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The Halfling Saga #4
An Honored Vow: The Halfling Saga Book 4
The fourth instalment in the thrilling romantasy series about king's Blade, Keera, and her epic quest to avenge her lover, save her people and bring down a tyrant king.
'Your land is not the one you take; it is the one you die for.'
Keera has tried to keep her final promise to the friend she was forced to kill to save a kingdom - but that promise has led to the most difficult struggles of her life. She's been at war with her worst self while battling King Damien for the freedom of the Halflings, and she's lost too many along the way. But when she finally breaks the last seal, unleashing the Fae magic that's been hidden away for hundreds of years, the conflict seems to be turning in the Halflings' favour.
Meanwhile, Keera's discovery of a staggering secret about her lover and the kidnapping of one of her closest allies threatens to tip her back into darkness, but she has no time to rest. Opening the kingdom's magical seals has transformed Keera in ways even the wisest Fae elders could not have anticipated, and the return of an evil thought long vanquished throws their rescue plans into chaos. And with the kingdom's Halfling population suddenly posing a risk to the crown, the land is plunged into violence as the king begins a new blood purge. Keera and her allies must gather an army to meet Damien's forces in a final confrontation of epic - and tragic - proportions.
The stunning fourth book in BookTok sensation Melissa Blair's epically romantic series will leave readers breathless as Keera fights for her land, her people, and the promise of a better world.
'Your land is not the one you take; it is the one you die for.'
Keera has tried to keep her final promise to the friend she was forced to kill to save a kingdom - but that promise has led to the most difficult struggles of her life. She's been at war with her worst self while battling King Damien for the freedom of the Halflings, and she's lost too many along the way. But when she finally breaks the last seal, unleashing the Fae magic that's been hidden away for hundreds of years, the conflict seems to be turning in the Halflings' favour.
Meanwhile, Keera's discovery of a staggering secret about her lover and the kidnapping of one of her closest allies threatens to tip her back into darkness, but she has no time to rest. Opening the kingdom's magical seals has transformed Keera in ways even the wisest Fae elders could not have anticipated, and the return of an evil thought long vanquished throws their rescue plans into chaos. And with the kingdom's Halfling population suddenly posing a risk to the crown, the land is plunged into violence as the king begins a new blood purge. Keera and her allies must gather an army to meet Damien's forces in a final confrontation of epic - and tragic - proportions.
The stunning fourth book in BookTok sensation Melissa Blair's epically romantic series will leave readers breathless as Keera fights for her land, her people, and the promise of a better world.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2025
About the author
Melissa Blair
9 books2,057 followersMelissa (she/her/kwe) is an Anishinaabekwe of mixed ancestry living in Turtle Island. She splits her time between Treaty 9 in Northern Ontario and the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg in Ottawa, Canada. She has a graduate degree in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies, loves movies, and hates spoons. Melissa has a BookTok account where she discusses her favorite kinds of books including Indigenous and queer fiction, feminist literature, and non-fiction. A Broken Blade is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 720 reviews
March 9, 2025
✩ 1 star ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Fae, Elves, Halflings & Mortals
➼ Evil King
➼ Magic
➼ Training
➼ Found Family
➼ Kingdom at War
➼ 4th & Final Book
➼ First Person POV
This was boring as hell and should have been a DNF. I firmly believe that book three and four should have been significantly edited and condensed into one book. Almost nothing happens in this book until the 70% mark and I’m shocked that I made it that far. There is way too much focus on side characters with zero personality that I frankly do not care about. Gerarda in particular was mentioned endlessly and added almost nothing to the story.
I’m pretty sure I said this after finishing book three, but this series desperately needed a few funny characters for comedic relief. I get that war is serious but this was such a dull read. Also, where the heck was Riven?! He’s barely in this book at all and they spend zero time building their relationship or sorting out their issues.
This is a spoiler so turn away now if you don’t want to know, but at the end, Keera says she needs a year to go find herself and leaves Riven to pick up the pieces and build the kingdom on his own. I’ve seen other readers applauding this decision but this is such a cop out in my opinion. If you’re in a relationship with someone, you don’t just get to run off on your own. You work through things together and support each other. At this point, I honestly hope she never comes back and that Riven finds someone who is deserving of him. Such a selfish choice.
I hate not finishing a series, but this one should have been left unread.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: The third book was honestly pretty disappointing, but I feel compelled to finish out the series. Hopefully I’ll be able to drum up some interest in these characters this time around. 🙃
What to Expect:
➼ Fae, Elves, Halflings & Mortals
➼ Evil King
➼ Magic
➼ Training
➼ Found Family
➼ Kingdom at War
➼ 4th & Final Book
➼ First Person POV
This was boring as hell and should have been a DNF. I firmly believe that book three and four should have been significantly edited and condensed into one book. Almost nothing happens in this book until the 70% mark and I’m shocked that I made it that far. There is way too much focus on side characters with zero personality that I frankly do not care about. Gerarda in particular was mentioned endlessly and added almost nothing to the story.
I’m pretty sure I said this after finishing book three, but this series desperately needed a few funny characters for comedic relief. I get that war is serious but this was such a dull read. Also, where the heck was Riven?! He’s barely in this book at all and they spend zero time building their relationship or sorting out their issues.
This is a spoiler so turn away now if you don’t want to know, but at the end, Keera says she needs a year to go find herself and leaves Riven to pick up the pieces and build the kingdom on his own. I’ve seen other readers applauding this decision but this is such a cop out in my opinion. If you’re in a relationship with someone, you don’t just get to run off on your own. You work through things together and support each other. At this point, I honestly hope she never comes back and that Riven finds someone who is deserving of him. Such a selfish choice.
I hate not finishing a series, but this one should have been left unread.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: The third book was honestly pretty disappointing, but I feel compelled to finish out the series. Hopefully I’ll be able to drum up some interest in these characters this time around. 🙃
April 12, 2025
2.75✨
It was tiresome to read about them underestimating Damien every damn time. Can we please learn? 3 times I actually said : well what did you expect?????
Where the hell was Riven?????? It’s like his character was just brushed aside for the sake of the FMC.
I’m beyond disappointed. Keera’s character was completely ruined in this one. She even went to the point of questioning Riven’s worthiness for his powers???? wtf was this.
‼️ Spoiler here ‼️
At the end, Keera leaves for a year to *find herself* while Riven builds a Kingdom on a very uncertain ground? This was so selfish and entitled. Who abandons their partner like this when facing such difficult times?
‼️ End of spoilers ‼️
It feels like the series was written by 2 completely different authors. Book 1 & 2 were perfection but 3-4 … ooof.
A broken blade - 5✨
A shadow crown - 5✨
A vicious game - 3✨
An honored vow - 2.75✨
It was tiresome to read about them underestimating Damien every damn time. Can we please learn? 3 times I actually said : well what did you expect?????
Where the hell was Riven?????? It’s like his character was just brushed aside for the sake of the FMC.
I’m beyond disappointed. Keera’s character was completely ruined in this one. She even went to the point of questioning Riven’s worthiness for his powers???? wtf was this.
‼️ Spoiler here ‼️
At the end, Keera leaves for a year to *find herself* while Riven builds a Kingdom on a very uncertain ground? This was so selfish and entitled. Who abandons their partner like this when facing such difficult times?
‼️ End of spoilers ‼️
It feels like the series was written by 2 completely different authors. Book 1 & 2 were perfection but 3-4 … ooof.
A broken blade - 5✨
A shadow crown - 5✨
A vicious game - 3✨
An honored vow - 2.75✨
August 8, 2025
3⭐️
What an amazing end to such an amazing fantasy series. I am kind of at a loss for words at the moment. The only thing I’ve been doing for the past 100 pages is crying and then cried some more when it was over. While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, this definitely packed a punch for a finale.
One thing that I’ve always enjoyed about this series is how action packed it is for only 400 page books and this one was no different. There was constantly something going on and usually I never get bored. However, this one was a bit different.
I felt that the plot in this book seemed to draggggg big time. It took me a lot longer to become invested because the entire middle of the book is felt like it took ages to get the point. This is very much a more complex fantasy series so there were multiple plot points going on at one time, yet it felt like forever to actually really get into each of them. This book just didn’t hit it for me on the same level that the others did and that’s okay!! I still very much enjoyed myself.
The characters in this book just have such a special place in my heart that I couldn’t help but sob when some of the ones I really liked didn’t end up living by the end. I was grieving the loss of not only the characters, but also the end of a book era that has taken my heart on the journey of a lifetime. Keera, Nik, Riven, Gerarda, Gwyn — my babies. I will never be able to forget you or this story.
If I had one message to the author after finishing this book, it would be that I am blessed to have read such an incredible story written in such a whimsical, lyrical way that you just couldn’t help but fall in love with everything there was. This series was incredible and if you haven’t picked up this series yet, I would a million times recommend it. It takes some getting used to because so much happens in what is relatively short for fantasy books so strap in and enjoy the ride.
I know I did. 🩶
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
The end of an amazing era is finally here and I’m so sad to be leaving this universe once this book is over 😭🩶
What an amazing end to such an amazing fantasy series. I am kind of at a loss for words at the moment. The only thing I’ve been doing for the past 100 pages is crying and then cried some more when it was over. While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, this definitely packed a punch for a finale.
One thing that I’ve always enjoyed about this series is how action packed it is for only 400 page books and this one was no different. There was constantly something going on and usually I never get bored. However, this one was a bit different.
I felt that the plot in this book seemed to draggggg big time. It took me a lot longer to become invested because the entire middle of the book is felt like it took ages to get the point. This is very much a more complex fantasy series so there were multiple plot points going on at one time, yet it felt like forever to actually really get into each of them. This book just didn’t hit it for me on the same level that the others did and that’s okay!! I still very much enjoyed myself.
The characters in this book just have such a special place in my heart that I couldn’t help but sob when some of the ones I really liked didn’t end up living by the end. I was grieving the loss of not only the characters, but also the end of a book era that has taken my heart on the journey of a lifetime. Keera, Nik, Riven, Gerarda, Gwyn — my babies. I will never be able to forget you or this story.
If I had one message to the author after finishing this book, it would be that I am blessed to have read such an incredible story written in such a whimsical, lyrical way that you just couldn’t help but fall in love with everything there was. This series was incredible and if you haven’t picked up this series yet, I would a million times recommend it. It takes some getting used to because so much happens in what is relatively short for fantasy books so strap in and enjoy the ride.
I know I did. 🩶
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
The end of an amazing era is finally here and I’m so sad to be leaving this universe once this book is over 😭🩶
May 12, 2025
Time to finish this.
I am so sad this is over
Some things to expect inside:
~ First person
~ Complete badassery
~ Crying
~ 🌶️🌶️/5 spice rating
This series was absolutely amazing, was it perfect? No. There were some bumps for me, But all in all, this is a five star series for me. The character development, amazing. The depth that you get to know these characters? Unreal. The trauma that these characters go through is something I never would have expected to happen in this series. And the love I have for them is to the moon and back.
The world building is always great. Not too much, not too little. But the description of actions is what I have a hard time with. The action scenes were hard for me to wrap my mind around. With the big battle scenes I had to really focus and try to dissect what was happening, and some of it didn't even make sense to me. Really, don't even get me started on the end battle scene. That's why it got knocked a star. Zero time for processing. IYKYK.
Honestly, this whole book was five stars until the last fifty pages. The back and forth with fighting was so dragged out for no reason. The little twist was predictable, which is fine, but I wish it was followed through with. That’s all I can say without spoilers. I will say though, I loved the epilogue. I loved reading about Keera finally giving herself that break that she so desperately needed, because honestly, everyone besides Gerarda treated her like crap. Even Riven wasn't on his game and I was disappointed in him.
Keera is up there with one of the best FMC’s I've ever read about. She stands on business, she gets shit done, she doesn't take any BS period. She is loyal AF to her people and even to herself, which I think is a hard thing to write about. That balance can be tipped so easily and it sometimes might make the character seem a little selfish. But Keera is extremely well balanced, even after going through everything she did. In the end everything ended up being as it should be. A good end to a great series.
I am so sad this is over
Some things to expect inside:
~ First person
~ Complete badassery
~ Crying
~ 🌶️🌶️/5 spice rating
This series was absolutely amazing, was it perfect? No. There were some bumps for me, But all in all, this is a five star series for me. The character development, amazing. The depth that you get to know these characters? Unreal. The trauma that these characters go through is something I never would have expected to happen in this series. And the love I have for them is to the moon and back.
The world building is always great. Not too much, not too little. But the description of actions is what I have a hard time with. The action scenes were hard for me to wrap my mind around. With the big battle scenes I had to really focus and try to dissect what was happening, and some of it didn't even make sense to me. Really, don't even get me started on the end battle scene. That's why it got knocked a star. Zero time for processing. IYKYK.
Honestly, this whole book was five stars until the last fifty pages. The back and forth with fighting was so dragged out for no reason. The little twist was predictable, which is fine, but I wish it was followed through with. That’s all I can say without spoilers. I will say though, I loved the epilogue. I loved reading about Keera finally giving herself that break that she so desperately needed, because honestly, everyone besides Gerarda treated her like crap. Even Riven wasn't on his game and I was disappointed in him.
Keera is up there with one of the best FMC’s I've ever read about. She stands on business, she gets shit done, she doesn't take any BS period. She is loyal AF to her people and even to herself, which I think is a hard thing to write about. That balance can be tipped so easily and it sometimes might make the character seem a little selfish. But Keera is extremely well balanced, even after going through everything she did. In the end everything ended up being as it should be. A good end to a great series.
November 16, 2025
3⭐️
I…I don’t know what to say other than I’m not sure if the same author who wrote books 1-3 is in the same room with us.
This was a completely different experience; like Blair rewrote most of the characters and had them take on different personalities, and growth (or lack there of) arcs. I’m disappointed, but still enjoyed the series.
*************
✨ Preread
So not ready to say goodbye to these characters but here we are 😭
I…I don’t know what to say other than I’m not sure if the same author who wrote books 1-3 is in the same room with us.
This was a completely different experience; like Blair rewrote most of the characters and had them take on different personalities, and growth (or lack there of) arcs. I’m disappointed, but still enjoyed the series.
*************
✨ Preread
So not ready to say goodbye to these characters but here we are 😭
February 1, 2025
I loved this like the rest of the series BUT, Riven deserved better. You'll know what I mean when you read it. He and Keera had so little interaction, and he was a bit sidelined during all the important parts. Keera meanwhile evolved even more which I like, I just wish it wasn't at Riven's expense.
I'm also not the biggest fan of "the year". I listened to that and I literally went "you've gotta be kidding me", and sure it worked out ALRIGHT at the end, and maybe I wouldn't have minded as much if the rest of the book wasn't how it was in regards to that situation, but...it was unnecessary (to me, argue with a wall).
Otherwise, I loved the action scenes, the found family we got to know throughout the series, the emotions I felt while reading, the love and care the author put into her world and characters, the writing, and the overall ending. I'd definitely reread/relisten to this, and would gladly recommend it to other people.
I'm also not the biggest fan of "the year". I listened to that and I literally went "you've gotta be kidding me", and sure it worked out ALRIGHT at the end, and maybe I wouldn't have minded as much if the rest of the book wasn't how it was in regards to that situation, but...it was unnecessary (to me, argue with a wall).
Otherwise, I loved the action scenes, the found family we got to know throughout the series, the emotions I felt while reading, the love and care the author put into her world and characters, the writing, and the overall ending. I'd definitely reread/relisten to this, and would gladly recommend it to other people.
January 12, 2025
The more I think about this… the more upset I get about the ending of this saga. So many important characters had character arcs that completely fell flat. Our story was not just a story about Keera… but also Riven, who was completely missing from this book and practically unrecognizable. The author took him from a powerful MMC (and them as a power couple) and reduced him to something subservient and broken. Riven was the reason for the rebellion she led… and Keera took him out of the equation very purposefully and deliberately. It was painful to read. All throughout the series we see Keera have mistakes, trauma, struggles, and things that she isn’t proud of… that is then turned into strength and forgiveness. In this book? Keera condemns other characters for the same behaviors going as far as saying Riven might be undeserving of having his powers back and not having time for Syrra’s pain. I kept waiting and waiting for those things, especially the discussion of Riven’s powers and worthiness, to be revisited and remedied, but it wasn’t. Then, Keera leaves Riven at the end of the book, which may have been fine if it wasn’t the exact thing she was upset at Riven for throughout the entire first half of the story - leaving her. Basically, it feels like it’s okay when Keera does things and feels things and needs time to process and sometimes drops the ball, but not any one else in the book. The story itself and the plot ideas I loved, especially Gwyn’s retribution. But there were so many important emotional moments glossed over, others handled inappropriately, and lots of development that frankly never happened. And so many missed opportunities for great, impactful messaging that never came even though I was desperately holding out hope that they would be woven into the ending somehow. And that doesn’t even touch on the whole main conflict in the book being her new power to unlock halfling power and what she was going to do with it. We never saw resolution there either or what that would look like for her people after the war. I was so excited for this book … and I am so disappointed in not just the ending, but also the author’s messaging to her readers. It just wasn’t okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2025
This was a tough one for me. The Halfling Saga has been one of my absolute favorite series. I've been super excited for this one and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. While I did enjoy most of the book, there are a few things that I was disappointed with and made this book my least favorite of the 4.
Keera has grown so much and endured a lot through this series. We know about her struggles, addiction, trauma, and mistakes. They've helped her grow and become stronger as our FMC. But with all that, it felt wrong for her to condemn some of our supporting cast in this book for the same behaviors or mishaps that she went through. Then there's some stuff with Riven that in earlier books she was upset about him doing but she turns around and does the same things and expects him to just be fine with it.
Speaking of Riven...what happened? He was our big and bad MMC and in this book, he's just broken down and basically Keera's lapdog. What happened to our big and bad power couple? He was really made out to be pretty useless in this one and was basically unrecognizable. That was a huge disappointment.
On a positive note, what I did enjoy were the action scenes. The build-up to our big battle was fairly tense with a rewarding payoff. Our supporting halflings were my favorite parts of this book. Especially Gerarda! She became my favorite character in the book!
Keera has grown so much and endured a lot through this series. We know about her struggles, addiction, trauma, and mistakes. They've helped her grow and become stronger as our FMC. But with all that, it felt wrong for her to condemn some of our supporting cast in this book for the same behaviors or mishaps that she went through. Then there's some stuff with Riven that in earlier books she was upset about him doing but she turns around and does the same things and expects him to just be fine with it.
Speaking of Riven...what happened? He was our big and bad MMC and in this book, he's just broken down and basically Keera's lapdog. What happened to our big and bad power couple? He was really made out to be pretty useless in this one and was basically unrecognizable. That was a huge disappointment.
On a positive note, what I did enjoy were the action scenes. The build-up to our big battle was fairly tense with a rewarding payoff. Our supporting halflings were my favorite parts of this book. Especially Gerarda! She became my favorite character in the book!
March 14, 2025
This book should have been titled, "How to make your MMC completely useless in order to make your FMC appear badass and independent."
Or, "A guide on making every stupid decision possible."
Don't even get me started on how irritating most of the side characters were.
Or, "A guide on making every stupid decision possible."
Don't even get me started on how irritating most of the side characters were.
Want to Read
April 5, 2024THAT COVER!!!!!!!!!!!
January 29, 2025
3.75 stars
January 11, 2025
This was a very solid ending to a series I absolutely adored. If anything, I just wished it had been longer! I will miss these characters.
January 13, 2025
This is probably the most satisfying ending to a series I've ever read!! The entire book was twist after twist after twist from the very beginning. I fell in love with these characters and did shed tears towards the end. It was just the perfect closure for everything! Absolutely love this series!!
May 12, 2026
Look, if you’ve seen any of my posts on various platforms, you know I’m obsessed with this series. Melissa Blair took me by the hand and made me ask for more. I didn’t know if I was ready for the fourth and final book in the Halfling Saga. And I don’t know if I finished it, or it finished me.
I was prepared for the final book to break my heart. And it did, into multiple pieces. I appreciate the care and love that Melissa Blair put into each and every character. The way that Keera interacts with each one of them, no matter how small their role, is unique and heartfelt. You can still see the demons (or Damians) she’s battling with every decision. She doesn’t quite trust herself as a leader, and it could cost them everything. She’s leaning too hard into cautiousness after spending so long on the other side of the spectrum. Her reluctance to take risks will make or break the future of the Halfling, Fae, and mortals. She’s no longer deciding for just herself and she’s terrified.
And Riven. Boy, you done fucked up. You know you fucked up. And then you run away and let poor Keera try to keep the wheels on the battle bus. Boy, what are you thinking? No wonder she’s salty to you. And let’s not even bring Nikolai into this. Poor dude, and you’re giving him puppy dog eyes because he’s still mad at you. DUH! I will say their make-up scene had me in tears. They finally understood what the loss would be without each other as friends felt so real, it squeezed my heart in two. I can’t imagine a world where those two aren’t BFFs.
The biggest change is the one that took me by surprise. Gwyn. Her metamorphosis from eager chambermaid trying to get a taste of the outside world through Keera to the absolute BADASS she became was incredible. And the final scene with her, it blew my socks off. Because she was right. She’s not the same girl she was before, she’s something different. She made her choice and she’s got the spine to see it through. I love what she told Keera, to take that burden from her so she can be free of it. I hate that she had to suffer the losses she did, but she came through it diamond-fucking-plated. Get it girl.
Damian was… well, he’s a fuckwit. We all know this. He’s evil for the sake of being evil. He’s evil because his ego is huge and his merit is small. He got exactly what he deserved, and if you think he didn’t… well, that’s on you fam.
The ending to the book and series was absolute perfection. I commend Melissa Blair on giving her characters the ending they deserved, rather than the one that would leave a big emotional crater for all her readers. It was right, it was real, and it also made me cry like a little baby. *sniff*
I was prepared for the final book to break my heart. And it did, into multiple pieces. I appreciate the care and love that Melissa Blair put into each and every character. The way that Keera interacts with each one of them, no matter how small their role, is unique and heartfelt. You can still see the demons (or Damians) she’s battling with every decision. She doesn’t quite trust herself as a leader, and it could cost them everything. She’s leaning too hard into cautiousness after spending so long on the other side of the spectrum. Her reluctance to take risks will make or break the future of the Halfling, Fae, and mortals. She’s no longer deciding for just herself and she’s terrified.
And Riven. Boy, you done fucked up. You know you fucked up. And then you run away and let poor Keera try to keep the wheels on the battle bus. Boy, what are you thinking? No wonder she’s salty to you. And let’s not even bring Nikolai into this. Poor dude, and you’re giving him puppy dog eyes because he’s still mad at you. DUH! I will say their make-up scene had me in tears. They finally understood what the loss would be without each other as friends felt so real, it squeezed my heart in two. I can’t imagine a world where those two aren’t BFFs.
The biggest change is the one that took me by surprise. Gwyn. Her metamorphosis from eager chambermaid trying to get a taste of the outside world through Keera to the absolute BADASS she became was incredible. And the final scene with her, it blew my socks off. Because she was right. She’s not the same girl she was before, she’s something different. She made her choice and she’s got the spine to see it through. I love what she told Keera, to take that burden from her so she can be free of it. I hate that she had to suffer the losses she did, but she came through it diamond-fucking-plated. Get it girl.
Damian was… well, he’s a fuckwit. We all know this. He’s evil for the sake of being evil. He’s evil because his ego is huge and his merit is small. He got exactly what he deserved, and if you think he didn’t… well, that’s on you fam.
The ending to the book and series was absolute perfection. I commend Melissa Blair on giving her characters the ending they deserved, rather than the one that would leave a big emotional crater for all her readers. It was right, it was real, and it also made me cry like a little baby. *sniff*
January 20, 2025
“Your land is not the one you take, it is the one you die for.”
In my opinion, your feelings on this finale are dependent on how you felt about book 3.
Did you love book 3? Then you'll probably think this is a very fulfilling, well-constructed final book.
If book 3 didn't work for you, you'll probably feel differently (as I did.)
While I do think this was an improvement from the last book, I still consider it to be a downgrade from the first two books. The repetition and overall stupidity of this novel was just... horrendous at times. There were so many decisions made that felt like the author came up with the dumbest thing they could do and chose that option.
And as Riven's self-proclaimed #1 hater, this book absolutely destroyed his character. I detest the man and even I can recognize that he deserved better than whatever this was.
At the same time, this was still compulsively readable and I did like how some things were handled, even if I think that story's actual conclusion left a lot to be desired. The series itself grapples with a lot of important topics through the lens of a really interesting character, bringing something new to the table while being reminiscent of other popular fae books.
Overall, I still recommend the series, I still think the first two books are good; I just wish this had been better.
TW: ableism, addiction, alcohol, blood, colonization, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved one, drug abuse, drug addiction, genocide, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, medical content, murder, mutilation, panic attacks/disorders, self harm, sexual content, suicidal thoughts, suicide, torture, trafficking, violence, vomit, war.
In my opinion, your feelings on this finale are dependent on how you felt about book 3.
Did you love book 3? Then you'll probably think this is a very fulfilling, well-constructed final book.
If book 3 didn't work for you, you'll probably feel differently (as I did.)
While I do think this was an improvement from the last book, I still consider it to be a downgrade from the first two books. The repetition and overall stupidity of this novel was just... horrendous at times. There were so many decisions made that felt like the author came up with the dumbest thing they could do and chose that option.
And as Riven's self-proclaimed #1 hater, this book absolutely destroyed his character. I detest the man and even I can recognize that he deserved better than whatever this was.
At the same time, this was still compulsively readable and I did like how some things were handled, even if I think that story's actual conclusion left a lot to be desired. The series itself grapples with a lot of important topics through the lens of a really interesting character, bringing something new to the table while being reminiscent of other popular fae books.
Overall, I still recommend the series, I still think the first two books are good; I just wish this had been better.
TW: ableism, addiction, alcohol, blood, colonization, confinement, cursing, death, death of a loved one, drug abuse, drug addiction, genocide, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, medical content, murder, mutilation, panic attacks/disorders, self harm, sexual content, suicidal thoughts, suicide, torture, trafficking, violence, vomit, war.
January 29, 2025
Riven deserved so much better than this
January 11, 2025
While I enjoyed the movement of the book and the action filled scenes, and the character development of the lead character, this book ultimately fell flat for me.
I felt like the main male character was really brought down and made to feel useless so that the female lead could appear more impressive. There’s literally a line where Riven says “Let me be a soldier” and Keera refuses to let him fight or participate. It really felt like he was being held back.
While there were some sweet moments towards the end, the majority of the book lacked romance or connection between the main characters. 75% of the book felt like it lacked emotion. And Riven honestly felt like a completely different character, which left me feeling disappointed.
I felt like the main male character was really brought down and made to feel useless so that the female lead could appear more impressive. There’s literally a line where Riven says “Let me be a soldier” and Keera refuses to let him fight or participate. It really felt like he was being held back.
While there were some sweet moments towards the end, the majority of the book lacked romance or connection between the main characters. 75% of the book felt like it lacked emotion. And Riven honestly felt like a completely different character, which left me feeling disappointed.
April 19, 2026
Where even was Riven in this book?? I fear he was nowhere to be seen
November 21, 2024
How am I supposed to say goodbye to these characters?? 😭
Thank you Union Square & Co for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Union Square & Co for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 1, 2025
An Honored Vow was a solid read, but it was my least favorite in the series. ⚔️🔥 The action, emotions, and romance were still there, but for some reason, it didn’t hit as hard as the previous books. That said, the character arcs were satisfying, and the ending tied everything up well. While it wasn’t my favorite, it was still a good conclusion to an incredible series! ✨📖
Around 4.5 ⭐️’s
Around 4.5 ⭐️’s
Want to Read
May 7, 2024I need this book in my hands ASAP
January 18, 2025
It's a 2.25 rounded up to 3 for Goodreads.
Good grief, I am so disappointed.
Good grief, I am so disappointed.
February 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐
An Honored Vow is the final installment of The Halfling Saga and I am so pleased with the ending of this series. When I first picked up this series early last year, I instantly fell in love with the world and characters that Melissa Blair put on the pages. I thought the way she addressed Keera and her faults was sensitive while not sugar coating the trials that she faced. Her growth over the course of this series was amazing and I appreciated the way she learned to lean on others at the end (even while continuing to be self-sacrificing for the ones she loved).
The battles felt a little rushed at times, but when you have multiple characters on the field it can sometimes feel chaotic as everything unfolds.
I know this will continue to be a series I recommend to others and will remain a favorite.
An Honored Vow is the final installment of The Halfling Saga and I am so pleased with the ending of this series. When I first picked up this series early last year, I instantly fell in love with the world and characters that Melissa Blair put on the pages. I thought the way she addressed Keera and her faults was sensitive while not sugar coating the trials that she faced. Her growth over the course of this series was amazing and I appreciated the way she learned to lean on others at the end (even while continuing to be self-sacrificing for the ones she loved).
The battles felt a little rushed at times, but when you have multiple characters on the field it can sometimes feel chaotic as everything unfolds.
I know this will continue to be a series I recommend to others and will remain a favorite.
March 24, 2025
*3.5⭐️
Unfortunately, this finale didn’t deliver what i was hoping for. The very end was satisfying enough, but this instalment wasn’t nearly as great as the previous two in my opinion
Unfortunately, this finale didn’t deliver what i was hoping for. The very end was satisfying enough, but this instalment wasn’t nearly as great as the previous two in my opinion
January 12, 2025
This made me cry as much as Kingdom of Ash.
What a satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite series.
What a satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite series.
January 1, 2025
I wasn’t ready.. so many tears were shed!! I definitely wasn’t ready for the story of Keera to end!! As the others, such a fantastic read that I cannot gush over!!
October 4, 2025
une bonne conclusion mais exécution assez bancale comparée au reste de la saga.
Riven a juste disparu ? Je suis un peu déçu concernant la romande. Il y avait un peu de longueur, je pense que le tome 3 aurai pu suffire de conclusion en rajoutant quelques trucs du tome 4. M’enfin, c’était pas mauvais. Et les 3 premiers tomes sont géniales donc :
je recommande tout de même la saga !
Riven a juste disparu ? Je suis un peu déçu concernant la romande. Il y avait un peu de longueur, je pense que le tome 3 aurai pu suffire de conclusion en rajoutant quelques trucs du tome 4. M’enfin, c’était pas mauvais. Et les 3 premiers tomes sont géniales donc :
je recommande tout de même la saga !
February 5, 2025
Alexa: Play I am not okay by jelly roll?! Cause the way I sobbed at this ending?!!! WTF, buddy read with lori!(:
April 2, 2025
i SOBBED through the ending, such a beautiful ending!!! you need to read these!!!!!!!
January 19, 2025
Permanently heartbroken
Wow wow wow wow wow
I’ll be sobbing for the next 3-10 business days
Nobody. Talk. To. Me.
Melissa Blair idk what you put into these books but I felt. EVERY. SINGLE. EMOTION.
I finished this like 10 minutes ago or something and I am STILL sobbing!!! Please I need more 😭
Wow wow wow wow wow
I’ll be sobbing for the next 3-10 business days
Nobody. Talk. To. Me.
Melissa Blair idk what you put into these books but I felt. EVERY. SINGLE. EMOTION.
I finished this like 10 minutes ago or something and I am STILL sobbing!!! Please I need more 😭
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