I hatched out of a star.
Goldfinch
Raven Kennedy
Plasted Prisoner, book six
Paperback, 688 pages
Published September 24, 2024
ISBN 9781464224461
The seductive and thrilling dark fantasy romance series comes to an end in this powerful finale.
One king caged my body.
Another has caged my mind.
War has broken out between Annwyn and Orea, though that’s not the only battle being waged.
There’s a fight inside me, and it’s one I’m determined to win, no matter how much they try to strip me down and hollow me out.
Yet they’ve forgotten one thing. The ancient magic of the pair bond. One can never truly be lost when two souls are already bound.
Because Slade and I? We are connected by more than just fated magic, and we will always find each other.
In any life.
The fae king is trying to destroy me. My heritage. My memory. But what he hasn’t realized is this: gold bends, but stone breaks.
And a Goldfinch does not fall.
It flies.
Please note: This adult fantasy book includes dark elements that may be triggering. Full content list will be located inside the book, but it includes violence, death, adult language, and explicit romance. It is intended for ages 18 years and older. Read at your own discretion.
It's a book you're aching to pick up, can't put down, and yet, don't want to read: the final installment of the series.
Of spoilers there will be a few.
Chapter two. Kennedy is always going to get you with her chapter twos.
Slade has promised his brother he would give Orea a chance, give them a chance, because they need him, his power, against the onslaught of fae pouring over the bridge. And he'll do what he can. He'll warn Fifth Kingdom. He'll rot those whose paths he crosses. But Slade's focus is solely, completely, irrevocably, on Auren. And in his race to get to her, Slade is on the verge of death. His heart is rupturing. His body is failing. And it all comes to a head while atop Argo in the clouds.
He falls. Tethered by a single leather strap until that, too, snaps. Swiped from the air by Argo's talons and then dropped into a muddy bog. He takes what would be his last breath, despite fighting for more, when the bond abruptly flares and fuses. It burns and it heals and it mends. And Rip and Rot become one.
And, damn it, Kennedy, my nerves weren't made for your chapter twos!
Osrik. Os, my guy. I appreciate the enthusiasm. I really do. But I love you? Too soon! Far too soon.
That said, Os is likely the first man who ever wanted Rissa for more than a night. The first to offer her any kind of a loyal, romantic future. So, no, I don't fault her at all for grasping the chance with all her heart.
Chapter eight. My eyes bulged at the words. Commander RYATT. We finallyfinallyfinally get Ryatt's POV!
And Slade finally meets Malina. Who is definitely on his rot list. And I am kicking my feet when she drops to the ground in the dirt. And then Slade has his hands around Dommik's throat. The way they all yield to this man!
The man who manifests a dragon.
The man who commands, "Show me her cage."
And there I go reminding myself to breathe.
Chapter 32. They find each other in chapter thirty-two! And there's just enough holes in Auren's memory that she attacks him.
It's a brief scene. Just long enough to actually hurt. But then she's throwing herself into his arms and all is right in my world once again.
Then the payur bond demands a mating and the Lord God King of filthy mouths gets another chance to shine.
Can I get just one man in this series to tone it tf down? Ryatt, pleeease. Because when my eyes landed on Chapter 36: Emonie and my brain thought "We get Ryatt and Emonie?" ...to which my heart cried back Ryatt and Emonie... The way I need them together!
Because although I didn't care for Emonie's sunshine 'let's be friends' intro in Gold, it was here where I possessed the urge to claw myself back into pages of her POV every time the chapters left her. She became my favorite forager. Now if Ryatt can actually handle her? That, I do not know.
The second half of the book is overwhelmed with Slade's thoughts and speech of how proud he is of Auren. He's practically chanting it. I'm just so glad Slade found her in a moment of power and not another cage. Auren's character development is everything in this series.
There were deaths. Too many deaths.
4 out of 5 stars.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
Previously in the series:
2025/50
