REVIEW: GATHERING DARKNESS by Morgan Rhodes

GATHERING DARKNESS

Author: Morgan Rhodes
Series: Falling Kingdoms #3
Source: Digital Copy Purchased from Kobo
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary:
In GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic, first:

Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces. Now he must choose between family and justice as his father, the cruel King Gaius, sets out to conquer all of Mytica. All Gaius needs now are the Kindred - the four elemental crystals that give godlike powers to their owner. But the King of Blood is not the only one hunting for this ancient, storied magic...

THE KRAESHIANS join the hunt. Ashur and Amara, the royal siblings from the wealthy kingdom across the Silver Sea, charm and manipulate their way to the Kindred, proving to be more ruthless than perhaps even the King of Blood himself.

THE REBELS forge ahead. Princess Cleo and vengeful Jonas lead them, slaying with sweetness, skill, and a secret that can control Lucia's overpowering magic - all so they can use the Kindred to win back their fallen kingdoms.

THE WATCHERS follow Melenia out of the Sanctuary. They ally in the flesh with King Gaius, who vows to use Lucia's powers to unveil the Kindred.


The only certainty in the dark times is that whoever finds the magic first will control the fate of Mytica... but fate can be fickle when magic is involved.

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

The story gets even more intricate with each book. There are layers upon layers to this story and people and past events that are influencing and affecting the current story that the main characters aren't even aware of. I love how much detail and complexity Rhodes weaves into this story and I am always left in awe when I read this series because there is such good world building, relationship building, and threats that it makes it such a GOOD read. This is honestly such a good example of amazing fantasy in YA and I wish more people had read this series.

The plot thickens as we meet new characters and learn about ulterior motives of the characters who have already been introduced. I thought that the Kindred awakening scene went a little quickly and that there could have been a bit more time between awakening the Kindreds because it felt very fast. Especially considering a lot of what this story is building up to is finding (and using) the Kindreds. Don't get me wrong, I am sure there is still more to it than having them in possession, but I think it was just oddly paced considering the rest of the story. That ending always leaves me breathless and speechless because I am so nervous about where the story is going to go from here and what Lucia is going to do. I just love love love the dark direction that this is taking.

Cleo becomes a great leader in this -- if only she had people to lead (oh gosh I'm horrible). She knows how to take charge, be manipulative, and also be genuine when she needs to be. It is quite the read because she is playing everyone in this series to her advantage while also falling in love along the way. And I am so here for it. I don't think that she is going to have a super happy ending (because honestly, I don't think anyone is going to) but I do hope that she find some happiness at the current moment.

Magnus is bae. I do this weird wiggly shake every time he is on the page or in the story because I just love him. I was so skeptical of him in the beginning but he has really grown on me. I would assume that is the point, since he is also growing on Cleo. But I like that he is finally coming to terms with what his change of heart actually means. AND HE STOOD UP TO HIS FATHER! MULTIPLE TIMES! *happy dances*

Jonas is still Jonas. I feel like out of all the main characters, Jonas is the most stagnant. He does start to show he is trusting people but he is constantly making the same mistakes and not learning from them. I thought his brush with death in REBEL SPRING would give him a new outlook on life however he seems to be even more stupid if that's possible. I do like that he is admitting his feelings for both Lysandra and Cleo but I am kinda torn? On one hand, I love me some Magneo. But on the other hand, it feels like the typical "Princess ends up with Prince" and "Rebel ends up with Rebel" and I almost expected more. Like maybe Jonas and Cleo could be together. But then I remember Magnus and am like nope.

Lucia is perfection. I love that she is naive and easily manipulated for other people's gains but once she learns about this she takes no shit or prisoners and literally kills them. I love that even with Cleo's ring, she is still feeling the darkness. And acting on it! I really admire that she realizes that there is darkness there but she is starting to care less and less. Whether this is a personal choice or the taint of magic, we have yet to see. But I do think she will start to give into the darkness more in the next novel after the events of this one.

Everything about this series is perfect and flawless. I'm so here for characters dying and for there to be more happening in the background than what the main characters are led to believe. I am just so in love with this series and if you haven't started it yet, do so now.