Feather and Flame

Ena of Ilbrea #4

by Megan O'Russell

Some battles cannot be won.

The time has come to fight.
There are no allies left.
There is nothing but flames ahead.
The end has arrived.

Prepare for the final installment in the Ena of Ilbrea series.

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2020

About the author

Megan started writing when she discovered playing Cordelia in King Lear leaves you way too much time waiting backstage. She began her career as an author during an ill-fated trip to Oz. She hasn't stopped writing (even when living on a tour bus) since.

Megan's wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she's not planning her next escapade, she's diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn't have to worry about what rules she's supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase.

Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into seven different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always is a new way to escape into adventure.

Megan would love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok but feels obliged to warn you in advance that you will be hearing about her cats…a lot.

If you want to stay up to date on all Megan's books and adventures (and hear about her cats) you can find all her social media links, including where to sign up for her readers community at: https://linktr.ee/meganorussell

Reviews

[Rebecca Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe I spent all this time reading this series only to get to the end. It seems like the author either ran out of ideas or steam and just dropped the ball, leaving us with no resolution or way forward. Very disappointing.

[Shoestringbling · Rating 2 out of 5]

What happened? It’s like the author just gave up! What was the point of finding the city under the stone, what happened to the others in the woods, what’s going on back at the keep??? What a waste of a great story!

[Beth Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well. I'm devastated. I dont know if I've got it in me to read the next series, excuse me whilst I go stare off into space and have an existential crisis about the ending of this book. 😭

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're anything like me, you got to the end of book 3, when everything went to sh$t, and felt like you needed to delve into book 4 immediately. Unfortunately, I finished book 3 and book 4 wasn't out yet... and then George Floyd was killed and protestors and looters took to the streets and I lost my fantasy-reading mojo.

A little over a month later, I'm getting to Feather and Flame. Honestly, slipping into the world with Ena and Emmett and Liam and Marta and Mave and everyone else was perfect. It's so easy because these characters are well-written and very delineated, and the world-building is strong. The Black Bloods take on some big challenges in this book, and they deal with them head-on. This includes all kinds of intrigue, some law-breaking, a few violent fights.

This book would be a 4 rating, except that I kind of hated the ending. I know why it had to happen - at least I think I do, since Inker and Crown are due to come out soon, and O'Russell says that she wrote it before this whole Ena series. But I'm still a little miffed. And it sucks. And I hate it.

[Rags · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I've just got to the end of this series and I am so disappointed and dissatisfied.

This series started strong, I enjoyed Ena as a strong female character and whilst there was a love element it wasn't the main theme. There were some really interesting elements to the story and the character and world building was engaging and well thought out.

However in the final book the author seemed to lose her way. Ena discovers an underground city but there seems no real point or resolution to this tangent. In fact the author fails to tie up any of the main themes really. I also felt it was completely unnecessary to kill off all the main characters, bar one.

Overall a poor ending to what started as a strong series. I'm not sure a have the stomach to start on the next series set in the same world.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers...


Only a masochist would go on to read anything else by this author. Puppeteering from the page, cackling at her laptop, while she destroys, literally, almost everybody we've grown to love in one fell swoop, with only a few pages left to go in the last book of the series. What about the siege? Why did the mountain show her the manor? Just don't.

[Jess Boaden · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what. My soul can’t take anymore deaths and you know what Megan likes to do. CRUSH SOULS!!

Honestly, this book wasn’t my favourite out of the series, although that being said, I still really enjoyed it. I think my lower rating is because my favourite character died in the last book. I also felt that Ena was a bit more whiny in this book and more dependant on Liam which I didn’t think she needed to be.

The plot was well done but felt a little rushed at the end (but I can excuse that because they were practically at war). I am not a fan of how it ends but damn does it make for a great connection to the sequel series! Which I already have and will be starting very very soon.

The problem with soul crushing authors is that most time you are so attached and head over heels that you volunteer yourself for more soul crushing with sequel series.

[Rebecca Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bloody hell. 4 books and so many unresolved issues. OK the ending was dramatic and TBH I'm not too sad that Liam died (for some reason I just couldn't click with him...maybe it was really not knowing what the hell was going in with his mum and that just kept me suspicious...what happened to her? Why could she just abdicate like that?) But Emmett? No!

Funny thing is I now NEED to read the 'first' written book to see why we had this back story the way we did. Hopefully, I'm feel a sense of closure in this next set of books.

[#ByFelicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how I feel about this last book in the Ena of Ilbrea series. It was a little slow in the beginning and lagged a bit in the middle for me but it picked up a bit towards the end. Ena kind of got on my nerves in this one too. For all her vows of vengeance for Finn and protecting Liam she would always second guess herself. So she didn’t exactly come off as confident as she had seemed to grow in the prior books. Her problem solving skills seemed to lean towards ripping her bodice off and getting hot and heavy with Liam to calm her nerves. I was like “Simma down, girl!” But in the end I felt like I was left hanging a bit.

Overall it was a great series although the ending leaves you wanting more. I look forward to continuing the journey with the Guild of Ilbrea series.

[Tayla B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book as a compelte series so this review covers all the books. I really like when authors combine a series together, it makes binge reading so much easier and with the endings to each book the way they are, this is really the only way to enjoy this book. I'm quite happy I didn't read it in peices and had to wait for the next one. I needed time to process this story when it ended. I am still confused and then after reading other reviews I'm pretty sure thats not going to change. However, there were alot of good parts and I did enjoy the overall story. Most of the reviews focus on the ending so I'll try to focus on everything else.


The perspective of the story is from Ena after the whole story takes place, so before you hear the chapter you will hear her retrospective memory of the events that occured. The intros to some of the stories were sometimes hard to match to the story that came after, and often made me think something much worse was going to happen. I also think the narrator helped over exaggerate this as well. Also, I suspect that this book will be better on a second read because you know the ending and the real place she is telling the story from. It was hard to match this without knowing certain things first.


The beginning was a slow start but keeps it interesting from early on. I really like Ena as a strong female lead. I really liked all the females in this book and wish there were more female freindship building. I also loved Liam, Fynn, and Emmit. The males seem to be a little overboard on protectivness when it doesn't make sense though. I enjoyed the love/hate sibling dynamic and watching that relationship mend itself. Fynn adds good necessary humor to the story, he was my favorite character. For the first book i was intrigued by the love story that's not a love story (which did develop into a love story).


The writing style is very descriptive that helps try to paint the scene but while going through the story it just felt like filler words and overly dramatic. Now that I've finsihed it i am thinking back and reanalyzing my opinion. For example, she mentioned so many times she needed to touch the pendent to feel its warmth against her skin. It was kind of annoying while reading it but now I understand that description of the pendent changes at the end and is how we confirm a very specific detail. Actually I think alot of what she said will only make sense once you get to the end of the book, so keep that in mind if you haven't read it yet.


I really liked the complicated world dynamic with the guilds and blackbloods. The unique magic system of the mountain and it protecting its people was also cool and different. We never reached the bottom of the mountain's power and that story line but it doesn't take away my appreciation of the author's creativity.


There were a few times i thought I guessed who the traitors were but everytime I was wrong! I thought it would be a more obvious choice but the author kept the twists just enough so it didn't break your heart. Not that she doesn't break your heart, she does.


Now the ending. Do I love it? No. Does it make sense that everyone needed to be invovled? Not at all. Is it complete? Also no. However it does leave me with the ability to imagine the rest of Ena's life, as miserable as that will be. I can picture her just letting her wrath out on the world. Whose more dangerous then a person with absolutely nothing to lose and a desperate thirst for vengeance? I see her rallying the people to finally fight back on their own. Maybe even the rest of the blackbloods finally join. I am left the with the ability to finish the story the way I think it should be. Plus, not every ending needs to be HEA. The extent of the tragedy at the end is what is most shocking for me. As I was getting closer to the end I couldn't picture how it was going to be able to wrap up in such a short amount of time and then I understood why.


I'm intrigued with the whole story, the way it was written, and how it ended. If you are looking for something quite different to most fantasy books then I'd still recommend giving this a shot. Just know its not a happy story and definitely not a happy ending.

[Kierstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewer’s Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Before reading this book, I did not know author Megan O'Russell was planning on writing additional books set in Ilbrea. Therefore, at the end of book three, I had anticipated the fourth book will see to concluding the story. However, even then I was a bit skeptical because there was so much left for our beloved characters to accomplish: discovering the identity of the traitor; figuring out the mountain stone situation; the clan war; and ending the unjust rule of the guilds. While the clan war was briefly addressed, this book installment focuses on solving the first two listed tasks.

This book was well written, with a fast-paced and action-packed plot that flowed seamlessly. The descriptions felt realistic to the point the scenes were easily imaginable. I did predict the ending would leave me slightly heart-broken, but the twist was much bigger than expected, and it was completely devastating. In fact, I still cannot believe the words on the final pages and feel the need to reread the last several chapters. Ena is truly a courageous, strong, independent protagonist that deserves much better than the cards life dealt her.

It's honestly been a struggle to put together all of my thoughts and feelings regarding the final book in the Ena of Ilbrea series, and I do not think I have done this review justice. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading not only this book, but the whole series. So, I am glad that this book does not mark the end of Ena's story; her journey will continue in the next saga that takes place in the same world, Inker and Crown. It is my hope that the new set of characters introduced in the Guilds of Ilbrea series will team up with Ena to continue the fight.

I am looking forward to reading other books by Megan. Her writing style and voice make it extremely easy to immerse oneself into a story, and fall in the love with the characters. Therefore, I want to encourage everyone to delve into the world of Ilbrea if they are looking for something new to read.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Ena's story, her coming of age. She has come a long way from the girl who ran away to see her brother in the big city back in "Wrath and Wing". She has been shaped and honed by many forces since then, both friend and foe. The strongest weapons are hammered, pounded, forged in fire. They come out as something different, far stronger than what they were. Feather and Flame is Ena's final forging.

This book was tension-filled and action-fueled. There were several times when I found myself fully immersed in the scenes as time slipped by. Various pieces from previous books were expertly woven together to build to the final confrontation in this book. There are many threads that were left hanging and questions left unanswered, but much more of Ilbrea's story is coming. I'm looking forward to "Inker and Crown" and finally learning more about the guilds.

The bright moments of happiness are what makes life worth living, even if they also make the pain of loss cut as deep as only one who has loved truly can feel. From the beginning you know this story is going to end in tragedy, but somehow, deep down inside you want to believe it will be other than a pyrrhic victory. That as these characters you have grown to know and love squeeze thorough and escape one impossible situation after another they will be able to pull off the impossible just one more time. Totally different story, but many of the same emotions as watching Rogue One. Up to the last scene willing a miracle - and refusing to believe what is on the page. Yep, I've got my fan theories too as to possibilities that were left open.

This is book 4 in Ena's story, book 5 if you count the prequel. Start from the beginning as these books build on each other and tell a story together but be warned, this is the kind of read that will give you all the feels. Deeply emotional, compelling, lingering storytelling that draws you farther in throughout the series.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here comes the end of Ena of Ilbrea's story. It's very bittersweet to come to the final book, as I've loved watching Ena grow as a character, experiencing the ups and downs of her journey, and wanted so much to see where she would end up, but I'm also so sad that it's the final book and I won't get to see any more of her adventures.

In this book, a group sets off with Ena and Liam to seek out the other traitors who are trying to harm the people of Lygan Hall. They find a pathway through the mountains, the same Ena discovered escaping her enemies in the previous book, and make their way to Frason's Glen where they believe they will find the people who are working against them.

The group returns to Mave's and ferrets out the traitor. And return to more familiar places as they try to continue their fight against the guilds. The book was so action packed and was hard to stop because there was so much going on and the tension created was immense. I was so afraid for the characters with the dangerous situations they often found themselves in, so it kept me on the edge if my seat.

Altogether, the ending left it open for more books to happen in this world, though Ena's story specifically is done. Without giving too much away, the ending was rather heartbreaking and I was left in shock by it. With that said, it was still a great book and an incredible series and I can't wait to see what other books this author comes out with!

[Kyla Sixkiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the early books in this series captivated me with Ena's strength, intriguing world-building, and a balanced approach to romance, the finale left me feeling disappointed and unresolved. (Not to mention things were already going downhill when a favorite character was already killed off in a prior book.)

Ena's journey initially unfolded with promise. Her character was compelling, the world engaging, and the plot threads held my attention. However, the final book seemed to lose its way. The discovery of the underground city felt like a wayward tangent, and many key narrative elements, including the city's purpose and the fates of various characters, were left frustratingly unclear. (We came BACK to the city in this book and left with hardly any more answers than we left the first time when Ena was barely surviving the mountain.)

The decision to eliminate nearly all the characters further amplifies the sense of incompleteness. It's as if the author simply lost momentum, leaving readers with unanswered questions and a hollow feeling.
While the series initially held great potential, the abrupt and unresolved ending undermines the earlier investment. The lack of answers to major questions ultimately leaves a bittersweet taste in the reader's mouth.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in the series has a lot of surprises of which I guessed correctly on two of them. Megan’s descriptive story made me think I was right there with them as they went from place to place to rout out traitors and battle the soldiers.

With most of the country still in lockdown this series is the perfect time to get yourself caught up in the saga of Ena. Emmet and Liam along with their friends. They became my friends as well and I grieved along with them as friends fell in the struggle for freedom from the guilds.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book for both the young adult and adult readers who see this. The writing is first rate and it keeps the reader glued to every page to see what happens next!

Megan has a legion of readers who are as enthusiastic as I am with her writing. I firmly believe that if you read just one of her books you will be hooked on her. She will be an author you will want to read more of so you will go from this series to another one and so forth through all her books. I am grateful I started reading her books and I tell everyone I know to read her because she is that good!

[Jade Michaelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book of Ena of Ilbrea series, and while the story was very unique, if you were looking for a HEA ending, you will not get one from this book.

Megan O'Russell likes killing off her characters, so don't grow attached to them. The story took the logical, realistic course (as realistic as a fantasy can be) instead of giving us the ending any human being with feelings would want it.

It was very well written and Ena's character development through the books was great, but most of the other characters just existed, they were already as they were with no growth in the books whatsoever. Liam's development only went so far as to acknowledge and act on his feelings toward Ena, and it would have been nice to have more growth in her relationship with her brother.

So I'm giving 4 stars for creativity. I'll be reading her spin-off series to see how this world's story continues, not everything was explained in this series and I'm hoping the next will answer a few questions.

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 in Ena of Ilbrea series

Chosen by the mountain. Catch a shadow. Preparing for battle. Broken beyond repair.

Heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed, emotionally-gripping conclusion to series that will honestly have readers speechless by the end. Great triumph comes after great sacrifice and at a high cost. Strength and courage are born out of grief. Once again the world building is detailed to perfection, and the characters show tremendous growth throughout the book amidst all their struggles. Highly recommended!

"I'm done waiting. It's time to force the fight."
"My path is yours, and we will build it together."
"Your path is mine."
"Fight. Live. I would burn the stars to save you."

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time a book series spoke to me in the way this one did.
From the very beginning I was 100% invested - rallying with Ena, laughing with Finn, fighting with Cati, plotting with Emmett, hoping for love with Liam - journeying along with them all, I could not put this down. And the further the tension ramped up, the faster I had to read.

They made me laugh out loud, made me gasp in shock, and at the ending with the letter, my heart genuinely felt like it had stopped. It's going to take me a while to recover from this.

I recommend the series to all, and look forward to continuing the journey in 'Inker and Crown' - maybe once I've stopped sobbing first.

[Tiffany L · Rating 5 out of 5]

****Spoiler Alert****

I'm devastated. My heart is broken and my hope destroyed. I know Ena's story continues, but I don't know if I can bear to read it after this. I've never been so wrecked by an ending before. I mean, I was in complete shock and denial for a solid 10 mins before I started sobbing. I want to know what happens to the rest of the Black bloods, the 4 sorci children, Marta, etc. I have so many unanswered questions, and I wanted better for Ena; they used her selflessness against her. I just.... How dare you? 💔

[Jessy · Rating 1 out of 5]

SPOILER ********* This wasn’t even an ending.

SPOILER***********




This is the worst ending to a book. I can handle characters dying and not getting a happy ending, but this just made no sense. It was such a quick succession and then boom, the end. Now we have to read a book that was written 2 years prior with all new characters but one? I would of rather have ended on the third book. The ending was planned and made sense. This one seemed rushed and half thought through.

[Jess Bohanick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh!!! My heart - I was not prepared for that! I'm absolutely devastated . . This was an epic story. Not one of those awww they beat the odd story. It's about fighting for justice from the shadows, navigating lies and pain, finding family and surviving loss.

I can understand why people didn't care for the ending, however, this is not the end of Ena's story. I haven't started the Guilds of Ilbrea series, but from what I understand, Ena's story enhances your understanding in Guilds.

[Annie Kosar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love & Treachery, & Fighting For Freedom!!!

What a POWERFUL & EMOTIONAL series!! Ena & Liam & Emmets’ characters are so complex and yet weave together into a GORGEOUS tapestry!!! The writing is sooo beautiful!!! You will not be able to keep from turning page after page and feel as though you are right there in the middle of all of the action!! LOVED IT!!:-)

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-written but sad and
gripping story is the last chapter
in Ena's story.
Her journey continues into peril,
betrayal, unresolved guilt and
unending loss.
Stay with her to see what happens.

Phyllis S.

[Jill Gauger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last book in the series and my heart was ripped out and stomped on!! The characters are awesome and this book was full of love, drama, betrayal and twists and turns you never see coming. This heartbreaking conclusion to this series blew my mind. I wanted to cry at the end.

[Melissa Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this series. Ena is such a great character and I loved the world of Ilbrea. This book was such a great ending to the series. I will definitely be reading the Guilds of Ilbrea series in the future!

[Aoife♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!🥺😭😊😡

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow, what a humdinger of a story. The final story of Liam and Ena. But the ending was so sad.

[Eileen Mccausland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good series. Unexpected ending. Hope Ena appears in other books.

[Missy Schoewe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this isn't the end

This series is a good read. I am hoping to read more of Enable. I did Not like this ending. It's not a HEA.

[Andrea Chiossone · Rating 5 out of 5]

What??? Devastated, that is all. All the feels in this book. Great story but not sure I’ve got it in me to read the next set of books!