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Apollo Ascending #4
A Spark of Death and Fury
The world is on fire.
But one thing burns hotter.
Revenge.
The high gods have fallen.
The spark is gone.
And chaos is the new king.
Amidst a scrabble to survive, gods step up to steal Zeus’ place. The treachery they cause pushes characters' moral boundaries and forces them into one last fight for survival.
A blaze of wrath may save them all or finally lead to their ruin.
A Spark of Death and Fury is the riveting fourth installment of the Apollo Ascending series, full of love, heartbreak, and unexpected turns wrapped in an explosive finale.
But one thing burns hotter.
Revenge.
The high gods have fallen.
The spark is gone.
And chaos is the new king.
Amidst a scrabble to survive, gods step up to steal Zeus’ place. The treachery they cause pushes characters' moral boundaries and forces them into one last fight for survival.
A blaze of wrath may save them all or finally lead to their ruin.
A Spark of Death and Fury is the riveting fourth installment of the Apollo Ascending series, full of love, heartbreak, and unexpected turns wrapped in an explosive finale.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2022
21 people are currently reading
1344 people want to read
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July 3, 2024
I was provided an e-copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ Greek mythology
✅ Action and fighting
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Politics
✅ Characters
✅🆗 Romance
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: death and torture
**Minor spoilers in the review (because the third book ends up with a cliffhanger and I kind of have to talk about certain characters so you will know if they died or not at the end of the third book if you read the review)
This final book picks up right where the third one ended, which is a good thing because A Shield of Fate and Ruin ended on a quadruple cliffhanger. Hyacinth, Apollo, Pip, and Temi are all separated, and while some of them spent most of the book apart, I still really enjoyed it, which is not always the case when main characters are separated. Apollo might have beat Zeus, but now many of the remaining gods are fighting to get control over the spark, while Hyacinth is held captive and still has no idea if Apollo survived or not. Temi is trying her best to help Apollo, and Pip needs to hold her country together and show her people that she can be the leader they need, while also needing to figure out her love life.
This conclusion is less about the romance between Apollo and Hyacinth since their couple is well established, and more about wrapping up the plot and all the politics between gods and humans. There is more emphasis put on romance when it comes to Pip though, but I will talk about it later in the review.
If Hyacinth is the one that changed more in the first books, this one is all about Apollo's journey and development. He changes a lot, and not always in a good way, but thankfully he has Temi to keep him on the right track. The author did a great job of making his character change and gain more depth all throughout the series, without making it long and boring to read about.
A strength of this series since the first book is the cast of strong and resilient women. Even though Pip annoyed me at times, I am impressed by her drive and determination, and Temi is just a badass. Always was, and always will be. It's nice to see strong and inspiring women in the story even if the main couple and the main plot revolved around Apollo and Hyacinth. They wouldn't have managed everything they did without Pip and Temi.
Ok, I have to talk about Pip's love life, because she drove me NUTS in the last 2 books.
Pip’s love for Valerian is sweet and pure and beautiful, but it still annoys me how she is willing to put it before the well-being of her whole kingdom. I am not saying it’s an easy choice or that I wouldn’t want to do the same, but sadly, she is a princess with responsibility, and I do not agree that sacrificing her love is too high a price for the peace and the life of her people. Then, when she finally comes to realize that being with him might not be possible and she is offered a good, kind, nice, and powerful match, she keeps refusing because it wouldn’t be right to lie to her people by marrying someone she doesn’t love?! I think the people will be okay with knowing that she entered a political alliance, as it’s what’s usually done, I really don’t see how they would be offended, or suffer because she “lied” to them and married someone who was not her one true love. I know the author wanted us, readers, to yearn for them to be able to be together and to root for them, but I think in that case, my logical and practical side took over my romantic one.
At the same time, I can’t help but admire Pip’s drive and resiliency. She is strong and so determined to do what’s best for her country (except when we talk about marriage), and she knows she has MUCH to do to convince people that she can rule a country as well as a man, but she doesn’t back down. So I have a love/hate relationship with Pip in this book. I love her, but I got annoyed every time romance was mentioned.
Gale deserves an MVP award for his understanding, empathy, and kindness. He is seriously an awesome and oh-so-sweet character! I would totally read a spin-off about him if the author decides to explore his character some more. I admit that I was indifferent at first, but I fell in love with him in this book.
Overall, this was a great conclusion to an entertaining, fast-paced, and sweet fantasy MM series full of ruthless gods, driven characters, action, and just enough smut to keep things interesting.
1. A Veil of Gods and Kings ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows ⭐⭐⭐.5
3. A Shield of Fate and Ruin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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✅ Greek mythology
✅ Action and fighting
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Politics
✅ Characters
✅🆗 Romance
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: death and torture
**Minor spoilers in the review (because the third book ends up with a cliffhanger and I kind of have to talk about certain characters so you will know if they died or not at the end of the third book if you read the review)
“Once, many years ago,”— he grinned as I began like I used to start stories for Ixion—“ there was a half deity prophesied to be the god of the sun. He hated his fate and ran from it, right into the arms of a prince who, at first, he thought he loathed.” Hyacinth chuckled. “He discovered along the way that man was his heart and soul. The deity brought hardship and loss to the prince, though and had to live with the many mistakes he made.”
This final book picks up right where the third one ended, which is a good thing because A Shield of Fate and Ruin ended on a quadruple cliffhanger. Hyacinth, Apollo, Pip, and Temi are all separated, and while some of them spent most of the book apart, I still really enjoyed it, which is not always the case when main characters are separated. Apollo might have beat Zeus, but now many of the remaining gods are fighting to get control over the spark, while Hyacinth is held captive and still has no idea if Apollo survived or not. Temi is trying her best to help Apollo, and Pip needs to hold her country together and show her people that she can be the leader they need, while also needing to figure out her love life.
This conclusion is less about the romance between Apollo and Hyacinth since their couple is well established, and more about wrapping up the plot and all the politics between gods and humans. There is more emphasis put on romance when it comes to Pip though, but I will talk about it later in the review.
I knew who I was.
I was Apollo.
God of the sun.
The child of Leto.
Brother of Temi.
Husband to Hyacinth.
I was a man who had made mistakes and jumped to conclusions and harmed others.
I was a man who would do better.
If Hyacinth is the one that changed more in the first books, this one is all about Apollo's journey and development. He changes a lot, and not always in a good way, but thankfully he has Temi to keep him on the right track. The author did a great job of making his character change and gain more depth all throughout the series, without making it long and boring to read about.
But her posture, the way she held herself, her expression, made it clear she didn’t fear anyone. And a woman unafraid was a truly terrifying sight.
A strength of this series since the first book is the cast of strong and resilient women. Even though Pip annoyed me at times, I am impressed by her drive and determination, and Temi is just a badass. Always was, and always will be. It's nice to see strong and inspiring women in the story even if the main couple and the main plot revolved around Apollo and Hyacinth. They wouldn't have managed everything they did without Pip and Temi.
“I realized that giving you up is too high a cost.”
“What about Niria?”
Ok, I have to talk about Pip's love life, because she drove me NUTS in the last 2 books.
Pip’s love for Valerian is sweet and pure and beautiful, but it still annoys me how she is willing to put it before the well-being of her whole kingdom. I am not saying it’s an easy choice or that I wouldn’t want to do the same, but sadly, she is a princess with responsibility, and I do not agree that sacrificing her love is too high a price for the peace and the life of her people. Then, when she finally comes to realize that being with him might not be possible and she is offered a good, kind, nice, and powerful match, she keeps refusing because it wouldn’t be right to lie to her people by marrying someone she doesn’t love?! I think the people will be okay with knowing that she entered a political alliance, as it’s what’s usually done, I really don’t see how they would be offended, or suffer because she “lied” to them and married someone who was not her one true love. I know the author wanted us, readers, to yearn for them to be able to be together and to root for them, but I think in that case, my logical and practical side took over my romantic one.
At the same time, I can’t help but admire Pip’s drive and resiliency. She is strong and so determined to do what’s best for her country (except when we talk about marriage), and she knows she has MUCH to do to convince people that she can rule a country as well as a man, but she doesn’t back down. So I have a love/hate relationship with Pip in this book. I love her, but I got annoyed every time romance was mentioned.
Gale deserves an MVP award for his understanding, empathy, and kindness. He is seriously an awesome and oh-so-sweet character! I would totally read a spin-off about him if the author decides to explore his character some more. I admit that I was indifferent at first, but I fell in love with him in this book.
Overall, this was a great conclusion to an entertaining, fast-paced, and sweet fantasy MM series full of ruthless gods, driven characters, action, and just enough smut to keep things interesting.
1. A Veil of Gods and Kings ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows ⭐⭐⭐.5
3. A Shield of Fate and Ruin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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September 11, 2022
Wow. Just… wow. What a fantastic conclusion to an amazing series! It’s rare that a book leaves me speechless, content to ruminate over everything that happened, but I found myself sitting with this book and thinking about the incredible journeys all of the main characters went on. This is an epic conclusion to a brilliant series and one I’d highly recommend to readers of Greek myth retellings.
The story is told from Apollo, Hyacinth, Temi, Epiphany, and Valerian’s perspectives. Each of their stories is layered, complex, and so intriguing, and I love that, though I know a lot about mythology, I never knew what was going to happen next. Bailey’s retelling is fresh and unique and offers a new perspective on well-known characters while still honoring the original myths. It makes for a fascinating and immersive read filled with twists and turns and unforgettable moments. I have a feeling this series will live rent-free in my mind for a long time.
I love all of these characters so much, and each goes on a powerful, life-changing journey. Epiphany needs to prove she is capable of ruling a kingdom, Apollo and Temi deal with the aftermath of the events that occurred in the last book, and Hyacinth fights to protect Ares’s son. I don’t know which one to talk about first. I think I’ll start with Apollo. He has such an amazing character arc! He really figures out, during a desperate journey to save Hyacinth and Ix and with the help of his sister, who he wants to be and how he wants to be remembered.
And Hyacinth, my poor beautiful cinnamon roll. He suffers greatly throughout the book, and I hurt for him! He’s so brave and protective, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for those he loves, even if it’s to his detriment. He and Apollo have an epic love story, and I so hoped they would reunite and find their happily ever after.
Another couple I rooted for was Epiphany and Val. They have such an angst-filled love story, and duty, social status, and meddling advisors seem to constantly pull them apart. They have so much love for each other, but like Apollo and Hyacinth, the obstacles they face seem insurmountable. Their individual journeys are as interesting as their journey as a couple.
Temi also develops a strong bond in the story, and, frankly, it broke my heart. I love her character, and her friendship with Orion is pure and deep and wonderful. They bring out the best in each other, and they almost feel like two sides of a coin. As they travel with Apollo and the rest of the group, they become even closer than they were, and their friendship is a beautiful and positive contrast to the danger and evil that they face.
I don’t know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this series and this book specifically. It’s exciting, intense, emotional, romantic, suspenseful, and more. It’s the kind of story that will make you laugh and cry and become emotionally invested in the characters, and the ending is very satisfying.
This will definitely go down as one of my favorite all-time series, and though I have digital copies of each book, I now need to buy print copies to display on my bookshelves. I’ll never get enough of Apollo and Hyacinth, and the entire Apollo Ascending series. Thanks so much to Nicole Bailey for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The story is told from Apollo, Hyacinth, Temi, Epiphany, and Valerian’s perspectives. Each of their stories is layered, complex, and so intriguing, and I love that, though I know a lot about mythology, I never knew what was going to happen next. Bailey’s retelling is fresh and unique and offers a new perspective on well-known characters while still honoring the original myths. It makes for a fascinating and immersive read filled with twists and turns and unforgettable moments. I have a feeling this series will live rent-free in my mind for a long time.
I love all of these characters so much, and each goes on a powerful, life-changing journey. Epiphany needs to prove she is capable of ruling a kingdom, Apollo and Temi deal with the aftermath of the events that occurred in the last book, and Hyacinth fights to protect Ares’s son. I don’t know which one to talk about first. I think I’ll start with Apollo. He has such an amazing character arc! He really figures out, during a desperate journey to save Hyacinth and Ix and with the help of his sister, who he wants to be and how he wants to be remembered.
And Hyacinth, my poor beautiful cinnamon roll. He suffers greatly throughout the book, and I hurt for him! He’s so brave and protective, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for those he loves, even if it’s to his detriment. He and Apollo have an epic love story, and I so hoped they would reunite and find their happily ever after.
Another couple I rooted for was Epiphany and Val. They have such an angst-filled love story, and duty, social status, and meddling advisors seem to constantly pull them apart. They have so much love for each other, but like Apollo and Hyacinth, the obstacles they face seem insurmountable. Their individual journeys are as interesting as their journey as a couple.
Temi also develops a strong bond in the story, and, frankly, it broke my heart. I love her character, and her friendship with Orion is pure and deep and wonderful. They bring out the best in each other, and they almost feel like two sides of a coin. As they travel with Apollo and the rest of the group, they become even closer than they were, and their friendship is a beautiful and positive contrast to the danger and evil that they face.
I don’t know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this series and this book specifically. It’s exciting, intense, emotional, romantic, suspenseful, and more. It’s the kind of story that will make you laugh and cry and become emotionally invested in the characters, and the ending is very satisfying.
This will definitely go down as one of my favorite all-time series, and though I have digital copies of each book, I now need to buy print copies to display on my bookshelves. I’ll never get enough of Apollo and Hyacinth, and the entire Apollo Ascending series. Thanks so much to Nicole Bailey for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
September 19, 2022
What a epic conclusion to this amazing series! The way the last book ended had me at the edge of my seat needing to know more as soon as possible! This book did not disappoint!
At this point, if you are reading this review I assume that you have read the first three books. If not please note that there are spoilers within this review.
One of the things that I love about these books is there is no delay in getting right into the good stuff. It never feels like things are put off for the sake of dragging a story out. The utter shock I must have had on my face when I found out who captured Cyn, must have been priceless. For a good portion of the series my biggest challenge was reading the struggles that Pip went through. In this last book her story so much more exciting to read about and I never felt like she was the damsel in distress. Her conclusion with Val was not what I was expecting, but I loved it all the same. I really enjoyed the way these stories have been written to expect the unexpected. Temi losing Orion was tragic. I thought it was beautiful the way she let his soul be with the stars and creating his image within the stars to be with those he loved. Breaks me that she lost him, but if there is anything that these stories have taught us, it is that Temi is one strong god.
Now lets talk about Apollo and Hyacinth! My two favorite love birds! As they were apart for a good portion of this story, it was a little hard to not be sad that we did not get a lot of story time with the two of them together. The amount of pain Hyacinth suffered within this book was wild. It was also a bit romantic how he would hide his pain with memories and thoughts of Apollo.
That being said... It was almost even more heartbreaking to see that he did not believe he was safe when he finally was. The epilogue was everything that we needed and then some.
I loved the conclusion to everyone's story. The whole series was such a journey! It was jam-packed with emotions, action, humor, and love. I can not get enough of these characters that have grown on me and their amazing stories.
Kudos to Nichole Bailey.
An ARC copy of this book was provided to me and my thoughts and review are my own.
At this point, if you are reading this review I assume that you have read the first three books. If not please note that there are spoilers within this review.
One of the things that I love about these books is there is no delay in getting right into the good stuff. It never feels like things are put off for the sake of dragging a story out. The utter shock I must have had on my face when I found out who captured Cyn, must have been priceless. For a good portion of the series my biggest challenge was reading the struggles that Pip went through. In this last book her story so much more exciting to read about and I never felt like she was the damsel in distress. Her conclusion with Val was not what I was expecting, but I loved it all the same. I really enjoyed the way these stories have been written to expect the unexpected. Temi losing Orion was tragic. I thought it was beautiful the way she let his soul be with the stars and creating his image within the stars to be with those he loved. Breaks me that she lost him, but if there is anything that these stories have taught us, it is that Temi is one strong god.
Now lets talk about Apollo and Hyacinth! My two favorite love birds! As they were apart for a good portion of this story, it was a little hard to not be sad that we did not get a lot of story time with the two of them together. The amount of pain Hyacinth suffered within this book was wild. It was also a bit romantic how he would hide his pain with memories and thoughts of Apollo.
That being said... It was almost even more heartbreaking to see that he did not believe he was safe when he finally was. The epilogue was everything that we needed and then some.
I loved the conclusion to everyone's story. The whole series was such a journey! It was jam-packed with emotions, action, humor, and love. I can not get enough of these characters that have grown on me and their amazing stories.
Kudos to Nichole Bailey.
An ARC copy of this book was provided to me and my thoughts and review are my own.
September 21, 2022
This series has been nothing but 5 stars from book one, and the finale of this story did not disappoint! A Spark of Death and Fury was the perfect ending to this series, and though I'm gutted my time with these characters and their stories is finished - I adored this book and the way it wrapped up the series!
Nicole has such a fantastic way of writing where she creates such a vivid world and a cast of characters that you truly to care about. Which means when she put those talents to making them suffer, I felt ever single blow. And oh boy, were there some blows!
I cried so much at this book. A lot of painful tears, and even some happy ones. The Hyacinth's scenes were written were handled so nicely - we got the gruesome, raw pain of what he was going through that at some points had me shuddering any squirming, but we also saw this scenes as moments for his love for Ixion and their connection to bloom.
Seeing Temi and Apollo taking ownership of their powers and their destiny and control of everything thah was happening was such a badass moment, I loved it! The same goes for Epiphany, she really shone through in this book and grew into the strong woman we knew she could be!
This series has been my favourite series of 2022, and this book is very high in the running for my favourite book of the 4. It definitely has some of my favourite quotes ever, like:
"A woman unafraid was a truly terrifying sight."
"If they looked to me to do the work of leading the county, then they would not have a man sitting on the throne to cover for it."
"The only people that don't have others talking about them are those who aren't taking any chances."
"If I have any power as a goddess, any ripple that goes into the future, your name will go down in history with mine."
"It's a story of a god who loved a prince until it nearly undid them both. Who still loves that man with every breath of his body. And who is okay become a memory of it means the prince is in it."
This book, and the entire Apollo Ascending series is a must read for any lover of a good queer Greek mythology retelling.
Nicole has such a fantastic way of writing where she creates such a vivid world and a cast of characters that you truly to care about. Which means when she put those talents to making them suffer, I felt ever single blow. And oh boy, were there some blows!
I cried so much at this book. A lot of painful tears, and even some happy ones. The Hyacinth's scenes were written were handled so nicely - we got the gruesome, raw pain of what he was going through that at some points had me shuddering any squirming, but we also saw this scenes as moments for his love for Ixion and their connection to bloom.
Seeing Temi and Apollo taking ownership of their powers and their destiny and control of everything thah was happening was such a badass moment, I loved it! The same goes for Epiphany, she really shone through in this book and grew into the strong woman we knew she could be!
This series has been my favourite series of 2022, and this book is very high in the running for my favourite book of the 4. It definitely has some of my favourite quotes ever, like:
"A woman unafraid was a truly terrifying sight."
"If they looked to me to do the work of leading the county, then they would not have a man sitting on the throne to cover for it."
"The only people that don't have others talking about them are those who aren't taking any chances."
"If I have any power as a goddess, any ripple that goes into the future, your name will go down in history with mine."
"It's a story of a god who loved a prince until it nearly undid them both. Who still loves that man with every breath of his body. And who is okay become a memory of it means the prince is in it."
This book, and the entire Apollo Ascending series is a must read for any lover of a good queer Greek mythology retelling.
October 10, 2022
2.5 🌟 redondeado a 3
Quedé muy insatisfecha con éste libro.
Sentía que era interminable, tardé semanas en leerlo.
La saga me llamó la atención por la historia de Apolo y Jacinto, sin embargo en éste libro no me da casi nada de interacción entre ellos, están separados hasta el mero final. Su relación está más que asentada, ya no hay nada que nos puedan enseñar pero aun así...necesitaba mucho más.
Mi corazón dolía y aún duele por Cyn, sufrió tanto.
Aun que me encantó ver a Pip toda empoderada, no fue lo suficiente para que me entretuviera, su historia jamás me interesó. Ya casi al final del libro me saltaba los capítulos. Igual que con Val.
Temi estuvo meh, pero la escena con Orion *cheff's kiss*
Ix se robó mi corazón, me hubiera encantado ver más sobre el y sobre la familia que formó con Cyn y Apolo.
Junto al segundo libro me parecieron los mas flojos, pero vale la pena darle una oportunidad a la saga.
Quedé muy insatisfecha con éste libro.
Sentía que era interminable, tardé semanas en leerlo.
La saga me llamó la atención por la historia de Apolo y Jacinto, sin embargo en éste libro no me da casi nada de interacción entre ellos, están separados hasta el mero final. Su relación está más que asentada, ya no hay nada que nos puedan enseñar pero aun así...necesitaba mucho más.
Mi corazón dolía y aún duele por Cyn, sufrió tanto.
Aun que me encantó ver a Pip toda empoderada, no fue lo suficiente para que me entretuviera, su historia jamás me interesó. Ya casi al final del libro me saltaba los capítulos. Igual que con Val.
Temi estuvo meh, pero la escena con Orion *cheff's kiss*
Ix se robó mi corazón, me hubiera encantado ver más sobre el y sobre la familia que formó con Cyn y Apolo.
Junto al segundo libro me parecieron los mas flojos, pero vale la pena darle una oportunidad a la saga.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2023
A better conclusion than I expected. It wasn't as slow as the second and third book. While I still found it exasperating that we jumped from life and death with Apollo, Hyacinth and Artemis to more Epiphany and Valerian are still wondering if it's a good idea to be together, but this time their chapters had political drama, so it wasn't as slow and tiresome. Something happens with them at least. And the conclusion with Apollo and Hyacinth was really sweet, even if I think they suffer more than they needed to.
January 24, 2025
goodness gracious, maybe my favorite series of all time, ripped my heart out.
September 2, 2022
DAMN YOU NICOLE!!! You've done it again. This book is amazing, an amazing finale. My heart is definitely broken. I can't believe it's over. The characters in this one are the same Legendary!! I'm trying so hard not to add spoilers to this. So without revealing too much I am 100 percent trapped in my feelings right now !! May need some time to recover. This series is epic, emotional and glorious.
January 26, 2025
2.75⭐️
The whole series could’ve been a duology. There was absolutely no reason for this to be 4 books long. 400 pages each. None.
Anyway
Only good chapters here were Hyacinth’s and Apollo’s with, occasionally, Artemis pulling her weight.
So, was it bad? No. Is it memorable? No. I’ll forget it in three days.
Best book is the first one. By a landslide.
The rest of them I read to satisfy my curiosity but at some point I had to start skimming past every POV that wasn’t following the main plot because otherwise I’d fall asleep.
So that’s that done.
The whole series could’ve been a duology. There was absolutely no reason for this to be 4 books long. 400 pages each. None.
Anyway
Only good chapters here were Hyacinth’s and Apollo’s with, occasionally, Artemis pulling her weight.
So, was it bad? No. Is it memorable? No. I’ll forget it in three days.
Best book is the first one. By a landslide.
The rest of them I read to satisfy my curiosity but at some point I had to start skimming past every POV that wasn’t following the main plot because otherwise I’d fall asleep.
So that’s that done.
April 1, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book of the Apollo Ascending series, but then felt a bit disappointed by book 2 and 3. The ending of the third book was absolutely insane, to the point I couldn't imagine what the last book would entail, but sadly the intensity I was anticipating didn't quite follow through. The story picks up as Apollo verges on the brink of death, and Hyacinth is kidnapped while trying to protect Ixion, the son of Ares. Things are going badly for our two main characters, while Epiphany struggles in maintaining the country while juggling her grief, and Valerian doesn't know what he is beside her boyfriend.
This volume follows the same narrative as the third book, with the four POVs for Apollo, Hyacinth, Temi, Epiphany and Valerian. I've talked times and times again about how much I hate multiple POVs, and I was already frustrated with the previous volumes, but this one absolutely took the take for me. You can't write multiple POVs that intersect each other if each plot has such a distinct difference in intensity. Everytime I was really starting to get into a scene, like Apollo's fighting gods left and right, the chapter would end and the POV would switch to Valerian galivanting and swooning over Epiphany. It was insufferable, because it kept going until the very last chapters.
Honestly, most plots were very interesting. I'm really glad that the author finally decided to give a mission to Epiphany other than her boring romance, because her ascension to queen was probably my favorite thing of this novel. The politics were interesting, and I was constantly driven to read more just to know how she would manage it. I don't think we needed two POVs for Apollo and Temi, since both of them were together for half the novel, but at least their progress to join Hyacinth was fun, though a bit repetitive. I also think there was one point in the book where the author didn't want us to forget Hyacinth but didn't know what more she could add to his POV without him getting saved, because there were so many of his chapters that didn't bring ANYTHING to the plot. But, I promise, no other POV will be as boring as Valerian's, who I will absolutely never care for.
The writing was as beautiful as ever, with a really lyrical prose that suited the characters' emotions really well. It fit especially well to the romance bonding Apollo and Hyacinth, and my heart squeezed everytime their love was compared to the sunshine touching Hyacinth's face, or the warmth Apollo felt.
I almost forgot a big war happened during the third book, because its battle had absolutely no consequence to their kingdom, beside killing off two kings in the same week. I wish the politics with the other countries was explored more than for the sake of Epiphany's relationship, because this world of old gods, new gods and humans divided by them was so interesting and had so much potential. Sadly, nothing was ever explored more than for the strict necessity of it.
Apollo and Hyacinth are very true to themselves in this story, with the love linking them being the driven force behind each of their movement. They both go through really dark times in this book, more than in any other book, with Hyacinth suffering from torture and Apollo losing his empathy trying to get to him. It's heartbreaking, but it showcases their love in such a beautiful way. They'll do anything for each other.
Temi is probably my favorite character after Apollo, but I think this book didn't do her justice at all. In the beginning, I thought we would see her owning her powers, the way she already did in the second book, but with the wisdom and care we imagine from the Goddess of the Hunt we all know. But I think the author kind of forgot she was supposed to be developping her powers, because at one point she can't do it, the next moment she wields it like a boss. I know strong emotions help, but it would have made more sense for her character to have her harness her powers through her grit and determination. Her POV was more to expose another view of Apollo than to truly give her any more development at all.
I loved the friendship between Orion and Temi, and even knowing the myth behind the Orion constellation, it doesn't lessen the impact of their relationship at all. I love that it showcases such an healthy and beautiful platonic relationship, without ever making it ambiguous between them. Temi has always been alone, and when her brother loses himself, she will always be able to count on Orion.
As I already said, I loved Epiphany in this volume, more so than in any other one. I love that she's finally determined and knows what she wants, yet she's never willing to sacrifice to get to it. It's even harsher to imagine she does it all after losing her entire family. I think her relationship with Valerian was the least interesting part about her, especially because the epilogue was more focused on her being pregnant (twice) than her actually being respected as a queen. I genuinely think a relationship with Galeson would have been more interesting to the reader, and more impactful on her character.
This series has had highs and lows, and I can't say I would recommend it necessarily, but it still completely made me fall in love with Apollo, Hyacinth, Temi and Epiphany (not Valerian, I don't care about him). The ending was a little bit bittersweet, but it was still worth every tear shed for these characters.
Every single time, Hyacinth had looked at me with love in his eyes. He’d seen more than the vengeful god in me. He saw good. And, damn it, I could be that for him.
This volume follows the same narrative as the third book, with the four POVs for Apollo, Hyacinth, Temi, Epiphany and Valerian. I've talked times and times again about how much I hate multiple POVs, and I was already frustrated with the previous volumes, but this one absolutely took the take for me. You can't write multiple POVs that intersect each other if each plot has such a distinct difference in intensity. Everytime I was really starting to get into a scene, like Apollo's fighting gods left and right, the chapter would end and the POV would switch to Valerian galivanting and swooning over Epiphany. It was insufferable, because it kept going until the very last chapters.
Honestly, most plots were very interesting. I'm really glad that the author finally decided to give a mission to Epiphany other than her boring romance, because her ascension to queen was probably my favorite thing of this novel. The politics were interesting, and I was constantly driven to read more just to know how she would manage it. I don't think we needed two POVs for Apollo and Temi, since both of them were together for half the novel, but at least their progress to join Hyacinth was fun, though a bit repetitive. I also think there was one point in the book where the author didn't want us to forget Hyacinth but didn't know what more she could add to his POV without him getting saved, because there were so many of his chapters that didn't bring ANYTHING to the plot. But, I promise, no other POV will be as boring as Valerian's, who I will absolutely never care for.
“Will it not hurt?” I whispered. “To always see that?”
(...) “It will hurt. But I think that’s good.” She leaned in closer to me, the sandalwood smell of her filling my senses. “It means he’s not forgotten. That he was loved, and his life had meaning. Even if it hurts to remember. It’s good to feel that pain because it means he mattered.”
The writing was as beautiful as ever, with a really lyrical prose that suited the characters' emotions really well. It fit especially well to the romance bonding Apollo and Hyacinth, and my heart squeezed everytime their love was compared to the sunshine touching Hyacinth's face, or the warmth Apollo felt.
I almost forgot a big war happened during the third book, because its battle had absolutely no consequence to their kingdom, beside killing off two kings in the same week. I wish the politics with the other countries was explored more than for the sake of Epiphany's relationship, because this world of old gods, new gods and humans divided by them was so interesting and had so much potential. Sadly, nothing was ever explored more than for the strict necessity of it.
Maybe this was my time, though. My purpose. Perhaps I was the one who loved Apollo. That would be my legacy. And perhaps it was enough.
Apollo and Hyacinth are very true to themselves in this story, with the love linking them being the driven force behind each of their movement. They both go through really dark times in this book, more than in any other book, with Hyacinth suffering from torture and Apollo losing his empathy trying to get to him. It's heartbreaking, but it showcases their love in such a beautiful way. They'll do anything for each other.
Temi is probably my favorite character after Apollo, but I think this book didn't do her justice at all. In the beginning, I thought we would see her owning her powers, the way she already did in the second book, but with the wisdom and care we imagine from the Goddess of the Hunt we all know. But I think the author kind of forgot she was supposed to be developping her powers, because at one point she can't do it, the next moment she wields it like a boss. I know strong emotions help, but it would have made more sense for her character to have her harness her powers through her grit and determination. Her POV was more to expose another view of Apollo than to truly give her any more development at all.
“Thank the moon goddess for that. (…) I know her personally. She’s the one deity I truly believe in.”
For a moment I stared at him. Despite the teasing I knew his words rang true. “Thank you, Orion.”
I loved the friendship between Orion and Temi, and even knowing the myth behind the Orion constellation, it doesn't lessen the impact of their relationship at all. I love that it showcases such an healthy and beautiful platonic relationship, without ever making it ambiguous between them. Temi has always been alone, and when her brother loses himself, she will always be able to count on Orion.
As I already said, I loved Epiphany in this volume, more so than in any other one. I love that she's finally determined and knows what she wants, yet she's never willing to sacrifice to get to it. It's even harsher to imagine she does it all after losing her entire family. I think her relationship with Valerian was the least interesting part about her, especially because the epilogue was more focused on her being pregnant (twice) than her actually being respected as a queen. I genuinely think a relationship with Galeson would have been more interesting to the reader, and more impactful on her character.
- “So, let the people tell their stories and myths,” I whispered. “We know the truth of us. Our story is a tragedy but if you peel all the layers back there’s one thing remaining.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a story of a god who loved a prince until it nearly undid them both. Who still loves that man with every breath of his body. And who is okay with becoming a memory if it means the prince is in it.”
This series has had highs and lows, and I can't say I would recommend it necessarily, but it still completely made me fall in love with Apollo, Hyacinth, Temi and Epiphany (not Valerian, I don't care about him). The ending was a little bit bittersweet, but it was still worth every tear shed for these characters.
February 12, 2024
Aaah… I REALLY wanted to like this. A queer retelling of Greek myths? YES GIVE IT TO ME!
But the characters acted like high-schoolers most of the time. And the language they spoke contrasted with the ancient world that they were supposed to exist. Cyn basically suffered in the 70% of the book and I feel like this could have been written in 200 pages rather than 320.
I wanted to like Pip a lot, unfortunately I couldn’t. Same as Val…
Idk… I appreciate the book, but I guess it was a bit of a “light read” for me…. I still appreciate the author for handling certain issues with delicacy and sensitivity, it was nice to read the way she did it!
But the characters acted like high-schoolers most of the time. And the language they spoke contrasted with the ancient world that they were supposed to exist. Cyn basically suffered in the 70% of the book and I feel like this could have been written in 200 pages rather than 320.
I wanted to like Pip a lot, unfortunately I couldn’t. Same as Val…
Idk… I appreciate the book, but I guess it was a bit of a “light read” for me…. I still appreciate the author for handling certain issues with delicacy and sensitivity, it was nice to read the way she did it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
god the one thing this series truly needed was an editor
November 2, 2022
5 ⭐ CW: (provided by author) torture, violence, PTSD, adult hitting a child, misogyny, parental loss mention, death (people and horses), grief, cursing, sexual content
A Spark of Death and Fury is the fourth and final book in the Apollo Rising Quartet by Nicole Bailey. This series is everything! It's right up there with how I feel about the Zodiac quartet. It sucked me in with amazing, Lovable, and diverse characters, then ripped my heart out multiple times, stomped on it, then gave me a "there, there" head pat at the end. Nicole is paying for all my emotional damage for the rest of our lives 🤣😭.
We pick up after the events of the previous book (spoilers for previous books ahead). The Spark is gone, Zeus is dead, the high gods have fallen, and Apollo isn't dead. Hyacinth is in charge of getting Apollo's nephew, Ixion, home to Niria, but they are captured and taken away as bait for Zephyrus to kill Apollo and become the new reigning god. Hyacinth is tortured as he tries to protect Ixion from Zephyrus' cruelty, and Ixion's experience is heartbreaking. Cyn was the one who went through it in this book.
Meanwhile, Pip is trying to figure out how to run a country that doesn't respect women ruling, though she is more fit than the closest male heir. Pip and Val finally get a win in this book. We have more of Temi and Orion banter that turns into tragedy (which is frankly, rude). Temi and Apollo plan to disperse the Spark and end the reign of high deities and return the gods to being elemental beings instead.
I love the way Nicole writes characters! You instantly love everyone (except abusive fuckboy Zeus and asshole Zephyrus) and root for them all. I love that the sort of love triangle between Pip, Val, and Gale didn't turn into jealous competition. Gale stayed a decent and helpful friend, even though he didn't get what he wanted. Actual nice guy for the win. We also get an exploration of the trauma Cyn endured and the subsequent PTSD and frequent dissociation.
That epilogue was much needed and deserved for our characters. Cyn and Apollo especially. Thank you, Nicole for bringing these characters and their stories into my life. This is now a comfort series.
A Spark of Death and Fury is the fourth and final book in the Apollo Rising Quartet by Nicole Bailey. This series is everything! It's right up there with how I feel about the Zodiac quartet. It sucked me in with amazing, Lovable, and diverse characters, then ripped my heart out multiple times, stomped on it, then gave me a "there, there" head pat at the end. Nicole is paying for all my emotional damage for the rest of our lives 🤣😭.
We pick up after the events of the previous book (spoilers for previous books ahead). The Spark is gone, Zeus is dead, the high gods have fallen, and Apollo isn't dead. Hyacinth is in charge of getting Apollo's nephew, Ixion, home to Niria, but they are captured and taken away as bait for Zephyrus to kill Apollo and become the new reigning god. Hyacinth is tortured as he tries to protect Ixion from Zephyrus' cruelty, and Ixion's experience is heartbreaking. Cyn was the one who went through it in this book.
Meanwhile, Pip is trying to figure out how to run a country that doesn't respect women ruling, though she is more fit than the closest male heir. Pip and Val finally get a win in this book. We have more of Temi and Orion banter that turns into tragedy (which is frankly, rude). Temi and Apollo plan to disperse the Spark and end the reign of high deities and return the gods to being elemental beings instead.
I love the way Nicole writes characters! You instantly love everyone (except abusive fuckboy Zeus and asshole Zephyrus) and root for them all. I love that the sort of love triangle between Pip, Val, and Gale didn't turn into jealous competition. Gale stayed a decent and helpful friend, even though he didn't get what he wanted. Actual nice guy for the win. We also get an exploration of the trauma Cyn endured and the subsequent PTSD and frequent dissociation.
That epilogue was much needed and deserved for our characters. Cyn and Apollo especially. Thank you, Nicole for bringing these characters and their stories into my life. This is now a comfort series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
4,5/5
Wat een prachtig einde. Het laat zien dat dingen goed kunnen komen, zonder dat alles goed is. Er zijn zoveel mensen overleden en zoveel mensen hebben last van trauma but they are trying and that’s what life is about. Het deed me wel heel veel pijn om Cyn zo ver weg en out of it te zien mn hart brak.
Als je kijkt naar dit boek en dan terugkijkt op boek 1 is dit zo anders. 1 Was gewoon cute en bubbly en dit was zwaaaaaar. De marteling van Cyn was insane geen grap ik werd er gewoon misselijk van als ik het las. Cyn met een kind (IXION I LOVE YOU) is iets waarvan ik niet wist dat ik het nodig had. Het was het schattigste en hardbrekendste ever.
The women ate again. Temi is just THAT girl. Ze blijft altijd bij zichzelf en zorgt ervoor dat anderen mensen niet te ver het padje afgaan (Apollo i am looking at you🫵🏻). Haar connectie was heel speciaal met Orion (RIP my guy). Ik wist al vanaf moment 1 dat hij dood zou gaan. Pip was ook een girlboss dit boek. Ze swipede zo die troon onder die vieze bitch zn neus vandaan AS SHE SHOULD. Zij is de perfecte koningin. Ik moest bijna huilen toen ik las hoeveel kindjes ze nu wel niet heeft. 3 en 1 onderweg IT MADE ME SO HAPPY. Ze was echt helemaal het dit boek. (Even special mention to Gale zonder hem was het oprecht nooit goedgekomen aan het einde i love him and wish him all the happiness in the world).
De epiloog liet mn hard breken en maakte m weer. Ix als volwasse met een kind, Pip en Val happy samen met hun gezin, Apollo en Cyn die nog steeds hun trauma aan het verwerken zijn :( en Temi die Orion nooit zal vergeten. Een perfect einde.
Het is zeker niet de beste fantasy (griekse mythologie) serie die ik heb gelezen, maar hij heeft wel echt een speciaal plekje in mijn hart hoor. I will forever love these characters and their story.
Wat een prachtig einde. Het laat zien dat dingen goed kunnen komen, zonder dat alles goed is. Er zijn zoveel mensen overleden en zoveel mensen hebben last van trauma but they are trying and that’s what life is about. Het deed me wel heel veel pijn om Cyn zo ver weg en out of it te zien mn hart brak.
Als je kijkt naar dit boek en dan terugkijkt op boek 1 is dit zo anders. 1 Was gewoon cute en bubbly en dit was zwaaaaaar. De marteling van Cyn was insane geen grap ik werd er gewoon misselijk van als ik het las. Cyn met een kind (IXION I LOVE YOU) is iets waarvan ik niet wist dat ik het nodig had. Het was het schattigste en hardbrekendste ever.
The women ate again. Temi is just THAT girl. Ze blijft altijd bij zichzelf en zorgt ervoor dat anderen mensen niet te ver het padje afgaan (Apollo i am looking at you🫵🏻). Haar connectie was heel speciaal met Orion (RIP my guy). Ik wist al vanaf moment 1 dat hij dood zou gaan. Pip was ook een girlboss dit boek. Ze swipede zo die troon onder die vieze bitch zn neus vandaan AS SHE SHOULD. Zij is de perfecte koningin. Ik moest bijna huilen toen ik las hoeveel kindjes ze nu wel niet heeft. 3 en 1 onderweg IT MADE ME SO HAPPY. Ze was echt helemaal het dit boek. (Even special mention to Gale zonder hem was het oprecht nooit goedgekomen aan het einde i love him and wish him all the happiness in the world).
De epiloog liet mn hard breken en maakte m weer. Ix als volwasse met een kind, Pip en Val happy samen met hun gezin, Apollo en Cyn die nog steeds hun trauma aan het verwerken zijn :( en Temi die Orion nooit zal vergeten. Een perfect einde.
Het is zeker niet de beste fantasy (griekse mythologie) serie die ik heb gelezen, maar hij heeft wel echt een speciaal plekje in mijn hart hoor. I will forever love these characters and their story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2024
Alright, this book really made me mad. Not because of the plot, not because of the characters, but because of the lack of editing. This is the fourth and final book in the series, so I expected it to be perfected. Yes, there were a couple errors in the first few books, but I let that slide. This book, however, was riddled with errors. It felt like it didn’t even go through editing.
Errors aside, this book was the most face paced and the best plot. The ending was very sweet, maybe a bit too sweet, but it did wrap everything up nicely.
Errors aside, this book was the most face paced and the best plot. The ending was very sweet, maybe a bit too sweet, but it did wrap everything up nicely.
June 27, 2023
So, I did make a slight mistake by reading 3/4 books in a series one after the other so closely. I fatigued myself somewhat.
But that doesn’t matter, this book does.
A 5 star series of the heart. A traumatic experience. A soft flowing river.
Fabulous. Wonderful. Soul destroying. I love this series.
But that doesn’t matter, this book does.
A 5 star series of the heart. A traumatic experience. A soft flowing river.
Fabulous. Wonderful. Soul destroying. I love this series.
May 24, 2024
The last book of this series. This whole series is a 5 ⭐️ for me! This book was written so beautifully and the epilogue :( it was so beautiful! everyone needs to go read this series!
December 26, 2024
A wonderful ending to the series. I am going to miss these characters very much. 5 stars.
February 16, 2025
I had a dream about this book
August 24, 2022
I think this is my favourite out of the whole series. Good job. Nicole bailey once again captures the attention of their readers by putting out characters and stories that you can't help but love. Absolutely devoured this book as quickly as I could and was not able to put it down. I think this book really captures the growth nicole has gone through as a writer.
September 6, 2022
"𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙡𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙, 𝙄’𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙯𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙩𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
A Spark of Death and Fury review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Nicole for letting me have these ARCs and review them, every email had me squealing. It has been a long journey and I can't believe we're actually at the last book of this beautiful series 😭❤️ I'll forever miss our two favorite boys, Apollo and Hyacinth, and also Epiphany, Val, Temi and definitely Orion.
I'm going to be honest, the end of book 3 was a mean one and I needed book 4 like air. I said during my previous reviews how I'm starting a Hyacinth protection service, and BOY DOES HE NEED IT HERE. My sweet Moon child goes through a lot in this book 😭. Frankly, everyone is going through shit but man, Cyn really got the shortest possible end of the stick.
My main concern was, therefore, Cyn 😂 I'm sorry he's my absolute favorite, his well-being was priority to me. Epiphany's side of the story was also really intriguing, I loved how she took matters into her own hands, and Gale was best boy who deserves the world. I like Val, I love how loyal and devoted he was during the whole series.
Orion was also my boo in this book -half of the characters were lol - he had that wit and sass and they made a perfect team with Temi, helping Apollo and all that.
Apollo my Sun child was losing himself for a minute there but can't really blame him, I liked the way it was addressed and how he overcame those dark thoughts.
The ending had me crying at midnight, but I wouldn't expect anything else from Nicole 😂❤️
A Spark of Death and Fury review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Nicole for letting me have these ARCs and review them, every email had me squealing. It has been a long journey and I can't believe we're actually at the last book of this beautiful series 😭❤️ I'll forever miss our two favorite boys, Apollo and Hyacinth, and also Epiphany, Val, Temi and definitely Orion.
I'm going to be honest, the end of book 3 was a mean one and I needed book 4 like air. I said during my previous reviews how I'm starting a Hyacinth protection service, and BOY DOES HE NEED IT HERE. My sweet Moon child goes through a lot in this book 😭. Frankly, everyone is going through shit but man, Cyn really got the shortest possible end of the stick.
My main concern was, therefore, Cyn 😂 I'm sorry he's my absolute favorite, his well-being was priority to me. Epiphany's side of the story was also really intriguing, I loved how she took matters into her own hands, and Gale was best boy who deserves the world. I like Val, I love how loyal and devoted he was during the whole series.
Orion was also my boo in this book -half of the characters were lol - he had that wit and sass and they made a perfect team with Temi, helping Apollo and all that.
Apollo my Sun child was losing himself for a minute there but can't really blame him, I liked the way it was addressed and how he overcame those dark thoughts.
The ending had me crying at midnight, but I wouldn't expect anything else from Nicole 😂❤️
March 6, 2025
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL (My English review comes after this)
Un cierre que logró remontar de forma muy satisfactoria.
Mis expectativas de esta cuarta y última entrega no eran muy altas debido a la experiencia que me dejó el libro pasado y a las repetidas veces que la autora evitó desarrollar conflictos a lo largo de la saga, sin embargo, creo que logra entregarnos un muy buen final y enfrenta los conflictos con un desarrollo narrativo que no nos había tocado leer y que me dejó realmente emocionado.
Esta última historia comienza con las consecuencias que dejó el mayor enfrentamiento entre dioses y nos lleva a navegar una realidad dura que deben enfrentar tantos los dioses (que perdieron sus poderes) y los humanos, quienes enfrentan una realidad que solo lleva incertidumbre.
Apollo se enfrenta a su última aventura, misma que lo llevará a establecer su personalidad y coraje tras la pelea y que determinará el futuro de los dioses, pero también, deberá rescatar a Hyacinth y a Ixion de un secuestro que busca terminar con todo lo que él es y lo que representa.
Por otro lado, Artemisa debe abrazar su profesía y descubrir su destino mientras Pip se enfrenta a una situación política que la obliga a demostrar su valía, poner los pies fuertes sobre la tierra y no permitir que las constumbres e idiologías de todo un territorio destruyan todo por lo que ha luchado toda su vida.
A lo largo de esta saga hemos podido conocer cinco puntos de vista diferentes y, en esta última entrega, cada uno de esos cinco personajes tiene una misión bastante interesante y tienen que sobrepasar obstáculos que parecen imposibles. Me pareció muy bien equilibrado y amé que todos y cada uno de estos personajes estuvieran tan activos en sus propios conflictos.
Hay acción, hay giros, hay personajes memorables, hay líneas de diálogo destacables, hay momentos inolvidables y hay un profundo avance en la escritura de Nicole Bailey.
Es muy satisfactorio ver cómo esta vez sí se adentró a desarrollar los conflictos y cómo maduró su escritura al evolucionar junto a sus personajes.
Algo que amé es la fuerza que le regresó a sus personajes femeninos y agradezco que me haya regalado una de las mejores escenas de toda la saga con Pip defendiendo su posición frente a todos sus consejeros en Niria. Hasta grité de la emoción al leer ese capítulo.
También debo de reconocer que tiene personajes secundarios memorables y que en su poca participación logran robarte el corazón y romper los clichés que podrían tener, estoy hablando de Ix y de Galeson que, de verdad, amé cómo están desarrollados.
El desarrollo de los enfrentamientos mejoró mucho aunque aún siento que les sigue faltando un poquito más de desarrollo, sin embargo, creo que la autora va por muy buen camino para solucionar este tema.
Todos estos ingredientes me dejaron un muy buen sabor de boca y la resolución de la historia también me dejó complacido, lo que agradezco porque estuve a punto de dejar la saga inconclusa después del tercer libro; si lo hubiera hecho, me habría perdido de ésta, que para mí, es la mejor entrega de las cuatro, así que si en algún momento dudas en terminarla, quédate con la idea de que vale la pena llegar al final que, como esta versión de Apollo y Hyacinth, vivirán conmigo para siempre.
————————————————————
ENGLISH REVIEW
A closure that managed to recover in a very satisfactory way.
My expectations of this fourth and final installment were not very high due to the experience that the last book left me and the repeated times that the author avoided developing conflicts throughout the saga, however, I think that she manages to give us a very good ending and faces the conflicts with a narrative development that we had not read and that left me really excited.
This last story begins with the consequences left by the greatest confrontation between gods and leads us to navigate a harsh reality that both the gods (who lost their powers) and the humans, who face a reality that only brings uncertainty, must face.
Apollo must live his last adventure, which will lead him to establish his personality and courage after the fight and that will determine the future of the gods, but also, he must rescue Hyacinth and Ixion from a kidnapping that seeks to end everything he is and what he represents.
On the other hand, Artemis must embrace her prophecy and discover her destiny while Pip faces a political situation that forces her to prove her worth, put her feet firmly on the ground and not allow the customs and ideologies of an entire territory to destroy everything she has fought for all her life.
Throughout this saga we have been able to see five different points of view and, in this last installment, each of these five characters has a very interesting mission and they have to overcome obstacles that seem impossible. I found it very well balanced and I loved that each and every one of these characters was so active in their own conflicts.
There is action, there are twists, there are memorable characters, there are notable lines of dialogue, there are unforgettable moments and there is a profound advance in Nicole Bailey's writing.
It is very satisfying to see how this time she did delve into developing the conflicts and how her writing matured by evolving with her characters.
Something I loved was the strength she gave back to her female characters and I'm grateful that she gave me one of the best scenes in the entire saga with Pip defending her position in front of all her advisors in Niria. I even screamed with excitement when I read that chapter.
I must also admit that the author has memorable secondary characters and that in their little participation they manage to steal your heart and break the clichés they could have, I'm talking about Ix and Galeson who, truly, I loved how they are developed.
The writing of the confrontations improved a lot although I still feel that they still need a little more development, however, I think that the author is on the right path to solve this issue.
All these ingredients left me with a very good taste in my mouth and the resolution of the story also left me pleased, which I appreciate because I was about to leave the saga unfinished after the third book; If I had, I would have missed this one, which for me, is the best installment of the four, so if at any time you hesitate to finish it, just remember that it is worth getting to the end, which, like this version of Apollo and Hyacinth, will live with me forever.
Un cierre que logró remontar de forma muy satisfactoria.
Mis expectativas de esta cuarta y última entrega no eran muy altas debido a la experiencia que me dejó el libro pasado y a las repetidas veces que la autora evitó desarrollar conflictos a lo largo de la saga, sin embargo, creo que logra entregarnos un muy buen final y enfrenta los conflictos con un desarrollo narrativo que no nos había tocado leer y que me dejó realmente emocionado.
Esta última historia comienza con las consecuencias que dejó el mayor enfrentamiento entre dioses y nos lleva a navegar una realidad dura que deben enfrentar tantos los dioses (que perdieron sus poderes) y los humanos, quienes enfrentan una realidad que solo lleva incertidumbre.
Apollo se enfrenta a su última aventura, misma que lo llevará a establecer su personalidad y coraje tras la pelea y que determinará el futuro de los dioses, pero también, deberá rescatar a Hyacinth y a Ixion de un secuestro que busca terminar con todo lo que él es y lo que representa.
Por otro lado, Artemisa debe abrazar su profesía y descubrir su destino mientras Pip se enfrenta a una situación política que la obliga a demostrar su valía, poner los pies fuertes sobre la tierra y no permitir que las constumbres e idiologías de todo un territorio destruyan todo por lo que ha luchado toda su vida.
A lo largo de esta saga hemos podido conocer cinco puntos de vista diferentes y, en esta última entrega, cada uno de esos cinco personajes tiene una misión bastante interesante y tienen que sobrepasar obstáculos que parecen imposibles. Me pareció muy bien equilibrado y amé que todos y cada uno de estos personajes estuvieran tan activos en sus propios conflictos.
Hay acción, hay giros, hay personajes memorables, hay líneas de diálogo destacables, hay momentos inolvidables y hay un profundo avance en la escritura de Nicole Bailey.
Es muy satisfactorio ver cómo esta vez sí se adentró a desarrollar los conflictos y cómo maduró su escritura al evolucionar junto a sus personajes.
Algo que amé es la fuerza que le regresó a sus personajes femeninos y agradezco que me haya regalado una de las mejores escenas de toda la saga con Pip defendiendo su posición frente a todos sus consejeros en Niria. Hasta grité de la emoción al leer ese capítulo.
También debo de reconocer que tiene personajes secundarios memorables y que en su poca participación logran robarte el corazón y romper los clichés que podrían tener, estoy hablando de Ix y de Galeson que, de verdad, amé cómo están desarrollados.
El desarrollo de los enfrentamientos mejoró mucho aunque aún siento que les sigue faltando un poquito más de desarrollo, sin embargo, creo que la autora va por muy buen camino para solucionar este tema.
Todos estos ingredientes me dejaron un muy buen sabor de boca y la resolución de la historia también me dejó complacido, lo que agradezco porque estuve a punto de dejar la saga inconclusa después del tercer libro; si lo hubiera hecho, me habría perdido de ésta, que para mí, es la mejor entrega de las cuatro, así que si en algún momento dudas en terminarla, quédate con la idea de que vale la pena llegar al final que, como esta versión de Apollo y Hyacinth, vivirán conmigo para siempre.
————————————————————
ENGLISH REVIEW
A closure that managed to recover in a very satisfactory way.
My expectations of this fourth and final installment were not very high due to the experience that the last book left me and the repeated times that the author avoided developing conflicts throughout the saga, however, I think that she manages to give us a very good ending and faces the conflicts with a narrative development that we had not read and that left me really excited.
This last story begins with the consequences left by the greatest confrontation between gods and leads us to navigate a harsh reality that both the gods (who lost their powers) and the humans, who face a reality that only brings uncertainty, must face.
Apollo must live his last adventure, which will lead him to establish his personality and courage after the fight and that will determine the future of the gods, but also, he must rescue Hyacinth and Ixion from a kidnapping that seeks to end everything he is and what he represents.
On the other hand, Artemis must embrace her prophecy and discover her destiny while Pip faces a political situation that forces her to prove her worth, put her feet firmly on the ground and not allow the customs and ideologies of an entire territory to destroy everything she has fought for all her life.
Throughout this saga we have been able to see five different points of view and, in this last installment, each of these five characters has a very interesting mission and they have to overcome obstacles that seem impossible. I found it very well balanced and I loved that each and every one of these characters was so active in their own conflicts.
There is action, there are twists, there are memorable characters, there are notable lines of dialogue, there are unforgettable moments and there is a profound advance in Nicole Bailey's writing.
It is very satisfying to see how this time she did delve into developing the conflicts and how her writing matured by evolving with her characters.
Something I loved was the strength she gave back to her female characters and I'm grateful that she gave me one of the best scenes in the entire saga with Pip defending her position in front of all her advisors in Niria. I even screamed with excitement when I read that chapter.
I must also admit that the author has memorable secondary characters and that in their little participation they manage to steal your heart and break the clichés they could have, I'm talking about Ix and Galeson who, truly, I loved how they are developed.
The writing of the confrontations improved a lot although I still feel that they still need a little more development, however, I think that the author is on the right path to solve this issue.
All these ingredients left me with a very good taste in my mouth and the resolution of the story also left me pleased, which I appreciate because I was about to leave the saga unfinished after the third book; If I had, I would have missed this one, which for me, is the best installment of the four, so if at any time you hesitate to finish it, just remember that it is worth getting to the end, which, like this version of Apollo and Hyacinth, will live with me forever.
February 17, 2023
Stars : ⭐️ 4 ⭐️
___________________________
~~~~~ Navigating Review
Positive Point: ➕
Negative Point: ➖
Side note: ⚫️
___________________________
~~~~~ Review (Spoilers)
➕ I knew the author was a good writer two books ago, but this books—especially the ending—proves their talents even further! The amount of detail, and descriptions put into every scene is just amazing. You can really feel the longing, and pain radiate off the pages. It killed me to read some of these chapters because of what happened to Cyn especially how it affected him in the end, but I’m so glad this series ended the way it did.
➕ Even though I love the side character (mostly Tami) I couldn’t help wanting to skip to Cyn and Apollos chapters. You can’t help but what to know if their safe, closer to each other, and even the worry of “will this have a happy ending?” Crossed my mind a few times. There’s a lot of hardship in this story, but the hardships were needed to make these characters grow. As sad as the truth of that is.
➖ I feel like I’ve said it for every review, but the Pip and Val chapters I could strongly do without. This go around I did see Artemis chapters as kinda important, but they could have easily been more Apollo chapters.
➕ Even though Pip was a bit annoying at time throughout the story, she really blossomed during this book. I’m glad she was able to have an amazing ending. I do feel bad for the Prince she kinda stringed along, but her and Val now live happily together. Which, I can’t ask for anything less for the couple.
➕ Orion deserved better… enough said 😭 Orion and Temi’s relationship- although only platonic- was such a special one and you could really read the loyalty that connected them every time they were together. Until the bitter end, they were soul mates in their own way. He truly had meaning to the goddess and the author portrayed it perfectly.
➕ I don’t want to spoil it too much, but the final added on chapter was PERFECTION! It was extremely needed too because I would not be satisfied until I knew where everyone is, and what everyone was doing years later. Some still struggle, especially with thinking about the past or the people that died, but in the end everyone was able to heal in their own ways. By being happy with each other. That’s all I could ask for as a reader.
___________________________
~~~~~ Rates 1-5
Plot: 5
Main Characters: 5
Side Characters: 3.5
Ending: 5
Epilogue: 100!
Beginning: 4
Dialogue: 5
Narration: 4
Written overall: 3.5
Worth Reading: 5
Romantic tension: 4
Romantic scenes: 5
Sexual tension: 1
Sex scenes: 2.5
___________________________
~~~~~ Explain (Spoilers!)
Details: Perfect amount of detail! The author knows how to write out her details, and I’m glad it wasn’t too overbearing as well.
Chapters Layout: I said this in my review (above) but I wish they just kept the chapter to being split between Hyacinth and Apollo, and then from now and again do Artemis. I’m sorry, but the chapter of Pip and Val’s POV were just not needed.
Trope: Apollo & Hyacinth. Pip & Val. Orion & Artemis (Platonic).
___________________________
~~~~~ Yes/No/Maybe/Not Really
Slow Burn: Yes
No Plot: No
Sex Scenes: Not Really
Triggered By Any Scenes: Yes
16+ Audience Recommended: Yes
18+ Audience Recommended: Not Really
Would I recommend: Yes
Would I re-read: Maybe
Would I read more books by author: Yes
Would I read more books like this: Yes
Was it Worth the Price: Yes
- The price: Can’t remember (sorry!)
- Read/Bought at Website: Kindle/Amazon
___________________________
After reading, I would recommend: The Song of Achilles
By: Madeline Miller
___________________________
___________________________
~~~~~ Navigating Review
Positive Point: ➕
Negative Point: ➖
Side note: ⚫️
___________________________
~~~~~ Review (Spoilers)
➕ I knew the author was a good writer two books ago, but this books—especially the ending—proves their talents even further! The amount of detail, and descriptions put into every scene is just amazing. You can really feel the longing, and pain radiate off the pages. It killed me to read some of these chapters because of what happened to Cyn especially how it affected him in the end, but I’m so glad this series ended the way it did.
➕ Even though I love the side character (mostly Tami) I couldn’t help wanting to skip to Cyn and Apollos chapters. You can’t help but what to know if their safe, closer to each other, and even the worry of “will this have a happy ending?” Crossed my mind a few times. There’s a lot of hardship in this story, but the hardships were needed to make these characters grow. As sad as the truth of that is.
➖ I feel like I’ve said it for every review, but the Pip and Val chapters I could strongly do without. This go around I did see Artemis chapters as kinda important, but they could have easily been more Apollo chapters.
➕ Even though Pip was a bit annoying at time throughout the story, she really blossomed during this book. I’m glad she was able to have an amazing ending. I do feel bad for the Prince she kinda stringed along, but her and Val now live happily together. Which, I can’t ask for anything less for the couple.
➕ Orion deserved better… enough said 😭 Orion and Temi’s relationship- although only platonic- was such a special one and you could really read the loyalty that connected them every time they were together. Until the bitter end, they were soul mates in their own way. He truly had meaning to the goddess and the author portrayed it perfectly.
➕ I don’t want to spoil it too much, but the final added on chapter was PERFECTION! It was extremely needed too because I would not be satisfied until I knew where everyone is, and what everyone was doing years later. Some still struggle, especially with thinking about the past or the people that died, but in the end everyone was able to heal in their own ways. By being happy with each other. That’s all I could ask for as a reader.
___________________________
~~~~~ Rates 1-5
Plot: 5
Main Characters: 5
Side Characters: 3.5
Ending: 5
Epilogue: 100!
Beginning: 4
Dialogue: 5
Narration: 4
Written overall: 3.5
Worth Reading: 5
Romantic tension: 4
Romantic scenes: 5
Sexual tension: 1
Sex scenes: 2.5
___________________________
~~~~~ Explain (Spoilers!)
Details: Perfect amount of detail! The author knows how to write out her details, and I’m glad it wasn’t too overbearing as well.
Chapters Layout: I said this in my review (above) but I wish they just kept the chapter to being split between Hyacinth and Apollo, and then from now and again do Artemis. I’m sorry, but the chapter of Pip and Val’s POV were just not needed.
Trope: Apollo & Hyacinth. Pip & Val. Orion & Artemis (Platonic).
___________________________
~~~~~ Yes/No/Maybe/Not Really
Slow Burn: Yes
No Plot: No
Sex Scenes: Not Really
Triggered By Any Scenes: Yes
16+ Audience Recommended: Yes
18+ Audience Recommended: Not Really
Would I recommend: Yes
Would I re-read: Maybe
Would I read more books by author: Yes
Would I read more books like this: Yes
Was it Worth the Price: Yes
- The price: Can’t remember (sorry!)
- Read/Bought at Website: Kindle/Amazon
___________________________
After reading, I would recommend: The Song of Achilles
By: Madeline Miller
___________________________
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2022
The fourth and final book in the Apollo Ascending series is here! After a lot of ups and downs, this book brought the story of Apollo, Hyacinth, Artemis, Epiphany, and Valerian to a very satisfying conclusion. I’m emotionally wrung out but happy. I recommend this series if you’d like an ensemble cast fantasy inspired by Greek mythology, both queer and het romance, with lots of drama, action, and emotion.
The rest of the review might get a tad spoilery so maybe don’t read on unless you’ve finished the book!
It was so satisfying to see these characters grow over the course of the series, but especially in this book. Epiphany especially had to pull from some unknown well of personal strength to do everything she needed to do in this book. The spoiled princess is gone, and in her place, a strong woman who can stand on her own, but also knows how (and who!) to ask for help when she needs it. I have to give a shout out to Galeson for being such a good friend to her. He’s such a great guy and I kinda want more of him!
I also loved Temi in this book. I feel like she was always the character who required the least personal growth, she was always there for those she loved, and provided guidance to those around her with her unfailing moral compass. She is aroace and I appreciated how much meaning she got from her strong friendships and her intention to always help those in need. I loved seeing her make a special friendship in the last two books and I want more of that for her!
Hyacinth had the roughest time in this book, but his relationship with his adopted son Ixion was so beautiful. Hyacinth was so protective and had so much love and strength to give. He broke my heart in this book! All the most hard-hitting emotional parts in this book had to do with Hyacinth for me.
Apollo did a lot of growing as well. He had to fight so hard and do a lot of ugly things to get the life–and the world–he wanted, but with a lot of guidance from his sister Artemis, he finally figured out who he was.
The rest of the review might get a tad spoilery so maybe don’t read on unless you’ve finished the book!
It was so satisfying to see these characters grow over the course of the series, but especially in this book. Epiphany especially had to pull from some unknown well of personal strength to do everything she needed to do in this book. The spoiled princess is gone, and in her place, a strong woman who can stand on her own, but also knows how (and who!) to ask for help when she needs it. I have to give a shout out to Galeson for being such a good friend to her. He’s such a great guy and I kinda want more of him!
I also loved Temi in this book. I feel like she was always the character who required the least personal growth, she was always there for those she loved, and provided guidance to those around her with her unfailing moral compass. She is aroace and I appreciated how much meaning she got from her strong friendships and her intention to always help those in need. I loved seeing her make a special friendship in the last two books and I want more of that for her!
Hyacinth had the roughest time in this book, but his relationship with his adopted son Ixion was so beautiful. Hyacinth was so protective and had so much love and strength to give. He broke my heart in this book! All the most hard-hitting emotional parts in this book had to do with Hyacinth for me.
Apollo did a lot of growing as well. He had to fight so hard and do a lot of ugly things to get the life–and the world–he wanted, but with a lot of guidance from his sister Artemis, he finally figured out who he was.
September 29, 2022
3.5 stars
Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Initial Thoughts
I was hesitant after reading A Shield of Fate and Ruin about how this book would fare. As expected, it was darker than I like in a fantasy, but Nicole Bailey has written a solid series. The action and epic journeys that the characters all took concluded well.
What's great about this book?
- Although I have been a big fan of Temi throughout this series, I really enjoyed Epiphany's POV most in book 4. Watching the young princess step up into the royal duties thrust upon her, navigating and fighting for the good of her country and the love of her heart was well balanced. I also appreciated the role she played in supporting women's rights in a heavily patriarchal styled world.
- The journey Apollo, Temi and Orion took to rescue Hyacinth and Ixion was as epic as they come. I liked the addition of the young Gods and all the trials and tribulations they faced along the way.
- The storyline about the spark and unsettled Gods/deities after Zeus' death was also interesting. I loved that Bailey added in Orion's tale and even though I knew it would end bittersweet, I like how it was retold in this novel.
- The big thing I take away from this read (and all the books in this series) is that I appreciate the author's care in the beginning of it to list the characters in this world, a recap of where it left off in the previous book, and most importantly, the trigger warnings list. Whilst this book was darker than I like, I was able to prepare for these sinister happenings because of the warnings at the start of the book.
Things I didn't quite enjoy
- As expected from what I've mentioned above, the darker moments - namely with Hyacinth and Ixion - were not for me. I found myself skimming the scenes of torture. This is a personal issue, nothing against the way this author wrote it.
Final thoughts
I'm grateful that I got to read this series from start to finish and enjoy a creative retake of some Greek mythology. Nicole Bailey is a talented author, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the future.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Initial Thoughts
I was hesitant after reading A Shield of Fate and Ruin about how this book would fare. As expected, it was darker than I like in a fantasy, but Nicole Bailey has written a solid series. The action and epic journeys that the characters all took concluded well.
What's great about this book?
- Although I have been a big fan of Temi throughout this series, I really enjoyed Epiphany's POV most in book 4. Watching the young princess step up into the royal duties thrust upon her, navigating and fighting for the good of her country and the love of her heart was well balanced. I also appreciated the role she played in supporting women's rights in a heavily patriarchal styled world.
- The journey Apollo, Temi and Orion took to rescue Hyacinth and Ixion was as epic as they come. I liked the addition of the young Gods and all the trials and tribulations they faced along the way.
- The storyline about the spark and unsettled Gods/deities after Zeus' death was also interesting. I loved that Bailey added in Orion's tale and even though I knew it would end bittersweet, I like how it was retold in this novel.
- The big thing I take away from this read (and all the books in this series) is that I appreciate the author's care in the beginning of it to list the characters in this world, a recap of where it left off in the previous book, and most importantly, the trigger warnings list. Whilst this book was darker than I like, I was able to prepare for these sinister happenings because of the warnings at the start of the book.
Things I didn't quite enjoy
- As expected from what I've mentioned above, the darker moments - namely with Hyacinth and Ixion - were not for me. I found myself skimming the scenes of torture. This is a personal issue, nothing against the way this author wrote it.
Final thoughts
I'm grateful that I got to read this series from start to finish and enjoy a creative retake of some Greek mythology. Nicole Bailey is a talented author, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the future.
February 6, 2023
Most of this book felt like a chore to get through.
In the series as a whole, the last two books have weird and awkward pacing.
I found little in this one to be compelling, only maybe getting a taste at the end.
My biggest gripes:
- The world building and lore truly started to make no sense to me. It needed so much more work and expansion throughout the series, in my opinion, if it wanted to pay off in this book.
- Hyacinth's and Ixion's plotline felt like such lazy writing, in how little sense was present throughout it.
- Pip and Val were yet again, for the fourth book in a row, mostly reduced to whether or not they could be together. It started to get old in the third book, so it was unwelcomed in this one as well. On top of that, it made Pip's other plotline of fighting for the crown feel entirely dependent on her relationship and not her own competency. I would have much preferred a story line focused more on the politics of Niria and Pip excelling and proving her capabilities than what we got where the men ultimately save her.
Mostly I'm just disappointed. I was hoping the series would keep the spark that the second book had for me, but it fizzled out.
In the series as a whole, the last two books have weird and awkward pacing.
I found little in this one to be compelling, only maybe getting a taste at the end.
My biggest gripes:
- The world building and lore truly started to make no sense to me. It needed so much more work and expansion throughout the series, in my opinion, if it wanted to pay off in this book.
- Hyacinth's and Ixion's plotline felt like such lazy writing, in how little sense was present throughout it.
- Pip and Val were yet again, for the fourth book in a row, mostly reduced to whether or not they could be together. It started to get old in the third book, so it was unwelcomed in this one as well. On top of that, it made Pip's other plotline of fighting for the crown feel entirely dependent on her relationship and not her own competency. I would have much preferred a story line focused more on the politics of Niria and Pip excelling and proving her capabilities than what we got where the men ultimately save her.
Mostly I'm just disappointed. I was hoping the series would keep the spark that the second book had for me, but it fizzled out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2022
This is the fourth book in the series Apollo Ascending. This is definitely my favorite of the series. It picks up where book three ended, with Cyn & Ixion headed to an unknown place to meet their kidnapper. The high gods have fallen. The spark is gone and everyone is out to kill Apollo in order to become the new King of High Gods. Epiphany is thrown into an impossible task of push and pull between the love for her country and her love for Valerian, while having to deal with most of it completely on her own. Full of anger, hate, the need for revenge, will Apollo save them all or will he finally lead everyone to their ruin? The most heart breaking part of this book is the intensity of pain & torture Hyacinth has to go through in order to keep Ixion safe. Through this pain, Hyacinth changes more than any other character. There is a good bit of sorrow and lost to deal with throughout the book & definitely will pull on your heart strings. But there is an equal amount of intense love and hope. I absolutely loved the way this story ended and wrapped up everyone's storylines very well.
January 6, 2023
When people tell me they don’t read it’s books like this and authors like Nicole Bailey that make me think “DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE MISSING?!?”
This book is an epic finale to a beautiful series and it was a tough tough read for me. Having received it shortly after having a baby, my postpartum emotions were far too raw to get more than a couple chapters in. But bit by bit I clawed my way through and then all of a sudden the winds changed and I couldn’t put it down.
This series is stunning. I’m such a huge fan of Bailey’s writing and the pictures she paints with her words. Every word she writes is so vivid, even the worst most heart wrenching parts. But, you have to go through those moments to see the beauty and if that’s not a metaphor for life I don’t know what is.
Hyacinth’s and Apollo’s love story has changed me, but so has Epiphany’s and Valerian’s, and Temi’s and Orion’s. This book is beautifully written, I’m so lucky to have been chosen to read it.
Truly fantastic, I absolutely loved it.
This book is an epic finale to a beautiful series and it was a tough tough read for me. Having received it shortly after having a baby, my postpartum emotions were far too raw to get more than a couple chapters in. But bit by bit I clawed my way through and then all of a sudden the winds changed and I couldn’t put it down.
This series is stunning. I’m such a huge fan of Bailey’s writing and the pictures she paints with her words. Every word she writes is so vivid, even the worst most heart wrenching parts. But, you have to go through those moments to see the beauty and if that’s not a metaphor for life I don’t know what is.
Hyacinth’s and Apollo’s love story has changed me, but so has Epiphany’s and Valerian’s, and Temi’s and Orion’s. This book is beautifully written, I’m so lucky to have been chosen to read it.
Truly fantastic, I absolutely loved it.
December 5, 2024
Loved the story of this series and the majority of the characters (Apollo, Hyacinth, Artemis).
I was glad that Pip and Val's story finally got more interesting than a will-they-or-won't-they arc, but still disappointed that in the end, it was a bunch of men that saved Pip's trajectory over letting her stand on her own merits.
My heart broke for Artemis. Hyacinth's suffering felt visceral. Apollo's drive was clear.
My main issue with this entire series is the writing in general. Not only was I removed from the fantasy several times due to dialogue seeming too modern for the time period, but some of it was just... sloppy? Grammatical issues were abundant, some words used out of context, and even in the character listing in the beginning of the book referring to Artemis as the goddess of the sun? This book could really have benefitted from an editor.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series due to most of the storylines and characters. The only reason I reserved one star was due to some plot points and some writing issues. Would still recommend.
I was glad that Pip and Val's story finally got more interesting than a will-they-or-won't-they arc, but still disappointed that in the end, it was a bunch of men that saved Pip's trajectory over letting her stand on her own merits.
My heart broke for Artemis. Hyacinth's suffering felt visceral. Apollo's drive was clear.
My main issue with this entire series is the writing in general. Not only was I removed from the fantasy several times due to dialogue seeming too modern for the time period, but some of it was just... sloppy? Grammatical issues were abundant, some words used out of context, and even in the character listing in the beginning of the book referring to Artemis as the goddess of the sun? This book could really have benefitted from an editor.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series due to most of the storylines and characters. The only reason I reserved one star was due to some plot points and some writing issues. Would still recommend.
May 6, 2025
A quick read. The first book in this series started out so silly and trite building the relationship between Hyacinth and Apollo that I thought I would be annoyed. As the books progressed, it focused less on that relationship and more on the fate/journeys of Apollo and Artemis.
The way things progressed book to book really made sensible movement. I liked how things developed here in a final fight to regain the spark after defeating Zeus. Meanwhile Epiphany fights for the throne in a misogynistic society. The only part I didn't really like was the kidnapping of Hyacinth and Ix by Zephyrus and Hyacinth's torture. His devotion to protecting Ix was admirable but then it became repetitive whenever it cut to them. And then I really disliked that even after everything was resolved and he was reunited with everyone that he still wasted away. That part of the PTSD felt really untrue to me.
Otherwise, really happy with how the series turned out.
The way things progressed book to book really made sensible movement. I liked how things developed here in a final fight to regain the spark after defeating Zeus. Meanwhile Epiphany fights for the throne in a misogynistic society. The only part I didn't really like was the kidnapping of Hyacinth and Ix by Zephyrus and Hyacinth's torture. His devotion to protecting Ix was admirable but then it became repetitive whenever it cut to them. And then I really disliked that even after everything was resolved and he was reunited with everyone that he still wasted away. That part of the PTSD felt really untrue to me.
Otherwise, really happy with how the series turned out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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