The wolf is at the gates. Friends have been lost. Betrayals exposed. Now, with the prophecy being played out, Princess Cassandra Regius has been called to battle. The weight of her kingdom’s fate rests upon her back, and with nothing left to give and everything left to lose, can Cass dig deep enough to fight this war and survive, or is there a price for victory?
Lou Stock has always lived in a world of her own, continuously lost in her imagination. Whether in the forests that backed up to her home in Aberdeen when she was only six years old, the unique landscape of Singapore she discovered at eight, or the rolling woodlands that rolled up to Dartmoor during her teen years, there have always been new worlds to explore.
Now an adult living in Oakhurst, Texas, surrounded by trees, she has too many stories to tell. When she's not writing, Lou can be found hanging out with her family, crazy pup, or at the computer lost in her creativity of her successful graphic design business, L.J. Designs.
MALICE is the final story in the Mortisalian Saga, and we continue where we left off. Cass is heavily pregnant, Damon is still a dream, Ras is still missing, Zander is gone, Alexa is a mess. I think that's us caught up!
As the final book in the saga, you REALLY need to read the others to understand just what the hell is going on. There is no easing into this world. You are there, right in the middle of everything, so just deal with it. Personally, I wouldn't have it any other way.
For a big part of this book, Cass' world is at war, so if you are expecting a gentle walk through the park, you are sorely mistaken. There is blood, pain, and violence, but all of it is written so beautifully. And yes, before anyone asks, my eyes were leaking again! I thought my heart was breaking but then I had to smile. This is the power over words that Ms. Stock has. Simply sublime.
A fast-paced story, I was worried I wouldn't get a 'proper' ending, but my fears were groundless. I got a happier ending than I was anticipating, which made it all the more perfect.
Such a fantastic series, I am sad at the thought of it ending but am so thrilled I have read it all. Definitely one to keep and re-read! Highly recommended!!!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books! Feb 11, 2021
My heart is so full, yet also broken. I can’t believe this fabulous series is finally over. I can’t believe the journey we’ve taken to get here. I want to shout out about EVERYTHING, the good bits and the bits that broke me, but I just can’t because I need everyone to experience this story—this series, actually—for what it is: absolute pure genius.
I’ve read a few urban fantasies in my lifetime, but none as intricate and as well thought out and unique as this. How the hell does LJ Stock come up with this stuff?
The loyalties, allegiances. The friendships and the enemies. The twists and turns along the way.
I just cannot cope. My emotions are all over the place right now. I’ve literally just finished and needed to tell the whole world how I feel right now.
If only I could put it into words, huh? 😂
This epic conclusion to what has been an unforgettable journey will stay with me forever. Cass is as fierce and as kickass as they come, and she cannot be replicated. Damon is... sigh. Oh, Damon. I love you so fucking much. Rasmus and Grigori, too. I love so many characters within this book, and just thinking about what happens in this final instalment has me becoming all kinds of emotional.
I could wax lyrical for days, but listen...
If you’ve read the first three in the series, just know that this final piece of the story will not disappoint.
And if you haven’t read the first three yet, what the hell are you waiting for? Get to it now.
This series is a breath of fresh air in the indie publishing world, and I could not be more proud of the woman behind every single word of it.
This book was pretty AMAZING!!!! To try to even describe it, well I don't think I'll do it justice... but I'll try. It's one of those epic sagas/series that months or years from now you'll want to go back and re-read. In the conclusion you get to see Princess Cassandra becoming even stronger as not only a leader, wife, and daughter, but also as a mother. Just when you think she's come to terms with the prophecy, she surprises you yet again. Sometimes little humans can push us to believe in a different outcome and make us fight even harder. The people she has surrounded herself with also help her in this journey that was written before she was even born. They make her fiercely stronger and keep her human while facing monsters. It had amazing chemistry between the characters, remarkable world building, and breathtakingly through storytelling. I instantly got hooked and couldn't put it down.
Shattered!!! How will I explain to my subconscious that our friends from the Mortisali realm are gone?
LJ Stock is BRILLIANT! This story will interrupt your existence in all the best ways. Cassandra, Damon, Xander, Grigori, Alexa, and Rasmus, I will miss you all. I loved your strength, fortitude, and unwavering bravery. Sigh....
Malice is the finale in a series of four books. Each one will bring to your knees with every emotion imaginable. LJ Stock intelligently draws you into her world and gives you a unique sensory experience through the eyes of her characters. This is one series I will hold near and dear and reread multiple times. Top marks Lou!! Loved it!!
I really don't know where to start with reviewing this book to do it the justice it deserves. When you think the series cant get any better, Lou steps up a notch and gives you this perfect ending to the series.
For someone that didn't read fantasy romance I am so going to miss the characters in this book, they all play their part perfectly. I think its the brilliant vivid description that pulls you in making you feel part of the story, and I kid you not I have lay awake in bed trying to figure the ending out, unfortunately my imagination isn't as brilliant as Lou's and I came up short.
I could go on and describe the book in detail, but nope, it is something every reader needs to experience for themselves, feel the love, hatred, sadness, and determination in all the characters to fight this war and win! Not many books bring tears to my eyes but this series did, happy ones and sad one, that is the sure sign of brilliance.
I would encourage anyone to read this series, no matter what they think their reading preferences are. Lou you are amazing!!!
Malice is the 4th & final book in the Mortisalian Saga. Just when I thought Princess Cassandra Regius couldn’t take anymore and that the end was near for her. She would recover enough to keep on fighting. She had to fight. She had to win. She needed to save everyone, especially her daughter Nadia and Damon the love of her life.
Everyone fought valiantly. They would go from one conflict into the next and it seemed like it would never end. But it did end. The battle with Thanatos did happen.
It was a hard war fought and Cassandra lost people close to her. Lou Stock had me crying for those losses. I was emotionally invested in this book!
This has been a great series and I am sad to see it end. I am looking forward to the next book by this author, whatever it may be! 5+ STARS
So many times I have thought about contacting the author and beg her for the last book in this saga. And so many times I have stalked her pages waiting for updates. Then I saw the news....Malice was coming. The final battle was here and we were going back to the Mortisali Saga.
I don't read urban fantasy. EVER. Not my thing, just not in to it. Then I read these books. And fell in love.
Malice was EVERYTHING I hoped it would be. It picks up right where the penultimate Dishonored left off. So much has changed from the beginning and the secrets that are revealed aren't always pretty ones. Cassandra's character development made her my absolute favorite heroine. She's strong, resilient, compassionate, loves fiercely and will protect her family with everything that she is. She isn't the kind of girl to sit back and take a back seat. She knows her place. She knows what she has to do. And she does it with strength. And by her side is Damon, the love of her life. Their relationship evolved so beautifully. And at the heart of her reason for fighting is her daughter, who she will protect at any cost.
Unlike many fantasy books with lengthy plots and battles, this one flowed very well. You felt the weariness of our heroes, yet you were on the edge of your seat to see what the enemies next move would be. The story is intricate without being confusing and everything fits together so well, these characters almost seem real to the reader. The She's created a world where the reader can get lost in and these days, I think we all need that once in a while. This series needs to be at the top of every fantasy readers tbr. It's perfection and a damn shame that we have to say goodbye. Never stop writing LJ. You have quite the gift
I’m gonna miss this amazing world and characters!! Lou stock you did an amazing job in creating it all, and i know i say it everytime (and i will keep doing it) but her writing is just perfect. She writes and describes everything in such detail, that you just have to close your eyes and it feels like your there in Mortisali. Cass and Damon are both strong and would do anything to protect their family and friends, and how they love each other is just so beautiful <3 Rasmus, Shannon, Grigori, Melody, Alexa....each and everyone of them is perfect and i love them all!! So thank you Lou for giving them to us!
To everyone else i can only say, go get all the books and get lost in this beautiful world!! You won’t be disappointed!
Darn, this book was mentioned to me as a masterpiece the final one in a series and I am upset that I got in on this series in the final novel which I though was simply stunning and remarkable. Time to get in the time machine and go back to the beginning in this series and just sit in wonder on the beach reading such a tour de force novel by such a freakishly talented writer. 6 stars LOL, Characters odd, different, unusual and heroic in every scope of humanity and how does a writer make something so beautiful, disturbing and mesmerizing simply from her mind. Did I love it? F....ing YES I did because it allowed me to live beyond my fatigue from having my soul destroyed after 8 years of reading medical books becoming a DR. Thank you Lou for giving me the gift of your genius. Best Dr. Amanda.