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sophieannalysa's review against another edition
3.0
For all of these books, I liked the Shadow storyline more. Jyrine drives me nuts to the point where I hate her POVs and am annoyed whenever Calder thinks about her. However, I read this one second (compared to of Killers and Kings) and LOVED the ending of this one. Of Killers and Kings wrapped up the story so well for their planet and Shera, and this book was so great in how it tied in some Willverse elements for Calder.
breenmachine's review against another edition
4.0
I love that there are 3 books in each series (6 total) and they are all the same story from 2 different sides. I read them in order of Shadow 1, Sea 1, Sea 2, Shadow 2, Killers 3 and Kings 3 (I read the third books at the same time - reading 2-3 chapters in one, then reading 2-3 chapters in the other book).
I loved that order.
Shadow (Shera's story) was always my favorite, although I did enjoy Sea as well. I loved the endings. I also loved the humor. The humor from Bliss, Shera, and Calder was top notch. I laughed out loud many times.
The world building overall was epic as well - it's a complex world and by the end it's amazing how much the reader knows and understands all it's facets.
Reminder to self: soulbound, Gardener assassins, Navigators, The Regents, Estyr 6
I loved that order.
Shadow (Shera's story) was always my favorite, although I did enjoy Sea as well. I loved the endings. I also loved the humor. The humor from Bliss, Shera, and Calder was top notch. I laughed out loud many times.
The world building overall was epic as well - it's a complex world and by the end it's amazing how much the reader knows and understands all it's facets.
Reminder to self: soulbound, Gardener assassins, Navigators, The Regents, Estyr 6
saraishelafs's review against another edition
4.0
Calder joins the battles after the sky cracks and releases the elder that was driving his ship.
nate1032's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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? No
4.5
mickeymickey's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
The book ended with a bang but I can’t help but be disappointed. The whole story shines in the adventure and the magic of the past, and not in the preset. And that is a real shame as I would have loved to read a story about the adventures of Calder and his crew out on the sea rather than him sitting on a throne and making bad decisions.
The book felt like it missed the mark for me, focusing on the wrong things. It felt like it had grown far too much in scope and the characters never caught up and so it spun out of control.
I really like the world and the lore and the Elders, I just didn’t like the story that was told in it. Which is my biggest disappointment.
The book ended with a bang but I can’t help but be disappointed. The whole story shines in the adventure and the magic of the past, and not in the preset. And that is a real shame as I would have loved to read a story about the adventures of Calder and his crew out on the sea rather than him sitting on a throne and making bad decisions.
The book felt like it missed the mark for me, focusing on the wrong things. It felt like it had grown far too much in scope and the characters never caught up and so it spun out of control.
I really like the world and the lore and the Elders, I just didn’t like the story that was told in it. Which is my biggest disappointment.
andreadick's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
miketilford's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
This is the final book of the Sea side of The Elder Empire series, my fifth book overall, and was the best of the bunch so far. We get some pretty cool reveals about the nature of the world and some of the characters that I won't spoil here.
Civil war has erupted in the empire and lines are drawn straight down the middle. Half the guilds want to maintain the empire by putting Calder on the throne, the other want the empire to fall and divide it up into smaller pieces. While most of the characters are focused on this, Calder discovers that there is an even bigger threat to the entire world, and attempts to unite them all.
The series ends with a satisfying, yet bittersweet conclusion. We are left with a definite end, but it leaves things open to the possibility of a future sequel, but they aren't necessary.
Now I sit here, five books into this six book series, and I don't really feel like I need to read the sixth book, nor do I really want to. The Shadow side has always been the weakest, and now I feel like it'll just be a letdown. I will read it however, as I am a completionist and wouldn't feel right about leaving the series incomplete.
I need to reiterate that I am not a fan of the way Will Wight has divided up this story. It was a cool novelty for the first pair of parallel novels, but it is annoying now. The Sea side of the series is the better of the two by far, with much more likeable characters, and better insights into the world as a whole. If someone was just starting this series, I would say read all the Sea novels and leave it at that. Maybe in a few years, come back and read the Shadow novels. Alternating back and forth didn't do it for me.
Overall, a satisfying conclusion to these characters and this world, albeit not perfect.
Civil war has erupted in the empire and lines are drawn straight down the middle. Half the guilds want to maintain the empire by putting Calder on the throne, the other want the empire to fall and divide it up into smaller pieces. While most of the characters are focused on this, Calder discovers that there is an even bigger threat to the entire world, and attempts to unite them all.
The series ends with a satisfying, yet bittersweet conclusion. We are left with a definite end, but it leaves things open to the possibility of a future sequel, but they aren't necessary.
Now I sit here, five books into this six book series, and I don't really feel like I need to read the sixth book, nor do I really want to. The Shadow side has always been the weakest, and now I feel like it'll just be a letdown. I will read it however, as I am a completionist and wouldn't feel right about leaving the series incomplete.
I need to reiterate that I am not a fan of the way Will Wight has divided up this story. It was a cool novelty for the first pair of parallel novels, but it is annoying now. The Sea side of the series is the better of the two by far, with much more likeable characters, and better insights into the world as a whole. If someone was just starting this series, I would say read all the Sea novels and leave it at that. Maybe in a few years, come back and read the Shadow novels. Alternating back and forth didn't do it for me.
Overall, a satisfying conclusion to these characters and this world, albeit not perfect.
leeleet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
mljohnson2698's review against another edition
5.0
Ohhhhhhhhh SO GOOD. My only real complaint is that this beautiful series is over. RIP. My heart will not go on. But this book was a stellar combination of Calder's crew, intense Elder action, scathing failures, great sacrifices, and satisfying resolution. I wish Calder got some more appreciation. He's freaking awesome. I wish everybody in that whole Empire knew that. Also the ending was a little more open than Shera's ending, and I only wish I got more, more, more. Okay, I guess I just wish I had 12 more books in this series.
anthem's review against another edition
5.0
The best book in the all of both trilogies, I was worried about finishing this series because I knew Will Wight did not enjoy writing it but this was a fantastic finish to the series. Calder's character growth from Sea 1 to the end of Sea 3 (this book) was expert. I love the crew of the Testament and how they played their part in the story and how Calder truly came into his own as "The Emperor."
Seeing Asylum's place in the larger universe of the Abidan and the lengths that the jailers would go to to preserve the life on Asylum made me smile.
Will Wight creates such an epic universe while still maintaining the compassion of individuals and the murky grey intentions that everyone lives with, especially those in power. This book far exceeded my expectations and now I'm even more excited for his next release.
PS: Travis Baldree's narration is, as always, 5 UY Scuti Stars/5
Seeing Asylum's place in the larger universe of the Abidan and the lengths that the jailers would go to to preserve the life on Asylum made me smile.
Will Wight creates such an epic universe while still maintaining the compassion of individuals and the murky grey intentions that everyone lives with, especially those in power. This book far exceeded my expectations and now I'm even more excited for his next release.
PS: Travis Baldree's narration is, as always, 5 UY Scuti Stars/5