Missing girls. A plea for help she can’t ignore. An ancient enemy with plans of his own.
Nine-year-old girls are missing from across the lands. Yvonne has promised to find them, and she always keeps her promises. Even when she doesn’t know where to start looking.
There’s more trouble around. Mercenaries are disappearing. The ancient enemy has risen, more dangerous than anything she has encountered before. And an old ally wants her help.
Before she can set out to look for the girls, Yvonne has to survive the goblin court, where a wrong word could mean death.
The Reckoning is the final part of the trilogy started in The Gathering.
I am a fantasy author living in Scotland, United Kingdom and spending my days juggling the demands of an elderly, spoiled cat, two giant dogs and a host of fictional characters.
As far as the cat is concerned, she’s in charge and should always come first. The older dog’s favourite method of getting my attention is a gentle nudge with his head. At least, he would say it’s gentle. And the younger dog's attention-getting method generally involves playing with the loudest squeaky toy he can find.
I’m glad to see her relationship with Guise in much better position ☺️😍.
The romance is little bit too slow but I can understand with Yvonne’s background, and Guise? He just incredible!
She pulled out the stopper and inhaled. “Wild roses,” she said, catch in her voice. “My favourite flowers. How did you know?”
“You mentioned it,” he answered. In the dark, she could not be sure of his expression, but his voice was warmer than it had been.
She could not think what he was referring to, then an old memory surfaced. From years before, not long after they had first met and were working together for perhaps the second, or third, time. They had been walking through an overgrown garden, wild roses running along the high stone wall. She had made a passing comment, a throwaway remark, that they were her favourite flowers. And he had tucked that bit of information away.
Great end to a thoroughly enjoyable trilogy! I would best describe this story, and its predecessors, as a quiet adventure. It’s full of excitement but Yvonne, the main character in which the entire series revolves around, is a very calm, pragmatic, self-contained woman who has seen and endured the very worst that life can throw, and struggles daily to overcome, but has risen above and is committed to helping others. It is her that one becomes attached to and grows to love - even while gobbling up all the action and adventure!
On a side note: There is one conundrum I can’t figure out, though. The cover!! Once again, Ms. Nelson’s covers do NOT coincide with the characters inside! Much ado is made throughout the trilogy of Yvonnes very long hair that she must always wear in a braid or put up, etc. Yet, the covers all show a woman with super short hair. GAH! Why?!?!?!
I like these books.They are all about 250 pages long and move seamlessly from one to the next. Yvonne is continuing to grow in confidence and as a leader.
(no original review - review on re-read March 2025)
I have to assume I didn't originally write a review because I was too busy blitzing ahead to the next book the first time around. So I'll say something quick here.
This series, at the time, was from a new-to-me author that I was thrilled to stumble across (and have since read through her catalogue). It's a really engaging fantasy series that, even on re-read, kept me up way too late at night because I couldn't put it down. It's a classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy, with really fantastic world-building and an excellent cast of characters. It's very light on the romance (this author is very much a clean romance type) - there's attraction, flirtation, delicious awkwardness. But we just get a few kisses. It feels right to do it that way in this series, especially, given that Yvonne (FMC) had terrible things happen to her as a child and she's still dealing with the scars - she has difficulty accepting hugs, or casual touches. While that makes for heavy emotional beats, note that the abuse is all off-page, having happened more than a decade before the series started. You get tiny bits of flashbacks, just remembered moments, like claws on her skin. That's all.
This series of six is broken into two arcs that each span 3 books. There's a little bit of crossover, of course, but the primary story of the first 3 books wraps in this one, and it's very well done. I love the lore of it, and I love the found family that Yvonne has built - Guise, Grayling, Sephenamin, and all their people. At the end of this book, the Hunar know they need to change. I hope that part of that change involves being part of a team. They don't have to do this work alone, and they shouldn't - it is the loneliness, as much as anything, that made them corruptible.
Anyway, this series stands as a favorite that I will come back to again and again. Solid 5 stars.
I promise this relates - any fan of Star Trek knows if an old friend appears they are up to no good. Be it treason, insurrection, revenge...every single time it ends badly for the main characters. So yeah I side-eyed several of the Hundred suspiciously.
Rightfully so after what happened with Sillman.
Time moves with little regard for how much of it has passed, which is a bit troubling when you remember that in the first book we saw the Hundred and vast changes were wrought physically in this book to a couple.
Oh but you must be saying "Wasn't this about the Goblins?" surely started that way and just as surely did not end that way. About a third of the way in Yvonne gets a premonition and off we go to finish the plot thread of missing children.
I thought for sure it would last longer, for more books, but things progressed very quickly once they left the Goblins.
Less repetition occurred in this book, for which I was glad but some things repeated too obviously. Dialogue tags mainly, being used several times within the same exchange.
Guise continues to be the charming sort and just a shade too perfect. Or his relationship with Yvonne is. They rarely seem to disagree or push each other. He's letting her set the pace of their relationship so he is reluctant to push too much at once.
Laced with humor and undead folly, this book kept me interested with the sassy, quick-spirited Hunar, Yvonne, and her bond, the irascible goblin Guise. Parts of it were silly, parts incredulous, with subplots started and left to perish on the side. A number of the affairs made little sense.
I felt a lack of clear values directing the deeper river of the story. Loyalty seemed important, with no apparent reason why, nor clarity on where loyalty was due. The best I could figure out was one should be loyal to an oath to help people in need. It didn’t matter to whom one had made that “sacred” oath as there was no one sacred alive to offer it to.
Supernatural power reared up mightily, then was reduced to childish temper tantrums by a bit of ridicule, only to be conquered by a whisp of a girl. Repeatedly.
I think I went on to read this third book in the series because I was intrigued by the developing romance between the previously abused woman (who could barely stand to be touched) and the now devoted goblin who followed her everywhere. I found numerous key characters hard to believe, and the potential relationships shallow. Too bad. I won’t be pursuing more of the series.
This is a review for all 5 books in the series as I read them pretty much in one sitting. This was the first book I read of this author who is new to me. Let me now just say that Vanessa Nelson has become a favourite auto buy for me! This series blew me away, the characters and the interactions between people are what make a book for me, even more so than the plot. And these characters stayed with me long after I put the books down. I anticipate that this will be one of those rare series that I return to read again. The world building was delightful and intriguing, Yvonne was powerful, but not all consuming and she was humble and believable. She went through betrayals, set backs and triumphs and I lived through it all with her. Honestly these books were amazing, go read if you love any sort of fantasy (although I think these were pitched with an easy world to understand so you could be new to the genre), light romance (not the over riding story emphasis, but what there was was clean and delightful) and heartfelt characters.
Highly engaging story with memorable characters, thrilling adventure, and rich world-building.
After finishing this third book, I still have several questions. Thankfully, the story continues in three more books, despite an earlier suggestion that this might be the end. So, I hope to get all the answers to the questions that I have in mind.
For this book, I was somewhat disappointed by the way the ancient enemy is defeated. After so much build-up, I expected a struggle and perhaps a meaningful sacrifice, but the resolution felt easier than I anticipated.
Nevertheless, many scenes and adventures are excellent and outweigh my disappointment. I very much enjoy Yvonne’s time in the Goblin palace, followed closely by her leadership of the team into the treacherous Forbidden Lands. Both parts highlight her courage and resourcefulness. A badass heroine indeed!👍
A slightly longer review will be available on my site as soon as I finish reading the series. 😉
This was a fun YA-ish fantasy that sucked me in pretty quickly. They were all pretty short books for fantasy, and I think they would have been better if they were a couple hundred pages longer, so that some ideas could be flushed out more. I felt like there were some important things that got glossed over, or just barely mentioned.
I will say that I loved the slow burn of the romance, and with our fmc’s past, I totally get why we’ve only gotten a little bit of hand holding and a few kisses by the end of book 3. However, I wish there was more interaction between the two.
I think my main issue is that everything wraps up too well at the end of each battle. None of the good guys have died. The big bad are always easily defeated within a few pages. I need my heart to be wrenched out a couple of times.
It just keeps getting better as the series progresses. I love seeing the growth of the main characters Yvonne and Guise, and how they change and adapt to new situations and everything they have to go through. If you are into adventure, mystery, magic, a slow burn (very slow) romance as well as unexpected surprises, that include a fierce and likeable FMC, a hot, powerful MMC and very unique and amazing secondary characters, then you should definitely give this series a try. A truly captivating and engaging story that is very unique and original. Highly Recommended 🩷💜🩷
First, start at the beginning of the series. You will appreciate the characters more as you become familiar with them. You know how many series get weaker as they progress but you keep reading because you want to see where the author is going. Not this series! It this is the third installment and the story and characters just get stronger and deeper. If you like magic, adventure, mystery, and slow burn romance, you need to read this series. I wish I could give it 10 stars.
I really enjoyed the royal banquet and Yvonne being introduced to the goblin nobles. She managed to hold her own and still survive the mean girl, totally 😊! The stolen girls then take precedence and the Hunar gather an army, trek through the dangerous forbidden lands (really terrible), and fight the evil massive horde.... Far too bloody even for scifi warmongers. Lots of entertainment and budding romance for our shy couple. It seems long-lived goblins can take years to court. I read it straight through.
I really enjoyed this trilogy. One of the things I liked most was the main character was flawed. That made her more realistic. To have doubts and fears was a welcome relief and not overdone. Once again the power of the storytelling comes thru. I received the first book free but once I read it I was hooked and needed to continue. I must admit that I probably would not have chosen this if it wasn’t free. And the goblins. I loved the writers take on goblins. A very enjoyable read.
This world is so vast and diverse. I enjoy the color and language.
Yvonne is slowly regaining lost memories and fellow Hunar. She has bitten her tongue under great provocation to honor the spirit of her invitation to a goblin confirmation and yet made her mark with grace and dignity … and a very sharp sword.
Guise is deeply steadfast, and at last, people are coming to understand and admire his choice. His mother is intrigued and Yvonne now has a fan club. But, he saw her, first.
‘The Reckoning’ is book 3 of ‘The Hundred’ series-to be read in order. In book 3 there is a growing relationship between the two main characters. There are friends who may no longer be friends, more kidnapped girls, and a city with many secrets and a valuable treasure. All of this culminates in a gripping climax. I can’t read this author’s books fast enough and I am on to book 4!
I love this series! The story is so interesting that one cannot stop reading. It is 4:30 am and I read til I was finished. I love the names the author used. So inventive. They were foreign enough to be interesting yet still pronounceable.(sp?) A good read, highly recommended. Can't wait for the next books.
This is such an excellent series. A well written exciting and fast paced action packed story which satisfactorily concludes the on-going storyline from the last two books. The world building is seamless and the characters engaging and relatable. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.
As Yvonne begins the slow healing that comes from trusting Guise, a noble of Goblin blood, she discovers that her traumatic experiences are indeed less when in the company of her intriguing companion.
Her commitment to helping those in need is unwavering even as danger is around every corner.
This is the second series I have read by this author and I have devoted each word with joy. This a uthor is One of the est to come a,o g in a very long time. I am 83 and have been reading g everything I could. I HONESTLY urge everyone to c download and ev e ratings you can written hg VANESSA NELSON. You will. E glad if you co.. GOOD Reading!,,,,,,,,,..
One storyline closes, and oh so many more possibilities left. Yvonne and Guise have their hands full with the political intrigue of the Goblin court, but with children still going missing, mercenaries becoming harder to find, and messages from those affected by the Sight increasing, things are about to get even more complicated.
Boy, oh boy! So much going on with the bad guy ramping up his nastiness, more good guys coming together to look for the kidnapped 9-year-old girls, Yvonne and Guise learning more of each other, and then their is Guise's mother and a whole bunch of goblins at a political conference. As I said, lots going on. So full, so satisfying and a great read.
Zoals altijd genoten van het luisterboek. Het open einde laat veel aan de verbeelding over en er waren zoveel personages die een grotere rol speelden in dit boek dat het genoeg interessante en ook persoonlijke momenten opleverde. Gelukkig begint de relatie en bond tussen Yvonne en Guise te groeien. Vanessa Nelson heeft er een handje van om dit heel lang te laten duren.
The author concludes both interpersonal conflicts and the larger plot well. I was enthralled by the entire series and look forward to reading more of Nelson's work.
The only difference between this book and one printed and published by a known publishing house is the proofing - and maybe some editing. Proofing would correct some minor errors (here for her, etc.).
Still enjoying this series. It moves at a different pace than other books in this genre. But it works! I'd love to have a chapter here and there with Guise's thoughts, but I guess that would ruin his mystery. Looking forward to the next one.
A little to into her emotions for me. Trauma happens, but that many years doesn’t speak to her being brave, just stuck. The writing is good. Storyline good. Just to much dwelling on her feelings rather then moving on.