Long months have passed, but Dorian and Cass can’t find a trace of Sephone. As far as they can tell, she was kidnapped and left them each a note, which they refuse to show each other. At odds with one another, Dorian and Cass come to an agreement when they at last find a clue. Dorian will sacrifice himself, and Cass will protect Sephone, but he can never tell her Dorian’.
Sephone has endured months of unspeakable terror, and her own hand dealt most of it after being forced by a masked stranger. Racked with guilt, she finds hope in a second stranger who visits her each night. Whether man or beast, she cannot tell. All she knows is she must free herself before the poison in her spreads and try to ignore the love raging in her heart for one of the men who seeks her freedom.
Battles, betrayal, animal shapeshifters, a white raven (a personal favorite real-life animal of mine), blackening veins of poison, unreciprocated loved, AND reciprocated love are all neatly crammed into this glorious novel. The spell-binding ending to The Nightingale Trilogy will have your jaw drop. Literally. I was listening to this at work, and when the identity of the masked stranger was revealed, I said, “What???” aloud.
If you loved Calor and Lumen (but like me, hated the cliffhanger ending) you need to pick up this finale ASAP!!!!!
Jasmine, your elegant writing style and beautiful storytelling have given me courage in turbulent times. Thank you for writing about darkness in the mind, age gap relationships, men with wounded pasts and torn hearts, as well as a girl who dared to believe in hope when it seemed impossible!
Scoresheet:
Category: YA/NA Dystopian Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read/No spice. Sweet embraces and kisses
Violence: No excessive gore. Some blood.
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in allegorical form. Good morals.
Recommended reading age: 16+
