The Shattered Castle (Ascendance #5) Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2021. [October 19] 332 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Throughout the years, I'd faced death more times than I could count, fought a war, endured the loss of my parents, and survived torture, cruelty, and multiple insults i nthe form of overcooked meat at the supper table. I thought that I had already faced the worst of anything this world might offer.
The Shattered Castle is the fifth and possibly the final book in the series. It is closely connected to the fourth book, Captive Kingdom, and both Captive Kingdom and The Shattered Castle occur in the story BEFORE the end of the third book. Both books are 'after thoughts' (if you will) of the original trilogy. The books fill in the blanks of that missing year between the end of the war and the marriage of King Jaron and Imogen.
The fourth book introduced new villains or antagonists. The fourth book ended with a temporary pause in hostilities. He had won that battle, but, probably most likely it wasn't going to be THE END of that conflict. He had just bought his kingdom time--maybe a little, maybe a lot. The fifth book opens with several "conflicts." His future mother-in-law has arrived, and she is displeased at best with how things are. HE is not good enough for HER daughter. No matter that he is the king. He is trouble with a capital T. The son of a former regent--one removed from the position because of his actions/choices--has arrived demanding that he be allowed to take his father's position as regent. Jaron has a strong instinct that he is TROUBLE. But the third conflict, well, he wasn't expecting trouble SO SOON and so sudden.
This novel EXPLODES with action quickly. The title is to be taken quite literally.
This novel gives King Jaron a dozen plus opportunities to reassess his life, his choices, his priorities. WHAT MATTERS MOST. That is what is on the back of his mind--not the front and center, mind you. That is taken up with things like SURVIVING, PLOTTING, PLANNING, SCHEMING and trying to stay a few steps ahead of his enemies.
I didn't love, love, love the fourth book. I didn't. I wasn't so crazy about this one either--for most of the journey--but it began to redeem itself a bit halfway through. By the end, I was glad I kept reading. All that being said, if you reach the third book and you're like WOW what a great way to end a great series. This is oh-so-satisfying...I couldn't ask for a better, more fulfilling ending...then probably don't seek out these two late additions???
It's not that they are bad. They're not. I love, love, love, love, crazy love these characters. I've grown super attached to them. But at the end of the day, we're still right back at the ending with the third book....only now we've read about three or four dozen close-calls with Jaron and his friends almost dying. Jaron does grow as a character. So there is that at least. Jaron grows in each and every book in this series. And that's a great thing.
© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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