Joshita ❤'s Reviews > Darkdawn

My rating: 3.5 (Turns out my review got wiped out and now I have to write it again! OH, I have never felt more alive in my life!)

“Sometimes the past won't just die. Sometimes you have to kill it.”

I just went on an epic adventure over the sea on a damn ROLLERCOASTER! Action, drama, twists, love, hate, friendship, family, gods, mythology, you name it and this book had it all. I have a lot to say so I hereby present you a long-ass review...



Drakdawn is the last and final conclusion of the story of Mia Corvere. Last we saw Mia complete her revenge by killing her targets and escaping with her brother Jonnen, only to find that Scavea is still alive and well. With her old friend returning from the dead, The Red church on her trails, a sassy brat of a brother, and the task of returning balance to the world—it is safe to say that Mia had a lot to do, no pressure.

“My name is Mia Corvere. Blade of the Red Church. Champion of the Venatus Magni. Chosen of the Dark Mother and Queen of Scoundrels. Never call me girl again.”

With the note that the last book ended on, there was no doubt I was gonna get on with the third book ASAP. That cliffhanger left me craving for more. And so I started the third book as soon as possible. There were so many loose ends by the end of the last book and I am happy to report that Darkdawn tied them perfectly indeed. For starters, we get to know who is the mysterious narrator of the book. One of the things that are different in this book than its predecessors is that it is divided into 5 parts, breaking the ritual of having the book divided into 3 parts. I had noticed before how each part had a specific role assigned to them. 1st part mainly focused on introducing the plot. 2nd on executing and 3rd bore the results and all the main action. However, this book started off with such a banger that I formed very high expectations for the next parts. And it did fulfill those requirements to a certain extent but the relationship and the ending ruined it for me. I have always been patient with Jay Kristoff because I know that by the time I reach the end, it will be worth it. But not this time. I wanna start by commenting on Jay's writing. It took me a while to get used to it in the first book but then when I got a hang of it...it was a smooth ride. His writing was implacable as always. The characters were so well written that you can't help yourself but feel for them. The nevernight Chronicles have some of the best dialogs and one-liners I have ever read, full of emotions and sarcasm dripping from them. Also, can we just appreciate Jay Kristoff making fun of his writing and commenting on the very 'controversial' footnotes XD

“Oh, fuck me," you were thinking, "it's been awhile. I wonder where all the footnotes went. Maybe the author got embarrassed by everyone in his own book taking a steaming shit on them, and decided to refrain for the rest of the novel."
Well, fuck you, gentle friends.”

This book was truly an epic adventure. Mia traveling the world, finding allies, going on a quest that is bigger than everything she has ever known—felt very grand. It felt like a movie with a bigger budget. The first book followed mia's perspective alone but here multiple character POVs were introduced which not only gave depth to certain side characters but also made the book feel sumptuous and elevated.

“You're a thief and a killer and a hateful fucking cunt, but that's why I adore you.”

As I mentioned the relationship between Mia and Ashlinn wasn't for me. It came at me out of nowhere in book 2 and to say the least... I was not pleased. Ashlinn is one of those characters who can do anything and plead me to like them but I will still hate their guts. And so in a line, I would wanna make it clear—I hate Ashlinn. No matter what anyone says, I cant WON'T forgive her for what she did to Tric. I went out of my way to avoid the sex scenes and the "heart to heart" scenes because there is nothing more annoying than reading a character that you know deserves to fuck off but stays and tries to convey everyone that there is not a better choice of a lover for the protagonist then themselves!

"DO YOU LOVE HER?" He asked.

The moment Tric came back, I had guessed there might be a possibility for a future love triangle. And boy I was right. Now, this is a section I call "TRIC DESERVED BETTER" and I hereby announce myself as the president of that association. He was one of my favorite characters in the first book and he is my favorite in the last. He had so much potential and was the right choice for Mia. I can only define him as one of the sweetest and deserving men I have ever read about and Mia didn't deserve him in any way whatsoever. He got played like a dice. A fucking throwing DICE! Sometimes authors throw a very unusual relationship (Mia and Ash) at us and pretend that it is the most natural thing in the world. I am so not here for that *Slams door*
TEAM TRIC TILL I DIE BABY!



I had a love-hate relationship with Mia in this book but it won't hamper my decision that Mia is badass, sassy, crazy, loving, butt-kicking diva. She grew so much through the course of the trilogy. With revenge as her main focus to her friends and family becoming her life, you can feel the change. And this book was proof of how much family meant to her. I loved Mister kindly and Eclipse and I know, no matter what, they are still bantering about something. (view spoiler)[ I can never forgive Jay for killing Eclipse. I don't need ash, just give me the wolf! (hide spoiler)] This book accumulated so many different friendships that I adored. Characters from the previous books that I hated and loved, as well as the new ones just stole my heart.

“But to live in the hearts of those we leave behind is to never die. And to burn in the memories of our friends is to never say goodbye.”

In every way, Darkdawn was a true conclusion to the story of Mia. Every loose end, every twist, every turn, it all was so beautifully written that it all fit together like pieces of a puzzle by the end of the book. I loved how every character and every story arc got an ending and it all wrapped up. It is very hard to find the last book which truly is the end to a world or a book but Jay Kristoff pulled it off.
But I have to point out that I am glad that everyone and everything got an ending, however, I don't like the ending they got. If the last chapter wouldn't have happened... I would have cried, I would have loved it, I would have raised my ratings. But the last chapter did happen. Everything leading towards the end was perfect, the story was wrapping up perfectly and then...it took a U-turn! I was waiting for that last final impact to hit me but it never did. I was waiting for the ending to one of the best trilogies out there to leave us speechless. And i am speechless but not in a way I imagined.
(view spoiler)[ When Ash was sitting on the beach alone, I formed sympathy towards her. I might have loved the tragedy of it all but then Mia arrived. All I could conclude was how they were just cheating death! Maybe it is also the choice of partner. Maybe I would have cried happy tears if Tric sat on the beach rather than Ashlinn. The series would have ended with a bang if Mia had just died. Now I am the type of reader that goes out of her way to avoid reading books where the main leads die and if I say that Mia should have died...it says a lot. (hide spoiler)]

“However it ends, at least you had a story to tell.”

The ride for the Nevernight Chronicles wasn't a smooth one for me. It reached its peak, then went on moderately, then touched the sky only to fall. Despite my 2 major concerns I loved this book. And as for the trilogy as a whole—one of the best books out there. I am so glad I picked this up because these characters have grown close to me. These books have some of my favorite action sequences ever written because they feel so real and deadly. And believe me when I say that now I am going to force my friends to read this.
I can probably describe my experience reading this trilogy as follows:

Amazing characters + badass protagonist + trash relationship choice + epic fight sequences + one of the best worldbuilding + fangirling over Tric + crying + Hating ash + deaths..lots of deaths + not so great ending + best buddy read partner + twists + mystery + 2 favorite animals= The nevernight Chronicles



Buddy read this book with the awesome Lisann. Thank you so much for making this book fun and ranting with me. It would have been awkward if we didn't hate and love the same characters.