Kristoff’s...action sequences are well done, although Mia’s shadow magic and use of animal passengers leads to some one-sided encounters. The metacommentary is a bit much, but humorous footnotes provide wry asides and additional info about this well-imagined realm ... Readers who enjoyed the first two books will not be disappointed by this dark, addictive story that contains coarse language and plenty of sexual content.

Kristoff definitely seems to like to play these games of chicken that make many throw books in frustration ... Jay Kristoff will use his words to carve out your heart and put it back together piece by miserable piece. Each moment you spend with Mia makes turning that page more difficult, knowing that the promise our dear narrator made to us at the beginning of the series is coming. It’s fast paced and answers all of the questions we had at the end of the book ... a satisfying read for me. I think it’s going to be unique for every reader though ... I couldn’t find anything in this book to complain about, except maybe the massive footnotes that sometimes followed certain pages of the book. However, I can’t complain about those too much either because they definitely contain bits and pieces of the world that help give us a more rounded outlook of Mia’s world, and I especially love the folklore that comes through. It doesn’t meld well with the story, but they make stunning (if a little essayish) footnotes. They also come with that acerbic wit that the narrator so loves to use. Having to close this book was difficult, I’m going to miss all of the characters.

Kristoff effortlessly draws together multiple threads from the first two volumes and packs in plenty of wickedly sharp, beautifully choreographed, and gloriously bloody fight scenes while offering humor, heartbreak, and a few jaw-dropping surprises. This is a poignant and exhilarating finale to a superb fantasy series.

This conclusion to Kristoff’s...Nevernight trilogy...rockets along ... Between Jonnen and Ashlinn, Mia has people to love as well as people to kill, and that makes the stakes for our heroine feel higher than ever. Will claiming her revenge and fulfilling her destiny prevent her from ever living a peaceful life? Fans will love the fast-paced, epic conclusion to this dark and bloody tale.