Purge of Flame and Song

Tales of Tir-na-Alathea: Darkness of the Living Forest #3

by Meg Cowley

The Order of Valxiron disappeared, but General Elyvia of the Winged Kingsguard is no fool. With their Grandmasters and Oracle living, not to mention holding a priceless relic of immeasurable power, the Order poses the greatest threat in a generation.

That is until Valxiron's dark power stirs.

The woodland elves of Tir-na-Alathea muster for war. Aedon and Lief are amongst their number, and desire nothing more than their freedom, yet they remain bound to serve Queen Solanaceae to whatever end. An end that may bring about their own destruction, if the Queen is not careful.

With the Order of Valxiron's whereabouts unknown, Oracle-in-training Morrigan becomes Pelenor's greatest bargaining chip - but Vasili is determined that she not be beyond redemption or salvation. Can he protect her from those who will break her to gain the information they need at any cost...and can he protect himself from her?

War comes. Perhaps the last war. One that will see the Dark One cast down for eternity... or seated forevermore in dominion over all Altarea.

ebook

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

✒️ Romantic Fantasy with courageous heroines, protective heroes, and endearing found families to sweep you away... ✨️

Meg Cowley is a USA Today bestselling fantasy author from England. Meg writes slow burn steamy epic fantasy romances with courageous and vulnerable heroines, protective and brooding heroes, and lovable and welcoming found family in stories that will steal your heart long after the last page.

Meg's favourite past times are reading, hiking, and cooking. She can usually be found curled up with a cup of tea and a riveting fantasy romance book, cooking up a fantasy-book worthy feast, or out walking the wild, windswept moors of Yorkshire dreaming up her next story.

Visit www.megcowley.com to find out more, discover Meg’s books, find exclusive reader bonus content, and join her Romantasy Fellowship newsletter.

Reviews

[Ashley | A Pair of Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic conclusion to The Tales of Tir-na-Alathea trilogy. This series was beautiful done and I loved the different POVS. Cowley does a wonderful job of wrapping up each of their stories in beautiful and realistic ways. The conclusion will leave you satisficed and ready for Meg Cowley's next series.
4.5/5

[Michael Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stage is set for the ultimate battle between good and evil. Queen Solanaceae has not released Aedon and Lief from their servitude. Will they ever be free? Vasili has captured Morrigan and is concentrating on making her see that her dedication to the Dark One is 100% wrong and working to reform her. Does he have any chance of succeeding? Valxiron has assembled a massive attack force and they’re moving in. The Wood Elves have joined with the Kingdom of Pelenor to make their final stand. Do they have any chance against the dark forces?

Ms. Cowley is a master world-builder and story teller. She has a vivid imagination and the ability to create and deeply develop strong characters and to skillfully describe the scenes to make the reader part of the action. She develops the various story arcs and brings them together in a way that ties up any loose ends as the tale comes to a fitting conclusion.

I received an ARC – this review is my honest opinion – I bought a copy to support this great author. I thoroughly enjoyed the Chronicles of Pelenor series and this one, and I’m looking forward to reading her other series, as well as the next adventures Ms. Cowley decides to write. If you enjoy epic fantasy, this is one author you gotta try!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I am still reeling from the fantastic ending Meg Cowley gave us through Aedon's story in the Pelenor series, it definitely is an ending we deserved. I loved that we got to read once again about our old favourite characters from the original Pelenor series namely catching up with Harper and Dimitrius and their twins Vasili and Venya. I love that we got to see the massive battle of light against the dark taking us back once again to Pelenor. As well as the fact that Queen Solanaceae, called her elves to join the battle and together with the dragons and their riders and the army they went after Valxiron hoping to eliminate his evil from their world for good this time. But most of all I loved Vasili's kindness and courage towards Morrigan, the heir to the oracle of the order of Valxiron, at whose hand he had suffered so much yet he just would not give up on her redemption. Risking his own life and that of Icarus, his dragon and the ire of the council in order to gain the time to turn her towards the light. And last but definitely not least I love the fact that finally Aedon finds his love and happiness in Lief who he absolutely adores and gains the freedom he so craved. Thank you Meg Cowley for this amazingly enjoyable and thrilling book, a real page turner if ever there was one!

[Gayreth Walden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazingly well crafted conclusion to the Tales of Tir-na-Alathea: Darkness of the Living Forest... I'm sad that it is ending, however, I thoroughly enjoyed getting here. I love the main characters so much, watching them develop more through this journey was a delightful treat for me. Aedon and Lief still bound to the Woodland Elf Queen. Will she ever release them? Dragon rider Vasili captured Morrigan, Oracle in training. She is the enemy and powerful, yet Vasili is determined to convince her everything she was taught is a lie. Can he turn her? Can he save her? The enemy has grown stronger and War is coming! Can the Dark One be defeated? This book is fast paced and exciting with a world of magic and charismatic characters I have come to love. This is a story to immerse yourself in and wish it was not going to end. I guarantee that once you start reading, you will not want to put it down! The author Meg Cowley never disappoints her readers!

[Amanda Sagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Meg has given us an absolutely fantastic series with a final book that wraps up all those niggly loose ends in such a way that leaves you satisfied yet also begging for more! More of the characters we've come to know and love throughout this and previous series, more of Meg's wonderful world building, more of her beautiful language skills.... just more!

This final book in the series is a fast paced, page turner that keeps you on the very edge of your seat. I promise that no adulting will be done during the time you spend reading this book!
Aedon and Lief are once again pulled into the dangerous world outside the living forest along with a whole cast of elves, Vasili is desperate to turn Morrigan to the side of good, Harper and Dimitirius want the best for everyone. The good, the bad and the ugly, all play a part in this tale and I couldn't get enough of it!

High praise for Meg's works of art 🥰

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final instalment in the Tales of Tir-na-Alathea and what an ending to a superb adventure! The tension racks up from the very beginning for our disparate heroes as they are called upon to play their part in the battle against Valxiron and his followers. There are some real edge of the seat moments and some moments filled with heart and hope. All the threads from the previous books in this series are pulled together beautifully to bring the series to a satisfying conclusion. Really enjoy Meg’s writing; she has created an amazing, detailed world filled with magic, living forests, dragons, powerful sentient grimoires and, above all, believable, relatable fantasy characters.

[Karen M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purge of Flame and Song is the final book in this series and is so great! It moves us along towards the final battle where the forces unite to end the long fight with an evil that continues to return known as the Dark One. Our favorite characters work together in an amazing effort that sees them grow personally and as a force like no other. The Woodland Elves of Tir-an-Alathea led by their fearsome Queen Solanaceae join the battle along with the dragons and many others. I was so happy that the Grimoires Nyx and Sylvio played such an important role. Meeting Venya and Vasili, the children of Dimitrius and Harper, and seeing the part they played was great fun. Morrigan pulled me back and forth in a tug of sympathy and hate, and I so wanted Vasili to break through to her. This is a great book and I will take time now to read all 3 together soon! Meg you have written such an exciting series. Can’t wait to see what else you have for us in the future. Awesome! I have read an ARC and purchased the book and this is my honest review.

[Elda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been an incredible journey!
We have sadly come to the end of this series. I say sadly because this has been an incredible journey. I love the world that Meg Cowley has built in this series! You can see it through multiple characters’ eyes that gives you a clear bird’s eye view of the all around story and enhances your experience of this tale. Each character is fully fleshed out and plays a unique part in the battle against the evil that Valxiron has wrought. Ms Cowley has a unique way of describing even the clothes worn by the elves and Fae so that you can clearly see it even though you may never have seen them before nor read their descriptions by others before. You can see into her characters hearts, their feelings and desires. My favorite character is Lief. I loved her heart, so sincere and gracious, eager to sing with her fellow wood elves to feel what they feel to renew the damaged forest. The romance between Lief and Aedon was heavenly, sweet and sensual not in a negative way. Meg Cowley describes it in an ethereal way so as to be dreamy and swooney. A glorious last stand at the end written so well I can hardly contain the praise for Ms Cowley. If you were not a fan of Solanaceae before this then you will surly love and respect her by the end of this book. Now I’m filled with the desire to go back and reread this series and also The Chronicles of Pelenor. I’m filled with wonder and awe and I cannot recommend this highly enough. Well done Ms Cowley!

[C. Mercie M Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The happy ending for Aedon…..

I love this series, and one of the things I’ve always wanted was for Aedon to have his happy ending. Finding out that he has a story to continue with someone like Lief, makes it easy to let go of the world and follow their story. It’s strange, and yet fitting, to see the growth and story of Harpers children unfold at the same time. They all join together to fight their evil enemy one more time. With a joke, kiss, laughter, and tears all of their work will come together with the woodland elves, and their queen. An effort that will break their world, or save it. Thank you for letting us hear Aedon’s tale.

[Roger Weetch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb completion of the trilogy. The fast moving action is divided between the main protagonists from the previous books, the dragon-rider Vasili, his prisoner Morrigan, his sister, the librarian Venya, and Aedon and the wood elf Lief. We already know their backgrounds and characters, so the emphasis is on action.As each of them reaches a key point in their part in the battle between the forces of light and the evil of Valxiron the concentration is moved to one of the other protagonists, making for an exciting read and a book that is hard to put down. The enjoyment for those who have read the previous Pelenor series is increased by the news of what has happened to individuals from the that series, either by brief reference or their taking part in the story. I thoroughly recommend this book and the series to all readers of any age who like (spoiler alert for any who do not know Meg's writings) happy endings.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last of Meg’s Tir-na-Alathea saga and, sadly, the last of Aedon’s story. The threat of Valxiron and the Order has stunned the fae in Tir-na-Alathea as well as the Kingdom of Pelenor. Both sides prepare to defeat the evil. Aedon has served the fae Queen’s wishes and wants to be free and to be with sweet Lief. Meanwhile, Vasili tries to help Morrigan reform. Meg provides a wonderful, well-rounded story for all the characters that’s thoughtful and fierce at points and an excellent ending, even though I’ll miss Aedon dearly!

[Quilting Tangent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light vs Darkness!
In this wonderful terrifying adventure the forces of light face the Darkness. The interesting characters, will grow with the responsibility and ordeals they will face.

[Janice Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series as much as the previous one, the Chronicles of Pelenor. It was wonderful to pick up the stories of Aedon, Harper, and Dimitri as well as some new characters. Cowley writes such wonderful people in her books, with all the faults and greatness that make them seem real. There is lots of action and suspense in this one and I was sad to see it end.

I received this book for free and wished to leave a review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book, loved the ending and I’m sad that it’s over. This has been a wonderful series. The characters themselves dictate the plot, it flows seamlessly. I was thrilled to find out what happened to Aedon. In all honesty I was worried about him. Morrigan’s story was revealed and I definitely need to know more about her. Meg is an excellent writer and she never disappoints

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story. Perfect fantasy to keep you hooked forever. This third book won’t let you down anymore than the other two. Make sure to read it.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the book and loved every minute of it. Meg Cowley writes so beautifully with a feel and vocabulary that so smoothly and skillfully takes us to that world, and makes us feel the characters' emotions. I liked that there was an author's note that expanded our experience of the characters as this was the final book of the series. If you have read this series, you will find the conclusion so satisfying. If you haven't read the series, please do!

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ending to the series. The action continues until the very end and things wrap up nicely. I like how the characters are written so they are not perfect and feel real and relatable.

[Anne Caprani-Langkilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another must read for fantasy lovers by Meg Cowley. Join our friends in this fantastic conclusion to the Tales of Tir-na-Alathea. We meet old friends again and now Morrigan has joined the story. The story is full of wonderful magic and Meg's ability to tell the story from the different characters' point of view draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of the story. It's fast paced and full of action. The story ended far to quickly for me. Thank you so much, Meg for a wonderful reading experience.

[cheryl bunting Rose Bud · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read


A good read.

I had mixed emotions about this book. I want so, so badly to give it five stars…. And I feel so bad that I’m not giving it five.

It wrapped up neatly enough, maybe I’m just feeling the loss of the series ending, but I don’t think that’s what this is.

The world is once more under threat from the Dark one,
As we expect our hero’s come to fight.
There was more I wanted to see in the book and it just didn’t happen, take Dimitry and Harper, we know and love them, but they where not as powerful as they once were, it struck me how tame Dimitry had become. I was expecting more from the elf even if this was not his story.

I don’t’ know maybe it’s just me?
Aedon, oh My dear Aedon, I’m so, so happy for him. My heart swells with such happiness… no more are you the mischievous thief, but an elf who has fallen in love.

Now, we come to the real reason for the four stars…. Lady Morrigan, yes, she was used, yes, she could not see the light, yes, her pain and suffering was real to me. but the way it ended, left me feeling numb, there wasn’t enough to satisfy me of her ending, it needs more…..

(Gosh, do I feel bad) don’t judge this book on my account, please read it for yourselves….. I did enjoy the book, it8 just felt unfinished for me…. even though everything is how it should be….. again, this could just be me….

[maria arcara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this conclusion to the Tales of Tir-na-Alathea series - most especially, I loved getting the full story of how Aedon and Lief's relationship turned out, along with Aedon and Solanaceae's interactions! In both cases, it was fulfilling for me to be able to read all of the details and progressions as we journeyed through the final chapter of the series.
I also thoroughly enjoyed getting the glimpse of Dimi and Harper, along with Vasili and Venya's stories being fleshed out.... I wouldn't mind a spin off, now, about Venya and her world, perchance flitting back and forth with Vasili and his world (hint, hint, Ms. Cowley... hint, hint).
I can't end my review without also mentioning how I loved the way the plots for the Order of Valxiron, the Oracle, the Grandmasters, and Morrigan all wrapped up!
All in all, I felt like I was totally invested in each of the story arcs and the characters involved; I enjoyed the character development and storyline progression in each case; and (again) I do hope Ms. Cowley decides to write more in this world in the future!

[Barbara Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect finish to the trilogy

A very satisfying ending for all our characters. Crafted with care the ending is not without pain and loss but for some, happiness awaits where least expected, a young woman slowly comes to terms with having lived a life of lies, and of course good overcomes evil.
Beautifully written and a lovely pace.

[Randall Paul Petri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales of Tir-ha-Alathea

An Ending!
A satisfying conclusion to a great story. All the plot lines carefully stitched together into a completed tapestry!

[sean breslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

This series just getting better book by book. Loved it. Excellent characters.
Best series I have read for a while.

[Peggy Keleher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purge of Flame and Song

A wonderful ending to an amazing series! Lots of action and all the storylines are fittingly tied up, all our heroes get to have their happily ever after.