End of Days: Penryn and the End of Days Book Three (Penryn and the End of Days, #3)

by Susan Ee

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee's bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They're both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn's sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe's past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

'Addictive. Seriously and completely addictive.' Glamour

• ISBN10: 1444778560
• ISBN13: 9781444778564
• Publish Date: 12 May 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: John Murray Press
• Imprint: Two Roads
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[cornerfolds]

I'll start by saying that I ADORED Angelfall, I really enjoyed World After... I did not love End of Days. Let me cut to the chase. It was okay, but it was honestly an underwhelming conclusion to what was otherwise an amazing series. My ratings for this series have slowly declined and this one is the bottom of the super amazing barrel of angelic amazingness. That's not to say that I didn't like it, because I did. I just wanted (and expected) so much more.

Penryn and Raffe seem like as good a place as any to begin. In Angelfall, I loved the relationship between these two. They were hesitant and tried to resist any romantic feelings, but the pull seemed undeniable. Still, there was just the right amount of angst to make it a really good underlying romance. The key word there is underlying. It was on the back burner. Before all else were their missions. Each wanted to save their people and that was their top priority, which was why they knew no relationship could work out. This continued into World After, where Raffe was barely present. I hated that he wasn't there, but at least there wasn't any unrealistic romance. And then... End of Days happened. And Penryn lost her freaking mind. In book three of the series, both characters completely go off into left field, making decisions that are totally out of character and put others in danger. I mean, on the one hand I was glad that it ended the way it did. On the other, it just wasn't believable based on the first two books.

My other big issue was the pacing. I actually put this book down a hundred pages in and left it. For weeks. I was just so bored I couldn't keep going. It eventually picked up towards the end, but it picked up almost too much. Things were super slow throughout the first 2/3 of the book and then in the last 80 or so pages just BAM! Everything happens all at once and it's tied up way too quickly. As in HUGE BATTLE and then cut to epilogue. It was a little disappointing.

The world building was also a little shaky in this book. I really did like the descriptions of the aerie and the election. I loved the descriptions that accompanied the final battle and the place it all went down. But I was totally confused by "the pit." What was it? Where was it? It felt like they were in a virtual reality world or something and I just wish it had been laid out a little more clearly.

The whole time travel thing was also really confusing to me. The butterfly effect seemed to be missing completely and it just didn't make a ton of sense.

There were things I did like though! I enjoyed watching Paige come into her own even more than in World After and take control of her meager army. I really liked learning more about Beliel and understanding his character better (even though his character made no sense in light of the time travel). I also actually thought the final battle was really smart although I've seen others comment on how ridiculous it was.

Overall, this was a decent conclusion to the series, but it was not what I hoped it would be. Perhaps this is because it was originally supposed to be a 5 part series and was cut short? I'm honestly not sure what happened but it makes me really sad that I can't give this book the high rating I gave books one and two. I'd still recommend this series because it is incredibly unique, just be aware that the ending is really not on par with the rest.

[MurderByDeath]

Ok, so book 3 re-read and I still don't care for dystopian/post-apocolyptic settings.

My second read brings this book down to a 3.5, but I have to say, that on the second read, I was better able to appreciate the parallels to the stories of Lucifer's original battle and descent/fall.  I was also better able to empathise with the tragedy and sacrifice of Baliel.  So, while I got more out of it the second time around, I also found the science fiction elements even more grating, and I was totally dissatisfied with the ending.  Yes, it's an HEA, but it's still lacking, with questions left unanswered, and that annoys me more than it did the first time, obviously.

I remain satisfied with the trilogy; it didn't wow me, but I feel like I got what I paid for, more or less.  Perhaps someday my nieces will enjoy reading it.

[reveriesociety_]

I wish you guys could look at my happy, happy face.

I was afraid End of Days would completely let me down, because I had high expectations for it. Really, I was hoping this book would blow my mind worse than the 100.

And well, it didn't, but I cannot say I didn't like it because it did deliver awesomeness, and yes, the lovebirds could untangle some of their issues, but... I expected... more.

It was like with Rogue, it had all the good stuff, but it just failed to reach that level of epicness I'd been expecting. The most important thing about this book for me was that I wasn't as lost here. Fortunately, a lot of the stuff I'd been confused about in the first two books was explained here.

It did bother me that the way in which things ended was simple compared to what I'd imagined. Sure, there was a battle, but, like I said, I expected more.

Don't worry, in this post-apocalyptic world there's plenty of gross and creepy things. Believe me. There's one particular scene that I had to read twice, because I thought I'd misunderstood it. I think it was askin too much of my suspension of disbelief. Except for that one, the story did a very good job of crafting a good plot.

A bit slow and blurry, but a plot nonetheless.

But hey! We have bonus Penryn+Raffe hot scenes, so YAY!

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

End of Days is a stunning conclusion to Ee’s trilogy.  The past two books take readers across California and into various lairs of the angels—their parties, their labs, their dungeons.  End of Days takes readers farther than ever before, to new exciting settings and the heart of all that is happening in this action-packed adventure.

There are some sparks of romance and sexual tension in this installment, just enough to keep readers interested and on the edges of their seats wondering what Penryn and Raffe will have to give up in order to stay together.  I have seen other readers complain the romance is not enough, but I think the focus is perfect.  For once, someone has written a post-apocalyptic book where the heroine is actually more concerned about saving the world than about whether she is going to kiss a cute guy.  Penryn knows what is important: saving her family, saving lives, and saving Raffe’s wings whether the two of them have a future together or not.

Penryn has been going steadily questioning what her role in the post-apocalyptic world is going to be, and in End of Days she finally comes into her own.  She may not want to be a hero, she may feel like she is a hero—but she can be a hero.  Watching her grow and accept the weight of responsibility because so few other people will is quite beautiful.  The other characters continue to grow, as well.  Readers get new perspectives on Paige, Penryn’s mother, and even some of the baddies.  Some of the heroes are quite unexpected.

The book’s one flaw—and it is a fairly large one—is that some of the most important questions of the series remain unanswered.  I will avoid specifics, so as not to spoil too much of the book—but a lot of about the angels and their purposes is still unknown.  Worse, the characters drop the topic whenever they feel a modicum of safety.  Their world was destroyed, no one knows why, and apparently it does not matter if you think the world will not continue to be destroyed.  The danger has passed, so it does not matter what caused it?  Personally, I ended the book with a large feeling of emptiness and dissatisfaction.  The journey was glorious, but the destination is barely worth it.


Initial Thoughts: Great conclusion to the trilogy. Fast-paced, exciting plot and lots of character developed. However, some of the most important questions are left unanswered, which is problematic.

[KitsuneBae]

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Ahm, what happened, Susan? End of Days made me feel like it was written by another author. The characters are still wonderful but I couldn't say the same thing about the plot.

[Kim Deister]

End of Days is the final book in this amazing series, and I am sad to see it end, so much so that now I have my son reading it so we can talk about it!! The conclusion was everything I wanted it to be.

It begins just after World After ends and so much has happened that it is hard toi remember that only about two weeks have passed since the beginning of Angelfall. The character development in this series is pretty intense. Penryn has no concept of anything superficial, no idea of her own looks. And I love that those things aren't even on her radar. Instead, she is fully focused on her mission, her family, and those she cares about. In this book, she is not just strong, but straight up badass. She fights not just for herself and for her own, but the people who need her. And then there is Raffe. He has always been true to his angelic ways and rules, but fully capable of thinking independently and standing up when wrong is being done, even if it is against his own. He, like Penryn, is a fighter for his own. And this often puts the two of them at odds with one another and herein lies our romantic tension.

One of the things that I love most about this book, and the series as a whole, is that the post-apocalyptic themes have been the focus of the main plot. The romantic aspect is powerful and beautiful, but subtle. Not only did I appreciate the idea that perhaps other things should be the main focus, but I found that it added so much anticipation to that part of the story. That being said, the romance was much more intense in this book and it fed that girlie part of my heart. Against all odds, they have come to see each other less as angel and human, but as equals. Despite Raffe's otherworldly abilities, there are still things that Penryn can do that he cannot and that works for them.

My Recommendation: I truly loved this series! I love the unique use of angels in the story line. I loved the characters. I loved the twists and turns. I loved the themes woven throughout the novel. This entire series is one that I highly recommend!

[Joséphine]

Audiobook rating: 2 stars
Book rating: 1.5 stars

Initial thoughts: End of Days makes me wish Angelfall was a standalone book. That was so much wasted anticipation for a book that I didn't particularly care for once I was done reading. Angelfall was so different and surprising, it enthralled me. World After kept me hooked, even if it served more as a bridge. Sadly, I think the bridge was a better destination than End of Days was.

It's a good thing that I like the narrator, Caitlin Davies. It's through her voice that I experienced the entire trilogy, so even though I think Penryn was a much weaker character in End of Days than in Angelfall, listening to Davies maintained the familiarity for me.

What I did enjoy was the exploration of Beliel as a character. He was the only one who really had any substance and depth. Raffe was very inconsequential in comparison. Just as well. For all the people who ship Penryn and Raffe, I hardly cared about the outcome of their romance even from the start.

[shannonmiz]

This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
Listen, I have to be honest here: I have a case of the sads. This book wasn't horrible or anything, I mean, 3 stars is still a decent book, no? But it wasn't exactly the epic, remarkable ending I'd hoped for. I was kind of bored for a lot of it, and then a whole bunch of junk happened at once, and then (not exactly a spoiler, but suggestive about the ending) there were basically unicorns and rainbows at the end. Which didn't make sense to me, considering how the series had been so violent and unstable.

Some things were too easy, some weren't even answered, and some just bored me. I mean, it was really just okay. There were some good moments, and I do like Penryn, but not enough for it all to be redeemed. Sadness. I almost rated this book even lower, but I think that was just my own disappointment, and not really the book's fault. Book, you owe Holly.

[girlinthepages]

I've been meaning to write this review for weeks, but for some reason have been unable to fully form my thoughts about this book into coherent sentences (a strange occurrence for me, as it's common for my reviews to easily be 1000+ words). I think the dilemma of being able to form a concrete opinion about this book stems from the fact that I was equal parts satisfied and disappointed by the way that Penryn and Raffe's story ended, an odd juxtaposition of individual scenes I really enjoyed that led to an overall conclusion that felt lackluster.

End of Days picks up right where the action in World After leaves off, and there's enough recap that I was able to jog my memory despite not having read the first two books in about a year. The story jumps right into the romantic tension that's been brewing between Penryn and Raffe for the past two books, and Ee does not disappoint with giving readers some not too graphic yet satisfying scenes (and without compromising the integrity of the survival story, because there's only so much making out a character can do when they're also trying to save the world). I was truly curious to see how Penryn and Raffe would fare at the end of the trilogy, with such clear lines drawn between the angels and the humans, and Penryn and Raffe each feeling a deeper loyalty to their own kind than to their short, if intense, relationship. I appreciated that they didn't have the let's-throw-all-of-our-values-and-concern-for-fellow-human/angelkind-to-the-wind-because-we're-attracted-to-each-other mentality, and I was intrigued with how Ee brought in certain plot elements to create the climactic battle of the story. I especially loved the inclusion of Raffe's Watchers, her take on hell/"The Pit," and more glimpses into angel politics, although I wish more had been revealed about heaven/the celestial realm.

What I most enjoyed about the novel was how large a part the secondary characters played in the plot and final battle. Rather than used as a crutch to support Penryn's heroism, Penryn is very aware that she could not take on the angels without her fellow humans, as ragtag of a bunch as they may be. I continue to have an awe of Penryn's mother, who may be the most hilarious/fearless/badass supporting character I've ever come across in YA (even the angels are scared of her) and though Dee and Dum can seem overly silly at times, their wit and optimism is often what spurs Penryn into action and ideas. There was also a lot of character development for the angels, with Raffe's watchers being explored and Beliel's past being revealed, and I think it's a true testament to Ee's ability as a writer to not only be fair to her representation of her antagonists by developing their characters, but doing so in a way where I sympathized with them and understood their motivations while still abhorring their behavior. It made them wonderfully complex.

So with character development on point, creative mythology, and some swoon-worthy scenes, what went wrong for me? I would have to say it was the last third of the book. Once things started prepping for the big showdown, I couldn't help but think it was a little silly, if ultimately effective. I mean really, a talent show? I get that it was creative and in true Dee and Dum fashion, but I found it fell too far on the side of absurd to really appeal to me. I was really unsatisfied that after everything Penryn and Raffe had been through, there was such little time to explore their relationship at the end of the book, and certain things happened at the end that made me extremely frustrated because I felt like I went on a journey for a purpose and as soon as it was accomplished it was revoked again. I am talking, of course, about Raffe's wings. Seriously, THREE BOOKS of trying to get them reattached and then he gets them for a handful of chapters and trades them again? Obviously without a second thought for Penryn and humankind's well being, but still. (I apologize, I know some of these complaints are super vague but I don't want to spoil anybody!) And then there was the ending...which was...nice. "Nice" as in it checked the boxes of wrapping things up but it was no where near the unbelievable, horror-inducing, gut wrenching endings and emotions of the other books. It was like everyone just acted so nonchalant and normal, especially in the epilogue. After everything that had just gone down, I was expecting to be emotionally torn up for either better or for worse by the end.

Overall: Considering End of Days was one of my most anticipated books of 2015 that I pre-ordered months in advance, I wanted to convince myself that I was satisfied with it. Ultimately though, World After set up for a standard of storytelling that End of Days was unable to deliver, despite enjoyable individual moments within the narrative. The writing in End of Days is great, as always, the cover is beautiful, and it stayed true to its snark and crazy secondary characters that are oddly endearing. Yet it seemed to be missing the edge that set it apart from other YA paranormal romances/dystopians: the edge of horror, of desperation, of tension and of heartbreak. While I'm glad I read it, it fell short of the epic expectations the first two books in the series set up, and I just didn't feel it tug at my emotions the way Angelfall and World After did.

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[littleread1]

JUST finished. I don't ... I need more. But that is the sign of a good story, leaving you wanting more. It's mostly wrapped up but a story like this with a world this messed up can't have EVERYTHING wrapped up in a pretty little bow. I realize this.

You guys.

What was originally slated to be a 4-5 book series was suddenly a trilogy. That almost made me sick. There was no way Ee was going to be able to wrap up this story in just one more book. NO WAY. Couldn't happen.

It did. And it did so perfectly.

Before I get too involved, let me lead with this - this trilogy is and always will be PENRYN'S story. Not Raffe's. Not her mom's. Not Paige's. PENRYN. If Pen doesn't know something, we won't either. I've seen lots of theories being tossed around the internet about some of the side characters and even Pen herself. But the focus here is Penryn. Ok, and Raffe. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here.

END OF DAYS picks up right where WORLD AFTER left us. Our hero & heroines deserve a break. And they get a brief respite, where Pen finally lets herself be a normal teenager for a minute. Maybe two. As much as that made me cringe a little, it was also refreshing to see. She has had a lot to deal with for a long time. So to see her a mess of hormones like any other teenage girl was actually good for her as a character.

This story had many favorite scenes for me. And since I want to leave EVERYTHING to be a surprise I will be as vague as possible from here on out. About the scenes, not my feelings. Of which there are many. And I MAY reference things out of order. Just to keep you on your toes!

Ballerinas. Holy crap on a cracker with cream cheese. If you know me, you know I am not a crier. I don't even feel a lot of emotions. But the ballerinas turned me into a giant puddle of red-headed goo. With the hell these people have been through, the fact that they can come together and share this heartbreaking beauty with others ... I have goosebumps. And as I type this I read this scene 2 weeks ago. Seriously. Holy cow. Incredible.

Pooky Bear. Still my favorite inanimate object character. She has a few tricks up her sleeve ... er ... scabbard. We all know she is more than just a sword, but some of her talents extend beyond the possible. She is a fantastic source of comic relief as well in a time where I can't think much would be funny.

"You seem to bring out new and unimagined dimensions from both me and Kooky Bear."
"Pooky Bear."
"Right."
"Come on. Say it, Raffe. I love it when you say Pooky Bear. It's just so perfect when it comes out of your mouth."
"She might kill you in your sleep one of these days just so she can get rid of that name."

The "trip" for Penryn and Raffe. Seriously one of my favorite flying scenes ever. And I couldn't imagine EVER sympathizing with Belial, but boy do I after this. I am terribly sad for him. We all know, maybe in the back of our minds but we KNOW, that he has suffered as a fallen. Well, to know is different than to KNOW. If you know what I mean. ;-) But back to Raffryn (Raffe + Penryn = Raffryn) - they had some intense moments. As always. But this section IMO had so many I wanted to quote them all.

"You should be with a nice human boy. One who takes your orders and puts up with your demands. Someone who dedicates his life to keeping you safe and well fed. Someone who can make you happy. Someone you can be proud of. There's nobody like that in this lot."

"Don't drop me." I cling tighter and press myself up against him a little more.
"Never." There's so much confidence and assurance in his voice. "I have you. You're as secure as can be."

The Final Battle. We all know there is at least one battle in this book. And since it is the last book I am going to refer to it as The Final Battle. My review - my rules. :-) Ee writes battle scenes like no one's business. And so much is on the line, that every move - every action, takes your breath away, and at the same time keeps you from taking another. It is INTENSE.

There isn't much more I can say that won't ruin some aspect of this story for you. I am afraid I've already said too much. To sum it up, if I had to, END OF DAYS is the best possible ending a story told in this world could have. This remains one of, if not THE BEST YA series I have EVER had the pleasure of reading. I sense a re-read in my near future.