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The Fourth Element #1-3
The Fourth Element Trilogy
Gladiator meets Romeo and Juliet in this "spellbinding fantasy" trilogy (Kirkus Reviews) set in ancient Persia!
They are the light against the darkness.
The steel against the necromancy of the Druj.
And they use demons to hunt demons….
Nazafareen lives for revenge. A girl of the isolated Four-Legs Clan, all she knows about the King's elite Water Dogs is that they leash wicked creatures called daevas to protect the empire from the Undead. But when scouts arrive to recruit young people with the gift, she leaps at the chance to join their ranks. To hunt the monsters that killed her sister.
Scarred by grief, she's willing to pay any price, even if it requires linking with a daeva named Darius. Human in body, he's possessed of a terrifying power, one that Nazafareen controls. But the golden cuffs that join them have an unwanted side effect. Each experiences the other's emotions, and human and daeva start to grow dangerously close.
As they pursue a deadly foe across the arid waste of the Great Salt Plain to the glittering capital of Persepolae, unearthing the secrets of Darius's past along the way, Nazafareen is forced to question his slavery—and her own loyalty to the empire. But with an ancient evil stirring in the north, and a young conqueror sweeping in from the west, the fate of an entire civilization may be at stake…
So begins an epic story of adventure, romance and betrayal that leads to undiscovered magical realms and a final confrontation with a demon queen bent on destroying them all.
Praise for the Fourth Element Trilogy
"A spellbinding fantasy with some moral weight and a meatier narrative than usual, one likely to leave readers quite satisfied... This tale’s grand scope is set off beautifully by its intimate start. The story grows wonderfully from such a small seed, and it is the moral and subjective implications of the vastness and impersonality of the Empire that work so well to drive the narrative. The plot builds effectively, and maintains a swift pace. Nazafareen’s initial simplistic motivation, hatred, becomes complicated by her link to Darius, and evolves into something much more intriguing and complex. This transition is helped by the clarity with which the characters are drawn. The immensity of the Empire occasionally threatens to smother the personal tale at the heart of the story, but, like shadows around a candle flame, it never quite manages that feat." --Kirkus Reviews
"Fantasy lovers who enter this world will be wooed by its expansive world-building, soul-crushing romance, deeply layered characters, and page-turning twists." --Flylef Reviews
"One of the best trilogies I've ever read. I will read anything by Kat Ross. Hats off to her for creating these wonderful characters and making us fall in love with them!" --Cover to Cover Reviews
"Kat Ross turned me into a puddle of emotions with her final book of the Fourth Element series! Action, betrayal, romance and demons conclude this story which can keep anyone captivated till the final page." --Milky Way of Books
"An addictive, action-packed, glorious page-turner!" -Am Kinda Busy Reading
"I really hate the word ‘epic’ because, let’s face it, it’s so overused and it’s lost its true meaning, but this book [The Midnight Sea] deserves that word." -Book Reader Chronicles
"This is truly a grand finale of a book, mysteries from the very beginning of the series are put to rest and our heroes win in unexpected ways. Queen of Chaos delivers a beautiful ending that is perfect as it is but is left open enough for another story to seamlessly fit in." --Bibliobibuli
"I'm never a read-a-book-in-one-sitting kind of person, but I totally did it with Queen of Chaos. Then I hugged my Kindle and wanted to start the series all over again." --Rattle the Stars
"Extremely engrossing and so fast-paced...A truly exceptional series." --The InkedIn Book Blog
They are the light against the darkness.
The steel against the necromancy of the Druj.
And they use demons to hunt demons….
Nazafareen lives for revenge. A girl of the isolated Four-Legs Clan, all she knows about the King's elite Water Dogs is that they leash wicked creatures called daevas to protect the empire from the Undead. But when scouts arrive to recruit young people with the gift, she leaps at the chance to join their ranks. To hunt the monsters that killed her sister.
Scarred by grief, she's willing to pay any price, even if it requires linking with a daeva named Darius. Human in body, he's possessed of a terrifying power, one that Nazafareen controls. But the golden cuffs that join them have an unwanted side effect. Each experiences the other's emotions, and human and daeva start to grow dangerously close.
As they pursue a deadly foe across the arid waste of the Great Salt Plain to the glittering capital of Persepolae, unearthing the secrets of Darius's past along the way, Nazafareen is forced to question his slavery—and her own loyalty to the empire. But with an ancient evil stirring in the north, and a young conqueror sweeping in from the west, the fate of an entire civilization may be at stake…
So begins an epic story of adventure, romance and betrayal that leads to undiscovered magical realms and a final confrontation with a demon queen bent on destroying them all.
Praise for the Fourth Element Trilogy
"A spellbinding fantasy with some moral weight and a meatier narrative than usual, one likely to leave readers quite satisfied... This tale’s grand scope is set off beautifully by its intimate start. The story grows wonderfully from such a small seed, and it is the moral and subjective implications of the vastness and impersonality of the Empire that work so well to drive the narrative. The plot builds effectively, and maintains a swift pace. Nazafareen’s initial simplistic motivation, hatred, becomes complicated by her link to Darius, and evolves into something much more intriguing and complex. This transition is helped by the clarity with which the characters are drawn. The immensity of the Empire occasionally threatens to smother the personal tale at the heart of the story, but, like shadows around a candle flame, it never quite manages that feat." --Kirkus Reviews
"Fantasy lovers who enter this world will be wooed by its expansive world-building, soul-crushing romance, deeply layered characters, and page-turning twists." --Flylef Reviews
"One of the best trilogies I've ever read. I will read anything by Kat Ross. Hats off to her for creating these wonderful characters and making us fall in love with them!" --Cover to Cover Reviews
"Kat Ross turned me into a puddle of emotions with her final book of the Fourth Element series! Action, betrayal, romance and demons conclude this story which can keep anyone captivated till the final page." --Milky Way of Books
"An addictive, action-packed, glorious page-turner!" -Am Kinda Busy Reading
"I really hate the word ‘epic’ because, let’s face it, it’s so overused and it’s lost its true meaning, but this book [The Midnight Sea] deserves that word." -Book Reader Chronicles
"This is truly a grand finale of a book, mysteries from the very beginning of the series are put to rest and our heroes win in unexpected ways. Queen of Chaos delivers a beautiful ending that is perfect as it is but is left open enough for another story to seamlessly fit in." --Bibliobibuli
"I'm never a read-a-book-in-one-sitting kind of person, but I totally did it with Queen of Chaos. Then I hugged my Kindle and wanted to start the series all over again." --Rattle the Stars
"Extremely engrossing and so fast-paced...A truly exceptional series." --The InkedIn Book Blog
960 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2017
1458 people are currently reading
1961 people want to read
About the author
Kat Ross
56 books801 followersI've always loved to read more than anything in the world, especially so-called genre stories—mysteries, fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, horror. I like books that take you by the hand and lead you out of the mundane. That ease back the curtain and show you the wondrous and dark and unexpected lurking just around the next corner. I worked in journalism for a long time before I returned to writing fiction. Guess which is more fun?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
February 7, 2018
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**The Midnight Sea is the first in the young adult fantasy series, called The Fourth Element, by Kat Ross. The Midnight Sea is what I would describe as high fantasy, and I loved it. It kind of reminded me of the Storm Siren trilogy by Mary Weber. Kat Ross creates a rich fantasy world, full of new and scary creatures, lots of magical powers, and an intricately woven plot that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. (and then maybe even longer because there is a cliff hanger on this one.)
The Midnight Sea is the story of Nazafareen, and her "good" daeva, or demon, Darius. In this world they use the good demons, or demons who have been trained in the way of the light to defeat the bad demons- the Druj. Humans with powers, or the capability of having powers (I was a little unclear as to this part) are linked with a daeva, which creates a bond between them and their powers. It makes them stronger, allowing them to kill the Druj. But in the case of Nazafareen and Darius it also caused them to get closer and closer with one another. I loved this aspect of The Midnight Sea. It made for a really great, slow burn romance.
My only gripe about the story is that I wish it came with a glossary of terms and a map at the start of the story. Kat Ross has created a very intricate world with a lot of moving parts and new names, and I would have loved to have some context before I started reading. She does give a note to the readers at the end of the story that explain where in history we can place this story, and I loved that extra, but I think it would have worked better at the start of a story...with a map. Maybe it is just me, but I believe that every fantasy story should come with a map of the world. It helps me visualize as I am reading.
The Midnight Sea was a story that surprised me at the start, in the middle and again at the end. There were lots of plot twists woven into the story, some that I totally did not see coming at all! Fans of fantasy books will love this one. Do not miss The Midnight Sea. I can't wait for the next book in the Fourth Element series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Midnight Sea is the story of Nazafareen, and her "good" daeva, or demon, Darius. In this world they use the good demons, or demons who have been trained in the way of the light to defeat the bad demons- the Druj. Humans with powers, or the capability of having powers (I was a little unclear as to this part) are linked with a daeva, which creates a bond between them and their powers. It makes them stronger, allowing them to kill the Druj. But in the case of Nazafareen and Darius it also caused them to get closer and closer with one another. I loved this aspect of The Midnight Sea. It made for a really great, slow burn romance.
My only gripe about the story is that I wish it came with a glossary of terms and a map at the start of the story. Kat Ross has created a very intricate world with a lot of moving parts and new names, and I would have loved to have some context before I started reading. She does give a note to the readers at the end of the story that explain where in history we can place this story, and I loved that extra, but I think it would have worked better at the start of a story...with a map. Maybe it is just me, but I believe that every fantasy story should come with a map of the world. It helps me visualize as I am reading.
The Midnight Sea was a story that surprised me at the start, in the middle and again at the end. There were lots of plot twists woven into the story, some that I totally did not see coming at all! Fans of fantasy books will love this one. Do not miss The Midnight Sea. I can't wait for the next book in the Fourth Element series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
December 19, 2017
Unfinished
The first book of the series was phenomenal only to fizzle out in the next 2 installments. The plot became blah, the kick butt heroine became a wimp, the guy became lukewarm and the entire trilogy just left a bad taste in my mouth. It is definitely not finished but the preview looks even worse then book 2 and 3. Disappointing.
The first book of the series was phenomenal only to fizzle out in the next 2 installments. The plot became blah, the kick butt heroine became a wimp, the guy became lukewarm and the entire trilogy just left a bad taste in my mouth. It is definitely not finished but the preview looks even worse then book 2 and 3. Disappointing.
September 20, 2019
Enjoyed this. I’m a sucker for fantasy. Enjoyed all 3 books equally. Good character development, amazing world. Geared towards YA maybe? I’d give this a read if you appreciate fantasy.
Loving all the strong female characters and the people that love them!
Loving all the strong female characters and the people that love them!
September 3, 2024
This really is quite the epic trilogy that is a bit of a slow burner but really sucks you in (despite the slightly cringy teen romance bits, thankfully not a big part of things and balanced fabulously with the importance of family and friends as well as romantic partners, cudos Kat). There is a huge cast of characters and a whole mythology woven through with real world historical characters and places that give a sense of reality to an otherwise purely fantasy series and I rather liked the combination. I even liked the slow build as the scenes, world, and history was set as snippets of what could and would come were laid out and the characters starting points were established ready for the epic arcs they find themselves on. There is no shortage of action especially as you get into the second and third books and no-one is safe from the darkness that threatens so don't get too attached. I enjoyed these that much I will certainly be reading more of Kat Ross.
November 6, 2018
Amazing writing style. Loving how the story has been woven together. Almost like a beautiful tapestry with every part different but still complementing each other. Like the questions one arises other answers and you can't help but turn the page for more.....
the characters are so beautifully written that it feels that the entire story is just flowing out in front of you. Beautiful execution of the story line, with palpable characters and the story just flowing into the books makes it for a page turner
the characters are so beautifully written that it feels that the entire story is just flowing out in front of you. Beautiful execution of the story line, with palpable characters and the story just flowing into the books makes it for a page turner
April 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this trilogy over all.
The first book was great! I'm not a big fan of first person narration, but it was very well done in this case. The characters were wonderful, and there was a lot of action, excitement, and a few unexpected twists.
The second book didn't really hold up to the first. Some changes were made to narration, and they felt a bit jarring. I also found it a bit bothersome that the author went for historical our-world fantasy, adding real historical figures, when she could have easily made it her own world (especially since I thought it was exactly that throughout most of the first book). Because of that historical link, I found that the addition of modern slang took me out of the story a bit. It was still a good book, but the first was better.
The third book made up for the second one's shortcomings. It was an exciting book that kept me reading several one more chapters each night until the end. Now I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the author's new series!
The first book was great! I'm not a big fan of first person narration, but it was very well done in this case. The characters were wonderful, and there was a lot of action, excitement, and a few unexpected twists.
The second book didn't really hold up to the first. Some changes were made to narration, and they felt a bit jarring. I also found it a bit bothersome that the author went for historical our-world fantasy, adding real historical figures, when she could have easily made it her own world (especially since I thought it was exactly that throughout most of the first book). Because of that historical link, I found that the addition of modern slang took me out of the story a bit. It was still a good book, but the first was better.
The third book made up for the second one's shortcomings. It was an exciting book that kept me reading several one more chapters each night until the end. Now I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the author's new series!
May 5, 2020
I am so blessed that I happened to stumble upon this series! It is everything I want from a fantasy series, pure perfection!!
January 9, 2018
Great story
A fascinating story line. The imagination behind the making of each character will blow your mind. The story line is complicated, but easy to follow. The characters themselves are ingenious. Some you fall in love with, other's you come to hate, and still there are some you just don't know what you feel. You definitely won't want to put this story down. An excellent read. Enjoy!
A fascinating story line. The imagination behind the making of each character will blow your mind. The story line is complicated, but easy to follow. The characters themselves are ingenious. Some you fall in love with, other's you come to hate, and still there are some you just don't know what you feel. You definitely won't want to put this story down. An excellent read. Enjoy!
January 8, 2018
I had previously read Book 1, but it made a huge difference to get the full picture. From being a fascinating story of mythical and supernatural beings, this turned into an epic tale of courage, adventure and sacrifice. Totally engrossing.
September 16, 2022
~ "Non sono i barbari e neanche i Druji che dobbiamo temere di più, Nazafareen. È il nemico che abbiamo dentro."~
La trilogia de "Il quarto elemento" di Kat Ross è stata una delle letture più belle che io abbia fatto in quest'ultimo periodo.
È ambientata in una Persia antica popolata non solo da umani, ma anche da Daeva, creature capaci di governare gli elementi, e da Druji, esseri malvagi portatori di morte.
Esistono alcuni uomini con una particolare capacità: legarsi ad un Daeva e, insieme, lottare contro i Druji. Uno di questi è la protagonista Nazafareen, che si legherà a Darius. Inutile dirvi che tra i due si creerà un legame profondo che li porterà a scoprire i segreti più oscuri della loro società.
Ogni personaggio introdotto nella storia è costruito divinamente, e risulta estremamente credibile. Sono tutti caratterizzati dettagliatamente e, alla fine dell'ultimo libro, vi sembrerà di conoscerli, e dirgli addio sarà veramente dura. Nazafareen più di tutti vi conquisterà: è testarda, irriverente, vendicativa, ma ha anche un gran cuore, e lotterà con le unghie e con i denti per i propri amici, e perché vi sia finalmente giustizia.
La narrazione è un susseguirsi di eventi adrenalinici, con diversi POV che permettono una visione a 360° della storia. Un incastro di trame che vi terrà col fiato sospeso fino alla fine.
Nota di merito alle ambientazioni, capaci di farti immergere completamente in questo particolare e meraviglioso mondo. Le descrizioni sono perfette, evocative, talmente vivide che ti sembrerà di sentire la sabbia addosso e l'odore delle spezie pizzicarti il naso.
Ci sono degli elementi non troppo originali, ma la Ross riesce a gestirli in maniera perfetta, e non rappresentano motivo di fastidio durante la lettura.
Il finale aperto fa sì che per chi non ne avesse abbastanza di Nazafareen e Darius, potrà continuare a seguire le loro avventure nella saga successiva de "il quarto talismano" composta da ben 5 libri.
I fantasy con ambientazione medio-orientale sono il mio punto debole. Amo queste ambientazioni e devo dire che la trilogia de "Il quarto elemento" è sicuramente tra le mie preferite.
La trilogia de "Il quarto elemento" di Kat Ross è stata una delle letture più belle che io abbia fatto in quest'ultimo periodo.
È ambientata in una Persia antica popolata non solo da umani, ma anche da Daeva, creature capaci di governare gli elementi, e da Druji, esseri malvagi portatori di morte.
Esistono alcuni uomini con una particolare capacità: legarsi ad un Daeva e, insieme, lottare contro i Druji. Uno di questi è la protagonista Nazafareen, che si legherà a Darius. Inutile dirvi che tra i due si creerà un legame profondo che li porterà a scoprire i segreti più oscuri della loro società.
Ogni personaggio introdotto nella storia è costruito divinamente, e risulta estremamente credibile. Sono tutti caratterizzati dettagliatamente e, alla fine dell'ultimo libro, vi sembrerà di conoscerli, e dirgli addio sarà veramente dura. Nazafareen più di tutti vi conquisterà: è testarda, irriverente, vendicativa, ma ha anche un gran cuore, e lotterà con le unghie e con i denti per i propri amici, e perché vi sia finalmente giustizia.
La narrazione è un susseguirsi di eventi adrenalinici, con diversi POV che permettono una visione a 360° della storia. Un incastro di trame che vi terrà col fiato sospeso fino alla fine.
Nota di merito alle ambientazioni, capaci di farti immergere completamente in questo particolare e meraviglioso mondo. Le descrizioni sono perfette, evocative, talmente vivide che ti sembrerà di sentire la sabbia addosso e l'odore delle spezie pizzicarti il naso.
Ci sono degli elementi non troppo originali, ma la Ross riesce a gestirli in maniera perfetta, e non rappresentano motivo di fastidio durante la lettura.
Il finale aperto fa sì che per chi non ne avesse abbastanza di Nazafareen e Darius, potrà continuare a seguire le loro avventure nella saga successiva de "il quarto talismano" composta da ben 5 libri.
I fantasy con ambientazione medio-orientale sono il mio punto debole. Amo queste ambientazioni e devo dire che la trilogia de "Il quarto elemento" è sicuramente tra le mie preferite.
October 18, 2024
I started reading this "boxed set" of the Fourth Element Trilogy a year ago. I took a long break after finishing the first book because I needed a rest from the intensity and complexity. At the same time, I have to admire those very qualities. Ross has put just about every fantasy element into the blender, added ancient Persia, Zoroastrianism, and even Alexander the Great, and buzzed up a compelling fictional concoction. The magical system is complicated, what with humans bonded to daevas (human-like beings with elemental superpowers), exploitive magi, necromancers, and a host of terrifying evil creatures called Druj. The plot jumps from one dire situation to another. Every time the good guys score a win, another peril comes over the horizon. Much of the action in the second and especially the third book takes place in a kind of underworld where all the rules are different.
The characters are largely defined by their struggles and their relationships to one another. Only a few felt well-rounded to me, in particular Tijah, who has a major role in the third book, and Balthazar, a necromancer or antimagus, who undergoes a profound change. The main character, Nazafareen, is divided between rage and love, and verges on annoying at times. In fact, I found myself thinking near the end of the book that some of the interactions among a group of semi-divine characters felt a bit melodramatic. Some of the dialogue has a YA vibe.
The end of the trilogy resolves some plot threads, but others trail away into yet another set of books. Although I mostly enjoyed this trilogy, I'm not yet sure I want to follow those threads.
The characters are largely defined by their struggles and their relationships to one another. Only a few felt well-rounded to me, in particular Tijah, who has a major role in the third book, and Balthazar, a necromancer or antimagus, who undergoes a profound change. The main character, Nazafareen, is divided between rage and love, and verges on annoying at times. In fact, I found myself thinking near the end of the book that some of the interactions among a group of semi-divine characters felt a bit melodramatic. Some of the dialogue has a YA vibe.
The end of the trilogy resolves some plot threads, but others trail away into yet another set of books. Although I mostly enjoyed this trilogy, I'm not yet sure I want to follow those threads.
December 3, 2019
The Midnight Sea
What an amazing alternative world Ms Ross has developed for us readers to become immersed in. I was hooked from the beginning even if the visualisation was unnerving, I sympathised with Nazrafeen and understood where she was going. Her life with the Water Dogs was not an easy one and she believed everything she was told to be true. Her adventures with her fellow Water Dogs and their daeva are the backbone of the story. I for one cannot wait to read the next one. Grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in a fabulous series. Highly recommended.
Blood of the Prophet.
The second book in the trilogy is slower paced than the first one. Our team are looking for the Prophet to rescue him that take a fair bit of planning and sculking around. Balthazar also tell his viewpoint, while also delving into the past to help fill in bits and pieces. Alexander moves faster than he promised putting our team under pressure. Grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in a fabulous series and enjoy yourself. Highly recommended.
Queen of Chaos.
What a way to end the series. The creatures of nightmares are busy plotting how to invade and overrun the world. Neblis is awaiting the arrival of someone who has the power to break the gates. In the meantime she is sending out her minions to do what they can to disrupt the kingdoms. They are overwhelmingly viscous, things are not looking good for everyone. Grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in a fabulous series. Highly recommended.
What an amazing alternative world Ms Ross has developed for us readers to become immersed in. I was hooked from the beginning even if the visualisation was unnerving, I sympathised with Nazrafeen and understood where she was going. Her life with the Water Dogs was not an easy one and she believed everything she was told to be true. Her adventures with her fellow Water Dogs and their daeva are the backbone of the story. I for one cannot wait to read the next one. Grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in a fabulous series. Highly recommended.
Blood of the Prophet.
The second book in the trilogy is slower paced than the first one. Our team are looking for the Prophet to rescue him that take a fair bit of planning and sculking around. Balthazar also tell his viewpoint, while also delving into the past to help fill in bits and pieces. Alexander moves faster than he promised putting our team under pressure. Grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in a fabulous series and enjoy yourself. Highly recommended.
Queen of Chaos.
What a way to end the series. The creatures of nightmares are busy plotting how to invade and overrun the world. Neblis is awaiting the arrival of someone who has the power to break the gates. In the meantime she is sending out her minions to do what they can to disrupt the kingdoms. They are overwhelmingly viscous, things are not looking good for everyone. Grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in a fabulous series. Highly recommended.
December 25, 2018
The Fourth Element series is one of my favorite fantasy series I've discovered this year. This boxed set contains the first three books, which are a trilogy within the larger series. Since the story continues from one book to the next in the trilogy, and you're going to want to know how it ends, you might as well get the boxed set, especially if, like me, you have KU.
The Fourth Element series cleverly combines elements of history and mythology to craft a unique alternate history set in Persia during the time of Alexander the Great. In it, magic is real, with humans controlling the dangerous daeva. Only are the daeva really as evil as their masters have been led to believe?
I won't get into the plot too much for fear of spoilers, but the worldbuilding is well done, combining Zoroastrianism and other "exotic" mythologies with a realism that manages to be gritty without being overwhelmingly so. The young women who are the main protagonists are spunky warriors, but with enough individuality to avoid the trap of being just another feisty cardboard woman warrior in a male-dominated society. There's also some appealing romance. In short, this is an entertaining and well-done series that combines aspects of epic and historical fantasy in a convincing way.
The Fourth Element series cleverly combines elements of history and mythology to craft a unique alternate history set in Persia during the time of Alexander the Great. In it, magic is real, with humans controlling the dangerous daeva. Only are the daeva really as evil as their masters have been led to believe?
I won't get into the plot too much for fear of spoilers, but the worldbuilding is well done, combining Zoroastrianism and other "exotic" mythologies with a realism that manages to be gritty without being overwhelmingly so. The young women who are the main protagonists are spunky warriors, but with enough individuality to avoid the trap of being just another feisty cardboard woman warrior in a male-dominated society. There's also some appealing romance. In short, this is an entertaining and well-done series that combines aspects of epic and historical fantasy in a convincing way.
January 6, 2020
I love reading, and consuming new (to me) books, and I'm glad to be back in the habit. I read quickly, and love it when I find a book that I cannot put down.
Four days ago I started reading The Fourth Element Trilogy by Kat Ross. I chose this book(s) because I am working through all the books I have on my Kindle, and am trying to read them before I buy more, as I'm a bit of an addict. Before my actual Kindle died (I now use Kindle app on my phone) I wrote on a sheet of paper (that ended up being 12 sides of A4) all the books I hadn't read yet, because my Amazon account doesn't actually register whether I've read a book yet, just that I've bought it. (Or if it does, I'm not technologically minded enough to work out how to do it!) So, I choose my books based on the title alone. I decided to read this one because the title sounded interesting, and because it's a trilogy, I knew I wouldn't read it too fast - or so I thought...
Given that I have read nearly 1000 pages in 3 days (as I actually finished the trilogy yesterday), you can take for granted that I enjoyed it. It is really well written, and set in a partly fantasy and partly historical world. The writing was really good, and I liked the fact that we were looking on things from the pov of a different culture. I'm not going to give anything away in this review, but when some of the historical aspects come to light, I was quite pleased with myself that I had worked them out beforehand, though the identity of the young king of the enemy was a surprise to me.
Having read the books so fast, I couldn't put them down. I was only slightly disappointed in the ending, because I felt it ended and everything was wrapped up a bit too quickly, and I wanted to experience more. However, there is a subsequent series called The Fourth Talisman where you can see what happens next the the characters. I haven't bought these books yet, because I am trying to work through the ones on my list, but I look forward to coming back to this world and seeing what happens next to Nazafareen.
Four days ago I started reading The Fourth Element Trilogy by Kat Ross. I chose this book(s) because I am working through all the books I have on my Kindle, and am trying to read them before I buy more, as I'm a bit of an addict. Before my actual Kindle died (I now use Kindle app on my phone) I wrote on a sheet of paper (that ended up being 12 sides of A4) all the books I hadn't read yet, because my Amazon account doesn't actually register whether I've read a book yet, just that I've bought it. (Or if it does, I'm not technologically minded enough to work out how to do it!) So, I choose my books based on the title alone. I decided to read this one because the title sounded interesting, and because it's a trilogy, I knew I wouldn't read it too fast - or so I thought...
Given that I have read nearly 1000 pages in 3 days (as I actually finished the trilogy yesterday), you can take for granted that I enjoyed it. It is really well written, and set in a partly fantasy and partly historical world. The writing was really good, and I liked the fact that we were looking on things from the pov of a different culture. I'm not going to give anything away in this review, but when some of the historical aspects come to light, I was quite pleased with myself that I had worked them out beforehand, though the identity of the young king of the enemy was a surprise to me.
Having read the books so fast, I couldn't put them down. I was only slightly disappointed in the ending, because I felt it ended and everything was wrapped up a bit too quickly, and I wanted to experience more. However, there is a subsequent series called The Fourth Talisman where you can see what happens next the the characters. I haven't bought these books yet, because I am trying to work through the ones on my list, but I look forward to coming back to this world and seeing what happens next to Nazafareen.
January 30, 2023
I'm happy I discovered this series. The connection between the characters were beautifully written. A lot of the writing held me captive and entranced and made me emotional, ready to climb into the story and help the characters. Of course, I loved the romance sprinkled into this epic historical fantasy. I love the way the writer also drew from the historical events of our world, yet managed to create different races, magics and storylines to fit into it.
My only problem, and its got mostly to do with what I like to read, is the lack of physical connection between the two characters when it came down to it. All the scenes in these books are written in depth and provokes emotions, but when the two characters finally got together, those scenes lacked greatly. The rest made up for it but I'm always a little saddened when spicier scenes are not included.
I'm lucky that I read the comments and know that the story continues with another series. Otherwise, the ending wouldn't have made entirely sense but I didn't find fault in it at all. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes, and how the characters bloom even more.
My only problem, and its got mostly to do with what I like to read, is the lack of physical connection between the two characters when it came down to it. All the scenes in these books are written in depth and provokes emotions, but when the two characters finally got together, those scenes lacked greatly. The rest made up for it but I'm always a little saddened when spicier scenes are not included.
I'm lucky that I read the comments and know that the story continues with another series. Otherwise, the ending wouldn't have made entirely sense but I didn't find fault in it at all. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes, and how the characters bloom even more.
October 17, 2018
I have a hard time finding good fantasy books dealing in magic. Often the magical system is either absurd or not really well explained or it's just not easy to accept. Besides that, certainly the question is, if the story is good.
After reading the first book of this trilogy, I was elated. The story was great, the writing good, the magical system made sense, was easy to accept as real, and the people in it were well developed.
Then came book two along, which was almost as good. So far, at least 4 stars.
Book three, to me, was a major let down. Things got weird, the story wasn't so nice to follow anymore. Suddenly everything turned out to be not as it seemed, people to the left and right turned out to suffer from amnesia (either by magic or by psychological effects of trauma). The story line went chaotic and and the end wasn't really great either.
Reminded me of some multi-part stories on the web, where the author just left, and then someone else took over and turned the whole thing into something else.
After reading the first book of this trilogy, I was elated. The story was great, the writing good, the magical system made sense, was easy to accept as real, and the people in it were well developed.
Then came book two along, which was almost as good. So far, at least 4 stars.
Book three, to me, was a major let down. Things got weird, the story wasn't so nice to follow anymore. Suddenly everything turned out to be not as it seemed, people to the left and right turned out to suffer from amnesia (either by magic or by psychological effects of trauma). The story line went chaotic and and the end wasn't really great either.
Reminded me of some multi-part stories on the web, where the author just left, and then someone else took over and turned the whole thing into something else.
October 14, 2018
Enticing and entrapped until the end
A writer of science fiction or fantasy must really have a talent for storytelling to grab you and keep you. Unlike other genres, so much needs to be explained so you are involved in their world in order to care about the characters.
Kat Moss is able to weave the story to gain your investment. The only problem is that it seems she gets lost in her own world and then remembers it has to end. This left a sudden and confusing ending in the 3rd book. The conflicts all resolve in someone else's background and the explanation is vague.
I would have given 5 stars if not for the way the trilogy ended. There really is no resolution...just a way to get you to buy more books which is dad. A truly good author would give you an ending that would make you crave to read everything you've ever written...not have the reader to broke for a required ending.
A writer of science fiction or fantasy must really have a talent for storytelling to grab you and keep you. Unlike other genres, so much needs to be explained so you are involved in their world in order to care about the characters.
Kat Moss is able to weave the story to gain your investment. The only problem is that it seems she gets lost in her own world and then remembers it has to end. This left a sudden and confusing ending in the 3rd book. The conflicts all resolve in someone else's background and the explanation is vague.
I would have given 5 stars if not for the way the trilogy ended. There really is no resolution...just a way to get you to buy more books which is dad. A truly good author would give you an ending that would make you crave to read everything you've ever written...not have the reader to broke for a required ending.
June 11, 2021
Strong Characters and Interesting Bits of Salvation Done
This is truly an interesting series. All the characters are nice and strong with interesting sides to all just when you think you have one figured out a new piece will enter in mixing things up.
What I particularly love is that all characters go through some level of salvation for themselves. I think that is true for everyone. Also, there isn't that much swearing in the books. Nearly all the swearing is done by one character and that one seems like the type who does it just for the shock value. Not logical at all, but since when is swearing logical to any degree.
What I didn't like was that Nazarene found out a truth that understandably rocked her world and she at first seemed to place the blame where it belonged but then all of a sudden went of the deep end and lost all faith in religion. It just felt forced and fake.
Still I will recommend this series if you are in to fantasy.
This is truly an interesting series. All the characters are nice and strong with interesting sides to all just when you think you have one figured out a new piece will enter in mixing things up.
What I particularly love is that all characters go through some level of salvation for themselves. I think that is true for everyone. Also, there isn't that much swearing in the books. Nearly all the swearing is done by one character and that one seems like the type who does it just for the shock value. Not logical at all, but since when is swearing logical to any degree.
What I didn't like was that Nazarene found out a truth that understandably rocked her world and she at first seemed to place the blame where it belonged but then all of a sudden went of the deep end and lost all faith in religion. It just felt forced and fake.
Still I will recommend this series if you are in to fantasy.
August 28, 2018
Genre: Epic fantasy
I absolutely loved every minute of this trilogy. The world was engrossing and the author doesn't beat the reader over the head with details, giving enough of a framework for the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination. The characters are likable and the relationships develop throughout the books. The trilogy reminded me of the Belgariad in that it was intense, but not overly dark.
The rules outlined regarding magic are consistent, which I appreciated. It bothers me when an author goes out of their way to explain the rules of their universe and then breaks them a few chapters later.
While the first book was written in first person, the next two are only in first person in chapters about Nazafareen. It took a while to get used to this change, but I enjoyed the new storylines that were introduced.
I absolutely loved every minute of this trilogy. The world was engrossing and the author doesn't beat the reader over the head with details, giving enough of a framework for the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination. The characters are likable and the relationships develop throughout the books. The trilogy reminded me of the Belgariad in that it was intense, but not overly dark.
The rules outlined regarding magic are consistent, which I appreciated. It bothers me when an author goes out of their way to explain the rules of their universe and then breaks them a few chapters later.
While the first book was written in first person, the next two are only in first person in chapters about Nazafareen. It took a while to get used to this change, but I enjoyed the new storylines that were introduced.
April 19, 2018
I read these stories individually and couldn't stop reading once I started.
The magic system is interesting and well-developed, rivaling those created by masters like Brandon Sanderson. The characters have clear motivations and enough foibles to draw you into their trials. You want them to succeed.
And not everything is simply good or evil. There are shades of gray in some of the characters you start out hating, and darker undertones to the characters you love and root for.
I dare you to start this series when you've only got an hour to read. You'll decide to stay up all night instead. And for a $1? You've got very little to lose...except sleep.
The magic system is interesting and well-developed, rivaling those created by masters like Brandon Sanderson. The characters have clear motivations and enough foibles to draw you into their trials. You want them to succeed.
And not everything is simply good or evil. There are shades of gray in some of the characters you start out hating, and darker undertones to the characters you love and root for.
I dare you to start this series when you've only got an hour to read. You'll decide to stay up all night instead. And for a $1? You've got very little to lose...except sleep.
July 16, 2018
I won this book on Goodreads (Kindle version) for an honest review.
The first book in this box set is pretty good! The narrative is lively, fast-paced, smart and inventive. The next two books fall a bit short of the first book. The second book is lacking and a bit sluggish (for me). The third book was a bit better and ended in such a way that I feel there will be more to come. I cannot leave something unfinished, so if there is more to this story, I will read it to see how things turn out. Otherwise, the third book was much more satisfying than the second and did wrap things up satisfyingly.
The first book in this box set is pretty good! The narrative is lively, fast-paced, smart and inventive. The next two books fall a bit short of the first book. The second book is lacking and a bit sluggish (for me). The third book was a bit better and ended in such a way that I feel there will be more to come. I cannot leave something unfinished, so if there is more to this story, I will read it to see how things turn out. Otherwise, the third book was much more satisfying than the second and did wrap things up satisfyingly.
December 3, 2018
Something different
Having read some of the reviews for this trilogy it sounded as though it would be an interesting read.
This is in fact a bit of an understatement, the story grips you straight from the first line, then weaves its way along dragging you with it and never letting go.
The fact that the story is based in a real geographical location and time period, and has historical characters woven into it, makes for a very appealing premise.
The main characters are well written and grow continually throughout the story causing you to change your view of them as they evolve, Balthazar being one of the most unexpected.
Very well written and a pleasure to read.
Having read some of the reviews for this trilogy it sounded as though it would be an interesting read.
This is in fact a bit of an understatement, the story grips you straight from the first line, then weaves its way along dragging you with it and never letting go.
The fact that the story is based in a real geographical location and time period, and has historical characters woven into it, makes for a very appealing premise.
The main characters are well written and grow continually throughout the story causing you to change your view of them as they evolve, Balthazar being one of the most unexpected.
Very well written and a pleasure to read.
March 30, 2019
Great fantasy fiction with a strong female
I really enjoyed this original fantasy. It is well written and edited with great world building and a very original story. The author does a great job weaving a bit of the real ancient world into a highly original fantasy realm full of magic, myth, and good versus evil. Character developement is well thought out with characters struggling to come to terms with themselves and the events they find themselves in. Characters show vulnerabilities, self doubt, love, and amazing courage as they each find their own way to battle the dark forces building around them.
I really enjoyed this original fantasy. It is well written and edited with great world building and a very original story. The author does a great job weaving a bit of the real ancient world into a highly original fantasy realm full of magic, myth, and good versus evil. Character developement is well thought out with characters struggling to come to terms with themselves and the events they find themselves in. Characters show vulnerabilities, self doubt, love, and amazing courage as they each find their own way to battle the dark forces building around them.
September 17, 2018
Great Series
I have no idea how much research went into books but I think late bronze early iron age 'Fertile Crescent setting is inspired. The characters are easy to get along with and various scenes unexpected. It would be very easy to write spoilers for first three books, but, I won't. There is so.!such detail I think they are worth re-reading in future plus following the characters, even the reformed 'baddie' who is likely to become very important. (Or at least should be?)
I have no idea how much research went into books but I think late bronze early iron age 'Fertile Crescent setting is inspired. The characters are easy to get along with and various scenes unexpected. It would be very easy to write spoilers for first three books, but, I won't. There is so.!such detail I think they are worth re-reading in future plus following the characters, even the reformed 'baddie' who is likely to become very important. (Or at least should be?)
October 9, 2018
All in all good series
I had a really hard time getting in to this series and honestly almost stopped reading...i don't know why because I usually love this genre... but about the time i was 3/4 done with the first book I got hooked and couldn't stop reading so please if you start this series dont stop you will regret it. I really enjoyed the use of unfamiliar words because im geeky like that I love learning new things I like how the series was set in the old middle East(ish) area with all the descriptions I almost felt transported there which was cool
I had a really hard time getting in to this series and honestly almost stopped reading...i don't know why because I usually love this genre... but about the time i was 3/4 done with the first book I got hooked and couldn't stop reading so please if you start this series dont stop you will regret it. I really enjoyed the use of unfamiliar words because im geeky like that I love learning new things I like how the series was set in the old middle East(ish) area with all the descriptions I almost felt transported there which was cool
October 29, 2018
The first book in The Fourth Element series, I really enjoyed reading and count not wait to see what the other two books had in store. The second book was okay. It had some moments that made it good, but I found myself not as excited for the last book in the series. The last book was an even bigger disappointment as I got halfway through and ended up not putting it away. It just did not hold my attention at all. I do not know if I will ever finish the third book, but I will at least try again at a later date.
November 12, 2018
This is so gripping
I found the plot so gripping and twisting I found myself really captivated by the dynamic between the bonded pairs and as you learn more about them it only held me tighter. The bond between Darius and nazafareen is compelling and as it grows and the story progresses you really grow to love them. One continuity error that did wrk me was it started out as lions on the cuff and this later changed to griffins such a minor detail but it did throw me a bit the characters are well developed and diverse a truly amazing read can’t wait to read the other two series
I found the plot so gripping and twisting I found myself really captivated by the dynamic between the bonded pairs and as you learn more about them it only held me tighter. The bond between Darius and nazafareen is compelling and as it grows and the story progresses you really grow to love them. One continuity error that did wrk me was it started out as lions on the cuff and this later changed to griffins such a minor detail but it did throw me a bit the characters are well developed and diverse a truly amazing read can’t wait to read the other two series
November 3, 2019
A few annoying habits
This was a good series. Rounded strong female characters without being cliche or childish for the most part. I appreciate she writes females, but as the series progresses she makes weird statements about ALL men. They literally add nothing to the story and seem to be a very weak attempt at female empowerment when there already are many strong female characters. The author also has the annoying habit of using phrases like "as if-" to explain she a character is seeing or doing instead of describing it.
This was a good series. Rounded strong female characters without being cliche or childish for the most part. I appreciate she writes females, but as the series progresses she makes weird statements about ALL men. They literally add nothing to the story and seem to be a very weak attempt at female empowerment when there already are many strong female characters. The author also has the annoying habit of using phrases like "as if-" to explain she a character is seeing or doing instead of describing it.
February 2, 2020
Oh! Oh! Oh! SO GOOD!
Oh lord, I am so tired! I have been reading and reading and reading because I CAN'T STOP READING THESE BOOKS! Phew. Finally I've finished these wonderful books, only to find---there's another one. And it's free! Of course I've downloaded it, but can't read any more tonight (or should I say morning) as my eyes won't focus. I've got to take a short nap so I can read more! I love Kat Ross and her books!
Oh lord, I am so tired! I have been reading and reading and reading because I CAN'T STOP READING THESE BOOKS! Phew. Finally I've finished these wonderful books, only to find---there's another one. And it's free! Of course I've downloaded it, but can't read any more tonight (or should I say morning) as my eyes won't focus. I've got to take a short nap so I can read more! I love Kat Ross and her books!
July 25, 2020
This was a good read, although the narrative is a bit stingy on details - the reader is never given information or backstory until it is absolutely necessary. Despite that, the story flows well and the plot develops in a way that feels both intense and totally natural. I think the fact that the worldbuilding is based in real history also helps to keep the story grounded.
Finished Book 1 and putting the rest on hold for now, I may come back and finish the series in the future.
Finished Book 1 and putting the rest on hold for now, I may come back and finish the series in the future.
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