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City of Spires #3
City of Deceit
The Myrian Enclave is in disarray after a Dathirii strike team interrupts Avenazar’s dangerous ritual, but Diel Dathirii is in no position to take advantage of it while his home is lost to Allastam’s soldiers.
Despite the Myrian trade war’s brutal turn, its key battles still happen in the shadows. Resistance inside the Dathirii Tower organizes itself around the family’s new steward, Yultes, even though he is as uncertain of his allegiances as everyone else. Outside, Branwen reaches to every spymaster resource she has to strengthen their position and undermine the Myrian-Allastam alliance.
When Master Avenazar recovers from his grievous injury and sets his mind to revenge, the unsteady alliances forged within and without the Dathirii Tower will decide the city’s future.
CITY OF DECEIT is the third installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast for fans elves, magic, and strong platonic bonds that defy all odds.
Despite the Myrian trade war’s brutal turn, its key battles still happen in the shadows. Resistance inside the Dathirii Tower organizes itself around the family’s new steward, Yultes, even though he is as uncertain of his allegiances as everyone else. Outside, Branwen reaches to every spymaster resource she has to strengthen their position and undermine the Myrian-Allastam alliance.
When Master Avenazar recovers from his grievous injury and sets his mind to revenge, the unsteady alliances forged within and without the Dathirii Tower will decide the city’s future.
CITY OF DECEIT is the third installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast for fans elves, magic, and strong platonic bonds that defy all odds.
448 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2022
12 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Claudie Arseneault
26 books461 followersClaudie Arseneault is an asexual and aromantic-spectrum writer hailing from the very-French Québec City. Her long studies in biochemistry and immunology often sneak back into her science-fiction, and her love for sprawling casts invariably turns her novels into multi-storylined wonders. The most recent, City of Strife, came out on February 22, 2017! Claudie is a founding member of The Kraken Collective and is well-known for her involvement in solarpunk, her database of aro and ace characters in speculative fiction, and her unending love of squids. Find out more on her website!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 26, 2022
If you were following my updates, you know this got off to a rough start for me. Given the way the previous book ended, I expected this book to hit the ground running, but instead it meandered around until about 50%, when the plot finally kicked in after a few meager false starts earlier on. It really did feel like this story got away from the author, with everyone being split up all over the place and various different threads going on at once. So the first 50% was everyone trying to figure out what happened to everyone else and playing catch up. I think much of this should have been cut or reduced in some way. And yet there was at least one spot where it could have been expanded: That said, I did like those two together in the last half, which somewhat made up for that.
Another annoyance with the first half was the strange choice to ignore the main villain and everything going on in the Myrian enclave. Having Avenezar sidelined for so long does make sense for the plot, but there was still so much that could have been done with Isra and Jilsan that's not even attempted. And Jilsan's plotting to start It all stretches believability.
Hasryan's another issue. I was going along with him in the first two books, curious where this would go. I guess even assassins have their good qualities. But the "happy, lovable assassin" was a bit much to begin with and now everyone loves him despite his occupation. Even Don't get me wrong. I feel bad for the guy. He had a crappy life. But he's an assassin. Make up all the excuses you want about how he's just a hired hand and how justice needs to be dealt to those who hired him - which is absolutely correct - but he still killed people, and I doubt all of them "deserved" it. But we're supposed to be okay with his actions because the political system is corrupt and the real culprits will never be brought to justice. Uh-huh. Sure.
But thankfully, things started pulling together at 50% and the spark that made the first two books so enjoyable to read was back. I really like how Diel isn't let off the hook for his decisions. He's altruistic to a fault - and it's a big fault when he can't or won't back it up and it hurts those he thought he was helping. I liked that he was called out on that. It's striking a good balance between the upper- and lower-class divide, where their priorities lie and how that shifts how they see the world around them.
We didn't get to see much of Isra, but she really has come a long way since the first book. Same with Nevian. I was so proud of him in this one. He really pushed himself to his limits, and I really like how getting away from the enclave and getting to see another life has shown both him and Varden how much they've been missing. Oh, and I also liked how the conflict between Cal and Larryn is being addressed too. Larryn needs to work to get that trust back.
So I'm glad I kept pushing myself to finish this and I'm looking forward to seeing how this will all get resolved in the final book.
Though I do hope that the final book will be better edited. I was surprised by the number of editing errors in this, which was very unlike the first two books. I have over 40 notes on my Kindle of typos to fix on my copy, and I know there were a few I failed to mark and probably more I didn't catch. Two of those are question marks because I either couldn't figure out which word was supposed to be there (dislocating bodies - how does one accomplish this feat?), or if a partial sentence was accidentally moved or copied from somewhere else in a copy/paste mishap or if the first part of the sentence was cut out by accident. There was also a scene that I feel came too late for the timeline - the passage of time in general was difficult to follow. This really needed another pass through an editor or two. Or three. I'm glad I got this on sale and had a $1 credit to use, because this wasn't worth full price.
Oh, and there's a short story at the end that takes place before the start of the series, which I almost missed. I only noticed it because I was wondering why my Kindle was telling me I had two hours left to go, but only two chapters left to read, so I took another look at the TOC and noticed the short story after the character list. It was very nice, featuring Vellien, and took place before the events in the series.
Another annoyance with the first half was the strange choice to ignore the main villain and everything going on in the Myrian enclave. Having Avenezar sidelined for so long does make sense for the plot, but there was still so much that could have been done with Isra and Jilsan that's not even attempted. And Jilsan's plotting to start It all stretches believability.
Hasryan's another issue. I was going along with him in the first two books, curious where this would go. I guess even assassins have their good qualities. But the "happy, lovable assassin" was a bit much to begin with and now everyone loves him despite his occupation. Even Don't get me wrong. I feel bad for the guy. He had a crappy life. But he's an assassin. Make up all the excuses you want about how he's just a hired hand and how justice needs to be dealt to those who hired him - which is absolutely correct - but he still killed people, and I doubt all of them "deserved" it. But we're supposed to be okay with his actions because the political system is corrupt and the real culprits will never be brought to justice. Uh-huh. Sure.
But thankfully, things started pulling together at 50% and the spark that made the first two books so enjoyable to read was back. I really like how Diel isn't let off the hook for his decisions. He's altruistic to a fault - and it's a big fault when he can't or won't back it up and it hurts those he thought he was helping. I liked that he was called out on that. It's striking a good balance between the upper- and lower-class divide, where their priorities lie and how that shifts how they see the world around them.
We didn't get to see much of Isra, but she really has come a long way since the first book. Same with Nevian. I was so proud of him in this one. He really pushed himself to his limits, and I really like how getting away from the enclave and getting to see another life has shown both him and Varden how much they've been missing. Oh, and I also liked how the conflict between Cal and Larryn is being addressed too. Larryn needs to work to get that trust back.
So I'm glad I kept pushing myself to finish this and I'm looking forward to seeing how this will all get resolved in the final book.
Though I do hope that the final book will be better edited. I was surprised by the number of editing errors in this, which was very unlike the first two books. I have over 40 notes on my Kindle of typos to fix on my copy, and I know there were a few I failed to mark and probably more I didn't catch. Two of those are question marks because I either couldn't figure out which word was supposed to be there (dislocating bodies - how does one accomplish this feat?), or if a partial sentence was accidentally moved or copied from somewhere else in a copy/paste mishap or if the first part of the sentence was cut out by accident. There was also a scene that I feel came too late for the timeline - the passage of time in general was difficult to follow. This really needed another pass through an editor or two. Or three. I'm glad I got this on sale and had a $1 credit to use, because this wasn't worth full price.
Oh, and there's a short story at the end that takes place before the start of the series, which I almost missed. I only noticed it because I was wondering why my Kindle was telling me I had two hours left to go, but only two chapters left to read, so I took another look at the TOC and noticed the short story after the character list. It was very nice, featuring Vellien, and took place before the events in the series.
May 18, 2022
I love this series. This ending was rude, how long until the next one releases!?! *cries*
I'm three books in and like what else can I say about this series? I swear I've already yelled about how much I love these characters and their arcs. But maybe once more?
City of Deceit is the third installment in the City of Spires series and follows our ragtag crew in Isandor. Diel has made an enemy of the Myrian enclave and lost the Dathirii's status as nobles, but more importantly, the Dathirii tower has been invaded by Lord Allastam's soldiers. Within the tower, Yultes struggles with rebellion, as his own loyalties waver. At the Myrian enclave, Avenazar has been dealt a grievous injury, but his recovery is inevitable.
City of Betrayal saw almost everyone from the main group separated. And while that remains the case for many of the characters throughout this one, we also get some emotional reunions. I basically sat there reading this book with heart crying eyes. Because I love these characters so much and it hurts me when they are hurt. If it's not clear, I am 100% obsessed with these characters.
This book balances the soft emotional moments well with action and more serious conversations. I have never once been bored by this series. I am always curious as to what will happen next and this series never fails to deliver at least one surprise per book.
I can't wait to get more of this series and the characters. The wait for book 4 is going to be fraught and long. *cries forever*
Rep: Brown achillean cis male MC who can't feel pain, cold, heat or taste, Black demiromantic cis male MC (Dark elf), white demiromantic asexual cis male MC, Brown gay cis male MC, white sapphic female MC, fat aroace halfing cis male MC, white biromantic grey-asexual cis male MC, bisexual cis female side character, Brown lesbian cis female side character, trans female side character, white pansexual nonbinary side character with anxiety, polyamorous MLM side pairing, white grey-aromantic grey-asexual cis male side character, Brown aroace cis female side character, Black cis female side character, nonbinary intersex side character, female side character who uses a mobility aid.
CWs: Fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, medical content, xenophobia, violence, blood, racism, confinement. Moderate: Attempted murder, death, mental illness (anxiety), generalized queerphobia/queermisia, chronic illness, physical abuse, torture/threatened torture, kidnapping, vomit, alcohol consumption.
I'm three books in and like what else can I say about this series? I swear I've already yelled about how much I love these characters and their arcs. But maybe once more?
City of Deceit is the third installment in the City of Spires series and follows our ragtag crew in Isandor. Diel has made an enemy of the Myrian enclave and lost the Dathirii's status as nobles, but more importantly, the Dathirii tower has been invaded by Lord Allastam's soldiers. Within the tower, Yultes struggles with rebellion, as his own loyalties waver. At the Myrian enclave, Avenazar has been dealt a grievous injury, but his recovery is inevitable.
City of Betrayal saw almost everyone from the main group separated. And while that remains the case for many of the characters throughout this one, we also get some emotional reunions. I basically sat there reading this book with heart crying eyes. Because I love these characters so much and it hurts me when they are hurt. If it's not clear, I am 100% obsessed with these characters.
This book balances the soft emotional moments well with action and more serious conversations. I have never once been bored by this series. I am always curious as to what will happen next and this series never fails to deliver at least one surprise per book.
I can't wait to get more of this series and the characters. The wait for book 4 is going to be fraught and long. *cries forever*
Rep: Brown achillean cis male MC who can't feel pain, cold, heat or taste, Black demiromantic cis male MC (Dark elf), white demiromantic asexual cis male MC, Brown gay cis male MC, white sapphic female MC, fat aroace halfing cis male MC, white biromantic grey-asexual cis male MC, bisexual cis female side character, Brown lesbian cis female side character, trans female side character, white pansexual nonbinary side character with anxiety, polyamorous MLM side pairing, white grey-aromantic grey-asexual cis male side character, Brown aroace cis female side character, Black cis female side character, nonbinary intersex side character, female side character who uses a mobility aid.
CWs: Fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, medical content, xenophobia, violence, blood, racism, confinement. Moderate: Attempted murder, death, mental illness (anxiety), generalized queerphobia/queermisia, chronic illness, physical abuse, torture/threatened torture, kidnapping, vomit, alcohol consumption.
February 19, 2022
Thanks to the Publisher Kracken Collective for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
I was a little worried going into this book - the first book in this series was pretty close to a 5 star for me, the second was a 3 star but by the end I started feeling like things were on the right track for this to be something I would love - and I'm so glad that turned out to be the case!! This marks a return to a lot of the things I loved in the first book that I felt were missing in the second one, close friendships, people supporting eachother all set to the backdrop of this wonderfully crafted world.
Although a little bit of a slow Start this book continues the story of this epic high stakes political fantasy novel with an all queer cast. I found this book particularly endearing because we also spend a lot of times with the characters in the moments between the action scenes where they talk about their sexuality and identify and dare to be open and vulnerable about these things. The way the characters go about these things and the worry and dread they feel discussing relationships with eachother in these brief moments, while not the focus of the book, made it feel so real to me and made me love the characters even more than I did before.
I'm so hyped for the next book in this series, I thought this was a trilogy when I first picked up the series so going in I thought this would be the last book - but with that cliffhanger I highly doubt it- I'm so excited to get more of this world and see more of these characters and see how these friendships evolve even more from now on
___
EEEP - so excited I just got this in my Inbox - hope I can get to book 2 (and this one) soon!
I was a little worried going into this book - the first book in this series was pretty close to a 5 star for me, the second was a 3 star but by the end I started feeling like things were on the right track for this to be something I would love - and I'm so glad that turned out to be the case!! This marks a return to a lot of the things I loved in the first book that I felt were missing in the second one, close friendships, people supporting eachother all set to the backdrop of this wonderfully crafted world.
Although a little bit of a slow Start this book continues the story of this epic high stakes political fantasy novel with an all queer cast. I found this book particularly endearing because we also spend a lot of times with the characters in the moments between the action scenes where they talk about their sexuality and identify and dare to be open and vulnerable about these things. The way the characters go about these things and the worry and dread they feel discussing relationships with eachother in these brief moments, while not the focus of the book, made it feel so real to me and made me love the characters even more than I did before.
I'm so hyped for the next book in this series, I thought this was a trilogy when I first picked up the series so going in I thought this would be the last book - but with that cliffhanger I highly doubt it- I'm so excited to get more of this world and see more of these characters and see how these friendships evolve even more from now on
___
EEEP - so excited I just got this in my Inbox - hope I can get to book 2 (and this one) soon!
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March 5, 2022
December 31, 2021
I received an eARC of this book.
I love this series, and this eagerly awaited next instalment. I love how the characters are so diverse and representative.
This book was more zoomed out than previous books, looking at the greater storyline than the individual character development.
Can't wait for the next book!
I love this series, and this eagerly awaited next instalment. I love how the characters are so diverse and representative.
This book was more zoomed out than previous books, looking at the greater storyline than the individual character development.
Can't wait for the next book!
March 2, 2022
One of the best series I have read - so excited for the third book!
June 4, 2024
How dare you end the book like that?? So glad i already have the last one ready to be read bc i would probably die otherwise.
March 20, 2023
I decided to wait to write this review until after I’d finished the next book, City of Exile, to have a full perspective on the story. In short, City of Deceit is the weakest part of a series that I overall enjoy very much.
Something felt off about the pacing in this book the whole way through. Eventually, I realized that it was because a lot of the scenes seem to be out of order. My guess is that the scene order is Arseneault’s way of showing that these scenes are happening more or less simultaneously, resulting in the surprisingly brief timeline of the books (has it really only been a month, less than two months, since the beginning of City of Strife? It’s difficult to wrap my mind around that, since so much happens!). The unfortunate result for me was confusion, especially a lack of clarity on cause and effect. Another contributor to my confusion is the frequency of typographical errors in this book. I found myself often needing to reread lines to figure out which word was the wrong word throwing off the meaning of the sentence.
Still, everything I love about this series, all the praises I sung in my review of City of Strife, are still true! Stand-out plotlines include The major theme of this book is how many different people’s agendas can align against a major threat, which is a fascinating and satisfying step to take in a series with so many characters with different motivations. The threads from the previous books continue, too, exploring even further how it’s caring about other people that makes us better. Every success in this book, and every heroic act, is made possible because someone cared about someone else.
I also want to highlight again just how much aromantic representation there is in this book. There are as many, if not more, aro-spectrum characters as alloromantic characters. There’s also a lot of disability rep – and equally importantly, a lot of accessibility rep (like the wheelchair-accessible staircase in Branwen Tower!) – and while I don’t have the personal experience necessary to judge its merits, it was very good to see and got me thinking about ways I could include disabled characters more often in my own stories.
The overall idealism of the series survives here, though this book in particular has a strong dose of depressing realism. City of Deceit is about good people dealing with shitty situations and unfair systems – difficult obstacles with a solid grounding, connectible to real-world problems and emotions. I have to complain for a moment about Brune, though, who doesn’t fit well with that solid grounding. Her presence in the next book, and the way other characters react to her and her behavior, mollifies me somewhat, but if I take this book on its own merits, I found Brune frustrating more than anything else.
This is neither a pro nor a con, but something that made me laugh – at one point, the narration comments on how Hasryan has a habit of running a hand through his hair. The thing is, nearly every character does this at some point. It’s the most common piece of body language used in the series. I wonder if it’s a real-world habit of the writer!
Something felt off about the pacing in this book the whole way through. Eventually, I realized that it was because a lot of the scenes seem to be out of order. My guess is that the scene order is Arseneault’s way of showing that these scenes are happening more or less simultaneously, resulting in the surprisingly brief timeline of the books (has it really only been a month, less than two months, since the beginning of City of Strife? It’s difficult to wrap my mind around that, since so much happens!). The unfortunate result for me was confusion, especially a lack of clarity on cause and effect. Another contributor to my confusion is the frequency of typographical errors in this book. I found myself often needing to reread lines to figure out which word was the wrong word throwing off the meaning of the sentence.
Still, everything I love about this series, all the praises I sung in my review of City of Strife, are still true! Stand-out plotlines include The major theme of this book is how many different people’s agendas can align against a major threat, which is a fascinating and satisfying step to take in a series with so many characters with different motivations. The threads from the previous books continue, too, exploring even further how it’s caring about other people that makes us better. Every success in this book, and every heroic act, is made possible because someone cared about someone else.
I also want to highlight again just how much aromantic representation there is in this book. There are as many, if not more, aro-spectrum characters as alloromantic characters. There’s also a lot of disability rep – and equally importantly, a lot of accessibility rep (like the wheelchair-accessible staircase in Branwen Tower!) – and while I don’t have the personal experience necessary to judge its merits, it was very good to see and got me thinking about ways I could include disabled characters more often in my own stories.
The overall idealism of the series survives here, though this book in particular has a strong dose of depressing realism. City of Deceit is about good people dealing with shitty situations and unfair systems – difficult obstacles with a solid grounding, connectible to real-world problems and emotions. I have to complain for a moment about Brune, though, who doesn’t fit well with that solid grounding. Her presence in the next book, and the way other characters react to her and her behavior, mollifies me somewhat, but if I take this book on its own merits, I found Brune frustrating more than anything else.
This is neither a pro nor a con, but something that made me laugh – at one point, the narration comments on how Hasryan has a habit of running a hand through his hair. The thing is, nearly every character does this at some point. It’s the most common piece of body language used in the series. I wonder if it’s a real-world habit of the writer!
December 27, 2021
In addition to the book itself, we get an extended overview of all the various plot lines and characters from the previous books as well as a short story from before the series begins, where we see Garith and Branwen being a bit younger a more mischievous, Vellian struggling to get over his anxiety and Diel attempting to better balance his responsibilities as head of the Dathirii House and also getting time in with his family members.
The novel itself starts with the very first scene we've gotten from Hasryan's partner in crime, Brune. What we've heard about her up till now is pretty damning. In the sacking and taking over of House Dathirii that happened at the end of City of Betrayal, only Kellian is now unaccounted for. Until this scene, which actually is the only scene Kellian or Brune show up in.
Even Avenazar only has a very small part in this novel. We understand that he's being slowly poisoned by Jilssan, who is ironically Avenazar's second in command at the Myrian Enclave and, until recently, has been known to follow him pretty mindlessly.
Where the previous two books in this series focus pretty solely on the events and politics in the world over the relationships between characters, this one goes the other way. Not a whole lot more happens in the aftermath of Diel and the other Dathirii elves losing their home, or Nevian and Varden escaping Avenazar's evil clutches.
Instead, we have conversations between Arathiel and Hasryan about whether the close friendship they've formed is exclusive, as now Arathiel has started forming an attachment with Varden. Varden is trying to figure out what his own attraction to Arathiel means as he's not been particularly romantically inclined till now. And the soft and respectful healing-sessions-plus-feelings-forming between Nevian and Vallien manages to bring both of them out of their shells.
Yultes' quiet sabotaging of Hellion Dathirii within the Dathirii House, at the same time as his bourgeoning friendships with both Garith and Jaeger are worth their weight in gold. Probably this character is the one with the most personal growth within these pages, as he realises the person he's been may not be the person he wants to be for the rest of his long, elven life.
Oh oh oh I loved this book, but it ended far too suddenly for me, and on another cliffhanger, nooooo.
The novel itself starts with the very first scene we've gotten from Hasryan's partner in crime, Brune. What we've heard about her up till now is pretty damning. In the sacking and taking over of House Dathirii that happened at the end of City of Betrayal, only Kellian is now unaccounted for. Until this scene, which actually is the only scene Kellian or Brune show up in.
Even Avenazar only has a very small part in this novel. We understand that he's being slowly poisoned by Jilssan, who is ironically Avenazar's second in command at the Myrian Enclave and, until recently, has been known to follow him pretty mindlessly.
Where the previous two books in this series focus pretty solely on the events and politics in the world over the relationships between characters, this one goes the other way. Not a whole lot more happens in the aftermath of Diel and the other Dathirii elves losing their home, or Nevian and Varden escaping Avenazar's evil clutches.
Instead, we have conversations between Arathiel and Hasryan about whether the close friendship they've formed is exclusive, as now Arathiel has started forming an attachment with Varden. Varden is trying to figure out what his own attraction to Arathiel means as he's not been particularly romantically inclined till now. And the soft and respectful healing-sessions-plus-feelings-forming between Nevian and Vallien manages to bring both of them out of their shells.
Yultes' quiet sabotaging of Hellion Dathirii within the Dathirii House, at the same time as his bourgeoning friendships with both Garith and Jaeger are worth their weight in gold. Probably this character is the one with the most personal growth within these pages, as he realises the person he's been may not be the person he wants to be for the rest of his long, elven life.
Oh oh oh I loved this book, but it ended far too suddenly for me, and on another cliffhanger, nooooo.
January 29, 2022
I recieved an e-ARC of this book!
I've loved this series for a while now, and I was extremely excited to read this latest installment— It was absolutely worth the wait. City of Deceit is a phenomenal story, written with so much maturity and love of all kinds at the heart of it. Maturity: The story unfolds as it must, not as we will it to, and it hurts, but its gorgeous. Love: The characters in the City of Spires series just feel so real. We've known them now over the course of three books and will know them for one more. The cast of characters has so many sharp edges and soft textures, each character having the propensity to hurt and to help. There is an established idea that kindness is a series of choices that shape our connections to the people around us, the relationships with others upon which rely to live, and live well.
City of Deceit ends on a much grimmer note than the first two instalments in the series, but there is much to appreciate about the neccessity of some choices and sacrifices, that what our characters want sometimes might not entirely be what is right, for them or for everyone else. It certainly gave me so much excitement and reflection and I sped through it once I got it. I can't wait for the next one!
I've loved this series for a while now, and I was extremely excited to read this latest installment— It was absolutely worth the wait. City of Deceit is a phenomenal story, written with so much maturity and love of all kinds at the heart of it. Maturity: The story unfolds as it must, not as we will it to, and it hurts, but its gorgeous. Love: The characters in the City of Spires series just feel so real. We've known them now over the course of three books and will know them for one more. The cast of characters has so many sharp edges and soft textures, each character having the propensity to hurt and to help. There is an established idea that kindness is a series of choices that shape our connections to the people around us, the relationships with others upon which rely to live, and live well.
City of Deceit ends on a much grimmer note than the first two instalments in the series, but there is much to appreciate about the neccessity of some choices and sacrifices, that what our characters want sometimes might not entirely be what is right, for them or for everyone else. It certainly gave me so much excitement and reflection and I sped through it once I got it. I can't wait for the next one!
dnf
January 6, 2025Okay, I’m calling it. The first two books were fun and engaging, weaving together lots of lovable characters and twisty storylines in an intriguing fantasy world while keeping up a good pace. But this book is just. So. MEANDERING. And from reviews I’m seeing, it looks like book four has the same problem.
I would be open to reading something else from the author in the future, but I’m done with this series. Really disappointed, because I loved the first two and I think this series started out with so much promise.
I would be open to reading something else from the author in the future, but I’m done with this series. Really disappointed, because I loved the first two and I think this series started out with so much promise.
February 27, 2022
I've been waiting for this book to come out since I burned through the previous two and the only disappointing part is that I need to wait longer for the next installment. I can't believe how much I missed these beautifully crafted characters and I'll probably have to reread the whole set while I wait again.
May 2, 2022
This series is so good! Engaging characters, political maneuvering, action, suspense and everything else you could want from an exciting and well crafted fantasy novel. All kind of representation, too! Really enjoyable. The cliff hangers are gut-wrenching, though! I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for #4!
May 25, 2022
gotta love any book that makes you go: "oh shit right, there's going to be another book after this. wait of course there needs to be, ive only got 50 pages left"
i think the decision to split the "final" book gave this one space to breathe, and it used that to really give some emotional intimacy and feelings to characters and i love it in this series that's so much about nonromantic bonds
i think the decision to split the "final" book gave this one space to breathe, and it used that to really give some emotional intimacy and feelings to characters and i love it in this series that's so much about nonromantic bonds
March 1, 2022
Have enjoyed the 3 books in the series & look forward to reading more. A bit too much torture/visible violence than I personally care for but more than up for that with characters & plotlines I cared about & a spectrum of queer characters.
July 31, 2022
Pensaba que era el último de una trilogía y resulta que el final está partido en dos. Un poco rallada, ya que en todos lados dice que son tres. Ningún problema con que haya más, me gustan mucho, pero que avisen bien por dios :')
April 25, 2022
This author has built an incredible world and you can't help but root for his "heroes" who are all a little damaged.
October 26, 2022
I almost feel bad getting these super long amazing books for so little money. so many hours of excitement. queer and magical and awesome but now I have to WAIT for the next one?? outrageous
March 7, 2023
I really love this series of books so much! I’ll try to eventually write more of a review, but this will have to do for now.
June 12, 2023
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April 27, 2022
This book felt like the embodiment of when a pet comes to cuddle on your lap and y’all are both just like, content and loved.
Until the end and now I’m nervous.
Until the end and now I’m nervous.
January 12, 2024
Well. That happened. Honestly, with my favorite character in the book finding themselves in more than a spot of trouble at the end - ending on a cliffhanger - I am just a little...befuddled on what I wanted to say.
Okay, first of all, I love these characters. Every single one of the point of view characters. ... Except Jilssan. I've never quite got myself over to liking her. Everyone else? Adore. Completely adore.
And for me, the best thing about this series is how love is such a focus - but not the typical, boring in love of romantic relationships. Nope, this series instead brings the love of friends to the forefront. Now, don't get me wrong, some romantic relationships are being built (and I totally ship them) - but there's so much attention to the love of friends instead of romance being the be-all-end-all that is prevalent in pretty much all media.
And don't even get me started on the quiltbag rep. I mean, we have confirmed asexual, aromantic, demiromantic rep - as well as what I am pretty sure would be called a queer-platonic relationship that one asked the other involved if they were exclusive. I just... As someone that has always valued friendship and family love over romantic, this book makes me want to hug it and everyone. Just scoop them up and hug them. So...yup.
Pre-release 'review'
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohmygosh!
What a lovely announcement to see in my inbox today. And it releases the day before my birthday!
Okay, first of all, I love these characters. Every single one of the point of view characters. ... Except Jilssan. I've never quite got myself over to liking her. Everyone else? Adore. Completely adore.
And for me, the best thing about this series is how love is such a focus - but not the typical, boring in love of romantic relationships. Nope, this series instead brings the love of friends to the forefront. Now, don't get me wrong, some romantic relationships are being built (and I totally ship them) - but there's so much attention to the love of friends instead of romance being the be-all-end-all that is prevalent in pretty much all media.
And don't even get me started on the quiltbag rep. I mean, we have confirmed asexual, aromantic, demiromantic rep - as well as what I am pretty sure would be called a queer-platonic relationship that one asked the other involved if they were exclusive. I just... As someone that has always valued friendship and family love over romantic, this book makes me want to hug it and everyone. Just scoop them up and hug them. So...yup.
Pre-release 'review'
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohmygosh!
What a lovely announcement to see in my inbox today. And it releases the day before my birthday!
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