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The Blessing Giver #4
The Balancer: The Blessing Giver, Book 4
Aedra’s refuge is her curse.
After a brutal attack that left her pregnant with a mixed-blood child, Aedra fled from the laws of the Balancer enclave to protect her daughter Fina. But her quiet, protected life is shattered when the magic that once dominated their realm evaporates, and people she used to call friends seek vengeance on any members of the Order.
She must protect her daughter at all costs.
Brion, a Blessing Giver, is entrusted to suppress the rising unrest within the enclaves. Guided by Paladin (The Blessing Giver), he’s led to Aedra’s doorstep for help, only to uncover a truth that fractures his Fina, a mirror image of his dead older brother. He must complete his assignment, but when he finds Fina in trouble, he can’t bring himself to abandon a member of his bloodline when he’s abandoned himself.
Aedra swore she’d never fall for a member of the Order, but when Brion saves Fina from an attack and accompanies them to confront the Balancers, the feelings that bloom within her become impossible to ignore.
But Brion doesn’t see her as anything more than a Balancer. An enemy. A threat to the bloodlines.
Then Aedra is given the salacious opportunity to keep her bloodline and Fina’s a secret from Brion and her friends. She could take everything she’s ever wanted and finally realize peace in the realm.
Can she forsake her ties to magic to keep the people she loves safe? Can she forsake the truth to take a love she hasn’t earned?
If you loved Throne of Glass, Defy the Night, or the Grishaverse, you’ll adore The Balancer, the thrilling conclusion to The Blessing Giver series.
After a brutal attack that left her pregnant with a mixed-blood child, Aedra fled from the laws of the Balancer enclave to protect her daughter Fina. But her quiet, protected life is shattered when the magic that once dominated their realm evaporates, and people she used to call friends seek vengeance on any members of the Order.
She must protect her daughter at all costs.
Brion, a Blessing Giver, is entrusted to suppress the rising unrest within the enclaves. Guided by Paladin (The Blessing Giver), he’s led to Aedra’s doorstep for help, only to uncover a truth that fractures his Fina, a mirror image of his dead older brother. He must complete his assignment, but when he finds Fina in trouble, he can’t bring himself to abandon a member of his bloodline when he’s abandoned himself.
Aedra swore she’d never fall for a member of the Order, but when Brion saves Fina from an attack and accompanies them to confront the Balancers, the feelings that bloom within her become impossible to ignore.
But Brion doesn’t see her as anything more than a Balancer. An enemy. A threat to the bloodlines.
Then Aedra is given the salacious opportunity to keep her bloodline and Fina’s a secret from Brion and her friends. She could take everything she’s ever wanted and finally realize peace in the realm.
Can she forsake her ties to magic to keep the people she loves safe? Can she forsake the truth to take a love she hasn’t earned?
If you loved Throne of Glass, Defy the Night, or the Grishaverse, you’ll adore The Balancer, the thrilling conclusion to The Blessing Giver series.
- GenresAudiobook
Audible Audio
Published November 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2024
I was so looking forward to this last installment, but I found it very disappointing. 1.5 stars.
Writing- regardless of how I disliked the story, the writing and the narration were both great!!
Plot- I did not enjoy the plot. It was character-driven and I did not respect the weak FMC or enjoy being in her head. Besides that, there was just a lot of various characters thinking about things but not much happening. Their fantasy religion continues to be the main plot, but since it feels awfully close to real religion, I feel oddly guilty saying I didn’t enjoy it. That was always my least favorite aspect of these books, and without a swoony romance to overcome that, it was front and center this time.
Characters-
Too many POVs from past characters that I am less interested in now.
As for the entirely unlikable FMC, Aedra, I couldn’t connect or identify with her. All I wanted to do was shake some sense into her. This quote from her POV perfectly encompasses her selfish rationalization for her manipulations, lies and betrayals:
“[Garish] and Bella wanted to save the Realm, but she only wanted to save her daughter.”
At the end, when all her lies crash down around her and she has to look at the consequences, she cries, “I had no choice! … I didn’t have a choice! …I never wanted this!”
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE. You don’t even have the excuse of being blackmailed! You’re still lying to yourself! The truth is, you were selfish. You were a coward. You should have thought about where your actions were bound to lead.
I was disappointed that she was saved from all the consequences of her poor decisions. I guess that’s the HEA, but she got off scotch free. Plus no one was even mad at her. ???! That’s so contrived.
Romance- Major insta-love. They are an item almost immediately, so there is no chemistry whatsoever. Their blah relationship together is dissatisfying, partly due to Aedra’s crappy decisions and hiding secrets. Plus, Brion wasn’t even portrayed as being attractive or swoony. The romance moved too fast for that to be built up. Instead, he seemed like an overeager, slightly desperate puppy. I would have felt somewhat appeased if he proposed at some point to Aedra, since that shows commitment and true love, but he just moved in with Aidra and her daughter and they just seem to indefinitely plan to live like that, in this lukewarm situation.
Content-
Language- no swearing
Spice- a fade-to-black scene between the main couple who have little to no commitment to one another and hardly even know each other. (So lame!!) Some tame, short, pulled curtain scenes of other past couples sleeping together. (I was glad- I have no interest in past couples that already had their romances featured in other books.)
Format- listened to audiobook on Everand.
Cover- awesome!
However, even though I didn’t enjoy the last book in this series, I loved the 1st and 3rd books and I think it’s worth reading 1-3 for sure! I probably wouldn’t recommend reading the last one.
I enjoy this author and think she can write a great romance, so I’ll def read her other books.
How I rated this series-
The Blessing Giver- 5 stars (Rayelle & Paladin)
The Herbalist- 3.5 stars (Mel & Rhodric)
The Diviner - 5 stars (Bella & Gerrish)
The Balancer - 1.5 stars (Aedra & Brion)
Writing- regardless of how I disliked the story, the writing and the narration were both great!!
Plot- I did not enjoy the plot. It was character-driven and I did not respect the weak FMC or enjoy being in her head. Besides that, there was just a lot of various characters thinking about things but not much happening. Their fantasy religion continues to be the main plot, but since it feels awfully close to real religion, I feel oddly guilty saying I didn’t enjoy it. That was always my least favorite aspect of these books, and without a swoony romance to overcome that, it was front and center this time.
Characters-
Too many POVs from past characters that I am less interested in now.
As for the entirely unlikable FMC, Aedra, I couldn’t connect or identify with her. All I wanted to do was shake some sense into her. This quote from her POV perfectly encompasses her selfish rationalization for her manipulations, lies and betrayals:
“[Garish] and Bella wanted to save the Realm, but she only wanted to save her daughter.”
At the end, when all her lies crash down around her and she has to look at the consequences, she cries, “I had no choice! … I didn’t have a choice! …I never wanted this!”
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE. You don’t even have the excuse of being blackmailed! You’re still lying to yourself! The truth is, you were selfish. You were a coward. You should have thought about where your actions were bound to lead.
I was disappointed that she was saved from all the consequences of her poor decisions. I guess that’s the HEA, but she got off scotch free. Plus no one was even mad at her. ???! That’s so contrived.
Romance- Major insta-love. They are an item almost immediately, so there is no chemistry whatsoever. Their blah relationship together is dissatisfying, partly due to Aedra’s crappy decisions and hiding secrets. Plus, Brion wasn’t even portrayed as being attractive or swoony. The romance moved too fast for that to be built up. Instead, he seemed like an overeager, slightly desperate puppy. I would have felt somewhat appeased if he proposed at some point to Aedra, since that shows commitment and true love, but he just moved in with Aidra and her daughter and they just seem to indefinitely plan to live like that, in this lukewarm situation.
Content-
Language- no swearing
Spice- a fade-to-black scene between the main couple who have little to no commitment to one another and hardly even know each other. (So lame!!) Some tame, short, pulled curtain scenes of other past couples sleeping together. (I was glad- I have no interest in past couples that already had their romances featured in other books.)
Format- listened to audiobook on Everand.
Cover- awesome!
However, even though I didn’t enjoy the last book in this series, I loved the 1st and 3rd books and I think it’s worth reading 1-3 for sure! I probably wouldn’t recommend reading the last one.
I enjoy this author and think she can write a great romance, so I’ll def read her other books.
How I rated this series-
The Blessing Giver- 5 stars (Rayelle & Paladin)
The Herbalist- 3.5 stars (Mel & Rhodric)
The Diviner - 5 stars (Bella & Gerrish)
The Balancer - 1.5 stars (Aedra & Brion)
November 17, 2023
A great ending to a fantastic series! I loved the love and the characters. The story has a great pace and flow and kept me eager to keep listening!
March 14, 2024
Aedra is literally the worst. God spare me her pity party.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews