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alphabetseeds's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What a goddamn excellent conclusion. I was constantly engaged and ready for the next thing, and then the next. This book had surprises and twists that made me gasp out loud and moments that had me cheering. Everything was well-paced, for the most part, though the pace was decidedly breakneck. McClellan followed through with an ending that felt deserved and that was exciting and emotional.
The only bits that felt a little rushed had to do with Brude, mostly because the Brudania plotline is pretty subtle until it bursts out on the scene fully formed and ready to fuck up the main plotline more directly. It led to a bombastic fight that made me wonder how any of Adopest is even still standing after, like, most of the major buildings have been exploded.
I also was not entirely satisfied with Vlora and Taniel's reunion and discussion of their past. This relationship and its strife/tension didn't particularly land with me throughout the trilogy because it didn't particularly matter except to inform how Tamas, Taniel, and Vlora all interacted with each other, but there wasn't really much time to devote to fully resolving their personal conflict. Vlora and Taniel's final few scenes together were very sweet, though, even though their apologies were rushed and relegated to the epilogue.
And even though I knew Tamas was going to die - like, there's no way he's surviving, his death was telegraphed the moment he was stabbed by Hilanska - it still hit me like a gut punch. Tamas was a flawed but brilliant man who was fiercely trying to keep his home safe, free, and independent - while also fulfilling a decades' long revenge plot. An absolute badass to the end whose final words were for his son. I cried. It was perfect
I also was not entirely satisfied with Vlora and Taniel's reunion and discussion of their past. This relationship and its strife/tension didn't particularly land with me throughout the trilogy because it didn't particularly matter except to inform how Tamas, Taniel, and Vlora all interacted with each other, but there wasn't really much time to devote to fully resolving their personal conflict. Vlora and Taniel's final few scenes together were very sweet, though, even though their apologies were rushed and relegated to the epilogue.
And even though I knew Tamas was going to die - like, there's no way he's surviving, his death was telegraphed the moment he was stabbed by Hilanska - it still hit me like a gut punch. Tamas was a flawed but brilliant man who was fiercely trying to keep his home safe, free, and independent - while also fulfilling a decades' long revenge plot. An absolute badass to the end whose final words were for his son. I cried. It was perfect
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Blood
an_idiot's review
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Alcohol
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