“I don’t have all the answers, Tink. I wish I did. What I can tell you with complete certainty is that you are my future. Nothing is going to change that, I won’t let it. And you can beat me until we’re both black and blue if that’s what it takes to finally make you understand that I am choosing this. I am choosing you because you are my home. So, please… stop trying to lock me out of it. I will gladly spend my life running so long as it’s you that I’m running towards.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this series, the books are all amazing, and they should be more famous. (apologies, this is gonna be insanely long, but if I don't go into books lover mood here where else)
The story is engaging and interesting and the plot thickens here, I’m not gonna get into details because it’s a lot, I’m just gonna say that many juicy things happen, truths come out and I’m very excited for what is to come. (there’s one character that I can’t wait for me and Taly to meet, when will it be?!)
The world building and lore and magic system are complex and incredibly well thought out, learning more about all of that is an experience and, personally, I’m a sucker for world building and politic in books, so hearing about the noble houses, the political moves, manipulations and plotting and working on allegiances, is something I adore. I mean, the main villain is good, very dangerous for sure, but not what captures me the most, it’s the dangerous and complex power struggles in the fey world that is most compelling for me.
The scene with the Sanctifiers was tough. God, how much I want to see that whole organization destroyed. Disgusting sick cowards who enjoy inflicting pain, makes them feel strong, and hide it behind a higher mission. Skye, Ivain, Sarina and Aimee killing them for what they did was one of the book peaks, so satisfying.
Small note: the whole thing with future Cori meddling is interesting, she’s not on the same side as Azura for example, but I haven’t formed a definite opinion about how much I like it, and I won’t for now, not until the story is done and I have the whole picture.
What I love the most tho are the characters, they are all amazing, layered and well developed, they feel real with the good and the bad aspects of their personalities, there are moments where I agree with one and moments where I agree with another, because everyone thinks and sees things in a slightly different way. Taly, Skye, Ivain, Sarina, Aiden, Aimee and Kato, I love them all, as individual characters and for the various relationships and interactions they have with each other, and if something were to happen to any of them, I'm rioting, they are one of the best family group ever and I adore the scenes where they are all together.
Among the secondary characters, I admit, Ivain is my favorite and is the ultimate dad. He’s the wise one you understand why everyone confides in because he’s always calm and just gives the best advice and makes you feel like all will be well; also avoids social events and fake pleasantries and might appear laid back but people rightfully fear and respect him. He holds the city together, and Sarina balances him, he handles shit, she handles people. Top siblings power duo. Also particularly love Ivain and Taly father daughter dynamic: Nobody had told him what would happen when he became a father. That his heart would become so twisted with love he would never be the same. That her safety, her joy, would become his everything.
and Ivain and Skye mentor apprentice dynamic where Skye is practically a mix of a son, a second in command and padawan to Ivain:
“I had this whole speech prepared for when Taly finally settled down. I had it all planned. The boy would come to pick her up, and I’d meet them on the steps. Polishing a sword or perhaps my battle axe — I was going to play it by ear depending on how much of a little shit we were dealing with. Naturally,” he said, gesturing at Skye, “you can see my problem.”
“That… I love her? And will take good care of her? And that I’m not a little shit?”
“No,” Ivain said. “You’ve already seen my armory.” […] In the workshop, Ivain selected a sword from the wall.
“Sit down, son. Let’s have a talk.”
Skye arched a brow. “Ivain… did you really pull me in here to threaten me with a sword?”
“I did indeed, boy. You killed my speech and the opportunity to make a grown man piss his trousers, but this — ” Ivain hefted the sword. “This part I’m keeping.” […]
“You, young man, have been granted the privilege of spending time with my daughter. I expect you to treat her with respect and kindness because if you don’t, I’ll cut out your entrails and extract them through your nose.”
“That’s good,” Skye said. “I can tell you practiced.”
“Thank you. Now, try to look a bit more frightened.”
Kato, he is great, he’s both a very tragic character and my heart broke for him in a couple of scenes, but he’s also a melodramatic comedy relief and a menace, love the banter and the growing bond, clumsy but underneath caring, between the brothers.
Aiden is a sweetheart, let’s save him, and I also love Aimee, she is difficult, but her past makes me understand her even when she ruthlessly lashes out and hits where it hurts, also sometimes her cutting comments are very funny and/or very true. She is not a fighter the same way Taly is, but she is a fighter.
P.S. are Kato and Aimee gonna be a thing by any chance? Because there is a certain chemistry and considering how the book ends…
Honorable mention for Calcifer the best pet.
Now to our main two. Love them. We learn a bit more of Skye early childhood and it was so messed up, with all the assassination attempts and loneliness, people close to him, nannies and other children used as decoys, constantly murdered to get to him and then replaced like nothing (so he can really understand Taly’s guilt for death happening just because you exist), until Ivain and Sarina and Taly: they stayed, they became his home. It’s no wonder he’s so protective and would do literally anything for Taly. Also, he is hot, flirty, powerful gifted mage and fighter and has a great sense of humor, and did I mention VERY protective, I love him. A real book boyfriend.
And Taly, a very well done main character, she is sassy, loyal, strong, brave, sometimes impulsive and so stubborn I want to shake her, but I also always understand her, the way she is, why she has certain reactions, from what fear or insecurity or need or guilt they come from (others are just who she is). She feels the weight of what having her around might cost the people she loves and feels she should do more to repay them, so she, frustratingly, tries to do it all alone. All of that, the fact that she’s not perfect, makes her more real. Like Skye, I love her even when I want to strangle her.
Now into the romance, it’s wonderful. Skye and Taly are a couple amongst my highest, and finally in this one they are together! They have their ups and downs, they are both stubborn as hell and still fight like cats and dogs and have some communication issue to improve (like Taly pretending everything is fine when she’s overwhelmed and unraveling, and pushing Skye away out of fear she’ll cost him his life, or like him thinking he keeps letting her down and not doing enough and not talking either, and everything is angst and pain), both wanting so much to protect the other going at it alone, but they make up and are improving at talking and sharing the burden instead of rushing to self-sacrifice without telling the other, after all Skye always dived after her to have her back in any craziness; they are stronger together, they are partners in crime.
Her friend through the years and so many dangers.
The man she loved with every part of her body and soul.
Nothing had ever felt so good. So right.
This was forever. He was forever.
Their relationship has an incredibly strong foundation of friendship, they know each other better than anyone, they understand each other better than anyone and they love each other more than anyone. Their banter is gold, they have such a compatible sense of humor and the way they joke around and tease each other and lift each other up is everything. They just fit and their devotion to one another is heart wrenching.
What would he sacrifice for her? The answer was obvious.
Anything. Everything.
One of the best friends to lovers I have ever read. The transition from best friends since childhood to “you are it for me” (and my best friend) it’s smoothness and just… 🤌 😘 I believe and feel that they love each other more than anything, are each other’s favorite person and at the same time have a lot of chemistry and burn for each other (some nice hot moments 🔥).
“Where you go, I go.”
Taly gave a small, horrible little laugh. “You don’t know what the hell you’re saying.”
But Skye just said it again, slowly. “Where you go, I go.”
Taly couldn’t breathe. Not with the way he was looking at her. Like she was worth it—worth the anguish and the pain and the too-high cost of loving her.
The end made me sad, not at all because it’s bad, but because I had a feeling it was gonna go that way and it still hurts. They have to fix it! I mean, if I had a penny for every time the soul bond of a favorite couple was broken, I would have 2 pennies this year alone, which is not a lot, but still too much. Please heal the bonds in the sequels.
She looked at him, overwhelmed with the realization of just how much she loved this man. And how lucky she was to have found him. And how utterly lost she would be if he didn’t come back.
Like I said, I knew it was gonna happen because there was this whole thing about Taly being reluctant to accept the soul bond, not because she didn’t want it, she very much did, but because she was terrified she would get Skye killed and he shouldn’t want her, she doesn’t deserve it, and then finally we got to the point where she accepts it and accepts that Skye will always want her, lover her, follow her anywhere and have her back, bond or not. She will always be worthy for him, so I could see after all of that the bond breaking in a sick irony. Still, despite the added problem of the Goddess in Taly’s mind, nothing changes about their feelings and devotion and love and them being a power couple and at least they are together.
I still want the official soul bond back thanks. And a happy ending.
“Where you go, I go.” He’d remind her as many times as it took.
She was home. Even now, twisted into something terrifying and unfamiliar, she was still Taly. Still the girl he’d cross worlds to find. And no matter how far she fell, no matter how much of herself was lost, his place always had been, and always would be, by her side.
I know the author’s plan is for a 5 books series and I think 2 others is the perfect amount to conclude satisfyingly the story.