intriguing story regardless of the dialog

the final book. the final time I'll complain about the over abundance of needless swearing by all the characters. the world created is quite fascinating, the descriptions of gods, magic, afterlife are worth the read. But I nearly stopped so many times through the four books due to the over use of needless swearing. usually that is to add spice to a story... A little bit of cinnamon goes a long ways, spoonful after spoonful is undigestable.

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Solid ending, but leaves door open for more.

I'm really surprised by this book! I wondered how it would wrap up, and I'm not disappointed. The Kihrin (and friends) vs. Relos Var vs. Xaltorath plots have been building since the first book, and I feel like this book gives a satisfactory conclusion and a lot of the ships I had got their HEAs (happily-ever-afters). The only reasons I would rate this book 4 stars instead of 5 stars is because of the one ship that did NOT get a HEA (more on this further down in my reviews since it's a big spoiler) and the open ended parts left open at the end of the story since there's no confirmed follow-up or companion books announced.

I do want more! I want all the books about this world and the characters. And I don't even need them to have some grand adventure with life and death situations or anything, but just little moments where we see happy glimpses into everyone's lives would be just fine with me. I'm not ready to let these characters go and I'm tempted to turn right back around and restart with the first book again because I love the characters so much (and kind of want to see all the little parts I might not have caught about them the first time around). I am very satisfied with this book, and only cements my feelings that I really, REALLY love this epically queer high fantasy story with all my heart.

***As always, there will be spoilers for the previous books in this review, and some for this book as well.***

Content notes includes mention of suicide, war, mentions of implied incest, murder, death, torture, mentions of emotional abuse, burning alive, broken bones, and cutting off limbs.

While the contents of this book is quite dark, I think it's also somehow really fun? But I acknowledge my humor does run dark, so what I find fun might be a bit twisted. I think it comes down to HOW the story is being told though. For the first time all series, we have Thurvishar AND Senera documenting the events detailed in this book and we have their little footnotes where they talk (*AHEM, flirt*) with one another. It's cute. We have the parts in the story where random characters get a POV chapter where you KNOW they never spoke to Thurvishar and Senera for documentation purposes (so that would be Thurvishar's contribution), and we now have the locations of the events and the time in which they happen accompanying the beginning of each chapter courtesy of Senera. You could surmise which characters survive based on which POVs we get throughout the book, BUT it kind of throws everything off when you know Thurvishar has a habit of making up pieces of the story that seem best to fit into the book. So, make of that what you will.

What's happened since the last book is that all our characters are out of the Lighthouse now and everyone has their marching orders of what the plans are to take down Relos Var AND Xaltorath. We found out that Vol Karoth has had Kihrin's soul merged with him this entire time, and like I said in my last review...I don't get how this works. Is Kihrin more S'arric or Vol Karoth or is he truly Kihrin? He seems to be in his Vol Karoth body but his mind is Kihrin but somehow merged with S'arric/Vol Karoth? It doesn't feel the same as how Teraeth, Janel, or Thurvishar might remember their past lives, but maybe that's the best way to think about it? The logistics of this whole mind mess is unclear. But we will refer to Kihrin as if he were the Kihrin we knew since book one, I suppose. He does, however, have his commanding presence as a leader and soldier (commanding officer?) from his older life as S'arric, and we do see that play out a bit here. Kihrin is giving a lot of the orders and the one behind whatever plans they have to take down the two big bads of this series.

I think it's been very interesting how this series was first marketed as a villain origin story. I think everyone gave up on that marketing after the first book, but *I* remember. The thing is, you wouldn't even consider the book a villain origin story until you realize that Kihrin is a piece of soul broken off from Vol Karoth, so it's really only a technicality that Kihrin is the "villain" of the story. And it doesn't make sense until you piece out all the history there is between all the characters. But by then, didn't we already love Kihrin so how could we see him as a villain?

Relos Var had been the one to set all this in motion in the first place so is he the true villain? He did it for power, thinking that would make him a god and wouldn't have minded sacrificing his brother along the way. It's only a side effect that Rev'arric's plans included healing the Nythrawl Wound (or the tear between the human and demon worlds). Of course, Xaltorath is also a villainous menace in this whole affair.

The start of this book begins with a recap of events that have lead up to this point in story, and the author does one better in that she goes ALL the way back to the beginning. 14,000 years ago. Which reminds me that quite a few players in this story are very, very, VERY old. Anlyr is the most shocking example because I never would've put him in the same age bracket as Relos Var. And no wonder Grizzst had drank and been a bit of a wreck. What do you even DO once you're around that same age and don't have any grand plans for destroying the world and if you're not a god/immortal? Boredom, that's what. So, I think I'm beginning to understand what went wrong there.

So, there are a LOT of character POVs in this book, but despite how many characters we're switching between in the story I never found myself confused or lost. I think that by the time we're on book five, we can all have a pretty good grasp of who's who and the audiobook narration helps. Funny thing about this book is that we do get a lot more Tyentso, but that's to be expected since she IS the Emperor of Quur now.

The glossary at the back of the physical copies and ebooks as a reference point helps big time. Just know that the family tree at the back of the book does spoil what happens and unfolds in this story, so I wouldn't reference this particular family tree until you're done with reading this book.

I'm not sure how they decided which narrator would voice which character's chapters, but it's not distracting at all and it works. Vikas Adam is also back as the voice for Kihrin, and he's one of my favorite fantasy book narrators, so I'm glad he's back for the finale. While we don't see Kihrin as much at first because he's got his own issues to deal with, I think it's interesting how the author manages to allow Kihrin to appear in the story despite him BEING Vol Karoth (who destroys everything he goes near). It's actually quite ingenious.

We do find out a little more about Xaltorath's backstory in this book and it's so fascinating even Relos Var is taken aback by what he learns. It's too late to do anything about it but they've been enemies for so long and Xaltorath constantly going back to reset the timeline muddies up a LOT. But I, too, was just as shocked as Relos Var when he heard the truth about Xaltorath and their...feelings if you can call it that.

The most interesting thing about Relos Var is that the entire time in this series we KNEW he could shape change into looking like anyone he wanted. That's the kind of intelligence we would expect from someone so old, right? We've always heard that he looks quite average and unassuming but I forgot that if Kihrin looks the way he does (which is to say, very hot) then it would be natural to assume that Relos Var does as well or at least very similar. Well, we finally get to see Relos Var take on his true looks in this book as Rev'arric and I'm still not over Caless basically saying he looks like a submissive twink. I don't think I'm ever going to be over that. It can really change your perspective on what we previously thought he looked like.

This book manages to pull out the one trope I love the MOST. It's where a character has to lay down their weapons and they just keep pulling out a seemingly endless supply of weapons they keep on their person. I LOVE IT. I don't think we met Fayrin in the previous books but he's my new favorite character. I was suspicious of him at first, but he's my favorite now. Also, his relationship with a certain someone is SO unexpected but I'm happy for them both! That person deserves a HEA and I didn't even know it was in the cards for them to get a HEA and now I'm glad they have one. Not spoiling the name, but if you know...you know.

***MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD***

There's a lot of different couples in this book for you to ship, and I guess this is where we enter spoiler territory because I can't possibly talk about this without giving away key moments about who survives and who does not.

Obviously, we get to see Kihrin, Janel, and Teraeth get the happy ending they deserve! Is it in the way we expected it? No. But at the end of the day they're alive and the bit at the end where they basically hide away from everyone and just spend a week having sex is all I wanted for them, so I can't be mad about that at all. We see how much they care for one another throughout this series, and the payoff from the slow burn is WORTH IT. This series isn't explicit when it comes to sex like most books in romance I've read, but what's in this series is suitable and I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by not having those scenes, you know? But if the author left anything on the cutting room floor with these three and wants to publish it...I wouldn't say no to reading it. I would gladly welcome it. The one confusing aspect of this book is the Janel and the Talon!notKihrin scene and I still don't know what to make of it. Do they tell Kihrin about it? I would love for them to talk about that. Also, I have not forgotten about the baby. I want scenes of their future domestic life!

We have Qown, Galen, and Sheloran. I thought it was implied in a previous book that Sheloran might have a thing with a female Milligrest? But we don't see that develop further even in this book. I guess the focus is that Galen and Qown are TOGETHER together and they really do have the worst timing. But the main thing is that they admit they really like each other, and Sheloran is more than happy to see them both happy. Now I just want Sheloran to find love as well.

Which leads me to the f/f relationship in this book, or the lack thereof since Sheloran obviously doesn't get paired up with anyone. Our main sapphic couple is Xivan and Talea. I mentioned the main reason I docked off a star off my rating was BECAUSE of this relationship and I'm going to expand on that. They're the only couple in this series that does not get a happy ending. They're also the only sapphic couple on the page. And paired that with the fact that the first most explicit scene in this series is very iffy between them...the whole rep for sapphic relationships in this series very lacking.

We have m/m and m/m/genderqueer and m/f ships that all get their happy ending at the end of this series but WHAT ABOUT OUR F/F SHIP? It does leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth that Talea is the only one who suffers true loss. And while I don't think Xivan is necessarily gone forever, she's not back in the living world experiencing love and life with Talea so I will say I am a bit bitter about it. This book ends in an open ended sort of way that allows you to believe that Xivan and Talea will see each other again one day without Talea dying and meeting Xivan in the Afterlife, but it's not definitive and I'm just sad we don't get to see their happy ending on the page.

I will say I was not expecting a happy ending for Kalindra and Jarith in all honesty. But they have one? I don't necessarily understand what happened at the end for Jarith to shed his demon self, but fine. I'll take it.

It's the same question of a sort with Janel, I suppose. Does Janel dream in the Afterlife and that's how she got the story to Thurvishar about what happens in the end, or maybe her fire blood is the one who told her. But that seems like another question we just don't have an answer for.

We get Thurvishar and Senera and their moments together by the end of this book and this relationship is even more sweet since they're the ones documenting this entire story and quietly falling in love. I really love them together and could take a whole backstory of how they first met and the little moments of how they fell for each other and where they are now. Thurvishar saying that he'll be happy to just be with her and love her even if she never wants to kiss anyone ever again is JUST TRUE LOVE, OKAY?? I love them a lot. I am also glad Senera's pet dole (basically what we know of as a dog) survives the series.

There's a lot of other couples in the series but they're messy and I don't care about them that much, but they're around (this is specifically Therin/Khaeriel and Doc/Valathea). Happy for their sons that they all ultimately made it out alive, but you know. Those relationships are too messy to get into.

Talon has the most unexpected character growth? I didn't think much of her in the first book, but I really came to like her and the way she kind of turns her life around. I think consuming Kihrin and getting all his good intentions and his good traits might have something to do with that. But I liked seeing her come around and do the decent thing and fighting her true nature of wanting to kill and eat people's brains all the time. Wait...does being a mimic make them zombies? Now that I think about it, I guess the mimics in this series might just be a new take on zombies although mimics aren't really dead unless you count Talon for having the Stone of Shackles and that whole body jumping situation. Something to think about...

Finding out what the Land of Peace looks like is probably the most unexpected bit of the story. I pictured all of them on clouds like Mount Olympus or something, but it's a castle and the area surrounding said castle? They still have parties though when they're not fighting demons near the Wound (if they choose to fight at all). The castle was built by Thaena I think? But now I have a better picture of how Kandor, soul!S'arric, and Elana were in the Land of Peace before they volunteered to be reincarnated. What's fun to think about is what was Simillion (the first emperor of Quur and Thurvishar's past self) doing there the whole time? Partying it up? Which now makes me want a story of how Simillion and Grizzst were back in the day considering Grizzst had been the one to create the magical crown and scepter of Quur in the first place and must've made his student Simllion emperor? WHAT WAS THAT LIKE. Simillion was in the Land of Peace for a good long while before getting reincarnated as Thurvishar. I don't think there was any point in-between where he came back as someone else.

There's so much stuff happening in these books that I don't usually catch errors, but there's a major one that I'm surprised made it through editing. It's the part in Galen's chapter where he says he KNOWS someone is a mimic (that isn't Talon) and I thought it was baffling because when did he find out?? But then in the next moment (a later chapter I think) he finds out that the person is a mimic and he acts like it's his first time hearing about it? That's the most obvious continuity error that threw me off. If there's anything else in the books that was a mistake, I didn't catch it.

One of the more interesting things about this book is how Kihrin acknowledges that all his friends have done bad things. Like, all of them have killed someone at some point or another and not for the greater good kind of way, but more just because it suited their own needs at the time either in their current life or one from their past. So, he is in conflict whether or not what his brother has done is so unforgivable because his friends have done "bad" things at one point or another in their lives. It's why he was so willing to TRY to give Rev'arric one last chance to redeem himself. And I think that speaks admirably of Kihrin, and kind of sad that Rev'arric can't see the truth of what Kihrin is offering him. Although I guess if you've had your mind set on something for 14,000 or so years, it's hard to throw that all away at the last minute. I think also what Kihrin was trying to tell him about the demon sacrifice was also too much to comprehend or change your plans about when you're SO CLOSE to achieving what you've set out to do.

I thought how Xaltorath and Rev'arric's showdowns get handled in this book are fitting. It's the ending they deserve and it was a satisfying read in that regard. The battles are great, and how everything gets resolved just works really well. I have no real objections to the storylines here at all.

Really, the only concerns I had by the end of the book is how there's still so many open threads in regards to EVERYTHING ELSE. Thurvishar asking that tiny little question at the end isn't so tiny, is it? And we also know the dragons haven't been taken care of, not that Kihrin can handle them at the moment. But is that a thing for possible future books? Don't think I didn't catch that the cornerstones are just lying around not in use when they could be used to heal the dragons and restore their sanity back to being humans again. What's up with that?? And what about the immortals/gods and their new powers? How will they embrace that?

I think this series feels more like a first season story arc getting wrapped up, and there's a feeling that there's so much more in this world that could be explored. There's not enough fanfic and fanart or just general FANDOM around these books to satisfy my need to fill the gap. I just want to keep reading and stay in this world forever more. I looked at the author's Goodreads profile and this story is, in part, something she started writing and publishing in 2014 under a different title so I can only imagine the author wants a bit of a break from this epic fantasy series she's created and step back on it to write something else in the meantime. She did have a rather aggressive publication schedule considering everything that went into these books. I only hope that one day she returns and keeps writing and we get to see all my favorite characters again, and maybe see some characters get the true happy ending they deserve. Until then, I'll just keep re-reading this series and try to persuade more people to read these books!! Because it is worth it, and you won't be disappointed.

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1 person found this helpful

Excellent finale

This was a great series it took some getting used to at first with all the strange nameS but this series and the characters are fabby and the narrator is AMAZING he did so many great voices

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A satsifying and beautiful ending to the series

A Chorus of Dragons series offically became one of my fave series when I read The Name of All Things. I really love the world-building and the characters Jenn introduced to us. And with this final book, I can say that I am very satisfied with the ending and all of my fave characters survived.

The narrators did a wonderfl job also, which added to how great the story was.

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great characters

The story ends in a great manner, well told! The characters come alive in this story!

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Excellent Finale

The best of the 5 books in my opinion. Loved the story, the complexity of the story and the complexity of the characters themselves as well. The narrators did an outstanding job too. Definitely the best narrators used through this series if you ask me. I was very glad when I found out these 3 were the ones they chose for this final book.

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Absolutely fantastic!

Listening to this series has proven to a most entertaining, amazing journey. I mean good lorddd the author, the performers….magnificent. I loved it so much.

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Excellent wrap up to a great series!

This series has been incredible, and the finale was everything I wanted and more. I also deeply appreciated how the author said “traditional heteronormativity and cisnormativity in my fantasy world? No thank you!” It’s a fantasy world, and she made it her own!

The book deals with a lot of heavy themes, too, including antislavery, antifascism, anticolonialism, anti-imperialism, racism, sexism, homophobia (including internalized!), and what it means for a “bad guy” to get a redemption arc. Was everything handled perfectly? No, of course not, but the author did a great job of trying to be consistent and allowing us as the audience to grow and change with our main character, Kihrin, and to learn more about the world and people’s differing and sometimes conflicting actions and motivations.

This book was a great way to end a series I highly enjoyed, and I look forward to coming back again!

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Wonderful

Great ending to a good story. Would recommend the collection. Great read. Went thru the series fast.

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Excellent series

Best set of fiction novels in a long while. I hope Jenn writes a subsequent series. She left this series in a great place to start a new set of stories.

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