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A review by flaviathebibliophile
Bright We Burn by Kiersten White
5.0
Rating: 4.5 stars
Since finishing the second book in the series, Now I Rise, last year (you can read my full review here), I have been anticipating the third and last book in the series quite a bit! I decidedly did not look into Vlad and Radu Dracul’s histories for clues, in case there would be spoilers, and just sat on my hands (as the saying goes) until the beautiful hardcover for Bright We Burn came in the mail! I started reading this beauty last week, and from the first chapter, I could tell that White’s writing had improved yet again (I made mention of this happening from book one to book two as well)! I was very happy about this, and the way in which White told the story through many complex historical events and happenings. The characters also developed yet further, and it all felt quite natural from And I Darken to Bright We Burn. I also missed Lada, Mehmed, and Radu quite a bit, and was happy to spend more time with them! I’ve been with these characters from the start, and feel like I have grown along with them.
All of them developed in a very believable way (whether I liked the paths they chose or not), and never once did I question their choices or whether they stayed in character or not. I also have to say that Radu has definitely grown on me since the first book (since my feelings for him changed from dislike in And I Darken,to respect and something close to adoration in Bright We Burn). Lada, I absolutely loved throughout the series, even if some of her decisions frustrated me, while my love for Mehmed slowly decreased from book one to book three. Plot-wise, I think that Bright We Burn (and the series as a whole) developed in a very believable manner, and while I did not expect the ending, I was engrossed by how things unfolded, and thought that the manner in which the story ended was very credible. I am very happy to have been able to keep up with this series, and to have walked with Lada, Radu, and Mehmed as they followed their individual destinies. This tale’s ending was in no way rushed, and I really like how things were wrapped up, but that in no way stopped me from missing the series and the major characters quite a bit after closing Bright We Burn for the very last time!
Since finishing the second book in the series, Now I Rise, last year (you can read my full review here), I have been anticipating the third and last book in the series quite a bit! I decidedly did not look into Vlad and Radu Dracul’s histories for clues, in case there would be spoilers, and just sat on my hands (as the saying goes) until the beautiful hardcover for Bright We Burn came in the mail! I started reading this beauty last week, and from the first chapter, I could tell that White’s writing had improved yet again (I made mention of this happening from book one to book two as well)! I was very happy about this, and the way in which White told the story through many complex historical events and happenings. The characters also developed yet further, and it all felt quite natural from And I Darken to Bright We Burn. I also missed Lada, Mehmed, and Radu quite a bit, and was happy to spend more time with them! I’ve been with these characters from the start, and feel like I have grown along with them.
All of them developed in a very believable way (whether I liked the paths they chose or not), and never once did I question their choices or whether they stayed in character or not. I also have to say that Radu has definitely grown on me since the first book (since my feelings for him changed from dislike in And I Darken,to respect and something close to adoration in Bright We Burn). Lada, I absolutely loved throughout the series, even if some of her decisions frustrated me, while my love for Mehmed slowly decreased from book one to book three. Plot-wise, I think that Bright We Burn (and the series as a whole) developed in a very believable manner, and while I did not expect the ending, I was engrossed by how things unfolded, and thought that the manner in which the story ended was very credible. I am very happy to have been able to keep up with this series, and to have walked with Lada, Radu, and Mehmed as they followed their individual destinies. This tale’s ending was in no way rushed, and I really like how things were wrapped up, but that in no way stopped me from missing the series and the major characters quite a bit after closing Bright We Burn for the very last time!