I don't even know where to begin....
I guess by starting with my opinion of the series, since I read the first two installments after Emily had already reviewed them. (She recommended them, by the way, so her title of Queen of Recommendations remains intact. In case any of you were wondering.)
As a rule of thumb, I typically enjoy stories that deal with Angels/Nephilim (thank you, Mortal Instuments), but Higgins added the twist of making the Nephilim progeny of Demons. It is an interesting concept, and I especially love how they are imbued with the vices of their fathers.
We left off with Anna and the gang preparing for the inevitable epic showdown. They've kept their rebellion secret for this long, but the Dukes of Hell are suspicious and are keeping a closer eye on their children then ever. Especially Anna—the daughter of Duke Belial, who inexplicably has the white stain of innocence in her badge.
The Dukes know the prophecy—that a Nephilim of Light will bring them to their judgement—and they will stop at nothing to prevent it from happening. Enemies are everywhere. Allies are in places you wouldn't expect. But Anna is ready.
She will be their reckoning.
But yes, this book live up to its hype—in my opinion. You will laugh. You will squeal with unbridled fangirling (or fanboying, I don't discriminate). And then at the extremely heart-wrenching parts, because their
are heart-wrenching parts, you will bawl. Or I assume you will, because this book may or may not have wrung out a tear from
my stone heart (any SoIF fans out there?).
As always, it's about the characters for me, and I fell in love with the cast of Higgins' trilogy from the beginning. Anna is such a sweetheart and I have loved witnessing her come into her own. She is the embodiment of good triumphing over evil. Usually, that would annoy me, but in Anna's case I'm okay with it. She deserves a happy ending.
OH MY GOSH THE ENDING! I don't want to give away any spoilers. Hence the super vague review thus far. I'm not talking about the showdown—although that was pretty awesome (and what is it with authors destroying Las Vegas? Why all the hate?)—I mean the epilogue.
Higgins took care of us readers. She left us with an ending we can accept and feel satisfied with. Typically, when a series I love concludes, I am left with an empty feeling. Usually because a beloved character has died/caught amnesia/trapped in hell for the rest of eternity/what have you, but with
Sweet Reckoning the epilogue left me...well full, I guess. It was an ending that I could live with and I have no desire for it to be any different.
Anyway, I strongly encourage you guys to read
The Sweet Trilogy, especially if you are a fan of works like
Lux or
Fire and Flood. Which is no surprise, considering these authors are tight. And somehow, that fact makes my existence so much better.
Until next time, darlings!
Emily:
It's no secret that I love this series (for confirmation, see my reviews of
Sweet Evil and
Sweet Peril) and Wendy Higgins in general. So much, in fact, that I dragged both Izzy and Caroline to a signing she did with Victoria Scott in January before they'd even read the books.
As you can tell from Izzy's review, it was a great move on my part. And all that served to make it all the more heartbreaking when Izzy was able to finish Sweet Reckoning before I'd even been able to pick it up (stupid finals; still not over it). Hence, her review being first. Then to add insult to injury, I had the internship from hell and had to neglect the blog. So, I'm sorry, my dears. But, I figured what better way to get back into the swing of things than with one of my absolute faves?
Even now, pretty far out from my reading the book,
Sweet Reckoning brings the feels. The end of
Sweet Peril left fans in a tizzy. Anna and Kaidan had decided to give the proverbial finger to the rest of the world and be together at all costs. And, in true Anna/Kaidan fashion, the chemistry is ridiculous from the get-go. Not to mention the gang is preparing for their final showdown—when Anna and the and her Nephilim allies will attempt to bring down the Dukes once and for all. The Dukes know someone's coming for them, and they'll stop at nothing to squash any of their progeny that dare defy them.
This last hurrah has everything you're looking for—the gang's all together and the antics you've come to love are abundant. The serious and dangerous undertones to the story—which never fail to provide intrigue, entertainment, and suspense—are beautifully balanced with the funny, light, and romantic moments. Nothing felt obvious in the story's progression. One aspect seemed obvious in hind sight, but still I was shocked (in the best way) when it happened. And there's Kaidan. So much Kaidan. Our boy is swoony as ever.
Even without Kai (gasp!), all of the characters are at their best. Anna, as Izzy said, is the epitome of a champion for good while remaining lovable. Kope, Blake, and the twins will cement themselves as the friends/dysfunctional family you wish you had. I seriously can't get across how much I adore these characters. They're 100% the kind that stick with you.
And, finally, there's the conclusion. The last stand is an emotional roller coaster—their freedom doesn't come without costs. And what a wreck those costs made me. I cried through more of it than I'm willing to admit. But we all know I'm a crier. And poor Vegas gets the short stick once again.
THAT EPILOGUE THOUGH. This is the happiest I've been with a series ending in a
long time. It felt like everyone was done justice and came full circle, and it was more beautiful than I can begin to describe. There is no lingering emptiness, no desperate pleadings for it not to be true when you reach the end, no "that's it?!" screamed into the universe. It felt perfect. And, once again, made me cry. But perhaps the happiest tears
ever. For reals. While I will always want more from a series I love, I honestly have no clue what more Ms. Higgins could give us...
EXCEPT AN ENTIRE BOOK FROM KAIDAN'S POINT OF VIEW. Which, in case you've been living under a rock, is totally happening!
So get excited, y'all!
If you still haven't read this book, I honestly don't know what you're doing with your life. It's a truly beautiful conclusion that's beyond likely to bring the tears—the sad, the bittersweet, and the happy. And maybe it's just me, but a final installment that makes me cry tends to be a good sign. I may be crazy. Definitely possible. Regardless,
you should read this book!
Glad to be back, lovelies!
About the Author
After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil was her debut novel.
