Den of Wolves

I can't believe it's over. When I heard that this was to be the final Blackthorn and Grim novel, I was devastated. I absolutely loved Dreamer's Pool, and eagerly awaited each sequel. With this series, Juliet Marillier crafted yet another remarkable world with flawed characters. She treads brilliantly between fairy tale and reality, never forgetting the human aspect and emotions. Sadly her publisher wanted her to move on to another storyline, thus the end of my friends.

Emotions aside, I really enjoyed Den of Wolves. The story started slow, but the pace eventually picked up and had me chomping at the bit for more. I constantly wondered whether the story would bring closure to the tale of Blackthorn and Grim, or if there'd be a number of unanswered questions. With each turning page, I grew more and more concerned. How could all these threads be tied together in such a short timeframe? Knowing this would be the last book, I could see where Miss Marillier had to quickly combine all the plots. It felt slightly rushed compared to her other novels, but she did a marvelous job tying together everything.

What I loved most about Blackthorn and Grim was the hidden fairy tale/folk tales within the stories. It was like a story within a story. I loved seeing Blackthorn and Grim evolve as characters, and their friendship grow as they worked to help those around them.

I'll miss my friends, but I look forward to whatever world Miss Marillier crafts next.