Soldier. I Segreti di Talon

Talon #3

by Julie Kagawa

Un eroico soldato votato a salvare l'umanità dalla millenaria minaccia dei draghi in completa segretezza: questo pensava di essere Garret Xavier Sebastian come fedele membro dell'Ordine di San Giorgio. Ma quello che ha appreso da una fiera e giovane drago ha ribaltato letteralmente tutto ciò in cui credeva e lo ha portato a pochi passi da morte certa.

Tradita e ancora in fuga, Ember scopre, insieme al drago ribelle Riley, una verità su Talon e sull'Ordine incredibile e difficile da accettare. Avranno bisogno di tutta l'abilità di Garret e di quello che sa dell'Ordine per negoziare un accordo impossibile. Perché, se falliranno, non ci sarà modo di fermare una guerra assoluta.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dragons, Romance, Paranormal, Audiobook, Urban Fantasy

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2016

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't freaking know.



I mean I love all of the characters, but I'm over this love triangle crap! Why can't they just be brother/husbands and just forget about it. Ember has just gotten on my last nerve and I have a freaking headache.

But yes, since I still love everyone and they are cool dragons they get 3 stars. I wish there was more dragon action in the book though. I love all of the main characters. Just because I don't want a certain someone with another certain someone doesn't mean I don't like them.

I don't know what all Dante is doing and I don't care. He's always been a bore to me but I have a feeling he's going to become all bad to the bone since there are two more books. There could be more after that, who knows.

AND

the ending is not going to be real because that person is going to end up becoming a dragon in some way shape or form. I just know it. And if not a dragon something else more awesome. Oh joy!

I wish Ember would get her finger out and realize Riley is awesome! I'm just here for the dragons people I don't care what anyone else is doing. Can't we all just be friends.....................................

[Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**

His fingertips came to rest against the back of my hand, sending a zip of current through my whole body. “I’m done hiding,” he whispered. “Nothing has changed. I know we might not have a lot of time, but what we do have, I want to spend right here.”

That feeling…I know you're familiar with it…when the air is sucked out of your lungs, when your world collapses beneath your feet, the world ceases to exist as it shatters to pieces around you, and that book you’re holding is all that matters in the world-it’s all I felt as this book came to a close…and for most of the story, really.

It had been her mercy, her refusal to kill a known enemy, that had made me realize the Order was wrong. It was because of her that I was here now, risking my life to protect the creatures I’d once driven toward extinction. Because a dragon had spared the life of a soldier of St. George, and everything had changed.

I’m not going to lie-whenever I get a chance for an ARC by an author I adore, cherish, and have never been let down by before, I feel a lot of pressure. I mean, this is Julie fucking Kagawa we are talking about here-the creator of Ash, the beautiful, deadly, fatal, and loyal Prince of the Fey. Zeke, the unwavering human who fell in love with the thing he once despised-A vampire. And now, here we are again with Ember and Garret (I refuse to acknowledge Riley has a chance-He does, but, no-I won’t support him as a love interest)-A soldier who was brought up to hate Dragons, to destroy them without a second thought, because they are humanity’s enemy-and Ember, the dragon who turned his world on it’s axis, making him fall in love with the enemy...and risk his life for her over and over again, if not only because he is desperately in love with her, but because it’s the right thing to do. Ahhh my beautiful soldier boy. He is just…PERFECTION.

But I would not break. I would not give up Ember’s location, or Riley’s underground. The next few hours might have me wishing I was dead, but I would not betray the girl I loved to the organization. They would have to kill me.

But I digress-Onto my point: Kagawa is the MASTER of forbidden romance. She is the queen of making love triangles almost bearable, making friends out of foes fighting for the same girl’s love. To think… I have finally gotten one of her coveted ARCs-something I have worked to earn for years…and I was super nervous-SO MUCH PRESSURE! But then, like always, I opened up this story and the world of dragons and forbidden love and stolen kisses totally enraptured me…and I was a GONER.

Helpless, I clenched my fists against my back, well aware that every mile, every minute that ticked by, took me ever farther from getting to them in time and closer to losing the red dragon forever.

What pressure is there, really, when one of your favorite authors is in the driver’s seat? From the minute I started reading about my boy, nothing else mattered. But then a different kind of pain surfaced, one that us avid readers know about all too well: The feeling of messy love. The feeling of falling for two different men, with two different styles, with two different ways of winning the heroine’s love. And, for once, Kagawa isn’t making it obvious who Ember is going to end up with…and it might be killing me inside.

“I couldn’t,” he finally whispered. “You were the one who taught me to live, to take chances. For a while, I convinced myself that we were too different, and that it was better to let you go. But now, I’ve come to the realization that my life is probably going to be very short. And I want to spend it doing something that matters. With someone that matters. I don’t want to regret that I gave up without a fight.”

So let me address the, ahem, dragon in the room (har har, I’m so clever). Yes, there is a love triangle. And YES, I like both men. Riley is Ember’s equal in dragon form. He is protective and ambitious, and he is working hard to right the wrongs of Talon by saving as many young dragons as he can. But somewhere along the way, he fell for a fiery, red-haired hatchling…while she was in the middle of falling in love with a soldier of St. George-their sworn enemy from as long ago as they can remember.

“Your friends are…interesting,” she said, making me snort. “I would hate to see your enemies.” She looked back at me, black eyes assessing. “You did not mention that one of the ‘friends’ you risked your life for was desperately hoping he could rip your head off.”
“I was a soldier of the Order,” I said wearily. “He’s the leader of a rogue dragon underground. I’m sure I’ve killed a few of his dragons in the past." I’m also stupidly in love with the girl he considers his, and we both know it.

Should be simple, right? A human couldn’t possibly be in love with a dragon. It’s simply impossible. Weird. Unheard of-They don’t have a chance. WRONG. You are SO wrong. Garret, my loyal soldier, would do anything for this girl who changed his whole belief system. He’d go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe, even at the cost of his own life (How many times do I have to say this before it gets old? I DON’T CARE). His mission was simple: Kill the hatchling…but instead he slowly fell in love with her, even if he didn’t want to. Now, here we are with Garret, Ember, Riley, and Wes doing what they can to bring down the corrupted Talon and to show St. George everything they have been taught and know is a lie. But when more sinister problems arise, things become complicated. How are they going to get to the top of St. George to bring this to light? Who will they have to trust? How much are they willing to bargain? And who will make the ultimate sacrifice?

*flashback*

Our enemies-my enemies-wouldn’t win. The demon lizards had hurt me for the last time. Now, they had a new foe, and I would make sure they remembered my name when I destroyed them on the battlefield.
I would work hard.
I would excel.
I would become the perfect soldier.

To say this was my favorite installment of the series would be an understatement. Yes, book one is so close it’s unreal, because I enjoy when the love interests begin to fall in love, slowly losing their mind to something they can’t control. I love it when things are at the beginning and aren’t complicated with cliffhangers and deaths and perilous moments that test everything they possess in themselves to stay alive and stay together. I’m side eyeing you, Kagawa. But there is just something so sickeningly satisfying and…primal…about watching two guys duke it out for one girl, throwing it all out on the table for her love. There’s something so appealing about declarations of love as the world burns to ashes around them…even as the cries of love are too late. I. CAN’T. HELP. IT. I am a slave to peril and Julie Kagawa is my puppet master pulling my strings this way and that, ripping my heart to shreds with each new installment in each new series she creates. I’d say I hate her for making this crazy, annoying, obsessive, psycho fangirl…..but that would make me a liar, too.

My heart seemed to stop. Garret paused, as if gathering his thoughts, or his courage, then took a deep breath. “I know I’ve made mistakes,” he continued, shaking his head. “But there’s still the chance for me to fix them. I shouldn’t have walked out that night.” His brow creased, a flicker of pain and regret going through his eyes. “Ember, I know you can’t feel what I do,” he said. “I get that. But…I want to be with you. And if that’s not possible, I’ll be content just to be close. Fighting Talon with you and Riley, helping people, saving other dragons from the Order-there is nothing I want more. And nowhere else I want to be.”

I’m sorry, but I would not be ME if I didn’t obsess about MY choice in this race before I closed this review out. Garret is at his best: Declaring his love, using all the skills he possesses to keep his new found friends safe, trusting with all his heart, even as danger lurks around every corner, so he can get the information he needs, and becoming an-even more-unforgettable BBF. And here is what I hope all of you will take from this: I may be someone who loves all kinds of boys in books, but Kagawa creates some of the most daring, tortured, beautiful, unforgettable male leads ever. If ever you wanted to read a book about a boy who falls madly, deeply, forever in love with the heroine of the story-despite dire consequences-look no further. If ever you wanted a story that is engrossing, deep, creative, vivid, imaginative, out of this world addicting, Kagawa is your woman. She creates a combination of worlds, plots, and men that make it impossible not to love at least ONE of her series, thus making her one of the most popular authors EVER, simply because her reach knows no bounds. I shudder to think of the day when a Kagawa book won’t have me gasping for breath, clutching my iPad/pillow, and sobbing uncontrollably into the dark as I close the final pages within one of her stories where a cliffhanger has killed me slowly from the inside out-once again. I SHUDDER to think.

One hand traced small circles against my back, and I pressed closer to him, listening to his heartbeat. “I used to think that having nothing to live for made you a better fighter,” he murmured. “Turns out I was wrong on a lot of fronts.”

She is the author that brought me out of my comfort zone, the one that taught me it’s okay to love out of this world things like fey and dragons (Dragons…DRAGONS! Really?? I’d have never thought), and not to be ashamed of letting my freakish fangirl flag fly, and I will be forever grateful that she led me to so many outlandish, wonderful series I am obsessed with today. If not for her, I don’t know that I would have stepped so far out of my comfort zone. And if I had, I don’t know that I would have liked it. She writes in a way that captures your soul, even if you are fighting it, and makes you beg for more. For anyone who has not given this woman a chance, I dare you to try her Iron Fey series and not fall in love with Ash. Or to read the Immortal Rules series and not fall for the good boy gone bad, Zeke. And now, I dare you to not get butterflies when Ember falls in love with the boy at Crescent Beach one carefree summer….Or, I GUESS, her Dragon guy, Cobalt/Riley, who would also risk it all for Ember, as well. See? That was hard for me-I really do like all the guys she creates, which is saying something. HOWEVER-this is my disclaimer-DON’T FUCK WITH MY HEART, KAGAWA-Don't take advantage of my good-natured, and begrudging, like for Riley. I’m totally pointing an emoji finger at you!

We stared at each other, a thousand emotions simmering below the surface. My thoughts and feelings were a tangled mess, woven around each other until it was impossible to separate them. Garret stood there, wounded and beautiful, the shadow of the boy staring out through the soldier’s mask, and guilt settled in my stomach like a lead ball.

Lots of laughs, heartache, and heart dropping, soul-crushing moments invade this story, and if you liked the previous two stories, I know you will adore this addition. I also forgive Ember for the last book (You hear that, Ember? You are forgiven! However…you better keep my guy safe, or else). So, as I finished bawling at the end of the book on a lazy Sunday night, unexpectedly losing my shit and having to contain myself-again-lest I get thrown out of the house by a very angry husband as I silently shook and sobbed beside him in bed, I began to smile and slowly fall asleep, floating in feels.


For more of my reviews, please visit:



*************
GOD DAMMIT KAGAWA. How COULD you.



^ At first



^ 1/2 hour later. Not kidding.



Epic. But I am dying. Jeezus, my heart.

RTC.



***********

Kagawa, you have ripped my heart and soul into a million tiny pieces...but...I'm trying to be optimistic because



And Garret ♥




"You don't know what you have until it's gone...."

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit 4/29/14

THE REVIEW

Why this book?
Even though the last book of this series pissed me off I gave this one a chance to redeem itself

What I thought

The Riley and Ember parts

The Garret and Ember parts

The Dante parts

Even though I had to endure a small romance between Riley and Ember, and boring Dante parts. I thought this book was amazing, but was of course it was, it was written by Julie Kagawa. Julie knows how to write a book that drags you in, and doesn’t let you go until the last moment. She knows how to break your heart and mend it back together again. Even though at times I wanted to punch something. The Garret and Ember parts made up for it. Those two belong together , I don’t care if Riley is supposed to be her “life mate”; she’s inlove with Garret. Garret, my love for him has no bounds. The cliffhanger at the end is killing me, and I don’t know how I’m going to survive waiting a year for the next book!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted a year ago


Please no romance between Ember and Riley. I can't stand the thought of them getting together.

[Jessy MelodyofBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mir gefällt die Reihe wirklich von band zu band mehr! Und das Ende war doch einfach mal Oberfies 🙈 na mal sehen wie es im vierten Band weiter geht, zum Glück muss ich nicht warten 😁

[Dannii Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

I received this book on a read to review basis from NetGalley. Thank you the author, Julie Kagawa, and the publisher, Harlequin Teen, for the opportunity.

This is the third installment in the Talon series and by far the most superior in terms of both character development, plot and writing.

The premise of this dragon saga initially appealed to me as it sounded like an action-packed read, but this was the first book in the series that I felt actually delivered consistently on that front and was not overly drawn out and padded. The same love triangles, characters and competing sides in this dragons v. humans war presides from the previous novels, but it felt like all of these aspects had matured greatly.

The romance of the first novel was my biggest gripe as it felt rushed, overplayed and unrealistic and I greatly preferred both this and the last book where these elements took a back seat. Towards the end of the novel, however, a portion was spent addressing these issues and I found I just couldn't care and was eager to continue with the action and plot development. I liked all the characters but had little interest in who they ended up with, romantically. For me, it was the war they were ceaselessly fighting that held my interest.

The characters felt more fully rounded in this installment, for me, as there was an emphasis on the emotional turmoil and impact their lifestyle was having. I felt more empathy with the characters after not just witnessing the horrors of the war with them but being given an unprecedented insight into their coping mechanisms and strategies that allowed them to keep moving and keep functioning.

That being said, I found myself a little bored at the repetition of how much main character, Ember, wishes to return to her dragon form and how often she sees fellow dragon, Riley's, similar wish reflected in his eyes. It felt like this was repeatedly told, added nothing to the plot after the first few times and had too much emphasis placed on it, as if to remind the reader of the underlying romance. Small instances, such as this, greatly diminished from the story, for me.

In all, this made me eager to continue with the series but there were certain aspects of the story that didn't particularly suit my reading preferences.

[Beth]

Why isn't this in my hands yet? I need it! After the ending of Rogue I HAVE to find out what happens in the next instalment. Please release it soon Julie Kagawa.

Also who else is Team Riley/Cobalt?

[Brittney ~ Reverie and Ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need some time to process this. I am hurt about the ships. And happy. But hurt. I DONT KNOW. I JUST DONT KNOW.
Want to know why? Read at your own risk. UGHHH Obviously Garret is endgame and I adore the crap out of that boy but WHYYYYYY my poor Riley and the fact that he is her MATE. HER MATE YOU GUYS. UGHHHH.

[Natalie Monroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"I swallowed. 'There's no right answer, is there?'

'There never is in war.'

First off, slow clap for the ending. What a ballsy move. This is The Iron Queen-circa Kagawa, the one I've been missing.

If she doesn't rescind it, I will give Legion five stars on the spot. I'm that impressed.

But I have a sneaking suspicion she'll pull an Ethan Chase on us. Garrett will be injected with dragon DNA or whatnot and resurrect with longevity and wings and fully pound my ship into dust.

I'm Team Riley, can you tell?

Everything else was yawn, from the predictable dangerous choice/safe choice love triangle to the revelation the Elder Wyrm is female. Psst, 2010 is over. No one likes love triangles anymore. If there has to be one, I expect something a little more sophisticated like A Court of Mist and Fury. I'm not interested in Team Ash vs Team Puck 2.0. Garrett is obviously Ash, the rational winter prince Perfect Soldier who's on the angsty side and volunteers as martyr. Riley is Puck, the fun one, the one who steps out of the mold a bit by caring deeply about his rebel network. He has a life other than Ember. To be fair so does Garrett, but he's so dreadfully dull. Riley is bae.

He's also destined to lose because he's Puck 2.0 and Ember is his mate due to "forced" biology. No one invite me on a cruise since I always choose the wrong ship.



Why is the Elder Wyrm female, by the way? I talked about the sexism in Kagawa's works in my review for Rogue. Most important characters are guys; only the protagonist is female. On the other hand, an awful lot of villains are female. The typical fire-breathing bitch queen type. Titania is one, Mab is one, Leanansidhe is another. Then the Forgotten Queen from the sequel series. The Blood of Eden series was predominantly male, so no good or bad women there other than the main character. If this kind of thing happens enough I can draws patterns, it's not a good sign.

I like the inclusion of Eastern dragons though. But God was it uncomfortable reading about the stereotypical Chinese living like pacifist monks. Have you watched the news lately? I'm Chinese and I live in Hong Kong, and I can honestly say I am not proud of my country. China embarrasses me. It's like a whiny baby with nuclear missiles. A large part of China is modernized now and I can tell you we are not peaceful. We will gut you in public bathrooms and harvest your organs. Shanghai Disneyland opened a few weeks ago and the streets are flowing with litter, even though there are fucking trash cans on every corner.



Are there monks who live in temples and preach peace? Of course. But they're the minority. Sadly, it's how most people see us.

Soldier is miles better than Rogue with a tighter, faster plot and characters actually accomplishing story-moving goals, but I pretty much know by now I don't care about them or their journey.

Except for Wes and Riley. They're amazing.

“Wes!” Riley snapped, glaring back at the elevator. “Get out here. The shooting has stopped so you can stop cringing now.”

“Oh, well, pardon me for actually having the sense to get out of sight when bullets start flying through the bloody air,” Wes snarled back, coming out of the elevator tube. “I don’t have scales or armor or the testosterone God gave a gorilla, so you’re all going to have to calm your tits until it’s safe.”

I'll read on for them, but it's mostly loyalty that's pushing me on at this stage. I love Kagawa. Hopefully, that ending is a sign of her comeback.

[Suzzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one best so far in the series! It was so good! Ember wasn't that naïve or frustrating in this one

[Colleen Houck]

Oh man. Where this one ends is killer! Prepare yourself. Love these characters. Dragons are one of my favorite creatures and so this series is perfect for me. What's not to love? Two gorgeous guys, a smart, sassy girl, people on both sides trying to kill you. I especially loved Jade, the Chinese dragon.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated May 4, 2016:
Soldier is gripping, intense, shocking and amazing. Garret has been taught by St. George that dragons were a threat to mankind and believed that their mission was to kill them. However, after meeting the fiery rebellious dragon Ember and learned the truth about her kind has changed everything he once knew and believed in. Every choice he’s made has set him on a dangerous path but he is determined to set everything right. Betrayed, on the run and being hunted by her own kind, Ember and the rogue dragon Riley find themselves on a mission of their own as they discover shocking secrets about Talon and St. George. However, they need Garret’s help to form an impossible alliance in order to stop an all-out war. Soldier is filled with action, choices, shocking truths and discoveries, and romance. OMG I love this series!

Garret travels to London in hopes of learning the truth behind the Order where he discovers a conspiracy between St. George and Talon. After learning that Ember and Riley are in danger, Garret returns to help them with the aid of Jade, an eastern dragon with a grudge against Talon and informs them of what he had learned. Together with Ember, Riley/Cobalt and Wes, they work together to expose St. George’s leader and learns a shocking secret about his past.

Ember along with Riley/Cobalt and Wes hunt down the traitor of their rogue underground only to learn he holds secrets about Talon. After learning the location of Talon’s most guarded secrets, Ember, Riley and Wes investigate only to have more questions about Talon’s plans. They soon discover it was a trap and are rescued by Garret and Jade and learn a shocking truth between their enemies. With Garret back, her conflicted feelings become more conflicted, especially after learned from Jade of what Riley/Cobalt is to her.

Riley/Cobalt continues to what he can to protect his underground from both Talon and St. George but first he wants revenge against the human who betrayed him. After learning the location of Talon’s most guarded secrets, he and Ember learned more than he ever thought possible while investigating and is angered at Talon’s lengths against their own. With Garret’s return, Riley/Cobalt isn’t happy as both of them have feelings for Ember and is determined to fight for her. As Riley/Cobalt, Ember, Wes and Garrett work together, Riley/Cobalt is forced to put his trust in his enemy in order to expose another.

Elsewhere, after failing to return Ember to Talon, Dante is moved to another project to oversee an army of Talon experiments for them to use against their enemies. Upon the success of the project, Dante is taken to Talon’s leader, the Elder Wyrm where he learns a shocking secret of his own.

There was romance in this book and it was conflicting but also insane. Ember still struggles with her feelings between Garret and Riley/Cobalt between her human self and her dragon. She becomes more conflicted when she learns a shocking truth of what Riley/Cobalt is to her and is forced to make a decision.

Ember remains a great character, she’s strong, loyal, and fiery but is stressing over everything that has happened. She also continues to struggle between her two sides. Garret is stronger and more determined than before. After learning the truth, he wants to do what is right. What was really interesting about this book was that we get a little back story of Garret’s childhood and time at the order. Soldier is really Garret’s story this time around. Riley/Cobalt is as determined as ever but now is determined to fight for Ember. Wes remains funny and witty as ever. Jade was cool. Dante I grew to hate even more after the brief chapters he was in. I really, really hate Talon.

Overall, Soldier was insane. Julie Kagawa did not disappoint when she delivered yet another heart-pounding and gripping addition to this incredible series. I loved everything about it. The characters were great, expect for Dante. Plot was gripping and there are a lot of reveals. The romance was really good. The ending cliffhanger left me stunned. Need. Next. Book. Now!

Updated November 6, 2015:
It has a cover!!!! OMG!


Updated August 4, 2015:
The release date has been changed to April 26, 2016!


I'm happy



Updated May 5, 2015:
2017?! Why!?



I want it now!

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The love triangle is getting intense right about now. I need 100% more Dante, please.

[Caylynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes, hard choices were necessary. We couldn't remain ignorant and sheltered any longer. This was a war, and war demanded casualties. It was time to grow up.

While this was significantly better than its predecessor, Rogue, it still had too many shortcomings for me to rate it anything beyond a 3.5/5 star book. Since this was yet another filler book-and a short one at that-I'm keeping this review short and sweet with the good old pro/con list.



Pros
-Dante, a smooth up-and-coming villain whom I can't wait to see more from in the final books! I NEED more of his POV, especially after that final scene! I had been guessing it for a while, but it's always nice to have proof.
-WES. The actual saving grace for this entire series thus far. I mean, come on with this snark:

"I don't have scales or armor or the testosterone God gave a gorilla, so you're all going to have to calm your tits until it's safe."

You know who Wes reminds me of? Our beloved Riley, whom we all know was the true National Treasure.



Unfortunately, Kagawa used the name Riley for a different character already, so my precious cinnamon roll was stuck with Wes instead.
-Jade. I NEED to see more of Jade. No more "Riley is the oldest and makes all the decisions". Jade is a fucking Eastern dragon and is like half a millennium old. I need more of her kicking ass.
-Garret. The love of my life. The Ash (The Iron King) of this entire damn series. MY true endgame. My poor baby, that last scene was BRUTAL for Garret. He deserves all the happiness in the world, and he ain't gonna find that by shackling himself to Ember
-Tristan. I just want more Tristan, okay? I need more angsty bromance between Garret and Tristan. I need Tristan to defect just so he can bond with Garret all over again and pull my precious soldier away from the plague that is Ember Hill. Plus, Tristan is just a cool character in general.

Cons
-Ember and Riley. Need I say more? It sucks, because Riley on his own is a decent character. His motivations and his cause to free rogues and hatchlings is worthy enough of being liked by me, but he is so obsessed and possessive over Ember that it's infuriating to read from his perspective. Come on, man. Ember is NOT worth it. She's a god damn idiot, and you and Garret should really get together instead. Leave Ember to die by Dante's hand or something.
-So many pages of a certain teenage girl pining over two guys. Come ON MAN, give me more Dante or something. I don't need 4+ chapters of Ember saying "Okay, I've made my decision. It's Garret...No, Riley....NO, I'm and INdepEnDEnt wOMan".

I'm sticking through this series until the end, because as of now, there are a few more pros than cons. I want more of Garret, Tristan, and Dante's perspectives. If I get that in the final installments, I might actually leave this series moderately satisfied. Until then, FUCk that cliffhanger!

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series since the beginning but I just knew Soldier was going to be a little different from Talon and Rogue. It’s that feeling you get when everything is going well but you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop, for disaster to strike…. Except in this case you’re waiting for Julie Kagawa to crush your soul.

Similar to the Iron Fey series Kagawa makes you fall in love with her wonderful characters, even the bad guys have their shining moments, it’s hard to have strong negative feelings towards anyone – well except Scary Talon Lady, the name is reason enough. Anyway, so while you’re immersed in this new world and loving the direction each book is taking, suddenly out of nowhere Kagawa drops an A-bomb, a bomb so big and catastrophic that you find yourself thinking that you simply didn’t read that last sentence right, you’re eyes are deceiving you, perhaps it was a trick of the light?, all the while listening to your heart being crushed; this ladies and gentlemen is Solider. If tears do in fact feed Kagawa’s muse then I’d say that everyone better prepare for Talon #4 because it’s going to be one hell of a ride.



Solider picks up straight after Rogue, Ember and Riley are on the run from Talon and St. George and while attempting to save their scales they must also keep numerous underground dragons safe. During the ending of Rogue we saw my poor sweet snowflake Garrett leaving the nest and taking matters into his own hands. There’s not much I can say about Solider without giving away spoilers but I will say that you do get some much-needed answers to those questions that have been popping up since book one.

Time for honesty, while I highly recommend Solider and the Talon series, I wasn't able to give it the 5 stars I was hoping due to a few minor issues; One being that a very very small portion of this book started to read as a filler but it did soon pick up. It was nowhere near as bad as Glass Sword - the entirety of that book was a filler! My other issue was Ember, like in glass Sword the MC seems to lose herself and while it is expected due to the extremely stressing trails they've been through, they're actions just seem wildly out of character and filled with contradictions that you can't help but pick up on.

What about answers to the romance? Hmm, again I’ll be honest, to me it remains a question mark. There was a moment in the book where a choice is made but the following events left a lot of room for potential change. I found myself looking way too much into certain scenes, the mere mention of certain colours had me convinced they were referring to characters and ships. Gray = OH MY GOD IT’S GARRETT, his metallic greys so dreamy, Ember belongs with him. Blue/Purple = AHHH IT’S RILEY, together at last, two dragons mating, it all makes sense. As you can see, I tended to jump the gun… and on numerous occasions.

Fan of the series will no doubt enjoy this heart-stopping sequel, there’s action, adventure, romance and more fire-breathing dragons!!! What more could you want? Kagawa has surpassed herself with this incredible instalment, her writing continues to have the same captivating affect and with each book my love for her incredible fantasy worlds continues to grow.



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[Grüffeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es ist keine Paranoia, wenn sie wirklich hinter dir her sind.

MEIN ARMES HERZ! DIESES ENDE IST EINFACH UNFASSBAR! Aaaahhh! Obwohl ich noch ungefähr weiß, was folgt, bin ich total fertig...
Das Buch ist einfach nur toll, wie auch der Rest der Reihe. Ich mag Dante zwar immer noch nicht so sonderlich, es gab kurze Momente, in denen ich dachte, ich könnte mich für ihn erwärmen, aber die waren schnell wieder vorbei. Riley... ist ein Fall für sich. Ich mag ihn nicht mehr ganz so sehr wie vorher. Die anderen (Ember, Wes und Garret) sind nach wie vor toll und Jade ist auch ein sehr interessantes Puzzlestück. Man erfährt viel über Hintergründe und kommt in der Geschichte ein ganzes Stück weiter. Man lacht, man haut sich das Buch in aller Öffentlichkeit vor den Kopf und zwischenzeitlich (vor allem bei den Enthüllungen am Ende) entgleisen einem sämtliche Gesichtszüge.

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Julie Kagawa...did I wrong you in some way? I have no words for that ending...other than I'm going to need the next book right now. Please and thank you.

Soldier is book three in the Talon series by Julie Kagawa and if you haven’t started the series yet, you definitely should. I will warn you, if you have read anything by Kagawa, you know she isn’t one to let her characters go happily off into the sunset when you are mid-series so keep that in mind when you pick this book up.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I picked up Soldier. Remembering where things left off with book two, I had my doubts about how much I would get of Ember and Garrett together in this book. Because I love these two but things did not wrap up well for them in Rogue. I was immediately pulled back into the story when I started Soldier as Kagawa dives right in.

One of the things I wanted most was delivered by Kagawa in this book. We learn more about Garrett’s background. Everything from who his parents were to how he ended up with the Order of St. George and his progress with the Order. I loved this background and it gave me more insight into Garrett…which is what I wanted.

There are a number of things happening throughout this story. First, Garrett is on his own and finds out some surprising things about The Order and its leader. Second, Ember and Riley are trying to figure out how the Order is aware of all the safe houses and find themselves right in the middle of the danger they have been trying to avoid. And finally, we can’t forget about Dante. His role within Talon has grown and he is now leading an initiative that isn’t widely known.

Similar to the prior books, Ember still struggles with balancing her dragon half with her human half. She wants to be part of both worlds and it continues to show in her relationships with Riley and Garrett. As Ember learns more about her dragon and what her connection with Riley truly means, she feels overwhelmed by it while Riley accepts it. I won’t give anything away here but Ember isn’t one to just do or accept things because that is what she should do. As she comes to realize what she really wants, you can bet that Kagawa has more in store for these characters.

I have to say, Dante’s parts with Talon added another layer to this story that I wasn’t really expecting. I am still angry with him because he is willing to throw away his relationship with his sister for the respect of Talon but it’s clear he is uncomfortable with the situation he finds himself in now but honestly, it is all his own doing and while he definitely isn’t onboard, he doesn’t do anything to change what’s happening. It will be interesting to see where Kagawa takes this arc and how it impacts the rest of the series.

In true Kagawa fashion, the ending will rip your heart out. The image I have in my head of the final paragraph being written is perfectly depicted by the images below.





All I have to say is…hold onto your hearts people. I try not to take it personally but…



So….I can’t say much more other than - GO READ THIS BOOK! If you enjoyed Rogue, I think you will be happy with the progression of this series. I personally will be sitting over here just waiting for someone to take pity on me and hand me an early copy of Legion (hint hint).

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the review copy!

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

Oooh, pretty cover! I was wondering how they'd fit this in to the theme of the books, and I must say I am very satisfied. Please stay a matching set!!!

Oh, and still waiting for a Riley/Ember kiss...

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grab this copy since I had all the rest and didn't want to miss one. I wanted to love it but I'm having a really hard time with this love triangle! Ember vacillation is just getting on my nerves but I think its all the times all three of them say the same thing over and over about their feelings.

That's before we even go onto Dante's little side bars within Talon...

I'm heading onto the next book hoping this is all going somewhere and this circling stops.

[dessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review also posted on Samodivas

I received a free advanced copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The third installment in the Talon Saga once again picks up just about where its predecessor left off – Ember and Riley are on the run as ex-soldier Garret Sebastian has left them and now travels to London – the capital of all St. George’s activity. But he is thrust right back into the action with his previous accomplices when he learns of a sinister plan that has been in the works for quite some time now. Garret returns to the States to warn rogues Ember and Riley and help them reveal the truth about Talon and St. George before it’s too late.

This series and I have a rocky relationship. Talon was absolutely unbearable, while Rogue somewhat improved in the plot department and we finally saw something happen (or the beginnings of something happening, maybe.) In Soldier, the plot continues to go forward, much to my delight. There is definitely more movement than the previous two books for which I am extremely grateful as it definitely saved me from feeling guilt over skimming most chapters. In this book, I feel, the story that Kagawa is trying to tell is finally taking some shape and growing from that boring cliché that it started out as.

Of course, I still have some major issues. (Like I said – rocky relationship.) I still cannot stand either main character, be it dragon or human, and I mostly just want someone to come in and punch them in the face. First off, Ember constantly claims that she’s different now, she’s seen things and has grown, but I actually saw none of those things. She’s still a whiny teenage girl, it’s just that now her mind is preoccupied by the action that she isn’t complaining about her life all the time. Riley really disappointed me. He behaved like a juvenile and I really cannot get behind some of his actions in this book. Garret grew on me a little, if only because he acted the most rationally out of the three mains – and that’s saying something, trust me. I liked that we got more backstory on him, even though it was once again sprung on us so suddenly, like Cobalt’s in Rogue. As for Dante – I really don’t understand why we’re still getting chapters from his POV. It’s not like he’s adding anything to the story at this point.

The romantic subplot, again, continues to plague me. I hated how much focus there was on the love triangle – definitely more than it was focused on in Rogue. Riley acts so possessive, as if he’s on the playground and Garret has come to steal his toy. Ember, at some point, is genuinely afraid to tell him what she’s learned about their bond because she knows he’d explode. Speaking of Ember, her main source for whining once again is about how she doesn’t know what she feels and for whom. I started referring to this as the Twilight Saga: Eclipse Syndrome, but more annoying. Garret, again, is the most reasonable out of the three, though he still has that melodramatic flair that I’m not here for.

My main issue with this series remains the narrative and writing style. I have trouble not rolling my eyes every time a character refers to themselves as “their dragon”. In Soldier I noticed how they even refer to both their human and dragon sides as an “us”. This type of writing really reminds me of how, in 50 Shades of Grey, Anastasia Steele constantly refers to her inner thoughts as “her inner goddess” as if she and her consciousness are two separate entities. It’s the same for the dragons in this book, only they refer to their primal instincs as “their dragon” as if they are not the dragons themselves. As if, when they “Shift”, the creatures they become are completely different from their human forms.

Meanwhile, the writing style is still very much depended on the hand-holding method. Readers are taken through the story as if they’re children being led by their pre-school teachers. Another thing that really irks me is how Kagawa is constantly reminding us of things that we should already know by heart. She takes every opportunity to mention who is rogue and who is an ex-soldier and what organization does what to who. Honestly, if you’re still feeling the need to remind your readers of what your key players are in your story, maybe you should think about why that is instead.

Overall, this book is definitely an improvement from both Talon and Rogue. The characters are beyond saving for me at this point but there were other redeeming qualities. At least we begin to see some semblance of a plot. Basically, Soldier, and particularly its ending, managed to engage me just enough to make me consider reading the next book.

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5

Review coming soon!

[Tracy (Cornerfolds) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

Talon is a series that I never thought I'd get into. I'm not into contemporary fiction and I don't really get the appeal of dragons. But against the odds, I ended up really enjoying the first two books in the series and I obviously had to pick up book three! To be honest, when I first went hunting for this, I thought it was the last book in a trilogy, but... Nope. It's book three in a five book series. I'm not sure why exactly this is five books long, but okay. Luckily, the third was a solid addition to the series!

This book begins with Garret and Ember having gone their separate ways and each missing the other, but knowing they can never be together. Ember is firmly on Team Riley/Cobalt at the moment, but she still battles with the desire to be back with Garret. Still, she knows that "her dragon" would not be happy with that. So... basically, this book is one huge love triangle. I guess that's not a huge change from the other two, now that I think about it, but sometimes you can forgive the romance when the story is super interesting and here it mostly is!

I did enjoy that, like Talon did for Ember and Rogue did for Cobalt, Soldier gave a lot of insight into Garret's history. We learn about his childhood, his upbringing in the Order, how he was singled out among his classmates, and how he came to be the perfect soldier. I liked having more of a clear understanding of his motivations and his relationships, especially with Tristan, who I hope to see more of in book four.

After enjoying Cobalt so much in the last book, I really expected to be more firmly on his team during Soldier, but I found myself disliking him more as the book went on. He was extremely possessive of Ember and went overboard at times trying to stake his claim. I didn't like how he told her that she was his because it didn't seem romantic, in my opinion. It seemed aggressive. I know you might say that's because it was "his dragon," but I'm not buying that the "human" and "dragon" sides are two separate things. I was glad that Garret didn't act ridiculous also and am surprised to find myself on Team Garret at this point.

Speaking of dragons/humans, one of the things that has really started to annoy me about this series is the way each character has 380174910 names. For example, Ember is also Firebrand, Riley is also Cobalt and The Rogue, and Garret is also Sebastian and The Soldier. I understand the author's need not to be repetitive, but come on. I know by book three that Riley is a rogue and Garret is a soldier. Just stick to their actual names, please! But I digress...

Even with the heavy handed romance, this installment is pretty much non-stop action. Although the book begins with Garret on a different continent, it doesn't take very long for them to find their paths crossing again in an attempt to save both dragons and humans from the corrupt plans of both organizations. I was riveted by each piece of the plot that was uncovered by Ember and Co. and couldn't wait to see what happened next! This book definitely held my attention and never really lagged.

Something I really enjoyed was getting to know about the Eastern Dragons and learning the ins and outs of a completely new species. I did think it was interesting that they had never been mentioned before though. Jade was a fun new addition who I'm hoping plays a role in future books as well.

Soldier did have it's problems, but they were mostly more of the same problems that I've had with the last two books as well. I wish that the back and forth of the love triangle would hurry up and die in a fire and I would really like for Cobalt to back off of Ember and stop acting like a caveman. The action was great and I liked learning new things about the world, though. I definitely do plan to continue the series when book number four is released!

[Sinead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh God, that ending. I’m still not over it. Some friends had warned me that the ending to this book would break me emotionally, but wow. Just, no. My heart hurts. It’s going to be hard to recover from this emotional rollercoaster, let me tell you. How am I supposed to wait a year to find out what happens??

This is definitely my favourite out of this series so far. It picks up a small while after the ending of Rogue, where Riley and Ember are moving as fast as they can to save Riley’s network of hatchlings, with Garret off to London to find out answers about St George and learn more about the organisation that was his entire life.

We learn so much about Talon and St George in this book, secrets that they’re keeping that they don’t want anybody to uncover. And, as you may have guessed by the title of this book, we delve in the background of Garret, and how he became the Perfect Soldier we met in Talon. And I loved it! He’s already my favourite character, but learning more about his upbringing and what eventually led to becoming a “dragon lover” was great to read, and I feel so much closer to his character now.

He and Ember have parted ways, as Ember is feeling incredibly conflicted about her feelings toward both the boys in her life. Her dragon is attracted to Riley, but the human in her is drawn to Garret. We see both of them struggle with the separation – Garret is still in love with her and is not ashamed to admit it, but he thinks that he doesn’t have any chance with the dragon girl of his dreams. But that doesn’t mean he won’t stop attempting to help her in whatever way he can, and try and create a future that will be safe for her so she can eventually stop fighting and have a life. It’s impossible not to love him.

And Ember has changed since we met her in Talon. Yes, she’s still that fire-headed, stubborn and defiant dragon you can’t help but cheer for, but she’s lost that innocence and love for life she had in the first book. She’s seen death, and caused death, and that creates a haunted look in your eyes that never truly goes away. While she’s accepted this part of her life, that doesn’t mean she has to like it, and she’s still traumatised because of it. She’s also feeling incredibly conflicted over her dragon and human sides, what her heart is trying to tell her vs what her dragon is telling her. Which side is more important?

And finally we have Riley, aka Cobalt, our rogue, sarcastic, defiant leader. I have such conflicting feelings toward him. I think he’s a fantastic leader and I love how determined he is to save all the hatchlings and will go to extreme lengths to defeat the evil in Talon so that all dragons can be safe and free. But I hated how controlling he was toward Ember. He viewed her in a very animalistic way – she was his, and no one else could have her. The dragon in him wanted to fight anyone who would attempt to take Ember from him – despite never actually declaring them a couple. I felt like he never gave her a choice in the matter; she was his whether she liked it or not, which I hated.

We learn a lot more about both Talon and St George in this book, secrets that are completely shocking to both me and the characters. We meet more dragons that are from the Middle East that don’t want anything to do with Talon, whom I loved. I can’t wait to see more of them and learn more about their culture and how they differ from Western dragons.

And again, we have that DEVASTATING ENDING. Shocks were thrown in, you cry out in shock horror, you crawl under the bed covers in an attempt to escape the pain this book caused your heart… It’s a ride, I’ll tell you that much. But it’s been my favourite ride in this series so far. I don’t know how I’ll survive the year wait, but I know it will be worth it.

[Yv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read okt 2020:
Nog steeds liefde voor deze serie <3


Jan 2017:
Woww, wat een avontuurtje was dit! Volop actie en de ene na de andere twist in het plot.
Wat in het vorige boek eigenlijk wat tekort kwam, wordt met deze ruimschoots goed gemaakt! Actie, liefde, sarcasme, avontuur, spanning... It has it all. En dat einde.. <3 !
4.5*

Nu ongeduldig wachten op Legion, als het goed is komt-ie ergens in 2017 uit...

[♥ Rebecca ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still love this series. Really didnt see the Sallith'tahn stuff coming, but definitely makes things interesting. As long as she is with Garret in the end.

[Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to fly up beyond the clouds, where nothing would hear me but the stars.

So I have a theory regarding the love triangle in here that sort of just appeared in my head and I'm going to put it behind a spoiler cut just to be safe.
What if Ember has mixed blood? Like half-dragon, half-human? And that's why a part of her is drawn to Garrett, a human, and the other half to Riley, a dragon?
Just a thought...

Anyway, on with the review!

Garrett, a former soldier of St George, has gone to England to find out what the Order is up to. While there, he finds allies he certainly did not expect - and learns a hell of a lot more about both Talon and the Order than he expected.
Meanwhile, Ember and Riley continue to thwart Talon and the Order. They receive a tip as to where one of the hatching facilites are, but once there it becomes clear that the place is a trap. One meant to kill Riley and, if possible, return Ember to Talon.

I'm still enjoying the writing of these novels, but I find myself groaning at the focus on the love triangle. Like, give it a rest people! There are more important things than fighting over each other as to who gets the girl! I honestly think Ember would (possibly) do better to just leave the boys behind and go it her own.

Possibly.

Anyway, the ending was a goddamn twist and a half! I seriously did not expect that - which means that I'm not giving up on this yet. Things just might have gotten interesting...

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series forever has my heart. is it 2017 yet? I need Legion now!

[Susie DelMa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine richtig gelunge Fortsetzung der Reihe und das Ende, ohhhhh mein gott

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I am reeling... NOOOOOO! This is a not-to-be-missed installment in the Talon saga!

My heart seemed to stop. Garret paused, as if gathering his thoughts, or his courage, then took a deep breath. “I know I’ve made mistakes,” he continued, shaking his head. “But there’s still the chance for me to fix them. I shouldn’t have walked out that night.” His brow creased, a flicker of pain and regret going through his eyes. “Ember, I know you can’t feel what I do,” he said. “I get that. But…I want to be with you. And if that’s not possible, I’ll be content just to be close. Fighting Talon with you and Riley, helping people, saving other dragons from the Order-there is nothing I want more. And nowhere else I want to be.”

SOLDIER by Julie Kagawa is the third installment in the author's wholly fabulous Talon series. This urban fantasy series revolves around TALON, an organization populated by dragons with the stated objective to rule the world and the ability to disguise themselves as humans; and the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon-slayer warriors sworn to eradicate the dragons. The two entities have been at war with each other for centuries. When a young red female dragon and a battle-hardened slayer befriend each other, both organizations have been set reeling.

First of all, this is absolutely a series you must read in order. Please do not try to jump in without reading the previous books as you will not enjoy the series as it should be enjoyed. Each book has built upon the previous book. The first book, TALON, introduced the primary characters and setup the storyline. TALON gave us an up-close-and-personal look into Ember Hill aka Firebrand, a young red female dragon. Ember and her twin, Dante Hill, have had a falling out and lost contact with each other as the story has progressed. ROGUE filled in more information and concentrated more on Riley aka Cobalt, a rogue dragon. In the same way, SOLDIER focused on Garret aka the perfect soldier.

This series features a love triangle with Riley and Garret vying for Ember's affection. Her dragon has a split personality. Her dragon-side craves Riley and her human-side yearns for Garret. You should know that I'm biased. I'm firmly Team Garret -he's such a sweetheart- and this book reinforced my feelings even more after Riley went all possessive caveman on Ember herein - but, truly, I'd like to see them all get a happy-ever-after. Garret was at his best in this installment. He declared his love. He was there when Ember and the team needed him but didn't force himself on them. He stayed strong under pressure. He gave his all in supporting Ember and the team, not holding anything back. But... he's human and not a dragon. We'll have to see what Julie does.

Jade, an interesting Eastern Dragon, joins the cast of characters in ROGUE adding some new dragon-y and lifestyle twists! I hope to see more of her and her cohorts in future installments.

I listened to the audio as I have with the prior books. There are four narrators for SOLDER. They all did a superb job, though I have to say that the narrator who voiced Riley grated on me more often than not. However, in all fairness, it could have been because Riley over-dramatically played at caveman for much of this book. He did not take well to Garret's re-appearance. His extreme jealousy did not become him nor further his cause. So I will cut that narrator a bit of slack. I would note that Riley's voice did not irk me in the previous books. Rest assured, that my issue with the voicing of that one character did not take away from my enjoyment of the whole listening experience. The multiple narrators mesh seamlessly and it is easy to always discern which character is speaking. I cannot imagine doing anything other than listening to this series as the audios have been done so well.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from this book:

Our enemies-my enemies-wouldn’t win. The demon lizards had hurt me for the last time. Now, they had a new foe, and I would make sure they remembered my name when I destroyed them on the battlefield.
I would work hard.
I would excel.
I would become the perfect soldier.
---
One hand traced small circles against my back, and I pressed closer to him, listening to his heartbeat. “I used to think that having nothing to live for made you a better fighter,” he murmured. “Turns out I was wrong on a lot of fronts.”
---
“Your friends are…interesting,” she said, making me snort. “I would hate to see your enemies.” She looked back at me, black eyes assessing. “You did not mention that one of the ‘friends’ you risked your life for was desperately hoping he could rip your head off.”
“I was a soldier of the Order,” I said wearily. “He’s the leader of a rogue dragon underground. I’m sure I’ve killed a few of his dragons in the past."
'I’m also stupidly in love with the girl he considers his, and we both know it.'
---
“I couldn’t,” he finally whispered. “You were the one who taught me to live, to take chances. For a while, I convinced myself that we were too different, and that it was better to let you go. But now, I’ve come to the realization that my life is probably going to be very short. And I want to spend it doing something that matters. With someone that matters. I don’t want to regret that I gave up without a fight.”

This amazing series will keep you perched on the edge of your seat. It's action-packed, suspenseful, danger-filled, humorous, heartbreaking, but also sweet. Much is revealed in this installment. Those following the series should absolutely not miss it. Be forewarned that the ending of SOLDIER is hardcore earth-shattering brutal. The half-point reduction in my rating is for cruelly breaking my heart into so many pieces. That said, I'm not sorry I read it. In fact, the next installment, LEGION, cannot come soon enough! I have to believe that Julie will pull a miracle out her hat as the trios' story just can't end that way. There is an epilogue with a mind-blowing twist. SOLDIER is an excellent addition to the Talon saga. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys urban fantasies.

My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...

4 1/2 Wine Glasses!

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Dante...what did you do now?

It has been months, MONTHS, since I finished the second book of this series. Not sure why I just ghosted the crap out of this back in January.. but I'm hoping to redeem myself now. That being said, I dove into Soldier pretty freaking quickly and devoured it all up.

My hatred for love triangles continues to grow and this book just added more fuel to the giant fire. Last time, I liked both guys - Garett and Riley. Mostly because they were likable. Yet, now.. I just want her to pick one of them or none of them.

Other than that, so many things annoyed me in this book. For example, Dante. Freaking Dante. All of a sudden he's like a brainless robot and is all about team talon. Then there's Ember, who is using her brain and isn't getting on that bandwagon. I just think that Dante needs a good slap or something to wake him up. He needs to see what is going on right?? Ugh!

I need to see how this series is going to end at this point.

[Amber J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok... So what the hell was with that ending? Not the Dante one but the other. This better be a joke because otherwise, I got issues. Things better resolve with book 4.

It's actually a very interesting series and I'm surprised by how much I've been enjoying it. Despite the awful YA love triangle.