Joseph Elliott (2)

Trigger Warnings: anxiety, violence (war), death, homophobia (internal), sexism, misogyny, ritualistic self-harm

In the 3rd and final book of the Shadow Skye series, Agatha, Jamie, and Sigrid must do whatever it takes to stop the kings of Norveg and Ingland, who had joined forces to annihilate the people of Scotia. They turn to the Badhbh to help, but instead, he kidnaps Agatha and runs towards the kings. While Jamie and Sigrid try to unite the clans of Scotia and beyond their borders, Agatha receives unexpected support from people in Ingland.

What a way to end this wonderful trilogy! I had a hard time putting it down, I just wanted to revisit the trio and see what happens.

The multiple narrative voices of Agatha, Jamie, and Sigrid were still engaging and well characterized; I laughed, I gasped, I cheered. Agatha has always been my favorite but Sigrid and their moments too where I was laughing so hard. Jamie was and still is one of those characters I want to wrap up in a warm blanket and maybe give some hot cocoa to. These three characters are all teenagers, and they all went through so much. Jamie was always beating himself up over not being good enough and that’s a struggle that teenagers still go through to this day (and adults too to be honest)!

The characters were all together at the beginning, separated around Scotia and Ingland, and then brought back together again. Joseph Elliot did an amazing job at keeping every part of the story fascinating and engaging. I couldn’t read it fast enough to see how they all came back together to defeat the kings.

I can’t recommend this series enough - there’s diverse voices, mythical beasts, magic, LGBTQ+ romance, girls taking action, and so much more! I’ve been constantly trying to get the other two books into people's hands but now that the series is complete, I can really shove it into their hands and onto as many booklist recommendations as I possibly can! Please! Read this series!!… (meer)

I received an advance reader copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

This is the 3rd, and most powerful, volume in the Shadow Skye trilogy by Joseph Elliott. I read the previous two books--the second in the series was also sent to me by the publisher--and I've genuinely enjoyed them all. The setting is a medieval fantasy realm loosely based on England and Scotland. Three children work to unite Scotia and the Isle of Skye against a dark threat that looms above them all. These books are packed with action! There is darkness and death, but also a thread of fierce friendship and optimism. The humor is laugh-out-loud at times, too.

The three perspectives are fantastic and immersive. Jaime so desperately wants to protect his clan--and he is also wrestling with strange feelings for a dear friend. Sigrid is a girl of Norveg with a wonderful horse and a profound urge to do what is right, even when it is very difficult. Then there is Agatha. Oh, Agatha. It's fantastic to see a girl with Down Syndrome as a major character in a fantasy book. She is impetuous, brave, and loves her human and animal friends absolutely. Agatha gets to learn more about her family in this book. I won't post spoilers, but I will say that I love how it was handled!

The final battle in this book is long, intense, and makes this near impossible to put down. I was glad when everything came to a conclusion, but sad, too, because I love these characters so much.… (meer)