In the thrilling conclusion to the Wall Street Journal bestselling Kingfountain Series, a conflicted champion must navigate a treacherous world to secure the peace.A devastating disaster has left the Forbidden Court in ashes, its fountains destroyed, and its magic at risk. It was destined as the site of Trynne Kiskaddon’s coronation as empress. Now, all Trynne can imagine is the roar of flames, … is the roar of flames, the cries of Gahalatine’s people, and the smell of cinders in a city gone dark. Tragic as the threat to Kingfountain is, it’s nowhere near as foul as the treachery posed by Morwenna. Saboteur, conspirator, and full-blood sister of the king, she is prepared to set forth a wave of destruction that will eliminate everything that stands between her and possession of the throne.
But Trynne has her weapons, too—her magic, her resilience, her skills at intrigue, and especially, Fallon. The man who once swore his allegiance to Morwenna now stands by Trynne’s side as they venture into the unknown to protect those they love, reunite with a family scattered by diabolical forces, and safeguard a kingdom…as well as the destiny the Fountain has for each of them.
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Finally!!! (Warning: major spoiler alerts ahead.) After an entire 6 book series, there’s finally what I’d call a TRUE happy ending. I’d almost say it’s happy to the point of being cheesy, and I might say that if I hadn’t just slogged through six books of some level of disappointment. As it is, I feel like we EARNED this.
The book opens right where we left off. Trynne has just married Gahalatine, though the marriage has not been consummated because she is underage and both her parents are still missing. Then he barges in to the Ring Table accusing her of treachery. She knows someone has impersonated her, but Gahalatine doesn’t know her and has been led to doubt her. Owen is still missing, his memories still gone. Fallon is heartbroken at having lost Trynne, but it seems he’s rebounding for Morwenna, which in turn breaks Trynne’s heart. Then Gahalatine loses his memories too, just as Owen lost his. They discover that the source of the lost memories belongs in another world. Trynne and Fallon end up journeying there together to try to restore what was lost… which raised my hopes. After all, yes, Trynne is married, but it hasn’t been consummated so there’s still a loophole maybe? And Fallon turns out to be less enamored of Morwenna than we’re led to believe.
In the last book, Trynne’s mother leaves her due to the Fountain calling her back to the Deep Fathoms, without explanation. She sails off into what sounds like a giant drain in the sea and that’s the last we’ve heard of her. Her little brother Gannon is murdered. She’s completely alone. Owen is not much part of the story anymore, off wandering in the other world, trying to remember who he is. Myrrdin left them at the Fountain’s bidding as well. Now, Morwenna is fully evil (she was teetering on the edge before) and impersonating Genevieve, trying to poison her and King Drew’s daughter and entice her half-brother Drew to go to war so that she can seize his throne. Drew, his mind muddled, turns against Trynne. Everything bad that can happen, seems to.
About two hours before the end of the book, after my hopes were raised that perhaps there was hope for Trynne and Fallon after all, they were dashed yet again. But I thought, that just seems cruel! I almost stopped reading and went to read reviews for the book to find out if it was redeemed in the end, but I’m glad I didn’t. Yes! Finally, a couple that should end up together, does, and without any treachery against Trynne’s “husband” Gahalatine or any fault of honor. Not only that, but we finally understand why Sinia had to sail away. She went to save Gannon, and returns with him from the Deep Fathoms! (I don’t really understand this part, but I’ll take it.) Owen gets his mind restored. Morwenna gets her just deserts. Myrrdin returns to help at the critical time. And the story ends on Trynne and Fallon’s wedding day. Satisfying at last!
My rating: *****
Language: none
Violence: fantasy only
Sexual content: none
Political content: none
The Forsaken Throne is the conclusion book to Wheeler’s 6-book Kingfountain series – his best so far in my opinion. Right out of the gate there are surprising twists and gut-wrenching choices for the main character, Trynneowy Kiskaddon. The pace never let up. Even trying to keep myself from ripping through the story, I finished reading it at three in the morning, bleary-eyed but completely satisfied.
Sometimes, when you get to a “grand finale” like this one, the battle is nowhere near epic enough. The danger can’t be ratcheted any higher, and the outcome is almost an afterthought. The Forsaken Throne is the complete opposite. Once you think it can’t get any worse, it does, and when you think it can’t possibly resolve, it does that too. Not easily, mind you, but in the most epic, explosive, exhausting way possible. When I was done I felt like I’d fought a battle! It was amazing.
If you’ve read any of the other series’ written by this author, there are bits and pieces in this book that will absolutely delight you. That’s all I’ll say on that!
And the ending… well I hate spoilers so I refuse to give it away, but I’ll say this. If you have been searching for an author who delivers on endings, Wheeler is your man. No one gets left out, nothing gets left undone. There were some things that still managed to surprise me, even this far in, and others that were like that sweet sip of hot cocoa on a winter night: satisfying, stunning and just right.
Now I’m going to go back and start all over again at book one…
This was a nice conclusion to the five book series. There were some twists and turns and if the ending wasn’t what I would have wished for it was still very well done