Series finales can be devilishly tricky to get right. You can try and pack so much into the finale that the book feels bloated and confusing (Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series is a prime example.) Or, you can just have an incredibly unsatisfying and open-ended conclusion that leaves the fans wanting more (Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen is a prime example.) And then, there is the rare occasion where the finale is satisfying not open-ended and not rushed (Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series is a prime example.) And then are the finales that feel rushed, with little detail, plenty of eye rolling moments and unsurprising moments.
What I’m trying to say here is that there are many ways to conclude a series and not all conclusions are good ones. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth talking about. Even the worst of finales have their good moments. And that’s the theme of the two books I’m reviewing here. Both Holly Black’s Folk of the Air and Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns have been solid series. They have had their great moments, and they have had there poor moments. And like the series as a whole, the conclusions, Queen of Nothing and Five Dark Fates respectively, are solid, but with flaws.
Five Dark Fates is the conclusion that bothered me the most. And not because of the conclusions itself, but because of how predictable it was. Which is a shame, because this series, more than any other, kept me guessing. The story was unpredictable and the characters themselves made choices that defied conventional wisdom. That is, right up until this book.
The story concludes a tumultuous path, not only for our sisters Katherine, Arisnoe and Mirabella, but also for Jules and Billy. And while there a few surprises, the book ends seemingly in a predictable manner. Following the chaotic ending to the previous book, the characters struggle to recoup, rebuild and plan once more. Katherine struggles to hold her rule together, Mirabella struggles with her destiny, Arisnoe struggles with Jules’ Legion Curse and together, they all struggle with the open rebellion that marks the climax of this book.
And unlike some of conclusions, this book is not light on the body count. Blake is not afraid to kill off characters and the ones that are left standing are both surprising and unsurprising.
And I think that’s my biggest issue with this book. That it is both surprising and easily predictable in it’s outcome. When a queen is eventually crowned, it’s unsurprising who ends up on the throne. And it’s worst of all of the choices in my opinion.
But for all of the criticisms I have, the book is still a solid conclusion. everything is wrapped up, the story is a satisfying, albeit predictable outcome and it felt perfectly paced. I just wished I hadn’t been able to guess the outcome from page 1.
All in all, Five Dark Fates is a good, albeit flawed conclusion to a good, if flawed series. The story while predictable ending nicely, there was a real body count and the author wasn’t afraid to take risks.
Verdict- 4 stars. A good read, if predictable.
We move on from a predictable and well paced book, to what felt like a rushed conclusion that was light on story. And yet, it still managed to be a worthwhile conclusion.
Holly Black’s Queen of Nothing had the tall task of picking up from the shocking ending of The Wicked King. Thrown into exile, Jules must somehow find her place once more as her entire world crumbles around her.
As with the previous two books, this entry is very much centered on the intrigue. And it does it phenomenally well. You are kept on your toes and the tension is very much real, especially early on and towards the end. The middle part drags a bit, but it is tolerable.
The character development is mostly on the sisters as Jules and Carden remain pretty much the same time. While those inside the court and the rebels are focused on to great degree, you get a plethora of names that can leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed.
But for me, the biggest flaw is the story. The story seems to fly by, despite the true lack of large action scenes. It’s a testament to how little there seemed to be when I can hardly remember the true story without giving spoilers. And when that happens, you have a problem.
And yet, I still enjoyed the book. The intrigue, the twists and turns and the shadow of a prophecy hanging over Carden’s head do keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the short length of this book. The tension is very real and you are generally worried about the characters, which is dramatically overblown come the end.
Overall, this is a tricky one to review. The fast pace and intrigue focused story leaves little for true development and it moves at breakneck pace towards the climax. With a true lack memorable story moments, the plot could be excused as dull. Yet the definite presence of intrigue and tension adds weight the book. And, it is at least a fully closed conclusion, with no holes in the ending.
Verdict- 4 stars. Again, the decent read, just be prepared to remember much
The Reader's Corner 