I received this book via the author, Laura Thalassa. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Queen of All that Lives by Laura Thalassa Series: The Fallen World,
Published by Lavabrook Publishing Group on 2016-05-15
Length: 351 pages
Reviewing eARC Rating:
She’s a martyr.
A myth.
A ghost.
A legend.
She’s my soulmate and my captive, my conscience and my wrath. I love her too much to let her die; I fear her too much to wake her from her slumber.
She’s mine.
And now she’s gone.He’s unnatural.
Undying.
Unethical.
Unstoppable.
He’s the keeper of lies and lost souls. Mine slipped through his clutches.
I am his wife, his queen, the love of his very long life.
And soon, I will be his executioner.
Initial Reaction
I knew starting The Queen of All that Lives it would be an intense read. How could it NOT be after the previous books?! But Laura Thalassa gutted me over and over again while reading the conclusion to The Fallen World. I can’t even handle how I feel right now!!! Seriously during my marathon read of the book I laughed, I swooned, I cried, I screamed, and I sobbed. There was one moment where I had to put the book down and go for a walk around the apartment I was so upset. I’m not even sure I can put into words just how this book made me feel.
The Queen of All that Lives starts with Serenity being woken up and doesn’t stop! It’s a thrill ride from the first word to the last. Laura Thalassa has created a masterpiece, one that I want to devour over and over again so I can relive every horrific moment and every swoon-worthy kiss. From the beginning when hate and revenge was all that consumed Serenity to the very end when love waged war against Serenity’s resolve this series tops the list as an all-time favorite.
Serenity Montes
Serenity Freeman, now Queen Lazuli of the East, is a character that will live on in my mind for a very long time. She was so relatable and easy to empathize with. I understood her plight as she fought her growing feelings for the undying king, the man that has haunted her nightmares since she was a kid, her husband. I bled with her as she learned of the toll this war has taken on the people she’s pledged to serve. I raged with her as she finally begins to take her vengeance in this last installment of the series. Watching Serenity change from the angry soldier to the savage queen is an adventure that as a reader was amazing to be a part of.
And Montes *swoon* what an amazing transformation this man went through in the series!!! I loved him to begin with, this broken monster of a man who needed to be in control of everything. BUT gah!! This installment, this Montes that lived lifetimes without Serenity, spent lifetimes trying to find a cure for her cancer, stole my heart. I was dumbfounded by the difference and loved the subtle ways Laura Thalassa showed how and why he changed. He’s still the arrogant, undying king, but he’s been humbled by the woman he loves.
End of War
Throughout the series, the world has been at war, a war that was started by Montes as he gained control in the East. But the world Serenity wakes up to (104 years later) is still at war, but not because of Montes. No, Montes wants to stop it and will do whatever it takes to do so, including allowing his queen to rule AND fight by his side. I loved the world-building in this series and it really culminates in what is seen in this book. Imagine for a second what a world that’s been at war for over a century looks like. THAT is what Laura Thalassa has created and it was horrific and haunting and memorable.
There is a lot of planning and scheming for the characters in this book, but also a lot of action. Montes learned from Serenity and built her into a myth, a martyr and he has used that to his advantage, much to her chagrin. I was stunned to learn of what had taken place the 104 years Serenity slept. BUT I was even more shocked at the peoples reaction to Serenity. It was epic!
My Conclusion
If it isn’t obvious from my above gushing, I LOVED this book!! It was the perfect conclusion to a series that has rooted itself into my heart. Serenity and Montes’s journey is one that I won’t soon forget and hope to reread very soon. For fans of dystopia, romance, action and adventure, I think you’ll love this series!!!!
Final Conclusion:
About Laura Thalassa
Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.
… or something like that anyway.
When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.
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