Bright We Burn was brutal and bloody and so perfectly and epically satisfying.
Which are words I’M CRYING AS I TYPE because finales scare me so badly. What if they let me down?!?!? But the finale to the And I Darken trilogy managed to stab me in the heart (like five times) and still give me everything I hoped it would. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Everything is perfect, but you better believe I am screaming into the void for the next 2-3 months because I’m slightly traumatised. Definitely labelling this a Favourite Trilogy.
You can catch my reviews of And I Darken (#1) and Now I Rise (#2)!
Also this review has NO SPOILERS!
☆ The pacing and plot were absolute perfection.
It’s a little smaller than the other books, but I quite liked how it all panned out. The middle is SO INTENSE…I absolutely faceplanted myself into the pages and the world was dead to me until I’d finished. There are wars and betrayals, kidnapping plots and horror, and there are the softest quietest moments that just make my heart so so full. Some of my favourite chapters were simply two precious characters getting to hold hands. My entire self was just: !!!!!! You know an author has tortured your soul half to death when you start crying because AWW LOOK THEY GET TO HOLD HANDS AND NO ONE’S DEAD YET.
I’m fine I’m fine. [sobbing]
☆ Like all the books, the storyline is spectacularly dark.
I love dark books. I love it when books don’t “pretend” to be dark, but actually absolutely are. Lada is badass and terrifying and SHE FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH HER THREATS. The battles are grim, the aftermaths are horrifying. It’s just so well written and portrayed and I appreciate books that are realistic and don’t sugarcoat war. Like Lada is technically “unlikeable”, yet I love her. Radu makes some awful betrayals, but I love him.
☆ So obviously: perfect characters ARE PERFECT.
Radu and Lada are my favourite messy, broken, and ruthless Book Siblings. They are softness and muRDER. I love them ok just so so much. Also their character arcs are incredible and it’s amazing how much Radu grew in this one! He’s always been the soft squish, and he doesn’t lose that — but he stops doubting and hating himself. And Lada is vulnerable between ripping out people’s throats (YES WITH HER TEETH, I CAN’T EVEN LADA, YOU HAVE NO CHILL). When Radu realises kindness is sometimes the bravest choice of all??? I cry.
Radu is soft and he is allowed to be soft.
Lada is harsh and she is allowed to be harsh.
I am so so happy with this.
Also shout out to:
- Nazira: sweetest and loving schemer who will rearrange THE WORLD so you can be happy. And she loves Radu so deeply and platonically, while being incredibly in love with her wife, Fatima. 10/10 would die for them all.
- Nikolai: who put up with Lada and kept joking even when everyone was aBOUT TO DIE.
- Lada’s nurse: for every time she had to do Lada’s hair, she deserves and actual medal of war
☆ It made me laugh and wail.
Which is talent. I love the writing style, even though it’s not the typical YA way I’m used to. It’s different and refreshing. It covers a long period of time, but the voice is so spot on. I actually have not been this obsessed with a book pretty much all year (barring a few others!) so this just made my dEAD HEART BEAT AGAIN. THANK YOU.
☆ The ending was satisfying!! Which is JUST want I ask for.
It’s not this perfect cheery ending hahaa (HELLO OF COURSE NOT) and it will rip out your heart and eat it. But it was right. I’m so pleased…also bleeding on the floor but whatever. Even the love triangle ended perfectly ahhh.
Bloody, brutal, and unforgiving — this series is totally unique and incredible and full of soul. It weaves heartfelt messages in amongst wars and bloodlust, loss and betrayals. It has an incredible cast of complex characters that I just love love love. With all their flaws! And their nastiness or weakness!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. LOVE EVERYTHING. I SHOULD GO SIT DOWN WOW.
THANK YOU TO PENGUIN AUSTRALIA FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Bright We Burn (And I Darken #3) by Keirsten White was published July 2018!
Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it?
Lada’s rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won’t rest until everyone knows that her country’s borders are inviolable. Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed’s peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince.
But Mehmed knows that he loves her. He understands her. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister’s indomitable will. Only by destroying everything that came before–including her relationships–can Lada truly build the country she wants.
Claim the throne. Demand the crown. Rule the world.
Goodreads Publisher Book Depository
I can’t believe I haven’t read these books yet!? They sound brilliantly dark — which is exactly what I love. The bloodier, the more brutal, the better. 😉 Series finales must be SO difficult to write (I can only hope to get to write one of them someday, hah) so when you come across a perfect one as a reader, I’m always totally in awe.
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They are so so good!! They need to be extra loved because they’re so unapologetic in the dark side. ahhhhh (Ok I sound like a scary person here.😂) And omg as someone who’s tried to write a trilogy finale and FAILED…I appreciate it when authors pull it off incredibly.😂
I just added these books to my TBR last week but because of this review, I’m pushing this series up. I mean, DARK FANTASY IS WHAT I LIVE FOR. And you say the ending is satisfying so that earns a thousand points for me.
Finding a series with a satisfying ending is rare and I just have to give a shout out to The Infernal Devices (which has a VERY PAINFUL last book but I was happy with its last chapters), the Shades of Magic trilogy (I want more of the world and the characters but the ending really made my heart full), and Harry Potter (and no, I refuse to acknowledge Cursed Child because the 19 yrs later in DH was definitely enough for me).
I’m excited to read this series. Thank you for all these beautiful recs, Cait 😊
It’s actually more like historical fiction. 😂 The only fantasy part is that Lada is a girl instead of being Vlad the Impaler haha. But it’s still DARK and I live for this akfdjlsad I like books that don’t limp around in the shadows, but actually just go all out and stab all the thing. Go Lada, precious little ray of murder sunshine.
Ahhhh I love TID! Although I think I love TDA and TMI more, but like ALL of Cassandra Clares books are perfect. And ahh at least we ARE getting more of the ADSOM world! Did you know she’s writing a secondary trilogy called Threads of Power?
Yes! I can’t wait! I’m shaking with impatience 😨
My heart was stolen by the first book, but then I forgot about the sequel and I am terribly behind. BUT IT IS SO REASSURING TO KNOW THAT THE TRILOGY IS COMPLETE AND (apparently) PERFECT.
NOW YOU CAN JUST BINGE READ THEM ALL AND SUFFER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME!! EXCITING!!
I really want to read this series! It sounds so good!
When I think good finales that meet my expectations I think of the last Lunar Chronicles Winter, because it ended the series satisfyingly as well as not killing off all my favorite characters unlike other finales. And I feel like I’m the only person who likes The Death Cure even though it wasn’t entirely satisfying and it killed off several characters, hey it was at least an emotional ending :’)
It IS good. I will swear by it, basically. :’)
And I liked the Death Cure! I mean the title WARNED US so. 😂 And Winter was really very satisfying although I lowkey hoped Winter would get to rule Lunar while Cinder got earth but oh well.😂
I haven’t read these books yet what is wrong with me?? But AHH they look SO GOOD!! Loved this review, Cait!! Today I was feeling panicked about not having enough books to read but then I’m like, I can always count on Cait + her reviews for new books to read. 😀
also this is random… but where do you get your Bookstagram props? I need to get more and I’m not sure what/where to look.
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They are the actual BEST! And I love how they’re just a bit different to what I normally read, so they feel fresh and I’m super engaged when I devour them. Also afdjsald I’m SO glad you like my reviews!!
Oh for bookstagram props I basically only use flowers. 😂Which I get off ebay or at second-hand stores etc. I also use mugs of pencils because I already own them haha and I have a few cute shiny boxes that I had lying around. Otherwise I basically just use books? And my background is handdrawn!
OMG I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS NOVEEEEEEL <3 I looooooved the first two books and i bought the third one as soon as it came out, but i haven't read it yet. I've got so many books in my TBR that have to be read first xD Bright We Burn is clearly top on the list, so i'll read it this month. Pretty soon 😛
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWWWW <3 I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT and it was clearly the hype i needed because I REALLY NEED TO READ THE FINALE OF THIS AMAZING SERIEEEESSSS !!!!! I'm super pumped for it.
Kisses, Cait!
P.S. Thank you so much for stopping by in my blog! I've clearly said it all over my social media already but repetition won't kill me. So THANK YOU. It really meant the world to me and definitely made my day. I saw your profile pic among my comments, took a screenshot, shut my notebook and ran off to scream in my room xD Seriously, THANKS. It means a lot <3
I totally understand that feeling of getting a book straight away but then accidentally not reading it for a while. 😂 Meeee. I was so so excited for this one I’m so glad I dived in straight away.
And omg you’re SO LOVELY AND ADORABLE. 😘💖Thank you for commenting on my blog. 😉
Ummm… well I liked the ending to Divergent… yeah… definitely.
Crooked Kingdom or a Conjuring of Light. Please don’t make me choose, please no, they’re both just so GOOD, I can’t. Btw, Muse of Nightmares better be better than Strange the Dreamer, I’m expecting a 6.5 rating out of 5, OKAY?!?!?
And after this review I desperately need to pick up this series, I’ll steal someone’s copy.
Ohh yes Crooked Kingdom and ACOL were very very good. Although with CK and saying “good” I mean…wow tHANKS FOR THE LIFE TRAUMA, BARDUGO. 😭😭
I’m nearly extra sure MoN is here to ruin us but in the best possible way.
This looks amazingggg and I can’t believe I haven’t read them yet??? They sound amazingly dark and these characters seem incredible! Definitely ones to add to my (already very long – eeek) TBR list.
Oh, and quick question – I know you’ve written a post on this before, but how do you like to choose what book to read next? I’ve just finished Caraval (yassss) and my TBR’s too long! 🙂
Gorgeous post as always, my lovely! x
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
I actually DIE trying to choose which book to read next. 😂It panics me no end hahah. I try and rotate between like some ARCs vs books I own or library books…but generally it’s just me trying to make sure I have reviews going up on time and panicking recreationally that I don’t feel like reading the books I SHOULD be reading. 😂
I actually haven’t heard anything about the sequels of this series, so I’m glad to hear that you were satisfied with the ending! I’ve still got it on my TBR but haven’t picked it up for fear of it being incredibly dense and slow to read! But the darkness and stabby characters, yes please. Great review Cait!
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I know these ones aren’t technically underrated in the scheme of things (they seem popular on GR?) but I don’t hear many bloggers talking about them! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH ALL MY LOVE TO LADA AND THE STABBY.