ardentvampire's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Wow, so many amazing fights, and so many sacrifices that made me cry! In the end they did save the world, but at what cost?
Many of my friends here hated this last book, especially the end, I thought it really made sense though, and it seems like the best, and happiest ending Calla and her friends could get. And at least Calla understood that something was up, and was able to ask the right questions so that they all knew what was going to happen before it did.
Some things that happened were a little predictable, others were very surprising. I loved the search for the elemental cross, and what they had to fight to get the next part. When Calla was captured, I was sitting with my heart in my throat, especially because of who was talking to her when she woke up.
At the very end, both the fight and the description of Bosque's transformation were well done, the transformation was really icky, but it kind of made sense.
I still have tears in my eyes, so many things happened in the last few chapters, and I wish there was more to come.
Wow, so many amazing fights, and so many sacrifices that made me cry! In the end they did save the world, but at what cost?
Many of my friends here hated this last book, especially the end, I thought it really made sense though, and it seems like the best, and happiest ending Calla and her friends could get. And at least Calla understood that something was up, and was able to ask the right questions so that they all knew what was going to happen before it did.
Some things that happened were a little predictable, others were very surprising. I loved the search for the elemental cross, and what they had to fight to get the next part. When Calla was captured, I was sitting with my heart in my throat, especially because of who was talking to her when she woke up.
At the very end, both the fight and the description of Bosque's transformation were well done, the transformation was really icky, but it kind of made sense.
I still have tears in my eyes, so many things happened in the last few chapters, and I wish there was more to come.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
3.0
Overall this entire series was about a 3 for me.
The biggest complaint I have is that although the underlying story was great, the books continued to make the main focus the love triangle. I get it, Calla had a choice to make. The fact that it was dragged out for 3 books was a bit too much.
To not ruin this for anyone I am spoiler tagging the rest so proceed with caution.
Ren - what to say here. I was disappointed with the way his story was ended....to say the least. It was so abrupt and although Calla had made her decision by that point (in her head and shared it with Shay) she hadn't really said anything to Ren. To be honest, I was rooting for him the whole series. Yes, he had a checkered past and was being forced into the union as well but he truly cared about Calla and she just didn't see any of that until it was too late.
I did enjoy the secondary characters in this book - Conner, Adne, Sabine, and Ethan. Although I will admit that the relationship between Conner and Adne - after hearing their ages and back story felt a bit icky to me. I might have felt this a bit less if Adne were older.
My issue with the story may be that I read the prequels (Rift and Rise) before I read this series. I know there is a larger story underneath about the evolution of the Searchers and the Keepers along with the Nether World. I just wish we would have gotten to hear more of it.
If you read this series, be prepared for a lot of action as well as some angst and heartache.
The biggest complaint I have is that although the underlying story was great, the books continued to make the main focus the love triangle. I get it, Calla had a choice to make. The fact that it was dragged out for 3 books was a bit too much.
To not ruin this for anyone I am spoiler tagging the rest so proceed with caution.
Spoiler
Calla is definitely a tough character and as proven by the end of the book, truly a wolf at heart. I have mixed feelings about Shay. Maybe because of Ren...whatever it was, I couldn't understand what it was that drew her to Shay. I get it, he was a wolf without the wolf part for a while and truly belonged with them but that seemed to be all there was other than the fact that he wasn't Ren and the one she was being forced to partner with.Ren - what to say here. I was disappointed with the way his story was ended....to say the least. It was so abrupt and although Calla had made her decision by that point (in her head and shared it with Shay) she hadn't really said anything to Ren. To be honest, I was rooting for him the whole series. Yes, he had a checkered past and was being forced into the union as well but he truly cared about Calla and she just didn't see any of that until it was too late.
I did enjoy the secondary characters in this book - Conner, Adne, Sabine, and Ethan. Although I will admit that the relationship between Conner and Adne - after hearing their ages and back story felt a bit icky to me. I might have felt this a bit less if Adne were older.
My issue with the story may be that I read the prequels (Rift and Rise) before I read this series. I know there is a larger story underneath about the evolution of the Searchers and the Keepers along with the Nether World. I just wish we would have gotten to hear more of it.
If you read this series, be prepared for a lot of action as well as some angst and heartache.
cancourtneyread's review against another edition
2.0
2/17/13
It's been a little over a year since I've read this book and my heart still aches.
It's been a little over a year since I've read this book and my heart still aches.
readingslug's review against another edition
2.0
Spoilers are marked by parenthesis and the word "spoiler".
God. I officially hate love triangles. Next time I see a book with a description that sounds like a love triangle I will not be buying it. Ok I need to make a real review for this so here we go.
Plot:
Well, the story about the guardians and keepers and searchers was interesting, I just wished it had focused on that more and less on the romance. Parts of it felt rather rushed, the entire first half seemed far too easy. Only a couple of the battles actually seemed difficult. Up til the very end hardly anyone important died when the stakes were set so high you'd think there'd barely be any survivors. I'm imagining an ending where only Nev and Sabine survive, and some other searchers but none of the main cast other than them. Now that would have been a bit more realistic. And their deaths would have to be spread throughout the book, not all during the end battle (though quite a few would be during the end battle)
Romance:
There was a moment towards the beginning (only minor spoilers, it's towards the beginning) where she told both of them that she was an alpha and she was not going to choose just yet. If she so chose she would be alone, that was her choice. And it was fucking awesome. I was cheering her on and celebrating her badassary. Then that attitude completely disappeared and she couldn't decide again. (spoilers kinda - though she had already basically chosen Shay anyways. I mean honestly, at this point they've slept together how many times? And Calla and Ren have only had a few spread out moments of passion, regardless of how much Ren loves her she has stated multiple times that she loves Shay and she only loves Ren because of their history. AKA they grew up together. End kinda spoilers) It really started to piss me off. I honestly wanted her to end up with no one (SPOILER - but no of course she had to have her happily ever fucking after with Shay. It would have made more sense for her to have been alone too! God. - END SPOILER)
And why does almost every character end up with some form of partner? Literally every major character ends up with someone with little to no drama except those whose former partners had died in previous books.
The Ending:
One time I was reading a review on The Screaming Nitpicker. (at least I think it was that site) and she said she hated epilogues. I could understand why but I didn't really agree. Now I completely agree. If this book hadn't had an epilogue I would have been happy with the ending (though I'm sure many others wouldn't have been). As it is I hate the ending and think it sucks. I think the author wussed out and made it what the fans would want it to be.
The Characters:
I can't say much because of spoilers but....Ren :(
Calla was a badass at times but a selfish spoiled little bitch at others. When a certain someone died she was sad, devastated even, then went "Wait, I have a boyfriend now! Let me just go talk to him and tease him and have nice light conversation and everything will be perfect! :D" No.
Ansel, you sad boy. I know a lot a crap happened to you but it's not like your life was over. It's not like someone you grew up with and knew so extremely well just died or anything (cough cough). Though I suppose I've never exactly been part animal so I can't really judge...
Adne: Ok I kind of loved you. You were so spunky and fun. But trying to sacrifice yourself was stupid. I know that love and blah blah blah but if you died then literally all of the people with you would have died as well. A little will power please? Other than that you were awesome, except towards the end when you seemed a little flat. But other than that you were awesome.
To sum it up?:
Not throw it against the wall in frustration terrible but not good either. 2 stars.
Also, this book has officially killed my practically nonexistent enjoyment of love triangles.
God. I officially hate love triangles. Next time I see a book with a description that sounds like a love triangle I will not be buying it. Ok I need to make a real review for this so here we go.
Plot:
Well, the story about the guardians and keepers and searchers was interesting, I just wished it had focused on that more and less on the romance. Parts of it felt rather rushed, the entire first half seemed far too easy. Only a couple of the battles actually seemed difficult. Up til the very end hardly anyone important died when the stakes were set so high you'd think there'd barely be any survivors. I'm imagining an ending where only Nev and Sabine survive, and some other searchers but none of the main cast other than them. Now that would have been a bit more realistic. And their deaths would have to be spread throughout the book, not all during the end battle (though quite a few would be during the end battle)
Romance:
There was a moment towards the beginning (only minor spoilers, it's towards the beginning) where she told both of them that she was an alpha and she was not going to choose just yet. If she so chose she would be alone, that was her choice. And it was fucking awesome. I was cheering her on and celebrating her badassary. Then that attitude completely disappeared and she couldn't decide again. (spoilers kinda - though she had already basically chosen Shay anyways. I mean honestly, at this point they've slept together how many times? And Calla and Ren have only had a few spread out moments of passion, regardless of how much Ren loves her she has stated multiple times that she loves Shay and she only loves Ren because of their history. AKA they grew up together. End kinda spoilers) It really started to piss me off. I honestly wanted her to end up with no one (SPOILER - but no of course she had to have her happily ever fucking after with Shay. It would have made more sense for her to have been alone too! God. - END SPOILER)
And why does almost every character end up with some form of partner? Literally every major character ends up with someone with little to no drama except those whose former partners had died in previous books.
The Ending:
One time I was reading a review on The Screaming Nitpicker. (at least I think it was that site) and she said she hated epilogues. I could understand why but I didn't really agree. Now I completely agree. If this book hadn't had an epilogue I would have been happy with the ending (though I'm sure many others wouldn't have been). As it is I hate the ending and think it sucks. I think the author wussed out and made it what the fans would want it to be.
The Characters:
I can't say much because of spoilers but....Ren :(
Calla was a badass at times but a selfish spoiled little bitch at others. When a certain someone died she was sad, devastated even, then went "Wait, I have a boyfriend now! Let me just go talk to him and tease him and have nice light conversation and everything will be perfect! :D" No.
Ansel, you sad boy. I know a lot a crap happened to you but it's not like your life was over. It's not like someone you grew up with and knew so extremely well just died or anything (cough cough). Though I suppose I've never exactly been part animal so I can't really judge...
Adne: Ok I kind of loved you. You were so spunky and fun. But trying to sacrifice yourself was stupid. I know that love and blah blah blah but if you died then literally all of the people with you would have died as well. A little will power please? Other than that you were awesome, except towards the end when you seemed a little flat. But other than that you were awesome.
To sum it up?:
Not throw it against the wall in frustration terrible but not good either. 2 stars.
Also, this book has officially killed my practically nonexistent enjoyment of love triangles.
tanya_kyurkchieva's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mikaylamarie's review against another edition
5.0
This ending surprised me so much that I cried. This trilogy will go down as one of my favorites.
mel_demetriou's review against another edition
5.0
OMG!! After 5 years of staring at this book willing myself to read it (While I was reading it someone told me a spoiler and I couldn't bring myself to finish the book) I have just now finished it and I don't even know what to say or do! Andrea Cremer sure knows how to write a story not to mention the fantastic characters and relationships between them all!
Not sure I can cope with the next one but here it goes.....
On to Snakeroot now......Wish me luck :)
Not sure I can cope with the next one but here it goes.....
On to Snakeroot now......Wish me luck :)
trin_ney18's review against another edition
4.0
I am so thankful she put an epilogue in. Without it I would've been a little mad. This book is what I thought to be the final one in the series. While some ends have been wrapped up she has left an opening for new things. All in all Miss Cremer is a mad writer! She had so many twists and turns that I was ready to cry and laugh. It was full of conflicting ideas and feelings. I literally felt Calla's feelings and thought her thoughts. I swear I am jealous. Wish I was a Guardian.