Format: Hardcover, 464 pages
Release Date: August 25, 2020
Publisher: Imprint
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical
Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Eseult, Bright Raven Skies is the third book in a lush fantasy series about warring countries, family secrets, and star-crossed lovers.
Branwen has given herself over to the darkest parts of her magic in
order to protect her kingdom, but in doing so, she may have lost
herself—and the two people she loves most.
Tristan and Eseult
are missing. As Branwen searches for them, she must also hide the truth
of her terrible actions from the night they disappeared.
But
there are those who don’t want the Queen and her champion to be found;
enemies who plot to bring a new reign into power and destroy the fragile
peace Branwen has sacrificed everything to secure.
Bright Raven Skies is the thrilling conclusion to the lush and soaring romantic fantasy trilogy.
To that extent, Branwen has done some not so good things in hopes of bringing the countries to peace. One of those things still hangs over her head every time she is anywhere near Tristan and her cousin, True Queen Eseult. Following the attack by Armorican's, led by Princess/Captain Eseult on Kernyv Castle, Branwen used primordial magic to turn back the tide of defeat by asking for help from the Old One Dhusnos. As the story picks up, Branwen is struggling to come to terms with what happened, and Dhusnos' looming deadline that she must sacrifice someone to him before a year is out for the aid he provided her or someone she loves will die. To make matters worse, Eseult, and Tristan, are missing, presumed abducted, or even dead. But Branwen believes they ran away to be together. So do others.
A note to the reader:
this book is broken into (3) parts. The first part is Branwen's struggle to
find Eseult and Tristan, understand her magic which instead of healing, now
kills, and trying hard not to get herself killed in the process for not
revealing what she knew about the escapades of the couple. This brings her in
direct conflict with Ruan who has become her lover in lieu of what might have
been with Tristan had she not messed up big time. One of the more interesting
twists is that the King of Armorica wants a 3-way alliance between his country,
Kernyv and Iveriu. This means that Tristan and Princess Alba must marry.
The second part of this book is mostly political. Branwen must wade through difficulties that compound each other time and time again. Branwen and Eseult seem to find more common ground than being mad at each other for something that Branwen did before arriving in Kernyv. Branwen is struggles with her magic, while Eseult seems to have found a calling, and is turning out to be a decent Queen for the people. The second part also consists of a war on the pirates, some revealing twists and betrayals, and a shocking.
The third part is probably the best of the book. Branwen travels to Armorica after receiving word of a confrontation between her former lovers Ruan and Tristan. What unfolds broke my heart! But it was also a kind of perfect ending for a pair of characters, while Branwen finally understands her own calling without having to darken her soul any further. After reading the letter her Aunt sent to her, Branwen begins to understand that she must make herself happy before she can move forward.
"Life’s most closely guarded secret, my darling niece—my darling daughter—is that we fail more than we succeed. We must learn to love ourselves, and each other, in our failures."
No comments:
Post a Comment