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The Riverfall Chronicles #4
The Sundering Hours
THE PENDULUM IS SLOWING. THE GEARS ARE BREAKING DOWN.
These were the words of warning given to the last Keyholder of Eriaris. But since they came from the sinister Mistress of the Spektors, the Colonists didn’t want to believe them. And why should they? Fortune, after all, has finally turned in their favor.
Against impossible odds, they survived the battle on Fenmire, took their worst enemy prisoner, and acquired a mysterious artifact that could silence the Mistress forever. Now, with a new mode of transportation and the aid of unexpected allies, the way is clear to find their missing friends and attempt to put everything to rights.
But then the ticking begins. New horrors appear. And the Colonists are thrown into a desperate race against the Sundering—a cruel affliction which threatens not only their beloved Keyholder, but every living soul. The harrowing adventure will take them deep into treacherous waters and forgotten corners of the world, fraught with new enemies and inconceivable dangers.
Meanwhile, clouds of war are gathering in the west as the insidious Blue Flames accelerate their plans. Politicians weave their webs. Darkness grows by the day. All things considered, Eriaris needs nothing short of a miracle. That, or a kid in an oversized top hat.
These were the words of warning given to the last Keyholder of Eriaris. But since they came from the sinister Mistress of the Spektors, the Colonists didn’t want to believe them. And why should they? Fortune, after all, has finally turned in their favor.
Against impossible odds, they survived the battle on Fenmire, took their worst enemy prisoner, and acquired a mysterious artifact that could silence the Mistress forever. Now, with a new mode of transportation and the aid of unexpected allies, the way is clear to find their missing friends and attempt to put everything to rights.
But then the ticking begins. New horrors appear. And the Colonists are thrown into a desperate race against the Sundering—a cruel affliction which threatens not only their beloved Keyholder, but every living soul. The harrowing adventure will take them deep into treacherous waters and forgotten corners of the world, fraught with new enemies and inconceivable dangers.
Meanwhile, clouds of war are gathering in the west as the insidious Blue Flames accelerate their plans. Politicians weave their webs. Darkness grows by the day. All things considered, Eriaris needs nothing short of a miracle. That, or a kid in an oversized top hat.
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
646 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2024
5 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Hagen
4 books83 followersJacquelyn Hagen is the author of the epic fantasy series "The Riverfall Chronicles". She currently resides wherever the U.S. Air Force needs her to be. In her free time, she devours stories in every form (usually while hanging out with her two big fluffy dogs), but has also been known to play in folk bands, raise chickens, and try to improve her bread-baking skills.
Visit her website at jacquelynhagen.com.
Visit her website at jacquelynhagen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 15, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Jacquelyn Hagen’s awe-inspiring Riverfall Chronicles continues to thrill, chill, excite and delight in book 4, The Sundering Hours. So far this genre-blendy series has offered fantasy mystery, cozy fantasy, horror fantasy, and sprinkled in some steampunk aesthetics, but this time… we’re doing nautical fantasy and pirate vibes, baby!
Look, I have made it no secret that I am just an unapologetic fangirl of this series, so it should come as no surprise that I truly had the time of my life devouring this longest instalment in the series yet. There’s no denying that the pacing and plot progression is relatively slow, but for me the balance between the action and the intro-/retrospection is just absolutely perfect, and I love how every single scene matters and hits so hard.
By now, Hagen has proven to have a wildly exciting imagination, which gives this series an air of unpredictability that makes it so dangerously addictive. The shift to a nautical setting in The Sundering Hours was a big pleasant surprise, and I loved how the contained scope on the ship somewhat echoed the intimate cozy vibes that made me fall in love with the setting of Riverfall in book 1. Plus, who doesn’t adore some good pirate shenanigans?
The forced proximity naturally results in more time for character and relationship building, which I personally think has always been Hagen’s strongest skill as a storyteller. We really got to dig even deeper into the dark backstories and complicated interpersonal relationships of these characters, and there were countless scenes in The Sundering Hours that tugged on my heartstrings, for better or worse.
It was a joy for me to see the majority of the crew reunited again, though I also really appreciated that we still got some glimpses from all over Eriaris of other characters we have come to love (or hate). Especially Spindler’s perspective has always been extremely intriguing to me, and even more so now that he is in the company of my favourite side character, the spunky librarian Mavie. Plus, we get some disturbing insights into the sinister inner workings of the opposing side of the Blue Flames, which only increased the nuance of the conflict for me.
I truly love that this series doesn’t feature any conventional heroes and villains, but instead offers a much more vulnerable and human approach to this complicated fight for justice. The core themes of mental health, forgiveness (of others and oneself), redemption, justice, and the brutal futility of war continue to shine in The Sundering Hours, even if the delivery of the powerful and heartwarming messages can be a tiny bit cheesy or on the nose sometimes. Though honestly, in a way, some of those more grand statements, sentimental declarations, and ‘over-the-top’ epiphanies actually work surprisingly well with the understated theatrical vibe of this series and its vibrant characters.
See, these characters truly just burst off the page with personality, and I honestly feel like I know them all so intimately by now that I am part of this found family of broken souls myself. Ink continues to be an absolute gem to follow, and it’s beautiful to see how much he has grown, while still continuing to be his plucky and stubborn self. Though, if you had told me at the start of book 1 that Lady Seherene would end up becoming my favourite character, I would have burst out laughing in sheer disbelief… yet here we are.
Her character development is simply phenomenal, and I especially enjoyed seeing how the Colonists were forced to confront their own biases as they learned to adjust to this most unexpected new addition to their motley crew. Though, Seherene’s passionate dynamic with Caradoc absolutely stole the show for me in The Sundering Hours, and their emotions honestly just bleed off the page in every scene that they are in together.
And speaking of Caradoc, I loved how his role as the last Keyholder and his world hopping abilities were explored so much further in this instalment, increasing the scope and stakes of the story to unimaginable heights. Moreover, the dire situation around the approach of the mystifying Sundering created a truly riveting level of anticipatory dread, leading up to an overwhelmingly epic crescendo of a final act that had me gasping in shock and awe; if you thought the cliffhanger of book 2 was brutal, you better buckle up, because Hagen has done it again!
The Sundering Hours was truly smooth sailing from start to finish, delivering everything I was hoping it would, and then so much more. If you have not yet started The Riverfall Chronicles, then I’d dare say you are missing out on one of the strongest and most imaginative fantasy series currently being written. It’s cozy yet high stakes, epic yet intimate, heartwarming yet gut wrenching, and it delivers an extremely nuanced take on the familiar good vs. evil fight; I simply can’t recommend this hidden gem of a series highly enough!
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Jacquelyn Hagen’s awe-inspiring Riverfall Chronicles continues to thrill, chill, excite and delight in book 4, The Sundering Hours. So far this genre-blendy series has offered fantasy mystery, cozy fantasy, horror fantasy, and sprinkled in some steampunk aesthetics, but this time… we’re doing nautical fantasy and pirate vibes, baby!
Look, I have made it no secret that I am just an unapologetic fangirl of this series, so it should come as no surprise that I truly had the time of my life devouring this longest instalment in the series yet. There’s no denying that the pacing and plot progression is relatively slow, but for me the balance between the action and the intro-/retrospection is just absolutely perfect, and I love how every single scene matters and hits so hard.
By now, Hagen has proven to have a wildly exciting imagination, which gives this series an air of unpredictability that makes it so dangerously addictive. The shift to a nautical setting in The Sundering Hours was a big pleasant surprise, and I loved how the contained scope on the ship somewhat echoed the intimate cozy vibes that made me fall in love with the setting of Riverfall in book 1. Plus, who doesn’t adore some good pirate shenanigans?
The forced proximity naturally results in more time for character and relationship building, which I personally think has always been Hagen’s strongest skill as a storyteller. We really got to dig even deeper into the dark backstories and complicated interpersonal relationships of these characters, and there were countless scenes in The Sundering Hours that tugged on my heartstrings, for better or worse.
It was a joy for me to see the majority of the crew reunited again, though I also really appreciated that we still got some glimpses from all over Eriaris of other characters we have come to love (or hate). Especially Spindler’s perspective has always been extremely intriguing to me, and even more so now that he is in the company of my favourite side character, the spunky librarian Mavie. Plus, we get some disturbing insights into the sinister inner workings of the opposing side of the Blue Flames, which only increased the nuance of the conflict for me.
I truly love that this series doesn’t feature any conventional heroes and villains, but instead offers a much more vulnerable and human approach to this complicated fight for justice. The core themes of mental health, forgiveness (of others and oneself), redemption, justice, and the brutal futility of war continue to shine in The Sundering Hours, even if the delivery of the powerful and heartwarming messages can be a tiny bit cheesy or on the nose sometimes. Though honestly, in a way, some of those more grand statements, sentimental declarations, and ‘over-the-top’ epiphanies actually work surprisingly well with the understated theatrical vibe of this series and its vibrant characters.
See, these characters truly just burst off the page with personality, and I honestly feel like I know them all so intimately by now that I am part of this found family of broken souls myself. Ink continues to be an absolute gem to follow, and it’s beautiful to see how much he has grown, while still continuing to be his plucky and stubborn self. Though, if you had told me at the start of book 1 that Lady Seherene would end up becoming my favourite character, I would have burst out laughing in sheer disbelief… yet here we are.
Her character development is simply phenomenal, and I especially enjoyed seeing how the Colonists were forced to confront their own biases as they learned to adjust to this most unexpected new addition to their motley crew. Though, Seherene’s passionate dynamic with Caradoc absolutely stole the show for me in The Sundering Hours, and their emotions honestly just bleed off the page in every scene that they are in together.
And speaking of Caradoc, I loved how his role as the last Keyholder and his world hopping abilities were explored so much further in this instalment, increasing the scope and stakes of the story to unimaginable heights. Moreover, the dire situation around the approach of the mystifying Sundering created a truly riveting level of anticipatory dread, leading up to an overwhelmingly epic crescendo of a final act that had me gasping in shock and awe; if you thought the cliffhanger of book 2 was brutal, you better buckle up, because Hagen has done it again!
The Sundering Hours was truly smooth sailing from start to finish, delivering everything I was hoping it would, and then so much more. If you have not yet started The Riverfall Chronicles, then I’d dare say you are missing out on one of the strongest and most imaginative fantasy series currently being written. It’s cozy yet high stakes, epic yet intimate, heartwarming yet gut wrenching, and it delivers an extremely nuanced take on the familiar good vs. evil fight; I simply can’t recommend this hidden gem of a series highly enough!
July 17, 2024
Book 4 in the series has a bit of a fun side quest quality to it - with pirates and a new, super interesting villian - while also progressing the main plot and character journeys in meaningful and heartfelt ways.
These books just work so incredibly well for me: the slower pacing and character focus, the world, the mix of cozy and terrifying elements, the authenticity of it all... More people should read this series.
These books just work so incredibly well for me: the slower pacing and character focus, the world, the mix of cozy and terrifying elements, the authenticity of it all... More people should read this series.
September 29, 2024
I feel there wasn’t as much of a narrative arc in this one, mostly just people talking and going from place to place. LOTS of talking that I feel could’ve been combined into group scenes rather than each character individually deciding to have a conversation with another to discuss every tiny problem bothering them. There also wasn’t as much of a climax in this one, or many ups and downs in the pacing, kinda just one steady through line. The stakes are super cool though (love the idea of the sundering) and Spindler is hot and underused as always. Not as good as the last but it made me excited for the next
June 7, 2025
This was quite a ride! The stakes are being raised for everyone, and conflict is coming to a head. Many revelations in the last 1/4 of the book. This installment continues the excellent character work and plotting. I can't wait for book 5!
July 17, 2024
Brilliant!
What an amazing roller-coaster ride of a book! I'm completely enamoured with this series, from the epic world, the engaging characters, the twisting turning plot which is a wonderful blend of genres set in a Dickensian steam punk universe, everything about The Riverfall Chronicles is a must read & Jacquelyn is now firmly entrenched as one of my favourite authors.
What an amazing roller-coaster ride of a book! I'm completely enamoured with this series, from the epic world, the engaging characters, the twisting turning plot which is a wonderful blend of genres set in a Dickensian steam punk universe, everything about The Riverfall Chronicles is a must read & Jacquelyn is now firmly entrenched as one of my favourite authors.
May 28, 2025
this definitely dragged for me, probably to weakest of the series so far. Still had its moments, and i’m glad i held on to the end because it picked up. that being said i felt like the climax was the last 40 pages of the book 😭. still has me intrigued to read the next one
January 2, 2026
Can we just… *contented sigh*
I appreciate this series so much. After reading a slew of dark/grim fantasy lately, picking up book 4 of The Riverfall Chronicles is like coming home. Are there horrific and dark things that happen in Sundering Hours? Oh yeah. But these characters' unrelenting hope, loyalty, and bond still uplift you on the darkest of days.
The character development is a shining strength over these last couple books. Ink has grown up so much *sniff*, Martin has softened and opened up, Jeremy is speaking out more, I could go on. And honestly, Jacqueline has matured as a writer alongside her characters.
I can only imagine how wild this next chonk of a book is going to be after all that was set up in this one. My comfy chair, blanket, and cuppa will be waiting…
I appreciate this series so much. After reading a slew of dark/grim fantasy lately, picking up book 4 of The Riverfall Chronicles is like coming home. Are there horrific and dark things that happen in Sundering Hours? Oh yeah. But these characters' unrelenting hope, loyalty, and bond still uplift you on the darkest of days.
The character development is a shining strength over these last couple books. Ink has grown up so much *sniff*, Martin has softened and opened up, Jeremy is speaking out more, I could go on. And honestly, Jacqueline has matured as a writer alongside her characters.
I can only imagine how wild this next chonk of a book is going to be after all that was set up in this one. My comfy chair, blanket, and cuppa will be waiting…
October 6, 2025
"War is another darkness that's supposed to stay in fairytales and not come true. What kind of person looks into our past and present pains and decides there hasn't been enough bloodshed?"
Just finished book 4 of this projected seven book series. A good versus evil epic fantasy. This series has excellent characters, found family vibes and complex world building. The plot keeps getting more engaging and action packed. A cliff-hanger ending and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend.
Just finished book 4 of this projected seven book series. A good versus evil epic fantasy. This series has excellent characters, found family vibes and complex world building. The plot keeps getting more engaging and action packed. A cliff-hanger ending and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend.
April 15, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews