The Umbra King is about vengeance and retribution. Rory wants revenge for her sister who was killed. To what lengths will she go to exact that revenge? And at what cost to herself?
Pros
Intruiging world building
Enjoyable read
Cons
No map
Cliffhanger ending
Disappointing main character
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Overall, the plot was okay. It started off strong with Rory having a clear goal in mind. But it quickly derailed when she stumbled upon the Merrow who helped murder her sister. Most of the plot wasn’t pushed by Rory. Instead, it happened to her.
Well besides pissing Nina off when she could.
But once she got to Vincula and her romance started with Caius, it was like all her drive was gone. She just accepted what happened and hardly tried to do anything in terms of killing Caius.
And even that was a poor attempt. She tried to seduce him once and then it was insta-lust from there. Which is odd considering Rory thought Caius killed her sister still.
I will say that the plot twist of Tallent trying to kill Rory was pretty solid. I wasn’t expecting that and it added an intriguing dynamic in the friend group.
And why didn’t Rory question Caius moving her to the sky room or anything nice he was doing? Why didn’t she question their romance a bit more? She was so complacent it all of it and let it happen. She’s a serial killer, not a damsel in distress.
As I’m writing this, the plot wasn’t really that prominent. I can’t recall a lot of what happened because it repeated the same stuff over and over. But I do know my heart hurt like hell when Rory left Vincula without memories or Caius.
And Iam not ready for heart ache right now.
Characters
I’m going to start off saying that none of the characters were really memorable. Rory became flat half way through the book, her friends didn’t have any depth and I often confused them. Even Sam, who I should have loved, was just bland.
You could see the attempts of depth through humor and dialog, but it ultimately was a miss.
I wish I was able to connect with all of them more. I wanted to see a different side to the Vincula friend group, especially.
Hell, the friends from the first half, Dume, Kordie, and Keith were more fun than the characters later introduced in the book. They had more depth and more of a connection, and. I honestly missed them.
Writing
The book felt like it was written as a New Adult high school fantasy. I mean, falling down the stairs can be brutal, but that was not the life or death situation I wanted nor expected for them to bound.
Once Caius and Rory started becoming a thing, it got cringy. A lot of it was insta-lust and just happened so fast. I get the whole eternal partner or whatever explanation, but still. There wasn’t a good build-up.
Speaking of build-up. Rory had a badass build-up at the beginning of the book. She was mysterious, dark, witty, and could handle herself. But as soon as she enters Vincula, all of that goes away. I get the strength and speed magic being removed, but she still knows how to fight. She could have used that a few times.
But ultimately she became a rehashed, mouthy main lead.
Now, diverging from the weird character arc, I want to talk about the odd mystic abilities.
It seemed like a person’s parents didn’t have any play in what kind of mystic the child would be. Like why was Rory’s family all different kinds of mystics? And why was Cora a lamb shifter? It was really odd and confusing for me. And the only mystic that meant anything to me was the sybil. The others weren’t really important/not shown enough.
However, I will say the world-building and the explanations at the beginning of the book were amazing. I loved having that reference and experiencing this contemporary fantasy.
Final Thoughts
I wrote this review a few days after finishing the book, and honestly, I couldn’t remember the characters or plot really well. It was kind of forgettable, unfortunately. I wish it was more and better than what it is, but alas it is not.
I don’t know if I’ll read the second book. I was looking for a stand-alone with this one. So I might come back to it.
Regardless, I enjoyed the book as I was reading it. The experience was fun and I’ll rate it high for that because I’ve had so many duds lately.
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Content Warnings:human trafficking, murder, blood, rape, explicit sex scenes
Introduction
DNF @ 49%
I probably should have read the synopsis of this book first. But, then again, I never read the backs of books. There was also so much hype around this book that I had to read it for myself.
Pros
Great atmosphere
Suspense & mystery
Addie’s crass personality
Cons
Justified rape from main love interest
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Review
I don’t even know where to start.
I guess I’ll start here: Zade is a rapist. Regardless of how you twist it, those first two encounters with Addie, he raped her. She clearly told him “no” and pushed him away, but he still continued.
I literally was not prepared for the main love interest to SA Addie. That is not what I gathered from the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
Then I couldn’t get over the fact that Zade is rescuing children and women from human traffickers, but turning around and abusing Addie the way he did. He is literally doing the same thing as the men he kills. Talk about hypocritical.
I was on board initially with Zade until he turned utterly creepy and raped Addie. I drew the line there and decided not to finish this series.
But let’s talk about Addie, too. While I love her crass personality, she’s as dumb as a box of rocks. And the worst part? She knows it.
“I’m scared, but I’m also stupid. So, I’m not leaving.”
She ignores her instincts to run or call the cops; she stays in the damn house even after figuring out she has a stalker; and she has zero critical thinking abilities.
And to be completely honest, I skimmed the latter 20% that I read, even skipping over large sections because I was bored and disgusted at this “romance.”
I was so hyped for this book, but I couldn’t continue when rape is justified. It’s never okay.
This book is far from my expectations and it left me so uncomfortable.
I like dark fantasy, but I want the male main character to appreciate and support the female main character. I want consensual smut. I want a brut of a man who is raging at the world, but is tender and soft with his woman.
So, yeah. Glad this was included on Kindle Unlimited.
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
A huge thank you to Roxana! She reached out to me and asked me to review her book before its official release later this year.
Pros
Short & sweet
Relatable
A moving journey
Cons
Dialog is stiff in the beginning
Review
Do you want a messy yet beautiful love story to read in a day? Yes? Then, look no further than The Man Who Feels Like Home by Roxana Rotaru.
Since the book is so short, I’m not going to section my review off like normal. Instead, I’m going to jump right into it.
This little book mainly follows Allie as she navigates various romantic relationships in her life. She creates an analogy that a relationship is a home, and each home is built differently. So, as we gather snippets of Allie’s love life, featuring a couple of her friends, we see the different types of homes that are built.
I adore the home analogy and how Rotaru blends the love stories into a life lesson at the end of each chapter. It was well done, and every time it struck a cord in me.
I’ve never related to a book more so in my life than this one. The Man Who Feels Like Home is beautiful, full of sorrow, and a glimmer of hope.
The entire time I was reading, I could see my life playing out and relate to Allie’s emotions and thoughts. My houses were similar to Allie’s, just with different decor and exteriors.
I had a loving and rough first love. But ran when things got tough. I had a horrible breakup that changed me and I took it upon myself to change in dramatic ways. And it was after this breakup that I had flings with various sorts of partners and houses. However, I found my home before leaving to study abroad, and this home let me discover who I was and branch out while being supported and loved.
This is a book I want to pass around to others, so they can relate and maybe even learn from it. It hit me that hard.
However, with all this being said, I would like to point out that there were a few grammatical and spelling errors throughout. (Side note: this issue is currently being fixed by the editor!) And the first couple of chapters are a bit rocky, but once you get to the Flat Sharing, the story evens out.
But it’s worth putting these issues aside as the experience the book shares is wonderful.
And despite the grammar and dialog issues, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I honestly couldn’t put it down!
The Man Who Feels Like Home is an adorable and quick read that takes you on a messy journey about love and how each one impacts you in a different way (AKA building a different house). The book is relatable, heart-wrenching, yet fun all at the same time.
I truly recommend this book to those who are yearning for love or struggling with love. Hell, even those who had a rocky past, but found a good home (like me), should read it.
Thank you again to Roxana for reaching out to me! It’s been a pleasure to read your book and I can’t wait to own a copy!
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Elise Kova has finally released the third installment to her Married to Magic series: A Duel with the Vampire Lord!
Floraine is the forge maiden of her village, Hunter’s Hamlet. Her role is vital in smithing and creating silver weapons for the hunters to fight the vampires that attack them every full moon.
Ruvan is the current vampire lord that is searching for the curse anchor to free his people.
Fate has it that these two collide. They help each other uncover the shocking and sad truth of the curse. All the while falling in love with each other.
Sounds great, right? Well, I wouldn’t get your hopes up too far.
Pros
A map!
A unique take on vampire lore
Wonderful world-building
Cons
Felt drawn out
Couldn’t connect with the main character
Got confused with the minor characters
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
I enjoy the complex plot of the curse and it not being what everyone thinks it is, and the history of the vampires pre-long night. While it started off strong, it fizzled off midway through, leaving much of the story lackluster.
Much of Floraine’s conflict with being the forge maiden is constantly repeated at the beginning. And then her’s and Ruvan’s relationship dynamics are continuously repeated towards the middle/end of the book. It is tiring reading the same thing over and over with nothing being done to resolve the conflict.
Hell, the middle of the book is a good portion of repetitive relationship issues. It got old, quick.
To add to this, I wasn’t vibing with Floraine and Ruvan’s relationship at all. At first, it’s intriguing, but it later feels so underdeveloped and it just doesn’t convince me. I dreaded their scenes after a while, honestly.
Then, the revelation of Floraine’s blood lore is built up so much that by the time we fully understand what her innate abilities are, it is anti-climactic. But I did enjoy the magic of seeing exactly what happened pre-curse. It was fun to relive the past.
Overall, the plot is well thought out, but the execution isn’t my favorite. I think if it had been 50-100 pages shorter, the plot would have been more intense and wouldn’t feel so drawn out, and maybe the romance would hold better.
Characters
Floraine
Honestly, I couldn’t connect with Floraine. She comes across as both juvenile and grown throughout. This made her emotionally & rationally volatile. I know people can be like this, but it just didn’t flow well in the story.
I also didn’t like her name. It was off-putting and I couldn’t apply it to her character. While this might seem like a small thing to get stuck on, I have to like the character’s name to connect to them. And I even base whether I’ll read a book on the names of the characters. The only reason I didn’t here is that I’m a fan of Kova’s work. So I didn’t read the back of the book.
But I digress, Floraine is a dull character for me. There is nothing special about her that made her memorable.
Growth-wise, she did grow as a character. She learned and adapted her worldview to the truths around her, which we like to see. I love her smithing occupation and how well it is incorporated into the story, but outside of these things, that is it.
Ruvan
Initially, I liked Ruvan. He was mysterious and had a dark edge to him. But he quickly fell flat and didn’t develop enough throughout the story. I expected a darker vampire lord than the one we got, but I admire his lightheartedness and openness to differing perspectives.
But outside of his drive to break the curse and his obsession with Floraine, he’s bland. I didn’t enjoy his character very much, nor did I like him as a love interest. Which is disappointing because I usually am enthralled with them in Kova’s world.
Minor Characters
The minor characters of A Duel with the Vampire Lord are okay. They each play their roles well, but they are so similar that I got confused about who was who. Especially with Lavenzia and Vinny, and then Quinn and Callos.
Ventos and Drew are really the primary minor characters. And I can tell the difference through their dialog, but this doesn’t work with the rest of the cast.
None of them were really worth noting, unfortunately.
Writing
Since I’ve already mentioned this previously I’ll make it brief. The repetitiveness drove me crazy! It creates boring scenes and an uninteresting plot. The book seriously could have been shorter if not for this. Though, I will say it added tension in the relationship.
I also found the writing to lack setting and character descriptions. Beyond the initial introduction of the covenant, we really don’t see the minor character descriptions anywhere else. This made it hard to distinguish each character as the story progressed.
But outside of these two things, I love Kova’s writing. Her change of the traditional vampire lore is wonderful and refreshing. The fact that blood contains magic of various degrees and is used as rituals instead of feeding at times is really cool. I’m also glad she made vampires able to withstand sunlight.
I’m rating the book the way it is because we also received more information about Midscape and the vampire’s connection to the rest of the world. We’ve heard rumors about the vampires in the previous books, and this one answers all of those questions (which I love).
So, this tidbit of world-building and storytelling really saved this book’s rating.
Final Thoughts
I’m quite disappointed in this installment of Kova’s Married to Magic series. Her romances and plots are usually well done, but this one just falls flat. There’s so much repetitiveness that the story drags and the characters are relatively flat.
I really counted on this book to pull me out of my reading slump. But alas, it did not work.
The book felt a bit rushed and didn’t receive enough care when editing. But, the world-building and overall story ultimately saved A Duel with the Vampire Lord.
Regardless, I love the world of Midscape and I’ll read Kova’s next book in the series.
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Strap in for this one, thems and theys, it’s going to get rough in this review.
The series started off on a decent foot with Heart of the Fae. There was whimsy and a cute romance budding. However, we lost every bit of that in the second book, Veins of Magic. The once likable characters became shallow and hollow husks of their former selves. Leaving us with a confusing cast of characters and an even more confusing plot line.
Once I got into the second book, the rose-colored glasses lifted and I was simply annoyed by the plot and characters. It was unbearable.
And I was disappointed, to say the least.
Pros
A map
A cute romance starting off
Irish lore/mythology
Cons
Map doesn’t provide any useful information
Book 2 is a downhill slide
The cute relationship becomes toxic
Nonsensical plot & character actions
Plot
Plot? What plot?
Oh, you mean the one that didn’t make sense and had zero consequences? That plot?
Every decision made by any of the characters really leads nowhere, besides Sorcha getting rid of Eamonn’s sword (the only consequence!).
Macha’s quest held no consequences with Sorcha nor did her coming back without having filled the MacNara’s deal. And it definitely is further negated when her grandfather had the cure for her and just hands it over.
The plot is random and felt as if Hamm drew a line from start to finish of a maze and rammed through the lines.
There is no lead-up to events and no climb-downs. It just keeps going up even after the event happened, sometimes with no explanation or reference. This is especially true when Sorcha was summoned through portals in Heart of the Fae.
Like girl, if you know it’s a trap and you don’t know who summoned the portal, DON’T WALK THROUGH THE PORTAL. 🙄
There are just so many instances like this, that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
*sigh* I wish it was a better book.
Characters
Sorcha
I loved Sorcha when I started the series. She was kind, thoughtful, quick-witted, and fiery. She wanted to help and had a drive to prove women could partake in medicine.
But as soon as she landed on Hy-brasil, all of that fell away.
Yes, she enjoyed being a healer, but she lost her drive. Hell, she even forgot about saving her family while on that damned island!
Then when she was back in the human world, she became bitter and acted like a spoiled child in some regard, going as far as stating she wished Oona was there to wash her in the tub.
This bitterness doesn’t let up throughout the rest of the series. Sorcha is known to be kind, but I fail to see where she is. She’s purposefully stubborn, stupid, and bitter all the way until the end.
This is not what I call positive character development. It’s one that is more fitting of a villain…or a child.
Eamonn
I was rooting for Eamonn, but, boy, do we see a different side of him in Veins of Magic; just a rage-fill idiot.
Eamonn starts off as the angry but gentle giant of a guy. He has some anger issues, which resolve towards the end of Heart of the Fae (I guess). But his anger is still a red flag for me.
Then, as we travel into the second book, Eamonn becomes a pseudo “nice guy.” He’s forcing lesser fae to join his cause against their will (with no consequences from Angus), he’s toxic toward his people and possessive of Sorcha. He even lies to her and it cost people their lives!
I’m not sure what happened here, but it is not the outcome for Eamonn that I had hoped.
Minor Characters
I found that even the minor characters really have no value in the story. They are used and abused by the main characters. Sure, they add some reprieve from the nonexistent plot, but that is it. They aren’t memorable, nor did I really care if anything happened to them.
And that’s not what you want with your minor characters.
Writing
Where to start, where to start…
Well, since I have many negative points, I’ll start with a positive point. I absolutely love the Irish folklore in this book! I knew the barebones of Celtic mythology, but this book opened my eyes to even more of the history and lore.
I especially love that Brigid was included. I dabbled in Irish pagan rituals before and Brigid was my go-to goddess. While I don’t practice anymore, I still look to her for guidance at times. So that was really cool to see in the series.
Now for the bad. 🥴
The writing was a mess, from the lack of action build-up and come-down to the awkward dialog to zero foreshadowing. The Heart of the Fae duology, overall, holds no story worth writing home about. (But yet, here I am, writing about it.🙃)
The story just has a lack of everything. It was almost like everything was written separately, scene by scene, and then thrown together without smoothing the plot line or character development out between the stitches.
Honestly, I could ignore it in the first book, but once the second book came and became plot-heavy, that is where everything fell apart.
On top of this, we would get weird descriptions of a character’s looks, and it came across as shallow. For example, when Sorcha was examining the witch, she thought the woman could be beautiful if she just took a bath and acted right. Which is just rude.
And to top it off, pretty much everything said about the other between Sorcha and Eamonn had to do with looks, not personality or drive. 🙄
Oh, and talk about the info-dumping! We are told everything, from every character, instead of being shown. We are given the information without Sorcha having to work for it and that leads to such an anticlimactic story.
The last thing I want to add, to sum up, this iffy writing, is the passage of time. Here are two, prime examples for you:
After making a deal with MacNaras, it’s near twilight per Dame Agatha. By the time Sorcha and Dame Agatha reach the MacNara manor, the sun is setting, but Sorcha states it takes half a day to arrive. So, it should be nighttime. Not sunset.
In book 1, the fae world travels slower than the human world; a few fae months = 1 human year. But, in book 2, the human world travels slower than the fae world; 1 human year = 5 fae years. So, which one is it?
But I digress.
The series could have been sooo much better if the writing was more consistent and developed, even if the plot was still lacking. I just wanted more and the series had nothing left to give.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the series had real potential to be a wonderful Irish retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it failed miserably. I was so ready for an Irish twist to things because that’s my heritage! (or part of it anyway.)
Oh well, not all books are good, especially re-tellings as I have learned.
Content Warnings:Sexual Scenes, Breath play/Choking, Torture, Murder, Physical Assault, Kidnapping, Mentions of pedophilia/sexual abuse of a minor, Mentions of physical abuse of a minor
Review
DNF @ 25%
If you have trauma from a toxic and possessive relationship, either don’t read this book or at least read the content warnings first.
I only made it a few chapters in before I had to stop. I kept getting triggered by James/Hook and couldn’t handle it. And it was my fault, because I didn’t read the content warnings first, and I’ve read dark romances in the past and was fine with them.
But this one was on a whole other level for me.
However, from what I read, the book had an interesting premise and set it up nicely. The setting/character descriptions were a bit flat, but that was all I noticed. I wish I could finish this book, but I can’t
So, I’m giving it an arbitrary 3 stars.
Read at your own risk.
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Content Warnings:Toxic Relationships, Gory Descriptions, Death
Introduction
Veins of Magic is the predecessor to Heart of the Fae. The story picks up where the first one left off: Sorcha in the human world caring for her family and Eamonn fighting his way to the throne.
In a book where actions don’t have consequences, you can rest assured that all with work out for the beloved pair as they fight their way to a more peaceful world. Eamonn makes sketchy decisions without Sorcha to guide him and Sorcha turns into a “woe is me” and an unreasonably stupid character.
Have you figured out that I’m not a fan of this book yet?
Pros
A map!
Cons
Inconsistent characters
Nonsensical actions and plot
Awkward dialog
Actions have no consequences
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
I’m doing things a bit differently for this review. A lot of the things I have to say fall into both the plot and writing, so I figured I’d combine them instead of repeating myself.
I hoped that this sequel would hold up to the first book and answer some questions, but noooo. That is far from what we got in this sequel.
From the odd writing to the disjointed plot to the inconsistent characters, Veins of Magic was a train wreck from beginning to end. And to be honest, I stopped reading at 55% and just skimmed until the end.
It was rather…disappointing. But could have been so much better.
Many of Sorcha’s actions didn’t have consequences, like breaking 2 fae deals (though Macha was lenient on hers). Then events just didn’t make sense or were randomly thrown in there.
Here’s a list:
Sorcha’s grandfather
The whole Druid lineage
The quest for the cure was pointless if the grandfather had it the whole time
Passage of time in the fae world vs the human world
In the first book, the fae world moved slower (3-5 fae months = 1 human year)
In the second book, the fae world moved faster (1 human year = 5 fae years)
Sorcha impulsively turns against Eamonn after his “hunting” trip
No one considers Sorcha a witch anymore even though she openly talks about the shrine and magically has a cure for the plague.
There was just no build-up or come-down from any of the events in the book. So some of that list could have been explained in either of those segments if they had just been included.
Here is how I wish the book would have gone:
Sorcha returns to the fae lands and finds Eamonn.
Eamonn and his people are taking refuge in an abandoned place and trying to rebuild.
Instead of attacking his brother, Eamonn could have built a safe haven for all of those who are banished, unwanted, lost, and running from Fionn.
Fionn attacks regardless, and Sorcha and Eamonn stick together, but Eamonn is killed by his brother in battle (like in the book).
Sorcha exacts her revenge, but maybe utilizing the Unseelie or Bran a bit more instead of an all-out war.
Sorcha kills Fionn, revives Eamonn, and reclaims the throne.
This is similar to the book, but the lead-up is different and it would have healthier elements in leadership and relationships.
Characters
I was on board with Sorcha and Eamonn’s relationship in the first book. They were sweet and kept each other in check, but that all fell apart in the sequel. They became a toxic relationship that left me cringing and shaking my head.
There was a tone of possessiveness and blatant disregard for each other. This can be seen when Eamonn lies to Sorcha when going out on his “hunting” trip. Then when Sorcha slaps him for sending her away. You can be mad that he sent you away, but to physically abuse him because of it? No ma’am.
By the end, I hated them. They reminded me of toxic high school relationships that ended up with a kid, so they’re forced to stay together and cover their abuse with honey.
Sorcha
Where was the smart, quick-witted, healer we saw in the first book? Sorcha spirals into a bitter and spoiled woman who no longer wants to help others. She even said it herself! She is tired of helping her sisters and she didn’t want to get to know her patients once she started traveling with the cure.
Then, she made stupid and rash decisions. For example: when Eamonn told her not to go across the bridge into Nuada’s castle. She blatantly ignored him, did it anyways, and almost got both herself and Eamonn killed. Why? Because she didn’t like to be told what to do. Childish.
I miss the Sorcha from the first book. The healer and the kind woman who was curious and charming.
Eamonn
Eamonn is not a good guy, no matter how Hamm tries to portray him. He is toxic and would make a bad king.
His whole character is based off a prince who had his throne ripped from him because he was ugly and wanted to help the Lesser Fae. But throughout the entire book, he berates and forces the Lesser Fae to do his dirty work.
He lies to Sorcha and doesn’t listen to any of the people he claims to protect and lead. Eamonn goes on this tirade for himself and it is so easily seen that no one else wants to go along with him.
Final Thoughts
Emma Hamm has officially joined the ranks of Scarlett St. Clair and Holly Black in my books. I will not be reading any more of her work.
Veins of Magic could have been so much better than what it ended up being, and I think that is what makes this such a bad read. And honestly, if edited right, the entire second book could have been tacked onto the end of the first book.
There was so much unnecessary drama and events that just didn’t add up to anything.
So, read Heart of the Fae if you want to, but I don’t recommend this one.
Previous:
Book #1: Heart of the Fae
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Content Warning: Suicidal Ideations, War Trauma, Violence, Gore, Human/Fae Experimentation, Language, Sexual Content, Mentions of Sexual Assault, Enslavement, Dismemberment, Abuse, Death
Introduction
If you’re looking for an intense, dark, and war-torn story with slim chances and fierce romance, then The War of Lost Hearts trilogy is for you.
Carissa Broadbent weaves a bloody story about war, survivor’s guilt, and vengeance. This is a brutal story about rising up against harmful leaders, always having an option, pushing for what you want, and loving each other.
If you’re wanting to follow Tissanah and Max as they navigate their way from the bottom of the barrel to the top if only to help those they love and give people freedom, while the Fey want to take down humanity for the atrocities they’ve inflicted on their race centuries prior, then strap in.
We’re talking about multiple rebellions, shocking betrayals from those closest to the characters, and powerful magic beyond belief. You’ll experience grief, utter disbelief, and happiness in the small things as you travel with these characters through their story.
It’s so hard to put into words the way this series will affect you and how much you will enjoy the journey. It’s dark, and I can’t emphasize that enough. Please look at my listed content warnings because it’s not for everyone.
But gods-damn, you need to read this series. You won’t regret it.
Pros
Incredible world-building and character development
Enticing and heart-wrenching plot
Healthy friends-to-lovers romance (slow burn)
Consistent side characters
Morally gray characters, including villains
Picks up right after the previous books
Cons
No map
May be too gruesome/traumatic for some readers
Too many negative events with no reprieve
Plot
Talk about a riveting and brutal plot. The War of Lost Hearts trilogy will have you on the edge of your seat before introducing a whiplash of a plot twist that will have you reeling for days.
This storyline is dark, and I don’t mean it in a romantic way. We’re talking dismemberment, torture, whipping, sexual assault mentions, etc. Sometimes the book is hard to read and can be overwhelming with all the negative events all the time with no upside.
But this also makes the success and the positive events so much brighter. Broadbent shows the reader just how gruesome people and war can be. It’s not pretty, it’s not heroic, it’s dirty and blood-stained.
Various Paths
There’s one thing I mainly want to discuss about the plot that I think is looked over. Broadbent gives us a history where humans are attacking Fey over 500 years ago. We see our beloved characters fucked over time and time again. We see war and power-hungry people strip the land and its people of peace multiple times.
And this is what all of our characters have in common. They are experiencing these events, living and surviving them. They all want peace, to protect their people, and vengeance for the wrongs wrought onto them.
With this history and build-up, Broadbent shows us 4 different scenarios of how different people handle different situations.
Using the chart above, I figured out how each character approached and handled their vengeance and wrath in the series.
Lawful Evil: Nura
Nura has an organized and secretive way of gathering information, planning her attack, and approaching the upcoming war. She sticks to the laws of the Orders and plots below the radar, so no one knows what she has planned nor whose side she’s on. While her methods are organized and thoroughly thought out, her actions progress into evil, like experimenting on the Fey.
Neutral Evil: Caduan
For the most part, Caduan stays out of the war. He instigates it from afar and uses others to do his dirty work because he doesn’t want to waste Fey lives. However, he is still evil because he aims to decimate the human population and his intentions are dark and destructive.
Chaotic Evil: Aefe
Do I even need to explain this one? Aefe is all wrath and destruction. Though she starts learning she doesn’t have to be, her main approach is to burn everything that hurts her or the people she loves. No preparations, no planning, just burning. Aefe kills because she loves it and there is no rhyme or reason for her destruction for most of the series.
Neutral Good: Max & Tissanah
Now, these two are each in a different alignment for their personalities, but their approach to the impending doom is the same: save as many lives as possible. This can be seen when Zeryth demands both of them conquer territory and display power. Tissanah decides to put on a show that was make the enemy retreat and kill as few as possible. Max follows in her footsteps by methodically taking over the city he is in. They are maliciously compliant but in the goodest way possible.
It’s fascinating how everyone has the same goals and similar motives but goes about achieving those goals differently. All with different outcomes too. I fucking love it.
In the end, the overall plot is exquisite and masterfully done. Broadbent put some work into this series, curating the characters, dropping breadcrumbs, and just breathing life into this horrific and wonderful world.
I cannot find the words to accurately describe the depth and detail Broadbent put into this story, but I constantly think, “this is what the world of Lord of the Rings feels like.”
Characters
Something Broadbent does exceptionally well is creating characters that you connect to; whether it be to their mission, their personality, or trauma. She makes you understand their motives and alliances, regardless of how peaceful or horrific they may be.
She does this with her villains too, and it’s amazing to see how complex and 3-dimensional they become. They aren’t just a monster to defeat, they are people who became monsters. And Broadbent showcases all sides.
Then there are her consistent minor characters, like Sammerin. These are characters that maintain their personality, motives, and dialog throughout. These minor characters create a sense of stability and comfort knowing that they’re still around and supporting the main characters.
I also simply adore Tissanah and Max’s relationship. It’s healthy and supportive. They have fun times and even hard times, like working through trauma, healing wounds, or even being separated from each by force.
These two are goals and it’s so refreshing to see such a couple in fantasy novels. Usually, there’s always that one “bad guy” that’s good, but even their tendencies are toxic. Nothing like that is really found here. And even when something toxic or troublesome pops up, it is addressed by the two of them.
Tissanah
Tissanah is a bundle of brute force, determination, and self-sacrificing. These all work in her favor and against her at times, but she never gives up. She strives to provide freedom to all enslaved people like her.
She gives up everything to save these people, and even when they are in Ara, she doesn’t stop. She continues to fight and aims to dismantle the slave system in Threll. Tissanah is truly admirable when it comes to this. I just hate that she had to become a slave to Zeryth and Nura to achieve this goal.
As the story progresses and she leans into her love of Max, Tissanah starts to become selfish in this love and her own happiness. And that’s okay! That’s what I want to see. She deserves to look to the future with someone, she deserves to be loved easily, and she deserves to selfishly put Max above all other things. Because he’s her support and everything she loves.
We watch Tissanah go from being fully selfless to cradling those she cares about closely and selfishly choosing them over their goal.
Truth be told, I don’t have much else to say about Tissanah. She’s undeniably brave and even compassionate despite her circumstances. She aims to save lives instead of taking them, especially those who are innocent.
Tissanah is overall a beautiful character that deserves all the love and compassion in the world.
Max
Max’s growth is one of my favorites in the series. Max, for me, is a very relatable character. I love his tone and how he expresses himself, even if he isn’t good with words. His actions say everything.
When we meet him, he’s a grumpy hermit in the mountains who wants nothing to do with another living being, besides Sammerin.
But as he gets to know Tissanah, the spark of hope reignites in him. He starts dreaming of a better future, for the Orders, with Tissanah, and everyone else. He puts his faith 100% in Tissanah and knows that she will conquer whatever it is she has set her mind to.
On top of his personality growth, Max also faces the demons of his past, mainly killing his family due to Reshaye. The way this story was contiguously brought up through the series, sometimes in subtle ways and sometimes not, is a great depiction of how traumatic events affect and shape us.
It has been years since the death of his family, but he still blames himself and can’t face what has happened. It isn’t until Brayan comes along, and sees his family’s features that he starts to make amends.
Max is a wonderful character that I cherish because we don’t see many male main characters like him in fantasy romance books. The trope is mainly enemies to lovers, but he became friends with Tissanah first before anything, and that I simply adore.
Aefe/Reshaye
Aefe/Reshaye is hands down one of my favorite characters in the series. She is so misunderstood and lost that when she reaches out to connect, others recoil because she isn’t sure how to bond with a person properly.
I wish someone had taken the chance to get to know her as Reshaye, she was sentient after all! Tissanah was the only one who attempted to communicate and talk with her; and I wonder: what would have happened if they had gotten the chance to really know each other and bond? How would the story change?
Aefe did not deserve anything that happened to her. She deserved to lead a happy life with Caduan and heal from her past. She deserved to have her sister and mother love her. She deserved so much, but it was ripped away from her (literally).
Aefe is justified in her rage and her desire for vengeance. But to see her grow into a more compassionate and curious person once she got her body back was beautiful.
I loved watching her go from the mindless, vengeful, and selfish monster that was Reshaye, to a creature curious about the world, and to having her own body and getting acclimated to it. Aefe might have hated being alone in her new body, but to watch her slowly give in to her desires for Caduan and her enjoyment of tasty food and music is so uplifting.
This all truly gives you the impression that everything might be okay for her.
How wrong that could be.
In the end, her death felt right. Aefe finally learned what it meant to love and be selfless, and she gave that all to Caduan. Together they changed the world for the better instead of the destruction they were initially leading it into.
Aefe finally got her piece after centuries of torture. She finally created her own story that wasn’t muddied by her past. And she finally got to be with the one she loves.
Minor Characters
Sammerin
Sammerin is such a constant and steady character that you can rely on. He is literally the backbone of the entire series.
Think about it. It if wasn’t for him healing Tissanah and Max all the time, those two would be dead by the end of the first book. He has stitched everyone back together, stopped Tissanah from killing everyone when Reshaye took over, and prevented enemies from moving on multiple occasions.
And what does he get in return? He gets ripped away from his practice on multiple occasions, and forced to flee for his life when Max ran for Arch Commandant–which he wasn’t even aware of until the last minute.
He is just used and abused. Sammerin deserves better.
But I will acknowledge that he willingly accept most of these events and chose to travel with Max and Tissanah. So, I guess I can’t be too mad about it.
Caduan
I enjoyed Caduan. He is a strong and compassionate leader toward his people. He just went down the extreme path when choosing how to handle his vengeance.
He had so much potential, but it was muddied by vengeance for his people and Aefe. He might have been a great King over the last 500 years, but it was shadowed by these poor choices in the end.
Regardless, I loved his character and cried over both of his deaths. Caduan deserved so much better and so much happiness.
Ishqa
That bastard.
Regardless of how hard he tried to make things right, his hands were soaked in the blood of his past. He will always be viewed in a mistrusting and negative light, instead of a positive one.
He is trying to change, but the fact he gave over Aefe, didn’t tell Caduan for 500 years (while serving on his council), and only decided to change things when his son was threatened is distasteful.
If it was not for Ishqa, none of this would have happened. Aefe wouldn’t have been tortured, Max’s family would still be alive, neither Tissanah nor Max would be pawns to the Orders, and there wouldn’t be a bloody war between humans and Fey!
He can never be forgiven or redeemed.
Nura
Nura had such a noble goal with good intentions starting out, but she quickly derailed when she began forcing others onto Reshaye and conducting experiments on the Fey.
The worst part (or best part for a successful villain) is that I understand her drive and the reasoning behind her actions. I mean, hell, what would you do if faced with such a powerful force and very little information? She handled it the only way she knew how. I’m not trying to justify her actions by no means, but it makes sense how she came to the conclusion that she did.
All of this is what makes Nura a fucking amazing villain, probably my favorite villain. She starts off as a friend/ally-ish and subtly turns into the villain. We watch her slow descent into madness, wondering where it will take her and what her motives are.
And by the final book, the results of that spiraling descent are disturbing, to put it mildly. But her end is swift and just, something I can’t say for how she treated others.
Zeryth
This is a man who schemed, tricked, and lucked his way into power. If it weren’t for Nura being injured, Max a mental mess, and the fourth candidate dying, Zeryth never would have been Arch Commandant.
When he was, he schemed and tricked his way into the crown by leveraging connections with others and pulling as many strings as he could. But even then, he didn’t feel powerful.
Zeryth never truly felt threatening, either. He was intimidating, but not threatening to the point I had to worry about the characters’ lives–well besides Tissanah’s. He set the groundwork to allow Nura to run, and that is probably the most threatening thing he did.
Writing
The Villains
This trilogy has some of the most exceptional villains I’ve ever read.
Morally gray? Check ✅
Likable? Check ✅
Understandable motivations? Check ✅
Through the series, regardless of who the villain is, Broadbent shows us their motivations and what drives them. And 9 times out 10, they’re understandable, in a weird, twisted way.
For both Nura and Caduan, I completely understand why they want to attack and destroy each other: for the survival of their people and for vengeance for the horrific acts done to them.
This alone makes it so hard to wholly hate these characters. I care for these characters, I care about their well-being and hoped against their downward spiral. They have depth, they love, they experience pain, and they have flaws.
These villains could be any one of us under the right circumstances. We never know how we will act with faced with annihilation or retaliating against someone who has hurt our loved one, given that you have all the power of a kingdom.
Point of View (POV)
The way Broadbent curated specific tones and views for her character’s chapters, was wonderful to read. You get all sides of an issue with different takes, feelings, and motives.
I specifically love Max’s point of view. He was so relatable in his internal dialog and reaction to events, like: “I’m not made for this.”
Even Aefe’s point of view towards Tissanah and Max. She believed they abandoned her and used her. While on the flip side, both Max and Tissanah saw Aefe as a monster or volatile force. Max demonized Aefe, but Tissanah tried to understand her.
They never knew each other’s thoughts and feelings toward each other, but the reader saw it, and that created some heart-wrenching moments. I think having these three POVs with conflicting emotions towards each other creates a deep connection to the characters and story.
Parallels
In the second book, Children of the Fallen Gods, Broadbent connects the past to the present and the characters to each other by weaving parallels into the story. We can see this from the minor sounds of thousands of magic-sensitive butterfly wings in Aefe’s time to the one pinned to a board in Tissanah’s time.
She also uses this past-to-present connection when Aefe, Tissanah, and Max’s stories converge at the place where it all began: the island Ishqa surrendered Aefe on.
And it is through these parallels that Broadbent is able to provide a mental map of where everyone is in the third book, Mother of Death & Dawn. She provides cardinal directions to a city in one chapter, and in the next one, a character is in that city or not far from it.
It is so fun seeing how the puzzle pieces fit together and seeing how Broadbent ties all the characters together, even if they are scattered.
Themes
There are so many themes that are explored in this series. From processing trauma to survivor’s guilt to enjoying a happy moment in the middle of a war. These themes cultivate and shape the world and characters. These themes are vital to their story, their actions, and their success.
So, let’s take a look at a few of the major themes:
Processing/facing trauma & mental illness
Survivor’s guilt
A thin line between morality and duty/vengeance
The main characters– Aefe, Tissanah, and Max, encompass all three of these themes, but all in different ways. We watch them struggle to overcome their survivor’s guilt and trauma, and we watch them figure out how far is too far when handing out justice.
Like when Tissanah was burning Lady Zorokov. She was being immoral to herself and her values, but the part of her that was tormented and hurt by Lady Zorokov is raging with pleasure. Instead of giving into those dark pleasures, Tissanah, instead, gives Lady Zorokov a quick death.
However, we see the opposite in Nura. Instead of talking with the Fey she captures and trying to learn about their race, she captures them and runs experiments in order to harness their power. Hell, we even see her cross the line of being immoral but doing her duty to her country when she buys slaves to fight in her war. She is giving up her own values to protect her country, and thus sends her down a dark and power-hungry, desperate path.
I could go on with how Nura encapsulates this one theme so well, but I’ll leave it there since we talked about her earlier.
Foreshadowing
The foreshadowing is utterly stellar in all three books. Questions we had in book #1 based on bread crumbs are answered in book #3. Connections to events between characters, past and present, are revealed over time, and sometimes in minute ways.
For example: Ilyzath
Ilyzath is mentioned in book #1 as being a mysteriously sentient prison. It’s in every book and we get the sense that it is something more, but not sure exactly what it is. Broadbent leaves the tiny crumbs into her lead-up of Ilyzath being a Lejaras, and it was beautifully done.
We also see subtle foreshadowing in Tissanah asking Max if he wants to find his brother in book #2, and in book #3 he shows up.
Even with the back and forth of book #2 between Aefe and the present day, in Max and Tissanah’s chapters, we see small glimpses and parallels of Aefe’s world. While we have the sense that Aefe is somehow connected to what Tissanah and Max are going through, Broadbent hides the lead well, creating a shocking twist. But we were prepared.
Writing Thoughts
The way learning a new language was implemented in book #1 is stellar. From the mispronunciation, the grammatically incorrect sentences, and even the reactions from others are wonderful. It is such a nice touch to be able to experience learning the new language with Tissanah and Max.
I need more information on the Stratagrams and Wielders. What are all the different kinds of powers wielders can use? Who created Stratagrams?
The series could have been 6 smaller books, but I’m happy it wasn’t. I loved having another half of the book to answer the questions and push the plot forward from the first half.
The massive world-building is impressive and so well done!
Progression of Threll (from a slave state to a new nation claimed by the enslaved)
Different government setups for both Ara and Threll based on their citizens and needs
The complex layers of magic at play
History of the Orders and how it has changed over the years
The book covers of Tissanah don’t match the description of her in the book. She has white and black hair in the book, but white and blonde on the covers. It bothered me a bit, but not too badly.
I so wish there was a map for this series. It would have made tracking the characters and keeping up with events so much easier, especially in book 3, Mother of Death & Dawn.
Final Thoughts
In the end, The War of Lost Hearts is fucking amazing. It’s brutal and beautiful and captivating in the best (and worst) ways possible. I love the storytelling, the characters, and the complex world-building. Broadbent is a master at her craft and I am so looking forward to reading more books by her!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go cry and try to find fanart of this series because there isn’t enough out there!
Content Warnings:Suicidal Ideations, Gory Descriptions, Sexual Content
Introduction
In this Celtic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, we follow Sorcha as she embarks on a mission to find a cure for the blood beetle plague that threatens her family, and humanity at that. When her quest leads her to Hy-Brasil to bring back a fae to the mortal lands, her mission takes a twist.
Sorcha falls for Eamonn against her better judgment. And she has conflicting emotions about loving him and her mission They ultimately come up with a good solution: She stays on the isle with him and he helps her with stopping the blood beetle plague.
But there is so much more at play here that can rip them apart. Will they survive the upcoming war? Will Sorcha complete her mission and save her family?
Pros
A map!
Cute minor characters
Great romance
Cons
Ends on a small cliffhanger
Muddied plot line
Telling more than showing
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Ugh, the story can’t just end with Sorcha returning home after having failed. Eamonn needs help, her family needs help, and she failed Macha’s quest! I need answers on what happens next. My heart is breaking.
But let’s back up.
Although the main plot is a bit muddied and confusing, the romance subplot is wonderful. The romance really kicks into high gear after the 50% mark, but I wish there was a bit more romance in the beginning.
Then we have the main characters only interacting a handful of times before they fall in love. There isn’t much of a build-up for this romance, but once it got going it was good. Either way, it is what it is, I still enjoyed it.
Outside of the romance, a lot that occurs just fell into Sorcha’s lap without her having to do anything. She initiates the plea for help at the beginning and once she accepts Macha’s aid, she just follows the breadcrumbs. Hell, half her time is spent just on the island and people summoning her through a portal. Which, why did she never tell Eamonn before leaving or after?
Anyways, the story is mainly told instead of shown. There is lots of info-dumping from characters about what is going on and not enough showing us what is happening or why. This drove me a bit crazy as it was too easy. There is no real challenge for Sorcha or the reader to figure out the real story.
But the part that got me the most is how often Sorcha forgot about her quest for Macha to save her family. She spends months on this island and makes zero progress, enjoying life, and having no real purpose. How can you forget that you need to save your family? It’s baffling.
Regardless, I still enjoyed the intriguing nature of the plot, I just hope it holds up in the second book.
Plot Thoughts
Why did the Seelie and Unseelie rulers just summon Sorcha and talk to her? Why didn’t they capture her, especially Fionn, if they wanted Eamonn?
Everyone keeps referring to Sorcha as a “thing.” She’s a person with ambitions and goals! Not a pretty thing to decorate.
What is up with her family? Are they all related, all adopted, or half and half? I seriously can’t tell.
How was Eamonn cursed and how did he not know? I need more details on that.
I wish there was more depth and world-building.
Characters
Sorcha
Sorcha is a strong, but flat character. She’s stubborn and ill-tempered, but kind. She’s dedicated to helping the ill and injured and has a sharp tongue. She doesn’t take bullshit, that’s for sure.
But what else?
We know she can’t dance, but what other hobbies does she like? What foods does she enjoy and not enjoy? There really isn’t any character growth throughout the book.
It’s also harped on a lot that Sorcha is different and the kindest human, and just otherworldly in her generosity and intelligence. This also makes Sorcha flat as she fits a character mold of a Mary Sue, someone “so special” compared to everyone else. It got boring after a while, to be honest.
Regardless if she didn’t have much growth and was quite stagnant throughout, I still enjoyed her fiery passion and quick wit, though. I’m hoping she’ll grow more in the second book.
Eamonn
Eamonn’s anger is a bit of a red flag. He is quick to anger and even tried to attack Oona. I understand being upset at his banishment and being betrayed, but good grief, he needs to get that anger under control.
And I think we catch a glimpse of that in the latter half of the book. Sorcha calms him down and he’s able to control his outbursts better around her, and I’m here for it.
It also pains me to know he has such a traumatic past, especially since he has to wear the scars on his skin. But it creates an interesting dynamic for his romance and for the plot. Definitely falls into the big burly guy with anger issues but is a truly sweet teddy bear.
Overall, I like Eamonn and I want to see more of him in the second book. So I hope he isn’t dead.
Writing
I both liked and disliked the writing of this book. While the Irish lore and history were spot on, the clumsy dialog and nonsensical passage of time were off. Since I read this on the Kindle, I’m not sure if the same spelling/grammatical mistakes can be found in a physical book, but there were quite a few of those as well.
Let me show you a few examples that irked me.
Dialog:
“Then stay on the ship, and I’ll bring you home.” He whirled on her. His chest rose and fell in exaggerated rage while his hands opened and closed.
This should have been reversed, with the dialog coming after his actions. It would have made for a more impactful moment.
Passage of Time:
Sorcha emerges from the forest after making a deal with Macha and vomits. Dame Agatha rolls up and says, “It is not safe to be on the road in the twilight hours.”
Cut to the both of them traveling to visit the MacNara twins and the manor is described as, “White marble gleamed in the splashed pink of the setting sun.”
Then a few pages later, Sorcha states the MacNaras live a “half a day’s ride from us.”
So shouldn’t it be nighttime by the time they arrive?
These mistakes were consistent throughout the story, and while they did hinder some of my enjoyment, they didn’t pull the story all the way down for me.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of how absent the main plot is, I still devoured the book. It was a fun read and one I didn’t have to think too much about. I could get lost in the banter and characters. My brain has been so tired lately, so it was a perfect read.
If you’re looking for a quick read and like Beauty and the Beast, this Irish twist on the story will satisfy your craving. As it did mine.
Next:
Book #2: Veins of Magic – TBR
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Content Warnings:Suicidal Ideations, Traumatic War Events, Violence, Gore, Human/Fae Experimentation, Language, Sexual Content, Enslavement, Death
Introduction
I can’t believe it’s actually over. It’s over and I have so many feelings. I cried so hard after I finished the book. This was one of the best, if not the best, series I’ve ever read. Mother of Death & Dawn is simply a literary masterpiece in a trilogy of masterpieces; from the foreshadowing to the world-building to the stellar villains.
Mother of Death & Dawn is the final book in The War of Lost Hearts trilogy. It is here that all of our favorite characters come together to fight, not only for each other but for a better world. However you think this book will end, you’re wrong. There are much larger components and magic at hand that will have you gasping in disbelief.
So, strap in for the dark, whirlwind conclusion of this absolute amazing story.
Pros
Confounding conclusion
The epilogue 😭
Aefe’s development
Unbelievable answers
Unexpected plot devices
Cons
No map
Constant negative events
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
When you have a story this large, with so many moving pieces and characters, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and bogged down in the sheer size of the environment. However, Broadbent tied everything together with a nice bow, albeit bloody and torn.
With this being said, I want to revisit my predictions from my previous review now that the series is over.
Caduan will be an ally with the help of Aefe to take Nura down. ❌
Or Aefe turns on Caduan to help Tissanah and Max take down both Nura and Caduan. ❌
Nura will be killed off. ✅
But my real hope is that both couples will end up together, alive and peaceful. ✅
I got half of the predictions right. However, the ones I did get right, happened in a way that I was not expecting.
Caduan will be an ally with the help of Aefe to take Nura down. ❌
In some sense of the phrase, Caduan and Aefe did become allies to Max and Tissanah, because they all wanted Nura to be taken down. However, they are not allies with each other until the very end, when Caduan and Aefe see the kind of world they were creating in the deepest layers of magic.
Nura will be killed off. ✅
Max puts it best: “I’ve seen what you do to the things you claim you love. We can’t survive your Ascended-damned love, Nura.”
Nura did what she thought was right. She takes what she learned and did the only thing she could think to do at the time: become powerful and learn how the enemy works. Regardless of her twisted and dehumanizing methods, she had good intentions.
But that doesn’t justify the fact that what she does was utterly despicable. So, her death at the hands of Max and Tissanah is just and a great way for her story to end.
In fact, during that chapter, she reminds me so much of how unhinged Azula was from Avatar the Last Airbender. They are both broken and misguided individuals, and during the entire fight with Nura I heard the sad, slow battle music playing from AtLA.
But my real hope is that both couples will end up together, alive and peaceful. ✅
Caduan & Aefe
Caduan and Aefe’s ending is one that felt right. They have both lived for centuries, they are tired, and just want to be together in peace. They want to right the wrongs that had been inflicted on them over the centuries, and I don’t really blame them.
While their desire for vengeance drives their actions, regardless of how harmful yet justified they were, their love for each other drives their vision for a better future. They achieve their goal of a better future for the Fey, but in such a devastating way.
Both of them can now rest knowing they succeeded in creating a peaceful world, especially with Nura gone and the Lejaras destroyed.
Max & Tissanah
As the story progressed, I figured one of them would die and in my heart, I knew it would be Max. However, I wasn’t expecting the way he went. And I wasn’t expecting Aefe to revive them as she changed the world for the better.
I wasn’t expecting the heartache that would come when seeing Tissanah and Max fight for each other and fight to stay alive. I also wasn’t expecting the peaceful and perfect ending these two received.
But it was all so deserved and felt so right for them.
In fact, it was the epilogue that utterly destroyed me. Because after all these two have been through, after all the sacrificing, the blood, the twisted games, and the sheer loss of life, these two finally got the ending they deserve.
They made their mark on the world, turning it into a better place. They got their cottage in the mountains with a family built on love and safety. They got their happy ending.
And my gods, it destroyed my heart. Out of all the books I have read, these two are the most deserving of this peaceful and happy ending.
Ilyzath
When this book first kicked off and Ilyzath allowed Max out of prison, I wondered what it was looking for, too. I was shocked when it is revealed to be the Lejaras of Death. But it makes complete and utter sense knowing how it treats its prisoners.
It was there from the beginning. The prison is so unusual and used commonly that no one thought about it being a Lejaras. It was brilliant, actually, to end the story where it roughly began with Max.
I still want to know more about what created the Lejaras. Why there were sentient and if they were living beings before pools of magic? We probably will never know, and that unknown is honestly a great part of the story.
We don’t have to have an explanation for everything if built up and done correctly, and Broadbent knew that.
Plot Thoughts
If Aefe and Tissanah got to talk about them being torn apart, I wonder if Aefe would have changed her view when she found out Tissanah didn’t abandon her.
Tissanah’s capture by the slavers and being taken to Zorokov drove me crazy. There were so many things she could have done to escape, but she gave up or it was simply a convenient plot device.
Regardless of how much of a flop the attempted coup by Ezra was, I loved the attempt.
I’m surprised at the Sersi ending, but it makes sense. I’m just a bit worried the citizens might buck against her being Queen again since her ruling history isn’t the best. Regardless, I like this ending for Ara.
I agree with Tissanah and Max that the Orders should be disbanded. They have backed and caused crimes against humanity. Their name cannot be repaired. And Tissanah’s gild is a wonderful alternative that is more inclusive and bipartisan.
There was so much negative in this story, that it was hard to be surprised when something else bad happened to the characters. It honestly got old after a while. The story could have used a few more ups to break up the monotony of the downs.
Characters
So much has happened to this cast of characters, from Tissanah’s development from being unreasonably self-sacrificing to being selfish in her love for Max, and from Aefe being an empty husk of a person to understanding the complexities of her emotions, that it is difficult to discuss their implications without diving into the other books.
So, I’ll save that for my series review. I will say that all of the characters and their development are satisfying and positive by the end (maybe besides Nura).
With this being said, I’m going to dive into a few select characters that I believe deserve the spotlight more than my usual character analysis layout.
Let’s get into it.
Sammerin
I love the consistency of Sammerin. While he doesn’t really change much besides opening up to Tissanah more. His stoic comfort is welcomed in hard times and I found myself basing the situation on Sammerin’s expressions and reactions as well.
At first, I was disappointed in the lack of development with Sammerin, but halfway through this book, it hit me: if it literally wasn’t for Sam, Max & Tissanah would be dead. He is the sole backbone of our favorite characters surviving and thriving, including himself.
Sammerin doesn’t need complex character development. We see him grow through his use of healing magic and his unbelievable ability to control other humans. His knowledge and sheer strength progress the story in such a subtle way, but it has a huge impact on the success of saving the world.
Brayan
I have mixed feelings about Brayan’s character. I understand he is used to guide Max on his memory loss journey, provide military support, and make Max face his biggest demons, but he seems…pointless otherwise.
While these are all exceptional reasons for him to be in the story, I still felt his character was lacking. I honestly believe that without Brayan the story would have still been successful and not suffered. With the exception of Max facing his past, that is the only reason I stand Brayan.
Ishqa
No matter how much Ishqa came through in his promises and actions, I still don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.
I understand he is trying his damnedest to right the wrongs of his past, but he is so sketchy and elusive with information that it still feels as if Ishqa is plotting something bigger or even secretly a bad guy.
While his guidance is pertinent to the success of saving the world, he can’t redeem himself in my eyes. There is no coming back from the deception and utter carelessness of life that could convince me otherwise.
(But please try to. I’d love to hear your opinions about Ishqa).
Ishqa
Aefe’s development and story have been, by far, my favorite in this entire series. She is so complex and violent, but simple and childlike at the same time. Seeing Aefe grow, learn, and reconcile her feelings towards everything is beautiful, albeit heart-wrenching.
She has every right to lash out against those who tortured her for centuries. She has every right to mistrust the people around her. She has every right to be furious at being brought back to life.
But to see Aefe learn and grow to accept her new body, her desires, and her feelings is a powerful journey. When she finally gives into her emotions for Caduan, found the power and confidence within herself, and learned to live again, I was incredibly happy for her.
She deserves all the good things in life, and in the fitful and peaceful death, she received. It was a great ending to a poor, tortured soul who just needs some rest.
Writing
The writing is consistent in Mother of Death & Dawn as it is throughout the series. So there isn’t much to discuss in terms of writing. I just have a few things I’d like to touch on.
Firstly, I read this book on kindle, and there were a few spelling and grammatical errors that weren’t in the previous two books. This was minor as it really wasn’t that many, but it was jarring when I came across them.
Secondly, I love the solemn writing style of destruction and the heart-breaking realization of death at the end of each character’s story. It is beautiful and so impactful on my overall emotions. I literally had to take a day to process the ending of this book because of how powerfully they were written.
Thirdly, another thing I want to touch on is how superb the villains are in this book. We get glimpses of how gray the villains are in the previous two books, but in Mother of Death & Dawn we see the full scope.
Broadbent does an amazing job of detailing the villain’s motives and morality. What’s even more impactful is all the characters roughly have the same motives: vengeance, protecting the ones they love, peace, and survival.
So for us to see the different ways the villains react and handle the same situation is *chef’s kiss*. They were all right in their own way, justified by their countries and morals, but the impacts their decisions varied drastically.
Finally, the last thing I want to cover doesn’t necessarily fall underwriting, but the writing and storytelling are impacted through its absence: a map.
A map would have made a huge difference in gauging the proximity of the characters throughout the story. Broadbent did do a stellar job at providing cardinal directions, sliding into another POV after mentioning a place in the previous chapter, and through the dialogue of the characters. But, it is still a bit confusing.
I would love to have a map to refer back to as the characters were moving around and planning.
Final Thoughts
I wasn’t aware that a book could so utterly destroy me while fulfilling everything I looked for in a book. My heart is simultaneously full and destroyed. I’ve had to take time away from this series and reading to process what I just read (I even ran to my husband and cried while saying “it was such a good book. I’m so sad it’s over. 😅)
But gods-damn, it was beautiful. It was a masterpiece on so many levels. Mother of Death & Dawn held the same sensations and the same emotional grip as the rest of the series but amped up on caffeine. I’m devastated the series is over, but I couldn’t be more pleased with how it ended.
Please read this series. I cannot express in more words than I already have that this is one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read.
Red's Bookish Boones 