heathersbike's review
I wish I could say this was a good book.
This was boring. It took me over a month to read. Over a month, for a Nora Roberts book. And I only finished it because I sat down and made myself. If you've read the other two, save yourself the hassle and start at Chapter 30. Someone else basically recommended that in their review and I wish I'd done it.
Sorry, NB, I will not be rushing to read any more of your fantasy. Not your spark. I'll stick to Eve Dallas.
This was boring. It took me over a month to read. Over a month, for a Nora Roberts book. And I only finished it because I sat down and made myself. If you've read the other two, save yourself the hassle and start at Chapter 30. Someone else basically recommended that in their review and I wish I'd done it.
Sorry, NB, I will not be rushing to read any more of your fantasy. Not your spark. I'll stick to Eve Dallas.
bibliophilekaitlyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
chartsh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wernowskymama's review
5.0
Probably my favorite series I’ve ever read! Ohhhh and this one had my heart in knots!!
lacers526's review against another edition
4.0
This wasn’t quite as strong as the previous installments, but still really good! This is one of my favorite trilogies at this point and I can’t wait to re-read them physically. This time I read them all via audio and the narration was truly excellent. Not much else I can say, other than the end was satisfying.
shells's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved the character-building, the world-building, the magic, the diversity of characters, and the heart-wrenching moments that made me teary-eyed as I drove to and from work (audio version.) That being said, I can't help but feel a bit deflated by the ending of this trilogy. Like Roberts' previous trilogy, The Chronicles of the One, this one strikes a similar tone in a different world. And like that trilogy, this one suffers some of the same pitfalls; namely, the lackluster battle scenes and the perceptions that the stakes weren't high enough when it came to that final battle.
For all of the bluster and bravado the villain boasted about throughout the trilogy, the final faceoff fell flat. His minions were but background blurs, I did not feel as if I were in the midst of a war between good and evil, light and dark, magic and chaos. The battle needed to be beefed up, the stakes raised. I felt more for the dragons earlier in the book than I did for the whole of the final battle. He was clearly never really a threat as he didn't cross into Talamh. This would've helped to raise those stakes in the final battle. There should've been more of everyone fighting together. Even though Breen was the key, she didn't come to this alone. And for all the discoveries Keegan made regarding his varied bloodline, it did nothing for the story in the end other than provide some fun bits. And why was it Breen who appeared before him when he dove into the lake as a child? Did I miss that little revelation? A plot line dangled only to be left hanging.
There should've been more damage, and more blood when it came to Breen. She was crap with practical battle and we should've seen the results of that in this final battle. It was all a little too neat and tidy, and I disagree with Roberts' choice of who did die. As the old saying goes, "Murder your darlings."
The epilogue came too quickly. I wanted to see Marco's wedding. I wanted to see everyone meeting (their names escape me now, but the parents of her heart) and their reactions to seeing Talamh. And for fecks sake, why can't people communicate? When he gives her the earrings and they argue about it later, why doesn't she just say, "I wasn't aware these were proposal earrings! I didn't know that's how you do it in Talamh!" And also, "I'm sorry I'm as stubborn as you and unable to verbalize my feelings like a grown-ass adult."
Anyway. I liked the book well enough but the ending was a disappointing rush after all of that exposition.
For all of the bluster and bravado the villain boasted about throughout the trilogy, the final faceoff fell flat. His minions were but background blurs, I did not feel as if I were in the midst of a war between good and evil, light and dark, magic and chaos. The battle needed to be beefed up, the stakes raised. I felt more for the dragons earlier in the book than I did for the whole of the final battle. He was clearly never really a threat as he didn't cross into Talamh. This would've helped to raise those stakes in the final battle. There should've been more of everyone fighting together. Even though Breen was the key, she didn't come to this alone. And for all the discoveries Keegan made regarding his varied bloodline, it did nothing for the story in the end other than provide some fun bits. And why was it Breen who appeared before him when he dove into the lake as a child? Did I miss that little revelation? A plot line dangled only to be left hanging.
There should've been more damage, and more blood when it came to Breen. She was crap with practical battle and we should've seen the results of that in this final battle. It was all a little too neat and tidy, and I disagree with Roberts' choice of who did die. As the old saying goes, "Murder your darlings."
The epilogue came too quickly. I wanted to see Marco's wedding. I wanted to see everyone meeting (their names escape me now, but the parents of her heart) and their reactions to seeing Talamh. And for fecks sake, why can't people communicate? When he gives her the earrings and they argue about it later, why doesn't she just say, "I wasn't aware these were proposal earrings! I didn't know that's how you do it in Talamh!" And also, "I'm sorry I'm as stubborn as you and unable to verbalize my feelings like a grown-ass adult."
Anyway. I liked the book well enough but the ending was a disappointing rush after all of that exposition.
experimentalaudioscene's review against another edition
The writing, plot, and character arc(s) were becoming quite repetitive. It’s pretty obvious how the overarching plot will wrap itself up, with some minor details up in the air but I’m too tapped out of the narrative at this point to really have interest in those details. The series was like a warm blanket white it enchanted me but the spell wore off quickly with this addition, maybe I’ll try to listen through the end once winter rolls around; this doesn’t feel like a summer book.
vivienned's review against another edition
Sigh, I wanted to love it so much. But this one was really slow for me and I got really far (more than half way) and DNFed it. I may go back to read the last part to satisfy my curiosity of the ending later but idk. I loved the first book in this series and it's NORA ROBERTS, you know? I really think this could have been better as a duology, but I know it's not her style. She's a woman of threes... I still love all of the characters and their relationships/dynamics, but it just felt drawn out to me.
travel_in_pages's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5