Mages. Druids. Demons. Primordials. Who will triumph?
The Shadowthorn has lifted. Halira has cured herself of the Blight.
But the battle has only just begun.
In a desperate attempt to save not only the ones she loves, but the entire country, Halira braves the vast ocean to find the mages of Illashore in hopes that they might know how to save Ryven and defeat the Primordial Qaeus.
Humans, mages, and druids will have to set their differences aside if they're to overcome the evil that's upon them, or face the demise of them all.
Immortal Return is the third book in the Primordials of Shadowthorn trilogy, a gothic, high fantasy series about the demon hunters of Arcathain and their mission to reclaim their lands from the Primordial Qaeus. With a strong female lead, epic world-building, Lovecraftian immortal creatures, and a budding romance, this series is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Elise Kova, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Cameo Renae.
Join the Shadow Crusade and plunge into this grim, ethereal world!
JESSACA is a fantasy writer with an inclination toward the dark, epic, and romance sub-genres. She draws inspiration from books like the Nevernight Chronicles & ACOTAR, videogames like Dark Souls III, and television shows like Game of Thrones and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
She is a self-proclaimed nerd who loves cosplay, video games, and comics, and if you live in the PNW, you just might see her at one of the local comic conventions in one of her favorite RWBY cosplays!
A strong finish to a great dark fantasy trilogy! There are two things which were, in my opinion, particularly praise-worthy in this novel: world-building and characters.
When it comes to the world-building, I was impressed with how the already well-constructed and fairly complex world was expanded even more, both in terms of geography and new ideas. Highlights: - we finally got to learn more about the elusive mages and their powers - the missing pieces of the history of Shadowthorn were filled in a satisfactory manner - the three-way relationship between humans, druids and mages was explored more deeply.
Another thing I loved were the characters, or to be more precise, the way they were constructed. I rooted for some of them (Ryven), some annoyed me to no end (Dimitri), some made my head spin with the combination of good development in some areas while remaining deeply flawed in others (Halira), and finally some managed to change my mind about them (Alphonse). But all of these emotions, both positive and negative, just show how much invested I was in those characters. Only a really talented writer can achieve this feat.
My one small complaint was that I felt like the book was dragging a bit in some places, with lengthy descriptions that maybe could be somewhat trimmed and repeatable inner monologues.
All in all, I'm really happy I had the opportunity to spend time in Shadowthorn.
*I received an eARC copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
“Immortal Return” marks the conclusion to “Primordials of Shadowthorn” by Jessaca Willis, a dark epic high fantasy trilogy, whose MC (Halira) is a member of the Shadow Crusade, a group of warriors that scour every inch of the reign slaying every surviving Primordial to end their reign of terror. The Primordials, monstrous demons that terrorize the lands, murdered Halira’s parents and she will not stop until the last one of them is gone, even the aftermath of a poisonous demon attack couldn’t stop her. Now Halira is cured from the Blight diseased, but the quest is far from over. Looking for knowledge to defeat the Primordial and save Ryven, Halira embarks in a journey across the ocean to Illahshore to ask for the mage assistance. However, even that journey could be in vain, unless mages, druids and humans come together and present a solid front against the Primordials.
Jessaca Willis storytelling is captivating and enthralling, the reader falls right into the action, and becomes part of the journey to ensure the mages collaboration. The world of “Primordials of Shadowthorn” is rich, well-crafted, populated by with relatable characters facing overwhelming tasks in a very credible manner, intended into achieve the best possible outcome. The story is exceptionally well-written in Willis’s unmistakably and unique style, adding new layers, twists and turns, in a fast-paced, fascinating, well thought-out plot that leads to a fully satisfying conclusion.
After reading the “Reapers of Veltuur” Trilogy, I was in awe about a new series, because let us be flank, it’s almost impossible to improve perfection 😊. Nevertheless, and after finishing the “Primordials of Shadowthorn” trilogy, I stand corrected, it is indeed possible to “improve perfection” and Jessaca Willis has once more gifted us a ‘perfect’ high original dark epic fantasy series, that adds another breath of fresh air to the genre. There is, however, a slight caveat, because – as the old adagio goes – there is not ‘two without three’, and thus I cannot wait for a third series to come our way, and believe I’ll be right here patiently waiting 😉
Whether you are already acquainted with the aforementioned “Reapers of Veltuur” series or new to this author, you will highly rewarded with an intelligent, entertaining story, that mixes elements of fantasy, folklore, myth, gothic tale and epic fantasy into a wholly satisfactory story that transcends the boundaries of fiction, it might be gothic epic dark fantasy, but it’s the very fabric of human nature as well.
Immortal Return is the final book in the Primordials of Shadowthorn trilogy. Now Halira and the Shadow Crusaders have to travel across the Varenholm Ocean to find the answers of how to defeat the Primordial Qaeus and hopefully a way to save the man Halira loves. Immortal Return takes us on a magical journey and Jessaca wrote the story that makes you feel like you are right there following along the Crusaders as they journey across the ocean. I really enjoyed this story and was a little sad to see Halira’s journey end but was happy with the way it ended. If you enjoy gothic, high fantasy,and adventure you will love this series. I highly recommend reading it!
In a desperate attempt to save the man she loves as well as her country, Halira will brave the vast and forbidden Varenholm Ocean in search of the mages and the knowledge they possess regarding defeating the Primordial Qaeus. In the epic conclusion to the Primordials of Shadowthorn trilogy, humans, mages, and druids will have to set aside their differences if they stand any chance to overcoming the evil that's upon them. Great characters ,vivid scences epic story. This story has it all for fantasy readers i loved it you will too
What an epic conclusion to this series! While I've loved every minute of this ride, this final installment had me holding my breath, feeling super angry, crying tears of joy, etc. Literally ALL THE FEELS! I'm not one for spoilers so I'll just say that Halira is even more of a badass in this book and I adore her! Also... Ryven 🖤 Enough said.
This was an epic conclusion to the series, with a Leviathan, druids, mages, and humans, the Primordial, and so much more.
I really loved Alphonse's character development the best; throughout the series I didn't connect with Halira that much, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the story anyway. I'm glad she finally realized who and what she wanted, and that she came to some peace with her family. She realized her strengths and was able to capitalize on them.
There is so much to this story, but it all fit together so well, and if you are a fan of dark fantasy (like demons, darkness, a blight on the land, evil mages, etc.) then you need to pick this series up!
A great end to an amazing series! Immortal Return was my favourite book in the series. I loved the character development and how you really got to see their personalities shine.
Halira grew on me more and more throughout the series becoming an amazing MC & really filling the role she was made to play.
Alphonsoes attitude change was the best to read about. He became a character you rooted for and I was so happy with how his relationships grew.
I loved Ryven, still hate Dimitri, even though he did have some good moments in the third book.
The story and the world that the author created in this series was so unique and mesmerizing. It flowed beautifully and was so well put together. I would definitely recommend this series to fantasy lovers.
Immortal Return is the final installment of the Primordials of Shadowthorn, a gripping trilogy about loss, love, family, resilience and so much more. Halira has grown so much since the first installment. She has learned to accept and trust herself, and draws strength from within, which she will need now that she faces her biggest challenge yet in traveling to the distant land of her ancestral enemies in hopes of gaining their assistance to both save her country and save the man she loves. This book, and the whole trilogy, is great for anyone that loves a story featuring a truly strong female lead, epic monster battles, and friends to lovers and enemies to lovers (because why not both?). If that's not enough to interest you, consider these books also feature hot naked men.
I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow! I'm blown away by this finale to the primordials of shadowthorn trilogy. This story has the best conclusion I've read in a long time. After everything Halira has been through, how brave and strong she is, we get to see her really come into the roll she's meant to play. I was blown away by this world and the details Jessaca Willis creates. It's beautiful and so unique. I will highly recommend this series to any lover of fantasy and adventure. The scenes flowed beautifully and everything wraps up just the way I wanted it to. 5 out of 5 stars! Adored this book completely!
Immortal Return of the Primordials of Shadowthorn series does not deserve to be spoilt. Each individual who takes up this series to read will experience a journey of a lifetime. As for my rants and raving...
A captivating, interesting story that pulls you into the plot.
In a quest to help save Ryven and the immortal population. Halira together with her friends and the shadow crusade travels across the Varenholm sea seeking answers only to be taken hostage with no way of escape or is there? Does Rayven lose himself as a Shadowbat? Most importantly, do Halira and Rayven have their happily ever after, or will Dimitri step in? This dark adventure story will keep you turning the pages until you are sad to see the conclusion on the last page. As for me, “Immortal return” has answered all the questions that had arisen in books one and two. The immortal return has surprised me with the way the plot twists, just when you know what is happening the next thing twists into a different direction. the characters are redeemable and some ……not so much.
You can see that Jessaca Willis has taken time to craft her work and structure the way she wants the book to go. It is a must-read, ...well done!!!
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
The story begins right where the other one ended. Halira is trying to convince the people that Ryven is not a threat to them and she can control him and struggled to make them understand that the answers they’re searching for aren’t where they are right now.
The dark fantasy of the book has been one of a kind. I loved the gore, the gruesome details, the dark creatures that should’ve made my skin crawl instead they made me excited, hooked on the story to keep on reading and going forward. There can be some TW such as decapitation, killing, fighting, plenty of bloody scenes but in the end, is a dark fantasy so it does touch on some gruesome subjects – I personally had no issues with them, I felt they add to the dark side of the story and they were perfectly implemented.
Alphonse, the one character I’ve kind of hated in the previous book has grown on me a lot. He and Fox together really surprised me, and they’ve changed each other for the better. He has really grown and developed as a character through this book a lot. If at the beginning he was very toxic and rude and disgusting, this time he has done so many great things, things that I wasn’t sure he’s capable of, and he and Halira can really be called cousins this time.
Halira has grown a lot through this book, has found her voice, her power, and her strength she’s fought with all she got and has done more than enough to bring everyone together. At first, I was afraid it might be a love triangle – since I’m not a big fan of them, BUT that wasn’t the case. She has never been in love before, and being confused about her feelings was normal. The internal struggle she had regarding Dimitry and Ryven was delicious to read. I loved the way she had these huge different feelings between the two of them, you could clearly know who she loves and who she doesn’t, even tho she didn’t know it.
Sadly, the person I’ve not quite liked this time was Dimitri – he seemed sweet and kind at the beginning, to turn into some toxic masculinity just because Halira has chosen someone else, and more than often I really wanted him to get punched in the face.
The two books on this series were all spoken from Halira’s pov, but this time we’ve got a new amazing pov - from Ryven’s side. It took me by surprise but on the good sense of things, I was really waiting for that to happen. Him as a beast and getting his pov, his feelings, and his thoughts have been amazing. And also his internal struggle regarding the feelings of Halira for himself showed us that both of them go through the same issues and everything can be resolved with a chat, or a kiss. Another thing that surprised me a lot was the spicy moment between Halira and Ryven, I wasn't expecting that at all, especially since on the other two books we didn't quite get much romance. The scene wasn't smutted, but was detailed enough and also concealed to make your creativity go wild. The book also touches on subjects as LGBT a relationship forming between Adrien and Sai, their relationship was so cute to follow.
The story contains friends to lovers to back to friends, found family, found magic with an amazing magic system that involves nature and its creatures. It can be gruesome in some parts but in the end, is a beautiful dark fantasy to follow.
** Please Note: Immortal Return is the third book in a series that should be read in order. If you are new to this series, you can check out my review of book one here**
Immortal Return is the third and final book in the Primorials of Shadowthorn series by Jessaca Willis. Immortal Return is a strong finish to a great dark fantasy trilogy! I thoroughly enjoyed this series and I can't wait to read more from this author. If you need a quick recap, in this series we have our main character, Halira, who is a member of the Shadow Crusade, a group of warriors that travel around the realm, slaying every surviving demon. (called a Primordial) Halira joined to avenge her parents murder and she will not stop until she has rid the world of them. Halira gets bitten and cursed with Blight along her quest, but once she is cured, her work is still not done. She embarks on a quest to learn how to defeat the Primordial and save Ryven, Halira embarks on a journey across the ocean to Illahshore to ask for assistance from the mages. However, she soon discovers that the world is on the cusp of a war, and unless mages, druids and humans come together and present a solid front against the Primordials, there may be no chance of survival, let alone a victory.
My favorite aspect of this trilogy is the world building. Jessaca Willis has created an ever expanding, complex and completely captivating (sometimes in a terrifying way) world, that I just couldn't get enough of. The world continues to expand in each of the three installments, and it was so satisfying to see everything come together. I loved learning about the mages, and discovering the answers to some bits of Shadowthorn history that were nagging me in the previous two books. There were a few instances where the plot did drag a bit in the middle of each installment, but overall I found this book and this trilogy to be a captivating journey that I loved reading about. This series is perfect for fans of dark gothic fantasies, and I have to say I loved the way the series concluded. I really enjoyed Immortal Return and the Primordials of Shaowthorn series.
A thrilling conclusion to another great fantasy book by Jessaca Willis!
As a character driven reader I thoroughly enjoyed the characters Jessaca created in this series. Some characters you will love and root for, some you will find slightly irritating, and some you will draw on all your emotions leaving you wondering if you love or hate them. Characters like this are rare for me lately. I've found myself having a harder and harder time connecting to characters but these characters I fell in love with right from the start.
The plot! The plot of this series is pretty good. It combines aspects of your classic fantasy story while remaining wholy different from other series. You will see the things you love- high tension, fighting for your life and lots of magic.
World building! Jessaca created a world you can easily lose yourself in while secretly having a map that only you know. She creates these beautiful settings and amazing backdrop.
My only complaint is that while this story had a beautiful setting a lot of description was used where just some would've worked. This lead to the story being a bit slow in some areas but then again you can use those spots to catch your breath. All in all I enjoyed this series and will definitely be looking out for future books by Jessaca Willis.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I most definitely enjoyed Immortal Return, although Chronic illness issues made it difficult to go through which in turn hampered my enjoyment. BUT what we have here is classic Jessaca Willis: snappy and electric writing, sizzling romance, and a plot that runs like a roller coaster. I was satisfied with how the Primordials of Shadowthron series came to a close and enjoyed seeing yet another expansion of Halira's world. Willis is SO good with world-building. It just blows me away. Such an expansive world just unfolds like magic before the readers eyes. I also really loved seeing Halira and Ryven find their way back to each other after facing such insurmountable obstacles to their happiness. Across the board, character development is impressive and marked, both in our main characters and in the side characters. Alphonse's character development though has been my favorite to watch. This entire series has been such a fun adventure, a vividly imagined fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and who love fantasy with an edge. IMMORTAL RETURN is a story of how a person or relationship can return from the brink of darkness, and Halira's journey has been fun to witness.
Que increible esta trilogia, me ha encantado del principio al final y lo más lindo es que a partir del segundo libro la trama se puso más y más adictiva (asi que si el primero libro no te ha conquistado, te ruego que intente dar una oportunidad al segundo porque es mejor que el primero). Los personajes están geniales, Alphonse, Ryven, Halira, Kalli y hasta Dimitri me han conquistado por completo en esta parte final de trilogia y la autora ha logrado cerrar muy bien todas las puntas sueltas que tenia la trama, el cierre ha sido formidable, muy emotivo y en general me ha gustado bastante el desenlace que han tenido la mayoria de los personajes (excepto los grandes magos que, a mí ver, su arco ha sido un poco flojo y su desenlace muy apresurado).
Trilogia super recomendable, la verdad no entiendo como Jessaca Willis aun es tan poco conocida, ya que tiene una pluma casi mágica de tan adictiva e sabe narrar sus historias muy lindamente. Seguramente querré leer todo lo que escriba esta autora futuramente (de hecho hay una serie que va sobre Reapers - Segadores que ya está en mi mira).
Immortal Return is the third and final book of the Primordials of Shadowthorn and is an epic conclusion to a high fantasy series for anyone who is looking for a unique series to binge will enjoy.
Since this book has just released today ( Sep 8th ) I’m going to keep this review short so not to give any spoilers.
Full of action, adventure, and magic Immortal Return will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out whats going to happen next as Halira and her Shadow Crusade companions travel to Illahshore to gain the mages help in finally stopping the Blight and the Primordial Qaeus for good.
Immortal Return was such an exciting read full of stunning world building and strong character development - the author really did an amazing job bringing this story and its characters to life. I definitively recommend this series to anyone looking for their next adventure among the shelves.
What I Did Like: -Ryven has chapters! He was a character I was intrigued by in the first book, I completely adored him in the second book, and he just continues to take a bigger role in this one. He’s a dependable character you want to fix things for and, honestly, he just proves in this one that he probably could’ve been the main character. -Ending. The author does a great job of giving you answers to questions you’ve had the entire series and wrapping things up in a way that makes sense for the world she’s built. -Romance arc works. It’s relatable, adorable, and deep.
Who Should Read This One: -Fantasy fans give this trilogy a go! It’s original use of magic, great world building, and good characters. Plus you’ll love the way it ends.
My Rating: 4 Stars. The rating is not only for this ending, but also the full series. It’s worth the read, fantasy fans!
My favorite book written by Jessaca Willis will turn you inside out. This is it, the conclusion that has jaw dropping scenes that bring everything together. The imagery and storytelling are absolutely captivating. Halira is more formidable and fierce and brings her crew along for the journey.
I have to note that there is a death in here that crushed me. I so didn't want to read those words. And Halira mourns and yet she carries on. That seems to be her standard mode of operation. Poor girl.
Ryven is my favorite character. He's the perfect hero in this series. He's a little dark with a dangerous struggle and you can't help but cheer him on.
This is dark fantasy that will draw you in and creep you out! It's a bit gorey and a bit sweet and the covers are just stunning. Don't hesitate to pick this series up.
This was a great finish to this fantasy trilogy. I’ve really enjoyed following Halira and her friends across their adventures and quests, and this last book didn’t disappoint. I loved seeing how Alphonse developed – he has come so so far from book one. So has Halira – she is far more confident and finally finds her strengths in this one.
I also love the direction that the love triangle took, and I feel that it has a fitting end to this story – I can’t say more without spoilers, but I was very happy with how it all turned out. The final additions to the world building really tie the whole story together – finally understanding the whole history of the Primordials, mages and druids really added a lot of depth to the story. I did feel that this one was a little long, with a few pacing issues in places, but overall definitely a series I enjoyed.
Immortal return is the last book in the Primordials of Shadowthorn series and what an ending! Just as I was still screaming for one thing, the author managed to twiiiisssst and make me scream for something else entirely. 😂
Throughout this entire series I have absolutely loved the unique world building and in this last book the characters really shine as well. Halira, Dimitri, Alphonse and more have had great character arcs. Alphonse has actually become one of my faves and someone I really rooted for in this book! Who would've ever guessed! 😆 And that ENDING. I may or may not have teared a tiny bit! A great way to wrap up the series! If you're into Gothic fantasy, epic quests, magic and demons, pick this one up!
Rating: 4.25/5
CW: Death, violence, oppression, some gore.
A huge thank you to both the author and Book of Matches Media for the arcs of this series, I loved it!
Immortal Return is the final installment in the Primordials of Shadowthorn series. I have immensely enjoyed this series, and feel that this book wrapped everything up nicely!
I’ve enjoyed getting to know Halira and her friends, and travel on this crazy adventure and quest to save their world. We get answers to questions that finally makes us understand why certain things are happening. There’s in wonderful world building that really brings it at together.
There was immense character growth in this book. From Alphonse, to Fox, to even dare I say it… Dimitri?
Overall I enjoyed this series and totally recommend it!
Immortal Return is the 3 book in the Primordials of Shadowthorn series! This one being the third one in the series I am not going to do a long review because I don’t want to give anything away or spoil anything. I will say that I love the world building that happens through out the series and that continues in the 3rd book. Halira is a strong character and grows even stronger in this book! I thought this series did a great job wrapping up and answering questions that I had from the previous books. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
In a desperate attempt to save the man she loves, as well as her country, Halira sets off to find out how to defeat the evil in the world. Will humans, mages and druids set aside their differences to be part of the solution or will they face the oblivion of humans? I enjoyed reading Immortal Return (Primordials of Shadowthorn#3) by Jessaca Willis that I received through BookFunnel. This is the final book of a great series and I definitely recommend. This book, and the others in the series, are available on Amazon
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Are you a fan of sow burns? Are you a fan of friends to lovers. How about enemies to lovers? Found families. A bad ass heroin that doesn’t know what her true potential could be. And how about this rare one families finding each other? This series is for you! I honestly inhaled this entire series @jessaca_with_an_a has a way with creating her darker theme fantasy books that is just so unique in her own style. I love the characters I love the character growth I will say she tore my heart out towards the end of this book…. I’m still trying to recover from the loss… how dare thee! But this last book ah! So good! Guys if you haven’t read her books yet please do yourself a favor and pick them you will not regret.