Rachel

I spent the entire ending battle scene crying, this book wraps up so beautifully with love horses victory and building the world anew. The friendship and sisterly dialogue is heartwarming and exceptionally portrayed throughout the series. The locations and world of this series were also very clearly painted and understood. Adventure tales were well constructed, characters were imbued with unique and quirky qualities, I want to be part of the friend group too maybe with shadow powers and wings pls #daughterofdarkness. The ‘twists’ in this of Jasira and the warrior women coming for the rescue were obvious, but the fate stone less so for me. I thought maybe it was a time ticker on the end of darkness? So happy our MCs get to fight and flit around as they desire. My one complaint is how every scene w the two MCs once they are alone is just sex, sometimes good, but it got old.

I almost stopped the series before this book and I’m rlly glad I didn’t, good adventures contained in here, the arc of the characters pain to happiness is a phenomenon I’m glad not to have missed. Glad the main characters finally had it out, glad to finally understand what has been going on behind the scenes with the other groups. A good setup for the next books resolution.

Happy to see our main woman improve her skills and her emotional control, felt somewhat bored here in the middle but this was (sadly) saved by the end, my stomach hurts :(

I just kind of feel like why? Everything wrapped up as expected which is nice and there was interesting town drama throughout but this just seems like an unrealistic happy ending where the main character is perfect? As is her relationship and family and besties. I of course agree with the inclusive and feminist messages of the story and learned more about midwifery but don’t get the point

This adventure story has intrigued me. I enjoy a heroine who proves everyone wrong. The push and pull between the two MC’s seems so pointless like they fall into bed together every single time but I enjoyed their trek together as their introduction and relationship building. The Malik twist with his subtle smiles and the story of her dagger are bright spots. The camaraderie of the FMC and her shield boys is so well written and precious, excellent depictions of friendship and care. Their journey to become guardians was a highlight for me. The description of the monsters is somewhat confusing to me as I try to picture how they look and their mechanics as well with black tendrils and claws and shadow vision causing but I am also willing to accept they are as they are

I haven't read anything about slavery since elementary school? middle school? It has certainly been awhile. Hearing about what black people were forced to endure and for how long and how those systems are still present today was terrible and valuable and eye-opening. This harrowing comparison of the treatment of subordinates in US, India, and Nazi Germany should incite rage in us all. It's a hard book to read but it's important to know the truth about the nation we live in. Unfortunately caste beliefs are still ever-present in our society and in all of us, but when you are able to describe and detail a problem there is more hope for identifying a solution. Reinforces the belief and truth that what benefits the lowest people in a society benefits us all.

quick romance read, some hot scenes for sure, predictable

I still hate love triangles. i do enjoy a main character giving in to the evil, her marking her arms though, like i just think she is dumb for doing that and keeping her plan secret seems like an obviously huge mistake, but i supposed that is how you build drama in a book, like it wouldn't be interesting if the main character did something reasonable? alas, i think i will quit here in the series.

I came back for more. Had to see the Grim timeline play out, a necklace that you wear and touch and he shows up? obsessed. I am like not team oro, but i am team secret marriage? felt sort of out of place but also sort of invested in it. confused about the portal stuff and the war? having trouble interpreting who the warmongers are. idk, keep reading if you want