An absolutely amazing end to this trilogy.

Once again Abercrombie was able to make this book just fly by. I could not put it down, the excitement and need to just keep going was so strong. While I did initially put off reading the final book, I always do for the fear of my favorite character possibly dying, I do always finish them. I decided to just plunge in and finish it, and yes, my worst fear came true, my favorite character died!
But I will say it took me by complete surprise since the entire build up to it, Abercombie had me focusing on two other characters in the same situation that when it hit who actually died, I felt like
I was slapped across the face, I was taken by shock, I was sidelined, and immediately I burst into tears. I appreciate this form of death reveal, because I was so focused on the other two that It never even crossed my mind that my favorite was in jeopardy, so the reveal just hit more.

The amount of trickery, lies, betrayals and people just playing each other, just kept building and building and I never once thought it could just keep going like that, but it did and it made it so worth it. It got to the point where I no longer knew who to trust {yah Yarvi Im looking at you!!!!] But it made the entire book so much more interesting. I wanted to know the next lie, the next betrayal, the next scheme, it was all so intricate and so compelling.

The thing I appreciate most is the usage of characters, once again we were introduced to new characters, but old ones kept reoccurring. But the new characters fit in so well, that it felt like they had always been apart of the story. I really liked Raith and Rakki, and my heart hurts for these boys. Seeing Skara grow throughout the story was interesting and while she isn't a favorite of mine, she does eventually become a very cunning and strong female character. I love that Abercrombie was able to portray so many different looking women and each of them be likable in different manners. They were not cookie cutter typical YA women and I appreciate that.

The action was constant and bloody and gross but so compelling that it was hard to not get engrossed in what was unfolding. The battle lasted for a few pages but the outcomes where never pretty and Abercrombie doesn't gloss over that, he lays it out like it is. People die, people get injured, badly, and the land is ruined and people have real reactions to it. But the thing I like most about his battle scenes where the realistic parts of main characters injuries, It wasn't just the side characters or some random dude in the background. These people are at war and people get hurt and to see that actually portrayed on to the main characters was so fulfilling, its something that is missing from so many YA fantasy series.

And yes there was plenty of love stories entwined into the last book, but you know what, they were the most realistic love stories ever, that I appreciated them when they unfolded. Not everyone ended up with who they wanted, others lost those they loved, some had one nightstands and then some got their happy ending. Every piece of love story that was included felt real, they never felt rushed, and they definitely were not all happy and lovey dovey.

An absolute great ending to this trilogy!