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Knights of Tin and Lead #3
In the Glorious Fields
"When we are gone, these darkened fields that have held so much sorrow—they will be remembered as glorious."
With Maria Pike unmasked at last and an ancient terror awakened to ravage the land, Archer's heroes set out on a quest that will ask more of them than they know. Strength, sacrifice, and unheard-of feats of courage are required if they are to break the curse that threatens the land they love.
Yet as friendships are broken and allies topple one by one, the men and women of the Western a Territory begin to realize that the greatest threat of all lies not in the curse, but in themselves.
With Maria Pike unmasked at last and an ancient terror awakened to ravage the land, Archer's heroes set out on a quest that will ask more of them than they know. Strength, sacrifice, and unheard-of feats of courage are required if they are to break the curse that threatens the land they love.
Yet as friendships are broken and allies topple one by one, the men and women of the Western a Territory begin to realize that the greatest threat of all lies not in the curse, but in themselves.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2022
158 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hayse
13 books147 followersEMILY HAYSE is a lover of log cabins, strong coffee, NASCAR, and the smell of old books. Her writing is fueled by good characters and a lifelong passion for storytelling. When she is not busy turning words into worlds, she can often be found baking, singing, or caring for one of the many dogs and horses in her life. A native of Michigan, she currently resides in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 10, 2022
Oh my goodness, this book…it wrecked me and put me back together in an unexpected and beautiful way.
I’ll be honest: I’ve read a lot of books, but only a handful have been Westerns. I’ve wanted to fall in love with them, but the books I tried just didn’t click with me. Emily Hayes’s trilogy is not only the first Western series I’ve ever given five stars to, but it’s the only one I would want to proudly put on my bookshelf alongside of my favorite authors.
The writing style—oh my word, it’s just beautiful. One of the reasons I loved this book the most is because of how the author phrased everything and pulled me in and made me feel like I was right there with the characters.
Not gonna lie, this book tugged on the heartstrings big time. While reading, I would text my best friend with all the emojis—crying, happy, surprised, shocked. You name it, I felt it! It’s rare that a book connects with me on such an emotional level, which goes to show how amazing a writer the author is.
This book is beautiful. Heart wrenching. Unexpected. Inspiring. A must read.
I’ll end this review with my favorite quote from this book. It sums up everything I felt in one beautiful sentence:
“It may be that we will not live to see the glad ending, but when we are gone, these darkened elds that have held so much sorrow—they will be called glorious.”
Emily Hayes—you have official become one of my favorite authors. Readers—I can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough.
I’ll be honest: I’ve read a lot of books, but only a handful have been Westerns. I’ve wanted to fall in love with them, but the books I tried just didn’t click with me. Emily Hayes’s trilogy is not only the first Western series I’ve ever given five stars to, but it’s the only one I would want to proudly put on my bookshelf alongside of my favorite authors.
The writing style—oh my word, it’s just beautiful. One of the reasons I loved this book the most is because of how the author phrased everything and pulled me in and made me feel like I was right there with the characters.
Not gonna lie, this book tugged on the heartstrings big time. While reading, I would text my best friend with all the emojis—crying, happy, surprised, shocked. You name it, I felt it! It’s rare that a book connects with me on such an emotional level, which goes to show how amazing a writer the author is.
This book is beautiful. Heart wrenching. Unexpected. Inspiring. A must read.
I’ll end this review with my favorite quote from this book. It sums up everything I felt in one beautiful sentence:
“It may be that we will not live to see the glad ending, but when we are gone, these darkened elds that have held so much sorrow—they will be called glorious.”
Emily Hayes—you have official become one of my favorite authors. Readers—I can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough.
November 1, 2022
Wow. The third and final installment of the KNIGHTS OF TIN AND LEAD trilogy was definitely a roller-coaster! I went from crying to laughing within a few pages.
IN THE GLORIOUS FIELDS is the culmination of a dreams and ambitions of a sprawling cast of characters coming together in an explosive confrontation and in a triumphant finale of good triumphing over evil. IN THE GLORIOUS FIELDS reminded me of some of my favorite Western films, with it’s wonderful weaving of epic tragedy and the inevitability of destiny. Emily Hayse’s brisk and sparse writing style and her lyrical and vivid descriptions kept me turning the pages at record-speed.
A gun-blazing and bittersweet salute to the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in which Hayse perfectly captures the beauty of strong men (and women) making the ultimate sacrifice as they recognize that there are things more important—and more glorious—than survival.
After this atmospheric, heart-wrenching, and thrilling Western trilogy, I can’t wait to see what Emily has in store for us next.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
IN THE GLORIOUS FIELDS is the culmination of a dreams and ambitions of a sprawling cast of characters coming together in an explosive confrontation and in a triumphant finale of good triumphing over evil. IN THE GLORIOUS FIELDS reminded me of some of my favorite Western films, with it’s wonderful weaving of epic tragedy and the inevitability of destiny. Emily Hayse’s brisk and sparse writing style and her lyrical and vivid descriptions kept me turning the pages at record-speed.
A gun-blazing and bittersweet salute to the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in which Hayse perfectly captures the beauty of strong men (and women) making the ultimate sacrifice as they recognize that there are things more important—and more glorious—than survival.
After this atmospheric, heart-wrenching, and thrilling Western trilogy, I can’t wait to see what Emily has in store for us next.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 7, 2022
I need to find the words but right now I'm speechless. I'd give it a hundred stars if I could.
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January 6, 2025I feel like I'm going to have to re-read the entire trilogy (at a slightly slower speed than the one at which I initially gulped it!) before I can write a proper review of any of the books. As of right now, I still feel like the first book is the strongest as an individual story, but the second and third books are needed to wrap up the overarching plot lines.
I feel like the multiple perspectives are both a strength and a weakness in In the Glorious Fields: don't get me wrong, I love a big cast of characters and multiple story threads, but I felt that some aspects of the story I wanted to see explored much more deeply had to be skimmed over just in order to have time to handle so many threads of plot. In particular, I wanted a lot more of the reasoning behind one particularly violent (and important) character transformation. I have to say I'm in awe of the sheer guts and imagination it took to write this plot point, but I just wanted to know a lot more of the why. (I should also mention, I'd been curious from the beginning what Emily Hayse was going to do for her retelling of the crucial Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot conflict, given that the Lancelot character in her version is Guinevere's brother, and when it came I was not disappointed: it's one of the most inventive and powerful parts of the plot.)
Critiques of plot aside, Hayse's prose is gorgeous (a special shout-out to the vivid description in that cattle-drive chapter), and there are some truly special moments, single lines even, where her depiction of various characters' feeling for the land around them puts into words in a breathtaking way just why the West casts such a spell over many of us.
I know I'll be reading these books again, and so hopefully I can do them better justice with reviews in the future.
(And that one particular trio of brothers absolutely has my heart.)
I feel like the multiple perspectives are both a strength and a weakness in In the Glorious Fields: don't get me wrong, I love a big cast of characters and multiple story threads, but I felt that some aspects of the story I wanted to see explored much more deeply had to be skimmed over just in order to have time to handle so many threads of plot. In particular, I wanted a lot more of the reasoning behind one particularly violent (and important) character transformation. I have to say I'm in awe of the sheer guts and imagination it took to write this plot point, but I just wanted to know a lot more of the why. (I should also mention, I'd been curious from the beginning what Emily Hayse was going to do for her retelling of the crucial Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot conflict, given that the Lancelot character in her version is Guinevere's brother, and when it came I was not disappointed: it's one of the most inventive and powerful parts of the plot.)
Critiques of plot aside, Hayse's prose is gorgeous (a special shout-out to the vivid description in that cattle-drive chapter), and there are some truly special moments, single lines even, where her depiction of various characters' feeling for the land around them puts into words in a breathtaking way just why the West casts such a spell over many of us.
I know I'll be reading these books again, and so hopefully I can do them better justice with reviews in the future.
(And that one particular trio of brothers absolutely has my heart.)
April 6, 2022
I'm going to love this book, the second time I read it, now that I know what happens to whom. Right now, I'm almost a little numb from the sweeping emotions and powerful rightness of the finale. I won't say this book "destroyed" or "wrecked" me, because if it had done that, I would never read it again. This book satisfied me. Very, very much so. But it also brought me to tears several times, though most of those were at the end over happy things. That's normal for me. I cry more over wishes getting granted and hope being proven justified than over deaths and disasters.
Like the two books before it, this book is drenched in golden beauty. The characters view the plains and the mountains, the hills and the valleys, with a kind of joyful reverence that I whole-heartedly embrace.
But I love the characters more. I am happy to say that, by the end, through the characters, moral balance is restored. At great cost, yet, but restored. I am pleased.
Like the two books before it, this book is drenched in golden beauty. The characters view the plains and the mountains, the hills and the valleys, with a kind of joyful reverence that I whole-heartedly embrace.
But I love the characters more. I am happy to say that, by the end, through the characters, moral balance is restored. At great cost, yet, but restored. I am pleased.
March 28, 2022
Series finales can be tricky to pull off in a stakes-raising, reader-satisfying way. But Emily Hayse has done just that with In the Glorious Fields, the final volume of the Knights of Tin and Lead trilogy. Even with the large cast of characters, so many different POVs to juggle, and a dense plot that covers much ground and many months, In the Glorious Fields moves along at a brisk pace (the short, snappy chapters really help). Every beloved character gets a chance to shine and show what they're made of—reminding us why we fell in love with them in the first place.
Because this trilogy is a retelling of the King Arthur legends, In the Glorious Fields does contain much tragedy, death, and darkness. At one point in the story, I began thinking "If this [specific, spoilery situation] isn't resolved, the previous two books will be ruined for me as well." But I shouldn't have feared. In the Glorious Fields ends well—with hope, goodness triumphing over evil, and new beginnings. I truly couldn't have asked for more.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Because this trilogy is a retelling of the King Arthur legends, In the Glorious Fields does contain much tragedy, death, and darkness. At one point in the story, I began thinking "If this [specific, spoilery situation] isn't resolved, the previous two books will be ruined for me as well." But I shouldn't have feared. In the Glorious Fields ends well—with hope, goodness triumphing over evil, and new beginnings. I truly couldn't have asked for more.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 18, 2022
What a stunning finale. While Seventh City and The Last Atlantean hold first place with Hayse's work, I honestly think this book is the best Emily has written yet. From the continuation of the characters and story to the polished prose, this book had me tearing up multiple times and left me both emotionally numb and happily, bittersweetly satisfied. Which is a reaction I've had with very few books, this book is just that good. I love this Arthurian retelling, even though it took me so long to get into it, and this ending is very fulfilling. Beautiful, beautiful story!
September 26, 2024
My favourite out of the series!! It RUINED me in the best of ways & I can't stop thinking about these Legends of the Western Territory...Emily penned a wild, sprawling Tale!!
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April 11, 2022I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
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In the Glorious Fields is the dark, somewhat tragic conclusion to Emily Hayse’s Wild West Arthurian retelling, The Knights of Tin and Lead.
Here’s the thing. I don’t like tragedies. They’re just not my cup of tea. While there are a few exceptions—I love The Great Gatsby, for example—I generally harbor a deep dislike of tragic stories. I find them pointless and depressing, even while others find them uplifting and inspiring. So I suppose it was inevitable that I wouldn’t enjoy In the Glorious Fields. Especially as I’ve been going through some Difficult Things in my Personal Life, Ahem.
I’m going to be talking vague spoilers below, though I won’t mention the names of any of the characters who die. If you’re curious, read on—if you wish to remain completely unspoiled, au revoir. I’ll see you next time. 😉
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In the Glorious Fields is the dark, somewhat tragic conclusion to Emily Hayse’s Wild West Arthurian retelling, The Knights of Tin and Lead.
Here’s the thing. I don’t like tragedies. They’re just not my cup of tea. While there are a few exceptions—I love The Great Gatsby, for example—I generally harbor a deep dislike of tragic stories. I find them pointless and depressing, even while others find them uplifting and inspiring. So I suppose it was inevitable that I wouldn’t enjoy In the Glorious Fields. Especially as I’ve been going through some Difficult Things in my Personal Life, Ahem.
I’m going to be talking vague spoilers below, though I won’t mention the names of any of the characters who die. If you’re curious, read on—if you wish to remain completely unspoiled, au revoir. I’ll see you next time. 😉
July 25, 2025
Re-read 2025:
I reread it in one-day... and loved it all the more! (I laughed, I cried... it moved me, Bob.)
Review 2021:
One word: MAGNIFICIENT.
I admit, I was so afraid of reading this book. Afraid of what I would face.
But... like those brave knights of tin and lead, I mounted and rode. (I read this in one single day) And found myself... oh, so deeply moved. So many parts filled me with joy, wrecked me with sorrow, shocked me with the sudden twists...and left me full of awe at this masterpiece of a finale of a glorious trilogy. (For fear of revealing spoilers, I leave it at that)
As a lover of fantasy and many things western, I've been searching for a good western-fantasy tale worthy to read and fall in love. Too many times I've been turned off by books labeled "weird western" or "western-fantasy" that were either too dark or just... WEIRD. (As in "Cowboys & Aliens" weird).
The moment I heard Emily Hayse's announcement of a Wild west spin of the legends of King Arthur, I jumped in full of hope. And she did not disappoint in introducing me to the world that made up the beautiful wild land of the Western Territory and its residents from Archer Scott to Rosamond to Jack Selby to Raymond to Kate to Sikes... I could go on and on. It was practically "Tombstone" meets "Lord of the Rings", a tale of men and women who would become heroes... and then become legends fighting and living for the land they love.
Thank you, Emily Hayse for creating this beautiful series that inspired me! And I will read it again and again!
I reread it in one-day... and loved it all the more! (I laughed, I cried... it moved me, Bob.)
Review 2021:
One word: MAGNIFICIENT.
I admit, I was so afraid of reading this book. Afraid of what I would face.
But... like those brave knights of tin and lead, I mounted and rode. (I read this in one single day) And found myself... oh, so deeply moved. So many parts filled me with joy, wrecked me with sorrow, shocked me with the sudden twists...and left me full of awe at this masterpiece of a finale of a glorious trilogy. (For fear of revealing spoilers, I leave it at that)
As a lover of fantasy and many things western, I've been searching for a good western-fantasy tale worthy to read and fall in love. Too many times I've been turned off by books labeled "weird western" or "western-fantasy" that were either too dark or just... WEIRD. (As in "Cowboys & Aliens" weird).
The moment I heard Emily Hayse's announcement of a Wild west spin of the legends of King Arthur, I jumped in full of hope. And she did not disappoint in introducing me to the world that made up the beautiful wild land of the Western Territory and its residents from Archer Scott to Rosamond to Jack Selby to Raymond to Kate to Sikes... I could go on and on. It was practically "Tombstone" meets "Lord of the Rings", a tale of men and women who would become heroes... and then become legends fighting and living for the land they love.
Thank you, Emily Hayse for creating this beautiful series that inspired me! And I will read it again and again!
October 15, 2024
Oof I don’t really know what to say yet…
Except that, there were things I didn’t like, things I would rather have been different and yet it’s still such a beautiful story that I can’t finds words for it.
For a girl who grew up on westerns and fantasies and dragons this book(trilogy) was exactly what I needed as an adult.
Except that, there were things I didn’t like, things I would rather have been different and yet it’s still such a beautiful story that I can’t finds words for it.
For a girl who grew up on westerns and fantasies and dragons this book(trilogy) was exactly what I needed as an adult.
April 7, 2022
RTC 🥲
April 9, 2022
**I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Honestly this book surprised me. I signed up for an ARC not knowing the this was the last book in series and it ended up being pretty good, however if I'd read the previous two books, as normally authors intend for people to read their books, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more.
I loved the western setting and retelling of King Arthur. It was so creative and refreshing to read such a familiar story with such fun twists. Also the setting of the story in a western setting is so perfect because the Wild West is a perfect stage for all the lawlessness of the original tale.
I liked how the story was told from so many POV's as it kept me on my toes and I never knew what to expect. However also, I did have some trouble following and getting to know certain characters because of this but it got easer the further I got into the book.
Overall this was a pretty enjoyable story, fast paced, with some slow parts, familiar but also new and fresh. if you read it just don't be like me and start with book three😂
Honestly this book surprised me. I signed up for an ARC not knowing the this was the last book in series and it ended up being pretty good, however if I'd read the previous two books, as normally authors intend for people to read their books, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more.
I loved the western setting and retelling of King Arthur. It was so creative and refreshing to read such a familiar story with such fun twists. Also the setting of the story in a western setting is so perfect because the Wild West is a perfect stage for all the lawlessness of the original tale.
I liked how the story was told from so many POV's as it kept me on my toes and I never knew what to expect. However also, I did have some trouble following and getting to know certain characters because of this but it got easer the further I got into the book.
Overall this was a pretty enjoyable story, fast paced, with some slow parts, familiar but also new and fresh. if you read it just don't be like me and start with book three😂
November 15, 2022
This is a book that will stick with you and make it hard to start the next book on your reading list.
Something about the writing style just tugs at the feelings—the minute I started it, I knew it was going to shatter me, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and I was full-on sobbing at the end—it’s beautiful, tragic, and joyful at the same time.
The cast of this one doesn’t quite feel so big as the second book—there’s a tighter focus to it, and while I enjoyed book 2, I also liked that this one seemed a bit less…huge. Every character arc intertwines together to give a feeling of a town alive with a beating heart, and land that’s alive too.
Speaking of which—when I mentioned that the last book had a bit of the eldritch to it, this one has even more, and I loved it. There were moments when I found myself wishing the curse and the beast were just a bit clearer, but I ended up liking how mysterious it was—it gave the feeling of something unknowable lurking beneath the land, which is a trope I love.
Seriously, read this series. It’s amazing.
Something about the writing style just tugs at the feelings—the minute I started it, I knew it was going to shatter me, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and I was full-on sobbing at the end—it’s beautiful, tragic, and joyful at the same time.
The cast of this one doesn’t quite feel so big as the second book—there’s a tighter focus to it, and while I enjoyed book 2, I also liked that this one seemed a bit less…huge. Every character arc intertwines together to give a feeling of a town alive with a beating heart, and land that’s alive too.
Speaking of which—when I mentioned that the last book had a bit of the eldritch to it, this one has even more, and I loved it. There were moments when I found myself wishing the curse and the beast were just a bit clearer, but I ended up liking how mysterious it was—it gave the feeling of something unknowable lurking beneath the land, which is a trope I love.
Seriously, read this series. It’s amazing.
May 22, 2022
As the finale in an Arthurian legend fantasy western, this book is EPIC and INTENSE. Hayes weaves a thrilling tapestry of a tale with cowboy heroes and villains that set me turning pages like a racing horse! The world is beautiful and enchanting and the characters have become so familiar and dear since the beginning of the trilogy.
I could have wished that the matter of the curse and the beast were less enigmatic and that the concluding battle was more climactic after everything leading up to it, but it wasn’t the conclusion of the story—which turned out pretty wild, heart wrenching, and bittersweet in all the best ways. With a no holds barred approach, this story tackles the best and worst sides of the human heart, countering loss, grief, and heartache with love, hope, and compassion. Shattered relationships with redemption. Broken dreams with second chances. Deception with truth.
I was swept away by the rugged, almost otherworldly beauty and mystery of the Western Territory as it changed those who laid the foundation of its future while remaining in some ways unchanged itself. And the ending left me with a bittersweet longing; sad that the end of an era had come, paved in the loss of beloved characters and the moving on of others, but hopeful of dreams realized and life renewing. It was glorious.
I could have wished that the matter of the curse and the beast were less enigmatic and that the concluding battle was more climactic after everything leading up to it, but it wasn’t the conclusion of the story—which turned out pretty wild, heart wrenching, and bittersweet in all the best ways. With a no holds barred approach, this story tackles the best and worst sides of the human heart, countering loss, grief, and heartache with love, hope, and compassion. Shattered relationships with redemption. Broken dreams with second chances. Deception with truth.
I was swept away by the rugged, almost otherworldly beauty and mystery of the Western Territory as it changed those who laid the foundation of its future while remaining in some ways unchanged itself. And the ending left me with a bittersweet longing; sad that the end of an era had come, paved in the loss of beloved characters and the moving on of others, but hopeful of dreams realized and life renewing. It was glorious.
March 29, 2022
Wow.
This book...
The storm that was brewing in The Beautiful Ones is now raging in In the Glorious Fields. And while reading In the Glorious Fields, you don't know until the end of the book who is going to weather it.
In the Glorious Fields was stressful to read--but in a good way. Emily doesn't hold back in this book. She puts her characters (and the reader) through situations where it seems like they might break. A lot happens plot-wise, and I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm not going to say much.
I did struggle a little to keep track of how much time was passing between events. However, I read In the Glorious Fields in a day (and almost in one sitting), so that is probably why.
The characters we met in These War-Torn Hands aren't the characters we leave at the end of In the Glorious Fields. They've changed, for better and for worse. They've grown, and carry new scars and burdens. But we still love them. :)
The ending, while bittersweet and somewhat open-ended, is the ending that this series needed. It's the perfect way to conclude this tale of legends and heroes. A perfect, neat ending--while it would have been nice--wouldn't have fit quite right.
Fair warning: I'm pretty sure that this book is probably going to make a number of readers cry. You've been warned.
If you like Arthurian retellings, stories of heroes, westerns, or adventure, I highly recommend checking out The Knights of Tin and Lead trilogy.
Cautions: several kisses; moderate/heavy violence; brief semi-graphic descriptions
This book...
The storm that was brewing in The Beautiful Ones is now raging in In the Glorious Fields. And while reading In the Glorious Fields, you don't know until the end of the book who is going to weather it.
In the Glorious Fields was stressful to read--but in a good way. Emily doesn't hold back in this book. She puts her characters (and the reader) through situations where it seems like they might break. A lot happens plot-wise, and I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm not going to say much.
I did struggle a little to keep track of how much time was passing between events. However, I read In the Glorious Fields in a day (and almost in one sitting), so that is probably why.
The characters we met in These War-Torn Hands aren't the characters we leave at the end of In the Glorious Fields. They've changed, for better and for worse. They've grown, and carry new scars and burdens. But we still love them. :)
The ending, while bittersweet and somewhat open-ended, is the ending that this series needed. It's the perfect way to conclude this tale of legends and heroes. A perfect, neat ending--while it would have been nice--wouldn't have fit quite right.
Fair warning: I'm pretty sure that this book is probably going to make a number of readers cry. You've been warned.
If you like Arthurian retellings, stories of heroes, westerns, or adventure, I highly recommend checking out The Knights of Tin and Lead trilogy.
Cautions: several kisses; moderate/heavy violence; brief semi-graphic descriptions
April 13, 2022
What a ride.
At one point during this read, my husband had to hold me while I cried. Let that be a warning to you. But also a welcome, for who can resist a book that makes you feel?
I wasn't sure if Hayse could do what I wanted her to. In fact, I got downright nervous 60% of the way through, when everything was falling apart, the characters were at each other's throats, and I began to wonder if Hayse was the sort of author who likes to break readers and leave them in their heartache.
Spoiler alert: she's not.
This book bespoke the most of the Arthurian lore by which it's inspired, which I enjoyed immensely. I appreciate that the characters are typologies, rather exact copies. It allows me to appreciate the subtle comparisons without being like HEY, THAT'S NOT HOW THE LEGEND GOES! Hayse's genius really shone through in this one and caught me by surprise, which I loved!
She also has her characters work through complex moral scenarios, where I truly didn't know whose side to be on . I fell in love with new characters and rooted for my old favorites all the way to the end. Jesse Thatcher, that means you.
All in all, this is a heart-achey but satisfying book. I shouldn't have worried. Thank you, Hayse, for bringing me along this adventure with you! I'm sad to see it end, but excited to see what you have in store for us next.
At one point during this read, my husband had to hold me while I cried. Let that be a warning to you. But also a welcome, for who can resist a book that makes you feel?
I wasn't sure if Hayse could do what I wanted her to. In fact, I got downright nervous 60% of the way through, when everything was falling apart, the characters were at each other's throats, and I began to wonder if Hayse was the sort of author who likes to break readers and leave them in their heartache.
Spoiler alert: she's not.
This book bespoke the most of the Arthurian lore by which it's inspired, which I enjoyed immensely. I appreciate that the characters are typologies, rather exact copies. It allows me to appreciate the subtle comparisons without being like HEY, THAT'S NOT HOW THE LEGEND GOES! Hayse's genius really shone through in this one and caught me by surprise, which I loved!
She also has her characters work through complex moral scenarios, where I truly didn't know whose side to be on . I fell in love with new characters and rooted for my old favorites all the way to the end. Jesse Thatcher, that means you.
All in all, this is a heart-achey but satisfying book. I shouldn't have worried. Thank you, Hayse, for bringing me along this adventure with you! I'm sad to see it end, but excited to see what you have in store for us next.
February 25, 2023
I’m honestly not sure I have the right words for this book. What a beautiful ending to one I think is now on my list of favorite trilogies.
The conclusion to this series has a little bit of everything that you would want…adventure, heartbreak, characters rising to the challenge in front of them, strong women in all settings, and the overall spirit of the west.
I truly cannot recommend these books enough.
The relationships created between the characters is fantastic. Throughout the series you see them grow, you see them challenged by life, you see their ups and downs, and you grow so attached it hurts sometimes. It’s honestly the best feeling.
And the women…I’m just so impressed by the women in this series. They all are so strong, so brave, and so willing to fight for what’s right in their own capacity. It doesn’t matter if they are working, if they’re figuring things out, if they’re taking care of the homestead…they are fighting battles and doing what they can to survive. It’s so refreshing to read female characters that feel like actual women and not just the strong ones who are good at everything that we make up in our heads.
I don’t know what else to say. This book wrapped everything up so perfectly. I smiled, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat. It was wonderful. And it’s going to sit with me for awhile.
The conclusion to this series has a little bit of everything that you would want…adventure, heartbreak, characters rising to the challenge in front of them, strong women in all settings, and the overall spirit of the west.
I truly cannot recommend these books enough.
The relationships created between the characters is fantastic. Throughout the series you see them grow, you see them challenged by life, you see their ups and downs, and you grow so attached it hurts sometimes. It’s honestly the best feeling.
And the women…I’m just so impressed by the women in this series. They all are so strong, so brave, and so willing to fight for what’s right in their own capacity. It doesn’t matter if they are working, if they’re figuring things out, if they’re taking care of the homestead…they are fighting battles and doing what they can to survive. It’s so refreshing to read female characters that feel like actual women and not just the strong ones who are good at everything that we make up in our heads.
I don’t know what else to say. This book wrapped everything up so perfectly. I smiled, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat. It was wonderful. And it’s going to sit with me for awhile.
August 4, 2022
The writing was beautiful.
And it wasn't. The multiple POV/multiple timeline thing absolutely drove me nuts in this book, I could never tell when anything was happening relative to the other storylines. I finally just had to accept that the book told the story the same way a series of snapshots might tell a story. Each scene is a beautiful work of art, but it only tells a portion of the story and you have to fill in the gaps yourself. It WORKED for this story, it set pace and tone, but I simply do not like it as a storytelling device.
And this book put me through an emotional wringer. Absolutely nothing surprising about it, the previous two books told me very well what to expect. Lots of suspense, followed by heartache and sorrow, but it was even more intense than I had expected. I read it VERY fast to condense the emotional overload into as short a timespan as possible. And the ending...
Overall, it both was and was not what I had expected. I think I would rate it higher on reread because I would fully know what to expect, and would be able to appreciate the quality of the writing more. But the first read was pretty rough.
And it wasn't. The multiple POV/multiple timeline thing absolutely drove me nuts in this book, I could never tell when anything was happening relative to the other storylines. I finally just had to accept that the book told the story the same way a series of snapshots might tell a story. Each scene is a beautiful work of art, but it only tells a portion of the story and you have to fill in the gaps yourself. It WORKED for this story, it set pace and tone, but I simply do not like it as a storytelling device.
And this book put me through an emotional wringer. Absolutely nothing surprising about it, the previous two books told me very well what to expect. Lots of suspense, followed by heartache and sorrow, but it was even more intense than I had expected. I read it VERY fast to condense the emotional overload into as short a timespan as possible. And the ending...
Overall, it both was and was not what I had expected. I think I would rate it higher on reread because I would fully know what to expect, and would be able to appreciate the quality of the writing more. But the first read was pretty rough.
April 10, 2022
This book will be with me a long time.
These are the books I strive to find, the ones that wound me, make me cry, and then bind me up with hope. This trilogy is probably the SINGLE ONLY set of books I've ever read that give the same yearning/mournful nostalgia that seek in National Parks. I could be Newton, standing on his ranch watching the stars because it takes me back to that moment I stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon watching the stars stream down to the horizon.
I'm afraid this isn't really a review, just person musings of how much I loved this book. Rosamund ended up being my favorite character, accomplishing something that I have a deep appreciation for: an arc of a character full of all the hopes and dreams of a new bride and adjusting to the trials and sorrows that come through marriage.
An absolute beautiful ending to a beautiful set of books that I will cherish forever.
These are the books I strive to find, the ones that wound me, make me cry, and then bind me up with hope. This trilogy is probably the SINGLE ONLY set of books I've ever read that give the same yearning/mournful nostalgia that seek in National Parks. I could be Newton, standing on his ranch watching the stars because it takes me back to that moment I stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon watching the stars stream down to the horizon.
I'm afraid this isn't really a review, just person musings of how much I loved this book. Rosamund ended up being my favorite character, accomplishing something that I have a deep appreciation for: an arc of a character full of all the hopes and dreams of a new bride and adjusting to the trials and sorrows that come through marriage.
An absolute beautiful ending to a beautiful set of books that I will cherish forever.
March 2, 2023
This was an epic conclusion to this trilogy. I love all the characters and the atmosphere of these books. This one in particular was so beautiful and tragic at times. One thing I would have liked to see more of was the legend/curse but maybe it’s just being true to a typical legend in that no one really knows how it works or how it was broken.
August 10, 2022
I’ll admit, book 1 I liked but did not love-love. But I fell in love with this final book. This series builds very slow – but the ending is stunning. It satisfied me with all that I’ve come to expect from Ms. Hayse: nostalgia, epic heroes and heroines, and legendary and memorable endings.
April 15, 2022
I cried. It was glorious. Full review to come when I can pull my thoughts together.
September 17, 2022
Oh my. What an ending! This book is for the gunslingers, the ones who dream of riding into a sunset, those with wild hearts and their heads stuck in an open expanse of sky.
May 29, 2022
What a truly glorious conclusion to a beautiful tale of epic proportions! I laughed, I cried, I felt like I fought with them for peace in their land. I can’t believe the journey is over for these characters, but what a good, good journey it was! Hayse, as always, masterfully drew me to each character and made me feel for them deeply. (I did not think it was possible for me to love Jack Selby even more, yet here we are!)
I loved the parallels to the original Arthurian legends, and I appreciated the deviations the author made. She wove the legend into everything so well, blending the mystical with harsh reality perfectly. Altogether, it made a touching, meaningful, and truly fulfilling story.
I loved the parallels to the original Arthurian legends, and I appreciated the deviations the author made. She wove the legend into everything so well, blending the mystical with harsh reality perfectly. Altogether, it made a touching, meaningful, and truly fulfilling story.
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