It's absolutely maddening to be the only person you know that reads fantasy. I've just finished The War of Lost Hearts trilogy and I have so many feelings and not a single soul I know has read the books or even likes this kind of thing.
I love Max and Tisaanah to death, they were both fantastic and I'd read a dozen books with them just living peacfully and happily like they deserved.
But Aefe and Caduan broke my heart completely. Their story was such a gut punch to me. It genuinely takes talent for me to be crying over someone who should be, and is in a way, a villain.
It's like imhotep and anck su namun from The Mummy, but intensified and she went back for him like she should have in the end.
"The vengeance is for you."
Aefe deserved so much better. She deserved a whole full life and to be loved and she was robbed of it so many times and I'm still sobbing over their ending. The writing was beautiful and had me crying on a sunny sunday afternoon.
"Five hundred years is a very long time. One hundred and eighty thousand days, and I thought of you in every one"
He loved her so much. He never stopped reaching for her for hundreds of years and almost tore apart everything just so she would have a life, just so she would exist again with him. To get the chance to have the ending they should have had. It cost him everything and even while it was literally killing him and destroying everything around them he still fought for her right until the end.
'A streak of silver rolled down his cheek. "I cannot save you Aefe." And that I realised, was the cruelest truth of all. He could not save me. And I could not save him.
"Together," I choked out. "We go together."
"Your Story deserved a better end." I kissed him, and it was there, on the precipice of life and death, I felt the final shift in his resolve.
"Nothing ever truly ends" I whispered.'
...
'Together we will cross it. Together we will conquer the next unknown. His hand reaches out for me. His lips curl into a sad smile.
"Come home Aefe," he murmurs.
I love how he says my name.
I take his hand.
...
His eyes were closed as if he simply dirifted off to sleep. His hand was outstretched, as if had been holding something or someone.
I'll never be over it.
Anyways I'm off to go read her other books I haven't got to yet.
"Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening, and they are just as loved, just as important. It is a privilege to do nothing, Max. So many people do not have that gift."
“No war can be fought with clean hands . . . Not even the ones waged for the right reasons. Not even the ones you win.”
The Children of Fallen Gods (The War of Lost Hearts #2)
5/5
The triple POV and dual timeline were done flawlessly. It was easy to follow and left me wanting more after every chapter.
Just like the first, I literally have no notes. It was just as good, if not better.
Like honestly, you'd think introducing a new POV and character in book 2 would be confusing and hard to follow- but I felt it was executed perfectly. It was interesting off the rip, and the bread crumbs left helped put together how its all connected before the official reveal.
Aefe is also just a fantastic addition. And I am thankful that Reshaye's story is not finished. I wasn't sure how to feel if book 3 had no Reshaye.
I can't believe how much shit went down at the end though. Nura. That bitch. And Max is so broken. OUR POOR BABY.
I'm glad Tisaanah's rage is back though. A lot of references to book 1. I loved it. As they continue to grow, it is easy to forget what started it all.
My only minor criticism, or more like an observation, but Zeryth's downfall was kind of.. anticlimatic? Or atleast his reign. Like he just fizzled away and died. I don't think I understood how they explained that away to the public? They literally fought a whole war to fight for his place as King, and then he just dies. Huh? Lot of shit happened to Tisaanah and Max though- so not anticlimactic in other ways.
And holy shit, I can't believe Caduan lives. Of all the things that I forsaw, that was not one. His death seemed pretty sure. Also Ishqa's betrayal. That was one other thing I did not see coming. Hopefully we figure all this fey shit.
I am glad that Tisaanah left off in relatively good terms with Reshaye. Cause hopefully Reshaye can speak reason with Caduan, and show him that humans can be good. Or atleast help save Tisaanah and Max.
This series is also so poetic. There isn't smut. It's lovemaking. Gentle carresses. Smut or spicy just almost don't give off the correct tone that is the gentle loving touches between Max and Tisaanah.
-CADUAN. WHYYYYY. WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHWY. FRICK. I EVEN SAID THAT IF AEFE IS INFACT RESHAYE, THAT HER BACKSTORY GIVES MAJOR TRAGEDY VIBES. OF COURSE AEFE DOESN'T GET TO BE WITH CADUAN. FUUUUUUUUUCKKKK.
AND HOLY SHIT WE LOST RESHAYE TOO. I MEAN THANK GOD WE DIDN'T LOSE TISAANAH BUT ALSO, AM I CRAZY FOR MISSING RESHAYE?? WHAT ABOUT TISAANAH'S MAGIC?
Like I am literally going to finish Archer's Voice in two days, while I have been sitting on Children of Fallen Gods for almost two weeks. What is wrong with me? Is it the length? The fantasy aspect? I LIKE WAR OF LOST HEARTS. IT'S GREAT. A FIVE STAR SERIES SO FAR TBH.
I just- I just can't binge it. And yet I can't put down Archer's Voice, but have so many criticisms.
-is from the past. Fey are extinct? That one butterfly species that detects magic is extinct?
Calling it right now, that Aefe is Reyashe's Reshaye's origin story. I GET HER NAME WRONG EVERY TIME BRO.
This makes me kind of worried though, since it makes me think that Aefe and Caduan aren't going to work out.. since Reshaye's origin story gives major tragedy vibes.
