Flawless final of the high-fantasy trilogy

Spoiler Warning for the events in the previous two books of the trilogy. Since the books each tell a part of one common story, theyhave to be read in order. So if you are new to the series, I recommend you stop reading here and start with one book "The Girl of Fire and Thorns".

Synopsis [by Goodreads.com]

The champion must not waver.
The champion must not fear.
The gate of darkness closes.

Elisa is a fugitive.

Her enemies have stolen the man she loves, And They await her at the gate of darkness. Her country is on the brink of civil war, with her own soldiers ordered to kill her on sight.

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Lucero-Elisa né Riqueza de Vega, bearer of the Godstone, lead wants her three loyal companions deep into the enemy's kingdom, a land of ice and snow and brutal magic, to rescue Hector and win back her throne. Her power grows with every step, and the shocking secrets she will uncover on this, her final journey, Could Change the course of history.

But That is not all. She has a larger destiny. She must become the champion the world has been waiting for.

Even Of Those who hate her most.

Review

This is definitely the best YA high fantasy story, I've read recently. In my book, there are not that many authors, who accomplish high fantasy with the young, female heroine growing up on her quest, That Does not feel like a repetition of something I've already read. And Rae Carson so is among them. Do not get me wrong, there are the recognizable high-fantasy and even YA features. Like the perilious quest of a loyal group of very different characters, the heroine who Develops Into Something more during the journey. The fights and the cunning. And the rescuing and resigned sacrifice of innocents. It's all there and something akin When a fellowship has to travel underground for the pass is closed by snow, I have to think of Tolkien. But this is Exactly where the feeling of recognition ended.

Because the way Ms. Carson knit it all together and created a totally new adventure and to even more unique heroine, is not to compare to anything else I've read. Elisa is her own person and she made a far journey from the self-conscious and unaware 16-year old bride to the champion of not only inherited her country, but the world. Her development alone is worth reading the trilogy. And even better is the factthat Elisa is at times incredibly powerful, but mostly wins by using her intelligence and cleverness. She is totally able to get the big picture, even if no one else does [her key-sentence being: "I have an idea!"]. And That Could appear contrieved [ie the too young and ignorant hero gaining Deus Ex Machina-like insights], if it were not done so masterfully. So it comes naturally and Elisa is a very consistent, yet evolving, character.

The last book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, Hector having been taken by the Invierno as a Means to coerce Elisa to come to the capital Invierno willingly, and the book starts right with Elisa and Friends On Their chase through forbidding country. This time, Elisa shares her 1st person POV with Hector, Whenever They are separated and this gives the reader the possiblity to widen the scope, so to speak. It Enhances suspense and makes the story feel even bigger.

And bigger than I thought at the beginning it is, oh boy. The revelations about the true history of the Godstones, the Animagi, the Invierno and Joyan's beginnings, are awesome and make a wonderful and astounding background for Elisa's final play. And she has to accomplish a lot and at times Although it Seems improbable did her small group Could make it, When Things do happen, theyfeel logical and not in the Deus Ex Machina way. On the contrary, in the end it's more than clear That it's not miracles Elisha Should hope for.

I can not tell much of the rest of the story without spoiling it, but let's just say thatthere is a lot of classic adventure, personal growth, friendship where none would have Looked for it and cleverness That saves the day a lot. The different threads are all wrapped up nicely and the questions Brought up until now, are answered. All in all a very satisfying end to this outstanding trilogy.