The Sorrow of the Sea

The Nightingale and the Falcon #3

by Stephen Aryan

The epic conclusion to Stephen Aryan's The Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy, a bloody and magical reimagining of the Mongolian Empire's invasion of Persia.

Embued with a new, ancient power, Temujin Khan holds all the cards. His father, the once great Hulagu, has now been reduced to a prisoner in a war he hoped to be the victor of. His youngest wife, the Blue Princess Kokochin has stepped into her own power, and seeks to find order and peace in a world she has never known...

Rippling in the heart of a bloody war, the Mongol Invasion comes to a standstill. But who will emerge triumphant in a world of conquerors?

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adult

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2025

About the author

I’m a lifelong fan of fantasy and science fiction. It started with The Hobbit, The Belgariad, the Earthsea books, the Shannara books, DragonLance and then David Gemmell, who was a huge influence on my writing.

My novels include:-

The Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy

The Judas Blossom (July 2023)
The Blood Dimmed Tide (9 July 2024)
The Judas Blossom 3 (July 2025)

The Quest for Heroes duology

-The Coward (June 2021)
- The Warrior (August 2022)


Age of Darkness (first trilogy)
- Battlemage
- Bloodmage
- Chaosmage

Age of Dread (second trilogy)

-Mageborn
-Magefall
-Magebane

A prequel novella to everything, Of Gods and Men, was published in February 2018.


I am represented by Juliet Mushens of Mushens Entertainment.

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
This was another enjoyable installment in this series. With strong characters and lush worldbuilding, this was very much on par with the last two novels.

I am fascinated by Mongolian culture and am pleased to see this one moving beyond the basic pieces of history.

I would definitely recommend this one to any fans of historical fantasy looking for a rich world to get lost in.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two books have a place of historical fantasy favourites for me.

Sadly, as you may be able to tell from my rating, this was my least favourite of the trilogy.
I think due to the nature of this historical, military fantasty, the ending would be explosive but risked becoming repetitive and predictable.

Temujin Khan, ruler of the Ilkhanate, killer of kin. What a turnaround his character has had - becoming the very thing he despised his father for.
Kokochin is working to disrupt the Mongol Empire from within, separated from Layla as she tries to find her way back after becoming someone she barely recognised. Capable of atrocious acts.
Kaivon and Esme support Temujin in a long-term plan to seek freedom for the nation states.

“Think of them as growing pains,” said Kimya. “Even the bloodshed that is bound to follow.”

The narration felt more stilted in this instalment. Every sentence was short and snappy, but overly and repetitively so. It was matter-of-fact, tell instead of show, and gave it this emotionless tone.

The war between the two opposing factions of Kozan who support Order and Chaos felt like it should been the most explosive part of this yet I felt like this was sidelined and resolved too easily and quickly.

Perhaps this would have worked better as a more tightly compact duology, however I am always drawn in to Aryan’s writing and pacing. As I have said before, I don’t like action scenes but I enjoy Aryan’s!

This sounds like I hated it. I didn’t. I was just let down as I LOVED the first two.
P.S. if you haven’t, try his other books too!

Physical arc gifted by Angry Robot.

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[Jonathan Koan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tremendous book by Stephen Aryan. He has completely mastered the balance of Historical Fiction and Fantasy here.

There were many plotlines and character journeys to conclude here, and it would be very difficult for anyone to make each and every one satisfactory. But Aryan manages to do it here! Not only was every plotline interesting throughout (something even the first two books didn't manage),but the conclusion for each plotline felt like it fit the story perfectly, even the ones that had...sorrowful...endings.

My favorite plotline in this book was Temujin's, which was interesting as he was not my favorite previously. His power moves with the various Mongol factions was fascinating.

Kaivon's moves in this book were interesting, and I found myself wondering if he had truly changed his heart towards the Mongolian Empire. I also just really like his dynamic with Esme.

Kokochin had an interesting story here, although not as good as her story in book 1. But Kokochin's story at the end of the book in Rome I thought was very well written.

The book continues excellent explorations of themes regarding war, power, and empires. But the best part of the book really is how it infuses elements of history. Obviously, there is a lot of made up history here, but I will say that Aryan has the perfect blend of historical accuracy while also changing enough that I didn't know if certain characters would actually make it.

By the way, I will say that this book pulls something off that shocked me. It tries to do something that Game of Thrones Season 8 tried (and miserably failed at), and here it fits the themes and ideas of the story perfectlly!

Overall, this is a superb book. I think it is on the level of books 1 and 2 excellence. Stephen Aryan has turned in a terrific trilogy that I hope many more people will give a chance. 9.3 out of 10!

[Lezlie The Nerdy Narrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Some men believe in god, but others look to individuals for hope."

This historical fantasy trilogy was a brutal reimagining of the Mongolian invasion of Persia and its thirst to conquer the known world. The Persians and their quiet rebellion - but amidst the war, the scheming, the devastation - there was hope.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entirety of this entire trilogy and already look forward to rereading it in the future when I can binge all three books, now that it's complete! I do confess that THE SORROW OF THE SEA is my least favorite of the three, but its largely due to knowing its the end and saying goodbye to some characters I loved and those I didn't like, but loved to read about.

A lot of these characters were based on actual historical figures from this time period and Stephen Aryan was just brilliant in how he used what was known about these people and orchestrating some intriguing arcs that fit in with what may or may not have occurred. (You'll have to get on Wiki and do a little reading to see what I mean!!)

I have to give it to the author - I had no idea how much I would love reading about historical events with a little liberty taken with including magic and a few other bits and bobs. Talk about making learning fun!

I requested a copy of the ARC on NetGalley from the publisher, Angry Robot Books, and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.

[Stacey Markle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic conclusion to one of the best series I've ever read!

First, thank you @stephenaryan_writer and @angryrobotbooks for the opportunity to be on the release tour and for the #gifted ARC!

The Nightengale and the Falcon

Three incredible books set in a world that we rarely get to see in fantasy. The Mongolian and Persian history is front and center and layers of political intrigue are interwoven with deep complex characters. Using sweeping descriptive prose, Stephen gives the reader everything of himself. The reading is immersive and bloody! The battles are some of my fav scenes (of course!) but there is also family dynamics and love to be felt.
This final act is the perfect wrap up.

Please pick up this trilogy, I know you'll love it!

[Terry Rudge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series and have become a huge fan of the way Aryan writes.

The style is punchy, direct, and takes you straight into the action. I feel totally submerged into the story from page one, every time

This book is the finale, and Aryan sticks the landing. Everything that's come before has led to these grandstand moments.

The magic slightly takes over in this book, compared to the others. So, for those who love fantasy more than the historical, this will be the perfect blend.

I am now intending to work my way through all other Aryan books. A superstar in the making !

[Dee Hancocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a trilogy! This is the final book in The Nightingale and The Falcon series. If you like gritty and action packed historical fantasy then look no further. This book provides a well wrapped up and detailed narrative, exactly what you need as a reader. It’s an epic conclusion to an amazing story. I was immersed and moved.

Read for -
Mongolian and Persian history
Complex characters (with great arcs)
Detailed battle scenes
Political Intrigue
Magic
Family dynamics
Alliances and betrayals
Captivating prose
A visceral experience


Many thanks to netgalley and angryrobotbooks for this ARC.

[Chlo Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book so much, one of my most anticipated reads of the year. really hoping stephen aryan publishes more set in this world/historical persia as it was honestly a straight 5 star read from the first page

- super fast paced straight from the start!! but easy to follow & the action scenes were well thought out in the way they were written. keeps you on the edge of your seat, no part of this book dragged

- loved all of the characters and POVs, they all felt like main characters with main stories into an overarching plot which was awesome. there wasn’t a single weak POV! they were also woven so well into each other.

- the magic system is just SO damn interesting in this book! it was easy to grasp yet still so mysterious, i’d love to find out more

- wrapped up the storylines really well, felt like the ending we needed, yet there was enough set up for future stories in this world

thanks to the publisher & netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

The Sorrow of the Sea is the third and final book in the historical fantasy series The Nightingale and the Falcon, written by Stephen Aryan, published by Angry Robot Books. An explosive conclusion which successfully closes many of the plotlines, still with space for some surprises, and that features more blood and more politics, as the fight for power across the Mongol Empires reaches a decisive point, picking from the point where The Blood Dimmed Tide left the story.

With so many open storylines at this point, bringing them to their conclusion is a complicated task, but Aryan managed to take most of all to a satisfactory ending; Temujin finally gets the full spotlight, using the advantage given by his Kozan abilities to reclaim his place across the various Mongol factions, a position of power that won't come without costs.
Kaivon is in a really interesting spot, having to collaborate with the Mongol Empire in order to gain Persia's freedom, but we can also see him struggling, almost accepting Temujin's rule for Persia as something inevitable, changing his heart. Esme perfectly complements him in this instalment, keeping his sanity and also maneuvering for Persia.
Kokochin's arc is the weakest in my opinion, losing a bit of the importance she had in the previous books, but she recovers it with an outstanding ending at Rome.

Aryan continues blending together fantasy and history, letting the reader to submerge themselves into a living world; magic becomes more prominent in this instalment, but still trying to keep the historical accuracy when possible. The prose is tight as in previous instalments, and the pacing is absolutely in the spot, keeping the reader hooked; and I can say that I really loved how the Kozan plot is closed, as I was a bit skeptic with it.

If you love historical inspired fantasy, The Nightingale and the Falcon is a series that you should definitely read; the three books are an excellent depiction of the Persian invasion by the Mongol Empire while being really enjoyable to read, having a memorable cast of characters. Can't wait to read the next Stephen Aryan's project!

[Sara. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐. Thank you NetGalley & Angry Robot for the ARC.

It's always disappointing when the conclusion to a trilogy does not quite hit the mark, especially with such a strong beginning and middle. The Sorrow of the Sea's biggest issue is that everything was SO anticlimactic. Stephen Aryan's strengths that I've come to expect from this series were surprising twists & turns and impressive political maneuvering. I didn't get either here.

Kokochin is one of the most interesting characters because we've followed the growth of her raw determination and cunning, yet it felt lacking in this one. Once she was forced to abandon the network that she built up in the first third of the novel, her subplot feels flat because once more she falls into the role of following the House of Grace's orders, which was to thwart an assassination. I was expecting the natural development of her getting to LEAD her own initiated scheme, but instead we got her being a follower once more. I deign to say this but as much as I root for the only sapphic relationship in this series, Layla's return didn't add much to Kokochin's arc.

Temujin and Melchior... Easily the biggest disappointments of the novel. How do you hype up such powerful individuals with such unfathomable power for two books and then decide to handle their endings in the most absurd way. Melchior's final confrontation felt like it came out of nowhere. I was not surprised at Temujin's ultimate fate, but the WAY it was done felt ridiculous because in earlier chapters, we're shown how he could capably handle such a situation without batting an eye. Temujin's final descent into becoming like Hulagu also felt rushed.

This part is definitely a matter of preference but if you enjoy drawn out military battle scenes, this one's for you.

Ultimately, not a satisfying finale for me.

[Donna Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Stephen concludes one of my favorite historical fantasy series with this story, and it is wonderfully written and eminently satisfying!! The pace of events and the various POV's reaching their conclusions really raises the tensions throughout the book. There are excellent battle scenes, continuing political machinations and plenty of magical beings to deal with. I have so enjoyed these characters, especially Kaivon, and I was definitely worried for their survival.

Stephen has done a marvelous job throughout this series bringing the expansive world of the Mongol empire to life. I loved learning about this time period through these characters, the cities, the food and the perseverance of the peoples inhabiting these regions. I would highly recommend this series for anyone who loves historical fiction with a bit of magic mixed in, it's a gripping series wonderfully told.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy received from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Sorrow of the Sea is a great ending to the series. I have very much enjoyed this Historical fantasy and I don’t often enjoy Historical fantasies.

Everything comes together in a very satisfying conclusion. I thought how every character ended their story was fitting. After acting like a power mad dictator in the second book, Kokochin is trying to make amends and that leads her to Rome to prevent the assassination of the Pope and back to Layla. I wasn’t that fond of her in book two but she brought me round in this book and I started rooting for her again. Kaivon is probably my favourite character in the whole series and I continued to love him in this book. Temujin is an interesting character. I liked how his story ended.

Not to mention the plot to avoid spoilers, but I really liked how it ended. There were parts I didn’t expect and parts that I was glad happened so, all in all, it was a very satisfying ending.

I always enjoy Aryan’s books. I like the way he writes and he always manages to tell an interesting story and he creates an evocative world that feels well-realised and lived in. I have very much enjoyed reading this series. It is very different than his previous series but it is just as good.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sorrow of the Sea is the epic historical fantasy conclusion to the Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy.
Sorrow of the Sea starts right in the chaos that the Blood dimmed tide ended on, we pick straight back up into the thick of it with all the characters you know and love to hate.
As final books go this one is a masterpiece, taking the political and murderous parts of the previous books and wrapping them up in a blood soaked bow. Historical accuracy mixed with a fantastical twist make you crave more from this Mongol horde and the tag alongs you learn to love.
Gut punches and gasp aloud revelations aside Stephen’s writing is so accessible to read. With smaller page counts than most epic fantasy’s he manages to pack the same punch in half the word count and two thirds of the head scratches.
Whilst the series was wrapped up with precision there is still always a glimmer of hope that we can bully Stephen into revisiting this world of more people buy, read, and fall in love with his writing as I have this year. Here’s to carrying on with his back catalogue and catching up on everything he’s ever written.

[Carla Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Grand, Gritty Finale with Moments of Uneven Depth – The Nightingale and the Falcon: Book Three

Stephen Aryan closes out *The Nightingale and the Falcon* trilogy with a sweeping, high-stakes finale full of warfare, shifting loyalties, and a collision of legacies. In this final installment, the world teeters on the brink of an unprecedented war—and Aryan pulls no punches as armies gather, alliances fray, and the true cost of power becomes clear.

Temujin’s arc takes center stage as he steps fully into his role as ruler of the Ilkhanate. His struggle to lead not as his father did, but as his own man, gives the book its emotional backbone. His attempts to walk the line between tradition and compassion are compelling, though at times the narrative could have delved deeper into his internal conflict. His transformation feels earned, but a few more introspective moments would have made it resonate more strongly.

Kaivon and Esme provide much of the book’s forward motion, engaging in tense, tactical missions that keep the pace brisk. Their loyalty to Temujin and growing weariness with endless war lend their sections a grounded, human quality amidst the epic scale of the conflict.

Kokochin’s storyline offers a refreshing, morally grey counterpoint. Her quest for redemption, tinged with darker impulses and haunted by violence, adds real texture to the cast. That said, her arc occasionally feels disconnected from the central momentum, though it thematically reinforces the novel’s concern with power, legacy, and survival.

Aryan’s world remains vivid and brutal—full of spies, magi, and military maneuvering—but occasionally the sheer number of perspectives can undercut emotional payoff. While the action and scope are impressive, some characters could have used more breathing room to fully land their conclusions.

Still, this is an ambitious and satisfying finale, with enough twists, payoffs, and blood-stained triumphs to keep fans of the series gripped until the last page. *The Nightingale and the Falcon* ends as it lived: bold, brutal, and filled with characters trying—often failing—to reshape a world carved by conquest.

[the.bookish.designer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You can break my body, kill me and bury me in the ground, but from the seeds of the old, new life will grow”

I read The Judas Blossom and The Blood Dimmed Tide back-to-back in October 2024 and absolutely lost my mind over this series. There was a lot of pressure on The Sorrow of the Sea to wrap this trilogy up and live up to the first two books.

It’s a good thing that it not only lived up to but exceeded my expectations of this series. The Sorrow of the Seas is probably one of the most well-rounded finales that I have ever read. Every single thread was tied up perfectly.

What I loved about this book apart from being with one of my favourite characters ever, I’m not naming them because… spoilers. Is that TSOTS takes the best parts of The Judas Blossom and The Blood Dimmed Tide, entangles them and then raises the stakes to make one hell of a story.

This is the first series of Stephen Aryan’s work that I have read, and I will absolutely be going through his back catalogue soon. What I love about Stephen’s writing is his ability to pack a lot of plot and character building into moderate page count yet making it so accessible and easy to read without feeling like the book is written for a younger audience.

If you are looking for a rich and gritty historical fantasy that is based very much in the reality of the time look no further than The Nightengale and the Falcon Trilogy and spend some time in the Mongol Empire.

-

Thank you to Angry Robot & NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world building and research into Persian, Mongolian, and Indian politics — the push and pull of religion, food, money and power — are well done. But, for me, they didn’t quite shine the way I wanted them to. Adding magic and an undying collection of twelve mages did add some interesting moments, but it also took away from other characters as these mages working in the shadows were responsible for victories and failures rather than Temujin, for example, being a skilled strategist and ruler. It lessened every other character by turning them into inconsequential pieces with no real skills, no real value on their own. And, in all honesty, the characters were often my biggest issue with this book.

While I appreciate the complexity the author attempted, with so many cultures and people with their own machinations and plans, it felt very much like the plot took the focus away from the people that were, in theory, enduring these heartaches, overcoming these obstacles, living these lives. And, as someone who enjoys a character forward book, it made this one slower and more of an effort to read.

It’s not a bad book. It’s well researched and the writing is decent; the book is very easy to read … but it also left me uninvested. However, that’s just me. Other people may enjoy this a lot more, especially if you’re into a lot of action, some straight forward morality and politicking, some kind Christianity and a sapphic side couple. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t the book for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Luana Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great end to a trilogy that carved a space in my heart and on my shelves.

In this last installment, all story lines came together cleverly. We have Temujin, now Khan, ruler of the Ilkhanate. He has a lot on his plate, trying to deal with the legacy of his deposed father, his allies, and the coming war. He is slowly becoming the thing he despised his father for, and is seeking to put an end to the Kozan at the same time.
Kokochin is still trying to help the Mongol Empire from afar, working in the shadows, and soon is sent to Rome in a new task, with a former ally. Kaivon and Esme are still in the fight to free Persia from Mongolian rule, and have no way out but support Temujin for the time being. The Kozan and the war might offer them both a new light at the end of the tunnel.

I really enjoyed how Stephen Aryan wrote a fantasy heavy on history and military strategy without letting the text drag. It is informative, adventurous and bloody, and I liked it. Temujin was not a favorite character of mine in this book, but I still appreciated his story arc through the end. I was also expecting more from the Kozan, and somehow their story seems incomplete for me.
However, all the rest was very well-balanced, and I finished this book wanting more books from Aryan to read.

Thank you, @stephenaryan_writer and @angryrobotbooks, for the opportunity to be gifted a physical ARC of this book!

[Cosmic Reads Club · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sorrow of the Sea, the third book in The Nightingale and the Falcon series, was unfortunately a bit of a struggle for me. While technically a fantasy novel, the magical elements—such as the powers of the Kozan—take a backseat to a story that reads much more like historical fiction.

The setting is inspired by the Persian Empire during the time of the Mongol invasions, and that influence is deeply felt. The book offers detailed worldbuilding and a clear sense of place, with shifting locations, political conflict, and multiple character perspectives. It’s well-written and likely well-researched, but the focus on history over fantasy made it feel more like a dramatized retelling of real-world events with light fantastical touches.

Personally, I prefer stories with a stronger magical presence and a more cohesive fantasy tone. Here, the pacing felt slow and the sheer number of events and characters made it difficult to stay fully engaged. However, I did appreciate the final chapters, which wrapped things up well.

If you enjoy historically inspired fiction with subtle fantasy elements—especially narratives echoing real-world empires and invasions—this might be a rewarding read. But if you’re looking for classic, magic-heavy fantasy, this probably won’t be the right fit.

[Dan Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tour stop for "The Sorrow of the Sea" by Stephen Aryan from Angry Robot! The Nightingale and the Falcon Trilogy comes to a close with blood, screams, and a thoughtful end.

Thinks are seriously sideways in the Ilkhanate. Temujin has seized power (via barehanded killing a ton of guards and his siblings), Persia is in danger from the carnage of Timur, the Kozan are on the move. In a world of magi, spies, and conquerors people will form strange alliances to survive.

Reasons to read:
-Questions of the nature of humanity and immortality examined in a way I haven't seen often
-It's a historical fantasy about the Mongolian invasion of Persia and the fallout that caused, I'd bet that is something you haven't checked out recently
-Super satisfied with everyone's arcs
-The asides for random people's povs during the battle, sucks to be that archer
-We see why the Kozan don't come into direct conflict
-The fall
-Threw me back to memories of the end of a certain video game

Cons:
-I'd like a world government (so we can get to the stars) but we are not mature enough to do so in a responsible way and that point was driven home a bit

[Shane Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, The Nightingale and the Falcon was one of my favorite series that I read all year, so I started reading The Sorrow of the Sea with a huge amount of hype.

We pick up straight from the explosive ending to The Blood Dimmed Tide, and it's non-stop to the end. Temujin continues to be my favorite character, as we follow his struggle not to become the thing he despised in his father.

But really, the entire cast of characters is very strong.
I also love Stephen Aryan's magical twist (the Kozan) to the historical Mongolian setting, and its presence in the story is at its highest here. Aryan does a great job at closing a lot of threads, though I can see where some folks might feel they were tied up just a little too neatly.

This series is peak historical fantasy and, for me, Stephen Aryan stuck the landing with The Sorrow of the Sea. If you're into Mongolian history, non-stop action, secret societies, and espionage, then this is an easy must-read.

8.88/10
5/5 ⭐️

Thanks to Stephen Aryan and Angry Robot Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this from Netgalley.

I liked the end to the trilogy. I think this may have been the weakest one for me though. What I do love about these books is that the author has a recap at the beginning of the book, which should be mandatory I think :). It is so helpful when there has been a while between releases and reads.
Some of the themes in here of legacy and how power corrupts. I also liked the battles in here and how gritty and personal they felt. I think that the author writes a battle scene really well.
There was one section though that I felt cam out of left field and really threw me. I cannot say what it was without spoilers but two of the characters seem to go off on a side quest that I really thought didn't need to happen.
Overall I think the series was great. I liked the fact that the history was of the Mongol empire rather than just a classic knights and kings setting and found it to be really rich and detailed. I will definitely check out more by the author.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect ending for this somptuous trilogy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars. The intricate sub plots gather at least for the Epic finale of the historic fantasy full of well depicted battle. We smelt sand, blood and magic. ✨🤩
Tragedies lurking, sacrifices have to be made, and empire shall rise and fall. I adored this last instalment, the variery of cities, the vast world and all the various stakes were spectacular. The talent of this author tremendous and reached its peak here, such lush word and great pacing. I had a blast and will immensely recommend this trilogy full of adventures, graphic and raw violence, with betrayals, and loyal, brave characters even women are real badass without being too over the top nor irrealistic. An excellent book which concludes without any flaws the serie ❤️👏

[Richard Chitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

As a trilogy, I really enjoyed the 'Nightingale and the Falcon'. To me, Aryan has done a great job painting the historical era, albeit with a fantastical spin.

As for the final instalment; it was enjoyable, well paced and easy to read, and i've come to enjoy spending time with the POV characters. I just felt that the conclusion was a little underwhelming for the majority of the characters, which is such a shame, as I know Aryan has the ability to throw in interesting twists and turns to his storytelling.

It's strange to find the middle book of a trilogy my highlight, but that's where I find myself here. Overall, a 7.5/10 out of 10 for me.

[Dario Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in this series got 5 stars from me. I will definitely be reading more by Stephen Aryan. Horror is my favorite genre but this series is tied in first place for my favorite book, yes I have more than 1 favorite book. I really enjoy his pros, his style just does it for me. I like that there’s not a ton of magic, I would’ve still loved it even if there was zero magic. I don’t like spoiling anything so my review will be vague but if you are at all interested in a political, minimal magic and watching people trying to overthrow the mongols story, you’ll love this series.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first two in the series, I was excited to see The Sorrow of the Sea! Excellent conclusion yet maybe leaving room for more?! Action, adventure...sorrow and tribulations. Fighting the Khans for freedom, love this period.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic final installation to The Judas Blossom trilogy! This historical fantasy wraps up in epic conclusion! You will feel like everything is just snapped into place! Every twist and turn has led to this point!

This historical fantasy shifts the line a little more into the fantasy world than historical as the magic becomes a large part of the story. You may loose a little bit of the historical aspects to these displays of magic but I think the balance is still there!

Aryans writing is very interesting to me as it started off nice but as I’ve learned there writing style I’ve seen a change that has made me truly enjoy the style of writing and chosen phrases for the characters!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Caleb Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was extremely well done! Not only does this book have one of the best battle scenes I have ever read, but its character work was really good! I think the only reason I dislike this installment as much as I do is due to one character feeling completely useless. Otherwise, very good book, to a great series!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED the recap in the beginning of the book, so beyond helpful.

Very nice to have a book not based in European or Western ideology, but Persian and Mongolian was fun to learn about with the magic system twist.

Received as an arc. Thank you!!

[krejn · Rating 4 out of 5]

yuri happy ending 🥳

[Aselia Yokkyuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.50 ⭐️