★★★ #TheRiseofMagicks @edelweiss_squad #DelayedBookReview
A huge fan of Ms. Roberts aka J.D. Robb, this book was a trial for me. I started it as soon as I received it back in July of 2019. It languished on my kindle as I tried several times unsuccessfully to get back into this story. It almost became a 1 star DNF. This is atypical of my response for Ms. Roberts. I have found that when she writes about fantasy/shifters/paranormal, I generally do not like them at all. This should have been a tip not to pick up this series. I did get through the first two books without any issues. When I finally forced myself to read the rest of this book, I moved slowly from a 1 star to a 2 and then a 3 star.
Why was this story so boring for me? I think it's because I didn't connect with the characters. For some reason, Fallon seemed more wooden in this 3rd book of the series. Her connection with Duncan isn't there for me. I am not sure if it is because this is YA or because the characters came across as no chemistry for me. Either way, I couldn't feel anything for them, even if I found them to be admirable. There is a lot of fighting and planning to take down the opposing forces as the PW, corrupt government and the Dark Unncanny. I didn't really care after a bit. Maybe it went on too long?
Whilst I like meeting Vivienne from Quebec and finding out about other allies coming to join, it was still missing a magical spark. The big showdown is a bit anticlimactic. But overall the plot line is solid as is the character development and concluding this trilogy. The subplots all tied off neatly. Romances bloomed as well as beloved friends and family died battle the good fight. This is a well written book with meaningful plot devices but it just felt off for me. I couldn't be bothered to be moved. I felt nothing which is odd because generally, Ms. Roberts generates much feeling in me with her books. It is almost as if this story was just two dimensional for me. Big conflicts... heroine solves it all in a magical against all odds way. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it is the similar feel I have for many male writers in the Sci-fi/Fantasy genre. Their stories don't move me which is why I lean towards reading only female authors. This isn't the first time it has happened for me in a Ms. Roberts book. Each time has been one of her paranormal-esque attempts.
Overall, this is a well written trilogy. There is a character growth as well as a more positive view of post apocalyptic world after a mysterious disease backed and fueled by an evil. I enjoyed the frontier theme mixed with a noble quest and mythical creatures. This book is recommended to readers who read the first two books and want to see the conclusion to it all.
*provided by Edelweiss
