witchkingreads's review against another edition
5.0
4.75/5
“Pain is suffering because we want to be free of it, and pleasure is suffering because we fear to lose it. Fools search for freedom, but there is no freedom. There is only the embrace.”
I have arrived at the end of The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne and Brian Staveley has properly broken both my heart and my brain. This quest taken through The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne is a journey rife with the unexpected, and I am so grateful to Staveley for creating one of the most thrilling and all-consuming worlds I have ever had the pleasure to get lost in.
The Csestriim have revealed themselves to continue their war upon humanity, hunting down the gods whose fates will solidify their immortal rule. Battles are being waged and blood is spilling for foe and friend alike. Valyn, Adare, and Kadan must come to terms with the choices they have made. They are far from who they used to be, stunned at how wrong everything has gone. To survive the war and save humanity, the three royal siblings must do their part, even if it is at the cost of each other.
The Last Mortal Bond starts with a time jump of nine months. The Providence of Fire ended on a staggeringly dark note for each of the siblings, and we begin the book seeing the consequences of that dark ending. I will admit that the start of this book is much slower than the previous two books. Staveley is reacquainting us with who Kadan, Valyn, and Adare have become, filling in what has come to pass within this lost time. The siblings are battling their own demons and molding themselves into who they need to become in order to accomplish their goals. It is heartbreaking to witness the downward spiral of characters who seemed to be destined for greatness. I love a good devolution and Staveley accomplishes this while successfully shattering my heart in the process.
There are a multitude of characters I could rave about such as The Flea, Triste, or Nira. Staveley’s brilliance as a writer rests in the way he creates and grows his side characters. I loved the arcs of the siblings, but it is characters like Jak, Tan, and Gwenna who propel his stories into anxiety inducing avalanches that had me craving to read chapter after chapter late into the night. Gwenna started out as a quick to anger demolitions master that gained not only a perspective within book two but cemented herself as a complex main character with an incredible arc by book three. I adore her. Her storyline in this book was my favorite to follow, which included some of the most thrilling fight sequences I have ever read. I need so much more Kettral bird battles!
In the first two books there is a lot of emphasis on the plot and the twists. This continues with The Last Mortal Bond, but Staveley is far more focused on the characters this time. The consequences of their choices have finally caught up with them, and now they must deal with the aftermath of what has happened. It’s so infuriating to witness the miscommunication and distrust between the siblings while understanding at the same time why there’s no possible way they could trust each other. That is part of the beauty of this book. It’s so human that it hurts. There are some epic scenes with an emotional payoff so great that I had tears running down my cheeks. I’m truly in awe at how much I love these characters Staveley has written.
The ending to this series is the closest I’ve ever come to experiencing what Brandon Sanderson readers call a Sanderlanche. Within single chapters the perspectives switch with different viewpoints of the final battle, beginning and ending on sudden cliffhangers and emotional realizations. The last 100pgs of this book are unstoppable, and at no point could I bear to put the book down. I love how individualistic the ending was to each perspective. I thought each conclusion to every arc was so fitting. The epilogue was a special treat that left me with a dark sense of dread and foreboding. I love the level of metaphorical symbolism mixed in the epilogue. This is not a happy book.
I would like to take a little bit of time to address two of the most common issues that I have found to be a point of contention with some readers. The oldest sibling, Adare, is universally hated in almost every review I have read for this series. While these opinions are valid and understandable, I must say that I wholeheartedly disagree. Adare isn’t exactly likable, but that doesn’t mean I can’t empathize with her situation while disagreeing with her methods and decisions. I believe she was a victim to her circumstances. I am of the opinion that this poor girl did what she could with what she knew. By the end of the book, I was extremely satisfied with her arc. I loved what Staveley did with her character! I thought it was brilliant. I loved the ending arcs for each of the siblings. Another issue I found was in the way some female characters are written. I have seen the phrase “male gaze” used multiple times in regards to these characters. I must confess that this is something I did not notice in my read through until I finished the books and began reading other more in depth reviews. It is my opinion that Staveley has written some of the strongest female leads I’ve ever come across, and I found no fault in his way of writing these women. There is one particular character that is overtly described and sexualized (never in a grotesque manner) more than any other female character but if you continue the series through book two, then you will discover that there is a legitimate reason for this. If this was an issue for you in book one, I would strongly recommend reading book two before deciding to completely decide this series isn’t your cup of tea.
Now, this doesn’t mean this series is flawless. I had only one issue with this book. Just one, and it involved a certain characters untimely demise. I loved this character! They were one of my favorites, and to see them so carelessly discarded was disappointing. Staveley has never, not once, at any point in this series, led me in the pursuit of a red herring. There was always truth behind the hints, but unfortunately the trend did not continue with this book and this red herring was directly tied into this particular characters death. After discovering the truth of the matter, their arc felt meaningless and only served to place doubt in the readers minds regarding the plot. I might’ve been more open to accepting this route in their arc if I had been given more time with them. I felt that this character deserved a more poignant end. It does not in any way reduce my love for the series as a whole, but I confess that it is something that was dissatisfying and stuck with me after completing the book.
This final installment in The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne is everything that should come with the conclusion to an epic trilogy. The fulfillment of character arcs and story plots, twists and battles, death and mayhem, love and satisfaction. I found all of these in The Last Mortal Bond and more. Staveley has truly accomplished something phenomenal with this series. I am so pleased to say that it has become my favorite series I’ve read this year and has risen up to be in my top five favorite fantasy series of all time. I couldn’t be more invested in this world and I will read anything Staveley writes!
“Pain is suffering because we want to be free of it, and pleasure is suffering because we fear to lose it. Fools search for freedom, but there is no freedom. There is only the embrace.”
I have arrived at the end of The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne and Brian Staveley has properly broken both my heart and my brain. This quest taken through The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne is a journey rife with the unexpected, and I am so grateful to Staveley for creating one of the most thrilling and all-consuming worlds I have ever had the pleasure to get lost in.
The Csestriim have revealed themselves to continue their war upon humanity, hunting down the gods whose fates will solidify their immortal rule. Battles are being waged and blood is spilling for foe and friend alike. Valyn, Adare, and Kadan must come to terms with the choices they have made. They are far from who they used to be, stunned at how wrong everything has gone. To survive the war and save humanity, the three royal siblings must do their part, even if it is at the cost of each other.
The Last Mortal Bond starts with a time jump of nine months. The Providence of Fire ended on a staggeringly dark note for each of the siblings, and we begin the book seeing the consequences of that dark ending. I will admit that the start of this book is much slower than the previous two books. Staveley is reacquainting us with who Kadan, Valyn, and Adare have become, filling in what has come to pass within this lost time. The siblings are battling their own demons and molding themselves into who they need to become in order to accomplish their goals. It is heartbreaking to witness the downward spiral of characters who seemed to be destined for greatness. I love a good devolution and Staveley accomplishes this while successfully shattering my heart in the process.
There are a multitude of characters I could rave about such as The Flea, Triste, or Nira. Staveley’s brilliance as a writer rests in the way he creates and grows his side characters. I loved the arcs of the siblings, but it is characters like Jak, Tan, and Gwenna who propel his stories into anxiety inducing avalanches that had me craving to read chapter after chapter late into the night. Gwenna started out as a quick to anger demolitions master that gained not only a perspective within book two but cemented herself as a complex main character with an incredible arc by book three. I adore her. Her storyline in this book was my favorite to follow, which included some of the most thrilling fight sequences I have ever read. I need so much more Kettral bird battles!
In the first two books there is a lot of emphasis on the plot and the twists. This continues with The Last Mortal Bond, but Staveley is far more focused on the characters this time. The consequences of their choices have finally caught up with them, and now they must deal with the aftermath of what has happened. It’s so infuriating to witness the miscommunication and distrust between the siblings while understanding at the same time why there’s no possible way they could trust each other. That is part of the beauty of this book. It’s so human that it hurts. There are some epic scenes with an emotional payoff so great that I had tears running down my cheeks. I’m truly in awe at how much I love these characters Staveley has written.
The ending to this series is the closest I’ve ever come to experiencing what Brandon Sanderson readers call a Sanderlanche. Within single chapters the perspectives switch with different viewpoints of the final battle, beginning and ending on sudden cliffhangers and emotional realizations. The last 100pgs of this book are unstoppable, and at no point could I bear to put the book down. I love how individualistic the ending was to each perspective. I thought each conclusion to every arc was so fitting. The epilogue was a special treat that left me with a dark sense of dread and foreboding. I love the level of metaphorical symbolism mixed in the epilogue. This is not a happy book.
I would like to take a little bit of time to address two of the most common issues that I have found to be a point of contention with some readers. The oldest sibling, Adare, is universally hated in almost every review I have read for this series. While these opinions are valid and understandable, I must say that I wholeheartedly disagree. Adare isn’t exactly likable, but that doesn’t mean I can’t empathize with her situation while disagreeing with her methods and decisions. I believe she was a victim to her circumstances. I am of the opinion that this poor girl did what she could with what she knew. By the end of the book, I was extremely satisfied with her arc. I loved what Staveley did with her character! I thought it was brilliant. I loved the ending arcs for each of the siblings. Another issue I found was in the way some female characters are written. I have seen the phrase “male gaze” used multiple times in regards to these characters. I must confess that this is something I did not notice in my read through until I finished the books and began reading other more in depth reviews. It is my opinion that Staveley has written some of the strongest female leads I’ve ever come across, and I found no fault in his way of writing these women. There is one particular character that is overtly described and sexualized (never in a grotesque manner) more than any other female character but if you continue the series through book two, then you will discover that there is a legitimate reason for this. If this was an issue for you in book one, I would strongly recommend reading book two before deciding to completely decide this series isn’t your cup of tea.
Now, this doesn’t mean this series is flawless. I had only one issue with this book. Just one, and it involved a certain characters untimely demise. I loved this character! They were one of my favorites, and to see them so carelessly discarded was disappointing. Staveley has never, not once, at any point in this series, led me in the pursuit of a red herring. There was always truth behind the hints, but unfortunately the trend did not continue with this book and this red herring was directly tied into this particular characters death. After discovering the truth of the matter, their arc felt meaningless and only served to place doubt in the readers minds regarding the plot. I might’ve been more open to accepting this route in their arc if I had been given more time with them. I felt that this character deserved a more poignant end. It does not in any way reduce my love for the series as a whole, but I confess that it is something that was dissatisfying and stuck with me after completing the book.
This final installment in The Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne is everything that should come with the conclusion to an epic trilogy. The fulfillment of character arcs and story plots, twists and battles, death and mayhem, love and satisfaction. I found all of these in The Last Mortal Bond and more. Staveley has truly accomplished something phenomenal with this series. I am so pleased to say that it has become my favorite series I’ve read this year and has risen up to be in my top five favorite fantasy series of all time. I couldn’t be more invested in this world and I will read anything Staveley writes!
selinadragonair's review against another edition
4.0
Brian Staveley has got to learn that "less is more".
A big portion of the book felt incredibly stretched, actions and thoughts were being repeated over and over again, even from different perspectives.
Some characters reached a supernatural status and didn't feel human anymore - and I'm not really talking about magic involved. It was just ... over-the-top. Suspenion of disbelief didn't work any more.
The main focus of the series seems to be suffering, pain, endurance, fighting, suffering and dying.
When overused - and it was excessively overused - you just get tired and bored.
Geez, I'm exhausted. Can please everybody die already? At least then there will be peace.
I don't get why Adare is adored, her actions and thoughts were often plain stupid. Gwenna however, now that's my heroness. Her story was the best of the book.
(You go to the hospital now, or I will have you constrained and kick you there all by myself. hahaha)
I'm glad even she recognised that apart from a few pilots nobody on the planet knows shit about Kettral birds. Told you so. They are helicopters, not animals here.
~ I am ready. ~
A big portion of the book felt incredibly stretched, actions and thoughts were being repeated over and over again, even from different perspectives.
Some characters reached a supernatural status and didn't feel human anymore - and I'm not really talking about magic involved. It was just ... over-the-top. Suspenion of disbelief didn't work any more.
The main focus of the series seems to be suffering, pain, endurance, fighting, suffering and dying.
When overused - and it was excessively overused - you just get tired and bored.
Geez, I'm exhausted. Can please everybody die already? At least then there will be peace.
I don't get why Adare is adored, her actions and thoughts were often plain stupid. Gwenna however, now that's my heroness. Her story was the best of the book.
(You go to the hospital now, or I will have you constrained and kick you there all by myself. hahaha)
I'm glad even she recognised that apart from a few pilots nobody on the planet knows shit about Kettral birds. Told you so. They are helicopters, not animals here.
~ I am ready. ~
sloph's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed where the plot went and the development of the characters. I wouldn't say it's my favourite though. I felt like I couldn't really get into any of the characters and that made it difficult to enjoy more. One of the side characters that got a POV in this book though I really liked following and I wished I had more of that.
westus's review against another edition
The characters, especially Adare, were incredibly unlikeable and straight up stupid in most cases. Loved the first book, couldn't bear to finish.
ink_and_pages_'s review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book. Great final to the trilogy.
These books have the best characters in them, Gwenna is my absolute favorite. I love the fact that there is no single hero in the story and the characters grow and change so much.
Great strong female characters too. The highest recommendation I can say is that Brian Staveley has joined Peter V. Brett, Mark Lawrence, Brent Weeks and Joe Abercrombie on my ultimate favorite author shelf.
These books have the best characters in them, Gwenna is my absolute favorite. I love the fact that there is no single hero in the story and the characters grow and change so much.
Great strong female characters too. The highest recommendation I can say is that Brian Staveley has joined Peter V. Brett, Mark Lawrence, Brent Weeks and Joe Abercrombie on my ultimate favorite author shelf.
oceanwader's review against another edition
2.0
Far too much focus on characters' introspection and internal monologue. About 15 per cent of the way through, I began skipping most of that and jumped instead directly to the dialogue. The story unfolded just as well with the dialogue alone. And it moved at a far better pace, more suited to the action.
Disappointing and a silly ending to boot.
Disappointing and a silly ending to boot.
hitzavich's review against another edition
3.0
I think the ending was very rushed and not upto par with the story of the rest of the book. There was a different concept the author tried to bring with regard to finding your ownself and accepting destiny and all that stuff. But it sometimes gets a bit confusing. Anyways, interesting to read once. Not planning to pick it up again.
nixnixnixnixnix's review against another edition
5.0
This somehow got better and better as it went along. There are interesting undertones about human nature and self exploration, without that being heavy handed or over done. It's a lovely fantasy world that digs a little deeper.