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Harbinger #3
Iron Garland
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler continues his majestic Harbinger series in a world where motivations are as mysterious as magic.
For three years, Sera Fitzempress has been a pawn in a gilded prison—the floating manor of Pavenham Sky. Disgraced and exiled from society, she has been isolated from the downtrodden she’s determined to liberate. But although Sera may seem subservient on the outside, the stubborn princess has only become emboldened.
Now in charge of her family’s estate, Cettie Pratt has grown into an independent young woman, although she continues to be tested by the high society of the clouds. Advancing in the magic of the Mysteries, Cettie is also a useful tool of defense during turbulent times. However, as more of Cettie’s mysterious past comes to light, her greatest challenge may be a reckless stranger with a dark secret.
The fog of war is drawing in, and with it comes a startling new enemy who may unravel secrets that both women would prefer stay hidden. But their secrets may be the only way to stop the coming darkness…
For three years, Sera Fitzempress has been a pawn in a gilded prison—the floating manor of Pavenham Sky. Disgraced and exiled from society, she has been isolated from the downtrodden she’s determined to liberate. But although Sera may seem subservient on the outside, the stubborn princess has only become emboldened.
Now in charge of her family’s estate, Cettie Pratt has grown into an independent young woman, although she continues to be tested by the high society of the clouds. Advancing in the magic of the Mysteries, Cettie is also a useful tool of defense during turbulent times. However, as more of Cettie’s mysterious past comes to light, her greatest challenge may be a reckless stranger with a dark secret.
The fog of war is drawing in, and with it comes a startling new enemy who may unravel secrets that both women would prefer stay hidden. But their secrets may be the only way to stop the coming darkness…
351 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2018
3264 people are currently reading
3582 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Wheeler
126 books5,216 followersWall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains.
Learn about Jeff’s many worlds at www.jeff-wheeler.com, or participate in one of his online writing classes through Writer’s Block (www.writersblock.biz).
Learn about Jeff’s many worlds at www.jeff-wheeler.com, or participate in one of his online writing classes through Writer’s Block (www.writersblock.biz).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
February 13, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4-stars.
September 29, 2018
Iron Garland is the third instalment of Jeff Wheeler's planned five book Harbinger series and Jeff Wheeler certainly doesn't disappoint.
After the very solid foundations laid by the preceding books, Jeff Wheeler has skipped ahead three years, ramped up the intrigue and expanded the world across the Mirror Gate.
The fate of both worlds rest in Sera’s and Cettie's capable young hands as they gather their wits and rise above their allotted stations, much to the chagrin of their elders.
Sera and Cettie are blossoming into strong ladies, each with their own distinctive voice which is a tribute to the writing prowess of Jeff Wheeler. While waiting for the release of Iron Garland, I read for the first time Wheeler's debut series, Legends of Muirwood, and his skills as an author have noticeably grown. His characters in Harbinger are far more nuanced and his situational writing and plotting has significantly improved with experience.
A thoroughly enjoyable journey with the now familiar characters of Sera and Cettie in a world brimming with magic and yet to be revealed secrets. These are characters that are close to my heart and I pine for their return in Prism Cloud.
After the very solid foundations laid by the preceding books, Jeff Wheeler has skipped ahead three years, ramped up the intrigue and expanded the world across the Mirror Gate.
The fate of both worlds rest in Sera’s and Cettie's capable young hands as they gather their wits and rise above their allotted stations, much to the chagrin of their elders.
Sera and Cettie are blossoming into strong ladies, each with their own distinctive voice which is a tribute to the writing prowess of Jeff Wheeler. While waiting for the release of Iron Garland, I read for the first time Wheeler's debut series, Legends of Muirwood, and his skills as an author have noticeably grown. His characters in Harbinger are far more nuanced and his situational writing and plotting has significantly improved with experience.
A thoroughly enjoyable journey with the now familiar characters of Sera and Cettie in a world brimming with magic and yet to be revealed secrets. These are characters that are close to my heart and I pine for their return in Prism Cloud.
May 10, 2022
I know I didn't love Mirror Gate so much but Wheeler brings all the stops out in Iron Garland.
Wheeler assumes now that we are familiar enough with both the Harbinger and Kingfountain worlds to drop all pretenses and world building fluff and tell the story.
Sera absolutely shines in this one. It is the growth and power I have been waiting for from her! Three years have passed since she was figuratively imprisoned at Pavenham Sky, and as much as we hate to admit it, Lady Corinne gave her the tools she needed to succeed at court. I was thrilled to see Sera at Kingfountain and I think Prince Trevon will be interesting going forward as well.
One exciting thing is that Wheeler tells us something about an old Kingfountain legend - the Maid of Donremy - that I won't share for spoiler alerts but it brings the entire war of hard feelings into perspective and raises a lot of thoughts too.
Cettie is powerful as well in this novel and I am both happy and sad for her. I think we all knew by now that Cettie was to be the Harbinger, that's not a spoiler, and it was joyful to see her stand up to her adopted siblings and come into her own as Keeper of Fog Willows. Towards the end though, was she losing her mind? It is entirely out of character for Cettie to ignore a prized possession going missing and someone clearly meddling with her business items. There is absolutely no way she wouldn't have confronted anyone about this or pursued it until she had answers, I just don't believe it.
Action wise - the book opens with a ghastly murder, contains the end of a war, a hunt for a Fear Liath, and some absolutely stunning duplicity towards the end. The cliffhanger is as equally alarming as the beginning and the book hardly slows down in between. This is what I expect from Wheeler, nothing less at this point!
Lastly I should mention the new residents of Gimmerton Sough, the manor next to Fog Willows - I can't say too much but the foreshadowing throughout the early part of the novel is obvious and real. You don't know exactly what the foreshadowing is pointing to but you know to be very, very alert for issues and when they start popping up, oh my 😭 I am so worried for my Fitzroy siblings that I'm going to start Prism Cloud today
Wheeler assumes now that we are familiar enough with both the Harbinger and Kingfountain worlds to drop all pretenses and world building fluff and tell the story.
Sera absolutely shines in this one. It is the growth and power I have been waiting for from her! Three years have passed since she was figuratively imprisoned at Pavenham Sky, and as much as we hate to admit it, Lady Corinne gave her the tools she needed to succeed at court. I was thrilled to see Sera at Kingfountain and I think Prince Trevon will be interesting going forward as well.
One exciting thing is that Wheeler tells us something about an old Kingfountain legend - the Maid of Donremy - that I won't share for spoiler alerts but it brings the entire war of hard feelings into perspective and raises a lot of thoughts too.
Cettie is powerful as well in this novel and I am both happy and sad for her. I think we all knew by now that Cettie was to be the Harbinger, that's not a spoiler, and it was joyful to see her stand up to her adopted siblings and come into her own as Keeper of Fog Willows. Towards the end though, was she losing her mind? It is entirely out of character for Cettie to ignore a prized possession going missing and someone clearly meddling with her business items. There is absolutely no way she wouldn't have confronted anyone about this or pursued it until she had answers, I just don't believe it.
Action wise - the book opens with a ghastly murder, contains the end of a war, a hunt for a Fear Liath, and some absolutely stunning duplicity towards the end. The cliffhanger is as equally alarming as the beginning and the book hardly slows down in between. This is what I expect from Wheeler, nothing less at this point!
Lastly I should mention the new residents of Gimmerton Sough, the manor next to Fog Willows - I can't say too much but the foreshadowing throughout the early part of the novel is obvious and real. You don't know exactly what the foreshadowing is pointing to but you know to be very, very alert for issues and when they start popping up, oh my 😭 I am so worried for my Fitzroy siblings that I'm going to start Prism Cloud today
December 20, 2018
A few more years have passed since book 2 and the empire has been at war with Kingfountain. Sera is being held almost like a social captive in Lady Corrine's household. She is shunned. Sera isn't broken though; she has been quietly learning what she can by observation and biding her time for her release. Her chance comes when her father wants to try to resurrect the idea of a marriage contract with the Prince of Kingfountain, which will hopefully lead to an armistice.
Meanwhile, Cettie has been the Keeper at Fogwillows in Fitzroy's absence (he is off to war). As a harbinger, she has been feeding information to Fitzroy of the enemies movements, allowing him to be successful in battle. She also uses her strength with the Mysteries to help her new neighbors.
This series just keeps getting better. Now that the lands of Muirwood and Kingfountain are at war, there are a lot more connections being made between this series and the previous ones that I've read. It makes me a little giddy to see it all coming together, especially when old evil forces are beginning to gain power and one must try to figure out who is good and who is corrupted. I can't wait for the next book!
Meanwhile, Cettie has been the Keeper at Fogwillows in Fitzroy's absence (he is off to war). As a harbinger, she has been feeding information to Fitzroy of the enemies movements, allowing him to be successful in battle. She also uses her strength with the Mysteries to help her new neighbors.
This series just keeps getting better. Now that the lands of Muirwood and Kingfountain are at war, there are a lot more connections being made between this series and the previous ones that I've read. It makes me a little giddy to see it all coming together, especially when old evil forces are beginning to gain power and one must try to figure out who is good and who is corrupted. I can't wait for the next book!
September 18, 2019
05/08/2019
warning: I didn't realize that it would be wise to read the Kingfountain series first! I got spoiled for some things in that series. Just a heads up here.
Storm Glass ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mirror Gate ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Iron Garland ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Newts
✔️Ancient runes, exceeded expectations: book written in past tense
okay I did NOT see that plottwist coming AT ALL. That ending made me gasp! Explained a lot of things, that's for damn sure. This is my favorite book in the series so far. So many storylines, so many secrets, so much politics. The romance I can do without
Also: please stop killing off (or something else) characters that I actually like? It's no fun!
Can't wait to see where the next one goes!!
warning: I didn't realize that it would be wise to read the Kingfountain series first! I got spoiled for some things in that series. Just a heads up here.
Storm Glass ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mirror Gate ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Iron Garland ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Newts
✔️Ancient runes, exceeded expectations: book written in past tense
okay I did NOT see that plottwist coming AT ALL. That ending made me gasp! Explained a lot of things, that's for damn sure. This is my favorite book in the series so far. So many storylines, so many secrets, so much politics. The romance I can do without
Also: please stop killing off (or something else) characters that I actually like? It's no fun!
Can't wait to see where the next one goes!!
March 8, 2022
What that cliffhanger pissed me off! I knew there was something up with that guy! Ugh, what is this big secret that everyone is keeping and why do they need Cettie so badly?
I cried tears of joy and sadness in this one, so many hurtful and happy things. I do wonder what the peace treaty will bring and how things can move forward with both lands.
I am soooo excited to see how Sera grows n0w that she is able to do the things that she wants to do with her life. I feel like she will bring so much more to the table than people give her credit for. Adam is such a sweetheart and I love the love that is blossoming!
I cried tears of joy and sadness in this one, so many hurtful and happy things. I do wonder what the peace treaty will bring and how things can move forward with both lands.
I am soooo excited to see how Sera grows n0w that she is able to do the things that she wants to do with her life. I feel like she will bring so much more to the table than people give her credit for. Adam is such a sweetheart and I love the love that is blossoming!
January 1, 2020
I'm so glad Sera and Cettie are finally getting a chance to make their way in the world. I can't wait to see what's in store for Corrine, Sera's father and all of the others that have treated Cettie and Sera abominably.
I didn't realize this series was going to be tied to the Kingfountain world and series. Had I known that, I definitely would have started with that series first.
I didn't realize this series was going to be tied to the Kingfountain world and series. Had I known that, I definitely would have started with that series first.
November 22, 2018
This author. He is incredible. The stories he tells, how he weaves them all together yet keeps them separate. I can’t say enough great things about him and his words.
July 30, 2019
Well. Well. Well. How about that. I certainly did NOT see THAT coming!
ANOTHER great installment in this series! Jeff Wheeler has created this way-cool world that I am thoroughly enjoying being lost in. Throwing in some twists that I didn't expect and I love that. Moving straight into book 4!
ANOTHER great installment in this series! Jeff Wheeler has created this way-cool world that I am thoroughly enjoying being lost in. Throwing in some twists that I didn't expect and I love that. Moving straight into book 4!
March 6, 2019
The next one doesn’t come out until March??? 😭😭😭
December 19, 2024
What a good series to read in these dark days of winter.
December 27, 2018
Jeff Wheeler draws readers back into the magical world of Muirwood in the latest installment of the Harbinger series. Three years have passed, and the war with Kingfountain continues. Sera remains in isolated exile, yearning to be free and able to take her rightful place as Empress. Cettie fills her time as Keeper of Fog Willows, as well as making important (and secret) contributions to the war effort. Meanwhile, long kept secrets are at risk of being revealed, and a new threat lurks in the horizon.
Iron Garland kicks off with a shocking prologue that left me gasping and on the edge of my seat. Pretty impressive for five minutes worth of reading, right? Holy smokes! And you know what? It only got better from there.
I had no idea what to expect in this book, after the way book two ended, but I was surprised to see it begin three years later. Ordinarily, this is something that disappoints me—because I want to know every single thing that happens when I'm reading a series—but my disappointment barely had time to register before I was completely immersed in the book. It didn't take me long to decide the time skip was the perfect way to continue the story, as it gives readers a sense of urgency where the war is concerned. Great loss had already been suffered, and the need for the war to (finally) come to an end was omnipresent throughout, whether the war was actively being discussed or portrayed in any given scene.
Most of the characters went through changes, to some degree, but it was most gratifying to see how much Sera grew in wisdom during her imprisonment at Pavenham Sky. She knew what would give her the best shot at being released from exile, and made sure to make it seem as if she was humbled by her punishment. Clever girl!
I won't mention all the things that stood out to me about this book, because there are SO MANY... and it would spoil things for those who haven't read it. Suffice to say that there more than a few surprising twists (particularly the one in the epilogue!), new locations to discover, interesting romantic developments, and someone's unexpected (though welcome) change of heart.
This book was simply delightful to read, and I can't wait to read Prism Cloud (the next book in the series) because Iron Garland ended with some particularly chilling words from a certain lady, making it clear she had plans that didn't bode well for Cettie.
If you haven't started reading this series, I do hope you'll give it a try! I think it's safe to say that this book firmly cemented Harbinger as my favorite young adult fantasy series. Perhaps it will be yours, as well?
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of 47North via Netgalley.
Iron Garland kicks off with a shocking prologue that left me gasping and on the edge of my seat. Pretty impressive for five minutes worth of reading, right? Holy smokes! And you know what? It only got better from there.
I had no idea what to expect in this book, after the way book two ended, but I was surprised to see it begin three years later. Ordinarily, this is something that disappoints me—because I want to know every single thing that happens when I'm reading a series—but my disappointment barely had time to register before I was completely immersed in the book. It didn't take me long to decide the time skip was the perfect way to continue the story, as it gives readers a sense of urgency where the war is concerned. Great loss had already been suffered, and the need for the war to (finally) come to an end was omnipresent throughout, whether the war was actively being discussed or portrayed in any given scene.
Most of the characters went through changes, to some degree, but it was most gratifying to see how much Sera grew in wisdom during her imprisonment at Pavenham Sky. She knew what would give her the best shot at being released from exile, and made sure to make it seem as if she was humbled by her punishment. Clever girl!
I won't mention all the things that stood out to me about this book, because there are SO MANY... and it would spoil things for those who haven't read it. Suffice to say that there more than a few surprising twists (particularly the one in the epilogue!), new locations to discover, interesting romantic developments, and someone's unexpected (though welcome) change of heart.
This book was simply delightful to read, and I can't wait to read Prism Cloud (the next book in the series) because Iron Garland ended with some particularly chilling words from a certain lady, making it clear she had plans that didn't bode well for Cettie.
If you haven't started reading this series, I do hope you'll give it a try! I think it's safe to say that this book firmly cemented Harbinger as my favorite young adult fantasy series. Perhaps it will be yours, as well?
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of 47North via Netgalley.
October 23, 2018
Iron Garland marks the midway point of the Harbinger series. In most series, this is where the story slows down and not much happens as the author slowly moves pieces into place but withholds any sort of resolution in order to keep the tension for the concluding installment(s). I am so glad to report that Iron Garland does not succumb to that problem. It is not a stand-alone novel in any sense of the word, but enough of the story lines are given a sense of completion that it feels like a novel and not just a part of something bigger. But at the same time, Iron Garland stands as a great middle chapter in a much larger epic.
A full review of the story line would reveal too many spoilers, but I can at least say that Iron Garland continues the stories of Cettie Saeed and Sera Fitzempress. As the Kingfountain novels loosely followed the Wars of the Roses, so these loosely follow the early reign of Victoria. But having that knowledge makes the story even more enjoyable: Wheeler does not slavishly copy history with the names changed, but uses it as a springboard to create a complex set of events leading to climactic final chapters (and additional books in the series). Iron Garland opens with a shocking death and doesn't let up until the final surprises in the last chapter. I got to the end and had to remind myself that the next installment is still months away.
But the book's strengths come not just from the action (which is well paced and frequent) but also from the various characters and their relationships. We get to see Cettie and Sera grow into even stronger protagonists, as they deal with one problem after another. Wheeler is one of the leading proponents of clean fiction, but that doesn't mean boring or flat characters: both Cettie and Sera face tough moral questions throughout and do not always respond like Polyanna. But it's still a morally complex story that gives the reader more than just an action buzz.
This may be a cliche, but I honestly am looking forward to the next installment, more than I have found myself doing in a long, long time. In general, I've gotten tired of the 'grimdark' storytelling that a lot of fantasy holds to these days, but Wheeler's fresh and exciting storytelling has given me renewed hope for the genre. We need more of this.
(Disclaimers: (1) I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for this review; (2) I was the book review editor on the original run of Wheeler's Deep Magic magazine, and so I have counted Jeff as a friend for more than a decade. My enthusiasm over this book comes not from any desire to help him get sales -- he has managed that well enough on his own -- but because this is one really good book!)
A full review of the story line would reveal too many spoilers, but I can at least say that Iron Garland continues the stories of Cettie Saeed and Sera Fitzempress. As the Kingfountain novels loosely followed the Wars of the Roses, so these loosely follow the early reign of Victoria. But having that knowledge makes the story even more enjoyable: Wheeler does not slavishly copy history with the names changed, but uses it as a springboard to create a complex set of events leading to climactic final chapters (and additional books in the series). Iron Garland opens with a shocking death and doesn't let up until the final surprises in the last chapter. I got to the end and had to remind myself that the next installment is still months away.
But the book's strengths come not just from the action (which is well paced and frequent) but also from the various characters and their relationships. We get to see Cettie and Sera grow into even stronger protagonists, as they deal with one problem after another. Wheeler is one of the leading proponents of clean fiction, but that doesn't mean boring or flat characters: both Cettie and Sera face tough moral questions throughout and do not always respond like Polyanna. But it's still a morally complex story that gives the reader more than just an action buzz.
This may be a cliche, but I honestly am looking forward to the next installment, more than I have found myself doing in a long, long time. In general, I've gotten tired of the 'grimdark' storytelling that a lot of fantasy holds to these days, but Wheeler's fresh and exciting storytelling has given me renewed hope for the genre. We need more of this.
(Disclaimers: (1) I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for this review; (2) I was the book review editor on the original run of Wheeler's Deep Magic magazine, and so I have counted Jeff as a friend for more than a decade. My enthusiasm over this book comes not from any desire to help him get sales -- he has managed that well enough on his own -- but because this is one really good book!)
November 16, 2018
Another Wonderful Work by Wheeler
The third book of the Harbinger series by Jeff Wheeler is another testament to the author’s ability to draw you into a story. While the book is good on it’s own merit, you really need to read the previous two installments to fully appreciate it. The book starts off with an unexpected twist that, for me, confirmed some suspicions but left many more questions unanswered. Cettie and Sera continue their disparate adventures, and as a reader you are able to start to piece some things together.
While in the previous novels I felt that Cettie had a richer character development, this book was Sera’s time to shine. As a reader, it was fun for me to see Sera discover herself while she went through a crucible. From spending time in Pavenham Sky to traveling to other worlds, I felt that Sera really began to figure out who she wants to be, and what she must do to get there.
I found myself vacillating on how I felt about certain characters introduced in this novel. Could I trust them or not? Whether I could or not, should the protagonists trust them?. Again Jeff Wheeler masterfully keeps you guessing as to where true loyalties lie as the fate of both individual lives and that of empires hang in the balance.
If you enjoyed the other books, keep reading. The story just gets better and better. I anxiously anticipate the next book. I feel like this book was a pivotal piece to the story and that it has set the stage for some exciting developments ahead.
If you want a good story that is fun, intense and engaging, and have not started the series yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. I would personally advise that you read some of Jeff’s other series first. While not necessary, knowing more about the worlds of Muirwood and Kingfountain add depth to an already wonderfully woven saga. I am excited to continue the the adventures in Prism Cloud when that book is released in a few months.
Edit: I initially gave this book 4 stars, but now that some time has passed I have found that whenever my mind has a chance to wander, it is returning to this world and analyzing the twists and turns and postulating what may be coming next. To captivate the mind and fill it with anticipation is the sign that Iron Garland needed that fifth star. While I am done reading the book, the story keeps me lingering in the world that has been created in the mind of the author and conveyed by simple ink on a page.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
The third book of the Harbinger series by Jeff Wheeler is another testament to the author’s ability to draw you into a story. While the book is good on it’s own merit, you really need to read the previous two installments to fully appreciate it. The book starts off with an unexpected twist that, for me, confirmed some suspicions but left many more questions unanswered. Cettie and Sera continue their disparate adventures, and as a reader you are able to start to piece some things together.
While in the previous novels I felt that Cettie had a richer character development, this book was Sera’s time to shine. As a reader, it was fun for me to see Sera discover herself while she went through a crucible. From spending time in Pavenham Sky to traveling to other worlds, I felt that Sera really began to figure out who she wants to be, and what she must do to get there.
I found myself vacillating on how I felt about certain characters introduced in this novel. Could I trust them or not? Whether I could or not, should the protagonists trust them?. Again Jeff Wheeler masterfully keeps you guessing as to where true loyalties lie as the fate of both individual lives and that of empires hang in the balance.
If you enjoyed the other books, keep reading. The story just gets better and better. I anxiously anticipate the next book. I feel like this book was a pivotal piece to the story and that it has set the stage for some exciting developments ahead.
If you want a good story that is fun, intense and engaging, and have not started the series yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. I would personally advise that you read some of Jeff’s other series first. While not necessary, knowing more about the worlds of Muirwood and Kingfountain add depth to an already wonderfully woven saga. I am excited to continue the the adventures in Prism Cloud when that book is released in a few months.
Edit: I initially gave this book 4 stars, but now that some time has passed I have found that whenever my mind has a chance to wander, it is returning to this world and analyzing the twists and turns and postulating what may be coming next. To captivate the mind and fill it with anticipation is the sign that Iron Garland needed that fifth star. While I am done reading the book, the story keeps me lingering in the world that has been created in the mind of the author and conveyed by simple ink on a page.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
January 10, 2024
I think plot and vibes-wise this is my favourite installment in the series so far, however there is a lot of criticism I have for this book.
This series still continues to be a sweet family-friendly series for all ages to enjoy, but I found that it had less "Wow, I need to contemplate it as an adult" commentary than the first two installments had.
I've been thinking about the authorial intent a lot while reading this novel. In culture there's a dialogue of Authorial Intent VS Death of an Author - does the author, their experience and their intent matters when judging their work or does it only matter what the avg modern consumer thinks of it?
I hold the opinion that the authorial intent matters although I'm still allowed to judge "the intent" and how well the author achieved what he was trying to do.
Jeff Wheeler by his own admission is very big on the Roman concept of Virtus (from the author's site):
The opposite comparison I can think of is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue which by author's admission was supposed to be like "The IT work" of her entire life, it's 500-pages long, and the author tried to describe the logic of the curse a great deal - so in that case it was a very negative "authorial intent" experience for me cuz it did go a great deal into explaining the logic and technicalities behind the curse YET logic/technicalities didn't make sense and the book was too long and word-y to not explain stuff and at the same time you got an idea from the text "look how deep it is, this is real modern literally thing right here" when it really wasn't - all of that would had been forgiven if it was a novella which didn't try to explain the curse that much (and then the assumption would be "it's too short, just go with the vibes") and if there wasn't any elitist vibes
Anyway, back to Wheeler's authorial intent.
I think the author did a great job for what he was trying to do, it's a very enjoyable piece of work even though sometimes I wished to know more about the worldbuilding, and the book definitely had inconsistencies, and I was frustrated with the usage of female dress (complaints of tight undergarments - which is a stereotype based on a false narrative - and mentions of maids helping to dress yet one of the characters just quickly changes her dress on her own at some point... I digress, there're inconsistencies and bad research) and a few other issues (which I'm not as passionate about as clothes so I chose to ignore it) that could have been easily resolved by the author simply looking more into it.
At this point in the series I've also noticed that the author is trying to tell more than he shows. So far every book had a forward-jump in time. Second book ends with the start of the war. Third book is taking place 3 years later and one of the main goals was signing an armistice
which is a fancy new word I've learned from this book which means "truce". Every book so far seems to have a relatively small main goal it tries to achieve while most of the big events are happening in the years passing between the books. I still feel like it goes very well with the authorial intent and that's why these books are so short and readable - every time you finish a book, it feels like only a few chapters have passed. However, even within the books' time period some events/conversations you'd think are important, but are actually completely glossed over and only mentioned afterwards in a dialogue as "this thing happened". Again, I think overall it goes with the authorial intent and the series is quite enjoyable for me to read so far, but sometimes it can be frustrating in a "Huh? What did the characters do? How did they do it?" fashion. It's especially frustrating when it happens with the two main POV characters, but it's fairly understandable when it deals with broader world as, although the main two POV characters are important players in this world, their status doesn't allow them to know everything and be there when every single world-altering event happens.
Besides that, another main complaint I have for this series is juvenile dialogue. I think in this book it was better than in the previous installment, but the constant "Thank you! You're the best!" dialogue gets annoying. I am choosing to think the author just wants us to practice gratitude, BUT in that case there would be more praise from POV characters of secondary characters (which is present but not as much), and not have the constant praise from secondary characters of POV characters.
It would've been more annoying if the POV characters weren't actually great - but both of them are good and smart girls. However, this gets especially annoying in the Tell not Show instances, where some important event/conversation would be skipped in narration but then I'd see praise "You're so good you did/said that! Thank you!" and I am just here like Yes! Great! It is indeed great! I wish I'd get to see any of it, though
Also in this series
Series overview: 15.5/25 stars
1. Storm Glass ★★★★
2. Mirror Gate ★★★
3. Iron Garland ★★★★
4. Prism Cloud ★★.5
5. Broken Veil ★★
This series still continues to be a sweet family-friendly series for all ages to enjoy, but I found that it had less "Wow, I need to contemplate it as an adult" commentary than the first two installments had.
I've been thinking about the authorial intent a lot while reading this novel. In culture there's a dialogue of Authorial Intent VS Death of an Author - does the author, their experience and their intent matters when judging their work or does it only matter what the avg modern consumer thinks of it?
I hold the opinion that the authorial intent matters although I'm still allowed to judge "the intent" and how well the author achieved what he was trying to do.
Jeff Wheeler by his own admission is very big on the Roman concept of Virtus (from the author's site):
It was a trait that the Romans respected, but it did not mean just virtue. It included other qualities too: prudentia (prudence), iustitia (justice), temperantia (self-control), and fortitudo (courage).The author tries to write a clean, could-be-enjoyed-by-all-ages (as long as they're not so desensitized to only be able to enjoy "real adult" pieces of work with violence and sex), Dickens/Austen-esque Fantasy. Wheeler doesn't try to write some big epic, his novels don't go too deep into the worldbuilding and logic of events, and the word count is fairly small for a fantasy - the author really just wants you to not look too closely and just go with the vibes
Anyway, back to Wheeler's authorial intent.
I think the author did a great job for what he was trying to do, it's a very enjoyable piece of work even though sometimes I wished to know more about the worldbuilding, and the book definitely had inconsistencies, and I was frustrated with the usage of female dress (complaints of tight undergarments - which is a stereotype based on a false narrative - and mentions of maids helping to dress yet one of the characters just quickly changes her dress on her own at some point... I digress, there're inconsistencies and bad research) and a few other issues (which I'm not as passionate about as clothes so I chose to ignore it) that could have been easily resolved by the author simply looking more into it.
At this point in the series I've also noticed that the author is trying to tell more than he shows. So far every book had a forward-jump in time. Second book ends with the start of the war. Third book is taking place 3 years later and one of the main goals was signing an armistice
Besides that, another main complaint I have for this series is juvenile dialogue. I think in this book it was better than in the previous installment, but the constant "Thank you! You're the best!" dialogue gets annoying. I am choosing to think the author just wants us to practice gratitude, BUT in that case there would be more praise from POV characters of secondary characters (which is present but not as much), and not have the constant praise from secondary characters of POV characters.
It would've been more annoying if the POV characters weren't actually great - but both of them are good and smart girls. However, this gets especially annoying in the Tell not Show instances, where some important event/conversation would be skipped in narration but then I'd see praise "You're so good you did/said that! Thank you!" and I am just here like Yes! Great! It is indeed great! I wish I'd get to see any of it, though
Also in this series
Series overview: 15.5/25 stars
1. Storm Glass ★★★★
2. Mirror Gate ★★★
3. Iron Garland ★★★★
4. Prism Cloud ★★.5
5. Broken Veil ★★
April 2, 2019
This is an excellent story, one that is much improved by the protagonists having grown beyond being naive youth. I would have considered a five star rating but the end felt a lot like a fish hook for the next book, which is a pet peeve. It's the first one in the series that has left me feeling that way, but since these things happen at the end of the book it's the thing that is most fresh in my mind. Hence, it touches on my rating.
September 29, 2019
This series is still solid. I'm completely invested in the characters and the introduction of a new world had me thirsting for more!
November 12, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
He did it again. Mr. Wheeler sets about making me care about people and then up-ends them. Twice in this book! Once in the first chapter!! I expect this kind of tricksy-ness from George R. R. Martin, but you sir! Don’t stop! 😊
These are such great books. Cettie, is becoming a force to reckon with. Her power is unstoppable but it is tempered with such a sweetness of character. I adore her and her entire adopted family. Yeah that’s right, I said all of them. Even a little more after this book. (no spoilers!)
Sera is fast becoming a favorite as well. She’s a canny, brave little thing. I love that her story line is taking her straight to our beloved Kingfountain. Oh, oops that was a spoiler, but I won’t say more. Other than there is the promise that a character of some renown from the Kingfountain books will be making an appearance in the series. CAN NOT WAIT!
Like the other books in the series this one is highly readable, smoothly written and absorbing. However, this is not something you can pick up in the middle of the series. I would recommend going back to at least book one of the Harbinger series, if not all the way back to the beginning of his books … actually yes … do that last thing. If you love a good long series like I do then by all means get to steppin’. In case you needed any more incentive most of them can be found on Kindle Unlimited. Now I just have to wait until book 4 comes out in March 2019. I think I can make it!
Extra Links:
Jeff Wheeler series reading order – this page tells you all about how to get started in this series which is 19 books long and counting. Be still my book loving heart!
Song for this book: Last of Days – A Fine Frenzy
He did it again. Mr. Wheeler sets about making me care about people and then up-ends them. Twice in this book! Once in the first chapter!! I expect this kind of tricksy-ness from George R. R. Martin, but you sir! Don’t stop! 😊
These are such great books. Cettie, is becoming a force to reckon with. Her power is unstoppable but it is tempered with such a sweetness of character. I adore her and her entire adopted family. Yeah that’s right, I said all of them. Even a little more after this book. (no spoilers!)
Sera is fast becoming a favorite as well. She’s a canny, brave little thing. I love that her story line is taking her straight to our beloved Kingfountain. Oh, oops that was a spoiler, but I won’t say more. Other than there is the promise that a character of some renown from the Kingfountain books will be making an appearance in the series. CAN NOT WAIT!
Like the other books in the series this one is highly readable, smoothly written and absorbing. However, this is not something you can pick up in the middle of the series. I would recommend going back to at least book one of the Harbinger series, if not all the way back to the beginning of his books … actually yes … do that last thing. If you love a good long series like I do then by all means get to steppin’. In case you needed any more incentive most of them can be found on Kindle Unlimited. Now I just have to wait until book 4 comes out in March 2019. I think I can make it!
Extra Links:
Jeff Wheeler series reading order – this page tells you all about how to get started in this series which is 19 books long and counting. Be still my book loving heart!
Song for this book: Last of Days – A Fine Frenzy
August 19, 2022
Vote: 3,90
Class: L-A3 (FP)
(third book out of five)
I was pleasantry surprised by the first book and the following book are only confirming me in my feeling: this is a really good fantasy series (of the classic-fantasy sub-genre with quite a bit of political intrigue).
It has a really good setting and a well done magical system that you learn little by little as the story goes on. The set of characters are mostly young ones and yes, you just know they're destined to greatness, etc., etc... But it's really well done: you come to know them, care for them, fear with them and see them grow day by day and year by year. They're now in their twenties and it's quite interesting how they've become.
The world is solid and as the story goes on it is... expanding and ever more convincing.
The story is epic and full of political intrigue and I'm quite liking it.
The only downside (in my opinion, clearly) is that maybe the series could have been a book shorter, leaving out some part that, while interesting and contributing to the story, it somewhat slow the momentum of the story.
I like the genre. I like the setting. I like more and more the story and its wonderful characters.
See you all in the next book!
Class: L-A3 (FP)
(third book out of five)
I was pleasantry surprised by the first book and the following book are only confirming me in my feeling: this is a really good fantasy series (of the classic-fantasy sub-genre with quite a bit of political intrigue).
It has a really good setting and a well done magical system that you learn little by little as the story goes on. The set of characters are mostly young ones and yes, you just know they're destined to greatness, etc., etc... But it's really well done: you come to know them, care for them, fear with them and see them grow day by day and year by year. They're now in their twenties and it's quite interesting how they've become.
The world is solid and as the story goes on it is... expanding and ever more convincing.
The story is epic and full of political intrigue and I'm quite liking it.
The only downside (in my opinion, clearly) is that maybe the series could have been a book shorter, leaving out some part that, while interesting and contributing to the story, it somewhat slow the momentum of the story.
I like the genre. I like the setting. I like more and more the story and its wonderful characters.
See you all in the next book!
October 23, 2018
What can I say about this book! I just adore this series and the universe that Wheeler has created. It's atypical to find a series that follows characters from childhood through adulthood, and Wheeler does that as well as any of the masters. Cettie, Sera and the rest are so relatable and believable.
Oftentimes, characters lose the traits that originally made me love them as they progress through a series. That doesn't happen with the characters of Iron Garland. These are the same people that I loved and/or hated in Storm Glass, just with more maturity and experience behind their decisions. That doesn't mean the characters are perfect. They make missteps and are sometimes blind to the consequences their actions may have. The plot had a few predictable twists and turns, but managed to shock me numerous times! Despite a couple of VERY startling developments, Iron Garland left me feeling great about the series. I can't wait for the next entry in the series, Prism Cloud!
Oftentimes, characters lose the traits that originally made me love them as they progress through a series. That doesn't happen with the characters of Iron Garland. These are the same people that I loved and/or hated in Storm Glass, just with more maturity and experience behind their decisions. That doesn't mean the characters are perfect. They make missteps and are sometimes blind to the consequences their actions may have. The plot had a few predictable twists and turns, but managed to shock me numerous times! Despite a couple of VERY startling developments, Iron Garland left me feeling great about the series. I can't wait for the next entry in the series, Prism Cloud!
June 9, 2020
This is, basically, more of the same from the first two books. If you liked them, you'll probably like this one.
You know, after 3 books of suffering through her, I have to say that I just do not like the character of Sera. She's just so unlikable, and fake. Way too much of this book is focused on her, and every time a chapter about her pops up I groan. I didn't really care for her much in the first two books, but this is the book where she just became unbearable to me. Like, the whole rest of the book is great. I just cannot stand this character.
You know, after 3 books of suffering through her, I have to say that I just do not like the character of Sera. She's just so unlikable, and fake. Way too much of this book is focused on her, and every time a chapter about her pops up I groan. I didn't really care for her much in the first two books, but this is the book where she just became unbearable to me. Like, the whole rest of the book is great. I just cannot stand this character.
July 1, 2020
Cettie and Sera keep going on their amazing journey. Both of them keep developing in such an interesting way.
What a wonderful world and characters. The only other book series to give me this thrill was Eragon.
What a wonderful world and characters. The only other book series to give me this thrill was Eragon.
November 15, 2018
Book 3 of the Harbinger series drops us back into the lives of Cettie and Sera (aka Seraphina), two friends born on opposite ends of the class spectrum. While both are in completely different situations, both face very similar challenges.
WHAT WORKED FOR ME:
The drop into book three was seamless. There was no ramp up, with pages and pages of information explaining the previous books. At the same time, there was nothing to leave you lost trying to figure out where, when and with whom the story was. Wheeler just drops you into the world he’s created, and you’re there with the characters, feeling what they feel, seeing through their eyes.
Another big draw for me was all the mentions and references to other books and worlds he’s created. I love how Harbinger draws them all together through time and space, weaving a tapestry that now has its borders and tassels and all the right finishes.
But the biggest draw of all is exactly what I’ve found Wheeler to be so good at – the intellectual. In Cettie you will find not just a girl born into poverty, striving to find herself and to be worthy, but a girl who is keenly intelligent. She’s sharp. Not just a little, either. More, she’s compassionate. She cares about others. In Sera you have a girl born into wealth and distinction, but who struggles to find herself every bit as much. While she doesn’t have Cettie’s natural abilities, she does have a sense of truth and honor that are compelling.
You don’t just read this book, you feel it. You see it. You experience it. Characters who use their minds to benefit not only themselves but others is a wonderful thing to find. You sit, hunched over the book, a huge grin on your face. Even when you look up and realize you’re smiling like a fool alone in the dark at three in the morning, you keep smiling. And of course, keep reading.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
Darn little, that’s for sure. But there is something. In a previous series (which I will not reveal so as not to spoil anything for other readers) there is a certain rather prominent romance between two absolutely endearing characters. You love them. You route for them. You WANT them to be together… and then they’re not. Certainly there’s a realism to the outcome (one that Wheeler must feel keenly himself as he even discusses the decision in his author notes), but it left me feeling melancholy. Was it done well? Absolutely. The writing was flawless. The execution perfection, and quite believable. But I read to escape reality. To find the happy endings that life can’t always provide. Especially when I’m reading fantasy. So I sighed a deep sigh and kept moving.
Now, here in Harbinger, there are other romances. One in particular. Of course I wondered if I would have the same deep sigh as before. I can’t tell you whether you will or won’t – that would be a spoiler – but I will say that all of the build-up, all of the angst and uncertainty and emotion led to a point that was somehow almost anticlimactic. I wanted to feel everything with the characters, and oddly, the moment passed rather quickly. Which, whether negative or positive, lacked a bit of depth. Will there be more about this moment in the next book? I hope so. I was past the moment almost before I realized what had happened, so I hope the emotional aspect, the thoughts and internalizations that are so prevalent throughout the rest of the story are explored so that I can not only understand, but be there. Because I so keenly want to experience everything with these characters who I not only know, but care for so deeply. Is my only negative a back-handed compliment? You betcha! ;-)
I received a free copy of this book, but the review is my own and quite honest opinion.
WHAT WORKED FOR ME:
The drop into book three was seamless. There was no ramp up, with pages and pages of information explaining the previous books. At the same time, there was nothing to leave you lost trying to figure out where, when and with whom the story was. Wheeler just drops you into the world he’s created, and you’re there with the characters, feeling what they feel, seeing through their eyes.
Another big draw for me was all the mentions and references to other books and worlds he’s created. I love how Harbinger draws them all together through time and space, weaving a tapestry that now has its borders and tassels and all the right finishes.
But the biggest draw of all is exactly what I’ve found Wheeler to be so good at – the intellectual. In Cettie you will find not just a girl born into poverty, striving to find herself and to be worthy, but a girl who is keenly intelligent. She’s sharp. Not just a little, either. More, she’s compassionate. She cares about others. In Sera you have a girl born into wealth and distinction, but who struggles to find herself every bit as much. While she doesn’t have Cettie’s natural abilities, she does have a sense of truth and honor that are compelling.
You don’t just read this book, you feel it. You see it. You experience it. Characters who use their minds to benefit not only themselves but others is a wonderful thing to find. You sit, hunched over the book, a huge grin on your face. Even when you look up and realize you’re smiling like a fool alone in the dark at three in the morning, you keep smiling. And of course, keep reading.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
Darn little, that’s for sure. But there is something. In a previous series (which I will not reveal so as not to spoil anything for other readers) there is a certain rather prominent romance between two absolutely endearing characters. You love them. You route for them. You WANT them to be together… and then they’re not. Certainly there’s a realism to the outcome (one that Wheeler must feel keenly himself as he even discusses the decision in his author notes), but it left me feeling melancholy. Was it done well? Absolutely. The writing was flawless. The execution perfection, and quite believable. But I read to escape reality. To find the happy endings that life can’t always provide. Especially when I’m reading fantasy. So I sighed a deep sigh and kept moving.
Now, here in Harbinger, there are other romances. One in particular. Of course I wondered if I would have the same deep sigh as before. I can’t tell you whether you will or won’t – that would be a spoiler – but I will say that all of the build-up, all of the angst and uncertainty and emotion led to a point that was somehow almost anticlimactic. I wanted to feel everything with the characters, and oddly, the moment passed rather quickly. Which, whether negative or positive, lacked a bit of depth. Will there be more about this moment in the next book? I hope so. I was past the moment almost before I realized what had happened, so I hope the emotional aspect, the thoughts and internalizations that are so prevalent throughout the rest of the story are explored so that I can not only understand, but be there. Because I so keenly want to experience everything with these characters who I not only know, but care for so deeply. Is my only negative a back-handed compliment? You betcha! ;-)
I received a free copy of this book, but the review is my own and quite honest opinion.
December 21, 2018
This is definitely the best of the Harbinger Books so far. Cettie and Sera are growing in strength and wisdom as they take separate paths to adulthood, and face very different challenges as a devastating battle wages between their homeland of sky people and the water-worshipping world of Kingfountain. Cettie has become the secret harbinger who shares her visions of the coming battles with her adopted father, Admiral Fitzroy, and helps their side prevail until a storm brings down their sky ships and Admiral Fitzroy goes missing, presumed drowned. Meanwhile, Sera, having spent three years imprisoned in Lady Corinne's mansion for disgracing herself and her father the Emperor, suddenly is called by her father's council to broker a peace between Lockhaven and Kingfountain, which may involve marriage to the prince she met in the previous book, and forsaking her claim to the throne as well as her religion.
Along the way there are many unexpected twists and turns, some characters and creatures from previous books are re-introduced, and many new surprising character revelations make this an intense read, very difficult to put down, and as much as I wanted to read it slowly, I kept coming back for more.
Along the way there are many unexpected twists and turns, some characters and creatures from previous books are re-introduced, and many new surprising character revelations make this an intense read, very difficult to put down, and as much as I wanted to read it slowly, I kept coming back for more.
November 12, 2018
Jeff Wheeler doesn't hesitate to start "Iron Garland" off with a jaw-dropping reveal that yanks you into the story and makes you want to continue reading to the end!
Three years have passed since the events of "Mirror Gate," and both Sera and Cettie are surviving their current situations. The former is still exiled from society and is living under house arrest, and the latter is running her family's estate. However, while people continue to shun them, both young women fortify themselves in order to meet the challenges they face, which will become necessary as events unfold within the novel.
The war with Kingfountain has been going on for three years as well. And, in order to secure victory for Harbinger, both Cettie and Sera must demonstrate their skills in order to preserve their worth to society. Cettie uses her abilities to secure victories on the battlegrounds, while Sera uses her negotiation techniques to come up with an armistice. However, there are more forces and enemies at work and they want to topple everything that Sera, Cettie, and their comrades are striving to save.
By the end of the novel, more twists and revelations are known. This can only mean that Sera and Cettie will continue to be pawns in the game for power. Only this time, Sera and Cettie will have a better handle on things, for now.
With each book I read, I become more and more pique by the way Jeff Wheeler manages to write his stories. He makes you want to read his next one! The characters and the world building allow fascination to transpire as one continues reading. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Three years have passed since the events of "Mirror Gate," and both Sera and Cettie are surviving their current situations. The former is still exiled from society and is living under house arrest, and the latter is running her family's estate. However, while people continue to shun them, both young women fortify themselves in order to meet the challenges they face, which will become necessary as events unfold within the novel.
The war with Kingfountain has been going on for three years as well. And, in order to secure victory for Harbinger, both Cettie and Sera must demonstrate their skills in order to preserve their worth to society. Cettie uses her abilities to secure victories on the battlegrounds, while Sera uses her negotiation techniques to come up with an armistice. However, there are more forces and enemies at work and they want to topple everything that Sera, Cettie, and their comrades are striving to save.
By the end of the novel, more twists and revelations are known. This can only mean that Sera and Cettie will continue to be pawns in the game for power. Only this time, Sera and Cettie will have a better handle on things, for now.
With each book I read, I become more and more pique by the way Jeff Wheeler manages to write his stories. He makes you want to read his next one! The characters and the world building allow fascination to transpire as one continues reading. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 26, 2019
I love how Wheeler spaces out the characters’ timelines in his series’... we began in book 1 with Sera and Cettie, main characters (protagonists?), at age 12, then book two they are 16, then this book they are age 19... it’s an awesome and unique tactic on character development! Both their lives are so different and separate, yet so alike and united.
The tone and pace of this series is unlike other fantasy I’ve read (especially modern fantasy!). Wheeler does not rely on constant action or gore or romance. But more on subtle happenings, it is very realistic in how it really might be with two kingdoms colliding and a war (that goes on for years) and politics and cunning of leaders. And the timeline is believable too, Sera Fitzempress is not just going to suddenly rise to the top and become Empress, it will take years and years... (hopefully will find out in the next book).
The world he’s built is also interesting in that it combines 2 concepts, the customs and the feel of the period of older England (ie Jane Austen books) and the fantasy and magic of this created world.
The tone and pace of this series is unlike other fantasy I’ve read (especially modern fantasy!). Wheeler does not rely on constant action or gore or romance. But more on subtle happenings, it is very realistic in how it really might be with two kingdoms colliding and a war (that goes on for years) and politics and cunning of leaders. And the timeline is believable too, Sera Fitzempress is not just going to suddenly rise to the top and become Empress, it will take years and years... (hopefully will find out in the next book).
The world he’s built is also interesting in that it combines 2 concepts, the customs and the feel of the period of older England (ie Jane Austen books) and the fantasy and magic of this created world.
November 10, 2019
A time skip, a shocker for an opener, a twist at the end, and plenty of adventure in between. I was less keen on the epilogue twist than everyone else on Goodreads seems to be, but I will wait to see where it goes before I pass judgment. It's nice to see characters that are allowed to grow and mature, and there is plenty of that here. I'm also impressed by how long people are faithful to their crushes in this world (with how much time has passed over the course of the story, it feels a smidge unrealistic to me that pretty much no one seems to move on from their childhood or school crushes, but whatever). Looking forward to the next book.
November 10, 2018
We enter the scene three years later, and Sera and Cettie have both matured and grown. Their circumstances and responsibilities have formed them into new people - but better.
Sera is more reticent, keeps her own counsel and has unintentionally learned the art of manipulation. That may sound like a negative, but because she's honest she works through this as well as other issues.
Cettie has the responsibility of caring for the family home and has earned the respect of many, though there are some who just can't get past her background. As the threads in the story twisted and reformed, I found myself spinning as I wondered what would happen next.
I know that Wheeler doesn't mind having these go awry and I still don't have a clear picture where this tale will land in the next book! I love a good surprise.
Iron Garland has been my favorite in the Harbinger series because the intensity is ramping up exponentially. This series is a must read for fantasy lovers.
I also love the covers! I find them artistic and refreshing.
For more reading suggestions go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
Sera is more reticent, keeps her own counsel and has unintentionally learned the art of manipulation. That may sound like a negative, but because she's honest she works through this as well as other issues.
Cettie has the responsibility of caring for the family home and has earned the respect of many, though there are some who just can't get past her background. As the threads in the story twisted and reformed, I found myself spinning as I wondered what would happen next.
I know that Wheeler doesn't mind having these go awry and I still don't have a clear picture where this tale will land in the next book! I love a good surprise.
Iron Garland has been my favorite in the Harbinger series because the intensity is ramping up exponentially. This series is a must read for fantasy lovers.
I also love the covers! I find them artistic and refreshing.
For more reading suggestions go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
February 9, 2020
The story jumps ahead another three years from where the last book left off. Cettie is not very fun at the beginning of this book. She seems somewhat self-righteous and unwelcoming to those who aren’t part of her inner circle. But as she develops new relationships and faces new challenges, she becomes less annoying. This is the most romantic of the book so far for both Cettie and Sera, and there is a Pride and Prejudice feel to some of the romance, which I liked. It was fun to see the world expand with new places and literally new worlds.
August 13, 2019
5 stars, easily!
Wow, what a ride!!! Much better than book 2. Wheeler has a knack for making you scream every time he switches narrators, but then making you forget what even happened to make you want that person's perspective back once it is their turn to speak again. This book had an actual plot twist that totally caught me off guard at the very end. I was smitten with a certain character and now my heart is blackened!
Wow, what a ride!!! Much better than book 2. Wheeler has a knack for making you scream every time he switches narrators, but then making you forget what even happened to make you want that person's perspective back once it is their turn to speak again. This book had an actual plot twist that totally caught me off guard at the very end. I was smitten with a certain character and now my heart is blackened!
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