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Dominion of the Fallen #3
The House of Sundering Flames
The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings and The House of Binding Thorns concludes her Dominion of the Fallen saga, set in a Paris devastated by a magical war.
The great magical Houses of Paris – headed by Fallen angels and magicians – were, however temporarily, at peace with each other. Until House Harrier was levelled by a powerful explosion. Now that peace has become chaos, tearing apart old alliances and setting off a race in which each House hoards magic and resources to protect itself against another such blast.
Thuan, the Dragon head of the divided House Hawthorn, is still consolidating his power when war comes to his doorstep. Aurore – exiled from and almost beaten to death by House Harrier – sees her moment to seek power in order to protect her family, even if she must venture back to her destroyed former home to get it. And Emmanuelle finds herself alone in the middle of it all, driven to protect others, trying to piece together what has happened, and hoping – eventually – to make sense of it all.
None of them know what destroyed House Harrier, though . . . and when they do uncover that fiery, destructive magic then divided Houses, old enemies and estranged friends will all have to make a decision: stand together, or burn alone . . .
The great magical Houses of Paris – headed by Fallen angels and magicians – were, however temporarily, at peace with each other. Until House Harrier was levelled by a powerful explosion. Now that peace has become chaos, tearing apart old alliances and setting off a race in which each House hoards magic and resources to protect itself against another such blast.
Thuan, the Dragon head of the divided House Hawthorn, is still consolidating his power when war comes to his doorstep. Aurore – exiled from and almost beaten to death by House Harrier – sees her moment to seek power in order to protect her family, even if she must venture back to her destroyed former home to get it. And Emmanuelle finds herself alone in the middle of it all, driven to protect others, trying to piece together what has happened, and hoping – eventually – to make sense of it all.
None of them know what destroyed House Harrier, though . . . and when they do uncover that fiery, destructive magic then divided Houses, old enemies and estranged friends will all have to make a decision: stand together, or burn alone . . .
560 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2019
35 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Aliette de Bodard
266 books2,240 followersAliette de Bodard lives and works in Paris. She has won three Nebula Awards, an Ignyte Award, a Locus Award, a British Fantasy Award and four British Science Fiction Association Awards, and was a double Hugo finalist for 2019 (Best Series and Best Novella).
Her most recent book is Fireheart Tiger (Tor.com), a sapphic romantic fantasy inspired by pre colonial Vietnam, where a diplomat princess must decide the fate of her country, and her own. She also wrote Seven of Infinities (Subterranean Press), a space opera where a sentient spaceship and an upright scholar join forces to investigate a murder, and find themselves falling for each other. Other books include Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders and its standalone sequel Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances, (JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.), fantasy books of manners and murders set in an alternate 19th Century Vietnamese court. She lives in Paris.
Her most recent book is Fireheart Tiger (Tor.com), a sapphic romantic fantasy inspired by pre colonial Vietnam, where a diplomat princess must decide the fate of her country, and her own. She also wrote Seven of Infinities (Subterranean Press), a space opera where a sentient spaceship and an upright scholar join forces to investigate a murder, and find themselves falling for each other. Other books include Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders and its standalone sequel Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances, (JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.), fantasy books of manners and murders set in an alternate 19th Century Vietnamese court. She lives in Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 5, 2021
Better than Binding Thorns but not quite up there with Shattered Wings. A plus is it didn't have any of Madeleine's POV. World-building is still the strongest part of the book. The plot is more solid than in Binding Thorns, so it was easier to keep up the interest.
August 29, 2019
Somehow EVEN MORE STRESSFUL than the previous two books, wow. De Bodard is not afraid to wade into her own creation and royally Fuck Some Shit Up. Some incredible points made about compassion, colonialism, and the nature of power, and some gloriously vivid depictions of queer families and resilience and hope-among-the-rubble.
(And, you know, Thuan and Asmodeus, the Dragon Husband/Stabby Husband arranged marriage of my heart.)
(And, you know, Thuan and Asmodeus, the Dragon Husband/Stabby Husband arranged marriage of my heart.)
January 30, 2020
In a genre that spends surprisingly little time investigating its own power structures, House of Sundering Flames is a really refreshing addition.
My experiences come mostly from English-language YA, but the common motif in fantasy is that most things will be fine as long as the people wielding the power are good, or less evil than the antagonist.
In House of Sundering Flames, it's clear that the corrupting nature of some kinds of power defies simple lines like "good" and "bad", and that some things can't be changed from the inside by people with good intentions, they need to be changed from their very roots. There's a lot explored in here - privilege, complicity, what is a home, so many aspects of the consequences of colonialism, and what "making things right" could look like; it touches upon things I wish I saw explored more often. It's a story about hard decisions, and sometimes regret, but overall a hopeful one that believes in the power of cooperation.
Which makes me wonder how much I would have liked this if it wasn't spoon fed to me. I appreciated the first two books for their subtlety; the same can't be said about this one, unsubtle to the point that I could tell exactly which kind of message almost every single scene wanted to convey. The story felt like scaffolding for ideas, the characters puppets laid down to follow clearly-drawn lines towards character development. It was all very meaningful; none of it felt real.
Now, since that was a harsh thing to say, I want underscore to the implied to me. I have no way of telling how much reading this during exam season affected me. I also have conflicting feelings about the way it felt fake: to have so many characters have some kind of change of heart in the last quarter felt forced, and sometimes I thought that's too easy in a way that made me doubt things (it's not about it being convenient plotwise - which it is - it's the part about "it needed me to suspend disbelief"). Is it really too easy if one finds it even difficult to imagine? Is it even such a bad thing to imagine something that doesn't ring true, as an exercise more than a mirror? I don't have an answer to that.
The new characters were also not as well-drawn as the others, in a way that stood out. It's kind of inevitable when you've known the rest of the cast for a long time and when there are so many perspectives, but I found Aurore's chapters very lackluster, and I wish I had liked the side polyamorous relationship more as well. With the reservations I talked about above, I liked where Philippe's arc went, instead, and how he finally faced his controlling tendencies. I still like reading about Thuan and Asmodeus, though this book's tendencies to state the same thing over and over are really blatant especially in the descriptions of Asmodeus as a character.
Overall, I can't even say this was a disappointing ending to the trilogy; I'm satisfied with how things ended. I just wish I had liked getting there.
My experiences come mostly from English-language YA, but the common motif in fantasy is that most things will be fine as long as the people wielding the power are good, or less evil than the antagonist.
In House of Sundering Flames, it's clear that the corrupting nature of some kinds of power defies simple lines like "good" and "bad", and that some things can't be changed from the inside by people with good intentions, they need to be changed from their very roots. There's a lot explored in here - privilege, complicity, what is a home, so many aspects of the consequences of colonialism, and what "making things right" could look like; it touches upon things I wish I saw explored more often. It's a story about hard decisions, and sometimes regret, but overall a hopeful one that believes in the power of cooperation.
Which makes me wonder how much I would have liked this if it wasn't spoon fed to me. I appreciated the first two books for their subtlety; the same can't be said about this one, unsubtle to the point that I could tell exactly which kind of message almost every single scene wanted to convey. The story felt like scaffolding for ideas, the characters puppets laid down to follow clearly-drawn lines towards character development. It was all very meaningful; none of it felt real.
Now, since that was a harsh thing to say, I want underscore to the implied to me. I have no way of telling how much reading this during exam season affected me. I also have conflicting feelings about the way it felt fake: to have so many characters have some kind of change of heart in the last quarter felt forced, and sometimes I thought that's too easy in a way that made me doubt things (it's not about it being convenient plotwise - which it is - it's the part about "it needed me to suspend disbelief"). Is it really too easy if one finds it even difficult to imagine? Is it even such a bad thing to imagine something that doesn't ring true, as an exercise more than a mirror? I don't have an answer to that.
The new characters were also not as well-drawn as the others, in a way that stood out. It's kind of inevitable when you've known the rest of the cast for a long time and when there are so many perspectives, but I found Aurore's chapters very lackluster, and I wish I had liked the side polyamorous relationship more as well. With the reservations I talked about above, I liked where Philippe's arc went, instead, and how he finally faced his controlling tendencies. I still like reading about Thuan and Asmodeus, though this book's tendencies to state the same thing over and over are really blatant especially in the descriptions of Asmodeus as a character.
Overall, I can't even say this was a disappointing ending to the trilogy; I'm satisfied with how things ended. I just wish I had liked getting there.
March 25, 2020
Powerful conclusion to the trilogy. While the first two books were somewhat stand-alone, this one depends pretty heavily on the previous two for context. For me, it does a very good job of tying those stories together. With each book in the series, de Bodard has delved more explicitly into examinations of power, oppression, and colonization, and in House of Sundering Flames she draws these themes fully to the surface. At the same time, however, for me it is also the most hopeful book in the trilogy, arguing that a different future is possible.
While I was reading this, several people I know were reading and discussing N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season. I found it interesting to consider some of the parallels between those two series, and how they are in dialogue about issues of power and system change. Both authors have also written short stories responding to UKL's classic "Those Who Walk Away From Omelas", and some of the same themes appear in their respective trilogies. All of which to say: as an examination of hierarchies and power, the Dominion of the Fallen series is in good company.
While I found this a very rewarding read, the writing was not as polished as I am used to from the author, and I felt that such an intricate story with so many characters could have been somewhat longer to given all of the threads more space. However, these are somewhat minor complaints given what de Bodard has accomplished with this series.
While I was reading this, several people I know were reading and discussing N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season. I found it interesting to consider some of the parallels between those two series, and how they are in dialogue about issues of power and system change. Both authors have also written short stories responding to UKL's classic "Those Who Walk Away From Omelas", and some of the same themes appear in their respective trilogies. All of which to say: as an examination of hierarchies and power, the Dominion of the Fallen series is in good company.
While I found this a very rewarding read, the writing was not as polished as I am used to from the author, and I felt that such an intricate story with so many characters could have been somewhat longer to given all of the threads more space. However, these are somewhat minor complaints given what de Bodard has accomplished with this series.
November 14, 2019
Solid conclusion to the trilogy. The setting remains, as always, one of my favorite things EVER. de Bodard is a highly under-appreciated writer.
September 2, 2024
Thuan took Asmodeus's hand and held it immobile against his neck. "Darrias? In Harrier? Are you trying to start a war between Houses?"
"She asked." He sounded amused again. "I told her she'd bear the consequences."
But he'd still said yes. Typical. Always go for the dramatic and explosive option.
I loved-loved-loved this. The series got better with each book - I wasn't fully sold on the first one, loved the second one and this one was a banger! (pun intended)
My fave as always is Thuan (the dragon bisexual mess) obsessing over his unhinged husband Asmodeus. Those two are so precious to me and they went such a long way in this book. I can't wait to read the novellas they are staring, because!!! There are scenes involving cute and blood-thirsty children and skinning apples, Unka Asmo, pining, banter as the show of love instead of showing simple care and concern. There is also hand-kissing, quivering antlers, clear communication and so much sexual tension that it might have stunned me a little. There is also a bit of court-intrigue and politicking which I also enjoy, so... *happy sigh*
I was really sorry to lose Madelaine as a POV character, but it does make sense since her arc pretty much closed with The House of Binding Thorns. We still see a glimpse of her here and there so it's alright, I guess. Having to put up with Phillipe third book in a row is unfair though, if you ask me. Although compared to the previous books his chapters here were more interesting and he actually did have a few great moments. We also get back Emmanuelle and gain a new character Aurore, so there was quite a bit to keep track of.
I did enjoy the fact that this book did seem to focus on the Annamite community even more than the previous one (although there was no peek into the dragon-kingdom as the counter balance) and seeing the more inviting side of the Houseless was nice.
I really loved the story arch in The House of Sundering Flames and the hopeful place it left us. I can't wait to see how Paris looks after it recovers a little bit from the events and my fingers are itching to pick up Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders!
BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
August 24, 2024
Epic conclusion to an incredible series.
I will have withdrawals tomorrow when I wake up.
I will have withdrawals tomorrow when I wake up.
May 16, 2020
Rep: Vietnamese bi mc, gay mc, Black lesbian mc, wlw side characters, Vietnamese side characters, trans lesbian side character
CWs: violence, implied torture
CWs: violence, implied torture
February 3, 2021
Finally, my trilogy binge has come to an end and it’s always such fun to read all books at once, taking it all in. And this was such an immersive experience.
The author took this book in a much different direction than I was expecting. It starts off literally with a bang and just continues on with more, the stakes feeling higher and higher and even hopeless at times. It was interesting to see how the narrative changes when a big bad affects both the magical beings and mortals equally, and how each of them will react.
I think what I liked most about this one was how the author managed to bring all the important themes from the series to a head in this finale. This trilogy has always been about unbridled power and how those who exert it use it in oppressive ways, and this book finally shows us the devastating consequences of what happens when power goes unchecked. But it also shows the opposite side - what happens when the always powerless get some power of their own suddenly - will they use it to safeguard themselves or will power corrupt them as well. The other major theme that cuts very emotionally is that of colonial plunder - how the colonizers use their might to destroy colonies, abuse their resources and then use those people to fight their own wars - separating a whole group of people from their homeland and culture for generations to come, leading to never ending trauma. The author doesn’t give us many answers because they aren’t any, but we do get to see that sometimes, everyone has to cooperate or work together to stave off worst situations.
We get to know Emmanuelle in a very deep way in this book, seeing the kind of Fallen she is outside of her relationship with Selene. Aurore is a new character who only wants her family’s safety and will do anything to gain the power that will help her. I was very sympathetic to her plight but was also scared of the path she was taking, though the author did end up doing her character justice. Philippe is probably the one who has the most elaborate character arc, where he ends up realizing that not everything that has happened to him has been due to his helplessness, but that he has also made choices that have led to his current state. It was also interesting to see him falter in his dynamic with Isabelle, before realizing that he was treating her like he exerted control over her.
And of course my favorite parts were of Thuan and Asmodeus - how they both are a perfect foil to each other’s natures, trying to be better when the other falters. It was both fascinating and exhausting to see Thuan navigate the politics of House Hawthorn where he was stalled in all his attempts for reform because the old guard liked being fearful of their leader, rather than having another who wanted to be kind. But it was so enjoyable to see Thuan and Asmodeus actually be on the same page when it came to matters of the House, even though Asmodeus would never agree that he was being kind. I’ve already read the spin-off novella featuring both of them, but I feel like reading it again because I’ve completely fallen in love with this couple.
In the end, this was a very dark and immersive urban fantasy trilogy that explores the power dynamics between people with different levels of powers, and the mortals; and also the devastating effects of colonialism. It’s full of great characters who are amazing to follow along, twisty political intrigue and diplomacy, and some very unforgettable world building. The fact that it’s full of queer relationships gave me joy and I wish we get more fantasy novels with queernormative worlds.
The author took this book in a much different direction than I was expecting. It starts off literally with a bang and just continues on with more, the stakes feeling higher and higher and even hopeless at times. It was interesting to see how the narrative changes when a big bad affects both the magical beings and mortals equally, and how each of them will react.
I think what I liked most about this one was how the author managed to bring all the important themes from the series to a head in this finale. This trilogy has always been about unbridled power and how those who exert it use it in oppressive ways, and this book finally shows us the devastating consequences of what happens when power goes unchecked. But it also shows the opposite side - what happens when the always powerless get some power of their own suddenly - will they use it to safeguard themselves or will power corrupt them as well. The other major theme that cuts very emotionally is that of colonial plunder - how the colonizers use their might to destroy colonies, abuse their resources and then use those people to fight their own wars - separating a whole group of people from their homeland and culture for generations to come, leading to never ending trauma. The author doesn’t give us many answers because they aren’t any, but we do get to see that sometimes, everyone has to cooperate or work together to stave off worst situations.
We get to know Emmanuelle in a very deep way in this book, seeing the kind of Fallen she is outside of her relationship with Selene. Aurore is a new character who only wants her family’s safety and will do anything to gain the power that will help her. I was very sympathetic to her plight but was also scared of the path she was taking, though the author did end up doing her character justice. Philippe is probably the one who has the most elaborate character arc, where he ends up realizing that not everything that has happened to him has been due to his helplessness, but that he has also made choices that have led to his current state. It was also interesting to see him falter in his dynamic with Isabelle, before realizing that he was treating her like he exerted control over her.
And of course my favorite parts were of Thuan and Asmodeus - how they both are a perfect foil to each other’s natures, trying to be better when the other falters. It was both fascinating and exhausting to see Thuan navigate the politics of House Hawthorn where he was stalled in all his attempts for reform because the old guard liked being fearful of their leader, rather than having another who wanted to be kind. But it was so enjoyable to see Thuan and Asmodeus actually be on the same page when it came to matters of the House, even though Asmodeus would never agree that he was being kind. I’ve already read the spin-off novella featuring both of them, but I feel like reading it again because I’ve completely fallen in love with this couple.
In the end, this was a very dark and immersive urban fantasy trilogy that explores the power dynamics between people with different levels of powers, and the mortals; and also the devastating effects of colonialism. It’s full of great characters who are amazing to follow along, twisty political intrigue and diplomacy, and some very unforgettable world building. The fact that it’s full of queer relationships gave me joy and I wish we get more fantasy novels with queernormative worlds.
February 27, 2020
De Bodard razes an already ruined Paris and sticks lots of fellow writers in the middle of it. What have they done to deserve this? ;)
August 26, 2019
A fitting end to an always-evolving series. I continue to be impressed with the imaginative depth of de Bodard’s worldbuilding, but I also love the little moments between her characters. The interactions of Asmodeus and little Ai Nhi were my absolute favorite. I'll miss the stunning world de Bodard has created, and I'm sad to say goodbye to Thuan, Asmodeus, and their families.
April 18, 2021
This is the third installment in The Dominion of the Fallen series. I was really looking forward to this book, hoping it would be on par with the first but a quarter of the way through, I almost threw it on the DNF pile. I finished but it was a struggle to the very last page. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, featuring Lucifer's protege Selene, the head of House Silverspires, who has to figure out the magic that is killing Fallen in her house. We are also introduced to Philippe, a former Vietnamese Immortal who befriends a Fallen named Isabelle because...reasons??? The problem is the ghost of a wrongly murdered dependent and the discovery of Lucifer Morningstar's bones (yes, that one). Book two followed a disgraced Silverspires dependent, Madeline, as well as Philippe, seeking a spell to resurrect Isabelle, who died trying to keep a resurrected Lucifer from taking power. Through him we are introduced to the Dragon Court under the river Seine, who ally with House Hawthorn by marrying off Prince Thuan to head of house Asmodeus. They need to stabilize their court after an internal rebellion.
In this book, we continue to follow Thuan, Asmodeus, Philippe, and resurrected (but merely mortal) Isabelle. A separate thread involves Emmanuelle and her friend Darrias from House Hawthorne. Major spoilers ahead. The final battle was very anticlimactic and during the buildup, the stakes are highest for the new characters we just met so I just never got invested. The narrative flow made senses and this wasn't badly written but I just did not care at all.
I picked this up expecting more of a fantasy element and while there is magic here, it's quite practical and mundane. I felt like we read more about people's addiction to huffing angel essence than actual magic use. The characters (across all three books) never stop almost dying long enough to really explain the magic system, and while the outside world still exists we're given precious little indication of what is happening outside Paris. We're told that angels are still randomly falling from heaven (indicating the war in heaven is not over) but conveniently, they have amnesia and don't remember their prior lives. We introduce Lucifer, the rebel angel who started it all, as a villain in the first book only to relegate him to a minor side character in books two and three. It just seems like a waste of an amazing idea.
I read the author's notes, and apparently she wanted to make this an allegory of French colonialism as it relates to Vietnam. Maybe if I was better versed in that history I would have gotten more out of this, but as pure fiction, it just didn't work for me. As ever, your mileage may vary. I don't think I've ever been so excited for the first book of a series and been so disappointed by the follow ups. Still, I like her writing style enough to try her short fiction and maybe I'll have better look with her sci-fi series, "A Red Station Drifting" since it seems to follow the same woman throughout.
P.S.: One of my biggest quibbles is that this author recycles words and phrases obsessively. The first that stood out to me was "bergamot and citrus". I did a word search and this phrase occurs nearly 200 (TWO DAMN HUNDRED) times in this book. What is its significance? Why, it's the smell of Asmodeus's magic and out of all the Fallen, and various supernatural entities is this book, he is the only one blessed to have magic you can smell and its scent intoxicates everybody. But mostly Thuan, who can't even think about Asmodeus without his loins quivering. Up until now, I didn't even know what a bergamot is so I looked it up, and was even more annoyed to find out it's a type of orange. There are several types of citrus fruits but almost all of them can be generalized as varieties of oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruits so frankly, the phrase is redundant. Saying his magic smells generally like fresh citrus, or more specifically like limes and oranges, would have done just fine. But every. single. time. Asmodeus shows up or is mentioned we have to hear about the freaking bergamot and citrus! On the subject of mold, apparently the earth is so rotten that every meal tastes like it. Every other time we see Philippe he is eating (like Brad Pitt's character in the Ocean's 11 movies). But he never fully enjoys it since everything is moldy and/or gritty because Paris is a cesspool. But actually it's not that bad because this is his home now, and I guess the taste of moldy food grows on you? *pinches bridge of nose and sighs deeply* I promise you that if you make "bergamot and citrus" or "mold" the key words in a drinking game for this book, you will be very, very drunk until you finish.
In this book, we continue to follow Thuan, Asmodeus, Philippe, and resurrected (but merely mortal) Isabelle. A separate thread involves Emmanuelle and her friend Darrias from House Hawthorne. Major spoilers ahead. The final battle was very anticlimactic and during the buildup, the stakes are highest for the new characters we just met so I just never got invested. The narrative flow made senses and this wasn't badly written but I just did not care at all.
I picked this up expecting more of a fantasy element and while there is magic here, it's quite practical and mundane. I felt like we read more about people's addiction to huffing angel essence than actual magic use. The characters (across all three books) never stop almost dying long enough to really explain the magic system, and while the outside world still exists we're given precious little indication of what is happening outside Paris. We're told that angels are still randomly falling from heaven (indicating the war in heaven is not over) but conveniently, they have amnesia and don't remember their prior lives. We introduce Lucifer, the rebel angel who started it all, as a villain in the first book only to relegate him to a minor side character in books two and three. It just seems like a waste of an amazing idea.
I read the author's notes, and apparently she wanted to make this an allegory of French colonialism as it relates to Vietnam. Maybe if I was better versed in that history I would have gotten more out of this, but as pure fiction, it just didn't work for me. As ever, your mileage may vary. I don't think I've ever been so excited for the first book of a series and been so disappointed by the follow ups. Still, I like her writing style enough to try her short fiction and maybe I'll have better look with her sci-fi series, "A Red Station Drifting" since it seems to follow the same woman throughout.
P.S.: One of my biggest quibbles is that this author recycles words and phrases obsessively. The first that stood out to me was "bergamot and citrus". I did a word search and this phrase occurs nearly 200 (TWO DAMN HUNDRED) times in this book. What is its significance? Why, it's the smell of Asmodeus's magic and out of all the Fallen, and various supernatural entities is this book, he is the only one blessed to have magic you can smell and its scent intoxicates everybody. But mostly Thuan, who can't even think about Asmodeus without his loins quivering. Up until now, I didn't even know what a bergamot is so I looked it up, and was even more annoyed to find out it's a type of orange. There are several types of citrus fruits but almost all of them can be generalized as varieties of oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruits so frankly, the phrase is redundant. Saying his magic smells generally like fresh citrus, or more specifically like limes and oranges, would have done just fine. But every. single. time. Asmodeus shows up or is mentioned we have to hear about the freaking bergamot and citrus! On the subject of mold, apparently the earth is so rotten that every meal tastes like it. Every other time we see Philippe he is eating (like Brad Pitt's character in the Ocean's 11 movies). But he never fully enjoys it since everything is moldy and/or gritty because Paris is a cesspool. But actually it's not that bad because this is his home now, and I guess the taste of moldy food grows on you? *pinches bridge of nose and sighs deeply* I promise you that if you make "bergamot and citrus" or "mold" the key words in a drinking game for this book, you will be very, very drunk until you finish.
October 29, 2020
The Houses are finally burning…..
de Bodard concludes this dark trilogy, tearing everything apart and letting her characters deal with the destruction, and the chaotic and vengeful cause of the fires and mounting death toll. Nobody is safe, especially the Fallen, and the outcome of their horrible behaviour finally comes home to roost. And even while I felt bad for individual characters and their worsening situations, I could not feel particularly bad about the Houses falling to pieces.
Things I liked a lot about this story:
-Philippe, more at peace with himself, and Isabel are living together, and she's learning how to manipulate khi.
-Emmanuelle is trapped by House Harrier Fallen infighting and her grave injuries, and is doing a lot of soul searching. She's always been the only Fallen who ever was decent, and she's asking hard questions of herself, and of the power the Fallen wield.
-Thuan has disgruntled Hawthorne Fallen to deal with as Co-Head of House, and he and Asmodeus have some great scenes together, where they're both fighting and making up.
-A former Harrier, now Houseless Annam, Aurore, looks for sources of power to protect her child, sister, and herself, and bears a lot of the same fury for the Houses as Philippe.
The trilogy has shown us the darkness and thoughtlessness of unchecked power, and its need to hold onto and to abuse others for its sustenance. de Bodard has also shown us how those, unused to power, may choose to wield it if given a chance at it, and how the outcome isn't always what one expects. And de Bodard continues with her examination of colonialism and its effects on the colonized.
This has been as dark and lovely series, with gorgeous imagery--de Bodard makes even fungus and rot look beautiful! She puts her characters through hell, and occasionally allows them some comfort amidst all the pain. The rot and damage work their way through every part of this version of Paris, but there are dragons, and there is some hope, I found, particularly in the way the author concludes the trilogy.
de Bodard concludes this dark trilogy, tearing everything apart and letting her characters deal with the destruction, and the chaotic and vengeful cause of the fires and mounting death toll. Nobody is safe, especially the Fallen, and the outcome of their horrible behaviour finally comes home to roost. And even while I felt bad for individual characters and their worsening situations, I could not feel particularly bad about the Houses falling to pieces.
Things I liked a lot about this story:
-Philippe, more at peace with himself, and Isabel are living together, and she's learning how to manipulate khi.
-Emmanuelle is trapped by House Harrier Fallen infighting and her grave injuries, and is doing a lot of soul searching. She's always been the only Fallen who ever was decent, and she's asking hard questions of herself, and of the power the Fallen wield.
-Thuan has disgruntled Hawthorne Fallen to deal with as Co-Head of House, and he and Asmodeus have some great scenes together, where they're both fighting and making up.
-A former Harrier, now Houseless Annam, Aurore, looks for sources of power to protect her child, sister, and herself, and bears a lot of the same fury for the Houses as Philippe.
The trilogy has shown us the darkness and thoughtlessness of unchecked power, and its need to hold onto and to abuse others for its sustenance. de Bodard has also shown us how those, unused to power, may choose to wield it if given a chance at it, and how the outcome isn't always what one expects. And de Bodard continues with her examination of colonialism and its effects on the colonized.
This has been as dark and lovely series, with gorgeous imagery--de Bodard makes even fungus and rot look beautiful! She puts her characters through hell, and occasionally allows them some comfort amidst all the pain. The rot and damage work their way through every part of this version of Paris, but there are dragons, and there is some hope, I found, particularly in the way the author concludes the trilogy.
Read
June 10, 2020If you listen closely you can hear the sound of my heart breaking because I didn’t like this as much as books one and two.
My favourite scenes revolve around Thuan and Asmodeus, and their dominion. Their dynamic is still something I love as Thuan is clearly more kind and level headed. Asmodeus enjoys to taunt and stab. My heart broke for them and everything that happens with their house.
Unfortunately, all the other three POVs- less Emmanuelle, because I did miss her- Aurore, and Phillippe just didn’t interest me in the slightest. You know that’s bad when they’re the ones with the most action and taking on the big bad. I never did like Phillippe and there’s only so much of his repetitive thoughts that I could take.
Overall, I’m ready disappointed I didn’t love this. There were some parts I liked but alas, they couldn’t make up for my lack of interest for basically the other 70% of the book.
My favourite scenes revolve around Thuan and Asmodeus, and their dominion. Their dynamic is still something I love as Thuan is clearly more kind and level headed. Asmodeus enjoys to taunt and stab. My heart broke for them and everything that happens with their house.
Unfortunately, all the other three POVs- less Emmanuelle, because I did miss her- Aurore, and Phillippe just didn’t interest me in the slightest. You know that’s bad when they’re the ones with the most action and taking on the big bad. I never did like Phillippe and there’s only so much of his repetitive thoughts that I could take.
Overall, I’m ready disappointed I didn’t love this. There were some parts I liked but alas, they couldn’t make up for my lack of interest for basically the other 70% of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
All of the Dominion of the Fallen books have their harsh and horrifying moments, but this one feels like the darkest going in (though maybe not so dark coming out). If anyone with less skill than de Bodard were writing this series, I might have noped out after the first book, but she gets past my uneasiness around horror with gripping characters and masterful worldbuilding. The fallen angels, dragon kingdoms, and loose-cannon magical creatures of Paris are plunged into something close to all-out war. Each character finds themselves having to decide what and whom they would save, if they had the power, knowing they can’t save everything. If, like me, you reach the 90% mark and have no idea how the story will end in anything other than complete obliteration, I’ll just say: keep reading.
July 4, 2020
A worthy climax to a staggeringly good trilogy. Come for the discourse on how power corrupts by amplifying your flaws and the examination of healthy boundaries in friendships, stay for the conflicted romance between the murder angel and the do-gooding dragon. Expect de Bodard to blow up everything she has built (yes, all of it. And more).
No dragon kingdom this time around, but plenty of dragons (including dragon riding, dragon kissing and baby dragons, my life is complete).
Full review
No dragon kingdom this time around, but plenty of dragons (including dragon riding, dragon kissing and baby dragons, my life is complete).
Full review
October 3, 2022
This just had me hooked. Couldn't get enough of the characters and the events happening - even the ones I really didn't like or didn't care about.
January 8, 2020
Well, that's awkward.
As a longtime fan of the series, I was extremely underwhelmed by this final book. To be honest, I had to heavily skim and then skip whole chapters to even be able to finish it. And still, I was annoyed with what I read.
The storyline was ok but I wasn't engaged, the POVs didn't interest me, and the themes were laid down in a manner so unsubtle they might as well have been beaten in with a hammer - such stark contrast to the prequels.
But my biggest issue: why does it feel like the author was paid by the word to write this? Otherwise, I have no idea why this was so repetitive. This is not my first book by de Bodard, the 4th one in fact, and I liked all the previous ones and have a great deal of respect for her and her ideas. Thought her prose was beautiful and lyrical. That was unfortunately not the case in this one. The same plot points were repeated over and over and over but dressed in different words. I frequently found myself thinking, "am I reading a book or am I reading my master's thesis??" (one example in the spoiler bracket, spoilers for books 1 and 2)
To me, this book felt unnecessary. Like filler. The idea for it was good, I followed the author on Twitter as she was writing it and was very excited to read it based on the teasers and short descriptions, but ultimately - and I'm heartbroken to say this - the final product was a waste of my time.
As a longtime fan of the series, I was extremely underwhelmed by this final book. To be honest, I had to heavily skim and then skip whole chapters to even be able to finish it. And still, I was annoyed with what I read.
The storyline was ok but I wasn't engaged, the POVs didn't interest me, and the themes were laid down in a manner so unsubtle they might as well have been beaten in with a hammer - such stark contrast to the prequels.
But my biggest issue: why does it feel like the author was paid by the word to write this? Otherwise, I have no idea why this was so repetitive. This is not my first book by de Bodard, the 4th one in fact, and I liked all the previous ones and have a great deal of respect for her and her ideas. Thought her prose was beautiful and lyrical. That was unfortunately not the case in this one. The same plot points were repeated over and over and over but dressed in different words. I frequently found myself thinking, "am I reading a book or am I reading my master's thesis??" (one example in the spoiler bracket, spoilers for books 1 and 2)
To me, this book felt unnecessary. Like filler. The idea for it was good, I followed the author on Twitter as she was writing it and was very excited to read it based on the teasers and short descriptions, but ultimately - and I'm heartbroken to say this - the final product was a waste of my time.
September 12, 2019
The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings and The House of Binding Thorns concludes her Dominion of the Fallen saga, set in a Paris devastated by a magical war.
The great magical Houses of Paris – headed by Fallen angels and magicians – were, however temporarily, at peace with each other. Until House Harrier was levelled by a powerful explosion. Now that peace has become chaos, tearing apart old alliances and setting off a race in which each House hoards magic and resources to protect itself against another such blast.
Thuan, the Dragon head of the divided House Hawthorn, is still consolidating his power when war comes to his doorstep. Aurore – exiled from and almost beaten to death by House Harrier – sees her moment to seek power in order to protect her family, even if she must venture back to her destroyed former home to get it. And Emmanuelle finds herself alone in the middle of it all, driven to protect others, trying to piece together what has happened, and hoping – eventually – to make sense of it all.
None of them know what destroyed House Harrier, though . . . and when they do uncover that fiery, destructive magic then divided Houses, old enemies and estranged friends will all have to make a decision: stand together, or burn alone .
Dear Aliette De Bodard,
This conclusion to your "Dominion of the Fallen" trilogy was brilliant. The end. Oh I do need to write a little more I suppose. This book is also an Exhibit A of how to end a trilogy. Do not do not start reading here, go back to Book 1, because really those are three parts of the same story, not the separate stories in any way. Every plotline was completed, every character arc was completed . I thought it did not preclude further stories in this universe if the author so chooses, but there was *no sequel baiting in any way, shape or form*, nothing left hanging to annoy the reader like me.
As blurb states Tuan ( one of my favorite if not the favorite characters in this trilogy), dragon prince who married Head of the House Hawthorn Asmodeus after some explosive events in the second book has the war suddenly come to his door steps. In the beginning of the book Tuan is having a relatively calm day, but such calm day very quickly transforms in the possible beginning of another war between Houses.
“His other mistake, of course, had been to use his one hour of leisure in the day to be nice to overwhelmed parents. “Unka Thuan, Unka Thuan! She’s stolen my doll!” Ai Nhi had drawn herself up to the full and rather limited height of a five-year-old and pointed an accusatory finger at Thuan’s niece Camille. Her shape wavered between human and dragon, with the shadow of antlers above her pigtails, outlined in the bluish light of khi water. “Give it back, or I’ll tell Auntie Ly!””
“The khi currents of water, faint lines of blue light, seemed undisturbed. They curled, lazily, along the wide paths of pockmarked gravel, around the wide trees whose trunks were flecked with fungus, and stopped at the water’s edge. Nothing wrong. Still nothing he could put his finger on. And yet…”
“He shifted into his dragon shape, as easily as slipping on the tailored clothes Asmodeus kept pressing on him. He scooped up both children, ignoring their protestations—the wriggling, screaming Camille, Ai Nhi saying she was all grown-up and too old to be carried, trying to grab her doll from Camille on Thuan’s other side—and started flying towards his office. The pressure in the air was becoming unbearable; that dreadful, unnerving calm before the storm, slowly spinning itself together.
The plume of smoke from the burning House Harrier now cast a long shadow across the lawn, the trembling, billowing finger of some malevolent deity lightly resting on a wound. There was no khi water left in the air at all—Thuan felt he was swimming upriver through tar, caught in sticky air that only slowed him down. The river wavered in front of him, patches of oily sheen distorting into vague, unrecognizable shapes. An illusory safety: the dragon kingdom would not help him, would not shelter him, would not save him.”
The explosion in the House Harrier affects other Houses deeply and brings a lot of Houses to the brink of dying - the magic that caused the explosion is only too happy to start causing destruction everywhere . I wont share the reasons why, because the reasons are very spoilerish. All the important characters from the previous books are forced to deal with death and destruction - death and destruction that can only become worse with every minute/hour/day.
The horrible things that are happening are influencing the relationships as well. I have to admit that while I found all main characters to be very interesting, romantic elements in the story only interested me when Tuan and Asmodeus were on page. While after reading the second book I thought they had lots of chemistry and connection, it was clear that they still have tons to learn about each other and negotiate with each other where House is concerned and they do it in this book! Of course these guys ( dragon and fallen angel ) are just part of ensemble cast, and romance is not the main story of the book at all, but I was ridiculously pleased every time they appeared on page together.
““You make that difficult.” “Why?” “Don’t tell me you don’t know,” Thuan said. “You despise weakness in everyone, and in yourself most of all. How…? How am I meant to keep your regard, if I abase myself before you?” He didn’t even see Asmodeus move. His lips were on Thuan’s—the smell of citrus and bergamot in his mouth—and Asmodeus’s hand was stroking, gently, slowly, the nape of his neck.
“We do run the House.” Asmodeus’s voice was a whisper on Thuan’s lips, sending a warmth that spread to his entire face and made his breathing absurdly constricted. “Jointly. Of course you ask. You always ask. Otherwise I’ll be… most disappointed.” He bent down, and kissed Thuan again, running his fingers on the soft, quivering flesh at the base of Thuan’s dragon antlers. “Now tell me what you need.””
As an aside, as far as I was concerned I loved how in the second book we occasionally got to observe dragons' shimmering features of their dragon form, but I wanted to see more and I was pleased that the author delivered and not just Tuan, but little girl in the previous excerpt switching forms and a little bit from other secondary characters.
I was especially disappointed in Philippe and Isabelle - not in them as characters , but after how much I rooted for them to be together in book one and how much I hoped that they actually could be together, in this book I didn't see any romantic chemistry between them. Don't get me wrong, they *are* together in a sense that they are staying in close proximity to each other and I certainly didn't expect anything sexual from them when they were fighting trying to save their community from destruction, but Tuan and Asmodeus were in the middle of the war too and I felt their chemistry. I am not even lowering my grade for my disappointment, because I fully understand that this is not a Romance book but wanted to share how I felt.
The magic in this book was fascinating, I loved it, especially the khi elements as parts of the magic and how it all works and how contrary to the Magic of fallen everyone could learn how to do it.
The main plot is fast moving and at times surprising, but overall ending made perfect sense and for many characters much happier than I was worried it would be .
Grade: A-
The great magical Houses of Paris – headed by Fallen angels and magicians – were, however temporarily, at peace with each other. Until House Harrier was levelled by a powerful explosion. Now that peace has become chaos, tearing apart old alliances and setting off a race in which each House hoards magic and resources to protect itself against another such blast.
Thuan, the Dragon head of the divided House Hawthorn, is still consolidating his power when war comes to his doorstep. Aurore – exiled from and almost beaten to death by House Harrier – sees her moment to seek power in order to protect her family, even if she must venture back to her destroyed former home to get it. And Emmanuelle finds herself alone in the middle of it all, driven to protect others, trying to piece together what has happened, and hoping – eventually – to make sense of it all.
None of them know what destroyed House Harrier, though . . . and when they do uncover that fiery, destructive magic then divided Houses, old enemies and estranged friends will all have to make a decision: stand together, or burn alone .
Dear Aliette De Bodard,
This conclusion to your "Dominion of the Fallen" trilogy was brilliant. The end. Oh I do need to write a little more I suppose. This book is also an Exhibit A of how to end a trilogy. Do not do not start reading here, go back to Book 1, because really those are three parts of the same story, not the separate stories in any way. Every plotline was completed, every character arc was completed . I thought it did not preclude further stories in this universe if the author so chooses, but there was *no sequel baiting in any way, shape or form*, nothing left hanging to annoy the reader like me.
As blurb states Tuan ( one of my favorite if not the favorite characters in this trilogy), dragon prince who married Head of the House Hawthorn Asmodeus after some explosive events in the second book has the war suddenly come to his door steps. In the beginning of the book Tuan is having a relatively calm day, but such calm day very quickly transforms in the possible beginning of another war between Houses.
“His other mistake, of course, had been to use his one hour of leisure in the day to be nice to overwhelmed parents. “Unka Thuan, Unka Thuan! She’s stolen my doll!” Ai Nhi had drawn herself up to the full and rather limited height of a five-year-old and pointed an accusatory finger at Thuan’s niece Camille. Her shape wavered between human and dragon, with the shadow of antlers above her pigtails, outlined in the bluish light of khi water. “Give it back, or I’ll tell Auntie Ly!””
“The khi currents of water, faint lines of blue light, seemed undisturbed. They curled, lazily, along the wide paths of pockmarked gravel, around the wide trees whose trunks were flecked with fungus, and stopped at the water’s edge. Nothing wrong. Still nothing he could put his finger on. And yet…”
“He shifted into his dragon shape, as easily as slipping on the tailored clothes Asmodeus kept pressing on him. He scooped up both children, ignoring their protestations—the wriggling, screaming Camille, Ai Nhi saying she was all grown-up and too old to be carried, trying to grab her doll from Camille on Thuan’s other side—and started flying towards his office. The pressure in the air was becoming unbearable; that dreadful, unnerving calm before the storm, slowly spinning itself together.
The plume of smoke from the burning House Harrier now cast a long shadow across the lawn, the trembling, billowing finger of some malevolent deity lightly resting on a wound. There was no khi water left in the air at all—Thuan felt he was swimming upriver through tar, caught in sticky air that only slowed him down. The river wavered in front of him, patches of oily sheen distorting into vague, unrecognizable shapes. An illusory safety: the dragon kingdom would not help him, would not shelter him, would not save him.”
The explosion in the House Harrier affects other Houses deeply and brings a lot of Houses to the brink of dying - the magic that caused the explosion is only too happy to start causing destruction everywhere . I wont share the reasons why, because the reasons are very spoilerish. All the important characters from the previous books are forced to deal with death and destruction - death and destruction that can only become worse with every minute/hour/day.
The horrible things that are happening are influencing the relationships as well. I have to admit that while I found all main characters to be very interesting, romantic elements in the story only interested me when Tuan and Asmodeus were on page. While after reading the second book I thought they had lots of chemistry and connection, it was clear that they still have tons to learn about each other and negotiate with each other where House is concerned and they do it in this book! Of course these guys ( dragon and fallen angel ) are just part of ensemble cast, and romance is not the main story of the book at all, but I was ridiculously pleased every time they appeared on page together.
““You make that difficult.” “Why?” “Don’t tell me you don’t know,” Thuan said. “You despise weakness in everyone, and in yourself most of all. How…? How am I meant to keep your regard, if I abase myself before you?” He didn’t even see Asmodeus move. His lips were on Thuan’s—the smell of citrus and bergamot in his mouth—and Asmodeus’s hand was stroking, gently, slowly, the nape of his neck.
“We do run the House.” Asmodeus’s voice was a whisper on Thuan’s lips, sending a warmth that spread to his entire face and made his breathing absurdly constricted. “Jointly. Of course you ask. You always ask. Otherwise I’ll be… most disappointed.” He bent down, and kissed Thuan again, running his fingers on the soft, quivering flesh at the base of Thuan’s dragon antlers. “Now tell me what you need.””
As an aside, as far as I was concerned I loved how in the second book we occasionally got to observe dragons' shimmering features of their dragon form, but I wanted to see more and I was pleased that the author delivered and not just Tuan, but little girl in the previous excerpt switching forms and a little bit from other secondary characters.
I was especially disappointed in Philippe and Isabelle - not in them as characters , but after how much I rooted for them to be together in book one and how much I hoped that they actually could be together, in this book I didn't see any romantic chemistry between them. Don't get me wrong, they *are* together in a sense that they are staying in close proximity to each other and I certainly didn't expect anything sexual from them when they were fighting trying to save their community from destruction, but Tuan and Asmodeus were in the middle of the war too and I felt their chemistry. I am not even lowering my grade for my disappointment, because I fully understand that this is not a Romance book but wanted to share how I felt.
The magic in this book was fascinating, I loved it, especially the khi elements as parts of the magic and how it all works and how contrary to the Magic of fallen everyone could learn how to do it.
The main plot is fast moving and at times surprising, but overall ending made perfect sense and for many characters much happier than I was worried it would be .
Grade: A-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2019
There are very few writers I trust as much as Aliette de Bodard, and this book is a perfect example of why.
Sundering Flames is the third in the series and I genuinely think it's the best of the lot. See, what I love most about these books is that it is one of the defining works of Hopepunk. It takes place in a devastated Paris, torn apart over and over again by squabbles and fights between houses of fallen angels. And in the midst of that, you have these communities that come together, protecting and aiding one another. And the narrative doesn't punish them for it. In fact, by the end of this book, it's manifestly evident that selfishness, vanity and arrogance will only lead to ruin. The book teaches that there is always a place for kindness and mercy. Morningstar and Asmodeus are the narrative foils; where the former remains unchanged and pragmatic to the point of cruelty, leading to his downfall, the latter changes and thereby survives.
This book also tackles to the topic of colonialism and the pain and hurt it brings upon everyone. Not just their victim but the colonisers and their dependents. This is a topic close to my heart and Aliette de Bodard does a fantastic job of portraying the hurt that trickles down the generation. Along the same line, the book also deals with the ever transmuting idea of home and how that means different things for different people. Here, Phillipe and Isabelle provide contrasting views on the two topic, foils for each other. Phillipe is the colonised who has made a home where he can, and Isabelle is a former coloniser looking for home. The two have to deal with their past and choices when a crime perpetrated by the colonisers comes to roost at their doorsteps.
Look, I could go on and on about this book, but that would be a thesis. So I'll just leave with talking about Thuan and Asmodeus, and Emmanuelle and Selene, two of my favourite couples. I love how much Selene and Asmodeus are willing to change for their partners, and how Thuan and Emmanuelle may seem soft at first glance but are capable of so much strength when the time calls for it.
This was a fantastic end to a fantastic trilogy, and I am looking forward to whatever else Aliette de Bodard may write.
Sundering Flames is the third in the series and I genuinely think it's the best of the lot. See, what I love most about these books is that it is one of the defining works of Hopepunk. It takes place in a devastated Paris, torn apart over and over again by squabbles and fights between houses of fallen angels. And in the midst of that, you have these communities that come together, protecting and aiding one another. And the narrative doesn't punish them for it. In fact, by the end of this book, it's manifestly evident that selfishness, vanity and arrogance will only lead to ruin. The book teaches that there is always a place for kindness and mercy. Morningstar and Asmodeus are the narrative foils; where the former remains unchanged and pragmatic to the point of cruelty, leading to his downfall, the latter changes and thereby survives.
This book also tackles to the topic of colonialism and the pain and hurt it brings upon everyone. Not just their victim but the colonisers and their dependents. This is a topic close to my heart and Aliette de Bodard does a fantastic job of portraying the hurt that trickles down the generation. Along the same line, the book also deals with the ever transmuting idea of home and how that means different things for different people. Here, Phillipe and Isabelle provide contrasting views on the two topic, foils for each other. Phillipe is the colonised who has made a home where he can, and Isabelle is a former coloniser looking for home. The two have to deal with their past and choices when a crime perpetrated by the colonisers comes to roost at their doorsteps.
Look, I could go on and on about this book, but that would be a thesis. So I'll just leave with talking about Thuan and Asmodeus, and Emmanuelle and Selene, two of my favourite couples. I love how much Selene and Asmodeus are willing to change for their partners, and how Thuan and Emmanuelle may seem soft at first glance but are capable of so much strength when the time calls for it.
This was a fantastic end to a fantastic trilogy, and I am looking forward to whatever else Aliette de Bodard may write.
March 22, 2023
This feels like such a fitting end to the series. I really enjoyed it and I particularly like the hopeful note it ends on.
March 10, 2024
Gosh, I enjoy Aliette de Bodard. This trilogy, while very different from the Xuya Universe, and the kind of dark, apocalyptic, everything-is-awful-all-the-time fantasy that I would normally go out of my way to avoid, was great. I think I liked the second book best, but this one was excellent.
Nothing is off limits in Dominion of the Fallen. I can't help picturing de Bodard sauntering into her creation like a gangster, saying something like "nice system of power you've got here, would be a shame if something...happened to it..."
In short, she is not afraid to mess the whole thing up. The system is rotten and everyone is complicit in it to some extent. The whole trilogy has been like this, and now book three starts with a full-on explosion and doesn't really slow down.
My one complaint, having read all three now, is that there are a number of characters whose perspectives seem very similar. In this one in particular, I had trouble remembering what had happened to Aurore versus what Emmanuelle had encountered. Their perspectives didn't seem all that different from Francoise and Madeleine in the previous book, either. Aurore even had similar motivations to Francoise, which just made it harder. Possibly the most interesting and sharply delineated character in the whole trilogy is one whose perspective we never get: sarcastic, stabby demon Asmodeus, here pushed to his limits along with his stubbornly goodhearted dragon prince husband Thuan. I was always happiest when in their company.
It's all very vivid and I was definitely doing some fan casting in my head, although with British, American and Chinese actors because my knowledge of French and Vietnamese actors is...limited. The review ends here, scroll down if you want to see my completely self-indulgent fan casting.
Emmanuelle
Thuan
Isabelle
Philippe
Asmodeus
Dan Chay
Morningstar
Nothing is off limits in Dominion of the Fallen. I can't help picturing de Bodard sauntering into her creation like a gangster, saying something like "nice system of power you've got here, would be a shame if something...happened to it..."
In short, she is not afraid to mess the whole thing up. The system is rotten and everyone is complicit in it to some extent. The whole trilogy has been like this, and now book three starts with a full-on explosion and doesn't really slow down.
My one complaint, having read all three now, is that there are a number of characters whose perspectives seem very similar. In this one in particular, I had trouble remembering what had happened to Aurore versus what Emmanuelle had encountered. Their perspectives didn't seem all that different from Francoise and Madeleine in the previous book, either. Aurore even had similar motivations to Francoise, which just made it harder. Possibly the most interesting and sharply delineated character in the whole trilogy is one whose perspective we never get: sarcastic, stabby demon Asmodeus, here pushed to his limits along with his stubbornly goodhearted dragon prince husband Thuan. I was always happiest when in their company.
It's all very vivid and I was definitely doing some fan casting in my head, although with British, American and Chinese actors because my knowledge of French and Vietnamese actors is...limited. The review ends here, scroll down if you want to see my completely self-indulgent fan casting.
Emmanuelle
Thuan
Isabelle
Philippe
Asmodeus
Dan Chay
Morningstar
February 3, 2023
So here's the thing. I know this is the third book in the series, and I know that they need to be read in order. HOWEVER. I really only wanted to read the following novellas, and not this whole series, so I skimmed the first two. My whole goal was to understand the relationship between Asmodeus and Thuan, not to get into the plot of the main trilogy. So, TECHNICALLY I have read the others, but more in a skimmed through the ebook using the search to take me to mentions of these two characters.
That said, this book had a LOT more of Thuan and Asmodeus, so I read a LOT more of this one than the others. Between the three books, I probably read what amounted to the length of this book specifically, which is why I'm only adding this one.
Now that that's out of the way, my review. This series is the type of series I would have been all over back when I was going through my angel/fallen angel phase of reading. The politics and the world-building are really interesting, and I found myself getting drawn into the story, especially since so much of it revolved around House Hawthorn, Asmodeus, and Thuan. I really enjoyed their character development, and getting to learn more about them/their relationship. I think it really set the stage for Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders, which was the whole reason I picked it up in the first place.
That said, this book had a LOT more of Thuan and Asmodeus, so I read a LOT more of this one than the others. Between the three books, I probably read what amounted to the length of this book specifically, which is why I'm only adding this one.
Now that that's out of the way, my review. This series is the type of series I would have been all over back when I was going through my angel/fallen angel phase of reading. The politics and the world-building are really interesting, and I found myself getting drawn into the story, especially since so much of it revolved around House Hawthorn, Asmodeus, and Thuan. I really enjoyed their character development, and getting to learn more about them/their relationship. I think it really set the stage for Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders, which was the whole reason I picked it up in the first place.
May 7, 2021
I was seriously in awe with how fast I plunged through this one, given how long I've waited to start reading it. Nails were bitten. Characters were cursed at or gushed over, or both. I think "unkas" are still my favourite parts, though. Awesome stuff.
July 31, 2019
The perfect closure of the trilogy!
It really took my breath away more than once. It's disturbing and terrifying, amusing and thoughtful. And of course it's absolutely perfectly read by Peter Kenny; there are a few voices, I'm sure, I will hear in some nightmares.
If you had liked the previous two books you will love this one. If you hadn't read them yet, you totally should!
It really took my breath away more than once. It's disturbing and terrifying, amusing and thoughtful. And of course it's absolutely perfectly read by Peter Kenny; there are a few voices, I'm sure, I will hear in some nightmares.
If you had liked the previous two books you will love this one. If you hadn't read them yet, you totally should!
September 4, 2020
Doesn't happen often but I think I preferred the second book. My main issue was that I strongly preferred some of the point of view characters over others. Nonetheless still a very enjoyable read!
December 27, 2020
Originally posted at Chain Interaction
I have a weird relationship with these books, and with Aliette’s writing – to be perfectly honest. While I’m reading the books I’m utterly captivated, they are page-turners in the truest form of the word, I can’t stop reading them once I’ve begun.
But then…once it’s done.
Can I remember what happened with much clarity? Can I tell you, with any confidence, what happened? Honestly? No.
I don’t know what it is but these books totally slip through my mind as soon as I finish them! I don’t see that as a bad thing, I’d describe it as being as close as I am ever going to get to those moments in books where a character discovers that the strange shop at which they purchased the magical item has mysteriously disappeared. It’s not a bad feeling it’s just a little…magical?
So, while I can’t talk with much authority as to the plot of the book what I will talk about is atmosphere – because I think that’s what these books, and this book, in particular, do well.
The way that Aliette De Bodard has captured a Paris in the aftermath of a magical war is absolutely beautiful. I’ve mentioned it in a review before, but I have a somewhat complex relationship with Paris (basically I think Paris gets more credit than it is due). But these books make me love Paris again because they are written from the perspective of someone who loves the city for more than its ‘postcard potential’ but who appreciates the vibe that the city has beyond tourism, the history and the conflict that contribute to the essence of the city. Add a frack-tonne of magic on top of that and you’ve got something truly wonderful.
I could wax lyrical about other aspects of this book, I could talk about the effortless (at least seemingly effortless) inclusion of queer characters, the fascinating magic system, the complex political machinations that flow throughout the book, the inclusion of so many intersectional elements – but I’d be doing you a disservice. I know as a reviewer it’s my job to tell you why you should (or in some cases shouldn’t) read a book. But in this case, I truly believe that every person will get something different out of this series. It may not be a series for everyone, I’d probably hesitate to tell you that YES YOU SHOULD GO READ IT NOW. But for those like me, who love that magical, otherworldly, weird and vivid world that Aliette has created I think these are worth discovering on your own.
I will absolutely be going back and reading this series from the beginning – I have no doubt that I will appreciate something anew with each re-read.
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I have a weird relationship with these books, and with Aliette’s writing – to be perfectly honest. While I’m reading the books I’m utterly captivated, they are page-turners in the truest form of the word, I can’t stop reading them once I’ve begun.
But then…once it’s done.
Can I remember what happened with much clarity? Can I tell you, with any confidence, what happened? Honestly? No.
I don’t know what it is but these books totally slip through my mind as soon as I finish them! I don’t see that as a bad thing, I’d describe it as being as close as I am ever going to get to those moments in books where a character discovers that the strange shop at which they purchased the magical item has mysteriously disappeared. It’s not a bad feeling it’s just a little…magical?
So, while I can’t talk with much authority as to the plot of the book what I will talk about is atmosphere – because I think that’s what these books, and this book, in particular, do well.
The way that Aliette De Bodard has captured a Paris in the aftermath of a magical war is absolutely beautiful. I’ve mentioned it in a review before, but I have a somewhat complex relationship with Paris (basically I think Paris gets more credit than it is due). But these books make me love Paris again because they are written from the perspective of someone who loves the city for more than its ‘postcard potential’ but who appreciates the vibe that the city has beyond tourism, the history and the conflict that contribute to the essence of the city. Add a frack-tonne of magic on top of that and you’ve got something truly wonderful.
I could wax lyrical about other aspects of this book, I could talk about the effortless (at least seemingly effortless) inclusion of queer characters, the fascinating magic system, the complex political machinations that flow throughout the book, the inclusion of so many intersectional elements – but I’d be doing you a disservice. I know as a reviewer it’s my job to tell you why you should (or in some cases shouldn’t) read a book. But in this case, I truly believe that every person will get something different out of this series. It may not be a series for everyone, I’d probably hesitate to tell you that YES YOU SHOULD GO READ IT NOW. But for those like me, who love that magical, otherworldly, weird and vivid world that Aliette has created I think these are worth discovering on your own.
I will absolutely be going back and reading this series from the beginning – I have no doubt that I will appreciate something anew with each re-read.
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 21, 2020
The story is really well done and I liked the end of the series. Having said that, I felt like the character interactions were never really developed, and for some reason I had a hard time keeping track of the different characters even though I'd read the other books and enjoyed them.
January 21, 2024
inhaled and loved it very much.
the overarching themes of the series (gothic historical urban fantasy, vietnamese diaspora, dragons, angels, so much magic, politics, intrigue, body horror, lgbtqia+ characters) are refined some more (children of thorns, body horror birds, burn it to the ground) but the focus seemed firmly on power imbalances and what they do to people.
"power corrupts but make it body horror" not quite, but a bit. the excesses of colonialism and consequences for the colonised were a big theme. power imbalance in relationships, too, was a big theme and I loved that it wasn't centred on a romantic relationship. and well, I am easy to please, so the amounts of thuan was wonderful. he is my sweet, sweet favourite and yeah, the helping of thuan and asmodeus was a boon, too, not gonna lie ;3
5/5 creepy flesh birds for this one ;3
some random thoughts from during my reading:
"children of torns omfg love it"; "thuan's struggles"; "asmodeus being asmodeus"; "house harrier, omfg!! BIRDS!"; "love the body horror and magic descriptions. they're so beautiful" & "emmanuelle friendship and what we do for love"
another thought: "asmodeus is like a dragon he hordes people"
I present you evidence in form of quotes
“They were ours.” Asmodeus voice was cold. (…) “Don’t dismiss them so easily.”
“You’re the one who holds on to things,” Thuan said. “I don’t hoard, but I do hate to give up an advantage.”
Asmodeus hoarded his dependents like treasured possessions; he’d felt Morningstar had been too cavalier with their lives, back when he’d been head of the House.
the overarching themes of the series (gothic historical urban fantasy, vietnamese diaspora, dragons, angels, so much magic, politics, intrigue, body horror, lgbtqia+ characters) are refined some more (children of thorns, body horror birds, burn it to the ground) but the focus seemed firmly on power imbalances and what they do to people.
"power corrupts but make it body horror" not quite, but a bit. the excesses of colonialism and consequences for the colonised were a big theme. power imbalance in relationships, too, was a big theme and I loved that it wasn't centred on a romantic relationship. and well, I am easy to please, so the amounts of thuan was wonderful. he is my sweet, sweet favourite and yeah, the helping of thuan and asmodeus was a boon, too, not gonna lie ;3
5/5 creepy flesh birds for this one ;3
some random thoughts from during my reading:
"children of torns omfg love it"; "thuan's struggles"; "asmodeus being asmodeus"; "house harrier, omfg!! BIRDS!"; "love the body horror and magic descriptions. they're so beautiful" & "emmanuelle friendship and what we do for love"
another thought: "asmodeus is like a dragon he hordes people"
I present you evidence in form of quotes
“They were ours.” Asmodeus voice was cold. (…) “Don’t dismiss them so easily.”
“You’re the one who holds on to things,” Thuan said. “I don’t hoard, but I do hate to give up an advantage.”
Asmodeus hoarded his dependents like treasured possessions; he’d felt Morningstar had been too cavalier with their lives, back when he’d been head of the House.
October 21, 2020
This one went such unexpected directions, and I so want to know what happens next in the politics of this Paris. Also, despite Asmodeus being super sadistic and stabby, he also spends a great deal of time being a fainting princess. He gets exploded a lot, or overexerts himself magically, or whatever, and then just swoons. Sometimes onto his husband Thuan, which is great. Also also, there's a ton of queer relationships of various stripes, and I had to think for a few minutes to remember, oh yeah, there was that straight couple in there. BEST.
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