[A quick note: These are standard editions but I sprayed the edges. I tried to make this a spoiler free review but if you haven’t read the first two books, you can find my review for those HERE.]
“𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.”—Jill Criswell
In the final installment of the Beasts of the Frozen Sun Saga, we see Lira and her lover Reyker on opposite sides, facing off as enemies. Lira is a vessel of the gods and a soul reader. Reyker is a seasoned warrior with battle madness. Dreki is destroying the world around them and choices must be made. If Lira cannot gain control of her mind, if Reyker cannot rescue his crumbling memories, their war will destroy the world.
This series is everything I want out of a Viking inspired story. It’s raw, brutal even. Lira and Reyker’s lives are filled with difficulty and repeated challenges, but what I love most about them is they always fight for each other. Even when they find themselves as enemies. This book was an excellent conclusion to what has been a twisty-turny journey. I appreciated how things played out and even the way the ending was handled. Especially, ESPECIALLY the cost that Lira must pay at the end.
“𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.”—Jill Criswell
SoFaS is told from dual POV with Lira in first person and Reyker in third. I thought I was going to be annoyed with the switching but I found myself equally eager to read both of them. They both face their own struggles and are forced to confront their deepest flaws and shortcomings. It was really satisfying to see some of the things they confronted. All of it was riding on the overarching theme of “a choice that is not a choice.”
Once again, the romance in these books always gets me. I adore Lira and Reyker’s relationship. I even liked the new dynamic between them in this book, almost as if they had to fall in love all over again. I’m HERE for it. I think in doing so, they grow even stronger, but must also make some really important realizations.
“𝐑𝐞𝐲𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞.”—Jill Criswell
I love the world building in these books. Seriously. Vikings, hello. Warring factions, yep. Strong women, absolutely! There are so many great details. The gods for each land—like Iseneld and Glasnith—are fleshed out, the afterlife feels like its own world, and the maps are awesome. What really intrigued me, was that the battle between mortals was just a reflection of the battle taking place between the gods. The poor mortals were simply sucked in, collateral damage. There are so few series out there like this one with the genuine Viking feel. I’m sad that it’s over, but glad that it played out the way it did.
If you enjoy Viking fantasy, brutal storytelling, strong female MCs, enemies to lovers, mythology around gods and deities, fascinating villains, and maps, you’re going to love this one. 𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝟒.𝟓/𝟓⭐️