lickableenzymes's review against another edition
4.0
Decent, very decent. Liked this one much better than the second one, though I think the first was still my favorite. I really enjoyed the development of the secondary characters and their own personal plotlines and struggles, as well as the political struggle that Gabriel and Nic continue to fight.
All of the plot lines from the previous two books were resolved, which was very nice. New questions and plot lines were revealed in this book and left unanswered, but I felt okay with the author leaving some things for the reader's imagination to fill in.
The ending felt a tad anticlimactic, with how big the set-up was for the enemies-- they both were defeated in a couple paragraphs, but the overall ending was still satisfying.
All of the plot lines from the previous two books were resolved, which was very nice. New questions and plot lines were revealed in this book and left unanswered, but I felt okay with the author leaving some things for the reader's imagination to fill in.
The ending felt a tad anticlimactic, with how big the set-up was for the enemies-- they both were defeated in a couple paragraphs, but the overall ending was still satisfying.
marilanoire's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
It’s a good ending for the series and I enjoyed the book. The characters are interesting and I liked the story. For me this is the best book of the three in this series.
myhandmadehell's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t even know what to say. I’ve been trying to write this review since I finished the book last night but everything I write turns into a blabbering, incoherent rave about the series as a whole and how it’s basically my new favorite thing ever and everyone who is a fan of fantasy and/or romance should read it. I’ve clobbered my friends over the head with it, I’ve mooned and swooned at my husband for days while I’ve been reading it, I’ve already decided I’m going to purchase them in paperback because they are too good to live only in my Kindle.
BUT ABOUT THIS ONE only because that’s the one I’m reviewing here.
If you enjoyed the first and second ones, this one will not disappoint. Not one bit. It might even be the best of the three, which is unusual for me to say because I often prefer the first book in a series the most.
But this? This glorious, gorgeous closure to Nic and Gabriel’s story? It. Is. DIVINE.
NOT ONLY does it give us the ultimate horrible thing we’ve been waiting for since the first book, it also gives us the most satisfying conclusion to that part of the story I could imagine. (Surely if you’ve finished book 2 you know by now we aren’t going to see a massive takedown of the Convocation in this series….but it’s GONNA HAPPEN!)
It also gave me an unexpected found family aspect that had me gasping and squealing with its unbelievable cuteness and fierce loyalty. This band of misfit wizards and familiars is so powerful, delightful, complicated, complex, and interesting, and their immediate love of their new house and their fierce protection of it makes my heart SIIIIIING. Those of you who know me well know that my two favorite tropes are “they’re becoming best friends!” and “everyone pulls together in the end”, followed closely by found family, and this book is loaded with all of these!
Jeffe Kennedy’s ability to write ~actually good banter~ (seriously what is wrong with romance authors who think that “good banter” is just sarcasm and pissing each other off, even when it’s out of character?) extends beyond the two mains we’ve been following to this point and positively glimmers in other characters as well. Asa and Gabriel, Iliana and Han, Alise and Nic, Daisy and GF, Asa and Wolfgang, Quinn and Sage, Jadren and….everybody he encounters. You really feel that each of them has their own relationships and boundaries with other people, and the love is really there with all of them. It makes the world feel so very rich and realistic, and it’s so delightful.
Lastly I want to hit on what we began to explore in the second book, namely: Nic and Gabriel’s tentative but successful steps into incorporating bondage into their sex life, both to enhance their magical abilities BUT ALSO because they both want that. The exploration of the building of mutual trust in the process of exploring that aspect of their relationship, and how that mutual trust strengthens them in every other way, and the gentle but clear descriptions of pleasure and pain being not only compatible but, in some cases, the same, felt like a really beautiful introduction to that concept in general. Also…THANK YOU for non-vanilla sex scenes!!! Let’s branch out from the idea that a man giving a woman head is spicy enough.
Okay I’ll stop now but I can’t promise I won’t update again later as I think of more things I absolutely have to say to the people who are definitely not reading this review, especially given how long this is. Anyway I love this book, I love this series, I can’t wait to read more about this world and what’s next for House Phel and the Convocation!
BUT ABOUT THIS ONE only because that’s the one I’m reviewing here.
If you enjoyed the first and second ones, this one will not disappoint. Not one bit. It might even be the best of the three, which is unusual for me to say because I often prefer the first book in a series the most.
But this? This glorious, gorgeous closure to Nic and Gabriel’s story? It. Is. DIVINE.
NOT ONLY does it give us the ultimate horrible thing we’ve been waiting for since the first book, it also gives us the most satisfying conclusion to that part of the story I could imagine. (Surely if you’ve finished book 2 you know by now we aren’t going to see a massive takedown of the Convocation in this series….but it’s GONNA HAPPEN!)
It also gave me an unexpected found family aspect that had me gasping and squealing with its unbelievable cuteness and fierce loyalty. This band of misfit wizards and familiars is so powerful, delightful, complicated, complex, and interesting, and their immediate love of their new house and their fierce protection of it makes my heart SIIIIIING. Those of you who know me well know that my two favorite tropes are “they’re becoming best friends!” and “everyone pulls together in the end”, followed closely by found family, and this book is loaded with all of these!
Jeffe Kennedy’s ability to write ~actually good banter~ (seriously what is wrong with romance authors who think that “good banter” is just sarcasm and pissing each other off, even when it’s out of character?) extends beyond the two mains we’ve been following to this point and positively glimmers in other characters as well. Asa and Gabriel, Iliana and Han, Alise and Nic, Daisy and GF, Asa and Wolfgang, Quinn and Sage, Jadren and….everybody he encounters. You really feel that each of them has their own relationships and boundaries with other people, and the love is really there with all of them. It makes the world feel so very rich and realistic, and it’s so delightful.
Lastly I want to hit on what we began to explore in the second book, namely: Nic and Gabriel’s tentative but successful steps into incorporating bondage into their sex life, both to enhance their magical abilities BUT ALSO because they both want that. The exploration of the building of mutual trust in the process of exploring that aspect of their relationship, and how that mutual trust strengthens them in every other way, and the gentle but clear descriptions of pleasure and pain being not only compatible but, in some cases, the same, felt like a really beautiful introduction to that concept in general. Also…THANK YOU for non-vanilla sex scenes!!! Let’s branch out from the idea that a man giving a woman head is spicy enough.
Okay I’ll stop now but I can’t promise I won’t update again later as I think of more things I absolutely have to say to the people who are definitely not reading this review, especially given how long this is. Anyway I love this book, I love this series, I can’t wait to read more about this world and what’s next for House Phel and the Convocation!
sibley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
tangomango240's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jillsbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
Ms. Kennedy really upped the tension and action in this chapter!
In this chapter of Gabriel and Nic's travels, a lot of their pushes to make change and challenge the institution are coming back to haunt them from Nic's punishment from running away to her father demand for her return. I loved reading about the rebuilding of the House of Phel and the new characters coming from different houses. It built the world a bit more for me.
Gabriel and Nic are adorable where one is serious and the other is determined to change the status quo. They compliment each other well and the spice is good between them.
I have mentioned in my previous review, the world in Bonds of Magic is dark because of the oppressive nature of the familiars and the control established by the institutions of wizards. That said, I felt it is balance by that attitudes of Gabriel and Nic who seek to change things and the growing support they receive from others who see the good.
With how this one ended, there is plenty more to unpack in this world and it makes me excited to follow this journey. I can't wait to read more about Gabriel and Nic!
In this chapter of Gabriel and Nic's travels, a lot of their pushes to make change and challenge the institution are coming back to haunt them from Nic's punishment from running away to her father demand for her return. I loved reading about the rebuilding of the House of Phel and the new characters coming from different houses. It built the world a bit more for me.
Gabriel and Nic are adorable where one is serious and the other is determined to change the status quo. They compliment each other well and the spice is good between them.
I have mentioned in my previous review, the world in Bonds of Magic is dark because of the oppressive nature of the familiars and the control established by the institutions of wizards. That said, I felt it is balance by that attitudes of Gabriel and Nic who seek to change things and the growing support they receive from others who see the good.
With how this one ended, there is plenty more to unpack in this world and it makes me excited to follow this journey. I can't wait to read more about Gabriel and Nic!
emmelnie's review against another edition
Grey Magic is a fantastic end to a great fantasy romance trilogy. We see Nic and Gabriel’s love deepen even as they deal with attacks on their fledging house and as they discover hidden abilities. There’s a lot to be said about a trilogy where the third book is about expanding the connection between lovers instead of finally establishing it. Nic and Gabriel complement each other so well, and yet each exasperates the other in the ways couples can do in real life. They’re wonderful protagonists.
What I loved best about Grey Magic is the way Kennedy increases the reader’s understanding of these magical Houses of power. The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book, as we come to know more and more about how magic operates in this land. I particularly liked how Kennedy examined the secondary roles of familiars and how that could easily turn into abuse. And the way the book ends…let’s just say this, with what Kennedy has set up, I’m desperately hoping she writes more set in this world.
And the other reason I’m hoping for more? The secondary characters in this book just explode, as we get to know the various fledgling wizards who’ve come to join Nic and Gabriel’s upstart House Phel. I loved that these wizards were either new and hungry or resented the order the Convocation represents and want to achieve something different within the structure of House Phel. There are easily half a dozen characters that I want to find out more about, from the wizards Asa and Alise to the familiars Han and Iliana, as well as Jadren and Selly, each mysterious in their own way. The villains in this story are truly despicable, and enough threads are left dangling that I hope additional books will address.
I enjoyed Grey Magic from start to finish. If you haven’t read the first books in this series, I highly recommend starting with those. Kennedy is creating a grand structure here, and it’s best to see it build from the start.
What I loved best about Grey Magic is the way Kennedy increases the reader’s understanding of these magical Houses of power. The worldbuilding is fantastic in this book, as we come to know more and more about how magic operates in this land. I particularly liked how Kennedy examined the secondary roles of familiars and how that could easily turn into abuse. And the way the book ends…let’s just say this, with what Kennedy has set up, I’m desperately hoping she writes more set in this world.
And the other reason I’m hoping for more? The secondary characters in this book just explode, as we get to know the various fledgling wizards who’ve come to join Nic and Gabriel’s upstart House Phel. I loved that these wizards were either new and hungry or resented the order the Convocation represents and want to achieve something different within the structure of House Phel. There are easily half a dozen characters that I want to find out more about, from the wizards Asa and Alise to the familiars Han and Iliana, as well as Jadren and Selly, each mysterious in their own way. The villains in this story are truly despicable, and enough threads are left dangling that I hope additional books will address.
I enjoyed Grey Magic from start to finish. If you haven’t read the first books in this series, I highly recommend starting with those. Kennedy is creating a grand structure here, and it’s best to see it build from the start.
rubyn's review against another edition
I wanted more. This is a very interesting world….
mariamizhys's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
3.5
Review for the Trilogy:
I was surprised by the depth of character and genuine character development. I empathized with and believed them. They didn't quite feel like real people but were surprisingly close.
The character development was understandable and well thought through. There were setbacks and they wasnt sudden or unbiased in what we got to see. It felt like a natural growth, so much so, that I only noticed it after I started reviewing it. Beautifully done. Genuinely good character work.
The Problem for me was twofold.
1. The Plot was a bit too tropy and predictable. And that was a bit boring. I didn't stay because I wanted to know what would happen next, but because I liked seeing our heroes process things and make mistakes and then try to work them out. It was fine but boring.
2. And this was the bigger issue. I didn't like the world. I just didn't believe it. It was too twodimensional and simplistic, good and bad were clearly and unmistakably defined and there was no room for genuinely morally grey decisions and behaviors. It felt cartoony and that was disappointing. And the story wasn't enough of an epic to justify this division into "light hero fights against the evil dark kingdom".
The fact that the main villain ended up being a psychopath was lazy and it somehow felt fitting for the worldbuiding. Because in a lazily built world a lazily developed overpowered villain is just the thing.
The entire thing felt a little bit like a manga or anime, where there is a good hero and a bad villain, and the villain may have a good point somewhere but his logic and motivation are fundamentally flawed and that flaw is what makes him bad and our hero good. It felt too simplistic and flat. I didn't buy it and I kept being annoyed at the circumstances I didn't believe.
I liked it, in fact, I liked it more than I had anticipated. Especially the characters. But I didn't love it. It was good, but not very good, and definitely not excellent.
I was surprised by the depth of character and genuine character development. I empathized with and believed them. They didn't quite feel like real people but were surprisingly close.
The character development was understandable and well thought through. There were setbacks and they wasnt sudden or unbiased in what we got to see. It felt like a natural growth, so much so, that I only noticed it after I started reviewing it. Beautifully done. Genuinely good character work.
The Problem for me was twofold.
1. The Plot was a bit too tropy and predictable. And that was a bit boring. I didn't stay because I wanted to know what would happen next, but because I liked seeing our heroes process things and make mistakes and then try to work them out. It was fine but boring.
2. And this was the bigger issue. I didn't like the world. I just didn't believe it. It was too twodimensional and simplistic, good and bad were clearly and unmistakably defined and there was no room for genuinely morally grey decisions and behaviors. It felt cartoony and that was disappointing. And the story wasn't enough of an epic to justify this division into "light hero fights against the evil dark kingdom".
Spoiler
The fact that the main villain ended up being a psychopath was lazy and it somehow felt fitting for the worldbuiding. Because in a lazily built world a lazily developed overpowered villain is just the thing.
Spoiler
The entire thing felt a little bit like a manga or anime, where there is a good hero and a bad villain, and the villain may have a good point somewhere but his logic and motivation are fundamentally flawed and that flaw is what makes him bad and our hero good. It felt too simplistic and flat. I didn't buy it and I kept being annoyed at the circumstances I didn't believe.
I liked it, in fact, I liked it more than I had anticipated. Especially the characters. But I didn't love it. It was good, but not very good, and definitely not excellent.