Review: The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May
Book Three of The Falconer trilogy
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

The long-awaited final book in the Falconer trilogy is an imaginative tour-de-force that will thrill fans of the series. Aileana Kameron, resurrected by ancient fae magic, returns to the world she once knew with no memory of her past and with dangerous powers she struggles to control. Desperate to break the curse that pits two factions of the fae against each other in a struggle that will decide the fate of the human and fae worlds, her only hope is hidden in an ancient book guarded by the legendary Morrigan, a faery of immense power and cruelty. To save the world and the people she loves, Aileana must learn to harness her dark new powers even as they are slowly destroying her. Packed with immersive detail, action, romance, and fae lore, and publishing simultaneously in the UK, The Fallen Kingdom brings the Falconer's story to an epic and unforgettable conclusion.

What I Liked:

Oh my heart. This book took me through just about every emotion I could go through, while reading a book. Of the three books in this series, this one is the darkest, the most heartbreaking, but also the one that ends the best. Elizabeth May did this series justice with this conclusion novel, and with the perfect ending that was just the right amount of sad and swoony. 

This book begins with Aileana literally clawing her way out of the ground and finding herself in a dark forest. She has no idea who she is, where she is, or how she came about the immense power simmering beneath her skin. After killing an Unseelie faerie, an old friend senses her power and finds her - Derrik. Slowly she begins remembering who she is. When Derrick takes her back to what remains of the human lands, Aileana gets her memory back fully, with the help of Aithinne. It has been two months, and time has not been a friend. The lines have been drawn - Unseelie vs. Seelie, Kadamach vs. Aithinne. Aileana must stop Kadamach from killing Aithinne, but there are bigger problems; there is a book hidden in dark depths that may hold the key to stopping the war altogether, and preventing the necessity of either Kadamach or Aithinne killing each other and the survivor taking the dark throne. Finding this book requires one of Aileana's greatest enemies, and a sacrifice so painful she may not be able to survive the aftermath. But the end of the world is bigger than Aileana, and she won't hold back in trying to protect those she loves, and what's left of the world.

This book was nonstop action from the start, which was great for me. I'm usually terrified of conclusion novels and it takes me forever to pick one up and read it, so I'm grateful to Elizabeth May for starting this book off with a bang and keeping the action at a high pace (though not in an overwhelming way). The stakes are incredibly high in this book, and there is no time to waste.

I've always adored Aileana, in The Falconer and The Vanishing Throne, and this didn't change in this final novel. She is a tough lady and a strong fighter, and she is more ruthless in this book (though no less human). Aileana's resolve to save the world AND her friends AND Kiaran was amazing - often you'll find a heroine fixated on one of those things (usually save the world), but I love that Aileana thinks about all aspects and makes decisions based on trying to save everyone and everything. Aileana is lady goals and she is one of my favorite YA heroines of all time. 

If Aileana is one of my favorite YA heroines, then Kiaran is one of my favorite YA heroes. This book is told entirely from Aileana's first-person POV, and Kiaran doesn't show up until maybe the one-third point of the book, but he proves over and over that he is a favorite of mine. Kiaran turns completely Unseelie but he doesn't lose his love for Aileana or his extreme guilt for the darkness inside him. I love Kiaran's selflessness, but also his wickedness and his determination. He is just as stubborn as Aileana, and he has the same attitude of going after what he wants. 

And the rest of the cast! Aithinne is hilarious and probably my third favorite. I always liked Derrick and he is such a great friend and cheerleader. Catherine, Daniel, and Gavin make appearances, and they are supportive and don't blame Aileana for anything. I love the team of friends that surround Aileana, especially with the negative presences that Aileana has to endure (*cough* Sorcha *cough*).

I won't talk about the big things in details, like the book or the sacrifice or the climax of the story. Just know that once things kick off (I'd say around the one-third point, or whenever Kiaran and Aileana are finally face-to-face), you'll be biting your nails and slowly moving to the edge of your seat. The build-up is so well-written and intense. And dark. Did I mention how dark this book is? It gets intense and dark and at times, painful. 

But there are some very great aspects of the remaining two-thirds of the book, like the romance. Kiaran and Aileana have an undeniable bond and super hot chemistry, and they love each other greatly. Every scene featuring the two of them was either passionate and sexy, or tender and sweet. I adored these two, and their romance was beautiful. 

The ending is wonderful! There is a heartbreaking aspect, but overall, the ending is perfect. I couldn't have imagined a better ending. There is a happily-ever-after, and I will leave it at that.

What I Did Not Like:

I'm not giving this book five stars but I did love it. There were one or two things that made me a little sad but really, this book was fantastic. 

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this book, if you've read The Falconer and The Vanishing Throne, or even just The Falconer (well, read The Vanishing Throne first - my favorite book of the series). This is a historical series (set in 1800s Scotland), with fantasy aspects (fae, magic, curses, realms). So if you like historical fantasy, definitely give this series a chance! And now you can binge-read the books.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. This series is one of my all-time favorite series of YA lit! I had a feeling that I would fall in love with this series, when I first read The Falconer, and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. Elizabeth May is on my auto-read list!

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!


Check out a swoon from The Fallen Kingdom:

Swoon Thursday (#227): The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May!

"Tell me you're real."

"I'm real," I whisper. "I'm still here. I can ask you more questions, if you'd like."

"Later," he says.

Then Kiaran's lips are on mine. Hard. Desperate. Like he can't get enough of me; like I'm going to disappear. As if at any moment, he's going to wake up from this dream and I'll be gone.

Kiaran kisses me like he's about to lose me all over again.

He isn't gentle. There's no softness, no hesitancy, no delicate touches. And I don't want kind. I don't want gentle. My desire is just as fierce, just as demanding. I grasp the back of his shirt, digging in toughly with my fingernails. More. I want more. I need this. I need him. I pull back only briefly to yank off my shirt, the rest of my clothes, his. Then it's Kiaran's skin against mine and we're both burning, kissing, biting, clawing. It's a physical urgency, a devouring need, a benediction of yes, now, more.

- eARC, 33%

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

The Falconer | The Vanishing Throne

This conclusion novel was perfect! The romance was stunning, and one of my favorite YA romances of all time. May writes some really good swoons - I had my choice of lovely ones from this book! Kiaran and Aileana are a fantastic couple. =)

Waiting on Wednesday (#205): The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

Book Three of The Falconer trilogy

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication Date: June 13, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

The long-awaited final book in the Falconer trilogy is an imaginative tour-de-force that will thrill fans of the series. Aileana Kameron, resurrected by ancient fae magic, returns to the world she once knew with no memory of her past and with dangerous powers she struggles to control. Desperate to break the curse that pits two factions of the fae against each other in a struggle that will decide the fate of the human and fae worlds, her only hope is hidden in an ancient book guarded by the legendary Morrigan, a faery of immense power and cruelty. To save the world and the people she loves, Aileana must learn to harness her dark new powers even as they are slowly destroying her. Packed with immersive detail, action, romance, and fae lore, and publishing simultaneously in the UK, The Fallen Kingdom brings the Falconer's story to an epic and unforgettable conclusion.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Falconer | The Vanishing Throne

I am so excited to read this book! Aren't the covers of this series amazing? Love!

Review: The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Book Two of The Falconer trilogy

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication Date: June 21, 2016

Rating: 5 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

The second book in the Falconer trilogy is packed with surprises and suspense. 

Aileana Kameron, the Falconer, disappeared through the portal that she was trying to close forever. Now she wakes up in the fae world, trapped and tortured by the evil Lonnrach. With the help of an unexpected ally, Aileana re-enters the human world, only to find everything irrevocably changed. Edinburgh has been destroyed, and the few human survivors are living in an uneasy truce with the fae, while both worlds are in danger of disappearing altogether. Aileana holds the key to saving both worlds, but in order to do so she must awaken her latent Falconer powers. And the price of doing that might be her life. 

Rich with imaginative detail, action, fae lore, and romance, The Vanishing Throne is a thrilling sequel to The Falconer.

What I Liked:

For the year of 2016, out of 57 books read, only four have received a five-star rating from me... this will be the fifth. I don't use the five-star rating a lot - it's pretty rare that a book hits me upside the head with its magnificence. Seriously, I don't really fall in love with books; I'll really enjoy them, or like them, but lovelovelove? I reserve the five-star rating for those types, and they are few and far between.

This is one of those books. 

And it's a sequel! Generally I haaaate the sequel of a trilogy (the second book). Sequel slump is a very common problem in YA trilogies (and series in general). But not so, in this series. I went into this book knowing two things: 1) my UK friends who had already read this book in November 2015 absolutely loved it, and 2) those same UK friends warned me of a cliffhanger ending (but that's all I knew - that the ending would be somewhat cliffhanger-y). So I was pretty wary, going in. As it would turn out, I had every right to be wary, but I really enjoyed the book!

Aileana Kameron wakes up to find herself trapped in the fae world, a place of inbetween, imprisoned by Lonnrach. Time moves differently in this place, and Lonnrach... he is intent on gathering information from Aileana's memories. When Aileana is rescued and brought back to the human world, she discovers two things: she's been in the fae world for three years, and the human world has been completely destroyed by Lonnrach. Few survived, and the humans that did are in the pixie kingdom, with some familiar faces. Aileana must awaken her Falconer powers and find a mysterious crystal that Lonnrach is looking for, before he finds it. If he finds it, the consequences will be detrimental for both human and fae.

Elizabeth May has clearly mastered many things when it comes to writing, but I must say, the character development sticks out to me. May takes Aileana on a fierce and cruel and painful and emotional journey. While she is imprisoned by Lonnrach, she is tortured by him, and she can't fight it. Aileana is convinced that this is her punishment for not ending things, at the end of book one. When Aileana escapes with the help of a new friend, Aileana blames herself for the state of the human world. She isn't broken, but she is devastated. The author has Aileana undergo a great deal of character development. Already was Aileana a strong and capable heroine, but she has a contained rage and strength that builds as the book goes on.

The first, hmm, twenty percent or so of the book broke my heart. I hated seeing Aileana imprisoned, and seeing what Lonnrach was doing to her. He rifled through her memories without her permission, over and over, and it was painful and distressing and damaging. Aileana escaped with an exhaustion but also a hatred and a burning urge to slaughter Lonnrach. Good for her!

After Aileana escapes with her new friend, she is taken to a familiar face... Kiaran. If I liked the faerie in book one, I adored him, in this book. Cracks are showing in his emotionless exterior. He's new at letting emotions through, and it's kind of adorable. There is a scene when he and Aileana are reunited, and she needs comforting, and he attempts to hug her to comfort her... so cute. That scene is one of my favorites. Ahhh, Kiaran. We learn a lot about him in this book - he is Kadamach, and Kadamach has quite the past. 

Secondary characters that were very important - Derrick (bubbly and excitable as ever), Aithinne (this is Kiaran's sister - I like her so much!), Gavin (ew, he is so different from book one, and not in good ways), Catherine (okay I like her so much more now). Three years passed in the human world since Aileana was taken, so Gavin, Catherine, and the other humans are three years older (whereas Aileana is only a few months older than she was when she was taken), and they are different people. They had to adapt and survive the destruction of the human world, a world that no longer involves polite society and gentry and balls and servants.

I think that was one thing that really set this book apart from book one - the setting pretty much completely changes. Scotland - and all of Earth - has been destroyed by Lonnrach, from the end of book one. We're not dealing with snobby society ladies anymore, though we're still in 1800s Scotland. I liked this new post-apocalyptic setting. It is harsh and demanding, yet there is something real and valuable about everything, now the world as they once knew it is no more.

Okay, I'll talk about the romance now. No love triangle, no huge drama, only an upwards progression. Aileana and Kiaran have such a swoon-worthy relationship. I love how they're not quite sure of where they stand, when they are reunited in this book. And slowly, they rediscover and discover how important they are to each other, how much they care about each other, and how much they've missed each other. Kiaran saves Aileana many times, subconsciously; when she is imprisoned, she thinks about him. He's never far from her thoughts, and vice versa. Also, fun fact... their relationship, as beautiful and developed as it is, takes a steamy turn. Have I mentioned how much I love these two together? It's a thing of beauty, the two of them figuring out their relationship and feelings.

Character development, A+. Setting, A+. Romance, A+++. Plot, A+. I was never bored, and I was driven to keep reading. I finished this book in one sitting. When the last quarter of the book was upon me, I was filled with dread - I knew the cliffhanger ending was coming up, but everything leading up was going so perfectly! There were so many reveals of secrets and information, and so much was worked through, and I was loving how everything was connected to everything else.

But that ending came, and, well, it definitely is cliffhanger-y. But it's not nearly as bad as I expected. In fact, I would hesitate to call it "cruel"... I'm slightly scared to see how the beginning of book three will come about, because I know most of the characters will be very confused... anyway, the ending was not nearly as stressful as I'd expected. Still not a sunshine-and-rainbows ending, but one can't expect that, when it comes to a book-two-in-the-trilogy!

What I Did Not Like:

Ahh. I guess I could complain about the ending, but like I said, it really wasn't as bad as I expected. I knew what I was expecting and it would have been much worse. So there's that!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly highly highly recommend this book! It's even better than book one, and I really liked The Falconer. I rarely give books five stars - and even rarer do I give a book two/sequel five stars, so believe me when I say that this book is worth reading. The entire trilogy is worth reading. I could see this being an all-time favorite series (assuming we get a HEA at the end of book three...). If you like historical fiction heavily laced with paranormal/fantasy but also a swoony romance... *nudges*

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded up to 5 stars. Even though the ending was cliffhanger-y and I'll be in agony waiting for book three (do we think the UK publication date will be during 2016? Because I'll buy the UK version in a heartbeat), I totally want to reread this book already! 

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Swoon Thursday (#63): The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Falconer by Elizabeth May!

"[Redacted] looks at me, so still and quiet. I brace myself for his words, unsure of what he'll say. Terrified by what he'll say. He doesn't speak. Instead, he grasps me by the collar of my coat and presses his lips to mine. [Redacted] kisses me deeply, with an urgency I never thought him capable of. He kisses me like he knows he's going to die. He kisses me like the world is going to end.

I cling to his shoulders and tug at his jacket, bringing us closer. I want nothing more than to hold him and bury myself in his arms and forget everything. I want time to stop.

He pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. "I'm scared, too."

- eARC, 92%

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Read my review HERE.

I loved this book, you all. Historical fantasy? ONE OF THE BEST. And the romance in this book? It's definitely one of my favorites. I took out the guy's name because, for those of you that want to read this book, I don't want to spoil even that :D

Review: The Falconer by Elizabeth May

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Book One of The Falconer series

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

What I Liked:

Another historical fantasy novel! I just read and reviewed Chantress Alchemy by Amy Butler Greenfield, which is historical fantasy (it takes place in England, but around the same time as this novel, I believe). I really enjoyed that book, and I really enjoyed this book! I can definitely see why this book is so wildly popular in the UK and other countries overseas - it really does have a sense of magic and uniqueness to it. It will be one of my favorite YA historical fiction novels of 2014!

Aileana is a Falconer, born with abilities that enable her to fight and kill faeries - yes, they do exist in the 1800s in Scotland. But she must also play the part of a dutiful daughter and heiress, a proper lady, a debutante searching for the proper husband, and so on. It's not easy keeping your reputation intact when you're tasked with killing faeries (so they don't suck out the energy of humans). And there is a bigger problem - even more faeries and creatures are pouring into Edinburgh, endangering the city and its inhabitants. Aileana must find a way to stop the creatures, while trying to maintain her reputation.

There is just something about Aileana. She isn't your typical YA heroine. She can't be, I suppose, because she is a woman of historical times. She is a debutante, a warrior, a murderer, an avenger. She seeks vengeance for her dead mother, who was killed by a faery. Aileana trains with the heartless Kiaran, in order to become stronger, to avenge her mother's death. Aileana's personality, her being, her character, is very raw. She is driven, motivated, tunnel-visioned, hell-bent on revenge. I don't know how to describe her other than that - and raw. Raw comes to mind when I think of Aileana. 

I really like Aileana. It's not enough to say that she kicks some serious butt. She is, overall, a strong and fearless fighter, one who values her revenge, but also cares very much about the welfare of other humans. She risks her reputation and societal status many times, in order to hunt faeries that want to prey on humans. 

This actually brings me to another point that I really liked - the author did an excellent job of mixing historical fiction with fantasy elements. I love how May combines the two. For example, a faery attacks a human during a ball, one that was important for Aileana's social status, and for "her" quest for a husband. As with most eligible girls in the nineteenth century (especially the heiresses), Aileana must find an eligible suitor to marry, per her father's request.

I guess I should talk about the romance... well, Aileana's heart clearly belongs to one person, and one person only. I'm not going to say who that is (although I'm sure the world knows about the romance by now), but I will say that I LOVE the romance in this book. It is subtle, and if you know nothing about the book (which, honestly, I didn't), then you might not see it coming. I can't wait to see how the romance develops in the next book.

The faery aspect is... interesting. I'm not a huge fan of faery-related stories in general, but I liked this one. Perhaps it is because the overall genre is historical fiction, and I like how the faery aspect is woven into the historical fiction aspect. I don't necessary like the plot of the story (involving the faeries), but I did enjoy the story. If that makes sense.

The supporting characters were so fun to read. I really liked Derrick, the faery friend of Aileana who lives in her dressing room. Catherine, a friend of Aileana, grew on me slowly - I think her role in the next books will be important. Gavin... I really like Gavin. His role will be crucial in the next books. I hope he gets what he deserves! In a good way. And Kiaran. I don't even know where to start when it comes to Kiaran. He is such a complex and intriguing character. As a powerful faery, he seems emotionless and contained, all the time. There is so much to him, and I really want to discover more!

Overall, I seriously loved this book. I love historical fiction, so that drew me right away, but the rawness of the protagonist, the simplicity of the romance, the hardcore fantasy aspect... this book had so many things that I absolutely enjoyed. You all know I love historical fiction. And fantasy. And beautiful romances. 

What I Did Not Like:

I mentioned this above, but I actually wasn't a huge fan of the plot, in terms of the faeries. Maybe it was because I missed something obvious or important? But in general, there is seal over Edinburgh that keeps the faeries and other bad creatures out of Edinburgh. I think it was broken, or fading, or something. So Ailean must reseal the seal. But there are consequences to resealing the seal. 

I just feel like this plot twist was a bit forced? I don't know how to describe my problem with this particular aspect of the structure of the story. Like, I don't really understand what unsealed the seal. Why did it become unsealed? I'm hoping that my questions will be answered in the next book or two.

Would I Recommend It:

Um. YES! This book had so many parts to it that I personally LOVE. Historical fiction? Check. Fantasy? Check (though I usually dislike faery-related books). Gorgeous writing style? Check. Beautiful romance? Check. Unique and interesting heroine? Check. Check check check. Go read it.

Rating:

4 stars. I enjoyed this historical fiction novel! I definitely cannot wait to read the second book (ahhh, 2015. So far away)!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!