#Review - Soul of Cinder by Bree Barton #YA #Fantasy

Series: Heart of Thorns # 3
Format: Hardcover, 496 pages
Release Date:  January 12, 2021
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

In the dramatic conclusion to Bree Barton’s fiercely feminist teen fantasy trilogy, a trail of flames forces the sisters Mia, Pilar, and Angelyne to the river kingdom for a final homecoming as Prince Quin attempts to take back the throne.

The Twisted Sisters are coming home.

Prince Quin has returned to the river kingdom, ready to spearhead a rebellion and reclaim the throne. He vows to destroy Mia, Pilar, and Angelyne if they oppose him—even if he must use his newfound magic to set the world aflame.

Across the four kingdoms, the elements have been tipped askew. Volcanoes erupt, glaciers collapse, and cities sink into the western sands. After losing Angie, Mia and Pilar journey to the glass kingdom to seek help, though soon their fragile bonds of sisterhood begin to fray. Mia’s sensations are creeping back, and with them, a deep and searing grief. Pilar, terrified of being broken, once again seeks comfort in her fists. But when they hear rumors of a misty island that promises to erase all pain, they suddenly find themselves with an answer—if they are willing to pay the cost.

As tensions mount, the sisters are drawn back to the river kingdom for a final reckoning with the boy they each loved. The shattering conclusion to Bree Barton’s Heart of Thorns trilogy challenges why we grieve, whom we love—and how to mend a broken heart.

 

"Perhaps, in the end, the greatest love stories are not about our lovers. They are the stories of how we learned to love ourselves."

Soul of Cinder, by author Bree Barton, is the third and final installment in the authors' Heart of Thorns trilogy. This story revolves around three key characters: Mia Rose, Pilar d'Aqila, and Quin Killian. The final book brings readers to new worlds—the glass kingdom, the House of Shadows, an island called a “final resting place,” but after all the journeying, Mia, Pilar, and Quin, will return to the river kingdom, where it all began in Heart of Thorns, for a final showdown in home territory.

If you've read Tears of Frost, and I certainly hope you have, you know that events at the end of the book left questions as to whether or not Quin or Angelyne survived the destruction of the Ice Kingdom. Well, apparently I just spoiled it for you, since they did. But Mia and Pilar, who are not aware of that fact until much later in the book, are aching from the losses even though Angelyne went evil and caused a whole lot of harm to many, many people. In fact, thanks to her, across the four kingdoms, the elements have been tipped askew. Volcanoes erupt, glaciers collapse, and cities sink into the western sands.

Quin, who is very much alive and discovered that he has magic, truly believes that the Twisted Sisters (Mia, Pilar, and Angelyne) betrayed him. He is now on the war path wanting to get revenge on the sisters. He even sends them a letter demanding that they return to Kaer Killian so that a final resolution can be determined. Quin, who was been abused by Angelyne, fell for Mia, and in a moment of lust, had a moment with Pilar, has his own issues to deal with. First, his entire family is gone. Second, the people don't want Quin to return as King. 

Third, his former lover Tobias has joined with a rebellion group called the Embers who really would be happy if he never returned. Quin who was a weak boy, a scorned son, a manipulated lover and pawn, needs to step up and become a leading man or what's the point of staying alive? Meanwhile, while traveling with Nelladine to Pembuk, the glass kingdom, in order to speak with the Shadowess, Mia and Pilar are coming to grips with being half-sisters as well as the thought of losing both Angelyne and Quin as well as Mia's mother. 

Mia hopes she can regain her feelings and sensations, and for Pilar to come to terms with the horrific suffering she has faced, and the fact that Mia is her sister. Mia and Pilar's relationship is not one of comfort and happiness, but bitterness and blame. Mia has a whole lot of regrets and blames herself or not seeing Angelyne's plots even though they lived together for most of their lives. She failed to understand magic, she failed to understand why her mother left her behind for an entirely new family in the Ice Kingdom, she failed to understand why Angelyne wanted her dead so badly. 

She rediscovers her feelings, little by little, and wants to care for anyone and help those suffering, though this doesn't always turn out well for her. Mia realizes that she can't fix anyone but herself. She truly believes that everything she touches she destroys. Her journey to the House of Shadows doesn't lead her to happiness or answers to her lack of feeling. Instead, she ends up on an island where people who want to forget about everything. A surprise awaits her there. Can her surprise break her out of her funk in time to help Pilar and Quin? 

Pilar had no clue she had two sisters, if she did, things may have been different. She may have even found time to know her father the legendary hunter. Even though Mia saw what happened to Pilar in the Hall of Reflections and seems to want to fix everything, she can't. Pilar finds her own way in this story and it's not all that comfortable. There are elements who don't want her to succeed and others who absolutely think she makes a wonderful teacher to the children of the House of Shadows. For most of the story, the House of Shadows actually makes things worse for her before she and Mia have to face off against Quin.

In many ways, this story comes full circle from the first installment with Mia and Quin realizing there is a way forward and long as they can forgive themselves. One of the more interesting aspects of this story is Angelyne's own redemption on the Isle of Forgetting. Didn't see that coming. The sister bond was messy, complicated, and heartbreaking but it makes it more realistic that way. It was very intriguing to see Pilar & Mia Rose's relationship evolve throughout the entire trilogy. As you progress through the story, you feel the characters are finally resolving their deeply-rooted issues and getting some closure. The author managed to beautifully craft a conclusion. 

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