added after my first re-read
I can't believe this book made me cry again... I knew what was coming and was still reduced to tears... that's just good writing :) for more of my thoughts and feelings about this gem just keep reading to find my original review, cause I am going straight into the big finale :) I was lucky enough to get an eARC on my kindle :)
original review:
I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book :) this is the third installment in a truly amazing fantasy series, that revolves around the same group of characters, so you definitely have to read them in order... otherwise you will be lost, trust me on that :) but since I want to write this review in a way that all of you can read at least part of it, here's what we're gonna do :) in the next paragraph I will talk about the world and the main characters without any spoilers whatsoever, so it will be safe to read even if you are not familiar with this series yet, and then the third and last paragraph will be centered around this specific installment, which means I will talk about people and events without additional explanations, possibly spoiling stuff from the first two books, because I assume that only people who read those two stories will continue on :) ok, now that we have this out of the way, let's dive into some more details :)
This is a fantasy series, which for me means that we have a world filled with magic, different races / creatures, unique abilities and all that jazz :) it's definitely one of my favourite genres to read, because I adore getting lost in different worlds... this one was no excpetion... and the further we get into the stories, the more we learn about it... which only opens so many possibilities for future stories... :) the more I know, the more curious I am to learn even more :) I am not gonna get into any additional details, because it's much better explained in the actual books, plus, we don't get all of the informations at once... we get those explanations over time, which definitely helps to remember everything better :) *The chosen* is the name of the series, and also the name of one of the races in the books... they can wield magic, all different kinds of it :) Helena, our main character, discovers very early on in the first book, that she's one of the most powerful of them that was ever born... she was raised far away from the palace and the corruption within those walls, but now's the time to go back, reclaim her powers and save her people :) she will have to complete her Circle of five men who will be her protectors and advisors, including the one who will be her Mate... and that's just the beginning... it's an absolutely amazing series, with complex characters, many surprising twists and turns and phenomenal writing style that will grab you from the very first chapter, make you turn page after page, because you need to see how it ends, and then leave you wanting more when you read those little *the end* words at the end ;) I highly recommend you guys to give it a try if you haven't yet, the first book is called "Mother of shadows" :) ok, now that we have this out of the way, let me share a bit more about the actual subject of this review :)
LAST WARNING people :) spoilers about the first two books will come next... *looks around* ok, I assume that all of you who stayed are up to speed :) don't be mad at me if you haven't read those previous books and will be spoiled about something important, I couldn't have been more clear about upcoming spoilers... ;) moving on :) so after the mother of all cliffhangers at the end of that second book... #WhatWasInTheBox ;) we jump right back into that scene... obviously, I won't say what was it, but it definitely starts something... *more* is definitely a theme in this installment... we get to know more about the characters we already know... and fall in love with them even more... *coughs* Ronan *coughs* ;) we see new places, meet new people... I swear, Meg has an incredible imagination and I just want more and more of this colorful and complex world she created... every other chapter I was like *oh, I'd love to know more about this place / these people* :) I was never bored, that's for sure ;) Helena grows more confident and stronger, even though there are still some lingering effects of the separation from her Mate... after all, she only just got him back after that kidnapping... I adore her connection to the men in her Circle... how she listens to them, but still makes her own decisions... how playful their banter can be... and how necessary that is when during so much of her time she needs to be in control and setting the best example... the stakes are getting higher and higher, with Rowena now determined more than ever to defeat her... I swear you guys, these books just keep getting better and better :) the writing style is amazing as always... building up the world and characters we know, introducing us to new people and places, each of them could be the center of another novel... :) the story flows effortlessly, and before I knew what was happening, I finished the book... now we wait for the fourth and last installment in this original series... but worry not, I'm hearing there is a sequel / companion series in the works for later *squeels with excitement* ;) I laughed, sighed with delight, gasped in surprise and cried during this story... Meg has the abilty to hit me in all the feels... and those are the best kind of stories... :) and now I am dying to get my hands on that fourth installment... I need more!!! :) but I'm greedy like that when it comes to such fantastic books... :)
XOXO
A