Format: Kindle, 385 pages
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Skyscape
Source: Amazon
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
With Juri in control and everything in absolute chaos, Lela plunges into the depths of hell to free Malachi from creatures that have waited decades to exact their revenge. But the Judge has her own way of doing things, and Lela must work with Ana, the new Captain, who has a very personal mission of her own. Together, they infiltrate the most horrifying realm either has yet encountered in the Shadowlands—the bitter landscape ruled by the Mazikin.
The stakes could not be higher, and Lela must accept the help—and love—of people she barely knows or trusts. As alliances and loyalties shift and she realizes the soul she came to save isn’t the only one in need of rescue, can Lela summon the strength to see the fight through to the very end?
Chaos is the final installment in the Guards of the Shadowlands trilogy by Sarah Fine. Chaos picks up right where Fractured left off, so if you haven't yet read Fractured, do so now. Lela Santos world has literally been turned on its side ever since her best friend Nadia committed suicide in Sanctum. She dove in without any hesitation to save her from the Shadowlands and found love and a second chance in the process with Malachi a Captain of the Guard who has spent 70 years hunting and killing Mazikin. Things were left in a major pickle at the end of Fractured, and now, Lela must put her own life on the line once again in order to bring Malachi back from the darkest place in the afterlife; Mazikin City.
As if saving and bring back Malachi wasn't hard enough, Lela is given other tasks to complete as well. (1) Find the portal which is allowing the Mazikin to escape to Earth and destroy it. (2) Destroy the Queen of the Mazikin. Thankfully, the Judge doesn't send Lela to the Dome where Mazikin City is located alone. Ana returns and is sent along with Lela to complete these tasks and find the love of her life (Takeshi) who has been missing for years now. Lela and Ana realize that the Judge is playing a very dangerous game, and they, along with Malachi, and others, are just pawns in a much larger game.
The Judge wants the Mazikin situation handled, and handled now. Lela's worries are validated when she and Ana arrive. Malachi's soul is in the Dome, and the Queen is keeping him all to herself. If you are squeamish in any way, I would advise you that things do get a bit brutal in this book. Ana and Lela are forced into alliances with brutal human leaders who have come to accept that the Mazikin are their masters. They see familiar faces, and know that one wrong move will be their last.
I was a bit puzzled when the first two items on Ana and Lela's list were finally resolved and the reunions happened. Yet, I knew that there was more to come in this story. There was more to come because Lela hasn't completed her final mission in destroying any remaining Mazikin on Earth. One of the most heart breaking scenes is Lela's reunion with Malachi not once, but twice. I dare say that I reached for a Kleenex once or twice.
Chaos is a step up from Fractured in darkness and action. While the normal world was dangerous, and the Mazikin made things hard for Lela and her crew, Mazikin City is no joking matter. I love the fact that Fine writes about dark worlds, and broken characters, and doesn't hold anything back. I love that she has made Lela a hero, but doesn't leave her alone without any support system. I loved that Ana makes a return, and I love that we finally, finally get to meet the love of Ana's life Takeshi. I loved the reunion with Lela's own mother who I honestly felt heart broken for and the Mazikin who saved Lela in Fracture.
Malachi is the real deal folks. He laid down his own life for Lela. He made Lela feel things she hasn't felt before while also making her realize that she was absolutely worth something and not just someone who was tossed away and spent years in and out of foster homes. Fine walks away from any dick measuring contests in this book. There is Lela's destined love for Malachi, and nobody else was going to measure up to what he has in his heart. I'm sad that this trilogy is over, but I am not sad that I had the pleasure of reading this entire trilogy back to back.
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