Darling Mortal Readers, It appears Lucian and Aurelia have finally been united. How touching. I am eager to see how my little minion has affected Lucian’s perception of the beloved Princess. Will they find the common ground they so desperately need? Or will they crumble, allowing me to finally release the masses? War, after all, is better fought in droves rather than one on one. ~Tixdarr Lord of the Dead
In "United We Fall," the worthy and powerful sequel to "The Breaking," Aurelia’s harrowing journey continues. She remains a heroine of remarkable depth; her strength is not merely derived from her burgeoning powers but is rooted in a profound personal resilience. It is this inner fortitude that she must call upon to endure the relentless trials thrust upon her. Forced into a politically charged marriage with the weak-willed Lucian, a pawn under the sinister influence of the Demon Zadon, Aurelia strives against all odds to unite the realms of Drakore and Palion as their queen. This sequel plunges readers back into the shadows of Aurelia’s existence. Having survived the threshold of death, she is now only part mortal, and the nightmares of her ordeal linger. We are also reintroduced to the agonizing plight of Maledic, who knows Aurelia is his soulbond, yet understands she can never truly be his. The story brilliantly reveals how Aurelia’s time in Dodsfell, the Realm of the Dead, has fundamentally shaped her powers, culminating in an unexpected revelation: her shift creature is a wraith dragon. Under Maledic’s guidance, we witness the birth of the last of its kind, the Dragon of Death. Throughout her darkest travails, Aurelia finds support from the most ironic of sources: the Demon world itself. These alliances offer a glimmer of hope, illuminating a path forward not just for Aurelia, but for the reader as well. Once again, the author immerses us in unrelenting darkness, masterfully balanced with moments of sharp humour, genuine hope, and profound emotional weight. "United We Fall" is dark fantasy at its very best.
Aurelia had endured ten years of torture in Dodsfell, the Kingdom of the Demons, only to escape and again find herself in a dungeon. Just as she was taking in her prison and her options, two men stood in front of her cell.
The Palion King asked why Zadon, his demon best friend, had imprisoned the Princess of Drakore. Then he demanded she be cleaned up and ready for their wedding ceremony that evening.
The wedding that prophecy said would join their kingdoms.
I loved this story! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. This is the final book in THE DODSFELL CHAPTER and cannot be read as a standalone. This epic fantasy will take you on a dangerous journey with tons of twists.
Although I loved this series, I didn't like the soulbond conclusion—it was accepted with one sentence and that left me wanting more. And even though the war with the Gods had just begun the story has ended. The epilogue teases you with a character we met in the final chapters of the book leading to a new off shoot series, so maybe the war will continue through that series. I do like where the new series is going and can't wait to see what happens with the klutzy fairy.
I highly recommend this series, but do not expect this to be an overnight read. It is very intense and told through several POVs, but it is totally worth it. Shifters, gods, demons, magic - a total fantasy read.
If you like strong, independent women rebelling against the patriarchy this one is for you. All of the women unite to protect Aurelia from Lucian and Zadon. She is strong, resilient, compassionate and powerful. The women band together for the betterment of their people and overthrow the patriarchy. This is a great trilogy!!
I have been thrilled to dive into this follow up in a series and was psyched to read Aurelia’s story. Although this is fantasy, her struggles and her complexities are all too familiar to real life as we navigate who we can trust, forgive our own mistakes and let people in even when it’s difficult.
I found myself feeling betrayed and shocked throughout this read alongside the characters! The style of writing is always so refreshing to me, as if I’m a villager in this world, being exposed to all the workings of the higher ups!