CW: War, violence, death, animal death, grief, hunting mention, misogyny, death of a parent, cursing, sexual content

A Shield of Fate and Ruin by Nicole Bailey is book three in the Apollo Ascending Series. So first, of all this book is rude. Second of all, Nicole is still on the hook for my emotional damage 😭. Empasis on the Ruin, as in "this series is ruining my life." Beware of spoilers for earlier books below.

Hyacinth lives! We pick up with our gentle prince and golden boy and get to have some nice warm and fuzzy (spicy 🥵) times. They are just so freaking cute and I love their relationship so much. This happens in the first 20% and then I realized, oh shit the shoe is about to drop on my heart. Apollo's new mission is to retrieve Ares' son, Ixion, and keep him safe while he faces Zeus alone. 

I still love Temi so much! Most of the tabbed parts of the book are Temi chapters. Our girl is coming into her powers and literally move the moon. I love her friendship with Orion, it's the perfect grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Pip. Poor Pup. Nicole really put her through it in this book. I was so mad about so many things. I just want Pip and Val to be together forever. 

Ack! That cliffhanger! Why do I keep doing this to myself? Nicole makes it her personal business to stomp on my heart with each and every book. Will the last book finally destroy me? Probably, but imma read it anyway.