There’s nothing more satisfying than finally finishing a series. It’s a bittersweet moment as you close the book, knowing you’ve been on an incredible journey with amazing characters. As I stepped back into the world Katy Rose Pool built up, I couldn’t help but hold my breath as I discovered what fate would fall on this beloved cast of characters. I’d been waiting for Beru to come into her own for two books, and her journey was one of the most satisfying I think. They all are, but for whatever reason, Beru’s really stuck with me as I was reading this time. There’s no excuse not to add this trilogy to your TBR as it’s a completed series and I honestly think if you’re a lover of YA fantasy with a complex world and characters, then this is perfect for you. There’s a lot of intrigue and political plots afoot, there’s slow burning romance, and romance that sizzles, so it has a little bit of everything.
Now, if you haven’t picked up the previous books in this series, you should go read them now! I’ll attempt to keep this review as spoiler free as I can, but I might spoil some of the previous two as I talk about Into the Dying Light.
With the City of Mercy destroyed and an ancient god awakened inside of Beru, things seem bleak. Everyone, including the newly awakened god are at the mercy of the Prophet Pallas. He’s using the god’s power to subjugate the Six Prophetic Cities, but every day, the god’ power is growing stronger…and it’s a matter of time before he breaks free. Meanwhile, Anton is learning how to use his powers as a Prophet, while also discovering the truth on how the previous Prophets were able to kill the god the first time. He uncovers a secret that could cost the group their entire mission to save the world. Hassan, Ephyra, Beru, Anton, and Jude will have to form alliances in a race against time to save the world, or bring it to ruin.
With how the story has built up in the first two books, it’s no surprise that the final book in this trilogy is fraught with tension from the beginning. I worried that with how it was starting it might decrease over time, but it did not disappoint. From start to finish, this book just kept building into something better at each turn. Each character is going through some sort of mental or physical anguish. Mental health has deteriorated, and it seems like every single one of them is out to be the hero. While the trust they have in one another is tenuous at best, they still have to have some sort of faith that they might succeed.
There’s so much character development in this book, and it was all so thoughtful. I noticed a lot of personal reflection happening, some of it for the better, and some of it not. I do think readers will be able to identify with some of their choices. Now that relationships have been established, how far are you willing to go…how much will you sacrifice to make sure they stay safe? Beru and Ephyra’s sibling relationship development was by far the most important to me. I think each reader will have a specific person/group/couple they might focus on. For me, it was how these two sisters came to an understanding of one another.
The worldbuilding in this book is absolutely incredible, and continues even into the third book. Not only do we get our character perspectives, but we get glimpses into what happened when the god was killed the first time. It’s a vital point to the story, and I love how each piece of this story interconnected in a way that not only made sense, but drove the current plot forward. It made the revelations later on in the story so much more satisfying.
For those of you interested in the romance side of the story, there’s a bit of everything for each reader. There’s quite a lot of mostly honest and open communication happening for characters, and I loved the way that Pool wrapped up the romance in the book. There’s quite a lot to love here, and I shipped them all. There’s also some redemption for a character I’d been skeptical about over the previous two books. I was so determined not to like them…and Katy had to go and make them vulnerable! Sigh. Haha, all in all though, I loved every aspect of this story.
If we were to compare the books, there’s no doubt that this third book was everything I was looking for and more. Everything wrapped up well, and I believe in a satisfying way. I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters. This was a series that I didn’t have to go back and reread to remember exactly where I’d left off, and I can see myself going back to it again and again. I cannot wait to see what else Katy Rose Pool has in store for readers. With the whole series out now, it would also make an excellent gift to an avid reader!
Into the Dying Light is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up Into the Dying Light? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
In the jaw-dropping conclusion to the Age of Darkness trilogy, hearts will shatter, cities will fall, and a god will rise.
Following the destruction of the City of Mercy, an ancient god has been resurrected and sealed inside Beru’s body. Both are at the mercy of the Prophet Pallas, who wields the god’s powers to subjugate the Six Prophetic Cities. But every day, the god grows stronger, threatening to break free and sow untold destruction.
Meanwhile, far away from Pallas Athos, Anton learns to harness his full powers as a Prophet. Armed with the truth about how the original Prophets killed the god, Anton leads Jude, Hassan, and Ephyra on a desperate quest to the edge of the world. With time running out, the group’s tenuous alliance is beset by mounting danger, tumultuous romance, and most of all by a secret that Anton is hiding: a way to destroy the god at the price of an unbearable sacrifice. But the cost of keeping that secret might be their lives—and the lives of everyone in the Six Prophetic Cities.
The Age of Darkness trilogy is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Children of Blood and Bone, and An Ember in the Ashes.
