I read the entire trilogy this month, so I’ve decided to review all three books as a whole. So... how would I sum it up? Average - middle of the road average. I’m struggling to understand the extreme popularity...

Kristoff has created a stunning world, mythology and central character - I will say that. Mia is definitely unforgettable. The story is dark and gruesome and epic. But the pacing! Everything is drawn out and over explained. There is so much filler that frankly it left me quite bored at times - I seriously debated whether to bother reading the last book. But I’m kind of glad I did; the third book (Darkdawn) flowed a bit better than the first two. If an editor had been more liberal with the red pen, this could have been a thrilling duology.

Have you ever seen the meme about how male authors describe women? It’s all boobs that defy gravity and other ridiculous descriptions. Yeah, so this series... Let’s just say I cringed while reading. A lot. Kristoff, funny enough, actually acknowledged the shortcoming in the third book - via some entertaining banter between a couple of characters. I thought that was a great touch.

I know this review sounds negative, but I swear I don’t hate the series! It’s an entertaining read - and at least now I understand all the fan art floating around!