Melanie's Reviews > Darkdawn

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

1.) Nevernight ★★★★★
2.) Godsgrave ★★★★★

“I am a daughter of the dark between the stars,” she replied. “I am the thought that wakes the bastards of this world sweating in the nevernight. I am the vengeance of every orphaned daughter, every murdered mother, every bastard son.” Mia leaned forward and looked the man in the eye. “I am the war you cannot win.”

Nevernight is about a girl, desperate to learn the truth of her family, and willing to do anything it takes to seek her revenge.

Godsgrave is about a young woman, learning more of her and her family’s past, and willing to do anything it takes to survive.

Darkdawn is about a powerful woman, learning what she wants in this life, and willing to do anything to protect the ones she loves.

“As promised, her birth you’ve witnessed, her life you’ve lived. All that remains is her death.”

Hi, my name is Melanie, and I truly think this trilogy is a masterpiece. Most of you know, this is a very beloved series in the book community, and with good reason, it truly is a story that somehow has completely bled into my very own heart and feels completely a part of me. Seeing Mia, seeing her struggles and defeats, seeing her power and victories, seeing everything ugly and beautiful in between, it has been an honor, friends. A true honor and one that I won’t forget.

This is going to be a hard book to review, mostly because it is the concluding book of a trilogy, but also just because I am too emotionally invested. Seeing Mia be a recruit for the red church, to seeing her being a gladiator willing to risk it all, to seeing her deal with what it means to get close to your absolution, it’s all so beautiful and it all evokes so many emotions from me that are beyond words.

I guess I should take a minute to talk about all the side characters, even though I truly could gush about Mia Corvere forever. But Mia has so many enemies, but just as many people who truly have grown to love her. This series has such an extensive cast of side characters, but they all feel so different and so fleshed out.

“But it’s a terrible thing, Dona Mia, when the ones who should love you best leave you for the wolves.”

Especially Mercurio. You all know that I have loved this grumpy old man for many years, but what a bright, shining light in this final installment. I love what was done with his character so much! And let’s all be honest here, we all love seeing when the hard, grumpy one ends up being the soft, sweet one. Mercurio and Mia’s relationship and found family is the stuff of dreams. And the constant theme of family being the people you choose is so beautifully executed throughout this entire series, but it is especially highlighted in Darkdawn.

And not to get into anything spoiler, but you all know I love reading about sibling relationships, especially when it is an older sister protecting a little brother. Also, I have been very open about this series having one of my favorite f/f relationships of all time, and I was living my best life, gentle friends, truly. All of the relationship dynamics are expertly done; romantic, platonic, familial, all perfection.

The author has been very open about the ending of this book and how it was going to be pretty sad, but the ending truly surpassed everything I could have imagined. I find it very rare for me to be completely satisfied with the ending of a beloved series, and somehow Jay Kristoff was able to pull off perfection.

“Sometimes the past won’t just die. Sometimes you have to kill it.”
Overall, this series just means a lot to me, and I truly love it wholeheartedly. And before you all ask, yes, I did cry a lot while reading. First, because I truly am still not ready to say goodbye, but also because Jay Kristoff does not pull back the punches, and this shit hurts, friends. But I was crying with a smile on my face, this I swear. And all the footnotes? I feel like I could write a separate review for the spectrum of emotions they were able to evoke from me. I just love this series so much, and I love Mia more than any words I could string together for a sappy review. Lastly, anyone who loves the UK versions of this series? You all are going to geek out while reading this book. Okay, love you, bye.

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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Content and Trigger Warnings: talk of child sex slavery in the past, graphic violence, gore, blood depiction, torture, loss of a loved one, death, murder, a lot of alcohol consumption, talk of rape in the past, talk of pedophilia in the past, talk of suicide, many threats of rape, sexual assault (unwanted touching), and abandonment. This is a very dark, adult book! Please use caution while reading, and make sure you are in a safe headspace.

Buddy read with Jules at JA Ironside! ❤