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cat_queen005's review
adventurous
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
3.0
katmarhan's review
5.0
9.5/10
A completely satisfying conclusion to the series, with a happier ending for many of the characters than I expected or than they perhaps deserved.
A completely satisfying conclusion to the series, with a happier ending for many of the characters than I expected or than they perhaps deserved.
cavalary's review against another edition
5.0
This is the end of certainly one of the very best series that I ever read. The story is interesting, the pacing is extremely intense, with next to no filler and very, very little that doesn't actually drive the story forward, and any complaints that may in all fairness be made regarding character development and the huge amount of extremely lucky events that happen to the characters easily get forgotten.
As for the very end... It's a whirlwind of action, a chain nightmare, a series of fever dreams which has been building up all along and suddenly explodes in your face, leaving you gaping and grasping at it, trying, perhaps in vain, to come to terms with all that's going on. When it's all over, all too soon, you'll probably still be at least somewhat confused and perhaps, as Mery put it, "feel a better kind of sad".
As for the very end... It's a whirlwind of action, a chain nightmare, a series of fever dreams which has been building up all along and suddenly explodes in your face, leaving you gaping and grasping at it, trying, perhaps in vain, to come to terms with all that's going on. When it's all over, all too soon, you'll probably still be at least somewhat confused and perhaps, as Mery put it, "feel a better kind of sad".
caedo06's review
4.0
This series had its ups and downs, but overall it was an enjoyable ride. The world building was mostly solid: the magic system was really interesting, and the politics well constructed. The actual feel of the different nations was a little too on the nose (as in VERY clearly lifted from medieval Europe).
The characters too were a mixed bag. Almost every major character had times when they really shone, and had a compelling arc or narrative. However, a number of characters (including some of those same major characters) had times when they fell into overused stereotypes and tropes. While this happened with both male and female characters, it did feel that it disproportionately affected the female characters (unfortunately not surprised. Though a little disappointed as other books of Keyes didn't fall into this pitfall).
In the end though, this was an entertaining series that did manage to take some unexpected, emotional, and exciting turns throughout.
The characters too were a mixed bag. Almost every major character had times when they really shone, and had a compelling arc or narrative. However, a number of characters (including some of those same major characters) had times when they fell into overused stereotypes and tropes. While this happened with both male and female characters, it did feel that it disproportionately affected the female characters (unfortunately not surprised. Though a little disappointed as other books of Keyes didn't fall into this pitfall).
In the end though, this was an entertaining series that did manage to take some unexpected, emotional, and exciting turns throughout.
mkpatter's review
4.0
Well, I was not expecting any of THAT to happen. Why couldn't the rest of the series been this surprising? Ah well.
just_dave's review
4.0
I love Greg Keyes, the man can write! If you love fantasy, why have you not read his work? Go out and buy Waterborn and BlackGod right now!
lasairfiona's review
3.0
I think Keyes needed to slow down just a bit. This could have been a four and a half book series but Keyes had to fit it into four so the writing isn't quite as good as the previous three books. A _lot_ happens in a short period of time. Overall, a good ending to an excellent series.
rollsouth's review
4.0
A strange end to it all, but good I think. Overall this was a five-star series of four-star books. Highly recommended!
ann_tamimi's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this series I really did. I didn't expect to get through this last book so fast but I so wanted to see how it all ended. I felt like there was a change or simply something that was always possibly there and I didn't see it. Not the ending I expected but I kind of liked it.
tsilverman's review against another edition
2.0
I kept this on my "Currently Reading" shelf a few days after I finished it because I was just so disappointed in the ending. It's like I was hoping that maybe it had been a bad dream. But no. Queen Muriel died and didn't come back, making her entire character development over the four books completely useless. It wasn't even a purposeful death. Well, maybe for Anne. But Muriel didn't sacrifice herself. Robert just killed her. Like. What. Why. UGH.
Also the end was SO rushed. A huge fight between three super powers, summed up in a paragraph. And after all that, Anne was still queen of Crotheny?? How could the people be remotely okay with that? She was a demon. Yeah, she made the choice to (somehow?????) be defeated through Austra and the new Briar King, but like so what? She made bad decision after bad decision. One good choice doesn't cancel all those out. Including SENDING HER MOTHER TO HER DEATH. What was the point of that? Sir Neil and Lady Berry ended up being the ones to deal with the hell rune, maybe Anne could have just sent them. Muriel had nothing to do with that.
The first book was amazing. The second and third were decent. This one? I want a rewrite. Not a fifth book. Just a complete do-over.
Also the end was SO rushed. A huge fight between three super powers, summed up in a paragraph. And after all that, Anne was still queen of Crotheny?? How could the people be remotely okay with that? She was a demon. Yeah, she made the choice to (somehow?????) be defeated through Austra and the new Briar King, but like so what? She made bad decision after bad decision. One good choice doesn't cancel all those out. Including SENDING HER MOTHER TO HER DEATH. What was the point of that? Sir Neil and Lady Berry ended up being the ones to deal with the hell rune, maybe Anne could have just sent them. Muriel had nothing to do with that.
The first book was amazing. The second and third were decent. This one? I want a rewrite. Not a fifth book. Just a complete do-over.