Three Shattered Souls

The Broken Blades #3

by Mai Corland

Some betrayals cut deeper than blades.

The Blades were never supposed to survive this long. But after the battle in Quu Harbor, escaping is no longer enough. The most dangerous liars in the four realms have one last mission―return to Yusan and finish what they started.

But now a usurper sits on the serpent throne. And he may be more dangerous than the god-king.

With three relics of the Dragon Lord in their possession, the Blades will face the might of the four realms. Enemies will become allies. Allies will become traitors. And the ones they love most? They’ll be the ones to break them.

Grief will carve the Blades into something ruthless and unrecognizable. But only by losing everything can they win this game of kings and crowns.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fiction, Magic

439 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2025

About the author

Mai Corland is a Korean American attorney and writer, born in Seoul and adopted into New York. From there, she ran away from winter and studied in Florida at Rollins College and the University of Miami. Due to a variety of questionable decisions, she currently lives in the cold again with her partner, children, and a goldfish who will outlive them all. When not writing, you can find her asleep or clutching her latte machine. Mai writes award winning children’s and young adult books under Meredith Ireland.

Reviews

[❀ leah ❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

the blades will never be the crows, sorry not sorry

2 stars

[Lauren Lanz]

Idk who the other two shattered souls are but one is definitely me after what happened to my boy 😭

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy finale for the series.
I wasn't sure if I would continue after the last book, because I didn't see the point after the death of my favorite character. However, I now understand it was necessary for the plot, I'm still heartbroken but I accepted it. Plus, this book was filled with sadness and heartbreak, so I'm used to it.
I still love these characters with all my heart, they all managed to make an impression and I know they will stay with me. I can't say I am happy with the ending, but it couldn't be any other way.
I was afraid it wouldn't be as good because it is coming out only a few months after four ruined realms, but my doubts were unfounded.
This series is perfect for people that are still mourning the ending of six of crows. It is a lot bloodier, though, but you will love these characters just as much.
I'm still recovering from a scene towards the end, it will take some time for me to stop wanting to scream about it.
Overall, I would highly recommend this trilogy. You can find reviews for each book in my gr profile if you want.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for reaching out and offering me the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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Netgalley preview:
I loved five broken blades so, so much, but then I hated four ruined realms. I just can't agree with the direction she took, I mean she killed off one of my favorite characters...
However, the preview of the last book was available on Netgalley, it seemed only right that I read it and decide if I want to continue based on that.
The verdict is that I will continue. I discovered I'm still pretty invested, if nothing else on Mikail, and since it's the last one and I've come so far I will finish the series.

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
Is it the most refined writing? No.
But it’s just so overdramatic in the best way posssible… like an epic Asian fantasy drama meets a CW show.

Also…. did I see a hint towards a SPINOFF????? 👀👀👀

[belle ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

.ೃ࿐

4.5 ★

ੈ✩‧₊˚ my thoughts

This series is a perfect binge series.

“There are weights you bear alone because the truth will crush someone you love.”

I have absolutely loved reading these books as they are released. The characters are so amazing, and the plot is so well constructed, it was an absolute joy to read. These characters are all so realistically flawed, and it adds so much to the story.

My favorite characters were definitely Aeri and Royo. They really make the story for me and I hurt so much for them. The ending was so heartbreaking. But I also really admire an author who isn’t afraid to sacrifice their characters. Aeri’s death made me sob, for Royo especially, but it also feels like the ‘right’ ending to the story.

The only thing keeping me back from giving this 5 stars is that it is so dense in world-building at times that it can be difficult to get back into the story when some time has passed since reading the last book. That’s why I think the best reading experience of this trilogy would be to binge-read it.

In all, I love these books and characters and will be looking out for Mai Corland’s future releases!

.ೃ࿐ tropes
🩸Found family
🩸Heist story
🩸Grumpy x sunshine
🩸Multiple POV

-`♡´- Happy reading! Belle

─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ୨୧ ──── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──── ୨୧ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─

୨୧➛ post-reread ── .✦

This finale was everything. I love this series so much!

Full rtc 💔

.ೃ࿐ pre-reread .ೃ࿐

Rereading this because my special edition came in!

─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ୨୧ ──── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──── ୨୧ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for making a preview of Three Shattered Souls available!

Just finished the first 3 chapters in the preview. I can’t wait until publication day so I can get back into this world and find out what happens to my babies 🥺❤️

pre-read:

I can't wait to finish this series! I loved Five Broken Blades - and while I found Four Ruined Realms a bit disappointing - I can't wait to see how this series ends!

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part is how everything goes really well and they all live happily ever after. 😇😇😇 What a fantastic trilogy! I had so much fun with these emotionally stunted idiots. 🩷

[Nicole Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

( 3.5 )

Actually breaks my heart not to make this a 5 star 😔 Almost did but I wanted to be true to myself.

I didn’t so much mind what happened in this book - the ending was solid, a fitting end. There wasn’t much that happened, like probably the first 75 % was leading up to the end. I feel like I just read it and I couldn’t tell you everything that happened in the first portion, because it was really just them strategizing and going to different cities.

I think my biggest problem with this book was how little she described anything instead of telling us it. This matters a lot in exposition, because describing us PUTS the reader in the book instead of making us feel like we’re reading it. 9/10 times the character would tell us exactly what was going on instead of letting us infer it by the surroundings or how the character was reacting. I feel like a good example was when Sora saw two people she thought were dead, she says “A man and woman. I know exactly who they are, and yet that can’t be, because — and — are dead.” Like, that is a huge moment. It should’ve been drawn out more, describe how they look like, anything. I felt that in every moment of tension this was the issue. It never actually felt monumental because without description the scene flew by.

I loved this series and will always ALWAYS think of it fondly, and will continue to get anything and everything mai corland publishes. I did not hate this book - just didn’t feel as moved by it like I did the first two in the trilogy.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU CAN'T JUST END THE BOOK LIKE THAT

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Entangled Publishing, LLC | Entangled: Red Tower Books, for sending me over this ARC. 💫🖤

This book captivated me just like the first two. It was effortless to re-enter this world and connect with the characters. The storyline was perfectly structured for a trilogy - I enjoyed the pacing, shortish chapters, and multiple POV style. This trilogy is heavy on themes of deception, betrayal, and tested loyalty. The series' heart remains centered on the concept of "found family" and love, which easily resonated with me. Without giving away details, I think the ending was fitting for the series in a way, totally get why the author did it, but also don't love that open-ended feeling, either. Maybe there is a goal to do some kind of spin-off series??

I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy. This is a great series for dabbling in this genre.


Pub Date Jul 15 2025

*As always, all thoughts are my own! xx

[MillennialMomReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to miss the Blades so much 😭this series is criminally underrated IMO, and Three Shattered Souls is the perfect ending to this particular saga. The narration is excellent, and each narrator really embodies their POV and has you rooting for them, even when on all sides they are surrounded by moral greyness. That is ultimately what makes the series so satisfying, and the back and forth of alliances gave me whiplash. This book moved so quickly without sacrificing the plot. Thank goodness for that epilogue…I’ll be back for more Mai Corland hopefully before you know it!

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

this book felt exactly like the others in that it was fast paced and fun throughout. the way that the characters continue to care for and love each other is so sweet 😭.

the ending was devastating and gut-wrenching, so much so that i almost wish i didn't finish the series. however, props to mai corland for making me feel something big.

***thank you to entangled for the eARC copy

[Bree Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should be four shattered souls because one of them is mine

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, no, go ahead. Rip my heart out. It's fine...

But in all seriousness, this was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy, and in my opinion, a perfect novel. The Broken Blades trilogy has really wormed its way into my heart. Although I felt like Five Broken Blades was an averagely good fantasy novel, its two sequels built upon its success in incredible ways. This trilogy is one of the best paced and most cohesive series I've ever read. By the end of Three Shattered Souls, I'd felt like I'd been taken through an entire saga, much longer than three books. The only other series that have given me those same rewarding feelings of completeness and appreciation once finishing them are all much longer sagas, such as Throne of Glass. I am really amazed at how much political drama and character growth that Mai Corland managed to seamlessly pack into three short books. And I haven't even mentioned the relationships yet. The found family that we see in this series is probably the most believable "found family" I've ever read. I could not define the moment that these allies turned into friends, nor the scene in which they transitioned into family, because it was so seamless. By the end of book three, I felt like these characters had known each other their whole lives, and like I had loved them all of mine. And though some of their endings were bittersweet, it all felt very fitting.

That being said, did I sense a spin-off tease in the epilogue?

Overall, I loved this final chapter in the Broken Blades trilogy, and adored the series as a whole. If anyone has read book one and was unsure if they should continue, trust me, as someone who was in the same boat, it's worth it.

[Alyx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3 starts after the events of book 2. While the characters were constantly moving throughout the realms, not much seemed to really happen until the last 20% of this book. I kind of got lost in the whiplash of being one place, then another, then back. I lost some of the connection to the characters I had after book 2. I still enjoyed the multi POVs, but a lot of the internal monologue became repetitive. I was satisfied by the ending, and now I’m curious if Mai Corland plans to write a spin off series. Book 2 will remain my favorite in the trilogy.

Memorable Quotes:
"Broken hearts grow thorns as they stitch themselves back together." Sora

"There are weights you bear alone because the truth will crush someone you love." Aeri

"Bravery isn't the absence of fear, it's persevering despite it." Tiyung

"That's life. Chances that pass you by create regret." Royo

"Vengeance is a fire without warmth." Tiyung to Sora

Makail says something to Royo about not dwelling on the past, that's why we live in the present, but I listened to the audiobook and didn't write down the exact line.

[❁lilith❁ · Rating 2 out of 5]

the joy of having finished this series that I couldn't stop reading despite disliking. this hasn't really happened to me before so congrats to this series for being the first. fairly boring and

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 to 3.5 stars.

Mai didn't kill her darlings, but she killed mine.

Man, Sora really did nothing the entire book just to be crowned queen. I get that the Dragon Lord (god) technically crowned her but still. I like Sora as a concept, but the actual writing for her in this series was severely lacking. I think Tiyung and Hana chapters should have been taken out to give Sora some actual things to do besides grieving (which is valid) for two bitches that were alive the whole time. Sora comes across as a Mary Sue because she'll be sad and have her moral struggles, but the rest of the characters praise her to no end. It was very tiring.

Depending on what Mai decides to do for the series spinoff, I kind of doubt Aeri is gone for good. The scene with Euyn in the underworld confirmed that people who touched the relics could stick around in the underworld before judgement longer. Since the relics are supposedly destroyed by the Dragon Lord, not sure whether that will remain true, but Royo's last chapter is cryptic enough and we need story material for the spinoff. Not off the table. I thought the final scene with Aeri as the Dragon lord could have been so epic. It was a bit of a let down there wasn't a very strong build up to it, but I understand why it was written the way it was. The relics do more harm than good, Aeri just wanted to get it over with. The Royo and Aeri dynamic was very repetitive. Do I adore Aeri and think Royo is just fine? Yeah, but I wish there was more to them besides the same back and forth.

I was mostly satisfied with Mikhail's story in this book. I like how he reclaimed his throne, as abrupt as it was. His story felt the most complete out of our original cast of 5 (Aeri being tragically 2nd). He also had the best dialogue because he was funniest when he was down with murder. I also liked when the gang was looking for the Gaya temple of knowledge he just had a good big cry session because he lost Euyn and Aeri, Royo and Sora comforted him. That's the found family moment I'm asking for! I sorely missed it in this final book. Lastly, Fallador and Gambria's betrayals (?) didn't have any recourse because Mikhail just decided it's water under the bridge for the sake of moving on. Sounds fake because it sounds like a bit of Euyn's paranoia rubbed off on him.

I've never liked Tiyung, but I respect that he can talk Mikhail down with morality. Still hate the fact that Sora and Tiyung be preaching morals and goodie goodie stuff because I don't consent. I've tolerated it because other characters were down with murder and that's what I was here for.

Gonna be honest, I probably stuck with this series to the end because I loved Mikhail and Euyn. No one really gets a full-on HEA in 3SS, but they end with the closest "feel good" and romantic ending (death can't stop them sorry I don't believe Mai could leave Royo and Euyn hanging like this permanently). They are such a unit. I loved them in book 1 even tho they had been separated and were slowly easing back together. They're the best written couple here. I have no regrets sticking with the Broken Blades because of their last scene together even if 3SS is my least favorite installment.

The plot of Three Shattered Souls felt all over the place, mostly because these guys were traveling all over the place just ~because~. I'm glad there's a map because with all the traveling they did, this is one of the few times with a book that I actually needed to flip back and forth to remember where tf they were. Look, I enjoy the story for what it is, but I actually think this is the weakest of the trilogy. There was no Euyn for obvious reasons except for that one scene, but I think without him the series just doesn't feel the same or have the same type of direction as it did, structurally at least. There was a crowning moment of awesome in Four Ruined Realms with Euyn that I don't think 3SS captured because it was so meaningful to his character AND it propelled the plot forward. A lot of the plot development happened because we needed to finish the trilogy and people are placed conveniently in whole diff cities because why not~

As for the writing itself - I think the style is consistent throughout all 3 books. It does have a can't-put-it-down quality to it for me where I can always breeze through them in a couple of days and it reads very smoothly. I kind of call this type of book junior chapter books for adults LMAO. I don't mean YA, but I mean it's an adult book that's easy to read and puts everything on the page for you so you can enjoy the ride.


Pre-review
Slams this to the top of my TBR when it's out. If Mikhail doesn't have a good end, then I will have some words.

[caleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

well... okay? this was a mess, you can tell it was rushed out by the author/publisher and the storyline(s) were stretched far beyond their actual depth and capacity.

the first two books were fun because they were quick and bingeable, but they did also suffer from being tell not show, surface level, and repetitive and cliche. i thought that would all improve in this conclusion, because we’d already known the characters for a while and seen them through highs and lows. but unfortunately this one was worse. literally nothing happened and when it did, it made no sense and/or was so unsatisfying.

suuuuper sad for me to be rating one of my most anticipated releases of the year two stars but, like, i had to force myself through the majority of the book. also the fact that this was left open for a spinoff series? literally my biggest pet peeve. why can authors never just move the fuck on!!

[taylor ❤️‍🔥 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒆.”

in the final book of the broken blades trilogy we are back with the crew as they return to yusan after the battle at quu harbor. with the odds stacked against them, they are determined to eliminate their enemies and put the right person on the throne in order to give yusan a fighting chance at a future.

it always amazes me how much mai is able to fit in, in 500 pages or less. the political intrigue, scheming, mythical relics and elemental magic draw you in just as quickly as the previous books in the series.

after the events and one particular death in the previous book mai really hit it home with her portrayal of found family and grief in this one. i loved how all of the characters were able to lean on, and protect one another without any hesitation. at this point, she made it so effortless to care and root for these characters to somehow find their way to happiness.

even though the ending didn’t favor my favorite characters, i don’t see how it could have ended any other way. it also ended on a small cliff hanger that left me with questions of the possibility of a spinoff in the future? 👀

this is one of my auto buy authors so you already know that i have her next book verity guild preordered. 🙂‍↕️


————————————

my poor baby royo 😭 why’d she have to do him like that

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really don't know how i feel about this book, i was soooo excited to read it and i think i built it up in my head too much because lowkey this book was boring af.

like it kept the same format as book 1 and 2 but it felt like it dragged on forever i s2g, the first 50% of this book was just them moving from one location to another DOING NOTHING OF NOTE jfc. Aeri and Royo had the same exact storyline for the 3rd book in a row like what was the point even?

Not to mention they barely acknowledge Euyn's death except for one paragraph near the middle where Mikail cries for a bit and a chapter near the end where he meets Euyn in the bridge of souls

I also don't fully get how all of a sudden they're all like "we are family, we love each other" when they coudn't even stand each other for the last 2 books, like ok sure buddy. Don't even get me started on how Tiyung has been on this damn journey with them since day one but he's treated like such an outsider, and he's the character with the strongest moral compass...actually maybe that's why they don't include him in their little club, you have to be like insufferable to gain membership lol.

btw is there going to be a sequel? spinoff?? extra content about Royo going to hell to get Aeri back? coz if Euyn is gonna be there then I'd read it

I actually don't hate Royo, he and Tiyung are probably my favs bc they have like normal reactions to things, maybe that's why Royo didn't have a bounty on his head, coz he's a regular degular guy? who knows...justice for Hana though RIP QUEEN

This was a fine conclusion to the series overall, i wish the pacing was better but ultimately i think this is a really solid trilogy...I'm just mad about Euyn dying and it's affecting my judgement lol

[❆ Ash ❆ (fable link in bio) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

4.25 stars!!
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this trilogy. I did find it a little repetitive at times and there were moments where the conversations dragged on longer than they needed to. Three Shattered Souls wasn’t much different in that sense, but it still ended up being a really satisfying conclusion.
The ending of book two completely pulled me in and made this one impossible to put off. I was eager to see how it all wrapped up.
Sora and Aeri were definitely my favorite characters throughout the whole series. They’ve been my favorites since the first book, and that never changed. I stayed invested largely because of them right up until the end.


✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Quotes ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

“ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴀʀ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄʀᴜꜱʜ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ.”

“ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ꜱᴄᴀʀꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴜɢʟʏ. ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ʙᴀᴅɢᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴏʀ.”

“ɪ’ᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴀ ʜᴜɴᴅʀᴇᴅ ʟɪꜰᴇᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ʟʟ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.”

“ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ. ɪᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇꜱ, ɢᴏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ꜱᴛᴀɢᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴍꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴍᴇ.”

“ʜᴜʀᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴꜱ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ʙʟᴇᴇᴅ. ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ɪꜰ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴊᴀʙ ᴏʀ ᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ.”

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY POOR HEART

[Beth✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

who betrayed us? was it her?! was it him?! was it you?! WAS IT ME?!

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Entangled for the ARC of this book!

This was QUITE the ending to the trilogy, let me tell you. Aeri? Still my favorite. Mikail? Sweet baby angel. Royo? What a mess, my dude. Sora? YAASS QUEEEN SLAY!

Honestly, one of my favorite parts about this series was how the cover design foreshadows events in the book. I didn't catch it until after I finished reading this one, but it's SO CLEVER.

The main thing I didn't like about this was the pacing. Somehow, despite having a million different points of view, the pacing was either incredibly fast, or there were 30 page sections where it felt like nothing was happening and the story was on pause. There was no in between.

The best part about this series isn't even the plot--it's the way the characters bond and become a family throughout the series, and this was a great wrap up of their journey together. I genuinely think everyone met an appropriate and fitting end (even if I *do* wish things had worked out a little differently for one particular character) and wasn't let down at all.

Especially with that little cliff hanger at the end....

Overall this is a great series to pick up if you want a good heist story rooted in a fantasy world that is all about the journey and the friends that become family along the way. I'm sad that it's over, but I'm definitely looking forward to the next book up Mai's sleeve!

[Casey Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in a trilogy, so it's hard to give a detailed review at this point without spoilers for the previous installments--so I am not summarizing the plot. If you're here, you've really enjoyed this series like I have! It's an emotionally charged and fitting finale, an emotional reckoning, not for those looking for light-hearted. The worldbuilding and magic continue with political intrigue, mythical relics, and elemental magic. The Relics of the Dragon Lord are obviously physical objects, but can be seen as a metaphor for the weight of carrying power. "With great power comes great responsibility" and all that. The characters!!! Mai Corland delivers deep and skilled character work over the course of this trilogy. The characters are deeply layered, and we are given fantastic morally grey arcs. Emotional stakes run high, and Corland hits us with alliance shifts and curveballs to keep us on our toes. The plot and pacing are fast, never a dull moment, as we hurtle towards what you know is going to be a big ending. The romance subplots take a backseat in this one, which is fine by me, I prefer my romance as a subplot and not the main focus. I was not disappointed at all in this conclusion! I absolutely loved this trilogy from the beginning, and I so look forward to seeing what Mai Corland has for us in the future! Pick this trilogy up for a multi-POV fantasy, with immaculate found family vibes and romance subplots. 

[Victoria Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

i truly loved this series

[LisaReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually was extremely disappointed with this last installment of this series. The first two were AMAZING! I don’t know what happened here, to say it was slow would be an understatement. It finally got to the action towards the end, but by then I had lost all hope and my attention span to even care.

[Rodi Tentis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really like it
What happened to Royo’s dad? I really thought that the epilogue will be about them reunited - why tell us he lives if they didn’t meet?
Strange how everyone just accepted Sora as queen, that easy - yeah, the ending was rushed and didn’t make sense

Just hit me a day after I finished it, who’s were the drugs in the warehouse?

[Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more. I did.

As with the previous two books… the writing could be better. But the characters and plot had me turning pages. Up until now.

First 50ish pages were fun? But after that, the characters were just pointlessly wandering. It just felt like I was reading filler. The last 50 pages wrapped up well (even if I didn’t like how it ended).

[Ferz Hazzard · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★⭑ [4.5/5] ”This isn’t an alliance—this is a family. One to live for and die with.” I AM NOT OKAY. I need a few days to process the ending of this trilogy because… what just happened?? 👀 I’ve really loved this series, and honestly I think each book got stronger and stronger. I’m glad I gave this series a chance. 📚

YES! Book three is great. It picks up right after a failed assassination attempt, and now the crew is basically on the run across empires with stolen magical relics. It’s intense. There’s war, betrayal, grief, found family moments, and a bit of romance. Aeri? I adore her. Royo? He owns my heart. Sora and Mikail? Iconic. The way they all care about each other even when everything is falling apart… ugh. It just got me. 🥹

I gave it 4.5 stars because I struggled with something that happens toward the end. It made sense for the story. But it also hurt in a way I was not ready for. It’s just hard when a character you love goes through something like that and you wish you could rewrite it. 💔

Anyway. AMAZING trilogy. I really hope we get more someday. I need a little novella or something to help me heal. Please.

——
“Love is like water. It can take many different shapes, go through many different stages and forms, and yet it remains the same.”

“Cowardice has a way of erasing bravery.”

“Just because you don’t want to believe the truth doesn’t make it false.”

“Broken hearts grow thorns as they stitch themselves back together.”

“Some truths are held back out of love.” I say.
He shakes his head. “You can’t keep secrets from someone if you love them.”
I stare into the distance. “You can if you think the truth will needlessly hurt them.”
…
“There are weights you bear alone because the truth will crush someone you love.
But not all secrets are kept out of caring.”…
“The truth can also be withheld out of selfishness or self-protection.”

“You are more than what you endure.”

“Ten fucking Hells, my heart can’t take it. I wish I could just rip the organ from my chest. It would make things a lot easier. But I need her heart now, too, in order to go on.
Love, or whatever this is, is a fucking fool’s game.”

“Love is a cloak that can cover even deeply held beliefs.”

“I’m always thinking about you,” I say.
She looks at me. “I waited my whole life to find you, that’s all.”

“The three of us are family with bonds forged by blood and tears, but also mercy and hope. Together, with the people we loved, we changed the world. Now, we’ll make it worth the ones we lost.”

“My heart breaks in two, and I know: it’ll never heal.”

“I’ll find a way—that’s my motto and the words I live by.”

📖📖📖📖

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow.”
Quality fantasy series! Multi POV, solid characters, mostly quick paced plot with a great story. I really enjoyed this overall! I feel like maybe we might have an opening to continue the series or at least a spin off too…