What do you think?
Rate this book
The War of Lost Hearts #3
Mother of Death & Dawn
Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love?
In the wake of a crushing defeat, Tisaanah and Maxatarius have been ripped apart. Tisaanah is desperate to rescue Max from his imprisonment, even as her people’s fight for freedom grows more treacherous. But within the walls of Ilyzath, Max’s mind is a shadow of what it once was… leaving his past a mystery and his future at the mercy of Ara’s new, ruthless queen.
Meanwhile, in the Fey lands, Aefe has been dragged back into this world by a king who vows to destroy civilizations in her name. But even as her past returns to claim her, her former self is a stranger.
Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe are thrust into the center of a cataclysm between the human and Fey worlds. The unique magic they share is key to either winning the war, or ending it.
But that power demands sacrifice. Tisaanah may be forced to choose between love and duty. Max cannot forge his future without confronting his past. And Aefe must decide between reclaiming who she was, or embracing who she has become.
The choices they make will either reshape this world forever…or end it..
In the harrowing finale of the War of Lost Hearts trilogy, a tale of romance, magic, vengeance, and redemption comes to a close -- perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Miranda Honfleur, and Danielle Jenson.
In the wake of a crushing defeat, Tisaanah and Maxatarius have been ripped apart. Tisaanah is desperate to rescue Max from his imprisonment, even as her people’s fight for freedom grows more treacherous. But within the walls of Ilyzath, Max’s mind is a shadow of what it once was… leaving his past a mystery and his future at the mercy of Ara’s new, ruthless queen.
Meanwhile, in the Fey lands, Aefe has been dragged back into this world by a king who vows to destroy civilizations in her name. But even as her past returns to claim her, her former self is a stranger.
Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe are thrust into the center of a cataclysm between the human and Fey worlds. The unique magic they share is key to either winning the war, or ending it.
But that power demands sacrifice. Tisaanah may be forced to choose between love and duty. Max cannot forge his future without confronting his past. And Aefe must decide between reclaiming who she was, or embracing who she has become.
The choices they make will either reshape this world forever…or end it..
In the harrowing finale of the War of Lost Hearts trilogy, a tale of romance, magic, vengeance, and redemption comes to a close -- perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Miranda Honfleur, and Danielle Jenson.
722 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2022
6315 people are currently reading
98897 people want to read
About the author
Carissa Broadbent
23 books47.6k followersI've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.
When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.
When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 9,752 reviews
August 18, 2023
What the actual fuckery! Emotions destroyed, my soul barely intact, eyes as dry as my elbow (I’ve ran out of tears), but my heart has never felt fuller. 🥹
I can’t even begin to think about writing a review.
One of the best fantasy romance series I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This is how you write one, quite frankly.
And though this series ruined me in every way, I can’t wait for the day I reread it all over again.
Review to come? Maybe. Maybe not. I’m feeling too discombobulated to do anything right now.
““I love you,” I whispered—because what else could I offer him? I could not erase his past. I could not take away his grief. But I could love him, no matter what, always. Was that enough?”
I can’t even begin to think about writing a review.
One of the best fantasy romance series I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This is how you write one, quite frankly.
And though this series ruined me in every way, I can’t wait for the day I reread it all over again.
Review to come? Maybe. Maybe not. I’m feeling too discombobulated to do anything right now.
““I love you,” I whispered—because what else could I offer him? I could not erase his past. I could not take away his grief. But I could love him, no matter what, always. Was that enough?”
February 8, 2022
2 days from release! Will I rate my own book 5 stars? You know what -- sure I will! I love these characters and this story so deeply. This trilogy has changed my life. I am so excited to send it out into the world. I hope you love it.
In the meantime, if you need to brush up on the previous books in the series to refresh your memory, I have SPOILERY recaps on my website!
Daughter of No Worlds here: http://carissabroadbentbooks.com/2022...
Children of Fallen Gods here: http://carissabroadbentbooks.com/2022...
I hope this helps and I hope you love the book! <3
---
My friends... we have a cover, and a new release date. (February! Mark it!)
I didn't have too much to say about this before since I myself truly did not know how I felt about it. But now I can safely say I am so excited to share the final installment of Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe's journey with you. I promise it won't hurt too much. <3
In the meantime, if you need to brush up on the previous books in the series to refresh your memory, I have SPOILERY recaps on my website!
Daughter of No Worlds here: http://carissabroadbentbooks.com/2022...
Children of Fallen Gods here: http://carissabroadbentbooks.com/2022...
I hope this helps and I hope you love the book! <3
---
My friends... we have a cover, and a new release date. (February! Mark it!)
I didn't have too much to say about this before since I myself truly did not know how I felt about it. But now I can safely say I am so excited to share the final installment of Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe's journey with you. I promise it won't hurt too much. <3
July 13, 2024
I was provided an e-copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Max and Tisaanah ❤️
✅ The other characters
✅ Plot and pace
✅ Action
✅ Villains
✅ Politics and war
✅ Double crossings and betrayals
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: torture, war, and deaths
I took my time reading this one because I wanted to fully enjoy it before the adventure was over. This series was such a great and unexpected surprise! This final book was the perfect ending to Max, Tisaanah, and Aefe’s journey. The first part was a little slower (but in no way long or boring), but the second half was just a crazy mix of action, tension, romance, and politics and I adore the way everything unfolded in the end.
Max has been a prisoner of Ilyzath for a few months now, as Tisaanah desperately tries to find a way to save him, while also being a leader of the slaves' rebellion in Threll. As if that wasn’t enough, Caduan and the faes are at war with the humans, alliances are made and broken, and Nura is being even crazier than she was before.
Tisaanah is one of my all-time favorite main characters. She is so strong, resilient, and determined to make the world a better place and to protect her people, and she never loses that hope, even after being beaten and tortured, after seeing death and destruction, she always keeps her goal in mind and fights to attain it. She is an amazing selfless woman, full of hope and kindness, and love, and I wish I could meet her in real life.
Max is an amazing character too. Besides being a perfect -grumpy- book boyfriend, his character gets better and stronger as the series progresses. He is far from being perfect, but that only makes him feel so much more real. Poor Max suffered a lot in this book, I wanted someone to just hug him, hold him tight and never let him go.
Sammerin and Tisaanah becoming friends and being each other’s strength and support was so wholesome. I still need more of Sammerin’s calm and reassuring presence. I want him to have his own book, even if it’s a short one. He is so quiet and almost invisible when Max and Tisaanah are there, but at the same time, they wouldn’t be where they are now if it wasn’t for Sammerin’s steady support. He saved their asses more than once!
Tisaanah and Max have such a strong and sweet bond. They support each other, they communicate and they work through their problems together. They are partners. There are also a few explicit and hot moments, but what I really loved about them is how good they were for each other, and how we got the chance to watch them both grow.
Brayan is now involved in the plot! We have TWO Farliones in this book! I would really like it if he had his own short story or spin-off, I was intrigued by his character which reminded me so much of Max in the first book in some ways.
Nura was not as present in this book, but the few times she was there were enough for me to hate her even more. She has no redeeming qualities, she is a vain, cold-hearted bitch that thinks the fact that she wants to protect her country is enough to justify all the horrible things she’s done and is still doing. I hate her SO MUCH (which means the author did a great job when developing her character), she is the worst.
I have mixed feelings about Caduan… I really liked him in the second book, but while I understand why he behaves this way and why his vendetta against humans is a necessary part of the amazing plot, he is so single-mindedly trying to win and eradicate the humans that he was hurting so many people around him without realizing it.
Aefe still had her chapters in this book and I found myself being really involved in her story. She changed SO MUCH if we compare her to Reshaye when it was inside Max or even Tisaanah. After being Reshaye for 500 years, she had to learn to be her own person with her own feelings and she had to deal with the overwhelming emotions of finally being alone in her head and being free, while also being involved in Caduan’s plans. Aefe is a broken person, but she still managed to grow and become a better person in this book.
0.5 Ashen Son ⭐⭐⭐
1. Daughter of No Worlds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Children of Fallen Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Max and Tisaanah ❤️
✅ The other characters
✅ Plot and pace
✅ Action
✅ Villains
✅ Politics and war
✅ Double crossings and betrayals
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: torture, war, and deaths
Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love?
(…)
Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do to get him back?
Anything. Everything.
I took my time reading this one because I wanted to fully enjoy it before the adventure was over. This series was such a great and unexpected surprise! This final book was the perfect ending to Max, Tisaanah, and Aefe’s journey. The first part was a little slower (but in no way long or boring), but the second half was just a crazy mix of action, tension, romance, and politics and I adore the way everything unfolded in the end.
It’s not all that hard to keep yourself sane, so long as you’re flexible with your definition of the term.
Max has been a prisoner of Ilyzath for a few months now, as Tisaanah desperately tries to find a way to save him, while also being a leader of the slaves' rebellion in Threll. As if that wasn’t enough, Caduan and the faes are at war with the humans, alliances are made and broken, and Nura is being even crazier than she was before.
“You’re willing to sacrifice everything you have for your people. But fighting for their future won’t be any easier for you if you don’t give yourself a future to fight for.”
Tisaanah is one of my all-time favorite main characters. She is so strong, resilient, and determined to make the world a better place and to protect her people, and she never loses that hope, even after being beaten and tortured, after seeing death and destruction, she always keeps her goal in mind and fights to attain it. She is an amazing selfless woman, full of hope and kindness, and love, and I wish I could meet her in real life.
"Tell me, my ashen son, do you know how much a million memories weigh?
How about one?
It weighs enough to break a spine. It weighs enough to break a soul."
Max is an amazing character too. Besides being a perfect -grumpy- book boyfriend, his character gets better and stronger as the series progresses. He is far from being perfect, but that only makes him feel so much more real. Poor Max suffered a lot in this book, I wanted someone to just hug him, hold him tight and never let him go.
I can’t just… give up.” “I know. But you’re only one person.” Despite myself, I choked a bitter laugh. “People are always telling me that. I don’t understand why.” Sammerin gave me a deadpan look out of the corner of his eye and released a long exhale of smoke. “I wonder indeed.”
Sammerin and Tisaanah becoming friends and being each other’s strength and support was so wholesome. I still need more of Sammerin’s calm and reassuring presence. I want him to have his own book, even if it’s a short one. He is so quiet and almost invisible when Max and Tisaanah are there, but at the same time, they wouldn’t be where they are now if it wasn’t for Sammerin’s steady support. He saved their asses more than once!
“When Max believes in something, he gives it his whole self. It’s his greatest strength and greatest weakness. And you, Tisaanah, were the first thing he had believed in for a long, long time. It takes more than four walls to break that kind of faith.”
Tisaanah and Max have such a strong and sweet bond. They support each other, they communicate and they work through their problems together. They are partners. There are also a few explicit and hot moments, but what I really loved about them is how good they were for each other, and how we got the chance to watch them both grow.
If I hadn’t been trying so hard to keep myself together, I might have found it a little funny that Brayan’s tactic for dealing with unwelcome emotion was running off to go stab things in the woods. Farlione men. Sensitive to the very end.
Brayan is now involved in the plot! We have TWO Farliones in this book! I would really like it if he had his own short story or spin-off, I was intrigued by his character which reminded me so much of Max in the first book in some ways.
She had no remorse for what she had done. She was a broken creature who weaponized her shattered edges and used them to draw blood over blood over blood.
Nura was not as present in this book, but the few times she was there were enough for me to hate her even more. She has no redeeming qualities, she is a vain, cold-hearted bitch that thinks the fact that she wants to protect her country is enough to justify all the horrible things she’s done and is still doing. I hate her SO MUCH (which means the author did a great job when developing her character), she is the worst.
I have mixed feelings about Caduan… I really liked him in the second book, but while I understand why he behaves this way and why his vendetta against humans is a necessary part of the amazing plot, he is so single-mindedly trying to win and eradicate the humans that he was hurting so many people around him without realizing it.
"I have left a mark upon the world. I have written a new story. And I have him. Love is worth creating for. Worth dying for."
Aefe still had her chapters in this book and I found myself being really involved in her story. She changed SO MUCH if we compare her to Reshaye when it was inside Max or even Tisaanah. After being Reshaye for 500 years, she had to learn to be her own person with her own feelings and she had to deal with the overwhelming emotions of finally being alone in her head and being free, while also being involved in Caduan’s plans. Aefe is a broken person, but she still managed to grow and become a better person in this book.
"It begins with two souls who find themselves suddenly, utterly alone."
"It ends with two souls who create a future together."
0.5 Ashen Son ⭐⭐⭐
1. Daughter of No Worlds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Children of Fallen Gods ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
February 12, 2022
"It begins with two souls who find themselves suddenly, utterly alone."
"It ends with two souls who create a future together."
How can an ending be this perfect? 🥺 Even when I was over 50% into this book I still had no idea how everything would come together but damn that finale was so beautiful
✅ Do you like intricate worlds full of magic and diverse cultures?
✅ Do you enjoy reading about epic wars, betrayals and political intrigue?
"Look," I snarled in her ear. "Look at the country that you worked so hard to steal. When I kill you, this country will fall. And I want that to be the last thing you see. I want you to watch your empire die."
✅ Do you like when the line between good and bad is blurred because everyone is the hero of their own story?
"I despise what he is doing in the name of vengeance. I despise what he is doing to the world, to all of us. But I understand him. At times, that seems like the cruelest part in all of this. We all feel the same things, and we will still die trying to kill each other for it."
✅ Are you okay with some darker and heavier themes that come with war and slavery?
"What did they do to you?"
"Nothing I couldn't survive."
✅ Do you like characters that are strong and resilient and will go to the end of the world to protect those they love?
"I give you my partnership," I said, at last. "I promise that whatever road you walk, I will walk it beside you. Whatever challenge you encounter, I will face it with you. You will never fight alone again."
✅ Are you a complete sucker for a swoon-worthy romance where the characters have to defy all odds to be together?
"If I was a stronger man, I could be patient. I could take my time to re-familiarize myself with her slowly, inch by inch, over the course of hours. Her hips lurched, and she fell back onto the bed, pulling me with her. Our kisses never broke. I reached for her shirt, closed my fingers lightly around the seam. I decided that I was fucking weak."
I could go on and on about all the amazing things about this series, but if you answered yes to one or more of the above, then you desperately need to read this series because it delivers everything you could want in an epic high fantasy romance. It's a rare occurrence that I give every book in a series five stars but this deserved it!
Steam Scale: 🔥🔥/3
Swoon Scale: ❤️❤️❤️/3
[I was provided an arc of the book by the author - thank you so so much 💖💖 All thoughts and opinions are my own]
June 21, 2025
˗ˏˋ 4 ★ ˎˊ˗ (major spoilers below !!)
being not only privy to both sides of a war but also personally invested in the characters on each side was a wonderfully harrowing experience. like carissa didn’t give us lovers as enemies. she gave us two destroy everything for each other couples as enemies, making it very clear from the outset that one must die for the other to live — and that was infinitely more gutting.
i mean aefe and caduan have the most gripping, sympathetic villain arcs i have ever seen, and we didn’t just watch it happen; we lived it with them. fym he tore apart himself, tore apart the world to avenge her? fym he wanted her so, so desperately but knew he was destined for death and didn’t want to let himself too close to her because he knew how it would break her when he died, so he kept himself away as long as he possibly could — but ultimately the need for her was too much to deny? fym he ruined himself and all that he had built just to give her the chance to be all that had been ripped away from her? fym they went through that door together, and she finally loved the way he said her name, the way he saw her? their love story broke my heart into one million pieces, and i will never recover all of them. and of course, a moment for the beautiful love story between maxantarius i would know you even without my memories farlione and tisaanah after a life of sacrifice, i would still give up anything, even us, for you to know peace vytezic.
this entire trilogy was very character driven and that was so rewarding, especially the truly morally grey characters among the cast. buttt the overall plot points, while culminating in a tearful climax, were a lil slow / clunky at times which kept me from full sending five stars. you could definitely tell where carissa’s heart was and where it wasn’t as you went through the book, but that didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment because she gave us such unique characters and relationships between them. the dynamics ?! maxantarius and tisaanah. ishqa (who deserved better) and meajqa. sammerin and maxantarius. brayan and maxantarius. aefe and her mother. nura and the world. caduan and aefe. caduan and aefe!!!! golly, actually if you see me bumping this to five stars as i sit with it longer just pretend you didn’t<3 overall what an enjoyable, heartrending trilogy. this will be living rent free for a long while yet.
eta: sorry but we had three separate villains who fucked with deep magic. zeryth, who cracked immediately under the pressure. nura, who was unhinged within months. but caduan — caduan began fraying but he held it together, because his motivation was vengeance, yes, but above all, love. above all, aefe. they could never make me hate you caduan, my tragic fay king. not even for a moment.
bars:
✧ ”five hundred years is a very long time,” he said, at last. “one hundred and eighty thousand days, and i thought of you in every one.”
✧ it was the difference between a house and a home. if the building burns down, something is still there that makes it home.
✧ ”do you fear death?” [ . . . ] “i fear only what it could take from me.”
✧ ”you terrify me because you make me want what i cannot have.” [ . . . ] “there is nothing you can not have.”
✧ ”there is beauty in impermanence. and what sad lives we would live, if we never loved anything we would lose.”
✧ and that, i realized, was the cruelest truth of all. he could not save me. i could not save him.
soundtrack:
♫ adieux — m83
♪ bones— josh record
♫ i, carrion (icarian) — hozier
♪ already gone — sleeping at last
♫ my love mine all mine — mitski
♪ repeat until death — novo amor
being not only privy to both sides of a war but also personally invested in the characters on each side was a wonderfully harrowing experience. like carissa didn’t give us lovers as enemies. she gave us two destroy everything for each other couples as enemies, making it very clear from the outset that one must die for the other to live — and that was infinitely more gutting.
i mean aefe and caduan have the most gripping, sympathetic villain arcs i have ever seen, and we didn’t just watch it happen; we lived it with them. fym he tore apart himself, tore apart the world to avenge her? fym he wanted her so, so desperately but knew he was destined for death and didn’t want to let himself too close to her because he knew how it would break her when he died, so he kept himself away as long as he possibly could — but ultimately the need for her was too much to deny? fym he ruined himself and all that he had built just to give her the chance to be all that had been ripped away from her? fym they went through that door together, and she finally loved the way he said her name, the way he saw her? their love story broke my heart into one million pieces, and i will never recover all of them. and of course, a moment for the beautiful love story between maxantarius i would know you even without my memories farlione and tisaanah after a life of sacrifice, i would still give up anything, even us, for you to know peace vytezic.
this entire trilogy was very character driven and that was so rewarding, especially the truly morally grey characters among the cast. buttt the overall plot points, while culminating in a tearful climax, were a lil slow / clunky at times which kept me from full sending five stars. you could definitely tell where carissa’s heart was and where it wasn’t as you went through the book, but that didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment because she gave us such unique characters and relationships between them. the dynamics ?! maxantarius and tisaanah. ishqa (who deserved better) and meajqa. sammerin and maxantarius. brayan and maxantarius. aefe and her mother. nura and the world. caduan and aefe. caduan and aefe!!!! golly, actually if you see me bumping this to five stars as i sit with it longer just pretend you didn’t<3 overall what an enjoyable, heartrending trilogy. this will be living rent free for a long while yet.
eta: sorry but we had three separate villains who fucked with deep magic. zeryth, who cracked immediately under the pressure. nura, who was unhinged within months. but caduan — caduan began fraying but he held it together, because his motivation was vengeance, yes, but above all, love. above all, aefe. they could never make me hate you caduan, my tragic fay king. not even for a moment.
bars:
✧ ”five hundred years is a very long time,” he said, at last. “one hundred and eighty thousand days, and i thought of you in every one.”
✧ it was the difference between a house and a home. if the building burns down, something is still there that makes it home.
✧ ”do you fear death?” [ . . . ] “i fear only what it could take from me.”
✧ ”you terrify me because you make me want what i cannot have.” [ . . . ] “there is nothing you can not have.”
✧ ”there is beauty in impermanence. and what sad lives we would live, if we never loved anything we would lose.”
✧ and that, i realized, was the cruelest truth of all. he could not save me. i could not save him.
soundtrack:
♫ adieux — m83
♪ bones— josh record
♫ i, carrion (icarian) — hozier
♪ already gone — sleeping at last
♫ my love mine all mine — mitski
♪ repeat until death — novo amor
May 7, 2023
4.5 Stars
I love this trilogy so much!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love?
I love this trilogy so much!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
February 14, 2022
“So yeah, it’s a fire, it’s a goddamn blaze in the dark and you started it,
You started it...
And yeah, it’s a war, it’s the goddamn fight of my life and you started it,
You started it...
And now, I can’t
Stop you putting roots in my dreamland,
My house of stone, your ivy grows,
And now I’m covered in you.”
Ivy by Taylor Swift has been the perfect song on repeat for me as I come to grips with this stunning conclusion to the War of Lost Hearts trilogy. And what a conclusion it was! This series has been such an amazing surprise and at this point, I’ll read anything Carissa writes.
Carissa wields words like Tisaanah wields deep magic - the foreshadowing, the callbacks, the symbolism, the little inside jokes and references between her and the reader - the quality of it all through the entire series blows me away.
Max and Tisaanah have my whole heart - they’re good people but so utterly human. And I love how the antagonists they face are complex, not just black and white caricatures but with motivations of their own that make sense (even in an evil way).
At 75%, I had no idea how the remaining plot threads were going to tie up, but everything came full circle in the most satisfying (and heart-wrenching) way.
All my friends already know I will talk about this series endlessly 😂 I’m like, this book ripped my heart out and made me ugly cry - read it!! And is there really any higher praise? ☺️
~
2/12/22 - Holy shit...review to come once I gather my thoughts. What a conclusion
~
1/25/22 - I HAVE AN ARC of my most anticipated release of the year 😱💖✨
Sorry but everything else on my TBR is gonna wait
You started it...
And yeah, it’s a war, it’s the goddamn fight of my life and you started it,
You started it...
And now, I can’t
Stop you putting roots in my dreamland,
My house of stone, your ivy grows,
And now I’m covered in you.”
Ivy by Taylor Swift has been the perfect song on repeat for me as I come to grips with this stunning conclusion to the War of Lost Hearts trilogy. And what a conclusion it was! This series has been such an amazing surprise and at this point, I’ll read anything Carissa writes.
Carissa wields words like Tisaanah wields deep magic - the foreshadowing, the callbacks, the symbolism, the little inside jokes and references between her and the reader - the quality of it all through the entire series blows me away.
Max and Tisaanah have my whole heart - they’re good people but so utterly human. And I love how the antagonists they face are complex, not just black and white caricatures but with motivations of their own that make sense (even in an evil way).
At 75%, I had no idea how the remaining plot threads were going to tie up, but everything came full circle in the most satisfying (and heart-wrenching) way.
All my friends already know I will talk about this series endlessly 😂 I’m like, this book ripped my heart out and made me ugly cry - read it!! And is there really any higher praise? ☺️
~
2/12/22 - Holy shit...review to come once I gather my thoughts. What a conclusion
~
1/25/22 - I HAVE AN ARC of my most anticipated release of the year 😱💖✨
Sorry but everything else on my TBR is gonna wait
Review of advance copy
2.5 stars ✨
“His heart is what truly lit the fires of war, and the fire burns because of you. The decision was for all of us, yes. But the vengeance? The vengeance is for you.”
I'm sorry y'all, I tried. But this one didn't do it for me. I blame both the slump and the after effects of Credence 😒 Or maybe I just picked it at the wrong time, but either way this breaks my heart.
Firstly, the pacing dragged for me throughout the book. I just couldn't vibe with it at all. The first half in particular was not getting through to me. Majority of it read like a filler for me and it really made me feel disconnected from the story. The second half was slightly better because of its intensity and how we were made aware of the stakes.
Secondly, I felt really disconnected with the characters in this one. I love Max and Tisaanah, they had some really sweet moments but not enough to lure me in. Aefe and Caduan were far more appealing to me. Maybe because of the tragic theme but I was way more invested in those two.
By the time the book ended, I was already mentally over it. I did have some heartfelt feelings about the characters and the journey. But not enough that I'll remember it. Anyhoo, I still think the first book was the best in the series. Unfortunately it ends on a low note for me but it is what it is 🤷♀️
~•~•~
Time to finally get to the last book in the series. Also, can we talk about the beauty this cover is?? I am in love with how good it looks 😍
“His heart is what truly lit the fires of war, and the fire burns because of you. The decision was for all of us, yes. But the vengeance? The vengeance is for you.”
I'm sorry y'all, I tried. But this one didn't do it for me. I blame both the slump and the after effects of Credence 😒 Or maybe I just picked it at the wrong time, but either way this breaks my heart.
Firstly, the pacing dragged for me throughout the book. I just couldn't vibe with it at all. The first half in particular was not getting through to me. Majority of it read like a filler for me and it really made me feel disconnected from the story. The second half was slightly better because of its intensity and how we were made aware of the stakes.
Secondly, I felt really disconnected with the characters in this one. I love Max and Tisaanah, they had some really sweet moments but not enough to lure me in. Aefe and Caduan were far more appealing to me. Maybe because of the tragic theme but I was way more invested in those two.
By the time the book ended, I was already mentally over it. I did have some heartfelt feelings about the characters and the journey. But not enough that I'll remember it. Anyhoo, I still think the first book was the best in the series. Unfortunately it ends on a low note for me but it is what it is 🤷♀️
~•~•~
Time to finally get to the last book in the series. Also, can we talk about the beauty this cover is?? I am in love with how good it looks 😍
August 21, 2023
3⭐️ a bit of a let down by the end of the series. i definitely liked book 1 and 2 better, this felt a bit repetitive even with aefe's storyline
***
okay, i'm going to need tisaanah to stop getting kidnapped by enemy houses and max risking his life to get her back 😭
***
okay, i'm going to need tisaanah to stop getting kidnapped by enemy houses and max risking his life to get her back 😭
January 20, 2026
3.25⭐️
January 23, 2026
“It begins with two souls who find themselves suddenly, utterly alone. It ends with two souls who create a future together.”
Thoughts
This book was great! The pacing was inconsistent during the first half of the book, but the second half was more consistent. The plot was interesting although it was chaotic during some parts of the book. I love the world building, the world was so intricate and descriptive. The author does a fantastic job of developing the world in great detail without it being confusing or overwhelming. The magic continued to fascinate me and how unique each type of magic was. The topics that the author focused on are very prevalent today such as power, greed, love, bravery, and hope.
Characters
Each character was well rounded and faced their own challenges. Max and Tisaanah have my heart.❤️ Tisaanah dealt with so many challenges but was able to become stronger and braver. I also loved Tisaanah’s determination, kindness and she never gave up. Max was brave, resilient, hardworking and was able to see the hope in the world. I loved watching both of them develop and strengthen their personalities. I enjoyed several of the side characters such as Serel, Sammerin, and Serel’s friend. I didn’t not like Nur. I have mixed feelings about Caudan and Aefe, they were both consumed by power and greed.
Romance
I love Max and Tisaanah’s relationship so much. ❤️ They communicate to each other very well and have a lot in common. I love that they will do anything for each other. They deserve each other and I’m glad that they are happy. I also loved how realistic the development of their relationship was, it took them time to develop feelings for each other and their growth wasn’t linear. Caudan and Aefe had great tension and chemistry.
Writing
The writing was engaging and descriptive. I appreciated how the author was able to write each main character with their unique own voice. The author was able to bring the character alive through the writing and I felt similar emotions that the characters felt including sadness, happiness and anger. The ending was well done, I’m glad that it wasn’t rushed and everything was resolved. I also appreciated that it ended on a happy note.
Thoughts
This book was great! The pacing was inconsistent during the first half of the book, but the second half was more consistent. The plot was interesting although it was chaotic during some parts of the book. I love the world building, the world was so intricate and descriptive. The author does a fantastic job of developing the world in great detail without it being confusing or overwhelming. The magic continued to fascinate me and how unique each type of magic was. The topics that the author focused on are very prevalent today such as power, greed, love, bravery, and hope.
Characters
Each character was well rounded and faced their own challenges. Max and Tisaanah have my heart.❤️ Tisaanah dealt with so many challenges but was able to become stronger and braver. I also loved Tisaanah’s determination, kindness and she never gave up. Max was brave, resilient, hardworking and was able to see the hope in the world. I loved watching both of them develop and strengthen their personalities. I enjoyed several of the side characters such as Serel, Sammerin, and Serel’s friend. I didn’t not like Nur. I have mixed feelings about Caudan and Aefe, they were both consumed by power and greed.
Romance
I love Max and Tisaanah’s relationship so much. ❤️ They communicate to each other very well and have a lot in common. I love that they will do anything for each other. They deserve each other and I’m glad that they are happy. I also loved how realistic the development of their relationship was, it took them time to develop feelings for each other and their growth wasn’t linear. Caudan and Aefe had great tension and chemistry.
Writing
The writing was engaging and descriptive. I appreciated how the author was able to write each main character with their unique own voice. The author was able to bring the character alive through the writing and I felt similar emotions that the characters felt including sadness, happiness and anger. The ending was well done, I’m glad that it wasn’t rushed and everything was resolved. I also appreciated that it ended on a happy note.
April 20, 2026
3.75⭐ I liked and enjoyed it but disliked some things... Idk what happened to the author after book1, is it just me or do they really not feel the same?
𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. I kept getting bored at the first 40% of the book and the only thing that kept me going was Tisaanah and Max, it was after that I started liking the book and enjoying it more (and crying).
𝗠𝗮𝘅&𝗧𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵, My babies I'm so in love with these two. I just know I'll keep thinking about them for a while bc the way these two are LONGING for each other? I can't. their love and everything between them that happend in this book? I wasn't okay.
I didn't really feel anything for 𝗔𝗲𝗳𝗲&𝗖𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗻🧍🏻♀️, I didn't feel the chemistry bc in the relationship building time I wasn't caring about what's happening sm.
𝗔𝗲𝗳𝗲'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲... I know the author wants us to know that she isn't a bad person and to get to know her better but I fear that I don't care, I think her chapters in the book2 were enough, there was no need to have them anymore..
Also, 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴?
The epilogue is TO DIE FOR!! I'm SO happy for these two and the little ones ⁱʸᵏʸᵏ🤭.
This trilogy was an enjoyable experience, it wasn't perfect(after the book1) yet I still was able to love the characters sm and feel them. And I just know I'll keep thinking about Tisaanah and Max for a while.
“How much does a memory weigh?
“I have made bad decisions before. But you are not, never have been, and never will be one of them. It is always you.”
“I forbid you from dying on me, Tisaanah. I would make a pathetic widower.”
“I find more lost hearts. I see myself in every one”
“You can do nothing to change your past. You’re here because of the future.”
“I love you imperfectly, but completely.”
“What good is justice, if there is nobody left to witness it?”
|𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𐙚¸꒷₊࿐࿔
𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖻𝖺𝖽 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾. 𝖨 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝖬𝖺𝗑 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗂𝗌𝖺𝖺𝗇𝖺𝗁 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋.
𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. I kept getting bored at the first 40% of the book and the only thing that kept me going was Tisaanah and Max, it was after that I started liking the book and enjoying it more (and crying).
𝗠𝗮𝘅&𝗧𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗵, My babies I'm so in love with these two. I just know I'll keep thinking about them for a while bc the way these two are LONGING for each other? I can't. their love and everything between them that happend in this book? I wasn't okay.
I didn't really feel anything for 𝗔𝗲𝗳𝗲&𝗖𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗻🧍🏻♀️, I didn't feel the chemistry bc in the relationship building time I wasn't caring about what's happening sm.
𝗔𝗲𝗳𝗲'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲... I know the author wants us to know that she isn't a bad person and to get to know her better but I fear that I don't care, I think her chapters in the book2 were enough, there was no need to have them anymore..
Also, 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴?
The epilogue is TO DIE FOR!! I'm SO happy for these two and the little ones ⁱʸᵏʸᵏ🤭.
This trilogy was an enjoyable experience, it wasn't perfect(after the book1) yet I still was able to love the characters sm and feel them. And I just know I'll keep thinking about Tisaanah and Max for a while.
“How much does a memory weigh?
“I have made bad decisions before. But you are not, never have been, and never will be one of them. It is always you.”
“I forbid you from dying on me, Tisaanah. I would make a pathetic widower.”
“I find more lost hearts. I see myself in every one”
“You can do nothing to change your past. You’re here because of the future.”
“I love you imperfectly, but completely.”
“What good is justice, if there is nobody left to witness it?”
|𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𐙚¸꒷₊࿐࿔
𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖻𝖺𝖽 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾. 𝖨 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝖬𝖺𝗑 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗂𝗌𝖺𝖺𝗇𝖺𝗁 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋.
April 20, 2023
i haven't been this relieved to be done with a series in quite a while, to be honest. frankly, i should've dnf'ed this series after book one but it was so easy and engaging that i just kept going. the fun of the plot made me look past several issues i had with book one (and book two), but when i got to the series finale, there were too many issues for me to look past anymore.
i think my main problem stems from the fact that this entire series is so incredibly convoluted and fast-paced. especially in a fantasy *romance*, i need to form an emotional connection with the main characters and be invested in their story. this, unfortunately, never happened for me. although i liked the concepts behind these characters, i didn't feel any chemistry between the hero and heroine at all. i was hoping for more character development in books 2 and 3 because they're both quite lengthy, but i only got more and more never-ending plot.
tisaanah as a main character was also very difficult for me to root for. she's savior complex personified, always the best and most powerful and most unique, no flaws to be detected (except she can't dance, apparently). after a while, her constant need to help everyone and sacrifice herself for "the greater good" got incredibly annoying.
especially book 3 was filled to the brim with battles and fight scenes (without any casualties or stakes, of course) while completely neglecting character work and slow moments. i like the idea behind the plot – it was actually the main factor that made me want to continue after book one – but even that lost its magic as the books grew more and more convoluted and messy.
one particular thing that kept aggravating me was the writing style. broadbent had a tendency to repeat the same words over and over again for dramatic effect. if i ever come across "a room of white and white and white" again in any other book, i'm probably going to yeet it out the window.
the ending itself was satisfying but by then i was just completely over the story and these characters. i'm glad this series helped me fulfill several prompts for magical readathon, though apart from that i kind of wish i had never continued. i've been trying to find fantasy romance with an actually decent plot for ages and thought this might be it, so i'm very sad it didn't turn out to be a new personal favourite. it is what it is i guess🤡
i think my main problem stems from the fact that this entire series is so incredibly convoluted and fast-paced. especially in a fantasy *romance*, i need to form an emotional connection with the main characters and be invested in their story. this, unfortunately, never happened for me. although i liked the concepts behind these characters, i didn't feel any chemistry between the hero and heroine at all. i was hoping for more character development in books 2 and 3 because they're both quite lengthy, but i only got more and more never-ending plot.
tisaanah as a main character was also very difficult for me to root for. she's savior complex personified, always the best and most powerful and most unique, no flaws to be detected (except she can't dance, apparently). after a while, her constant need to help everyone and sacrifice herself for "the greater good" got incredibly annoying.
especially book 3 was filled to the brim with battles and fight scenes (without any casualties or stakes, of course) while completely neglecting character work and slow moments. i like the idea behind the plot – it was actually the main factor that made me want to continue after book one – but even that lost its magic as the books grew more and more convoluted and messy.
one particular thing that kept aggravating me was the writing style. broadbent had a tendency to repeat the same words over and over again for dramatic effect. if i ever come across "a room of white and white and white" again in any other book, i'm probably going to yeet it out the window.
the ending itself was satisfying but by then i was just completely over the story and these characters. i'm glad this series helped me fulfill several prompts for magical readathon, though apart from that i kind of wish i had never continued. i've been trying to find fantasy romance with an actually decent plot for ages and thought this might be it, so i'm very sad it didn't turn out to be a new personal favourite. it is what it is i guess🤡
August 17, 2025
No matter how hard I tried, I found it impossible to immerse myself in any aspect of this third book. The writing did not improve, still all the characters lacked depth. Even the main part of the story has no details about a lot of things. I had so many questions, but really, I just hoped that by the end, I would find something to make up for all the time wasted on this ridiculous series.
Anyway it almost felt as if this third installment was hastily written and published merely to bring the series to a conclusion. Thank God, somehow I mustered the strength to read through and complete this disappointing experience.
Anyway it almost felt as if this third installment was hastily written and published merely to bring the series to a conclusion. Thank God, somehow I mustered the strength to read through and complete this disappointing experience.
October 28, 2025
5 MAGNIFICENT FUCKING STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ my best read of the year
I honestly don’t even know how to write a review for this book. It put me through every possible emotion, the suffering, the angst, the desperation, the anxiety about how everything would unfold. There was literally no moment to rest. This was such a beautiful and powerful ending to the trilogy. The character development was phenomenal, and I fell even more in love with Max and Tisaanah. The way they admire each other, fight side by side, and give everything for what they believe in and for each other completely destroyed me in the best way possible.
And Aefe and Caduan… my heart ached for them. Even though Caduan’s intentions weren’t the best, the fact that everything he did came from his love for Aefe just shattered me. I already miss all of these characters so much. The writing was absolutely breathtaking, the way simple things are turned into something so emotional and poetic left me speechless. You definitely need to read this series.
Just some quotes bc I don’t want to spoil anything:
“I love that every time I look at her, I find something new, like light refracting through a thousand different shades of glass.”
“I give you my soul. It’s not a perfect one. It’s a little messy. You inherit some scars. But… all the good parts are for you. From the minute you showed up at my door, all the good parts were for you.”
“You want the truth? The memories are hard, yes. But none of that scared me as much as the prospect of exactly how close I came to never seeing you again. That’s what fucking terrifies me.”
────୨ৎ────
October 22
So... I got LASIK in the middle of reading this masterpiece, so it took me a while to finish 😭 Still recovering (from the surgery and the book lol) and I’ll write my review soon when I’m fully recovered, but I can already tell you this was my best read of the year ❤️
I honestly don’t even know how to write a review for this book. It put me through every possible emotion, the suffering, the angst, the desperation, the anxiety about how everything would unfold. There was literally no moment to rest. This was such a beautiful and powerful ending to the trilogy. The character development was phenomenal, and I fell even more in love with Max and Tisaanah. The way they admire each other, fight side by side, and give everything for what they believe in and for each other completely destroyed me in the best way possible.
And Aefe and Caduan… my heart ached for them. Even though Caduan’s intentions weren’t the best, the fact that everything he did came from his love for Aefe just shattered me. I already miss all of these characters so much. The writing was absolutely breathtaking, the way simple things are turned into something so emotional and poetic left me speechless. You definitely need to read this series.
Just some quotes bc I don’t want to spoil anything:
“I love that every time I look at her, I find something new, like light refracting through a thousand different shades of glass.”
“I give you my soul. It’s not a perfect one. It’s a little messy. You inherit some scars. But… all the good parts are for you. From the minute you showed up at my door, all the good parts were for you.”
“You want the truth? The memories are hard, yes. But none of that scared me as much as the prospect of exactly how close I came to never seeing you again. That’s what fucking terrifies me.”
────୨ৎ────
October 22
So... I got LASIK in the middle of reading this masterpiece, so it took me a while to finish 😭 Still recovering (from the surgery and the book lol) and I’ll write my review soon when I’m fully recovered, but I can already tell you this was my best read of the year ❤️
January 25, 2026
I
AM
NOT
OKAY.
I
NEED
TO
YAP.
ILOVETHISTRILOGYSFMMM
(POTENTIAL RTC WHEN I'M COHERENT ENOUGH)😭😭😭
AM
NOT
OKAY.
I
NEED
TO
YAP.
ILOVETHISTRILOGYSFMMM
(POTENTIAL RTC WHEN I'M COHERENT ENOUGH)😭😭😭
April 7, 2026
This was an amazing trilogy! I will be thinking of these characters for a long time to come!! 🫶🏻
✨️"A realization came to me, one that I have been grappling with for the last ten years. There was no single moment when everything changed. No single before and after. There was just... life. A million decisions and a million consequences."✨️
What a line, what a line, what a line...
I often times feel like the ending of a trilogy is disappointing, like the build-up just doesn't justify the ending. But these were everything you want in a good romantasy trilogy!!
I really loved the characters and felt such a connection to them. The magic system feels so unique and fun! The worldbuilding and descriptions are always so on point!
This was a wild ride, but I just know I will be re-reading these in the future!
Thank you so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan publishing for this ARC because of the republishing!!! ❤️❤️
✨️"A realization came to me, one that I have been grappling with for the last ten years. There was no single moment when everything changed. No single before and after. There was just... life. A million decisions and a million consequences."✨️
What a line, what a line, what a line...
I often times feel like the ending of a trilogy is disappointing, like the build-up just doesn't justify the ending. But these were everything you want in a good romantasy trilogy!!
I really loved the characters and felt such a connection to them. The magic system feels so unique and fun! The worldbuilding and descriptions are always so on point!
This was a wild ride, but I just know I will be re-reading these in the future!
Thank you so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan publishing for this ARC because of the republishing!!! ❤️❤️
February 4, 2026
I CRIED MY EYES OUT, MULTIPLE TIMES
October 24, 2022
4.25⭐
Something that Carissa Broadbent does exceedingly well is her development of her villains. My whole damn heart belongs to those characters. I never again want to settle for baddies with motivations I can't make heads or tales of, or who feel two-dimensional. I understood EVERYTHING they did and EVERYTHING they felt. A++
Looking back on the entire series, I wish the magic system had been more defined. It felt muddled and blurry at the edges, and while some of that was surely done on purpose because we experience the world through Tissanah's eyes within her POV chapters, learning about the world as she does, by the end significant gaps remained. Not a deal-breaker by any stretch, but a gripe nonetheless.
In sum, this series is 100% worth your time and you should absolutely give it a read.
Something that Carissa Broadbent does exceedingly well is her development of her villains. My whole damn heart belongs to those characters. I never again want to settle for baddies with motivations I can't make heads or tales of, or who feel two-dimensional. I understood EVERYTHING they did and EVERYTHING they felt. A++
Looking back on the entire series, I wish the magic system had been more defined. It felt muddled and blurry at the edges, and while some of that was surely done on purpose because we experience the world through Tissanah's eyes within her POV chapters, learning about the world as she does, by the end significant gaps remained. Not a deal-breaker by any stretch, but a gripe nonetheless.
In sum, this series is 100% worth your time and you should absolutely give it a read.
June 29, 2023
4.75 ☆’s
“You are going to die. But do not fear death. Death is a door, and though none of us can follow you through it today, you will cross its threshold knowing that the mark you have left behind will be a worthy one. This is not an end.”
Carissa Broadbent very quickly became a favourite in my romantasy author catalogue with this incredible series.
Her writing is SO incredibly engaging and magical, the depth of her character work is enviable, and the way she writes about love and friendship, grief and loss is just AH, it made my chest cavity QUIVER.
➵ “One hundred and eighty thousand days, and I thought of you in every one.”
➵ “I love you did not say enough. I love you did not say, thank you for being my home. I love you did not say, thank you for being my future.”
LIKE CMONNN??!?!?!
As the story progresses from book one, we gain another POV and this is when I became OBSESSED. The main love interests and frequent dry humour are enough to keep you gripped, but once we delved deeper into the history of the war and conflict between humans and fae, and got a taste of some delicious female rage, I could not put this shit down.
I truly think anyone who enjoys this particular genre of writing will have a great time with this series and these characters!
“You are going to die. But do not fear death. Death is a door, and though none of us can follow you through it today, you will cross its threshold knowing that the mark you have left behind will be a worthy one. This is not an end.”
Carissa Broadbent very quickly became a favourite in my romantasy author catalogue with this incredible series.
Her writing is SO incredibly engaging and magical, the depth of her character work is enviable, and the way she writes about love and friendship, grief and loss is just AH, it made my chest cavity QUIVER.
➵ “One hundred and eighty thousand days, and I thought of you in every one.”
➵ “I love you did not say enough. I love you did not say, thank you for being my home. I love you did not say, thank you for being my future.”
LIKE CMONNN??!?!?!
As the story progresses from book one, we gain another POV and this is when I became OBSESSED. The main love interests and frequent dry humour are enough to keep you gripped, but once we delved deeper into the history of the war and conflict between humans and fae, and got a taste of some delicious female rage, I could not put this shit down.
I truly think anyone who enjoys this particular genre of writing will have a great time with this series and these characters!
May 26, 2024
4.5 ⭐️This trilogy was incredible. The pacing of this book was specifically great. I love these characters with all my heart! I wasn’t expecting to cry as much as I did - Carissa is brutal (but I love her). The epilogue had me in my feels.
I’ll be thinking about this book & these characters for a long time.
I’ll be thinking about this book & these characters for a long time.
December 17, 2024
Very good end to the trilogy, made me a little sappy🥲
The pacing was so great in this book besides the battle?? It was not very epic in my opinion (IM SORRY)
One of my favorite things was in this book and I was SCREAMING Iykyk
My favorite character in all of the series is actually Moth and he deserves everything good in the world.
The pacing was so great in this book besides the battle?? It was not very epic in my opinion (IM SORRY)
One of my favorite things was in this book and I was SCREAMING Iykyk
My favorite character in all of the series is actually Moth and he deserves everything good in the world.
October 1, 2024
“How much does a memory weigh?
Too much to carry alone.”
5⭐ i am unwell! blood was spilled, and tears were shed (mine). this book destroyed me, but in a good way! what am i supposed to do now that it's done?!
the whole trilogy had kind of a different vibe from other fantasy books i've read so far, and i loved the uniqueness of it, it definitely stands out. it deserves a whole lot of more hype than this!
it had everything, love, pain, trauma, heartbreak, i laughed and cried with them, felt their pain💔 but that epilogue had my heart, i was practically sobbing😭🫶🏼
1000/10 will recommend to everyone 🙂↕️
Too much to carry alone.”
5⭐ i am unwell! blood was spilled, and tears were shed (mine). this book destroyed me, but in a good way! what am i supposed to do now that it's done?!
the whole trilogy had kind of a different vibe from other fantasy books i've read so far, and i loved the uniqueness of it, it definitely stands out. it deserves a whole lot of more hype than this!
it had everything, love, pain, trauma, heartbreak, i laughed and cried with them, felt their pain💔 but that epilogue had my heart, i was practically sobbing😭🫶🏼
1000/10 will recommend to everyone 🙂↕️
September 25, 2024
4.5⭐️
This book was my favorite of the trilogy! An absolute epic conclusion.
Max is the shining star of this series for me. He is a sweet, self aware, angel of a man. I found myself looking forward to his POVs the most!
Here’s why I can’t give this 5 stars:
- while the pacing of this book was SO MUCH better, it still felt a teeny long
- I need a longer epic final battle ok?? But this is a problem I find in most fantasy books tbh
- I really struggled to find an emotional connection to Tissanah in this book - but that’s a me problem.
- I think this trilogy could have easily been a longer duology
The epilogue put me in my grave.
Overall, I am so happy I read this series! I’d give it a solid 4⭐️, and I think it needs to be talked about more!!
SPOILERS BELOW
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I really wanted another chapter from Aefe’s perspective. I would have loved to see her and Caduan happy in the afterlife. Home girl needed a happier ending
My fav scene from the entire series was their wedding. It has me like 🥹😍🥰😭
Max just being the sweet angel he is:
“I give you my soul. It’s not a perfect one. It’s a little messy. You inherit some scars. But… all the good parts are for you. From the minute you showed up at my door, all the good parts were for you.”
This book was my favorite of the trilogy! An absolute epic conclusion.
Max is the shining star of this series for me. He is a sweet, self aware, angel of a man. I found myself looking forward to his POVs the most!
Here’s why I can’t give this 5 stars:
- while the pacing of this book was SO MUCH better, it still felt a teeny long
- I need a longer epic final battle ok?? But this is a problem I find in most fantasy books tbh
- I really struggled to find an emotional connection to Tissanah in this book - but that’s a me problem.
- I think this trilogy could have easily been a longer duology
The epilogue put me in my grave.
Overall, I am so happy I read this series! I’d give it a solid 4⭐️, and I think it needs to be talked about more!!
SPOILERS BELOW
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I really wanted another chapter from Aefe’s perspective. I would have loved to see her and Caduan happy in the afterlife. Home girl needed a happier ending
My fav scene from the entire series was their wedding. It has me like 🥹😍🥰😭
Max just being the sweet angel he is:
“I give you my soul. It’s not a perfect one. It’s a little messy. You inherit some scars. But… all the good parts are for you. From the minute you showed up at my door, all the good parts were for you.”
March 4, 2026
𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ .4.5 🌟 RTC
ive got the worst migraine ever but ig it was worth it 🫠😭
---
I did say i wasnt going to start this now , but yep I got bored and had nothing to read so diving back wish me luck 🫠😭
ive got the worst migraine ever but ig it was worth it 🫠😭
---
I did say i wasnt going to start this now , but yep I got bored and had nothing to read so diving back wish me luck 🫠😭
December 30, 2025
how much does a memory weigh,
carissa? an infinite amount if those memories are about the experience of having read this amazing story 😭. trilogy dun went triple platinum over here. what do i even say? it was perfect. the absolute perfect conclusion to what was an undoubtedly epic story.
this woman built one HELL of a world and a ride of a plot - but at its core, this story had some incredible characters. main characters you can’t help but want to root for - who’s motivations and dreams and manifestos you want to see through alongside them and their allies - but also some really complex and empathy-inducing characters who i can’t really fully categorize as villians at varying points of the story and overall. it was never as one-dimensional as that. somehow you’re left stirred by their motivations in this story as well. you’ve also got the downright infuriating characters that you want to rage against with your entire being, but some of the more prominent ones also found a way to command attention because their characterization was that good and that compelling. everyone who was here had to be here and do what they did and i wouldn’t have or couldn’t have changed a thing about the storytelling or the character work in here.
on top of allathat but certainly most of all, tisaanah and max were this story’s heart. my eyes are even getting glassy just having turned the last page and thinking about everything that happened over these three books, what the whole journey put them (and in turn, me) through and what it all culminated to by the end. this conclusion was just everything, everything. they are love. love is them.
this was so special. i’ll be thinking about this trilogy for a long time to come. i don’t got much more in me 😭❤️🩹✨
—————————————————————————————————
lol, also - it looks like i took forever to finish this but in actuality, i devoured pretty much all but the first 6% / 40(ish) pages in 2 days flat. that’s how much i couldn’t put this down for too long once i got into things properly. i was so immersed!
i would also like to take the time to file a formal request for a brayan novella with this here sentence. ok thanks - bye!
this woman built one HELL of a world and a ride of a plot - but at its core, this story had some incredible characters. main characters you can’t help but want to root for - who’s motivations and dreams and manifestos you want to see through alongside them and their allies - but also some really complex and empathy-inducing characters who i can’t really fully categorize as villians at varying points of the story and overall. it was never as one-dimensional as that. somehow you’re left stirred by their motivations in this story as well. you’ve also got the downright infuriating characters that you want to rage against with your entire being, but some of the more prominent ones also found a way to command attention because their characterization was that good and that compelling. everyone who was here had to be here and do what they did and i wouldn’t have or couldn’t have changed a thing about the storytelling or the character work in here.
on top of allathat but certainly most of all, tisaanah and max were this story’s heart. my eyes are even getting glassy just having turned the last page and thinking about everything that happened over these three books, what the whole journey put them (and in turn, me) through and what it all culminated to by the end. this conclusion was just everything, everything. they are love. love is them.
this was so special. i’ll be thinking about this trilogy for a long time to come. i don’t got much more in me 😭❤️🩹✨
—————————————————————————————————
lol, also - it looks like i took forever to finish this but in actuality, i devoured pretty much all but the first 6% / 40(ish) pages in 2 days flat. that’s how much i couldn’t put this down for too long once i got into things properly. i was so immersed!
i would also like to take the time to file a formal request for a brayan novella with this here sentence. ok thanks - bye!
July 5, 2024
So someone flagged my review of this book for plagiarism and gr removed the review as well as the book from 'read' shelf, when in reality i had spent an hour writing my own review? And it does nothing when it comes to people plagiarising my reviews?
January 5, 2023
I'm just glad I finished this once and for all.
April 8, 2026
I'm so thankful to have read this series. I loved how deeply it made me feel so many different emotions.
“We all feel the same things, and we will still die trying to kill each other for it.”
This quote really encapsulates the premise of what’s going on. I’m personally content with how the series ended.
“We all feel the same things, and we will still die trying to kill each other for it.”
This quote really encapsulates the premise of what’s going on. I’m personally content with how the series ended.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 9,752 reviews