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Descent #7
Paradise Damned
The final book in The Descent Series.
Elise Kavanagh is being held captive without weapons or allies. The only way out of the garden is to kill God Himself.
James Faulkner's son has been taken by Metaraon, but James is caught in Limbo and helpless to save him.
An army of half-angel, half-demon hybrids is converging on the gates of Heaven, where the Union prepares for a final battle.
The end has arrived.
Elise Kavanagh is being held captive without weapons or allies. The only way out of the garden is to kill God Himself.
James Faulkner's son has been taken by Metaraon, but James is caught in Limbo and helpless to save him.
An army of half-angel, half-demon hybrids is converging on the gates of Heaven, where the Union prepares for a final battle.
The end has arrived.
401 pages, ebook
First published May 20, 2013
86 people are currently reading
942 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Reine
114 books2,007 followersHi everyone! My name is Sara, and I write urban fantasy and paranormal novels as SM Reine. I collect swords, cat hair, and typewriters (which I do use for writing!). It's a good day when those three things have nothing to do with each other.
If you would like to know the instant my next book is available, you should enlist in my Army of Evil! We have a wicked cool secret handshake, but you'll have to sign up to learn it. ;) Check it out -- http://smarturl.it/armyofevil
If you would like to know the instant my next book is available, you should enlist in my Army of Evil! We have a wicked cool secret handshake, but you'll have to sign up to learn it. ;) Check it out -- http://smarturl.it/armyofevil
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 1, 2020
➽ And the moral of this rereread is: best New Year's Eve ever? With Elise Bloody Shrimping Kavannagh. In Hell Paradise. Or is it Paradise Hell? I forget. Not that it matters, really. Because Elise Times always = Super Extra Fun Times (SEFT™).
See what I mean?
👋 To be continued with Ascension and stuff.
[March 2017]
❣ Honeymoonish Buddy Read (HBR™) with my Dearest of Wives (DoW™), aka Choko ❣
➽ And the moral of this reread is :
Want to have your littleblack, withered heart beautifully manhandled, delightfully squished, magnificently crushed and splendidly chopped into tiny little pieces? Then this is the series for you. Because this ain't no Disgusting Fluffy Bunny Land (DFBL™), my Little Barnacles! Descent is deliciously dark, violent, bloody, gory, ever so slightly fucked up, a teensy bit on the disturbing side, wonderfully free of Vile HEA of Doom and Destruction (VHoDaD™) and like no other series you've ever read before in the entirety of your entire life. At least.
Oh, and by the way, I'll have those of you who think little of my Gloriously Impeccable Book Taste (GIBT™) know that my Dearest of Wives Choko rated this book 5 bloody shrimping stars, which she never normally does for Urban Fantasy . Ha! What do you say to that, you Sceptical Arthropods of the Despicable Book Penchant (SAotDBP™)?
Come on everyone, time to celebrate the fact that this series stood the test of time and wondrously passed the Nefariously Ultimate and Ultimately Nefarious Shrimpy Rereading Test (NUaUNSRT™)! Time to dance the Triassic Jig!
Damn, who the fish let Barney the Child Molester in here?! This is not the Triassic Jig I had in mind! My being nefarious doesn't mean I support colourful pervs!
There, much better.
· Book 1: Death's Hand ★★★★
· Book 2: The Darkest Gate ★★★★
· Book 3: Dark Union ★★★★
· Book 4: Damnation Marked ★★★★
· Book 5: Dire Blood ★★★★★
· Book 6: Defying Fate ★★★★★
[March 18, 2017]
Asshole Angels, here we come. My Murderous Spouse and I shall very gladly be the slow, horrible, painful death of you.
[Original review - August 2014]
And it all ends with a bang! Wow, now that was a pretty spectacular conclusion to an amazing series! I had very high expectations for this book and was afraid to be disappointed but I was just blown away.
Everything comes full circle here and we get the whole story, from Elise's birth and childhood to the first time she ever met James when she was 8 and when he went to "rescue" her in Russia after her first escape from the garden.
Reine's take on the garden of Eden, Adam, Eve, heaven, hell, good and evil is pretty unique and fascinating. Don't expect sunshine & rainbows here. It's all dark, depressing, twisted, and messed up. I just love it!
As with all books that I love, I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts together to write a review. There is so much pure awesomeness here. The scenes with Elise in the garden are all mind-blowing: My heart was beating so fast the whole time I thought it was going to stop any second. Reading this book felt like being repeatedly sucker-punched!
And the ending! Oh the ending! Oh wow!
Other random thoughts: Nathaniel rocks, I just love Malcolm , Anthony isn't nearly as annoying as he used to be and the way things turned out between Elise & James was very satisfying and felt very true to character. I just found out that Reine wrote another series featuring Elise and James so I guess that leaves room for development!
So this is it, the end for Descent but the beginning for Ascension and I just can't wait to get my hands on the first instalment for this new series! Elise Kavanagh, you kick some serious butt!
See what I mean?
👋 To be continued with Ascension and stuff.
[March 2017]
❣ Honeymoonish Buddy Read (HBR™) with my Dearest of Wives (DoW™), aka Choko ❣
➽ And the moral of this reread is :
Want to have your little
Oh, and by the way, I'll have those of you who think little of my Gloriously Impeccable Book Taste (GIBT™) know that my Dearest of Wives Choko rated this book 5 bloody shrimping stars, which she never normally does for Urban Fantasy . Ha! What do you say to that, you Sceptical Arthropods of the Despicable Book Penchant (SAotDBP™)?
Come on everyone, time to celebrate the fact that this series stood the test of time and wondrously passed the Nefariously Ultimate and Ultimately Nefarious Shrimpy Rereading Test (NUaUNSRT™)! Time to dance the Triassic Jig!
Damn, who the fish let Barney the Child Molester in here?! This is not the Triassic Jig I had in mind! My being nefarious doesn't mean I support colourful pervs!
There, much better.
· Book 1: Death's Hand ★★★★
· Book 2: The Darkest Gate ★★★★
· Book 3: Dark Union ★★★★
· Book 4: Damnation Marked ★★★★
· Book 5: Dire Blood ★★★★★
· Book 6: Defying Fate ★★★★★
[March 18, 2017]
Asshole Angels, here we come. My Murderous Spouse and I shall very gladly be the slow, horrible, painful death of you.
[Original review - August 2014]
And it all ends with a bang! Wow, now that was a pretty spectacular conclusion to an amazing series! I had very high expectations for this book and was afraid to be disappointed but I was just blown away.
Everything comes full circle here and we get the whole story, from Elise's birth and childhood to the first time she ever met James when she was 8 and when he went to "rescue" her in Russia after her first escape from the garden.
Reine's take on the garden of Eden, Adam, Eve, heaven, hell, good and evil is pretty unique and fascinating. Don't expect sunshine & rainbows here. It's all dark, depressing, twisted, and messed up. I just love it!
As with all books that I love, I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts together to write a review. There is so much pure awesomeness here. The scenes with Elise in the garden are all mind-blowing: My heart was beating so fast the whole time I thought it was going to stop any second. Reading this book felt like being repeatedly sucker-punched!
And the ending! Oh the ending! Oh wow!
Other random thoughts: Nathaniel rocks, I just love Malcolm , Anthony isn't nearly as annoying as he used to be and the way things turned out between Elise & James was very satisfying and felt very true to character. I just found out that Reine wrote another series featuring Elise and James so I guess that leaves room for development!
So this is it, the end for Descent but the beginning for Ascension and I just can't wait to get my hands on the first instalment for this new series! Elise Kavanagh, you kick some serious butt!
March 20, 2017
*** 4.65 ***
A buddy read with my Sarah at the MacHalo Freaks!!! We are mad at the Angels!!!
What a mind-blowing conclusion to this series!!! I really do not want to say anything about the content, because it feels like everything would be a spoiler and I can't do that to anyone!!! This is a book you have to read so you can experience every shock, every punch in the gut, every rip of the soul and every breathless second trying to live from one moment to the other... WOW!!! S.M. Reine sure find a way to make a statement with the last book in the series!!! Good thing there is a follow-up series where we can see more of some of the main characters!!!! And once again I am going to show inhuman restraint and not throw myself into reading them right away. Pacing, pacing....
"...“In the beginning, there was the earth, formless and empty. Darkness hung over the surface of the deep. And then there was light. It spilled over the waters, vast and powerful, and its creation severed the unity that had come before. This light was a separate entity from the darkness. Something novel and cruelly different. The spirits called it “day.” Its opposite was called “night.” Between them was evening and morning—the First Day. This division marked the end of peace in the universe. Everything has been pretty much fucked up since then.”..."
We get soooo many answers here and I was so glad to finally get them, but goodness graces, I have now a whole set of new questions! The most important though is that the Evil bastard, you know who you are, got what he deserved!... Almost! Well, I would have been much crueler and enjoyed his pain, but even so, I was pleased with his up-comings!!! And Malcolm, he sure redeemed himself here and I was so happy to have him back! His communication with the Russian babushkas was PRICELESS!!!! Even Anthony brought on good feelings this time around:)
Overall, this series was soo worth it! It was entertaining, it was moody, it was intense, it was imaginative and it definitely leaves you thinking... If you are into Urban Fantasy and an alternative take on what Demons and Angels are, this is for you! Be patient - starting with book one, the story only builds on itself and the pay-off is worth it! Give it a try:):):)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you are looking for between the pages of a good book!!!!
A buddy read with my Sarah at the MacHalo Freaks!!! We are mad at the Angels!!!
What a mind-blowing conclusion to this series!!! I really do not want to say anything about the content, because it feels like everything would be a spoiler and I can't do that to anyone!!! This is a book you have to read so you can experience every shock, every punch in the gut, every rip of the soul and every breathless second trying to live from one moment to the other... WOW!!! S.M. Reine sure find a way to make a statement with the last book in the series!!! Good thing there is a follow-up series where we can see more of some of the main characters!!!! And once again I am going to show inhuman restraint and not throw myself into reading them right away. Pacing, pacing....
"...“In the beginning, there was the earth, formless and empty. Darkness hung over the surface of the deep. And then there was light. It spilled over the waters, vast and powerful, and its creation severed the unity that had come before. This light was a separate entity from the darkness. Something novel and cruelly different. The spirits called it “day.” Its opposite was called “night.” Between them was evening and morning—the First Day. This division marked the end of peace in the universe. Everything has been pretty much fucked up since then.”..."
We get soooo many answers here and I was so glad to finally get them, but goodness graces, I have now a whole set of new questions! The most important though is that the Evil bastard, you know who you are, got what he deserved!... Almost! Well, I would have been much crueler and enjoyed his pain, but even so, I was pleased with his up-comings!!! And Malcolm, he sure redeemed himself here and I was so happy to have him back! His communication with the Russian babushkas was PRICELESS!!!! Even Anthony brought on good feelings this time around:)
Overall, this series was soo worth it! It was entertaining, it was moody, it was intense, it was imaginative and it definitely leaves you thinking... If you are into Urban Fantasy and an alternative take on what Demons and Angels are, this is for you! Be patient - starting with book one, the story only builds on itself and the pay-off is worth it! Give it a try:):):)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you are looking for between the pages of a good book!!!!
June 19, 2020
3.5/4 stars. Cool!
What I didn't expect: this is, indeed, the end of the series, but not the end of Elise and James. Their story continues in a different series, Ascension. I don't know if I like that... I mean, I like them and I wanna continue with Elise's story, but this thing between them keeps dragging, and it will definitely become annoying at one point.
Also: this whole series was less than 2$ on Amazon. I AM SHOCKED! I'm not shocked because it's cheap, I'm shocked because it's good. I never, in a million years, would have thought that such a cheap series can be such a good read.
Ok, back to the actual book/series.
Yes, we see the end. It's a good one, a bit unexpected but good. The Lilith part was rushed, so that was a bit annoying, and there were parts where the story felt rushed in the book (it's why I was between 3 and 4 stars).
Still, all in all, a pretty good UF. And I really liked all the gory, creepy details. It made it feel real, and I loved it! Great courage!
It's probably not as good as other 4-star UFs I've read and rated, but eh, who cares. It was good, it was worth reading, and I'll try the next series as well.
So great job, Reine!
What I didn't expect: this is, indeed, the end of the series, but not the end of Elise and James. Their story continues in a different series, Ascension. I don't know if I like that... I mean, I like them and I wanna continue with Elise's story, but this thing between them keeps dragging, and it will definitely become annoying at one point.
Also: this whole series was less than 2$ on Amazon. I AM SHOCKED! I'm not shocked because it's cheap, I'm shocked because it's good. I never, in a million years, would have thought that such a cheap series can be such a good read.
Ok, back to the actual book/series.
Yes, we see the end. It's a good one, a bit unexpected but good. The Lilith part was rushed, so that was a bit annoying, and there were parts where the story felt rushed in the book (it's why I was between 3 and 4 stars).
Still, all in all, a pretty good UF. And I really liked all the gory, creepy details. It made it feel real, and I loved it! Great courage!
It's probably not as good as other 4-star UFs I've read and rated, but eh, who cares. It was good, it was worth reading, and I'll try the next series as well.
So great job, Reine!
August 27, 2013
So I started reading this series because of the first three being free on amazon, I assumed that being free that maybe they wouldn’t be that amazing, but that’s silly considering I’ve read crap that cost me £8, and how wrong I was. I am so happy to have found this series but also a little resentful because I've just spent 5 days (days that should have been spent working on my PhD) reading all 7 books and now I’m at a loss. To a friend, I compared the feeling of finishing these books to losing an arm. I’m equally satisfied with the end as I am sad that it’s over.
I won’t review each book individually because I’m not sure I can. Reading them all one after the other has left the beginning and end of each book a little blurry. Although I gave some of the books a 4 rating and not 5, I would definitely give the series as a whole a 5. There were moments that could have better but to be honest but I just didn’t seem to care once I continued reading.
Some people say that they were annoyed that Elise was suppose to be this incredible warrior but seems to get her arse handed to her quite a bit, especially in the first few books. I think it adds a sense of realism, the fighting is gritty and you can imagine how hard she has to fight every time and the struggle she has to go through to survive. It annoys me more when heroines/heroes always come out of a vicious fight barely scathed. It reminds me of Bruce Willis at the end of every Die Hard film.
I loved the world that Reine created and the detail of every new dimension just sucked me in. I even loved the constant mention of demons that I had never heard of but just had to deal with a move on with the story, but most of all I loved the plot! I always imagine it to be difficult to tackle a storyline that’s involves heaven and hell and even God, but she did it brilliantly. The entire concept was fascinating, from Adam and Eve right down to Elise and James. The overall storyline was so complex with constant twists and new revelations. The first few books made me irritated (in a good way) that I had no idea what was going on beyond the immediate plot, but once I got deeper into the storyline, I couldn’t stop.
The story of the beginning of the world was re-written but with an almost pessimistic edge. The final book begins similarly to the book of genesis, with the creation of day and night, but ends with “This division marked the end of peace in the universe”. That sums up the whole feel of the series for me and was something I really loved. It wasn’t happy and full of rainbows and sunshine dust; it was depressing and realistic at every turn.
With regards to the relationship between Elise and James, I thought it was very different to the romantic relationships depicted in other books. First I wasn’t even certain if there was one, then as I continued to read I could see the development of a bond formed over years that was more than a mere romantic connection. I much prefer that type of relationship than two people jumping into bed and declaring their undying love after a few weeks of meeting. It was sad at the end but again I like that it wasn’t immediate sunshine and rainbows for them after everything that had happened.
Each book was brilliantly written and I would definitely recommend these books to anyone who enjoys action and darker fantasy storylines.
I won’t review each book individually because I’m not sure I can. Reading them all one after the other has left the beginning and end of each book a little blurry. Although I gave some of the books a 4 rating and not 5, I would definitely give the series as a whole a 5. There were moments that could have better but to be honest but I just didn’t seem to care once I continued reading.
Some people say that they were annoyed that Elise was suppose to be this incredible warrior but seems to get her arse handed to her quite a bit, especially in the first few books. I think it adds a sense of realism, the fighting is gritty and you can imagine how hard she has to fight every time and the struggle she has to go through to survive. It annoys me more when heroines/heroes always come out of a vicious fight barely scathed. It reminds me of Bruce Willis at the end of every Die Hard film.
I loved the world that Reine created and the detail of every new dimension just sucked me in. I even loved the constant mention of demons that I had never heard of but just had to deal with a move on with the story, but most of all I loved the plot! I always imagine it to be difficult to tackle a storyline that’s involves heaven and hell and even God, but she did it brilliantly. The entire concept was fascinating, from Adam and Eve right down to Elise and James. The overall storyline was so complex with constant twists and new revelations. The first few books made me irritated (in a good way) that I had no idea what was going on beyond the immediate plot, but once I got deeper into the storyline, I couldn’t stop.
The story of the beginning of the world was re-written but with an almost pessimistic edge. The final book begins similarly to the book of genesis, with the creation of day and night, but ends with “This division marked the end of peace in the universe”. That sums up the whole feel of the series for me and was something I really loved. It wasn’t happy and full of rainbows and sunshine dust; it was depressing and realistic at every turn.
With regards to the relationship between Elise and James, I thought it was very different to the romantic relationships depicted in other books. First I wasn’t even certain if there was one, then as I continued to read I could see the development of a bond formed over years that was more than a mere romantic connection. I much prefer that type of relationship than two people jumping into bed and declaring their undying love after a few weeks of meeting. It was sad at the end but again I like that it wasn’t immediate sunshine and rainbows for them after everything that had happened.
Each book was brilliantly written and I would definitely recommend these books to anyone who enjoys action and darker fantasy storylines.
January 15, 2020
What an excellent closing book for a series. The main conflict has been resolved. Most bad guys got what they deserved, and some good(ish) guys got what they deserved as well. I mean seriously, James, how did you expect Elise to react once she found out?
I think that this book handled the resolution of all the threads we followed in the previous 6 books pretty neatly. Elise finally fulfilled her purpose, and wrought unintentional havoc to the different worlds in the process as well. I liked that even though she did exactly what she was born to do, she did it on her own terms, without bending to anybody else's will. That's so Elise to the end - stubborn and unbreakable. I'm sad that Betty was only a ghost. Elise could have really benefited from having her back in her life. Betty has always been the grounding factor for her, a lot more than James could ever be.
She is now faced with an interesting dilemma - where does she go from here? Is she still the Godslayer if there is no god to slay? What does she do with her life now? How does she rebuild herself now that the person she relied no the most turned out not to be trustworthy?
I guess I need to jump into the next series called Ascension to find out, huh?
I think that this book handled the resolution of all the threads we followed in the previous 6 books pretty neatly. Elise finally fulfilled her purpose, and wrought unintentional havoc to the different worlds in the process as well. I liked that even though she did exactly what she was born to do, she did it on her own terms, without bending to anybody else's will. That's so Elise to the end - stubborn and unbreakable. I'm sad that Betty was only a ghost. Elise could have really benefited from having her back in her life. Betty has always been the grounding factor for her, a lot more than James could ever be.
She is now faced with an interesting dilemma - where does she go from here? Is she still the Godslayer if there is no god to slay? What does she do with her life now? How does she rebuild herself now that the person she relied no the most turned out not to be trustworthy?
I guess I need to jump into the next series called Ascension to find out, huh?
Want to read
May 3, 2013Please please PLEASE let there be a HEA for James & Elise in the end!
December 9, 2019
S.M. Reine needs an award and possibly a fist to the face for crafting such a devastating piece of work.
September 16, 2017
I have so many extremely strong emotions about this series, and about this final book, that it's hard to pick a place to start.
First is that I can't remember being so legitimately stressed by a series in a VERY long time. Issues of consent and free will and identity are really big buttons for me. The idea of someone wiping away who you are, replacing it with someone else... terrifying. So much about this book is so legitimately horrifying, and not in this-is-halloween kind of way, but more in the way that psychological horror can sink into your mind and flavor just enough of your thoughts that everything becomes a little uncomfortable, a little unfamiliar, and a little scary. Like the world as you knew it has shifted just by a fraction and you can feel the change strongly, even though you might not be able to see it. Everything about this book starts at that level of disquiet, I think, and then escalates all the way up to straight up horror-show status.
If you're reading a review for book 7 in the series, you probably already know what kind of series it is. Which is to say, it doesn't get any happier. None of the tried and true tropes come through in the end. Elise goes through a traumatic, horrible experience, and if she isn't exactly rewarded at the end, she at least finds some measure of closure.
From a purely world-building perspective, I also absolutely love the handling of Christian mythology. It's both familiar and foreign, and it's a really interesting adaptation of the traditional myths that most of us are familiar with. I also really like that characters are held accountable for their actions. Often in this genre people forgive each other because... well, it's True Love! And terrible mistakes and misdeeds are excused, swept under the rug, and forgotten about. I really appreciate that the author held people accountable, and respected her main character enough to know that she deserves better than to fall blindly into someone's embrace just because he's there.
This was an excellent finale to this series, and I can't wait... *heaves exhausted, exasperated sigh* to read the next series. I can't decide what I want to see happen with Elise, personally speaking. As I ranted about (somewhat hysterically) before, I mostly ship her with emotional wellbeing and while currently there doesn't seem to be a single person, probably on the entire planet or associated planes, that is capable of supporting her in that and not making things worse, I'd still like to see it happen.
TL;DR amazing conclusion to the series, 10/10 would panic over again. Warning: things are left somewhat... open-ended, so be aware that there's another series that follows the events of this one. Also, be aware that there's a lot of body horror and consent issues, paired with strong depictions of graphic torture and emotional abuse. This is also not a Happily Ever After book.
First is that I can't remember being so legitimately stressed by a series in a VERY long time. Issues of consent and free will and identity are really big buttons for me. The idea of someone wiping away who you are, replacing it with someone else... terrifying. So much about this book is so legitimately horrifying, and not in this-is-halloween kind of way, but more in the way that psychological horror can sink into your mind and flavor just enough of your thoughts that everything becomes a little uncomfortable, a little unfamiliar, and a little scary. Like the world as you knew it has shifted just by a fraction and you can feel the change strongly, even though you might not be able to see it. Everything about this book starts at that level of disquiet, I think, and then escalates all the way up to straight up horror-show status.
If you're reading a review for book 7 in the series, you probably already know what kind of series it is. Which is to say, it doesn't get any happier. None of the tried and true tropes come through in the end. Elise goes through a traumatic, horrible experience, and if she isn't exactly rewarded at the end, she at least finds some measure of closure.
From a purely world-building perspective, I also absolutely love the handling of Christian mythology. It's both familiar and foreign, and it's a really interesting adaptation of the traditional myths that most of us are familiar with. I also really like that characters are held accountable for their actions. Often in this genre people forgive each other because... well, it's True Love! And terrible mistakes and misdeeds are excused, swept under the rug, and forgotten about. I really appreciate that the author held people accountable, and respected her main character enough to know that she deserves better than to fall blindly into someone's embrace just because he's there.
This was an excellent finale to this series, and I can't wait... *heaves exhausted, exasperated sigh* to read the next series. I can't decide what I want to see happen with Elise, personally speaking. As I ranted about (somewhat hysterically) before, I mostly ship her with emotional wellbeing and while currently there doesn't seem to be a single person, probably on the entire planet or associated planes, that is capable of supporting her in that and not making things worse, I'd still like to see it happen.
TL;DR amazing conclusion to the series, 10/10 would panic over again. Warning: things are left somewhat... open-ended, so be aware that there's another series that follows the events of this one. Also, be aware that there's a lot of body horror and consent issues, paired with strong depictions of graphic torture and emotional abuse. This is also not a Happily Ever After book.
January 9, 2021
*****Spoilers*****
This book was really good once it picks up toward the end, but that unfortunately doesn't make up for the monotony of the book when we get to Elise in the garden. Chapters of her confusion and events with Adam, then add Ariane and Betty was a point where I felt I needed a speed reader. That is until James comes and pulls her from the tree but before that, the garden scenes bogged this book on down for me. We also get the story of Adam and Eve which was interesting, along with Metaroan but it took up too many pages and I think could have been done quicker and still could have remained focused on Elise. It took so long, in fact, that I wondered why Elise thought being in the garden with Adam was so terrible when the worst he'd done was to make her breakfast, go on walks, and ask her to go through a door. With a failing memory, it didn't seem so bad. The torture eventually does come but it was so far in the book as to almost be an afterthought.
Like others in the series, the story is told from multiple points of view. I was impatient reading from Malcolm's but then felt a little bad for it when he dies after saving Elise at the end. As brass and crude as he was, Malcolm cared enough or felt guilty enough to stay and then go back another time for Elise to stop the Union from capturing her. With the amount of power she yields, I don't understand how she is contained so easily by lights.
Elise gets James's story and is understandably upset, especially the part where James gives her up to God and the garden which I think was understandable. Who knows what will happen for them in future but their final story hasn't been told, so I'll see. One thing that I scrunched my face up about was how often James is thought of as cowardly, mostly coming from Nathaniel when his father was trying to be protective. He made choices that he could live with but tried not to kill anyone in the process and couldn't find his way. I almost could feel a twinge of sympathy for James and how Elise feels about him once she knows the truth but not quite.
More inconsistency of information in this book. Sighs. It's more commonplace in this series than I care to have when reading. I think I'll pick up the other series though since I really want to know what happens with Elise and James. Especially because James is determined to get Nathaniel back after his son moves the tree. Again shocking and outrageously mature for 12, when he thinks he may not be able to come back, but there it is.
This book was really good once it picks up toward the end, but that unfortunately doesn't make up for the monotony of the book when we get to Elise in the garden. Chapters of her confusion and events with Adam, then add Ariane and Betty was a point where I felt I needed a speed reader. That is until James comes and pulls her from the tree but before that, the garden scenes bogged this book on down for me. We also get the story of Adam and Eve which was interesting, along with Metaroan but it took up too many pages and I think could have been done quicker and still could have remained focused on Elise. It took so long, in fact, that I wondered why Elise thought being in the garden with Adam was so terrible when the worst he'd done was to make her breakfast, go on walks, and ask her to go through a door. With a failing memory, it didn't seem so bad. The torture eventually does come but it was so far in the book as to almost be an afterthought.
Like others in the series, the story is told from multiple points of view. I was impatient reading from Malcolm's but then felt a little bad for it when he dies after saving Elise at the end. As brass and crude as he was, Malcolm cared enough or felt guilty enough to stay and then go back another time for Elise to stop the Union from capturing her. With the amount of power she yields, I don't understand how she is contained so easily by lights.
Elise gets James's story and is understandably upset, especially the part where James gives her up to God and the garden which I think was understandable. Who knows what will happen for them in future but their final story hasn't been told, so I'll see. One thing that I scrunched my face up about was how often James is thought of as cowardly, mostly coming from Nathaniel when his father was trying to be protective. He made choices that he could live with but tried not to kill anyone in the process and couldn't find his way. I almost could feel a twinge of sympathy for James and how Elise feels about him once she knows the truth but not quite.
More inconsistency of information in this book. Sighs. It's more commonplace in this series than I care to have when reading. I think I'll pick up the other series though since I really want to know what happens with Elise and James. Especially because James is determined to get Nathaniel back after his son moves the tree. Again shocking and outrageously mature for 12, when he thinks he may not be able to come back, but there it is.
June 30, 2013
sorry but it's 2.5 stars for me. Rounding up cuz I like the series overall.
This final book was definitely my least favorite of the bunch. I can't believe I'm even saying this, but I was actually pretty bored throughout more than half of it (something I would never have thought possible with this series). There seemed to be a lot of pointless, I don't know...TIME, I guess, just passing. Time spent trying to escape places. It dragged and felt tedious to me.
And damn, it was so fucking depressing! It's not like I need my books to end with rainbows and ponies, but come on!
But. If you're this far in the series, there really is no question of whether you should read this book or not because OBVIOUSLY you need to, if nothing more than to finally have all your questions answered, which, thankfully, they are. And the writing is, as usual, top notch and I can definitely appreciate the care the author took in developing the entire overall story arc leading up to this final showdown with Elise.
All in all, this was still a kickass series that will appeal to anyone who likes strong heroines and stories with a darker twist.
This final book was definitely my least favorite of the bunch. I can't believe I'm even saying this, but I was actually pretty bored throughout more than half of it (something I would never have thought possible with this series). There seemed to be a lot of pointless, I don't know...TIME, I guess, just passing. Time spent trying to escape places. It dragged and felt tedious to me.
And damn, it was so fucking depressing! It's not like I need my books to end with rainbows and ponies, but come on!
But. If you're this far in the series, there really is no question of whether you should read this book or not because OBVIOUSLY you need to, if nothing more than to finally have all your questions answered, which, thankfully, they are. And the writing is, as usual, top notch and I can definitely appreciate the care the author took in developing the entire overall story arc leading up to this final showdown with Elise.
All in all, this was still a kickass series that will appeal to anyone who likes strong heroines and stories with a darker twist.
October 7, 2013
One thing I can say with complete conviction -- the ending of this series DOES NOT disappoint. There's epic badassery, battles that level cities (and dimensions), and betrayal so intense that the Heavens themselves can't contain them.
Elise's incarceration in the garden is creeptastic in the extreme. What's done to her to get her to comply is horrific. The way her mind twists in on itself is ... well, it's mind bending. She doesn't know if what she's seeing is truth or another deranged delusion brought on by the garden.
She's tortured, beaten down, and her mind is repeatedly violated.
And being Elise, she doesn't know how to stop fighting against it.
That's just one of the things I love about her. She is relentless. When things are at their bleakest, she keeps pushing to find a way to win.
But this story is about more than just Elise. She has allies. She has friends. She has lovers. She has people who want her dead and people she wants to see dead. As a demon, she's now at the top of the Union's hit list. And when she needs them, her friends and allies rally around her to make sure she can do what it is that she needs to do.
Needless to say, this was a fantastic ending to the series and I'm going to be diving into the Ascension series mighty soon. Because there is SO MUCH more trouble that Elise can get into and there's so much more of her story that can still be told.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Elise's incarceration in the garden is creeptastic in the extreme. What's done to her to get her to comply is horrific. The way her mind twists in on itself is ... well, it's mind bending. She doesn't know if what she's seeing is truth or another deranged delusion brought on by the garden.
She's tortured, beaten down, and her mind is repeatedly violated.
And being Elise, she doesn't know how to stop fighting against it.
That's just one of the things I love about her. She is relentless. When things are at their bleakest, she keeps pushing to find a way to win.
But this story is about more than just Elise. She has allies. She has friends. She has lovers. She has people who want her dead and people she wants to see dead. As a demon, she's now at the top of the Union's hit list. And when she needs them, her friends and allies rally around her to make sure she can do what it is that she needs to do.
Needless to say, this was a fantastic ending to the series and I'm going to be diving into the Ascension series mighty soon. Because there is SO MUCH more trouble that Elise can get into and there's so much more of her story that can still be told.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
June 7, 2013
So i stumbled across the descent series on amazon as books 1-3 were free!! I've become so immersed in elise and James world that I've read all 7 within a week!! Love the twists and turns in each story but did find myself waiting for some sign that both would get it on!
So we get to book 7 and wow! As with the other books you are given detailed descriptions of each dimension and the ongoing battle of each character. Didn't doubt for a second that elise would fight til the end.
I have to say i have just finished the book and it was heartbreaking. I may be a big softy but i soo didn't want elise and James to leave things the way they did. It was great she finally found out the truth of everyone's betrayal but she has to forgive James!! They both kept many secrets and i hope the new series will see them find one another again and allow them to have their HEA (without having to wait 7 books and love triangles! Fingers crossed)
this is the first review i have left for a series and would recommend each book
So we get to book 7 and wow! As with the other books you are given detailed descriptions of each dimension and the ongoing battle of each character. Didn't doubt for a second that elise would fight til the end.
I have to say i have just finished the book and it was heartbreaking. I may be a big softy but i soo didn't want elise and James to leave things the way they did. It was great she finally found out the truth of everyone's betrayal but she has to forgive James!! They both kept many secrets and i hope the new series will see them find one another again and allow them to have their HEA (without having to wait 7 books and love triangles! Fingers crossed)
this is the first review i have left for a series and would recommend each book
January 7, 2014
I'm sad to see it end- oh wait, it doesn't! There's another series! YAY!!!!
The ending made sense in true Elise fashion even when a part of me was sad. It was a great ride knowing all the characters and I can't wait to see them again in the Ascension Series, which I'll be reading after the Seasons of the Moon, Reine's other series.
The way she created the the main worlds and explained how they all worked was brilliant, and I've gotta say I liked her story on Adam and Eve a LOT. She wraps up loose ends, leaves us with more things to chew on: this is a series you don't want to miss out on. I recommend!!!
The ending made sense in true Elise fashion even when a part of me was sad. It was a great ride knowing all the characters and I can't wait to see them again in the Ascension Series, which I'll be reading after the Seasons of the Moon, Reine's other series.
The way she created the the main worlds and explained how they all worked was brilliant, and I've gotta say I liked her story on Adam and Eve a LOT. She wraps up loose ends, leaves us with more things to chew on: this is a series you don't want to miss out on. I recommend!!!
April 30, 2017
And all comes to the end. And WHAT AN ENDING IT IS.
This series is so underrated that I just can't believe it.
Elise and James. You two break my heart. With your adventures, you shortcomings, your destinies, how you simply are too blind sometimes. How badass you are. How deliciously, amazingly flawed but still badass.
And Nathaniel. Poor Nathaniel.
Luckily this is NOT the end, really. Ascension series awaits!
This series is so underrated that I just can't believe it.
Elise and James. You two break my heart. With your adventures, you shortcomings, your destinies, how you simply are too blind sometimes. How badass you are. How deliciously, amazingly flawed but still badass.
And Nathaniel. Poor Nathaniel.
Luckily this is NOT the end, really. Ascension series awaits!
May 27, 2013
Wow, great end to a fantastic series, good versus evil, heaven versus hell, angels versus demons. I was sad to know this was the last book but am thrilled that James & Elise will be back in another series. Great job SM Raine. Only problem was that I could only give it 5 stars, would have given more if it were allowed!
April 5, 2016
7 books building up to a climax that took all of a few pages and wasn't all that exciting mixed with quite dull people doing quite dull things. Add to that the fact that the characters' issues are unresolved and there's another series I'm supposed to read to find out what happens to them and you would be right in thinking this book pissed me off quite a bit...
January 16, 2016
So this is it. The Descent series is over.
RTC. But first and without further ado, I leave you there, cause I need to know more about The Ascent series. See you later!
RTC. But first and without further ado, I leave you there, cause I need to know more about The Ascent series. See you later!
December 17, 2018
Elise is trapped within the Garden of Eden - and it is time for the godslayer to finally comfront God himself. Or at least try to survive his presence...
James has run to the rescue - but he is trapped and lost in endless limbo. While on Earth forces gather, the Union, hunters and even demon/angel hybrids as a cataclysmic event is predicted
This book is an odd book. There is plot but for the most part it doesn’t progress and go anywhere. We follow Elise almost exclusively now she is trapped in The Garden with her long nemesis - Adam, God. The god, the god that she, the godslayer, was always intended to face
But while in that garden she experiences a great deal - but, through sheer powerlessness doesn’t do a great deal or move the plot forward. And I think that works and is very necessary to convey just how very powerless and lost Elise is at this moment - how her just surviving and continuing to go forwards in a realm that is inimical to her very being in the face of a being of literally omnipotent power. Being frustrated, being stuck, seeing no way out but fighting on anyway is the core of this book and Elise herself
And while that happens we have the revelations - oh the revelations and truly fascinating world building and take on the ancient Adam and Eve mythology. The nature of Adam/God, the very different nature of Eve (which definitely flips the power scale before Adam ruined everything) the nature of Lillith, the birth of angels, of demons of humanity, why the whole idea of sacrificing women to the clearly dangerous and broken god keeps working, Metaraon and his motives towards all the events in the series so far, including the shape of this coven - so much is here.
On top of that we have nice moments from Nathaniel (James’s son), Elise’s mother Arianne and James himself all adding new shades to their characters both now and going forwards as well as more flashbacks of Elise’s past which helps understand her a bit more. I especially appreciate, after my previous complaints, that Elise and James have a major confrontation over the information he has been hiding from her - and it’s neither dismissed nor swept up. In fact it’s a nice contrast how she kind of rebuilds a lot of bridges with Anthony after their deeply broken relationship after they were both emotionally reeling - but such a neat resolve is denied James
The book ends with epic. And I think it needed to - after so longer with Elise captured and helpless we needed reminding of her awesome strength, we needed reminding that just because she was so helpless in the face of an impossible force doesn’t make her weak. It worked - and I think it worked even more that we had a sort of mini epilogue to basically say that it isn’t over That despite the whole massive, world changing hugeness that just happened, life still goes on and it goes on in quiet, sad and often mundane ways
One odd side effect of all the epic hugeness this is that Lucas, Malcolm and Anthony, making their way to Oymyakon, seeing the Union getting up to various shenanigans is a very fun romp (and I will always kind of love Malcolm, the quintessential rogue) but also jarringly out of place and bizarrely mundane next to all the epic world building and revelations out there - but at the same time the only part of the story that is actually moving forwards
Read More
James has run to the rescue - but he is trapped and lost in endless limbo. While on Earth forces gather, the Union, hunters and even demon/angel hybrids as a cataclysmic event is predicted
This book is an odd book. There is plot but for the most part it doesn’t progress and go anywhere. We follow Elise almost exclusively now she is trapped in The Garden with her long nemesis - Adam, God. The god, the god that she, the godslayer, was always intended to face
But while in that garden she experiences a great deal - but, through sheer powerlessness doesn’t do a great deal or move the plot forward. And I think that works and is very necessary to convey just how very powerless and lost Elise is at this moment - how her just surviving and continuing to go forwards in a realm that is inimical to her very being in the face of a being of literally omnipotent power. Being frustrated, being stuck, seeing no way out but fighting on anyway is the core of this book and Elise herself
And while that happens we have the revelations - oh the revelations and truly fascinating world building and take on the ancient Adam and Eve mythology. The nature of Adam/God, the very different nature of Eve (which definitely flips the power scale before Adam ruined everything) the nature of Lillith, the birth of angels, of demons of humanity, why the whole idea of sacrificing women to the clearly dangerous and broken god keeps working, Metaraon and his motives towards all the events in the series so far, including the shape of this coven - so much is here.
On top of that we have nice moments from Nathaniel (James’s son), Elise’s mother Arianne and James himself all adding new shades to their characters both now and going forwards as well as more flashbacks of Elise’s past which helps understand her a bit more. I especially appreciate, after my previous complaints, that Elise and James have a major confrontation over the information he has been hiding from her - and it’s neither dismissed nor swept up. In fact it’s a nice contrast how she kind of rebuilds a lot of bridges with Anthony after their deeply broken relationship after they were both emotionally reeling - but such a neat resolve is denied James
The book ends with epic. And I think it needed to - after so longer with Elise captured and helpless we needed reminding of her awesome strength, we needed reminding that just because she was so helpless in the face of an impossible force doesn’t make her weak. It worked - and I think it worked even more that we had a sort of mini epilogue to basically say that it isn’t over That despite the whole massive, world changing hugeness that just happened, life still goes on and it goes on in quiet, sad and often mundane ways
One odd side effect of all the epic hugeness this is that Lucas, Malcolm and Anthony, making their way to Oymyakon, seeing the Union getting up to various shenanigans is a very fun romp (and I will always kind of love Malcolm, the quintessential rogue) but also jarringly out of place and bizarrely mundane next to all the epic world building and revelations out there - but at the same time the only part of the story that is actually moving forwards
Read More
May 30, 2020
I would be torn asunder if I didn't know there are three short stories that come after Paradise Damned. But I feel like the ending was absolutely earned. I know there are readers who will not like it because we want things to be easy in fiction, but Reine doesn't strike me as that kind of writer or person. I thought the ending profound in the way it fits perfectly with the characters but doesn't wrap things up. You can continue to imagine what happens next in the world. Then again, you only have to image for so long because there are the short stories and then other series in which James and Elise appear.
There were two wonderful qualities to this book that stood out to me: the settings (including all the mythology behind one setting) were totally immersive. I could picture what everything looked like without Reine info dumping or going into painstaking detail. She always finds a balance. Second, I enjoyed how I like every character. Each and every person comes to life, even if they only exist for a couple of pages, as fully realized people. Even the people I don't want to like make me sympathetic when bad things happen to them. And no one is ever out of character for the convenience of the plot, which is what makes these books affect readers so deeply; it's like we KNOW these people.
There were two wonderful qualities to this book that stood out to me: the settings (including all the mythology behind one setting) were totally immersive. I could picture what everything looked like without Reine info dumping or going into painstaking detail. She always finds a balance. Second, I enjoyed how I like every character. Each and every person comes to life, even if they only exist for a couple of pages, as fully realized people. Even the people I don't want to like make me sympathetic when bad things happen to them. And no one is ever out of character for the convenience of the plot, which is what makes these books affect readers so deeply; it's like we KNOW these people.
December 9, 2019
Absolutely Fan-fucking-tastic !!
I am indebted to Sarah for introducing me to Descent.
I know I am gushing but I promise Elise Kavanagh is the most Awesome, Badass, Dangerous, Lethal, and *insert at least a million cool dark compliments* Ever. Okay maybe Kate rivals. But seriously, these women create their own league for each of them.
Real Spoiler alert -
Welcome for the lovely review ! I am off to Ascention !
I am indebted to Sarah for introducing me to Descent.
I know I am gushing but I promise Elise Kavanagh is the most Awesome, Badass, Dangerous, Lethal, and *insert at least a million cool dark compliments* Ever. Okay maybe Kate rivals. But seriously, these women create their own league for each of them.
Real Spoiler alert -
Welcome for the lovely review ! I am off to Ascen
February 26, 2022
This is the final book in the Descent series and it’s certainly filled with action – so many battles. It’s gory and sad, yet not surprising as previous events have more than hinted at what would happen.
Elise and James are complex characters and this book brings their relationship to its conclusion – perhaps? It is a mix of myth and reality, fantasy and authenticity. It’s well-written (except for ‘off of’) and fast-paced with great storytelling.
I don’t give spoilers but will say that it’s worth reading and I’d recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy mixed with myth.
Elise and James are complex characters and this book brings their relationship to its conclusion – perhaps? It is a mix of myth and reality, fantasy and authenticity. It’s well-written (except for ‘off of’) and fast-paced with great storytelling.
I don’t give spoilers but will say that it’s worth reading and I’d recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy mixed with myth.
May 7, 2019
Elise and James did not get the ending I had hoped for. In fact, doom and gloom continues to wreak havoc on this couple. The story was very sad to me. Nathaniel and Anthony - I hope they show up in more books. I want to know what happens with her mother and whether the “order” is done or just getting started. SMH 🤦🏾♀️
December 4, 2017
Addicting
I got the first 3 books for free and got hooked. As I finished Books 4 thru 6 I did not pause and ordered each successive both within minutes. Book 7 tied everything together spectacularly. The series is Supernatural on steroids.
I got the first 3 books for free and got hooked. As I finished Books 4 thru 6 I did not pause and ordered each successive both within minutes. Book 7 tied everything together spectacularly. The series is Supernatural on steroids.
August 23, 2018
While a lot was covered and a lot of background was filled in, I was disappointed with the cruelty of these angelic beings and the constant waste of time on this person that everyone hated to love. I doubt I'll read the follow-up series.
September 27, 2017
Nice conclusion to the series and a satisfying end to the Godslayer plot. I just found out the characters continue in another series and I'm !!!! Seven more books to consume heck yeah.
January 27, 2019
Good read
January 28, 2019
Omg!
This story is spellbinding & captivating until the very end. I can't wait to read more about Elise and James
This story is spellbinding & captivating until the very end. I can't wait to read more about Elise and James
December 19, 2019
There are no words to describe this or the rest of the combined
universes.
universes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2020
A bittersweet ending
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