The Least Enjoyable of the Series

This is also my least favourite book out of a series I’m already really on the fence about.
I do like Manning a lot as an author. And it is a bit nonsensical for me to say -after listening to every book in the series so far- that I’m not a big far of the story, but there it is.

There is a lot to like, but I’m afraid I really an not a fan of the infuriatingly stubborn, cocky (yet falsely humble) child prodigy/boy-man, lead character. And my dislike only got much worse in this latest book.

I do like Manning as a writer, just not this series. I think it’s mainly the main character and that his female characters are all one type (whether hero, villain, or somewhere in between).

There are great points to the series: mainly that it’s a series, so you know what you’re getting. Also - with the books being long - they are great value for money.

Another thing that appealed to me is that - while the series included the typical theme of war and violence - we aren’t inundated with page after page of sieges and war talk, something many fantasy novels get wrong. There is a lot else to going on, which includes emotions, psychology, visual descriptions that make the reading stand out above other male fantasy authors.

I also love that Mannings characters are three dimensional with both perfection and flaws in the mix and surprises in character development. (No Mary Janing here!…. Exxxxxcept for the main character Will of course. His development feels like an insincere attempt at adding annoying, flawed attributes to try and make him seem humble and believable/ likeable.)

Also I love that Manning is clearly a lover of woman. (He feels respectful, to the point that I feel like the author himself must be a great guy and was raised by good people.) HOWEVER… I hate how all the women have strong dominatrice attributes - if not that, nymphomania as well. (Think Yennifer of Vengaberg).

While sex isn’t gratuitous and over-the-top by any means, it makes me feel kind of grossed out listening to. Punishment and weirdly misplaced carnal urges are more or less the norm when sex or sexual topics occur.

This only serves to remind me that the protagonist is too young for me to see him as the worldly-beyond-his-years action hero the author would like us to see him as.

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The story that broke my heart and left me in tears

Title says it all, I didn't realise I was so connected to the characters ahh.

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So disappointed with ending

Great series enjoyed all of the books narration was excellent all the way through very tense last book until the end what a rubbish ending so disappointing

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What a mess!!

So disappointed! The ending broke my heart, affairs of the heart and firm friendships ending. Twist and turn as much as you will, but the previous formats had these relationships endure, no matter what. If this is the last book in this series, I frankly feel robbed of my emotional commitment to the last 4 books!! If you love Will, Selene et al; don't read it, you'll hate what happens!!

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Sad to see the series end

Can’t believe this series has come to an end :(

Tim Gerard Reynolds Ofcourse amazing again!

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bad ending

Spoilers ahead:
As many others say the ending was wholly unsatisfactory. Mainly because one of the core themes of the earlier books is selene's kind character, she isnt a spoiled royal, she puts her needs above the people, she doesnt want power, she treats even the servants with respect. Her actions leading up to the end therefore feels like a different character all together. Not enough was done to justify her complete 180 and enough was done to Williams character that I thought he if anyone should have been able to empathize. All in all it felt incredibly forced, including Tinys assumption that will wanted to steal the glory. since when did Tiny or will care about glory. It just made no sense.

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A change in tone

Unlike a lot of other reviews, I feel like the turn to the tragic was thoroughly foreshadowed, and the bad decisions at the end were due to previously exhibited character flaws and characters making awful decisions when faced with the literal end of the world. The ending is in-theme, but very definitely not the same tone.

There has been a theme of “hard decisions”, self control and the morality of killing throughout the novels, and this is an exploration of what happens when that hits reality at the global power level. I did kind of wonder if something like this was going to happen.

That said, given the previous tone of the series I expected things to work out better than they did. Things felt a bit rushed, and it felt like there was some shoe horning the narrative to end at a point where apparently it ties in with a previous series.

But honestly I prefer this to the kind of extended horrific break down that the non rushed version would be. If we absolutely have to have this sort of ending to an otherwise up beat series.

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Great series didn't want it to stop.

Great characters, well read, don't want to give much away, a definite binge listen.

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Great but poor ending

I've loved this series all the way through. it didn't feel too rushed towards the end as some series do but it definitely could of done with a few extra chapters so things weren't so cluttered together. I feel sad and disappointed in the ending knowing this is the last book. it feels as if there could be another though I'm unsure of the intentions. If this really is the end then I just wish it was a bit of a happier ending.

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Mispronouncing main characters names after 4 books of consistency

I’m on chapter 3 and I don’t know if I can keep listening. The narrator has narrated 4 flawless books (and I know as I just relistened to the whole series in prep to start this new one. I wish the narrator had thought to do the same. Suddenly, “Celine” and “Aishlinn” are “Celaine” and “Ayezlynn”…WHY?!?!?! Did nobody editing or proof listening think to flag this?! May have to switch to hard copy

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