Name: Kimberly Burgess 's review of The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May
Item: The Fallen Kingdom
Rating: 5
Author: Kimberly Burgess

Elizabeth May

My name is Lady Aileana Kameron. First the fae murdered my mother. Then they destroyed my world. Then one of them killed me. Now I'm fighting for more than revenge. The long-awaited final book in the Falconer trilogy is an imaginative tour-de-force that will thrill fans of the series. Aileana Kameron, resurrected by ancient fae magic, returns to the world she once knew with no memory of her past and with dangerous powers she struggles to control. Desperate to break the curse that pits two factions of the fae against, her only hope is hidden in an ancient book guarded by the legendary Morrigan, a faery of immense power and cruelty. To save the world and the people she loves, Aileana must learn to harness her dark new powers even as they are slowly destroying her. Packed with immersive detail, action, romance, and fae lore, The Fallen Kingdom brings the Falconer's story to an epic and unforgettable conclusion.

The Fallen Kingdom

The long-awaited final book in the Falconer trilogy is an imaginative tour-de-force that will thrill fans of the series. Aileana Kameron, resurrected by ancient fae magic, returns to the world she once knew with no memory of her past and with dangerous powers she struggles to control. Desperate to break the curse that pits two factions of the fae against each other in a struggle that will decide the fate of the human and fae worlds, her only hope is hidden in an ancient book guarded by the legendary Morrigan, a faery of immense power and cruelty. To save the world and the people she loves, Aileana must learn to harness her dark new powers even as they are slowly destroying her. Packed with immersive detail, action, romance, and fae lore, and publishing simultaneously in the UK, The Fallen Kingdom brings the Falconer's story to an epic and unforgettable conclusion.

Book Three of the Falconer Trilogy

(Bre)anne✨

Live a full life, Aileana. The life he gave for yours.

We hoard our minutes, our precious hours, because they're all he and I have left.

“One day, you’ll tell people the story of the faery king and the human girl,” Kiaran whispers. “And how he watched from afar as she lived out twenty thousand human days. And if she listened closely during the winter, when the wind was cold and the nights were longest, she could hear him whisper that he cherished her so much he was willing to give her the world.”

Jessica

Kimberly Burgess 

I need to own this trilogy like NOW. Each book was different, the story and world building evolved. It was so good! It's not the fastest read I've ever had, but it's worth reading. All of them.

I AM SOBBING. While I am happy there's a happy ending, it feels like everything was wrapped up a little too nicely in a bow. Could've been 5 stars if not for this, and some repetition/over explanation of previous plot points. Derrick </3

TW to be added later

I AM SOBBING. While I am happy there's a happy ending, it feels like everything was wrapped up a little too nicely in a bow. Could've been 5 stars if not for this, and some repetition/over explanation of previous plot points. Derrick </3

Vicky (A City Girl's Thoughts)

This is the definition of spellbinding! Elizabeth May beautifully wraps up this trilogy by giving us a deep analysis of her characters flaws, traumas, mistakes, and revelations, making this more than just a fae vs. human battle to save the world. 99% of her characters are two-dimensional (the exception, a.k.a 1%, is the Morrigan [sister of the goddess and creator of the world] and Lonnrach) who come to terms with their faults and how they've become who they are. Aileana Kameron's morals are actually gray - partially due to what she was taught about faes - which makes her an antihero instead of her persistent portrayal as a hero, but she not only works to learn and become better but acknowledge her flaws as well. May's descriptive writing of Aileana's emotional maturity throughout The Falconer Trilogy earns the credit and praise she deserves. I'm glad Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is included in Aileana's, Aithienne's, and Sorcha's story; some authors brush off their characters trauma or don't include it at all, but May does the opposite. Even better, they aren't immune to it or written off as wimpish while overcoming it.
Questions are answered and loose ends tied as we follow Aileana, Kiaran, Aithienne, and Sorcha to the Morrigan's queendom to retrieve a book the Morrigan's sister wrote to undo the curse of royal fae siblings: kill one or else the world falls apart. The world is already falling apart because Kiaran and Aithienne refuse to uphold the curse, so they must rely on Aileana's falconer powers, as well as new ones she's given from The Vanishing Throne 
My only critique is about Lonnrach. His death was underwhelming, and we don't know why he became the way he was.

Fatima Kadri 

I’m mad.

Update 20/11/27: I’m not as mad anymore.

Shay Henrion

Kacy Rulison

Excellent ending to the series. The first two were a bit slow for my taste but worth getting the background info for book 3. Many moments of "I didn't see that coming". Great character development. Loved the ending to the story.

What a way to end the trilogy! This book was GREAT! I absolutely loved it! It was fast paced, had me on the edge of my seat and even had me ugly crying! The characters are great and I love Elizabeth May’s writing style! If you haven’t read this trilogy you’ll want to! 

Kira Louise Morris

Megan Williams

The Fallen Kingdom was an amazing ending to a series that took me on a journey that I didn’t expect.

I think what I enjoyed most about this final novel of the falconer series is the fact that the characters finally get the ending deserving of this novel. There are so many character that throughout this novel who are put through the ringer. Like actually seem to have everything negative happen to them. But this book brings all that to a close because it ends the series in a way that makes it seem that all of those terrible things might have meant something – maybe. 

So things that I liked about this novel include:

Aileana 
So throughout this journey as being the falconer, Aileana has grown a lot. She’s dealt with her mother’s death, she’s dealt with almost post-apocalyptic situations, and she’s dealt with faeries that destroy her life. I think that in the beginning she wasn’t a character that I could really like because I didn’t completely understand her and she was very distant and unfeeling about what was going around her. Yet through her journey she has found more self-confidence and determination then ever before. I think in this book, Aileana really shines. 

The Faeries
In this series, we go from all faeries are bad and evil, to some are really evil and bad, to they are still pretty bad but maybe not as much hopefully? And I think this is what makes the series so intriguing because we want to say that all the fae are bad, with one or two exceptions. But instead there’s this weird mix of history that has pushed people past their breaking point and most of them are just trying to get this whole horribleness over with. And then some of them were just actually evil. But there are definitely some interesting back stories that get explained and I LOVE them and would like to see maybe some short stories on them. 

The Relationships
The one thing that really struck me as amazing with this series and final book was the emotional connections of the characters. There were so many relationships built throughout this series that really struck a chord with me. Friendships, and romances, and all of these amazing things were build over the course of this series and I couldn’t get enough of them. And the destruction of some of these relationships were the most heartbreaking thing. The author did an amazing job of building these characters and their relationships and making them feel authentic and honest. I found myself crying throughout this novel because of the pure emotions that were just amazing to read and experience along with the characters. Truly a masterpiece of relationships. 

In Conclusion
Overall this book was such a fabulous ending. And usually I’m not a fan of the last books in the series because I don’t want it to be over and I never think that the ending is as good as the beginning of the series. But this series had the perfect ending. I will say I don’t know if I wanted the ending to be quite so perfect. I don’t want to give it away, but I think things wrapped up a little too well… but maybe that’s just the narcissist in me talking because I still freaking loved it.

Kayla 

Literally screaming and shaking and crying!!!! It’s been a while since I devoured a series this quickly I truly loved every minute of it. This was the PERFECT ending even though it literally gutted me and I SOBBED 😭✋🏻 I’m so sad it’s over 🥲

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

As I sit here trying to write this review, I find myself being consumed by my own emotions and finding the right words to express my thoughts is difficult. The Fallen Kingdom was the perfect finale to a series that has quickly turned into one of my all-time favorites. Faced with the impending ruin of the world as they know it, all the characters are forced with the difficult task of looking back at their lives and choosing what they want to be. More than anything, this book was about finding your true self and building your legacy. We see this beautifully represented in the relationships between the characters. More than in any other of the installments of this series, all the relationships—be they romantic, friendships, family or even enemies—are stripped to their base elements and challenged. The result is new, stronger bonds and dynamics that were addicting to read.

True, this book did not have as many action-packed sequences as the first two. A lot more room was left for introspection and to me that was beautiful. I love getting a front row seat to the characters’ emotions and their inner struggles because it helps me relate to them so much more than when they’re running around stabbing people. The emotional level of this book was raw and engaging. As their world crumbled apart around them, I could feel the dread and helplessness that overcame them. I felt their desperate need to make the best of their borrowed time and find joy in little things like dressing like pirates and singing silly songs.
I cried and I yearned and I begged for moments between Aileana and Kiaran. The scenes between them were probably my favorites. You relive their story, and with them, are consumed by the knowledge they are on borrowed time and the overpowering need to be together. Their connection was a living thing in this installment, so bittersweet and passionate and honest. 

I begged the bookish gods that my heart would not break. It did. Over and over again. But it was also pieced back together, though some of the cracks will never truly heal. Finishing this trilogy, I am reminded that we all have a ruthlessness inside us, and that it does not define us. That feeling everything with a consuming passion is not a curse. That love is not weakness. That even when things are darkest, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel. That so long as we believe and fight for them, happy endings are real.

This series has my heart, so my rating can only be all the stars in the sky.

Heather Solov

THAT WAS SO GOOD. OMG. 

My heart can't handle these emotions. I wish there was another book or a spin-off or something to see what happens next, but I guess I'd rather it end now than be dragged out. I guess my imagination will have to do. 

I loved the character complexity May was able to give everyone by the end of the story, including a total redemption arc for someone. The last few chapters took me on a total emotional roller coaster and I LOVED IT. 

Do yourself a favor and read this series. It's great.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

This was one of the most beautiful conclusions to a trilogy that I have ever read. There were moments that made me smile, moments that made me swoon, others that made me gasp and  cry . Like a lot. Especially the swooning and crying. I think I was actually drowning in my tears last night when I finished the book and I fell asleep with stomach cramps because I was A MESS. I couldn't recommend this series enough. Read it. Share it. Take photos of these beautiful books, build shrines for them, but leave Kiaran MacKay to me!

Wren Hardwick

I don’t really have a lot to say about this. 

I was super annoyed with the repeated thoughts that happened after every single paragraph. I got the first time it was repeated, but then it would be repeated like twenty more times. 

And then the unnecessary death.

I absolutely loved the first book. The first book was so great. But the second book was just okay (like a lot of middle-books in a trilogy) and I was excited for an epic ending and I just... I wasn’t into it. 

---

Ugh. I'm going to hate writing this review.

Ashlee

This series just makes me so happy and full of joy. I LOVED it. It was epic and romantic and full of lessons on friendship, sacrifice and forgiveness. What a great series, I have no idea how it hasn’t been discussed more, but it deserves ALL the love.

Definitely a favorite now.

Jessica &
The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

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