The Shattered Castle by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Fantasy. 332 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Acclaimed author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings her signature twists and high-stakes action to the fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Ascendance Series!
King Jaron has outwitted the Prozarians and returned to his own kingdom with one secret in his pocket that not even his friends know about. He’s hoping that secret will help him finally bring stability to Carthya.
But a surprise attack on his own land — on the castle itself — reminds Jaron that nothing is easy. The Prozarian Monarch threatens to crumble Jaron’s entire kingdom. And that’s not the only thing in danger: With old enemies and new rumors circling around him, even Jaron’s relationship with Imogen is uncertain.
This former False Prince will need his best tricks and many allies at his side to hold Carthya together.
My Review:
So, this review has been a long-time coming, but I’m finally sitting down to do it.
I loved the original trilogy. It’s one of my favorite series, actually. The twists in the plot are epic, the characters are unique and both lovable and infuriating at the same time, and the emotional experience is real. Haha!
That said, when Nielsen continued the adventures of Sage and co. I was simultaneously excited and nervous. Sometimes when authors go back and add books to old series…things can get messy or be a little disappointing. But my love for Sage was far stronger than my trepidation XD So, I bought and read book 4. And it was good! It wasn’t the best thing ever. It did change some things and I felt a little conflicted about that. But darn it if Nielsen didn’t drop us off on a cliff hanger. So, I committed to reading book 5.
And, boy am I glad I did! This last book was sooo good! The story and the characters really came full circle and made book 4 worth it. (And that epilogue that’s not in the physical book!!! Why?! Why is that only in the audio book?! And HOW DO I GET MY HANDS ON IT?!) The conclusion really was a treat. It felt much more like the original trilogy to me. Adventure and risk. But also growth and the characters we love. The risk that Sage takes and his clever plans. The warring between six different plans up in the air and the distrust and struggle with loyalty and treasure. It was just a really good story!
I still think the original trilogy cannot be beat. And if you wanted to just stop there, I wouldn’t be mad. But this last book made the duology worth it for me. Also, the covers are just stunning! (Also, kudos to the publishers for keeping the redesign of the original trilogy close enough to the original covers that you didn’t alienate all of us who love them!! I wish more cover remakes considered that!)
All that said, I enjoyed this last book. <3 It was a fun adventure with both beloved and new characters, and the twists and wit I loved so much in the original trilogy.
There’s some fantasy violence, no swearing, and a clean romance (fraught with uncertainty! I almost forgot I knew the ending because of the original trilogy XD). It deals with themes of trust and vulnerability, of love and loyalty, and of teamwork and true treasure. An excellent MG novel I’d highly recommend.
More:
Book 1 in the Ascendance Trilogy is The False Prince (5 Stars)
Book 2 is The Runaway King (5 Stars)
Book 3 is The Shadow Throne (5 Stars)
Book 4 is The Captive Kingdom (5 Stars)
I have reviewed the above on Goodreads. Follow the links to find more info on the books and then scroll down to see the reviews. Mine is among them.
This series must be read in order.
ON GRACEBOUGHT
If you missed it, check out my thoughts on the original trilogy here!
The False Prince, The Runaway King, The Shadow Throne, and The Captive Kingdom