scarlet Guard she was as determined as ever. It is admirable that she left her daughter to go to war, but it would have really felt out of character if pshe had stayed for her. I really would've liked her to find someone else to be a stepdad for Clara, maybe Tramey or someone else very nice. But maybe it was too early and she'll find someone later.
Romance
Cal and Mare did not have that much chemistry at the beginning of the series. I still see the, as lovers by chance and think that they got together because of all the things they went through and fought against together. United in love and hate for Maven and Cal needing a cause. But around half of kings cage I got really invested in their realationship and totally wanted them tobe together, since they gave each other comfort. It was obvious they wouldn't last the whole way, but I was good to have the tension, even though the last break seemed forced, as I already explained. People give Cal shit about how he secretly felt conflicted about Mare killing Maven, even though he kind of sent her, but honestly I get it. It's not like he blames her, but it's just natural that it cracks something between them, as there were already many cracks before. That's why I really do understand that they need time apart in the end and like the prospect of them getting together again in the future when they are healed. Sometimes healing with the person who was there when you got hurt (or caused it) just doesn't work. I'm looking forward to read Broken Throne to see their true ending.
Maven and Mare were just heartbreaking to read about. Both of them have feelings for each other that they try to escape from, but just can't. It was obvious from book one that they would never end up together, which made the whole process even more painful. I think that it was very well written throughout the series, how they couldn't let each other go and it's so tragic that in the end they had to fight to the death. Even though running together wasn't an option it still broke my heart when Maven suggested it. I truly love tragic love stories and this one definitely served and caused a lot of pain😠At least Maven ist with Tommy now...
!!!Spoilers!!!
The plot
After winning Corvium, Cal, Mare, Evangeline, Julian, Kilorn and Annabell travel to Montford to ask the government for more soldiers for the war against Maven. I really liked the aesthetic of the mountains and the example of equality in their country. I didn't expect the attack of the silver Lords on the city, which I at first thought would be minor, but many people dies in that fight. It makes me question the stability of the nation, especially because Davidson said that this happens often. However it was a distraction, so that Iris could free prince brakon's children who were being held captive at Montford to blackmail the piedmont leader. Maven conspired with iris that they could win Brackon to their side if they freed his children. Anyways, they managed to fight the silvers off and also got the Armee they wanted from the government. It was interesting to realise that the decision had been made before, which Evangeline suggested in her pov, which hadn't crossed my mind before but made a lot of sense. While they were gone, the piedmont Base had been stormed by Brackon and the scarlet Guard members were imprisoned or on the run. Mare made a connection to Maven who was visiting the prison, through one of the triplets, that are connected. I really liked this scene, because it was their first interaction in months. Mare negotiated the release of the prisoners and even Cal spoke to Maven. In the Rift Kingdom they decided it would be best to win Harbor Bay and use it as the flag city for Cal's reign. They succeeded but only barely, since Iris was forced by Maven to fight on the front lines. Cal almost drowned fighting her, but was thankfully healed. Surprisingly after the battle, The lakelander Queens and prince Brackon handed over Maven in exchange for the Iral silver who had killed the lakelander King. They also made the exchange for Volo Samos who was handed over later. That were like the first 50% of the book. Iris' Pov's almost 100% unnecessary and boring, still no other Pov's than Mare's which really disappointed me.
Anyways they had won and Maven was their prisoner. Davidson, Farley and Mare wanted for Cal to step down and make room for democracy, which he didn't obviously.
What happened afterwards was pretty weird. So Cal didn't want to abdicate, so he lost the scarlet Guard, Mare and Montford, which left him alone in a divided country, which was really stupid. But I think setting the ultimatum for Cal was also unnecessary, since he was right that if he abdicated now, with the war still going on, everything would've fallen apart. I think that Mare and the others should've waited until they had won against the lakelands and then try for democracy. In the end it exactly went like this. Why steal Maven, abandon Cal just to come back two weeks later to fight with him again?😠Make it make sense. Felt like this was only done for dramatic and to tear Mare and Cal apart again.
The end
The last battle wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped. Winning was way too easy and the "surprise" of the uboats was very rushed and the defeat of the lakelands quite fast. At least Volo was finally dead and Evangeline could run with her brother, Wren and Elaine. I really think the book should've ended with hers and Elaine marriage, but well... Maven's escape was painful, because even though he had hope, we all know his death was inevitable. Mare and him were trapped in silent stone and fought each other with a letter opener and bare hands. It was EXTREMELY BRUTAL. I was sitting there in shock as I read that chapter. Even though I think that scene was really good, I would've wanted a different death for Maven, one where he had saved Mare or Cal and died in the progress. I really think he deserved some kind of redemption or proof that he would've wanted things to go differently. When he said to Mare "We could still run. Together." my heart broke🥲💔 Honestly I think that at some point his mother made him take the wrong turn and all he could to was keep going, because if you already are a bad person, the only direction to go, is deeper into the darkness.
I liked Mare's ending and that she finally had peace with her family in Montford.
The characters
Mare was great as always, in contrast to many other I really liked her throughout the whole series. She is soo young but extremely strong in the way she makes her decisions and is able to maintain a poker face in various situations. The way she manages to keep away from Cal even though she loves him, proves this even further. Also even though she tried, she couldn't deny that she still loved Maven, or at least his good side and even regretted not searching for a cure after his death. One thing that didn't make sense as I've said, was leaving Cal alone and then just return, but this was more a plot, rather than a character problem. Don't know what else to say, I love her.
Cal was kind of annoying, but more like "what the he'll are you doing". Cal is not a good king. There, I said it. He SOLELY driven by emotions, which would've gotten him killed in book one if he didn't have constantly people who helped him. He only accepted and kept the crown because he loved his parents and wanted to lead in honor and duty to them, even though he is not a good ruler. Without Annabell and Julian he NEVER would've made it. As in Kings Cage he just stood by the whole time, waiting for other people to organize his life for him. I get that he felt the responsibility to keep the country together since he had the opportunity to, but he just failed. Some of his "decisions" were really dumb. But we'll, all in all he was a sweet boy, just not fit as King 💀 I liked how he respected Mare and always supported her or at least understood her decisions.
Maven was just a roller coaster. Throughout the series I really went from love to hate to pity and hope. It really is horrible what had happened to him and I really don't think that he could've escaped his mind prison and made different decisions. After his mother dies he couldn't simply just turn and be a good person. For one because he was extremely corrupted, but more importantly he already had done extremely terrible things, especially to Mare, things you can't come back from. I think he had hope that someopwpuld take a chance on him and believe in him to change, but no one but Cal did and Maven didn't realise it until minutes before his death. I really think that he could've been saved, his mind wasn't the worst problem in the end. From his Pov's (even though there were far too few) we saw that he truly loves Mare and WANTS to love Cal, but can't becoof his mother. Proof that he wanted to change, really were the words "We could still run. Together.". If in the end someone would've taken a chance on him he could've been saved. BUT the huge problem are just the things he has done, things that neither Mare or Cal can forgive or more importantly he couldn't forgive himself. It's much easier to just stay evil instead of trying to turn better but facing all the horrible things you've done,take responsibility and live in shame among the people you've hurt. There was just no coming back from the dark things he had done. I still think he should've died with some kind of redemption and not while trying to kill Mare🥲.
Evangeline was one of my favourites and she didn't disappoint. I actually already kind of liked her or at least admired her in book one. I LOVED her realationship with her brother and it gave me some flashbacks from Mare and Shade, whom I extremely missed. I especially enjoyed the scene where Ptolemeus saved her from their parents and they ran together. Evangeline abandoning a battle for peace? Who would've thought. I am still sad that we didn't get any love story insight with Elaine at all, I would've loved that. And I'm still waiting or their wedding🥲. Other than that, her character development was extremely good, she even started to accept the reds and seeing them as equals, as well as developing some kind of friendship with Mare and even Cal.
Kilorn was straight up boring. Victoria completely muss put on developing a good sibling like realationship between him and Mare. He wasn't as annoying as in the previous books, but he just didn't do anything, except almost die that one time.💀 Cameron and him did not fit together at all, I honestly thought he'd get together with Aida, which I would've liked much better! I am so not excited for his novella in Broken Throne, since I don't care about him at all.
Julian did play an important role in this books and we got to see more of his cunning side rather than him being the nice old teacher. He was surely pushed by Annabell, who I didn't like at all, and still was the loving person he was introduced as in book one. He just was very loyal to Cal and the crown, which is why him and Mare didn't see eye to eye on many things, which kind of broke their friendship and cut the scenes between them. The scene in Piedmont in the rain was very sad and made me feel like I've lost a friend to. Luckily after the war they were close as ever which I really enjoyed.
Farley who I almost forgot lol, did not have any more character development. She pretty much stayed the same. The warrior for her cause. After becoming the commander of the Scarlet Guard she was as determined as ever. It is admirable that she left her daughter to go to war, but it would have really felt out of character if pshe had stayed for her. I really would've liked her to find someone else to be a stepdad for Clara, maybe Tramey or someone else very nice. But maybe it was too early and she'll find someone later.
Romance
Cal and Mare did not have that much chemistry at the beginning of the series. I still see the, as lovers by chance and think that they got together because of all the things they went through and fought against together. United in love and hate for Maven and Cal needing a cause. But around half of kings cage I got really invested in their realationship and totally wanted them tobe together, since they gave each other comfort. It was obvious they wouldn't last the whole way, but I was good to have the tension, even though the last break seemed forced, as I already explained. People give Cal shit about how he secretly felt conflicted about Mare killing Maven, even though he kind of sent her, but honestly I get it. It's not like he blames her, but it's just natural that it cracks something between them, as there were already many cracks before. That's why I really do understand that they need time apart in the end and like the prospect of them getting together again in the future when they are healed. Sometimes healing with the person who was there when you got hurt (or caused it) just doesn't work. I'm looking forward to read Broken Throne to see their true ending.
Maven and Mare were just heartbreaking to read about. Both of them have feelings for each other that they try to escape from, but just can't. It was obvious from book one that they would never end up together, which made the whole process even more painful. I think that it was very well written throughout the series, how they couldn't let each other go and it's so tragic that in the end they had to fight to the death. Even though running together wasn't an option it still broke my heart when Maven suggested it. I truly love tragic love stories and this one definitely served and caused a lot of pain😠At least Maven ist with Tommy now...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Violence, and Medical trauma
More...