#Review - Nightblood by Elly Blake #YALit #Fantasy

Series: The Frostblood Saga # 3
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Release Date: August 21, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown For Young Readers
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

The explosive finale of the New York Times bestselling Frostblood Saga, perfect for fans of Three Dark Crowns, Red Queen, and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Ruby's world has changed more than she ever could have imagined. She's in love with a powerful Frost King. She's the heir to the Fire Throne. And she may be a Nightblood--the spawn of a vengeful deity hellbent on releasing an imprisoned army of shadowy wraiths. Once freed, these beasts will roam the earth, devouring the spirits of every last person until he or she is nothing but an empty husk.

Ruby is able to control the shadows to a degree, even hosting one in her own body. But will this tenuous connection--which threatens to consume her--be enough to hold the beasts back? With time running out, she must bring Frostbloods and Firebloods together to make a stand against an immortal foe more deadly than any she's faced. And the price of peace may be her very life.

In this heart-pounding finale of Elly Blake's gorgeously written and action-packed Frostblood Saga, the fate of Frostbloods, Firebloods, and all of humanity is at stake.

 

 

Nightblood is the third and final installment in author Elly Blake's Frostblood Saga. The gauntlet has thrown down, the pieces on the board are moving into place, the evil that threatens the world is eager to make Fireblood Princess Ruby Ottera his own, and a Minax that lies with Ruby is pushing her into becoming someone she doesn't recognize. Can Ruby and her allies, Frostblood King Arcus, and Sudesian Prince Kai pull off a master plan and win the day? As new characters are introduced, and old characters return to battle the evil that we do, the story revs up for one more fight to save the world. Who will survive? Who will fall? It's fair to say it will be a toss of the dice, or a kiss from lady luck.

Nightblood picks up shortly after the end of Fireblood. Ruby, Arcus, and Kai and a cadre of Fireblood Masters are headed back to Tempesia to see Brother Thistle as well as meet with Arcus’ court. He needs the court’s agreement to partner with Sudesia and the Queen Nalani’s forces to go after Eurus and stop him from opening the Gate of Light. In the meantime, Ruby has been sleepwalking, dreaming of Eurus. Stopping him from opening the Gates and unleashing the Minax on an unsuspecting world is her primary goal.

 

Noting else matters. Everything else, including relationships with Arcus and yes, even Kai who refuses to take a back seat and is uncomfortable with being only a friend, is secondary. Ruby's self-control, as well as her relationship with Arcus, is tested too many times to count in this story. Her growth as a character is also tested since she has no idea whether or not she is truly a Fireblood, or the so called Nightblood that Eurus so eagerly claims as his own.

One could say that the Minax is a major aspect of what Ruby does in this book. It changes her in many ways, and it also seems to give her strength when others are doubting she can handle what has been attached to her since she destroyed the Frostblood throne. Ruby says and does some terrible things under the Minax’s possession and to be fair, Ruby isn't totally honest to those who love her and care about her and doesn't want to see her become a pawn in Eurus' war against his brethren.

I think it's fair to say that hinting that everything works out in the end is a cope out. You can't legitimately understand this story, especially the final 1/3 of this story, without reading about Ruby's inner & outer struggles and how far she is pushed to the absolute limits of her character and her abilities. Hell, even I was more than curious when the author tosses a monkey wrench into the story and then has to do the mambo in order to make readers feel they got the most out of the book.

I didn't rate this book higher and I blame that on the author's attempt at using a love triangle. They are absolutely unnecessary and unwarranted. I've been saying this for 9 years as a reviewer. Although Kai is technically Ruby's betrothed, it's more of action of convenience, rather than real love. Ruby and Arcus have their ups and downs, but never doubt their unwavering love for the other. As for Arcus, he struggles with his own legacy and legitimacy from a group that readers met in the previous book. The are dangerous and could upturn any chance at an alliance between Fire and Frost Bloods if they succeed. One could also say that he feels a bit threatened by the friendship between Kai and Ruby, but doesn't go hiding in a corner and whine about it for the entire book.

Recommendation: Borrow or Buy it

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