My Thoughts On The Book:
The Plot Of The Story:
And so we have reached the end of the Black Dog series, and I am totally gutted about it as there was so much potential for the story to carry forward.... yes, I have heard about the series Hailey Edwards is putting together based around Mai and I am excited about it but I'm afraid it won't be the same.
In this final book Thierry has to step up to the pate and defend her unwanted ruling title among the Fae against the Morrigan, her errant mother-in-law, who has decided to take control in Thierry's absence. Normally Thierry wouldn't care as she never wanted to rule Faerie as it was but it seems that the Morrigan has plans beyond Faerie and a plan to rule everything, everywhere which is something Thierry cannot let happen. An attack on the Marshall's office shakes Thierry and her friends to the core and the fact that Shaw has gone missing doesn't help settle Thierry's fear in the slightest. A cataclysmic fight is brewing that will change everything for everyone forever as Thierry fights for her life, her friends, her world and for the love of her life.
As a finale to a series this wasn't quite the bang I was expecting, not to say that I didn't enjoy it tremendously but it didn't have the emotional impact I needed to finish of what has been a great series for me. I can't explain why it didn't hit the mark completely for me, it felt sort of like something was missing but I don't know exactly what it was and it bothers me.
What Is There To Love?
The character were again as fantastic as normal especially as we finally get the chance to meet the mysterious Macsen, Thierry's father as he finally makes an appearance and meets his daughter. Thierry is as kick-ass as usual but still showing the flaws in her character especially when it comes to Shaw, the incubus she loves. When it comes to Shaw she's a mess as he takes up so much of thoughts, she spent so much lusting after him, then hating him, then being drawn through guilt to him when she found out she had caused him to be only able to feed from her before finally going back to being rather besotted by him..... and finally he begins to show signs that he truly does feel the same way for her, showing some real feelings which made him a lot more likeable that he has been lately. While Thierry does have the added help in her battle from her father she does seem to stand much more on her own two feet this time around and it does give her an added strength that had only been hinted at previously and I liked it on her.
The other characters from the previous books, like show stealing Mai, take a bit more of back-seat this time as Thierry battles for Faerie and they are missed which is a shame but it is made up for by Macsen being present. It's really good to see how Thierry's immediate family reacts to the reappearance of her errant father, to see her mother's reaction and how all her mother's feelings for Macsen come flooding back to her. It's interested for Thierry to see the dynamics between her parent while trying to deal with her feelings for the father she has never know, the father responsible for her Fae genes, for her power, and for the Fae life she has to live.
Something else I loved was the almost political aspects bought to the forefront in this book, the relations between the Fae factions both in Fae and in our own world. There was so much betrayal, slander and double crossing going on that it could make a girls head spin, and it did!
What Is There To Dislike?
The whole book didn't gel with me as much as previous books did, maybe I was expecting too much knowing this was the finale and predicting a more satisfying and fulfilling ending for the story. The thread ends of the various storylines did all get tied up pretty well by the end but I was just expecting something more powerful, more emotional, more breathtaking and I was left a little disappointed. What didn't help me was my overwhelming feeling of wanting to know what happened next, after the book finished and maybe that was my problem with the book.
How's The Writing?
As usual the writing was great, it was clear and concise to the point with nothing to over think. The world building continues to be astounding as we delve back into Faerie and meet some more of the Fae beings. The myths and legends behind the story is what makes the book special and for someone as fascinated with the Fae as I am it is an amazing read. The characterisations are good and the main characters continue to grow and evolve steadily while still evoking emotional responses in the readers that feel true and correct. I will say that in places the pacing was a little sow which is something I wasn't expecting for a final book, I thought the pacing would be break-neck but that doesn't mean that the pacing didn't fit the book as it did for the most part, some portions just dragged a little.
Final Thoughts:
The Black Dog series has been an imaginative and extraordinary series for me and while this final book disappointed me, and I do admit that this disappoint could well have been of my own making and of my own expectations for it, it doesn't take away from the series overall. It's been a fascinating ride that I freely admit that I don't want to be over even if there is going to be a spin off series. I want to go back and have more adventures with Thierry and Shaw and am gutted that I can't. Picking up the first book on a whim was one the best things I've done as this series is just amazing and it is one worthy of recommendation and that what I will do, I will advocate and endorse this series to one and all. If you love books about the Fae then this is a no-brainer series to read so what are you waiting for?
I received a copy of the book for free via Netgalley.