Laisrathera (Her Instruments Part 3) by M.C.A. Hogarth
Laisrathera (Her Instruments Part 3) by M.C.A. Hogarth
The conclusion of the trilogy.
This trilogy deserves an essay about tropes. The first one subverted them, the second one took it all back, and the third one threw so many new tropes into the mix that even I liked it. I am not one for unironically liking tropes. But this was so well done and it was such an onslaught that even I was impressed and enjoyed it a lot.
Also, the long-awaited happy ending pressed all my buttons, so there. :)
* I loved how she managed to make the usurper queen sympathetic.
* And then she did one better and made her a strong rape survivor, deal the deciding blow in the fight against the evil alien, and in the end forgave her and gave her a second chance. Tropey as hell and it worked for me so much!
* In fact, the whole development Reese went through regarding this character was so rewarding! She hesitated and didn't trust her, but in the end she still gave her the benefit of the doubt and even saw herself in her. I thought that was extremely well done - it walked a fine line but I believed her every step of the way.
* I liked how their plans didn't work. None of them. *g* This is a typical thing in second novels, and this being the third one, it surprised me. And still it didn't feel too weird that they turned it around again in the end.
* Hirianthial's development was also interesting and believable, although she used a bit of a deus ex machina with the rapid-memory-transfer there. But I like how he kept doubting himself.
* Oh, and all the mention of his short hair was wonderfully visceral.
* OMG the evil twin! Making Hirianthial fight *himself*, his own powers, his own face, and his own brother - the pure gall of wrapping so many tropes into the final battle! I loved it! It was impressive, and wonderfully overwhelming, and totally believable how he overestimated himself. It made so much sense that he'd only be able to get out of it with the help of his friends. So good.
* The happy ending - with handholding and walking their new lands, and kissing! *sigh* I am such a romantic sap. *g*
* Unfortunately, I already read this two months ago, was too lazy to write it up, and by now have forgotten the finer details. Sorry about that.
I liked it better than the middle part, it gets 4 stars from me.
1 - 5 stars - Brothers In Arms [DW]
2 - 3 stars - Rose Point [DW]
3 - 2 stars - Back to Sodom and Gomorrah [DW]
4 - 4 stars - First Among Sequels [DW]
5 - 5 stars - Ready Player One [DW]
6 - 3 stars - Treasure Island [DW]
7 - 4 stars - Ancillary Sword [DW]
8 - 3 stars - Spin Control [DW]
9 - 5 stars - Ancillary Mercy [DW]
10 - 4 stars - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time [DW]
11 - 4 stars - Laisrathera [DW]
x-posted from dw (comments:
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