Beautiful photo by @tranquilreads!
Happy Friday, fairies! Who’s ready for the weekend?
Well not so fast! We still have one more section of our readalong to go! I don’t know whether I’m glad we’re approaching the end to find our answers, or sad to see our readalong over! Ahh, a bittersweet feeling…
Let’s wrap up our readalong with chapters 47, reading until the end!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart from chapter 47 to the end of the book. Please only read on if you have finished reading this section!
–!SPOILERS!–
Finally, after many detours and delays, the sisters reunite! Hakara finds out Rasha is alive!
But this joyous occasion, one that has been built up for so many years, backfires. Hakara is faced with the harsh reality that while she has spent 10 years dedicating her life to finding Rasha, Rasha has moved on. She has become a new person, while Hakara has remained stuck. And to really seal the blow, Rasha all but rejects Hakara, continuing her path as a Godkiller.
She’s not the only one reaching the end of their journey. Mull and his squad have been chipping away all this time, only to find out a devastating truth – Tolome didn’t make it to Kashan. He was leaving Kashan! Their journey and all of its trials have been for naught. Not everyone will make it back. And so, defeated, Mull turns and leaves his friend behind.
Sheuan seems to be the one with the highest advantage here, her own failed journey instead turning her towards the Sovereign. With Mull’s filter in tow, she expertly blackmails the Sovereign into a marriage alliance in exchange for creating more of the filters, helping him overcome the toxic air. With his resources and nothing holding him back, I dread to think what could happen!
And finally, we return to Hakara one last time. As if one shock wasn’t enough for the day, she learns that Thassir knew more than he was letting on and stood by while the restorations happened. As that one final tether to anyone she knows breaks, Hakara aligns herself wholly with the Unanointed, and finally has her own path after following Rasha’s footsteps for years.
Clearly we’ve ended this book – and our readalong – on a ‘what comes next?” note, with everyone perfectly placed to be starting a fight of their own.
Did you expect the reunion of Hakara and Rasha to go as it did? What do you think of Rasha’s rejection?
Were you surprised to see Sheuan turn to the Sovereign?
What do you think will happen in book 2?
I know I’ll be eagerly awaiting book 2 after that ending! But for now, thank you for joining me in the readalong, and I hope you loved it!
Love,
Ashleigh
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Wow I have so many questions about that last chapter and how Thassir is still alive?? I can’t even begin to theorise because I’m still confused lol!
I think I expected Hakara and Rasha’s reunion to go badly, but I’m just glad they got to talk and Hakara explained her side. It’s sad that Rasha rejected Hakara, but the fact that she let her escape then questioned the god means she’s starting to have cracks in her beliefs. I’m excited to see how she develops in the next book!
I was more surprised to see Sheuan suggest the marriage alliance to the Sovereign. And why did the Sovereign agree so quickly? I thought he’d just send his men to raid Mull’s workshop instead. He must have an ulterior motive – hopefully we get to find out in book 2.
In book 2, I’d love to see more of the other restored realms and maybe some of the unrestored ones. I also think we haven’t seen everything Hakara can do.
Overall I really enjoyed this, and I’m sad that it’s over! I think this is a strong series starter with excellent world-building and I can’t wait to read the sequel!! I would rate this 4 stars.
Thanks for hosting this readalong – it’s been a blast! 🫶
This book has left us with SO many questions! I need book 2 now 😂
I wonder if Hakara and Rasha will ever see eye to eye? You’re right about Rasha’s beliefs starting to crack…but being raised in the restored realm since the age of 9 is a loooong time to reverse/change any mindsets built!
Thank YOU for joining me in reading this one! 💜
Thank you for leading the readalong, Ashleigh!
It’s been a pleasure as always. I hope you reconsider and make some kind of read along again because it’s my best way to read all my book boxes. And I really enjoy reading and commenting with others.
As for the ending, it left me wanting more, book 2 will be really expected.
I knew Hakara and RAsha’s meet up would go badly but I didn’t think they would meet this book until the very ending. It’s sad Rasha has moved on but it’s totally understandable in her part, she was 9, she has been built by other people and she has grown in this new world.
I hope Hakara’s Unointed though find their path, not of destruction but to find a way to make everyone and every territory better. I wish Hakara and Sheuan united because then Rasha would have to think it twice, but that move with the Sovereign left me astonished. I thought she was in love with Rasha and then moves to a political marriage without blinking an eye.
Yeah, I am reeling and babbling but this ending left me a bit like this.
Thank you for joining! 💜
Reeling is definitely the right word for this ending – so much happened in that last section!
I can’t help but sympathise for both Hakara and Rasha, what a horrid situation to be in. But like you said, understandable for Rasha to have moved on!
I’m so intrigued to see where this arranged marriage goes, I can’t see it ending well for anyone…
oh my, the questions I have now 😭 I’m glad we got a reunion between Rasha and Hakara, even though it ended the way it did. I think Rasha will question a few of her life choices after the reunion, even though she rejected Hakara I think the sister bond will find a way back together someday! What the heck led Sheuan to turn to the Sovereign?! I’m so confused why that happend, there has to be some hidden motive, right? I’m excited to see where everyone ends up in the second book, and will we see a second reunion between Hakara and Rasha? I hope so! I think this is going to be a great series, the world building was amazing, and I overall enjoyed it! A solid 4⭐ read for me!
Thank you for hosting, I had a great time!
Keeping my fingers crossed for the two of them! There’s definitely room for some wavering allegiances on Rasha’s part 👀
Sheuan’s turn to the Sovereign is an interesting plot twist! I didn’t expect it from her at all! I can’t see any way that will end well – I need book 2 now!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! Thank you for joining me! 💜
The reunion went about as badly as I expected, but I like that Rasha is questioning things now.
In spite of initially being overwhelmed by all the POVs I did get into Mull and Sheuan’s stories. Sheuan marching in and demanding a marriage was fantastic hahaha.
But I still want answers about the cats. 👀
We all want answers about the cats 😂 I reckon our priorities are in the right place…
The way we all had a bad feeling about the reunion! Slightly satisfying to be proven right, even if it was a hard read!
I know Rasha wouldn’t run back to Hakara, but I’m glad she helped Hakara. Hopefully they will be able to sort thing out in the next book ❤️
I really like that Hakara is the leader now and she can focus on something else than Rasha.
I feel bad for Sheuan, that she has to marry the Sovereign. But she is such a boss, making herself indispensable!
I’m so looking forward to book number 2, this was a great read and a great read along challenge 😀
I do hope Hakara can find a new motivation outside of Rasha! It’s never a good idea to pin your entire life on one person, and she’s been taught that in the most heartbreaking way ❤️🩹
Ahhhh so Nioanen became Thassir, used his change magics to alter his wings to take on the appearance of his dead sons. That’s heart breaking.
I wasn’t too surprised Sheuen persues a political marriage, she’s been used for years as a political game piece. This time she’s choosing where she plays, and why not reach for the highest tier?
I’ve really enjoyed this book.
It’s left so much or in the open, many plots are still in full swing.
Sheuan is more clever than a lot of people give her credit for! I’m intrigued to see what schemes she comes up with in book 2!
Also just want to echo what others have said, I’ll really miss the readalongs, it’s something I’ve looked forward to each month.
Hoping they do make their way back.
The story definitely picked up in the second half of the book. Rasha’s and Hakara’s reunion was very predictable since Rasha has been completely brainwashed, but I enjoyed all the other plot-twists! I’m so glad that Sheuan cut off the toxic relationship with her mother and is making her own decisions now. And that last chapter really sold the sequel to me. I need to know! Does it mean that Thassir is actually Nioanen in disguise..? That’s why he’s obsessed with cats, they remind him of Irael..?
I was bothered by so many POVs and complaining about the lack of a Thassir’s POV…but what if we had his POV during the whole book without knowing..🤯
But of course there’s also the chance that both Nioanen and Thassir are alive but would be even more complicated to explain..?
Overall it’s a 4 star book for me
So many questions for book 2! It’s going to be a long wait 😂
We seem to have left a lot of them having cut ties, so it’ll be a whole new journey almost! I feel we may get some surprising reunions along the way…
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for joining the readalong! 💜
Ahhhhh I knew that Thassir was Nioanen, but am surprised he said he was their kid, unless he lies to protect himself.
I’m not surprised the sisters reunion went the way it did but I was hoping it would be different. Rashas reaction wasn’t surprising as she was so young but Hakara does need to cut herself some slack as she was young too.
I’m surprised about Sheuan being so bold to demand to be the wife but also not surprised at the same time. She is very resourceful.
I did not see the twist of the unanointed leader being a God coming at all.
I can’t wait for book 2!
‘Hopeful but unsurprised’ is definitely the best way to describe all of our reactions to their reunion it seems! 😂
I think Sheuan may be my favourite for how bold she is! I’m excited to see what other schemes she comes up with now she’s in a position of more power.