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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Dark Feather concludes The Songs of the Drowned trilogy and what an epic conclusion.
I flew through this book which is set within a unique World rich in Gods, monsters, betrayals and the depravity of War.
‘We are nothing but weapons, and when we are blunted or broken, we are cast aside.’
Xessa and Lilla fight for their lives, loves and for freedom for all, complicated by Tayan, shadow and singer who stands amongst the Pecha. Will old friends and loves be able to sacrifice each other, for their own greater World.
The characters have become some of my favourite. Beautiful, strong, fierce Xessa and how she commands a people with sign. Lilla and his battle for hope. Tayan and his determination for power. Ekon and his unwavering love. Of course the absolute star dog companion, Ossa who I would protect at all costs.
‘he loved her, cruel and unforgiving and murderous as she was. He loved her.’
The battles in this book are dark, stinking, fierce and absolutely brutal. I held my breath, my nerves were in tatters and how I bloody sobbed. A favourite read and series of 2024.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in advance in exchange for an honest review.
I flew through this book which is set within a unique World rich in Gods, monsters, betrayals and the depravity of War.
‘We are nothing but weapons, and when we are blunted or broken, we are cast aside.’
Xessa and Lilla fight for their lives, loves and for freedom for all, complicated by Tayan, shadow and singer who stands amongst the Pecha. Will old friends and loves be able to sacrifice each other, for their own greater World.
The characters have become some of my favourite. Beautiful, strong, fierce Xessa and how she commands a people with sign. Lilla and his battle for hope. Tayan and his determination for power. Ekon and his unwavering love. Of course the absolute star dog companion, Ossa who I would protect at all costs.
‘he loved her, cruel and unforgiving and murderous as she was. He loved her.’
The battles in this book are dark, stinking, fierce and absolutely brutal. I held my breath, my nerves were in tatters and how I bloody sobbed. A favourite read and series of 2024.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in advance in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As the Empire of Songs erupts into full-scale rebellion, the Songs of the Drowned trilogy comes to a brutal and bloody conclusion. I dove straight into this final volume anticipating that I’d get my heart ripped out, and it’s safe to say that my expectations were met.
I’m incredibly impressed at Anna Stephens’s ability to create nuanced and morally complex characters who elicit sympathy even when they make heart-wrenchingly terrible choices. There’s plenty of double-crossing, betrayal, and deception that kept me breathlessly turning the pages as the story rolled onward. The politicking and backstabbing continue amid the bloody battles as the various forces struggle for supremacy, and there were some twists I didn’t see coming as the secrets of the empire and its magic are finally exposed.
I’m still in awe of the author’s skill at creating a living and breathing world that feels as real as its many-layered characters. There’s just the right level of detail to immerse the reader without slowing the pace or undermining the tension. The violence and brutality also feel organic to the setting and not gratuitous, and the author’s exploration of hard-hitting themes offers questions but no easy answers.
It’s safe to say this dark epic fantasy series has earned a place on my list of all-time favourites, and I’ll be first in line to buy whatever Stephens writes next!
I’m incredibly impressed at Anna Stephens’s ability to create nuanced and morally complex characters who elicit sympathy even when they make heart-wrenchingly terrible choices. There’s plenty of double-crossing, betrayal, and deception that kept me breathlessly turning the pages as the story rolled onward. The politicking and backstabbing continue amid the bloody battles as the various forces struggle for supremacy, and there were some twists I didn’t see coming as the secrets of the empire and its magic are finally exposed.
I’m still in awe of the author’s skill at creating a living and breathing world that feels as real as its many-layered characters. There’s just the right level of detail to immerse the reader without slowing the pace or undermining the tension. The violence and brutality also feel organic to the setting and not gratuitous, and the author’s exploration of hard-hitting themes offers questions but no easy answers.
It’s safe to say this dark epic fantasy series has earned a place on my list of all-time favourites, and I’ll be first in line to buy whatever Stephens writes next!
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Slavery
Minor: Animal death
This wraps up the Song of the Drowned trilogy and I’ve got to say, I’ve loved the ride. Following the characters through to their various ends has been quite the journey, and this finished it all off beautifully. The world building, the magic, the mythologies all really made this book, and helped to cement Anna Stephens as one of my favourite authors
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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