Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti | 2022 | 1,242 Pages | ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Magic, Fiction, Enemies to Lovers, Shifters
SUMMARY
All stars must fall.
Bloody, lost, broken. We live to fight another day. But with so much stolen from us, can the fates ever twist in our favour again?
My sister and I have been torn apart by shadows and despair, and now we each stand alone.
Our sorrow is spun like a web, trapping us tight, and I fear our enemies will soon come to feast upon our souls.
But if I have my way, the merciless sky will have dealt us its final fortune. It’s time for us to take back the power that’s been ripped from our grasp and turn the tide of this war.
All stars must fall, and all Phoenixes must rise.
Long live the Savage Queens.
MY THOUGHTS
It's a slow start as the characters deal with the aftermath of the previous book. Keep expectations low – it's 1200 pages that could've been condensed. Despite its potential, there are more lows than highs, but it remains a fun read. The extra filler and numerous POVs can be overwhelming, yet I'm too invested in the story and characters to stop reading.
Darcy has faced unimaginable challenges, yet her core essence remains unchanged. Despite her pain and horror, she stays true to herself. Instead of becoming jaded or bitter, Darcy grows stronger, remains kind, sticks to her morals, and believes in second chances. Even without her powers, she confronts the Shadow Beast within her, showing unwavering determination, and what impresses most is her compassion towards the Beast, choosing to heal it rather than seek revenge. Darcy's ability to rescue others in need shows that strength and kindness are her greatest assets.
Tory has always been the more bitter sister, but her default emotion seems to be rage in this book, which I didn't like for her character arc. Despite experiencing grief from losing Darius, her anger often leads her down a dark path of practicing dark magic alone. She isolates herself instead of channeling her rage productively, such as joining the rebellion or strategizing with the other councilors against Lionel and Lavinia. This reminds me of her past coping mechanisms and feels like a regression. Despite having supportive friends like Caleb, Geraldine, Xavier, Max, and Seth, Tory remains snappish and avoids seeking emotional support. I wish she would face her challenges head-on instead of running away when things get tough.
I was delighted that Darcy and Orion didn't have to face their lowest moments alone and had each other while held captive. Despite their dire situation, they uncovered more guild stones, a book about Queen Avalon's reign, a crystal filled with phoenix memories, and Francesca's memory ring. Even during captivity and torture, their scenes perfectly balance action and emotional connection.
I'm relieved to see Darius back, although I'm still puzzled about how exactly Tory brought him back from the dead. It's a significant plot hole that needs addressing in the next, and hopefully final, book. I hope Darius can help temper Tory's anger issues so they can focus on fighting against Lionel.
I'm exhausted by the constant miscommunication between Caleb and Seth. It feels like a simple conversation could solve everything if one would confess their feelings. Just when it seemed like they might finally have that conversation, their parents interrupted, leaving them back at square one.
Overall, it's an average read with moments of enjoyment.
WHERE TO READ / BUY
Paperback: $27.85
Kindle Edition: $9.00
Kindle Unlimited: FREE
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