Julia

Made me smile from ear to ear from beginning to end. Five shining stars for making me read a book practically in one sitting. Levi may be magic, but so is Rainbow Rowell!

Sigh. I wanted this to be something I really liked - but it really struck me as CrossFire series Extra Lite, minus the scorching chemistry, witty dialogue, and gripping narrative. I re-read that series every year and a half or so, because it's impossible to not to get pulled into the dysfunction and then revel in the couple's increasing health and sanity. And did I mention the chemistry?? Sizzle. Here - there's some level of promise, but it all feels like exaggerated emotion and a light sketch of people and narrative. It's a quick read, but not compelling. Too bad.

What to say, what to say? As always, I reserve any reviewing until the series is done or mostly done, and I'm glad I did that in this case in particular. It's a pretty epic journey, and book 3 was really my favorite, though it rung out of me all the feels - for Alina, for the Darkling, for Mal, and so, so many feels for Nikolai, for all the lost and the perished. Book 3 was brutal and savage, and for me it was a study in trauma, both chronic and acute. How we try to conquer it, how we can't escape it. I think that's why, like Alina, we are so captivated by the Darkling till the last page - there's something so eternally human about his quest to conquer all pain and loss, even as he gives in to his very worst impulses. Sometimes we get lost in the overcoming, when all we are craving is for someone to bear witness, to see all that we are, and to mourn all that we have lost. 5 Sun&Shadow Summoning Stars.

5/23/17 UPDATE: I cannot believe it's been 3 years since I read this series, but just re-read it again, and man, does it hold up! Again, inhaled all 3 books and both novellas in 3 days. Again, Warner reminded me that no one holds a candle to his level of awesome and I haven't loved anyone as much since. Again, wishing for an epilogue novella. Some things change, but love for these characters stays the same. Sigh. 5 out of 5 golden stars!


The ending caught me by surprise, but otherwise I wouldn't change a thing. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED! I basically just inhaled the whole thing in a matter of hours. Perhaps Novella #3 as part of a little epilogue to give us a glimpse into the future...? Fingers Crossed!

I read all three books in under a week during finals week. Enough said. The only reason that it's not 5 stars is because the snob in me recognizes this is not exactly eloquently written fiction, but who the hell is reading it for its literary merits anyway? :)