2020 Beat the Backlist challenge
Review: A Sorrow Fierce and Falling (Kingdom on Fire #3) by Jessica Cluess
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Series: Kingdom on Fire #3
Author: Jessica Cluess
Published October 16th 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Goodreads Synopsis
It’s time for war.
After suffering terrible losses, Henrietta and Lord Blackwood have led their warriors to Sorrow-Fell, a vast estate where only those invited by a Blackwood may enter–and the ideal place to plan a final assault against the Ancients.
It’s time for a wedding.
Henrietta nervously awaits her marriage to Blackwood, but when the ritual to become his bride reveals a dark secret, she realizes that Sorrow-Fell is not a safe haven; it’s a trap. Convincing the sorcerers of this, however, is not easy. So with Maria, the true chosen one, and Magnus, the young man who once stole her heart, at her side, Henrietta plots a dangerous journey straight into the enemy’s lair. Some will live. Some will die. All will be tested.
In this stunning conclusion to the Kingdom on Fire series, Henrietta must choose between the love from her past, the love from her present, and a love that could define her future. While battles rage, the fate of the kingdom rests on her decision: Will she fall or rise up to become the woman who saves the realm?
It’s time for Henrietta to make her stand.
Goodreads
Review
After the explosive ending of A Poison Dark and Drowning, Henrietta Howel is set to marry Lord Blackwood, the Earl of Sorrow-Fell, as the remaining sorcerers and survivors travel to Blackwood's estate, which is the only remaining safe haven in the land. However, it's not without its troubles. The battle and the weaponry have left their marks on all of the characters, and though Henrietta and Blackwood want to marry as soon as, there's always something in the way. Blackwood is changing, too, and Henrietta doesn't know how to reconcile that, with the fact that the evil beast they're hunting, R'hlem, is in fact her father, who is hell bent on finding her and bringing her to his side.
This book was so good, but at the same time, there were so many things that confused me. This is a story chocked full of plot, and so much happened it's a struggle to keep your head around it all, and talk about it here without too many spoilers. I still love Henrietta, and feel like this book was the perfect ending for her, with the going full circle. The ending might not appeal to all - and I wouldn't have expected it to do so for me, too - but I couldn't have asked for better, if I'm being honest. All characters went through changes, some more than others, but all for the better, I think. This book really shook up everything we knew about the world Jessica has created, and I'm just more in awe at her writing. I'm glad I discovered this series, and look forward to her new one.
Dates Read:
June 12-14, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
