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Dark Shores #4
Scorched Earth
The thrilling finale in Danielle L. Jensen's Dark Shores series, which Sarah J. Maas calls "everything I look for in a fantasy novel."
Lydia and Killian escaped their enemy’s grasp, but not without consequences. While they race to destroy the blight, Lydia fights an internal war against the Corrupter’s influence knowing defeat means death for those she loves. Tormented by a battle that can’t be won with blades, Killian must find the queen they risked everything to rescue without falling prey to Corrupter’s weapons, both living and dead.
Teriana and Marcus thwarted assassination, but now must live with the dark truths that have been revealed. As Teriana hunts for allies, she must face the dire circumstances of her imprisoned people, driving her to strike a dangerous deal with the Empire. Consumed by guilt over his crimes, Marcus embarks on an ambitious campaign to save those he condemned, which risks him becoming the conqueror the Empire desires him to be.
With the blight consuming everything in its path and the Empire crushing everyone who stands before it, Reath is falling beneath the tide of evil. Secrets will be revealed that break hearts even as they forge new alliances, but only the greatest sacrifices of all will turn the tide in the battle for the liberty of every nation on Reath.
Lydia and Killian escaped their enemy’s grasp, but not without consequences. While they race to destroy the blight, Lydia fights an internal war against the Corrupter’s influence knowing defeat means death for those she loves. Tormented by a battle that can’t be won with blades, Killian must find the queen they risked everything to rescue without falling prey to Corrupter’s weapons, both living and dead.
Teriana and Marcus thwarted assassination, but now must live with the dark truths that have been revealed. As Teriana hunts for allies, she must face the dire circumstances of her imprisoned people, driving her to strike a dangerous deal with the Empire. Consumed by guilt over his crimes, Marcus embarks on an ambitious campaign to save those he condemned, which risks him becoming the conqueror the Empire desires him to be.
With the blight consuming everything in its path and the Empire crushing everyone who stands before it, Reath is falling beneath the tide of evil. Secrets will be revealed that break hearts even as they forge new alliances, but only the greatest sacrifices of all will turn the tide in the battle for the liberty of every nation on Reath.
752 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2025
17369 people want to read
About the author
Danielle L. Jensen
28 books20.6k followersJoin Danielle's mailing list for exclusive content, giveaways, and new release alerts: https://danielleljensen.com/newslette...
Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.
Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
August 28, 2025
I'm not even joking when I say this; this book was the best conclusion to a series that I have ever read. It the series justice in every single aspect. This was epic fantasy done right. rtc
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I read the 24 chapter excerpt and omg my mind is blown away cuz those 24 chapters were insanely good, like you guys don't understand what she puts in her books, I have no idea how things are gonna end. I got the book immediately to continue!!
__
I got a 24 chapter excerpt to this book for Tor's publicist 🙂↕️ and this is the perfect moment to read it with the book so close to the release! Hoping I get the things I want, and I am sooo sad to see the characters go 😔
__
After that ending, I am a child of divorce 😣
Ok Danielle, listen up (pls)
• This novel should be not less than 1000 pages (I want everything you can throw at me, P L E A S E)
• HEA for everyone 🙏🏼 or you'll find me in your walls👹
• Angsty romance like the one we got in GS 😏
• Pls be kind to Agrippa, my man has suffered enough. 😔
• Sob-worthy reunions 🤍
• Confessions 😱
• Epic battles ⚔
• An epilogue that I can frame 😌✋
__
I read the 24 chapter excerpt and omg my mind is blown away cuz those 24 chapters were insanely good, like you guys don't understand what she puts in her books, I have no idea how things are gonna end. I got the book immediately to continue!!
__
I got a 24 chapter excerpt to this book for Tor's publicist 🙂↕️ and this is the perfect moment to read it with the book so close to the release! Hoping I get the things I want, and I am sooo sad to see the characters go 😔
__
After that ending, I am a child of divorce 😣
Ok Danielle, listen up (pls)
• This novel should be not less than 1000 pages (I want everything you can throw at me, P L E A S E)
• HEA for everyone 🙏🏼 or you'll find me in your walls👹
• Angsty romance like the one we got in GS 😏
• Pls be kind to Agrippa, my man has suffered enough. 😔
• Sob-worthy reunions 🤍
• Confessions 😱
• Epic battles ⚔
• An epilogue that I can frame 😌✋
Read
February 6, 2025An excerpt of the first 24 chapters is available on Netgalley for request!
The release date is August 5, 2025.
Current list of content warnings:
The release date is August 5, 2025.
Current list of content warnings:
Want to read
November 11, 2023This is going to look so incredible on my shelves!!!
Original:
I know we're probably still a year away from getting additional info on this book, but sometimes I check in to see if the cover has been revealed.
And by sometimes, I mean often.
Original:
I know we're probably still a year away from getting additional info on this book, but sometimes I check in to see if the cover has been revealed.
And by sometimes, I mean often.
August 25, 2025
I received a sampler of this book via NetGalley (thank you, Orbit Books). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ 4 POVs
✅ Pace and action
✅ Plot
✅ Politics and betrayals
✅ World-building
✅ Some magic
✅ Romance
✅ Found family / Strong bonds
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: deaths (during battles, lapidation, hanging, and burning), deaths of children
The excerpt I received from NetGalley was for the first 20% of the book, but the review is for the whole book.
What an epic ending! I had to wait for a little over 4 years to read this final book, but it was definitely worth the wait. 👌❤️
Once again, we follow Lydia and Killian, as well as Teriana and Marcus. There are 4 different points of view, and while I enjoyed Lydia and Killian’s storyline more in the previous book, I was more hooked to Teriana and Marcus’s chapters in this one, and enjoyed Lydia and Killian’s chapter a little less.
I feel that Lydia and Killian’s storyline is a little stagnant in the first half of the book. Not because they are not doing anything, their chapters are full of action and fighting, but it’s also mostly traveling, and the stakes didn’t feel as high as they did for Teriana and Marcus in this first half. It was not an issue in the second half of the book, though. Honestly, every character had amazing chapters in this book, and all the plotlines were gripping and engaging. I ate the second half of the book, and stayed up too late more than once because I was a victim of the “one more chapter” vicious addiction (#NoRegrets).
I do adore Lydia and Killian, especially Lydia. They felt like a strong unit in this book, and Killian finally decided to take what he wanted and to stop putting his duty to Malahi first and feeling overly guilty about everything that happened in Mudamora. Lydia showed us, once again, how strong and caring she is, and it was inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time to see how she kept on hoping to find a way to save the blighters when everyone else gave up on them. Killian felt more like a supportive character to Lydia’s arc than his own character, but it worked well in the end.
Malahi was a big surprise. I was not her biggest fan at all in the second book, because it really seemed as though everything she did was supposedly for the good of her people, but in the end, what she really wanted was the crown. She showed everyone in this book that she really did care about her people more than she did about power or politics. She was willing to sacrifice everything for them, and every decision she made in this book, she made while thinking about the greater good and what would help her people. I was very pleasantly surprised by this growth.
Agrippa was a nice addition to the cast. I loved him in the prequel novella and in Gilded Serpent, but he truly shone in this book. I love his sass and humor, and the way he decided to help Malahi no matter the cost. Seeing him being briefly reunited with the 37th was also a moment I was hoping to get in this book, and even though it was a short reunion, I loved every moment of it!
Teriana and Marcus’s chapters had me at the edge of my seat from the beginning until the very end. They are, once again, in the middle of politics and scheming, not knowing whom they can trust. I had strong suspicions about the traitor’s identity since the beginning of the book, and I was right. I do think that it was made a little too obvious, maybe, and it made Marcus appear a little too trusty at times because he did not suspect it despite every clue we got.
Teriana grew a lot since the first book. She felt more mature and wiser, too. I also loved the complexity of her feelings and her situation. Her character growth in this series revolved around the dilemma of sacrificing the many to save the few, or letting the few die in the hope of saving the many. I do not envy her position, and poor Teriana did not have an easy path, but I think that is the reason I am so impressed with her growth, and why I enjoyed her chapters so much in this book.
Teriana’s reunion with Lydia finally happened, too, and it was heartwarming to see the strong bond and the love they have for each other. They truly are sisters in every sense of the word, and I am happy they got a chance to see each other again, and to have a well overdue conversation about what happened to Lydia, and Teriana’s involvement with Marcus.
Marcus had a tough time in this book. He wanted to help Teriana free her people, but also to protect his family and his legion, putting him in an impossible situation, because he couldn't achieve all of his goals. He was put between a rock and a hard place for most of the book, and I love that the author was not afraid to show a darker side of Marcus in this book. He was vicious and cold at times, but it fit well into the plot, and it made a lot of sense considering what was happening to him. The last few chapters, from his point of view, made me cry too, so it shows how much I love him and the members of the 37th, and how much I appreciate their strong bond.
I am so glad I gave this series a chance 4 years ago. I was an exercise in patience to wait for this final book, but it was worth it. I loved rereading this series, especially since I didn't remember much of it, so it almost felt like reading it for the first time. I highly recommend this series to any fan of fantasy with a hint of Roman-inspired politics, a complex and well-developed world-building, and characters that have depth and undergo impressive character growth.
0.5 Tarnished Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. Dark Shores ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Dark Skies ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
3. Gilded Serpent ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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✅ 4 POVs
✅ Pace and action
✅ Plot
✅ Politics and betrayals
✅ World-building
✅ Some magic
✅ Romance
✅ Found family / Strong bonds
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: deaths (during battles, lapidation, hanging, and burning), deaths of children
The excerpt I received from NetGalley was for the first 20% of the book, but the review is for the whole book.
What an epic ending! I had to wait for a little over 4 years to read this final book, but it was definitely worth the wait. 👌❤️
Once again, we follow Lydia and Killian, as well as Teriana and Marcus. There are 4 different points of view, and while I enjoyed Lydia and Killian’s storyline more in the previous book, I was more hooked to Teriana and Marcus’s chapters in this one, and enjoyed Lydia and Killian’s chapter a little less.
I feel that Lydia and Killian’s storyline is a little stagnant in the first half of the book. Not because they are not doing anything, their chapters are full of action and fighting, but it’s also mostly traveling, and the stakes didn’t feel as high as they did for Teriana and Marcus in this first half. It was not an issue in the second half of the book, though. Honestly, every character had amazing chapters in this book, and all the plotlines were gripping and engaging. I ate the second half of the book, and stayed up too late more than once because I was a victim of the “one more chapter” vicious addiction (#NoRegrets).
I do adore Lydia and Killian, especially Lydia. They felt like a strong unit in this book, and Killian finally decided to take what he wanted and to stop putting his duty to Malahi first and feeling overly guilty about everything that happened in Mudamora. Lydia showed us, once again, how strong and caring she is, and it was inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time to see how she kept on hoping to find a way to save the blighters when everyone else gave up on them. Killian felt more like a supportive character to Lydia’s arc than his own character, but it worked well in the end.
Malahi was a big surprise. I was not her biggest fan at all in the second book, because it really seemed as though everything she did was supposedly for the good of her people, but in the end, what she really wanted was the crown. She showed everyone in this book that she really did care about her people more than she did about power or politics. She was willing to sacrifice everything for them, and every decision she made in this book, she made while thinking about the greater good and what would help her people. I was very pleasantly surprised by this growth.
“That’s a gods-damned work of art,” Agrippa said by way of answer. “Look at those ranks. I can barely get my men to walk in the same direction, much less in a straight line. We’re fucked, by the way. This is what it looks like to be well and truly fucked.”
Agrippa was a nice addition to the cast. I loved him in the prequel novella and in Gilded Serpent, but he truly shone in this book. I love his sass and humor, and the way he decided to help Malahi no matter the cost. Seeing him being briefly reunited with the 37th was also a moment I was hoping to get in this book, and even though it was a short reunion, I loved every moment of it!
Teriana and Marcus’s chapters had me at the edge of my seat from the beginning until the very end. They are, once again, in the middle of politics and scheming, not knowing whom they can trust. I had strong suspicions about the traitor’s identity since the beginning of the book, and I was right. I do think that it was made a little too obvious, maybe, and it made Marcus appear a little too trusty at times because he did not suspect it despite every clue we got.
Teriana grew a lot since the first book. She felt more mature and wiser, too. I also loved the complexity of her feelings and her situation. Her character growth in this series revolved around the dilemma of sacrificing the many to save the few, or letting the few die in the hope of saving the many. I do not envy her position, and poor Teriana did not have an easy path, but I think that is the reason I am so impressed with her growth, and why I enjoyed her chapters so much in this book.
Teriana’s reunion with Lydia finally happened, too, and it was heartwarming to see the strong bond and the love they have for each other. They truly are sisters in every sense of the word, and I am happy they got a chance to see each other again, and to have a well overdue conversation about what happened to Lydia, and Teriana’s involvement with Marcus.
“Nothing was done to me. I was only reminded of who I am.”
“And who is that?”
Silence. His lips parted, and Teriana’s pulse roared with anticipation and terror because this felt like a confession. Like the moment when he’d finally give her the reason why everything had fallen apart. But all he said was, “Your enemy.”
Marcus had a tough time in this book. He wanted to help Teriana free her people, but also to protect his family and his legion, putting him in an impossible situation, because he couldn't achieve all of his goals. He was put between a rock and a hard place for most of the book, and I love that the author was not afraid to show a darker side of Marcus in this book. He was vicious and cold at times, but it fit well into the plot, and it made a lot of sense considering what was happening to him. The last few chapters, from his point of view, made me cry too, so it shows how much I love him and the members of the 37th, and how much I appreciate their strong bond.
I am so glad I gave this series a chance 4 years ago. I was an exercise in patience to wait for this final book, but it was worth it. I loved rereading this series, especially since I didn't remember much of it, so it almost felt like reading it for the first time. I highly recommend this series to any fan of fantasy with a hint of Roman-inspired politics, a complex and well-developed world-building, and characters that have depth and undergo impressive character growth.
0.5 Tarnished Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. Dark Shores ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Dark Skies ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
3. Gilded Serpent ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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August 11, 2025
Another series that I would tell everyone TO RUN AND READ
August 26, 2025
Absolute freaking masterpiece. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole 750 pages HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?? 😂 I had to take a few breaks of reading because of all the anxiety. The world building, plot and characters (+development) simply a 10/10.
The sad:
Four years of waiting and not even one chapter of Agrippas x Malahi POV 😭
I also really wish that Agrippa met his old legion way earlier 🥹 There was def something missing that I don‘t feel so content now 😂
The bad:
Lydia vs Rufina reminded me of that scene in GoT with Arya and the Nightking. Way too easy 🥹
_________
Before this book came out:
To my future self:
- Agrippa has Malahi (inb4 romance :D, I wonder if we will see Silvara again?)
- Killian and Lydia escaped but she’s not herself (AND THEY ARE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER OMG, can’t wait for spicy scenes tyvm :D)
- Teriana is about to meet with Cassius and then prolly going to the Dark Shores with the (omg I forgot) 51th (?) legion
- Marcus used the xenthier and is back, but he’s a deserter now and Titus is about to bring him to his ‘now different’ legion and their new legatus Felix (oboi)
- Please let Teriana, Marcus, Lydia, Killian & Agrippa meet each other fast ;_; I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE :D
The sad:
Four years of waiting and not even one chapter of Agrippas x Malahi POV 😭
I also really wish that Agrippa met his old legion way earlier 🥹 There was def something missing that I don‘t feel so content now 😂
The bad:
Lydia vs Rufina reminded me of that scene in GoT with Arya and the Nightking. Way too easy 🥹
_________
Before this book came out:
To my future self:
- Agrippa has Malahi (inb4 romance :D, I wonder if we will see Silvara again?)
- Killian and Lydia escaped but she’s not herself (AND THEY ARE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER OMG, can’t wait for spicy scenes tyvm :D)
- Teriana is about to meet with Cassius and then prolly going to the Dark Shores with the (omg I forgot) 51th (?) legion
- Marcus used the xenthier and is back, but he’s a deserter now and Titus is about to bring him to his ‘now different’ legion and their new legatus Felix (oboi)
- Please let Teriana, Marcus, Lydia, Killian & Agrippa meet each other fast ;_; I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE :D
August 11, 2025
WOW! I am in awe.
August 12, 2025
I read this book cover to cover in one sitting.
I had no idea what to expect when I went into this book because, as many might have mentioned, you never can predict Jensens twists, and they took me by surprise every single one of them. All of my favorite characters got deserving endings with the best romantic arcs. I can't be more pleased.
I had no idea what to expect when I went into this book because, as many might have mentioned, you never can predict Jensens twists, and they took me by surprise every single one of them. All of my favorite characters got deserving endings with the best romantic arcs. I can't be more pleased.
August 14, 2025
08/13/2025: Dark Shores is quite literally the book that got me into reading 5 years ago. The story made me fall in love with the fantasy genre, and I remember being absolutely devastated when I realized the series wouldn't be complete for a long time. I finished reading Gilded Serpent in April of 2021, and have been waiting on the edge of my seat for the resolution to that cliffhanger since then. So my expectations were quite literally as high as they could ever be, and you know what, this book managed to deliver on them. I will admit, Scorched Earth isn't necessarily what I wanted. That didn't happen, but you know what, the book is better for it. This wasn't what I asked for, but it's the conclusion the series deserved. Much like series like Throne of Glass and Game of Thrones, Dark Shores is bittersweet. I love these characters, but you can't read the series for them alone, because you know they are going to endure hardship, and god only knows how their stories will end. Rather, what drew me into this series was the exceptional world building and politics. Scorched Earth managed to conclude such a sprawling, realistically messy political conflict in such a satisfying way. I was really impressed and moved by the themes of colonization, war and autonomy. The final third of the book as a whole had me experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. And now, even though I was happy with this ending, I cannot believe I'm saying goodbye to this world after 5 whole years. I really highly recommend people give this series a chance. I know that Danielle Jensen is known for her "romantasy" writing, such as The Bridge Kingdom, but if you want a more plot driven series full of engaging politics, I highly recommend the Dark Shores series. (Don't worry though, there is some beautiful romance too. It's not all war, I promise).
On a side bar - If anyone else was surprised by this, please let me know. But hey, the fact that my only complaint of this almost thousand page novel is that I misunderstood where a romance was headed, then that's a pretty good sign.
06/15/2025: Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the excerpt of Scorched Earth's first 24 chapters! Dark Shores was the first series of Danielle Jensen's that I read and it instantly lured me in. I've been waiting years for Scorched Earth to be released, and from what I've read so far, it doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to see how it ends when the full novel is published. This series is critically underrated and I urge everyone to pick it up!
On a side bar - If anyone else was surprised by this, please let me know. But hey, the fact that my only complaint of this almost thousand page novel is that I misunderstood where a romance was headed, then that's a pretty good sign.
06/15/2025: Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the excerpt of Scorched Earth's first 24 chapters! Dark Shores was the first series of Danielle Jensen's that I read and it instantly lured me in. I've been waiting years for Scorched Earth to be released, and from what I've read so far, it doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to see how it ends when the full novel is published. This series is critically underrated and I urge everyone to pick it up!
October 6, 2025
Full Review:
It costs nothing to hurt people, but more often than not, it costs everything to protect them
It's a major struggle to read-read a serious book with pregnancy brain, but I'm so pleased with the ending to this story. This is such a epic YA fantasy series that should really get more attention, and is beyond a shadow of a doubt DLJ's best series.
There are definitely some frustrations with pacing and some overall frustrating YA-y miscommunication tropes, but the story, world, and characters shine. The stakes are higher than ever in this book, and secrets to be revealed. There are several moments that had me reeling & welling up with tears. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to read about characters that you actually cared about.
Memorable moments for me:
- Agrippa's smart mouth
- Malahi's bravery
- Different representations of weakness vs. strength
- Found family
- The 51st
- The casualties of war
ARC Review of the first 24 chapters:
I am weak, broken, and ugly, but I am not yet defeated.
Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for allowing me to read a 24 chapter excerpt in exchange for an honest review.
Coming off re-reads, this book wastes no time and picks up immediately where Gilded Serpent left off! We finish Gilded Serpent with a sense of dread and desperation, and this little preview into Scorched Earth only offered a tiny bit of respite from the onslaught of action. (Though this isn't a surprise since 24 chapters only amounted to 150 pages of what will be a 750+ page book).
I am eager to find out how on earth Marcus, Teriana, Lydia, and Killian will overcome all the challenges that have been building up against them. There are an insane amount of lies & secrets that need to be revealed, reunions that need to be had (Agrippa, the 37th, and Silvara??), and I'm SO NERVOUS on their behalf. August can't come soon enough!
It costs nothing to hurt people, but more often than not, it costs everything to protect them
It's a major struggle to read-read a serious book with pregnancy brain, but I'm so pleased with the ending to this story. This is such a epic YA fantasy series that should really get more attention, and is beyond a shadow of a doubt DLJ's best series.
There are definitely some frustrations with pacing and some overall frustrating YA-y miscommunication tropes, but the story, world, and characters shine. The stakes are higher than ever in this book, and secrets to be revealed. There are several moments that had me reeling & welling up with tears. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to read about characters that you actually cared about.
Memorable moments for me:
- Agrippa's smart mouth
- Malahi's bravery
- Different representations of weakness vs. strength
- Found family
- The 51st
- The casualties of war
ARC Review of the first 24 chapters:
I am weak, broken, and ugly, but I am not yet defeated.
Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen for allowing me to read a 24 chapter excerpt in exchange for an honest review.
Coming off re-reads, this book wastes no time and picks up immediately where Gilded Serpent left off! We finish Gilded Serpent with a sense of dread and desperation, and this little preview into Scorched Earth only offered a tiny bit of respite from the onslaught of action. (Though this isn't a surprise since 24 chapters only amounted to 150 pages of what will be a 750+ page book).
I am eager to find out how on earth Marcus, Teriana, Lydia, and Killian will overcome all the challenges that have been building up against them. There are an insane amount of lies & secrets that need to be revealed, reunions that need to be had (Agrippa, the 37th, and Silvara??), and I'm SO NERVOUS on their behalf. August can't come soon enough!
August 7, 2025
Full review after publication. Review of first 24 chapters at bottom. Spoilers Below.
I have been a die hard fan of this series since the first few pages of Dark Shores. Most of my love has lied with Teriana and Marcus who I firmly believe carry the weight of this story and their characterizations are everything that I love about reading. This final installment definitely ran the gamut of emotions for me. The first 50% is without a doubt 5 stars for me. The last 50% hurt me. I am not sure I will ever recover and some of the things that occurred make me lean closer to 4.5 stars for the final book. But I have to round up because the way this book made me feel is definitely up there with my all time favorites.
I have to air my grievances and then I'll get to the good. I don't think Marcus deserved everything that he went through in this book. In comparison to Lydia, who also was a victim of the corrupter (and herself?), Lydia was given tools from the actual Gods, and had endless support from 5+ characters who never gave up on her and taught her how to be free from evil. Marcus on the other hand was villianized for being under the exact same influence, and was not given any support from a single character. The only person who even cared to push him was Agrippa. But ultimately, Marcus was able to get rid of the corrupter in his head by his own will and not even a drop of encouragement from someone else. Yet, literally every other main character claims a moral high ground and superiority over Marcus and all of his actions in the second half of this book. The woman who loves him even abandoned him knowing he was under the corrupter's influence and was given the easy out that it's not her job to keep him from being evil. Yet Lydia is constantly backsliding and hurting everyone around her and Killian never makes her face that it was partially Lydia doing the terrible things she was doing/saying and not just the Corrupter. And let's not forget that Marcus is the only main character not God marked. So it is even more unfair and he obviously was more susceptible to the seventh's corruption.
I really have never cared for Lydia, but my gosh she does not deserve sainthood any more than any other character, and she definitely can't claim to be purely a hero. Not a single one of them can, which is part of why this story is great. Every main character has a grey area. They are not purely good or bad. But in this story, it felt like Killian, Teriana and Lydia were good and Marcus was ultimately just bad, and had to take the fall for every other bad person's actions. The last 20% had me a mixture of angry and sad that Marcus was not being realized for who he actually is. Which by no means am I claiming he is purely good either. It's just the double standard that was killing me. I would have much rather there been a reckoning where everyone had to come to terms with the fact that much of the evil that Marcus wrought was done under the influence of the Corrupter and he could have been absolved at least a little bit. and he and every other Legatus were being blackmailed. Why was he the only one punished when they all went along with him? And for goodness sakes he didn't kill Lydia and he tried to save her. Why that part was never acknowledged also pissed me off. I think the same things could have been achieved in a different way and I do not think Marcus deserved to go down the complete evil path that he did. He has always been a character who just wants to protect the people he loves, but he also has always cared about protecting innocent civilians as much as possible. And the things he did just don't match with his characterization. His last scene even reveals that he thinks he is just bad. Can we not give the man a break and acknowledge that he was basically possessed just as much as a blighter?
Okay now the good:
-The scenes of Marcus' almost death by the hands of his legion were pure Gold. My heart races just thinking about it.
-Every single one of Marcus' speeches to his men were amazing. The last one when he is on the executioner's block had me in a puddle. "At ease." and hugging Servius and Felix, please I was absolutely crying. Him and Felix' relationship thankfully came around and I loved their bond.
-Marcus' manic war strategizing, drug induced insanity, and all of his battle scenes were also amazing. I am always so excited to see his brilliant plans executed.
-Every single time Quintus was on the page...perfection. The fact that we didn't see him and Mickey reunite...a crime.
-Teriana fighting back against the Empire and Marcus loving her more for it...perfection.
-Agrippa and Malahi getting married I actually loved. I have had a love/hate relationship with Malahi, but those two just make sense to me.
-Agrippa and Marcus' reunion was so good.
-Good riddance with Silvara. Loved that Teriana didn't let her get away with calling Teriana a hoe lol.
-I will never forgive DLJ for what happened to the 51st, but damn was it good writing. I did think the giants having to kill a second army of blighter children was a bit overkill.
Ultimately, I think this series is fantastic and no one can make me hate Marcus and Teriana. The road to get there was rough at times, but I love that they got the ending they deserve. I need an epilogue of Teriana, Marcus, Quintus, Mickey, Agrippa and Malahi hanging out and playing cards to soothe my broken heart.
Original review of first 24 chapters:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the fist 24 chapters! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am foaming at the mouth for the rest of this story. I really need for the whole book to go on Netgalley because I am not going to stop thinking about this book until the moment I get to read the rest of it.
This is one of my all time favorite fantasy series and I will keep shouting from the rooftops that DLJ does it better than anyone else in the game when it comes to political intrigue, scheming, warring countries, and complex plots. I really can't imagine anyone not becoming fully invested in this story.
I wish I could adequately explain what was happening to me physically when I was reading a certain scene. Let's just say that it was one of the reunions we've all been anticipating and I was literally sweating, shaking and full of adrenaline.
I am still fully scared for what's to come because DLJ has been not so subtly dropping hints of some tragedies that are likely to befall at least one main character. Until I know that Teriana and Marcus are safe I cannot rest and I'll be forwarding my therapy bills.
I think it goes without saying but so far my rating is 10/10. I have no notes.
This is my last attempt to try to get others to read this series. If you liked the Bridge Kingdom, you will love this. If you liked her newest release A Fate Inked in Blood, you will love this.
I have been a die hard fan of this series since the first few pages of Dark Shores. Most of my love has lied with Teriana and Marcus who I firmly believe carry the weight of this story and their characterizations are everything that I love about reading. This final installment definitely ran the gamut of emotions for me. The first 50% is without a doubt 5 stars for me. The last 50% hurt me. I am not sure I will ever recover and some of the things that occurred make me lean closer to 4.5 stars for the final book. But I have to round up because the way this book made me feel is definitely up there with my all time favorites.
I have to air my grievances and then I'll get to the good. I don't think Marcus deserved everything that he went through in this book. In comparison to Lydia, who also was a victim of the corrupter (and herself?), Lydia was given tools from the actual Gods, and had endless support from 5+ characters who never gave up on her and taught her how to be free from evil. Marcus on the other hand was villianized for being under the exact same influence, and was not given any support from a single character. The only person who even cared to push him was Agrippa. But ultimately, Marcus was able to get rid of the corrupter in his head by his own will and not even a drop of encouragement from someone else. Yet, literally every other main character claims a moral high ground and superiority over Marcus and all of his actions in the second half of this book. The woman who loves him even abandoned him knowing he was under the corrupter's influence and was given the easy out that it's not her job to keep him from being evil. Yet Lydia is constantly backsliding and hurting everyone around her and Killian never makes her face that it was partially Lydia doing the terrible things she was doing/saying and not just the Corrupter. And let's not forget that Marcus is the only main character not God marked. So it is even more unfair and he obviously was more susceptible to the seventh's corruption.
I really have never cared for Lydia, but my gosh she does not deserve sainthood any more than any other character, and she definitely can't claim to be purely a hero. Not a single one of them can, which is part of why this story is great. Every main character has a grey area. They are not purely good or bad. But in this story, it felt like Killian, Teriana and Lydia were good and Marcus was ultimately just bad, and had to take the fall for every other bad person's actions. The last 20% had me a mixture of angry and sad that Marcus was not being realized for who he actually is. Which by no means am I claiming he is purely good either. It's just the double standard that was killing me. I would have much rather there been a reckoning where everyone had to come to terms with the fact that much of the evil that Marcus wrought was done under the influence of the Corrupter and he could have been absolved at least a little bit. and he and every other Legatus were being blackmailed. Why was he the only one punished when they all went along with him? And for goodness sakes he didn't kill Lydia and he tried to save her. Why that part was never acknowledged also pissed me off. I think the same things could have been achieved in a different way and I do not think Marcus deserved to go down the complete evil path that he did. He has always been a character who just wants to protect the people he loves, but he also has always cared about protecting innocent civilians as much as possible. And the things he did just don't match with his characterization. His last scene even reveals that he thinks he is just bad. Can we not give the man a break and acknowledge that he was basically possessed just as much as a blighter?
Okay now the good:
-The scenes of Marcus' almost death by the hands of his legion were pure Gold. My heart races just thinking about it.
-Every single one of Marcus' speeches to his men were amazing. The last one when he is on the executioner's block had me in a puddle. "At ease." and hugging Servius and Felix, please I was absolutely crying. Him and Felix' relationship thankfully came around and I loved their bond.
-Marcus' manic war strategizing, drug induced insanity, and all of his battle scenes were also amazing. I am always so excited to see his brilliant plans executed.
-Every single time Quintus was on the page...perfection. The fact that we didn't see him and Mickey reunite...a crime.
-Teriana fighting back against the Empire and Marcus loving her more for it...perfection.
-Agrippa and Malahi getting married I actually loved. I have had a love/hate relationship with Malahi, but those two just make sense to me.
-Agrippa and Marcus' reunion was so good.
-Good riddance with Silvara. Loved that Teriana didn't let her get away with calling Teriana a hoe lol.
-I will never forgive DLJ for what happened to the 51st, but damn was it good writing. I did think the giants having to kill a second army of blighter children was a bit overkill.
Ultimately, I think this series is fantastic and no one can make me hate Marcus and Teriana. The road to get there was rough at times, but I love that they got the ending they deserve. I need an epilogue of Teriana, Marcus, Quintus, Mickey, Agrippa and Malahi hanging out and playing cards to soothe my broken heart.
Original review of first 24 chapters:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the fist 24 chapters! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am foaming at the mouth for the rest of this story. I really need for the whole book to go on Netgalley because I am not going to stop thinking about this book until the moment I get to read the rest of it.
This is one of my all time favorite fantasy series and I will keep shouting from the rooftops that DLJ does it better than anyone else in the game when it comes to political intrigue, scheming, warring countries, and complex plots. I really can't imagine anyone not becoming fully invested in this story.
I wish I could adequately explain what was happening to me physically when I was reading a certain scene. Let's just say that it was one of the reunions we've all been anticipating and I was literally sweating, shaking and full of adrenaline.
I am still fully scared for what's to come because DLJ has been not so subtly dropping hints of some tragedies that are likely to befall at least one main character. Until I know that Teriana and Marcus are safe I cannot rest and I'll be forwarding my therapy bills.
I think it goes without saying but so far my rating is 10/10. I have no notes.
This is my last attempt to try to get others to read this series. If you liked the Bridge Kingdom, you will love this. If you liked her newest release A Fate Inked in Blood, you will love this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2025
Full Book Review – 4.5 stars
I knew this was going to be a difficult read, but this book pretty much destroyed me. I was loving it for the first fifty percent or so but the next forty percent left me feeling like I had rocks churning in my guts, and I straight bawled my eyes out for the last ten percent. It ultimately had a happy ending, but the getting there was brutal…dare I say, a little too brutal?
A few things that bothered me:
*Why did Lydia have the benefit of the Six’s intervention to wrest her away from the Seventh, and then a mentor to help her learn to take life from people without keeping it for herself (therefore allowing her an out to “free” herself from the Seventh’s control) when Marcus was expected to do it all on his own? Yes, there was a clear expectation that Lydia needed to find that strength within herself, but Teriana knew Marcus was under the Seventh’s control and just left him in Revat, assuming he was beyond help because he wouldn’t help himself (Killian, on the other hand, never abandoned Lydia, no matter how far she fell). This was after abandoning him when she learned about what he’d done to Lydia despite previously telling him whatever he’d done didn’t matter. It’s true Teriana didn’t bear responsibility for saving him but it was brutally clear that something was very wrong with Marcus and no one – not Teriana or Servius or Felix or Racker ever pushed him hard enough to break through those walls (or I don’t know, forcibly remove him from command because he was acting batsh** crazy) despite seeing very clear evidence that he was NOT okay. They either walked away (Teriana) or looked the other way (everyone else). That’s not what true friends do, much less the woman who claimed to love him. Thank God Agrippa finally cared enough to do it, or Marcus would have died a villain...and stayed dead.
*And speaking of what Marcus did to Lydia…why did he never tell Teriana he changed his mind and tried to save Lydia in the end? It would have put an entirely different spin on literally everything. This more than anything felt like a dropped plot point or something that was intentionally ignored because Marcus HAD to be the villain. Even Lydia refused to acknowledge that he might have changed his mind, despite hearing him yell “hold on” in the baths.
*I still don’t like Silvara and HATED the absolutely pretentious conversation she and Teriana had about “those Legion boys.” Teriana did get one good burn in though, and for that I am eternally grateful.
*Teriana let Marcus down plain and simple. I love her character, and I love their romance, but she could have stayed and done the hard work of holding him accountable. Instead, she made his deepest fears reality and pushed him over the edge in the process. The book tries to tell us she had the moral high ground but I don't think actual events support that assertion.
*I guess what steams me the most is that there seemed to be this implicit assumption that since Marcus is an antihero he had to go full villain. But the problem is that the series already had 2 villains. It didn't need Marcus to go nearly as far as he did in order for him to be sentenced to death in the end. The crimes he had already committed - Hydrilla, Chersome, Lydia, breaking the second born son law (especially in his own mind) - were more than enough to get the job done. To quote the great Anakin Skywalker, "It's overkill, Master."
*Oh, and are you really telling me that despite his absolute brilliance that Marcus never once saw through to who Gibzen really was? Really?
What saved this book for me in the end was the fact that Danielle Jensen had the courage to do what JJ Abrams wouldn’t do in The Rise of Skywalker (because #BenSoloDeservedBetter). She let Marcus live, and in the process acknowledged that dying for your crimes is often the easier option. It’s much harder to live your life trying to make atonement for your sins. And I straight respect that.
Ultimately...
I love Marcus.
I love Marcus and Teriana.
I love redemption stories.
And for all that I’m so very happy this series got its conclusion, I did not love the process of getting to the redemption. It’s got to be hard or it’s not really redemption, but this felt like it hurt way more than it should have.
Heat index: Several somewhat vague sex scenes.
Profanity meter: Fairly frequent harsh profanity.
Review of 24-Chapter Excerpt from NetGalley
I joined NetGalley (which I should have done long ago given how much I love to read) for a shot at this excerpt and just about squealed out loud yesterday when I got the email saying I'd been approved. Then I proceeded to read it all in one evening as one does. And I was not disappointed.
Scorched Earth is easily one of my most anticipated books ever, my love for the series and impatience for this finale made all the more intense due to the years-long publication delays and the number of times I've re-read/listened to all or parts of the first three books in the interim.
Gilded Serpent left all four of our main characters knee-deep in disaster and this installment picks up right where book three left off. It took a little while to reacclimate to the world and the various plotlines but once that happened, it was all systems go. I cannot stress enough how well thought-out this world is and how seamlessly the individual story threads fit together. (Although I admit to being partial to Marcus and Teriana's chapters as they're hands down my favorite characters/couple).
Twenty-four chapters might seem like a lot but by all reports this book is a monster, so I know it's just a taste of the action still to come. Ultimately, this excerpt did what I needed: it took the edge off my desperation to know just a little more about how these characters are doing while still leaving me wanting the rest of the story. August 5th can't come soon enough. It's two days before my birthday and I'll be doing everything I can to clear my calendar to spend the day reading.
If you haven't picked up this series yet, do it. In my humble opinion, it's Ms. Jensen's best work.
I knew this was going to be a difficult read, but this book pretty much destroyed me. I was loving it for the first fifty percent or so but the next forty percent left me feeling like I had rocks churning in my guts, and I straight bawled my eyes out for the last ten percent. It ultimately had a happy ending, but the getting there was brutal…dare I say, a little too brutal?
A few things that bothered me:
*Why did Lydia have the benefit of the Six’s intervention to wrest her away from the Seventh, and then a mentor to help her learn to take life from people without keeping it for herself (therefore allowing her an out to “free” herself from the Seventh’s control) when Marcus was expected to do it all on his own? Yes, there was a clear expectation that Lydia needed to find that strength within herself, but Teriana knew Marcus was under the Seventh’s control and just left him in Revat, assuming he was beyond help because he wouldn’t help himself (Killian, on the other hand, never abandoned Lydia, no matter how far she fell). This was after abandoning him when she learned about what he’d done to Lydia despite previously telling him whatever he’d done didn’t matter. It’s true Teriana didn’t bear responsibility for saving him but it was brutally clear that something was very wrong with Marcus and no one – not Teriana or Servius or Felix or Racker ever pushed him hard enough to break through those walls (or I don’t know, forcibly remove him from command because he was acting batsh** crazy) despite seeing very clear evidence that he was NOT okay. They either walked away (Teriana) or looked the other way (everyone else). That’s not what true friends do, much less the woman who claimed to love him. Thank God Agrippa finally cared enough to do it, or Marcus would have died a villain...and stayed dead.
*And speaking of what Marcus did to Lydia…why did he never tell Teriana he changed his mind and tried to save Lydia in the end? It would have put an entirely different spin on literally everything. This more than anything felt like a dropped plot point or something that was intentionally ignored because Marcus HAD to be the villain. Even Lydia refused to acknowledge that he might have changed his mind, despite hearing him yell “hold on” in the baths.
*I still don’t like Silvara and HATED the absolutely pretentious conversation she and Teriana had about “those Legion boys.” Teriana did get one good burn in though, and for that I am eternally grateful.
*Teriana let Marcus down plain and simple. I love her character, and I love their romance, but she could have stayed and done the hard work of holding him accountable. Instead, she made his deepest fears reality and pushed him over the edge in the process. The book tries to tell us she had the moral high ground but I don't think actual events support that assertion.
*I guess what steams me the most is that there seemed to be this implicit assumption that since Marcus is an antihero he had to go full villain. But the problem is that the series already had 2 villains. It didn't need Marcus to go nearly as far as he did in order for him to be sentenced to death in the end. The crimes he had already committed - Hydrilla, Chersome, Lydia, breaking the second born son law (especially in his own mind) - were more than enough to get the job done. To quote the great Anakin Skywalker, "It's overkill, Master."
*Oh, and are you really telling me that despite his absolute brilliance that Marcus never once saw through to who Gibzen really was? Really?
What saved this book for me in the end was the fact that Danielle Jensen had the courage to do what JJ Abrams wouldn’t do in The Rise of Skywalker (because #BenSoloDeservedBetter). She let Marcus live, and in the process acknowledged that dying for your crimes is often the easier option. It’s much harder to live your life trying to make atonement for your sins. And I straight respect that.
Ultimately...
I love Marcus.
I love Marcus and Teriana.
I love redemption stories.
And for all that I’m so very happy this series got its conclusion, I did not love the process of getting to the redemption. It’s got to be hard or it’s not really redemption, but this felt like it hurt way more than it should have.
Heat index: Several somewhat vague sex scenes.
Profanity meter: Fairly frequent harsh profanity.
Review of 24-Chapter Excerpt from NetGalley
I joined NetGalley (which I should have done long ago given how much I love to read) for a shot at this excerpt and just about squealed out loud yesterday when I got the email saying I'd been approved. Then I proceeded to read it all in one evening as one does. And I was not disappointed.
Scorched Earth is easily one of my most anticipated books ever, my love for the series and impatience for this finale made all the more intense due to the years-long publication delays and the number of times I've re-read/listened to all or parts of the first three books in the interim.
Gilded Serpent left all four of our main characters knee-deep in disaster and this installment picks up right where book three left off. It took a little while to reacclimate to the world and the various plotlines but once that happened, it was all systems go. I cannot stress enough how well thought-out this world is and how seamlessly the individual story threads fit together. (Although I admit to being partial to Marcus and Teriana's chapters as they're hands down my favorite characters/couple).
Twenty-four chapters might seem like a lot but by all reports this book is a monster, so I know it's just a taste of the action still to come. Ultimately, this excerpt did what I needed: it took the edge off my desperation to know just a little more about how these characters are doing while still leaving me wanting the rest of the story. August 5th can't come soon enough. It's two days before my birthday and I'll be doing everything I can to clear my calendar to spend the day reading.
If you haven't picked up this series yet, do it. In my humble opinion, it's Ms. Jensen's best work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
I didn’t love this book. Not because it was bad, in fact it was a fantastic end to the series. But I'm so incredibly dissatisfied with Marcus' arc throughout it. It was just so frustrating to watch him essentially spend this entire book at rock bottom. All the characters had obstacles and struggles to overcome, but it felt like Marcus experienced a disproportionate amount of them. Every single part of his life was going wrong to the point where he was losing his own sanity. The other characters conflicts always felt mild compared to Marcus' chapters. Even Lydia, who experienced similar mental issues, overcame them in a relatively short amount of time. But for Marcus, his problems just kept piling on top of each other, compounding just like the surgeon said his head injury would from multiple xenthier jumps.
It was really just issue after issue after issue for him. He went from nearly getting stoned to death by his brethren, to developing substance issues, to hearing an evil voice in his head, to losing Teriana, to betraying his beliefs, and then to losing his sense of self and that wasn't the end of it. Like let the man get back up before you run him over again. And my god, his ending? That was astonishing. I don't think I've read of a more tragic character. It felt like the author put a ridiculous amount of effort into making his life as horrible as possible. It was absurd. And it made his plot line stand out so much in the book, I barely paid any attention to what Lydia and Killian had going on. Tbh I cared very little about the war with Rufina and the blight, it was barely a footnote to me. Teriana, on the other hand, I was somewhat conflicted about. At times I was engaged in her chapters, but in others they were too frustrating to tolerate. She could be rather fickle at times and it made it difficult to really understand her, but I will say that the ending of her arc was really good. It showed incredible growth and I appreciate her willingness to fully acknowledge her mistakes and be able to accept that leadership isn't a good role for her.
I also kind of disliked how certain plot points that seemed like they were kind of important just didn't amount to anything in the end. For instance, the strange elixir that Ashok gave to Marcus when he was dying from the xenthier sickness was never identified or explained and it didn't have any repercussions even though it probably should have considering Ashok was one of the corrupted. The constant focus on the seven god towers feels like it also should've amounted to something. Maybe in the end we should've seen the Seventh tower finally fall or something significant happen to it considering how consistently indestructible it had been to represent the Corrupters influence. Another thing is that Marcus's "inner voice" turning out to be some evil part of his conscience instead of something associated to the corrupter didn't make much sense because I don't remember there being any hints of this in the previous books, but maybe I missed it. It just seemed like something that suspiciously happened after the strain to his mind from the xenthier and his interaction with Ashok and contact with the Seventh god tower, so it's just kind of a let down that it apparently wasn't related to that.
That all being said, the book was good. It was a solid wrap-up of the story and I don't feel like I wasted time on this series like I sometimes do with series longer than a trilogy. Marcus was of course my favorite character tho I can't say he wasn't difficult to love during much of this book. I'm not sure I'll choose to ever re-read this because of that, but it is certainly a re-readable series that I would recommend.
It was really just issue after issue after issue for him. He went from nearly getting stoned to death by his brethren, to developing substance issues, to hearing an evil voice in his head, to losing Teriana, to betraying his beliefs, and then to losing his sense of self and that wasn't the end of it. Like let the man get back up before you run him over again. And my god, his ending? That was astonishing. I don't think I've read of a more tragic character. It felt like the author put a ridiculous amount of effort into making his life as horrible as possible. It was absurd. And it made his plot line stand out so much in the book, I barely paid any attention to what Lydia and Killian had going on. Tbh I cared very little about the war with Rufina and the blight, it was barely a footnote to me. Teriana, on the other hand, I was somewhat conflicted about. At times I was engaged in her chapters, but in others they were too frustrating to tolerate. She could be rather fickle at times and it made it difficult to really understand her, but I will say that the ending of her arc was really good. It showed incredible growth and I appreciate her willingness to fully acknowledge her mistakes and be able to accept that leadership isn't a good role for her.
I also kind of disliked how certain plot points that seemed like they were kind of important just didn't amount to anything in the end. For instance, the strange elixir that Ashok gave to Marcus when he was dying from the xenthier sickness was never identified or explained and it didn't have any repercussions even though it probably should have considering Ashok was one of the corrupted. The constant focus on the seven god towers feels like it also should've amounted to something. Maybe in the end we should've seen the Seventh tower finally fall or something significant happen to it considering how consistently indestructible it had been to represent the Corrupters influence. Another thing is that Marcus's "inner voice" turning out to be some evil part of his conscience instead of something associated to the corrupter didn't make much sense because I don't remember there being any hints of this in the previous books, but maybe I missed it. It just seemed like something that suspiciously happened after the strain to his mind from the xenthier and his interaction with Ashok and contact with the Seventh god tower, so it's just kind of a let down that it apparently wasn't related to that.
That all being said, the book was good. It was a solid wrap-up of the story and I don't feel like I wasted time on this series like I sometimes do with series longer than a trilogy. Marcus was of course my favorite character tho I can't say he wasn't difficult to love during much of this book. I'm not sure I'll choose to ever re-read this because of that, but it is certainly a re-readable series that I would recommend.
August 13, 2025
This was an amazing conclusion to a wonderful story! I am so glad I read this series. I absolutely loved the 4 POVs. The politics, the scheming, the war strategies, the battles - epic! I loved the world, the magic, and the influence of the gods. I would definitely recommend this to any Danielle L Jensen fans, especially if you enjoyed the political intrigue in The Bridge Kingdom series… oh and if you like emotional damage 🤭
Thank you again to TorTeen for sending me a PR package of this series 🫶
Thank you again to TorTeen for sending me a PR package of this series 🫶
Want to read
October 13, 2022I would trade a non-vital organ to have this in my hands right now.
In the meantime, here is how I imagine the reunion scene between the core four will go (i am not a writer so this will be very messy)
Lydia: Oh my god, Teriana! Thank god you’re ok!
Teriana: You’ve got some nerve asking me if I’m ok when all of this is because of you!
Lydia: What are you talking about?
Teriana: The book? The one I told you not to tell anyone about?!
Lydia: I didn’t, I swear! Vibius found the book and took it to Cassius! I tried to warn you but I couldn’t escape him. He tried to have me killed but I just ended up falling through a xenthier path. That’s how I got here.
Teriana: Gods, Lydia! I’m so sorry, I should’ve just gotten you out when I had the chance.
Lydia: You don’t have anything to apologize for, I-
Marcus: Hey Teriana. Who’s this-oh.
Lydia: You?
Teriana: You guys know each other?
Lydia: He’s the one that tried to kill me!
Teriana (turns to Marcus): You tried to kill her?!
Marcus: I was under orders from Cassius, I didn’t have a choice!
Killian (angry as hell): You tried to kill Lydia?!
Teriana: Killian?
Killian: Oh, hey Teriana. What are you doing here?
Marcus: You two know each other?
Teriana: Yeah, we’ve known each other for years!
Lydia: Wait, how do you know Marcus?
Teriana: Oh, um...he’s sort of my boyfriend...
Lydia: You’re dating a Legatus??
Teriana: I know, I know. I didn’t see it coming either. So how do you know Killian?
Lydia: Um...we’re kind of...dating...
Teriana: What?! Really? That’s amazing!
Marcus: I’m so lost right now.
Teriana: Oh, right! Marcus, this is Lydia, my best friend from Celendor!
Marcus: She’s your best friend??
Teriana: Yep.
Marcus: The one I tried to kill?
Teriana: Yep. Don’t think I’m gonna forget it anytime soon.
Killian (to Lydia): You know Teriana?? Wow, I was not expecting that.
Lydia: I could say the same thing to you.
Etc.
In the meantime, here is how I imagine the reunion scene between the core four will go (i am not a writer so this will be very messy)
Lydia: Oh my god, Teriana! Thank god you’re ok!
Teriana: You’ve got some nerve asking me if I’m ok when all of this is because of you!
Lydia: What are you talking about?
Teriana: The book? The one I told you not to tell anyone about?!
Lydia: I didn’t, I swear! Vibius found the book and took it to Cassius! I tried to warn you but I couldn’t escape him. He tried to have me killed but I just ended up falling through a xenthier path. That’s how I got here.
Teriana: Gods, Lydia! I’m so sorry, I should’ve just gotten you out when I had the chance.
Lydia: You don’t have anything to apologize for, I-
Marcus: Hey Teriana. Who’s this-oh.
Lydia: You?
Teriana: You guys know each other?
Lydia: He’s the one that tried to kill me!
Teriana (turns to Marcus): You tried to kill her?!
Marcus: I was under orders from Cassius, I didn’t have a choice!
Killian (angry as hell): You tried to kill Lydia?!
Teriana: Killian?
Killian: Oh, hey Teriana. What are you doing here?
Marcus: You two know each other?
Teriana: Yeah, we’ve known each other for years!
Lydia: Wait, how do you know Marcus?
Teriana: Oh, um...he’s sort of my boyfriend...
Lydia: You’re dating a Legatus??
Teriana: I know, I know. I didn’t see it coming either. So how do you know Killian?
Lydia: Um...we’re kind of...dating...
Teriana: What?! Really? That’s amazing!
Marcus: I’m so lost right now.
Teriana: Oh, right! Marcus, this is Lydia, my best friend from Celendor!
Marcus: She’s your best friend??
Teriana: Yep.
Marcus: The one I tried to kill?
Teriana: Yep. Don’t think I’m gonna forget it anytime soon.
Killian (to Lydia): You know Teriana?? Wow, I was not expecting that.
Lydia: I could say the same thing to you.
Etc.
August 25, 2025
No words. A criminally underrated series that has my whole heart
October 2, 2025
Going to miss this series and these characters like crazy 😭❤️
August 21, 2025
I'm not crying, you are...
Just kidding: I AM!
Worthy last installment of the series. Had me experiencing all the feels, and now I feel a little lost really. Devoured all the books when they came out one by one years ago, I've always loved re-reading after that and then we had to wait 4 years to get the conclusion... Which made the expectations high. It didn not disappoint. With this series, Danielle really puts down her roots, she really shows the amazing writing she's capable of and it's her best work so far in my humbled opinion.
I'm so so sooo happy she fought to get this series completed, and then also giving it the ending it deserved. To anyone who's planning on reading this; See you on the other side... It's a rollercoaster, it's intense, it's heartbreaking and such a great politically driven thrill of a ride that gives off vibes of the Throne of Glass series as well as a game of thrones. Is it executed perfectly 100%? Not entirely, I have some really small remarks, but other than that; just absolutely LOVED it sooooo much. These characters are also truly something special. My heart is still beating wildly in my chest as I'm writing this.
This is more of a 4.5 stars read, but it deserved to be rounded up to 5 stars because it really is a wholesome conclusion book of a magnificent series, overall seeing.
Just kidding: I AM!
Worthy last installment of the series. Had me experiencing all the feels, and now I feel a little lost really. Devoured all the books when they came out one by one years ago, I've always loved re-reading after that and then we had to wait 4 years to get the conclusion... Which made the expectations high. It didn not disappoint. With this series, Danielle really puts down her roots, she really shows the amazing writing she's capable of and it's her best work so far in my humbled opinion.
I'm so so sooo happy she fought to get this series completed, and then also giving it the ending it deserved. To anyone who's planning on reading this; See you on the other side... It's a rollercoaster, it's intense, it's heartbreaking and such a great politically driven thrill of a ride that gives off vibes of the Throne of Glass series as well as a game of thrones. Is it executed perfectly 100%? Not entirely, I have some really small remarks, but other than that; just absolutely LOVED it sooooo much. These characters are also truly something special. My heart is still beating wildly in my chest as I'm writing this.
This is more of a 4.5 stars read, but it deserved to be rounded up to 5 stars because it really is a wholesome conclusion book of a magnificent series, overall seeing.
September 21, 2025
New review after finishing the whole book: the conclusion was EPIC! This series is AMAZING! Still criminally underrated and I will always recommend it to anyone who will listen. The writing is masterfully crafted with depth and complexity in every aspect - fascinating world building, immaculate character development, intriguing political scheming, just all of it is great. The little details thrown in throughout give the characters and the settings such a sense of life. The slow burn tension is phenomenal. It is beautifully written and easy to read and the suspense cannot be understated. This conclusion was satisfying in every way. One of my very favorites and I was worried the ending wouldn’t hold up especially with such a long gap in between the last two books. I was absolutely mistaken in those fears. Masterpiece.
I just finished the 24 chapter advanced excerpt thank you NetGalley and Teen Tor! This review is my own.
After waiting years after the must brutal cliffhanger I can finally rest a little easier until the full book comes out in August! Things are not resolved, definitely not happy by any means, but so much happens in just this little section. The dread and suspense with every part is so satisfying to read! Scorched Earth picks up right where Gilded Serpent ends so I’m glad I reread all of the Dark Shores series first. This is still one of my very favorite series out of hundreds of romantasy books I’ve read! I love all the characters and how unique they all are as well as the interesting world and complex plot that is written so thoughtfully. Cannot wait for the full book release in August!!
I just finished the 24 chapter advanced excerpt thank you NetGalley and Teen Tor! This review is my own.
After waiting years after the must brutal cliffhanger I can finally rest a little easier until the full book comes out in August! Things are not resolved, definitely not happy by any means, but so much happens in just this little section. The dread and suspense with every part is so satisfying to read! Scorched Earth picks up right where Gilded Serpent ends so I’m glad I reread all of the Dark Shores series first. This is still one of my very favorite series out of hundreds of romantasy books I’ve read! I love all the characters and how unique they all are as well as the interesting world and complex plot that is written so thoughtfully. Cannot wait for the full book release in August!!
August 6, 2025
finally took a breath
Want to read
June 8, 2024August 2025?!?!?! No!!!! 😭😭😭
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Wait the release date changed from October to August?!?! Is this real?? 😱
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The cover is here! Can’t wait to read this book!!
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Wait the release date changed from October to August?!?! Is this real?? 😱
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The cover is here! Can’t wait to read this book!!
September 20, 2025
If I could have given it 6 stars, I would have. You know it’s good when you are sobbing …
August 11, 2025
Very disappointed with the ending. The genius, talented, prodigious Marcus went on to be a fisherman.
Some things felt hurried (like Marcus's illness or the medicine that fixed his head).
With so much guilt pouring from every pore of those main characters, you'd expect them to stay involved with the wellbeing of the tens of hundreds of thousands of people they felt so responsible of a few pages back. Also, that fixation on the 37th legion being his family after almost getting stoned to death because someone said something, after everything he'd supposedly led them through...
Some things felt hurried (like Marcus's illness or the medicine that fixed his head).
With so much guilt pouring from every pore of those main characters, you'd expect them to stay involved with the wellbeing of the tens of hundreds of thousands of people they felt so responsible of a few pages back. Also, that fixation on the 37th legion being his family after almost getting stoned to death because someone said something, after everything he'd supposedly led them through...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2022
Danielle Jensen if you’re reading this just know that I physically need this book in my hands in the next .2 seconds or I will cry
No bc seriously this series has me insanely captivated
No bc seriously this series has me insanely captivated
August 4, 2025
I need an Agrippa POV novella from this book please and thank youuuuu
Scored a Comic Con early release print :)
Scored a Comic Con early release print :)
September 12, 2025
An incredible conclusion to a beautiful series. These books deserve so much more hype.
If you loved series like “An Ember In The Ashes” I would highly recommend giving this one a go.
Danielle has outdone herself with the writing of these compelling characters and a ridiculously smart plot.
If you loved series like “An Ember In The Ashes” I would highly recommend giving this one a go.
Danielle has outdone herself with the writing of these compelling characters and a ridiculously smart plot.
August 13, 2025
I am in tears
September 30, 2025
ONE OF THE BEST.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I have been waiting for this book for so long and it delivered 1000x over. If you haven’t picked up this series yet YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. DLJ does not miss and I hope she has a few more YA/NA stories in the future.
This is one of those big thick books where I don’t even notice the page length. It’s amazing as a physical read, it’s amazing on audio. I am obsessed with every single one of these characters. I loved their arcs and journey the ROMANCE, the action and tension, JUST EVERYTHING. I could go on and on about how beautifully crafted each POV was in this plot. (The only thing I would beg for were some POV chapters from a few others I love).
Without wanting to cross into spoiler territory, I will say it ends in all the ways you could hope for. Expect to feel every single emotion, shed a few tears, and ponder the fact you’ll never get to read this book for the first time again.
Overall audience notes:
- Upper YA Fantasy + Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: vague fade to black
- Violence: high
- Content warnings: war themes with high loss of life, near death experiences
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I have been waiting for this book for so long and it delivered 1000x over. If you haven’t picked up this series yet YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD. DLJ does not miss and I hope she has a few more YA/NA stories in the future.
This is one of those big thick books where I don’t even notice the page length. It’s amazing as a physical read, it’s amazing on audio. I am obsessed with every single one of these characters. I loved their arcs and journey the ROMANCE, the action and tension, JUST EVERYTHING. I could go on and on about how beautifully crafted each POV was in this plot. (The only thing I would beg for were some POV chapters from a few others I love).
Without wanting to cross into spoiler territory, I will say it ends in all the ways you could hope for. Expect to feel every single emotion, shed a few tears, and ponder the fact you’ll never get to read this book for the first time again.
Overall audience notes:
- Upper YA Fantasy + Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: vague fade to black
- Violence: high
- Content warnings: war themes with high loss of life, near death experiences
August 11, 2025
I heard that at one point this book wasn't evven going to come out and I'm so glad that it did because I have no idea how insane I would ahve gone without read this conclusion
August 9, 2025
the perfect conclusion for not only the 4 main characters but also the side characters
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