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liz_ross's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I was provided with an e-copy of the book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
This is exactly the kind of finale this series needed. I couldn't have thought of a better way to finish this amazing series.
The whole book is leading you to the inevitable rebellion that has been expected since book one. But at the same time there's so many things on the way, in part because none of the main characters really wants that rebellion as that will mean they will end up even more broken than they already are. And whereas these things add some mystery to the book - you are never sure if the rebellion is really about to start until it actually starts -, sometimes they also drove me crazy as there were moments the characters seemed to be doing nothing but existing - which is already a lot for characters that are broken beyond repair and haunted by terrifying demons that only exist inside their mind, but that doesn't really add much to the story and makes the pace a bit too slow.
I did like to see the characters handling those demons, their past, their traumas. That's something Crunden did really, really well. She has never once forgotten what her characters went through and she never used it just to make them more interesting - those traumas are present in every moment of their lives and condicionate them, those traumas are acknowledge and dealt with as they should be. And that is quite amazing, because in a kingdom where everyone has way too much to deal with, it would have been so easy to forget part of what happened sometimes. Crunden never does.
The one thing I liked the most, though, was the rebellion. How even that was conditioned by their traumas. How they had to fight those traumas in order to make the rebellion happen. And in the end, that rebellion is the ultimate fight against their traumas, it's the key to actually start healing, because for as long as the kingdom exists, there will always be new traumas, new losses and no one can really heal like that.
There are also things that bothered me, though. For once, how dumb can the entire kingdom be to buy Thom's story that easily? Even Taenia did it with little hesitation. How and why?! Who in their right mind (or as close as anyone in that kingdom can get to that) would buy that story? Thom had his life way too facilitated by people who should have never believed him and the only reason I can see for that is plot convenience and I hate when that happens.
Other thing I find way too hard to believe is how everyone that is actually important to the story found a way to survive. Let's be realistic, the most important characters are also the ones who risked the most, who fought the most dangerous enemies. And yet not even one of them is dead?! How??!!
Quick note: the way Crunden approaches so many controversial matters in such a natural way is absolutely perfect and I really admire her for doing that. Not wanting kids, abortion, sexual orientation. And much more. All handled perfectly.
Full review coming soon!
This is exactly the kind of finale this series needed. I couldn't have thought of a better way to finish this amazing series.
The whole book is leading you to the inevitable rebellion that has been expected since book one. But at the same time there's so many things on the way, in part because none of the main characters really wants that rebellion as that will mean they will end up even more broken than they already are. And whereas these things add some mystery to the book - you are never sure if the rebellion is really about to start until it actually starts -, sometimes they also drove me crazy as there were moments the characters seemed to be doing nothing but existing - which is already a lot for characters that are broken beyond repair and haunted by terrifying demons that only exist inside their mind, but that doesn't really add much to the story and makes the pace a bit too slow.
I did like to see the characters handling those demons, their past, their traumas. That's something Crunden did really, really well. She has never once forgotten what her characters went through and she never used it just to make them more interesting - those traumas are present in every moment of their lives and condicionate them, those traumas are acknowledge and dealt with as they should be. And that is quite amazing, because in a kingdom where everyone has way too much to deal with, it would have been so easy to forget part of what happened sometimes. Crunden never does.
The one thing I liked the most, though, was the rebellion. How even that was conditioned by their traumas. How they had to fight those traumas in order to make the rebellion happen. And in the end, that rebellion is the ultimate fight against their traumas, it's the key to actually start healing, because for as long as the kingdom exists, there will always be new traumas, new losses and no one can really heal like that.
There are also things that bothered me, though. For once, how dumb can the entire kingdom be to buy Thom's story that easily? Even Taenia did it with little hesitation. How and why?! Who in their right mind (or as close as anyone in that kingdom can get to that) would buy that story? Thom had his life way too facilitated by people who should have never believed him and the only reason I can see for that is plot convenience and I hate when that happens.
Other thing I find way too hard to believe is how everyone that is actually important to the story found a way to survive. Let's be realistic, the most important characters are also the ones who risked the most, who fought the most dangerous enemies. And yet not even one of them is dead?! How??!!
Quick note: the way Crunden approaches so many controversial matters in such a natural way is absolutely perfect and I really admire her for doing that. Not wanting kids, abortion, sexual orientation. And much more. All handled perfectly.
Full review coming soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Cannibalism, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy