I can still remember those days when Edelweiss popped up on everyones radar. I was among those that scored one of the first ARCs of Red Queen on the site, many months before its release date. It was a book with so much hype, but it thankfully met and surpassed my expectations, signing me up for a long wait until the sequel. What I didnt know at the time was that I was in store for a series I will forever hold dearly. And now, after four years, this series has come to a close. Throughout this time, it managed to remain among my favourites in a distinctively peculiar manner and it will now join other series I will never be able to part with completely. For this wonderful literary journey I must thank Victoria Aveyard thank you for sharing your characters and world and words.Looking back at what the previous three books built, War Storm is a satisfying conclusion. Neither perfect in its entirety nor perfect as a designated ending, it left the story at a partly open point, but one that tied many loose ends and solved the main plotline. As with all series conclusions, youre bound to be biased in your appreciation for the last book considering what you desire as a resolution. It can make or break the whole series. But I sincerely think that all in all, it qualifies as a solid and good end.Break his crown, break his throne, rip his monarchy apart.I sometimes felt it was too long, but not in the sense that you could have cut out some filler parts that were dreadfully postponing the readers from reaching the next stage in the story. No, the feeling was more along the lines of the book being complex, with constant twists and turns, that I personally needed time to digest. It also might not have helped that I didnt skim the prequels beforehand and I just jumped in it, trying to remember everyone and everything. Long story short, the first half didnt quite hook me in. It might have been me, it might have been the general writing, but once pages passed by I was able to immerse myself so much better and I re-found the atmosphere I adored in the previous instalments.Another aspect to consider is the fact that War Storm does offer what it promises war and this affects the pace, setting a quite tedious rhythm to events, especially when combined with back-and-forth games of politics. And it does so as accurately as it is possible in a technologically-advanced high fantasy fictional world. Unlike other books (Im looking at you, ACOWAR), War Storm depicts messy and bloody war in a real fashion battles upon battles, chains of changes of situation, constantly shifting alliances, smaller and bigger enemies alike, betrayals and elaborate and cold politics. And at the heart of it all lay those complicated things called duty, honour and sacrifice, making every decision weigh a ton. It was incredibly entertaining to see how suddenly the dynamics of war can change and also get a taste of the cunningness that underpins the process.Ive fangirled about my love for these characters for three reviews already so Ill just highlight some new additions to their character development. I loved how Mares experience in Kings Cage was constantly acknowledged with many instances of PTSD. I loved how she was depicted strong and resolute and how she put her principles above all else, but I also appreciated how she was vulnerable in key moments and that she sometimes indulged in what the heart dictated. She was portrayed as human and she was her best self in this last instalment. A bit of Mare, a bit of Mareena, a lot of someone new.I am less than his crown, and he is less than my cause.The pattern of strong yet vulnerable women continues with Evangeline, whom I adored (not only) thanks to her subtle shenanigans. She was also caught in the crossfire of family and love and duty. Because of her choices and priorities and revelations I think she had the best development throughout the series.Next was Iris, whom I didnt really dislike, but I wasnt exactly her biggest fan either. She was another omen to strong heroines, but despite us getting to see her side of the story, I could not resonate with her, especially since, plainly put, she was racist to her core and she showed no signs of change. Unlike Mare and Evangeline, she was powerful and stoic and a great poker face, but with only some remnants of hidden or robotic emotions proven.Tiberias Calore stayed true to his character, upholding his reputation as an infuriating yet lovable young man. His naïveté shone through, but you cannot help but admire where that aspect comes from: the desire to do good, to make everyone happy, to protect his legacy, to meet everyones expectations... its tough. And intertwined with all these strings pulling him towards every direction, doing right by a certain girl is placed high among his priorities, whether he admits it or not. I was proud of him, although I also pitied him at certain moments. Regardless, my romantic heart cannot help but squee with joy whenever the kind idiot is around.Were choosing not to choose.As with every previous book in this series, the Cal-Mare-Maven triangle that no longer resembles a triangle beyond the psychological spectrum is central to the plot. This is what happens with a war that has a deep personal background. Maven is... Maven. Hes a ghost. A puppet. A failed project. And his frayed edges constantly threatened to overthrow the little mental stability he amassed. We get to witness him at his lowest, experiencing panic and terror and surprise on new levels, but throughout all stages of his madness, he maintains his cleverness and ambition and manipulative traits. The what ifs of a parallel universe in which his mother left him untouched echo loudly from beginning till end. The direct interactions between the brothers are gut-wrenching and the contrast between Cals love and Mavens emptiness is stark, not to mention how Maven affects the relationship between Cal and Mare, always haunting them both. They are all flawed in different ways, each one having scars the others inflicted. It was infinitely sad to watch their dynamic reach an unavoidable conclusion, especially since Cal still had an inkling of hope that hell get his beloved brother back.The last person who loves you isnt standing in this room. Hes out there. And you burned that bridge to ashes.My issue with the actual ending of the ending, the one that will be etched into my memory as the finale of the story I embarked upon, is purely personal. I would have preferred the epilogue to be a few years in the future, with a more detailed outlook on whats happening and how the status quo changed since the events of the book and hows everyone doing and okay YES I WANTED TO SEE MY BABIES HAPPY, not be forced to use my imagination and hope for the best. Im lazy like that. I usually dont like open endings, Champion was an outlier in that respect, so I guess War Storm follows the same pattern. But I can see people being perfectly content with what they have been given. Nonetheless, Aveyard could definitely pull the spin off card on us as I feel some matters that were in dire need to be addressed (reform, combating racism thoroughly etc.) were swept under the rug or just tossed in the post-series unknown.As always, Aveyards writing is top notch. I especially loved her world-building of Montfort and the Lakelands traditions of nameless gods. The undertones of race, gender and sexuality equality were highlighted yet again, but more forcibly this time a welcomed move. Then there were the plethora of characters POVs, brought into play to offer a multidimensional overview of how the story unfolds, allowing the reader to keep up with the many developments of the plot spanning a vast cast and an even wider area. Her secondary characters were once again masterfully nuanced (special mentions: Davidson and Ptolemeus who were awesome) and some scenes were so thick with tension I was amazed.Its hard to say goodbye, but War Storm was a worthy finale. If you still havent read this series, then please go to the nearest bookstore and remedy your unfortunate situation, as it is one of the best. Queens cast shadows too.ENJOY! <3

Wow. This one was bad. It's the kind of bad that makes you set down the book and stare off into the middle distance, and reevaluate the life choices that brought this book into your world.In an effort to channel my undoubtedly unorganized and enraged rant, I will limit my review to the Premise, Mare, the World Building and the Page CountThe PremiseI will not be a red queen.Are. You. F*cking. Kidding. Me.What the point then?After four over-hyped and under-edited books our Little Miss Perfect changes her mind on a whim? Did Aveyard forget the title of her own series? How can it be the RED Queen Series without a red queen? HOW?MareThe characters were (in general) so poorly written this round that I couldn't believe that Aveyard's editor let her get away with them - especially Mare.Mare completely blew me over with her nosedive in the personality department. I thought she was bad before, but she really took the cake this round. I just cannot stand her self-importance and dramatics.I have to look strong, even if I dont feel it right now. Its a lie, but a good lie.That and her absolute stupidity. Take this observation from Mare: He loved the crown before he loved me, whether he knows it or not. This is in reference to the PRINCE of their COUNTRY choosing his KINGDOM over some rando chick he met a few months ago. And yet, Mare is shook.She later makes another stunning observation:My jaw hangs open, eyes glued to the horizon...the slopes rise like knife edges, too sharp, too high. Rows upon rows of jagged gigantic teeth. Some of the peaks are bare, without trees as if trees can't grow up there. Wowwwwww Mare. The fact that she seems to question whether or not trees could grow on a completely barren mountainside - is this really the person you want in charge of your rebellion?Actually, that's a really good point - how is this the person in charge of the rebellion?She's 18, untrained and unstable. She has no royal blood, no political connections and definitely no common sense. She's not even a good figurehead (like Katniss) and she doesn't really do anything throughout this entire book.Sure she was the first red "discovered" who've had powers but there are plenty that are older than her and who've had their powers far longer. This whole book has Mare constantly thrown into these political situations solely because she's the Main Character (TM).The World BuildingI honestly don't have much to say on this one...only that after four books of this series (plus two novellas)... I still have absolutely no idea where anything is in this world. The only thing I can remember is that Mare comes from the Sticks (or is it Stilts?). And that's it. 2,230 pages and that's the entirety of my knowledge of her world. Now, part of this has to be on my shoulders - after all, I just can't muster the energy to care about anything that happens in their world - and yet, it can't all be my fault. How does one write four books without giving the audience a clear understanding of the world? And we never actually figured out what was the difference between Silver and Red Bloods...yes, they're different colors...but that's it. Four books. No explanation. (*cue the enraged hair-pulling*)The Page CountThere is so much filler that I'm starting to admire Aveyard. Honestly, this entire book could've been summarized into a few short sentences, maybe half a chapter if you want to be wordy.Instead, we get the most drawn out, loquacious, verbose, long-winded possible explanation of war games, evil plots and backstories. There are so many overly-described intricate side stories that ultimately have no bearing on the plot - I could feel my brain cells winking out of exsistence. THE HAIR DYEOkay, so this wasn't on my previously scheduled rant but I had to throw it in. Did anyone else pick up on the "cool and edgy" hair choices of the characters? When she moves, I realize her hair is different too. The gray ends are gone, replaced by a beautiful, familiar purple. I love it. So, you're telling me that in the middle of the war, in a country that is impoverished, oppressed and practically middle-ages....that our spunky main characters manage to find high-quality, long-lasting, hair dye on the battle field?Final Thoughts Ohthankgodthistortureisover.Audiobook CommentsRead by Vikas Adam, Amanda Dolan, Charlie Thurston, Erin Spencer, and Saskia Maarleveld. The audio felt so bloated - did we really need so many people to narrate? At most, I could tell there were three different narrators - Mare, Cal and Farley (and I'm basing Farley on her weirdly British accent).Blog | Instagram

Im not sure what I think about this. All I know is that its 1am and I shed a couple tears, but Im going to have a think and sleep on it first and maybe change my rating. Full review to come soon. -theres no law that says i have to ignore all my responsibilities to read this on release date.... but im gonna do it anyway

*4.5*I don't know what it is about these books, but I always finish them within a few days. Even this 600+page book. I think this is my favorite book in the series. And a lot of it had to do with the different POV's. In this story we get Mare (duh), Evangeline, Iris, Cal, and Maven.Mare- I had saw reviews for the previous books stating that they didn't like Mare and that she was annoying and stuff. And I didn't notice it in the first two books, and not even in the third book, but damn I was so annoyed with her in this book! She was so petty that I didn't want to be petty anymore-and I love being petty. Like honey, sweety, it isn't that deep. Her POV was my least favorite and I was always looking forward to the other POVs more.Evangeline- Her POV was definitely a highlight for me in King's Cage. And one I looked forward to in this book. It was interesting to see her relationship between her family, her lover, Mare, and Cal. I do wish we got more background information about Elaine, since we don't know much about their history. But Evangeline's POV provided some pretty cool action scenes. I think it was her chapter where there was a Silver duel out on the Harbor that was so intense and one of my favorite scenes from the book.Iris- MY FAVORITE. She was so facinating to me! She's a Silver princess from the Lakelands. So that makes her a double threat-one against the Scarlet Gaurd and Norta. She was cunning, wicked, clever, but also a little remorseful. Her chapters also provided some awesome action scenes. Not gonna lie, I did ship Iris and Maven... That one scene where Maven said they made a good match MY HEART Cal- Now I do like Cal, I used to love him. He didn't do anything wrong in my eyes, but I lost interest in this series in the past year so for my love for him faded away. But nothing much really happened in his POV. It was pretty much thinking about his mother (aw), Maven (aw), and his role as king. I think he only had about 2-3 chapters. I don't think his chapters were really needed. We do get a little snippet from the prequel novella to the series, Queen Song. You don't need to read that novella, but I loved that novella so much and have read it a few times-one of my favorite novellas ever!Maven- Maven, Maven, Maven. His was also a POV I adored, but like Cal's, we only got about 3 chapters from him. I hated him in Red Queen, mainly because he was the rival to the Mare/Cal ship and he just had to face my wrath. Plus, he seemed too nice and too trustworthy HAHAHA ya girl called his backstabbing ass!! Anyways. It wasn't until KC where I actually liked him and in this book he became my baby. And it was really depressing to read his POV. He's really messed up. He's also a good actor, able to hide his emotions and draw raw emotions out of others easily. Sometimes I was impressed, other times I was sad.I also want to give a shoutout to Julian Jacos. I feel like he's one of those characters that was always forced into the background, but he had his chance to shine in this book. And I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that we got more Silver perspective in this book. We're always told how cunning Silvers can be, how they always have to appear deadly around court. So I think that's why we saw a more wicked side to Julian, because he had to be scarier than the other Silvers. He was always one of my favorites, so I'm happy to have seen more of him.So I took a half star for two reasons. 1). Mare and 2.) the endingTo me, the ending was really predictable. I honestly knew it was coming for years (which probably explains my hopes for the series, you just got to scroll down if you want to see it). If you feel like you know what's going to happen... Then you're probably right. But I did like how the ending was kind of an open ending, I feel like that's the best way for dystopian books to end, especially when dealing with overthrowing a form of government. Rebuilding takes years, and I don't think anyone wants to read another four books about how Norta is rebuilt. Though I wouldn't be surprised if there is a spin off, especially if it deals with the Lakelands.what was the point of Kilorn?And thank you to anybody who has ever liked the review I wrote below over the last two years. I never expected for 700+ people to like it. It honestly blows me away on how many people have liked and left a comment. So thank you!!*******************************************************************************2/1716: I hope by the end of this series that Cal gets to be the King. That him and Mare end up together and rule the kingdom in the right way. I would be super happy if the book ends like this: Cal is my Silver King. And I am his Red Queen.

Maven, Maven, Mavenmore Maven that's all I need!!!I don't careabout Mare.Don't give a damnabout Calthat caveman!I couldn't care lessabout Kilornthat little a...Maven, Maven, Maven more Maventhat's all I'm living for!!!Maven, my precious Maven,I hope you liked my lore! *bows* And I'm out! <333___________________________________Love can be exploited, I guess, used to manipulate. Its leverage. But I would never call loving someone else a weakness. I think living without love at all, any kind of love, is weakness. And the worst kind of darkness.And boy was this book dark because all the main characters tried to ignore their feelings and actually hoped they could live without the love of their life. *lol* This book was so heavy in so many different ways (yes even in the sense of actual weight ;-P) that it took me about 2 ½ months to read it and if Im entirely honest I still dont know how I feel about it. I mean I finished "War Storm" about two weeks ago, but did I love it? Did I hate it? ARGH! I just dont know! >_<It was realistic. I mean, for a fantasy and YA book this series was damn realistic. Not when it came to the special abilities or the world they lived in, but when it came to human relationships, feelings, the dark abyss of peoples minds, driven characters and the things that move and motivate humankind. Well, if you take that into consideration then this book was brilliant and the ending was more than just fitting. Still, as much as I admired Victorias decision to give us a realistic ending, I still cant bring myself to like it. *lol* Is that weird? XD I guess it is, because for once I actually didnt want realistic. Haha! I wanted it all to work out nicely, but Victoria didnt grant me that wish so yeahI hurt and I probably will do so until I get over that ending, which in all honesty might never happen. Guess Ill have to learn to live with the ache and the countless what ifs. Damn this book left me with so many questions, I cant even! T_TAnyway, lets get back to the actual review! =)The plot:This world is a storm I helped create. We all did, in ways big and small. With steps we could not fathom, paths we never thought to walk.The characters:Welcome to my spoiler section! ;-) If you dont want to be spoiled I suggest you skip the rest of my review and dont even bother to take a peek! You most certainly will regret it if you still want to read the book! Im a relentless Spoiler Queen and this section is going to be full of them! Dont say I didnt warn you! XDMare The Lightning Girl:Break his crown, break his throne, rip his monarchy apart. I stare up at her with as much strength as I can muster. The lightning in my blood responds with fervor, begging to crack loose. But Tiberias lives.I really liked Mares character development and I think she eventually managed to come to terms with herself. In this book she knew exactly what she wanted, what she aimed to achieve and how far she would go to reach her goals. She didnt make any compromises, it was all or nothing and I loved her for it!!! Finally!!! Ive waited for her to be strong for so long, to cut her own path and to do what she needed to do! Yes, she was still broken by what Maven did to her, but she refused to give into it, to give him power over her! She fought back and stood her ground and I think this was one of the best things about this book! Mare youve come a long way and Im proud of you! =))Even after Maven, my long months of imprisonment, all the death and destruction Ive seen or caused. My broken heart, still bleeding inside me. The unending fear for the people I love, and the people I want to save. It all remains, a constant weight. But I wont let it drown me. I can still hope too.Lightning has no mercy. Neither do I.Cal Tiberias Calore:Tiberias still wears no crown, but I see it on him just the same. In his shoulders, in his eyes, in his slow, firm manner. He is a king as much as anyone can be. To the blood. To the bone.Haha! I was right! Cal didnt change in this book! He was still not ready to give up his crown, he still wanted to be the king of Norta and he was clinging to his crown so stubbornly it was horrible to watch! URGH! Whats even worse is that he could have changed everything but just flat out refused to do so. I mean alone his situation with Evangeline! Why marry a woman that wants nothing more than to kill me in my sleep? A woman that loves someone else and doesnt want me? For an empty throne? For a destroyed kingdom? I swear if I would have gotten a Euro for every time I wanted to yell CAL YOU NUMPTY WAKE UP! Id be more than rich by now. *lol* So sorry, but I still dont like him and I dont get how anyone could love that egoistic and narrow-minded princeling. *grrr* #SorryNotSorryBut every passing second makes my decision more difficult as Im reminded of what Im going to lose when the time comes. What I lost for so many weeks. Not just her love, but her voice. Her sharpness. The push and pull of a person who has no regard for my blood or my crown. Someone who sees me, and no one else in my place.Maven:He lays the flower on the railing, petals up, and fusses with his fingernails. Theyre short, worn by teeth and anxiety. I would expect a king to keep his nails finely manicured, suited to the arms of a throne. Or maybe roughed by Training or combat, as Im sure his brothers are. Not ruined by nervous habits better suited to a child.Oh Maven *shakes head sadly* Im sorry to say it but I have to agree with all the people who told me that Victoria ruined his character. Yes, she did. Gosh, he had so much potential, but it was all wasted when he died. T_T I loved the Maven POVs but I really wished there would have been more to them. Dont get me wrong, we actually got a good glimpse at his mind but it definitely lacked the cunning and cruel side of him. All I saw was a broken and tortured soul but Id have loved to see more. I cant describe it but Maven was always such a complex character and even though he was the villain he wasnt entirely bad. There was a part of him that was still good and Victoria destroyed it. I mean I get that Maven eventually had to die. I actually expected it, but the way it happened? No, I didnt like it. *sighs* He was nothing but a typical villain in the end and all the fine nuances I loved about him were suddenly gone. I dont know what I expected but he should have gotten at least a small chance to redeem himself. Like for instance what if he would have hesitated to kill Mare, if he would have realized what hes doing and Mare would have seized the chance and would have killed him? For me this would have been a better ending. But there was no hesitation, no remorse and that felt so dissonant with his character. Urgh! I dunno! *cries a river for Mavens tortured soul* T_TMothers voice has grown fainter as time passes, but she never truly recedes. Sometimes I wonder if she planted a seed in me, leaving it to bloom only after her death. I dont know if whispers can even do that. But its an easy explanation for the murmurs and the mutters that rattle around in my skull.At least her voice is gentle today. When I falter, when I slow down, it turns sharp, a fraying, splintering shriek, steel on steel. Glass popping in the heat of flame. Sometimes its so awful I check to make sure my eyes and ears arent bleeding. They never do. Her words never exist beyond the cage of my head.The electric energy is a tease at best. Beyond my reach, beyond the sphere of Silent Stone. I ache for my ability the way I ache for Mare, for Thomas, for who I was supposed to be.Iris :Maven, his kingdom, theyre a shield, but a sword too. We have to use him, even though hes a danger to us all.I know some people will say WHAT?! now, but I really started to like that manipulative and cunning sea lake witch. *lol* Iris and Maven certainly were equal when it came to their machinations and intrigues and their conversations always dripped with venom. I kind of liked that they were at each others throat and haha by betraying dear Maven to the enemy Iris definitely showed some serious backbone! *lol* I didnt think she had it in her but to manipulate the King of manipulation definitely is an achievement! ;-) Still, I cant help but wonder what is going to happen to the Lakelands now. The ending of the book left me with a lot of questions and Im afraid Ill never get any answers to them. =SIn spite of my better instincts, I feel the smallest pang of pity for Maven Calore. He is not of his own making. Not entirely. Someone else perfectly cut him apart and poorly put him back together.Evangeline:In a flash, I envision the life he wants for us all. The life he would subject all of us to. The crown on my head, his heart in her hand. My children threatened every second by any child she might have. My days spent bending to his will, no matter how gentle it might be. No matter how many days he might let me spend with my Elane, as long as he can spend his with Mare.I dont even dare to say it but I think I love her?! *lol* I mean I always kind of liked her even though she was so bitchy and mean to Mare but during the last three books she really started to grow on me. XD Her character development was awesome and even though some part of her still thinks that Silvers are superior to the Reds she started to learn that not everything is black and white and that change is possible. I guess a lot of her dislike for Reds was due to her upbringing and Im sure given half a chance shell question everything she believed for so long. Well, in fact she already started to question everything in this book and boy was I proud of her when she decided for love in the end!!! She did something Cal never managed to do and I adore her for it!!! <333I think the war has done something to me. Put a fear in me I never had before. Not for myself, but for Ptolemus and Elane. The ones I love most, and would kill to protect. Sacrifice everything to keep safe and close. Ive tasted a crown now, and I know it doesnt compare.I try to read her thoughts on her face, her carefully worn expression of thoughtfulness. Is she remembering our lives a year ago? When we thought we would be happy beneath the Nortan throne together, living in a future built on our secrets? As if we were ever truly a secret to anyone with eyes.The relationships and ships:Mare & Cal:I love you is a promise we both made, and we both broke. It should mean I choose you above all else. I want you more. I need you always. I cannot live without you. I will do anything to keep our lives from parting.But he wouldnt. And I wont.I am less than his crown, and he is less than my cause.Mare and Cal! ARGH! I swear no couple ever made me feel so frustrated! Their constant back and forth was horrible and if you ask me Cal is still a coward!! And a numpty!!! I mean lets face it, they both made their POV very clear, they drew the lines in the sand and both of them didnt want to budge. They were determined to do what they thought they had to do and not even their love for each other was strong enough to change that. And then Cal finally loses his kingdom and everything he fought for and chooses Mare?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! Was it even a choice if he had nothing to lose anymore?!! It was like: Oh, worst case scenario happened and I lost everything, but wait now I can be with Mare! YOU NUMPTY COULD HAVE HAD HER ALL ALONG!!! Seriously, this was sooo stupid and what is Mare doing? She ACTUALLY TAKES HIM BACK!!! ARGH!!! After everything that happened, after everything Cal did!! SHE. TAKES. HIM. BACK!!! I cant even no I just cant!!! Theyll never be my OTP!!! Sorry! But no way! All Cal would have gotten from me would be a certain finger right into his face! Guess its good Mare is more forgiving than I. *lol*Try as I might, I cant stamp out the hope still burning in my heart. I still want him to choose me. And I would still forgive him if he admitted his mistake. That hope refuses to die, stupid as it might be.But I also cant Stay away. Keep doing this. Denying ourselves in the face of always-looming death.Tiberias hisses out a breath. Neither can I.Im done with crowns, he murmurs to the top of my head.Finally, I whisper.Mare & Maven:The full force of his gaze almost knocks me out of my seat. And I want to die the way my mother did, he says plainly, as if asking for an extra blanket. Again I feel too stunned to think. All I can do is keep my jaw locked in place so my mouth wont gape open in shock.Ripped apart by your fury, he pushes on, his eyes horrible, unforgettable, searing into me. The brand on my collarbone seems to burn. And your hatred.Their relationship was always cruel, dangerous and crazy but I still loved their dynamic. XD Those two never gave each other an inch as well and even though Maven was the villain I still think that he loved Mare even more than Cal. I mean for Cal his kingdom always came first, for Mare the Red Guard always came first and for Maven? He had the throne, he lost the throne but he always wanted Mare. She was his main motivation and even though his love for her was twisted, obsessive and wrong, it was still love. His mother made him into the person he became and changed him so much that he lost himself in the process. It was not voluntarily, she just did it without his permission. Im with Farley on that one, he might have been a decent human being if not for his mothers poison. I really wish it wouldnt have ended that way and I can only hope that Maven met Thomas again. After all he was the first domino that fell and Mavens love for him was genuine. *sighs deeply*He smiles. Thats enough for me. A better good-by than I deserve.And what do I deserve, Maven?Better than we ever gave you.Were alike in some ways, too many ways. Ive tasted darkness, and he lives in it. He represents what I could become, without my family, without an anchor, if Im pushed into the abyss.Maven & Cal:The impossible. Part of me still refuses to believe that. My brother is not a lost cause. He cant be. I wont allow it.Well, and thats about the only thing I liked about Cal! *lol* His love for his brother! His hope that Maven might still be saved! Cal knew what Mavens mother did to him and he always tried to find a solution that would not end with Maven being killed. Unfortunately there was no way to undo what Elara had already done and we all know how it ended. T_T Still, I have to give Cal kudos for never giving up on his brother. Even when the end was near, he still hoped that he would change and that theyd find a cure. He loved him until the bitter end and I couldnt help but love him for it. Even though I actually dont like him. *lol* Talk about confusing feelings. XDWe grew up knowing I would be king and he would stand at my side. My strongest ally, my most fervent supporter. My best adviser, a shield and a crutch. A second opinion. A sanctuary. Not once did I question the arrangement, and I never thought he did either. How wrong I was.Maven, I sigh, shaking my head at his blindness. The last person who loves you isnt standing in this room. Hes out there. And you burned that bridge to ashes.Conclusion:Despite being able to clobber someone with this huge book I still liked it and enjoyed to read the many different POVs. Sometimes it felt like there were just too many political discussions going on and like the plot didnt move an inch and then something unexpected would happen and everything would go way too fast again. I have very mixed feelings about this book because I think a few pages less and a little more characterization would have been desirable, its just my personal opinion though. All in all it was a good ending to a great series and even though I might feel conflicted about some of the characters choices and their development it ultimately was Victorias decision to make. So all told this leaves me with 3,5 stars rounded up to 4. ;-)