What do you think?
Rate this book
The Network #4
War of the Networks
Never Underestimate the Power of a Desperate Witch With the Central Network entrenched in war and teetering on the brink of destruction, eighteen-year-old Bianca Monroe is determined to defeat Mabel’s powerful Almorran magic by finding the Book of Light. During an attempt to save a burning orphanage, Bianca finds herself caught in a trap. Mabel kidnaps her, taking her to the hot sands of the Western Network where things are not as they seem. Mabel is more dangerous—and unhinged—than she’s ever been before. War of the Networks is the fourth and final book in the thrilling fantasy collection The Network Series. It’s a gripping tale about compassion, forgiveness, and surviving against all odds.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2016
197 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
About the author
Katie Cross
102 books776 followersMy world revolves around my husband (who is a major hottie), my precious kids, my Vizsla’s who act like children, and the mountains.
I wear hiking boots instead of heels when I need to feel powerful, and on a bad day, I love a weightlifting workout. Actually, I love it on a good day.
I don’t eat bread because my thyroid doesn’t like it, although there are days I miss it. Especially ciabatta. Sweet potatoes are kind of my thing. Cookies too.
I write because I never stopped.
Author of The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Coffee Shop Series.
Email me at kcrosswriting@gmail.com
I wear hiking boots instead of heels when I need to feel powerful, and on a bad day, I love a weightlifting workout. Actually, I love it on a good day.
I don’t eat bread because my thyroid doesn’t like it, although there are days I miss it. Especially ciabatta. Sweet potatoes are kind of my thing. Cookies too.
I write because I never stopped.
Author of The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Coffee Shop Series.
Email me at kcrosswriting@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 16, 2022
I had a chance to read this book as an ARC for exchange of an honest review.
I've loved the entire Network series. I love Bianca and her spunk, her friends, her world. Honestly, I'm sad to see it end, but I couldn't be happier with how the ending was handled.
This wild ride is something I would recommend to any fantasy lover who isn't afraid of a strong female lead.
Aside from Mildred's Resistance, this is my favorite book in the series!!!
I've loved the entire Network series. I love Bianca and her spunk, her friends, her world. Honestly, I'm sad to see it end, but I couldn't be happier with how the ending was handled.
This wild ride is something I would recommend to any fantasy lover who isn't afraid of a strong female lead.
Aside from Mildred's Resistance, this is my favorite book in the series!!!
June 13, 2016
A tense, gripping, chill-inducing, emotional read. Full review to come soon!
December 20, 2019
Wow. Just wow.
I have read the whole series (all 6 "books"), and I loved every single moment spent with Bianca.
This book did not really have many surprises, but rather all open questions were answered, and everything FINALLY made sense.
The entire series is gripping, filled with magic and strong female leads, friendship and sacrifice (also a bit of love, but mostly friendship!).
It's also an addicting read, which makes the fact that it's over worse.
Oh, and you can also get #1 (and I think #2) for free, so if you are thinking about reading this series, you can try out the first book for free!
I have read the whole series (all 6 "books"), and I loved every single moment spent with Bianca.
This book did not really have many surprises, but rather all open questions were answered, and everything FINALLY made sense.
The entire series is gripping, filled with magic and strong female leads, friendship and sacrifice (also a bit of love, but mostly friendship!).
It's also an addicting read, which makes the fact that it's over worse.
Oh, and you can also get #1 (and I think #2) for free, so if you are thinking about reading this series, you can try out the first book for free!
October 5, 2019
Good ending
Wrapped up the Network series nicely. Not a whole lot of surprises I guess, but that was to be expected since all the pieces had been lined up throughout the first three volumes. If anything, I'm a bit disappointed the Northern network never really got any kind of spotlight until the very end, and to no great amount either. Missed opportunity I'd say. Good story though, and glad I went through the full series :-)
Wrapped up the Network series nicely. Not a whole lot of surprises I guess, but that was to be expected since all the pieces had been lined up throughout the first three volumes. If anything, I'm a bit disappointed the Northern network never really got any kind of spotlight until the very end, and to no great amount either. Missed opportunity I'd say. Good story though, and glad I went through the full series :-)
March 21, 2021
Finally more screen-time for Miss Mabel!
This was a great conclusion to the series. Most of the things I liked about it were things I liked about the first book and didn't expect to see again.
I love watching Miss Mabel and Bianca's interactions. Their relationship is exactly the relationship I'd want a hero and villain to have, and it grows and changes a lot over the course of this book.
The first book in the series had its own plot arc, but I felt like the middle books were building up ideas and creating transitions. Here, we finally get a conclusion to rival the exciting ending of the first book. I was worried the final battle would feel anti-climatic after so much build-up, but it didn't at all. I couldn't put the book down.
One thing I appreciated about this whole series (but especially the first and last books) was that it gave weight to death and grief. I've read a lot of YA where characters die and the protagonist moves on immediately, but here, Bianca changes in response to each loss. Still, the series never becomes hopeless or depressing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It had ups and downs, but this book provided a strong conclusion that left me eager to read the prequel.
This was a great conclusion to the series. Most of the things I liked about it were things I liked about the first book and didn't expect to see again.
I love watching Miss Mabel and Bianca's interactions. Their relationship is exactly the relationship I'd want a hero and villain to have, and it grows and changes a lot over the course of this book.
The first book in the series had its own plot arc, but I felt like the middle books were building up ideas and creating transitions. Here, we finally get a conclusion to rival the exciting ending of the first book. I was worried the final battle would feel anti-climatic after so much build-up, but it didn't at all. I couldn't put the book down.
One thing I appreciated about this whole series (but especially the first and last books) was that it gave weight to death and grief. I've read a lot of YA where characters die and the protagonist moves on immediately, but here, Bianca changes in response to each loss. Still, the series never becomes hopeless or depressing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It had ups and downs, but this book provided a strong conclusion that left me eager to read the prequel.
April 10, 2021
The last book in the Network series takes us to very dangerous places. This is full-on war, violence and terror, dark magic and suffering. We also get more glimpses into Mabel's mind and past, see some major life changes for our group of school friends, and visit a few new places. So much excitement, so many twists, and several heartaches bring us to the very end, where we get to say goodbye to all the characters we've met over the series in a final mega battle with a wonderfully satisfying end. Or beginning?
Common sense: still teen appropriate, but much more violence and gore than the last books. Captives, torture, slaves, cities of people wiped out, an unhinged maniacal bad guy, death at every turn. As far as romance, it's pretty infrequent and doesn't go into too much detail, but mostly tight embraces and kissing. The focus of these books is really on magic, good versus evil, standing strong, believing in yourself and your loved ones, and enduring to the end.
Common sense: still teen appropriate, but much more violence and gore than the last books. Captives, torture, slaves, cities of people wiped out, an unhinged maniacal bad guy, death at every turn. As far as romance, it's pretty infrequent and doesn't go into too much detail, but mostly tight embraces and kissing. The focus of these books is really on magic, good versus evil, standing strong, believing in yourself and your loved ones, and enduring to the end.
June 6, 2016
What a wonderful end to a series I have loved since the beginning. I couldn't put it down. If you have not read this gripping tale of magic, war, and relationships, go ahead and look up Miss Mabel's School for Girls, or you can get the whole series in a single ebook called The Network Series Complete Collection. I am very much looking forward to reading the Antebellum Collection, which I am certain will be even better.
Because Katie Cross always makes magic.
Because Katie Cross always makes magic.
March 11, 2023
This one was a disappointment to me. I mean, it wasn’t terrible really, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. The main reason being Bianca’s role in the story. She was more of a side character than a lead, despite the story being told from her point of view. She frequently served as an observer and a conduit for information. She was the conduit through which we learned about Mabel’s history, she was brought along for the ride when Mabel visited places and served as a mostly passive spy giving information to her father (through Zane), her search for that magic book (which she has been putting so much effort into) was resolved in a way that no longer gave her any role in it, then in the battle itself she was taken out of the fight and then moved around from one spot to the next in order to give the reader an overall view of what was going on, and then finally, in the showdown against Mabel, her role was to be a distraction so that her father could kill Mabel. The only time in the book that she really served an active role in leading the story was when she was planning to escape captivity by transforming into a cheetah (that part of the book, her planning, transforming, and escaping, I did like). When I read the earlier books there was all of this build up around how strong of a witch she was and then her surprise ability connected to the woods. I expected that in this final book she would become some woods-based magical super-being or something, but no. Nothing really came of it. It was a total let down.
I also didn’t think that the further humanizing of Mabel worked well for the story either. To me it felt like the author went too far in making us sympathize with Mabel without enough reassertion of threat. She no longer felt like a truly dangerous character, just a sad one. She seemed broken, not crazy. I got the impression that she was just desperate for approval and ended up in over her head. The author wanted us to see that she hadn’t always been evil, but instead (this was the effect on me at least) it seemed like Mabel wasn’t evil at all and this was all just a giant emotional outburst that had gotten out of hand. That kind of pulled the rug out from under the story for me because the entire story is motivated by the threat of Mabel. The villain was deflated. The description does say that it’s a story of compassion and forgiveness, I just don’t think taking an action based story and turning it into a compassion based story made sense or worked for the plot.
There were some other things in the book that didn’t make me disappointed but were just kind of like “um...okay then.” Like, the appearance of the fairy as a convenient solution, the moment during the battle when the rug randomly saves Bianca, and the curveball of Merrick’s origin story. The last one especially. At first, I thought that the author was doing it because she had decided to reveal that he was secretly a prince or the son of one of the high priestesses or something and I was rolling my eyes over it. But then she didn’t do that. So, I’m not really sure what the point of that plot twist was. I guess to explain why he had been so mysterious. Being thrown into the last book like that doesn’t really give it time to become anything.
Apparently there is a spin off series that continues with Bianca’s story, so maybe Merrick’s story and the development of Bianca’s powers play bigger roles in those books, but I don’t plan on reading them to find out.
I also didn’t think that the further humanizing of Mabel worked well for the story either. To me it felt like the author went too far in making us sympathize with Mabel without enough reassertion of threat. She no longer felt like a truly dangerous character, just a sad one. She seemed broken, not crazy. I got the impression that she was just desperate for approval and ended up in over her head. The author wanted us to see that she hadn’t always been evil, but instead (this was the effect on me at least) it seemed like Mabel wasn’t evil at all and this was all just a giant emotional outburst that had gotten out of hand. That kind of pulled the rug out from under the story for me because the entire story is motivated by the threat of Mabel. The villain was deflated. The description does say that it’s a story of compassion and forgiveness, I just don’t think taking an action based story and turning it into a compassion based story made sense or worked for the plot.
There were some other things in the book that didn’t make me disappointed but were just kind of like “um...okay then.” Like, the appearance of the fairy as a convenient solution, the moment during the battle when the rug randomly saves Bianca, and the curveball of Merrick’s origin story. The last one especially. At first, I thought that the author was doing it because she had decided to reveal that he was secretly a prince or the son of one of the high priestesses or something and I was rolling my eyes over it. But then she didn’t do that. So, I’m not really sure what the point of that plot twist was. I guess to explain why he had been so mysterious. Being thrown into the last book like that doesn’t really give it time to become anything.
Apparently there is a spin off series that continues with Bianca’s story, so maybe Merrick’s story and the development of Bianca’s powers play bigger roles in those books, but I don’t plan on reading them to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2019
I was reminded that I have not reviewed Book 4, which is part of the complete Network Collection that I bought and HAVE read. It is the "grand finale".
You have to start with 'Miss Mabel's School for Girls' is the first of the Network Series Collection (5 novels and one novella). It is gripping and enjoyable on its own. But I just HAD to find out what happened after the first novel ended, because 16-year-old Bianca was cursed to die on her 17th birthday, coming soon. You might have the same curiosity to find out how Bianca escapes the curse, and goes on to become the champion of good over evil. My enjoyment was greatly enhanced by reading all the novels in the series in the proper order; so I strongly recommend that you start out buying the set. It includes a bonus, an interesting prequel telling how Bianca, Leda, Camille, Michelle and Priscilla were interviewed and accepted to the School; and a lot of interesting background history. Then binge read the series. I started with Book 1, but wished I'd read "Mildred’s Resistance" and "The Isadora Interviews" beforehand (included in the set). You'll get important background on Miss Mabel, her mother, and her grandmother May, who raised Miss Mabel; plus background on many other characters who appear during the series. Their stories are integral to finally understand who Miss Mabel really is and how she became evil. The series follows Bianca, her friends and other characters, starting from their admission interviews, entry to Miss Mabel's school, training to be witches, romances and heartbreak, to the "grand finale", the final confrontation of good and evil in this book several years later. I was not disappointed! There is plenty of action, friendship, romance, pain and suffering, deaths of friends and relatives (yes, sadly a lot of the good guys don't make it to the end), good vs. evil, dragons, fairies, and magic, all tied together by a good story and skilful writing.
You have to start with 'Miss Mabel's School for Girls' is the first of the Network Series Collection (5 novels and one novella). It is gripping and enjoyable on its own. But I just HAD to find out what happened after the first novel ended, because 16-year-old Bianca was cursed to die on her 17th birthday, coming soon. You might have the same curiosity to find out how Bianca escapes the curse, and goes on to become the champion of good over evil. My enjoyment was greatly enhanced by reading all the novels in the series in the proper order; so I strongly recommend that you start out buying the set. It includes a bonus, an interesting prequel telling how Bianca, Leda, Camille, Michelle and Priscilla were interviewed and accepted to the School; and a lot of interesting background history. Then binge read the series. I started with Book 1, but wished I'd read "Mildred’s Resistance" and "The Isadora Interviews" beforehand (included in the set). You'll get important background on Miss Mabel, her mother, and her grandmother May, who raised Miss Mabel; plus background on many other characters who appear during the series. Their stories are integral to finally understand who Miss Mabel really is and how she became evil. The series follows Bianca, her friends and other characters, starting from their admission interviews, entry to Miss Mabel's school, training to be witches, romances and heartbreak, to the "grand finale", the final confrontation of good and evil in this book several years later. I was not disappointed! There is plenty of action, friendship, romance, pain and suffering, deaths of friends and relatives (yes, sadly a lot of the good guys don't make it to the end), good vs. evil, dragons, fairies, and magic, all tied together by a good story and skilful writing.
July 10, 2020
Completing the entire Network series is the last book called War of the Networks. It was a fairly hefty story with lots of twists and turns still. The outcome was assured but not how they got there and who they lost along the way. I enjoy reading most fantasy and sci-fi books because they take you out of this world and pluck you down into another one.
Ms. Cross has a very nice series going and I cannot wait to try some of her other writings. There were no editorial mistakes in any of the books that I could find. I will say that with most series you want to finish off that book but leave enough left undone or unsaid to keep your readers coming back for the next installment. I don't know how long between releases that this storyline had but being able to read it all the way through was really nice for me.
Ms. Cross has a very nice series going and I cannot wait to try some of her other writings. There were no editorial mistakes in any of the books that I could find. I will say that with most series you want to finish off that book but leave enough left undone or unsaid to keep your readers coming back for the next installment. I don't know how long between releases that this storyline had but being able to read it all the way through was really nice for me.
January 17, 2021
The War
Bianca continues to have trouble with Mabel. For awhile Bianca and her friends still meet in the tower but things start to change—they are growing up and making decisions about what to do. There are surprises about what some girls do and how they change. Bianca meets with Mabel as usual to save people and luckily escapes but she isn’t always lucky and again to save people she allows herself to become Mabel’s prisoner. Mabel is intent on owning the network and is going to war with all sections with the black magic she can do and Bianca and no one else can find the book to undo it. So many lives lost, so many people fighting who originally wouldn’t. Will they be able to win, who will die and is this the end? I highly recommend this book.
Bianca continues to have trouble with Mabel. For awhile Bianca and her friends still meet in the tower but things start to change—they are growing up and making decisions about what to do. There are surprises about what some girls do and how they change. Bianca meets with Mabel as usual to save people and luckily escapes but she isn’t always lucky and again to save people she allows herself to become Mabel’s prisoner. Mabel is intent on owning the network and is going to war with all sections with the black magic she can do and Bianca and no one else can find the book to undo it. So many lives lost, so many people fighting who originally wouldn’t. Will they be able to win, who will die and is this the end? I highly recommend this book.
May 29, 2020
This series overall was interesting and the plot was fast-paced. I liked how the romance was almost a nonissue for the main character, and that she got a job in the end rather than married. All of the girls had jobs and ambitions outside of getting married which was also nice. I have to smile at Cross's nod to girly fashion by describing everything the girls wore, but briefly.
The compassion that Bianca showed the evil witch, in the end, made the story more complex and real. This is definitely a Girl Power series.
The heavy use of multiple adjectives in every description and language of the books, in general, was a little much.
The compassion that Bianca showed the evil witch, in the end, made the story more complex and real. This is definitely a Girl Power series.
The heavy use of multiple adjectives in every description and language of the books, in general, was a little much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2022
Love Magic and Dragons?
I just finished War of the Networks and the entire Network Series. Oh My Goodness what an incredible journey! I cried a lot, laughed a lot, had some suspicions confirmed and loved them completely. Fantasy has never really been 'my genre' but I took a chance because I do love magic and I'm so glad I did! These books are so great and Katie has a great mind. She keeps you wanting more and more and to not put the book down until your eyes can take no more. I encourage you to read ALL of her books, you will never be sorry!!
I just finished War of the Networks and the entire Network Series. Oh My Goodness what an incredible journey! I cried a lot, laughed a lot, had some suspicions confirmed and loved them completely. Fantasy has never really been 'my genre' but I took a chance because I do love magic and I'm so glad I did! These books are so great and Katie has a great mind. She keeps you wanting more and more and to not put the book down until your eyes can take no more. I encourage you to read ALL of her books, you will never be sorry!!
February 28, 2019
I loved it. I’m still amazed how strong and calm Bianca was when Mabel kept her prisoner and when she had the chance to escape by a fairy she didn’t use it for herself. Although she did help with it, I was honestly hoping she would be the one to completely defeat Mabel. I had goosebumps during the final battle and after it was done I cried. I also cried during because it was heart breaking. I’m not ready for the series to be done, I want more Network books.
April 19, 2020
I really loved the conclusion to this series. Especially the emotional scenes between the characters as the final battle neared. My only disappointment was the final tete-a-tete was over too quickly and I felt after seven books Mabel and Bianca's final conversation would be substantive, it was not and could have gone a lot deeper. So Mabel's death felt like it didn't happen in a way. Otherwise, I flipped through each page feeling a similar feeling to reading HP 7 and I loved that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
Young Adult Series and the close to the Networks war with Bianca, et.al. The entire series features strong female characters with a little bit of romance. Good vs. evil theme with a wee bit of discussion about how war is sometimes necessary. Katie shows that even people we think as "evil" can deserve sympathy and she kept me interested to finish the series. I actually picked this series up for my 14-year old Granddaughter and decided to read it first myself. I believe she would like the series.
April 8, 2018
I have absolutely loved this series. Bianca has had me hooked from day one. Her adventures through this series take you through every emotion. The magic, the secrets, the romance, the heartache, the surprises, all hold you to every page. I did not want to put these down, and honestly didn’t very often! Fantastic books, if you love a lot of magic, war and adventure, don’t delay!!
January 20, 2019
The conclusion to a series that exceeded expectations, the Central Network faces a war against the West and the South, and the West's leader wields an ancient black magic that seems to have no counter. Will Bianca and her father, the high priest of the Central network be able to prevail against such odds?
November 21, 2019
Great end to a great series
I really enjoyed all of these books. The focus was on friendship, overcoming grief and self-sacrifice. Truly different than most YA today. The heroine is witty without having to be self-deprecating and familial ties and friendship remain the focus of the book. I would highly recommend this series
I really enjoyed all of these books. The focus was on friendship, overcoming grief and self-sacrifice. Truly different than most YA today. The heroine is witty without having to be self-deprecating and familial ties and friendship remain the focus of the book. I would highly recommend this series
July 15, 2020
I really loved the end of this series! All the things Bianca has to go through, during a war, changes her a bit. Life makes you grow up, on its own, but becoming an adult during war is so much harder and quicker.
She finds out a few secrets toward the end and, of course, it isn't war without loss either.
Enjoy!
She finds out a few secrets toward the end and, of course, it isn't war without loss either.
Enjoy!
December 31, 2020
This book was a satisfying narrative conclusion to the series. The characters grew, there were surprises and losses, Cross did not hold back. However, the book was plagued by editing issues that tossed me out of the narrative flow. The first three books were more tightly edited. I'm pleased with the content of the ending, but disappointed with the distracting editing.
April 25, 2021
I just finished reading this fourth and fine book in The Network Series by Katie Cross. It was a satisfying end to the series! There was lots of action, some sad parts when a few beloved characters died, and budding romance between the main character, Bianca, and her best friend, Merrick! In the end, good won out over evil in the war of the networks.
November 20, 2021
I was sad that this is the last "Network" book, until I read the news of another series with some of the same characters that are in this one. Ms. Cross' descriptive writing threw me into every battle in the book. I could visualize the castles, the scenery; I could see the whole story unfold in my mind. Another book that was hard to put down!
March 11, 2018
This whole series was super fantastic. It has been a long time since I read a series where I was one with the main character. I had a very hard time putting the books down to go to bed. I really enjoyed the experience.
August 27, 2019
Very good book and great ending to the series. There was a couple of unexpected turn with 3 of the characters, though. They were good ones, in my opinion. Bianca Monroe is such a brave and courageous young lady.
March 9, 2020
I Enjoyed everything about this book there was nothing I didn't like about the book. I Like the setting,the writing style,the plot,the plot twists and the characters in the book were amazing.I would gladly reread it again
May 23, 2020
Loving this series! It has all my favorite things about sci-fi / fantasy. If you ha ent read it, you should! Bianca Monroe is a great fictional role model for young ladies everywhere. She's not afraid to be herself and doesn't worry (much) about what people think.
October 23, 2020
I warmed up slowly to this series as it seemed to have a lot of Harry Potter similarities but by book 2 l had fallen in love with the characters and started to really enjoy the plots. I look forward now to the prequels.
November 29, 2020
Wow, it wa so good! I'm a little sad to have finished this amazing series but the fourth book was even more amazong than the others. Katie Cross really brings it all put in the conclusion to The Networks series.
I just love it!!!
I just love it!!!
February 14, 2022
A good ending to the series, but not my favorite book. The action in The High Priest's Daughter was so intense, that I was hoping for a really explosive ending to the series. I do still recommend reading it to complete your Network quest, though, I just wish it had been more action packed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews