*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Girls of Fate and Fury
Author: Natasha Ngan
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publication Date: November 23, 2021
ISBN: 9780316528788
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The last Lei saw of the girl she loved, Wren was fighting an army of soldiers in a furious battle to the death. With the two girls torn apart and each in terrorizing peril, will they find each other again or have their destinies diverged forever?
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I’ve followed this series pretty closely over the past few years and have really enjoyed it. This is the epic conclusion to this incredible series and it goes out with a bang, quite literally! Although I didn’t enjoy this conclusion quite as much as the first two books, it’s always so satisfying to get to the end of an intense and imaginative series such as this one.
This final book in the series balances action with many moments of calm, and a significant amount of resolution, which was actually nice to see. The reader gets a sense of where these characters are heading after the climax. I didn’t find this particular novel to be nearly as intense as the first two. There was something about it that just didn’t build in the same way. It’s very slow burning and slow moving, so it was hard to maintain interest as it moved along. Although the characterization and world building continues to be excellent, the story itself didn’t have the same gut-wrenching, heart-pounding moments as it’s counterparts in the series. After a while, it began to drag, which was a bit of a disappointment.
Lei and Wren’s relationship continues to develop and grow in this final book, and both experience significant growth and gain perspective based on their difficult situations and the impossible decisions they are both forced to make. They are haunted by trauma, but they are able to find hope in the darkness and move forward to fight for what is good and right. I didn’t feel like as much time was spent on secondary and tertiary characters however. Though their contributions to the plot are often significant, those on the sidelines faded into the background a bit, when they really should have stood out.
It wasn’t my favourite book in this series, but I did enjoy it overall. Naan’s writing is still beautiful and very vivid. She brings her world and her characters to life effortlessly. Anyone looking for a new fantasy YA series, I would definitely recommend. It’s been one of the better series that has come out in the last few years. You’ll fall in love with this world and you’ll connect with the protagonists. It’s an exciting and refreshing trilogy.
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 