Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 448 pages
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: August 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this action-packed finale to the House of the Dead Duology, Wren and her friends put everything they know to the test as they battle the living and the undead to save their world.

Wren is still reeling from the revelation that the mother she thought was dead is actually the Corpse Queen, a ghostsmith with the terrifying power to control the undead. It was Wren’s own mother who created the iron revenants—an army of near unbeatable undead soldiers. When the iron revenants attack, no one in the Dominions will have the strength to stand in their way.

Now Wren, Leo, and Julian find themselves once more in the Breach, this time on the run from Wren’s father, who is determined to secure more power for himself and the House of Bone. The three are desperate to stop the upcoming war, but working together is easier said than done with Julian still furious about Wren double-crossing him. And to make matters worse, Wren is plagued by powerful new abilities that force her to reassess everything she knows about being a bonesmith.

When Wren’s long-lost twin brother shows up and vows to help her destroy the well of magic that feeds the iron revenants, she must decide if trusting him is worth potentially playing right into their mother’s hands.

After all, the dead might be dangerous, but it’s the living who can betray you.

Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

YES.

I will not stop shouting about how much love Nicki Pau Preto deserves. Her fantasy books are criminally underrated and I need y’all to READ THEM ALL.

This was an epic conclusion that brought everything I needed (though I secretly wish for more kissing but I promise it is still worth the read!!). I love this found family. It was such a great cast of characters. The multi-POV did a fantastic job of giving all the angles to the plot and I loved reading each one of them. There is not a weak link.

I love how high action Ghostsmith was. Every time I tried to take a breath, BAM. More chaos. I loved it. I loved the final battle scenes and the betrayals and watching all of the last pieces come together. The intensity of reading this had me wanting to pick up to find out what would happen next.

I adore Wren and Julian. Both amazing characters that stand so well on their own, but the sub-plot romance between them is beautiful too. I loved seeing them trust again and work together and being able to have those soft moments too.

The audiobook is WONDERFUL. Highly recommend. The narrator did an amazing job and it’s such an easy listen.

GOSH I LOVED THIS. READ IT OKAY.

Overall audience notes:

• YA Fantasy
• Language: a little scattered throughout
• Romance: one closed door
• Violence: high

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