You might recall I fell in love with the Cursebreakers series by Brigid Kemmerer as of the very first chapter of book 1 (My review of A Curse so Dark and Lonely can be found here). Book 2 surprised me with its sudden shift in narrative, but nevertheless won over my heart rather quickly too (Check out my review of A Heart so Fierce and Broken here). I was so afraid that it would be my heart that would end up broken at the end of the trilogy, but I’m happy to report I loved the finale, A Vow so Bold and Deadly, as much as I loved the other parts of this trilogy.

A Vow so Bold and Deadly

At the end of book 2, Grey and Lia Mara gave an ultimatum to Rhen. Surrender, or they would take the kingdom by force. While Rhen struggles with coming to terms with his newfound half-brother, he also desperately tries to hold on to his throne and to the bond he shares with Harper. But doubt has seeped into their relationship, and it becomes increasingly hard to fight for whatever trust remains between them.

In Syhl Shallow, life isn’t straightforward for Lia Mara and Grey either. Adjusting to their new positions has been a precarious balancing act and the looming fight with Emberfall never allows them a moment rest.

As the deadline nears and old dangers re-appear, can they find a way forward without any blood loss? Or can trust, once broken, never truly be repaired after all?

An amazing finale

After the sudden change in narration in book two, I was curious to see what Brigid Kemmerer would have picked for this conclusion. Honestly, I think she tied everything together beautifully by switching between the four main characters in this final book. The writing style also remains fluent and while this book has little to nothing to do anymore with Beauty and the Beast, the story remains magical.

I have loved these four characters dearly (especially Rhen) and it was so interesting to see how everything came together. I really liked the interactions between Rhen and Grey, and, strangely enough maybe, between Rhen and Tycho. Not convinced by Harper’s brother, Jake though. He’s a bit too much of an overprotective brute if you ask me. But  that might also have something to do with his (somewhat understandable, I admit) crappy attitude towards Rhen.

I could not predict the outcome and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Would this book break my heart or not? I won’t tell you 🙂 But I can tell you that it was once again an amazing read!

Once again: five out of five gemstones!

Age Category: Young adult, suitable both for a younger teen audience and for adult readers.

Representation: Main character with a disability and LGBTQ+ supporting characters

Trigger Warnings (click here, may contain spoilers)

Very mild. Warnings for PTSD and torture.

Do you want to discover more?

If my review inspired you to pick up the book, don’t hesitate to check it out at Goodreads or at the below online stores. If you decide to buy it via one of the following links, I will receive a small percentage at no extra charge for you!

Amazon.nl: Hardcover Edition

Amazon.nl: Paperback Edition

Although A Vow so Bold and Deadly is the final book in the trilogy, Brigid Kemmerer has announced that she’s writing a new series set in the same world, set four years later. Book 1, Forging Silver into Stars, will tell the story of Tycho, who’s now become the king’s Courier. It’s set to be released on May the 3rd, 2022. I really cannot wait <3 <3 <3 Edit: I was right, this was a wonderful book <3 <3 <3 my review can be found here.

If you are as much into this story as I am, you might want to check out the different exclusive chapters that are available on the market. There’s a chapter from the point-of-view of Tycho that could be acquired when pre-ordering and then there’s the Waterstone’s Exclusive Edition with a chapter narrated by Lilith. As much as I cannot stand her, it’s a very good chapter and definitely a must read in my opinion.

Fairyloot made a special edition of this third book as well, which contained a signed bookplate and which had a ribbon bookmark. As with the other parts, it’s quite rare to see this edition available on the second-hand market.

Last but not least, I would also recommend the beautiful Dutch editions by Blossom Books. They contain extraordinary character art (see my review of book 1 or book 2 for the images included in the first two parts):

Similar to this

Recently, Brigid Kemmerer also published the first book in a new series, Defy the Night. I couldn’t have been more excited when I received my Fairyloot edition and realised that this is actually a Robin Hood retelling. My dream has come true. I have loved this legend since I was a young girl and it will forever have a special place in my heart. Combined with Brigid Kemmerer’s magical writing, this must be a win, right? My review can be read here.

If you love fairytale courts and political intrigue, then you might want to check out the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. This trilogy tells the story of Jude, a human girl abducted into the Faerie world. Fighting to find her place in her new reality, Jude manages to obtain quite the role at court. But will she be able to protect herself and those she loves in this world of trickery and mischief? I made a series review about this marvelous story. Don’t worry though if you haven’t read book one yet! All other books are hidden in spoiler tabs so you don’t have to read any spoilers if you don’t want to!