The Princess Bride meets Game of Thrones in this commercial YA trilogy from acclaimed fantasy author Sarah Henning.
The epic tale concludes with The King Will Kill You, as the newly-crowned Queen Amarande and Luca, her one true love, seek peace among the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky. Wartorn and regicidal, all five kingdoms must confront the power-mad king determined to seize control of the continent--and kill Amarande and Luca in the process.
Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Kristin Cashore, and Adrienne Young will love this kickass heroine and fast-paced fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride.
Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.
lucas back must be hurting from having to carry this entire series on his own, but he sure does look great on the cover. my little stableboy has grown up. lol.
as with the first two books, i still havent read or seen ‘the princess bride,’ so i have no clue if this series is still inspired by it or if that stopped after the first book. so im just judging this as a typical YA book.
and i personally wasnt all too impressed with this. going into this, knowing its the last book, i just assumed everything is going to end well, and it does. exactly how i expected it to. so i never found any real excitement. i also think thats because this entire conclusion focuses on court politicking and feuding kingdoms. i miss the adventure that was in the first two books.
but im happy to have finished this series and seen it through to the end. its definitely not a bad book or finale - i think readers who have really enjoyed following amarandes journey will be pleased with this. i personally just wish the plot of this installment had a little more variety and wasnt so one-note.
Farewell, 'Kingdoms of Sand and Sky' trilogy. Thanks for being enjoyable.
************************************** THE COVER IS HERE!!!
*************************************** I had waited this book to appear on Goodreads for around a month. The minute I found out that the author wanted to make Kingdoms of Sand and Sky into a trilogy I was already sky-high excited and at that time I was only halfway through book 1.
The King Will Kill You is an entertaining and exciting conclusion to the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy. One of the strengths of the novel and the series is the vivid worldbuilding. The author’s writing immerses you into the story and creates such a clear picture of this unique and dynamic world. The battle scenes are also epic and suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat for much of the story.
Like the first two books, Amarande and Luca go on physical as well as emotional journeys throughout this story. Both characters are layered and well-developed, and I became invested in their stories. Amarande proves to be a strong and brave leader whose character exposes gender inequities and the fight for autonomy and equality. She fights against the patriarchy in an attempt to invoke change that promotes equality, These messages feel particularly relatable considering what’s going on in the world today. The story also highlights Luca’s growth as he becomes a leader of his people and gains more confidence in his capabilities as a ruler.
My favorite part of the story is the romance between Amarande and Luca. They both go through so much over the course of the series, yet their feelings for each other never waver. They are so devoted to each other, and their feelings for each other shine through in every decision and action they make. Unlike the other books, Amarande and Luca are together for a lot of the book, and they have many sweet and tender moments together.
This is an entertaining series, and The King Will Kill You is an exciting and satisfying conclusion. I did think the politics occasionally overshadowed other parts of the story, but the underhanded maneuvering, the numerous love stories (love this!!), epic world-building, and powerful and relevant messages more than made up for the few tedious scenes. I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy young adult fantasy, and I’m thankful to Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
I'm a little disappointed with this series. This last book has completely lost me. I do, however, believe that this is targeted at a younger audience, and I think someone who is trying to get into fantasy should read it. I found a lot of the plot points predictable, or they were a bit of a stretch.
“I have loved you for more years than I can remember. I will love you for the rest of the ones I have left. To the stars."
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: allusions to rape, blood, death, death of a loved one, injury/injury detail, misogyny, violence.
Actual Rating: 3.5✶
Once again, I have the dilemma of wanting to review the last book in a trilogy in a manner that is neither too spoilery, nor too brief. The fact this is an ARC and the book isn't even out yet makes this even trickier. Which is why these reviews are usually on the brief side.
For those of you who have read the first two books in this series, you know that the last book ended with a great cliffhanger that was both intriguing and a good reference to The Princess Bride. Since then, I've been (impatiently) waiting for this book, so you can imagine my excitement at being approved for an ARC.
I felt the same way about this one as I did the rest of the trilogy. They're quick, enjoyable books with an easy-to-follow plot and a message that's all too understandable in today's world (namely, old men in power suck.) This book was probably the most politics focused which was definitely my favorite aspect, even if I was really annoyed by the decisions being made at times.
While I did enjoy it, I was slightly disappointed - specifically in the way Queen's cliffhanger was handled and the ending.
The end of book 2 set this book up with so much potential, but instead of feeling like said potential was ever reached, it instead felt like a bit of a cop-out. I don't know exactly what I was hoping for, especially with how short this book is, but I think part of me was expecting that whole situation to be handled in a more epic fashion rather than just, "Yep. That happened."
Truly, I was most disappointed by the end. It wasn't a bad ending, but it was so. freaking. rushed. Especially after a pretty slow-paced book that had mostly been political conversations, building up to a very quick and very cliched ending.
That being said, I really do enjoy and recommend this trilogy. It's not perfect, but I've liked each one of them (book 2 is still my favorite.) They're especially good if you're looking for a pretty simple, political YA fantasy and don't mind a romance that rivals Westley and Buttercup if the aforementioned characters were melodramatic teenagers.
Overall, I'm glad I read this and (mostly) satisfied with this conclusion.
Anger is the right emotion to experience this series with. The society and their standards for leadership are unfair in this world and it's understandably frustrating for Amarande, but I admire her so much for enduring it and in everything remembering that this isn't for herself, rather the greater good and the ones she loves.
My only criticism about this book is the extremely short epilogue - I really need more!
This trilogy is excellent and definitely one of my all time favourites.
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚: “Why am I punished for being reasonable? I am punished for my sex. I am punished for whom I love. I am punished for my power, my weaknesses, my mere existence. I am so exhausted by it.”
“I have loved you for more years than I can remember. I will love you for the rest of the ones I have left. To the stars. I will kiss you every day as long as you will allow it.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙: Favorite book in the trilogy! Political maneuvering Expanded side character stories/relationships Strong feminist themes Found family Perfect ending to the trilogy ❤️
𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬: This was such a great ending to the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy! There were perfect Luca + Ama moments, political maneuvering, humorous side characters, sweet romances, and a strong defiance of the patriarchal governing system 👏🏻
The first 25% or so focused on setting the political playing field. It was a little slow at first, but once it got going, it was INTENSE. I love that there were so many power players in the political game, leading to multiple plot strands that kept me guessing. So many of the little connections between characters and kingdoms came back later in the book to be super important (as a reader, this is one of my favorite things!)
Luca and Ama have so many sweet moments together; their love for each other is still the driving force behind much of what they do, but we also get to see them mature and develop as rulers of their lands. I especially love how much we get to see Luca learn to stand on his own and learn to be a leader in his own right. Ama continues to fight the patriarchy and there were several moments where I wanted to fist pump and cheer her on…YOU GO GIRL!!
One of the best surprises of this book was the expansion of romantic relationships between some of the side characters. I won’t spoil anything, but I am SO ON BOARD with some of these ships and love that it didn’t focus only on Ama and Luca’s relationship.
This was such a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and I feel like all the characters got exactly what they deserved… one way or another 😉 Highly recommend this trilogy!
This. Was. So. Boringggggg. I tried to like it, I really did try, but I ended up skim reading most of this because all it was was political drama and arguments, and pointless battles with fighting scenes that dragged on and on for literally no reason😐 I was very bored. And I'm not even joking, this ENTIRE book was basically just people gripping about the patriarchy and how their hands are tied and how they're frustrated by the politics of it all and like okayyyy. We get it. We got it 200 pages ago and please stop beating this same dead horse!
I just don't understand how almost nothing can happen in over 300 pages.
It wasn't completely terrible though, Amarande and Luca were cute at times, when they weren't discussing politics. And I did like getting to know Ferdinand better, although he was so stoic that we really didn't get much. He and Osana were cute though. But the best duo was Ula and Urtzi, I liked every part from their perspective! And I also liked every mention of Taillefer, we miss you man, you're still my favorite character.
But despite these few good points, this book was just unnecessary. The ending of the last one was perfect, just take out the epilogue of it and we'd have been great. The second book was by far my favorite, and this is by far my least. That applies to the covers too, like why does Luca look like an evil, totally different person on this cover?? And did Amarande get lip filler or what.... The second cover was beautiful, I loved both the innards and the outards.
All in all, I'm dissapointed. I could've done without reading this, and I'm kind of sad I requested it from the library and made them spend money on it because I don't think it was worth it. On to the next book I guess.
I was initially drawn to this series for the love story - the childhood friends to lovers and a Princess desperate to escape the patriarchal expectations of her society and marry who she chooses. And though the romance is the driving force of the entire trilogy, the addition of political conflict, treason, and betrayal created a fun fantastical world to venture through. The balance of all of these elements was strongest in the second book, which I found fantastically fun in every regard.
The King Will Kill You lost some of that sparkle for me. Ama and Luca's unwavering love was there, but there was no further development or many romance-centric scenes between the two of them. The political conflicts introduced were all wrapped up a bit too conveniently and anticlimactically for my tastes. Our lovable side characters who I fell in love with in the last book were given some time to shine (even though I miss Talliefer, who was a highlight of the first two books) but in exchange, the villains in this book seemed far less threatening and easy to overcome.
As a whole, the series is a fun adventure, but certain elements I loved before were missing from this last installment. Then again, as this is a fairytale, the "happily ever always" was to be expected, and I can't say it disappointed. If you're here for some swordfights, a few sweet romantic moments, and a patriarchy-fighting princess, this series delivers on that fantastically.
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
It's so hard to review a series ender because there's all the hopes and dreams for the whole series pinned to it. The ways the characters have evolved and developed before our eyes. Seeing them grow, make mistakes, take losses, and more. I was so excited for The King Will Kill You because I love Henning's books and this series! And Henning does not hold back. This series ender is full of politics, warfare, and quests for power. I am so impressed with what Henning has done in terms of scope and masterful plotting.
With multiple POV, The King Will Kill You feels truly expansive and immersive. We're taken all over the kingdoms and seeing all the characters on crash course trajectories. How it's full of scheming and betrayal and motivation. Things can seem so cut and dry, loyalty secured, until the wrong thing is threatened and then it's game over. Watching these different branches of people and subplots diverge and converge is spectacular.
What an epic end to a fabulous series. Again, I couldn’t put it down. Minor qualms: the speeches were too long and it was diplomacy heavy. It still had a lot of fights and actions, but I became weary of the political talks and sometimes bored by them. However, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. I was worried that Amarande and Luca will not have a happy ending given the amount of opposition their relationship and kingdoms faced. It kept me turning the pages though. I had a wonderful time with this series and will miss the characters. 4.5 stars.
I have to admit, it was a little hard starting Sarah Henning's The King Will Kill You. It has been pretty long since I read the second book and I had just come off a DNF prior to this one. So it was a mite difficult diving back into the story.
I had taken my notes so I had plot details, but alas I left out the wide cast of characters. There were some character glossary notes you could say in the beginning of this one, but mainly concerning the different kingdoms. I almost needed something else that would list out each key player and who they were, much like another series did with its fantasy world.
Amarande and Luca are now working to put their kingdoms back together after all the chaos of the most recent battles. Lives were lost, titles were gained. Amarande is now ruler of her father's kingdom, yet all the leaders of other kingdoms want her to marry asap so basically her soon-to-be husband would be in charge and though Amarande and Luca are meant for each other, everyone is against the idea of the two marrying.
If that wasn't enough, Geneva, Amarande's mother is set on killing Luca and if things couldn't get even worse than that, Renard is alive and well despite Amarande's nearly successful attempt at killing him and he is out for revenge against the princess he almost married.
This book was a whirlwind of action and an almost overflow of characters. I say this mainly because I probably should've binged this trilogy instead of reading it staggered like I did. There were a lot of different points of view, but they were all connected. We had Amarande and her "crew's" points of view, then we had Renard at times, and I believe Geneva as well, and Ferdinand, Amarande's half brother...it was a lot. Had I read this series straight through it would not have been so difficult for me, but I am starting to find that if I leave big gaps in between series I forget a LOT of details. Should that series be a fantasy like this one was, then I am in big trouble for cognition details!
I still enjoyed the story though. At times the plot moved a little slow in certain areas, but it always seemed to be headed towards a larger battle of sorts. We pretty much knew things would come to blow between Amarande and Renard, I mean they tried to kill each other once and almost succeeded, so yeah, another battle is imminent.
The story wasn't without its surprises! A few developments along the way left me gasping. But of course, after how this book started, I did wonder if these particular "moments" would stick or not! If fantasy reads have taught me anything no one is really dead until those final words, THE END, come across the page.
This ending was particularly enjoyable. It ends in the way one would expect and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I mean if you don't get that HEA within a fantasy/romance kind of read, something isn't right. But there's no worry with that one here. The ending was quite nice and I can't wait to see what Henning will cook up with her next fantasy read!
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚: “Why am I punished for being reasonable? I am punished for my sex. I am punished for whom I love. I am punished for my power, my weaknesses, my mere existence. I am so exhausted by it.”
“I have loved you for more years than I can remember. I will love you for the rest of the ones I have left. To the stars. I will kiss you every day as long as you will allow it.”
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙: Favorite book in the trilogy! Political maneuvering Expanded side character stories/relationships Strong feminist themes Found family Perfect ending to the trilogy ❤️
𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬: This was such a great ending to the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy! There were perfect Luca + Ama moments, political maneuvering, humorous side characters, sweet romances, and a strong defiance of the patriarchal governing system 👏🏻
The first 25% or so focused on setting the political playing field. It was a little slow at first, but once it got going, it was INTENSE. I love that there were so many power players in the political game, leading to multiple plot strands that kept me guessing. So many of the little connections between characters and kingdoms came back later in the book to be super important (as a reader, this is one of my favorite things!)
Luca and Ama have so many sweet moments together; their love for each other is still the driving force behind much of what they do, but we also get to see them mature and develop as rulers of their lands. I especially love how much we get to see Luca learn to stand on his own and learn to be a leader in his own right. Ama continues to fight the patriarchy and there were several moments where I wanted to fist pump and cheer her on…YOU GO GIRL!!
One of the best surprises of this book was the expansion of romantic relationships between some of the side characters. I won’t spoil anything, but I am SO ON BOARD with some of these ships and love that it didn’t focus only on Ama and Luca’s relationship.
This was such a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy and I feel like all the characters got exactly what they deserved… one way or another 😉 Highly recommend this trilogy!
First off, I would like to say that, while I did enjoy the battles and the romance in this book, I really didn't like Amarande. She was very annoying with her agenda and for the need to rule a kingdom without being married because she believed that everyone was so against women, that she needed to prove that women can do what men can. I could deal with her in the first two books because she hadn't really said very much. But once this one started she just wouldn't shut up about how men were so against women. Like, there were literally female guards, what are you talking about? Girl calm down. I don't understand why she went through all that trouble just to decide that she didn't want to rule and that her kingdom didn't need a ruler and ended up just living a normal life. I would have given this book five stars if it weren't for Amarande's agenda. I did really like Luca, Urtzi, Ula, Osana and Ferdinand. I felt like they carried this whole book and I was only finishing it for them.😊
I had a bit of a hard time getting through this one. I didn't find it as engaging as the other two in the series. I absolutely love the characters. They are my favorite part of this trilogy. However, I was not a fan of how political heavy this one was. I know that this entire trilogy has a political plot, but in this novel that's all there was. There weren't as many action scenes and the balance between action and political was way off to me. I expected a big finish to this trilogy, but I was let down. The ending happened so quick and seemed a bit too easy. Overall, I really liked the trilogy, but it definitely is not a new favorite.
I was drawn into this series based on the princess bride basis, I’m so glad I did, I love the film so much, but I loved the twists and turns, the feminism , just everything. I loved nearly all of the characters, they’re so three dimensional and i over the multi POV it added such more depth. I thoroughly recommend this whole series , its such brilliant fantasy, full of humour, action and chemistry, pick it up , what are you waiting for
I liked the feminist commentary and the ending, but overall the book fell flat for me. The story felt very disjointed. I expected more from the conclusion to a series I enjoyed.
"The King Will Kill You" by Sarah Henning is the third and final installment in the Kingdom of Sand and Sky series, and it delivers a satisfying conclusion to the story of Amarande and Luca. The book is full of action, suspense, and heart, making it a fitting finale to the series.
Henning's writing style is immersive and engaging, drawing the reader into the richly detailed world she has created. The characters are well-developed, with Amarande and Luca continuing to be strong and likable protagonists who face numerous challenges and obstacles on their journey.
Another standout aspect of this book is the world-building. Henning has created a vivid and intricate world that is full of magic, political intrigue, and complex power dynamics. The different kingdoms and factions all have their own unique cultures and histories, which adds depth and complexity to the story.
However, one criticism of the book is that some plot points and character motivations are not fully fleshed out. The story moves quickly, and some elements feel rushed or underdeveloped, leaving the reader wanting more depth and nuance.
Additionally, while the action scenes are well-written, they can sometimes feel repetitive or formulaic. The battles and confrontations follow a similar pattern, which can make them feel less impactful and exciting.
Overall, "The King Will Kill You" is a solid conclusion to the Kingdom of Sand and Sky series that will satisfy fans of the previous books. While there are some criticisms to be made, Henning's writing style and the strong characterizations of Amarande and Luca make this book a worthwhile read.
thanks Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I am so relieved to be done with series I wish I had dnfed back in book one but after that I was in it for the long haul. I just kept hoping the books would get better, and they did a tiny bit but I still found the main characters pretty boring. I liked the one villain in book two but he was killed off at the end of it and the other more boring brother was just brought back to life for literally no reason. I think people who liked books 1 & 2 will like this third, it was nice to see our lovebirds finally actually together for majority of a book. This series as a whole just wasn't for me. A lot of world building and politics but didn't have a connection with the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This series just went down hill for me with each book. The first one started off strong, then I didn’t like the second book as much and finally this one really let me down. The characters didn’t feel like they had personalities at all. They were all so bland and I feel like too many perspectives got added that I just ended up not caring about anyone as much. These perspectives became repetitive as characters covered information that the reader already knew about from a different perspective. The fight scenes didn’t feel high-stakes, the romance was boring and politics weren’t intriguing. I really wanted to like this series more overall but it was a bit of a miss for me.
I feel like this trilogy could have been a duology. There was so much repetitive parts. This was solid 3.5 stars seeies for me.
Overall, Sarah Henning wrote a strong series with a feminist message at its core. While that message can get repetitive, her female characters each embody it differently with every new challenge they face. I liked the book’s ending. I felt it was appropriate for the story, and while I would have liked to see more expanded upon, I am pretty happy with how the book ended.
The King Will Kill You is the conclusion to the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy by Sarah Henning.
Please note: Review may contain spoilers for the first two books in the series, but will not contain spoilers for the King Will Kill You.
Rating: 3.5 stars
In this final book, Queen Amarande and Luca attempt to usher peace over their broken continent. Facing opposition from the other patriarchal kingdoms this feat is far from easy. And what's more, the evil King Renard is back from the supposed dead wanting nothing more than revenge.
This series has not been one of my favorites as a whole, but I won't spend time talking about that. I never really felt the connection between Amarande and Luca. Sure, childhood friends to lovers is cute and all, but I never felt the passion. Nothing has changed in this final installment of the series. I still don't feel the love.
The first 15% or so of the book is just political talk. Yes, this is imperative to the series as they have to find a way to actually rule the Sand and Sky...but it was dull, boring. I wanted to DNF the book right there. But I pushed through, because I knew I just had to get past that.
Although the book has its negatives, it also has things that I enjoyed. Ferdinand was a light in the darkness. I loved reading his scenes within the novel. The same with Renard, easily the most interesting part of the novel. I did find his apparent resurrection a little unbelievable? The answer given makes sense, but I wish the author had given more insight into this in previous novels to make it not seem like an afterthought in the final one.
I enjoyed the moments of battle, of conflict, of fighting. I think these were some of the best and got me reading through the fastest and most interested.
Overall I believe that the King Will Kill You wraps up the series nicely. I don't really think this series as a whole was for me, as I didn't even like the main couple, the driving point in this series. But that's just my opinion. I would recommend this series to people who enjoy strong female characters, political intrigue, and beautiful covers.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley and Tor Teen. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Not gonna lie, I pretty much only read this because I was 2 books in and felt the need to see it through. This was by far my least favorite of the whole series. It was just so....dull? Things were happening but I still feel like nothing happened. This series should have been a duology. It's also geared toward a much younger audience than me, so maybe that's why, but it just seemed very melodramatic with zero actual stakes. Characters would be freaking out about something and I'd just be rolling my eyes like 'it's fine, you'll be fine.'
I also haaated a certain thing in this book that I feel was just a plot device to push this into a trilogy, when it should have been a duology all along.
I would probably only recommend reading this series just for Ula. The main characters are pretty meh. Ula should have been the MC. Also, if you do read it? Stop at the last part of the epilogue in book 2 and pretend book 3 never existed.
This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
What did I think of this final book in the series? I was underwhelmed. The first book was so good, and I had high hopes for the rest of the series. My one major problem with this book was it was pretty much the same plotline from the first two books recycled. I felt that it didn’t add anything new, or any more depth to the story.
Much like that, I felt the characters themselves were rather static. I quite liked Ferdinand and I used to love Luca and Ama. They weren’t bad characters by any stretch of the imagination, I just didn’t feel that they were the best. Ama was still a fierce warrior and still determined, but it was like all the other books. Nothing *new* was added that made me want to root for her.
Sure, this book had politics, but I felt that the politics were the most interesting of the parts of the book, and even then it was slightly boring. I had really wanted this book to end on a high note, but it just didn’t hit right to me. There was something I felt missing from the book.
All in all, I feel like this trilogy could have been a duology. There was so much repetitive parts.
What I did continue to like in this book was the world building. I think Henning is a talented world builder, and that continued in this book from the previous two. She is also an excellent writer.
For me, I wanted *more.* One of the good aspects of this book is we do finally get to see Ama and Luca interacting more. The previous two books it was like they weren’t together for the majority of the book. In this one, we finally get to see how they love each other and respect each other. I enjoyed those parts as well, since it was a long time coming and very drawn out!
In the end, I liked the book’s ending. I felt it was appropriate for the story, and while I would have liked to see more expanded upon, I am pretty happy with how the book ended. I just wish the villains had been more in this book — or not included.
I considered THE KING WILL KILL YOU a solid conclusion to Amarande's and Luca's story. Sarah Henning has outdone herself with the world-building and politics of the Sand and Sky. Much of the first 2 books focused on Torrence and Ardenia and the hurtles Amarande and Luca both faced in maintaining their hold on their crowns and in protecting their love. THE KING WILL KILL YOU felt much broader in that regard as we see more of the other kingdoms and rulers. We also get to see side characters shine as well, my favorite of these being Ferdinand, Osana and Geneva whose character arcs felt really fresh and compelling. Luca should win a prize for being an awesome and supportive book boyfriend who is a picture perfect example of how men can support the women in their lives. And all around, it was nice to see Amarande and Luca as one and how they held on to their love for each other above all else. And I just really resonated with the theme that has held true through the entire trilogy of how patriarchal systems impact things like power and politics, but also women themselves. There are some fun plot twists, lots of sword-fighting and moments that tug on the heart all throughout the novel and I felt pretty satisfied with where everything left off.
I’ve been a huge fan of book 1 & 2 and was super excited to see how the trilogy ends and I have to say I’m very disappointed.
I had previously thought very highly of Amarande and was impressed by her character especially considering her age but in this last book, she threw all of that out the window. Made so many mistakes my being brash, stubborn, and naive. Sendoa raised her to be better…
The start of the book is a doozie! Really didn’t see it coming and it definitely added to the conflict of the story.
I’m glad that in the end, Amarande was finally able embrace all that Sendoa taught her and think clearly as a leader and not a teenage girl with an entitlement complex.
The drastic, but not really, change that Luca goes through from book 1 to book 3 is impressive. His upbringing by Sendoa really prepared him for his new role.
The final resolution of the ongoing conflict of old guard vs. new guard was EPIC! Like I said, I’m glad Amarande, with Luca’s help, was able to figure out a way around the patriarchal BS from the other kingdoms. Maybe we’ll get a spin off of what that looks like, I’d definitely want to know more!
The final book in the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky series was a bit of a let-down. I did love how Henning threw in little easter eggs and nods to The Princess Bride throughout the book but overall I was a bit disappointed with the story. All the things I loved in the first two books: the action, the adventure of traveling, the interactions between the characters, all the witty banter and bickering, all the twists and turns, it all took a back seat to the political machinations between the kingdoms in this book. I felt really distanced from my favorite characters. It felt like they were taking a back seat in their own series. There was really no character growth and very little plot development. In fact, the whole book felt more like what the last quarter of a novel should be. Like Henning took that last really intense part of a novel, where everything comes together in an intense finale, and made an entire novel out of it. It didn't work.
I do plan on reading more from Sarah Henning in the future. I like her writing style and I hope to see more growth from her as a writer .
Warring this review contains major spoilers. .. ... WHAT WAS THAT BESTIE?! No for real what was that? I don't know if I'm happy about that ending. Yes, Renard is FINALLY dead (ABOUT FREAKING TIME), and our babies won but it felt rushed to me. There was more politics in this book and more fighting for women's rights to rule sorta thing which was nice to see but what was the point if Ama didn't even end up ruling Ardiena? Like her and Luca just fought for their rights to rule their respective kingdoms just for them to be like "Ya know what let's let the people rule. They don't need us and it is not like the people of Torrance have been waiting 17 years for me to show up and take my place as their king." IM SORRY?! I refuse to expect it to end this way. Also, what the heck happened to the other kingdoms?! Are they still being ruled by two stinky old men or did they just give up? Like that whole "I no longer wanna rule. Let's let the people rule." move seemed WAY too easy. .. 3.5/5 stars (That's only because I was feeling nice). I refuse to accept that there is a 3rd book. It is now a dulologie to me. Thank you for reading my TED talk. .. Go check out the full review and more at my Instagram: Lillian.book.reviews
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.