Rise, red as the dawn!
I can't believe it's over now. After years of reading these books, it feels numbing to know it's come to an end. Now, let's get into the pros and cons of War Storm.
Overall, it was a great book but the ending was OKAY. I still think this series should have a trilogy, but Aveyard far exceeded my expectations for War Storm. Usually the last book in a series is a total letdown for me, but I felt War Storm did well. The plot moved along at a good pace, I was invested in the characters, and for the most part I felt that everything that needed to occur did happen. The fight scenes were written with vivid detail but I felt that the last battle was too short. After all the hype about Norta and the Lakelands, I think it should have been extended longer. The romance was well developed and overall it was a slow burn but I think for this case, that was the best thing to do.
I wish I could say I was pleased by the ending, but unfortunately I can't. However, I don't know if I feel disappointed or resigned but I know I wasn't pleased. The story concluded with too many loose ends and I still had various questions. In regards to the romance, I think there is enough to allude to what happens but I would've liked a bit more closure to be sure. There were also characters that I didn't get to see at the end and it made me wonder what happens to them. I'm not against open endings, but I was left with too many questions to be satisfied with the finale. It didn't truly feel like an epilogue to me. It kinda sort of ends like the Hunger Games but with less information if that makes sense lol. In the end I just felt placated, like I couldn't be upset because I knew it was going to end this way.
Mare - She essentially did what I expected her to do. She never wavered on her beliefs and did not let anyone change her mind. I also didn't think she was as annoying as she was in previous books, but I did appreciate that she maintained her strong character. However, she can be a little narrow-minded and because of that, she tends to close herself off to other options. My thing with Mare is that she always has to have it her way, and she expects others to give in to her demands. She was upset with Cal over not giving up the throne but he was right, she was also unwilling to compromise for him.
Cal - I love Tiberius Calore and I'll tell you why. He's loyal to a fault, he's composed, he's kind, he's caring, and he's absolutely dedicated. At the end of King's Cage I was devastated by his decision, but I could understand why he did it. In War Storm, Cal struggles having to choose between his kingdom and what his heart desires. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think that Cal choosing to become king wasn't that bad of a decision. He was the better option against Maven and there was no way the High Houses of Norta would back the Scarlet Guard's position of equality between silvers and reds. I think that Cal would have been a great buffer for the people and with Mare at his side, he could've made significant changes to push Norta to become like Montfort. I'm not saying it was ideal, but it wasn't the worst option. I took it as Cal choosing the people over his own wishes and it was selfish of Mare to make it about herself. By the end of War Storm though, I think that Cal made the best choice he could. Many people have said that if you are a MareXCal shipper than the ending sucks, but I felt that it was clear what happens next with them.
Maven - My heart has always been split between the Calore brothers. I loved Maven, but my love for Cal was always stronger. In War Storm, Maven continues to be an enigma of a character but with all the atrocities he had committed, I felt there was only one ending for him. I know people wanted him to have a Warner-esque story, but come on y'all! Why would we romanticize a murderer? How could you possibly root for someone like that? Either way much like Mare, I was torn about how I wanted Maven to be dealt with.
Evangeline - She was literally the saving grace within the book. I was not a fan of her character in the beginning, but she grew exponentially and was one of the few I could say changed for the better. I looked forward to her chapters and was rewarded with her cunning and snarky words. I only wish her story would've been tied up a little more nicely.
Iris - Sorry, but I hated her chapters. I thought most of them were boring and I'm put out that she was able to manipulate Maven as she did. I thought he was a lot smarter than to fall for her tricks and found it a little unbelievable that was able to catch him off guard. I also thought that she was weak-minded with her family and like Maven, she was quick to bend to her mother.
Quick Pros:
Gisa - So adorable.
Mare's family - I love seeing them all together. They offer us with sweet moments.
Farley - Always a pleasure. She's clever with a hard bite. Under different circumstances, I think she and Evangeline would've been great friends.
Volos and Larentia Samos - Their ending was bliss. They got exactly what was coming to them.
Quick Cons:
Cameron - She had such an instrumental role in the previous books but here we barely get a whiff of her. What's the point of building up a character if you're going to reduce them to nothing in the future?
Jon - "To rise and rise alone" was the prophecy he gave to Mare...but it never came true? Sure she rose, but she rose with the Guard. I thought his prophecy meant she would have to succeed without anyone else's help.
Kilorn & Cameron - Okay what the hell? This legit came out of left field. I was totally on the Kilorn & Gisa ship.
Ptolemus - He definitely needed to meet the same fate as his father. RIP Shade.
