starringandrea's review
5.0
The latest Loyal League installment is a beautifully-told end to an incredible series. It’s VERY different from the first two. In fact, the romance felt secondary to what was an extremely well-thought out, well-written plot about a mission to track down Jefferson Davis and find out what the Europeans are up to. Daniel’s trauma from being forced into slavery after being born free is very fresh and ever-present. Alyssa tackles black exceptionalism and self-discovery in Janeta, who believes herself to be different from free and enslaved black people (thanks to her racist white daddy and clearly traumatized former slave mother) and quickly learns what she believes can’t protect her. I very much enjoy a historical fiction book with a side of sexy time—others may be wanting more
jenibus's review
3.0
It was fine, but the romance aspect of it was lacking, in my opinion. I liked the flawed nature of both Daniel and Janeta, how they were both unlikeable characters who had so much to overcome. I understood why they behaved the way they did and wanted them to heal and find love and acceptance. However, I did not feel that there was much attraction between the two of them. When the romance part starts happening, it felt somewhat out of nowhere nearer to the end of the book than the beginning. I'm fine with slow burn but because so much of the book was civil war secret spy plots and dealing with Daniel and Janeta's differing viewpoints and motivations (which were great!), the romance attraction seemed very sudden to me. I wish that there had been more buildup of their attraction during the subterfuge parts. Spy tropes in romance novels are a big winner for me but I still want that romantic buildup before we get to the sexy times.
It's still a good book, just not what I wanted from a historical romance and too romancey for people who want only historical fiction.
It's still a good book, just not what I wanted from a historical romance and too romancey for people who want only historical fiction.
breadedbookpages's review
5.0
This is one of those books that'll always stay with me. Alyssa Cole is my favorite author for a good reason. I started reading her books because of this series; so to read such a fascinating, satisfying, and well-rounded final book in this trilogy made me so very happy. AUF is about Daniel, who is mentioned in the first book of the series. Daniel is born a free Black man but he is kidnapped and enslaved which traumatizes him. When he is freed, he turns to the same organization Elle (the heroine of book 1) works for and becomes a spy for the North. Except the book kicks up as Janeta, who is a Black Cuban woman, joins the Loyal League and made to be Daniel's partner. Her greenness as a detective, as well as a woman experiencing racism makes her seem a fledgling in Daniel's eyes, but the readers know that Janeta undergoes a satisfying character arc in AUF. I was weary of one thing: Daniel's discovery of the initial reason Janeta joined the Royal League but the way Cole wrote that scene made every anxiety of mine disappear. This series will always remain one of my favorites. It's got love, history, terrifying reality, as well as a slice of hope that I couldn't hope to find anywhere else.
readerpants's review
5.0
I wish had the option for more than 5 stars, because this is way up and over. The last and (I think) best book in the series. From the first page, I was on tenterhooks wondering how on earth she could bring these two together in a way that felt authentic and satisfying... and of course, of course she did.
Pack tissues with you when you read this book.
Pack tissues with you when you read this book.
liatrek's review against another edition
5.0
Deep and beautifully flawed characters struggling for redemption, Hope and love. The authors end note expressed what I think many people have felt recently like we are reverting back to scarier times. I think this might be my favorite of the series because both Daniel and Janeta grow so much during the story. Aylssa Cole is an amazing author and I can’t recommend her books enough❤️
mskennedyreads's review
5.0
The last in this incredible trilogy. They should be studied in academia. I read this over several days - it was really hard at times. You could feel that this was written in the height of the lead ups to BLM activism. The author speaks about it in her acknowledgements - that she didn't know how to have the hero fight for a version of America that in 2018 would have been all too recognizable to him - and you can feel that throughout. Janeta and Daniel learn so much about themselves and the world and the power of vulnerability and trust when the stakes are literally life and death and enslavement. The reality of white allies who can oppose racism on principle and theory, and are necessary to collaborate with, but they can leave whenever it suits them, was a tension that was really well explored.
lizmart88's review
3.0
The perfect way to start off 2020! This is a great historical fiction (light romance scenes).
lisafrancine's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5