War: The True Reign Series, Book 3

Queen Amer Rema of Greenwood Island is now facing her most horrific death sentence yet: being beheaded before the Emperor. Yet, she takes the news with calm grace when the words leave the assassin's lips as they travel aboard a ship destined for Emperion. With her first sight of open ocean available to her, she refuses to waste the moment worrying about something that would likely never come to pass. After all, she'd faced an execution once and lived to tell of it.Prince Darmik is far more frantic as he gives chase in a commandeered Emperion military vessel. The very same one that Captain arrived on, but did not leave by. Hoping to catch the merchant vessel, but planning for more likely scenarios, Darmik and his friends have only one thing to rely on when it comes to reaching Emperion: Darmik's relationship to Emperor Hamen. He hopes it might guarantee his safety and that of his friends, but he's never had much luck with family before.The plan is simple: rescue Rema from her second execution and return to Greenwood Island where they might finally end the tyranny wrought by King Barjon and his eldest son, Prince Lennek. If only things could be that easy…Review:I'm throwing the formula out the window here and going with my gut (as I have for the other two books in this series).I squeed, I eeked, and I awed my way through this book. Lots of hands covering face, bouncing in place, and giggling to myself. (Audek, you know what I'm talking about…) Overall, an enjoyable and lovely read.Yesterday, I picked this book up round five o'clock. I read over two hundred pages by the time my boyfriend picked me up. Today, I have finished the entire novel. That's two whole sittings that I was able to enjoy this wonderful fantasy world and I reveled in every moment of it. This is what I keep spouting about the writing: it is beautiful, captivating, and keeps you turning pages. No matter the content, Jennifer Anne Davis will keep you locked firmly in place until the story is told.As far as the plot is concerned, it goes a bit something like this:Rema is on a ship headed to Emperion so that the Emperor can see her personally beheaded. This is the first time the assassin, previously known as Captain but named Nathenek, has ever had to spend copious amounts of time with his assignment. So what do they do to pass the time? He trains her. While showing her maneuvers that would knock down a man many times her size, to throwing a knife with deadly accuracy. All with the silken reminder that, should she try anything, there would be no stopping him from fulfilling his mission.Perhaps my favorite part, and the reason my respect for Rema has grown tenfold in the course of this story, is that she never stops planning to escape. She doesn't know a rescue party has been sent for her. As far as she is concerned, it is her job to escape her assassin before her execution and return to Greenwood Island to reclaim her throne. Despite Nathenek's warnings, she plots and plans. Even when the reader becomes aware that Nathenek's motives have shifted, it is apparent to Rema that he's still an assassin hired to kill her. And she tries to get away.The reason I am so proud of this fact is simple: most heroines don't do that. They sit back and begin to trust someone so very clearly dangerous and equally out to get them. Lots of heroines act less like a hero than a damsel in distress. Rema clearly does not. She has all the compassion and gentleness of a DiD, but the backbone of Hercules. And a willingness to survive that overrules all else. And that is why she surpassed most of the females I've read about recently.However, in the long series of 'who is this week's book boyfriend' I really have to choose Nathenek. Though Darmik was his usual heroic self, he's never been my type. Neco, fantastic as he is, could never be with anyone but Ellie. Savenek, with his loyalty and courage could make any heart ache. However, Nathenek is cool-headed, unapologetic, loyal, clever, and just. He doesn't speak often and gives no explanations or excuses for his actions. And he is now an absolute beast in my mind. A very attractive one…As far as the Emperor goes, he was actually exactly how I had imagined him. Cold and ruthless. And I couldn't blame him. Given his motives--the legitimacy of his throne and the threat of an usurpation--I could easily see how eliminating Rema was his most desirable course of action. As a leader and paranoid Emperor, he was entirely believable.This is a very complete ending to the True Reign Series and I am happy with the conclusion. It is an ending not without sacrifice, but nor is it without some form of peace and even joy. I highly recommend it to all those who love a story where love conquers all.

3/5 StarsI was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***** SPOILERS*****After finishing the second book in this series, Red, I began this book with lower expectations. Despite my low expectation, I did thoroughly enjoy this book.Though war was a solid conclusion to the series, I felt like there could have been so much more that was expanded on to make this book even better such as the world building and the character development.As for the world building, we are told that there are vast differences between the kingdoms but are hardly shown them. I felt like that visual aspect was something that was lacking in the series overall, and is something would have loved to see in this fantasy series.As for the character development, the characters, by the end of the book, did not change very much, if any over the series. I would have loved to see more character development for the main cast of characters – but especially Rema and Darmik. Darmik went through extensive character development in the first book, learning to step aside from his father and brother’s unethical reign and take a stand for what he believes in, defying all he grew up believing. In the second and third books, however, he is belittled to a mere love interest, whose only goals and desires are to protect and love Rema. Because he was a prince and had control over his father’s armies, he could have had weight in persuading others to support the rebels and Rema, as well as helping to over throw his father and advance things politically, and I was disappointed that he did not fulfill any other roles, making his character seem somewhat one dimensional.Because Rema began to become a more complex character in Red, training both physically and mentally for the upcoming challenges, I expected her to stray away from her naïve mindset and become more queenly and prepared to rule. However, she did not change in that aspect and it made me question her ability to rule. For example, when she was on the ship with the assassin and finally had the opportunity to ask an important question, she is quickly distracted by the sight of dolphins and forgets the question.As for Savenek, I was never a fan of the love triangle between him, Rema, and Darmik since the second book, and his fate really solidified my dislike of the love triangle in this novel. I feel like his storyline could have been so much more powerful if he and Rema overcame their differences and became strictly friends, which would also further develop their characters. Instead, when he died, as a reader I felt a sort of indifference towards him.Despite my issues with this book, I did enjoy the book overall. I loved how fun and fast paced it was, and how it was a solid conclusion to the series.

**SPOILERS**Great book, great story. I am just frustrated that so many of these trilogy authors feel like they have to rush endings. I would've really liked more detail written into the final encounter with Barjon and Lennek, especially considering how much character development there was for them in the first book. Without this, their final meeting felt anti-climactic, and lacked very much dialogue or even a good final fight (which was expected considering how much Lennek put Darmik through). Also would've liked to have read more about how people's lives fell into place after, rather than just abruptly stopping after the action. We have developed a relationship to these characters after all, we deserve a proper goodbye.

Great book