End of Days by Susan Ee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*Some spoilers in this review.*
I really enjoyed this whole series. Such a fantastic, fast-paced read! In this final book of the series, the plot centers around the Election for the Messenger. Uriel is the lead candidate, but Raffe and Penryn are determined to stop him. This sparks other events which I enjoyed as well. One of my favorite parts is when Raffe and Penryn try to save the Watchers from the Pit. We see who the angels who served with Raffe are and also gain understanding of Beliel’s character.
Penryn’s development as the reluctant hero is believable. Her main priority was always to her family, to protect Paige. As the story moves forward, it becomes apparent that Penryn can’t ignore what’s happening to her world and to others around her, and that if things go on as they do, humanity will become extinct. Her motivations broaden because she realizes that even if she manages to protect her family, there won’t be any place to exist for them if the angels have their way. I enjoyed her struggle to accept her role in saving humanity.
The one surprise for me was the twins. Throughout the series, they provided comic relief and were at times a bit annoying. By the third book, it’s nice to see that they’re still part of the story (because not everyone makes it). I really liked how their roles changed by the end of the story and hence how their characters become more than just those comic relief side kick characters. Not quite the Weasley twins, but still endearing by the end.
This last book had a lot of fantastic action sequences: the Blood Hunt, the show down between the Alpha and Paige, and others. There are a lot in this series, but the culmination was satisfying. My only hang-up about the final book was what happened with Raffe’s wings. I won’t give away too many spoilers, but I understand why the author did what she did with Raffe’s wings, but I still couldn’t help disliking that part. I already felt that the author did a great job of illustrating Raffe’s devotion to Penryn. I didn’t think that last part with his wings was necessary.
I listened and read this through Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program. I enjoyed it so much, I ended up buying the trilogy in paperback. Beautiful covers! I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy a fast-paced read and want a little bit of romance. There are a couple of steamy scenes between Penryn and Raffe in this book. The violence is graphic at times, but it is in the context of angels fighting.
Jennifer F. Santucci 