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Dragon Spirits #3
The Broken Sword
The truth of Fenn’s past is no longer lost—but the cost of remembering may be higher than forgetting.
With the Shadow Gate open and a tide of darkness flooding the land, Fenn must right the wrongs he unwittingly unleashed upon Tassar. He has no choice but to forge new, dangerous alliances to save those he loves, and his bond to the dragon spirit Hassen will be tested like never before.
Calidra has survived her battle with the Myr and, together with an unlikely ally, is caught in a desperate race to stay one step ahead of the coming cataclysm.
The world must unite to stand against a threat greater than anything seen before, but chances of survival dwindle as the spirits that feed on death grow in power, and even the Iron Crown’s magic may be thwarted.
As war erupts and vengeful spirits awaken, Tassar’s destiny will be decided once and for all.
Discover the fate of the magic-drenched world of Tassar in the epic conclusion to the DRAGON SPIRITS trilogy.
With the Shadow Gate open and a tide of darkness flooding the land, Fenn must right the wrongs he unwittingly unleashed upon Tassar. He has no choice but to forge new, dangerous alliances to save those he loves, and his bond to the dragon spirit Hassen will be tested like never before.
Calidra has survived her battle with the Myr and, together with an unlikely ally, is caught in a desperate race to stay one step ahead of the coming cataclysm.
The world must unite to stand against a threat greater than anything seen before, but chances of survival dwindle as the spirits that feed on death grow in power, and even the Iron Crown’s magic may be thwarted.
As war erupts and vengeful spirits awaken, Tassar’s destiny will be decided once and for all.
Discover the fate of the magic-drenched world of Tassar in the epic conclusion to the DRAGON SPIRITS trilogy.
524 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2025
About the author
L.L. MacRae
12 books550 followersHello fellow book dragon! Thank you for visiting my author page. :)
I'm a British fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure.
My books contain dragons, bucket-loads of magic, less conventional characters, and are typically fun and hopeful.
I live in a tiny village in the English countryside, have a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author—swapping corporate copy for magic and dragons.
Physical copies of my books are available exclusively through my website (or The Broken Binding) and never on Amazon. All paperbacks can be signed/lined/dated and ship internationally: https://llmacrae.com/shop
Book one in my Dragon Spirits Trilogy, The Iron Crown, was a finalist in SPFBO7, and my debut novel, Moroda, was a semi-finalist in SPFBO4. Two of my short stories have also appeared in anthologies.
If you'd like to support me directly, Patreon is the best option! You'll receive weekly updates, behind-the-scenes posts, author essays, and free eBooks/audiobooks as I publish them: https://www.patreon.com/llmacrae
If you send a friend request and we don't have any similar interests or books in common, I'll probably decline. Feel free to follow me, though!
Please don't send me book recommendations or invitations to join groups.
Best wishes and happy reading,
Lauren
I'm a British fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure.
My books contain dragons, bucket-loads of magic, less conventional characters, and are typically fun and hopeful.
I live in a tiny village in the English countryside, have a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author—swapping corporate copy for magic and dragons.
Physical copies of my books are available exclusively through my website (or The Broken Binding) and never on Amazon. All paperbacks can be signed/lined/dated and ship internationally: https://llmacrae.com/shop
Book one in my Dragon Spirits Trilogy, The Iron Crown, was a finalist in SPFBO7, and my debut novel, Moroda, was a semi-finalist in SPFBO4. Two of my short stories have also appeared in anthologies.
If you'd like to support me directly, Patreon is the best option! You'll receive weekly updates, behind-the-scenes posts, author essays, and free eBooks/audiobooks as I publish them: https://www.patreon.com/llmacrae
If you send a friend request and we don't have any similar interests or books in common, I'll probably decline. Feel free to follow me, though!
Please don't send me book recommendations or invitations to join groups.
Best wishes and happy reading,
Lauren
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 4, 2025
At last! One of my most anticipated fantasy books has arrived! This truly original, totally gripping series reaches its finale.
And it most certainly did not disappoint.
Firstly, I was thrilled to discover an excellent recap of the story so far. These things help so much. Not only refreshing my memories but building my excitement for what was to come.
This finale doesn’t waste anytime either. Immediately engrossing you in incredible action. The Shadow Gate lies open flooding the world with the Myr and their shadow spirits. Preparing to bring death and despair.
Our heroes attempt battle infused with power given by the dragon spirits themselves. Despite aid by enormous war griffins, they still find themselves desperately fighting to survive.
And that is just the first chapter.
What I found really stood out in this trilogy is Macrae’s ability to have emotional pull. It’s beyond the skill of masterfully describing chaotic action. It’s conveying the terror these characters feel. I was overcome with dread as these dark horrors flooded the world.
This series to me reads as a love letter to both epic fantasy and even more so…to dragons.
With its ancient magically imbued artifacts, stoic royalty and scattered underdog heroes attempting to save the realm. It’s done so well. As is the affection and connections these individuals have with one another. It’s masterfully done.
As stated before though..this trilogy is about dragons. Dragon Spirits is more than just its title. You feel those spirits throughout its entirety.
These dragons influence, manipulate, destroy, kill, ooze arrogance and superiority.
They also provide aid, protection, connection, fearlessness and gallant heroism.
This book, this series, is a tribute to dragons and all the tales which contain them.
Absolutely wonderful. It lands the epic ending perfectly too.
Love it.
Thanks so much to the author for providing this ARC.
And it most certainly did not disappoint.
Firstly, I was thrilled to discover an excellent recap of the story so far. These things help so much. Not only refreshing my memories but building my excitement for what was to come.
This finale doesn’t waste anytime either. Immediately engrossing you in incredible action. The Shadow Gate lies open flooding the world with the Myr and their shadow spirits. Preparing to bring death and despair.
Our heroes attempt battle infused with power given by the dragon spirits themselves. Despite aid by enormous war griffins, they still find themselves desperately fighting to survive.
And that is just the first chapter.
What I found really stood out in this trilogy is Macrae’s ability to have emotional pull. It’s beyond the skill of masterfully describing chaotic action. It’s conveying the terror these characters feel. I was overcome with dread as these dark horrors flooded the world.
This series to me reads as a love letter to both epic fantasy and even more so…to dragons.
With its ancient magically imbued artifacts, stoic royalty and scattered underdog heroes attempting to save the realm. It’s done so well. As is the affection and connections these individuals have with one another. It’s masterfully done.
As stated before though..this trilogy is about dragons. Dragon Spirits is more than just its title. You feel those spirits throughout its entirety.
These dragons influence, manipulate, destroy, kill, ooze arrogance and superiority.
They also provide aid, protection, connection, fearlessness and gallant heroism.
This book, this series, is a tribute to dragons and all the tales which contain them.
Absolutely wonderful. It lands the epic ending perfectly too.
Love it.
Thanks so much to the author for providing this ARC.
August 3, 2025
There isn’t too much to say about this one that hasn’t been said for the first two books – it’s a fantastic overall series, with great writing and characters. The worldbuilding is superb, one of my favourites across the many fantasy series I’ve read, and the story itself is really good, too.
There are some truly epic scenes in this final volume, to the point where I’m not even sure if “epic” is enough to do justice to what I read. The sheer scale of the final battle, not only in terms of the size and power of the two sides facing off, but in terms of who they are to each other, is incredible.
Taken in isolation, I think this is my least favourite of the three books, but that’s more an argument for the other two than an argument against this one. I just felt at a couple of times here that there was just too much going on and a couple of those battles were just so mind boggling that it wasn’t as easy for me to picture everything as I tend to do while reading.
We do get a fitting ending for our characters, slightly sad for some, but definitely happy for others, and I appreciated that we got a quick run down of what happened in the weeks (months?) after the main story events. Overall, this was a great read and a great series.
There are some truly epic scenes in this final volume, to the point where I’m not even sure if “epic” is enough to do justice to what I read. The sheer scale of the final battle, not only in terms of the size and power of the two sides facing off, but in terms of who they are to each other, is incredible.
Taken in isolation, I think this is my least favourite of the three books, but that’s more an argument for the other two than an argument against this one. I just felt at a couple of times here that there was just too much going on and a couple of those battles were just so mind boggling that it wasn’t as easy for me to picture everything as I tend to do while reading.
We do get a fitting ending for our characters, slightly sad for some, but definitely happy for others, and I appreciated that we got a quick run down of what happened in the weeks (months?) after the main story events. Overall, this was a great read and a great series.
June 1, 2026
First, I want to take the author for sending me the ebooks of the entire trilogy. I’m really grateful that you chose me for reading them.
So here we are, in the last book of this great trilogy. How to start? The book had as much action as the first two book had, and I couldn’t get tired of it!
We see all these characters going through different choices and different situations that made them change. They are more likeable than they were in the first books and I was happy to see it. Now they act and think like adults and they take the right decisions in order to stop the war. The author did justice to every character that she created and the way they developed through the story was very satisfying. They grew so much into these great adults ready to do anything to save the world.
I can’t say a lot of things about the last book without spoiling the plot, but I liked how it ended. I love when an author chooses this path, the one where you have to lose something in order to gain something else.
I recommend the trilogy to everyone, especially to those who are beginners in the fantasy genre. You won’t get bored with this one and you’ll love the dragons in it, it’s a love letter to them, for making any fantasy book better just by being in it.
So here we are, in the last book of this great trilogy. How to start? The book had as much action as the first two book had, and I couldn’t get tired of it!
We see all these characters going through different choices and different situations that made them change. They are more likeable than they were in the first books and I was happy to see it. Now they act and think like adults and they take the right decisions in order to stop the war. The author did justice to every character that she created and the way they developed through the story was very satisfying. They grew so much into these great adults ready to do anything to save the world.
I can’t say a lot of things about the last book without spoiling the plot, but I liked how it ended. I love when an author chooses this path, the one where you have to lose something in order to gain something else.
I recommend the trilogy to everyone, especially to those who are beginners in the fantasy genre. You won’t get bored with this one and you’ll love the dragons in it, it’s a love letter to them, for making any fantasy book better just by being in it.
July 9, 2026
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
After loving the first two books in the Dragon Spirits trilogy, I was already obsessed with The Broken Sword before I even opened it, and then L.L. MacRae somehow still managed to exceed my expectations. This is a finale of epic proportions packed with big emotions, big dragons, and big pay-off that delivers on everything the series promised, including things I did not even realize I was hoping for.
Just like The Shadow Gate, The Broken Sword opens with a quick but incredibly useful recap of all the chaos that has unfolded so far which already had me stressed before I even reached chapter one, and I loved that for me. MacRae wastes absolutely no time throwing readers back into the fire and reminding us just how high the stakes have become, and there truly are no clean, easy outs here. The characters made choices, some good, some terrible, some spectacularly questionable, and I loved that zero punches are pulled when it comes to making sure they have to live with them.
It should come as no surprise when I say that the world building remains exceptional, as the dragon spirits are every bit as awe-inspiring as they have always been, the lore continues to deepen in fascinating ways, and Tassar feels vast, ancient, and wonderfully alive. But if I am being honest, as much as I adore all of that, it is the characters who have always been the heart of this series for me and they are the main reason I care about everything else around them in the first place. The first two books already delivered some of my favorite character development in epic fantasy, but I genuinely think The Broken Sword takes the crown because it’s almost unbelievable how MacRae wrapped up the individual and shared journeys of such a large and diverse cast in such a satisfying way.
Of course, a few character arcs moved me more than others, with my sapphic babe Jisyel and, surprisingly, my problematic baddies Torsten and Varlot stealing the show. I think it is a testament to MacRae's skill that she can make me care so deeply about characters across every point of the moral spectrum, from heroes, to villains, to morally dubious disasters who you can’t help but root for. Everyone is allowed to be flawed and messy and painfully human, and I loved how that created this wonderful tension where I spent half the book terrified for characters I have loved since page one of The Iron Crown and the other half realizing I was suddenly cheering for people I never expected to like.
With such a large cast and so many POVs, a few characters like Fenn, Apollo, and even the pirates maybe faded a bit more into the background than I expected, but it helped that the incredibly immersive audiobook performance by R.J. Bayley (best way to experience this series, trust me!) made them come to life anyway with his amazing voices, accents, and emotionally charged narration. Moreover, I honestly barely cared because there was already so much happening that I was completely swept up in everything else, and I especially loved how much attention was given to the dragon spirits themselves and the origins of the Myr. The Broken Sword really goes deeper and darker with its exploration of power, manipulation, and agency through the dragon bonds, which added a surprising amount of thematic depth to this already ambitious story.
At times I did feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer scale (pun absolutely intended) of the conflict, especially because the action is relentless and the stakes just keep escalating. Yet when the final battle arrived, I was completely locked in because I think it might be one of the best final battles I have read in a long time. It is epic in every sense of the word, but what really made me love it was that there are real consequences, real sacrifices, and moments that genuinely hurt. The victories feel so earned because they cost something, and that level of bittersweet satisfaction is something I will always live for.
Lately I have been feeling a bit sad about the fact that most epic fantasy is not hitting for me like it used to anymore, but finishing The Broken Sword reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. The imagination on display is incredible, the sense of wonder never disappears, and yet beneath all the dragons, magic, battles, and world-ending threats is a story that feels deeply human, and I love it for that. If you are looking for a dark dragon fantasy that feels both epic and intimate, full of magic, heart, danger, and unforgettable characters, I cannot recommend the Dragon Spirits trilogy enough.
After loving the first two books in the Dragon Spirits trilogy, I was already obsessed with The Broken Sword before I even opened it, and then L.L. MacRae somehow still managed to exceed my expectations. This is a finale of epic proportions packed with big emotions, big dragons, and big pay-off that delivers on everything the series promised, including things I did not even realize I was hoping for.
Just like The Shadow Gate, The Broken Sword opens with a quick but incredibly useful recap of all the chaos that has unfolded so far which already had me stressed before I even reached chapter one, and I loved that for me. MacRae wastes absolutely no time throwing readers back into the fire and reminding us just how high the stakes have become, and there truly are no clean, easy outs here. The characters made choices, some good, some terrible, some spectacularly questionable, and I loved that zero punches are pulled when it comes to making sure they have to live with them.
It should come as no surprise when I say that the world building remains exceptional, as the dragon spirits are every bit as awe-inspiring as they have always been, the lore continues to deepen in fascinating ways, and Tassar feels vast, ancient, and wonderfully alive. But if I am being honest, as much as I adore all of that, it is the characters who have always been the heart of this series for me and they are the main reason I care about everything else around them in the first place. The first two books already delivered some of my favorite character development in epic fantasy, but I genuinely think The Broken Sword takes the crown because it’s almost unbelievable how MacRae wrapped up the individual and shared journeys of such a large and diverse cast in such a satisfying way.
Of course, a few character arcs moved me more than others, with my sapphic babe Jisyel and, surprisingly, my problematic baddies Torsten and Varlot stealing the show. I think it is a testament to MacRae's skill that she can make me care so deeply about characters across every point of the moral spectrum, from heroes, to villains, to morally dubious disasters who you can’t help but root for. Everyone is allowed to be flawed and messy and painfully human, and I loved how that created this wonderful tension where I spent half the book terrified for characters I have loved since page one of The Iron Crown and the other half realizing I was suddenly cheering for people I never expected to like.
With such a large cast and so many POVs, a few characters like Fenn, Apollo, and even the pirates maybe faded a bit more into the background than I expected, but it helped that the incredibly immersive audiobook performance by R.J. Bayley (best way to experience this series, trust me!) made them come to life anyway with his amazing voices, accents, and emotionally charged narration. Moreover, I honestly barely cared because there was already so much happening that I was completely swept up in everything else, and I especially loved how much attention was given to the dragon spirits themselves and the origins of the Myr. The Broken Sword really goes deeper and darker with its exploration of power, manipulation, and agency through the dragon bonds, which added a surprising amount of thematic depth to this already ambitious story.
At times I did feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer scale (pun absolutely intended) of the conflict, especially because the action is relentless and the stakes just keep escalating. Yet when the final battle arrived, I was completely locked in because I think it might be one of the best final battles I have read in a long time. It is epic in every sense of the word, but what really made me love it was that there are real consequences, real sacrifices, and moments that genuinely hurt. The victories feel so earned because they cost something, and that level of bittersweet satisfaction is something I will always live for.
Lately I have been feeling a bit sad about the fact that most epic fantasy is not hitting for me like it used to anymore, but finishing The Broken Sword reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. The imagination on display is incredible, the sense of wonder never disappears, and yet beneath all the dragons, magic, battles, and world-ending threats is a story that feels deeply human, and I love it for that. If you are looking for a dark dragon fantasy that feels both epic and intimate, full of magic, heart, danger, and unforgettable characters, I cannot recommend the Dragon Spirits trilogy enough.
August 23, 2025
The Broken Sword was one of my most anticipated books of the year and the final book in the Dragon Spirits trilogy did not disappoint!
The book opens with a brilliant recap of the previous 2 books especially as we are dropped into the story in the immediate aftermath of the events of The Shadow Gate and from there this book soars just as surely as the Dragons. There is no finding our footing. No, relief. Just pure world building and gorgeous storytelling from here on out.
This finale does not pull any punches or waste anytime in throwing you into the middle of countless battles and incredible action whilst also taking the time to focus in on our various main characters. Macraes ability to take us from wide ranging descriptions of dragon battles, filled with beautiful imagery and intense energy to quiet moments between our characters where we focus on their immediate thoughts and feelings, is one of the reasons that this book series is one of my favourite fantasy novels.
Our band of scattered heroes who we have grown to love finally get their endings in ways that feel true to their characters and I left the series with a sense of joy that all of the answers I went into the book with, were answered.
I started this series with a severe hatred for Torsten, but by the time his tale had been wrapped up, I felt myself getting emotional and almost (very nearly) rooting for him and his brother Miroth. The way you are able to be in the head of these characters and feeling their dread and pain at the terror going through Tassar but also being able to feel hope for them when all seems lost.
This book and series is a tribute to dragons and fantasy worlds in which they live in. I loved every moment and am very sad that it’s over.
I cried, I gasped and I cheered! This book is for all those who love dragons, epic battles and beautiful character development. If you have loved Fire and Blood or any of the Game of Thrones books then I swear this is the series for you!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC copy 💫🫶
The book opens with a brilliant recap of the previous 2 books especially as we are dropped into the story in the immediate aftermath of the events of The Shadow Gate and from there this book soars just as surely as the Dragons. There is no finding our footing. No, relief. Just pure world building and gorgeous storytelling from here on out.
This finale does not pull any punches or waste anytime in throwing you into the middle of countless battles and incredible action whilst also taking the time to focus in on our various main characters. Macraes ability to take us from wide ranging descriptions of dragon battles, filled with beautiful imagery and intense energy to quiet moments between our characters where we focus on their immediate thoughts and feelings, is one of the reasons that this book series is one of my favourite fantasy novels.
Our band of scattered heroes who we have grown to love finally get their endings in ways that feel true to their characters and I left the series with a sense of joy that all of the answers I went into the book with, were answered.
I started this series with a severe hatred for Torsten, but by the time his tale had been wrapped up, I felt myself getting emotional and almost (very nearly) rooting for him and his brother Miroth. The way you are able to be in the head of these characters and feeling their dread and pain at the terror going through Tassar but also being able to feel hope for them when all seems lost.
This book and series is a tribute to dragons and fantasy worlds in which they live in. I loved every moment and am very sad that it’s over.
I cried, I gasped and I cheered! This book is for all those who love dragons, epic battles and beautiful character development. If you have loved Fire and Blood or any of the Game of Thrones books then I swear this is the series for you!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC copy 💫🫶
October 16, 2025
This is how you land a finale!!
You punch in emotional damage, you close the arcs, you throw in the twists and turns and you stay true to the style and energy of the books that came before.
This trilogy is a love letter to dragons, and a nod to every story that came before it. It’s epic fantasy done right! Full of heart, drama and incredible characters
The way L.L. MacRae makes the dragons real and their personalities, their presence, the way they take centre stage, that’s what sets this apart. You feel them. You know them. They aren’t sidekicks, they are the story.
I was breathless, emotionally wrecked, delighted, and smiling. I felt everything.
Fenn’s growth was phenomenal. Truly a masterfully written main character, supported by a cast of equally strong and layered characters.Apollo did remain my favourite. His arc was everything I wanted it to be and more.
What an incredible author. What an incredible series. I can’t wait to see what L.L. MacRae writes next because if this is the standard, I'll buy everything she writes
You punch in emotional damage, you close the arcs, you throw in the twists and turns and you stay true to the style and energy of the books that came before.
This trilogy is a love letter to dragons, and a nod to every story that came before it. It’s epic fantasy done right! Full of heart, drama and incredible characters
The way L.L. MacRae makes the dragons real and their personalities, their presence, the way they take centre stage, that’s what sets this apart. You feel them. You know them. They aren’t sidekicks, they are the story.
I was breathless, emotionally wrecked, delighted, and smiling. I felt everything.
Fenn’s growth was phenomenal. Truly a masterfully written main character, supported by a cast of equally strong and layered characters.Apollo did remain my favourite. His arc was everything I wanted it to be and more.
What an incredible author. What an incredible series. I can’t wait to see what L.L. MacRae writes next because if this is the standard, I'll buy everything she writes
November 11, 2025
The Broken Sword is the epic third book in the Dragon Spirits trilogy.
It ramps up the stakes, moves at a breakneck speed, and expands on the world-building in unexpected ways. The characters continue to develop, and somehow I unexpectedly found myself with new favourites. Especially Jisyel and Torsten both get to shine. And Fenn! Fenn really comes into his own. His bond with Hassen is actually amazing, and reading about it made me want to travel to Salt Ash and find my own little trickster spirit.
There were so many moments that made me cry, and just as many that made me laugh. MacRae’s writing is, once again, superb: rich with detail, full of heart, and effortlessly immersive. She continues to avoid the dreaded info dump, weaving world-building into breathtaking action in a way that feels organic.
I’m not giving too much detail because I don’t want to spoil anyone, but what a wonderful conclusion. Found family, dragons, emotional growth, and deep, supportive relationships, this series has everything I love about epic fantasy.
If you haven’t read the Iron Crown yet, what are you waiting for? And if you have, hurry up, grab this book, and finish the series. It's worth your time, I promise.
It ramps up the stakes, moves at a breakneck speed, and expands on the world-building in unexpected ways. The characters continue to develop, and somehow I unexpectedly found myself with new favourites. Especially Jisyel and Torsten both get to shine. And Fenn! Fenn really comes into his own. His bond with Hassen is actually amazing, and reading about it made me want to travel to Salt Ash and find my own little trickster spirit.
There were so many moments that made me cry, and just as many that made me laugh. MacRae’s writing is, once again, superb: rich with detail, full of heart, and effortlessly immersive. She continues to avoid the dreaded info dump, weaving world-building into breathtaking action in a way that feels organic.
I’m not giving too much detail because I don’t want to spoil anyone, but what a wonderful conclusion. Found family, dragons, emotional growth, and deep, supportive relationships, this series has everything I love about epic fantasy.
If you haven’t read the Iron Crown yet, what are you waiting for? And if you have, hurry up, grab this book, and finish the series. It's worth your time, I promise.
April 26, 2026
What an incredible end to a great series. The finale was everything I had hoped for and more. It was heartbreaking and bittersweet. It had closure and unexpected twists.
The character growth all around was so well done. When we can relate to a character who has done so much wrong and feel heartbroken over him, you know the writing is good. L.L. MacRae has moved to the top of my author list.
I highly recommend this series!
The character growth all around was so well done. When we can relate to a character who has done so much wrong and feel heartbroken over him, you know the writing is good. L.L. MacRae has moved to the top of my author list.
I highly recommend this series!
July 27, 2025
Emotional, Epic and an Effortless Read
This book had so much riding on it (pardon the pun), having thoroughly enjoyed The Iron Crown and The Shadow Gate, I was both excited and scared to read the conclusion.
The Broken Sword still has those punchy, well cadenced chapters along with the descriptive scenes that make this world an easy escape. The first scene pulls you right back in and the rest of the book doesn't lose hold on you.
No spoilers here, but the twists were great, I was caught hook, line and sinker. I just couldn't stop reading. From the action to the character development, the plot was fantastic. Even the worldbuilding that you wouldn't expect in a final book of the series was nicely done. And if the ending happened at 80% ish, it would have been an acceptably good ending.
Unfortunately for my emotions, that wasn't the case, and it proved to be a very satisfying ending, not just for the book but the entire series. I personally would like to see more of this type of ending in fantasy genre.
Highly recommended for readers who love epic fantasy with a strong emotional core and excellent worldbuilding.
This book had so much riding on it (pardon the pun), having thoroughly enjoyed The Iron Crown and The Shadow Gate, I was both excited and scared to read the conclusion.
The Broken Sword still has those punchy, well cadenced chapters along with the descriptive scenes that make this world an easy escape. The first scene pulls you right back in and the rest of the book doesn't lose hold on you.
No spoilers here, but the twists were great, I was caught hook, line and sinker. I just couldn't stop reading. From the action to the character development, the plot was fantastic. Even the worldbuilding that you wouldn't expect in a final book of the series was nicely done. And if the ending happened at 80% ish, it would have been an acceptably good ending.
Unfortunately for my emotions, that wasn't the case, and it proved to be a very satisfying ending, not just for the book but the entire series. I personally would like to see more of this type of ending in fantasy genre.
Highly recommended for readers who love epic fantasy with a strong emotional core and excellent worldbuilding.
May 17, 2026
What a satisfying conclusion!
If you like a blend of classic and modern fantasy, and Dragons. Lots of dragons. Give this series a chance.
(This is a comment towards people like me, who check reviews for the last book before they start reading the first)))
The story picks up right where it ended in the Shadow Gate, same with the previous installment. So I would advise to read this trilogy back to back for a greater payoff.
Now, back to the Broken Sword.
This may contain light spoilers, especially from the storyline leading up to this book.
So if you do not want even the slightest reveal, feel free to stop here.
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After Fenn’s delirious journey back to Vermecio, which I thought was brilliantly done, his character lost the gripping part that created interest and tension.
And it took a while for him to become “interesting”again. Though, to be honest, it never reached the same level.
Torsten, on the other hand, took up the torch for me.
His arc has become the highlight of the whole trilogy. And I might’ve shed more than a few tears reading his POV.
Varlot was another beautifully written character. I feel like the author is really good at writing believable villains.
And Dragons. Each one (at least those with enough “screen time”) was distinct. With their own powers, character and motivation.
An undeniably strong point of this series.
Overall, great! Easy recommend.
If you like a blend of classic and modern fantasy, and Dragons. Lots of dragons. Give this series a chance.
(This is a comment towards people like me, who check reviews for the last book before they start reading the first)))
The story picks up right where it ended in the Shadow Gate, same with the previous installment. So I would advise to read this trilogy back to back for a greater payoff.
Now, back to the Broken Sword.
This may contain light spoilers, especially from the storyline leading up to this book.
So if you do not want even the slightest reveal, feel free to stop here.
.
.
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After Fenn’s delirious journey back to Vermecio, which I thought was brilliantly done, his character lost the gripping part that created interest and tension.
And it took a while for him to become “interesting”again. Though, to be honest, it never reached the same level.
Torsten, on the other hand, took up the torch for me.
His arc has become the highlight of the whole trilogy. And I might’ve shed more than a few tears reading his POV.
Varlot was another beautifully written character. I feel like the author is really good at writing believable villains.
And Dragons. Each one (at least those with enough “screen time”) was distinct. With their own powers, character and motivation.
An undeniably strong point of this series.
Overall, great! Easy recommend.
August 2, 2025
It's one of those bittersweet reads when you want to finish the book to see what will happen, but you would rather not finish it because you don't want it to end😭💔
Sweet and thoughtful gesture at the beginning of the book by including a summary that warmed my heart. It's like a love language, and the author saying, “I got you❤️". Although I did a reread and my memories were fresh, I loved that! Beautiful and perfect ending to this thrilling journey that was The Dragon Spirits series. From chapter one, it grips you by the throat with high stakes and the dread that is coursing through our characters from what they are facing. Immersive worldbuilding and the writing style that gives you so much detail and atmosphere so fluidly that it gives without disturbing your attention from the action and what is happening. The thing that I loved the most is the emotional pull, the well-made bonds between characters, and the fact that all of them never stopped evolving through the series.An epic finale that is all about Dragons and not only on words and title but the beating heart of it!
Sweet and thoughtful gesture at the beginning of the book by including a summary that warmed my heart. It's like a love language, and the author saying, “I got you❤️". Although I did a reread and my memories were fresh, I loved that! Beautiful and perfect ending to this thrilling journey that was The Dragon Spirits series. From chapter one, it grips you by the throat with high stakes and the dread that is coursing through our characters from what they are facing. Immersive worldbuilding and the writing style that gives you so much detail and atmosphere so fluidly that it gives without disturbing your attention from the action and what is happening. The thing that I loved the most is the emotional pull, the well-made bonds between characters, and the fact that all of them never stopped evolving through the series.An epic finale that is all about Dragons and not only on words and title but the beating heart of it!
August 3, 2025
Endings are always bitter sweet. Stories evolve and become greater than words on a page. Characters become beloved despite the flaws they have.
These books started at perfection and got better with every single installment, and each book has grown more and more within my heart.
Final books are really hard to review, everything is a spoiler and it’s impossible to tell you why I feel so strongly about these characters. Why this book and the ones before had a vice grip on my brain since the first time I picked it up. This series wrapped up in unexpected ways, ways that I never imagined and ways I didn’t think I needed. When an ending hits this hard it is meaning that right now Dragon Spirits has jumped to one of my favorite series of all time.
Perfection on all accounts!
These books started at perfection and got better with every single installment, and each book has grown more and more within my heart.
Final books are really hard to review, everything is a spoiler and it’s impossible to tell you why I feel so strongly about these characters. Why this book and the ones before had a vice grip on my brain since the first time I picked it up. This series wrapped up in unexpected ways, ways that I never imagined and ways I didn’t think I needed. When an ending hits this hard it is meaning that right now Dragon Spirits has jumped to one of my favorite series of all time.
Perfection on all accounts!
July 25, 2025
[Read as a Beta reader]
I thought I was prepared for the final book in this trilogy but I was WRONG!!
The Broken Sword is the third and final instalment in L.L.MacRae's Dragon Spirits epic fantasy series. This is a truly epic conclusion to the series; with satisfying endings for all characters involved (some made me whoop for joy and cheer at the screen; whereas others honestly made me cry!). As with the previous books we follow a wide cast of characters each performing their roles not only for individual arcs but also for a wider series encompassing arc too, with Pirates, Spirit bound chosen, Royalist Inquisitors, Dragon Spirits themselves, and of course those that were simply too close not to be pulled into the fray, there is a character for everyone.
I honestly cannot believe it is over.
Spoiler for The Shadow Gate ahead!
Having opened the Shadow Gate whilst under the influence of the Myr, Fenn is no-longer a lost soul and has regained his memories, but this new version of himself has to come to terms with what he has done. The Shadow Gate is open, leaving a great maw between realms and letting the Myr (death spirits) cascade into the living realm at an alarming speed.
However, no-longer under the Myr's manipulation Fenn is now able to hear the Dragon Spirit, Hassen, more clearly as well as tap into the Dragon's own abilities to help protect and fight for those he loves.
I truly loved the involvement of the Dragon Spirits in this final book. We are brought closer into their world through those chosen/cursed by them, and because of these close bonds the readers get to know more and more about why the Dragon Spirits are there and what they want.
Hassen is definitely my favourite of ALL the Dragon Spirits.
Our dysfunctional but competent Pirates play a rather important role in this book! And I am glad to see Kaio and Taran stepping up! They challenge their own beliefs; the beliefs that have led them to be pirates and were directly related to one of the biggest catastrophes their people have been through, and just running with it. They may be Pirates but they know what it means to fight for their place in the world and for the people that mean the most to you, and those that cannot fight for themselves.
Do not think I have forgotten about our disgraced Master Inquisitor, Torsten. Having been separated and severed from his bond with the Dragon Spirit Miroth, we see Torsten fighting to make amends; to help the one individual that has always been there for him since he was a sickly child. Does Torsten make some questionable choices? Sure. BUT is Torsten capable of change? Is he able to show the reader what motivates him and how strong his moral compass it? You bet he can! Miroth and Torsten's relationship mirrors that of Fenn and Hassen; through all of their faults Torsten and Fenn's bonds with the Dragon Spirits are ones of respect and friendship.
Of course our favourite thief, Apollo, is integral to this story, especially after where we left him at the end of The Shadow Gate.
The Myr are relentless and driven throughout this series. They are creepy and hungry, and seemingly endless. There is more to their intelligence, manipulation, and justification of their actions then we have been told. The Myr are abundant; not only do they pose a threat simply due to their sheer number but also because of their power .
Complex characters lead us through The Broken Sword and bring us face to face with the realities of the Dragon Spirits world. There is more lore uncovered that makes certain pieces click more satisfyingly into place, as well as history of the world and families, or characters, and cantons that is delicious to read. The characters bring us closer to the action that sometimes makes me flinch or cry, but they also give us rest and true moments of peace. Still there are moments that had me chuckling or cheering at the pages, and there are characters I have come to despise (you know who you are), and yet others that I wish nothing more than to hug and hold close; to tell them they have done a fantastic job and that they do not need to keep fighting. I have loved watching these characters and stories grown from the very first time I read The Citrine Key to the final moments of The Broken Sword.
I am sad to say goodbye to the world of Dragon Spirits but so thankful to L.L.MacRae for allowing me to be a Beta Reader for this amazing series! I cannot wait to see what the next adventure will be!
I thought I was prepared for the final book in this trilogy but I was WRONG!!
The Broken Sword is the third and final instalment in L.L.MacRae's Dragon Spirits epic fantasy series. This is a truly epic conclusion to the series; with satisfying endings for all characters involved (some made me whoop for joy and cheer at the screen; whereas others honestly made me cry!). As with the previous books we follow a wide cast of characters each performing their roles not only for individual arcs but also for a wider series encompassing arc too, with Pirates, Spirit bound chosen, Royalist Inquisitors, Dragon Spirits themselves, and of course those that were simply too close not to be pulled into the fray, there is a character for everyone.
I honestly cannot believe it is over.
Spoiler for The Shadow Gate ahead!
Having opened the Shadow Gate whilst under the influence of the Myr, Fenn is no-longer a lost soul and has regained his memories, but this new version of himself has to come to terms with what he has done. The Shadow Gate is open, leaving a great maw between realms and letting the Myr (death spirits) cascade into the living realm at an alarming speed.
However, no-longer under the Myr's manipulation Fenn is now able to hear the Dragon Spirit, Hassen, more clearly as well as tap into the Dragon's own abilities to help protect and fight for those he loves.
I truly loved the involvement of the Dragon Spirits in this final book. We are brought closer into their world through those chosen/cursed by them, and because of these close bonds the readers get to know more and more about why the Dragon Spirits are there and what they want.
Hassen is definitely my favourite of ALL the Dragon Spirits.
Our dysfunctional but competent Pirates play a rather important role in this book! And I am glad to see Kaio and Taran stepping up! They challenge their own beliefs; the beliefs that have led them to be pirates and were directly related to one of the biggest catastrophes their people have been through, and just running with it. They may be Pirates but they know what it means to fight for their place in the world and for the people that mean the most to you, and those that cannot fight for themselves.
Do not think I have forgotten about our disgraced Master Inquisitor, Torsten. Having been separated and severed from his bond with the Dragon Spirit Miroth, we see Torsten fighting to make amends; to help the one individual that has always been there for him since he was a sickly child. Does Torsten make some questionable choices? Sure. BUT is Torsten capable of change? Is he able to show the reader what motivates him and how strong his moral compass it? You bet he can! Miroth and Torsten's relationship mirrors that of Fenn and Hassen; through all of their faults Torsten and Fenn's bonds with the Dragon Spirits are ones of respect and friendship.
Of course our favourite thief, Apollo, is integral to this story, especially after where we left him at the end of The Shadow Gate.
The Myr are relentless and driven throughout this series. They are creepy and hungry, and seemingly endless. There is more to their intelligence, manipulation, and justification of their actions then we have been told. The Myr are abundant; not only do they pose a threat simply due to their sheer number but also because of their power .
Complex characters lead us through The Broken Sword and bring us face to face with the realities of the Dragon Spirits world. There is more lore uncovered that makes certain pieces click more satisfyingly into place, as well as history of the world and families, or characters, and cantons that is delicious to read. The characters bring us closer to the action that sometimes makes me flinch or cry, but they also give us rest and true moments of peace. Still there are moments that had me chuckling or cheering at the pages, and there are characters I have come to despise (you know who you are), and yet others that I wish nothing more than to hug and hold close; to tell them they have done a fantastic job and that they do not need to keep fighting. I have loved watching these characters and stories grown from the very first time I read The Citrine Key to the final moments of The Broken Sword.
I am sad to say goodbye to the world of Dragon Spirits but so thankful to L.L.MacRae for allowing me to be a Beta Reader for this amazing series! I cannot wait to see what the next adventure will be!
August 3, 2025
Final books in a series are always a risky business, especially when the first two were 10/10 perfection. No notes. But what L.L. MacRae delivers in The Broken Sword is a masterclass in how to stick the landing. This is the rare kind of trilogy that hits five stars every time. Hat trick secured. Match ball taken home.
Without diving into spoiler territory, it’s hard to fully explain why this finale works so well, but everything just clicks. It’s not the ending I expected, and yet it feels exactly right.
The first half of the book focuses on aligning the pieces. Characters moving into their endgame positions, tension simmering, secrets slowly surfacing. And then… the 50% mark hits and it’s game on. From there, it’s twist after twist, gut punch after gut punch, the pace, the stakes, the emotional impact? Absolutely relentless in the best way.
I honestly can’t put into words how much I adore this series. It’s one of those rare worlds I never wanted to leave and if the opportunity ever came up to read it all again for the first time, I’d sign away my soul in a heartbeat.
A flawless, unforgettable conclusion. L.L. MacRae has truly outdone herself.
Without diving into spoiler territory, it’s hard to fully explain why this finale works so well, but everything just clicks. It’s not the ending I expected, and yet it feels exactly right.
The first half of the book focuses on aligning the pieces. Characters moving into their endgame positions, tension simmering, secrets slowly surfacing. And then… the 50% mark hits and it’s game on. From there, it’s twist after twist, gut punch after gut punch, the pace, the stakes, the emotional impact? Absolutely relentless in the best way.
I honestly can’t put into words how much I adore this series. It’s one of those rare worlds I never wanted to leave and if the opportunity ever came up to read it all again for the first time, I’d sign away my soul in a heartbeat.
A flawless, unforgettable conclusion. L.L. MacRae has truly outdone herself.
November 5, 2025
wow what a final conclusion to an incredible series, amazing story that keeps on giving and you just want to keep reading to find out the final journey, the author has become one of my favourite authors, the way she writes is amazing, so much imagination to create an incredible trilogy.
July 30, 2025
This was a wonderful finale to this engaging and creative dragon fantasy trilogy! It was difficult to put down! I really enjoyed the arcs for pretty much all of the characters (humans, dragon spirits and the Myr). McCrae demonstrated excellent plotting across the whole trilogy, with reveals happening even into the final third of this installment, which I think was effective and enjoyable.
October 26, 2025
We have an action packed last story here. There’s so much to learn about the dragon spirits and the Myr. And in second place we have griffins! There’s beautiful descriptions of soaring dragon spirits and the battles that they engage in. You realize that most of the dragons are not friends to the humans. The revelation of Chryam’s and the Matriach’s origins are sad and frightening because of what they want to unleash.
I had a surprise, that I felt sorry for a certain Inquisitior and his dragon. I was secretly hoping for a redemption arc.
Near the end when things changed for the dragons, I wept a little tear. I was also very happy with the very last sentence.
It is possible to have more stories about Hassen and Fenn?
I had a surprise, that I felt sorry for a certain Inquisitior and his dragon. I was secretly hoping for a redemption arc.
Near the end when things changed for the dragons, I wept a little tear. I was also very happy with the very last sentence.
It is possible to have more stories about Hassen and Fenn?
September 7, 2025
This series is the best choice I could’ve made as my first fantasy series. I was so excited to see how it would all come to an end. I experienced every emotion possible reading this finale. It broke me in all the right places and then went back and patched them all up. The growth of the characters and their relationships is hands down my favorite part. Calidra will always remain my favorite girl. What a beautiful arc, I will never get over it. The found family dynamic is always a hug to my soul. The world expansion and enrichment paired so well with the way the dragon spirits became more and more human. So many beautiful messages delivered through magic and whimsical chaos, too. Brilliant. Utter perfection.
August 4, 2025
This book was perfect. Full review to come. But this book, this series, this world, these characters… absolute perfection! 👌
August 27, 2025
Book Review - The Broken Sword
The finale of the awesome Dragon Spirits series by LL Macrae has to be one my most anticipated fantasy book releases of this year. Question: Did it delivery the ending this series deserved?
Answer: It most certainly did. I’m prep for this release I reread books 1 & 2 and loved them both. If you do not have the read space to reread the previous installment, Lauren has kindly puts a very detailed recap at the beginning of this book.
This book is just awesome, the stakes are higher, the pacing moves at a breakneck speed, and expands on the world-building superbly.
The characters develop throughout this series has been fantastic and there is not exception here. The characters journeys in this book has to be my favourite of the trilogy. Jisyel and Torsten were the shining stars of his instalment.
I have mentioned this in my reviews, I just love the way Lauren has development the Dragons for this story, it isn’t your typical dragons riding companion but this works so well for this world.
In this book we really get to explore on a deeper level the Dragon lore and personality of the different dragons, which was so good. Lauren has acknowledge her love affair for Dragons and this book and series as a whole is a brilliant tribute to the dragon genre.
I absolutely loved this whole series, easily blasting its way into my top 10 all time favourite series list.
If you haven’t read this series, I would highly recommend checking it out.
The finale of the awesome Dragon Spirits series by LL Macrae has to be one my most anticipated fantasy book releases of this year. Question: Did it delivery the ending this series deserved?
Answer: It most certainly did. I’m prep for this release I reread books 1 & 2 and loved them both. If you do not have the read space to reread the previous installment, Lauren has kindly puts a very detailed recap at the beginning of this book.
This book is just awesome, the stakes are higher, the pacing moves at a breakneck speed, and expands on the world-building superbly.
The characters develop throughout this series has been fantastic and there is not exception here. The characters journeys in this book has to be my favourite of the trilogy. Jisyel and Torsten were the shining stars of his instalment.
I have mentioned this in my reviews, I just love the way Lauren has development the Dragons for this story, it isn’t your typical dragons riding companion but this works so well for this world.
In this book we really get to explore on a deeper level the Dragon lore and personality of the different dragons, which was so good. Lauren has acknowledge her love affair for Dragons and this book and series as a whole is a brilliant tribute to the dragon genre.
I absolutely loved this whole series, easily blasting its way into my top 10 all time favourite series list.
If you haven’t read this series, I would highly recommend checking it out.
August 13, 2025
The Broken Sword (Dragon Spirits #3) is the final chapter in L.L. MacRae’s fabulous character-driven fantasy series, and, as it has been a while since I read the other books, I really appreciated the recap at the beginning.
The story continues with Fenn regretting opening the Shadow Gate in the previous book, now he can see the damage he has caused. The terrifying Myrish spirits are overrunning the continent, draining the life from anything they touch, so he becomes determined to stop them and right his wrongs. We gain a lot more insight into the Myr in this book, which was interesting and they prove to be an imaginatively created foe.
Each of the main characters we have been following through the series gets an end to their story arcs in this novel, some more satisfyingly than others. Torsten, the ex Master Inquisitor, deserves everything he gets after his capture and imprisonment of Apollo’s young daughter, Renys, even if she happily doesn’t seem any the worse for it. I found myself having conflicted feelings for Torsten. His kidnapping of Renys and his propensity for torture are unforgivable – but it is hard not to sympathise with his character as his beloved dragon spirit Miroth is now corrupted after many years of decline. I would have liked the pompous, controlling Lady Furyn Vantonen to be taught a lesson or two for the way she treated Calidra in her childhood.
The characters are extremely well-written and believable throughout the series, with Calidra being one of my favourites. I enjoyed seeing her coming back to herself after escaping Hassen’s curse, but unfortunately, she seemed to lose herself all over again for most of this novel. Fenn’s character matures quite a bit and finally proves his worth after a shaky start.
The pirates, Kaio and Taran, are a little bit watered down in this instalment, as is Apollo the thief. They are all behaving honourably and bravely and seem to have lost some of the ‘loveable rogue’ character traits that made me like them so much to begin with. War seems to cause everyone to reprioritise and mature.
The dragon spirits really come into their own in this novel in all their terrible glory. They are shown to have quite disparate personalities. Some of them are inexcusably manipulative, but we also see instances of their support and protection of humans in battle. Some of the humans are equally controlling of their bonded dragons, and the theme of those with power needing to be kept in check can be seen repeatedly. Another, overarching theme of the novel seems to be one of love enduring through terrible times and helping ordinary people achieve extraordinarily heroic deeds.
The epic ending really packs a punch with the sheer scale of its exciting battle, making it difficult to stop reading as the final chapters play out. I would highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers, particularly dragon lovers. I will miss its characters – it is definitely one I will reread in the future, and I would urge anyone reading this to give the series a try.
I received an arc of this novel from the author – thank you! My review is honest, and my opinions are my own.
The story continues with Fenn regretting opening the Shadow Gate in the previous book, now he can see the damage he has caused. The terrifying Myrish spirits are overrunning the continent, draining the life from anything they touch, so he becomes determined to stop them and right his wrongs. We gain a lot more insight into the Myr in this book, which was interesting and they prove to be an imaginatively created foe.
Each of the main characters we have been following through the series gets an end to their story arcs in this novel, some more satisfyingly than others. Torsten, the ex Master Inquisitor, deserves everything he gets after his capture and imprisonment of Apollo’s young daughter, Renys, even if she happily doesn’t seem any the worse for it. I found myself having conflicted feelings for Torsten. His kidnapping of Renys and his propensity for torture are unforgivable – but it is hard not to sympathise with his character as his beloved dragon spirit Miroth is now corrupted after many years of decline. I would have liked the pompous, controlling Lady Furyn Vantonen to be taught a lesson or two for the way she treated Calidra in her childhood.
The characters are extremely well-written and believable throughout the series, with Calidra being one of my favourites. I enjoyed seeing her coming back to herself after escaping Hassen’s curse, but unfortunately, she seemed to lose herself all over again for most of this novel. Fenn’s character matures quite a bit and finally proves his worth after a shaky start.
The pirates, Kaio and Taran, are a little bit watered down in this instalment, as is Apollo the thief. They are all behaving honourably and bravely and seem to have lost some of the ‘loveable rogue’ character traits that made me like them so much to begin with. War seems to cause everyone to reprioritise and mature.
The dragon spirits really come into their own in this novel in all their terrible glory. They are shown to have quite disparate personalities. Some of them are inexcusably manipulative, but we also see instances of their support and protection of humans in battle. Some of the humans are equally controlling of their bonded dragons, and the theme of those with power needing to be kept in check can be seen repeatedly. Another, overarching theme of the novel seems to be one of love enduring through terrible times and helping ordinary people achieve extraordinarily heroic deeds.
The epic ending really packs a punch with the sheer scale of its exciting battle, making it difficult to stop reading as the final chapters play out. I would highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers, particularly dragon lovers. I will miss its characters – it is definitely one I will reread in the future, and I would urge anyone reading this to give the series a try.
I received an arc of this novel from the author – thank you! My review is honest, and my opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
I had to sit on this review for a few hours because if I didn't, it would have been nothing more than incoherent screeching.
I went into this book with high expectations. The first two books blew me away. So, I had my fingers crossed for this one. And guess what?
MacRae absolutely delivered this time, too.
There are so many things I want to say about this series, but I'll keep it short so you don't get bored.
Firstly, I want to applaud the character arcs. When you have as many characters as in this series, it is common to be disappointed with some character developments. This series, however? Every character was done justice. Not a single character's story felt forced. All of them flowed spectacularly. After my reviews of the previous books, what I am about to say will surprise you.
Torsten became my favourite. It's not that he turned into a good guy. He was never the good guy. His character was so complex and so fleshed out, I loved it. In the first two books, I couldn't help but loathe Torsten. But as I neared the end of the second book and delved deep into the finale, I started to understand him better. He's the perfect example of a person who lets himself be defined by his duty. He knew what he did, he knew why he did it, and he wasn't sorry because that was what was required of him at the time. One of the best morally grey characters I have read so far.
Fenn and Hassen's arc was another favourite of mine. At first, we see Hassen as a troublemaker, but then by the end, he turns out to be much more than that. He was sweet, he was mischievous, he was caring and he was moral. Jisyel and Chyram were the perfect representation of how power is something to be used with responsibility and tact.
The plot was resolved beautifully. No single strand was left untied. The pacing, the action, the sweet moments - all of them were executed splendidly. After all the events of the series, the epilogue healed something in me. It was written beautifully.
I would say, L.L MacRae deserves all the applause she can get for this series. I can't wait to read more of her works.
I went into this book with high expectations. The first two books blew me away. So, I had my fingers crossed for this one. And guess what?
MacRae absolutely delivered this time, too.
There are so many things I want to say about this series, but I'll keep it short so you don't get bored.
Firstly, I want to applaud the character arcs. When you have as many characters as in this series, it is common to be disappointed with some character developments. This series, however? Every character was done justice. Not a single character's story felt forced. All of them flowed spectacularly. After my reviews of the previous books, what I am about to say will surprise you.
Torsten became my favourite. It's not that he turned into a good guy. He was never the good guy. His character was so complex and so fleshed out, I loved it. In the first two books, I couldn't help but loathe Torsten. But as I neared the end of the second book and delved deep into the finale, I started to understand him better. He's the perfect example of a person who lets himself be defined by his duty. He knew what he did, he knew why he did it, and he wasn't sorry because that was what was required of him at the time. One of the best morally grey characters I have read so far.
Fenn and Hassen's arc was another favourite of mine. At first, we see Hassen as a troublemaker, but then by the end, he turns out to be much more than that. He was sweet, he was mischievous, he was caring and he was moral. Jisyel and Chyram were the perfect representation of how power is something to be used with responsibility and tact.
The plot was resolved beautifully. No single strand was left untied. The pacing, the action, the sweet moments - all of them were executed splendidly. After all the events of the series, the epilogue healed something in me. It was written beautifully.
I would say, L.L MacRae deserves all the applause she can get for this series. I can't wait to read more of her works.
November 24, 2025
What a wonderful end to the series!
Didn’t see the ending coming but now that I process it, I can see bits and pieces hinting throughout the series.
I wouldn’t say no to another book in the universe.
Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Didn’t see the ending coming but now that I process it, I can see bits and pieces hinting throughout the series.
I wouldn’t say no to another book in the universe.
Looking forward to reading more from the author.
October 7, 2025
What an ending! Sad that my time in this world is over.
August 22, 2025
What a great end to this series. I did have a small cry or two but it was a fitting end, it’s a shame a did have to end.
August 20, 2025
The end of the trilogy landed perfectly. It absolutely stuck. I love how the opening scene of the first book ties in beautifully with the ending. Amazing storytelling!
Even though I finished beta-reading the book a few weeks back now, it's one of those books that sits with you well after finishing it.
Several events went further and more epic then I could have ever imagined - which is a common theme with this series and one of my favorite aspects of it.
The third book goes at a fast pace out of the gates (there is a Shadow Gate pun in there somewhere) with scenes so awesome they are etched into my brain as a cinematic animated wallpaper.
Characters from book two took on new arcs and were thrown into scenarios I did not expect, igniting intrigue and depth I was surprised could be built on after how good the last book was.
I have many favorite scenes and moments from small character interactions to whole new arcs. The fast pace has a few quiet moments, banter moments, all played out over the bigger tension of the world events. It was everything I wanted!
Usually the last book in a series is all about wrapping up and we definitely get that, but we also get more character arcs first that are satisfying and for lack of a better description, perfectly executed.
The ending, which is so hard not to gush about due to spoilers, but I'll say the beat and the pace and the whole finale of our dragon spirits world was gracefully done and one of the best endings of a trilogy I have read. Just re-remembering is hitting me in the feels all over again!
If you liked the first two books, you'll adore this one. 5 stars, easily.
Even though I finished beta-reading the book a few weeks back now, it's one of those books that sits with you well after finishing it.
Several events went further and more epic then I could have ever imagined - which is a common theme with this series and one of my favorite aspects of it.
The third book goes at a fast pace out of the gates (there is a Shadow Gate pun in there somewhere) with scenes so awesome they are etched into my brain as a cinematic animated wallpaper.
Characters from book two took on new arcs and were thrown into scenarios I did not expect, igniting intrigue and depth I was surprised could be built on after how good the last book was.
I have many favorite scenes and moments from small character interactions to whole new arcs. The fast pace has a few quiet moments, banter moments, all played out over the bigger tension of the world events. It was everything I wanted!
Usually the last book in a series is all about wrapping up and we definitely get that, but we also get more character arcs first that are satisfying and for lack of a better description, perfectly executed.
The ending, which is so hard not to gush about due to spoilers, but I'll say the beat and the pace and the whole finale of our dragon spirits world was gracefully done and one of the best endings of a trilogy I have read. Just re-remembering is hitting me in the feels all over again!
If you liked the first two books, you'll adore this one. 5 stars, easily.
October 20, 2025
In a word? EPIC
The character arcs? Chefs kiss 👌🏼
Drama, suspense, sacrifice, emotional rollercoasters... we had it all.
I never doubted this would be an epic conclusion, but it still blew me away.
No spoilers from me, but I was on tenterhooks the whole way through. I genuinely couldn't tell who would make it to the end. The final battle was a gut punch in the best possible way!
The character arcs? Chefs kiss 👌🏼
Drama, suspense, sacrifice, emotional rollercoasters... we had it all.
I never doubted this would be an epic conclusion, but it still blew me away.
No spoilers from me, but I was on tenterhooks the whole way through. I genuinely couldn't tell who would make it to the end. The final battle was a gut punch in the best possible way!
October 29, 2025
While life gave me another type of journey, I was also trying to escape in the world Lauren created in her Dragon Spirits series.
And what can I say? I always describe her books as adventurous, more than extreme action- because that's what it feels like to me. It has the perfect balance of character and world depth. Various characters and their growth, and neither of them are perfect. They all deal with their own issues, some learn from it .. other don't.
It's really nice when authors can write a story that plays like a movie inside your mind. And despite me having to pause it here and there (because life is a little rougher atm) - I was able to jump back in at any time and feel right there with them.
The ending wraps everything up perfectly. All pov's are taken care of. I feel absolutely content as a reader.
And now, I just want all the art because boy is there a lot to draw from! ♥︎
And what can I say? I always describe her books as adventurous, more than extreme action- because that's what it feels like to me. It has the perfect balance of character and world depth. Various characters and their growth, and neither of them are perfect. They all deal with their own issues, some learn from it .. other don't.
It's really nice when authors can write a story that plays like a movie inside your mind. And despite me having to pause it here and there (because life is a little rougher atm) - I was able to jump back in at any time and feel right there with them.
The ending wraps everything up perfectly. All pov's are taken care of. I feel absolutely content as a reader.
And now, I just want all the art because boy is there a lot to draw from! ♥︎
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2026
The Broken Sword was a conclusion worth waiting for — despite owning the paperback, I waited until I could get my hands on the audiobook and I’m so glad I did. The narrator is fantastic at bringing all the characters to life and adding a real richness to the experience I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
TBS had me on the edge of my seat as Fenn desperately tried to fix his mistakes, although his POV was actually my least favourite. I loved the Calidra and Torsten chapters! They were so unexpected but so much fun. Torsten generally — I despised him so much in previous books, but actually really enjoyed his POV/plot in this one. Jisyel had me unbelievably stressed.
I really enjoyed this whole series. It was a great way to get back into reading more high & epic fantasy after a romance/cozy break. Every character had a clear goal so it felt really tightly plotted and for the most part, every character in the story felt like they served a proper purpose and contributed. Fenn’s partner is probably the only real side character I was confused about - she did fairly little other than offer emotional support - but overall this was a really great end to this trilogy even if I did cry my eyes out at the ending.
Love this and highly recommend for anyone who loves complex epic fantasies and dragons!
TBS had me on the edge of my seat as Fenn desperately tried to fix his mistakes, although his POV was actually my least favourite. I loved the Calidra and Torsten chapters! They were so unexpected but so much fun. Torsten generally — I despised him so much in previous books, but actually really enjoyed his POV/plot in this one. Jisyel had me unbelievably stressed.
I really enjoyed this whole series. It was a great way to get back into reading more high & epic fantasy after a romance/cozy break. Every character had a clear goal so it felt really tightly plotted and for the most part, every character in the story felt like they served a proper purpose and contributed. Fenn’s partner is probably the only real side character I was confused about - she did fairly little other than offer emotional support - but overall this was a really great end to this trilogy even if I did cry my eyes out at the ending.
Love this and highly recommend for anyone who loves complex epic fantasies and dragons!
September 3, 2025
Great finish to a great series.
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