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allisonwonderlandreads's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It makes sense given where we left things in book two, but in The Ivory Tomb, we open on a hopeless situation. All the demons are officially loose in the world again, a return of the Dark Days. The humans are outgunned no matter their clever alchemy and artificery, their wild vivomancy and powerful but distrusted demon ally. This finale is as fast-paced as the others in the series, the Rookery tumbling from one crisis to the next, constantly on the verge of personal loss and/or the end of the world.
This is a satisfying end to the trilogy on several levels. It celebrates Ryx and gives her room to celebrate herself before all is said and done. She's so long found herself barely worthy of human connection and a full life. Here, she takes a stand not only for everyone else but for herself in particular. She'll go down in history as one of my favorite protagonists for her earnest nature, how deeply she values her friends, and how high her hopes are for humanity. She loves with her whole self, even when it applies to family members who don't love her with the same depth and compassion. She tries again and again, ceaselessly yearning for something better.
The rest of the Rookery gets satisfying conclusions to their character arcs, as well. Severin stands out, and I'll forever be a Kessa and Ash stan. I'm obsessed with Caruso's dedication to having a fully queer team, even with the addition of Hylah in this book-- a trans artificer and religious scholar who has a past with someone in the Rookery. We get some delightful cameos, as well. All hail Ardith and their dedication to a good time. And reaching back deeper into the world's lore, I freaked out to see the Crow Lord back with his games.
This is a series about redemption, found family, and backing yourself. I love the emotional journey I took with these characters, and I sincerely hope they get a full night's rest for once now that their adventures are at a close. Thanks to Orbit for my copy to read and review!
This is a satisfying end to the trilogy on several levels. It celebrates Ryx and gives her room to celebrate herself before all is said and done. She's so long found herself barely worthy of human connection and a full life. Here, she takes a stand not only for everyone else but for herself in particular. She'll go down in history as one of my favorite protagonists for her earnest nature, how deeply she values her friends, and how high her hopes are for humanity. She loves with her whole self, even when it applies to family members who don't love her with the same depth and compassion. She tries again and again, ceaselessly yearning for something better.
The rest of the Rookery gets satisfying conclusions to their character arcs, as well. Severin stands out, and I'll forever be a Kessa and Ash stan. I'm obsessed with Caruso's dedication to having a fully queer team, even with the addition of Hylah in this book-- a trans artificer and religious scholar who has a past with someone in the Rookery. We get some delightful cameos, as well. All hail Ardith and their dedication to a good time. And reaching back deeper into the world's lore, I freaked out to see the Crow Lord back with his games.
This is a series about redemption, found family, and backing yourself. I love the emotional journey I took with these characters, and I sincerely hope they get a full night's rest for once now that their adventures are at a close. Thanks to Orbit for my copy to read and review!
averagebee's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
unicorn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
justagirl22's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
whatsbeckyreading's review against another edition
5.0
6 star forever favorite trilogy, this is so freaking good!!!!
rollie's review against another edition
4.0
8/10 ♡
My heart HURTS for the Demon of Disaster, Warden of Gloamingard. She walks the razor's edge of fighting for the world she loves and sparing them from her destructive power, both at constant odds with each other, and 4000 years in the making. The author grappled with the conundrum of her own creation to what I suppose is its best end.
The last hundred pages or so felt rushed. After reading the acknowledgements, it seems the author was strapped by deadlines, creativity's greatest threat. Too many story threads were wrapped up in quick succession, and the sheer weight of the implications that defined these books seemed lighter, but never lost. Ryxander and the Rookery clashing with these loose demons could have easily been expanded into another book, or even two, especially when you consider book two was almost entirely devoted to the demons Nightmare and Madness.
(Madness needs to be protected at all costs, I'm eternally grateful Disaster took a liking to her)
I loved this series, and this final chapter meets expectations, but doesn't surpass them. Book one will forever be my favorite, mostly because all the secrets were still hidden and oh so ominous.
Also, I will forever be debating tattooing the Gloamingard lore somewhere on my body
"Guard the tower, ward the stone. Find your answers writ in bone. Keep your trust through wits or war–nothing must unseal the door."
My heart HURTS for the Demon of Disaster, Warden of Gloamingard. She walks the razor's edge of fighting for the world she loves and sparing them from her destructive power, both at constant odds with each other, and 4000 years in the making. The author grappled with the conundrum of her own creation to what I suppose is its best end.
The last hundred pages or so felt rushed. After reading the acknowledgements, it seems the author was strapped by deadlines, creativity's greatest threat. Too many story threads were wrapped up in quick succession, and the sheer weight of the implications that defined these books seemed lighter, but never lost. Ryxander and the Rookery clashing with these loose demons could have easily been expanded into another book, or even two, especially when you consider book two was almost entirely devoted to the demons Nightmare and Madness.
(Madness needs to be protected at all costs, I'm eternally grateful Disaster took a liking to her)
I loved this series, and this final chapter meets expectations, but doesn't surpass them. Book one will forever be my favorite, mostly because all the secrets were still hidden and oh so ominous.
Also, I will forever be debating tattooing the Gloamingard lore somewhere on my body
"Guard the tower, ward the stone. Find your answers writ in bone. Keep your trust through wits or war–nothing must unseal the door."
lddecker's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0