friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.75
This was soooo excruciatingly looong. I just wanted it to be over. The ending was nice but this series is unfortunetly not worth it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Self harm
Minor: Vomit
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I'm honestly so sad that I didn't like this book. I liked the parts of the ending where the gang got to spend time together and just live but the actual plot element was confusing and boring.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Grief, Death, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
moonlightreads007's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Wow, I don't think I have enough words to describe how truly epic that ending was... here are some emojis instead: 🤯🔥💖
I loved everything about this book, full stop. It was spiritual, healing, and everything I ever wanted the last book in this series to be! As always, the structure was very well-organized and the scene descriptions were detailed and effective. Although the beginning was a little slower-paced, I found that it was still intriguing enough to pique readers' interest in the storyline. The pace picks up very quickly in the middle and at the end, though!. Overall, I feel like things worked out the way they were meant to in this book. 5/5, would highly recommend to fans of this trilogy - it's been a wild ride, but all's well that ends well!
I loved everything about this book, full stop. It was spiritual, healing, and everything I ever wanted the last book in this series to be! As always, the structure was very well-organized and the scene descriptions were detailed and effective. Although the beginning was a little slower-paced, I found that it was still intriguing enough to pique readers' interest in the storyline. The pace picks up very quickly in the middle and at the end, though!
Spoiler
Plotwise, I loved how the characters all mended their relationships with each other, how they used their natural talents and strengths to help others, and how they found their purpose and grew into the people they were always meant to be. I'm proud of each and every one of them, and I love the sweet, new little family they made for themselves at the end (I especially loved Zorinos ❤️). Also, potentially controversial opinion: Laila deserved godhood way more than Sévérin did, she was so much kinder to others throughout the series. In this book, it becomes clear that Sévérin was projecting his emotions onto others, and it seems like expressing his emotions to others without projecting was a learning curve for him in this book. I feel like the fact that he had to live in eternal youth without Laila for so long was his punishment for his previous behaviour, but thankfully they seem to have healed and connected with each other as a couple. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that they're both happy. I'm so glad all the characters got the happy ending we readers were waiting and hoping for!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Ableism, and Body horror
Minor: Antisemitism, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Colonisation, Blood, Gore, Sexism, Death, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
erin_mh362's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
I’m so sad this series is over but I loved every single one of these books!!
This one felt really high-stakes and I really liked it, I love the heist vibe and how none of the characters immediately forgave people for betraying them (iykyk)
The twist with the divine lyre thing and the ending was just perfect and I loved it so much, Roshani Chokshi is an amazing author and this trilogy was fantastic 💕
This one felt really high-stakes and I really liked it, I love the heist vibe and how none of the characters immediately forgave people for betraying them (iykyk)
The twist with the divine lyre thing and the ending was just perfect and I loved it so much, Roshani Chokshi is an amazing author and this trilogy was fantastic 💕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Ableism, Racism, Alcohol, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Antisemitism
kingdom_of_bookish_things's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book broke me in the best way possible. I am not well so the author better pay for my therapy.
I loved how all the characters got some kind of closure and they all got their character development. I wanted to punch Ruslan through the whole book but also give the others both a hug and therapy because they need that a lot.
The world building was solid throughout the whole triology and everything made sense. It wasn’t just done for the plot but you could actually se how everything fit perfectly.
I loved how all the characters got some kind of closure and they all got their character development. I wanted to punch Ruslan through the whole book but also give the others both a hug and therapy because they need that a lot.
The world building was solid throughout the whole triology and everything made sense. It wasn’t just done for the plot but you could actually se how everything fit perfectly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
kaylamoran's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
That ending... I can't decide if I loved it or hated it. But this was a great end to the series, which I loved from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Grief, Death, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Racism, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism and Grief
alexiab's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ITS COOL IM FINE IM TOTALLY COOL AND FINE
god damn I don't think the end of a series has torn my heart up like that in a good while. It was epic, exciting, surprising, and exactly what it should have been.
I love this entire adventure, my heart is forever with this beautiful and funny as hell found family, and I don't know how to cope with it being over. THE EPILOGUE WILL HAUNT MY DREAMS FOR ALWAYS.
god damn I don't think the end of a series has torn my heart up like that in a good while. It was epic, exciting, surprising, and exactly what it should have been.
I love this entire adventure, my heart is forever with this beautiful and funny as hell found family, and I don't know how to cope with it being over. THE EPILOGUE WILL HAUNT MY DREAMS FOR ALWAYS.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Grief, Self harm, Death, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Antisemitism
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.0
I didn’t quite get the satisfaction I wanted from this conclusion: a lot of the plotting felt like the first two books—same problems, same tensions, same issues—and I remain confused by aspects of this world. The world-building just never really made sense to me, and I was really hoping everything would click together in my head by this book, but nope. What exactly is forging? Couldn't tell you. Honestly, I felt more confused with each book, and the plot seemed to get worse with each one too.
The ending also left much to be desired, especially because the characters were so interesting. They deserved a more powerful conclusion. I think Enrique and Zofia are my favorite characters because they had the most consistent arcs across the trilogy () and they also had the most satisfying ending. I remain annoyed by Séverin's development and I became annoyed with all of what happened with Laila in this book. I liked Laila and Séverin together but their relationship is never really fleshed out over the trilogy so I don't know why they like each other.
All that being said, I’m still glad I read the series. I mean, I decided to still give this conclusion three stars, even though I had issues with it. I think the characters are intriguing enough to still read it, and Hypnos's humor in this book made for some good chuckles. Overall, the series had a lot of potential and great characters so I wouldn’t not recommend it…but being disappointed in the ending makes it hard to wholeheartedly recommend.
Spoiler
How did it get undone at the end? I have no idea.The ending also left much to be desired, especially because the characters were so interesting. They deserved a more powerful conclusion. I think Enrique and Zofia are my favorite characters because they had the most consistent arcs across the trilogy (
Spoiler
though I knew Zofia was gonna lose that letter and it annoyed the heck out of me that she didn't open it in the second book...felt like it was more for tension than what she truly would have doneSpoiler
Seriously, Séverin's quest to become a god never made sense and it did not get the resolution that it needed for it to have impact on the character...like he still went through with it? even though everyone agreed it was a bad idea? and his only consequence was that he got eternal youth? but had to wait a century before he could see Laila again? because she became a god instead? And we still don't know anything more about Laila's creation and how it happened and why her gift works or how she became L'Enigme. The stakes about Laila dying in this book never felt as urgent as they kept saying it was.All that being said, I’m still glad I read the series. I mean, I decided to still give this conclusion three stars, even though I had issues with it. I think the characters are intriguing enough to still read it, and Hypnos's humor in this book made for some good chuckles. Overall, the series had a lot of potential and great characters so I wouldn’t not recommend it…but being disappointed in the ending makes it hard to wholeheartedly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Grief and Ableism