Destroy the Day

A continuation from Defend the Dawn, Tess thinking Corrick and Lockland are both dead, and Corrick and Lockland trying to survive as they have been captured on another island. Harristan is needing help as he has been dethroned, and has got the offer from his personal guards to help him. The rebels find out about his health and Harristan has the rebels on his side. 

Lochlan and Corrick have been assigned to kill the head of the docks (a person called Ford), by Oren Krane, however when he finds Ford he reveals his true identity that he is Prince Corrick. Him lying to Oren and then revealing his true identity, and that he is not Wes so that he can rescue Tessa was everything!

Tessa finds help in someone that she least expected...Rian, and she soon learns that the Moonflower that they have been using for medicine is poison. Rian still annoyed me, but I was quite surprised when he revealed the truth about the Moonflower.

I loved that Harriston true feeling came out for the Place Master. Was it unexpected? Yes, but it was really nice to see him have his HEA after everything he has been through . Corrick learns that Lochlan can't read and whilst they are together trying to get back to Tessa, Corrick teaches Lochlan how to read, which I found really sweet. The development of the relationship of enemies to friends between Corrick and Lochlan was something that I loved listening to. They both get used as bait to rescue Oren daughter (who is dead), and Corrick realises its Tessa being used as a decoy for Oren daughter. Harriston giving himself in so Corrick can return safe was super sweet, from his side he was returning the favour for all the time Corrick has saved him and been there for him. But on the day of the return, Harriston and the Palace Guard set the palace on fire which shocked me, but knowing the reasoning behind it made sense. With the return of Corrick, he is now crowned king and fulfilling his duties with Tessa by his side. 

That ending threw me right off! Tessa receives a letter from someone named Sullivan (Harriston code name from when he used to sneak out the palace with his brother as a child) about a horse that she wants. My gosh! I was actually speechless, I was so upset that he never got to tell Corrick, but it seems like Corrick already knew.

The different types of emotions I was going through happiness, sadness, shock, horror, and of course ending the book in laughter. 

That was a VERY good ending to this trilogy I must say.

Absolutely LOVED the relationships that this last book explored. Tessa and Rocco had my whole heart with their little brother/sister relationship. Obviously I knew Corrick wasn't dead but the grief they were both feeling for him was real and it was so heartening to see them being there for each other even though they didn't know each other that well beforehand. Adding in Olive and Ellmo and you got a certified found family.

Speaking of found family, Lochlan and Corrick?? Amazing. I truly thought the book would go the “reluctant allies that still kinda hate each other” route but I'm so glad it didn't and they genuinely became friends in the end. Seeing them working together was amazing, and Corrick teaching him how to read?? What if I cry?

Speaking of crying: HARRISTAN AND QUINT. First: I CALLED it, second: tell me why I was more invested in them than in Tessa and Corrick when those two were literally the main characters? Don't get me wrong I still loved them but literally every scene with Harristan and Quint was PERFECTION. Quint keeping track of the dates every time he saw Harristan smile? Them finding happiness and peace in each other even when the world was practically on fire outside their door? Them willing to SACRIFICE THEMSELVES TOGETHER to save Kandala? Them surviving and living a happy little life together, away from court? I was absolutely SOBBING in the last five chapters I physically could not stop.

The only thing I disliked about this book was Rian because he can absolutely CHOKE for knowing Corrick was alive and not telling Tessa even while KNOWING how much she was grieving him. Olive deserves the throne way more than he does and I lowkey wish she would've overthrown him. I'm glad that the book didn't try to redeem him in the end because that pissed me off SO bad.

A very solid end to a very solid series!