What do you think?
Rate this book
Reave Series #4
To Fall
Decisions and convictions have repercussions.
Aster could never have anticipated being anything but invisible in life. With her new role, she finds herself in a position of visibility and significance, where action and inaction both have consequences that stretch farther than her own hands could reach.
Being determined to do what she must leads Aster down a path of both expected and not, where she learns that even the things we know with certainty are far larger than we could ever imagine them to be.
Aster could never have anticipated being anything but invisible in life. With her new role, she finds herself in a position of visibility and significance, where action and inaction both have consequences that stretch farther than her own hands could reach.
Being determined to do what she must leads Aster down a path of both expected and not, where she learns that even the things we know with certainty are far larger than we could ever imagine them to be.
Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2024
5 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
C. Miller
28 books47 followersC. Miller lives in Kentucky and has been writing books for more than a decade. She believes books are magical things, transporting readers to other worlds and allowing them to live, laugh, love, and learn with the characters. She loves dogs, beautiful days, and working hard. When not working, you can usually find her playing video games, crocheting, or enjoying those beautiful days that come.
Discover more by visiting her website!
www.cmillerauthor.com
For reviewers interested in ARCs/review copies, head to: www.cmillerauthor.com/for-reviewers
For exclusive discounts and to never miss out on a new release, sign up for her newsletter!
www.cmillerauthor.com/newsletter
Discover more by visiting her website!
www.cmillerauthor.com
For reviewers interested in ARCs/review copies, head to: www.cmillerauthor.com/for-reviewers
For exclusive discounts and to never miss out on a new release, sign up for her newsletter!
www.cmillerauthor.com/newsletter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
my-books
March 26, 2023Leaving anything to potentially ‘prepare’ anyone for To Fall is a difficult thing for me in a much different way than the others. I could write a whole lot here carrying on from what I wrote on Ascend, likening things to chess. And it would be applicable. I could write for a while about pieces moving, the control we have in that and the control we don’t. (We can only move our own pieces.)
I don’t want to get into it past that. Instead, I want to talk about one word.
Happy.
This series/these characters showed me so much about the word, caused me to look at it from a different perspective than my own life had taught me no matter how many events people often share throughout the course of living. It showed me so much about the struggle for that word. It showed me about the paths we take to get there and what those paths hold. It taught me...
No matter how much of a ‘loner’ we may be, how self-reliant in however many ways? Happy is a word that exists in the care of the hands of those who love us most.
It taught me a great deal about hands. It taught me a great deal about the weight of that, the importance. It taught me a great deal about mistakes. And it taught me a great deal about the perception of them.
I’ll forever be grateful for the day the word ‘Reapers’ popped into my head and a few mental images of them moving played. I never could’ve anticipated on that day how much they would in fact teach me about movement, not in a physical sense but in the journeys we all take in life and the manner(s) in which we do. This series was a beautiful thing to have in my life, and I feel nothing but gratitude. Even for the difficult bits. ;)
I hope so much that, if you go on Aster’s journey with her, you feel you get/got something good from it as well.
<3
I don’t want to get into it past that. Instead, I want to talk about one word.
Happy.
This series/these characters showed me so much about the word, caused me to look at it from a different perspective than my own life had taught me no matter how many events people often share throughout the course of living. It showed me so much about the struggle for that word. It showed me about the paths we take to get there and what those paths hold. It taught me...
No matter how much of a ‘loner’ we may be, how self-reliant in however many ways? Happy is a word that exists in the care of the hands of those who love us most.
It taught me a great deal about hands. It taught me a great deal about the weight of that, the importance. It taught me a great deal about mistakes. And it taught me a great deal about the perception of them.
I’ll forever be grateful for the day the word ‘Reapers’ popped into my head and a few mental images of them moving played. I never could’ve anticipated on that day how much they would in fact teach me about movement, not in a physical sense but in the journeys we all take in life and the manner(s) in which we do. This series was a beautiful thing to have in my life, and I feel nothing but gratitude. Even for the difficult bits. ;)
I hope so much that, if you go on Aster’s journey with her, you feel you get/got something good from it as well.
<3
May 3, 2023
Given to me by the author to read and review.
Heartbreakingly beautiful story. The way this one had so many surprises had my heart pounding several times. I cried so much within the last 200 or so pages because of all the stuff Aster was going through. After the betrayal from Chase, she really fell into it with Jastin. The happiness only lasted so long after the wedding. They found out just how much they really weren’t meant to be married. Even though their marriage was in shambles Aster never let that interfere with how she felt about Jastin’s son Aston. He was her child no matter what. Durning Aster and Jastin’s downfall, drops in Alin, who is actually his leader Bren. Bren complicates even more things for Aster, like she really needed more complications. Her city is being threatened and she is willing to die for it. The long awaited war between Hastings and Garin arrives but only one comes out victorious.
There is so much said in this book about love, trust, hope, and faith that I think people really need to pay attention to it and take it in. Aster was learning all of that at the age of 18/19/20 so she was seeing it differently then the rest of the world made up in this story or in our real everyday life. We learn all of that at a young age so we are biased to it by the time we are that age and can really learn from it instead of the tainted versions we have.
Past all of the lessons are fantastic relationships between old and new characters. Some of the relationships fall apart and other are only strengthened. You see a little more into each of their lives as you start to see them for who they really are. Aster is more than a “princess”, Stelin is more than Hasting’s asshole son, Ahren is a fighter in more ways than one, Jastin is just an asshole. The list of people’s true selves keeps going because people are now starting to truly see. Even the people of the city, some stayed to fight while others were evacuated. And then there was other you wished didn’t come back, *cough Cherise cough*. But you start to see into their lives a little more. I hope the author continues on with their stories. I wouldn’t mind seeing where they lead.
Heartbreakingly beautiful story. The way this one had so many surprises had my heart pounding several times. I cried so much within the last 200 or so pages because of all the stuff Aster was going through. After the betrayal from Chase, she really fell into it with Jastin. The happiness only lasted so long after the wedding. They found out just how much they really weren’t meant to be married. Even though their marriage was in shambles Aster never let that interfere with how she felt about Jastin’s son Aston. He was her child no matter what. Durning Aster and Jastin’s downfall, drops in Alin, who is actually his leader Bren. Bren complicates even more things for Aster, like she really needed more complications. Her city is being threatened and she is willing to die for it. The long awaited war between Hastings and Garin arrives but only one comes out victorious.
There is so much said in this book about love, trust, hope, and faith that I think people really need to pay attention to it and take it in. Aster was learning all of that at the age of 18/19/20 so she was seeing it differently then the rest of the world made up in this story or in our real everyday life. We learn all of that at a young age so we are biased to it by the time we are that age and can really learn from it instead of the tainted versions we have.
Past all of the lessons are fantastic relationships between old and new characters. Some of the relationships fall apart and other are only strengthened. You see a little more into each of their lives as you start to see them for who they really are. Aster is more than a “princess”, Stelin is more than Hasting’s asshole son, Ahren is a fighter in more ways than one, Jastin is just an asshole. The list of people’s true selves keeps going because people are now starting to truly see. Even the people of the city, some stayed to fight while others were evacuated. And then there was other you wished didn’t come back, *cough Cherise cough*. But you start to see into their lives a little more. I hope the author continues on with their stories. I wouldn’t mind seeing where they lead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
Just because it's the end of our journey doesn't mean it's any less suspenseful or treacherous than the paths we took to get here. In fact, this may be the most intense book of the entire series. Much like Aster, we spend most of this book waiting for the other shoe to drop - waiting to find out when it will all end, and how, or who will be the next person to show us our trust in them was misplaced. Aster is once again faced with the same reality we sometimes have to face in real life: that the people we thought could or would never hurt us can still sometimes manage to let us down in egregious, devastating ways. But what are these moments in our lives if not an opportunity to realize our own inner-strength and an opportunity to persevere?
It’s a lesson in resilience. Self-control. Rebirth and renewal.
I’m saddened that this is where our journey ends. My attachment to these fictional characters is deeper than I thought possible, and the grief I feel over the story coming to a close is surprisingly strong.
It’s a lesson in resilience. Self-control. Rebirth and renewal.
I’m saddened that this is where our journey ends. My attachment to these fictional characters is deeper than I thought possible, and the grief I feel over the story coming to a close is surprisingly strong.
July 17, 2024
A Good End
I have throughly enjoyed reading this series. I won’t lie and say that I let go of my romantic tendencies to fully embrace Aster’s romantic journey. I had a hard pill to swallow with both Jas and Chandler. But all in all every character met their “proper” end. It was all very logical. This story was never meant to be a fairy tale. I appreciated how truth stood at the center all the way through. Book 1’s truth isn’t the same as 4’s. Aster evolved from beginning to end and that’s just as it should be.
I have throughly enjoyed reading this series. I won’t lie and say that I let go of my romantic tendencies to fully embrace Aster’s romantic journey. I had a hard pill to swallow with both Jas and Chandler. But all in all every character met their “proper” end. It was all very logical. This story was never meant to be a fairy tale. I appreciated how truth stood at the center all the way through. Book 1’s truth isn’t the same as 4’s. Aster evolved from beginning to end and that’s just as it should be.
July 3, 2024
I can't say how much I loved all of the books in the Reave series. At times I was genuinely upset and angry with some of the character arcs and right up until the end I was never sure who could be trusted or when the author was going to pull the rug out from beneath me again! Aster may not have been a particularly likeable character but her flaws and coldness made her more relatable than some of the female protagonists in other books. The ending was perfect but I can't help feeling lost now that their story has ended....a sign of a truly talented writer.
May 23, 2023
The worst thing about this book is that it ended the series. I loved all of these books and characters so much and this book stole my chances of another look into their lives. But I couldn't help but read it and get sucked into reading the whole thing in 3 sittings.
Aster is now married, and the timeline jumps ahead more to show more passage of time as the whole city waits to be destroyed. And throughout it all, Aster remains undeniably true to herself. She may not have wanted to become a leader and she may not think she deserves it, but she will do anything she can to make herself worthy. A new character appears as well, Bren, who shows Aster that not everyone can be talked circles around. Another leader that may be an equal to herself and her hopes for an alliance, if her trust is not misplaced.
So, I wasn't expecting the time to jump ahead in quite the way that it did, but I will say that I loved it. In the first 3 books, readers could see Aster progressing emotionally and slowly talking to more and more people, which is something Jastin actually helped her with. The time skips in this book are shown as flashbacks to past conversations as they become relevant again, but it also shows just how far she's come because now she has several people she trusts and is willing to go to, beyond her unhealthy codependence with Jastin. Her new friendship with Stelin isn't as prevalent as in Ascend, but some of the flashbacks show just how close they became.
The time skip also helps Aster come into herself more as a leader and to be stronger in her beliefs. She disagrees more with how her father runs the city and how they can improve it, and she fights him for the changes she wants. The old Aster would have fought, but would have been overruled. She's come so far from being the invisible servant.
When I was first introduced to Bren, I was a little taken aback, but as the book progressed, he revealed 2 different things about Aster. The first was that her relationship with Jastin was not fair or healthy because he was never by her side for the daily struggles of being a leader. The second was that she really just needed an equal. Someone to challenge her and to help her with her crazy ideas. When she walks the streets, Bren walks beside her for support.
The only thing I would have maybe changed personally would have been the ending. I just wanted more of it. The final battle isn't as drawn out as I expected it to be, which does make sense because Reapers aren't trained to kill slowly. But I wanted a better ended for Chase, maybe where he went off to the sea to be happy and free of his demons. But that's also just my "happy ending" mentality.
We never find out what happens with Anders, so there might be the chance of a spin off. A girl can dream.
Aster is now married, and the timeline jumps ahead more to show more passage of time as the whole city waits to be destroyed. And throughout it all, Aster remains undeniably true to herself. She may not have wanted to become a leader and she may not think she deserves it, but she will do anything she can to make herself worthy. A new character appears as well, Bren, who shows Aster that not everyone can be talked circles around. Another leader that may be an equal to herself and her hopes for an alliance, if her trust is not misplaced.
So, I wasn't expecting the time to jump ahead in quite the way that it did, but I will say that I loved it. In the first 3 books, readers could see Aster progressing emotionally and slowly talking to more and more people, which is something Jastin actually helped her with. The time skips in this book are shown as flashbacks to past conversations as they become relevant again, but it also shows just how far she's come because now she has several people she trusts and is willing to go to, beyond her unhealthy codependence with Jastin. Her new friendship with Stelin isn't as prevalent as in Ascend, but some of the flashbacks show just how close they became.
The time skip also helps Aster come into herself more as a leader and to be stronger in her beliefs. She disagrees more with how her father runs the city and how they can improve it, and she fights him for the changes she wants. The old Aster would have fought, but would have been overruled. She's come so far from being the invisible servant.
When I was first introduced to Bren, I was a little taken aback, but as the book progressed, he revealed 2 different things about Aster. The first was that her relationship with Jastin was not fair or healthy because he was never by her side for the daily struggles of being a leader. The second was that she really just needed an equal. Someone to challenge her and to help her with her crazy ideas. When she walks the streets, Bren walks beside her for support.
The only thing I would have maybe changed personally would have been the ending. I just wanted more of it. The final battle isn't as drawn out as I expected it to be, which does make sense because Reapers aren't trained to kill slowly. But I wanted a better ended for Chase, maybe where he went off to the sea to be happy and free of his demons. But that's also just my "happy ending" mentality.
We never find out what happens with Anders, so there might be the chance of a spin off. A girl can dream.
October 7, 2024
C. Miller has done it again. Wrapping a four book series in such a fantastic way. You get to see Aster, grow and change book after book in the best of ways. She doesn't succeed at everything that she does, but from those moments she learns, she grows, and she is better for it. There is truly so much to unpack with the fourth book, but the story is beautiful. Buckle up, because it is truly a rollercoaster of a finale, and I was SO grateful for the opportunity to read it. Favorite series of this year, I'm going to be doing a full reread of it all. Do yourself a favor if you haven't started the series, go back and pick up the first one. Let me know when you've done it!
November 20, 2024
Fantastic ending to a fantastic series! This series has definitely gone on my list of books I wish I could read again for the first time! I found myself wondering at times if the book was going to have a HEA, and I'll just say that while it's not the stereotypical HEA, it's definitely what Aster would consider a HEA. Lots of heartbreak along the way, hurts so good! I cried for at least the last 20% of the book, which considering the length of the book was quite a while!
May 7, 2025
I've been enjoying this series from the first book in the Reave series, it had that concept that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters had that element that I wanted and thought worked well in this universe. C. Miller works so well overall and was glad everything was written well.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2024
To Fall brings the characters’ arcs to a poignant, yet well-earned resolution. Aster, in particular, shines as her inner struggles and growth take centre stage. The relationships she has built over the course of the series are tested to their limits, making the themes of trust, loyalty, and self-discovery even more profound. I'm going to miss reading about Aster and her intriguing world.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews