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In the final stretch of the war, the rules are changing faster than Anglia can keep up. The Kaisae of all Iliri is gone. Her mates are holding the army together. Her dreams are changing everything—and Sal? She's not done yet.
The Emperor has taken too much from her. Life, loves, and much of her happiness. All she has left is desperation—and blind trust.
But she's not alone. She never has been.
If the iliri want to finally know peace, she's going to need some help. For once, the success of their species is out of her hands.
Ryali has promised to handle the situation in Dorton. This leaves the King free to focus on the assault of Terric. Elite units are lining up to help. The end of the war is near, but can Anglia truly make this happen? The fight is the least of their concerns. Killing a man is easy. Changing minds? That's going to be impossible.
And yet it's the whole reason the iliri have risen up: to finally be seen as equals. If this is going to work, it's going to take more than ayati—more than the fate the iliri believe controls the world.
It's time for the pattern to change.
Like in all of the Rise of the Iliri novels, this epic fantasy story focuses on loving relationships, platonic and romantic, with a steamy reverse harem theme. Sal’s erotic love scenes with are explicit and almost unbearably titillating, although not for all readers—especially humans under eighteen.
A Reverse Harem Epic Fantasy.
The Emperor has taken too much from her. Life, loves, and much of her happiness. All she has left is desperation—and blind trust.
But she's not alone. She never has been.
If the iliri want to finally know peace, she's going to need some help. For once, the success of their species is out of her hands.
Ryali has promised to handle the situation in Dorton. This leaves the King free to focus on the assault of Terric. Elite units are lining up to help. The end of the war is near, but can Anglia truly make this happen? The fight is the least of their concerns. Killing a man is easy. Changing minds? That's going to be impossible.
And yet it's the whole reason the iliri have risen up: to finally be seen as equals. If this is going to work, it's going to take more than ayati—more than the fate the iliri believe controls the world.
It's time for the pattern to change.
Like in all of the Rise of the Iliri novels, this epic fantasy story focuses on loving relationships, platonic and romantic, with a steamy reverse harem theme. Sal’s erotic love scenes with are explicit and almost unbearably titillating, although not for all readers—especially humans under eighteen.
A Reverse Harem Epic Fantasy.
724 pages, ebook
First published September 13, 2019
487 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
March 15, 2020
Edit: After another careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it wasn't as bad as I felt it was in my annoyance immediately after reading it.
Was it a disappointing read? Yes. Do I regret reading the series (emphasis on series here)? Not as much as I thought before.
And this very definitely an epic fantasy - the world building, if nothing else, is terrific!
Side note - The epilogue that I said doesn't exist is actually now the eleventh novella in the series.
To summarise, I have moved up from wanting negative rating to giving it two stars. And promoting this book from time-I-am-never-getting-back to high-expectations-crashed shelf.
*******************
After careful consideration, regret, analysis and reviewing, I have come to realise that this was like the longest train wreck - messy, terrible with the worst ending that makes you keep watching (or reading).
After ten very long books and hours of reading, there was a minor ten pages long final battle (oops, I mean a skirmish)! You cannot call this an epic fantasy series and then have a rushed climax and an ending! Seriously! Ten f**king pages where the villain doesn't even meet the heroine!
The entire book was about petty, stupid relationship about why one of the guy shouldn't be with the heroine! Epic fantasy - my a**!
I would have still gone through all the muck around the various relationship, if I could have had a reasonable final battle. Instead I have a veteran soldier getting kidnapped in front of the entire army to save whom, the heroine does the very exact same thing that she is NOT supposed to do (being the main theme in last five books, at least)!!!
And not to mention the 'acquiring multiple mates to keep her sanity' (another theme for last few books) that doesn't come into the play at all!
The endless repetitive, boring dialogue and same issues being hammered on made the book unbearable. I didn't even care for the s*x scenes...
Again! Why did I read this? And more importantly, why did I finish this? Right, train wreck! I couldn't look away.
Oh, and yes! No epilogue!
Is there negative rating?
Was it a disappointing read? Yes. Do I regret reading the series (emphasis on series here)? Not as much as I thought before.
And this very definitely an epic fantasy - the world building, if nothing else, is terrific!
Side note - The epilogue that I said doesn't exist is actually now the eleventh novella in the series.
To summarise, I have moved up from wanting negative rating to giving it two stars. And promoting this book from time-I-am-never-getting-back to high-expectations-crashed shelf.
*******************
After careful consideration, regret, analysis and reviewing, I have come to realise that this was like the longest train wreck - messy, terrible with the worst ending that makes you keep watching (or reading).
After ten very long books and hours of reading, there was a minor ten pages long final battle (oops, I mean a skirmish)! You cannot call this an epic fantasy series and then have a rushed climax and an ending! Seriously! Ten f**king pages where the villain doesn't even meet the heroine!
The entire book was about petty, stupid relationship about why one of the guy shouldn't be with the heroine! Epic fantasy - my a**!
I would have still gone through all the muck around the various relationship, if I could have had a reasonable final battle. Instead I have a veteran soldier getting kidnapped in front of the entire army to save whom, the heroine does the very exact same thing that she is NOT supposed to do (being the main theme in last five books, at least)!!!
And not to mention the 'acquiring multiple mates to keep her sanity' (another theme for last few books) that doesn't come into the play at all!
The endless repetitive, boring dialogue and same issues being hammered on made the book unbearable. I didn't even care for the s*x scenes...
Again! Why did I read this? And more importantly, why did I finish this? Right, train wreck! I couldn't look away.
Oh, and yes! No epilogue!
Is there negative rating?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2019
Underwhelming Ending to an epic series
I love all of this author's work and this is one of my favorite series - but this book was a letdown.
I loved the journey up until this final installment. I know this book was hyped for being so long but tbh this book could have been half the size. The first 50 or so was the same conversation repeated over and over. I wouldn't have mind the length if it was at the end (where the whole army finale meets up) because the end was choppy and rushed.
I felt like Sal was out of character and shouldn't be begging as much as she did. I understand they needed to work out what they were going to do/be but Tyrs said the same things over and over - - but still ended up in Sals bed.
There was such a focus on emotions and feelings in the first 50 chapters that the last 30ish felt empty of them. Where were the explanations, emotions and discussions? Everything from here on felt hallow and like we were going thru the motions.
A lot of important secondary characters had no to little face time - - and certain pairings/actions felt off too because how little they appeared.
Spoilers:
Sal does something she was told not to (again) and stop rushing into things (again) - and others close to her pay the price. Nothing. No response.
The Emperor was killed by a minor character and happened behind the scenes/fade to black. I get he/she/they matter but this whole time we were told that Sal could walk in a kill him with a thought - - and that never happens. She actually seemed weak and her selfishness got her in trouble again. If she is so powerful and have so many skills, why didn't she use them instead of messing with ayati?
We see a metal pyramid-like structure that hums... No research or mentioning of it.
We learn some facts/found some evidence about the Emperor and nothing was explained the real reason for the war.
The war ends and no celebration. A paragraph about how everyone peaced out and went back home. That is it. Very underwhelming.
Narnx's plan / escape felt odd and had no explanation.
And then bamm a surprise from Blaec - - which was such a wildcard and left field - that there was no reason why/how he could be responsible.
Instead of leaving fulfilled with all the loose ends tied up, I feel dissatisfied / disappointed and leave with many more questions then I did going into this book.
There is a full length epilogue being released after this but this was advertised as being the official ending - where the next book would not be needed in order to feel closure. Well... I didn't feel any closure reading this.
I love this series. It is still on of my favorites and worth reading - but I wished the focus was on the ending (when the final push army meets up and beyond) rather the repeated Sal/Tyr argument.
I love all of this author's work and this is one of my favorite series - but this book was a letdown.
I loved the journey up until this final installment. I know this book was hyped for being so long but tbh this book could have been half the size. The first 50 or so was the same conversation repeated over and over. I wouldn't have mind the length if it was at the end (where the whole army finale meets up) because the end was choppy and rushed.
I felt like Sal was out of character and shouldn't be begging as much as she did. I understand they needed to work out what they were going to do/be but Tyrs said the same things over and over - - but still ended up in Sals bed.
There was such a focus on emotions and feelings in the first 50 chapters that the last 30ish felt empty of them. Where were the explanations, emotions and discussions? Everything from here on felt hallow and like we were going thru the motions.
A lot of important secondary characters had no to little face time - - and certain pairings/actions felt off too because how little they appeared.
Spoilers:
Sal does something she was told not to (again) and stop rushing into things (again) - and others close to her pay the price. Nothing. No response.
The Emperor was killed by a minor character and happened behind the scenes/fade to black. I get he/she/they matter but this whole time we were told that Sal could walk in a kill him with a thought - - and that never happens. She actually seemed weak and her selfishness got her in trouble again. If she is so powerful and have so many skills, why didn't she use them instead of messing with ayati?
We see a metal pyramid-like structure that hums... No research or mentioning of it.
We learn some facts/found some evidence about the Emperor and nothing was explained the real reason for the war.
The war ends and no celebration. A paragraph about how everyone peaced out and went back home. That is it. Very underwhelming.
Narnx's plan / escape felt odd and had no explanation.
And then bamm a surprise from Blaec - - which was such a wildcard and left field - that there was no reason why/how he could be responsible.
Instead of leaving fulfilled with all the loose ends tied up, I feel dissatisfied / disappointed and leave with many more questions then I did going into this book.
There is a full length epilogue being released after this but this was advertised as being the official ending - where the next book would not be needed in order to feel closure. Well... I didn't feel any closure reading this.
I love this series. It is still on of my favorites and worth reading - but I wished the focus was on the ending (when the final push army meets up and beyond) rather the repeated Sal/Tyr argument.
September 14, 2019
I was disappointed in this book..It didn't reach the high bar set by the previous books. I found it mechanical, lacking the flow of the previous books. It had a lot of pages devoted to sex that seemed really repetitive. I have no issue with good sex scenes but these seemed to be wasted pages after the first few...To many pages that should have been story were devoted to repeating anal sex. Yawn.
Too much time spent on one secondary character and subplot. Not enough on the major plotline that made us read and love the series.
I wanted to love this book. I adored the series.
It seemed the main plot was only a sideline. Many of the secondary characters were not given much time or more than cursory mention or closure. In my opinion the book could have benefitted from editing some parts seemed just for more words.
It seemed to be a recipe story not a true work of passion like the others were. The last 25 chapters seemed rushed. Those should have been the best and really weren't. Some threads were closed in lazy ways. The ending was quite anticlimactic...main enemy death was so very poorly done..
Too much time spent on one secondary character and subplot. Not enough on the major plotline that made us read and love the series.
I wanted to love this book. I adored the series.
It seemed the main plot was only a sideline. Many of the secondary characters were not given much time or more than cursory mention or closure. In my opinion the book could have benefitted from editing some parts seemed just for more words.
It seemed to be a recipe story not a true work of passion like the others were. The last 25 chapters seemed rushed. Those should have been the best and really weren't. Some threads were closed in lazy ways. The ending was quite anticlimactic...main enemy death was so very poorly done..
January 30, 2022
There might be spoilers but I will not to include any. But this is the kind of series that grabs you in it grasps and sinks it's teeth into and refuses to ever let you go. This is the kind of series that stays with you for life. The kind that you become so attached to the characters that every time in the future when you pick up that first book once again, it's like coming home to a friend or of a family member's embrace and washes just a little bit of the world's bad away with each embrace, because you will pick it up again. It may be months or years but this is the kind of series changes you. I'm 30, I grew up reading Harry Potter, I grew up with the characters in the books and in the movies, I cried my outs at the finaly movie just because I knew a journey was over but that I was forever changed. This series is as close to me as that. I just spent 20 minutes explaining to my husband why I needed to decompress after I read this book in a night and day, why it hurt to my core. He's not a reader so he can't fully understand so I tried. I told him "Imagine making a life-altering journey with a person or people. They can't see you or even hear you when you talk to them, but you hear every word they say, every doubt in their heads, to the point that you feel everything they feel. The hurt, the pain of loss, the tears some of them can't cry, the happiness, the pure joy...you follow them through every single step and know everything. Learning all the lessons they learn and even carrying some of that pain for the rest of your life. Now imagine it ending that connection you have, those feelings..it's just snap and all gone at once. That's how a reader feels when coming up from a book.". He nodded and said he finally understood it a little bit, and now doesn't judge me so much for my tattoo that I will be getting soon. Reading is like breathing to me, gaming is my exhale. I know many will understand and just as many won't. But the reading it has changed me since childhood, Teddy Roosevelt said something once and it has stuck with me since a teacher told it to me "I am part of everything that I have read". That's completely true for me, the most important lessons I've learned in my life were from books, and that changes a person. So as soon as I have the design completed my tattoo will be symbols in some form of an outline from books throughout my life that changed me or altered me for the better, and that quote will be in the middle and right under it will be "Il bax genause". Because it really does matter. They may just be words on a page for some but for many, they are a lifeline, a learning experience and just so much more. So if you want a series that will sink so deep into you that it will stay with you for years to come then pick this series up, it won't be easy and it may even hurt but it will be worth it.
October 1, 2019
To be really honest, this book is a let down. I have super high hopes for the final installment in this series. I'm dissapointed with how Tyr's character played out. He has been one of my favorite character and I rooted for him to be one of Sal's mate. I know finally he end up as Kernor. It's just the process that doesn't sit well with me. I recalled at first how he has crush on her, take care of her, flirt, tease and joke, will do anything to be accepted as a human in an iliri society, risking his own life to search and save her etc. But when Sal offers and asked him to be her mate, even her others mates already approved of him, he still refuse and with what reason? Because he don't wear black and can't leave Devil Dogs? So he just want to be her toy? Even let Brisa suck his dick? I'm not sure how to feel about that tbh. How repeatedly the back and forth he wants her but don't want to share. I mean he knows from the very start about Sal and her men. If he can't accept it, then don't try, flirt and confessing his crush etc. And then how the problem is resolved by changing the Devil Dogs colour to black because the line between them always been blur? So he ran out of reason to refuse?
After I finished the book, I keep thinking if that's how Tyr really turns out, then I'm happy for him to be just a toy for Sal. He didn't have to claim Kernor. I won't be mad even tho I've been rooting for him for so long. I'm mad that this book ruin his character for me. But hey this is just my personal opinion, I still love this series as a whole and surely gonna pick up Hope to learn more closure in the series.
After I finished the book, I keep thinking if that's how Tyr really turns out, then I'm happy for him to be just a toy for Sal. He didn't have to claim Kernor. I won't be mad even tho I've been rooting for him for so long. I'm mad that this book ruin his character for me. But hey this is just my personal opinion, I still love this series as a whole and surely gonna pick up Hope to learn more closure in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2019
I love this series, but this book wasn't as perfect as the previous books. A lot of the conversations between the main characters were repetitive, a lot of the emotional sides were repetitive. I think a lot of it could have been taken out. It felt like every character needed to be reminded of the same thing. It didn't feel like as much happened in this book and the action it did see was sometimes glanced over. I really love this series and this book is still fantastic, but it is a step down from the others. The worst part was that I could easily put the book down to do some normal housework, whilst with the previous book I HAD to finish it.
Overall a good finish to an epic series. I look forward to the epilogue book, but it isn't really needed to finish the series.
Overall a good finish to an epic series. I look forward to the epilogue book, but it isn't really needed to finish the series.
September 17, 2019
I love this series...
...but I'm not totally sold on the last one. I feel like it actually could've been a lot shorter, it felt like the majority was adding in the last two and talking about all of their feelings. Dont get me wrong, that's great and I would expect it from the 1st few books but for the last one...I wanted action. I wanted enemies to be vanquished in more than one chapter. I dont know, it could well be me because I felt disappointed with the throne of glass ending too. I've heard there is another book after this one and I will read it
...but I'm not totally sold on the last one. I feel like it actually could've been a lot shorter, it felt like the majority was adding in the last two and talking about all of their feelings. Dont get me wrong, that's great and I would expect it from the 1st few books but for the last one...I wanted action. I wanted enemies to be vanquished in more than one chapter. I dont know, it could well be me because I felt disappointed with the throne of glass ending too. I've heard there is another book after this one and I will read it
April 5, 2020
I really wanted to like this book, the epic finale of a 10 part series....so much time had been committed to the series, the characters and the storyline. However at least 60% was focused on two new relationships and it was exhausting reading and rereading those characters insecurities. There was little to no time spent on all the previous characters and furthering their stories. I mean Joe and Ryali have been communicating for how long and they finally meet and it’s all of a few sentences? Huh?! The end of the book, the epic battle that has been building up over 9 previous books felt rushed, disappointing and anticlimactic. We finally get to “meet” the evil mastermind Sal has been fighting to stop and...he’s killed by a bit side character, who’s a human assassin with no interaction at all with Sal. Really? And to top that off there is a hint that it was actually the wife who was really the mastermind behind the “curtain”??! Wouldn’t that have been interesting plot twist to have explored more...earlier in the series? Rather then like two sentences at the very end of the series?
February 27, 2021
The War is Over
So the war is finally over. I saw some reviews that feel that this book was very anticlimactic and filled with too much back and forth between Tyr and Sal, but I liked those moments. The final battle was a bit anticlimactic, though. I'm not sure how I feel about that battle or that part with Sal nearly shattering herself and getting that crazy rescue, but I feel that part worked. I'm also kind of glad that it wasn't Sal that killed Makkiel. She didn't need to. I'm actually proud of the one that got the credit for that.
Honestly, this book doesn't have too much action considering how the last one ended with Sal, Blaz and Tyr stuck behind the line. There's honestly a lot of traveling and strategic planning and waiting. However, inbetween that, more bonds of love were being forged. I was so happy about Blaz. He and Sal had been so close since nearly the beginning and he fits well with her other mates. Then there was that stubborn Tyr. He came through in the end, though. I'm hoping he'll be brought into the cessivi bond with the others, too.
There is a lot of Blaec in this book as well. I have a love/hate relationship with how that works out. Sal did need a little extra help and some explanations. Not to mention some closure. Still, I didn't really want to see him again. He wasn't a bad man despite everything he did to Sal, but with clarity, it makes sense. And even that first big blow up in the caves they were both right and wrong. I was always just more pissed at Blaec because Sal was so affected by it she nearly got killed. He did love her, but not really in the way that he should have. Most of that was due to his big goal, which was more than worthwhile, but I like Sal's version so much better.
It looks like just about everyone got a happy ending, though there's still the epilogue and it truly sucks what happened to Ynta and Artic nearly bit the dust. I'm the end, they did it though and I'm really proud of Sal and her ragtag no boundaries army.
So the war is finally over. I saw some reviews that feel that this book was very anticlimactic and filled with too much back and forth between Tyr and Sal, but I liked those moments. The final battle was a bit anticlimactic, though. I'm not sure how I feel about that battle or that part with Sal nearly shattering herself and getting that crazy rescue, but I feel that part worked. I'm also kind of glad that it wasn't Sal that killed Makkiel. She didn't need to. I'm actually proud of the one that got the credit for that.
Honestly, this book doesn't have too much action considering how the last one ended with Sal, Blaz and Tyr stuck behind the line. There's honestly a lot of traveling and strategic planning and waiting. However, inbetween that, more bonds of love were being forged. I was so happy about Blaz. He and Sal had been so close since nearly the beginning and he fits well with her other mates. Then there was that stubborn Tyr. He came through in the end, though. I'm hoping he'll be brought into the cessivi bond with the others, too.
There is a lot of Blaec in this book as well. I have a love/hate relationship with how that works out. Sal did need a little extra help and some explanations. Not to mention some closure. Still, I didn't really want to see him again. He wasn't a bad man despite everything he did to Sal, but with clarity, it makes sense. And even that first big blow up in the caves they were both right and wrong. I was always just more pissed at Blaec because Sal was so affected by it she nearly got killed. He did love her, but not really in the way that he should have. Most of that was due to his big goal, which was more than worthwhile, but I like Sal's version so much better.
It looks like just about everyone got a happy ending, though there's still the epilogue and it truly sucks what happened to Ynta and Artic nearly bit the dust. I'm the end, they did it though and I'm really proud of Sal and her ragtag no boundaries army.
March 11, 2020
I received and read this book through Kindle Unlimited and this concludes my final review of Risen by Auryn Hadley
okay let me just start off by saying this is seriously one of my favorite series up until this book. I honestly felt no need to add in Tyr and Blaz to the Harem just because they were human and it felt so forced. It was a rushed book with nothing but ridiculous sex all over the place. I went into this book looking forward to the fighting I was sure would happen since we are SO close to Terric. This was nothing but repeated arguments on Tyr and Sals side and I felt neither Blaz or Tyr were needed, was almost exactly like when Sal was smuggled back to Anglia camp by Kolt, just dragged on a lot more. And somehow she falls for both of them in like a few days when it took her FOREVER to fall for Jase and Zep. Literally makes no sense. Now the biggest one that erks me is how through 9 whole books we were told she was going to be the one to kill the Emperor herself, when in the end the fight scenes are like the last final chapters of the book and she’s once again having a spiritual awakening with Blaec when a side character ends up doing the killing 🙄 So there’s no confrontation against the antagonist of the whole series like what the actual fuck. What was the point of any of this? Shittiest ending since I read Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld and I read that trilogy when I was like 10. Still love the series but this book was seriously shit. Doubt I’ll read it again and glad I didn’t pay to buy it.
okay let me just start off by saying this is seriously one of my favorite series up until this book. I honestly felt no need to add in Tyr and Blaz to the Harem just because they were human and it felt so forced. It was a rushed book with nothing but ridiculous sex all over the place. I went into this book looking forward to the fighting I was sure would happen since we are SO close to Terric. This was nothing but repeated arguments on Tyr and Sals side and I felt neither Blaz or Tyr were needed, was almost exactly like when Sal was smuggled back to Anglia camp by Kolt, just dragged on a lot more. And somehow she falls for both of them in like a few days when it took her FOREVER to fall for Jase and Zep. Literally makes no sense. Now the biggest one that erks me is how through 9 whole books we were told she was going to be the one to kill the Emperor herself, when in the end the fight scenes are like the last final chapters of the book and she’s once again having a spiritual awakening with Blaec when a side character ends up doing the killing 🙄 So there’s no confrontation against the antagonist of the whole series like what the actual fuck. What was the point of any of this? Shittiest ending since I read Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld and I read that trilogy when I was like 10. Still love the series but this book was seriously shit. Doubt I’ll read it again and glad I didn’t pay to buy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2019
Firstly, i'm sad that one of my favourite series is now completed. (Yes there will be an epilogue book, but Risen actually completes the series.)
Secondly, what an epic ending to a fantastic series!!
No spoilers so all I can say is this was even more amazing than what I was expecting. It ties up threads from throughtout the whole series, and takes you on an emotional journey:- with sweet and romantic moments, heart-racing on the edge of your seat moments, hot sexy moments, shocking revelations, kickass scenes and things you just didn't see coming.
Absolutely brilliant, and I cannot wait for the epilogue book. <3
Secondly, what an epic ending to a fantastic series!!
No spoilers so all I can say is this was even more amazing than what I was expecting. It ties up threads from throughtout the whole series, and takes you on an emotional journey:- with sweet and romantic moments, heart-racing on the edge of your seat moments, hot sexy moments, shocking revelations, kickass scenes and things you just didn't see coming.
Absolutely brilliant, and I cannot wait for the epilogue book. <3
Want to read
October 18, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/18/2019)! 🎁
December 15, 2019
Epic!
This has been by far one of my favourite series!
I love the relationship Sal has with her mates and how determined she is to build a better life for everyone that wants freedom, even at the cost of her life.
I will say that Tyr was starting to annoy me somewhat with his black and white views instead of actually thinking about how things could work/fit. Especially when the answer was so obvious.
The story itself has evolved so much through the series and see some of the looser ends close the loop were good and most of the characters got a HEA. I still miss Blaec though!
This has been by far one of my favourite series!
I love the relationship Sal has with her mates and how determined she is to build a better life for everyone that wants freedom, even at the cost of her life.
I will say that Tyr was starting to annoy me somewhat with his black and white views instead of actually thinking about how things could work/fit. Especially when the answer was so obvious.
The story itself has evolved so much through the series and see some of the looser ends close the loop were good and most of the characters got a HEA. I still miss Blaec though!
August 19, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand it had a nice pace with necessary breaks from the war thrown in between. Add the fact that Sal actually showed some growth not only by accepting how she was also behaving badly toward humans but also the fact that she can't keep doing it all and that she needs help from everyone regardless of species.The scenes with Blaec where heartbreaking (especially the last one) but necessary not only for Sal but mainly for Blaec. He needed that, he needed to come to terms with everything he had done and help Sal understand his point of view.
But then on the other hand, that last scene with Blaec was just too much. I mean he had already died to save everyone, he stayed in the void so that he could help bring back Sal from the dead to help her and everyone else survive the war, but it still wasn't enough?! Nope! He had to literally give up his soul to save Sal! Seriously?!!!! He told her to stop messing with Ayati, she didn't listen, and he still had to be the one to AGAIN sacrifice everything for her. That was just too much for me.
And then we have the conclusion of the war. THAT WAS IT?! I mean I think the Merrington thing was longer... I KNOW the Prin thing was longer... and it was also never really answered with The Empress (because it was the wife and not Makiel the true mastermind) started the war against the illiri. It honestly felt super rushed and more than a little bit anti-climatic.
So althought I loved that Tyr and Blaz finally entered the harem and that certain couples/groups got their happily ever after, I just felt disappointed with how it all ended.
On the one hand it had a nice pace with necessary breaks from the war thrown in between. Add the fact that Sal actually showed some growth not only by accepting how she was also behaving badly toward humans but also the fact that she can't keep doing it all and that she needs help from everyone regardless of species.The scenes with Blaec where heartbreaking (especially the last one) but necessary not only for Sal but mainly for Blaec. He needed that, he needed to come to terms with everything he had done and help Sal understand his point of view.
But then on the other hand, that last scene with Blaec was just too much. I mean he had already died to save everyone, he stayed in the void so that he could help bring back Sal from the dead to help her and everyone else survive the war, but it still wasn't enough?! Nope! He had to literally give up his soul to save Sal! Seriously?!!!! He told her to stop messing with Ayati, she didn't listen, and he still had to be the one to AGAIN sacrifice everything for her. That was just too much for me.
And then we have the conclusion of the war. THAT WAS IT?! I mean I think the Merrington thing was longer... I KNOW the Prin thing was longer... and it was also never really answered with The Empress (because it was the wife and not Makiel the true mastermind) started the war against the illiri. It honestly felt super rushed and more than a little bit anti-climatic.
So althought I loved that Tyr and Blaz finally entered the harem and that certain couples/groups got their happily ever after, I just felt disappointed with how it all ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2019
I squealed, I read, I wanted more.. Truth is, I am glad we are going to get a full length novel epilogue of what happens after the war, because I felt that the series needs it.
Auryn's world is beautiful and complex, and mostly up until now in her books, there was a line of "logic" in things happening. In this book, I have to say that some things confused me towards the end
Also, even though it was a long-ass book, like the rest of them (and thank heavens for that), I feel like the final attack in Terric city was a little too...short? rushed?
And her relationship with Tyr....Blaz I get, it had been building for a while, but Tyr? It just felt bit forced. Why push it? The girl doesn't always have to keep everyone and their main argument was a sound one.
However, I'm happy Auryn got to write it for us to read. As a whole, the Rise of the Iliri series is one of the best I've read, and I've read a LOT of books in my life.
Auryn's world is beautiful and complex, and mostly up until now in her books, there was a line of "logic" in things happening. In this book, I have to say that some things confused me towards the end
Also, even though it was a long-ass book, like the rest of them (and thank heavens for that), I feel like the final attack in Terric city was a little too...short? rushed?
And her relationship with Tyr....Blaz I get, it had been building for a while, but Tyr? It just felt bit forced. Why push it? The girl doesn't always have to keep everyone and their main argument was a sound one.
However, I'm happy Auryn got to write it for us to read. As a whole, the Rise of the Iliri series is one of the best I've read, and I've read a LOT of books in my life.
September 14, 2019
I honestly love it
In preparation for the finale, I reread the entire series (for the 6th or 7th time). I realized the reason I could do that was because the author created a world of such complexity that I feel as though I am living in it. This is a very hard goal to achieve! And yet, Auryn Hadley had been successful at least 3 times. Each of her worlds feel unique, complex, and complete.
I loved and hated parts of this book. I'm not especially surprised Tyr is being a p.i.t.a, or that Blaz slid into place smooth as silk. Both those men were on Jase's short list as possible mates for Sal long before disaster struck on the battlefield (book 9).
Lots of storylines are wrapped up in this volume, not all the way you might expect. LOL. Hax might have gotten the attention of another very powerful iliri if he hadn't snagged the 1st one he came across after Sal rejected him. Probably best for her though... Hax is an egotistical jerk.
Sal makes it home, Lady Piet becomes a Lord, & Ryali gets her Joe. Sal loses a family member, but not a Black Blade. And Narnyx finally gets to meet the mates he has dreamt of for so long.
In preparation for the finale, I reread the entire series (for the 6th or 7th time). I realized the reason I could do that was because the author created a world of such complexity that I feel as though I am living in it. This is a very hard goal to achieve! And yet, Auryn Hadley had been successful at least 3 times. Each of her worlds feel unique, complex, and complete.
I loved and hated parts of this book. I'm not especially surprised Tyr is being a p.i.t.a, or that Blaz slid into place smooth as silk. Both those men were on Jase's short list as possible mates for Sal long before disaster struck on the battlefield (book 9).
Lots of storylines are wrapped up in this volume, not all the way you might expect. LOL. Hax might have gotten the attention of another very powerful iliri if he hadn't snagged the 1st one he came across after Sal rejected him. Probably best for her though... Hax is an egotistical jerk.
Sal makes it home, Lady Piet becomes a Lord, & Ryali gets her Joe. Sal loses a family member, but not a Black Blade. And Narnyx finally gets to meet the mates he has dreamt of for so long.
September 17, 2019
Mine too... *mwuah*
This is why I love this series so much. How is it that a pep talk between characters in a book can also make me sit up straight and listen as if I was the one that needed to go feral!! Why was my heart beating in excitement to go kill some sh*t!!! 60% in and I have never wanted to kill one of Sal’s mates as much as I do this one!! Grrrrr! He is soooo aggravating!!!! Then you went and made him a martyr for the cause and I can’t be mad anymore. At 100%. Is it weird that I’m crying?? Ok yeah it’s weird, whatever. Freaking amazing series and I’m still crying because I just hate that it has to end! Just one thing in this saga that was so anticlimactic because of the build up and that was the death of the emperor and associates. I would have really liked to see his face and his wife’s face as they were smacked the hell down. Anyway if you’ve gotten this far, you know the book is worth reading. If you are new to the series... why the hell would you start with book 10??? Go buy the whole series.
This is why I love this series so much. How is it that a pep talk between characters in a book can also make me sit up straight and listen as if I was the one that needed to go feral!! Why was my heart beating in excitement to go kill some sh*t!!! 60% in and I have never wanted to kill one of Sal’s mates as much as I do this one!! Grrrrr! He is soooo aggravating!!!! Then you went and made him a martyr for the cause and I can’t be mad anymore. At 100%. Is it weird that I’m crying?? Ok yeah it’s weird, whatever. Freaking amazing series and I’m still crying because I just hate that it has to end! Just one thing in this saga that was so anticlimactic because of the build up and that was the death of the emperor and associates. I would have really liked to see his face and his wife’s face as they were smacked the hell down. Anyway if you’ve gotten this far, you know the book is worth reading. If you are new to the series... why the hell would you start with book 10??? Go buy the whole series.
June 24, 2021
Risen picks up right after Havoc ends. Sal is still behind enemy lines and trying to heal from the events at the end of Havoc and figure out how to get back to the Anglian army. The story is intense Sal and her mates march toward the final showdown. We do see Blaec again, and I have to say I really got to like him in this book, and my hear hurt for his last act in the book. While I am sad to see this series end, I’m glad Sal gets the ending she deserves and glad we will be getting a full-length “after the war” epilogue. What I love about this series is the connections between the characters, the message of hope and love, and the steaminess doesn’t hurt either :)
September 18, 2019
Love it...almost completely
I love this author. She seriously never lets me down. On this book though it wasn’t her best in the series but still great. I wish for less feelings being displayed. Yes that’s odd thing but it was the same insecurities over and over. That was never Sal’s MO. Sal wasn’t supposed to doubt herself so much or her choices. The thing with Tyr shouldn’t have been such a huge deal. It was important but not to the extent of what was written.
Honestly still wonderfully written and will be on my list of books I’d re read.
I love this author. She seriously never lets me down. On this book though it wasn’t her best in the series but still great. I wish for less feelings being displayed. Yes that’s odd thing but it was the same insecurities over and over. That was never Sal’s MO. Sal wasn’t supposed to doubt herself so much or her choices. The thing with Tyr shouldn’t have been such a huge deal. It was important but not to the extent of what was written.
Honestly still wonderfully written and will be on my list of books I’d re read.
September 19, 2019
And so the war ends... I was a bit disappointed with how the main story progressed. The fights with the warlords were too easy and the way the main villain was defeated also was underwhelming. Most of the subplots were nicely wrapped up with several details left for the epilogue which I am totally fine with.
Great writing, unexpected details and excellent relationship building. I was annoyed, happy, angry, emotional and everything in between!
P.S. It is so difficult to write a review without spoiling too much! Argh!
Great writing, unexpected details and excellent relationship building. I was annoyed, happy, angry, emotional and everything in between!
P.S. It is so difficult to write a review without spoiling too much! Argh!
September 15, 2019
Bittersweet that its over but what a ride!! I will miss Sal and her gang I'm glad there will be a book after this for a glimpse of them after the war I want to know what Arhhawen looks and feels like lived in. I can't wait to re read this series in full I'm trying not to think to much on it or i'll be sad its over.
September 14, 2019
So good!
Loved this book! There were a few moments were I was like “why Auryn why!” But it all worked out in the end and was a great end to the series, will definitely be doing re reads of the series
Loved this book! There were a few moments were I was like “why Auryn why!” But it all worked out in the end and was a great end to the series, will definitely be doing re reads of the series
September 17, 2019
Perfect....
10 books of pure joy to read. This story gripped me from the first book and didn't let go.
The war is finally ending and Hadley managed to throw just enough twists in that you couldn't be sure you knew exactly how it would end.
10 books of pure joy to read. This story gripped me from the first book and didn't let go.
The war is finally ending and Hadley managed to throw just enough twists in that you couldn't be sure you knew exactly how it would end.
June 22, 2023
Wow
Just Floored my this epic series. Will forever go on as a story I will want to read again for the first time.
Just Floored my this epic series. Will forever go on as a story I will want to read again for the first time.
October 27, 2023
*NOTE: this review is for the entire series NOT just this book. Minor spoilers ahead*
I'm finally reviewing one of my all-time favourite reverse harem series!!
Rise of The Iliri follows our FMC Sal, the last of the pale-skinned Iliri race, as she collects mates, kicks butt and changes nations.
This series is spectacular, I have yet to find a series that matches this one in world-building, depth of character, and plot twists. I love each of Sal's mates, they all felt individual to me (despite there being a lot of them), and I enjoyed not only their relationship with Sal but how they interacted with the other characters. I couldn't even pick a favourite, they all offer such different things to Sal. I loved that each of their relationships felt different and yet the author was able to pull them in together towards the end of the series into one network. I will warn however there are 'favourites' within the harem, so if this is something that bothers you keep that in mind! I didn't feel that this necessarily detracted from the other members of the harem however.
The storyline kept me pulled in throughout the series despite being so long, with plenty of violence and suspense juxtaposed with loving moments and relationship building. I won't spoil the plot but let me say that Sal finds her power with the help of her mates and other allies throughout the series! I loved her growth throughout the series and I felt that the ending was fitting. Be warned though, it was not an easy journey for the characters and there is a good chance the events of this series will leave you in tears! The ending is worth it though, and there is even an extended epilogue (book 11) to round out the series and give us a taste of what was like for Sal and family following the events of the previous books.
All in all, there is a special place in my heart for this series and I've yet to find one that truly measures up to the experience of reading Sal's story. If you're looking for a series that explores modern themes in a high fantasy world with plenty of why-choose love and violence, this series is for you!
As always, check your trigger warnings because this series gets intense!
Burn: slow-medium (builds throughout series)
Spice: 5/5 (in later books)
Harem size: large (builds throughout series)
M/M: no
I'm finally reviewing one of my all-time favourite reverse harem series!!
Rise of The Iliri follows our FMC Sal, the last of the pale-skinned Iliri race, as she collects mates, kicks butt and changes nations.
This series is spectacular, I have yet to find a series that matches this one in world-building, depth of character, and plot twists. I love each of Sal's mates, they all felt individual to me (despite there being a lot of them), and I enjoyed not only their relationship with Sal but how they interacted with the other characters. I couldn't even pick a favourite, they all offer such different things to Sal. I loved that each of their relationships felt different and yet the author was able to pull them in together towards the end of the series into one network. I will warn however there are 'favourites' within the harem, so if this is something that bothers you keep that in mind! I didn't feel that this necessarily detracted from the other members of the harem however.
The storyline kept me pulled in throughout the series despite being so long, with plenty of violence and suspense juxtaposed with loving moments and relationship building. I won't spoil the plot but let me say that Sal finds her power with the help of her mates and other allies throughout the series! I loved her growth throughout the series and I felt that the ending was fitting. Be warned though, it was not an easy journey for the characters and there is a good chance the events of this series will leave you in tears! The ending is worth it though, and there is even an extended epilogue (book 11) to round out the series and give us a taste of what was like for Sal and family following the events of the previous books.
All in all, there is a special place in my heart for this series and I've yet to find one that truly measures up to the experience of reading Sal's story. If you're looking for a series that explores modern themes in a high fantasy world with plenty of why-choose love and violence, this series is for you!
As always, check your trigger warnings because this series gets intense!
Burn: slow-medium (builds throughout series)
Spice: 5/5 (in later books)
Harem size: large (builds throughout series)
M/M: no
March 23, 2020
Take a deep breath
Sal has battled from the CFC, to Anglia, to Myrosica, to Unav, back to the CFC, through Escea and all the way to Terric City. She has pulled together people, nations, ideals, all through the power of hope and fueled by love. This last battle is where everything either comes together, or ayati betrays her for all she's demanded of it. And if it fails? She dies. Again. She's pushing herself so hard, and while her body was jumpstarted last time, this time her mind may be the thing that shatters. Her people may not survive to start the Kaisae cycle again.
Spoilers ahead.
This is where everything has been leading. All the prophecies, all the pushes and pulls of fate, the burning in the back of her mind, all of it. That tangle in the sky has been leading her along. Dangling threads like carrots for her horse. And it is the most amazing thing. It's Helm's Deep, Return of the Jedi, Avengers, every major fantasy battle brought to life. All those little secrets, plots, every intrigue is revealed. And when it's all over, ayati reveals something else. Something no one else saw coming. I'm not spoiling that. And even though Auryn paired Joevar with Ryali instead of Sal, I'll forgive her. Because that couple is just too cute. And Ryali, her story has become so much more than just a passing fancy, she has become a proud Iliri. And made her own human friends. Oh, this book... Have tissues ready. And celebratory chocolate. Because you'll need both.
I'm still amazed at the multiple story lines that all came together. And the fact that an entire book is an epilogue.
Sal has battled from the CFC, to Anglia, to Myrosica, to Unav, back to the CFC, through Escea and all the way to Terric City. She has pulled together people, nations, ideals, all through the power of hope and fueled by love. This last battle is where everything either comes together, or ayati betrays her for all she's demanded of it. And if it fails? She dies. Again. She's pushing herself so hard, and while her body was jumpstarted last time, this time her mind may be the thing that shatters. Her people may not survive to start the Kaisae cycle again.
Spoilers ahead.
This is where everything has been leading. All the prophecies, all the pushes and pulls of fate, the burning in the back of her mind, all of it. That tangle in the sky has been leading her along. Dangling threads like carrots for her horse. And it is the most amazing thing. It's Helm's Deep, Return of the Jedi, Avengers, every major fantasy battle brought to life. All those little secrets, plots, every intrigue is revealed. And when it's all over, ayati reveals something else. Something no one else saw coming. I'm not spoiling that. And even though Auryn paired Joevar with Ryali instead of Sal, I'll forgive her. Because that couple is just too cute. And Ryali, her story has become so much more than just a passing fancy, she has become a proud Iliri. And made her own human friends. Oh, this book... Have tissues ready. And celebratory chocolate. Because you'll need both.
I'm still amazed at the multiple story lines that all came together. And the fact that an entire book is an epilogue.
July 14, 2021
The Conclusion to an epic series
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 & 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 & 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 & 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 & 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥.
𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒆𝒄. 𝑶𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 & 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕, 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕? 𝑯𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓.
𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝑯𝑬𝑨. 𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔? 𝑴𝒚 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕.
𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑺𝒐, 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕𝒐 & 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 & 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 & 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 & 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 & 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥.
𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒆𝒄. 𝑶𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 & 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕, 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕? 𝑯𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓.
𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝑯𝑬𝑨. 𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔? 𝑴𝒚 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕.
𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑺𝒐, 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒕𝒐 & 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.
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April 15, 2020This was a LONG series. Kept me entertained for quite some time. That said, there was A LOT in each book that could've been cut out. I call it the "fluff". I'm not sure if authors get paid by pages read or what, but each of these books could've been cut down about 100-200 pages. The "fluff" consisted mostly of repetitive scenes, but I guess when you have so many characters, there are several different points of view. There was also the very descriptive fight scenes that I did tend to skip through. All that said, the story was good and kept getting deeper. The MC was also very likable. My only complaint is the various names. Each character had different names that they would go by. Their call names in the military and their real names that the MC used (and sometimes more). When you have SO many characters, it was really getting hard keeping them all straight. The author, however, did a great job of developing each of them.
There was enough hot scenes to keep you entertained, not too many that you'd get bored. There was a few time when several or all 7 of them would be together and that got a little confusing trying to get the position image correct.
I did read the final book "hope" which is really just a giant epilogue. Nice to wrap everything up, but really could've been just a couple more chapters in the final book, not another 500 page book.
There was enough hot scenes to keep you entertained, not too many that you'd get bored. There was a few time when several or all 7 of them would be together and that got a little confusing trying to get the position image correct.
I did read the final book "hope" which is really just a giant epilogue. Nice to wrap everything up, but really could've been just a couple more chapters in the final book, not another 500 page book.
February 6, 2021
3.5
I think the last three or so books of this series were much more romance books than any of the previous entries to the series. There was enough sex that I got bored in them. Also, it felt like I was spending an inordinate amount of time dealing with budding relationships. The war and all the associated problems with being The Kaisae took a back seat to relationship drama, which is not my favorite thing but might be yours.
I wasn't terribly surprised by how the war got resolved either, and the episode in Escea I saw coming two books away.
That might sound like I didn't like it, but I've now read the entire series back to back without doing pretty much anything else. I'm going to jump into the full length epilogue, which I'm expecting to be a bit of fan-service. But the story is done here. It was a very good series over all. I enjoyed the earlier entries more than the final ones.
I think the last three or so books of this series were much more romance books than any of the previous entries to the series. There was enough sex that I got bored in them. Also, it felt like I was spending an inordinate amount of time dealing with budding relationships. The war and all the associated problems with being The Kaisae took a back seat to relationship drama, which is not my favorite thing but might be yours.
I wasn't terribly surprised by how the war got resolved either, and the episode in Escea I saw coming two books away.
That might sound like I didn't like it, but I've now read the entire series back to back without doing pretty much anything else. I'm going to jump into the full length epilogue, which I'm expecting to be a bit of fan-service. But the story is done here. It was a very good series over all. I enjoyed the earlier entries more than the final ones.
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March 9, 2021So this the one in which we get to Terric and have to fight the Emperor but that actual part was soooo small hehehe like the Emperor wasn’t worth it, we were sooooo done with him.
I’m glad we have an epilogue book because these guys have been fighting for years, I’d love to see what’s life like at a normal pace, you know. How do they get the three species to live together harmoniously, how Sal keeps her harem, Dom and his lovers, does Baeli............ummmmh okay no spoilers, I’ll stop there.
Off to end this, mehn how did the people who read the books when they were just coming out keep up with all the characters that had come up in all these books; especially if they had to wait for long in between?
I’m glad we have an epilogue book because these guys have been fighting for years, I’d love to see what’s life like at a normal pace, you know. How do they get the three species to live together harmoniously, how Sal keeps her harem, Dom and his lovers, does Baeli............ummmmh okay no spoilers, I’ll stop there.
Off to end this, mehn how did the people who read the books when they were just coming out keep up with all the characters that had come up in all these books; especially if they had to wait for long in between?
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