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Royal Bastards #3
War of the Bastards
A year has passed since the fall of Lightspire. The Inquisitor Miles Hampstedt has usurped the throne and rules Noveris with a blood-soaked iron fist. Tilla and her friends have become hardened rebels in the Unbroken, a band of guerilla fighters hiding out in the fringes of the Kingdom. Tilla is plagued with doubt and regret; Lyriana struggles with the burdens of being a fugitive Queen; Zell atones for his guilt by killing for the cause. And even as they all fight, they know their cause is doomed, that with very passing day Miles' power grows, his army of Bloodmages spreading to cover the continent.
Then a raid on an outpost produces two unexpected prisoners: Lord Elric Kent himself, now a prisoner obsessed with revenge, and Syan See, a strange girl from the Red Wastes. Tilla struggles with the emotional weight of confronting her father, but it's Syan that offers the true revelation. She demonstrates a new incredible kind of magic, and speaks of a secret civilization hidden in isolation in the mysterious Wastes. With Miles' forces closing in, Tilla and her friends (alongside a hostage Lord Kent) set out to make contact with Syan's people, to make an pact that could turn the war. The journey will test their character, forge unlikely alliances, reveal the horrifying true nature of magic, and set in motion a battle that will determine the fate of Noveris itself.
Then a raid on an outpost produces two unexpected prisoners: Lord Elric Kent himself, now a prisoner obsessed with revenge, and Syan See, a strange girl from the Red Wastes. Tilla struggles with the emotional weight of confronting her father, but it's Syan that offers the true revelation. She demonstrates a new incredible kind of magic, and speaks of a secret civilization hidden in isolation in the mysterious Wastes. With Miles' forces closing in, Tilla and her friends (alongside a hostage Lord Kent) set out to make contact with Syan's people, to make an pact that could turn the war. The journey will test their character, forge unlikely alliances, reveal the horrifying true nature of magic, and set in motion a battle that will determine the fate of Noveris itself.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2019
27 people are currently reading
1750 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 25, 2019
Being completely honest, I struggled with finishing this one. It wasn’t because it wasn’t good, it was. I just never picked it up. I was sad for certain parts and glad for certain parts and I loved what the king did for Tilla. A good series overall.
July 1, 2021
War of the Bastards (Royal Bastards #3) by Andrew Shvarts was such a great wrap up to a fun trilogy. I'll miss these characters that's for sure. I loved just how contemporary and funny his high fantasy world and the characters that inhabit it are. We got to learn more about the history of Noveris and really liked where that went even if it did go by a little too quickly. If you haven't tried this series yet, I can't recommend these hidden gems enough. I can't wait to try his upcoming LGBT+ YA fantasy, It Ends in Fire.
June 27, 2019
Ok, so I totally meant to write this up the next day and here we are days later xD
So I was barely able to wait for this book to be delivered so I could get all the drama and answers I needed after finishing City of Bastards. Now sadly, this one just didn't give me as much of a sucker-punch wow effect, so it's only getting a 3.5 stars =/
The first book had endless action and tension to keep you riveted. Book two gave us plots woven into more plots of intrigue and so many questions that it kept you hooked cause you just had to know. But this final book? I was actually kind of bored periodically. Being entitled WAR of the Bastards, I expected a lot more action and battle scenes, ya know? And this book didn't deliver on that. We got some action at the start, but the middle portion of the book just kind of dragged for me cause it was just a journey across an endless desert. I loved the descriptions and atmosphere of it, but I just needed more fights, drama, action, whatever. So that was rather disappointing.
Now of course I still enjoyed this book cause I just can't get enough of these beloved characters!! And I'm terribly sad to say goodbye to them *sniffles* But I love each and everyone of the main cast soooooo much! But this one character.... I have beef with >_>
Syan. Just no. I don't like her, and didn't from the get-go. I thought her magic was cool, but that was about it. She was constantly being enigmatic but expected everyone to trust her & be willing to follow her on a random journey to see her people. She portrays herself as trustworthy, but to me anyway, she just was always sketchy. And because of her we got the long desert journey rather than war-scenes! >_< lol. Yes, I blame her for the lack of epic action!
And then there's the reveal . Not to mention I got sooooo sick of her saying Zastroya almost constantly at this one point. Like good god someone shut her up! And she just never really seem to be part of the group cohesively. She always felt separate, aloof.
The romance, I thought could've been handled a tad better. It was just so expected and out of the blue and poof!!! Insta-love! -_- It just seems like it's fake and the magic caused it (like using a love potion in HP) versus it actually developing organically. It just didn't ring true to me.
There were plenty of hilarious moments, of course, and then there were some very touching sweet ones as well. I just love these guys & gals so much! I was so happy to see Ellarion whole and happy again <3 I was hurting for him so much at the beginning of this book. Lord Kent even grows on you a tad in this one. I know, total shocker, right??!
This truly is an unfairly under-rated series that I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys snarky humor & YA fantasy. The first two books are amazing! And this one is really good too, just not my particular fav. It's hard to follow that excellent second book though with something as equally epic. Anyway, read this series!! I'll definitely be revisiting it again in the future :)
So I was barely able to wait for this book to be delivered so I could get all the drama and answers I needed after finishing City of Bastards. Now sadly, this one just didn't give me as much of a sucker-punch wow effect, so it's only getting a 3.5 stars =/
The first book had endless action and tension to keep you riveted. Book two gave us plots woven into more plots of intrigue and so many questions that it kept you hooked cause you just had to know. But this final book? I was actually kind of bored periodically. Being entitled WAR of the Bastards, I expected a lot more action and battle scenes, ya know? And this book didn't deliver on that. We got some action at the start, but the middle portion of the book just kind of dragged for me cause it was just a journey across an endless desert. I loved the descriptions and atmosphere of it, but I just needed more fights, drama, action, whatever. So that was rather disappointing.
Now of course I still enjoyed this book cause I just can't get enough of these beloved characters!! And I'm terribly sad to say goodbye to them *sniffles* But I love each and everyone of the main cast soooooo much! But this one character.... I have beef with >_>
Syan. Just no. I don't like her, and didn't from the get-go. I thought her magic was cool, but that was about it. She was constantly being enigmatic but expected everyone to trust her & be willing to follow her on a random journey to see her people. She portrays herself as trustworthy, but to me anyway, she just was always sketchy. And because of her we got the long desert journey rather than war-scenes! >_< lol. Yes, I blame her for the lack of epic action!
And then there's the reveal . Not to mention I got sooooo sick of her saying Zastroya almost constantly at this one point. Like good god someone shut her up! And she just never really seem to be part of the group cohesively. She always felt separate, aloof.
The romance, I thought could've been handled a tad better. It was just so expected and out of the blue and poof!!! Insta-love! -_- It just seems like it's fake and the magic caused it (like using a love potion in HP) versus it actually developing organically. It just didn't ring true to me.
There were plenty of hilarious moments, of course, and then there were some very touching sweet ones as well. I just love these guys & gals so much! I was so happy to see Ellarion whole and happy again <3 I was hurting for him so much at the beginning of this book. Lord Kent even grows on you a tad in this one. I know, total shocker, right??!
This truly is an unfairly under-rated series that I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys snarky humor & YA fantasy. The first two books are amazing! And this one is really good too, just not my particular fav. It's hard to follow that excellent second book though with something as equally epic. Anyway, read this series!! I'll definitely be revisiting it again in the future :)
June 11, 2021
Overall Rating : C+
"For the good of the world.
For the greater good."
I finally finished this series thank God!
At least it was better than City of Bastards.
RTC!
"For the good of the world.
For the greater good."
I finally finished this series thank God!
At least it was better than City of Bastards.
RTC!
June 21, 2019
Well, that was a journey.
Cleverly plotted through the whole trilogy. A lot of sacrifices and surprises.
Having a high fantasy world with a narrator who uses such a modern way of speaking was occasionally jarring. And I will admit that there were a few parts that felt a little forced. But all in all, an excellent series.
Cleverly plotted through the whole trilogy. A lot of sacrifices and surprises.
Having a high fantasy world with a narrator who uses such a modern way of speaking was occasionally jarring. And I will admit that there were a few parts that felt a little forced. But all in all, an excellent series.
July 22, 2019
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
The fate of Noveris hangs in the balance as Tilla and her fellow bastards fight tyranny in the epic conclusion to Andrew Shvarts Royal Bastards series. It has been a year since the destructive events of City of Bastards. After decimating the entire royal court of Noveris, Lord Elric Kent has assumed the throne. But, the real villain of the story may be Miles Hampstedt who has risen to the role of Inquisitor and created a serum capable of making almost anyone a blood mage.
"It never ends. But it gets better. I could live with that."
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
The fate of Noveris hangs in the balance as Tilla and her fellow bastards fight tyranny in the epic conclusion to Andrew Shvarts Royal Bastards series. It has been a year since the destructive events of City of Bastards. After decimating the entire royal court of Noveris, Lord Elric Kent has assumed the throne. But, the real villain of the story may be Miles Hampstedt who has risen to the role of Inquisitor and created a serum capable of making almost anyone a blood mage.
"It never ends. But it gets better. I could live with that."
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 24, 2019
Overall, this series was meh at best for me, but War of the Bastards was assuredly the weakest of the bunch. The plot falls apart at several points and much hinges on a character introduced in the final book. The bigger issue series-wide is the amount I didn't care about the cast.
The biggest issues:
- They meet Syan See in prison when they're captured at the beginning of the book. They're trapped basically but conveniently Syan See is able to escape from the prison on her own using her special kind of magic from the Red Wastes. In no way does she need their help to break out of the prison...but somehow she waited for them. Mighty convenient. Her power will continue to wax and wane as the plot dictates.
- The magic of the Red Wastes is revealed to have the exact same source, so why does it work so differently?
- The convenient nature of their encounter with the aliens (or whatever the hell they are - I don't remember the name).
- The addition of an f/f romance would be cool except that the book feels so proud of itself about that and there's so little development. Also because it's all Tilla's POV, she follows them around creepily to observe and be OKAY with it. Felt very author voice in those moments.
- Shimmersteel. Every fucking thing in this world is made of shimmersteel, and I never want to hear it again.
The biggest issues:
- They meet Syan See in prison when they're captured at the beginning of the book. They're trapped basically but conveniently Syan See is able to escape from the prison on her own using her special kind of magic from the Red Wastes. In no way does she need their help to break out of the prison...but somehow she waited for them. Mighty convenient. Her power will continue to wax and wane as the plot dictates.
- The magic of the Red Wastes is revealed to have the exact same source, so why does it work so differently?
- The convenient nature of their encounter with the aliens (or whatever the hell they are - I don't remember the name).
- The addition of an f/f romance would be cool except that the book feels so proud of itself about that and there's so little development. Also because it's all Tilla's POV, she follows them around creepily to observe and be OKAY with it. Felt very author voice in those moments.
- Shimmersteel. Every fucking thing in this world is made of shimmersteel, and I never want to hear it again.
June 8, 2019
This. Was. AMAZING.
The action in this starts off right away, and we get some seriously awesome character development. We learn more about the world, get to meet new faces, and fall in love all over again with the bastards we know and love. I love how the ending is more open ended, leaving the reader to decide if the right choice was made. It was fitting for the series, and I seriously loved every second leading up to it.
Honestly, if you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend you check it out. Game of Thrones meets The Breakfast Club. Like, what could be better?
Also, I got to meet Andrew Shvarts at an event with Stephanie Garber! He was hilarious, and I can totally see some of the process he mentioned in this book. I can't wait to see what other books he may write in the future!
The action in this starts off right away, and we get some seriously awesome character development. We learn more about the world, get to meet new faces, and fall in love all over again with the bastards we know and love. I love how the ending is more open ended, leaving the reader to decide if the right choice was made. It was fitting for the series, and I seriously loved every second leading up to it.
Honestly, if you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend you check it out. Game of Thrones meets The Breakfast Club. Like, what could be better?
Also, I got to meet Andrew Shvarts at an event with Stephanie Garber! He was hilarious, and I can totally see some of the process he mentioned in this book. I can't wait to see what other books he may write in the future!
April 6, 2021
I grabbed this book right after finishing City of Bastards because I couldn't wait to find out what happens to Tilla and her band of rebels. This story picks up one year after the fall of Lightspire. Miles, the Inquisitor, has control of the Bloodmages, and he is destroying the city and anyone who opposes him. What we don't know is that Lord Elric Kent, Tilla's father, is just a figurehead. With the rebels growing their ranks and the citizens in the south now waging war, the bloodmages and Lightspire's troops are split. Is this the time for the rebels to attack and take back the city?
There are new characters in this story alongside the familiar ones. Tilla, Lyriana and some of the others are tired of waging these battles, they want to make a big move. With the addition of Syan took the story in a new direction. We find out more about the Titans from her story. She has a totally different kind of magic that was interesting, but her people were not very nice and she did get a bit annoying at times. I was not enamored or her relationship with Tilla, but that is a small niggle. With this being the finale of the series, I was expecting big things. There were a lot of plot twists, some battles, although not as big as in previous books, and some huge surprises that kept me listening non-stop. This book also included some descriptions that had me picturing a totally different part of the world that had been forgotten, which certainly added another dimension to the world building. If you are looking for a huge battle and war, based on the title, you won't find that here, but you will find a satisfying conclusion to this series that left me happy with the way this series pulls everything together. Once again, I will say that it is a MUST to read this series in order.
There are new characters in this story alongside the familiar ones. Tilla, Lyriana and some of the others are tired of waging these battles, they want to make a big move. With the addition of Syan took the story in a new direction. We find out more about the Titans from her story. She has a totally different kind of magic that was interesting, but her people were not very nice and she did get a bit annoying at times. I was not enamored or her relationship with Tilla, but that is a small niggle. With this being the finale of the series, I was expecting big things. There were a lot of plot twists, some battles, although not as big as in previous books, and some huge surprises that kept me listening non-stop. This book also included some descriptions that had me picturing a totally different part of the world that had been forgotten, which certainly added another dimension to the world building. If you are looking for a huge battle and war, based on the title, you won't find that here, but you will find a satisfying conclusion to this series that left me happy with the way this series pulls everything together. Once again, I will say that it is a MUST to read this series in order.
June 5, 2024
Incredible conclusion to the series. Rulys Cal I don't know why they kept wanting me to have an issue with you, they could never make me hate you. Gay rights. Tilla and Zell bi4bi real.
August 2, 2019
"May the winters stop freezing and the fires stop burning. May the beasts sheathe their claws and the warriors hang up their blades. Then, at last, may the tortured man find peache."
5 stars.
Okay I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. It was action packed, the pace was good, it was nicely rounded, the characters grew so much and just the way it was written was amazing!
I'll write the rest later, I promise (I hope haha)
February 25, 2020
Officially one of my favorite series!
August 29, 2019
(More like a 3.5 but that's not an option)
I was pretty excited for this book after reading "City of Bastards" last year--it ended with the city burning and the good guys fleeing to fight another day. It was dramatic but ended on a hopeful note, and left me wanting more, so when I found out the third book came out I quickly ordered it and began reading. To spare all of us, I'll try to keep it brief and just mention some of the things that stood out to me or parts I really liked and parts I didn't.
For starters, I'm not one of those fans who's particularly upset about the fact that Tilla speaks with a more modern dialogue; I actually think it's an interesting change to a genre where characters typically speak as if they're in medieval times or have British accents. What I don't like as much is when she uses phrases or makes metaphors or similes by referencing something that is more modern and relevant to us. It kind of just takes me out of the fantasy setting a bit.
I like the attempt at world building, although I feel like we spent too much time with the weird desert quest that the gang went on instead of coping with the effects of this all-out war. There were fight sequences, sure, but the gang didn't REALLY spend time in any of the decisive battles, if there were any. Most of that was left to other minor characters like Galen and Cal.
Speaking of the desert quest, I must say that I really wasn't TOO fond with the addition of Syan. The magic system of the Izterosi people is cool but I just didn't really like HER. She was kind of bland and every time she--or anyone for that matter--mentioned Zastroya I cringed and rolled my eyes. I really didn't like this new plot/obstacle because it just felt like it was thrown in there to raise the stakes, but in the end, it sort of amounts to nothing. Oh, and I'm not a fan of the Lyriana/Syan romance at all. Let me just tell y'all that I hate the 'insta-love' trope, as it's extremely unrealistic and has been done to death. I especially dislike it, however, when the characters don't have chemistry. And they don't! I knew the relationship was being built up throughout the book because it was obvious by the way Tilla described their interactions and the looks they shared and whatnot, but it felt so forced and made me face palm a bunch of times.
There were a ton of deus ex moments (which is whatever because I guess that's what the common folk/teen like?) so I never really felt like any of the mains were in trouble. You could, for the most part, guess who the expendable character(s) was/were in each scene and even though I did cry a few times, it wasn't because the deaths were shocking. I'm just an emotional person I guess.
I'd say the book was a little too predictable and things usually went well for the good guys even though they got into a lot of trouble. It didn't really have the same mysterious element that made me read through book 2 quickly, and it doesn't have the same charm that the first book had, where we were first being introduced to the characters and the world they lived in. This third book does, at least, have a fitting ending (you interpret that as you will).
Overall I liked the series despite it's shortcomings and I might recommend it to friends who are interested in YA books. Tilla is a great character and I've enjoyed reading the book through her perspective. I like that she's kind of a tomboy but also feminine, and sometimes she's actually pretty funny. There was one part in the last chapter that actually made me giggle. I also like Zell, even though I've seen a lot of reviews criticizing him. Maybe I just have a thing for the strong, silent types?
I think he and Zell make a good couple and they've made each other better. Lyriana has come a long way since we first met her in the first book; she went from being a naive princess to a hardened warrior and I'm here for itttt. I also really love Ellarion (he might be one of my favorites) and I wish more was done with him, though I am glad he got his groove back. Also, I wish he and Jax had met. I think they would've got along well. Anyways, before I go off on a tangent I just wanted to say...
Thanks for reading :)
I was pretty excited for this book after reading "City of Bastards" last year--it ended with the city burning and the good guys fleeing to fight another day. It was dramatic but ended on a hopeful note, and left me wanting more, so when I found out the third book came out I quickly ordered it and began reading. To spare all of us, I'll try to keep it brief and just mention some of the things that stood out to me or parts I really liked and parts I didn't.
For starters, I'm not one of those fans who's particularly upset about the fact that Tilla speaks with a more modern dialogue; I actually think it's an interesting change to a genre where characters typically speak as if they're in medieval times or have British accents. What I don't like as much is when she uses phrases or makes metaphors or similes by referencing something that is more modern and relevant to us. It kind of just takes me out of the fantasy setting a bit.
I like the attempt at world building, although I feel like we spent too much time with the weird desert quest that the gang went on instead of coping with the effects of this all-out war. There were fight sequences, sure, but the gang didn't REALLY spend time in any of the decisive battles, if there were any. Most of that was left to other minor characters like Galen and Cal.
Speaking of the desert quest, I must say that I really wasn't TOO fond with the addition of Syan. The magic system of the Izterosi people is cool but I just didn't really like HER. She was kind of bland and every time she--or anyone for that matter--mentioned Zastroya I cringed and rolled my eyes. I really didn't like this new plot/obstacle because it just felt like it was thrown in there to raise the stakes, but in the end, it sort of amounts to nothing. Oh, and I'm not a fan of the Lyriana/Syan romance at all. Let me just tell y'all that I hate the 'insta-love' trope, as it's extremely unrealistic and has been done to death. I especially dislike it, however, when the characters don't have chemistry. And they don't! I knew the relationship was being built up throughout the book because it was obvious by the way Tilla described their interactions and the looks they shared and whatnot, but it felt so forced and made me face palm a bunch of times.
There were a ton of deus ex moments (which is whatever because I guess that's what the common folk/teen like?) so I never really felt like any of the mains were in trouble. You could, for the most part, guess who the expendable character(s) was/were in each scene and even though I did cry a few times, it wasn't because the deaths were shocking. I'm just an emotional person I guess.
I'd say the book was a little too predictable and things usually went well for the good guys even though they got into a lot of trouble. It didn't really have the same mysterious element that made me read through book 2 quickly, and it doesn't have the same charm that the first book had, where we were first being introduced to the characters and the world they lived in. This third book does, at least, have a fitting ending (you interpret that as you will).
Overall I liked the series despite it's shortcomings and I might recommend it to friends who are interested in YA books. Tilla is a great character and I've enjoyed reading the book through her perspective. I like that she's kind of a tomboy but also feminine, and sometimes she's actually pretty funny. There was one part in the last chapter that actually made me giggle. I also like Zell, even though I've seen a lot of reviews criticizing him. Maybe I just have a thing for the strong, silent types?
I think he and Zell make a good couple and they've made each other better. Lyriana has come a long way since we first met her in the first book; she went from being a naive princess to a hardened warrior and I'm here for itttt. I also really love Ellarion (he might be one of my favorites) and I wish more was done with him, though I am glad he got his groove back. Also, I wish he and Jax had met. I think they would've got along well. Anyways, before I go off on a tangent I just wanted to say...
Thanks for reading :)
October 21, 2019
A year has passed since the fall of Lightspire, and Miles has usurped the throne and rules Noveris with blood and fear. Tilla and her friends, now hardened by war and plagued with regret, are offered one last hope to save their Kingdom. With a revelation of new magic, they travel to the desert Wastes in search of answers and alliances in the final war for Noveris.
My initial rating of this book was 4 stars, but I after the emotion wore off and I had some time to think, I felt my true rating should be 3 stars. Throughout my read of this series, I took a full star off of each book because of the way the main character seemed at times to directly talk to the reader and used “high school” sounding words in parentheses. Something dramatic would happen and the MC would describe it and then say (I mean, like, really?) or (which, totally cool) and it ground my gears. So this book got 1 star taken off due to this and another star taken off due to the plot.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but for the last ½ of the book the plot felt all over the place. It seemed like it was going in one direction, just for it to dead end and head in another. It seemed messy and not well thought out. And the ending did not give a sense of conclusion. The biggest threat to the kingdom is left open with a mention on the last couple pages that they might have found an answer? I needed more closure than that.
I wasn’t a fan of the new character, Syan. She felt “thrown in” with no real purpose… But I LOVED Lyriana’s and Ellarion’s character arcs! They were easily my favorite part of this last book and their personal journeys gave me all the feels. I also really appreciate how Miles came more into his character as the villain; he was a more believable and complex character than Lord Kent in my opinion. Because I focused more on Lyriana and Ellarion, I found that I wasn’t invested in Tilla and her whiney attitude carried over a little from the last book.
Despite my “complaining” I truly did enjoy this series as a whole and give it an average group rating of 3.5. While it isn’t anything spectacular or mind-blowing, I recommend this trilogy as a fun “fast-read” adventure. There was enough unpredictability, humor, and action/gore that kept me hooked throughout. 3/5
My initial rating of this book was 4 stars, but I after the emotion wore off and I had some time to think, I felt my true rating should be 3 stars. Throughout my read of this series, I took a full star off of each book because of the way the main character seemed at times to directly talk to the reader and used “high school” sounding words in parentheses. Something dramatic would happen and the MC would describe it and then say (I mean, like, really?) or (which, totally cool) and it ground my gears. So this book got 1 star taken off due to this and another star taken off due to the plot.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but for the last ½ of the book the plot felt all over the place. It seemed like it was going in one direction, just for it to dead end and head in another. It seemed messy and not well thought out. And the ending did not give a sense of conclusion. The biggest threat to the kingdom is left open with a mention on the last couple pages that they might have found an answer? I needed more closure than that.
I wasn’t a fan of the new character, Syan. She felt “thrown in” with no real purpose… But I LOVED Lyriana’s and Ellarion’s character arcs! They were easily my favorite part of this last book and their personal journeys gave me all the feels. I also really appreciate how Miles came more into his character as the villain; he was a more believable and complex character than Lord Kent in my opinion. Because I focused more on Lyriana and Ellarion, I found that I wasn’t invested in Tilla and her whiney attitude carried over a little from the last book.
Despite my “complaining” I truly did enjoy this series as a whole and give it an average group rating of 3.5. While it isn’t anything spectacular or mind-blowing, I recommend this trilogy as a fun “fast-read” adventure. There was enough unpredictability, humor, and action/gore that kept me hooked throughout. 3/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2020
5 stars!!
I was absolutely blown away by this book! Where I found the first two books to be a bit slow during the first half of the book, this one did not have that problem in the slightest! You are immediately thrown back into the story and it starts off with an action-packed battle scene. I really loved the character development in this book, for many of the characters, and not just for Tilla. Ellarion holds a special place in my heart <3. I think I mentioned in my reviews of the previous book that I would like to know more about the Titans and how all that worked, and this book delivered phenomenally in that aspect! I also loved that we got to explore the Red Wastes in more detail and the new characters were very interesting. This book managed to get me sobbing by (nearly) the end and that is something that not many books have managed to do lately, so kudos! I did find the ending a little bit tóó perfect, but it was satisfying overall, so I can't complain too much. All in all, this was a fantastic finale to an amazing trilogy!
I was absolutely blown away by this book! Where I found the first two books to be a bit slow during the first half of the book, this one did not have that problem in the slightest! You are immediately thrown back into the story and it starts off with an action-packed battle scene. I really loved the character development in this book, for many of the characters, and not just for Tilla. Ellarion holds a special place in my heart <3. I think I mentioned in my reviews of the previous book that I would like to know more about the Titans and how all that worked, and this book delivered phenomenally in that aspect! I also loved that we got to explore the Red Wastes in more detail and the new characters were very interesting. This book managed to get me sobbing by (nearly) the end and that is something that not many books have managed to do lately, so kudos! I did find the ending a little bit tóó perfect, but it was satisfying overall, so I can't complain too much. All in all, this was a fantastic finale to an amazing trilogy!
June 24, 2020
RTC
Rep: bisexual, F/F romance
Rep: bisexual, F/F romance
September 27, 2021
TRIGGER WARNINGS- death of a parent, mentions of war, blood, graphic injury, mentions of needles
I really enjoyed this! Such a great ending to the series!
I really enjoyed this! Such a great ending to the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2022
Satisfying conclusion to one of the most entertaining YA fantasy trilogies!
September 5, 2020
Menudo finalazo. Es una de las mejores sagas que he leído este año y no puedo hacer otra cosa que recomendarla al 100%. Si te gusta la fantasía, dale una oportunidad a estos libros. Merecen muchísimo la pena.
October 7, 2022
This one didn't have as many twists and turns as the first two books in the series, but the characters' actions were consistent with who they were in previous books and the ending was surprisingly satisfying. An enjoyable series overall that I would definitely recommend to fans of YA fantasy.
August 8, 2019
I received a copy of War of the Bastards from Hachette Australia to review.
War, rebellion, magic and one hell of kickass story! Shvarts brings the outstanding Royal Bastards trilogy to an end with War of the Bastards, the relentlessly entertaining conclusion that rounds out the series with an epic bang. The Royal Bastards trilogy is the debut work of author Andrew Shvarts, who has produced an incredible young adult fantasy series that has been an absolute delight to read over the last three years. Set in the fantasy nation of Noveris, the series follows the adventures of its protagonist, Tilla, and her friends as they try to navigate the treachery and war that has engulfed their nation.
I had an absolute blast reading the second book in the trilogy, City of Bastards, last year. Not only did the book feature a compelling story style and an amazingly captivating plot, but it ended with an outstanding cliff hanger with the protagonist failing to stop the antagonist’s sinister plot, which results in the entire royal family being killed off and the enemy gaining control of the throne. This was such an epic ending, especially because the massacre of the entire royal family was just so unexpected (I really was expecting a last-minute rescue from the protagonists), and I have been extremely curious to see how this story ended for quite a while.
It has been a year since the destructive events that changed Noveris forever. After orchestrating the explosion that decimated the royal court of Noveris, killing the King and Queen and most of Noveris’s nobles, Lord Elric Kent has assumed the throne. With a huge number of powerful bloodmages under the command of his ruthless Inquisitor, Miles Hampstedt, Kent’s rule over Noveris looks to be nearly absolute. However, many are still fighting back against the despotic new rule, including Kent’s bastard daughter, Tilla.
Tilla is a member of the resistance group known as the Unbroken, which fights to return Tilla’s friend, the rightful Queen, Lyriana Volaris, back to the throne. With the help of her lover, Zell, and Lyriana’s cousin, Ellarion, Tilla and the Unbroken are engaged in a brutal guerrilla war against the new regime. However, the situation looks dire and victory near impossible to achieve, until a mission to rescue a major source of rebel intelligence reveals that their informant was none other than King Kent himself. Kent’s rule has been usurped by Miles, whose absolute control over the bloodmages has allowed him to take over Noveris without anyone noticing. While attempting to deal with the implications of capturing Tilla’s father, the Unbroken also free Syan Syee, a young woman from the Red Wastes with mysterious magical powers, who brings an urgent message to the people of Noveris. Syan warns of a coming apocalypse and believes that defeating Miles is the key to stopping it. Needing new allies, Tilla, Lyriana, Zell, Ellarion, Kent and Syan journey to the Red Wastes, hoping to recruit Syan’s people to their cause. However, what they discover in the Red Wastes will change everything. With this new knowledge, can Tilla and her friends save Noveris, or will Miles’s lust for power and control tear their world apart?
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/06/25/...
An abridged version of this review ran in the Canberra Weekly on 8 August 2019:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/08/08/...
For more great reviews, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
War, rebellion, magic and one hell of kickass story! Shvarts brings the outstanding Royal Bastards trilogy to an end with War of the Bastards, the relentlessly entertaining conclusion that rounds out the series with an epic bang. The Royal Bastards trilogy is the debut work of author Andrew Shvarts, who has produced an incredible young adult fantasy series that has been an absolute delight to read over the last three years. Set in the fantasy nation of Noveris, the series follows the adventures of its protagonist, Tilla, and her friends as they try to navigate the treachery and war that has engulfed their nation.
I had an absolute blast reading the second book in the trilogy, City of Bastards, last year. Not only did the book feature a compelling story style and an amazingly captivating plot, but it ended with an outstanding cliff hanger with the protagonist failing to stop the antagonist’s sinister plot, which results in the entire royal family being killed off and the enemy gaining control of the throne. This was such an epic ending, especially because the massacre of the entire royal family was just so unexpected (I really was expecting a last-minute rescue from the protagonists), and I have been extremely curious to see how this story ended for quite a while.
It has been a year since the destructive events that changed Noveris forever. After orchestrating the explosion that decimated the royal court of Noveris, killing the King and Queen and most of Noveris’s nobles, Lord Elric Kent has assumed the throne. With a huge number of powerful bloodmages under the command of his ruthless Inquisitor, Miles Hampstedt, Kent’s rule over Noveris looks to be nearly absolute. However, many are still fighting back against the despotic new rule, including Kent’s bastard daughter, Tilla.
Tilla is a member of the resistance group known as the Unbroken, which fights to return Tilla’s friend, the rightful Queen, Lyriana Volaris, back to the throne. With the help of her lover, Zell, and Lyriana’s cousin, Ellarion, Tilla and the Unbroken are engaged in a brutal guerrilla war against the new regime. However, the situation looks dire and victory near impossible to achieve, until a mission to rescue a major source of rebel intelligence reveals that their informant was none other than King Kent himself. Kent’s rule has been usurped by Miles, whose absolute control over the bloodmages has allowed him to take over Noveris without anyone noticing. While attempting to deal with the implications of capturing Tilla’s father, the Unbroken also free Syan Syee, a young woman from the Red Wastes with mysterious magical powers, who brings an urgent message to the people of Noveris. Syan warns of a coming apocalypse and believes that defeating Miles is the key to stopping it. Needing new allies, Tilla, Lyriana, Zell, Ellarion, Kent and Syan journey to the Red Wastes, hoping to recruit Syan’s people to their cause. However, what they discover in the Red Wastes will change everything. With this new knowledge, can Tilla and her friends save Noveris, or will Miles’s lust for power and control tear their world apart?
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/06/25/...
An abridged version of this review ran in the Canberra Weekly on 8 August 2019:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/08/08/...
For more great reviews, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
November 27, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
To be honest, I liked this book, the action, the banter, the twists.
But it did not blow me away as the first one.
Probably, at least for me, two things spoiled it:
1)
2) Where was Zell? I did not like the "the evils of the world are all my fault" version depicted in book two, but here he was nearly inconsistent. Shvarts gave up to his character development at all. Well, I missed him
All in all, I really enjoyed this series and its characters (that's why I rounded up my rating), even though this last installment was the weakest of the bunch.
"May the winters stop freezing and the fires stop burning. May the beasts sheathe their claws and the warriors hang up their blades. Then, at last, may the tortured man find peace."
To be honest, I liked this book, the action, the banter, the twists.
But it did not blow me away as the first one.
Probably, at least for me, two things spoiled it:
1)
2) Where was Zell? I did not like the "the evils of the world are all my fault" version depicted in book two, but here he was nearly inconsistent. Shvarts gave up to his character development at all. Well, I missed him
All in all, I really enjoyed this series and its characters (that's why I rounded up my rating), even though this last installment was the weakest of the bunch.
December 28, 2023
Okay, I liked War of the Bastards more than I liked City of Bastards. And I am pretty sure it is tied with Royal Bastards, but it may be just below or just above it. This trilogy came to such a neat, clean, perfect ending and it made me so happy.
The Characters. Tilla, Tilla, Tilla. What a perfect little being. I felt so bad for her in this book, there was so much pressure on her. And she dealt with it so well. Her relationship with Zell improved from their fights of City of Bastards, and it made me happy to see them happy. Zell also just became more Zell like. In book two, he didn't feel very Zell-y, and it made me sad. But he was back to normal here, and I was so relieved. Lyriana remains to be my favorite little being, even though she has been through so much. I mean they have all been through so much. But Lyriana is the one who has to do all of the magic stuff (Ellarion does help a little, thankfully) and they rely on her quite a bit. But, she didn't mind. She would do anything for her friends, and it made my heart melt. I loved Ellarion, but there were times where I loved him a little bit less. But everything with him tring to navigate his powers with these prosthetic hands was super fun to read about. Miles remained to be a giant jerk who I hate with every ounce of my body. I hated him, so, so, so much. Then there was a new character, Syan. Ooo, I loved her! The storyline that revolved around her and her being mad was one of my favorite parts in this book. Also, just her was super cute. I felt so bad for her, and hated her mother and the way she treated poor Syan.
The Plot. Oh, oh, oh! I loved this book, and it was so perfect and a great end. I loved every single part of this book, from the beginning to the end. Everything that happened in the Southernlands, and with the Skywhale. Everything with the Raven, and Tilla's father. It was just so beautiful. It made me laugh so much, just like all of them did.
The Spoilers.
The Characters. Tilla, Tilla, Tilla. What a perfect little being. I felt so bad for her in this book, there was so much pressure on her. And she dealt with it so well. Her relationship with Zell improved from their fights of City of Bastards, and it made me happy to see them happy. Zell also just became more Zell like. In book two, he didn't feel very Zell-y, and it made me sad. But he was back to normal here, and I was so relieved. Lyriana remains to be my favorite little being, even though she has been through so much. I mean they have all been through so much. But Lyriana is the one who has to do all of the magic stuff (Ellarion does help a little, thankfully) and they rely on her quite a bit. But, she didn't mind. She would do anything for her friends, and it made my heart melt. I loved Ellarion, but there were times where I loved him a little bit less. But everything with him tring to navigate his powers with these prosthetic hands was super fun to read about. Miles remained to be a giant jerk who I hate with every ounce of my body. I hated him, so, so, so much. Then there was a new character, Syan. Ooo, I loved her! The storyline that revolved around her and her being mad was one of my favorite parts in this book. Also, just her was super cute. I felt so bad for her, and hated her mother and the way she treated poor Syan.
The Plot. Oh, oh, oh! I loved this book, and it was so perfect and a great end. I loved every single part of this book, from the beginning to the end. Everything that happened in the Southernlands, and with the Skywhale. Everything with the Raven, and Tilla's father. It was just so beautiful. It made me laugh so much, just like all of them did.
The Spoilers.
November 7, 2019
War of the Bastards (Royal Bastards #3) by Andrew Shvarts, 389 pages. Hyperion (Disney), 2019. $19
Language: R (75 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: R (bloody deaths)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Since Miles became her father’s Inquisitor, Noveris has descended into a bloody, iron-fisted dictatorship. Tilla, Zel, and Galen are leading the Unbroken, the resistance fighters. They have been receiving intelligence from the Raven, so when they hear that their contact has been captured they personally lead the rescue. What they find, who they find, changes everything. Now they are more galvanized then ever to break the tyrant’s hold and the true Queen, Lyriana, her throne.
If your students made it through book #2, they will go ape over how great #3 is! It is as good as any revolutionary-trying-regain-the-throne book out there.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Language: R (75 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: R (bloody deaths)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Since Miles became her father’s Inquisitor, Noveris has descended into a bloody, iron-fisted dictatorship. Tilla, Zel, and Galen are leading the Unbroken, the resistance fighters. They have been receiving intelligence from the Raven, so when they hear that their contact has been captured they personally lead the rescue. What they find, who they find, changes everything. Now they are more galvanized then ever to break the tyrant’s hold and the true Queen, Lyriana, her throne.
If your students made it through book #2, they will go ape over how great #3 is! It is as good as any revolutionary-trying-regain-the-throne book out there.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
June 6, 2019
I don't like Tilla. She does horrible things at the end - and is blaming her enemies who did the same. I never felt sympathy for her. Yes, Miles is bad, I get it. But Tilla and her friends feel like hollow characters.
March 15, 2020
“All we can do is keep going.”
That wasn’t technically true, because we could also, you know, break down crying or bang on the walls or just stand there screaming in terror. It didn’t seem like anyone else was open to that.
Honestly, despite all the imperfections this series has shown, I absolutely loved the journey. I came to love the characters fiercely and how they came together when they were all from such different upbringings was such a great show of unity. I know that they spoke like they were from 2020 which was at odds with the timeline it seemed to be set in but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I think it made me love the trilogy more because I enjoyed and often laughed at the hilarious way Tilla and the others described anything and everything. I feel like it is what made this book all the more lovable but in saying that, you do have to embrace it to really love it because you will at times scratch your head and think, well that didn’t seem possible for the era but that is the great thing about fantasy I suppose, the sky is the limit.
The battle wasn’t as big as I thought it was going to be and wrapped up pretty quickly considering the two previous books that were basically leading up to this final standoff but I started wondering if this book while it is about finding one’s freedom in a society of suppression. That perhaps it was more about friendship, family and choices. Family you make, whether that be through blood or love. Through this connection unravelling the truly amazing things you can not only discover about yourself but that it gives you the courage to see what you can do and face life’s adversity when you have that love and support surrounding you.. And how if someone feels isolated and can’t process their pain or let go of something that isn’t for them (cough-Miles-cough) that it can send you down a dark road of no return. That it is our choices that define who we are, who we become and who we could be if we have the courage to be honest with ourselves. It is about how we choose to face the consequences of our actions and being aware of how our actions affect others. It is fascinating how multilayered this trilogy is when you lift up the page and look underneath. Although perhaps I am over thinking it and that isn’t at all what the author meant to convey but it is, what I have personally seen in it.
I feel guttered this trilogy has come to an end because I really enjoyed being apart of this world and can definitely see a fourth book being added to it because we still don’t have a solution to the world being crumpled into dust from the overuse of magic. We didn’t get to see Tilla and Zell marry, have children or even visit his homeland. I also want to know if his mother is alive. I always got the feeling she wasn’t, but it was never touched on again after Zell asked Tilla if she’d go there with him when the war was over. I have so many questions but if I list them all here it will completely spoil the book so I will have to hope the author has another book up his sleeve or a new series set in the same world.
- I do have one complaint though and that is I don’t feel like this book was edited very well. There were so many mistakes, sentences that needed words cut or fixed to make sense. I didn’t notice this in the previous two books so I don’t know if the author was rushed to the finish line and then it was published without a final look but it did need a final touch up before being put out into the world. Again, a minor issue which I will overlook because I loved it so damn much despite it.
That wasn’t technically true, because we could also, you know, break down crying or bang on the walls or just stand there screaming in terror. It didn’t seem like anyone else was open to that.
Honestly, despite all the imperfections this series has shown, I absolutely loved the journey. I came to love the characters fiercely and how they came together when they were all from such different upbringings was such a great show of unity. I know that they spoke like they were from 2020 which was at odds with the timeline it seemed to be set in but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I think it made me love the trilogy more because I enjoyed and often laughed at the hilarious way Tilla and the others described anything and everything. I feel like it is what made this book all the more lovable but in saying that, you do have to embrace it to really love it because you will at times scratch your head and think, well that didn’t seem possible for the era but that is the great thing about fantasy I suppose, the sky is the limit.
The battle wasn’t as big as I thought it was going to be and wrapped up pretty quickly considering the two previous books that were basically leading up to this final standoff but I started wondering if this book while it is about finding one’s freedom in a society of suppression. That perhaps it was more about friendship, family and choices. Family you make, whether that be through blood or love. Through this connection unravelling the truly amazing things you can not only discover about yourself but that it gives you the courage to see what you can do and face life’s adversity when you have that love and support surrounding you.. And how if someone feels isolated and can’t process their pain or let go of something that isn’t for them (cough-Miles-cough) that it can send you down a dark road of no return. That it is our choices that define who we are, who we become and who we could be if we have the courage to be honest with ourselves. It is about how we choose to face the consequences of our actions and being aware of how our actions affect others. It is fascinating how multilayered this trilogy is when you lift up the page and look underneath. Although perhaps I am over thinking it and that isn’t at all what the author meant to convey but it is, what I have personally seen in it.
I feel guttered this trilogy has come to an end because I really enjoyed being apart of this world and can definitely see a fourth book being added to it because we still don’t have a solution to the world being crumpled into dust from the overuse of magic. We didn’t get to see Tilla and Zell marry, have children or even visit his homeland. I also want to know if his mother is alive. I always got the feeling she wasn’t, but it was never touched on again after Zell asked Tilla if she’d go there with him when the war was over. I have so many questions but if I list them all here it will completely spoil the book so I will have to hope the author has another book up his sleeve or a new series set in the same world.
- I do have one complaint though and that is I don’t feel like this book was edited very well. There were so many mistakes, sentences that needed words cut or fixed to make sense. I didn’t notice this in the previous two books so I don’t know if the author was rushed to the finish line and then it was published without a final look but it did need a final touch up before being put out into the world. Again, a minor issue which I will overlook because I loved it so damn much despite it.
October 13, 2020
Read this review on my blog!
I’ve never really done this before, but instead of reviewing each individual book of the Royal Bastards series (Royal Bastards, City of Bastards, War of the Bastards), I am writing a review of the whole trilogy. (Mainly because I procrastinated in writing my review for the first one until I’d already finished all three! 😂) (This does mean the spoilers will be for all three books!)
THE CHARACTERS
⚔ Tilla — Tilla was very different from your typical YA “strong female protagonist”. She was so free and wild, strong and capable, loving and lovable. She was a perfect main character, and I loved every bit of her story. The writer managed to capture her voice really well, which I loved.
⚔ Zell — Zell was such a fun character. Kind of murderous and emotionless, but at the same time sweet and protective. He and Tilla were honestly so cute together, I loved every moment with the two of them.
⚔ Lyriana — I definitely loved Princess Lyriana the best in the first book, but she was my favorite character for almost the whole trilogy. So innocent and funny and bashful, then powerful and strong. I shipped her and Jaxe so hard, but I also shipped her and Syan. ❤
⚔ Jaxe — Jaxe was so. Funny. He made me literally laugh out loud many times, and his relationships with all the others were so perfect. (I loved the sibling bond between him and Tilla!)
⚔ Miles — Miles was definitely needed for the story, especially in the later books, but I really didn’t like him. What started as a mild meh-ness towards him quickly turned into me despising him. He just made me so mad.
THE PLOT
The plot of this series was just so good, each book weaving into an epic adventure. I laughed at all their games and jokes. I cried at all the deaths. I read much too late trying to figure out what would happen next. Here’s a little mini-review of each book:
⚔ Royal Bastards (#1) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐— This was such a perfect story. The journeying, the romance, the villains, all of it. It was so unique and intriguing, with so much amazing action and so many fun settings. The ending had me in tears.
⚔ City of Bastards (#2) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 — Book 2 was amazing! The characters were a bit off, but I loved the edition of Ellarion and Mariska. I felt like a lot of the beginning and most of the middle diverted from the main plot of the series, but the ending tied it neatly back together.
⚔ War of the Bastards (#3) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐— This was my least favorite for sure, even though it was really good. I just didn’t love how it started focusing so strongly on their religion instead of the politics and the action. I enjoyed their epic journeys and attacks, and all the Skywhale scenes.
CONCLUSION
This series was so fun and different from the normal YA fantasies I read. It definitely doesn’t get enough hype and I recommend it to all lovers of adventures!
I’ve never really done this before, but instead of reviewing each individual book of the Royal Bastards series (Royal Bastards, City of Bastards, War of the Bastards), I am writing a review of the whole trilogy. (Mainly because I procrastinated in writing my review for the first one until I’d already finished all three! 😂) (This does mean the spoilers will be for all three books!)
THE CHARACTERS
⚔ Tilla — Tilla was very different from your typical YA “strong female protagonist”. She was so free and wild, strong and capable, loving and lovable. She was a perfect main character, and I loved every bit of her story. The writer managed to capture her voice really well, which I loved.
⚔ Zell — Zell was such a fun character. Kind of murderous and emotionless, but at the same time sweet and protective. He and Tilla were honestly so cute together, I loved every moment with the two of them.
⚔ Lyriana — I definitely loved Princess Lyriana the best in the first book, but she was my favorite character for almost the whole trilogy. So innocent and funny and bashful, then powerful and strong. I shipped her and Jaxe so hard, but I also shipped her and Syan. ❤
⚔ Jaxe — Jaxe was so. Funny. He made me literally laugh out loud many times, and his relationships with all the others were so perfect. (I loved the sibling bond between him and Tilla!)
⚔ Miles — Miles was definitely needed for the story, especially in the later books, but I really didn’t like him. What started as a mild meh-ness towards him quickly turned into me despising him. He just made me so mad.
THE PLOT
The plot of this series was just so good, each book weaving into an epic adventure. I laughed at all their games and jokes. I cried at all the deaths. I read much too late trying to figure out what would happen next. Here’s a little mini-review of each book:
⚔ Royal Bastards (#1) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐— This was such a perfect story. The journeying, the romance, the villains, all of it. It was so unique and intriguing, with so much amazing action and so many fun settings. The ending had me in tears.
⚔ City of Bastards (#2) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 — Book 2 was amazing! The characters were a bit off, but I loved the edition of Ellarion and Mariska. I felt like a lot of the beginning and most of the middle diverted from the main plot of the series, but the ending tied it neatly back together.
⚔ War of the Bastards (#3) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐— This was my least favorite for sure, even though it was really good. I just didn’t love how it started focusing so strongly on their religion instead of the politics and the action. I enjoyed their epic journeys and attacks, and all the Skywhale scenes.
CONCLUSION
This series was so fun and different from the normal YA fantasies I read. It definitely doesn’t get enough hype and I recommend it to all lovers of adventures!
November 18, 2021
FINALLY!!!!
I pre-ordered this book, and it came out in...June 2019, I think. I can't believe how long it took me to read this. I probably should've reread the first two, as I had absolutely no memory of a character that was mentioned several times. But I remembered enough to follow the story! Things started coming back to me. (if they hadn't, I would've gone back to the rereads).
Honestly Tilla is such a memorable character with such a distinct narrative style, everything felt really familiar. I know when book 1 came out, a giant group of people buddy read and hated it, which made me really mad. Not that they hated it, but bc so many other people passed on reading it bc of their reviews. I'd be genuinely upset if someone thought, Jess didn't like it so I won't read it either. Sure, if I mention something you know will bother you and therefore choose to avoid the book...that's entirely different.
Anyway, some arguments were that Tilla just acted like a boy, girls aren't like that, etc. Which would be an absurd argument in 2021 honestly. But I know girls like Tilla. I've been a girl like Tilla haha and I could think of tons of characters way worse than her. Tilla has a good heart and fights fiercely to protect those she cares about. She's complex and doesn't always understand what she's feeling right away, and seriously, who does?! Tilla has been betrayed and had her entire world upended (in the first few chapters of book 1) and the fact that she takes time to sort out her bullshit amidst all the chaos just makes me respect her more.
The relationships in this series are so strong, where friends seem more like family than anything. (no spoilers but) there's a part near the end when Tilla can't decide if she should hold something in or share it, and I feel like most YA books would make her keep the secret. But Tilla's like screw it, my friends need to know this, and they all sort of talk through it. She's also regularly amazed by how beautiful and kind and strong her female friends are, and it's sadly still refreshing to NOT see girl hate in books.
This series is just so fun to me, and this was a great conclusion. It's fast paced but not to the detriment of character development. There are high stakes and maybe not everyone makes it to the end of the series, but I genuinely felt for this world and its people. It was well done and I'll be eternally salty about people being so aggressive about the first book lol 3.75 stars and a solid conclusion to a really underrated series!!
Clear your shit: gold, silver, or bronze cover (the title is silver it counts okay stfu)
I pre-ordered this book, and it came out in...June 2019, I think. I can't believe how long it took me to read this. I probably should've reread the first two, as I had absolutely no memory of a character that was mentioned several times. But I remembered enough to follow the story! Things started coming back to me. (if they hadn't, I would've gone back to the rereads).
Honestly Tilla is such a memorable character with such a distinct narrative style, everything felt really familiar. I know when book 1 came out, a giant group of people buddy read and hated it, which made me really mad. Not that they hated it, but bc so many other people passed on reading it bc of their reviews. I'd be genuinely upset if someone thought, Jess didn't like it so I won't read it either. Sure, if I mention something you know will bother you and therefore choose to avoid the book...that's entirely different.
Anyway, some arguments were that Tilla just acted like a boy, girls aren't like that, etc. Which would be an absurd argument in 2021 honestly. But I know girls like Tilla. I've been a girl like Tilla haha and I could think of tons of characters way worse than her. Tilla has a good heart and fights fiercely to protect those she cares about. She's complex and doesn't always understand what she's feeling right away, and seriously, who does?! Tilla has been betrayed and had her entire world upended (in the first few chapters of book 1) and the fact that she takes time to sort out her bullshit amidst all the chaos just makes me respect her more.
The relationships in this series are so strong, where friends seem more like family than anything. (no spoilers but) there's a part near the end when Tilla can't decide if she should hold something in or share it, and I feel like most YA books would make her keep the secret. But Tilla's like screw it, my friends need to know this, and they all sort of talk through it. She's also regularly amazed by how beautiful and kind and strong her female friends are, and it's sadly still refreshing to NOT see girl hate in books.
This series is just so fun to me, and this was a great conclusion. It's fast paced but not to the detriment of character development. There are high stakes and maybe not everyone makes it to the end of the series, but I genuinely felt for this world and its people. It was well done and I'll be eternally salty about people being so aggressive about the first book lol 3.75 stars and a solid conclusion to a really underrated series!!
Clear your shit: gold, silver, or bronze cover (the title is silver it counts okay stfu)
August 5, 2019
(4.5 stars)
I turned to Zell to see what he thought, but he just muttered something in Zitochi, a prayer maybe. Never a good sign.
This series was so so so good! I loved the main group of characters and the journey they found themselves taking. The plot in this book got so crazy! Some parts were a bit slow, but so much went down and I really enjoyed this reading experience. It almost had some sci-fi elements blended in with the really cool fantasy elements, and I was totally there for it. Everything that these characters believed in was challenged and they had to make a lot of quick decisions based on the right-or-wrong of the moment.
"Bad things happen for no reason. Good people have to carry burdens for no reason. And you'll never ever ever be able to solve everything or take it all on yourself. You can keep on going, always fighting till you bleed, always searching for the next battle, just stewing in your guilt and pain. Or..."
"Or?"
"Or you can let go."
Tilla was written with such a fun narration style, making all three books very enjoyable. She is really good at reading people and getting to know them on a deep level. Her opinions and perspectives on what was happening around her were great and provided a very in-depth view on everything. Her and Zell are so freaking cute together and I loved seeing more of their blossoming relationship. #goals
Lyriana probably had the best character arc in this book, having to go through a lot of shit. She is mega strong and such a lovely person. Syan was an interesting addition, and I would have liked to learn more about her and her magic system. Ellarion was as awesome as always, and I was totally in love with his growth. Zell is too pure for the crap he had to deal with growing up, and I really wanted to give him a hug. Lord Kent was quite a surprise - in a good way! And lastly: fuck Miles. That is all.
"Being a hero doesn't mean getting rewards or praise. Being a hero means suffering so other people don't have to. Being a hero means pain."
I turned to Zell to see what he thought, but he just muttered something in Zitochi, a prayer maybe. Never a good sign.
This series was so so so good! I loved the main group of characters and the journey they found themselves taking. The plot in this book got so crazy! Some parts were a bit slow, but so much went down and I really enjoyed this reading experience. It almost had some sci-fi elements blended in with the really cool fantasy elements, and I was totally there for it. Everything that these characters believed in was challenged and they had to make a lot of quick decisions based on the right-or-wrong of the moment.
"Bad things happen for no reason. Good people have to carry burdens for no reason. And you'll never ever ever be able to solve everything or take it all on yourself. You can keep on going, always fighting till you bleed, always searching for the next battle, just stewing in your guilt and pain. Or..."
"Or?"
"Or you can let go."
Tilla was written with such a fun narration style, making all three books very enjoyable. She is really good at reading people and getting to know them on a deep level. Her opinions and perspectives on what was happening around her were great and provided a very in-depth view on everything. Her and Zell are so freaking cute together and I loved seeing more of their blossoming relationship. #goals
Lyriana probably had the best character arc in this book, having to go through a lot of shit. She is mega strong and such a lovely person. Syan was an interesting addition, and I would have liked to learn more about her and her magic system. Ellarion was as awesome as always, and I was totally in love with his growth. Zell is too pure for the crap he had to deal with growing up, and I really wanted to give him a hug. Lord Kent was quite a surprise - in a good way! And lastly: fuck Miles. That is all.
"Being a hero doesn't mean getting rewards or praise. Being a hero means suffering so other people don't have to. Being a hero means pain."
July 5, 2021
Ug, this was SO GOOD! Totally underrated series.
The journey in this book read a lot like the journey in Royal Bastards (book 1). There was action for sure (at points, terrifying action ), but I loved the character development and story progression a lot more.
Tilla, Zell, Ellarion, and Lyriana have gone through so much. Not only are they different characters from the first book, but they are also all better versions of themselves at the end of this book itself.
I know it was kind of predictable, but I loved the inclusion of Lord Elric Kent in this book, and I also appreciated the introduction of newbie Syan. Especially in how she helped both Ellarion and Lyriana in different ways (with his magic and his "hands", and with her burden of ruling, respectively).
Loved how all the politics worked out in the end, and the series ends with a real hopeful beginning for all the characters. Except for Miles, of course.
The journey in this book read a lot like the journey in Royal Bastards (book 1). There was action for sure (at points, terrifying action ), but I loved the character development and story progression a lot more.
Tilla, Zell, Ellarion, and Lyriana have gone through so much. Not only are they different characters from the first book, but they are also all better versions of themselves at the end of this book itself.
I know it was kind of predictable, but I loved the inclusion of Lord Elric Kent in this book, and I also appreciated the introduction of newbie Syan. Especially in how she helped both Ellarion and Lyriana in different ways (with his magic and his "hands", and with her burden of ruling, respectively).
Loved how all the politics worked out in the end, and the series ends with a real hopeful beginning for all the characters. Except for Miles, of course.
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