What do you think?
Rate this book
The Falconer #3
The Fallen Kingdom
She’s on borrowed time…and she has only one chance to set things right.
Find life.
Deep in a forest, Aileana Kameron claws her way out of the earth. Back from the dead with no memory of who she is or what has happened to her, the Falconer now possesses even greater otherworldly powers and a ruthless instinct to kill—and the one piece of knowledge that can change everything.
Find Kiaran.
Two fae monarchs, Aithinne and Kadamach, stand on the brink of war, and according to an ancient curse, one must die at the hand of the other or all the worlds will perish. Once, Kadamach was known as Kiaran, and he was mentor, protector, and lover to Aileana. Now, under the grip of the curse, his better nature seems lost forever.
Find the book.
Aileana’s only hope lies in the legendary Book of Remembrance, a book of spells so powerful that it can break the fae curse and even turn back time. But the book has been lost for centuries, and many are looking for it, including its creator, the Morrigan—a faery of terrifying malevolence and cruelty.
Sacrifice everything.
To obtain the book and defeat the Morrigan, Aileana must form an unthinkable alliance, one that challenges every vow she has made to herself—even as the powers that brought her to life are slowly but surely killing her.
Find life.
Deep in a forest, Aileana Kameron claws her way out of the earth. Back from the dead with no memory of who she is or what has happened to her, the Falconer now possesses even greater otherworldly powers and a ruthless instinct to kill—and the one piece of knowledge that can change everything.
Find Kiaran.
Two fae monarchs, Aithinne and Kadamach, stand on the brink of war, and according to an ancient curse, one must die at the hand of the other or all the worlds will perish. Once, Kadamach was known as Kiaran, and he was mentor, protector, and lover to Aileana. Now, under the grip of the curse, his better nature seems lost forever.
Find the book.
Aileana’s only hope lies in the legendary Book of Remembrance, a book of spells so powerful that it can break the fae curse and even turn back time. But the book has been lost for centuries, and many are looking for it, including its creator, the Morrigan—a faery of terrifying malevolence and cruelty.
Sacrifice everything.
To obtain the book and defeat the Morrigan, Aileana must form an unthinkable alliance, one that challenges every vow she has made to herself—even as the powers that brought her to life are slowly but surely killing her.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2017
About the author
Elizabeth May
11 books2,252 followers
Elizabeth May is the Sunday Times bestselling author of the romantasy To Cage A God, the Seven Devils duology (co-written with Laura Lam), The Falconer series, and historical romance novels under the pen name Katrina Kendrick. She is Californian by birth and Scottish by choice, and holds a PhD from the University of St Andrews. She currently resides on an old farm in rural Scotland with her husband, three cats, and a lively hive of resident honey bees.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 844 reviews
Read
May 21, 2016My editor tells me this is her favourite book in the series.
I think it's my favourite, too.
I think it's my favourite, too.
August 6, 2017
Savagely beautiful.
Once upon a time, a human girl fought in a desperate battle, and she was sliced with a blade. She died, and then she came back. She clawed her way out of the grave, with no memories of her past and some abilities that burned her and begged to be unleashed. She could only catch a glimpse of her former self when she bathed in blood, when she harnessed her newfound powers. She was death. She was destruction. Her gift was chaos. But then started to remember, and the weight of her choices and her destiny brought her to her knees. Her world had fallen apart, and the only way to prevent its demise was to find a cruel, ageless being trapped in a realm of nightmares, where reality was fluid. With time running out, she set off a journey with her mother's murderer, a broken queen and a dark faery king. Her faery king. The king had many demons to fight, but he loved her so much he defied his own insticts, his own survival. Their story, though, was not meant to have a happy ending. There are some vows you cannot break. Some enemies you cannot defeat. And some sacrifices you cannot avoid, not when the future of your world is at stake.
For the sake of honesty, I have to admit that my rating is rather partial. If I were completely objective, I'd say that The Fallen Kingdom was probably the weakest instalment of the Falconer trilogy, a trilogy I cherished from the first moment. I'd say that I found the story a little underdeveloped, since we spent the majority of the book inside Aileana's head, her internal struggles between compassion and brutality, instead of witnessing mindblowing battles and visiting breathtaking landscapes; that the discovery of the Book of Remembrance and the conclusion of this arc were hasty; that I dreaded yet eagerly expected scenes with wicked Kadamach that would twist and break my soul, but in the end the only difference between Kiaran and Kadamach was the hunger for human blood, not immoraliry and depravity.
But I am not objective.
Are you still you?
I found beauty in this book, in its hopelessness and the terrifying path towards doom and mayhem, in the ashen sky and the parched land. I was swept by the need to dress like a pirate and dance next to a pixie that got drunk in honey and a girl who accepted her ruthlessness yet loved passionately. I walked in the corridors of an empty, desolate palace, and my hands yearned to touch its king, to comfort him and trail the marks in his body that bound him to promises with a steep price. I felt my chest swell with the overpowering longing and the connection that pulsed like a living and breathing thing between the girl and the king. I muffled the sobs that made my body tremble, and tasted my salted tears when I knew that I wasn't wrong when I thought the king and the girl were indeed a retelling of Buffy/Angel.
Let me go.
The stolen moments between Kiaran and Aileana were sweet, sensual and heartbreaking at the same time. They knew they were on borrowed time, and I knew it, but I was helpless. I was a a tangle of emotions, of hunger and desire, soaked in despair, blinded by pain and kept wishing wishing wishing that in the end my heart would be intact. But it was not. It was a bloody and sticky thing that surprisingly kept beating. But Elizabeth May's talents are not limited to the creation of heroes that own every inch of you. She also gave a human dimension to the villains. She made you care for mortals and immortals all the same. She gave you a reprieve with the funny banters and the sarcastic retorts between her rare characters. And she made you whisper to her, even after the tragedies and death and darkness
I'm yours.
I'm yours.
I'm yours.
The Fallen Kingdom was not what I expected, but I loved it nonetheless.
You can find this review and more over on BookNest.eu!
“If you were alive, you'd wish you had killed me.”
Once upon a time, a human girl fought in a desperate battle, and she was sliced with a blade. She died, and then she came back. She clawed her way out of the grave, with no memories of her past and some abilities that burned her and begged to be unleashed. She could only catch a glimpse of her former self when she bathed in blood, when she harnessed her newfound powers. She was death. She was destruction. Her gift was chaos. But then started to remember, and the weight of her choices and her destiny brought her to her knees. Her world had fallen apart, and the only way to prevent its demise was to find a cruel, ageless being trapped in a realm of nightmares, where reality was fluid. With time running out, she set off a journey with her mother's murderer, a broken queen and a dark faery king. Her faery king. The king had many demons to fight, but he loved her so much he defied his own insticts, his own survival. Their story, though, was not meant to have a happy ending. There are some vows you cannot break. Some enemies you cannot defeat. And some sacrifices you cannot avoid, not when the future of your world is at stake.
“As it begins in death, so shall it end in death, until the day a child of the Cailleach confronts their fate with a true lie on their lips and sacrifices that which they prize most: their heart.”
For the sake of honesty, I have to admit that my rating is rather partial. If I were completely objective, I'd say that The Fallen Kingdom was probably the weakest instalment of the Falconer trilogy, a trilogy I cherished from the first moment. I'd say that I found the story a little underdeveloped, since we spent the majority of the book inside Aileana's head, her internal struggles between compassion and brutality, instead of witnessing mindblowing battles and visiting breathtaking landscapes; that the discovery of the Book of Remembrance and the conclusion of this arc were hasty; that I dreaded yet eagerly expected scenes with wicked Kadamach that would twist and break my soul, but in the end the only difference between Kiaran and Kadamach was the hunger for human blood, not immoraliry and depravity.
But I am not objective.
Are you still you?
I found beauty in this book, in its hopelessness and the terrifying path towards doom and mayhem, in the ashen sky and the parched land. I was swept by the need to dress like a pirate and dance next to a pixie that got drunk in honey and a girl who accepted her ruthlessness yet loved passionately. I walked in the corridors of an empty, desolate palace, and my hands yearned to touch its king, to comfort him and trail the marks in his body that bound him to promises with a steep price. I felt my chest swell with the overpowering longing and the connection that pulsed like a living and breathing thing between the girl and the king. I muffled the sobs that made my body tremble, and tasted my salted tears when I knew that I wasn't wrong when I thought the king and the girl were indeed a retelling of Buffy/Angel.
Let me go.
The stolen moments between Kiaran and Aileana were sweet, sensual and heartbreaking at the same time. They knew they were on borrowed time, and I knew it, but I was helpless. I was a a tangle of emotions, of hunger and desire, soaked in despair, blinded by pain and kept wishing wishing wishing that in the end my heart would be intact. But it was not. It was a bloody and sticky thing that surprisingly kept beating. But Elizabeth May's talents are not limited to the creation of heroes that own every inch of you. She also gave a human dimension to the villains. She made you care for mortals and immortals all the same. She gave you a reprieve with the funny banters and the sarcastic retorts between her rare characters. And she made you whisper to her, even after the tragedies and death and darkness
I'm yours.
I'm yours.
I'm yours.
The Fallen Kingdom was not what I expected, but I loved it nonetheless.
You can find this review and more over on BookNest.eu!
October 29, 2021
I liked this book, but I have to say I enjoyed the second book more. This book is not quite as action packed as last one but it is more going from one dire situation to another. One of the things I did feel is Elizabeth May did try to wrap everything up to make this a proper ending, but a few of these parts felt rushed. Though I always respect a writer when the put a definite end to a series.
Aileen’s is back more powerful then ever, but different and more then slightly broken. All this is leading to a Hail Mary play to Dave not only what is left of the worlds but all the realms themselves.
The main theme of this story is the extremes people will go to for sides of love. Past secrets are revealed, mends are made and retribution is dispensed.
This is a good book and a good ending to the trilogy. However I wish some parts did not feel so rushed. I would have been happy with another 100 pages to pad the book out. I really did like the short quick readable chapters in the book. All in all a very good ending.
Aileen’s is back more powerful then ever, but different and more then slightly broken. All this is leading to a Hail Mary play to Dave not only what is left of the worlds but all the realms themselves.
The main theme of this story is the extremes people will go to for sides of love. Past secrets are revealed, mends are made and retribution is dispensed.
This is a good book and a good ending to the trilogy. However I wish some parts did not feel so rushed. I would have been happy with another 100 pages to pad the book out. I really did like the short quick readable chapters in the book. All in all a very good ending.
November 20, 2017
This trilogy was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I'm literally sitting here sobbing because reading all three books is so painful. You never know what to expect from Elizabeth May. Once moment you'll be laughing with the characters, and the next there's going to be such a violent plot twist, you'll be sitting there for thirty minutes straight trying to process life.
And here I thought the pain would end.
Boy, was I wrong.
||MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD|| and obviously spoilers from the previous two books
I literally cannot even describe how many feels this trilogy gave me. It literally has everything I can ask for and more. It's got a swoon worthy Kiaran who actually respects Kam. He's literally the best love interest a girl can ask for. He respects Kam's wishes to fight. He doesn't stop her (unlike all the other boys who go "NO I CANNOT LET YOU GET HURT. I WON'T LET YOU FIGHT"), he tells her that she needs to be able to be strong for herself. She needs to fight for herself. She needs to be strong for herself. He literally worships her. He makes her feel beautiful, despite her scars. Honestly, the amount of respect he has for his girl is so beautiful, we fucking need more guys like him in books and in real life.
The romance, the plot, the characters will all make you sob your heart out, make you laugh, keep you on the edge of your seat and have you in agony for the rest of your life. The plot is so intriguing and not for a moment did I want to stop reading. Every page is filled with twists and turns and honestly?? Good luck if you choose to read this, I hope you make it out alive.
ALSO Aithinne is GAY AND I NEEDED IT!!!
I honestly don't even know what more to say.
Just go read it.
Please.
--
i'm trying to fucking breathe but this book is making it so goddamn difficult.
i need a heart transplant because my heart's in pain and it's dying and i'm dying and literally what the fuck this hurts. Elizabeth May I didn't sign up for this pain, please have mercy on my fucking soul what is life how am I going to survive out in the world. The world is evil. I'm a smol child I don't deserve this.
anyways, don't expect a coherent review it's going to be a fucking mess.
And here I thought the pain would end.
Boy, was I wrong.
||MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD|| and obviously spoilers from the previous two books
I literally cannot even describe how many feels this trilogy gave me. It literally has everything I can ask for and more. It's got a swoon worthy Kiaran who actually respects Kam. He's literally the best love interest a girl can ask for. He respects Kam's wishes to fight. He doesn't stop her (unlike all the other boys who go "NO I CANNOT LET YOU GET HURT. I WON'T LET YOU FIGHT"), he tells her that she needs to be able to be strong for herself. She needs to fight for herself. She needs to be strong for herself. He literally worships her. He makes her feel beautiful, despite her scars. Honestly, the amount of respect he has for his girl is so beautiful, we fucking need more guys like him in books and in real life.
The romance, the plot, the characters will all make you sob your heart out, make you laugh, keep you on the edge of your seat and have you in agony for the rest of your life. The plot is so intriguing and not for a moment did I want to stop reading. Every page is filled with twists and turns and honestly?? Good luck if you choose to read this, I hope you make it out alive.
ALSO Aithinne is GAY AND I NEEDED IT!!!
I honestly don't even know what more to say.
Just go read it.
Please.
--
i'm trying to fucking breathe but this book is making it so goddamn difficult.
i need a heart transplant because my heart's in pain and it's dying and i'm dying and literally what the fuck this hurts. Elizabeth May I didn't sign up for this pain, please have mercy on my fucking soul what is life how am I going to survive out in the world. The world is evil. I'm a smol child I don't deserve this.
anyways, don't expect a coherent review it's going to be a fucking mess.
June 5, 2017
2.5 stars? I'm still not sure how I feel about this. I think I liked it more in theory than the actual execution.
The first book was honestly a ton of fun, and the ending will ensure you'll go grab book two the moment you sit it down. But before I get ahead of myself- here's what I loved and craved more of after book two... I LOVED the mystery aspect of Kiaran (and trying to guess what his deal was), I loved loved loved the Scottish setting and looking up the locations that made for big events in the story. Also, the whole Seelie / Unseelie courts thing is just way cool for me - why is there not more of this in YA literature? (Yes, I'm well aware of the Fever series but it just wasn't for me.) Also hell yes to anything steampunk! (But that's pretty non existent after book one.)
Book two wasn't bad either, I loved the introduction of Athinine (is that how you spell it?) and some of the new magical elements. But I started disconnecting in some of the descriptions. I had a hard time following the abstract faerie realms (again, I loved the idea of them, but the way they were described.. I was a big lost. Same with Derrick's kingdom.)
This brought back some of the good parts- and honestly the ending of book two was a legit set up for this one. Still some cool elements here, but I was a bit disappointed at how everything played out. I honestly think most people that were super into book two will really enjoy this third installment.
**SPOILERS BELOW**
I was STOKED to find out that Kiaran was the Unseelie King, like i'd suspected all along. And when he returned to his kingdom in this? I was so ready for a devious Kiaran, but instead, he was still a softie who lacked the sass and wittiness of Kiaran and book one. I was so ready for a struggle between Kam and Kiaran at that point- but instead, she finds him, he's practically himself, and bleh.
Secondly, I loved the ending and all... with ONE major exception... which really ruined the entire story for me. What the flipping heck WHY DERRICK???? WHY????? He was easily my favorite character and yeah yeah I get that everything shouldn't be a perfect happily after but that just ticked me off. He had the most personality and was just a ball of cuteness and I can't... I can't...
Also, my last complaint.. The whole repeated thoughts in Kam's head was like... agh. Really? We get it.. don't need to see it 10 billion times in each book.
Anyway, I really think I"ll be in the minority on this one. This IS a really fun series with a cool concept and I think I just had different expectations in my head for this third installment.
My Blog ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Etsy
The first book was honestly a ton of fun, and the ending will ensure you'll go grab book two the moment you sit it down. But before I get ahead of myself- here's what I loved and craved more of after book two... I LOVED the mystery aspect of Kiaran (and trying to guess what his deal was), I loved loved loved the Scottish setting and looking up the locations that made for big events in the story. Also, the whole Seelie / Unseelie courts thing is just way cool for me - why is there not more of this in YA literature? (Yes, I'm well aware of the Fever series but it just wasn't for me.) Also hell yes to anything steampunk! (But that's pretty non existent after book one.)
Book two wasn't bad either, I loved the introduction of Athinine (is that how you spell it?) and some of the new magical elements. But I started disconnecting in some of the descriptions. I had a hard time following the abstract faerie realms (again, I loved the idea of them, but the way they were described.. I was a big lost. Same with Derrick's kingdom.)
This brought back some of the good parts- and honestly the ending of book two was a legit set up for this one. Still some cool elements here, but I was a bit disappointed at how everything played out. I honestly think most people that were super into book two will really enjoy this third installment.
**SPOILERS BELOW**
I was STOKED to find out that Kiaran was the Unseelie King, like i'd suspected all along. And when he returned to his kingdom in this? I was so ready for a devious Kiaran, but instead, he was still a softie who lacked the sass and wittiness of Kiaran and book one. I was so ready for a struggle between Kam and Kiaran at that point- but instead, she finds him, he's practically himself, and bleh.
Secondly, I loved the ending and all... with ONE major exception... which really ruined the entire story for me. What the flipping heck WHY DERRICK???? WHY????? He was easily my favorite character and yeah yeah I get that everything shouldn't be a perfect happily after but that just ticked me off. He had the most personality and was just a ball of cuteness and I can't... I can't...
Also, my last complaint.. The whole repeated thoughts in Kam's head was like... agh. Really? We get it.. don't need to see it 10 billion times in each book.
Anyway, I really think I"ll be in the minority on this one. This IS a really fun series with a cool concept and I think I just had different expectations in my head for this third installment.
My Blog ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Etsy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2020
TW: death of loved ones; possession
This series had so much potential and I think I went in with too high of hopes due to its slight cult following. Fans of fae series will likely still enjoy it but I found the overarching plot a bit disjointed, the world building not as fleshed out as I would have liked, and the villains to be under-utilized. I never felt a sense of danger for the characters or any angst in a relationship that was supposed to be “will they; won’t they.” One of the few times I think a series could have been longer to give everything enough time.
This series had so much potential and I think I went in with too high of hopes due to its slight cult following. Fans of fae series will likely still enjoy it but I found the overarching plot a bit disjointed, the world building not as fleshed out as I would have liked, and the villains to be under-utilized. I never felt a sense of danger for the characters or any angst in a relationship that was supposed to be “will they; won’t they.” One of the few times I think a series could have been longer to give everything enough time.
October 10, 2020
“He loved you so much that when you died, he might as well have died with you.”Actual footage of me rn:
This book was perfect, absolutely perfect. I couldn’t have imagined a more extraordinary ending for Aileana, Kiaran, Aithinne, and everyone else! It was just so bittersweet and melancholy and startling, and I’ve been left feeling like all I want to do is curl up into a ball and sob for hours and hours on end. As I anticipated in my last review, this book left me broken in the most exquisite way. I really did spend just over three hundred and fifty pages and four and a half hours with a knot in my throat that made it difficult to breathe most of the time, and I realised at the quarter-way mark that this series is seared into my heart, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m so glad that I decided to pick up The Falconer on a whim in the middle of June during a sleepless night, and I can’t wait to rediscover it at some point in the future. I know I’ll enjoy it just as much (if not more) that second time around, and I can’t wait to do this all over again.
“If you were alive, you'd wish you had killed me.”I’ve seen a few people say in their reviews that they found The Fallen Kingdom a little boring, but I couldn’t disagree more. I had to put this book down countless times just to catch my breath, and I enjoyed the new, immensely high stakes that Elizabeth May threw at the characters in this book. The quest to find The Morrigan was equal blends fascinating, terrifying, and exhilarating, and I found her to be a delightfully horrific villain. I think she might actually be the best bad guy this trilogy has produced, and that’s a pretty hard feat to accomplish! The way she could manipulate the entire realm… *shudders*. That was some nightmare fuel! I’ll also never forgive her for trying to turn Kiaran and Aileana on each other, and I’ve never wanted to reach into a book, pull out a character, and slap her more before in my life! (Even if she is a fierce, all-powerful Goddess and all…) It should be noted for fans of ACOTAR that The Morrigan is NOTHING like Mor, and you’ll feel absolutely cheated if you go into this one expecting that!
I really did like her inclusion in this series, though, and I also how Elizabeth May has created the perfect world infused so richly with both Scottish culture and their faery mythology. I think the worldbuilding was easily one of my favourite parts of The Fallen Kingdom, and I liked all the plot twists revolving around Morrigan’s book and its origins! With this one, I swear I could actually feel magic leeching off the pages, and it felt like the perfect blend of savagery and beauty, just like Scotland itself. AND THE ENDING! I know I’ve already mentioned it, but good God, it really did leave me wounded and speechless. It was such a stunning conclusion to a series that deserves so much more love than it’s been given over the years, and while I know that these books aren’t flawless, I can’t help but think this is one of the best trilogies I’ve ever come across. I really hope whoever picks these books up next enjoys them half as much as I did!
“He's in my heart and I'm in his. And I think it’s going to destroy us both.”The characters have always carried this series in my mind, and I’m so proud of each and every single one of them. And I’m really, really not ready to let them go. They’re such a loyal, beautiful, and charming group of miscreants, and the underlying love and devotion they develop for one another over the course of this trilogy never fails to make me smile (and sob a little). The fleeting, human moments of happiness they experienced in bursts throughout this book helped make the unbearable ending, bearable. I will never get over how they all managed to go through so much pain, and grief, and suffering, and still managed to come out of it on the other side all the stronger and smarter for it. Aileana, Kiaran, Derrick, Aithinne, Catherine, Gavin… they deserved the world, and while those last few chapters felt like a knife to the heart, I still feel like I got the soft epilogue I wanted for them from the beginning.
I do need to shine a spotlight on Kiaran McKay for a second because that boy never stopped breaking my heart throughout the entirety of this book. He was just… so strong, and brave, and vulnerable. And selfless. So, so selfless. I’m going to miss my deliciously mysterious and broody faery prince, and I really think he’s going to be the main reason I re-read this series sooner than you’d think! He slowly started creeping his way up my list of all-time favourite love interests from the moment he was introduced in the first book, but everything he did in this one earnt him a solid place in my top five. I will NEVER get over the way he treats Aileana so lovingly and how he’s always had the utmost respect for her strength, competence, and kindness. He’s never said she isn’t strong enough or that she can’t handle herself, and he’s never tried to pull her away from a fight because he can’t bear losing her. He knows she’s a warrior, and he worships her for it. And, GOD, listening to him talk about everything he was feeling for Aileana during the first book KILLED ME! These two are a superior, gold standard YA couple, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving them!
And, wow, it really only took three sentences towards the end to break me…
“I’ve been alive for four thousand years and I’ve never once done anything that wasn’t selfish. So let me do this with you. Let me do one good thing.”Yeah, that noise? That’s just the sound of me sobbing in the corner over there.
I just… I can’t believe I have to let these characters go. I could probably go on for weeks and weeks about how much I love all of them, but I don’t want this review to turn into a 5,000-word essay! If you want to screech to me about them, though, I’m more than happy to fangirl with you!
His next words are spoken under his breath, so low I wonder if I heard them at all. “The girl helps the king keep his darkness at bay.”Dark, monstrous, and tantalisingly romantic, with characters ferocious and fragile enough to remain unforgettable, The Falconer series is a beautiful, refreshing, and original addition to the fantasy genre that is guaranteed to break your heart into a thousand tiny pieces and then stitch it back together again with its phenomenal ending. I don’t know much about anything right now, but what I do know for certain is that I won’t be able to shake this book’s hold over me for a long time. It’s woven itself into the tapestry of my heart, and I have been left desperate and yearning for anything that can make me feel the same way as these three books did. If anybody can recommend me a series that has characters and a romance that will make me ache for weeks once I’ve finished every book, I’d be eternally grateful! I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself if the next book I read is no good…
June 28, 2017
I was driving by an outdoor pool near my house and thought to myself,
"is that a pool or is that my tears??"
djasfdsjfkldsjfkljdsfkldsjfkldsjflkdsjfkldsjflksdfjskdlfjs
FOR ONCE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE
I AM OUT OF FUCKING WORDS
BUT I'M DEFINITELY OUT FOR REVENGE
I AM SO TEMPTED TO SEND A GR MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR AND TELL HER "WHO ALLOWED YOU??? HUH??? WHO GAVE YOU THE PERMISSION???"
I WILL 1000000% REGRET IT BUT I AM GOING THROUGH AN EMOTIONAL CRISIS.
WRITING IN CAPS LOCK AIN'T HELPING ME OMG
I'm so angry. I'm seething. I'm happy. I'm crying.
I want to marry this book.
but i want to fucking burn it.
Y'all know any places that'd let this happen?
so i can burn it
I want to make it official.
bye bye fallen kingdom *waves*
Review? Nope, it ain't coming.
Not in this life time.
omg i fucking need to let out these emotions
peace out.
djasfdsjfkldsjfkljdsfkldsjfkldsjflkdsjfkldsjflksdfjskdlfjs
FOR ONCE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE
I AM OUT OF FUCKING WORDS
BUT I'M DEFINITELY OUT FOR REVENGE
I AM SO TEMPTED TO SEND A GR MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR AND TELL HER "WHO ALLOWED YOU??? HUH??? WHO GAVE YOU THE PERMISSION???"
I WILL 1000000% REGRET IT BUT I AM GOING THROUGH AN EMOTIONAL CRISIS.
WRITING IN CAPS LOCK AIN'T HELPING ME OMG
I'm so angry. I'm seething. I'm happy. I'm crying.
I want to marry this book.
but i want to fucking burn it.
Y'all know any places that'd let this happen?
so i can burn it
I want to make it official.
bye bye fallen kingdom *waves*
Review? Nope, it ain't coming.
Not in this life time.
omg i fucking need to let out these emotions
peace out.
July 21, 2017
"I'm the girl whose gift is chaos, who can either save the realms or end them.
I lived up to my gift; I'm the one who broke the world."
Lol, I'm sorry. I just had to use that scene.
The Fallen Kingdom is a frankly disappointing finale to a series I've consistently rated 4 stars or above in the past.
Oh, sure, it's satisfying, I suppose. All the threads are tied up. But it's satisfying the way rice and vegetables are satisfying. It fills you up, but lacks the same giddy pleasure as cake or bacon.
There were so many times I just wanted to scream at Aileana. The romance used to be fun and a nice complement to the main plot, but now it's centerstage and recycles the same old YA Paranormal Romance plot:
Everyone: Kiaran is now dangerous. He will and can kill you. Look at these humans drained of blood he left on our borders!
Aileana: *waltzes into his territory and has repeated sex with him in his castle*
Everyone: One of the siblings has to die, or the world will end. Kill Kiaran, or choose to kill his sister Aithinne.
Aileana: My boyfriend for the world? I'm not sure that's adequate. I'm sure there's another way! *Hawaii explodes in the distance*
I know their love is earth-shattering and shit, but after reading so many YA books, both good and bad, I find it increasingly hard to tolerate and sympathize with raging teenage hormones, aka choosing love over the fate of the whole world. Nina Zenik from Six of Crows would laugh herself sick at these two.
While I'm on the topic of Six of Crows, it's possible to create a good enemy-to-lover romance while making sure neither of the parties lose their heads and forget their loyalties. It's possible to both love and mistrust the person who has been a threat to you for so long. Aileana and Kiaran just don't have that nuanced relationship. I have to compare to Aileana to Bella when it comes to her sense of self-preservation. 'I love him and he loves me, and therefore he won't rip my throat out and I trust him unconditionally.' Yeah, no, it doesn't work that way.
The reveal that either Kiaran or Aithinne must die in order to save the world is shown rather early in the book, which I thought was a bad plot decision. It just makes Aileana look selfish and stupid when she frets that she can't kill her boyfriend, even though it'd save the world.
For the six billion people you just doomed to ashes and misery, I will slam a sword through you myself before cutting off Kiaran's head. Some moral quibbling is expected, of course, but showing your hand so early on just makes for lot of angst and a very irritated Cynical Natalie.
The Fallen Kingdom also tries to sell that Aileana is Dark!Aileana now and ruthless, what with the "We always try to play the hero before we become the villain" quote, though honestly the only time she comes off as truly evil is when she won't despise her heart and kill her boyfriend. Once again for the folk in the back, for the world. For her human best friend and her husband, for Gavin who's an absolute gem, for those people Kiaran killed, for everyone who've never met and basically doomed.
The ending is a ridiculously convenient cheesefest.
Wholly disappointing.
ARC provided by Edelweiss
My review of The Falconer
My review of The Vanishing Throne
April 7, 2017
After the ending of book 2, I was thrilled to be able to start this immediately. And it definitely didn't disappoint.
Aileana is still amazing. Kiaran is still brooding {and swoony af}. Aithinne and Derrick are still delightful and seriously some the best parts of the story.
This plot line is full of emotions. I laughed and had my heartbroken all within a small span of pages. Over and over and over again. It was the most delicious torture. The lead up to the finale was satisfying. There is one thing that happened that I was outraged over and I don't feel that it was clearly addressed in the last pages.
Overall, this series has been absolutely phenomenal. I am so happy I was able to binge it.
**Huge thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
Aileana is still amazing. Kiaran is still brooding {and swoony af}. Aithinne and Derrick are still delightful and seriously some the best parts of the story.
This plot line is full of emotions. I laughed and had my heartbroken all within a small span of pages. Over and over and over again. It was the most delicious torture. The lead up to the finale was satisfying. There is one thing that happened that I was outraged over and I don't feel that it was clearly addressed in the last pages.
Overall, this series has been absolutely phenomenal. I am so happy I was able to binge it.
**Huge thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
July 26, 2017
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
My first review in months. I became quite rusty when it comes to explaining myself on paper, plus I am like 90% tired all the time these days, so this review will probably resemble a mess of random thoughts with no real structure.
First of all, Falconer trilogy was and is one of my favorites. But sometimes even our favorite books disappoint us in small ways we cannot forgive. In the case of The Fallen Kingdom I couldn't forgive how slow and boring some parts of the story were. After neck breaking speed the second book had and one twist after another, this one, though, had some twists and pacing, still seemed like a slow turtle compared to its predecessor. Now, when you start a series from relatively fast pacing and in the following sequel you speed up, it's understandable that the readers will expect something akin culmination in the last book - crescendo full of action, twists and gasps on almost every page. Instead... we have 300 something pages about Aileana and her inner monologue. It was very like special snowflake drama parade. Sorry, I don't want to be snarky when it comes to this series, but it seems I cannot not roll my eyes every time I remember Aileana in this book.
Secondary, where were Derrick, Aithinne and Kiaran? It felt like almost the whole time there was only Aileana Aileana Aileana... Everybody else felt like acting out of character. And most of, all I was expecting - no, craving devious Kiaran, but got ( if it's even possible) more softer Kiaran than in previous books. Oh dear, puppy Kiaran is not cute, trust me. He lost his backbone and acted like a love struck boy, not an ancient immortal king. And all for what? Because his girlfriend told him so *inserts eye roll* Of course, there were still extremely sexy and sensuous scenes involving Kiaran and Kam, but as for his character arc it took a rather sharp turn for the worst. Also, I missed otherworldly Aithinne. She was one of the most intriguing and interesting characters from book 2, and I wouldn't've minded a separate book about her. Now though she became a pale shadow of herself. Same goes for Derrick. Where's my snarky impudent little fae? I can count 3 or 4 times total he was in the book and all these times he acted like a boring old man, not the Derrick we know. Even if you take into consideration all the characters went through, it's still not enough to have such a strong change in demeanor.
Another issue that deserve mentioning is the world building. In the previous part the author introduced to us one of the richest and beautiful worlds I encountered in a book. Scottish culture mixed with fae mythology created a picture of something unique and beautiful whispering its magic on the pages. However, in this part the world around was very limited. I didn't feel as if I've been the part of this world; everything was quite bleak compared to the palette of colors in book 2.
But I would be lying if I say that I mostly didn't enjoy the book. I still am a very big fan of this story and the world Elizabeth May created. And I wouldn't mind coming back here one day or maybe to a different story taking place in the same realm. But even if none of these scenarios ever happen I am still very eagerly looking forward to anything Elizabeth May might write in the future.
Overall, a decent conclusion of a very good trilogy, but lacks the magic and richness of its predecessor.
My first review in months. I became quite rusty when it comes to explaining myself on paper, plus I am like 90% tired all the time these days, so this review will probably resemble a mess of random thoughts with no real structure.
First of all, Falconer trilogy was and is one of my favorites. But sometimes even our favorite books disappoint us in small ways we cannot forgive. In the case of The Fallen Kingdom I couldn't forgive how slow and boring some parts of the story were. After neck breaking speed the second book had and one twist after another, this one, though, had some twists and pacing, still seemed like a slow turtle compared to its predecessor. Now, when you start a series from relatively fast pacing and in the following sequel you speed up, it's understandable that the readers will expect something akin culmination in the last book - crescendo full of action, twists and gasps on almost every page. Instead... we have 300 something pages about Aileana and her inner monologue. It was very like special snowflake drama parade. Sorry, I don't want to be snarky when it comes to this series, but it seems I cannot not roll my eyes every time I remember Aileana in this book.
Secondary, where were Derrick, Aithinne and Kiaran? It felt like almost the whole time there was only Aileana Aileana Aileana... Everybody else felt like acting out of character. And most of, all I was expecting - no, craving devious Kiaran, but got ( if it's even possible) more softer Kiaran than in previous books. Oh dear, puppy Kiaran is not cute, trust me. He lost his backbone and acted like a love struck boy, not an ancient immortal king. And all for what? Because his girlfriend told him so *inserts eye roll* Of course, there were still extremely sexy and sensuous scenes involving Kiaran and Kam, but as for his character arc it took a rather sharp turn for the worst. Also, I missed otherworldly Aithinne. She was one of the most intriguing and interesting characters from book 2, and I wouldn't've minded a separate book about her. Now though she became a pale shadow of herself. Same goes for Derrick. Where's my snarky impudent little fae? I can count 3 or 4 times total he was in the book and all these times he acted like a boring old man, not the Derrick we know. Even if you take into consideration all the characters went through, it's still not enough to have such a strong change in demeanor.
Another issue that deserve mentioning is the world building. In the previous part the author introduced to us one of the richest and beautiful worlds I encountered in a book. Scottish culture mixed with fae mythology created a picture of something unique and beautiful whispering its magic on the pages. However, in this part the world around was very limited. I didn't feel as if I've been the part of this world; everything was quite bleak compared to the palette of colors in book 2.
But I would be lying if I say that I mostly didn't enjoy the book. I still am a very big fan of this story and the world Elizabeth May created. And I wouldn't mind coming back here one day or maybe to a different story taking place in the same realm. But even if none of these scenarios ever happen I am still very eagerly looking forward to anything Elizabeth May might write in the future.
Overall, a decent conclusion of a very good trilogy, but lacks the magic and richness of its predecessor.
June 1, 2017
***Review to come***
A worthy conclusion novel, and a great ending to the series. =)
EDIT (June 11th, 2016): OMG IT HAS A TITLE!!!!! THE FALLEN KINGDOM -- AHHHH!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHH I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP. *cries* As much as I loved The Vanishing Throne... I need some reassurance and nice things. Pleaseeeeeeee, Elizabeth May!
A worthy conclusion novel, and a great ending to the series. =)
EDIT (June 11th, 2016): OMG IT HAS A TITLE!!!!! THE FALLEN KINGDOM -- AHHHH!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHH I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP. *cries* As much as I loved The Vanishing Throne... I need some reassurance and nice things. Pleaseeeeeeee, Elizabeth May!
Read
August 5, 2016And she's done it again.
This is fantasy writing at its best, and a hot romance to match! Elizabeth May ranks up there with the best of the best writers in the genre. Fans of Sarah J. Maas and Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey books NEED to check out this trilogy! <3
This is fantasy writing at its best, and a hot romance to match! Elizabeth May ranks up there with the best of the best writers in the genre. Fans of Sarah J. Maas and Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey books NEED to check out this trilogy! <3
June 14, 2018
This book absolutely wrecked me. If you like Fae stories and being emotionally devastated, you might want to check this series out. 😂
June 19, 2017
4.5/5
"Tell people that when the faery king and the human girl first met, he saw how clever she was. How foolish an brave and magnificent. And he knew that one day, falling in love with her wouldn't be a choice. It would come to him as easily as breathing. Tell people about how they stood at the end of all things and saved the world. Together."
No more Aileana. No more Kiaran. No more Derrick. No more Aithinne. No more Sorcha.
"Tell people that when the faery king and the human girl first met, he saw how clever she was. How foolish an brave and magnificent. And he knew that one day, falling in love with her wouldn't be a choice. It would come to him as easily as breathing. Tell people about how they stood at the end of all things and saved the world. Together."
No more Aileana. No more Kiaran. No more Derrick. No more Aithinne. No more Sorcha.
May 1, 2019
HOW
COME
THIS
IS NOT
FAMOUS?????
Seriously. People read such crappy things passing as YA and then I find this awesome book and guess what? The ending makes sense and I have no words to say how much I liked it...
I swear it's better than 50 shades, and it's not even porn! Although, it doesn't need to be a lot to be better than 50 shades...... OK... I will stop now....
COME
THIS
IS NOT
FAMOUS?????
Seriously. People read such crappy things passing as YA and then I find this awesome book and guess what? The ending makes sense and I have no words to say how much I liked it...
I swear it's better than 50 shades, and it's not even porn! Although, it doesn't need to be a lot to be better than 50 shades...... OK... I will stop now....
June 17, 2017
~*Full review here on The Bent Bookworm!*~
SPOILER ALERT for the first two books of the series! You have been warned...
The Fallen Kingdom picks back up exactly where The Vanishing Throne left off – at least in Aileana’s mind. In reality quite a bit has happened and I was super confused for a few chapters. This would be a negative EXCEPT Aileana is just as confused as the hapless reader and so it’s perfect. She slowly pieces together what happened to her and everyone else and while she’s just as much a badass as ever (and still feels the need to remind us of that now and again), she is not as in control as she seemed before, despite having all the unnatural powers of the fae. Aileana is human, and humans imbued with fae powers…well, it’s not working out so well for her.
Kiaran…um. Well. Kiaran is just as dark and broody as ever. His day/night personality was more in evidence here, and it was more disconcerting than ever before. However…he still wasn’t as dark as I was expecting. Good thing…I guess? He’s the Unseelie King, he’s supposed to be evil and dark and twisted…and he was, but we don’t really see that directly. Also when Kam actually gets to him it was a little anticlimactic because he really didn’t seem all that different. The end though…be. still. my. bleeding. heart.
Aithinne as queen of the Seelie fae is just as amazing, hysterical, and badass as ever. I still adore her. I still want her to be my best friend.
She still has the best lines in the book but I unfortunately can’t quote any of them because my ePub file expired and my copy of the book hasn’t arrived yet. Bad book blogger.
I LOVED the way the legend of the Morrigan and her sister was woven into the story. I definitely need to brush up on my Scottish mythology/folklore, because I’m fairly certain I was missing some subtle nuances but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
As you can see, I had a few issues with the story, as characters weren’t quite what I expected or weren’t as developed as I hoped…but Elizabeth May managed to write such an amazing story with characters I was SO committed to, and also to not make it a happily-ever-after fairy tale. It has aspects of it, but…it’s not entirely, and that was part of what made me rate it 5 stars.
I can’t wait to see what Ms. May writes next! She’s definitely on my auto-buy list. Personally, I would love to see a book (or two or three) with Aithinne as the main character. Hint, hint, Ms. May. ;)
Many thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Blog | Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram | Google+
------------
This book took all the good things from the previous 2 books and left out all the things I didn't enjoy so much. Phenomenal ending to the trilogy. Broke my heart. But so much love!! Full review closer to release date.
------------
OMG I was just approved for a review copy of this and I'm just -
SPOILER ALERT for the first two books of the series! You have been warned...
The Fallen Kingdom picks back up exactly where The Vanishing Throne left off – at least in Aileana’s mind. In reality quite a bit has happened and I was super confused for a few chapters. This would be a negative EXCEPT Aileana is just as confused as the hapless reader and so it’s perfect. She slowly pieces together what happened to her and everyone else and while she’s just as much a badass as ever (and still feels the need to remind us of that now and again), she is not as in control as she seemed before, despite having all the unnatural powers of the fae. Aileana is human, and humans imbued with fae powers…well, it’s not working out so well for her.
Kiaran…um. Well. Kiaran is just as dark and broody as ever. His day/night personality was more in evidence here, and it was more disconcerting than ever before. However…he still wasn’t as dark as I was expecting. Good thing…I guess? He’s the Unseelie King, he’s supposed to be evil and dark and twisted…and he was, but we don’t really see that directly. Also when Kam actually gets to him it was a little anticlimactic because he really didn’t seem all that different. The end though…be. still. my. bleeding. heart.
Aithinne as queen of the Seelie fae is just as amazing, hysterical, and badass as ever. I still adore her. I still want her to be my best friend.
She still has the best lines in the book but I unfortunately can’t quote any of them because my ePub file expired and my copy of the book hasn’t arrived yet. Bad book blogger.
I LOVED the way the legend of the Morrigan and her sister was woven into the story. I definitely need to brush up on my Scottish mythology/folklore, because I’m fairly certain I was missing some subtle nuances but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
As you can see, I had a few issues with the story, as characters weren’t quite what I expected or weren’t as developed as I hoped…but Elizabeth May managed to write such an amazing story with characters I was SO committed to, and also to not make it a happily-ever-after fairy tale. It has aspects of it, but…it’s not entirely, and that was part of what made me rate it 5 stars.
I can’t wait to see what Ms. May writes next! She’s definitely on my auto-buy list. Personally, I would love to see a book (or two or three) with Aithinne as the main character. Hint, hint, Ms. May. ;)
Many thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Blog | Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram | Google+
------------
This book took all the good things from the previous 2 books and left out all the things I didn't enjoy so much. Phenomenal ending to the trilogy. Broke my heart. But so much love!! Full review closer to release date.
------------
OMG I was just approved for a review copy of this and I'm just -
July 28, 2017
when you say "review to come close to release date" but that's long gone and passed and you're suddenly a FILTHY LIAR.
i mean. i did post a review... just not... here...
STILL. you can read it on my blog as well, if that strikes your fancy.
* * W A R N I N G * *
this review will contain spoilers for books 1 & 2
This is another series finale which is synonymous to another book that ripped my heart out multiple times and left me a sobbing mess. In the AM. Quiet sobs aren't the best kind, guys. No one likes a tear-soaked pillow.
This series is wild. It always has been and I expected nothing less from The Fallen Kingdom. Aileana is alive, again, because of the Cailleach's powers. She's faster, stronger, more with these powers, but as always, there's a catch. The more she uses them, the more out of control she becomes. But Aileana needs to learn how because the only way to save her friends, her world, is by finding the book that holds the key to breaking the curse Kiaran and Aithinne face as being the Unseelie and Seelie royalty--one of them has to kill the other in order to be the new Cailleach and restore balance to the world.
See, that's kind of tough when you're friends with one and in love with the other. And when neither of them really wants to kill the other. Yikes.
I loooooove May's writing. It's so enthralling and exciting and it's just pure perfection. The way she writes her characters makes them practically leap from the page. They're real, flawed, so full of personality and snarkiness that it's hard not to love them.
Aithinne, like in The Vanishing Throne, ended up being my favourite character once again. She's a bit eccentric, but seeing her both as a vulnerable character who had been tortured for two thousand years as well as her old absentminded self. She's so funny and unique and my heart just goes out to her every single time she's faced with her demons. And she's just so good and seemingly pure, and I'm 100% sure she'll always be my cinnamon roll.
And Aileana! She's such a strong character throughout this series and gosh I love her. Fierce and mouthy and caring and taking no one's shit. Even though the odds were stacked against her, especially with what her powers were doing to her, she never stopped. She's selfless as she is dangerous.
I love that May didn't shy away from killing. Because I get so tired of characters feeling remorse when they've killed people. Aileana has killed a lot of people and it just doesn't stop there. I liked how Aileana was when she got that dangerous.
There was a lack of Derrick in this book, which made me so sad! I loved Derrick and Aileana together--they're such great friends and seeing friendships like theirs always warms my heart. Even though he wasn't there, along with Catherine and Gavin, I still loved that they were still significant in Aileana's life. Catherine is one of Aileana's closest friends and while it would've been nice to see more of in the series, maybe as a fighting badass as well, I'm just thankful the author didn't sideline her or her brother. Best friends and childhood crushes don't usually survive the apocalypse.
The roooooomance. Oh man. I love it. It's a mix of steamy, swoony, and super duper adorable. I love Kiaran and Aileana so much it actually kind of hurts when I think about them. A part of me just goes crazy when Kiaran calls her "Kam" and good god, I'm just a mess. They just work so well together. I wasn't entirely sold on the two of them in book 1 (which, I will admit, was a bit iffy for me), but May definitely wrote them super well. I love how they developed both as individual characters and together.
This was a perfect ending, if you ask me. It was heartbreaking, it was funny, it was everything you could ask for. There was never a moment where things weren't interesting. There's action throughout and tons of comedic relief despite the seriousness of the situation they were in. I loved it and I will always recommend this series.
So! Overall, an unsurprising rating of 5 stars to this fabulous ending. Pick up this series!
---
tiTLE TITLE TITLE TITLE OMG.
WAITING AN ENTIRE YEAR FOR THIS WILL KILL ME.
---
I forgot this releases in 2017.
Um, rude?
i mean. i did post a review... just not... here...
STILL. you can read it on my blog as well, if that strikes your fancy.
* * W A R N I N G * *
this review will contain spoilers for books 1 & 2
This is another series finale which is synonymous to another book that ripped my heart out multiple times and left me a sobbing mess. In the AM. Quiet sobs aren't the best kind, guys. No one likes a tear-soaked pillow.
This series is wild. It always has been and I expected nothing less from The Fallen Kingdom. Aileana is alive, again, because of the Cailleach's powers. She's faster, stronger, more with these powers, but as always, there's a catch. The more she uses them, the more out of control she becomes. But Aileana needs to learn how because the only way to save her friends, her world, is by finding the book that holds the key to breaking the curse Kiaran and Aithinne face as being the Unseelie and Seelie royalty--one of them has to kill the other in order to be the new Cailleach and restore balance to the world.
See, that's kind of tough when you're friends with one and in love with the other. And when neither of them really wants to kill the other. Yikes.
I loooooove May's writing. It's so enthralling and exciting and it's just pure perfection. The way she writes her characters makes them practically leap from the page. They're real, flawed, so full of personality and snarkiness that it's hard not to love them.
Aithinne, like in The Vanishing Throne, ended up being my favourite character once again. She's a bit eccentric, but seeing her both as a vulnerable character who had been tortured for two thousand years as well as her old absentminded self. She's so funny and unique and my heart just goes out to her every single time she's faced with her demons. And she's just so good and seemingly pure, and I'm 100% sure she'll always be my cinnamon roll.
And Aileana! She's such a strong character throughout this series and gosh I love her. Fierce and mouthy and caring and taking no one's shit. Even though the odds were stacked against her, especially with what her powers were doing to her, she never stopped. She's selfless as she is dangerous.
I love that May didn't shy away from killing. Because I get so tired of characters feeling remorse when they've killed people. Aileana has killed a lot of people and it just doesn't stop there. I liked how Aileana was when she got that dangerous.
There was a lack of Derrick in this book, which made me so sad! I loved Derrick and Aileana together--they're such great friends and seeing friendships like theirs always warms my heart. Even though he wasn't there, along with Catherine and Gavin, I still loved that they were still significant in Aileana's life. Catherine is one of Aileana's closest friends and while it would've been nice to see more of in the series, maybe as a fighting badass as well, I'm just thankful the author didn't sideline her or her brother. Best friends and childhood crushes don't usually survive the apocalypse.
The roooooomance. Oh man. I love it. It's a mix of steamy, swoony, and super duper adorable. I love Kiaran and Aileana so much it actually kind of hurts when I think about them. A part of me just goes crazy when Kiaran calls her "Kam" and good god, I'm just a mess. They just work so well together. I wasn't entirely sold on the two of them in book 1 (which, I will admit, was a bit iffy for me), but May definitely wrote them super well. I love how they developed both as individual characters and together.
This was a perfect ending, if you ask me. It was heartbreaking, it was funny, it was everything you could ask for. There was never a moment where things weren't interesting. There's action throughout and tons of comedic relief despite the seriousness of the situation they were in. I loved it and I will always recommend this series.
So! Overall, an unsurprising rating of 5 stars to this fabulous ending. Pick up this series!
---
tiTLE TITLE TITLE TITLE OMG.
WAITING AN ENTIRE YEAR FOR THIS WILL KILL ME.
---
I forgot this releases in 2017.
Um, rude?
November 11, 2018
Starting this trilogy, and even while reading the first book, I never would have guessed just how much I will end up loving this series. With each book, this series gets only better and better, also darker. This last insalment was the darkest of the three in my opinion. The first book was by no means perfect, but it really is apparent now how Elizabeth May got better at writing and creating compelling characters and more intricate world building with each new book.
The world building was a bit lacking in the first book, but it gets more and more thought out as the series progresses. The plot in The Falconer wasn't all that unexpected but in the sequels the storyline goes into new and unexpected places and I loved how on edge I was about how it will end. The books get completely unputdownable (though truth be told, each and every one of them were fast and compelling reads), May's writing - and creating of dark or emotional scenes - also gets only better.
But the best thing of all were the characters! I loved them in the first book already, but it doesn't compare with just how much I came to love and care for them in the sequels. How I connected to the heroine, felt for her turmoils and her darkness. How much I adored Gerrick, her little pixie friend and how much he made me laugh. Aithinne was quite the surprise for me - she appeared in the second book and her adorably crazy character shined in this one. And last but not least, Kiaran - who I swooned over in book one already, but I have come to absolutely love him in the next two books. Kam and Kiaran are now proudly among my favourite fictional ships!
The author really played with her readers' emotions in The Vanishing Throne and especially The Fallen Kingdom. Both book one and two have quite the cliffhangers, the one in The Vanishing Throne really tried to kill me tbh (you know, it was almost as bad as the ending of Fire Falling - though nothing can compare to that one) and then this book happened and I cried like a baby because with this series you just never know what will happen and how it will all end.
Highly recommended fantasy series. The Falconer trilogy is another example of the fact that books can still surprise me in the best way possible.
----------------------------
“How do I get his attention?”
“Well, if you want my advice, slaughter his soldiers. He’s bound to notice when they’re all dead outside his gates. He’ll probably watch and fall in love with you all over again.”
“My kind makes a lot of noise about being better than humans, but when it comes to power, immortals aren’t immune to greed. We’re not like lobsters.”
“Wait, what?”
“Lobsters,” Aithinne says again, just in case I misheard her, and I rather hoped I had. “I hear they’re biologically immortal,” she explains, “and exempt from greed. And they’re funny looking, so I’ve decided they’re my favorite.”
“First of all,” I say, “I don’t think that’s true. Second of all—”
“So maybe it isn’t true, but what do you think of a lobster for a pet?” Aithinne asks suddenly, as if she’s thought long and hard about this.”
“Don’t remind me,” Derrick says. “I’d like to skin that pointy-toothed hag alive after what she did to Aileana. And I’d settle for keeping her brother’s head.” He pauses. Then: “He’d make a good trophy for the garden.”
Gavin looks confused. “What garden?” He gestures around us with the bottle. “We’re in the middle of the damned woods on the brink of an apocalypse.”
Derrick’s halo flashes red. “The garden I intend to make from the corpses of our enemies,” he hisses. “I can’t help it if your human mind lacks vision.”
The world building was a bit lacking in the first book, but it gets more and more thought out as the series progresses. The plot in The Falconer wasn't all that unexpected but in the sequels the storyline goes into new and unexpected places and I loved how on edge I was about how it will end. The books get completely unputdownable (though truth be told, each and every one of them were fast and compelling reads), May's writing - and creating of dark or emotional scenes - also gets only better.
But the best thing of all were the characters! I loved them in the first book already, but it doesn't compare with just how much I came to love and care for them in the sequels. How I connected to the heroine, felt for her turmoils and her darkness. How much I adored Gerrick, her little pixie friend and how much he made me laugh. Aithinne was quite the surprise for me - she appeared in the second book and her adorably crazy character shined in this one. And last but not least, Kiaran - who I swooned over in book one already, but I have come to absolutely love him in the next two books. Kam and Kiaran are now proudly among my favourite fictional ships!
The author really played with her readers' emotions in The Vanishing Throne and especially The Fallen Kingdom. Both book one and two have quite the cliffhangers, the one in The Vanishing Throne really tried to kill me tbh (you know, it was almost as bad as the ending of Fire Falling - though nothing can compare to that one) and then this book happened and I cried like a baby because with this series you just never know what will happen and how it will all end.
Highly recommended fantasy series. The Falconer trilogy is another example of the fact that books can still surprise me in the best way possible.
----------------------------
“How do I get his attention?”
“Well, if you want my advice, slaughter his soldiers. He’s bound to notice when they’re all dead outside his gates. He’ll probably watch and fall in love with you all over again.”
“My kind makes a lot of noise about being better than humans, but when it comes to power, immortals aren’t immune to greed. We’re not like lobsters.”
“Wait, what?”
“Lobsters,” Aithinne says again, just in case I misheard her, and I rather hoped I had. “I hear they’re biologically immortal,” she explains, “and exempt from greed. And they’re funny looking, so I’ve decided they’re my favorite.”
“First of all,” I say, “I don’t think that’s true. Second of all—”
“So maybe it isn’t true, but what do you think of a lobster for a pet?” Aithinne asks suddenly, as if she’s thought long and hard about this.”
“Don’t remind me,” Derrick says. “I’d like to skin that pointy-toothed hag alive after what she did to Aileana. And I’d settle for keeping her brother’s head.” He pauses. Then: “He’d make a good trophy for the garden.”
Gavin looks confused. “What garden?” He gestures around us with the bottle. “We’re in the middle of the damned woods on the brink of an apocalypse.”
Derrick’s halo flashes red. “The garden I intend to make from the corpses of our enemies,” he hisses. “I can’t help it if your human mind lacks vision.”
February 16, 2021
“Tell people about how they stood at the end of all things and saved the world. Together.”
I can't believe this beautiful trilogy has come to an end. This last book was the PERFECTION! I loved everything! Right now I'm a mess inside. I'm happy, sad, empty... I don't know what to feel. I only know I'm going to miss this world and these characters so damn much! This is one of the most incredible, unique and amazing series I've ever read! Thank you Elizabeth for this story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤
I can't believe this beautiful trilogy has come to an end. This last book was the PERFECTION! I loved everything! Right now I'm a mess inside. I'm happy, sad, empty... I don't know what to feel. I only know I'm going to miss this world and these characters so damn much! This is one of the most incredible, unique and amazing series I've ever read! Thank you Elizabeth for this story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤
May 4, 2021
Kiaran goes still. “Save me, Kam?” His low, bitter laugh is cold enough to freeze my heart. His next words are whispered against the pulse at my throat. “, you’d wish you had killed me.”
So many times a person will pick up a book-or book series-and immediately put it down when it doesn’t suit them. I can’t say I do this often, but when I do, I generally don’t go back and give it a second chance. But, for some reason, I might have saw this on my feed or maybe I saw it on my iPad-I can’t remember-and I immediately wondered…did I really give this a fair shake?
“Bad habit,” I murmur.
“The worst,” she agrees.
My laugh is low, forced. “You know those stories where the lone hero saves the world?” I ask. “Do you ever notice that they don’t talk about what happens if the hero fails?”
Catherine looks impatient. “That’s where it began, wasn’t it? Thinking it was your duty to protect us all.” She shakes her head. “We’re not your responsibility, Aileana. This world isn’t your burden. It belongs to all of us.”
The Falconer seems to be a very polarizing series. In some ways, it is revered and a large group of people LOVE it. On the other end of the spectrum, people hate it with a fiery burning passion. As I said-that makes it difficult for a mood reader like me to decide if I should crack on or move on. But, again, for some reason, when I saw this, I just knew I had to try again. It pulled me in, made me wonder, made me remember how little I read fantasy back when I first tried it. That, and I read it with a dud of a friend who shall remain nameless-that tends to taint things when there’s a ridiculous black cloud hanging over everything, doesn’t it? Either way-I decided to try it…
“Threats? Too easy. If he doesn’t listen, I’ll challenge him to a duel and beat him a few times with a blunt instrument. He likes that sort of thing.” In fact, I seem to recall it being Kiaran’s idea of flirting.
…And wow did it start out JUST as bad as I remembered. I hated it. Well-no-I just saw why I had put it down. The focus was fuzzy and I had nothing that really drew me in. Well-I decided to push for a few more chapters-why not? It was free, I’d already bought it years ago, and I had nothing else pressing. And I am SO. GLAD. I. DID. Because not one chapter after I was about to put that heaping pile poo down (and about when I put it down last time, though I made it a bit longer this time, obviously) my whole world was tilted on its axis and I lost my breath in a crescendo of ravaging stomach butterflies. Why, you ask? Come now…you all know me better than that.
Why love a butterfly when it starts to die the moment it gets its wings?
It always starts with a boy, doesn’t it? The minute I met the dark and mysterious Kiaran…I knew I was a goner. I knew I’d be finishing book one, and I knew I’d like it quite a bit. From the moment he appeared, the minute they began training, it’s as if the story opened up and the sun shone brighter. I actually was really loving it. The end was epic, mildly so, but on the epic end I’d say, for most, if not a little convoluted, and it began a newer, darker path for our MC and the guy she had grown to love.
“Are you trying to forget me, MacKay?”
Kiaran looks up at me, his beautiful lilac eyes oddly vulnerable. “Say that name again.” His voice is rough with emotion. He does feel. And if he still feels, then he’s Kiaran. And he’s worth saving. I smile.
“MacKay.”
His fingers slide down my ribs. Lower. “Again.”
“Kiaran MacKay.”
Now. That’s that. I was very up and down with this series-I’ll straight up admit it-but I didn’t want to quit on it. I just….felt something, ya know? Sometimes you get a feeling that if you just hold on a little while longer, it will pay off in the end. Well, it did. And, frankly, this might be one of the best finales of a trilogy I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Gone were the useless, tedious side characters that made me grit my teeth. Gone was the ridiculous humor and not-so-witty banter that really took away from the story. Here, we got to see a fully fleshed out story where we have our main 4 or 5 characters, a dark curse entwining not one-not two-but many characters that led to death no matter the path they took. Now…THAT is a story. That’s a story I’d sacrifice my soul for.
“Easy.”
Right. Just battle four dozen soldiers to get the attention of my lover, who may or may not be evil depending on what mood he’s in.
“You know,” I say lightly, “I think we need to rethink your use of easy. Just a suggestion.”
“I have taken your suggestion under consideration and decided to ignore it.” She steps back with a smile. “Ready?”
I recall another portal Aithinne opened for me to cross between islands. “You’re not going to have me nearly crushed by tree branches again, are you?”
“No, no. Crushed by water.”
I know some people still found issues, but this is the one time I’m going to call them out. It’s cool that you wanted a darker character (they know who I’m talking about), and of course that would be freaking awesome, but the balance this author struck between longing, tortured, and dark was impeccable and I honestly don’t think it would have added a single thing. It wasn’t ‘rip your head off’ dark, yet you still always felt like you were teetering on the precipice of something that our characters couldn’t come back from. That they just might not win-or-someone would lose among their group. And, not to mention, she also added a weird tilt of balance where an evil character kind of made bad things happen when they wouldn’t have, and I think that’s the angle the author went for, as opposed to our characters losing large, irredeemable parts of themselves that would be hard to clean up in the finale.
“What’s your plan?” Aithinne asks.
“Go back, find the girl, and kill the Morrigan.”
“Simple. Effective. Small chance of success.”She smiles. “I like it.”
I just…I was in astonishment at the pure perfection that encompassed these pages and I could lose myself in them every single night. It’s a story I felt was written just for me-the tortured love, the sense of hopelessness, the way that we got glimpses of how much they cared for one another and how it could not/would not/will never be, all while battling an evil entity that is everywhere they turn, playing with their minds endlessly and???? I mean…how is this NOT peak entertainment? How are people not falling head over heels for this? I’m sorry, I know people have high standards but come ON…it is SO worth it to just let it all go and just feel and enjoy! But…hey…that’s just me.
Maybe the price of saving the world is forgetting how to live in it.
And I won’t praddle on too much longer, but I must say that I appreciated that author kept the silly humor far out of this one. We got snarky comments that could be cheesy, sure, but they finally balanced in and it added levity when things were bleak or the characters were losing their way. And, I’m sorry the nonexistence of a certain character in this one literally made this book work. If I had to hear that dumb **GRRRR** make any more silly, frivolous, or childish comments on the side, I’d have ripped my hair out. In fact, this person was the reason I about quit the series in book two. It’s just. Too. Much. And it is NOT good. So…the lack of presence there, I was here for it. And I also loved the way a certain evil character was incorporated in, how it added tension to Kiaran and Kam’s relationship, and how we finally were able to learn more about her-and I didn’t even know I wanted that. Go figure.
What does that make me, when a faery is capable of more humanity than I am?
SO. Do I recommend this series? Yes and no. Can you overlook the silly to get to the epic? Normally I can’t. But I did, and It was 100% worth it and I will be getting the hardbacks as soon as possible. This book series is for you if you can put aside the annoying side parts, if you can push through, if you can embrace that slow darkness that creeps in. But, if you want you perfection from every angle, no plot holes ever…then I don’t know. Obviously it’s not for you because this series is far from perfect. But I do feel bad for you- because book one, while not without issues, is a delight. Book two has a huge payoff, a dark, bleak look into what’s to come. And book three is dark, tortured, romantic, and a anguished lovers peril scenario lover’s greatest delight. Is it for everyone? Nah. But as the stakes finally became high enough-my biggest quabble from before-my tears were flowing and I was blubbering, fangirly mess in the end…and I couldn’t be happier I rediscovered this series and found a forever favorite. I hope you can find it in these pages, too.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
****
Where in the world was this author hiding that level of writing??? Holyyyyy shit, that was epic and everything I needed to make this series one I will never forget. Y'all are sleeping on this one.
Review to DEFINITELY come.
So many times a person will pick up a book-or book series-and immediately put it down when it doesn’t suit them. I can’t say I do this often, but when I do, I generally don’t go back and give it a second chance. But, for some reason, I might have saw this on my feed or maybe I saw it on my iPad-I can’t remember-and I immediately wondered…did I really give this a fair shake?
“Bad habit,” I murmur.
“The worst,” she agrees.
My laugh is low, forced. “You know those stories where the lone hero saves the world?” I ask. “Do you ever notice that they don’t talk about what happens if the hero fails?”
Catherine looks impatient. “That’s where it began, wasn’t it? Thinking it was your duty to protect us all.” She shakes her head. “We’re not your responsibility, Aileana. This world isn’t your burden. It belongs to all of us.”
The Falconer seems to be a very polarizing series. In some ways, it is revered and a large group of people LOVE it. On the other end of the spectrum, people hate it with a fiery burning passion. As I said-that makes it difficult for a mood reader like me to decide if I should crack on or move on. But, again, for some reason, when I saw this, I just knew I had to try again. It pulled me in, made me wonder, made me remember how little I read fantasy back when I first tried it. That, and I read it with a dud of a friend who shall remain nameless-that tends to taint things when there’s a ridiculous black cloud hanging over everything, doesn’t it? Either way-I decided to try it…
“Threats? Too easy. If he doesn’t listen, I’ll challenge him to a duel and beat him a few times with a blunt instrument. He likes that sort of thing.” In fact, I seem to recall it being Kiaran’s idea of flirting.
…And wow did it start out JUST as bad as I remembered. I hated it. Well-no-I just saw why I had put it down. The focus was fuzzy and I had nothing that really drew me in. Well-I decided to push for a few more chapters-why not? It was free, I’d already bought it years ago, and I had nothing else pressing. And I am SO. GLAD. I. DID. Because not one chapter after I was about to put that heaping pile poo down (and about when I put it down last time, though I made it a bit longer this time, obviously) my whole world was tilted on its axis and I lost my breath in a crescendo of ravaging stomach butterflies. Why, you ask? Come now…you all know me better than that.
Why love a butterfly when it starts to die the moment it gets its wings?
It always starts with a boy, doesn’t it? The minute I met the dark and mysterious Kiaran…I knew I was a goner. I knew I’d be finishing book one, and I knew I’d like it quite a bit. From the moment he appeared, the minute they began training, it’s as if the story opened up and the sun shone brighter. I actually was really loving it. The end was epic, mildly so, but on the epic end I’d say, for most, if not a little convoluted, and it began a newer, darker path for our MC and the guy she had grown to love.
“Are you trying to forget me, MacKay?”
Kiaran looks up at me, his beautiful lilac eyes oddly vulnerable. “Say that name again.” His voice is rough with emotion. He does feel. And if he still feels, then he’s Kiaran. And he’s worth saving. I smile.
“MacKay.”
His fingers slide down my ribs. Lower. “Again.”
“Kiaran MacKay.”
Now. That’s that. I was very up and down with this series-I’ll straight up admit it-but I didn’t want to quit on it. I just….felt something, ya know? Sometimes you get a feeling that if you just hold on a little while longer, it will pay off in the end. Well, it did. And, frankly, this might be one of the best finales of a trilogy I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Gone were the useless, tedious side characters that made me grit my teeth. Gone was the ridiculous humor and not-so-witty banter that really took away from the story. Here, we got to see a fully fleshed out story where we have our main 4 or 5 characters, a dark curse entwining not one-not two-but many characters that led to death no matter the path they took. Now…THAT is a story. That’s a story I’d sacrifice my soul for.
“Easy.”
Right. Just battle four dozen soldiers to get the attention of my lover, who may or may not be evil depending on what mood he’s in.
“You know,” I say lightly, “I think we need to rethink your use of easy. Just a suggestion.”
“I have taken your suggestion under consideration and decided to ignore it.” She steps back with a smile. “Ready?”
I recall another portal Aithinne opened for me to cross between islands. “You’re not going to have me nearly crushed by tree branches again, are you?”
“No, no. Crushed by water.”
I know some people still found issues, but this is the one time I’m going to call them out. It’s cool that you wanted a darker character (they know who I’m talking about), and of course that would be freaking awesome, but the balance this author struck between longing, tortured, and dark was impeccable and I honestly don’t think it would have added a single thing. It wasn’t ‘rip your head off’ dark, yet you still always felt like you were teetering on the precipice of something that our characters couldn’t come back from. That they just might not win-or-someone would lose among their group. And, not to mention, she also added a weird tilt of balance where an evil character kind of made bad things happen when they wouldn’t have, and I think that’s the angle the author went for, as opposed to our characters losing large, irredeemable parts of themselves that would be hard to clean up in the finale.
“What’s your plan?” Aithinne asks.
“Go back, find the girl, and kill the Morrigan.”
“Simple. Effective. Small chance of success.”She smiles. “I like it.”
I just…I was in astonishment at the pure perfection that encompassed these pages and I could lose myself in them every single night. It’s a story I felt was written just for me-the tortured love, the sense of hopelessness, the way that we got glimpses of how much they cared for one another and how it could not/would not/will never be, all while battling an evil entity that is everywhere they turn, playing with their minds endlessly and???? I mean…how is this NOT peak entertainment? How are people not falling head over heels for this? I’m sorry, I know people have high standards but come ON…it is SO worth it to just let it all go and just feel and enjoy! But…hey…that’s just me.
Maybe the price of saving the world is forgetting how to live in it.
And I won’t praddle on too much longer, but I must say that I appreciated that author kept the silly humor far out of this one. We got snarky comments that could be cheesy, sure, but they finally balanced in and it added levity when things were bleak or the characters were losing their way. And, I’m sorry the nonexistence of a certain character in this one literally made this book work. If I had to hear that dumb **GRRRR** make any more silly, frivolous, or childish comments on the side, I’d have ripped my hair out. In fact, this person was the reason I about quit the series in book two. It’s just. Too. Much. And it is NOT good. So…the lack of presence there, I was here for it. And I also loved the way a certain evil character was incorporated in, how it added tension to Kiaran and Kam’s relationship, and how we finally were able to learn more about her-and I didn’t even know I wanted that. Go figure.
What does that make me, when a faery is capable of more humanity than I am?
SO. Do I recommend this series? Yes and no. Can you overlook the silly to get to the epic? Normally I can’t. But I did, and It was 100% worth it and I will be getting the hardbacks as soon as possible. This book series is for you if you can put aside the annoying side parts, if you can push through, if you can embrace that slow darkness that creeps in. But, if you want you perfection from every angle, no plot holes ever…then I don’t know. Obviously it’s not for you because this series is far from perfect. But I do feel bad for you- because book one, while not without issues, is a delight. Book two has a huge payoff, a dark, bleak look into what’s to come. And book three is dark, tortured, romantic, and a anguished lovers peril scenario lover’s greatest delight. Is it for everyone? Nah. But as the stakes finally became high enough-my biggest quabble from before-my tears were flowing and I was blubbering, fangirly mess in the end…and I couldn’t be happier I rediscovered this series and found a forever favorite. I hope you can find it in these pages, too.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
****
Where in the world was this author hiding that level of writing??? Holyyyyy shit, that was epic and everything I needed to make this series one I will never forget. Y'all are sleeping on this one.
Review to DEFINITELY come.
July 26, 2019
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
This series will always be a favourite of mine, and for some reason I've put off reviewing the final book, even though I devoured it when my copy arrived. Well, here goes. Now that Aileana has been reborn, and has powers, she needs to learn to rediscover her true self, and overcome her power, before it destroys her and the world around her. For most of the final instalment in the series, we see Aileana's internal battle between her past and her future. Her own struggles were nothing compared to the fight between Kiaran and Kadamach, between the light and the darkness. These two are one of my OTP's and I loved to see both sides to each character. No one in this series is can be described in the case of black or white, there are a lot of grey areas that we definitely see explored in this book. Derrick was as fantastic as always, and he will always improve the books, if that's even needed.
The plot was extremely fast paced in this book, which helped me fly through reading it, but sometimes my head seemed a bit battered all over the place with how fast it was. Even so, this was the best ending/finale to this series I could ever ask for, and whenever I go to Edinburgh, I always have an urge to revisit these books, so I definitely won't be parting from them any time soon. If you're a fantasy/fae book lover, and you haven't started this series yet, get a copy asap!
This series will always be a favourite of mine, and for some reason I've put off reviewing the final book, even though I devoured it when my copy arrived. Well, here goes. Now that Aileana has been reborn, and has powers, she needs to learn to rediscover her true self, and overcome her power, before it destroys her and the world around her. For most of the final instalment in the series, we see Aileana's internal battle between her past and her future. Her own struggles were nothing compared to the fight between Kiaran and Kadamach, between the light and the darkness. These two are one of my OTP's and I loved to see both sides to each character. No one in this series is can be described in the case of black or white, there are a lot of grey areas that we definitely see explored in this book. Derrick was as fantastic as always, and he will always improve the books, if that's even needed.
The plot was extremely fast paced in this book, which helped me fly through reading it, but sometimes my head seemed a bit battered all over the place with how fast it was. Even so, this was the best ending/finale to this series I could ever ask for, and whenever I go to Edinburgh, I always have an urge to revisit these books, so I definitely won't be parting from them any time soon. If you're a fantasy/fae book lover, and you haven't started this series yet, get a copy asap!
May 10, 2017
Aileana Kameron is given a second chance at life but it comes with a cost, unimaginable loss.
Can she remember how to break the curse before it’s too late?
I was white knuckle reading to find out and if you’re a fan, you will be too. I cried, I laughed, my heart hurt and I just could not put this book down.
I’ve had THE FALLEN KINGDOM for a while and honestly, I was reluctant to read it because I didn’t, and even after reading, don’t want this series to end! I’m sorry I didn’t read it sooner because it would have given me more chances to re-read this entire series all over again. Which, of course, I already did.
Some imaginations just blow me away, the molding of the Morgan into this telling was completely fabulous.
May created a high-octane tale that had me riveted to the pages. She captures the heart and utter essence of the characters, bringing words to life. I flat out LOVED THE FALLEN KINGDOM and highly recommend the entire FALCONER series to any epic fantasy fans.
I received an ARC copy of The Fallen Kingdom from Chronicle Books in exchange for a honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication June 13, 2017
My Rating: 5 Stars
Written by: Elizabeth May
Series: The Falconer (Book 3)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
ISBN-10: 1452128839
ISBN-13: 978-1452128832
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Kingdom...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-f...
Reviewed for:
http://tometender.blogspot.com
Can she remember how to break the curse before it’s too late?
I was white knuckle reading to find out and if you’re a fan, you will be too. I cried, I laughed, my heart hurt and I just could not put this book down.
I’ve had THE FALLEN KINGDOM for a while and honestly, I was reluctant to read it because I didn’t, and even after reading, don’t want this series to end! I’m sorry I didn’t read it sooner because it would have given me more chances to re-read this entire series all over again. Which, of course, I already did.
Some imaginations just blow me away, the molding of the Morgan into this telling was completely fabulous.
May created a high-octane tale that had me riveted to the pages. She captures the heart and utter essence of the characters, bringing words to life. I flat out LOVED THE FALLEN KINGDOM and highly recommend the entire FALCONER series to any epic fantasy fans.
I received an ARC copy of The Fallen Kingdom from Chronicle Books in exchange for a honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication June 13, 2017
My Rating: 5 Stars
Written by: Elizabeth May
Series: The Falconer (Book 3)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
ISBN-10: 1452128839
ISBN-13: 978-1452128832
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Kingdom...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-f...
Reviewed for:
http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 19, 2017
my heart. my soul.
I am a pool of emotions right now!
Aileana was such a badass and Kiaran ... oh Kiaran *heart eyes*.
everything was perfect. the heartbreak, the fight scenes, the romance ... the humor. I loved everything!
I am a pool of emotions right now!
Aileana was such a badass and Kiaran ... oh Kiaran *heart eyes*.
everything was perfect. the heartbreak, the fight scenes, the romance ... the humor. I loved everything!
May 30, 2017
MY HEART HURTS. THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD THAT IT LITERALLY HURT MY HEART.
After the evil way the previous book ended, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next in this story. Thankfully, this book picked up right where the previous book ended. This book was exhilarating, addictive, intoxicating, sexy, and emotional. The Fallen Kingdom was an emotional roller coaster that I never wanted to get off of. There were some moments in this book that broke my heart that I was not expecting.
I WAS NOT KIDDING WHEN I SAID THIS BOOK WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. BE WARNED.
Even though this book had moments that broke my heart, there were even more moments that filled me with joy and healed my aching heart.
The world-building continued to improve in this installment. I felt I could perfectly envision everything that the author was describing. It felt like I was in the middle of the action right next to the characters.
Aileana was as badass as ever in this book. She is one of my all time favorite main characters. Aileana was the thoughtful, selfless, strong, caring, and hilarious woman I have grown to love. The one tiny thing that bothered me about her was that she kept thinking about things people said to a point that it got a little repetitive. It wasn't a big deal but it was a tad annoying at times.
Kiaran was as swoon-worthy and sexy as ever. He struggled a lot in this book, but I think that made me love him even more, which I didn't think was possible. KIARAN IS PERFECT. I WANT MY OWN KIARAN. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW AMAZING HE IS. HE WILL FOREVER BE ONE OF MY TOP BOOK BOYFRIENDS.
Even though I clearly want Kiaran for myself, I adore him and Aileana together. They have been through so much together. Their relationship has developed beautifully, especially in this book. I SHIP THEM SO MUCH. They are so perfect AND I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL TOGETHER.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic book. I felt all the feels while reading this book, and it was freaking brilliant. AND THIS WAS THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES?!??!
Even though I don't want to accept that this series is over, I was very pleased with how the author wrapped up this story. The ended felt extremely satisfying and it warmed my heart, even if it was a little emotional. Fans of this series will devour this book!
5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
Facebook
Twitter
After the evil way the previous book ended, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next in this story. Thankfully, this book picked up right where the previous book ended. This book was exhilarating, addictive, intoxicating, sexy, and emotional. The Fallen Kingdom was an emotional roller coaster that I never wanted to get off of. There were some moments in this book that broke my heart that I was not expecting.
I WAS NOT KIDDING WHEN I SAID THIS BOOK WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. BE WARNED.
Even though this book had moments that broke my heart, there were even more moments that filled me with joy and healed my aching heart.
The world-building continued to improve in this installment. I felt I could perfectly envision everything that the author was describing. It felt like I was in the middle of the action right next to the characters.
Aileana was as badass as ever in this book. She is one of my all time favorite main characters. Aileana was the thoughtful, selfless, strong, caring, and hilarious woman I have grown to love. The one tiny thing that bothered me about her was that she kept thinking about things people said to a point that it got a little repetitive. It wasn't a big deal but it was a tad annoying at times.
Kiaran was as swoon-worthy and sexy as ever. He struggled a lot in this book, but I think that made me love him even more, which I didn't think was possible. KIARAN IS PERFECT. I WANT MY OWN KIARAN. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW AMAZING HE IS. HE WILL FOREVER BE ONE OF MY TOP BOOK BOYFRIENDS.
Even though I clearly want Kiaran for myself, I adore him and Aileana together. They have been through so much together. Their relationship has developed beautifully, especially in this book. I SHIP THEM SO MUCH. They are so perfect AND I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL TOGETHER.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic book. I felt all the feels while reading this book, and it was freaking brilliant. AND THIS WAS THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES?!??!
Even though I don't want to accept that this series is over, I was very pleased with how the author wrapped up this story. The ended felt extremely satisfying and it warmed my heart, even if it was a little emotional. Fans of this series will devour this book!
5 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
March 7, 2020
5 out of 10
I hade to skip some paragraphs, otherwise, I'd read till I'm 50. No unfinished series anymore, 'cause when the last book comes out you're already distracted and then, in 4 years, you completely have no idea why you still try to finish it. But I must, 'cause each closed bookish gestalt makes me feel better.
So, to the story.
Look at this cover. The model looks like Elizabeth May herself)))
The Falconer (Охотницы):
— The Falconer (Охотницы) #1/3
— The Vanishing Throne (Исчезающий трон) #2/3
— The Fallen Kingdom (Павшее королевство) #3/3
October 3, 2021
#1) The Falconer ★★★★☆
#2) The Vanishing Throne ★★★★☆
↠ 8.01 cawpile | 4 stars
i could have done without the memory loss element or the repetitive sorcha banter but aileana & kiaran are everything. a solid finale to an incredible series.
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Aileana (mc) PTSD; Aithinne (sc) lesbian & PTSD.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram
May 25, 2020
2020
Questo è il mio libro preferito della trilogia, amo i personaggi e la conclusione è stata giusta, non troppo dolce, ma neanche troppo amara. Dopo questa rilettura posso dire che rimane una delle mie trilogie preferite e avrà sempre un pezzo del mio cuore.
2017
Bellissima conclusione per una bellissima trilogia.
Questa storia e questi personaggi rimarranno nel mio cuore per molto tempo.
Questo è il mio libro preferito della trilogia, amo i personaggi e la conclusione è stata giusta, non troppo dolce, ma neanche troppo amara. Dopo questa rilettura posso dire che rimane una delle mie trilogie preferite e avrà sempre un pezzo del mio cuore.
2017
Bellissima conclusione per una bellissima trilogia.
Questa storia e questi personaggi rimarranno nel mio cuore per molto tempo.
March 14, 2019
Why.
Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why-
WHY DID I FINISH THIS SO QUICKLY???
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Good lord this was such a thrill to read. When I got this book in the mail, I was so incredibly happy to dive into this world again. I’m even more glad that this book didn’t disappoint as a whole, even if there were some things that didn’t sit right with me.
Spoilers ahead – READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
One of my major critiques is that this world felt too small for me. I sort of mention this in my review of The Falconer when I said that I would have liked to have known about what was happening outside of Scotland – well, I also would have liked to have known more about the people outside of Aileana’s friend group as well. I don’t mind that Aileana was selfish throughout the book. I don’t mind that she was willing to let the world crumble if it meant a chance at saving Kiaran. So many times, we see the main protagonist do everything they can to save a whole world…but is that realistic? Would we ALL do that? No. Aileana doesn’t know the whole world – in fact, her whole world was the friend group she had around her. And that’s part of the problem.
Throughout the series, we hardly get any character names outside of the major characters. I would have liked to have seen more fae other than Kiaran, Aithinne, Sorcha, Derrick and Lonnarch. I would have liked to have had faces and names to them. I would have liked to have seen hints of their personality and I would have liked to have seen that with humans too. The reason why it can be so easy to discard the rest of the world is because you don’t know anyone else within it. Aileana already had a distant relationship with her father, so she didn’t mourn him for too long. It wasn’t like she had distant relatives or other friends to worry about that could be on the other side of the world either. It’s not like she thought about her servants or innocent children. And you wanna know why? Because none of them were ever even given names or faces to make the main character care!
I would have liked to have seen Aileana do more interacting with other people, see how they interacted and functioned so that it could have been more personal for her when they were lost. I would have liked to have seen Aileana think about the lives these people lived and lost, I would have liked to have seen her simply even bump into a little boy and have a five second conversation with him and then think about how his life was lost with everyone else. This series reminds you that the little interactions matter too. And this series didn’t have enough of them. If it did, I’m sure Aileana would have struggled a lot more with her choices. And even if she didn’t, it would solidify the fact that she’s acting selfishly. Either way, when it came to saving the world or picking her friends, it wouldn’t have been too hard because her friends were the only world we saw her in. Yes, yes, she thought about that cottage full of Kiaran’s victims but that was only a glimpse. A glimpse! We needed more of that through the series.
What does that make me, when a faery is capable of more humanity than I am?
This book really gets you thinking about human nature and I applaud it for that. I mentioned that I was okay with Aileana putting the world on the line for Kiaran because it’s understandable. It’s not like she asked for this kind of fate and Catherine points this out to her. Why should she be forced into saving the world? Why should she be forced to care about anyone else other than the ones she loves?
He's in my heart and I'm in his. And I think it’s going to destroy us both.
We finally get a girl trying to save the world – and fails. Think about that, people. She fails. The Vanishing Throne covers how she handled that and it was beautifully done. I think it was handled well in this book too. Just because everything is at stake doesn’t mean the MC is going to always succeed in saving it. And yes, I know that they go back in time to undo those mistakes, but still. She failed the first time around and that’s soo refreshing.
And she wasn’t the only one making mistakes. Think about how Kiaran and Aithinne refused to kill each other. It’s heartwarming but incredibly selfish. Kiaran doesn’t bother to hide his cruel nature and Aithinne? As much as I love her, she is no better once you think about it. How many of her own people did she let die because she refused to kill Kiaran? She let her entire kingdom fall, in fact. All for her brother.
That, my friends, is one of the most selfish things you can do.
And let’s admit it: we are all selfish in our own ways. I love, love, love Aileana, but if I was a part of this world, I would hate her guts. We all would because she failed and she let us die! But when you read this, you’re thinking, why is she the only one responsible to save us? Why should she save us? Just because she has to?
As the sweet Catherine said, it’s everyone’s world and they need to fight for it together.
And speaking of Catherine, let me just say how much I appreciate the beautiful contrast between her and Aileana. It’s mentioned in the book about how Aileana is the woman to jump into the war to fight and Catherine is the woman who would go right to tending the injured. I love, love, LOVE that they are both seen as strong women. It just goes to remind you everyone has their own strengths and they use it accordingly.
Now…the characters.
It’s been months since I’ve read The Vanishing Throne and reading these characters again was such a treat. I was gushing about these interactions all over again. The humor was still amazing, the romance was still wonderful and heartbreaking, and these relationships were executed so well.
As usual, I love Aileana and Derrick together. Derrick dying was such a blow for me. I kept thinking to myself that there’s no way Elizabeth May would be so cruel…SURELY SHE WOULDN’T TAKE AWAY DERRICK LIKE THAT. SHE DOESN’T HATE HER FANS ENOUGH TO DO THAT I’M SURE-
Apparently, she does. *Goes to a corner to cry her eyes out.*
Anyways, Derrick’s death was the hardest part of the book for me. I’m not going to lie – if Kiaran had stayed dead, I would have been fine with that.
I love Kiaran so much and he is still one of my book boyfriends, but he has done a lot of unforgivable stuff in the past and it made sense that he would sacrifice himself to atone (even though, he technically did it for Aileana). Don’t get me wrong – him spending one lifetime with Aileana as a human had me jumping with glee (and I prefer that waaaay more than Aileana becoming fae), but it also would have made sense for him to pass on. Some might say that the ending is too good to be true and I would have agreed – if Sorcha hadn’t sacrificed herself. The only times where I am perfectly fine with people coming back to life like Kiaran is if there’s a price: a life for a life. So I was fine with it.
Although I am a little bitter that Derrick doesn’t get to come back too…
Okay, moving on.
AITHINNE IS ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS, MY GOD. SHE’S JUST SO QUIRKY AND DIFFERENT AND I JUST LOVE HER SO SO SO MUCH SHE’S JUST THE BEST-
Alright, I’m back. Surprisingly, I ended up hating Sorcha a lot less after this book. Although her actions were despicable, I liked that the author gave her some redeeming qualities rather than just having Aileana kill her off.
"Goodness doesn't last, Falconer. If enough time has passed and enough people hurt us, we all become cruel and heartless bastards." She stares hard at me. "So would you, if humans lived long enough."
Sorcha was refreshing in that she served as a reminder to Aileana that anyone can be capable of cruelty. I liked that these two had similarities between each other and that Aileana was so close to being just like her.
"Revenge makes us all monsters in the end. Remember that."
Honestly, I may even go so far as to say that Sorcha didn’t even deserve to die at the end. Despite what she’s done, she went through sooo much and I would have liked to have seen her redeem herself. But at the same time, she wouldn’t change much either so I’m just left to wonder how interesting of a character she has become. And honestly? When it came to her and Lonnarch, I definitely wanted Sorcha to win.
Alright, now onwards with the writing!
The writing was simple, fast paced and very satisfying. I enjoy fast paced stories like this so it’s no surprise I flew through this book. I’m upset about it too because now the series is over for me, but I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed being sucked into this breathless adventures and nonstop action. I enjoyed how passionate the romance was. I enjoyed each of these characters and I will miss this world so much even though I wish I could have seen more of it.
This series was quite a ride. And I’m happy to say, it’s one of my favorites.
Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why Why-
WHY DID I FINISH THIS SO QUICKLY???
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Good lord this was such a thrill to read. When I got this book in the mail, I was so incredibly happy to dive into this world again. I’m even more glad that this book didn’t disappoint as a whole, even if there were some things that didn’t sit right with me.
Spoilers ahead – READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
One of my major critiques is that this world felt too small for me. I sort of mention this in my review of The Falconer when I said that I would have liked to have known about what was happening outside of Scotland – well, I also would have liked to have known more about the people outside of Aileana’s friend group as well. I don’t mind that Aileana was selfish throughout the book. I don’t mind that she was willing to let the world crumble if it meant a chance at saving Kiaran. So many times, we see the main protagonist do everything they can to save a whole world…but is that realistic? Would we ALL do that? No. Aileana doesn’t know the whole world – in fact, her whole world was the friend group she had around her. And that’s part of the problem.
Throughout the series, we hardly get any character names outside of the major characters. I would have liked to have seen more fae other than Kiaran, Aithinne, Sorcha, Derrick and Lonnarch. I would have liked to have had faces and names to them. I would have liked to have seen hints of their personality and I would have liked to have seen that with humans too. The reason why it can be so easy to discard the rest of the world is because you don’t know anyone else within it. Aileana already had a distant relationship with her father, so she didn’t mourn him for too long. It wasn’t like she had distant relatives or other friends to worry about that could be on the other side of the world either. It’s not like she thought about her servants or innocent children. And you wanna know why? Because none of them were ever even given names or faces to make the main character care!
I would have liked to have seen Aileana do more interacting with other people, see how they interacted and functioned so that it could have been more personal for her when they were lost. I would have liked to have seen Aileana think about the lives these people lived and lost, I would have liked to have seen her simply even bump into a little boy and have a five second conversation with him and then think about how his life was lost with everyone else. This series reminds you that the little interactions matter too. And this series didn’t have enough of them. If it did, I’m sure Aileana would have struggled a lot more with her choices. And even if she didn’t, it would solidify the fact that she’s acting selfishly. Either way, when it came to saving the world or picking her friends, it wouldn’t have been too hard because her friends were the only world we saw her in. Yes, yes, she thought about that cottage full of Kiaran’s victims but that was only a glimpse. A glimpse! We needed more of that through the series.
What does that make me, when a faery is capable of more humanity than I am?
This book really gets you thinking about human nature and I applaud it for that. I mentioned that I was okay with Aileana putting the world on the line for Kiaran because it’s understandable. It’s not like she asked for this kind of fate and Catherine points this out to her. Why should she be forced into saving the world? Why should she be forced to care about anyone else other than the ones she loves?
He's in my heart and I'm in his. And I think it’s going to destroy us both.
We finally get a girl trying to save the world – and fails. Think about that, people. She fails. The Vanishing Throne covers how she handled that and it was beautifully done. I think it was handled well in this book too. Just because everything is at stake doesn’t mean the MC is going to always succeed in saving it. And yes, I know that they go back in time to undo those mistakes, but still. She failed the first time around and that’s soo refreshing.
And she wasn’t the only one making mistakes. Think about how Kiaran and Aithinne refused to kill each other. It’s heartwarming but incredibly selfish. Kiaran doesn’t bother to hide his cruel nature and Aithinne? As much as I love her, she is no better once you think about it. How many of her own people did she let die because she refused to kill Kiaran? She let her entire kingdom fall, in fact. All for her brother.
That, my friends, is one of the most selfish things you can do.
And let’s admit it: we are all selfish in our own ways. I love, love, love Aileana, but if I was a part of this world, I would hate her guts. We all would because she failed and she let us die! But when you read this, you’re thinking, why is she the only one responsible to save us? Why should she save us? Just because she has to?
As the sweet Catherine said, it’s everyone’s world and they need to fight for it together.
And speaking of Catherine, let me just say how much I appreciate the beautiful contrast between her and Aileana. It’s mentioned in the book about how Aileana is the woman to jump into the war to fight and Catherine is the woman who would go right to tending the injured. I love, love, LOVE that they are both seen as strong women. It just goes to remind you everyone has their own strengths and they use it accordingly.
Now…the characters.
It’s been months since I’ve read The Vanishing Throne and reading these characters again was such a treat. I was gushing about these interactions all over again. The humor was still amazing, the romance was still wonderful and heartbreaking, and these relationships were executed so well.
As usual, I love Aileana and Derrick together. Derrick dying was such a blow for me. I kept thinking to myself that there’s no way Elizabeth May would be so cruel…SURELY SHE WOULDN’T TAKE AWAY DERRICK LIKE THAT. SHE DOESN’T HATE HER FANS ENOUGH TO DO THAT I’M SURE-
Apparently, she does. *Goes to a corner to cry her eyes out.*
Anyways, Derrick’s death was the hardest part of the book for me. I’m not going to lie – if Kiaran had stayed dead, I would have been fine with that.
I love Kiaran so much and he is still one of my book boyfriends, but he has done a lot of unforgivable stuff in the past and it made sense that he would sacrifice himself to atone (even though, he technically did it for Aileana). Don’t get me wrong – him spending one lifetime with Aileana as a human had me jumping with glee (and I prefer that waaaay more than Aileana becoming fae), but it also would have made sense for him to pass on. Some might say that the ending is too good to be true and I would have agreed – if Sorcha hadn’t sacrificed herself. The only times where I am perfectly fine with people coming back to life like Kiaran is if there’s a price: a life for a life. So I was fine with it.
Although I am a little bitter that Derrick doesn’t get to come back too…
Okay, moving on.
AITHINNE IS ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS, MY GOD. SHE’S JUST SO QUIRKY AND DIFFERENT AND I JUST LOVE HER SO SO SO MUCH SHE’S JUST THE BEST-
Alright, I’m back. Surprisingly, I ended up hating Sorcha a lot less after this book. Although her actions were despicable, I liked that the author gave her some redeeming qualities rather than just having Aileana kill her off.
"Goodness doesn't last, Falconer. If enough time has passed and enough people hurt us, we all become cruel and heartless bastards." She stares hard at me. "So would you, if humans lived long enough."
Sorcha was refreshing in that she served as a reminder to Aileana that anyone can be capable of cruelty. I liked that these two had similarities between each other and that Aileana was so close to being just like her.
"Revenge makes us all monsters in the end. Remember that."
Honestly, I may even go so far as to say that Sorcha didn’t even deserve to die at the end. Despite what she’s done, she went through sooo much and I would have liked to have seen her redeem herself. But at the same time, she wouldn’t change much either so I’m just left to wonder how interesting of a character she has become. And honestly? When it came to her and Lonnarch, I definitely wanted Sorcha to win.
Alright, now onwards with the writing!
The writing was simple, fast paced and very satisfying. I enjoy fast paced stories like this so it’s no surprise I flew through this book. I’m upset about it too because now the series is over for me, but I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed being sucked into this breathless adventures and nonstop action. I enjoyed how passionate the romance was. I enjoyed each of these characters and I will miss this world so much even though I wish I could have seen more of it.
This series was quite a ride. And I’m happy to say, it’s one of my favorites.
September 17, 2020
I don’t really have a lot to say about this.
I was super annoyed with the repeated thoughts that happened after every single paragraph. I got the first time it was repeated, but then it would be repeated like twenty more times.
And then the unnecessary death.
I absolutely loved the first book. The first book was so great. But the second book was just okay (like a lot of middle-books in a trilogy) and I was excited for an epic ending and I just... I wasn’t into it.
---
Ugh. I'm going to hate writing this review.
I was super annoyed with the repeated thoughts that happened after every single paragraph. I got the first time it was repeated, but then it would be repeated like twenty more times.
And then the unnecessary death.
I absolutely loved the first book. The first book was so great. But the second book was just okay (like a lot of middle-books in a trilogy) and I was excited for an epic ending and I just... I wasn’t into it.
---
Ugh. I'm going to hate writing this review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 844 reviews