Maxence

Leviathan's Fall was a good ending, though a bit abrupt to my taste. I think I would have liked a bit more time after finishing the book, which is at least a sign of quality for the series as a whole. The climax was effective, and it's the book in the saga I read the fastest. However, a bit more time—even just one or two additional chapters—would have been beneficial since the book ends almost right as the climax does. Despite the horrors committed by some characters throughout the saga, the book's message remained one of hope regarding humanity, and it resonated with me. In short, a good ending, but I would have liked just a bit more to give it 4.5 stars, and Tiamat's will remain my favorite book of the saga.

'Tiamat's Wrath' was a complete success for me. While Persepolis Rising was sometimes a bit too slow and I occasionally struggled to find the motivation to pick it back up, I found it incredibly hard to put this book down. The story moves at a much faster pace with major events that caught me off guard and effective plot twists. The story is constructed organically, with each development logically stemming from the consequences of previous actions. An excellent installment that sets up a final volume which, I hope, will live up to the setup promised by this one.

Despite some pacing issues that slowed my reading at times, Persepolis Rising is a solid transitional installment. I found the time skip well-handled and enjoyed discovering how the sociopolitical landscape and the characters had evolved during that gap.

The reflection on nostalgia — including nostalgia for difficult times — carried by Drummer and Naomi was interesting and helped flesh out their characters.

In my view, the real achievement lies with the Laconians. Terrifyingly powerful without being tyrannical or one-dimensional, their culture is compelling while their absolute technological superiority gives them an air of inevitability that works particularly well.

I hope the next volume will capitalize on these strengths and lay the groundwork for a conclusion worthy of the saga.