An intense conclusion to an epic, bloody, and captivating fantasy duology.

I definitely felt what other reviews felt here – bummed at a condensed plot with very uneven pacing. I can see the bones of what this would have looked like as a full series, and I’m so sad that publishing took away that chance.

But there’s still lots to love. Ikenna grows SO much over these two books, and so do her relationships with the people who become her new family. There were quiet & thoughtful & nuanced conversations between some of the wildest battle scenes out there. All the conversations around systemic issues (racism and classism), how they could hope to reshape their world, and Ikenna’s personal growth & vulnerability were really nice to read. 

The battle scenes? Absolutely amazing. Who knew all the different ways blood could be used, spilled, and mutilated? 

The antagonists intrigued me as well. There are some standout villains, but there’s also a lot of juicy moral murkiness, and so many shades of gray. People grow, people stay stubbornly in the past, and people also betray those they are supposed to protect and care about. I wasn’t sure what to anticipate next.

There was too much silent communication between glances, lol. Nobody is THAT in sync.

It wasn’t exactly the ending I hoped for after how much I adored The Blood Trials (just SO MUCh chaotically crammed in without getting a chance to simmer), but this is still a duology I’d recommend.

CW: murder, death (parent/child), war, blood, racism, gore, sexual assault, slurs, misogyny, genocide, torture, guns, xenophobia, religious bigotry, fire, body horror, classism, kidnapping, vomit, sexual content

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