Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, … Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.
As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.
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KYON ENSIN STOLE MY HEART
Just for the record I did not hate Kyon throughout this series and after getting a look into the man he really is, I have to say that I love Kyon after reading this book. Don’t get me wrong he still tried to treat Kricket like a possession and control her, but his actions never showed this. And yea the man can be scary, but that’s only because you have no idea what he’s capable of or his intentions. But one thing was made clear, that he would die to protect Kricket. That speaks volumes all by itself. He was the one person who stayed by her side and did everything in his power to protect her and keep her alive. I mean the man is a sexy genius who can kill with his bare hands. But not only that, we get to see how much he changes with Kricket and that he actually falls in love with her.
I loved the first and second book. This book took a sharp turn that had me concerned the author was condoning abusive and volatile male partners. It was a decision on pairing that could have skipped and completely unraveled other relationship building. Kricket deserved better throughout this story in addition the reader deserved better.
Why? Ugh…
I did not want this story to end. I really enjoyed this book. But the end had me practically sobbing.
I have no idea what I just read… certainly not the sequel to Sea of Stars. This honestly felt like a totally different series and I’m still a little flabbergasted at the abrupt and brutal turn this book took.
[SPOILER ALERT!!]
After falling in love and investing time in Kricket and Trey for two books, this series finale asks you to believe that Kricket would engage in what is clearly an abusive relationship with her greatest enemy (he literally tries to drown her to prove his ownership over her in the first chapter), would ultimately find him redeemable and worth loving, and that she would completely do a 180 on her feelings for the person that you just spent two books being convinced was her soulmate. I spent a lot of this book disgusted and, if I’m being honest, skimming some early sections with the intent of getting back to what I enjoyed about the first two books (action! true love! alien superpowers!). That sadly never happened. If I’m going to read a YA romantic trilogy about the battle of good vs evil for pure escapism, the last thing I want is an ending like this!
I love Amy! Every one of her books is entertaining and to be honest I have the hardest time putting them down and end up rereading them again. What I love most about her writing is in the first book I am totally in love with the good guy! Then bam! Just like that I am rooting for the bad guy. The redemption she gives her villains no other author I have read can do.
Oh My Goodness! I have enjoyed the Kricket series so much! I stayed up way too late last night because I could not put it down. I had to know how Darken the Stars ends. Darken the Stars was just as fantastic as the previous 2 Kricket books. I loved the characters so much and hope Amy Bartol will write another installment of the Kricket series.
Before I read this final installment of the “Kricket” series I broke one of my most sacred rules…..I read some reviews. I went into this book knowing that fans were not happy and that I may not be happy with the way the series was going to end. This last book has some plot line issues and felt rushed but ultimately I didn’t mind the way the story ended. Now, you have to understand that I liked the ending to the movie “The Break-Up”, so I don’t find disappointment when people go their separate ways.
When we left off with Kricket she was trading her life to save not only Trey’s life and the lives of his family but she was trading her life for the life of her sister, Astrid. Growing up in Chicago Kricket has a vague memory of Astrid but thought maybe she was made up or imaginary. Kyon has taken Kricket to his private island which is secure and isolated from the rest of the world. Like Trey, Kyon is very possessive of Kricket. They spend time together. In the story things seem to develop quickly but I believe you are supposed to understand that a significant amount of time passes on the island. This is time spent between Kricket and Kyon getting to know each other. The reader is allowed to see a vulnerable side of Kyon. He despises his father and wants him dead; he believes Kricket will bring about the ending of his father. Over time Kricket develops a friendship with Kyon.
Eventually Kricket and Kyon are forced to return to the real world, before doing so Kyon performs a commitment ceremony ensuring that Kricket remains his. Kricket continues to converse with the rebels, she learns that they are using her to bring down the Almeeda, and that in the end they never plan to allow Kricket to live. The rebels fear that Kricket is a threat to her sister’s rightful place as Empress of the whole of Ethar. Kricket develops a plot to kill Kyon’s father and escape back to Earth. In doing so she must let go of Kyon and Trey, both of whom she has fallen in love with.
The ending is sad, even I got choked up. But it was the ending that must be. Amy Bartol has said this is the final book in the series, unless her publisher says otherwise. I can see where the story could continue on but I am satisfied with the way it ended.
I still feel that the relationship between Kyon and Kricket was rushed and forced. I would have loved to have see a gradual respect to have developed. Overall I was not disappointed with this series, I actually found I quite enjoyed it.
I can’t recall the last time I was soooooo sad to end a book series. I’ve read this trilogy more than three times (I rarely reread anything). I will have to check out this author/Amy Bartol – love her imagination and storytelling. READ THE KRICKET SERIES!!!
This is the third and final book in the Kricket series. I’m a little sad to see her go. I fell in love with a new character this book, a new side of the story. From start to finish, the flow was good; a slow gradual build to the end to wrap up the series. There was a bit of everything in this one: friendship, romance, love, intimate moments, adventure, growth, betrayal, and stuff that goes boom. It was everything I expected from the series and more. The ending fit; now, looking back, I should have seen it coming.
As a young adult series, it kept me reading. It is the only one this year; I’ve started many, but only Kricket and her world kept me interested. Anyone who knows me knows that is a ton of credit to the books. Not just the story, but the writing, and the storytelling. It’s all great.
To be honest, I’m not ready for it to end. I want more. I’m going to miss these characters and this world.
This book reminded me what a sucker I am for angst. It delivers inner conflict out the whazoo. It was sometimes hard to witness and relate to Kricket’s choices, but the story kept me riveted nonetheless, and as an author, I respect how difficult it is to walk that razor’s edge. As I read, I realized that Kricket didn’t change that much at her core, she was just not fitting expectations of a story heroine — that in and of itself a fundamental piece of her character. I was never that enamored with Trey. He was pushy, secretive, and over-protective, and their attraction seemed gratuitous to me.
Kyon, on the other hand, turns out to be the most honest and unaltered character in this book. He was clear from the beginning that he would stop at nothing to have Kricket. He delivered on his promise. His reasoning and attitude that she was his “property” was the most troublesome issue for me. This book removed that barrier as it became clear that he still wanted to win her over and earn her trust. And we see as Kyon’s respect for her (even if it is for her savagery) grows and forces him to be vulnerable. What proceeds is a porcupine mating type of seduction in a slow, subtle dance that was thrilling and scary, like the best carnival ride. The chemistry between them is explosive. They are two of a kind, really. Both broken, abandoned things, orphaned and betrayed by their parents. Both ruthless. Survivors.