After stopping the threat of an invading queen, Naelin and Daleina must repair the damage left in the aftermath, until Naelin’s children get kidnapped.
Spoiler Free Review:
Content Warnings: violence, kidnapping, death
I was a little hesitant about this book because the Goodreads ratings are quite a bit lower than the previous book, and while I didn’t end up absolutely loving it, it was still a pretty good book!
The biggest thing about this book that I didn’t love was that some characters felt out of character, Naelin and Ven specifically. Naelin did things that I didn’t think she would do, even given the circumstances.
It also felt like there was a lot about this world that was brought up in this book that wasn’t previously mentioned. This information was important to the ending, so I would have liked if it had been in the series more consistently, rather than just being brought up when it was needed.
The world also opened up a tad. Previously, the books have focused mainly on Aratay, and while this book does explore an additional country, there were hints about the other countries in Renthia. Again, I would have preferred more mention of them throughout the series. This is a trilogy, but I feel like the author did leave it open for additions. (She does have another book set in one of those other countries)
I’ve only been mentioning the bad things because I feel like I’ve sung my praises for the rest of the series! I still love the world, the magic, and the vibe of this series though! I loved the characters, even if they were a little off in this book. There is also a side romance that took me by surprise in this book! I would love to see it explored in a future book.
Overall, this is still one of my favorite series, even if there were some elements of the last book that I didn’t completely love. I definitely recommend it if you’re into fantasy, and especially if you like forest settings! I am really excited to check out what else Sarah Beth Durst has written!
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest for more book updates and pictures!
