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Menagerie #3
Fury
1986: Rebecca Essig leaves a slumber party early but comes home to a massacre—committed by her own parents. Only one of her siblings has survived. But as the tragic event unfolds, she begins to realize that other than a small army of six-year-olds, she is among very few survivors of a nationwide slaughter.
The Reaping has begun.
Present day: Pregnant and on the run with a small band of compatriots, Delilah Marlow is determined to bring her baby into the world safely and secretly. But she isn’t used to sitting back while others suffer, and she’s desperate to reunite Zyanya, the cheetah shifter, with her brother and children. To find a way for Lenore the siren to see her husband. To find Rommily’s missing Oracle sisters. To unify this adopted family of fellow cryptids she came to love and rely on in captivity.
But Delilah is about to discover that her role in the human versus cryptid war is destined to be much larger—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.
The Reaping has begun.
Present day: Pregnant and on the run with a small band of compatriots, Delilah Marlow is determined to bring her baby into the world safely and secretly. But she isn’t used to sitting back while others suffer, and she’s desperate to reunite Zyanya, the cheetah shifter, with her brother and children. To find a way for Lenore the siren to see her husband. To find Rommily’s missing Oracle sisters. To unify this adopted family of fellow cryptids she came to love and rely on in captivity.
But Delilah is about to discover that her role in the human versus cryptid war is destined to be much larger—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2018
72 people are currently reading
3424 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Vincent
65 books9,781 followers[Note: Though Rachel's blog entries are cross posted here, she does not frequent Goodreads. The best ways to contact her are FB, Twitter, or her Wordpress blog. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HER MESSAGES HERE. SHE DOES NOT CHECK THEM.]
A resident of Oklahoma, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.
A resident of Oklahoma, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
February 11, 2021
ugh, take it walking, pal.
"I will cut out the tongue that spoke the order. I will dig out the eyes that witnessed your humiliation. I will chop off any other parts that offended you, and I will return with his bones for our child to play with."
you there, boy, stick around and tell me more about these bonetoys...
so i guess that's the end of that trilogy. of the three books, this is my least favorite, but it was in no way a letdown. the first one is great because HOLY PREMISE, BATMAN - WHAT WILL HAPPEN? and the second one is great because HOLY OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, INTO THE FIRE, BATMAN! THESE STAKES JUST GOT RAISED!! and then there's this one, which is structurally different, being composed of two different storylines covering past and present events, and the energy is the energy of a story winding down and wrapping up, no new tale to tell. plus, our girl is more'n ten months pregnant, and everybody else is in incognito mode, so while there's certainly action and intrigue and drama, it's a little less widescreen than book two, which was... a lot of things happening all at once. and why everyone's in incognito mode.
the things that happen here are smaller-scale, and largely focused around themes of motherhood - maternal fierceness and legacy and sacrifice and all that, along with more of the details of delilah's past and her destiny and the thing that she is (you know what i mean) coming to light, and while i wasn't emotionally thrilled with the way vincent ended this series, it does satisfy me as a reader. i'm sad to see the story end, but i appreciate it when an author ends a series gracefully and decisively, instead of milking it way past anyone's pleasure.
and i'm just trusting that she diagrammed the whole musical chairs w/ babies situation on her vision board and everything lined up across wombs and timelines, because my brain tried following that maneuver and... could not.
GOODBYE TO YOU, MENAGERIE!!!
come to my blog!
October 31, 2018
The Menagerie Trilogy has been a highlight of my reading year. It’s so different from anything I’ve ever read. Rachel Vincent’s writing always pulls me in (her Shifters series is particularly engrossing), and if anything, she’s only gotten stronger.
While Fury had some of my favorite scenes from the whole trilogy (some truly 5-star moments), it didn’t quite deliver the completely satisfying conclusion I’d been hoping for.
My thoughts on Fury are kind of segmented along with the plot. There’s a dual storyline going on – one in the present (following our main characters), and one in the past. Each thread had a different impact on my overall impression of the book. I’ll talk about the past one first:
Omg – so good! The series has been teasing about what happened with the surrogates in the 80s, and this perspective provided a lot of the answers I’d been looking for, doing so with a riveting narrative that had me glued to the pages. These sections were well spaced between the main story, and the pacing within each one was absolutely perfect! As much as I enjoy reading about Delilah and her crew, I found myself eager to get back to these passages to see what would happen next. It was easily my favorite component to this book (and maybe my favorite of the series), earning a solid 5 stars for execution and that amazing can’t-put-it-down factor.
Then we bounce back to the current timeline POV, and my feelings are a little mixed. I think there was awesome advancement with the emotional states of the characters, and a few moments that will shred your heart… but overall I think the story was just okay. Not a lot happened at first, and when the action finally got going, it was a little underdeveloped and abrupt. I would’ve preferred at least another 10 pages at the end to really flush out the ultimate climax of the trilogy because I think it needed more of a moment (especially since the past timeline set such a precedence with perfect pacing and immersion).
In addition, I still have a few burning questions that I don’t feel were answered to my satisfaction (I’m trying to deal, but it bugs me that I may never know some of the things). Just enough info was given for me to infer some answers, which was probably the intended point, but I wish I knew emphatically. This section is a solid 3-stars (I liked it) rating because characters were interesting (as always), and the things that did happen were good continuations to the story (and I’m not mad at the ending, I just wanted a bit more).
Overall, despite my desire for a little more clarity and expansion, I still count this as one of the more interesting books I’ve read this year. Don’t take my criticisms too much to heart because the parts of this story that really worked for me, I loved with an unparalleled ferocity.
Recommendations: the Menagerie Trilogy stands out as one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend it to readers in the mood for something immersive and unique. It’s not without flaws, but the awesome bits more than compensate.
I would like to thank Harlequin – Mira, Rachel Vincent, and Goodreads for the chance to read and review an early copy of Fury!
Other books you might like:
While Fury had some of my favorite scenes from the whole trilogy (some truly 5-star moments), it didn’t quite deliver the completely satisfying conclusion I’d been hoping for.
My thoughts on Fury are kind of segmented along with the plot. There’s a dual storyline going on – one in the present (following our main characters), and one in the past. Each thread had a different impact on my overall impression of the book. I’ll talk about the past one first:
Omg – so good! The series has been teasing about what happened with the surrogates in the 80s, and this perspective provided a lot of the answers I’d been looking for, doing so with a riveting narrative that had me glued to the pages. These sections were well spaced between the main story, and the pacing within each one was absolutely perfect! As much as I enjoy reading about Delilah and her crew, I found myself eager to get back to these passages to see what would happen next. It was easily my favorite component to this book (and maybe my favorite of the series), earning a solid 5 stars for execution and that amazing can’t-put-it-down factor.
Then we bounce back to the current timeline POV, and my feelings are a little mixed. I think there was awesome advancement with the emotional states of the characters, and a few moments that will shred your heart… but overall I think the story was just okay. Not a lot happened at first, and when the action finally got going, it was a little underdeveloped and abrupt. I would’ve preferred at least another 10 pages at the end to really flush out the ultimate climax of the trilogy because I think it needed more of a moment (especially since the past timeline set such a precedence with perfect pacing and immersion).
In addition, I still have a few burning questions that I don’t feel were answered to my satisfaction (I’m trying to deal, but it bugs me that I may never know some of the things). Just enough info was given for me to infer some answers, which was probably the intended point, but I wish I knew emphatically. This section is a solid 3-stars (I liked it) rating because characters were interesting (as always), and the things that did happen were good continuations to the story (and I’m not mad at the ending, I just wanted a bit more).
Overall, despite my desire for a little more clarity and expansion, I still count this as one of the more interesting books I’ve read this year. Don’t take my criticisms too much to heart because the parts of this story that really worked for me, I loved with an unparalleled ferocity.
Recommendations: the Menagerie Trilogy stands out as one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend it to readers in the mood for something immersive and unique. It’s not without flaws, but the awesome bits more than compensate.
I would like to thank Harlequin – Mira, Rachel Vincent, and Goodreads for the chance to read and review an early copy of Fury!
Other books you might like:
October 22, 2018
4.5 stars
“We are crawling like flies on the corpse of humanity.”
Let me back up for you, shall I?
Two timelines with a cast of characters, two stories, intertwined and bound by their past.
1986, it’s a time where peace is over. Humans have lived and worked among or alongside Cryptides till then. Werevolves learned to read and write in school side by side with human children and in restaurants you could be served right next to a table with visiting dryads or oracles.
Rebecca Essig went out at night. She returns from a party and notices immediately that something is amiss at her family’s home. Her siblings and parents should have been asleep. The house is quiet. It seems peaceful…until Rebecca steps into sticky residue on the floor as she is heading upstairs into her room. Blood! Frantically she checks her siblings and parents rooms….her siblings are dead and her parents are asleep, with blood smeared all over.
The world is at a crisis. The Reaping had begun. Civil Rights movements and protections have begun. Turmoil ensues.
Timeline two:
Delilah is on the run. She is bloodthirsty and pregnant. Or is it the baby that is bloodthirsty? Overdue, at 10.5 months gestation, she isn’t sure what she is having, but she will love this baby no matter what. A safe delivery where she will not be captured and transported to a lab as so many others, is her ultimate wish.
In the company of shapeshifter Zyanya, Rommily, Gallagher and a few other friends, she is trying to do some good in the meantime. Headlines are showing two children have been captured into captivity. They are part of Rommily's family and they are planning to free them together. In return, they keep shelter together and prepare for the birth of Delilah’s child. As they head into the heart of the lab where different creatures are kept, Delilah’s thirst for blood grows exceedingly stronger, and a few bad apples on their mission will die. She is has mastered ripping out hearts to quench her needs.
In a series of different events, the band has to fight their way through to the ultimate battle at the very end. The question is, will they succeed?
Will Delilah be able to deliver her child safely and live?
How about Rebecca’s family? How does the story intertwine?
***
This novel is book three in the Menagerie series, and it is excellently crafted. A head spin of a tale. Timeless, retro and futuristic, Vincent wove a plot of different elements and genres into a mindboggling novel. Part thriller, part sci-fi it delves into the plight of humanity on the brink of an evolutionary sci-fi future without failing to deliver an emotional plot. Change, laws, order, up rise! A shift in humanity, the acceptance and change in the way of life. What a book.
I really enjoyed this novel. It reads easily and is fast paced. Almost cryptically the reader is taken through the timelines and memories, but it never really comes together till the end, and it left me at the edge of my seat.
This book is great for lovers of paranormal / urban fantasy.
Enjoy!
I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!
My review can also be found here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/blog...
“We are crawling like flies on the corpse of humanity.”
Let me back up for you, shall I?
Two timelines with a cast of characters, two stories, intertwined and bound by their past.
1986, it’s a time where peace is over. Humans have lived and worked among or alongside Cryptides till then. Werevolves learned to read and write in school side by side with human children and in restaurants you could be served right next to a table with visiting dryads or oracles.
Rebecca Essig went out at night. She returns from a party and notices immediately that something is amiss at her family’s home. Her siblings and parents should have been asleep. The house is quiet. It seems peaceful…until Rebecca steps into sticky residue on the floor as she is heading upstairs into her room. Blood! Frantically she checks her siblings and parents rooms….her siblings are dead and her parents are asleep, with blood smeared all over.
The world is at a crisis. The Reaping had begun. Civil Rights movements and protections have begun. Turmoil ensues.
Timeline two:
Delilah is on the run. She is bloodthirsty and pregnant. Or is it the baby that is bloodthirsty? Overdue, at 10.5 months gestation, she isn’t sure what she is having, but she will love this baby no matter what. A safe delivery where she will not be captured and transported to a lab as so many others, is her ultimate wish.
In the company of shapeshifter Zyanya, Rommily, Gallagher and a few other friends, she is trying to do some good in the meantime. Headlines are showing two children have been captured into captivity. They are part of Rommily's family and they are planning to free them together. In return, they keep shelter together and prepare for the birth of Delilah’s child. As they head into the heart of the lab where different creatures are kept, Delilah’s thirst for blood grows exceedingly stronger, and a few bad apples on their mission will die. She is has mastered ripping out hearts to quench her needs.
In a series of different events, the band has to fight their way through to the ultimate battle at the very end. The question is, will they succeed?
Will Delilah be able to deliver her child safely and live?
How about Rebecca’s family? How does the story intertwine?
***
This novel is book three in the Menagerie series, and it is excellently crafted. A head spin of a tale. Timeless, retro and futuristic, Vincent wove a plot of different elements and genres into a mindboggling novel. Part thriller, part sci-fi it delves into the plight of humanity on the brink of an evolutionary sci-fi future without failing to deliver an emotional plot. Change, laws, order, up rise! A shift in humanity, the acceptance and change in the way of life. What a book.
I really enjoyed this novel. It reads easily and is fast paced. Almost cryptically the reader is taken through the timelines and memories, but it never really comes together till the end, and it left me at the edge of my seat.
This book is great for lovers of paranormal / urban fantasy.
Enjoy!
I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you!
My review can also be found here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/blog...
October 29, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This book left me speechless. A lot of things happened and not all of them made me happy. I feel in love with this series shortly after the release of Menagerie and have eagerly awaited each new installment. In case you are wondering, this is the third and final book in the Menagerie trilogy which really does need to be read in order. To say that I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book would be an understatement because I just had to know what happens to Delilah, Gallagher, and the rest of the group.
This book is set up a little differently than the previous books in the trilogy. There are two timelines throughout the book where previous books had only brief glimpses into the past. This book focuses on the present day with Delilah and company but also goes back to 1986 as The Reaping began. I found the parts of the book set in the past to be interesting but I was a bit confused why the focus wasn't more on the present day. As I continued to read, things started to come together and I began to see the larger picture but the shift was a bit surprising.
As I have come to expect from this series, this book has its share of heartbreak. More than its share if I am being honest. The world that Delilah and her friends are living in is cruel and unjust. They must live in constant fear of discovery and simple tasks are quite risky. The group wants to reunite with others that they were separated from during their escape but every move could jeopardize their own freedom.
Delilah's pregnancy is a major focus of this story. Her pregnancy lasts a bit longer than a human pregnancy which is no surprise since the father, Gallagher, is a red cap. Neither Gallagher or Delilah made the choice to become parents but they are both committed to doing what is best for the child. It does put a strain on their relationship as they try to figure out how to move forward and what their roles will be.
I do have to say that I did struggle with the rating for this book a bit. I have been back and forth trying to decide if it is a 3 star read or a 4 star read. Some things happened in the book that I didn't like but I think it is a story well told. After some careful thought, I do think that the book deserves 4 stars. I was quite impressed by the complexity of the 1986 timeline and how everything ended up coming together. I still am not completely sold on the ending and would have liked to see just a bit more than we were given but I can deal with it as written.
I do highly recommend this trilogy to others. It is a really captivating tale of a world where cryptids must fear humans. I have already read some of the early books in the trilogy more than once and plan to re-read the trilogy again in the future which is rather high praise. I can't wait to read more from Rachel Vincent.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harlequin - MIRA via Edelweiss and NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I am kind of speechless after finishing this book. This book was quite different than the other two books. There were really two timelines to follow for much of the story and seeing how they came together kind of blew my mind just a bit. I don't even know what to say about that ending right now. I need to take some time to really process everything before I decide on a rating.
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss and NetGalley. Full review to be posted soon.
This book left me speechless. A lot of things happened and not all of them made me happy. I feel in love with this series shortly after the release of Menagerie and have eagerly awaited each new installment. In case you are wondering, this is the third and final book in the Menagerie trilogy which really does need to be read in order. To say that I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book would be an understatement because I just had to know what happens to Delilah, Gallagher, and the rest of the group.
This book is set up a little differently than the previous books in the trilogy. There are two timelines throughout the book where previous books had only brief glimpses into the past. This book focuses on the present day with Delilah and company but also goes back to 1986 as The Reaping began. I found the parts of the book set in the past to be interesting but I was a bit confused why the focus wasn't more on the present day. As I continued to read, things started to come together and I began to see the larger picture but the shift was a bit surprising.
As I have come to expect from this series, this book has its share of heartbreak. More than its share if I am being honest. The world that Delilah and her friends are living in is cruel and unjust. They must live in constant fear of discovery and simple tasks are quite risky. The group wants to reunite with others that they were separated from during their escape but every move could jeopardize their own freedom.
Delilah's pregnancy is a major focus of this story. Her pregnancy lasts a bit longer than a human pregnancy which is no surprise since the father, Gallagher, is a red cap. Neither Gallagher or Delilah made the choice to become parents but they are both committed to doing what is best for the child. It does put a strain on their relationship as they try to figure out how to move forward and what their roles will be.
I do have to say that I did struggle with the rating for this book a bit. I have been back and forth trying to decide if it is a 3 star read or a 4 star read. Some things happened in the book that I didn't like but I think it is a story well told. After some careful thought, I do think that the book deserves 4 stars. I was quite impressed by the complexity of the 1986 timeline and how everything ended up coming together. I still am not completely sold on the ending and would have liked to see just a bit more than we were given but I can deal with it as written.
I do highly recommend this trilogy to others. It is a really captivating tale of a world where cryptids must fear humans. I have already read some of the early books in the trilogy more than once and plan to re-read the trilogy again in the future which is rather high praise. I can't wait to read more from Rachel Vincent.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harlequin - MIRA via Edelweiss and NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I am kind of speechless after finishing this book. This book was quite different than the other two books. There were really two timelines to follow for much of the story and seeing how they came together kind of blew my mind just a bit. I don't even know what to say about that ending right now. I need to take some time to really process everything before I decide on a rating.
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss and NetGalley. Full review to be posted soon.
October 15, 2025
Well, I'm definitely CONFLICTED. Vincent wrote a dark, complex and intricate world that is mind blowing, highlighting the deepest failings and depravities of humanity. In this tale, you are utterly engulfed by the characters plight with the hopes that some recompenses are provided for the tragedies that these characters had to endure. I, for one, loved and hated the conclusion. Loved it, because Vincent excels at ripping your emotions to their breaking point. But in the end, it was such a bitter sweet sorrow (this is where I leave out any possibilities of a spoiler)... and that is not what I want to invest three books worth of my reading time into only to have it end like that. That in a nutshell is my conflicted feeling on Fury and the entire Menagerie series. 5 stars, even though it might not be for me, it truly is a masterpiece of writing and imagination.
I received this ARC copy of Fury from MIRA - HarperCollins. This is my honest and voluntary review. Fury is set for publication October 30, 2018.
Rating: 5 stars
I received this ARC copy of Fury from MIRA - HarperCollins. This is my honest and voluntary review. Fury is set for publication October 30, 2018.
Rating: 5 stars
November 2, 2018
What a waste of my time. Why do authors do this? Like Veronica Roth and Andrea Cramer before me, this author is dead to me. I’ll never read another word she writes.
I should have known when I abandoned her YA Soul series for poor themes aimed at children. Chose the asshole because he will eventually change for you. Life lessons for impressionable children to stay in bad relationships because ultimately you will be the factor that changes him. Themes I don’t mind in adult books, but abhor in YA books, like Shatter Me. Let bad guys be bad. Let good guys when and not change them into assholes or kill them off to explain love triangle resolution. But I digress.
I read to get away. This is fiction. The heroine can choose self sacrifice and survive. Be creative. I read for hope and HEAs not for this bullshit. I can’t get these hours back ever.
Signed pissed off reader.
The positive- Narrator was excellent.
I should have known when I abandoned her YA Soul series for poor themes aimed at children. Chose the asshole because he will eventually change for you. Life lessons for impressionable children to stay in bad relationships because ultimately you will be the factor that changes him. Themes I don’t mind in adult books, but abhor in YA books, like Shatter Me. Let bad guys be bad. Let good guys when and not change them into assholes or kill them off to explain love triangle resolution. But I digress.
I read to get away. This is fiction. The heroine can choose self sacrifice and survive. Be creative. I read for hope and HEAs not for this bullshit. I can’t get these hours back ever.
Signed pissed off reader.
The positive- Narrator was excellent.
December 5, 2019
This book HURT SO BAD. If you're not interested in spoilers, beware this review because it will be spoiler heavy.
But before you click the exit or back button, here's my non-spoiler review:
I love Rachel Vincent and her writing is utterly addicting. She knows how to craft characters who make you feel for them, she creates fantastical environments that somehow feel real and make the story move fast but still hit the point home. If I had to give a rating based off her writing abilities, it would be a 5.
Unfortunately, I did not like how this book ended the trilogy. Without giving away spoilers, the ending made this book a solid 2 for me. With that being said, I'll let it meet in the middle (ish...) with a solid 3.
P.S. Don't read this book if you haven't read the first two. It probably won't make much sense. The first two books are absolutely marvelous though, so go read them. Rachel has always been one of my fave authors and I'll support her over and over.
NOW FOR SPOILERS: BEWARE.
Three out of five stars.
But before you click the exit or back button, here's my non-spoiler review:
I love Rachel Vincent and her writing is utterly addicting. She knows how to craft characters who make you feel for them, she creates fantastical environments that somehow feel real and make the story move fast but still hit the point home. If I had to give a rating based off her writing abilities, it would be a 5.
Unfortunately, I did not like how this book ended the trilogy. Without giving away spoilers, the ending made this book a solid 2 for me. With that being said, I'll let it meet in the middle (ish...) with a solid 3.
P.S. Don't read this book if you haven't read the first two. It probably won't make much sense. The first two books are absolutely marvelous though, so go read them. Rachel has always been one of my fave authors and I'll support her over and over.
NOW FOR SPOILERS: BEWARE.
Three out of five stars.
September 15, 2018
This conclusion is simply stunning in its complexity as it winds through time giving readers the answers that have always alluded them. If the first book Menagerie was breathtaking in all its amazing nuances then certainly the second book Spectacle was harrowing as the author explored just how evil humanity can be. Now it’s back to the beginning in many ways as the terrible Reaping of 1986 flits through this story as we catch up with Delilah and her friends who have become family.
Having finished this trilogy I’m left feeling both uplifted and yet strangely bereft. No longer will I cringe at the protective and oh so bloodthirsty Gallagher whose heart is clearly bigger than a mountain. I won’t be sat on the edge of my seat as the cruelly maligned cryptids yet again are forced to be base entertainment and all the while I’m quietly crying inside for these wonderful and noble characters. This journey had to stop somewhere and it’s fitting somehow that as somethings have to end there’s the hope of a new beginning. This book made me FEEL and whilst I’m usually primarily a romance reader Delilah is a character that shines oh so brightly. I leave you with no spoilers but I do hope you will undertake this journey with Delilah and perhaps you too will start to realise that somethings are simply fated .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Having finished this trilogy I’m left feeling both uplifted and yet strangely bereft. No longer will I cringe at the protective and oh so bloodthirsty Gallagher whose heart is clearly bigger than a mountain. I won’t be sat on the edge of my seat as the cruelly maligned cryptids yet again are forced to be base entertainment and all the while I’m quietly crying inside for these wonderful and noble characters. This journey had to stop somewhere and it’s fitting somehow that as somethings have to end there’s the hope of a new beginning. This book made me FEEL and whilst I’m usually primarily a romance reader Delilah is a character that shines oh so brightly. I leave you with no spoilers but I do hope you will undertake this journey with Delilah and perhaps you too will start to realise that somethings are simply fated .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
April 3, 2020
it seems my ratings for each book have only dropped since the first. fury felt more of a book tying off all loose ends and the stakes and the main themes were significantly different than its predecessors. however, this was just not the ending i was hoping for...literally a million things could’ve happened but...this.
→ 3.5 stars
→ 3.5 stars
September 21, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
I had NO idea a while back when I requested this that this was book three in a series I hadn't read. In order to be able to give this a proper and fair review, I then devoured books one and two and fell in love with a completely unconventional story. This series wasn't like anything I'd read before; feeling part YA/NA, part Urban Fantasy, part plain old fantasy but just wholly good. There wasn't a second that any of the unusualness threw me off or that I didn't like.
The characters are entirely what makes this book. I dare you to read them without falling for Gallagher, Eryx, Rommily and every other fleshed out and well drawn character. It is a really satisfying feeling to get through a book and love everyone!
If you're waiting until October for the new book, I wish you luck and know you'll love it. If you haven't read the series, then what are you waiting for? Go for it!
I had NO idea a while back when I requested this that this was book three in a series I hadn't read. In order to be able to give this a proper and fair review, I then devoured books one and two and fell in love with a completely unconventional story. This series wasn't like anything I'd read before; feeling part YA/NA, part Urban Fantasy, part plain old fantasy but just wholly good. There wasn't a second that any of the unusualness threw me off or that I didn't like.
The characters are entirely what makes this book. I dare you to read them without falling for Gallagher, Eryx, Rommily and every other fleshed out and well drawn character. It is a really satisfying feeling to get through a book and love everyone!
If you're waiting until October for the new book, I wish you luck and know you'll love it. If you haven't read the series, then what are you waiting for? Go for it!
February 10, 2019
In the third book in the menagerie series we see past and present collide in a really clever way. This book alternates between the present day where Delilah is heavily pregnant and about to give birth. She's in hiding with the small group of friends and allies that escaped from the Spectacle with her and they're trying to figure out how to reunite with the others who either escaped or were recaptured and moved to different locations. We are also introduced to a new character, Rebecca Essig, who is one of the few children who survived the reaping in 1986. We see how she survived and what happened to her and her family in the aftermath of the tragedy and that really brought home how horrific it was for people who witnessed the reaping. At first it isn't clear why this new point of view was introduced but Rachel Vincent very cleverly ties both storylines together in a way that makes total sense by the end of the book.
I loved the first two books in this trilogy so I was sad it was coming to an end but I've loved all of Rachel Vincent's books so far so I wasn't actually nervous going into this one. That's why it's painful to say now that I was so disappointed I was with this ending. It just felt to me like the story is unfinished, a character makes the ultimate sacrifice (which was utterly heartbreaking and I STILL can't believe it really happened!) to try and bring peace between the humans and the cryptids but I didn't for a single second believe that what happened would have made a big enough difference. There was just two much fear, hatred and resentment between the two groups for a single event, no matter how powerful, to have such a huge, worldwide impact. The fact I didn't believe things were resolved meant that the sacrifice made felt meaningless which made me even more sad about it.
I did enjoy getting to know the new character Rebecca and of the two storylines hers was by far the most satisfactory but I wanted that same satisfaction for the characters I've grown to love over the previous two books. I ended up so horribly disappointed in the way things turned out for so many of Delilah's friends, and so many of their stories were left unfinished, that this series feels open-ended. I guess I'm just going to have to imagine my own ending but this is the first time one of Rachel Vincent's series has left me wanting more in a bad way and that left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I loved the first two books in this trilogy so I was sad it was coming to an end but I've loved all of Rachel Vincent's books so far so I wasn't actually nervous going into this one. That's why it's painful to say now that I was so disappointed I was with this ending. It just felt to me like the story is unfinished, a character makes the ultimate sacrifice (which was utterly heartbreaking and I STILL can't believe it really happened!) to try and bring peace between the humans and the cryptids but I didn't for a single second believe that what happened would have made a big enough difference. There was just two much fear, hatred and resentment between the two groups for a single event, no matter how powerful, to have such a huge, worldwide impact. The fact I didn't believe things were resolved meant that the sacrifice made felt meaningless which made me even more sad about it.
I did enjoy getting to know the new character Rebecca and of the two storylines hers was by far the most satisfactory but I wanted that same satisfaction for the characters I've grown to love over the previous two books. I ended up so horribly disappointed in the way things turned out for so many of Delilah's friends, and so many of their stories were left unfinished, that this series feels open-ended. I guess I'm just going to have to imagine my own ending but this is the first time one of Rachel Vincent's series has left me wanting more in a bad way and that left a bitter taste in my mouth.
October 30, 2018
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I wondered how things would go for our group of escapees in the next story of the Menagerie series . The group is hiding out in a cabin near Washington DC. There is no long-term plan beyond survival. They are preparing and waiting for the birth of Delilah's baby. The entire group sacrifices to help Delilah.
Fury has a new aspect blending past and present. The chapters alternate between the present from Delilah's perspective and that of Rebecca Essig from the time of the Reaping in 1986. The tale eventually gives us the connection between Rebecca Essig and Delilah and explains how Delilah became a Fury.
Most of the story is spent in weaving the past to the present and preparing for the baby's birth. It is suspenseful and terrifying throughout because there is so much misunderstanding, hate and death. People hate the cryptids simply because they aren't human, while the Reaping was not caused by them.
I am not sure I understand everything which happened at the end, and I won't spoil it for you. Even with an epilogue, the ending seemed abrupt. The story is about Delilah and we don't get much closure on what happened to the rest of the group. It's a sad, horrifying, sometimes quick-to-judge world, but there are the compassionate as well.
Narration:
Gabra Zackman is one of my favorite, FAVORITE narrators ever. She does an amazing job here as well as with the rest of the series. I listened at my usual 1.25x speed. Her performance of male and female voices is excellent and she does differentiate the voice between the different characters.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I wondered how things would go for our group of escapees in the next story of the Menagerie series . The group is hiding out in a cabin near Washington DC. There is no long-term plan beyond survival. They are preparing and waiting for the birth of Delilah's baby. The entire group sacrifices to help Delilah.
Fury has a new aspect blending past and present. The chapters alternate between the present from Delilah's perspective and that of Rebecca Essig from the time of the Reaping in 1986. The tale eventually gives us the connection between Rebecca Essig and Delilah and explains how Delilah became a Fury.
Most of the story is spent in weaving the past to the present and preparing for the baby's birth. It is suspenseful and terrifying throughout because there is so much misunderstanding, hate and death. People hate the cryptids simply because they aren't human, while the Reaping was not caused by them.
I am not sure I understand everything which happened at the end, and I won't spoil it for you. Even with an epilogue, the ending seemed abrupt. The story is about Delilah and we don't get much closure on what happened to the rest of the group. It's a sad, horrifying, sometimes quick-to-judge world, but there are the compassionate as well.
Narration:
Gabra Zackman is one of my favorite, FAVORITE narrators ever. She does an amazing job here as well as with the rest of the series. I listened at my usual 1.25x speed. Her performance of male and female voices is excellent and she does differentiate the voice between the different characters.
Listen to a clip: HERE
October 13, 2018
I'm a bit at a loss for what to say about the conclusion to the Menagerie books. After the first two set such a dark, horrifying, and sometimes brutally satisfying pace, Fury feels like a bated breath. Aside from the ending, the novel's largely quiet, and it feels like it's waiting for something, though you don't know what.
Fury adds a new POV with a new timeline, that of Rebecca Essig beginning at the time of the Reaping. What this book does is close some of the gaps about the Reaping, which instigated all of the awfulness in the prior books. However, Rebecca's POV feels rather unnecessary, and the end result is that the reader figures out what happened much earlier than the characters do. Frankly, it feels like the POV was added to bulk out the novel, which had little enough happening anyway, aside from Delilah's pregnancy.
The ending was truly shocking. I didn't see that coming at all, and I'm not entirely sure how to feel about it.
In some ways, I like this series, though, even at its best, it's difficult to read because the reflection of modern politics is hard to stomach. However, the bloody destruction of the patriarchy at the ends was always incredibly satisfying. This new villain isn't as satisfying, nor is the motivation at its heart. The echo of the violence in American culture feels shallow, given that there's a cause outside of our toxic culture, which sounds like way too easy a solution and doesn't deliver that bit of satisfaction the others did.
This book, like the others is well-written and difficult to stomach, but I don't think it hit quite the right notes in terms of social commentary. There's also so much pregnancy which is a big negative for me personally.
Fury adds a new POV with a new timeline, that of Rebecca Essig beginning at the time of the Reaping. What this book does is close some of the gaps about the Reaping, which instigated all of the awfulness in the prior books. However, Rebecca's POV feels rather unnecessary, and the end result is that the reader figures out what happened much earlier than the characters do. Frankly, it feels like the POV was added to bulk out the novel, which had little enough happening anyway, aside from Delilah's pregnancy.
The ending was truly shocking. I didn't see that coming at all, and I'm not entirely sure how to feel about it.
In some ways, I like this series, though, even at its best, it's difficult to read because the reflection of modern politics is hard to stomach. However, the bloody destruction of the patriarchy at the ends was always incredibly satisfying. This new villain isn't as satisfying, nor is the motivation at its heart. The echo of the violence in American culture feels shallow, given that there's a cause outside of our toxic culture, which sounds like way too easy a solution and doesn't deliver that bit of satisfaction the others did.
This book, like the others is well-written and difficult to stomach, but I don't think it hit quite the right notes in terms of social commentary. There's also so much pregnancy which is a big negative for me personally.
July 21, 2018
I have waited three years to know how these books would end. And now I know. And I may never recover, honestly. This book was pretty amazing, but it also ruined me a little. I'm giving it four stars, because there were things I needed answers to, and I did not get them. But for the most part I loved this final one a bunch.
I have a lot of things I need to write down about this book. Will try my hardest not to share spoilers, but I will share my feelings about certain things, and some hints too. This is the third book in such an amazing series that I have loved reading. And I need all of you to read these books as well. So painful. But so important.
This book still tells the story of Delilah. It has been nine months now since she and everyone else managed to escape from the Savage Spectacle. That most horrible place. They have all been on the run since then. Most of them were separated. But Delilah ended up with Gallagher and a few others that she was closest with. I adored all of them very much. They were such awesome characters and I very much liked reading about them all. Though they escaped that gruesome place, they are still not safe or free. The world still wants all cryptids taken away or dead. And so they are now hiding at a cabin in the woods, trying to stay hidden until the baby is born. Delilah's baby. That is half-fae. Ahh. My heart. This pregnancy pretty much killed me. But so good.
There is so much to learn in this book. So many secrets and plot twists are revealed. So much more to know about Delilah and how she came to be. And I loved that a whole lot. This book is also told a little from the point of view of Rebecca Essig. She is important to this story, to Delilah. And I liked her small chapters a whole lot. Getting to know her story was awesome. I love Delilah the very most, but Rebecca was pretty great too. Though my favorite character will always be Gallagher, haha. I love him very much.
I enjoyed this final book because I simply love reading about Delilah and Gallagher. They are awesome together. And I love how he is always protecting her. And how they are always together. Just, yeah. I wanted more too. Hmm. But pleased with some things that happened, eee. And oh. They are having a baby together. The reason for why they are is still heartbreaking. But so interesting to read about it all, even so. I just love these characters so much. And learning more about them was so very awesome.
The thing is, though, there was not really a lot happening in this book. It was short. And so much is still left unanswered. But we do learn more about Delilah, and why she is a furiae. And what she is meant to do about this. But that is pretty much everything this book was about. That, and waiting for the baby to be born. I kind of expected a bit more from this final book? The first two were pretty brutal and awful. This one had nothing of that. I kind of missed the heartbreak and hope. Wanted a little more action, honestly.
But I also really liked this final book. I just wish that there had been more. It was a bit too little, to be fully honest. Still. Fury was a great final book. It's possible that I'm the only one wanting more from it. Oh, well. What I did enjoy, though, was getting to read more about my favorite characters. Reading about Delilah and Gallagher spending time together and talking was the best. But she was pushing him away a little at first too, and that broke my heart, ack. But they were so good together. Sigh. Loved reading about them.
But what was missing from this book was the other characters, the other cryptids. Most are missing after they escaped from the Spectacle. There is talk about how they are going to find the missing ones, but it has been nine months since their escape, and nothing has been done. And then this book ended without knowing anything else about that. I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest. I wanted to know more about the other cryptids too. I wanted to know if they were freed. I wanted to know where they all were, alive or not.
Then there was the romance. Well, the lack of romance. Through this whole trilogy I shipped Delilah and Gallagher the very very most. They are just perfect together and would make such an awesome couple. I will not spoil this book, but, well, nothing happens for more than half of it. Because Delilah does not want him to touch her, after how she got pregnant by him. Even though she still does not remember the details. That is what bothered me. I so needed this memory. And Delilah needed to know it too. But she does not.
I very much needed to know what happened in that scene. How Delilah felt about it. Sigh. And I cannot help but be a little heartbroken about it. Because this book is short. Only about three hundred pages. Felt like there could have been at least two hundred pages more, because very much is missing. I loved the book, but so much is left out. The ending was a little rushed. And I am not pleased with how it ended, to be honest. It was fitting for the story, which was good, but I personally am not happy about it all. Hmph.
Huge thank you to the publisher, Mira Books, for accepting my request to read this early via Edelweiss. Feeling so thankful for the chance to have read it a bit early. While it did not have everything I wanted, Fury was an amazing final book. There were answers. There was a conclusion. There were amazing characters and I simply loved reading about them all. Fury was a worthy final book. Though, yes, there were a few things I wish would have been different. But I shall get past it. So happy I read this trilogy.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2018/...
I have a lot of things I need to write down about this book. Will try my hardest not to share spoilers, but I will share my feelings about certain things, and some hints too. This is the third book in such an amazing series that I have loved reading. And I need all of you to read these books as well. So painful. But so important.
This book still tells the story of Delilah. It has been nine months now since she and everyone else managed to escape from the Savage Spectacle. That most horrible place. They have all been on the run since then. Most of them were separated. But Delilah ended up with Gallagher and a few others that she was closest with. I adored all of them very much. They were such awesome characters and I very much liked reading about them all. Though they escaped that gruesome place, they are still not safe or free. The world still wants all cryptids taken away or dead. And so they are now hiding at a cabin in the woods, trying to stay hidden until the baby is born. Delilah's baby. That is half-fae. Ahh. My heart. This pregnancy pretty much killed me. But so good.
There is so much to learn in this book. So many secrets and plot twists are revealed. So much more to know about Delilah and how she came to be. And I loved that a whole lot. This book is also told a little from the point of view of Rebecca Essig. She is important to this story, to Delilah. And I liked her small chapters a whole lot. Getting to know her story was awesome. I love Delilah the very most, but Rebecca was pretty great too. Though my favorite character will always be Gallagher, haha. I love him very much.
I enjoyed this final book because I simply love reading about Delilah and Gallagher. They are awesome together. And I love how he is always protecting her. And how they are always together. Just, yeah. I wanted more too. Hmm. But pleased with some things that happened, eee. And oh. They are having a baby together. The reason for why they are is still heartbreaking. But so interesting to read about it all, even so. I just love these characters so much. And learning more about them was so very awesome.
The thing is, though, there was not really a lot happening in this book. It was short. And so much is still left unanswered. But we do learn more about Delilah, and why she is a furiae. And what she is meant to do about this. But that is pretty much everything this book was about. That, and waiting for the baby to be born. I kind of expected a bit more from this final book? The first two were pretty brutal and awful. This one had nothing of that. I kind of missed the heartbreak and hope. Wanted a little more action, honestly.
But I also really liked this final book. I just wish that there had been more. It was a bit too little, to be fully honest. Still. Fury was a great final book. It's possible that I'm the only one wanting more from it. Oh, well. What I did enjoy, though, was getting to read more about my favorite characters. Reading about Delilah and Gallagher spending time together and talking was the best. But she was pushing him away a little at first too, and that broke my heart, ack. But they were so good together. Sigh. Loved reading about them.
But what was missing from this book was the other characters, the other cryptids. Most are missing after they escaped from the Spectacle. There is talk about how they are going to find the missing ones, but it has been nine months since their escape, and nothing has been done. And then this book ended without knowing anything else about that. I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest. I wanted to know more about the other cryptids too. I wanted to know if they were freed. I wanted to know where they all were, alive or not.
Then there was the romance. Well, the lack of romance. Through this whole trilogy I shipped Delilah and Gallagher the very very most. They are just perfect together and would make such an awesome couple. I will not spoil this book, but, well, nothing happens for more than half of it. Because Delilah does not want him to touch her, after how she got pregnant by him. Even though she still does not remember the details. That is what bothered me. I so needed this memory. And Delilah needed to know it too. But she does not.
I very much needed to know what happened in that scene. How Delilah felt about it. Sigh. And I cannot help but be a little heartbroken about it. Because this book is short. Only about three hundred pages. Felt like there could have been at least two hundred pages more, because very much is missing. I loved the book, but so much is left out. The ending was a little rushed. And I am not pleased with how it ended, to be honest. It was fitting for the story, which was good, but I personally am not happy about it all. Hmph.
Huge thank you to the publisher, Mira Books, for accepting my request to read this early via Edelweiss. Feeling so thankful for the chance to have read it a bit early. While it did not have everything I wanted, Fury was an amazing final book. There were answers. There was a conclusion. There were amazing characters and I simply loved reading about them all. Fury was a worthy final book. Though, yes, there were a few things I wish would have been different. But I shall get past it. So happy I read this trilogy.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2018/...
Read
October 14, 2018I loved the first Menagerie book. The idea of a traveling cirucs full of creatures like werewolves, minotaurs, oracles... poor creatures enslaved because of man fearing them for somethng that happened long ago, called the reaping... and seeing how these creatures managed to reclaim their lives for themselves after years of abuse... I loved it. the second one was also good, but for me not as good as the first one, and I was expecting the third one, which isn't bad, but to me it was a tad confussing. Let's begin.
We find two different time lines in this book: one that covers the reaping, following one survivor; and then the time line with Delilah, Gallaguer and all the gang that managed to stay together after the second book. I loved the alternating time lines, and I have to confess I loved the one from the reaping time line, but then it began to get confussing for me with the 3 different changelings that appear. I can't say much more without being spoiler-y (we already had been told that the ones who did the killing on the Reaping were changelings), but for me it began to be difficult to follow the relationships in actual time following those 3 changelings.
The characters are the same ones we have come to love on the previous books, plus the ones from the previous time line, which are also well developed and rounded, even though the chanelings for me remained a work in progress in the sense that they would have benefited of a more "personal" story, knowing their reasons as a collective and the whys... which I think this book failed to deliver, at least for me.
the ending, while conclusive in some aspects also left other things hanging, and I'm wondering if we are going to have more Menagerie books, even if they are spin-offs, to follow the characters that didn't end the book with all their problems solved (I would love that, to be honest).
All in all it was an entertaining read, but for me the best one of the three books is still the first one. Plot wise, characters and story were by far more compelling than the following ones, which to me ended up diluting the essence of the story.
We find two different time lines in this book: one that covers the reaping, following one survivor; and then the time line with Delilah, Gallaguer and all the gang that managed to stay together after the second book. I loved the alternating time lines, and I have to confess I loved the one from the reaping time line, but then it began to get confussing for me with the 3 different changelings that appear. I can't say much more without being spoiler-y (we already had been told that the ones who did the killing on the Reaping were changelings), but for me it began to be difficult to follow the relationships in actual time following those 3 changelings.
The characters are the same ones we have come to love on the previous books, plus the ones from the previous time line, which are also well developed and rounded, even though the chanelings for me remained a work in progress in the sense that they would have benefited of a more "personal" story, knowing their reasons as a collective and the whys... which I think this book failed to deliver, at least for me.
the ending, while conclusive in some aspects also left other things hanging, and I'm wondering if we are going to have more Menagerie books, even if they are spin-offs, to follow the characters that didn't end the book with all their problems solved (I would love that, to be honest).
All in all it was an entertaining read, but for me the best one of the three books is still the first one. Plot wise, characters and story were by far more compelling than the following ones, which to me ended up diluting the essence of the story.
August 1, 2018
4.5 stars
* An advanced reading copy was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *
Getting this ARC must be one of the best things that happened to me all year. So, thank you , from the bottom of my heart.
In this third and final book we get answers to some of our questions.
After the last book ended in a major cliffhanger I was desperate to know what happens to the characters I've come to care so much about.
Will they manage to stay free?
Will Delilah and her baby be okay?
Will they find the others that escaped from the Savage Spectacle?
We well get answers to all that and more.
The book starts with another glimpse in the past, from the view of one of the few child survivors of the Reaping . The way Rachel Vincent managed to depict the brutality and horror of that terrible moment is remarkable. And so is the way she combined the events of the past with the present and future. In the end, it all makes sense.
If you're looking for an action-packed book, this one is not for you. It's full of suspense, fear, worry, happiness and sorrow, but worth it every second.
My one disappointment was the ending. It felt rushed. Unsatisfactorily. I still have questions that went unanswered. It was also bitter-sweet (more bitter than sweet).
'Fury' could have been better. It could have been more. But I still loved it. And this series will always have a special place on my shelf and in my heart.
The last book in the Menagerie Series is beautifully written, brilliantly presented and heartbreakingly wonderful.
* An advanced reading copy was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *
Getting this ARC must be one of the best things that happened to me all year. So, thank you , from the bottom of my heart.
In this third and final book we get answers to some of our questions.
After the last book ended in a major cliffhanger I was desperate to know what happens to the characters I've come to care so much about.
Will they manage to stay free?
Will Delilah and her baby be okay?
Will they find the others that escaped from the Savage Spectacle?
We well get answers to all that and more.
The book starts with another glimpse in the past, from the view of one of the few child survivors of the Reaping . The way Rachel Vincent managed to depict the brutality and horror of that terrible moment is remarkable. And so is the way she combined the events of the past with the present and future. In the end, it all makes sense.
If you're looking for an action-packed book, this one is not for you. It's full of suspense, fear, worry, happiness and sorrow, but worth it every second.
My one disappointment was the ending. It felt rushed. Unsatisfactorily. I still have questions that went unanswered. It was also bitter-sweet (more bitter than sweet).
'Fury' could have been better. It could have been more. But I still loved it. And this series will always have a special place on my shelf and in my heart.
The last book in the Menagerie Series is beautifully written, brilliantly presented and heartbreakingly wonderful.
November 12, 2018
My initial reaction when I finished Fury, the last book in the Menagerie series was torn between heartbreak and… well, I’m still not sure. Yet, there’s no way that I could rate this book with anything less than 5 stars. Given the direction that Rachel Vincent had taken the characters and events in Menagerie and Spectacle, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I wanted these characters that we’ve gotten to know, respect and love to get the happiness that they deserved – just like Delilah did. *sigh*
There’s really not a whole lot more I can say without giving things away, and trust me, Fury is one of those books that you have to experience for yourself. There was also a big difference between Fury and the rest of the books in the series. The chapters flipped between “1986″ and “Present Day.” At first it was a little confusing, especially since the book began with “1986.” It didn’t take long to not only get used to, but to actually look forward to each POV. Eventually both POVs catch up with each other and surprising connections are made.
I loved these characters and the world that Rachel Vincent created. Parallels between “fiction” and “non-fiction” weren’t hard to recognize, but the message wasn’t forced. I suppose it’s possible to read the Menagerie series without making the connection, but it would be nice if people paid attention to the details…
Then there was the ending… not what I expected and definitely not what I wished for, but there was a spark of hope, which is always nice to walk away with in a series as powerful and emotional as this one. ❤
I received Fury in exchange for a fair and honest review.
There’s really not a whole lot more I can say without giving things away, and trust me, Fury is one of those books that you have to experience for yourself. There was also a big difference between Fury and the rest of the books in the series. The chapters flipped between “1986″ and “Present Day.” At first it was a little confusing, especially since the book began with “1986.” It didn’t take long to not only get used to, but to actually look forward to each POV. Eventually both POVs catch up with each other and surprising connections are made.
I loved these characters and the world that Rachel Vincent created. Parallels between “fiction” and “non-fiction” weren’t hard to recognize, but the message wasn’t forced. I suppose it’s possible to read the Menagerie series without making the connection, but it would be nice if people paid attention to the details…
Then there was the ending… not what I expected and definitely not what I wished for, but there was a spark of hope, which is always nice to walk away with in a series as powerful and emotional as this one. ❤
I received Fury in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 3, 2018
On realising that this was the third book in the series, I broke with my usual habit of crashing midway into a series and got hold of the first two book and read them first. I was quickly swept up in the dark, intense world of Delilah in Menagerie. This book is structured differently, in that it is largely a dual narrative so that as well as following Delilah’s story in first person viewpoint, we also learn a lot more about The Reaping as we go back in time to the event that causes all the fae to be treated so appallingly and track the consequences and fallout through Rebecca’s viewpoint.
I really enjoyed this aspect – having read allusions to The Reaping throughout the previous two books, it was satisfying to learn more about what happened, particularly as these events increasingly begin to link with Delilah’s storyline. It wasn’t until I read this book that I realised just how unusual it is to have a pregnant protagonist, or one who is coping with a newborn baby in fantasy. It was a plus that the subject was really well done.
The new spin on the story prevented this series becoming predictable and repetitive – and I certainly didn’t see that ending coming. It’s been a while since I’ve been quite so poleaxed by the final denouement of a story, but it really works. I would emphasise, however, that this series and book is not suitable for younger teens and is not a YA read, despite the fact that Vincent has written successfully for that age-group. While I obtained an arc of Fury from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
I really enjoyed this aspect – having read allusions to The Reaping throughout the previous two books, it was satisfying to learn more about what happened, particularly as these events increasingly begin to link with Delilah’s storyline. It wasn’t until I read this book that I realised just how unusual it is to have a pregnant protagonist, or one who is coping with a newborn baby in fantasy. It was a plus that the subject was really well done.
The new spin on the story prevented this series becoming predictable and repetitive – and I certainly didn’t see that ending coming. It’s been a while since I’ve been quite so poleaxed by the final denouement of a story, but it really works. I would emphasise, however, that this series and book is not suitable for younger teens and is not a YA read, despite the fact that Vincent has written successfully for that age-group. While I obtained an arc of Fury from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
October 26, 2018
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Fury is the third and final installment in author Rachel Vincent's The Menagerie series. The Menagerie series is a captivating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity, and this final book is an intricately woven and powerful tale about the fight for freedom and self-discovery. This series combines all the key elements (magic, mystery, fantastical creatures and an important quest). Told through two intersecting timelines, the grand finale to Rachel Vincent’s stunning Menagerie series will reveal the secret of how Delilah Marlow became a furiae just as she discovers what her true purpose is.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Fury is the third and final installment in author Rachel Vincent's The Menagerie series. The Menagerie series is a captivating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity, and this final book is an intricately woven and powerful tale about the fight for freedom and self-discovery. This series combines all the key elements (magic, mystery, fantastical creatures and an important quest). Told through two intersecting timelines, the grand finale to Rachel Vincent’s stunning Menagerie series will reveal the secret of how Delilah Marlow became a furiae just as she discovers what her true purpose is.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 1, 2018
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending.
Great writing and wonderful narration. I wish there was more, but Vincent gave us a clean ending if it was a little on the
Great writing and wonderful narration. I wish there was more, but Vincent gave us a clean ending if it was a little on the
November 2, 2018
Book 1: 3*
Book 2: 4*
Book 3: 3.5*
This book too far too long to get going really offering nothing new in the first half. The ending was action packed but overall I'm still disappointed with the finale, if this is the finale since there's still some room for another book or a sequel series.
I feel like the author didn't know where to go with the series next and while many scenes were enjoyable overall this just didn't push the story or world forward and at time it seemed disjointed.
Book 2: 4*
Book 3: 3.5*
This book too far too long to get going really offering nothing new in the first half. The ending was action packed but overall I'm still disappointed with the finale, if this is the finale since there's still some room for another book or a sequel series.
I feel like the author didn't know where to go with the series next and while many scenes were enjoyable overall this just didn't push the story or world forward and at time it seemed disjointed.
November 5, 2018
This book brought things to close in a good way, if a bit melancholy.
For the longest time I was trying to figure out the timeline. It should have been easy, but it didn't click until half way through, when we saw the sacrifice. I liked that later everyone realized that this was the event that started the ball rolling for Delilah.
The end of the book was great and horrible. Great in what Delilah was able to do, but horrible due to the price paid.
For the longest time I was trying to figure out the timeline. It should have been easy, but it didn't click until half way through, when we saw the sacrifice. I liked that later everyone realized that this was the event that started the ball rolling for Delilah.
The end of the book was great and horrible. Great in what Delilah was able to do, but horrible due to the price paid.
November 25, 2018
Зачем? Серьезно, нафига?
Иногда "к этому все идет" и все закономерно, но тут...
Такая многообещающая первая книга и такой разочаровывающий финал.
Простите, я пойду порыдаю в подушку. Со злости воткнула бы 1 звезду, но все было не так плохо.
Иногда "к этому все идет" и все закономерно, но тут...
Такая многообещающая первая книга и такой разочаровывающий финал.
Простите, я пойду порыдаю в подушку. Со злости воткнула бы 1 звезду, но все было не так плохо.
January 27, 2019
Oh boy. It's difficult to write a review of this book without spoilers, so this will be brief. I loved the first book, Menagerie. The second book I enjoyed a little less, and this conclusion even less than that.
This book just had an entirely different feel to it than the first two. It's a much slower pace and not a lot happens for the majority of the book. Then, I felt like this major event just came out of left field as a way to quickly and tidily wrap up these characters' journey. And the way the author chose to end the series -- well, let's just say that the book's title of Fury was aptly named, because that's pretty much what this reader felt after investing in three books worth of these characters.
I rated this book 3 stars because I took the entire series into consideration and I thought the premise from the beginning was an interesting story and it had characters that I loved and rooted for throughout. I'm just not happy with the way this was wrapped up. Therefore, 3 stars is all I can justify rating Fury.
This book just had an entirely different feel to it than the first two. It's a much slower pace and not a lot happens for the majority of the book. Then, I felt like this major event just came out of left field as a way to quickly and tidily wrap up these characters' journey. And the way the author chose to end the series -- well, let's just say that the book's title of Fury was aptly named, because that's pretty much what this reader felt after investing in three books worth of these characters.
I rated this book 3 stars because I took the entire series into consideration and I thought the premise from the beginning was an interesting story and it had characters that I loved and rooted for throughout. I'm just not happy with the way this was wrapped up. Therefore, 3 stars is all I can justify rating Fury.
August 12, 2021
Liked the book but thought the ending was unnecessary and a let down. And I'm usually the person who likes those kind of endings. Just didn't think it was necessary in this situation.
October 23, 2018
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
There has never been a Rachel Vincent book I didn't love and Fury is definitely continues that streak! This is the end of the Menagerie trilogy and it's about to go out with a bang! No one will escape from this story unscathed and I mean that in terms of characters and readers because omg this is the end and Rachel pulls no punches!
Delilah and the rest of her friends who escaped the Spectacle are basically living on the lam in hiding. They are doing everything they can to stay under the radar and just survive. It doesn't help that Delilah is also ten and half months pregnant...and yes, I said ten and half! Poor Delilah doesn't follow a human pregnancy, since she's furiae and her baby daddy, Gallagher is a red cap. What that exactly will mean for her baby has yet to be revealed and likely won't until after her birth--for Delilah refuses to call the baby an "it" and refers to said baby as "her".
What makes this story slightly different from its predecessors is that instead of the multiple points of view, this time it's most Delilah and a third person account of something that happened in 1986. It involves cryptids and a very dark history. As the accounts continue, we slowly, every so slowly, see how it connects to present day.
Delilah and her friends want nothing more than just to live an ordinary life, one without fear and having to constantly look over their shoulders. Delilah wants that more than anything for her unborn child as well. She and her friends also want to rescue those that they have been separated from, starting with Mirela and Lala. In the meantime, Gallagher is searching for the man who made him and Delilah perform for his entertainment and basically led to their having a child together.
This book was sooo emotional for so many reasons. It's the final book of the series and as I mentioned, Rachel pulls no punches. It was gut wrenching to say the least. The friction between humans and cryptids continues to grow more hostile and we will see that is nothing new, based on the flashbacks of the mysterious character we will get to know. This is basically like two stories that slowly form into one.
My one regret from this story was the lack of time for romance between Delilah and Gallagher. They were brought together by forces beyond their control and throughout this series I've been rooting for them. While they have a tentative bond in place already, there was always room for something more. But they had many hills to climb before they could get there. And then that ending...wow, just wow. Rachel, you truly know how to write a book that totally tugs at all one's heartstrings!
The pacing to this one was unique, for awhile we don't really know what's going to happen with our main group. Yes, things happen to them while they try to make their rescue attempt and in the meantime we are seeing things from the past. And it does contain some plot points that make for quite the head twist if you are not paying close attention. And though I was paying as close attention as possible, I'll admit some of the bits of info we learn did throw me through a loop! Though by the end, it all makes sense and it helped to clear up that fogginess I had going!
The ending...this ending was unexpected, yet really not if I think about it. There were clues and hints that led to the epic conclusion, yet I still didn't quite put it all together. And when it happened...yeah. I will say that this ending was right and I really cannot touch upon that anymore than that.
Rachel Vincent has been one of my favorite authors since day 1, way back when I decided to give Stray a go all those years ago. And since then, she has kept me so entranced with whatever world she is writing in! The Menagerie trilogy was no different! It's definitely a series that makes you see society differently, though it's a world of pure fiction, you have to wonder...what would happen if it were true? Could we learn from the mistakes that the previous (fictional) society made or would be doomed to follow the same path! Whoever said fictional stories didn't make you think about real life realistically obviously didn't read many fiction books!
Fury was a heart-racing read from start to finish and I am saddened that the journey is over. But it just makes me more excited for Rachel's next adventure to begin! Hopefully that wait won't be too long!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Fury releases October 30, 2018
There has never been a Rachel Vincent book I didn't love and Fury is definitely continues that streak! This is the end of the Menagerie trilogy and it's about to go out with a bang! No one will escape from this story unscathed and I mean that in terms of characters and readers because omg this is the end and Rachel pulls no punches!
Delilah and the rest of her friends who escaped the Spectacle are basically living on the lam in hiding. They are doing everything they can to stay under the radar and just survive. It doesn't help that Delilah is also ten and half months pregnant...and yes, I said ten and half! Poor Delilah doesn't follow a human pregnancy, since she's furiae and her baby daddy, Gallagher is a red cap. What that exactly will mean for her baby has yet to be revealed and likely won't until after her birth--for Delilah refuses to call the baby an "it" and refers to said baby as "her".
What makes this story slightly different from its predecessors is that instead of the multiple points of view, this time it's most Delilah and a third person account of something that happened in 1986. It involves cryptids and a very dark history. As the accounts continue, we slowly, every so slowly, see how it connects to present day.
Delilah and her friends want nothing more than just to live an ordinary life, one without fear and having to constantly look over their shoulders. Delilah wants that more than anything for her unborn child as well. She and her friends also want to rescue those that they have been separated from, starting with Mirela and Lala. In the meantime, Gallagher is searching for the man who made him and Delilah perform for his entertainment and basically led to their having a child together.
This book was sooo emotional for so many reasons. It's the final book of the series and as I mentioned, Rachel pulls no punches. It was gut wrenching to say the least. The friction between humans and cryptids continues to grow more hostile and we will see that is nothing new, based on the flashbacks of the mysterious character we will get to know. This is basically like two stories that slowly form into one.
My one regret from this story was the lack of time for romance between Delilah and Gallagher. They were brought together by forces beyond their control and throughout this series I've been rooting for them. While they have a tentative bond in place already, there was always room for something more. But they had many hills to climb before they could get there. And then that ending...wow, just wow. Rachel, you truly know how to write a book that totally tugs at all one's heartstrings!
The pacing to this one was unique, for awhile we don't really know what's going to happen with our main group. Yes, things happen to them while they try to make their rescue attempt and in the meantime we are seeing things from the past. And it does contain some plot points that make for quite the head twist if you are not paying close attention. And though I was paying as close attention as possible, I'll admit some of the bits of info we learn did throw me through a loop! Though by the end, it all makes sense and it helped to clear up that fogginess I had going!
The ending...this ending was unexpected, yet really not if I think about it. There were clues and hints that led to the epic conclusion, yet I still didn't quite put it all together. And when it happened...yeah. I will say that this ending was right and I really cannot touch upon that anymore than that.
Rachel Vincent has been one of my favorite authors since day 1, way back when I decided to give Stray a go all those years ago. And since then, she has kept me so entranced with whatever world she is writing in! The Menagerie trilogy was no different! It's definitely a series that makes you see society differently, though it's a world of pure fiction, you have to wonder...what would happen if it were true? Could we learn from the mistakes that the previous (fictional) society made or would be doomed to follow the same path! Whoever said fictional stories didn't make you think about real life realistically obviously didn't read many fiction books!
Fury was a heart-racing read from start to finish and I am saddened that the journey is over. But it just makes me more excited for Rachel's next adventure to begin! Hopefully that wait won't be too long!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Fury releases October 30, 2018
October 18, 2018
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
5 Stars for the Menagerie Trilogy.
Fury is the third and final installment of the Menagerie trilogy, and can absolutely NOT be read as a standalone.
Patient, I am not, which is exactly why I held onto copies of Menagerie and Spectacle until Fury was available. While it sounds as if I'm beyond patient for waiting an entire three years, I am impatient when it comes to waiting for sequels and suffering through cliffhangers. With Fury in my hands, I read the entire trilogy in less than 24 hours.
I spent 24 hours with Delilah and company, and now that it's all over... depression and a book hangover are my punishments.
This review is for the entire trilogy, not just Fury. This review will also contain no spoilers or plot points, as I refuse to spoil the journey for anyone. Also, because I truly haven't a clue how to review it. Tongue-tied that I am- utterly speechless.
This is fantasy. I need to hammer home how this is not romance. At All. This is not young adult. This trilogy is NOT for the faint of heart. If you follow my reviews, my next statement will take you by surprise, judging by the books I both read and write.
Menagerie the trilogy is DARK.
In fact, it's the darkest I've read. Degradation. Assault. Rape. Kidnapping. Captivity. Slavery. Zero humanity by the humans in charge. Monsters in all forms, with those who are monstrous on the outside having the most humanity. Systematic brainwashing. ZERO autonomy or rights. Knee-jerk reactions to fear. Nonstop action. Graphic violence. Utter hopelessness.
Besides the human race, mythological and paranormal creatures abound.
Loathing injustice, I felt as if I was the fury suffering from the injustice on every single page. I was frustrated, suffering gut-punch after gut-punch, emotionally invested.
I applaud Vincent for tying everything together from the first word to the last. Having journeyed through the trilogy back-to-back, I can attest that things that crop up during Fury flawlessly connected to passages in Menagerie and everything in between.
Did I enjoy the trilogy? I felt like a masochist reading it, imprinting current injustices happening in our society. I actually tried to talk myself out of reading the next book when I finished the last, then found myself halfway through the next within hours. Blink. I ended up reading all three without stopping.
Do I recommend the trilogy? Are you a masochist? Ha! Yes, I highly recommend this to fantasy readers who don't need romance and sensuality, or even a pillow to place beneath your head. This is DARK, so take that as my version of a trigger warning.
The HEA is relative for all of humanity.
Told you this review wouldn't make a lick of sense, with me all depressed and book-hungover.
5 Stars for the Menagerie Trilogy.
Fury is the third and final installment of the Menagerie trilogy, and can absolutely NOT be read as a standalone.
Patient, I am not, which is exactly why I held onto copies of Menagerie and Spectacle until Fury was available. While it sounds as if I'm beyond patient for waiting an entire three years, I am impatient when it comes to waiting for sequels and suffering through cliffhangers. With Fury in my hands, I read the entire trilogy in less than 24 hours.
I spent 24 hours with Delilah and company, and now that it's all over... depression and a book hangover are my punishments.
This review is for the entire trilogy, not just Fury. This review will also contain no spoilers or plot points, as I refuse to spoil the journey for anyone. Also, because I truly haven't a clue how to review it. Tongue-tied that I am- utterly speechless.
This is fantasy. I need to hammer home how this is not romance. At All. This is not young adult. This trilogy is NOT for the faint of heart. If you follow my reviews, my next statement will take you by surprise, judging by the books I both read and write.
Menagerie the trilogy is DARK.
In fact, it's the darkest I've read. Degradation. Assault. Rape. Kidnapping. Captivity. Slavery. Zero humanity by the humans in charge. Monsters in all forms, with those who are monstrous on the outside having the most humanity. Systematic brainwashing. ZERO autonomy or rights. Knee-jerk reactions to fear. Nonstop action. Graphic violence. Utter hopelessness.
Besides the human race, mythological and paranormal creatures abound.
Loathing injustice, I felt as if I was the fury suffering from the injustice on every single page. I was frustrated, suffering gut-punch after gut-punch, emotionally invested.
I applaud Vincent for tying everything together from the first word to the last. Having journeyed through the trilogy back-to-back, I can attest that things that crop up during Fury flawlessly connected to passages in Menagerie and everything in between.
Did I enjoy the trilogy? I felt like a masochist reading it, imprinting current injustices happening in our society. I actually tried to talk myself out of reading the next book when I finished the last, then found myself halfway through the next within hours. Blink. I ended up reading all three without stopping.
Do I recommend the trilogy? Are you a masochist? Ha! Yes, I highly recommend this to fantasy readers who don't need romance and sensuality, or even a pillow to place beneath your head. This is DARK, so take that as my version of a trigger warning.
The HEA is relative for all of humanity.
Told you this review wouldn't make a lick of sense, with me all depressed and book-hungover.
December 2, 2018
4.5 stars
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I can’t believe this series is over. I don’t want it to be. I want more time with these characters and this world. This series has been dark since it started with Menagerie and only got darker in Spectacle. So, going into this book, you know things are going to continue to be dark.
The biggest difference between this book and the previous two books, is that this one follows two timelines. We still follow Delilah and the family she has made around her with the other cryptids (people who aren’t human. Shifters, sirens, minotaurs, oracles and more. Some can pass as human and others can’t). But we also follow another family, the Essigs, that we haven’t met before. This timeline starts off in 1986, before The Reaping and follows into the years that follow.
This series has followed cryptids and how they’ve been horribly treated by humans (humans continue to fear what they don’t understand and when humans fear, they can be incredibly cruel). Humans do have reasons to fear some of these creatures. The Reaping is an event that took place in the past (like 1980s), where changeling children (fey children swapped with human children, raised by human families not knowing they were fey), went through and made the parents of the children kill all of their other kids. It was a very scary time. However, all cryptids were forced to pay for what the fey children did.
I love how this story gives us a glimpse into what life was like around the time of The Reaping. It also wraps up the story of Delilah. This has been a very dark story from the beginning and it is a very dark story in the end. I do think it wraps up the overarching series arc really well, though, I’m not exactly happy with the ending. I would’ve liked see things end differently, personally. There are a few things I still want to know. We don’t get much detail in how things play out for cryptids after the final big event or even the group that we’ve been following since book one.
If you’re looking for a dark fantasy series, I highly recommend this one, though it is not for the faint of heart. I want to say more, but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil anything.
Narration
Gabra Zackman narrates this entire series. She does a fabulous job of it. There are a wide variety of characters and age groups in the series. She does a great job selecting each voice to fit the wide variety of characters very well. Male and female characters, alike, have a voice that fits them perfectly. Her pace and tone also reflect each scene and character’s emotions.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I can’t believe this series is over. I don’t want it to be. I want more time with these characters and this world. This series has been dark since it started with Menagerie and only got darker in Spectacle. So, going into this book, you know things are going to continue to be dark.
The biggest difference between this book and the previous two books, is that this one follows two timelines. We still follow Delilah and the family she has made around her with the other cryptids (people who aren’t human. Shifters, sirens, minotaurs, oracles and more. Some can pass as human and others can’t). But we also follow another family, the Essigs, that we haven’t met before. This timeline starts off in 1986, before The Reaping and follows into the years that follow.
This series has followed cryptids and how they’ve been horribly treated by humans (humans continue to fear what they don’t understand and when humans fear, they can be incredibly cruel). Humans do have reasons to fear some of these creatures. The Reaping is an event that took place in the past (like 1980s), where changeling children (fey children swapped with human children, raised by human families not knowing they were fey), went through and made the parents of the children kill all of their other kids. It was a very scary time. However, all cryptids were forced to pay for what the fey children did.
I love how this story gives us a glimpse into what life was like around the time of The Reaping. It also wraps up the story of Delilah. This has been a very dark story from the beginning and it is a very dark story in the end. I do think it wraps up the overarching series arc really well, though, I’m not exactly happy with the ending. I would’ve liked see things end differently, personally. There are a few things I still want to know. We don’t get much detail in how things play out for cryptids after the final big event or even the group that we’ve been following since book one.
If you’re looking for a dark fantasy series, I highly recommend this one, though it is not for the faint of heart. I want to say more, but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil anything.
Narration
Gabra Zackman narrates this entire series. She does a fabulous job of it. There are a wide variety of characters and age groups in the series. She does a great job selecting each voice to fit the wide variety of characters very well. Male and female characters, alike, have a voice that fits them perfectly. Her pace and tone also reflect each scene and character’s emotions.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2019
I have really enjoyed the Menagerie series. It's a unique dark fantasy combined with a bit of mythology and horror, that was refreshing, though sometimes sad and hard to read. You definitely need to read the series in order, as its a continuing story arc, that progresses with each installment. It seems that Fury is the final installment, I'm sad to say.
Note: This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.
In this final story, Delilah, Gallagher, and the other Cryptids have survived Metzger's Menagerie, the cruel carnival. They have defeated and escaped Vandekamp, the private collector. Now they are all on the run, hiding where they can, rescuing other cryptids when possible, and doing so with little resources and while pregnant and infirm. This installment didn't have quite the number of action sequences that I got used to in the earlier books, but it was interesting all the same. I continued to enjoy reading the interactions between the Cryptids, who have become a ragtag family at this point. I also really enjoy seeing the relationship between Delilah and Gallagher evolve into something new and special as the pregnancy progresses. But I have been rooting for them since Gallagher first made his oath to Delilah in Menagerie.
I thought the conflict in this story was an interesting choice, and not one I would have guessed after reading the earlier books. But I like the unexpected, so I did enjoy this aspect of the story. I don't want to say much here and give it away, but I think others may be surprised at the angle the author took as well.
Now, it took me a few days to gather my thoughts and write this review, because I was a bit stunned by the ending. And it's really killing me to not be able to talk about it! I want to call my friends and make them read the series just so I can get a little shouty about CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? Alas, I will have to wait and hold my tongue. I will say that it took guts to go in that direction, and leave it at that.
If you are a fan of dark fantasy, you are sure to love this series as much as I did. Rachel Vincent is an excellent writer.
Note: This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.
In this final story, Delilah, Gallagher, and the other Cryptids have survived Metzger's Menagerie, the cruel carnival. They have defeated and escaped Vandekamp, the private collector. Now they are all on the run, hiding where they can, rescuing other cryptids when possible, and doing so with little resources and while pregnant and infirm. This installment didn't have quite the number of action sequences that I got used to in the earlier books, but it was interesting all the same. I continued to enjoy reading the interactions between the Cryptids, who have become a ragtag family at this point. I also really enjoy seeing the relationship between Delilah and Gallagher evolve into something new and special as the pregnancy progresses. But I have been rooting for them since Gallagher first made his oath to Delilah in Menagerie.
I thought the conflict in this story was an interesting choice, and not one I would have guessed after reading the earlier books. But I like the unexpected, so I did enjoy this aspect of the story. I don't want to say much here and give it away, but I think others may be surprised at the angle the author took as well.
Now, it took me a few days to gather my thoughts and write this review, because I was a bit stunned by the ending. And it's really killing me to not be able to talk about it! I want to call my friends and make them read the series just so I can get a little shouty about CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? Alas, I will have to wait and hold my tongue. I will say that it took guts to go in that direction, and leave it at that.
If you are a fan of dark fantasy, you are sure to love this series as much as I did. Rachel Vincent is an excellent writer.
November 16, 2018
In this final book of the menagerie trilogy Delilah and her friends that escaped together from the Spectacle have found a temporary haven in a secluded cabin in the woods, there to await the birth of Delilah's child. Occasional forays into civilisation for supplies and news are fraught with danger but necessary.
The narrative also flips to the past, back to the beginning, back to the reaping. We learn of Delilah's background and how she was involved in the reaping. It was this momentous event which led to the fear of the unknown and fear of the cryptids who had, until then, lived harmoniously with humans.
The refugees also learn of a shocking coincidence, unwittingly caused by them, that has brought about a second wave of reaping. It is different now that the surrogates are adults. This explains a lot to Delilah who didn't understand why the furiae within her has sought out a number of individuals for vengeance when she is not aware of what they have done. When she realises this she also knows her destiny and why the furiae chose her. The repercussions will rock the country.
This trilogy has been an epic tale, very different from my normal trading material, but I'm so glad I dived in. It shows us that humanity doesn't always wear a human face and that different isn't always bad and dangerous - a lesson some humans should really take on board. These books must be read in order however.
The narrative also flips to the past, back to the beginning, back to the reaping. We learn of Delilah's background and how she was involved in the reaping. It was this momentous event which led to the fear of the unknown and fear of the cryptids who had, until then, lived harmoniously with humans.
The refugees also learn of a shocking coincidence, unwittingly caused by them, that has brought about a second wave of reaping. It is different now that the surrogates are adults. This explains a lot to Delilah who didn't understand why the furiae within her has sought out a number of individuals for vengeance when she is not aware of what they have done. When she realises this she also knows her destiny and why the furiae chose her. The repercussions will rock the country.
This trilogy has been an epic tale, very different from my normal trading material, but I'm so glad I dived in. It shows us that humanity doesn't always wear a human face and that different isn't always bad and dangerous - a lesson some humans should really take on board. These books must be read in order however.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews