Transition and pacing. One of the things I can say that honestly did not disappoint in this book was the pacing. Sometimes fantasy novels fall into the trap of having a lull in the middle of the story up until the end but this kept me engaged when I was reading it...even if I didn't actually like what I was reading. And the transition from book one to book tw Rhen realising his mistakes and try to make up for it. which is possibly the only thing stopped me from dnf-ing this shit A group of young people forge unexpected bonds that are tested when they must choose between love and duty.

I wonder if he would see me as a failure—and I also wonder if I would want a man like that to see me as a success.” So first off, I LIVED for Harper and Rhen's POVs, and I adored that they got so much attention in this book, and their chapters were so interesting. They're my favorites, if you can't already tell. I love them together, and I feel SO BAD for Rhen. He deserved so much more than what he actually got, and what happens to him breaks my heart. 😭 He gets his eye ripped out by Lilith, he thinks Harper's dead, he gets so many cuts and scars, and GREY GETS TO RULE AN ENTIRE KINGDOM WHERE EVERYONE LOVES HIM?? It's just not fair. 😢 A Heart So Fierce and Broken is a darker story than its predecessor in many ways, starting from the audience’s realisation that Rhen may not be the hero to the moral conflicts each of our protagonists face. Grey doesn’t want to challenge Rhen for the crown, but he may not have a choice except to defy the king he once served if he wishes to survive and protect his people. Lia Mara wants for everyone to live and be happy, but that is a naïve wish that doesn’t take into account the history of bloodshed and violence between Emberfall and Syhl Shallow which will not so easily be smoothed over. At what point does she end up as a traitor to her people if she continues pushing for reconciliation despite the deaths that have occurred on both sides?

Lia Mara: She was whiny and full of self-doubt. While I empathized with the burden she carried, I was also frustrated and often wanted to shout, ‘STOP CRYING AND DO SOMETHING!!!’ 😭 Her sister was even more annoying with her “advising” because the way she voiced them didn’t seem genuinely supportive but felt showy and demeaning as if she believed herself she was more capable than Lia Mara in rulling their kingdom. After loving the first two books of this series, I have just been bubbling with excitement, ready to completely immerse myself into what surely must be the epic last book of this trilogy. There is no way A Vow So Bold and Deadly would let me down, right? Honestly, out of all the characters in this series, he is the most loveable. Yes, I said what I said. Fight me. I loved this book. The beginning and middle were amazing but then it all turned and plummeted at the end. I will never forgive that ending. RHEN DESERVED THE WORLD AND YOU GIVE HIM THIS? It's not fair how Grey gets everything handed to him while Rhen has to live with this!

Prince Rhen is no longer under a curse, but he still has many hardships to face, including the rumors of another heir that is coming in between his coronation; though he does have Harper by his side, he is still down a powerful ally since his guard commander grey had disappeared and thought dead. Let’s talk about something that wasn’t as disappointing: the romance - probably only because both relationships were mostly developed in the previous books and didn’t need to be put under too much attention by this book, thankfully. Specifically, the one between Lia Mara and Grey. What an absolutely lame, joyless experience this was! Here's the thing: I didn't expect a whole lot out of this.Lia Mara is brought down by her sister who is heartbroken but grey doesn’t kill her and instead tries to save her. Still, the others get caught with arrows aimed at their heads, Karis Lurans tells her men to kill them but Grey uses his magic that he has been practicing. Weeeellll actually it rested on the shoulders of a young group and their names were: Harper, Rhen, Grey, Lia Mara, Tycho, Noah, Jake, Zo, Iisak *carries on naming characters* Beauty and the Beast has never been my favourite story. But this series is proof it can be done without it seeming totally inappropriate or wrong. I’m impressed.

And while all this is happening, the ruler of Syhl Shallow and her two daughters are on their way to Emberfall with the knowledge that a man named Grey knows the identity of the true heir—and they intend to use this to their advantage. The beast may no longer be terrorizing the country, but that doesn’t mean the people of Emberfall are safe… On a very last note, Rhen, Harper, *reluctanly turns to Grey* and you too, Grey, I'm gonna miss you guys. I hope we get to meet again.Tycho, Jake and Noah gosh these lot are so cute I love everyone of them to bits, Tycho and how cute he is he doesn’t even have to try and how he doesn’t want to fail anyone, Noah and how accepting and understanding he is and how kindly he uses his knowledge to help those in need of aid and Jake putting aside his anger and being the friend Grey really needed at a time. Too bad I couldn't care much about his and Lia Mara's POVs though. (In fact, I actually disliked them less in this book) I feel like AVSBAD was really for Rhen & Harper and I'M 100% OKAY WITH THAT.🥰

The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life. But one thing that hasn't changed is that he's still ~Scary Grey~ and the big softie everyone fell in love with. but not me ofc, my heart belongs to Rhen Grey: Grey confuses me. He has for a while. I just don't understand his reasoning or his decision making process. It doesn't seem logical to me. I can't follow how he gets there. I simply don't understand him as a character.

From book 1, Rhen and Harper have had my heart and that will never change. They both made terrible mistakes, but what matters more is that they learned and changed for the better. Especially Rhen. This author has many possibilities for a return to this world and I'm curious to see what she would do if that happens. Grey and Lia Mara end up collecting a few friends along their journeys; some are new faces, but some are familiar and who we didn’t get to spend a lot of time with before (specifically, Harper’s brother, Jake, and his medical resident boyfriend, Noah, who are trapped in Emberfall because of Grey). I love a good motley crew who, against all odds, begin to care about one another. This book is messier than my bedroom and I'm not even being sarcastic. (I wish I was though. Life would've been better)