Mary E. Pearson - The Beauty of Darkness

"Once we fear to take a stand, tyranny will have won.”

Can't believe The Remnant Chronicles are nearly over! I don't want to read it...I want to read it...eventually I can't help but savoring every sweet page until it lasts....*deep frustrated sigh*

"You raised up a fine soldier.”
“More than a soldier. A future king.”
“And yet you let him traipse across the Cam Lanteux after me?”
“I didn’t let him. In fact, I tried to talk him out of it, but there was no stopping him. He had lost a treasure that he was determined to get back.”

I get a glimpse of all cross-country politics and strategic maneuvers that give the backbone of the story and I love it! It sounds pretty darn running a whole kingdom so becoming a princess doesn't sound so awesome this time. The dream of heavy gowns made of tulle and laces and glamorous balls with handsome princes is gone. All of it fly away in front of my spellbound eyes leaving a drab sheet of nothing in its place...

Hence I am also sorry for my little male baby that so many responsibilities being put on his young robust shoulders. Fear of his kingdom, of his people and of Lia is too much to bear. On the other hand, Lia has duty for Morrighan and for the people of Venda she came to love, as well. The conflict between them is sharp and bittersweet as they are paddling on bleak, tempestuous waters but I was hoping for them to bury the hatchet ASAP. Though I wouldn't say the truth if I'd claim their squabbles deeply disturbed me. I'm all over their intense heated tug of war as long as sweltering kisses and caresses interlace the story there and there. ;)

"Some things last. The things that matter."

Lia is a huge strong lead female character in the history of YA fantasies and so she should be. Legendary, even so, that's why she'd go epic in a block-buster movie. Not only because of her gift or "magic" but her "home-made" decisions and her dedication to her country, to Rafe, to her friends. Of the ability of putting her fears, guilt, doubts, grief aside and the skill of storming forward at full speed. Soooooo badass. I always use this term for the paramount heroines. Luckily, we have an abundant amount of them. They make me so proud.

"You are what matters to me, Lia. If you don’t know that already, I’ll find a hundred more ways to show you. I love you more than a port, more than an alliance, more than my own life. Your interests are my interests. Are we going to let the conspiracies and schemes of kingdoms come between us?”

Some key elements of a well-functioning YA fantasy:
—Hard-ass, sword-wielding, all-alone-against-the-conspiring-world heroine
—Swoon-worthy Prince Charming (with personality not just appearance;)
—Love triangles (yes, it is indispensable!)
—Policy of All's fair in love and war
—Battles fought until last breath
Mix the ingredients, bake it in the oven for an hour and serve it on a large silver plate. Bon appetite!

“I will not risk their lives again by sending them into a hostile kingdom. Their only duty is to escort you safely back to your border. After that Dalbreck is done with Morrighan. Your fate will be in your own kingdom’s hands, not mine.”

Have I mentioned how much an ass Rafe is? Neither can I rate it on a scale of ten and nor can't I believe that he let Lia go just like that!....then I came to know he was betrothed with another woman. I could strangle him with my bare hands right now...argghh!!! His list of imbecility is growing longer and longer. I am not fond of him at the moment.
And here's Kaden. He is another side of the coin. For him, I feel sorry because of the unrecruited love (which always sucks) but I can't set aside the fact Kaden and Lia are not meant to be. I might prefer his badass-you-can't-touch-me assassin style to the sudden exposure of his achilles' heel and the fact that he revealed himself as a vulnerable human being, after all. At the time, I half thought he's invincible. Now, I am not so sure anymore...like his importance has been put in the back line. And the unnecessary pairing with Pauline didn't help.

"Some betrayals ran too deep to ever forgive."

I no longer can keep track of the betrayals, lies, deceits and disfunctionning family relationships that weave through the threads, which is fine as long as I toss and tumble in the bed awake, determined to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Plus I appreciate the miraculous recoveries and the prodigious outcome of the battle. I expected no less.

P.S.
It's so beautifully, amazingly, enchantedly written! The wondrous words are flying smoothly from the pages piercing right into your soul and nestling in your heart.

"It doesn’t matter how many universes come and go, I will always remember who we were together."

After reading

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE!!!

Rating

Not enough stars in the UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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