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.