Nicki Pau Preto

Wings of Shadow

Megan Lowe

A solid end to the series.
I liked this one a little less than the second book, there were so many loose ends to tie up here and the pacing was a little slower and was less action packed.
One thing I did love was the personalities of the phoenixes. I absolutely adore them and they add a much needed lightness to the book.
I also loved the romance in this book, it was a great counterpoint.
Overall, a solid series and one I’m glad I continued with!

Livia

4.5/5 stars


It has been known that since last year when I read Crown of Feathers and Heart of Flames, I have been dying to read the finale of this trilogy. And the moment I saw this available on Scribd, I was positively elated but I put off reading this for a month. But not anymore! I listen to the audiobook (which is amazing because each pov is told by different narrators) and it’s almost 23 hours long… but it was worth it. 

The story picks up after Tristan was captured in the second book and Sev chose to stay within the enemy in order to find ways to save Tristan. The first 30% of the book was Veronyka coming to terms with her identity as an Ashfire, trying to grow into the position. And she also learns to trust her shadow magic and her bonds with Tristan and Val. Especially with Val. She was building a Stryx army, with the intention of bringing the world to ruin. Her pov was dark and if I’m being honest, at times Val did act like a child lashing out. Veronyka failed when she tried to prevent war, and so she reconnects with another side of her family and regroups with her friends.

This was an amazing conclusion to a series because the stakes are high and things didn’t come easy in parts where they shouldn’t be easy. The build-up towards the final battle was sorely needed, and I’m glad Nicki Pau Preto gives our characters enough time to grow and face their insecurities and come out even stronger and more confident than before. Even during the pov of Val, despite me being annoyed by her childishness, I can see why she did what she did, even if I’m not justifying it for her. This book is equally character-driven and plot-driven that it’s amazing how the author could balance both out. (view spoiler)[And if I’m being honest, I was so angry for a while because while I like the realistic ending where someone loses something, the way that Veronyka had to be the one that gives it all and ended up with her magic gone was frustrating. I would really love to see women in books coming out of a battle stronger than ever, basking in the glory while acknowledging the sacrifices and lives lost. But thank God Nicki Pau Preto didn’t make Veronyka goes into hiding after sacrificing her power for the greater good and lived a humble life in the middle of nowhere (coughs Alina Starkov coughs *no hate towards her I like the trilogy, I’m just not a fan of the ending). She ends up bringing a new age for the world, especially for the phoenix riders and having her own legacy that is separate from her bloodline. (hide spoiler)]

"Veronyka has been revealed as the heir to the empire, but to protect her people, she'll have to face the most devastating enemy she could imagine: her own sister"--

Kate B-L

I have been wholly wrung out by this series- tested every way imaginable. I hugged myself with glee, wiped tears off my cheeks, and threw tantrums. It was a long series (too long), but now that it's over, I'm really going to miss Veronyka and Sparrow, and the wild, firy world they live in. I can't believe it's over. 

Do you ever read a book, and despite sometimes struggling through the story, you find yourself at the end with such a sense of peace and longing and wonder? That's the gift that this series gave to me. Highly recommend.

As a side note, this book has the most unlikable villain. She's just too fricken easy to hate. 

Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

Maë Bala

It’s a really good book, a great ending to this trilogy. But I don’t know why it was so hard for me to read. 

I enjoyed the characters a lot, the plot was really interesting -that’s why I gave this book 4 stars- but I was putting it down and not picking it up for a few days without even thinking about it.

As You Wish Books

A fantastic conclusion to such an epic story. Done beautifully. I loved the way each and every character’s story ended. I so badly want a trilogy about the Blood War now.

Jennifer

Review of this novel will come later this year. I just want to say that Crown of Feathers is amongst my all-time favourite fantasy series and I think Wings of Shadow is a very strong final novel (that it gave me the closure that I sought for with a hint of hopefulness & openness that guarantees a lot of food for thoughts)!

N.B. This book contains following content warnings: violence, emotional blackmail / abuse, grief, blood mention, weapons, and death

(4.5 stars out of 5)

Wings of Shadow

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