Marie Brennan

“Isabella, Lady Trent, narrates her astounding adventures from volume to volume, blending Victorian pastiche and alternate-world fantasy with a distinctly pulp sensibility...now is the time to get acquainted.” –NPR

A Memoir by Lady Trent

Within the Sanctuary of Wings

altlovesbooks

"And so I leave it in your hands, gentle reader. Mind you carry it well."

What a nice conclusion! I started this series several years ago, and it has only been recently that I've been making a push to clear all of these books I added years ago off my to-read list. I neglected this series for far too long, and I'm so very glad to finally be wrapping it up!

While I did like all of the books in this series quite a bit, I fully admit that Lady Trent has not been herself in the last two books. I was pleased to see a return to her roots, so to speak, in this book, which was equal parts new story and love letter to everything that came before. While normally I (internally) roll my eyes at final books that trot out the "let's reference every book that's come before, it'll be like a victory lap for the reader!" trope, I really thought it was well done here. Things are referenced from previous books that actually relate to things going on in this book, and it's written with care rather than shoving the references down your throat. It was a nice surprise.

I do know there's an additional book in this series that appears to be from a descendant's point of view, but to me, the heart of this series has always been Lady Trent. I like to think that I would be right there along beside her (or at least part of her society) if I lived in the same period.

Within the Sanctuary of Wings is the conclusion to Marie Brennan's thrilling Lady Trent Memoirs After nearly five decades (and, indeed, the same number of volumes), one might think they were well-acquainted with the Lady Isabella Trent--dragon naturalist, scandalous explorer, and perhaps as infamous for her company and feats of daring as she is famous for her discoveries and additions to the scientific field. And yet--after her initial adventure in the mountains of Vystrana, and her exploits in the depths of war-torn Eriga, to the high seas aboard The Basilisk, and then to the inhospitable deserts of Akhia--the Lady Trent has captivated hearts along with fierce minds. This concluding volume will finally reveal the truths behind her most notorious adventure--scaling the tallest peak in the world, buried behind the territory of Scirland's enemies--and what she discovered there, within the Sanctuary of Wings. The Lady Trent Memoirs 1. A Natural History of Dragons 2. The Tropic of Serpents 3. Voyage of the Basilisk 4. In the Labyrinth of Drakes 5. Within the Sanctuary of Wings At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

what i have always liked about 'the memoirs of lady trent' is that they felt like true exploration journals and relatively low-stakes, chill type of fantasy that flows very easily. the series has always had a bit of a calming effect on me.

this instalment was not an exception and i greatly enjoyed working my way through it and savouring it. maybe we need a couple more in the genre.

what i have always liked about 'the memoirs of lady trent' is that they felt like true exploration journals and relatively low-stakes, chill type of fantasy that flows very easily. the series has always had a bit of a calming effect on me.

this instalment was not an exception and i greatly enjoyed working my way through it and savouring it. maybe we need a couple more in the genre.

Connor 

I've tried typing a review for this four times so far and really... the best way I can put it without spoilers is just... just... shout out to Marie Brennan for creating giving me the fantasy series of my anthropologist heart's dreams that LITERALLY IMPROVED WITH EVERY BOOK; for creating such delightful relationships between her characters; for DRAGONS...

and, I have to say, for the most unexpected, incredible plot twist I've encountered since I first read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a dozen years ago--and for giving it such an incredible follow through that every following page lived up to that moment.

Holy smokes. What a ride.

Vilde

So the memoirs of Lady Trent ends... Within the Sanctuary of Wings was nothing like I expected, but also true in the spirit of Isabella Trent. It has been a pleasure read about Isabella, starting with A Natural History of Dragons to this conclusion.

Laura Kehoe

NOOOO!!!!! That can't be the last Lady Trent book! I need more. This entire series just brings me so much joy and happiness. I mean, this was a good ending, but I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE END!!! I will be so happy if Marie Brennan decides to write more of these books in the future. But, yeah, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Ben Nathan

A delightful end to a delightful series. I am incredibly happy that it came to such a satisfying conclusion, but very sad that it's over. The way it wrapped up showed a huge amount of forethought and planning in every single idea in every book. Massive amount of praise for this series. I gave this one five stars for the fact that it wrapped up a series I loved this much, though the book is more of a 4 star book. It has more of a fantasy as fantasy feel than the science fantasy that the rest of the series had. Still loved it. Characters are all so full and rich and make me smile.

Within the Sanctuary of Wings A Memoir by Lady Trent

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