kcmag1's review against another edition
3.0
Spoiler
Kestrel and Arin's reunion and subsequent team-up were exciting to me, but God, I really dislike memory loss as a trope. It just feels like a lazy way to add tension and intrigue to a relationship that is suddenly without other barriers.bluealliecat's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 This series got better and better with each book. Really enjoyed the characters and political intrigue
seriouslybookish's review against another edition
5.0
I NEED MORE! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS OVER! I REFUSED TO BELIEVE THIS HAD ENDED!
juliterario's review against another edition
3.0
- SIN SPOILERS -
Ummm.... bueno :? Me encantó el primer libro de la trilogía y AMÉ el segundo, pero este me decepcionó. No es que no me haya gustado (porque sí me gustó mucho), pero no siento que haya sido igual de bueno que los anteriores. La acción y tensión que me tenían tan atrapada en la historia en los dos libros previos desaparecieron en este. Hubieron pequeñas cosas que odié y pequeñas cosas que adoré, pero en general el libro me dio igual. Pero bueno, me quedó con 4 estrellas para la saga en general.
Ummm.... bueno :? Me encantó el primer libro de la trilogía y AMÉ el segundo, pero este me decepcionó. No es que no me haya gustado (porque sí me gustó mucho), pero no siento que haya sido igual de bueno que los anteriores. La acción y tensión que me tenían tan atrapada en la historia en los dos libros previos desaparecieron en este. Hubieron pequeñas cosas que odié y pequeñas cosas que adoré, pero en general el libro me dio igual. Pero bueno, me quedó con 4 estrellas para la saga en general.
kavasprout's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars!!! I really enjoyed this series.
This book did drag a bit in the middle with the waiting around aspects but I enjoyed the beginning! This series definitely loved to use the miscommunication trope lmao which was so frustrating—it was the main thing used to further the plot I hated that.
I felt like the ending with Kestrel and Trajan could’ve been better imo. Idk what I was expecting but it’s more open ended. I am happy Arin and Kestrel got a happy ending for now!
This book did drag a bit in the middle with the waiting around aspects but I enjoyed the beginning! This series definitely loved to use the miscommunication trope lmao which was so frustrating—it was the main thing used to further the plot I hated that.
I felt like the ending with Kestrel and Trajan could’ve been better imo. Idk what I was expecting but it’s more open ended. I am happy Arin and Kestrel got a happy ending for now!
megball21's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
saluki's review
5.0
War preparations and strategy to defeat the Valorian general are ongoing and unsettling for Arin as his hatred is shadowed by the fact he's Kestrel's father. But then, Kestrel has betrayed Arin and is to marry an enemy prince. Obstacles seem insurmountable as Kestral and Arin struggle to get back to some semblance of their past lives but will the gods allow them to carve a changed and better future for both themselves and the Herrani and Dacran people?
Dacran ally prince Roshar's conversation and observations appear unreliable yet truthful at the same time. Kestrel caught Roshar's sliding gaze. Pensive. Murky. A strange mixture of satisfaction and displeasure. Prince Roshar's witty remarks and appearance of lazy arrogance offer the most humour in the novel and he became a favourite character for me, not only for the humour but also for being a contrast to Arin's intensity and Kestrel's determination.
I felt fully immersed in this world and cared or feared about the development of these characters during their setbacks and their predicaments on bloody battlegrounds. The book cover is gorgeous but misleading because Kestrel isn't at court in all her finery... far from it. She certainly learns how her father's enemies are punished and those dire circumstances were unexpected too.
Kestrel and Arin have painful journeys and both suffer psychological and physical trauma. After betrayals and much bloodshed the conclusion to this trilogy was beyond satisfying. One of my favourite young adult reads so far this year!
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved this final book of the trilogy. Marie Rutkoski wrapped up the series perfectly with this story. The storyline has intensified and relationships deeper explored. It gets bloody, it gets dirty and the choices some characters make are surprising. Both Arin and Kestrel have both come so far since the first book. They have grown as individuals and their relationship has evolved. While this series is a romance it wasn’t really insta-love between Arin and Kestrel, it took two and a half books of them fighting it, denying it and straight up overlooking it before finally admitting to it. I couldn’t help but finally cheer (inwardly that is, as I listened to this as an audiobook while working in an office full of normal people) when Kestrel finally admitted her feelings.
The secondary characters in this book were on point. I didn’t much care for Rashar in The Winner’s Crime but I came around quick in this book. His humor and sarcasm brought light to a pretty dark plot. Plus it made me burst out laughing in the middle of my office while I was listening to it earning me funny looks from my co-workers. His bromance with Arin and even his relationship with Kestrel made me like him even more. Loyal and faithful friends are hard to come by in a world that lives and breathes war and games. Rashar had a nickname for Kestrel – Little Ghost. It struck me as ironic in a way because throughout this entire book both Kestrel and Arin dealt with their own ghosts. Arin was haunted by ghosts of his past 10 years in the making while Kestrel was haunted by the ghost of her father.
Sarsine was also another character I began to like more in this final installment. Her friendship with Kestrel really helped the poor girl heal and begin trusting again after all that she has gone through. It gave her more of a purpose then being just the remainder of Arin’s family.
I really liked how this book wrapped up the series. The writing was beautiful and the strategizing was at its height. This series is great read and I’m a bit sad we won’t get more.
Highly recommend this series!
The secondary characters in this book were on point. I didn’t much care for Rashar in The Winner’s Crime but I came around quick in this book. His humor and sarcasm brought light to a pretty dark plot. Plus it made me burst out laughing in the middle of my office while I was listening to it earning me funny looks from my co-workers. His bromance with Arin and even his relationship with Kestrel made me like him even more. Loyal and faithful friends are hard to come by in a world that lives and breathes war and games. Rashar had a nickname for Kestrel – Little Ghost. It struck me as ironic in a way because throughout this entire book both Kestrel and Arin dealt with their own ghosts. Arin was haunted by ghosts of his past 10 years in the making while Kestrel was haunted by the ghost of her father.
Sarsine was also another character I began to like more in this final installment. Her friendship with Kestrel really helped the poor girl heal and begin trusting again after all that she has gone through. It gave her more of a purpose then being just the remainder of Arin’s family.
I really liked how this book wrapped up the series. The writing was beautiful and the strategizing was at its height. This series is great read and I’m a bit sad we won’t get more.
Highly recommend this series!
scarlettreader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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? Yes
4.5
jessicatamm92's review against another edition
5.0
So good. Loved this book! I grew to love this series more and more and I thought this was the best one for sure. Man I love these characters. I loved the writing... Everything. I've already said this before but WOW Marie Rutkoski likes to make her readers wait. At parts I was so frustrated in this series when people kept missing one another or wouldn't speak their minds until it was too late. That was a huge part of this book was the timing. Loved all of the plotting and strategy in this book. It was so refreshing to read about a main character who wasn't the best at weapons but was intelligent and crafty and used that to her advantage. The love story (while at time just about killed me) was beautiful. Loved all the twists and surprises. This ending was perfect. I'm super happy with how everything wrapped up.