annick's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Still leaves me feeling bereft. I have read this book at least eight times in the past 21 years. And it is still a favourite. The book has some flaws of pacing and plotting but I still enjoy it and recommend it to others.
The ending is a moving one. Leaves me sad and frustrated. Still after all these years. … So I’m off to read the extra epilogue from the special edition.
The ending is a moving one. Leaves me sad and frustrated. Still after all these years. … So I’m off to read the extra epilogue from the special edition.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, War, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming
echo86's review against another edition
1.0
Really struggled through this one. By now I feel that our main character has lost most of her personality and I'm unable to come up with a good reason that her friends follow her. Very heavy on the romance without much substance. Shame as I like the first book when she was scarred and mute - funny how that made her a more interesting character!
anovelstart's review
4.0
In the third installment of this tale, the story continues to flow smoothly and in a logical manner. At times the description can be a little over the top by using a few too many examples for the reader (one or two would suffice). In the authors defence, I think she may have got a little excited and got carried away at these points because it's normally during the action-packed parts of the story (or just before).
A lot happens in this book, the events are very vivid and have the reader on edge until everything is ok again. A lot more unfolds in this story, especially now that she knows who she is and is remembering more and more of her past. The story holds quite a few unexpected twists which can be quite exciting.
Without giving too much of the book away, it's a definite read if you've read the other two books. It sums up the story nicely. The only thing I would have changed is the ending is written in such a way that lets the reader make up their own mind. Personally I prefer it when the author just tells you otherwise it leaves me to think that they couldn't make up their mind and want to leave it to you instead. So basically, the ending needs a little time to sink in and get your head around, but considering the mysteries in the book and discovering the world of Erith, it's definitely worth it.
A lot happens in this book, the events are very vivid and have the reader on edge until everything is ok again. A lot more unfolds in this story, especially now that she knows who she is and is remembering more and more of her past. The story holds quite a few unexpected twists which can be quite exciting.
Without giving too much of the book away, it's a definite read if you've read the other two books. It sums up the story nicely. The only thing I would have changed is the ending is written in such a way that lets the reader make up their own mind. Personally I prefer it when the author just tells you otherwise it leaves me to think that they couldn't make up their mind and want to leave it to you instead. So basically, the ending needs a little time to sink in and get your head around, but considering the mysteries in the book and discovering the world of Erith, it's definitely worth it.
ponderinstuff's review
1.0
I usually like this Australian author because her fiction/fantasy books are unique, however this one just dragged too much to hold my interest. I didn't even finish it. I just now put it down and won't be picking it up again, so can someone tell me what happens at the end of the book?
I will still read the next book this author puts out, but if I don't enjoy that one, I will probably take Cecilia Dart-Thornton off my favorite fantasy authors list. But I will give her another chance since I've enjoyed past books. :-)
I will still read the next book this author puts out, but if I don't enjoy that one, I will probably take Cecilia Dart-Thornton off my favorite fantasy authors list. But I will give her another chance since I've enjoyed past books. :-)
twas's review
3.0
(See reviews of prequels.) There are a few things that bother me about this one.... What is Thorn doing asking a mortal to marry him? Why does Imhrien move from that spot, thus losing everything? Why is there a stupid happy ending somewhat ambiguously tacked on, not even incorporated into a chapter, and just sort of suggesting that everything works out the way every little girl hopes it would?
I may never know. But to the book's credit, I was with Imhrien all the way, hoping that she would survive, perhaps even hoping she would get her prince. Even so, I was disappointed with how Thornton crafted the ending.
I may never know. But to the book's credit, I was with Imhrien all the way, hoping that she would survive, perhaps even hoping she would get her prince. Even so, I was disappointed with how Thornton crafted the ending.
cetian's review
5.0
One of the most epic romantic love stories I have immersed myself into. And a great work of language and myth.
helenid's review
3.0
Okay, I've given this three stars as I like the story, but the writing has turned me insane. Two pages given to describing the food at a coronation - written as a list mind. The end of the book was so vague that when publishing as paperback the author had to add 5 pages describing how the book ended and that it was happy. I don't want to spoil it but basically the heroine was trapped on Erith and had lost all her memories again. Her true love trapped in Fairy land. The author explained that birds had taken a secret to him and he kidnapped her back, returned her memory and disguised someone else (willing victim) as her to fool the 'king'.
Shouldn't this be in the actual book!
Do yourself a favour, don't start the trilogy! This is the first time I've been moved to write any type of review, let that be a warning!
Shouldn't this be in the actual book!
Do yourself a favour, don't start the trilogy! This is the first time I've been moved to write any type of review, let that be a warning!
frederica49's review
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a beautiful book and a worthy finale to the series. It just kept me intrigued even though slow to read.
kristi_asleep_dreaming's review
3.0
Hard to get through. I don't know why; the prose was rather impenetrable, but no more so than in her earlier two, which I found oddly readable despite that. The plot, partly - it wandered, but then the earlier two did as well. Characters? Fewer interesting secondary characters, less interesting setting, or maybe I'd just lost patience with them somehow.
A pity, because I did enjoy the earlier two, and also because she did come up with good answers for some of the things I disliked in the earlier books - Thorn was inhumanly attractive and capable because he was, in fact, inhuman, for one.
I choose to believe the second option at the ending - that she was spirited away by her unworldly lover to beyond the gate. The other was too pointless and stupid a tragic ending, and unworthy of both the prince and his supposedly befuddled bride.
A pity, because I did enjoy the earlier two, and also because she did come up with good answers for some of the things I disliked in the earlier books - Thorn was inhumanly attractive and capable because he was, in fact, inhuman, for one.
I choose to believe the second option at the ending - that she was spirited away by her unworldly lover to beyond the gate. The other was too pointless and stupid a tragic ending, and unworthy of both the prince and his supposedly befuddled bride.