Gathering Darkness: A Falling Kingdoms Novel

Oh wow. Wow. WOW. Okay, I'm sitting here in total awe and wanting that next book now! Right now! And urgh...no magical fairies are making that happen! So onto the review! Morgan Rhodes just continues to amaze me with the Falling Kingdoms series! Each book gets even more incredible than the last and that can get pretty challenging you would think, but she has done it again with Gathering Darkness! I have come to so love these characters: Jonas, Cleo, Magnus, and Lucia! I didn't think I would like Lucia much, but she's grown on me! Though I do still have a lot to wonder about these characters as well. Their thoughts and actions get so conflicting at times and it drives me mad! One minute they're hating on one another and some time later, it's the opposite! And I LOVE the craziness of it all! Because it's not the kind that drives you crazy, but just the fact that it can be totally chaotic, I just eat up the pages and am left wanting more! Everyone here has their own plans, and they all seem in sync with one another. They are all wanting to find the magic crystals that contain unbelievable power. I don't want to get into spoiler territory, so I'm leaving it at that. Everyone wants them, because with them, that person would be unstoppable. Cleo wants to win back her kingdom, Jonas sides with Cleo on the condition that he wants to kill the King, King Gaius wants them to be the powerful King/overlord of the world basically. Everyone has their reason. Seriously, the characters in this series are amazing! And this time we get some new ones added into the mix, siblings Ashur and Amara and they present complications themselves! They're quite the mystery as it's obvious they are there for more than reasons why they say. Then there's newcomer Felix who brings up a few more mysteries. I mean, who is this guy?! We get a little bit of details towards the end, but I still find myself questioning his character. And I have to add in some thoughts on Magnus here. He started off being kind of an a$$, and while that doesn't change drastically. I started to see more to him. With his chapter segments there is definitely more pain and feelings to this guy then he lets on. And he really takes me by surprise with this one! I found that I actually liked him this time! lol There's quite a bit of romance going on here. I totally adored the Jonas and Cleo pairing we saw last time. It's an odd match, though nothing is ever concrete. They did have quite the moment as you saw from my tease. But then other things happened...on both ends! So it totally messed with my head and my feelings for all the characters! And then there's Lucia and Alexius, while I found their romance sweet, I couldn't help but notice a change in the relationship...yes, more vagueities as I try to steer clear of spoilers. Let's just say the romance all around was to die for! Seriously, I'm sitting here gushing over this book in my head and I struggle to write a coherent review! With all the different points of view, it can be hard to discuss plot, though I did touch on it. Because really, discussing one point to get to another point, well that might involve a spoiler or some other surprise that I do not want to spoil. Hence the gushing! Needless to say this was a pretty fast paced read! Highly enjoyable! Lots of action and suspense and oh the tension! So much buildup to it and then the reveals...total love! I seriously cannot think of one thing that I didn't like about this book. I guess you can say I hated that it had to end! I wouldn't have said no to another 100 pages...or more. You know, Harry Potter length! But sigh...now I must wait the long dreadful year until the next book! At least the new spinoff series will start in between and that will either satisfy my wait...or kill me more! Gathering Darkness was yet another thrilling addition to the outstanding Falling Kingdoms series. If you haven't started this yet and like fantasy, then I HIGHLY urge you to read this one! You will not be disappointed! (though the waiting for the next one might be the only "disappointing" part!) A fantabulous read and I need MOAR! Overall Rating 5/5 stars

My Personal Rating- 4.5 Synopsis: (according to Goodreads.com) "The stakes have never been higher in Morgan Rhodes' third book in the Falling Kingdoms Series as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic... "Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces. Now he must choose between family and justice as his father, the cruel King Gaius, sets out to conquer all of Mytica. All Gaius needs now are the Kindred---the four elemental crystals that give godlike powers to their owner. But the King of Blood is not the only one hunting for this ancient, storied magic... THE KRAESHIANS join the hunt. Ashur and Amara, the royal siblings from the wealthy kingdom across the Silver Sea, charm and manipulate their way to the Kindred, proving to be more ruthless than perhaps even the King of Blood himself. THE REBELS forge ahead. Princess Cleo and vengeful Jonas lead them, slaying with sweetness, skill, and a secret that can control Lucia's overpowering magic - all so they can use the Kindred to win back their fallen kingdoms. THE WATCHERS follow Melenia out of the Sanctuary. They ally in the flesh with King Gaius, who vows to use Lucia's powers to unveil the Kindred. The only certainty in the dark times is that whoever finds the magic first will control the fate of Mytica... but fate can be fickle when magic is involved." (Book Finished around January 2015) - - - - - - - - - - - - WOW... ^^^That's one way to describe this book after reading it, with excited squeals following shortly afterwards xD teehee This book was really good--and my views of some of the characters have changed GREATLY! xDD I've just abandoned my previous ship and swam to another and I'm having a BLAST!! XD (<<ya'll are gonna have to read the book to understand what 2 people I'm shipping now--eeeep!!) ^_^ Okay, I'm gonna have to stop this fangirling so that I can go on and give you my review of this book... xD MY THOUGHTS... • BEFORE the Book: I was anxious to read more about Joleo because I just LOVED them! XD just think about it: The rebel and the Princess... I mean, come on! It just reminds me too much of my two fav characters/ship on The 100 - Bellamy Blake & Clarke Griffin (#Bellarke FTW!!!) >>>9b0933c507c42492cad753f5f344ef5a.jpg >>>> Story Parallel: The 100 vs Falling Kingdom ((Am I right??)) Even though we do get a few JOLEO moments in GD, it's not much to satisfy the #Joleo shippers, unfortunately. Jonas is sorta too busy with the rebellion to have secret rendezvous with the Auranian/recently-turned-Limerian Princess... But he does have deep feelings for her, and you can obviously tell when you read this book! • AFTER Reading: However, there's also the bold, no-nonesense Lysandra whom Jonas hangs out with more in GD. After reading this, I now see clearly that he and Lys are PERFECT for each other, really. THINK ABOUT IT-- What would the kingdom gain if Cleo ended up marrying him once the Evil Gaius is vanquished??? I think uniting ALL kingdoms is the end game to bring about peace here... Don't you agree?? + Things I Loved: ~ Magnus & Cleo's banter!!! We see more of it in this book, especially in one specific, special scene where they have this deep conversation--and I'm like GAAAAAHHHH!!!! *Looks at all of you pointedly* ALL of you need to read GD and you'll know what I mean and exactly why I'm all gushy over the aforementioned scene above^^^ ;D <3 ~ I also loved the last scene in GD when the Kraeshian siblings both show their true colors....... I have 4 words for you: Magnus. Damora. Kicks. Butt! XD Things I Hated: ~ Evil King Gaius and his devious ways...that dude disgusts me >>insert Death Glare Here<< ~ the Kraeshian Wonder-Twins. UGH, everyone ALWAYS has a hidden agenda, don't they?? Evil! -------------- MORE Thoughts: Okay, I think Magnus is definitely growing on me. It started in the last book, Rebel Spring, and reading this book only cemented my feelings for Magnus Damora even more. He actually cares more than he lets on!! He has a good heart, but we don't ever see it in the series--definitely not in FK--the first book. I WANNA SEE MORE!!!!!!!!! We clearly see it a bit in RS & GD; when he steps up for Cleo when Aron badmouths her-(in RS) -- as well as his and Cleo's intense convo in GD... GAH, my heart FEELS for him! He's cold-hearted and closed off because of his evil scumbag of a father, and it makes me want that guy dead even more!!! PLEASE, someone just assassinate him already!!!!!! *looks pointedly at Jonas* ~Revelation Time~ BUT WAIT-- I also get the strange feeling that maybe it could be MAGNUS who ends his father in the end...? IDK, it just...seems..right! I've read enough books to see it happening. What do you YOU guys think??? I love Cleo and how strong she is throughout RS & GD. I know I couldn't EVER hope to be as courageous and brave as she is in GD... all the things she has to do in order to stay sane and keep to her Big Plan makes me desperately wish I could be just like her! She's lost everything & every one she's loved, and I feel for her D'X She has to be my favorite character out of all of them... right now, there's a toss up for 2nd place between Jonas & Magnus xP Alright, lastly, before I show you my all-time FAVORITE quote of GD, I just want to say one thing.... Is it too much to wish that there might be just ONE good character in the FK series that DOESN'T want control of the Kindred?? I understand the power that comes with acquiring it, but still... couldn't there just be one decent, honest-to-goodness person who just wants peace, as well as Evil Gaius gone, and have things return to normal???? IDK, maybe it's just me, but there's a lot of obsessing over this "Kindred" nonsense xP I totally understand Cleo's motive (to take back her kingdom -using the Kindred for Good), as well as Magnus' reasoning - I believe he just doesn't want his father to have it, and that I totally agree with! NO Kindred for you, GAY-us!! You're on the very-very, super-duper Naughty List this year--again! Somebody give this guy an award: a lifetime supply of COAL!!!!! ;) ........Anyway....... You know...maybe there should be a character that wants to destroy the Kindred so that NO ONE can be tempted to use it for Bad?? That just might make everyone happy forever! Don't you agree???? ;P FAV Quote of GD: <3 <3 <3 "There is no goodness inside of me, princess, so please don't waste time fantasizing that there might be." ~Magnus (to Cleo) ^I'm just going to leave ya'll with that. God, I love those two!! ^_^ Whelp, that's all I've got for today, folks.... TTYL!! ~Dori

6 STARS ACTUALLY!!! OH MY G.O.S.H (lego movie voice in there ;) ). This series just keeps getting better. Really...EACH one is better than the last. I just don't know what to tell you. There really is nothing I can say about the book that won't give part of the plot away. There are so many fabulous characters, and so many things going on, but DANG...this book was FAB FREAKING TABULOUS! I have said before in my reviews no on is safe in these books. It makes me quite scared. I am already DYING for the next book. Why oh why can't they just all come out now. I cannot wait. It may just kill me ;). The writing in this book is amazing. The story is even more amazing. I love the characters. I keep praying that the ones I truly love stay for the long run. Although some of them have already moved on. UGH........ How do I review this? I don't know. I am being series when I say I cannot say anything without giving anything away. So I am just telling you now that this series is AMAZING...You will not regret if if you start it (which you should do...like now...add it to your Christmas list). Okay maybe you will, but if you do I am sad for you because it's FREAKING AWESOME! Rhodes, well done...WELL. DONE!

I didn’t expect I would read this faster than the 2nd book, but hey, it took me 2 days to finish this! I am so sleepy.. The story so far evolved around our protagonists and their sudden change of life they an opportunistic war and a prophecy brought. Our heroes evolved and hardened, while the main driving force of change was king Gaius. Magic was sort of a backstory, which felt shallow in my eyes. In this installment of the series, the focus shifts to the prophecy and the greater forces that lurk around and pull the strings. Wardens and their own story are under the spotlight and I admit that this part of the story evolved nicely. I don’t really believe Rhodes knew about this from book 1, but it was well done, without feeling rushed or lacking. I admit however that in the end, the part with melenia felt super anti climatic. Of course, our protagonists are again the main focus, with Lucia and Nick getting more time than before, but still failing to make it to the first row. I think it’s clear this series is all about Cleo and Magnus and that part unfolds very well on this book. One more time, the pacing was good and changing viewpoints does not really hurt the reader. The only downside I can think is that the whole “people doing magic” part of this series is not that well done. It is too isolated, only Lucia can practically do serious magic, so this story unfolds in a setting where magic exists but it doesn’t really affect the story and the limited “battles” are not that impressive I think. Moreover, it doesn’t make so much sense for Magnus to want the kindred, especially in the end. Anyway, this book was VERY VERY enjoyable, an easy 5/5. Do not miss it

“You don't cry when someone pushes you down. You get up. You get up and you fight back. And pretty soon nobody's going to shove you anymore because they'll see it's not worth it.” Gathering Darkness is yet another amazing book by Morgan Rhodes. You never know where this series is going to take you but you just know it’s going to be a good one. Starting off from where the last book left off, we are thrust back into the world and problems within Mystica. From page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait to dive back into the lives of some of my favorite characters. My all-time favorite character in this series is Magnus and I loved being able to visit his POV again and learn more about him. He may be a huge jerk sometimes, but he has a vulnerable side that we get to see more of. We also got to see more of Cleo and how much stronger she has become. I love how cunning and sly she is. She is much stronger than anyone gives her credit for and I love seeing how unexpected it is for everyone. I also loved the new characters that Rhodes introduced into the book. I couldn’t wait to see their intentions and how they would help to move the plot of the story along. This book was filled with so many plot twists after plot twists and so much deception. I loved it because I didn’t know what was going to happen next which just kept me so engaged! Plus, the last couple of chapters were just insane. So much happened and I can’t wait to see where all of this will lead to in Frozen Tides.

This book so far has been the best in the series. All of the characters have evolved so much from the first book and the story has gotten so much more complicated and I LOVE that. When I started this series I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to like it based on the fact that Cleo was so ‘young and dumb’ but now she’s evolved into the complex young woman. Magnus is easily the most interesting character for me. I never really know what he’s going to be. The relationship between him and Cleo is interesting and as a reader you never really know what direction their relationship is going to take. One minute they are at each other’s throats and not trusting each other, the next they are daring to hope that there is good in the other. Both Cleo and Magnus are flawed and ‘damaged’ with a lot to forgive in both each other and themselves. I am glad this series has more books planned because I don’t think the damage can be repaired in just a couple of quick books. I love that the author is giving the reader time for the characters to earn their forgiveness. I still feel like there is a little something wanting in these books though and it’s taken me a while to pin point what it is exactly. While Cleo has evolved and changed and Magnus is exceptionally complex, I think that Jonas’s character needs more depth. I just haven’t connected with him at all and find him a little ‘flat’ to be leading a rebellion. I was hoping he would be more cocky and charismatic but so far I haven’t really felt that way about him so I think that’s what’s missing for me. So far this series has been exciting. I love how Rhodes handles controversial issues like pre-marital sex among teenagers, teen drinking, cursing, and violence in her books. As I have said before, they are all so well done and realistic….things not thrown in for shock value but rather things that make the world more realistic. In so many YA books there seems to be this unspoken code about leaving these things out or at the very least keeping it to a minimum and I love that she isn’t afraid to break with tradition.

I finished this book in a day. The action and plot was easy to speed through as my attention never wavered from the story. I even forgot that I have a husband, who stared at me with puppy eyes and sadness waiting for me to stop. Cleo grows a lot in this book. She becomes more manipulative, mature, and teams up more with Jonas on finding the Kindred crystals. Magnus also gets a huge amount of development after learning his father, the King of Blood, ordered Aron to kill his mother. Jonas, though helping Cleo with the crystals, is mainly focused on trying to rescue Lysandra and other rebels from the palace dungeons. Alexius is now mortal and tutors/guides Lucia into the darkest part of her magic as they search and find the location to each of the four Kindred crystals. More and more POVs enter as we are introduced to Prince Ashur's sister Princess Amara. Betrayal. Revenge. Vengeance. Bitter sweet moments and a confused Magnus as he and Cleo begin to fall in love with each other. I'm definitely hooked to this series and it's been a while since I've felt that way. I have the fourth book now on hand and the fifth and sixth are on their way. Again, don't get attached. To ANYONE. 5 stars.

This series is okay, it's not amazing, it's not bad, it's just okay. I think it has a great political aspect that comes in very early on and that part of it is excellent. The Romance is contrite, cliche instant love, and just horrible...so if you are looking for a well-written romance go elsewhere but if you are looking for some political intrigue its not too bad. Overall it earned the middle 3 stars.

livro em ótimo estado

So much happened in this book. I did have so many different fillings throughout this book, especially somewhat towards the ending things get super intense, and well, that ending was really phenomenal.

I gave five stars even I could give this book a 4.5 stars since it has something lacking but I still cannot see precisely. The story goes on on a very fast timing, with lot of twists and unseen dialogues and gestures. I am loving more and more the character of Magnus which is so deep that I cannot understand him completely - and this is why I love him. There's something kind in this character that comes up when he's defensless and unaware. The love stories are for teen agers so I feel like a little disappointing but we'll see where Rhodes wants to lead these guys! I can not wait for book four! I'm so excited!

los libros en otros idiomas son dificiles de conseguir. Por este metodo resulta muy sencillo y eficaz.Muy recomendable para quien le guste.

Very fast!!!, item better than the image, hope to do business again in the future, highly recommended AAA++