Memoria

The Nightingale Trilogy #3

by J.J. Fischer

Would you save a life if you knew it would destroy another?

In the deeply divided world of Caldera, nothing is as it seems. Taken captive by a faceless enemy, Sephone Winter fights to reclaim her soul as her gift spirals out of control and the deadly poison coursing through her veins begins to exact its terrible vengeance.

Meanwhile, Dorian and Cass are forced into an uneasy alliance in order to find the woman they both love . . . a woman who has all but vanished from the face of the earth, along with the Reliquary. Finding her becomes impossible as the identity of their greatest adversary continues to elude them.

When Caldera’s past catches up with the trio’s future, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass are forced to make decisions that threaten everything and everyone they care about. Each of them is offered a chance to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of the other—but will they take it? And what will it cost them in the end?

The Nightingale Trilogy is a fantasy transformation of Hans Christian Andersen's beloved 1843 tale The Nightingale, with echoes of the myths of Hades and Persephone.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Dystopia, Retellings, Romance, Christian Fantasy

457 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2024

About the author

Jasmine’s writing dream began with the anthology of zoo animals she painstakingly wrote and illustrated at age five, to rather limited acclaim. Thankfully, her writing (but not her drawing) has improved since then. She is a clinically-trained psychologist but no, she cannot read your mind. When she isn’t killing defenseless house plants, Jasmine enjoys devouring books, dabbling in floristry, playing the piano, eating peanut butter out of the jar, and wishing it rained more often. Jasmine is married to David, and together they make their home a couple of hours’ north of Sydney, Australia, where they live to satisfy the every whim of their ginger overlord cat, Simba.

Reviews

[Sharon Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread update: 10 beautiful stars!!🤩 Absolutely amazing!

✨Reread Review:✨ (Mostly a Nightingale Trilogy review, not a review specific to Memoria)

The Nightingale Trilogy is an absolute gem in the Christian fantasy genre. Set in the post-apocolyptic land of Caldera, where the people who survived cling to memories of the World-that-Was by consuming memories that have been extracted from the minds of those who remember by gifted mems. These memories are stored in liquid form and allow people to experience such things as the smell of flowers or the taste of strawberries, but they can never really satisfy, because they are only a shadow of the real thing.

Memories are a major thematic element throughout this trilogy. Our MCs display different needs when it comes to memories--our FMC, Sephone, is desperate to remember her past so she can finally experience the love of family, whereas our MMC, Dorian, desperately wants to forget the memories of his beloved wife and daughter so that the pain of their brutal murders can be erased, and he can become the focused leader he used to be. Sephone is a powerful mem, and therefore she is just who Dorian needs to help him on his quest to find and use the ancient relic that will enable her to erase his memories, and therefore, his pain.

Seems simple enough, but do not be deceived! There is much more going on in this tale--much, much more. First of all, there are many more gifts than just Sephone's gifting. There are gifts of granting courage, revealing truth, persuasion, healing, shape=shifting, etc. These gifts can be used for good, but they can also be used for evil. There are also diabolical, power-hungy players in this story pushing the countries of Caldera to war. Then there are friendships that can sway the tide, but for good or for bad? Who can be trusted? Even in their traveling band, is there a traitor amongst them? What about that pesky third-wheel, Cass? Is he just a thorn in Dorian's side, or is he something more?

In reading Caldor, one might not even realize that this is Christian fantasy. Caldor is the book that anchors the reader in the deep-seated need for redemption. It shows our characters' inability to overcome their vices and to solve the problems of the world. In book 2, Lumen, we are introduced to the Christian elements. The ancient relic that Dorian seeks is held at the Mysterium, a monastery of sorts. We meet Spartan, a young, but wise acolyte who joins the traveling band and consistently points them in the direction of Aedon, the Christ-figure, and the Three. Memoria is where everything--war, relationships, true motives, submission to the God they tried to leave behind in the World-that-Was-- comes together to a crescendo that left me breathless.

Fischer's ability to draw deeply flawed, yet honorable, likeable characters we can absolutely identify with is astounding. She draws on her background in psychology to create realistic portrayals of people's differing reactions to life's difficulties. Her characters are complicated and nuanced. Her faith and gospel-understanding allowed her to create an allegorical story of Christ's redemption to rival Lewis' Narnia. Narnia is a beautiful allegory, but simple enough for children to understand, whereas Fischer's is beautiful, but more complicated in the telling. Her writing style is beautiful! She has an amazing grip on the use of language to portray her story, from the setting to the heart issues.

I highly recommend this trilogy! It has become, hands-down, by favorite Christian fantasy.

Original Review:

I flew through this fantastic trilogy! (It really should be getting more attention.) I will come back to write a proper review for this installment once I reread it as I went too fast to grasp it all. If I tried to write one now, I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.

One thing I can say right now that I absolutely loved: there is an underpinning in this trilogy that is so important--no matter how good and/or honorable we are, we all need redemption.💜

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

The Christian themes, the characters, the romance, the twists were purely well done. I feel that this last volume embodies all the beauty of this trilogy, the all slow build both in romance but also in plot and characters pays off in this last volume.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars ✨

Clean Fantasy

"There is sometimes doubt. But the path of doubt, if walked honestly, leads only to greater faith."

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
‭‭
Amazing ending to this binge worthy trilogy. Such a great way to end my 2024 year of reading, as this is my last book of the year.

I did not see all the plot twists coming, and they had me on pins and needles. The characters were wrapped up nicely and oh the ending… *squeals in delight* was perfection. The author did an incredible job with the world building and pace. I must say, the faith undertones hidden within is what made this book series so special and powerful. I love how it’s woven without being overwhelming or preachy. Anyone who loves fantasy, will absolutely love this world and its characters. 2024 is a wrap! Going out with a bang ‼️ can’t wait for more books from this author. Happy New Year 🎊💞

[aria ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowkey binge-read this series to see if my guess on the traitor was correct and it was.

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC copy of this book for being on the author’s street team. A review was not required. The following is my honest opinion.

Woooooooooooow. For a series that I didn’t even know if I would like when I started it, I think this final book in the series has become one of my favorite books of 2024. I started reading this immediately after finishing “Lumen” because after the way “Lumen” ended I just couldn’t wait. XD “Memoria” sucked me in just as quickly.

Maaaaan, the twists and turns of this book! I have to be careful because this was a rollercoaster and I don’t want to spoil the ride for anyone! The short version is that I reached a point in the book where I just couldn’t stop reading until I finished because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!

The longer version is that I was so engrossed in this book beginning to end. The characters are so well developed and vivid to me I feel like they’re my friends now and I truly cared what happened to them. To be honest, I thought I had some idea how things would play out, but boy, was I wrong! I did guess the basic *concept* of what happened in one instance (the allegorical element, to be specific) but I was wrong about HOW it would happen. All the rest, I was just totally wrong in my guesses and the reality of what happened had me shooketh. XD Seriously, there were reveals in this book that 100% blew my mind. More than one! I was reading in bed at night with my mouth hanging open going WHAAAAAAAAAT?!?! And just when I thought it couldn’t surprise me like that again, it did, and it surprised me even more so! 🤯🤯🤯These poor characters went through the wringer (and so did my emotions!!!) but the author was faithful to balance hurt with healing and darkness with light so that when the book ended, I was just so happy I wanted to hug it. So I did. XD

On that note, part of the way that the book found this balance was through the deep themes. And they were genuinely DEEP, folks. It didn’t have to go that hard, but it did, and I loved it so much because it was so real. It reminds us that many things in this world (our real world and the world of the story) are just dim reflections of how they’re supposed to be. God made the world to be perfect in the beginning, but then human sin messed everything up. But this book reminds us that we haven’t been left alone in the dark forever, nor are we left without hope or help to get through this present darkness. But we have to make the choice to reach out and take it, just as Sephone and her friends had to choose to do. Just like in reality, not everyone will choose this hope, clinging instead to shallow, worldly things that will never fulfill the longings of their hearts. But the book reminds us again that where there’s life, there’s hope, and redemption is right there waiting for them when they are ready, even for the people who we think don’t deserve it.

In conclusion, do yourself a favor and read this series, okay? Especially if you’re hurting, this story and these characters will take you by the hand and point you back to light. The journey isn’t easy. There will be shocks and scary things along the way. But there is healing, hope, and truth to be found at the end, and it’s well worth the fight.

Oh, and speaking of the end, be sure you read the last page of the author’s acknowledgements after the end of the story! If you loved these characters as much as I did, there’s something there you’ll want to know about! 😁

Content Advisory:

I believe this series is part of Enclave Publishing’s Young Adult line. While it is plenty appropriate for Christian teens and adults, there are some instances of sudden violence, as well as some frightening creature descriptions that might make it too intense for kids under age 12 who are reading up.

Language:

There are rare mentions of implied profanity, but nothing is ever written out.

Romance/Sexual

There are a few instances of affectionately hugging, touching hands or caressing someone’s face, one kiss on the cheek, and about three kisses on the lips. One of these kisses is described, but more in emotional terms than physical. Two are barely described at all.

A mention of a man’s muscular bare chest (due to treating a wound on his chest) but it’s not described excessively.

Some brief, undetailed discussion of a couple potentially having children.

Cass still numbs the pain of his past with alcohol, (his drinking isn’t described) but claims to have stopped seeking out random women for one-night stands since declaring his love for Sephone in the previous book.

Important note: While we understand the reason for Cass’s behavior it is never excused as being okay. Sephone tells Cass truthfully that no woman’s love will ever be able to satisfy him in the way he’s truly craving. Only Aedon (this book world’s name for its Christ figure) can do that.

Violence:

The bad guys in this story are EVIL and sometimes insane and they do and threaten terrible things. There are many, many threats of violence, and quite a few incidents of actual violence. A couple of incidents are very sudden and potentially startling.

There’s mention that a villain killed innocents: a man, woman, and child, in front of Sephone in order to force her to do what the villain wanted, however, these people’s deaths are not described.

Sephone’s arm also gets broken after an attempt at resistance. The sound and pain are described.

The Reliquary causes the death of an innocent young woman. Her pale dead body is described, but there’s no gore or injuries involved.

People who can transform into animals do a lot of damage to people throughout the story, clawing, biting, and sometimes poisoning with black saliva. This is not described to any extreme, but there are occasional brief mentions of claw and bite marks that are sometimes get moderately described, but sometimes, they don’t get described at all. Some of these injuries leave scars. One of the more intense and violent moments involves a person’s shoulder getting torn open by a shape-shifted animal. There’s mention of pain, mangled flesh, and multiple mentions of bleeding, but again, the description avoids extreme detail.

Someone’s throat gets slit, but the only description is of the body falling face-down and a brief mention of blood on the floor.

Someone’s chest gets clawed by a poisoned shape-shifting creature. Brief, minimal description of the injury. Some symptoms of poison (sweat, disorientation, fever) get described.

A healer is forced to re-break Sephone’s arm in order to heal the bones in the proper position. The sound of bone snapping and screams are described before she passes out.

A battle is described as a massacre. We’re aware of people fighting and dying but the description of the actual violent acts is kept minimal. Mentions of piles of dead bodies, weapons swinging and making contact. Occasional mentions of sounds and blood, but never any descriptions that are drawn out or gory.

Poison water blisters someone’s skin severely.

Someone drowns (not described.)

Someone dies falling off a cliff, but the death is not described.

There are descriptions of someone struggling to breathe because of poison and mention of “ink” trickling from a mouth.

Multiple people get punched and knocked unconscious.

Spiritual/Magic:

The usage of “altered” abilities continues as in the previous books. These are all natural talents and are referred to as “gifts.” This book clarifies that these “gifts” were given by God with the intention of them being use to help others, however they have potential for selfish/harmful use as well. Individuals must choose which way they use their gifts.

As stated in my review of book 2, Book 1 didn’t have obvious Christian faith elements, however, about halfway through book 2, we start to pick up on an allegorical element with a Garden that reflects the Garden of Eden and a man named “Aedon” who is described like a Christ figure. There’s also mention of “The Three” which is apparently a reflection of the Trinity with the Father (referenced, but never described), Son (Aedon), and Holy Spirit (appears as a white stallion or white raven). Aedon and the white stallion/raven have a heavy presence in this story with the raven acting as a Holy Spirit-like presence for characters and Aedon giving the ultimate sacrifice and then coming back to life. (I debated putting this in spoiler code, but for Christians, this shouldn’t be a spoiler. :))

We also learn that the character called Silvertongue is actually an allegorical picture of Satan. He puts a spell on many people at various times, convincing them he’s just a harmless old man when he’s really convincing them to do awful things on his behalf. Sometimes, individuals believe they’re serving themselves and not him, but it’s made clear that the Evil One is ultimately behind every evil act that humans commit, no matter what the motivation. One person practically seems possessed. This includes acting insane, violent, and power-hungry, and even having their eye-color change when under the influence of the “spell”. When not under the influence of the spell, the person can’t remember their evil acts at all.

Redemption of people and of creation itself is a huge theme.

Drug/Alcohol:

As stated previously, Cass is still drinking alcohol throughout the book, but this typically isn’t described. Sephone drinks some alcohol (implied to be the first time and only time imbibing) to help with pain before her broken arm gets re-broken to help it heal properly.

There are more mentions of the memory potions people drink and the negative impact this can have over time.

[Chloë Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can, with all my heart, say that Memoria is the most beautiful book I’ve ever read. 🩷 It has breathtaking allegory, and it’s one of those books that just feels like a soothing balm.
With that being said, it’s not preachy or boring in the slightest. I crown J. J. Fischer the master of plot twists because I DID NOT SEE ALL THAT COMING. The plot and characters are impeccable. There is so much well-done character development and I adore it.
Also, the epilogue? No words. Possibly my favorite epilogue I’ve ever read.
Please please please go read this trilogy so I have people to discuss it with 😂

[David S S. Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is really very good. The allegory is very C S Lewis worthy and written for an older audience although I can see this being YA assessable. I wasn’t a huge fan of the way the romance was written in this series and I’d spoil too much if o explained why but it’s so frustrating! Ugh. But the author does a masterful job of telling an exciting story and weaving in very unique allegorical elements that I absolutely loved. So good!

[Elisabeth (Bets) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review is for the whole trilogy.

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Rating: 5 stars

Do I recommend it? Yes!!

This is my second time reading this trilogy. I decided to review this trilogy as one because I can’t separate it in my head. It’s all one story to me.

The Nightingale Trilogy is a tension filled tale. I love the story but I’m also always ready for the ending. These books just leave you feeling so hungry for wholeness. For the hope that Christ offers.

Book 1 doesn’t have many Christian elements, nor does book 2. But both leave you with such a longing for hope. In book 3 a lot more of the Christian elements come in.

This trilogy shows the darkness in such a way that the light is even more visible. We see the strong contrast between extreme hopelessness and hope.

Oh. And the betrayal. Oh the betrayal. There is some seriously painful betrayal that happens in this book. Heartbreaking some of it. Why, Fischer, why? 😭💔

The world building with the altars is pretty neat. Getting to see the negatives behind their powers and watching those things be redeemed is beautiful. I really like the way Fischer built this world. And also, the whole idea of how this world is like post-apocalyptic or something is pretty neat to me. I don’t read dystopian so I’m sure this is a common theme in those types of books. But to me it was something new.

I love these characters so much. Sephone is such a broken but beautiful hope filled young lady. And Dorian is just running from his past so much that he’s blind to the present. (Blind and stupid. Come on, Dorian.)

And Cass, dear sweet broken goofy Cass. He’s just searching for something. And he’s searching in the wrong places. He’s so hungry for the hole within him to be filled. I’m just now starting Caligo and I can’t wait to see where Fischer takes his story.

And then we have the three bodyguards, Bear, Bas, and Jewel. Does she count as a bodyguard?? Or just a friend? They’re written so well and they feel so real. I love how Fischer has written all of her characters.

These characters are all real to me in a sense. They’re so well written. It does feel more plot driven since it has a strong plot that is determining what happens but the characters are also very deep. One reason I often prefer character driven to plot driven is because the characters in plot driven stories tend to be weaker and more shallow and the characters often make or break a story for me.

I cannot recommend this series enough.

Content:

Language- 0/5
Violence- 1/5 *
Sexual- 0/5 **

*Some gory descriptions of wounds and war violence but it didn’t really bother me.

**No sexual content, but there was romantic tension.


These books were clean. Thank you for reading this review and thank you, J. J. Fischer, for writing such a wonderful story for us!

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting, twisty conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Loved the ways that the thematic questions of the previous books finally met their thematic resolutions in this final installment. And there were some moments in the climax that felt rather Narnia-esque with how things were described. :)

[Reese Songbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally I’m not okay…but I will be. In so many ways this book tore out my heart and destroyed it, but it also gently picked up those torn pieces and softly put them back together. I’m not ashamed to say I cried a couple times reading this book, particularly at the end. I don’t even know if it’s fully possible to completely share all my thoughts…I feel like I have too many. But if you only understand one thing from this review, let me just say that it is wonderful. It is hard, heartbreaking, and deep, but it is rewarding, hopeful, and points to Jesus. Not only is it a story that was fun and exciting, it was a story rooted in something deeper, and ultimately what books should lead you too, our Creator and Heavenly Father. I was encouraged in my faith, and strengthened as I read this book, while also enjoying a story. There was so much depth and so many intricate details that I can’t even begin to describe, and it made an impact. I know I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
Also the characters 🥹 my little darling Cass…💔I love him so dearly. And Seph grew and changed a lot in this book, I loved seeing her development, even if she did make some foolish decisions, she remained grounded. And Dorian wasn’t so bad in this one..I softened towards him. He has officially redeemed himself in my eyes and I genuinely like him…though Cass will forever hold my heart.

[Danielle Bullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful ending to a wonderful trilogy.

There was one particular plot twist in this one that seemed a little... unbelievable? It felt like it came out of left field, which was a little off putting. However, the rest of the book more than held up to the other two, and I cannot wait to put this on my shelf in just over a week, and to get to lend this series out to many, many friends in the years to come and introduce them to the stories of Dorain, Cass, Seph and many others.

Adding to my favorite trilogies list pronto. And now I can finally actually say that.

[Miriam Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all let me say: THE PLOT TWISTS. I knew something was going to happen but NOT THAT.
Also I'm still melting over one particular scene that I won't spoil. :)
Memoria was an EPIC conclusion to The Nightingale Trilogy. There is a certain richness to the story because of the beautiful symbolism, and the characters become even more wonderfully complex.

Thank you for the wonderful story, Jasmine. I know that it's a work of your heart <3

[Jane Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story warmed me, filled me, and left me feeling so encouraged and just... at peace. Which seems weird to say for a story filled with heart-wrenching twists that made me literally gasp out loud and say "oh no" countless times. But at it's core, the message of this story is truly so, so beautiful.

A perfect ending to a new-favourite trilogy!!

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. I was captivated by Calor. I was entranced by Lumen. But it is in Memoria that I found myself the most profoundly moved. Not because it was an excellent story, expertly told. Not because I had fallen in love with the characters and was so deeply invested in their stories. While all of those things were true, and all of them contributed to making this trilogy as wonderful as it is, those components were merely the foundation, the setting of the stage for the Truth that Fischer so brilliantly displayed through this work of fiction.

Allow me to backtrack for a moment and talk about some of the other elements of the series in general and Memoria in particular that worked so well. First, the prose is this enticing blend of polish and warmth, a sweet spot that is easy to read but deceptively difficult to write. In my review of Calor, I compared the craftsmanship to that of Brandon Sanderson, and I stand by that. The worldbuilding is also fantastic, and I would rank it along those same lines. One way in which I actually think Fischer actually surpasses Sanderson is with her pacing, which manages to be both propulsive and more even across the board.

The stakes are incredibly high in this last installment. As is the tension on multiple fronts. There is tension between the main cast of characters, be it romantic or dramatic or suspicious in nature. There is tension held within the souls of the characters, tension between their desires and their duty, or their courage and their fear. There’s also larger scale tension between warring kingdoms. But all of those shrink in comparison to the overarching tension between good and evil that most of this world is still completely unaware of.

I grew to love Sephone and Dorian, Cass and Jewel, Spartan and so many others in this cast. But everything they went through, every element of the plot was all building toward showcasing the love of the Triune God in the presentation of the Three and their role in the drama unfolding. This is the best portrayal of the Trinity that I’ve encountered in fantasy, and one of the best I’ve come across in any work of fiction. The way Fischer showcased the Holy Spirit was inspired, and something I’ve rarely seen so lovingly and purposefully presented outside of actual Scripture. Then there is the Son aspect of the Three (who shall remain nameless in this review) and the almost allegorical conveyance of the Gospel. We have here all of the elements of The Greatest Story Ever Told, presented in a new way that reminded me of Lewis’s crafting of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia. I think that works such as this series and Narnia are such a powerful experience for those who are already Christians because they work as a prism, refracting the Light in a new way that brings us to a refreshed awareness of the true Gospel of Jesus. And those same works of fiction can be a life changing tool for those who don’t yet know Jesus, as it can plant in them a thirst of the ultimate Source of truth.

Everything about Memoria, especially the final quarter, moved me profoundly. Not only did Fischer nail the landing in terms of plot, her Nightingale trilogy is now ensconced with Narnia and Ted Dekker’s Circle series as some of the most spiritually rich and impactful works of fantasy I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Not only will I be rereading these for years and decades to come, I can’t wait to press this into as many hands as I can. So, if you’re reading this review, please consider embarking on your own journey with Sephone and Dorian and Cass. You won’t regret it.

A couple of parting thoughts. I would be sad to leave this world behind except, it’s not over yet! Fischer recently published a standalone sequel, Caligo, which follows a fan favorite side character. I’m starting on it as soon as I finish this review. I’ll leave you with a (very small) selection of my favorite quotes from Memoria, of which there are many. Enjoy!

“He is my true father...My brother. My general in a time of war, my king in a time of peace. But more than that, he has become my friend.”

“Some chains are visible; others are not…Oftentimes, one may consider himself a master, only to find he is the slave. From all that, my brother, I have freed you. You need never be a slave again—to your past or to your future. You are free.”

“But this gift of yours was not given so that you would shoulder another’s troubles alone. It was given so that you would realize there is only one who can. The moon only gives light because of the sun, Sephone. Let the sun lend you its strength, and you will shine with its radiance, its satisfying warmth, even in the densest darkness. First things first, and second things second, and all the gifts will work as they were intended.”

“Drink this water every day, and like the oak tree, you will flourish. The more deeply you drink of it, the more deeply you will know me, and the more you will be changed. I n time, it alone will satisfy your soul.”

“In this altered world, the real has imperfections. It is merely a memory of what once was, a glimpse of what will be. All things are an echo, a test, of the future. Now, you see but a glimpse. Thereafter, you will have everything in full, and neither it nor anything it contains will ever be taken away from you. The pain of the past, in that place, will be nothing more than a distant memory.”

“Lean on me each day, and I will lend you the strength you need to go on. And you will never be alone. I promise.”

“I would ask you to be my ambassadors. To this land, bring peace, truth, courage, remembrance, and healing. To this people, show the love that I showed you, and the truth that set you free from a deadly curse.”

[Story Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up, bookish folk, it’s going to be a crazy, emotional ride. Memoria wraps The Nightingale Trilogy up with a nice little bow, and it’s not a neat one. Jaws will drop. Tears will stream. It’s madness and chaos and holy cowness. If you love emotional fantasy with a touch of romance and no spice, grab a copy of the first two books in this trilogy today (you can find them here direct from Enclave, on Hoopla if your library offers that service, or please feel free to request a copy of them for your local library) and get started. A word of warning, however. If you haven’t read any Fischer books yet, these may be the gateway books to take you down The Fischer rabbit hole.

My thanks to the lovely J. J. Fischer and Enclave Publishing for the eARC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

See the full review on my blog!

Blog / Instagram / Literal / BookBub

[JoJo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still in awe after that ending.. 🥹

Wow Wow Wow!! Memoria is definitely my favorite in the series. There were so many twists I didn’t see coming! (And one that I did 😜)
My favorite things in this book:
1. The courage of Sephone, Dorian, Cass and their friends. Even though they were convinced at some points they wouldn’t come out alive, they still fought for the wellbeing of others.
2. The Romance. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but it was just perfect 🥰
3. The redemption of Asa. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that included a villain who was saved and changed through Christ.
4. The Faith content. It was just unmistakable. The sacrifice, the love, the pain and the hope that J.J. Fischer described so vividly in this book made me cry. I haven’t read a fantasy book before this one that ever really made me think more about the sacrifice of Christ in my life. Even when Sephone and her friends feel more alone than ever, they are reminded by Aedon (who represents Christ) that they are never truly alone and though they feel all hope is gone, they do not have to be responsible for the ultimate redemption of humanity. It reminds me of a quote I once heard from a pastor:
Everything does not depend on you.
Praise the Lord that our salvation does not rest on the amount of courage or perseverance that we have, but instead on the finished work of our Savior Jesus Christ!!

[A. M. Daylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was ready to call The Nightingale Trilogy my favorite by the end of the second book, Lumen, but–my goodness–did reading the finale, Memoria, set that in stone.

I love this whole trilogy so much. Just thinking of it too long makes me want to cry (in a good way). The characters absolutely enraptured my heart (especially Cass 😭❤️), the world captivated my imagination, and the messages left my heart feeling more whole at the close of each book.

I can’t say much about Memoria itself without spoiling it, but what I will say is that it is an absolutely wild ride of emotions. The heartfelt spiritual themes are handled with expert delicacy–blending just the right balance of rawness and hope. And the way Fischer turns the love triangle on its head is brilliant and touching in ways I wasn’t expecting. And of course, the writing itself is GORGEOUS. Fischer is a master at beautiful prose and authentic (and sometimes quite funny–looking at you, Cass) dialogue. And DO NOT get me started on THE plot twist of a lifetime 😱

HIGHLY recommend this epic trilogy!!

[Angie Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final installment of The Nightingale Trilogy represents the perfect example of author-reader trust. J.J. Fischer does not neglect to answer the series’ burning questions and fulfil promises subtly made to readers of this trilogy since book one. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to read Memoria early as a member of the author’s street team, and to savor this grand, glowing finale! The truths represented are piercing, the descriptions are visually breathtaking, and the characters experience believable and satisfying growth. Amid the many truths relayed, I loved the simple and strong themes of hope and healing. So very well done!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoria is a satisfying conclusion to The Nightingale Trilogy and delves deeply into the themes introduced in Calor and Lumen. There are many surprising plot twists, which I love. The levels of fantasy and clean romance remained consistent with the first two books, which I also appreciate. I’m sad to finish this trilogy, and I’m very glad I picked it up!

[Julia N White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long months have passed, but Dorian and Cass can’t find a trace of Sephone. As far as they can tell, she was kidnapped and left them each a note, which they refuse to show each other. At odds with one another, Dorian and Cass come to an agreement when they at last find a clue. Dorian will sacrifice himself, and Cass will protect Sephone, but he can never tell her Dorian’.
Sephone has endured months of unspeakable terror and her own hand dealt most of it after being forced by a masked stranger. Racked with guilt, she finds hope in a second stranger who visits her each night. Whether man or beast, she cannot tell. All she knows is she must free herself before the poison in her spreads and try to ignore the love ranging in her heart for one of the men who seeks her freedom.

Battles, betrayal, animal shapeshifters, a white raven (a personal favorite real-life animal of mine), blacking veins of poison, unreciprocated loved, AND reciprocated love are all neatly crammed into this glorious novel. The spell-binding ending to The Nightingale Trilogy will have your jaw drop. Literally. I was listening to this at work and when the identity of the masked stranger was revealed I said, “What???” aloud.
If you loved Calor and Lumen (but like me, hated the cliffhanger ending) you need to pick up this finale ASAP!!!!!

Jasmine, your elegant writing style and beautiful storytelling have given me courage in turbulent times. Thank you for writing about darkness in the mind, age gap relationships, men with wounded pasts and torn hearts, as well as a girl who dared to believe in hope when it seemed imposable!

Scoresheet:
Category: YA/NA Dystopian Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read/No spice. Sweet embraces and kisses
Violence: No excessive gore. Some blood.
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in allegorical form. Good morals.
Recommended reading age: 16+

[Daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

*weeps*

What a beautiful story! Unfortunately, it’s been so long since I read Lumen which made it really hard for me to remember what was going on 😅. All I remember is that Sephone was taken and Cass and Dorian were trying to find her.

There were so many names that I completely forgot about and the storyline was a bit confusing because I forgot everything. Therefore, I will write a fuller review for this book in the future, once I’ve read the whole trilogy through at one time. Since this is a saga, it’s supposed to be read in that way. I would not recommend reading this as a standalone and also I would not recommend reading this months after reading the second installment.

My main objective in reading the novel was to find out which of the love interests Sephone chooses in the end. Unfortunately, it was not the love interest I was rooting for 😭. It always sucks when that happens! I will say, though, that the final chapters of this book changed my opinion of the love interest I was initially rooting for. I definitely saw him in a different light. I just wish it wouldn’t have been at the very end. I wish that I would’ve seen him in a different light throughout the book so I could actually root for the main love interest. I will admit that epilogue was adorable though! I’m so thankful that after all the war and trauma, the characters have a peaceful ending.

Overall, the saga pleasantly surprised me. I am not one who reads a dystopian series, so picking the series up was definitely a risk. However, I fell in love with everything about it! I particularly love the allegory that was so strong in this book. I’m very much looking forward to binge reading this whole series next year!

Also, the ending of the author’s note?! *GASP* I’m so ready for J.J.’s next release!! 😍😍😍

4/5 stars, for now!

[Emma | meadowroselibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝘕𝘢𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵."

I finished this book a few days ago, and I'm still processing it and trying to find the words...this one really tore me up. 💔

I was so sad to come to come to an end to this series, but ready for it at the same time, because I needed all the answers that been drug out throughout the series. 😅 And WOW, so many curveballs and jaw drops, and MANY tears. 😭 So many times I had to just stop reading and process it all for awhile, soooo many tabs, and a lot of rereading parts because it was just sooooo good and hit me HARD. The allegory was just incredible, and what I needed right now. It amazed me and made me really feel God in a different way, a was that I really needed right now. 🩷

The whole series has included a love triangle, and at times I wasn't quite sure how that would end. I won't say much on that because I don't want to include spoilers, but I'll just say it ended exactly how I wanted it too and it couldn't have been more perfect. 🥰

Did I mention that this really made me cry? 😅 Because I think this book will forever have a part of my heart. 💔

If you enjoy fantasy that includes allegories, healing, and the sweetest slow burn romance, then I highly recommend this. 🩷

𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣...𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧.

[Sandralena Hanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. Too many inconsistencies.

How did Kaesi gather her followers if she was hardly away from the traveling group? And if she was present at all the war meetings, how did she make plans with her group? How did she spend so much time with Sephone in the mountains and be with the others, constantly traveling from one end of the range to the other? How could she be attacking as a wolf, then shooting a bow as the hooded man in the same fight? Where did she get the bow?

Asa and Spartan are too young, inexperienced, and raised by the worst example to be able to suddenly rule peacefully. Dorian is the experienced one with all the connections. He doesn't want the position, but that's always the best person to have it. How can he and Sephone witness to the world when their own countries are in the baby stages of excepting Aedon? Stay home and preach the word first.

And so on...

[Kelsey Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a clean fantasy series! No language, no agenda! There is a romance, but it is pretty much non existent for the majority of the series. I would recommend this for older teens/ young adults.

There is a side character who is known to be a womanizer. We are not given details of his escapades and he is not thought well of because of this character flaw He does grow throughout the series and puts this aside.

This has been presented as a an allegory. I would not go into these books looking for that, as that would be theologically confusing in my opinion.

There were several good twist in this book! One in particular completely shocked me!

Even after spending three books with these characters, I never truly felt attached to them. This story was good - but it was not "unputdownable".

[Amanda Geaney]

Plot twist!

[Hannah Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow.

[Winnifred Fritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say *mind blown*?! I zoomed through this book super fast but had to wait a few days to review for it to sink in. I am still reeling! As a conclusion, it left me both extremely satisfied and desperate for more! Be sure to read all the way to the end of the acknowledgements for a sweet little surprise... 👀

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin with how amazing this story was? This was a fantastic conclusion to Sephone's story! I honestly didn't want it to end!

Of course, it wasn't just Sephone's story. It was also Dorian and Cass's stories. From the start I had a soft spot for Cass. He's crass, gruff, and messes with Dorian to get under his skin. And then there's Dorian. He's the hero we know will do the right thing for everyone, but even more so, Sephone. Goodness, I love Seph. She's such an incredible character. There are also so many extra characters who make this story so rich: Spartan, Jewel, Bear & Bas, and a new character I know you'll love as much as I did!

Dorian is determined to protect Seph and Cass wants the same thing, but differently. Let's just saying nothing goes as planned. Players come onto the scene that will shock you. SHOCK YOU! People are turning on each other. It's chaos! Things you will learn as you read... I'm still shook! Trust me when I say, it'll make you want to go back to the beginning and read it all over again with new eyes!

I would say if you plan to start this story, make sure you have a lot of free time because you're not going to want to put it down. It's intense nearly the entire time. You will have zero ideas of what to expect, and just when you think you know what is going on or could possibly happen, nope, not even close! There's nearly constant action, and it's a wild ride!

I will say straight up that God's intent for redemption, Jesus laying His life down for mankind is fully shown in a fictional way in this story, and it's utterly beautiful! The way the author made this part of this was perfect! An incredible way to give readers a taste of someone paying a price another can't in a Gospel-centered way.

I could truly go on and on about the story because there are so many layers and moments to talk about. I'm seriously ready to revisit the story all over again!

*I received an ARC digital copy of the story. This is my personal opinion.

[Melissa J. Troutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like fantasy (dystopian or medieval or both), action and adventure, clean romance, and deep themes, The Nightingale Trilogy by J. J. Fischer belongs on your bookshelf. After Calor and Lumen, the trilogy finishes with Memoria, a novel with a beautiful cover and a powerful story. 

As I re-read Memoria for this review, I realized how much this book is like a river, in four keys ways:

1. The Pacing
Sometimes Memoria is a stretch of rapids, fast and narrow as events and developments tumble one after another almost too quickly for you to catch your breath. I was caught up in the chaos and heart-pounding rush of turning pages with no escape—and left with some bruises afterward. (All’s well that ends well, though.)

Other times the story flows through a broader channel, quiet on the surface and slow to the eye, yet with a fearsomely strong current beneath that carries you forward whether you like it or not. These conversations, reflections, and emotions not only give respite from the rush—and let me catch my breath—but also move the story forward with their own, deep power, no less compelling for their gentleness. I couldn’t have gotten out of the current if I’d tried.

2. The Twists
Let me warn you now: nothing from the first two books is what you think it is. Not only does Memoria take you down some Class 4 rapids, but it also whips you around some hairpin bends—sometimes a few in quick succession—that will leave you with mental and emotional whiplash. I’m still recovering from the unexpected plot twists (events and revelations) that make this book such an astounding conclusion to the trilogy.

Don’t worry, though; the genius of it all is that it all works. Just as Lumen builds on Calor, Memoria builds on Lumen (and Calor too), drawing from familiar characters and events to shape a semi-familiar but not expected ending. In other words, the surprises of this book make sense in light of the first two books, rather than shocking the reader with last-minute inventions or deus ex machina moments. (If I’m being vague, it’s because I have to be to avoid giving spoilers.) There are one or two new gifts that could seem a little convenient, especially without any foreshadowing in the previous books, but on the major scale, nothing raised my skepticism.  

Like glimpses around a river bend of what lies beyond, well before you reach there, Memoria asks questions—so many questions—before gradually answering them. Yes, I promise all the questions are answered. (Well, except for what Fischer mentions in her afterword. All the immediate questions are answered.) I had to keep reading in order to find out who this character was, and what happened there, and why this was the way it was, and so much more. Fischer’s expert story craft teases greatly, but it also rewards greatly. You’ll be sucked in from the prologue (if not from the previous books) and not released until the last page. Heads up: you’ll probably spin a little bit as the gentling eddies nudge you to shore.

3. The Depth
It wasn’t until the end of Calor that I caught a trace of allegory; otherwise, the first book could read like a regular dystopian fantasy novel. Lumen carried the allegory farther and deeper, though not fully revealing everything yet. In Memoria, the story and the allegory intersect in a powerful culmination, like two rivers joining, to carry you on a current that is both fast and deep. Very deep.

I didn’t expect so much allegory from this series, but again, it works and works well. As she does in almost all her novels so far, Fischer dances along the line between fiction and Truth, stepping first on this side, then on that side, satisfying the reader with delicious water from the combined rivers of beauty (fiction story) and truth (biblical messages).

Like a deep, quiet river whose waters both reflect and refresh, Memoria reflects the depravity of the human condition while refreshing readers with the hope of restoration. Both implicitly and explicitly, this final installment of The Nightingale Trilogy weaves together themes of the brokenness of the world around us, the brokenness we all carry within us, and the only offer of healing—true healing—that doesn’t come from ourselves.

You will see yourself in the inky waters of the River Memoria, as I did, but you will also be filled with joy and hope at the end, like I was.

4. The Beauty
A river doesn’t just move or carry things or have depth; it’s also beautiful. So is Memoria. And I’m not just talking about the cover here, though it is gorgeous. (I want to stare at it all day, especially that wolf front and center. The color, the details, the textures, the themes—what a masterpiece.)

The story of The Nightingale Trilogy is beautiful, and not only because of Fischer’s trademark polished prose. The character development, the plot climax and resolution, the symbolism, the spiritual themes of Memoria in particular—the combination of artistic creativity and profound, biblical truth is beautiful. I can’t think of any other word for it.

I daresay, perhaps more than any of Fischer’s other works, The Nightingale Trilogy is like The Chronicles of Narnia for adults: good story, good writing, and good messages that convey spiritual truths both obvious in their allegory and more subtle in their symbolism. Believers will read this trilogy and be blessed. Unbelievers will read it and be challenged.

So, if you haven’t yet read any of J. J. Fischer’s Nightingale Trilogy, now is the time. But don’t say I didn’t warn you: step one foot into the edge of this river, and you’ll find yourself swept away in a current too deep and strong to resist—and too beautiful to forget.

[Trinity Caver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoria by J.J. Fischer was such an amazing book. I read the second one and it was so good as well. This one took the conclusion of the story to soaring heights. While God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not mentioned by Name in this book, Aedon and the white raven always promised to be with them, that are talked about are clear references to God. The three that are mentioned meany times in the book are also references to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sephone is also called daughter by Aedon, which the reader can relate to as being a child of God. There is also mention made of a liquid that will never run dry even as it is drank more and more, this is a picture of the Word of God, but also of the Holy Spirit. It can also be used to filled other vials. This is a clear reference to the living water that Jesus says He will give everyone who is in Him and He in them, a clear reference to Jesus Himself. Other themes that are presented in this book are relationships that have age gaps, some mild illnesses of the mind and pasts that wound the heart and of course redemption.
Sephone is main female persona in this book. She has the gift of taking people’s memories, but with this gift, it is hard on her as well. When she is kidnapped, she is forced to use her gift on people that she would never think to use it on. She is slowly sinking and dying from poison in her body, but the person who has kidnapped her does not care. It is shocking to see who is behind her kidnapping. When we see who is really behind all the evils that happened and who is controlling the people and the situations, we are reminded that we do not war against flesh and blood as the Word of God tells us, but we war against the enemy who is on control of all those who do not belong to Jesus.
Dorian is the main male figure in this book. He has lost his wife and daughter, and his heart is grieving, but he seems to have feelings for Sephone. He is a bit older than she is, so there is some hesitancy in that regard, but there are other things that hold back a possible loving relationship between the two. He and Sephone make up most of the book’s narrative, related, but not necessarily with them being physically together. The author does tie their story in though as if they were physically together. I relished in the writing style of J.J. Fischer.
As mentioned in my introduction, this book was simply a beautifully written story that was so vivid, it really seemed to jump off the pages as I read it. Again, I have read the second book in this series and even though I still have not read the first one, I was hooked. I knew I had to read this one and I certainly was not disappointed, and I do not think you will be either. I was thoroughly captivated by the characters and their induvial stories as part of the whole. This book is a must read, and I would venture to say you should get it now!
I received a complimentary copy from the author through Celebrate Lit, for my honest opinion.