Forest of Ruin

Age of Legends #3

by Kelley Armstrong

In a world at war, who can you trust?

The empire rests on the edge of a knife, and sisters Ashyn and Moria are the handle and the blade. Desperate to outmaneuver the evil Alvar Kitsune, whose hold on the people grows stronger every day, Emperor Tatsu begs Moria to put aside past grievances and ally with Gavril—at least long enough to make an attempt on Alvar’s life. Meanwhile, reunited with her long-lost grandfather, Ashyn discovers that she is the key to a ritual that could reawaken an ancient dragon and turn the tide of the coming battle in their favor.

But with lies and betrayal lurking around every corner, Ashyn and Moria will have to decide once and for all where their allegiances are. And it may not be where their hearts would lead them…

In this breathtaking final book in her epic trilogy the Age of Legends, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong blends fantasy, action, and romance to give readers the unforgettable ending they’ve been waiting for.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, Dragons, Paranormal, Fiction

436 pages, Hardcover

First published April 5, 2016

About the author

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Forest of Ruin by Kelley Armstrong
Book Three of the Age of Legends series
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC borrowed (thanks, Liza!)

Summary (from Goodreads):

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes the breathtaking conclusion to the Age of Legends trilogy, perfect for fans of Graceling and Game of Thrones.

The empire rests on the edge of a knife, and sisters Ashyn and Moria are the handle and the blade. Desperate to outmaneuver the evil Alvar Kitsune, whose hold on the people grows stronger every day, Emperor Tatsu begs Moria to put aside past grievances and ally with Gavril—at least long enough to make an attempt on Alvar’s life. Meanwhile, reunited with her long-lost grandfather, Ashyn discovers that she is the key to a ritual that could reawaken an ancient dragon and turn the tide of the coming battle in their favor.

But with lies and betrayal lurking around every corner, Ashyn and Moria will have to decide once and for all where their allegiances are. And it may not be where their hearts would lead them....

In this breathtaking final book in her epic trilogy the Age of Legends, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong blends fantasy, action, and romance to give readers the unforgettable ending they’ve been waiting for.

What I Liked:

First, I'd like to thank Liza for letting me borrow her ARC. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book early, especially since it was not on Edelweiss. Thank you, Liza!

What a great conclusion to an amazing series! I loved Sea of Shadows, and really enjoyed Empire of Night, and this third book was a lovely addition and finale to the series. I'm sad to let go of the series, but at the same time, it ended so well, so it's hard to be sad!

Usually I summarize the book in my own words, like the Goodreads synopsis, but I'm afraid to do that and spoil something! I'm always hesitant with conclusion novels. But, this book picks up where the second book left off. Moria is with Gavril, and they are fleeing, but then they are caught by no ordinary highwaymen. Tyrus was separated from them. Meanwhile, Ashyn and Ronan are with someone who knows Ashyn - her grandfather - and needs her help. All the while, the war continues, and the empire is more threatened than ever by Alvar Kitsune's sorcery. Nothing is as it seems, and not everyone will survive...

I adore this series so much. Can you tell? Usually I don't like dual perspectives with two sisters, because I tend to develop a dislike for one sister. This book is written in third-person, alternating between Moria and Ashyn's POVs (they aren't together in any scenes until close to the climax of the book, so it makes sense to have both of their perspectives). Throughout this series, I have really liked both sisters. Ashyn is more quiet and calm and rational, and Moria is more blunt and impulsive and feisty. Both girls are incredibly strong and intelligent and develop immensely, from the start of the series to the end.

And so do our men! Tyrus, prince and bastard son of the emperor, has changed a lot from the beginning of the series. He is much more assertive and emperor-y, unafraid to defy his father or give orders. Ronan also undergoes really well-written character development; he's a thief looking to restore his family's warrior caste. But he has never left Ashyn, and has always protected her as best as he could. He is one of the most noble and honest (literary) thieves I know!

And finally, Gavril. Gavril is probably the most important character in this novel, and the one that changes the most. He plays an incredibly significant role in this book, and I personally think we can dub this as "his book", of the three books in the series. He is totally worth redeeming, and we come to understand some of his decisions. No excuse, but explanations.

I'll mention the romance - thank you, Armstrong, for never putting a whiff of love triangle in this series. We have two linear romances - Moria and Tyrus, Ashyn and Ronan, and honestly, the romances are barely there. Moria and Tyrus's relationship is more obvious because they have a physical aspect to it (especially in this book!), but Ashyn and Ronan have a more subtle relationship. Ashyn keeps pushing him away because she doesn't want him to give up his future and his siblings, for her. But their relationship is sweet to watch. Tyrus and Moria's relationship is fire and ice.

There are DRAGONS in this book! As one would expect, given this lovely cover. I loved the dragon that we get to see the most! But I also liked that the dragons were not a deus ex machina device. They did not solve all the problems or make the war go away. Which is good!

There were other supernatural magical creatures in this book, but terrible scary ones. I like how unique Armstrong builds anything magic-related, in this series.

The ending of this book is exactly how I like my trilogy endings - resolute, wrapped up, satisfyingly good, but not too perfect. Both sisters get a "happy ending" that fits each of them - take that as you will. I liked the ending a lot! And the book in general.

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything specific! This book isn't getting five stars from me BUT it is a really great conclusion novel (and book in general)!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this book, if you've read Sea of Shadows and Empire of Night, or if you've started the series but never continued. It's also a great series to binge-read, no love triangles or painful cliffhangers or cruelties. If you're a YA high fantasy fan, give this series a try!

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. I'm really pleased with this series and I'm glad I kept going and was able to finish it (not that I was expecting not to do so). I didn't like Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, but I really enjoyed this Age of Legends trilogy!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forever ship Gavril and Moria. I don't care what you say! haha. Like seriously, i was like thinking for an ending where Tyrus will die or something, so that Gavril and Moria can be together?! You know the feeling?

But gosh! I love the series, from the first book up to the last! Gosh, i love the book so much i read it for at least one day! I really love the book, it became my favorite on the first few pages. I love the characters, I love their determination, their friendship. Everything!

But somehow i was not contended with the ending. ARE YOU SURE THE SERIES ONLY HAVE THREE BOOKS? There's a lot of loose ends, and I just wish there's more books for this series. Never the less I love how this book made me feel, I love those sweet torturous moments between Gavril and Moria. I love their care for each other, their "friendship", everything about them. I was a bit happy the the book didn't concluded with a marriage or something that solidifies Tyrus and Moria. And the vision, gosh! that vision gave me so much hope that they are going to break up and somehow it will be Gavril and Moria! I HATE YOUUU. YOU GAVE ME HOPE BUT YOU DIDNT MAKE IT REAL? Well, maybe in the future that we don't know! I'm debating if I like that the book is so open ended, or not. I'm like 70% like it, 30% didn't like it. So there you see, I like it because I SHIP GAVRIL AND MORIA! (I love Moria's wit, bravery, tactfulness - I love everything about her, the best part! the sword joke!!! laughing to hard at that part!)

Let's talk about Ashlyn, come on, she's one amazing girl. With her dedication for her family and for helping people, gosh i love her for that. And at love, she's so selfless, it's so sad and wonderful at the same time. I love the feelings the book gave me, Ashley's sense of duty, Ronan's longing, Moria's bravery, Gavril's hurt and pain.


My favorite part of the book, is when Moria delayed Gavril's explanation of his story, her reason - She said that she rather not hear it yet, so she won't see the boy she cared and loved before, because at that point maybe she's a bit on the edge, debating if she want to hear Gavril's explanation and accept him open arms again. I guess you can say that she's wary to trust him again , and afraid that he will betray her again. Gosh, i really want them together, and i just wish they will be someday.

My other fave, is when Ronan begged - wanted Ashlyn to tell him to say, to tell him that she needs him, to tell him that she can't leave without him. And i guess, that's one of the strongest emotions that we can have. Longing, longing to belong, longing to be needed, longing to be important to someone to the point they are being selfish because they don't want to be separated. I guess at some point we all want those words too~ But sometimes I just roll my eyes for the two of them, they are like so inlove, but they are like so trying not to be. hahaha. Come one, just marvin gay and get it onnnn~ hahaha.

Gosh the ending, as much as i want my question to be answers, and as much as i feel like the ending is not so good, esp when the villain died (like? Woah that's it? You did all the magic for that? - I feel like we're missing something. I know, I understand he want's Gavril to follow his lead, he's making away for him. But he's a mad man. I didn't get why he needs to kill all those ppl to pave a way for his son? He can accomplish it without the killing and all those things. But the ending - It's sad that the only thing driving him to do everything, to live is his son. And when he died, we all know what he's doing with that spell. As Moria said in the book, it all comes down to his son) I feel like crying when Gavril died! Gosh, I'm on my way home, riding a public vehicle, and feel like breaking down. I feel so sad when it happened, i had chills, i feel like I'm shivering in a way. Gosh I hate that he died! But we all know then ending when Avril start chanting!!!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Review to come

Wow what an epic adventure. I feel like I just read 2 books in this one. Lots of shit hitting the fan! I need to process tbh.

Also way to really toy with my emotions there Kelley Armstrong!

To be honest I was less pleased with the way this ended than I wanted to be. This book packed a lot of stuff into one book and it felt a little rushed. Plus my ship crashed and burned and that displeases me because while I love Tyrus .... Gavril is where my true loyalty lies!

[Kathryn Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an emotional wreck!!!
When I have recovered, I will write a proper review. But, for now I need time to sob uncontrollably and deal with post series syndrome!

[Hal · Rating 2 out of 5]

3
The ending is not what I wanted, at all. I mean, yeah, I like Ashyn's ending bUT NOT MORIA'S. I WANT HER WITH GRAVIL DAMMIT

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.

Forest of Ruin picks up where Empire of Night left off: the empire is on the verge of war, Moria and Ashyn are separated and those that they care about are in imminent danger. Having LOVED Empire of Night, I anxiously awaited getting my hands on the final book of the Age of Legends trilogy. Did Forest of Ruin live up to my expectations? Well…no, no, it did not.

As soon as I cracked open Forest of Ruin it seemed that something was different. The tone seemed off and everything I liked about the second book seemed to not work for this time around. What I loved about Empire of Night was the author’s use of multiple perspectives. Both Ashyn and Moira get equal page time and readers are immersed into the twin’s perspectives and their very different personalities. I really appreciated this narrative style in the first two books, but I didn’t find either sister that interesting this time around. For me, the problem lays in the fact that Ashyn and Moira didn’t really seem to change that much in the final book. Ashyn continued to be reserved yet quietly strong, and Moira continues to be brash and impulsive. There was very little progression in either girl’s character development that reading their separate narrative felt like a re-hashing of Empire of Night.

Another disappointment for me was the depiction of the Ashyn and Moira’s relationship. These sisters are purportedly close despite their differences. However, for the majority of Forest of Ruin Ashyn and Moira were separated and when they do come together there is very little evidence of their bond. Rather, readers are told that they have a bond but readers never really see that bond in action, just several moments where the sisters get together for “girl talk”. Personally, I was hoping for a more complex relationship between the sisters. Instead, readers are treated to each sister’s focus on their respective romance.

I’m not usually a reader to complain about the romance plot, but again I felt the romance, like the character development, was rather lackluster in Forest of Ruin. The budding romance between Moira and Tyrus and Ashyn and Ronan was fantastically depicted in Empire of Night, yet when it came to book three, the charm of those romances seemed to fade. Again, the same romantic difficulties that were apparent in Empires of Night were once again explored and little new ground was covered, simply a resolution was put forth by the end.

Due to repetitive nature of the final book in the trilogy, I felt that Forest of Ruin was kind of an unnecessary conclusion. Yes, the greater conflict involving Alvar Kitsune needed to be addressed, but when it came to the lives of the characters themselves, little new ground was broken making for a somewhat tedious read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying that this is going to be a ridiculously long review and it's going to be unusual in that I'm basically reviewing the YA Age of Legends trilogy in comparison and contrast to Kelley Armstrong's adult Cainsville series. It's more of my own analysis than a review. As someone who has read almost every Kelley Armstrong novel out there and who has been a huge fan ever since Bitten, I could not for the life of me read Age of Legends without assessing it through the prism of Cainsville. This is not necessarily a bad thing although it does mean that this review will probably be of limited value unless you've read both. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR BOTH SERIES. Also, if you love one and haven't read the other, suffice to say that I'm pretty sure you'll love the other so go read it.

First of all, a disclaimer: I have been an obsessed fan of Armstrong's Cainsville novels ever since Visions, the second book, came out. Part of that is because I was going through a tough hospital internship and I used the August 2015 publication date of Deceptions (3rd book) as basically something to look forward to when I'd feel like crap. I know it sounds a little crazy - what does a book have to do with a medical internship? - but sometimes you just have to assign these weird rewards for yourself. Use whatever works when you're depressed about how overwhelmed you are and wondering if it'll ever get better. BUT, even if I hadn't made Armstrong's writing into a carrot, I would have always loved the Cainsville series just for the characters.

For the sake of not making this into a five page essay, I'm just going to assume that you have knowledge of both series. Which finally brings be back to the Age of Legends, because the similarities in characterization are there and they're pretty undeniable, to the extent that sometimes it flat out felt weird to read about Gabriel's mannerisms and reactions from a character named, well, Gavril. I'm talking about some serious deja vu, because obviously Armstrong was writing this trilogy concurrently with her Cainsville novels and it shows in certain almost word for word descriptions. An quick example that comes to mind is when the female leads have a gun/dagger while being attacked but both stashed it so that it was unavailable; the narration of the realization and chagrin is basically identical. I'll briefly go over some of those characterization similarities (it'll all be the tip of the iceberg) before going into a possible rant about just how much it unnerved me even as I enjoyed it.

So we have this almost-not-really triangle between Gabriel, Ricky, and Olivia in Cainsville. Olivia is in a happy, more or less fulfilled sexual relationship with Ricky, who is the son of the head of this powerful Chicago biker gang. Ricky is honorable, confident, supportive, and just generally a pretty awesome guy. He knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go for it, but he's conflicted over his role in life as the eventual inheritor of the empire his dad is leaving to him. The drawback to being with him is precisely also part of his appeal: his sense of duty and loyalty to the gang sometimes conflicts with what he wants to do for Olivia. He has a great relationship with his father but the defining conflict in his life right now is based on how he's loyal to his father even though he recognizes that his dad is sometimes acting as a dad and sometimes acting as a leader.

Ricky's counterpart in Age of Legends is Tyrus, the bastard son of the emperor, destined for life as a prince and leader. Pretty much everything I wrote above about Ricky also applies to Tyrus. Again, the defining struggle for his character is the fine balance between fulfilling the Emperor's expectations and being able to find happiness and peace as a son who loves and admires his dad.

So now, Gabriel/Gavril. Oh my god, I don't even know how to start on this - there are huge differences, especially considering Gavril is a dark skinned and green-eyed teenage fighter of the warrior caste, and Gabriel is a early 30's (late 20s?) attorney whose natural environment involves suits, not swords. But both basically got put through horrible childhoods where they had a serious lack of parental love, learned to rely on themselves, and especially did not form emotional attachments to others. So we end up with two characters who are awkward at best in relationships with others, oblivious to social cues, who suck at offering comfort (hugging Gabriel is like a statue and Gavril is a wooden board), who are sympathetic and admirable, but also deeply flawed. They are struggling to be good despite what shaped them. For each, there just happens to be that one woman who gets under his skin...someone who might be interested romantically, but is already involved with someone else who is much more suitable and adept at actual relationships.

I'm not deliberately avoiding an analysis of Moria/Olivia (and Ashyn) although I do focus a lot on the male characters because for me, Moria and Ashyn are more or less different aspects of Olivia's character. Moria has Olivia's headstrong recklessness, unabashed physical enjoyment of the world, and the part that rejects society's focus on decorum and appearances despite their celebrity-like social status. Ashyn has her desire for quiet contentment, her love of books and learning (Olivia's fondness for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), and her ultimate humble view of herself as an ordinary person in extraordinary times. All three of them lose their fathers and mourn, Moria/Olivia also step up to comfort, support, and protect Gavril/Gabriel through their mothers' deaths. That was a really awkward and confusing sentence to write, but you get the point.

Last of all, the two men in both series have complicated friendships with each other - which, thank goodness, is what raises these relationships from eyerolling, cliche love triangles to something more sincere and meaningful, in my opinion. Tyrus and Gavril were childhood friends and sparring partners, connected through their fathers' friendships. There is the same dynamic of: Tyrus is afraid to go after Moria at first because he thinks Gavril might have a prior claim on her affections. Likewise, Gabriel and Ricky are connected through Ricky's dad, who warns Ricky against pursuing a relationship with Olivia at first because of the potential Gabriel/Olivia relationship and basically the honor code of not going after someone else's woman. Ricky is basically Gabriel's only real friend outside of Olivia and Tyrus is basically Gavril's only real friend outside of Moria(/Ashyn).

Keep in mind that all this takes place in vastly different worlds and storylines, although there are some surface similarities in how Moria/Ashyn are connected to the spiritual world, while Olivia sees omens and visions. It was hard not to feel like the Age of Legends characters weren't teenaged, "-lite" versions of Gabriel, Ricky, and Olivia from Cainsville, but the series themselves are not as alike as all these comparisons might make them sound. I do think that if you're a big fan of the characters from one series, you should definitely read the other.

So, what was so unnerving about reading Age of Legends? Well, while the romantic relationships are an important part of both series but not the main priority in either, it turns out that I am totally biased and have my favorites. I've been waiting through three books as Gabriel sloooooowly comes to the realization that he actually has feelings for Olivia and should make a move - meanwhile, Olivia is solidly with Ricky, a great guy and a character I actually like a lot even though he's the "other" guy in this triangle. This is the equivalent of sitting through, what, four seasons of X-Files while being sure there should be something more going on between Scully and Mulder but also being a little afraid of whether a focus on that would ruin the partnership, friendship, and general relationship they've already developed.

So basically in the Cainsville series, I vastly prefer Gabriel over Ricky and I'm fairly certain that that's eventually going to be the main pairing, unless Olivia just ends up alone. But in Age of Legends, I am 100% a Tyrus fan. Which was really weird to me because, you know, he's the Ricky of this series. So basically the entire time I was reading Forest of Ruin, I sort of expected there to be a turnaround where Moria ends up with Gavril - it's certainly hinted at more than once that they might have deeper feelings for each other, plus Gavril was a main protagonist of the first book and YA series tend to stick to the "first love" concept an awful lot of the time.

I'm happy to say that Armstrong did not do what I expected but at the same time, it makes me a little worried for the future of Cainsville, you know? What if Olivia actually just never explored anything with Gabriel because Gabriel, being as stubborn and insanely in denial as he is, totally let that ship sail? This is exactly why I tend to hate love triangles, but one of the things I admire about this author is that she makes them feel realistic and her female characters don't just bounce aimlessly back and forth, basically becoming disloyal to both. Also, the romance and romantic issues are almost always secondary to the actual good story.

On a long side note, Armstrong has never let me down with the resolution of the relationships between characters. There was another trilogy of hers, the Darkness Rising trilogy, where I never liked the guy that was the love interest in the first two books and while I liked another character much more and thought they were suited together better, there wasn't a triangle per say since Armstrong's female characters don't do that stuff. As I once read some where, if you don't know who you love and would choose, you don't love either of them enough. But I was pretty much resigned to the pairing because it's YA, right? No way an author would have the temerity to NOT have her end up with the "original" guy. Amazingly enough, she defied the conventions and cliches.

So after all of that, the actual review of Forest of Ruin is quite simple: it's a satisfying conclusion in every way. I was a little concerned when I read Sea of Shadows because I thought it was good, but not excellent, but with each book the stakes have only risen and I grew to love the world that they're in. I grew up watching Chinese period dramas (some wuxia too) where the Emperor's many sons did indeed try to kill each other, where the concubines/wives/Empress maneuvered themselves into positions of power, and where gods, goddesses, and magic was thrown in along with the martial arts. Reading Age of Legends made me feel as if Armstrong had grown up watching the same things - which makes me insanely curious as to what she researched for the book and what inspired her. Forest of Ruin felt like an "older" YA novel in the execution of its ideas and the complexity of the world, one that very well could have been an adult fantasy trilogy. You don't get your usual all-good or all-bad characters, but rather the thing that I see as being the hallmark of a bildungsroman novel: the realization that the world is complicated and people are complicated. The exploration of concepts like honor/disgrace, the caste system, filial piety, and duty are what sets Age of Legends apart from the countless fantasy YA novels out there. One tiny example: the moment when Moria learns that Tyrus can't just show off a dragon to the general public, even if it's considered a sign of being blessed by the goddess, because in doing so, he would usurp the image of the Emperor. That is the kind of small detail that 95% of the YA novels out there would never be able to achieve - the kind of real world understanding of societal appearances (and the need for them, for better or worse) that escapes a child, but is grasped by an adult.

Sadly, I feel like this is what YA novels usually lack these days - and if that complexity is there, it's usually unpopular. In your typical YA novel, the whole concept of duty is an afterthought. I can't list how many novels I've read with princess characters who literally abandon their position because Truuuuue Loooooove (cough The Kiss of Deception cough) or because they don't like what they get in life. The romantic relationship comes before everything, even one's responsibility towards one's family, one's people, one's country. Worst of all, the readers most guilty of loving these types of characters are the ones who I think would most benefit from reading something a tiny bit more challenging.

But, after all, that's why I'm such a fan of Kelley Armstrong. Her idea of strong, realistic protagonists - whether female or male - meshes well with my values and beliefs. Spare me the narcissistic brats and show me people who are willing to sacrifice what they most want for the greater good, or for the good of others.

[dessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review also posted on Samodivas

2.5 stars

In the third and final installment of the Age of Legends trilogy, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn get ready to finally face the evil that has unleashed all kinds of mythological creatures to plague the Empire and unravel the mystery around their heritage as Keeper and Seeker of the Spirits. Moria embarks on a journey with once ally Gavril Kitsune back to his father, to find out what his war plans are. Meanwhile, Ashyn is integrated into a society of dragon keepers by her grandfather, who reveals a shocking truth about her abilities, which are much more than the Empire has made her believe. War is brewing and the twins must prepare while simultaneously help Prince Tyrus clear his and Moria’s names.

This series is so dear to my heart – has been ever since I started and finished the first book just mere hours before the start of 2015. Sea of Shadows got me hooked from the start, and while some people had trouble with the pacing, I found it fitting for the story Kelley Armstrong was trying to tell, and was even more engrossed when it picked up speed at the end. I eagerly anticipated Empire of Night and when it finally came, it did not disappoint. Especially with the way it wrapped up. I’ve been on pins and needles for the past year, waiting for the day I could finally get my hands on the conclusion. My expectations were through the roof and I was absolutely certain, judging from the previous two books, that they would not only be met – they’d be exceeded. Sadly, that was not the case.

Forest of Ruin’s tagline promises war and lots of action – none of which were actually delivered, up until maybe the last few chapters. The plot was painstakingly slow, barely moving, and at times it felt like it had no real direction whatsoever. It went to places so far off from what the previous book promised that it actually made me wonder if I hadn’t picked up a conclusion for a different series. The journey is very far from not over, contrary to what the cover tells you, and the characters spend at least 90% of the book in quite non-metaphorical forests (and caves, and plains), strolling around, building fires and having deep, emotional conversations that take up way too much page time. Anything but actually being at war, engaging in epic battles. It avoided those like the plague. Everything was so underwhelming that when the culmination point finally arrived, I had already snoozed off. The ending, itself, lacked excitement. The epic finale we seemed to had been promised apparently vaporized into thin air, leaving us with this shallow excuse.

The things that most drew me in when I started this series – apart from the plot, which was pretty new for me as I had not encountered something similar in YA Fantasy before – were the characters. They are layered and complex and form such strong bonds between each other, and with the reader as well. I don’t think I would have enjoyed these books as much as I did without this cast. I loved all of them, but mostly Ashyn and Moria, and their relationship.

When I was little, I’d often wonder what it would be like to have a twin, and I’ve always been compelled by stories about twins. The relationships between two seemingly identical individuals (Holy Oxymoron, Batman!) are fascinating to witness and they make me long for a twin sister of brother so much! Especially when the relationship is nurturing and supporting. Which is the case with these two ginger ladies. Their utter devotion to one another is envious at best, and setting the bar too high at the worst. Honestly, the sibling love between these two is Too Much™ and I loved each and every bit of it. Which is why it was so painful that we didn’t get as much of Moria and Ashyn be sisterly in this book. They spend a huge chunk of it apart, and when they’re reunited, the slowly progressing plot gets in the way. But I still loved them, nonetheless, both as individuals and as two sides of the same coin. The thing I love most about them is how different they both are and how those differences only make their bond stronger, instead of weakening it. The twins are definitely what make this trilogy.

Out of the male leads, the one I grew most to love is Gavril. He has the most layers out of the three, and ever since that Plot Twist™ in book one, I’d been dying to hear what his true thoughts are and what made him do all that he did. To be perfectly honest, his thoughts (or lack of showing them that is) have plagued me since the very beginning. At first Gavril was this uptight soldier, but then he turned into so much more and I could easily name him as the most compelling character in this series. There were few things I liked in Forest of Ruin and Gavril Kitsune is probably half of them. We got to see him struggle with guilt and loyalty and honour, and it was so satisfying to see him come into himself as a personage. In the end, he made all the right calls and, despite his own conflicting feelings, remained selfless and true to his friends and did not once let those feelings get in the way of their happiness. I was both very satisfied and dissatisfied with the ending he got – I just wish he got more of what he truly deserved.

The romances in this book were, for me, childish and too Over The Top at times. Usually, the love subplots should complement the overall storyline, not overtake it – which is what kind of happened here. We spent so much time dwelling on the romantic feelings, on quite a lot of unnecessary displays of affection, and the chapters in which the characters consider the possibility of broadening their sexual horizons felt too bloated. They didn’t seem to fit too well with the mood we were supposed to be getting from this book, too. I liked the contrast, however, between the twins – how one viewed romance and sexuality as two separate entities, while the other preferred them going together, and how normally that was treated. Neither was chastised for holding such opinions, rather they were accepted and valued. That’s about the extent of my enjoyment of the love subplots in this book, as I found both to be, like I already mentioned, childish and bloated.

Sea of Shadows and Empire of Night definitely did not fail in giving me the creeps with their intricate descriptions of all the legendary monstrosities that our characters faced. They were horrifying at times, and I absolutely ate it all up. Forest of Ruin, however, was not able to meet my expectations in this regard either. I had a few Creeped Out moments, but nothing that actually made my hair stand on end. I expected the same kind of terrifying images as before, but with the added bonus of a ferocious dragon, laying waste to the enemy forces, but what I got instead was a few possessions and a baby snow dragon that could barely make ice. That was probably the most disappointing thing in this entire book. I honestly cannot believe the same person wrote all three books.

In conclusion, Forest of Ruin suffered the Last Book in The Series syndrome, and it brings me such great pains to actually write that. As I’ve mentioned before, I hold this series so close to my heart and it’s easily one of my favourites, but this book was just a huge let down for me. The magic that the previous two had was simply missing from this one. Neither the ending nor the journey to it felt entirely satisfying and I think Kelley Armstrong should have just left off with Empire of Night.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Okay I'm sorry, but that was just not good. It was super rushed, the ending was super unbelievable, and I'm super disappointed with who ended up together in the end. From the very first book, and even in the second, this relationship is set up and then all of a sudden: poof! It's gone and now one of our female leads is going to go with this other guy, even though technically she can't be with him down the road because of his status...cough cough. Also, it smashed everything that Kelley set up in the first two books. It just didn't make any sense. Especially because it then turned Gavril into a non-needed character. The last book could have been written without him in it. And the ending with his Father? Did. Not. Buy. It. Totally out of character and unbelievable. Also, Alvar is an idiot. He stood around while people waved knives at him. Yeah, great plan. You really know how to launch an attack, or rather STAND THERE WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN AND DO NOTHING while your plan is destroyed. (I'm not even kidding, this is what he did.) Worst bad guy ever. What a terrible ending to a story that had so much potential. The first two books were great! I have no idea what happened with this last one. Kelley must have been writing while she was drunk. Sorry, but it really was that bad.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well... That was a let down. I felt like this conclusion didn't deliver what the predecessors promised, at all! The second book had two very specific tasks set out for both sisters, and neither managed to get there...

And no, my ship did not sail. So disappointing.

[Mickala]

I need this!! I don't think I can wait a year for it after the ending of Empire of Night. I mean is Ronan alive, Ashyn was kidnapped by her Grandfather? Is Gavril really on our side or not? Ugh I need this book like now!!!!!

[Sara (Freadom Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 stars

This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/

Check out my series review here: https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/...

Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This book is set at a steady, medium pace but the action keeps going. There’s also some mystery in this one, revolving around dragons which is pretty cool. There’s a lot more focus on romance in this one as well and it’s so much easier to understand than the rest of the books have been. There’s twists and turns and lots of violence (it can get graphic) but I feel like the ending was very solid and conclusive.

Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style as always is descriptive and detailed. There’s a steady pace that flows with the plot and I really enjoy that the POV’s are very distinct. The characters speak with big words and it’s all very old fashioned in style. It’s easy to read and I ended up enjoying it much more as the series continued.

Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
Finally, one of these books where I don’t have some huge complain about the characters. They will never become favorites of mine but I have to say that they definitely improved as the series went on.
Moria is a freaking badass lady. She’s so logical, smart and crafty. She’s gotten better at working through her emotions but it doesn’t stop her from continuing to be brave and fiercely protective and strong. She’s super blunt and is always looking at things in a different perspective than other people. Though she had a lot of development, I think it was more of building on who she already was and making her even better.
Ashyn on the other hand had the most extensive development out of everyone in the series. She started out really shy and timid and pretty much scared of a bunch of things. But as things progressed and she started to become more confident, she blossomed. She’s passionate, determined and smart. She’s kind as always but much more blunt and honest with herself and others. I love how self-confidence helped her become a much more well rounded person and someone that can kick ass in her own way.
All the side characters now feel much more three dimensional and fleshed out. They’ve always been complex but since there were so many, I never felt like I got to know them as much as I wanted to but that was definitely fixed in this book.

Emotionally
I’m a fan of Kelley Armstrong and I’ve really loved some of her other series but this one definitely isn’t the best and it definitely doesn’t come close to being a favorite.

This third book is definitely the best one of the trilogy and I think it was the perfect ending for it as well.

The plot is intricate. We follow Moria and Ashyn, twins separated while their kingdom is in the brink of war. One is implored to ally with the enemy while the other is confronted with mythical creatures and her potential power to wake them. I really had no idea how the author was going to pull off a complete ending to a trilogy with all the new plot lines that she introduced in the second book. This idea with the dragons came kind of out of nowhere (but I should’ve known considering the cover of the third book) so I didn’t really know how things were going to wrap themselves up. It just felt like there was a lot of stuff left undone and with the potential to blow up and it worried me a little bit. I didn’t want this book to have an incomplete ending or a lackluster one because I felt that the series was improving with each book and I would’ve been really disappointed with either of the two things I just mentioned happening. However, I am very happy to say that neither of those things happened! There was a lot of action and a lot of back and forth with the way things were playing out which kept me engaged with the story and continually wanting to get back to it. There were a lot of things that surprised me and that I wasn’t expecting which is pretty cool for me. Unlike the other two books, this one focused much more on the character relationships while not taking away from the pace and action of the story. I really liked that a lot and it endeared me much more to the characters, specially after seeing all they’ve been through in their separate relationships. The last few chapters had me freaking out and on the edge of my seat. Everything that happened felt completely crazy and intense. I liked the epilogue the author shared but I think the last few lines were really weird.

Moria is much more level headed and emotionally open. She grew so much from the first book to the second book. I liked that the romance she was involved in was the easiest to develop I guess, because it showed how much she was really learning about life and about herself. Ashyn grew on me, specially with all she deals with in this book. She’s brave and passionate and determined. I like how she’s now not afraid to speak her mind and to make herself be heard.

I usually talk about the side characters now but I honestly just want to say that I like the way the two separate romances developed in this book. They were very unique and very different from each other and I liked their development for different reasons. I got nervous for a bit there in the second book because of some triangle kinds of hints but I’m glad it ended up not happening that way.

Overall, I ended up liking this series. It’s definitely not my favorite that the author has done and I had a lot of issues with the way she did her world building and the kind of world that it was. However, I really liked the character development throughout the whole series and I feel like enjoyed it that much more because of how well I think it was done. I like the way everything concluded and I’m looking forward to seeing what else I pick up from this author.

[Amber J (Thereadingwitch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 stars but I rounded up. This is one of those books that you want to love more than you actually do. It had all the elements I usually love in a book. Romance, fantasy, adventure, mystery. But something was just missing from this book. Also, I'm not super happy with who Moria ended up with. That's just my opinion though. This book wasn't bad or anything. Far from it. I think part of the issue was that it was a slow-moving book. But it wasn't just that. The plot was all over the place. There are things that were started but just never finished and then it all came to an end a bit anti-climactically in my opinion.


How I choose my rating:
1* Didn't like it at all. These are rare as I usually just don't finish any book I dislike this much.
2** Didn't like it. Again usually DNF if I dislike it this much, but occasionally I feel it still has potential and I try to stick with it to the end.
3*** I liked it. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable enough. It is unlikely I'll ever reread it but I'll probably finish the series if it is a part of one.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this at some point, and I will finish the series if part of one.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will probably reread this and possibly more than once. I will finish the series if it's part of one.

[imts · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ship I shipped turned out not to be canon, but ah, well... at least I liked the other guy, even though I didn't ship Moria with him :D

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started out really powerful, with a good romance buildup. There were some slow spots, and then the ending was just straight-up chaos.

I think this one felt stifled by the trilogy length. The end had so much more information and story to give that just couldn't be adequately contained.

I began to care more for a certain sister and got a bit annoyed at the other.

The final act of sacrifice and the closing revelation made me a bit mad that this was the end.

3.5-4 Stars

[Bianca Damaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe it didn't happen... I feel so broken.
Kelley Armstrong really is one of my favourite authors ever! Her worlds are unique and her characters are SO GOOD. I really enjoyed the parts with Moira and Gavril travelling with the bandits. It was heartbreaking learning about his mother. It's especially admirable how Armstrong is able to make these characters so human. Gavril was always portrayed as fierce in the other books (at least to me) but In this one we learn that there is much he fears. I really enjoyed Emperor Jiro Tastu. I think his portrayal was accurate. The world building is fantastic, the creatures are creepy.
I love how Moira and Ashyn are so different in their personalities. I never had to be reminded who's POV I was reading because it was obvious. I also love Ronan. Another favourite part was the drunk night in the dragon cave with Ronan and Ashyn.
The two reasons I'm not rating this 5/5 stars is
1. I wished Alvar Kistune was a bigger threat. There was so much hype surrounding him and yes, the end battle was tragic with so many lives lost but I didn't feel scared of him as I usually do from the main villain.
2. MOIRA DIDNT END UP WITH GAVRIL... Insert WTF meme here >>>> I am so salty about this it is not even funny

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*My Thoughts*

Forest of Ruin is the third and final installment in Kelley Armstrong's Age of Legends trilogy. Forest of Ruins picks up right where Empire of Night left off. Twin sisters Moria (Keeper) and Ashlyn (Seeker) were raised in a tiny village of Edgewood. In their village, they were the ones who were responsible for keeping angry spirits at bay, and putting them to rest. But, after ancient monsters awakened and slaughtered everyone in their village, including their father, and took the children away with them, the sisters were forced to flee.

*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 06/03/2016*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

Published April 5th 2016 by HarperCollins

[Genevieve T.C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending was not what i wanted ...

[mysticofworlds · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a bit of a drag to get through at first, much like the first two books, but overall I liked the story.

I definitively prefer Moria over Ashyn, though she's kind of supposed to be written as a stereotypical YA heroine- brash and bold and impulsive. However, she's grown to be less hotheaded, which I appreciated, and so I found her POV to be more interesting than Ashyn's.

I somewhat liked the romance between Moria and Tyrus, but I felt that it lacked substance compared to the relationship between Moria and Gavril. I'm glad the author didn't turn the three into a love triangle and maintained the friendship between Gavril and Tyrus, but I felt that the ending between Moria and Gavril wasn't that satisfying. I kind of wanted them to have a sort of acknowledgement of their unique bond.

As individual characters, I liked both Tyrus and Gavril. Tyrus wasn't a stereotypical YA love interest, and I admired his straightforward, honorable intentions. He reminded me of a more charming and thoughtful Harry Potter in a way.

I didn't like Ronan and Ashyn together, but since I rarely like romance in YA, I'm not too surprised. I can't say I particularly liked either as individual characters, and as such I found their romance bland.

I did enjoy the plot, especially the ending. I did not expect the way Alvar Kitsune would be defeated. I can also understand his jealousy and hatred, and I like that he wasn't necessarily the seemingly more "powerful" villain, as he was hiding behind sorcery and cunning to achieve his means. I don't understand how he got so high up in the army ranks, though, if he wasn't truly a warrior by their definitions.

I enjoyed reading the various twists and turns- first Gavril and Moria set out to find Alvar, then they get captured by bandits, then they find Gavril's dead mother... it was certainly an unexpected story, if slow-going at first.

Overall, this series has been a nice read, a refreshing take on YA fantasy/adventure. I'm glad I managed to push on through the somewhat boring beginnings to the intriguing plots and generally well-written characters.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third and last in the Age of Legend fantasy series for Young Adults and revolving around the twins, Moria the Keeper and Ashyn the Seeker of Edgewood.

My Take
On reading the start of the summary as "the empire rests on the edge of a knife", one would expect there to be a lot of tension, but it's really very lightweight. Dramatic, yes, but not enough to keep you awake at night.

Part of that drama is the emperor's command for Moria to return to her jailer. A sweeter drama is Tyrus' sense of honor. He's in love with Moria, but if she wants Gavril… Yet more is what is revealed when Moria dispels a shadow stalker.

Gavril's constant insistence on being Moria's friend and saying he's responsible for the massacre really annoys me. It also really annoys me that he thinks Moria should accept anything he says now that he claims he's reformed. Yeah, right…

We get the back history on Tatsu and Kitsune's past, as well as Gavril's reminiscing about his childhood. Poor kid. We get some of Ronan's back history as well when he reveals why he is so afraid to commit to Ashyn. Why he dare not shirk his duty.

One thing I absolutely adore about this series is the equality between boy and girl. Prince Tyrus loves that Moria is a strong person, just as he is a strong person in himself, willing to listen to others, to be considerate, to protect.

That done-to-death trope of not realizing that each loves the other has, yes, been done to death in this story. I wanted to bash Ronan and Ash over their heads for how incredibly obtuse Armstrong wrote them. I did, on the other hand, appreciate Ash's estimation of the situation, of all that Ronan would be giving up if he didn't pursue his original dream.

I must say, I won't miss the court Seeker and Keeper. Talk about hidebound idiots!?

It's an oddly dissatisfying ending with resolution for some and others are left hanging, and I suspect a second trilogy will be forthcoming.

The Story
Prince Tyrus has been branded a traitor to the empire, seduced by the evil Moria. It'll take a miracle to rehabilitate the prince and that "evil seductress" in the eyes of the people.

And it's a brutal demand that the emperor will enforce through betrayal.

The Characters
Moria is the Keeper with the power to banish evil spirits; Daigo is her wildcat and bond-beast, a Wildcat of the Immortals, possessed of the spirit of a great warrior. Prince Tyrus is the emperor's son by a beloved concubine, Maiko. Gavril Kitsune has been by turn, friend, traitor, jailer, and betrothed to Moria. With Tyrus, he had been his best friend. Kiri is Gavril's helpless mother.

Ashyn is the Seeker and a battle healer who soothes spirits…and Moria's twin. Tova is her bond-beast, a Hound of the Immortals. The casteless Ronan had been an exiled convict in the Forest of the Dead and determined to protect Ashyn. Jorn and Aidra are Ronan's siblings in the dubious care of an aunt.

Edwyn explains that he is the twins' grandfather from Silvershore. Tarquin is a guard. There are four types of dragon: snow, sand, timber, and rock. In one of Edwyn's stories, Isobo was a snow dragon with two children, Zuri and Ponto.

Emperor Jiro Tatsu is compassionate but hard and traitorous himself toward those he will use. Lysias is his captain of the guard. Thea and Ellyn are the insular court Keeper and Seeker.

Dalain is the son of the Warlord Okami, the Gray Wolf. Sabre is the tomboy daughter of a tribal chieftain within Okami's domain.

Alvar Kitsune is Gavril's traitorous, cowardly father who was exiled. Rametta is Alvar's ancient nursemaid. Halmond is the guard.

Toman is the leader of the bandits. Lord Jorojumo is a warlord.

The people of Edgewood were…
…turned into shadow stalkers by Alvar. Jonas, Niles, and Chera are from Edgewood; Hogan is from Fairview.

Simeon is the traitorous scholar.

The Keeper and the Seeker are highly respected, sacred positions and always held by twin girls. Neither can marry nor have a child without special permission.

Fiend dogs are shadow dogs, the spirits of warriors damned for cowardice. A shadow stalker is a bundle of souls caught in one body.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a'sparkle with a silver dragon rearing up, its wings flared open and raised above its head against a deep night background, trees silhouetted against it with a hint of dusk with the purple at the horizon. The title is in an embossed silver that does not stand out very well while the white for the rest of the text, including the author's name, stands out much better.

The title is something of a misnomer, unless the Forest of Ruin refers to Alvar.

[Aneta Bak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic ending to a beautiful trilogy.

Separated, sisters Ashyn and Moira must follow their own missions to ensure the war goes in their favour. Found by her grandfather and his people, Ashyn is asked to awaken dragons in order to ensure that King Tatsu can win the war against the Kitsune. Moira is forced to travel with Gavril back to Alvar Kitsune and become a secret spy, and if given the opportunity, kill the Kitsune and prevent the war all together. Will the sisters be able to stop the war at their hands?

I have always loved Moira and Ashyn, they’re both so different yet amazing in their own way. In this book we get to see them separated and see how they are able to deal without one another. It was so wonderful to see Ashyn work on her own and take charge of her own destiny, and finally realize that even though they are twins, Moira isn’t the better half, and shes just as good in her own way.

My favourite part of this book was definitely the romance. I was so happy that Moira was still with Tyrus and there was no awkward love triangle. It was very well written and I’m so happy with the ending.

There were some amazing twists and turns along the way, and while I could see some coming from a mile away, the others definitey took me by surprise.

This book would have been a 5 star book, except I feel like the ending wasn’t grand enough. I was expecting this series to go out with a bang. While I did enjoy the ending, I was expecting more. You’ll know what I mean once you read the book.

Overall, I definitely recommend this series to all Fantasy lovers. I cant wait to read more from Kelley.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

[Lauren - SERIESous Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

-- Want to know if the whole series is worth reading? Read my overall review of the whole series at seriesousbookreviews.com! Spoiler Free!

This finale was one of my most anticipated reads of 2016 and it did NOT disappoint!

I was hooked from the start right through to the end. Everything that had been amped up from the previous novel kept pace and continued to blow me away. From the lore to the politics to the action to the romance--it's all on point here and fans of the series will love this grande finale. It was a wild ride thanks to all the plot developments and their awesome twists. I loved the unpredictability this novel had and it made it that much more enjoyable to me.

It was just a fantastic way to end this series and made me SO GLAD that I didn't drop it after the slower start that was Sea of Shadows :)



Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-uk
Actual Rating: 5/5

[Ana Vukelić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nooo I don't want it to end! :(
I was so hesitant to start reading the series because a lot of people told me it's not good. They are obviously mad!

I LOVE every character. No, no love. I'm OBSESSED with all of them. Okay I must admit I fangirl over Gavril maybe a little bit too much.

The plot is also amazing. It's very fast paced and there is no part that is boring.

The thing I love the most about this series is how it shows friendships, relationships, siblings love and pets loyalty. I can't I'll get too emotional, bye

[Keerthu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well book 2 left me at a horrifying cliffhanger. I feel like authors love torturing the readers. BUT I'M DYING FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT!! NEED TO KNOW WAT GAVRIL IS UP TO!!!!

1 more month!!!!

[alannahlovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good ending!! But I'm so sad to have finished it, I loved this series. Would definitely recommend!

[Ashley Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌳 Got a little smutty
🌳 My OTP's 😍 (it had some romance but it was not the main focus)
🌳 Daigo and Tova😍
🌳 Dragon! *Yell in Donkey's voice*
🌳 Had a "The Cruel Prince" scene toward the end😬
🌳 Cute ending😍
🌳 This series was a very easy read, the chapters were pretty short so you can get through it quickly (in my opinion)
🌳 It was mostly fantasy but there could be a case made that it had some horror (it was pretty light though)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion to the trilogy.

[Nelly Alikyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*. My ship for Moria didn’t happen but I’m not mad about it. I loved both guys so I can’t be mad about it.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Threatened you with what? Forcing you to father children? I’m hardly an expert in the matter, but my rudimentary knowledge of the process suggests that would be difficult.”

Kelley Armstrong might be really good at dismembering fictional bodies, but she's even better at destroying hearts. I cannot remember the last time a book made me cry, but Forest of Ruin had me sobbing so hard I had to pause the audiobook. My heart was already feeling anxious and unsteady, so it couldn't take the expertly thrown dagger that the author had crafted.

If you've been following my blog the last few days, you know I've been flying through this series. I think I listened to all three audiobooks in less than a week, which is insane. I don't think I've slept as much as I should... I looked for any and every excuse to dive back into the imaginative world Armstrong had created. It was so vivid and realistic!

“As they neared the spot from which the noise had come, Moria saw a hand lying on the pathway. It appeared to be attached to a body, which was a relief. Again, these days, one could not guarantee such a thing.”

I like that there wasn't a love triangle, even though there was an opportunity for one. Two people of the opposite sex can love each other deeply, but only want friendship out of the relationship. It is possible to enjoy someone's company without wanting to share their bed.

My one teeny tiny issue with this series was how often Ashyn compared herself to her sister. They were two different people, and I wish she hadn't struggled so much with her identity. Even at the end she saw her sister one way and "resigned" herself to another fate. She said both were important in their own way, but she still made it seem like one was somehow better... I wish she had felt happier in her own skin and with her own abilities and contributions. She did a lot to save the empire and move the story forward.

Despite a few unanswered questions, I absolutely loved this series! It's definitely going to be one I add to my shelves. If you enjoy audiobooks, the narrator was fantastic! She really brought the characters to life in my head and gave them their own personalities and mannerisms. I feel like that sounds weird, because it's just someone reading words, but she really captured the essence of the book and the people within it.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I wanted so much more out of this story. I enjoyed it, but it really didn't go anywhere. I kept reading, it was a smooth read, I was pulled along nicely. But I just kept waiting for something to happen, for everything to come together. This was the final book in the series and I kept waiting for it all to come to a big climax. Instead it all just kind of fizzled into nothing. I liked all the characters in this story a lot, and yet I found the ending of this really unsatisfactory. I felt like this was only the first part of their story. It didn't feel complete somehow.

There was a dragon, and I was super excited for it. I love dragons. But yet, it just kind of happened. I kept waiting for a dragon to swoop in and have this big dramatic effect. Yet nope. Ashlyn, Moira, Gavril, Tyrus, Ronan, all were interesting and I liked the way they all worked together. But still that big climatic fight I was waiting for only ever felt fragmented and didn't satisfy as much as I wanted it to. I felt for Gavril and his need to overcome his father. They all wanted things to be better for the good of the empire, and they knew that meant defeating Gavril's father. I just wanted more of an actionable thing to it all.

Ultimately I wish the author would continue with these characters later in life. Their story just doesn't feel complete. This arc had a conclusion, but I can see so many ways for their story to continue.