Damned Souls and a Sangria

Bittersweet. I definitely enjoyed this ending more than the ending in Annette Marie's Steel & Stone series where things were more open-ended. Call me a wuss or some naive and weak-minded fanatic who only enjoys unrealistic, complete happy endings. I love Tori and I loved living vicariously through her as she steamrolled through trial after trial for something as pure and simple as friendship. I loved how, although she was initially marginalized for being a human in a magic guild and although she hated not being born a mythic, she still set into motion and accomplished so many feats. She saved Aaron, helped stop an evil sorceress, and breathed life and hope into the mission to save Ezra. And that's not even half of the whole 8-booked series. She's astonishing in how she grew and reacted to every weird, magical thing thrown her way and I think there's truly something role-model-worthy in the personality she needed to prevail this far.

I mentioned earlier how this book was “bittersweet.” I won't hint at the ending but I was primarily talking about the aftermath of this series. I loved it and I hate to stop these past few days' rush to consume this series. I'm sad that I won't be able to live through Tori's eyes anymore because she's kickass in a mildly klutzy, untrained sort of way. But I will relish her pains and triumphs in many future rereads. And I look forward to Robin's story (which will hopefully feature a steamy connection between her and a certain fellow with “the perfect abs”).